TCU OC Garrett Riley breaks down Michigan’s football defense one-on-one

PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz.On Saturday, all eyes will be on two College Football Playoff semifinal matchups, and in the first matchup between Michigan football and TCU, the challenge for each team will come when the Horned Frogs attack.

The power-to-power matchup will bring TCU’s vaunted offensive attack, led by Broyles Award-winning offensive coordinator Garrett Riley — his younger brother. USC head coach Lincoln Riley and a Wolverine defense that ranks No. 3 in the nation in yards per game and No. 4 in scoring defense.

We caught up with Riley at TCU’s Vrbo Fiesta Bowl media day portion, and he shared what he’s seen of Michigan’s defense on film.

“Very talented, I think they play very well together, which is kind of one of the first things that jumps out on the tape,” Riley told WolverinesWire. – I think the secondaries are very strong. And obviously up front, their seven advantages, they’re doing a great job. So I mean they are very, very solid and well coached. They’ll be in position a lot of times and challenge your guy defensively. I think they expect them to play one-on-one and you can see that happening out there on the perimeter and at the rim.

“So it’s going to be a fun matchup. And obviously we’re looking to get these plays on offense.”

Football games are usually won in the trenches, and while TCU is loaded at the skill positions, it will need to be stout up front given what the Wolverines put up on the defensive line.

For Riley, he believes Michigan’s offense starts with Mazi Smith and Kris Jenkins and works outward from there.

“They’re very strong indoors,” Riley said. “And they certainly provide some pass rush and can be active on the edge as well. And so I think that’s going to be a big thing throughout the game — who can get stronger as the game goes on and who can’t? To me, it’s going to be strength to strength, honestly. But I think, that becomes the real key as the game progresses who gets stronger.

Given how multi-faceted Jesse Minter’s defense has been this year, how does one figure out what Michigan is going to do?

Of course, if you’re at TCU, the tendency would be to look at Maryland, Ohio State, and the Purdue games, which Riley says was his study load. But he says he also spent a lot of time watching games where Michigan’s opponent’s offensive style was wildly different from the Horned Frogs’ offense.

“We look at everything, especially when you have as much time as you can,” Riley said. “You always make a mistake by looking at people who you think are maybe a little more similar to you and how they react to that style. So I mean you always look at that first. But like I said, when you have this much time, you’re able to watch everything a little bit more than you normally would.”

Michigan and TCU are scheduled to kick off at 4:00 PM EST on Saturday.