GBMWolverine Football Preview: Two Giants Crossing Paths — Nebraska at Michigan
Posted at 4:45pm — 11/18/2011
GBMWolverine Football Preview: Two Giants Crossing Paths — Nebraska at Michigan
It cannot be argued that Michigan and Nebraska are not giants of college football: national championships, decades of conference championships, Heisman winners, legendary coaches, and a multitude of wins. One of the last time the two programs crossed paths in glory times was when Michigan and Nebraska shared the 1997 national title. There will be no sharing Saturday.
Over the last decade both programs have taken lumps and hit pitfalls during slight decline periods. Nebraska has fought back to near the pinnacle, but not being able to consistently take out Texas or Oklahoma in the Big 12. Michigan has been hard pressed to claim any glory since the close loss to Ohio State in the number one and two game.
Nebraska made a great move getting out of the Big 12 and should do very well in the new husker niche: The Big Ten. Basketball may be another story.
This will be Nebraska’s first appearance before 112,000 plus fans, but keep in mind the Huskers played before 105,000 last week in Happy Valley. This will be Nebraska’s second straight road game and will go a long way in determining any chance Nebraska has at a title game shot.
Nebraska is a match up problem for Michigan’s defense. The Huskers are big and fast. The perception is that the offense is not that good, but it is, averaging over 400 yards per game. Penn State has a good defense and hung tough limiting the Husker offensive game last week.
The Huskers run with power and speed. The option package includes a read zone option that can break Martinez up the middle well and a speed option to the edge where defenses must account for two big threats, Martinez and Rex Burkhead. Michigan has done better lately, but the edge will put constant pressure on the defensive ends and linebackers.
The offensive line of Nebraska has suffered recent injuries and will not be at 100% Saturday. This may give Michigan enough breathing room to make some stops. Containing Martinez is a tough task, as the Huskers consider him, and not Denard Robinson, to be the king of speed. Bottom line: try catching either one when a big seam opens. This will be the second of three talented running quarterbacks Michigan will need to defend. The view here is that Martinez is clearly superior to Illinois’ Scheelhaas.
As all teams will, Nebraska will try and have the safeties bite on play action and hit the deep post.
The Michigan defense will need to be very well prepared and play superior assignment football. Leaving an assignment and getting caught in the wash against the various versions of Nebraska’s options can result in a touchdown. The Wolverines will also need to smell out some wrinkles in the Nebraska offense as there is an almost certainty that the Husker offense will show some new formations and plays.
Michigan’s front has continued to improve, although frankly the Illinois offensive line was less than stellar. If Michigan can stop the inside read the game might come down to Michigan’s ability or inability to stop the edge option.
Both teams have mixed success in the passing game, but have enough weapons to threaten. The Huskers have a tremendous shut down corner in Alfonzo Denard and Michigan’s secondary has been solid if not spectacular. J.T. Floyd will again need to be a football warrior and Countess will need to show his improvement is not a temporary moment.
The battle of the quarterbacks will be interesting. On the surface Martinez would appear to have an advantage with his speed and strong husker line play. His passing is at least adequate and while Heisman talk of his early freshman year has toned down, Martinez is one of the very best offensive threats in college football.
Denard has suffered or self-inflicted turnoveritis. He has been hurt some but simply must control and manage the game better than in the past few weeks. The Husker defensive line has suffered severe injuries, but is still a formable unit. The term solid applies but the faithful in Lincoln expected a lights-out defense this year.
Michigan will need to control the ball and make progress up and down the field. As in every game there will be a few times where the big play opportunity presents itself and Michigan must take full advantage. Nebraska has one big advantage in this matchup: the defense is among the best at short yardage stops and Michigan’s offense is mediocre in short-yardage situations. This could be the difference if the game comes down to a play or two of old fashioned snot knocking.
Both coaching staffs will prepare hard to stop the quarterbacks but Michigan must also stop the big power back Rex Burkhead. This powerful runner has crossed the 1,000 yard mark and runs downhill at all times. It will take a decided effort to stop both threats.
Nebraska believes the Northwestern loss can be placed on conservative and predictable play calling and has vowed to not repeat that perceived mistake.
The weather is forecast to be fine for a fusion of two big name teams. On the surface the matchup is exciting and intriguing, the actual product will probably follow suit.
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Written by GBMWolverine Staff
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