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In the aftermath of Michigan’s win over Western Michigan in Week 1, one of the stats getting the most attention has been the time-of-possession battle. The Broncos held the ball for roughly 40 minutes of game time, forcing the Wolverines’ defense to be on the field for the majority of the game and undoubtedly tiring out their players.

Despite the workout, Michigan’s defense, especially the defensive line, performed rather well, allowing only 12 points via four field goals. With a matchup against Oklahoma coming up, the defense will face an even greater test with talent and physicality to wear out any defensive unit, even if it’s not on the field for over two-thirds of the game.

Oklahoma’s offense wasn’t exactly one of the nation’s most prolific last season, but it did cause Michigan some trouble with 408 total yards in their Week 2 matchup. The Wolverines struggled to get into the backfield regularly, allowing Oklahoma to stay on schedule with its offense for much of the night. The Sooner offensive line has largely the same personnel group as last season and will pose a similar threat to Michigan’s defensive front.

“We’re excited we have a good offensive line that’s coming in,” Michigan defensive ends coach Lewis Powell said on Wednesday. “One of the best, if not the best, O-line groups in the country … (we’re) fired up to have Oklahoma in the building.”

One of the players on Oklahoma’s offensive line, sophomore tackle Michael Fasusi, got some high praise from Powell, being labeled “one of the best offensive tackles in the country.” Fausisi, one of the nation’s best freshmen last season, played just 17 snaps in Oklahoma’s opener against UTEP and is still working his way back to full strength after an offseason shoulder injury. Him getting a full workload on Saturday could make things all the more challenging for Michigan.

Fortunately, Michigan might be getting some reinforcements up front, or at least showing different personnel than it did in Week 1. Dom Nichols and John Henry Daley played an overwhelming number of the snaps on the edge, but that will likely change this week with Powell saying he wants to have five or six players in that rotation.

Freshman Carter Meadows, who was out for the Western Michigan game, could be one of those guys. Powell said Meadows returned to practice on Tuesday and the staff is “hoping” he can go this week, while possibly upping the workloads for other players that didn’t see the field as much. Sophomore Nate Marshall could also be a candidate for more playing time after being on the field for just eight snaps on Saturday.

Getting more players on the field could be beneficial for Michigan to confuse Oklahoma, but to also help its own cause if it finds itself in another dogfight.

“I feel like it was good for us to get all those reps (last weekend). We needed it,” Powell said. “If we could have, I probably would have rotated (more players) just to keep guys fresh.”

After being one of the most talked-about position groups during fall camp, Michigan’s defensive line is going to take on its long-awaited early-season challenge against the Sooners in front of the home crowd. While the edge rushers weren’t exactly the place to point the finger after a close win over Western Michigan, the talented and, now potentially, deeper group will look to wreak as much havoc as possible to change the narrative of the Wolverines in the early going.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

In the aftermath of Michigan’s win over Western Michigan in Week 1, one of the stats getting the most attention has been the time-of-possession battle. The Broncos held the ball for roughly 40 minutes of game time, forcing the Wolverines’ defense to be on the field for the majority of the game and undoubtedly tiring out their players.

Despite the workout, Michigan’s defense, especially the defensive line, performed rather well, allowing only 12 points via four field goals. With a matchup against Oklahoma coming up, the defense will face an even greater test with talent and physicality to wear out any defensive unit, even if it’s not on the field for over two-thirds of the game.

Oklahoma’s offense wasn’t exactly one of the nation’s most prolific last season, but it did cause Michigan some trouble with 408 total yards in their Week 2 matchup. The Wolverines struggled to get into the backfield regularly, allowing Oklahoma to stay on schedule with its offense for much of the night. The Sooner offensive line has largely the same personnel group as last season and will pose a similar threat to Michigan’s defensive front.

“We’re excited we have a good offensive line that’s coming in,” Michigan defensive ends coach Lewis Powell said on Wednesday. “One of the best, if not the best, O-line groups in the country … (we’re) fired up to have Oklahoma in the building.”

One of the players on Oklahoma’s offensive line, sophomore tackle Michael Fasusi, got some high praise from Powell, being labeled “one of the best offensive tackles in the country.” Fausisi, one of the nation’s best freshmen last season, played just 17 snaps in Oklahoma’s opener against UTEP and is still working his way back to full strength after an offseason shoulder injury. Him getting a full workload on Saturday could make things all the more challenging for Michigan.

Fortunately, Michigan might be getting some reinforcements up front, or at least showing different personnel than it did in Week 1. Dom Nichols and John Henry Daley played an overwhelming number of the snaps on the edge, but that will likely change this week with Powell saying he wants to have five or six players in that rotation.

Freshman Carter Meadows, who was out for the Western Michigan game, could be one of those guys. Powell said Meadows returned to practice on Tuesday and the staff is “hoping” he can go this week, while possibly upping the workloads for other players that didn’t see the field as much. Sophomore Nate Marshall could also be a candidate for more playing time after being on the field for just eight snaps on Saturday.

Getting more players on the field could be beneficial for Michigan to confuse Oklahoma, but to also help its own cause if it finds itself in another dogfight.

“I feel like it was good for us to get all those reps (last weekend). We needed it,” Powell said. “If we could have, I probably would have rotated (more players) just to keep guys fresh.”

After being one of the most talked-about position groups during fall camp, Michigan’s defensive line is going to take on its long-awaited early-season challenge against the Sooners in front of the home crowd. While the edge rushers weren’t exactly the place to point the finger after a close win over Western Michigan, the talented and, now potentially, deeper group will look to wreak as much havoc as possible to change the narrative of the Wolverines in the early going.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos