[Husker] Huskers vs. Penn State at 2:30 on ABC/ESPN2

[Nick Chevance]

First an apology for a long post - must be feeling good about Saturday!!

Assuming most think that Michigan was a stern test that we passed this
weekend, I thought I'd take a look at some stats to see how that
compares to our next foe.

Some interesting comparisons on national rankings (see NCAA.com):

On defense:

Michigan through 8 games is 9th in total defense (about 291
yards/game), tied with Alabama for first in passing defense, and yet
tied for 46th in rushing defense.

Michigan State through 9 games is 5th in total defense (about 267
yards/game), 14th in passing defense, and 7th in rushing defense (only
allowing 3 TD's on the ground).

Nebraska through 8 games is 26th in total defense (336 yards/game),
8th in pass defense, and 82nd in rushing defense.

On offense:

Michigan is 83rd in total offense, 108th in passing yards/game, 108th
in passing efficiency, 27th in rushing,

Michigan State is 96th in total offense, 66th in passing yards/game,
106th in passing efficiency, 90th in rushing,

Nebraska is 15th in total offense, 71st in passing yards/game, 17th in
passing efficiency, and 7th in rushing,

What sticks out to me is that Michigan State isn't much of an
offensive threat.  We knew going in that Michigan could move the ball
on the ground, and that their success in the air comes from that
ground game.  Once Denard went down, that pretty much made their task
so much more difficult.  Michigan State can't seem to move the ball at
all.  I think this bodes well for our defense; slow down Bell (can you
really stop a guy that big?  Wisconsin couldn't), and make it
difficult for the QB to find open receivers.  We seem to be able to do
that.  With our improving defense (front 7) over the last couple of
weeks, we might even get pressure on their QB, something he doesn't
like and doesn't tend to handle well.  (After watching a replay of the
second half of that game, Wisconsin had best success putting somebody
in his face; as someone pointed out here, Wisconsin went into a
prevent-like zone in the overtime that simply didn't work well at all
for them.)  I think we demonstrated that even with a good QB last
year, we caused State to have difficulties moving the ball.  I'd like
to think that will continue this next week.

What worries me is that Michigan State defense.  If we thought
Michigan was tough to run on (it seemed that way through 3 quarters),
State's going to be even tougher.  We didn't play a clean game this
last week (despite some interesting help from the zebras which I
haven't heard anyone comment on yet this week), and that may make it
even tougher if we don't play a clean game again this week.  Passing
is going to be the key this week; based on Michigan's ranking, we
should be able to against State.  Will we use the run to set up the
pass, or set up the run by passing, which seems like what happened
against Michigan?  I think we should be able to move the ball on them
but it isn't going to be easy.  Let's hope we can set up some long
drives that let the defense catch their breath on the sidelines.
Those 3 and outs in about a minute and a half isn't helping our
defense any.

Finally, were we just too cute on that goal line series, running
Martinez on first down, then loading the 'I' with Marrow and Cross
then throwing it?  Twice? That one does mystify me still.

Nick
-- 
"In politics stupidity is not a handicap."
Napoleon Bonaparte