Michigan’s defense is getting a break of sorts heading into Week 7: Penn State still won’t have its biggest offensive weapon back.
Koby Howard, who exploded early this season with 12 receptions for 344 yards and two touchdowns in Penn State’s first three games, will miss Saturday’s matchup in Ann Arbor. He had been the Nittany Lions’ most dangerous pass catcher out of the gate, and it took nearly three full games for Chase Sowell to top Howard’s production - even though Sowell has not played since Week 3 because of an injury.
There had been some reason to think Howard might be close to a return. He posted a social media image of Darth Vader in a bacta tank with Michigan and Penn State’s matchup date this weekend, which seemed to hint at an ambitious comeback timeline. But that return won’t happen against the Wolverines.
That matters because Michigan’s defense has been the one constant holding this team together. The Wolverines have kept every opponent to 20 points or fewer this season, even while spending more than half the game on the field because the offense has struggled badly with time of possession. If Michigan’s offense has been a mess, Jay Hill’s defense has at least given the team a chance every week.
Howard’s absence should also make life harder on Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht, who has not been comfortable when pressured. Michigan’s defensive front has been the best part of the unit, with defensive ends John Henry Daley and Dom Nichols leading the charge.
Daley and Nichols have combined for 31 total tackles and 5.5 sacks, and they have been a problem for opposing offensive lines all season. Penn State has had enough trouble up front already.
Without Howard for a fourth straight game, Becht is going to have to work through a Michigan secondary that has done a solid job of limiting receivers, or he’ll be forced to scramble into the waiting arms of the linebackers and the pass rush. Either way, the matchup tilts toward Michigan’s defense, and that could create more possessions for an offense that badly needs them.
The Wolverines are coming out of the bye week looking for something solid, and this is the kind of game that should give them a chance to get it. If they can’t turn that into a strong showing against Penn State, the season starts looking even rougher than it already has.
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