Michigan hosts Oklahoma on Saturday. If you only watched Week 1, the Sooners should win this game comfortably. It is also fair to wonder whether the Wolverines looked past Western Michigan.
Michigan escaped 13-12. There were not many offensive takeaways. A few defenders did emerge. Edge rusher Dom Nichols was in the backfield all night. Safety Chris Bracy was just as important.
Bracy announced himself in Week 1
Bracy played the second-most snaps on defense against Western Michigan, 64. He tied Nichols and linebacker Nathaniel Staehling with nine tackles.
He is a hard-hitting safety who can play the run and the pass. Michigan found out fast that he belongs.
“I think once he got here, after about five practices, like, not only myself, but his teammates knew that we got a damn good football player on our team, so it was probably a surprise at first, but after the first couple days, you’re like, oh, this kid belongs here,” defensive coach Tyler Stockton said.
Rod Moore and Bracy as Batman and Robin
Michigan will lean on four safeties. Mason Curtis is the 1B behind Moore and Bracy. Jordan Young is next and should have a smaller role. For now, Moore and Bracy should dominate the snap counts.
Moore played 54 snaps in Week 1, more than many expected after two injury-filled years. Stockton said Moore feels good. He had two tackles in the win.
Moore is a three-time captain and the leader. Bracy supplies the pop.
“I mean, Rod is the, to me, he’s the ultimate leader,” Stockton said. “I mean, obviously, I don’t know how many three-time captains there has been here in Michigan, but there’s probably maybe one more, but probably not. If it was, it was a long, long time ago, so Rod is an ultimate leader.
“Chris is a competitor. He doesn’t have the exact same leadership qualities as Rod does, but that’s something he is working on. Obviously, being new in the program, but those two back there are like Batman and Robin, and I go to war with those guys every single day.”
Why it matters against Oklahoma
Nichols can wreck a pocket. That will not be enough if Oklahoma’s skill players find grass behind the line. Michigan needs Moore’s communication and Bracy’s hitting to travel from a sloppy MAC escape to a Big 12-caliber offense.
The Wolverines are underdogs at home. If there is an upset path, it starts on defense — Nichols up front, Moore and Bracy in the back.
Discover more from Allsportsreports
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
