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 3:45 PM ^
I think against MSU we'll have to go straight up air raid, as their rushing defense is impregnable and their secondary is Charmin soft. Wisconsin's defense doesn't appear to be all that great at anything this year other than benefitting from a slow paced offense that prevents high scoring games. I imagine we'll see a balanced attack on Saturday.
October 10th, 2018 at 3:56 PM ^
Interestingly, Utah State's offense is ranked one spot ahead of us in S&P right now. Utah State threw for 319 on MSU on 44 attempts (7.3ypa, fine not great), and ran for 25 yards on 25 attempts. Now, I think we're probably a bit better running offense than they are, but we shouldn't expect to run for 100 yards in that one. We should probably go into that game planning to throw the ball 60/40.
October 10th, 2018 at 4:19 PM ^
I don't think MSU's run defense is impregnable but we just need to pick our spots. We can't stubbornly run into a stacked (8 man) box against any team when there are easier yards elsewhere.
October 10th, 2018 at 10:49 PM ^
MSU's run defense stats may be misleading because why run on them when you can throw all you want? It's classic "take what the defense gives you" and MSU is giving the passing yards like crazy. I suspect Michigan will run better against them than the average MSU opponent but will have to pass to maximize points.
October 10th, 2018 at 3:50 PM ^
Their pass D has struggled so far this season but they have a stout front 7. This is a team we need to pass first against. Pass pro has been surprisingly good of late and with Patterson's ability to extend plays and throw on the run we have the potential for a big day in the air.
October 10th, 2018 at 3:52 PM ^
I actually quite positive that there was zero pressure on Peterson in last year's game.
October 10th, 2018 at 4:07 PM ^
Brealan McPeterson
October 10th, 2018 at 3:53 PM ^
No way they run for 200 against us. They got 180 on us last year thanks to a couple big runs. We can rush for 150+, but only if we open up the offense early and loosen up their defense.
October 10th, 2018 at 3:53 PM ^
Nobody is running for 200 yards against Michigan.
October 10th, 2018 at 3:53 PM ^
I don't think we'll get much on the ground, at least not early. The best thing the offense can do is get an early lead. Don't let them play their slow, one score game. If that happens it could be a toss-up game. I want to get a lead and make them play catch-up.
October 10th, 2018 at 4:07 PM ^
Just negate their usual 150yard advantage, keep it under 50; that should be more than enough.
October 10th, 2018 at 4:08 PM ^
UW is banged up on defense. Higdon is going to gash a few runs and Shea will put the nail in the coffin with play-action to Gentry, Nico and DPJ. We will attack with run / pass balance. Taylor is going to get his yards (like 150), but if we can make UW one dimensional by defending the pass to our season average ... we win the game something like UM 37 UW 24.
October 10th, 2018 at 4:08 PM ^
sure!
October 10th, 2018 at 4:13 PM ^
I think they can. In fact, I feel like the team is ready for the big stage in a way they haven't been for much of the last decade. Since Coach Carr left, there have been some surprise wins and very hard-fought rivalry games, but they felt like exceptions rather than the rule.
This year, it seems like Michigan is getting back to a an expectation of winning big games, not just a hope.
October 10th, 2018 at 4:26 PM ^
NW beat MSU with 8 yards rushing.
October 10th, 2018 at 5:00 PM ^
Throw out Felton Davis's 50-yard run and MSU only for about 40 yards on 22 carries. That game was garbage all around; Wisconsin will probably be a bit better on both sides of the ball.
October 10th, 2018 at 4:37 PM ^
Michigan can run against Wisconsin; it probably won't super-efficient, but the Badgers aren't nearly as good as they were last year at shutting down offenses and are down a couple of key contributors (one of their safeties is out the first half for targeting, plus a couple of linemen). So I'm not saying Michigan should set downs on fire running into 8.5-man boxes, but Higdon and Evans should be able to get some decent gains in this game, especially if they also have Patterson keep on a couple of these options.
October 10th, 2018 at 4:50 PM ^
Would be great if we did, but I don't think that's going to be the key to winning this game. Not the main key anyway. Wisconsin has a very strong front seven, but their secondary is really banged up. In the opinion of someone who has never played or coached a down of competitive football in his life, I'd say the way you beat Wisconsin is let Shea start taking shots downfield to begin with. You've got a clear advantage in this area, some really athletic receivers/TEs and a QB who can make the throws. Hit a few of those, get the LBs to back off the LOS, and then you can pound away with the run game.
I'm not saying Shea needs to throw the ball 40 times, but I'd just concerned that if we try to ground and pound the whole game, this is going to be a 2016-ish game where the first team to 10 wins. Given the shaky ground we're on with our DT injuries, I'd rather not give Jonathan Taylor and Alex Hornibrook too many chances. Hornibrook may make a few bad throws every now and again, but he also throws some absolute dimes. The kind that you'd expect to see from Drew Brees or Tom Brady.
October 10th, 2018 at 4:55 PM ^
Much more concerned about our rush defense vs. Wisconsin's rushing attack, especially with the number of injuries on our DLine...
October 10th, 2018 at 5:01 PM ^
I agree with a lot of the comments, but I think our passing strength is play action and if the opponent doesn’t respect the run game, play action isn’t effective.
October 10th, 2018 at 5:30 PM ^
Run and pass, just DON'T BE PREDICTABLE!! Wisky's defense is a notch below its usual standard, so it's more vulnerable than it has been the last two years. But, for crying out loud, don't telegraph the plays (by the formation used, by which RB is out there, etc. etc.) and we'll SCORE POINTS!!
October 10th, 2018 at 5:45 PM ^
Yo, Adrian!!!!
Who is this Peterson?
October 10th, 2018 at 7:00 PM ^
Count me in the camp that Michigan will probably be a 60/40 Pass to run ratio. I think Michigan coaches realize the Wisconsin secondary is not last years secondary and Michigan's athletes (Perry, Gentry, DPJ and Collins) are better than their athletes. I look to Michigan to score between 27 and 38 points. I see this game as showcasing Michigan on prime time as a real threat to win the B1G. This is the team that most of us have waited for these past 3+ years. Very good offense and great defense.
October 10th, 2018 at 7:08 PM ^
Taylor won't ccrack 60. Higdon gets 115 and a score.
October 10th, 2018 at 7:25 PM ^
No. I don't think either team will be able to run much.
October 10th, 2018 at 8:33 PM ^
Then we'll win.
October 10th, 2018 at 10:30 PM ^
Will Solomon, Gary, Marshall, and Dwumfor be healthy? If the answer is no probably not unless Mone has a fantastic game and plays a lot of snaps.
October 10th, 2018 at 11:01 PM ^
Apparently Runyan is 6'5" now so that may be all we need to push us over the edge as a dominant running team. I hate 6'4" left tackles but he's broken out of that group now and the future is so bright. Seriously it's amazing how far he has come in these few games. Definitely anxious to see how he plays against tougher competition.