This game is Nebraska's Offense vs. Michigan's Defense

[Jack_John_Mark]

As I was saying earlier today, I think most people see our biggest problem in this match-up being the way our Defense stacks up against Michigan's Offense.....

I actually think our Defense shows up 2 weeks in a row. I think we do fine and actually hold Michigan to under 350 total yards.

The problem I see is Nebraska's Offense struggling with Michigan's Defense. Yes, that's right.

Michigan started the season out slow, but against their past 5 opponents, Michigan has not allowed more than 13 points to a single one.

 

[Jack_John_Mark]

The play of Taylor Martinez will tell the story........

The story of how the Offensive Line holds up against Michigan's talented Defensive Line.....

The play of Taylor Martinez will determine the outcome of the game.

 

[gobigred]

Michigan's last 5 opponents are also all pretty inept offensively so that is skewing those stats.

Opponent (scoring offense rank)
Massachusets- No ranking (only scored more than 17 points once)
Notre Dame- (76th)
Purdue (48th) Most all points against OOC cupcakes (48+ against E. KY, E. Mich and Marshall - only scored more than 20 once against BCS opponent )
Illinois- (111th)
Michigan State (107th)

 

[Jack_John_Mark]

Cot dammit you weren't supposed to post that!

 

[NE1tm2nv]

I don't know who it was on the BIG network, but he predicted the huskers blowing Meatchicken out big. I sure as hell hope he's right!

 

[gobigred]

Cot dammit you weren't supposed to post that!

Sorry for ruining your arguement by posting facts

 

[Jack_John_Mark]

It wasn't even an argument really............

I was jest trying to pump up Michigan's Defense so it would make our Offense look better when Taylor destroys them

 

[Smoke]

Denard goes off. Soz guys.

 

[Jack_John_Mark]

Michigan's Defense has not allowed a rushing TD yet in BIG play......

 

[Brasky]

Denard goes off. Soz guys.

can absolutely see this happening.

 

[Red_Alert]

Yup

I personally think NU will be able to run the ball on Michigan.

It comes down to Nebraska stopping (or at least limiting) the ability of Denard Robinson running the ball.

 

[Red_Alert]

I posted this on the Nebraska/Mich thread

I can see Michigan scoring 33.

However, Nebraska will move the ball on Michigan.
Michigan's statistical weakness "Rushing Defense" (49th) has come against teams who don't run the ball well.

Rushing Offenses

@Alabama (20th) (Scored 41 on Michigan)
Air Force (2nd) (Scored 25 on Michigan)
Massachusetts (FCS)
@Notre Dame (38th)
@Purdue (69th)
Illinois (95th)
Mich St (84th)

Nebraska's Rushing Offense (6th) has managed to maintain that stat
despite playing some decent Rushing Defenses the last 3 games.

Rushing Defenses

Wisconsin (23rd) (Dropped from 13th to 33rd after playing NU)
@Ohio St (30th) (Dropped from 19th to 35th after playing NU)
@N'Western (29th) (Dropped from 22nd to 29th after playing NU

NU averaged 32 ppg in those games scoring respectively
30, 38, and 29 pts.

Considering how poorly NU played in those last three games, theoretically the Huskers should score mid to upper 30's 'at home' against Michigan.

 

[Red_Alert]

Michigan's last 5 opponents are also all pretty inept offensively so that is skewing those stats.

Opponent (scoring offense rank)
Massachusets- No ranking (only scored more than 17 points once)
Notre Dame- (76th)
Purdue (48th) Most all points against OOC cupcakes (48+ against E. KY, E. Mich and Marshall - only scored more than 20 once against BCS opponent )
Illinois- (111th)
Michigan State (107th)

This too.

Michigan is 16th in Scoring Defense, but the teams they've faced don't rank well in scoring offense.

 

[Red_Alert]

Michigan

Pass Defense 4th
Pass Efficiency Defense 15th

Passing Offense

@Alabama 75th
Air Force 118th
Massachusetts (FCS)
@Notre Dame 98th
@Purdue 72nd
Illinois 104th
Mich St 61st

Nebraska 58th

Pass Efficiency Offense

@Alabama 1st
Air Force 4th
Massachusetts (FCS)
@Notre Dame 77th
@Purdue 76th
Illinois 87th
Mich St 106th

Nebraska 15th

 

[Red_Alert]

Michigan

Total Defense 10th

Total Offense

@Alabama 39th
Air Force 27th
Massachusetts (FCS)
@Notre Dame 74th
@Purdue 80th
Illinois 112th
Mich St 87th

Nebraska 12th

 

[Red_Alert]

This game comes down to Nebraska's ability to contain Denard Robinson running. They can't give him the short field (w/turnovers & punting), and they need force him to throw the ball where he's apt to throw potential INT's.

Robinson

Rushing 7th
Total Offense 14th
All-Purpose Runners 40th
Passing Efficiency 64th

Unfortunately

Nebraska

Rushing Defense 90th
Total Defense 43rd
Scoring Defense 71st

Fortunately

Nebraska

Pass Defense 10th
Pass Efficiency Defense 18th

 

[Brasky]

I honestly believe the northwestern game plan is exactly the way they need to attack michigan.

Play man coverage all game and dare Robinson to throw it. Sell out for the run.

The thing we didn't see much vs Northwestern that we'll see a bunch of in this game is a quarterback rolling/scrambling out of the pocket and finding running lanes when the pass isn't there.

That's how he killed us on 3rd down last year.

 

[Red_Alert]

And by golly if NU can contain Robinson and force him to throw, if the ball hits the DB's in the hands they need to INT it. Don't be giving Robinson 2nd chances to make plays.

 

[wearegettingthere]

As I was saying earlier today, I think most people see our biggest problem in this match-up being the way our Defense stacks up against Michigan's Offense.....

I actually think our Defense shows up 2 weeks in a row. I think we do fine and actually hold Michigan to under 350 total yards.

The problem I see is Nebraska's Offense struggling with Michigan's Defense. Yes, that's right.

Michigan started the season out slow, but against their past 5 opponents, Michigan has not allowed more than 13 points to a single one.

I thought this was an interesting argument when it was presented during the Over Reaction Show and subsequent radio shows yesterday.
I'm with the other posters who think this games comes down to us not shooting ourselves in the foot with turnovers and shanked punts and containing Robinson. There's nothing to suggest our offense can't move the ball on Michigan even though I am of the opinion that Michigan is the best defense we have faced thus far. We all know that isn't saying much.

 

[wearegettingthere]

I posted this on the Nebraska/Mich thread

I can see Michigan scoring 33.

However, Nebraska will move the ball on Michigan.
Michigan's statistical weakness "Rushing Defense" (49th) has come against teams who don't run the ball well.

Rushing Offenses

@Alabama (20th) (Scored 41 on Michigan)
Air Force (2nd) (Scored 25 on Michigan)
Massachusetts (FCS) .......

Nitpick Alert!

UMass is actually in the MAC.

Jeff Sagarin has them ranked 208. Behind many many FCS schools. It would be interesting to see the rankings of the computer geeks who also rank Div 2 and 3. Perhaps there might be a Division 2 team ahead of UMass.

Jeff Sagarin has Idaho State ranked 232.