B10 team(s) most susceptible to speed?
For whatever reason we've had a terrible time (in recent memory, can't verify this historically) of being able to defend against teams who run the spread and usually have a handful of very fast players who make some great plays in the open.
Looking at our opponents this year, who do you think is most susceptible to our team's speed, and why?
August 24th, 2009 at 10:56 PM ^
Easy answer is IU and Purdue based on their overall lack of talent.
But I think as for the team that is built with a certain type of player that fits a bigger, "tougher" defensive scheme that will more likely struggle with our speed.... I'd say Iowa and Wisconsin. Good run-stuffing LBs that may struggle in coverage. DTs that look like pre-Spring Will Campbells.
August 24th, 2009 at 10:58 PM ^
MSU, because their talent level isn't high, and they practice against I-form sets all the time.
Iowa to an extent because of the same reasons, but their defense has been stout enough for a while, they play excellent assignment football.
Wisconsin, because Dual Threet shredded them, and Bielema has them in a death spiral. Their defense has gotten gradually worse every year he's been the coach, which makes no sense, because he was Alvarez's DC.
And, yes......Ohio State. They have fast players, yes, but - and this is one of the dirty little secrets in Columbus that Michigan has not been able to capitalize on except for 2006 - Jim Heacock is a slug. He's really good at rolling over the alsorans, but when the talent levels are equal and the coaching is there, he goes into a shell ala Herrmann and pulls back the reigns. Part of this was due to playing vastly overrated players like James Laurinaitis, Marcus Freeman and even Malcolm Jenkins. Whether this continues with new faces like Sabino, Spitler, Bell, etc. in there remains to be seen...but Heacock's defenses have been victimized over the past three years by Florida (spread), Illinois (spread), LSU (semi-spread), and Texas (spread). USC obviously doesn't run a spread, but they're an exception to every rule anyway. They're on a different level from everybody else when it comes to pure talent, speed and coaching.
Unless Heacock's philosophy magically changes with the new players they're going to be breaking in on defense over the next couple seasons, the clock is ticking until Rodriguez and Magee expose him.
August 24th, 2009 at 11:33 PM ^
Agreed on OSU, but on offense. Notable ESPN analysts made the comment today on sports radio that OSU's offensive line is in horrid shape and will get torn apart by a fast defense. Here's hoping that the Wolverines can capitalize.
August 24th, 2009 at 11:52 PM ^
This is true as well, Bollman is another slug on that staff. Alex Boone was unbelievably incompetent during his time at LT. Their OL kept Troy Smith clean and helped (helped being the key word) turn Wells and Pittman loose for 50 yard TDs against our defense, and Florida turn-stiled them. Florida and LSU's defensive lines outclassed OSU's offensive line so badly, it was really surprising to me. It felt like it was a USC/Michigan Rose Bowl. Just stunning to see a unit get taken apart like that with ease after being good enough for 1000+ yard rushers in the regular season.
Hell, Brewster is the only one of their heralded OL class of 08 that has entrenched himself as a starter for this year. Mike Adams and Shugarts have battled injury, and are battling to get into the lineup. Considering the amount of hype Adams had (he shot up something like 190 spots in the rankings after his performance at the Army Bowl), you'd think he'd be an absolute lock at left tackle. Instead he's trying to beat out Andy Miller. The crybaby traitor is probably their best lineman.
It's really, really frustrating to see how they've surpassed us and seized control of the rivalry while at the same time seeing glaring, obvious flaws that we have failed to exploit.
August 25th, 2009 at 12:26 AM ^
It's very interesting to contrast what you just wrote with this OSU preview as written by an OSU fan.
On a side note about the linked preview, I'd be extremely surprised if you saw OSU line up in a pistol formation more than 2 or 3 times in any given game and in more than 6 games in the year.
August 25th, 2009 at 12:45 AM ^
There really are a lot of parallels between Tressel and the pre-2001 Carr. The tables will turn.
August 25th, 2009 at 1:27 AM ^
that it began to be more mental than anything else
August 25th, 2009 at 3:25 AM ^
As shitty as their OL is...and as pathetic their performance against USC was (which Boeckmann got all the blame for. How can he be expected to be effective if he has two seconds to throw before he's on the ground?) Pryor's inclusion in the offense means more spread-type Troy Smith sets. Soon, they hope to reach 2006 form.
August 25th, 2009 at 10:18 AM ^
Only if and when Pryor learns to throw like 2006 Troy Smith. He's not in the same solar system yet.
August 25th, 2009 at 6:02 PM ^
Boren out of shape? Say it isn't true!
August 25th, 2009 at 7:19 AM ^
Alvarez had them in a similar spiral after every Rose Bowl win. The difference is that we know Alvarez could pull them out of it, and everyone (including me) doubts Bielema can do it.
August 24th, 2009 at 10:58 PM ^
Wisco.
