GBMWolverine: Coach's Corner -- Michigan Football -- Michigan at Northwestern -- Preview

Posted at 4:00pm — 10/7/2011

GBMWolverine: Coach’s Corner — Michigan Football — Michigan at Northwestern — Preview

Two true academically elite colleges will go at it on Saturday in Evanston, Illinois. For those who have not been to Northwestern’s campus, it is a visual treat. For those who graduate from Northwestern, good employment or business opportunities are prevalent.

Northwestern has made great progress in sports success during the last two decades. The current coach, Pat Fitzgerald, received his head-coaching opportunity as a result of great adversity when popular coach Randy Walker passed away. A former honored player and school loyalist; Fitzpatrick has fit right into the intended program mold of Gary Barnett and Randy Walker in keeping Northwestern more than competitive.

Northwestern will never gather up the collection of gifted athletes places like Alabama and Ohio State enjoy, but the program can point with pride that it is the only private school within the Big Ten membership, and while certainly not dominating by any stretch, the wildcats can compete.

So, like many schools across the country, Northwestern has put into place plans to maximize its talent. The offense uses quick strike timing and minimum drop back. Passing is done quick and from the gun. The read has been well known for years, and Northwestern’s smart quarterbacks make good decisions. The running game is based not on power, but timing and opportunity. When the Northwestern offense senses chaos or opportunity the game will speed up.

Northwestern’s offense is not one-dimensional and will attack the best opportunity. Michigan has relied on zones and schemes that have taken a while to develop the last two weeks. Northwestern will probably try the quick hitters to isolate a group of defenders that are just barely alright when it comes to quick coverage and covering in space on their own.

Northwestern will run the read option, but if Persa goes down, so does the odds of Northwestern beating Michigan. The back up at the quarterback spot has been adequate. Michigan will need to hold the middle down and force Persa into Plan B mode or put some serious hurry on him. Northwestern’s offensive line is pretty solid and Michigan has had trouble sacking quarterbacks, although the pressure was felt the last two weeks.

Teams such as Navy and Northwestern rely on decent talent that plays well together on defense, hoping to stop the other team enough so that the offense can win the game. Northwestern has done very well the last few years, having enough offense to win and enough defense to give the team a chance in the fourth quarter. Fitzpatrick instills his never-say-die attitude to the defense, one that is well prepared and plays hard.

Northwestern can play most teams very tough, injuries are usually devastating, and the team sometimes hangs on for dear life in the fourth quarter. On the flip side, the offense has made many 4th quarter charges of its own.

Michigan will have the advantage of good speed in the backfield and frankly should break some big plays. There will be opportunities for Michigan to go big with Denard Robinson, or use him as a decoy to gather spies in the middle. It makes perfect sense for Michigan to start Denard off with short, quick, high-percentage passes, maybe ever bringing back some more of the smurf slot attack. But the last two weeks Michigan has run very well out of the gun and passed enough to be a small nuisance.

Regardless, Michigan’s mission will remain the same, avoid turnovers and provide some game control. Michigan will need to have success on both lines to pull out a victory.

With the game being a night game we will have our predictions on Saturday morning instead of the normal Friday. So check back to get our predictions and commentary of the game and come to the message board and give your feedback.

Please comment on our GBMWolverine Message Board about this article and read what others comment.

You can contact us at our e-mail address: GBMWolverine

Written by GBMWolverine Staff

Go Blue — Wear Maize!

Home/Michigan Football