2021 nebraska

Things discussed:

• Sam: “Michigan State has the softest fanbase in sports.” <—This Sam talking, MSU fans. Please direct your ire at him.
• Northwestern: Their middle linebackers are terrible, they lost Hankwitz and most of their good players. They’re on their third quarterback and their second blue chip transfer quarterback from and FBS school in South Carolina.
• I didn’t get this in because Brian cut me off on the roster breakdown but their slot receiver transfer from Kansas is pretty slick, and WMU is the comp.
• Northwestern defense: their MLBs can’t take any kind of distractions, so they were good against Rutgers who just does the same thing to you every play, but got ruined by clever offenses like (yes, Sam) MSU’s and Nebraska’s.
• Hoops: Long discussion about Purdue and are they or Michigan the favorites in the Big Ten? Purdue could be really good, can have both centers kill you, have young players popping, and a ceiling as high as Michigan’s. In Michigan’s favor: defense travels, and they’re going to be more consistent, whereas Purdue is going to have nights when the shots don’t fall.
• Michigan’s backcourt: We are loving Bufkin, Jones is going to be an impact guy as a defender. Better than Smith? We think so.
• Craig: Michigan fans are going to adore Tschetter.
• Hockey: #1 after taking out #4 and #1 on the road (and semi-road). Bordeleau is a savant, and then you have a Kyle Connor (I said Brett Hull) on his wing in Brisson whose one-timer is absolutely lethal.
• Power play could challenge for the record, if they can get the calls.
• Really impressed with Portillo.
• Can play old or young, and play back, giving up only one odd-man rush in a game to Minny State, or attack like they did against LSSU, giving up rushes to get more of them and 1980s you down with their talent.
• Would Mel Tucker take the LSU job? Of course. Will he be the guy they offer? Less likely.

[Hit the JUMP for the player, and video and stuff]

Previously: Offense.

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Formation Notes: Way too many goofy things Nebraska did to show them all. Demi means the WRs are not wide (normal) and not tight.

I pulled “Fritz” out of the 2011 Offense vs Minnesota for this formation that’s reminiscent of 1890s football:

Imagine the QB under center and you get why the backs were named quarter, half, and full. I also started noting some of their motions. Also in History of Football Formations 101, Michigan used an Eagle with a standup nose (Morris), which was the formation that originally gave rise to the 4-3 defense.

I’m sure there’s a more fascinating name for this formation that I called Zero:

Nebraska also made heavy use of Gun Bunch Z Cross OMFG the OT is in the Backfield Again!

Substitution Notes: Ojabo got the start and starter’s minutes at OLB. Mostly nickel personnel the whole way: Hinton/Smith were 1st team, Jenkins came on when they needed a 5th lineman, and Speight/Jeter were the team when the starters needed a breather. NHG and Colson split time and Barrett got a couple of drives as an HSP version of the WLB. Corner was the usual rotation, with the CBs coming off for goal line.

[After THE JUMP: Sixty minutes of linebacker hell]

Things discussed:

• Nebraska: They’re a good team. Great defensive line. Was this the gutsiest win by Michigan under Harbaugh? Have to give credit to Nebraska for shooting themselves in the foot.
• Cade Talk: Sam asks when we go with McCarthy, Seth is on Team McNamara because he’s got a high floor, and maybe that’s what you need when you have a good defense and good players around you. Brian says McCarthy should be the redzone guy.
• Offense: Playing better to their strengths. Tight ends had a great day vs not Wisconsin LBs, running backs won the game, Cade wasn’t that great but he was steady. TE leak.
• Note user Dragonchild’s diary about how Michigan is using less split zone and associated plays. They’re a good power team. Cade is a good 5-wide guy. They can run both out of the same personnel.
• Defense: Worried about the cornerbacks. Gray and Turner had BAAAAD pass interferences and that’s not going to work vs Ohio State.
• Michigan State? Quarterback play and two good receivers are real—the run game might be an effect of playing very bad run defenses but respect is due. Seth: These are all just college football teams. Michigan/MSU/Iowa/Nebraska…not that much separates these teams.
• Hockey Talk: This team can score at will on the power play, additions are great, have a lot more age than people realize. Portillo gives up too many soft rebounds but that was 1/4.
• Jett: Big recruiting win—Howard showed he can pull a guy out of IMG *AND* make him clean his room. Versatile player, closest recent comp is Franz? Needs a left.

[Hit the JUMP for the player, and video and stuff]