August 24th, 2009 at 10:59 PM ^
I think their talent, or lack thereof, will not be able to stand up to our speed. I can already see Denard running away from their secondary...
August 24th, 2009 at 11:04 PM ^
Who thinks the spread shares a direct correlation with speed clearly doesn't understand the spread. Northwestern, Texas Tech, etc. would like to have a word with you.
But to answer your question, I believe Ohio State players unilaterally shit themselves if they find out anyone on the opposing team runs faster than a 4.6. LMAO $UCKEYES $UCK IN BCS TITLE GAMES!!!
August 24th, 2009 at 11:07 PM ^
+1 for using logic in first paragraph
+1 for using humor in the second
I'd honestly +2 if I could.
August 24th, 2009 at 11:29 PM ^
I think Rodriguez's spread is different. It's based on quick decision making (like all offenses), QB ability to be functional, if not awesome, and WR blocking.
Texas Tech is based on finding holes in pass coverage and running very good routes, and being able to check down to receivers quickly. Oklahoma crushed this with pressure.
Rodriguez's offense =/= Leach's offense.
August 25th, 2009 at 1:21 AM ^
It's simply incorrect to suggest spread offenses are somehow predisposed to more speed. At the end of the day, all it's about is creating matchup difficulties - which is something Tech, Michigan, Northwestern, and Florida all do.
August 24th, 2009 at 11:06 PM ^
This is actually a pretty tough question. I'm not sure any particular team in the BigTen has had as bad a streak as us against speed teams.
OSU's bowl record makes me think they may be one. That and their losses to PSU last year (although it was close and they still held them to 20 pts) and Illinois the year before that. It seems strange with the talent they've had.
I'm not sold on Wisconsin having trouble with speed. They've had some very quick DEs the last few years that have really helped keep opposing offenses in check. Their LB and S play has also been above average. I will concede the defense has gotten weaker, but over the last few years, I don't think it has been true. As for the "Threet shredded them," I think part of that can be attributed to being the first BigTen team to play Michigan under the new regime. If we'd played them later in the year, I'm not sure that would have been the case as they'd seen more film.
As far as the lower level teams, I think they struggle, but not as much. Most of them face a spread every day in practice, so they are slightly more conditioned to it. They aren't great at stopping speed defenses, but they effectively manage their defense in a bend but don't break mentality.
Just my e-pinion.
August 24th, 2009 at 11:10 PM ^
Penn State. They have the same S&C program as Gittleson ran.
August 25th, 2009 at 3:33 AM ^
That's a misleading statement....it's true that they do have that program, but they incorporate squats, hang cleans, and other Olympic style lifts now.
August 24th, 2009 at 11:18 PM ^
but I expect to beat them.
So, Iowa. It's a traditional, husky Big Ten team, and they haven't seen our team in its new incarnation yet. I think the speed will surprise them for a few offensive series, and it may make the difference in that game.
August 25th, 2009 at 9:38 AM ^
Most national pundits like to point to the SEC as being the cnference with the most speed, and Iowa I beleive has fared pretty well against the SEC in bowl games under Ferentz.
Anymore these days, I think when you look at the top programs, most have pretty good speed at the skill positions. I think the big difference comes in how much speed teams have at the LB and dline positions. When you've got LB's and dline who are quick and can get from sideline to sideline pretty fast, it can do onders for preventing big plays and turning what initially appeared to be a nice 8-10 yd gain (if not more) into a 3-4 yd gain.
August 25th, 2009 at 9:45 AM ^
My point was that Iowa has not faced Michigan's new style yet. The coaching staff will not have seen Michigan's skill and speed, where they have only seen the Carr-style Michigan team. That may be worth a possession or two for the surprise.
I watched the Iowa - LSU bowl game last night. LSU was coached by Saban at that point. They were not fast.
August 25th, 2009 at 8:42 AM ^
Talent wise - Purdue and Indiana.
Other than them: Wisconsin. They couldn't really deal with us in the 2nd half last year (when we stopped fumbling). With our expected improvements this year, I think we can shred them.
August 25th, 2009 at 9:03 AM ^
we've become the SEC of the north.
August 25th, 2009 at 9:27 AM ^
Indiana...they can't stop anyone.
August 25th, 2009 at 10:07 AM ^
I think the teams that have trouble with speed in our conference would be:
Indiana
Purdue
Wisconsin
Ohio State
Michigan State
August 25th, 2009 at 11:54 AM ^
I mean, who wouldn't struggle with cathching players moving at ludicrous speed?
August 25th, 2009 at 5:46 PM ^
Michigan best not be moving that fast. I never want to see them in plaid.
August 25th, 2009 at 2:25 PM ^
I'm gonna go with Wisco as well. I am just not sold on them at all this year. Outside of their QB and John Clay, they lose most of their playmakers from a team that wasn't good, and it seems as though that program is heading south. Outside of PU and IU I think Wisco is our easiest conference game this year.