The Michigan Wolverines have already faced two competent quarterbacks in Oklahoma’s John Mateer and Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola, and on Saturday night they’re set to face another talented QB1 in USC’s Jayden Maiava.
Maiava ranks No. 1 in ESPN Total QBR (93.4) an No. 6 in the nation in passing yards (1,587). Maiava has been careful with the football, too, throwing 11 touchdowns to just one interception. And while Maiava is more of a pure thrower than the likes of Mateer and Raiola, he still has four rushing touchdowns on the season and can extend plays with his legs.
“He’s elite,” Michigan defensive line coach Lou Esposito said. “He’s a great athlete. He probably doesn’t get enough credit on how athletic he truly is.”
Esposito went on to break down what Maiava does well mechanically.
“He doesn’t take his eyes off downfield. He’s got a quick release. He does a great job. He naturally steps back when he throws,” Esposito explained. “So when you play a quarterback like that and you’re pressuring him, he feels comfortable throwing it that way. So we got to do a good job of obviously keeping him in the pocket and then taking our chances.”
Stopping a quarterback like Maiava is easier said than done. Michigan has an admirale defense but the secondary will have its hands full thwarting USC’s No. 3 ranked passing offense. Michigan’s defense ranks No. 58 in passing yards allowed, No. 12 in passes intercepted, and No. 14 in team sacks. In short, Michigan may give up some yards to Maiava but they also have a good chance to create a turnover and tally some sacks.
“There’s not a quarterback that likes to be hit. So we got to try to hit him as much as we can and keep him in check that way because that will help everybody else,” Esposito said.
Esposito acknowledges that facing Maiava is a “big challenge” for Michigan — we’ll see if their up to the task on Saturday night in Los Angeles at LA Memorial Coliseum.
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