Early in the third quarter last weekend, Michigan defensive lineman Chase Winovich charged upfield, unblocked, and crushed Northwestern quarterback Clayton Thorson for a sack.
Throughout the game, Winovich knifed into the Wildcats’ backfield, racking up nine tackles in that contest and doing his part for the No. 15 Wolverines’ top-ranked defense. He is tied for the national lead with 10.5 tackles for loss and has three sacks. But despite amassing a season-high tally in tackles and receiving praise postgame from coach Jim Harbaugh, the senior pass rusher feels he still has much more to offer.
“I’m setting myself up for that game where it’s like, ‘This is Chase Winovich,’ and I don’t think I’ve played that game yet,” Winovich told Michigan Live on Tuesday. “I wanna be a shark in a game full of guppies.”
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A few hours before Winovich made that declaration, Maryland football interim head coach Matt Canada stood at the lectern for his weekly media availability. A smile appeared on his face when asked about the Terps’ upcoming challenge against Michigan, and Canada said he and his team are excited five times within his first three minutes of speaking.
“Jump in the deep water with the big sharks, right?” he said. “That’s what you want to do.”
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But on Saturday, for the Terps to withstand the Wolverines’ swarming defense, Maryland’s offensive line, expected to be completely healthy for the first time this season, will be called upon to offer enough time for quarterback Kasim Hill to operate in the pocket and open sufficient running lanes to nullify Winovich.
“Chase, he plays so hard,” Canada said. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for that young man because he plays so hard and he’s an intense football player.”
For much of Maryland’s tenure in the Big Ten, visiting one of the conference blue-bloods has led to ugly results. In 2016, the last time the Terps traveled to the Big House, the Wolverines shellacked them, 59-3; Harbaugh had no issue running up the score against his former defensive coordinator DJ Durkin.
Durkin remains on administrative leave following the death of offensive lineman Jordan McNair and reports of a “toxic” team culture. An eight-person task force investigating the team’s atmosphere is expected to conclude its investigation in early October, if it hasn’t finished already.
So, Canada will lead Maryland in its first Big Ten East matchup of the season. Since joining the conference in 2014, the Terps are 7-17 against divisional foes. To change that trend Saturday, they’ll need to beat a defense that’s holding teams to 14.8 points per game and an average of just 86.4 rushing yards per game.
At times in Maryland’s first four games, it has featured a dynamic running game and at least a semblance of a passing attack to keep teams honest. The Terps moved the ball in wins over Texas, whose defense ranks No. 30, and Minnesota, who ranks at No. 14.
But against Temple, Maryland’s offense seemed incapable of converting first downs — let alone scoring points — against the No. 65 defense in the country. In that contest, however, the Terps were without starting tackles Derwin Gray and Damian Prince. The Owls also accumulated seven sacks, while Maryland has yet to allow more than one in any other game this year.
“We have the ability to throw the ball and we have the ability to protect the quarterback really well,” running back Ty Johnson said. “You’ve really got to pick your poison, you’ve got to pick the right plays to cover against.”
Due to injuries, the Terps haven’t played with their five projected starting offensive lineman. That should change this week, and Maryland’s five starters took first-team reps at open practice Tuesday.
That group may help the Terps navigate the anticipated shark attack from Winovich and the rest of the Michigan defense.
“There’s a reason they’re one of the top defenses in the country,” Canada said. “They have great players, and they play really, really hard. [And] … they have a great scheme. So, that’s a pretty good combination for playing great defense.”
