Can we win the ground game vs Wisconsin?
I know everyone wants to “open it up” vs Wisconsin but how well our rushing attack performs vs theirs will be a key indicator of where we are as a team. 2 years ago we shut down a good running attack and had some success running the ball ourselves. Last year we simply couldn’t get the ground game going to take pressure off Peterson and didn’t do enough to slow down Taylor.
I think we can get outgained on the ground and still win the game but we can’t run for 60 yards and give up 200. Hopefully we see the Warriner effect come to fruition against a “big boy” team. It’s been a while since we have been able to do this.
October 10th, 2018 at 3:30 PM ^
For relaxing times, make it Suntory time.
October 10th, 2018 at 4:51 PM ^
More mysterious?
October 10th, 2018 at 3:20 PM ^
Hell yea brother!
October 10th, 2018 at 4:05 PM ^
Cheers from Iraq!
October 10th, 2018 at 4:47 PM ^
The best pasta.
October 10th, 2018 at 3:20 PM ^
I’ll say yes, but I suspect that the defense may have to carry a little more of the water overall to make it happen.
October 10th, 2018 at 3:21 PM ^
We are going to destroy Wisconsin. Don’t worry about how we do it.
October 10th, 2018 at 3:22 PM ^
Michigan needs to open up the run by attacking the air first. Wisconsin's secondary is not that great, plus they have some banged up dudes and a safety who is suspended for the first half. I watched Nebraska put up 500+ yards of offense on these guys.
I truly believe the biggest factor in keeping Wisconsin from getting into the Playoffs has been their secondary. They don't have the athletes or speed to contend with fast and athletic WR's. Look at PSU last year and OSU the year prior. Both teams threw the ball down the field.
If Michigan comes out early and establishes the passing game, the running game will open up nicely. We just need Harbaugh and Co. to have that aggressive attitude.
October 10th, 2018 at 3:30 PM ^
/\This. I think Pep and Harbaugh know this and Shea has proven he is ready. It’s the right strategy for the next three weeks. Let’s hope for sunny skies.
Tru Wilson’s versatility combined with his willingness and ability to pass block make him one of the most underrated players of need the next three weeks.
October 10th, 2018 at 4:33 PM ^
This will upset Marcus Ray and his ilk, but look at what NW just did to Sparty. Ignore the hidebound fools who insist that you have to always ESTABLISH THE RUN.
October 10th, 2018 at 4:36 PM ^
Don’t you worry about Marcus, he’s already finding the next thing to run his mouth about. Trust that.
October 10th, 2018 at 6:31 PM ^
Marcus just picked Wisconsin behind the strength of Hornibrook
October 10th, 2018 at 10:01 PM ^
No...no...no, Marcus just picked a ham sammich on the strength of mustard. We all know he never passes up an opportunity to chow.
October 10th, 2018 at 5:08 PM ^
I don't know. That logic did not work very well against NorthWestwern. I will not be surprised if we have a balanced attack and still get a push in the running game.
October 10th, 2018 at 3:23 PM ^
If we outrush Wisconsin in this game there will be Muppets. Obviously we'd like to hold them well below 200 yards, but the way I'd game plan is attack their secondary early, get Shea Patterson going and hopefully get a lead on the scoreboard, and then pound the run game once the linebackers have gotten softened up.
Bottom line is we don't want to try to outslug Wisconsin. We should have a clear advantage with our passing game against their secondary. Win the game.
October 10th, 2018 at 5:09 PM ^
12:01AM Sunday October 14 Muppets. Raback it!
October 10th, 2018 at 3:28 PM ^
They probably could but I hope they don't try as that's the only chance the badgers have. Put up 30 and its game over.
October 10th, 2018 at 5:26 PM ^
You're a little more sanguine than I am right now. They have a very good offense and our DT situation is dicey with injuries. I think this could turn into a shootout.
October 10th, 2018 at 9:03 PM ^
Has Wisconsin ever won a shootout?
