Can Michigan stop Alabama’s Dallas Turner, Chris Braswell in Rose Bowl?

To put it as politely as possible, Michigan might have a problem coming at it from the edges when it faces Alabama Monday in the College Football Playoff’s Rose Bowl semifinal. It’s no shot at the Wolverine offensive line, nearly everyone has trouble when Crimson Tide outside linebackers Chris Braswell and Dallas Turner come rushing in.

Even with Will Anderson off to the NFL’s Houston Texans, the Alabama edge-rushers haven’t missed a beat this season.

“They’re two really, really good players, so we’re really excited for the challenge,” Michigan offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore said. “We’ve got to have a great plan to attack those players, to attack every player that they have on the field.”

Turner was a known commodity entering the season. The junior from Fort Lauderdale starred opposite Anderson since his freshman season in Tuscaloosa.

This year, he’s kept up the good work, with 50 tackles, 10 sacks and two forced fumbles so far. The SEC’s coaches voted him the league’s defensive player of the year.

“Obviously you have to account for Dallas Turner being who he is as a first-team All-American,” Wolverine center Drake Nugent said. “Probably going to be first-round pick. Runs super well, super fast. They have got other guys as well, but obviously he takes a lot of the attention, given his stats this year.”

Knowing Turner is coming and stopping him are two separate issues. Same deal for Braswell, one of the “other guys,” who has filled Anderson’s role admirably on the other side.

The senior earned second-team all-SEC honors from the Associated Press. He has eight sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception so far this season.

“Well-coached, pretty good with their hands,” Michigan tight end Colston Loveland said. “When they give them space, they can get something going for sure. But we’ve seen some pretty good edge rushers thus far. We’ve got to do a good job and use the right technique and get on them early.”

Michigan runs a more balanced attack than many of the SEC programs Alabama has faced this season, relying heavily on running back Blake Corum. However, quarterback JJ McCarthy still needs protection, and it might be tough to come by against Alabama.

But according to Moore, the Wolverines are ready to go.

“For us, it’s really about us,” Moore said. “What can we do, how can we execute, and our plan is to just execute at a high level and play with great detail and great fundamentals.”

Alabama and Michigan are set to kick off at 4 p.m. CT on Monday. The game will be aired on ESPN.