Michigan's secondary has been quite a bit better than Texas', albeit against dissimilar schedules, so that's always a caveat. Texas' front 7 doesn't really take a back seat to anyone. They have both of PFF's highest graded interior tackles, and it doesn't drop off much from there. They did get occasional pressure on Penix even though Washington's OL is quite good, but they never could get their hands on Penix...he was slippery in the pocket.
It will be fun to watch if Michigan's front can succeed where Texas failed. Like I said, Washington's OL is good, but Texas showed you can collapse that pocket a few times. Michigan and Texas are built a little differently up front, and I think Mich. may be better suited for playing one-gap rush technique. I think they'll be able to bring him down when they get there a couple times. We'll see.
Penix and his targets went off, we'll see if they can have that same kind of game against a pass D like UM. Both they and the UM secondary will make some plays, just a matter of who makes more.
When Michigan has the ball against the Husky defense, I really don't see how Washington can stop Michigan from playing the exact game they want to play. Michigan just confused and at times overpowered a much better defense than Washington. Who is not bad, it's just that they're average. Alabama's D is one of the best, and their corners are the filthiest, per PFF, but McCarthy was still able to throw as needed, and UM's play designs on run plays was good stuff.
To me, I think Michigan wants to be in 24-13 boa-constrictor affairs. I don't think their goal is to score 40 pts. If Washington can't score much, I don't know what their path to victory is. I don't believe they can stop UM from possessing the ball for chunks of time and grinding out a slow win.