October 10th, 2018 at 3:28 PM ^
Mich running game hasn't been good vs decent teams since 2016 (less than 60 yards I believe vs ND for example) I agree that's a huge factor in Saturday nights game.I'm looking forward to see if the O-Lines apparent improvement is real or just a by product of weaker opponents.No doubt Wis pass def is exploitable but Mich needs to have at least a decent run game to make the passing game more effective.Need some semblance of balance.
October 10th, 2018 at 3:53 PM ^
The run game is fundamental to Harbaughffense. During the early parts of this game, maybe throughout it, there's going to be plenty of whining about running into stacked boxes, not seeing Ss creeping up and Patterson not checking out of run plays doomed to 1 yard or less, blah, blah blah.
Pep will stay with what JH wants and that's around a 60/40 run/pass combo. Pounding the ball works when the ground game is getting 4-5ypc average and there's data to back that assertion up.
Pep gets a lot of criticism for calling plays that are what are undoubtedly bounded by Harbaugh's game plan modified by in-game circumstances. I think we saw last Saturday that there is scheme variability sufficient to keep defenses confused about what's coming at them..... when it;s appropriate to call that play.
I also think Harbaugh's analysts know which data points suggest more passing on standard downs could be productive as a means of completing drives and increasing scoring efficiency and they tell him that. If needed, he'll call those plays.
But if there is any in-game numbers that show the coaches that M is controlling the LOS on both sides of the ball and the score differential suggests the game plan is working, Harbaugh will continue to pound it at the 60% level or higher if Wisconsin shows signs of fading on D and difficulty sustaining drives on O. Prepare yourself for that even though your gut reaction might be to yell at the TV.
October 10th, 2018 at 4:11 PM ^
I plan to just yell at the refs
October 10th, 2018 at 8:34 PM ^
I agree completely with your assessment. The last thing Jim Harbaugh wants is a couple 20 second 3 and out drives by our offense that ends up wearing down the Michigan defense. From a coaching perspective, you play this one very conservatively-to hell with the pathological partisans. Having said that, Michigan has a huge offensive ace-in-the-hole with Patterson...and they can put the ball in his hands and tell him to go do whatever it takes to win the game-if they get in trouble.
October 10th, 2018 at 9:00 PM ^
Well said and nice effing post!
October 10th, 2018 at 4:02 PM ^
The running game was okay against ND (who also has a phenomenal front seven). Run plays were 27 for 90 yards (3.3 ypc) and 1 TD. That's not great, but it would have been numbers you can win with if not for penalties.
The reason the team stats for the game show only 58 yards rushing is because of Shea's 3 sacks (not rushing plays) and Hart's bobbled snap on the FG (not a rushing play). The two of them combined for -32 yards on the day.
October 10th, 2018 at 3:29 PM ^
Yes.
Huzzah!!
October 10th, 2018 at 3:30 PM ^
Si se puede!!!
October 10th, 2018 at 3:47 PM ^
¿Podemos Arreglarlo?
October 10th, 2018 at 3:30 PM ^
Throw out last year - there was no passing game that anyone was worried about when the UM offense took the field. Teams loaded up against the run and dared the QB to throw it. More often than not, passing failed miserably. Last year is not this year.
I think we'll see an wide array of passes Saturday night, by both teams. Both offenses will struggle to get 4 ypc, it's going to come down to who can pass the ball. I think UM's pass defense is better than UW's pass defense. Late in the game, when we hold a 2-3 score lead, the run game will start taking over. Higdon will be able to find some space because Patterson has already hit a bunch of throws to soften up the safeties. UW will be in catch-up mode, ergo one-dimensional against UM's defense. That won't end well for them...
October 10th, 2018 at 3:35 PM ^
Unless you know something about Michigan's interior dline injuries the rest of us don't I'd be thrilled with keeping them under 4 yards per carry playing Lawrence Marshall and a walk on for real snaps.
October 10th, 2018 at 3:45 PM ^
Gary, Mone, Kemp, and Winovich should be able to hold their own. Backups will include Uche, Paye, and Marshall on the DL, and all of the linebackers. Only Dwumfour will be out, per many reports in other threads.
I have time, these days, to keep up with many threads through the workday. Don't hate me...
October 10th, 2018 at 3:55 PM ^
Umbig11 also said Solomon is probable, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Gary pitching in on the 3-Tech rotation if they are hobbled.
October 10th, 2018 at 3:59 PM ^
UmBig also thinks SOLOMON IS PROBABLE. To The Fuckening.
October 10th, 2018 at 8:30 PM ^
Only Dwumfour will be out.
Defending the run is not his strength anyway. If Solomon plays, we are inching close to full strength.
October 10th, 2018 at 3:36 PM ^
I think Michigan's best path to success in the remaining schedule is a pass-heavier offense. Our running game has improved, but it will struggle more against teams with stout front 7's. I think Shea's ability to move around while throwing and our very good WR's and TE's give us an advantage against almost every team we need to exploit. After seeing how Nebraska shredded them thru the air, Michigan should do well on Saturday.
October 10th, 2018 at 3:59 PM ^
Make Grant Perry practice his throwing.
October 10th, 2018 at 4:26 PM ^
have gentry make that throw instead.
October 10th, 2018 at 10:09 PM ^
Have Gentry run where his blockers are on the screen, not AWAY from them! Still scratching my head on that play!
October 10th, 2018 at 4:43 PM ^
Agreed. from the arm chair I've been wondering why we insist on the run first approach.... those 1st and 2nd down runs with minimal gain, then 3rd in long don't favor us.... it would seem a couple quick 5 to 7 yard passes to some very tall guy or slants to a fast guy might move the chains a few times, put our offense in rhythm and back the defense off enough to open up a run game.
but I've never coached a down of football so i don't profess to know.
i have wondered quite a bit.... and wandered some too.
October 10th, 2018 at 3:37 PM ^
In their last few games their opponents have been able to run the ball. If we ignore the games against tomato cans and just look at when they've played real teams, here's what we have:
- BYU: 6.8 ypc with their top two runners over 9 ypc
- Iowa: 4.8 ypc with their two main backs over 5 ypc
- Nebraska: 4.6 ypc with their main two backs over 5 ypc
This defense doesn't look anything like what they put on the field last year.
October 10th, 2018 at 5:17 PM ^
That's real kind of you to include Nebraska in the "not a tomato can" group.
October 10th, 2018 at 6:15 PM ^
Right, Nebraska is more a can of corn.
Hey-oooooo!!!
October 10th, 2018 at 3:39 PM ^
No, Shea going to have to bombs away, plus a lot of 20 yard pickups. If we can loosen up WI D, then the run game will work.
October 10th, 2018 at 3:42 PM ^
Trust Shea....the offense goes as he does. Trust your D to get stops get a lead and force Wiscy to throw. We wont beat them at their game with this OL.
October 10th, 2018 at 3:43 PM ^
Our defense is giving up only 33.6% of their offense's per game rushing average (96.5yds to 287yds).
Their defense is giving up 65.2% of our offense's per game rushing average (130.2yds to 199.8yds).
Our S&P defense (2nd) will be the best defense they have faced all year, and the best since Iowa (8th), who held them to 210 yards rushing (177 until the H-back end around when Wisconsin was trying to run out the clock).
Our S&P offense (25th) will be the best offense they have faced all year, and the best since New Mexico (42nd). BYU ran for 191 yards against Wisconsin (with Squally Canada, a real human).
Their S&P offense (14th) will be the best offense we have faced all year, and the best since Notre Dame (32nd). We held Notre Dame to 132 yards rushing.
Their S&P defense (55th) will be the best we have faced since Northwestern (31st). We ran for 180 yards on Northwestern.
I would say that it's quite possible, maybe even likely, that we win the rushing battle. An above average offense, I bet we can run for 150 yards or more on 55th ranked D Wisconsin (we ran for 180 against 31st Northwestern and 171 on 57th Maryland). I would also guess that we can hold their offense to around 130. They ran for 204 in their loss to BYU, but BYU didn't truly have them in a hole until the 3rd quarter. If we can build a lead early, and keep getting them off the field, we will force them to pass more than they'd like to, and their DL will get tired.