Interesting article I read in todays Omaha World Herald from a Nebraska perspective of what worked so well for us last year.
“It’s like facing a knuckleball pitcher,” Beck said of Michigan, which held NU to 260 yards and three third-down conversions in the Huskers’ 45-17 loss last season. “It’s weird because you haven’t seen it.”
Really?
Maybe they're referring to
Maybe they're referring to all of Mattison's NFL style blitz packages. That is definitely something you don't see week in week out in Big Ten Conference opponents.
Well, he did say they
put the ends outside the tackles, after all. What kind of diabolical mind does that?
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
In the article itself, the
In the article itself, the Nebraska DC elaborates more on what he means by that statement - indeed, it's not necessarily a super weird formation, but all of the mindbending things Wizard Mattison can magick from a 4-3 or 3-4.
This makes me feel even more confident
I believe the expression is, "You're always fighting the last war." NU is preparing for what Mattison did last year. Meanwhile, Mattison is two steps ahead, he just ate your last piece of pie, and your dog is figuring out how to sneak out and move in with him.
"Mattison must break you. Jake Ryan is his tool."
Although you're signature is cute
Calling Jake Ryan a tool might not be the best expression to use. He is a large young man.
Quote
My signature is a quote from Brian, so I would at least be second in line. Plus this: Jake Ryan is also an intelligent young man and, in context, I'm sure he would appreciate the respect and devotion implicit in the quote.
"Mattison must break you. Jake Ryan is his tool."
As they say, "When in Rome...
... get your Sarcasm Meter fixed".
So they have us down this year....
until we throw some more knuckleballs at them.
I know Denard is Superman
I know Denard is Superman but, can he throw a knuckleball?
How many times have you been on the freeway and had someone fly by you at 100 mph then end up 2 cars ahead of you at the off ramp? What's the point? -Mark Harmon
They had a "sweat inducing"
They had a "sweat inducing" practice. God that's great writing. You almost feel like you were there.
Also
The link says we threw them a curveball. The quote says a knuckleball. Those are not the same thing. Baseball metaphors are tough I guess.
"Over? Did you say, over? Nothing is over until we decide it is!"
That headline
a swing and a miss
hilarious exchange, you guys; I got on the inets without
knowing I needed a laugh, but you helped me see it.
He really tried to capture
He really tried to capture the spirit of the thing
Quote
"While Michigan’s specialty is a fourth-ranked pass defense ..." - I'll take "things I would have bet my life savings against if I heard this predicted two years ago" for $200, Alex.
They're boned. We've faced
They're boned. We've faced the nations best Manball offense, the nations best option offense, and an offense that combined those both with two different quarterbacks and runningbacks. Mattisons scheme is better than what they can draw up, and our athletes are a step better. They've also allowed 118 points in B1G play to our 23.
How many times have you been on the freeway and had someone fly by you at 100 mph then end up 2 cars ahead of you at the off ramp? What's the point? -Mark Harmon
They're boned. We've faced
They're boned. We've faced the nations best Manball offense, the nations best option offense,
But we didn't come close to stopping the first and only squeaked by the second. Also, Nebraska has played a much tougher Big Ten schedule. At night in Lincoln, this is going to be tough. I'll be thrilled with a fluky one-point win.
Well they also got
Well they also got fuckstomped by tsio and barley squeaked past a struggling wisconsin team AT HOME. AT NIGHT. And while we may have been shakey on D the first two games we've given up a total of 49 points since AFA. I expect to win quite handily.
I am trying to not get ahead
I am trying to not get ahead of myself here, but I have a bad feeling that watching Nebraska against UM is going to be equivalent to a baby seal trying to outswim a killer whale. Nebraska has one gear, and it is really powerful, but if you take that away they are left arm-punting on third and long. Barring some massive breakdowns, I don't see Nebraska being able to move the ball consistently.
I'm not sure I get your metaphor
But I kinda like it.
(Bonus! Though just linked in case you really love seals. http://youtu.be/O0qMT2YBIcg )
"I love him, he's a great coach, he's a great mentor, he's a great friend. He's every single thing you want a college coach to be, and he does it flawlessly." -David Molk
I would love for that to be
I would love for that to be true, but Nebraska is much better at passing the ball this season than last. Taylor Martinez still has a funky throwing motion, but the ball gets there most of the time. They're the best offense we've faced since Alabama. I expect us to have to score in the mid-20s to win.
Buried In The Numbers...
One thing that I found interesting in going through the numbers is that Nebraska's passing offense has improved in terms of the yardage they get on average - 233.4 yards in the air average after seven games this year, compared to 162.3 yards average all of last year. It will be interesting to see how if they do try to challenge our pass defense in the beginning anyway. Nebraska does like to spread the run game around, of course, but I think our ever-improving run defense can slow them down just enough that we can get through this game.
One thing that I found sort of buried in the stats is something which definitely could be pivotal in the game if opportunities arise - Nebraska is dead last in the conference in turnover margin, having given up 18 while recovering only 9. If we can bring pressure to Martinez and force him to make a few mistakes, that would definitely help as well.
"Funny isn't it, how naughty dentists always make that one fatal mistake."
Follow the random tweets of a Michigan alum - http://twitter.com/#!/LorneEC3
The Omaha..
...World Herald can go fuck themselves. Total shit paper that should be dead by now.
(No subject)
"The straightest line from A to B is straight: From A to B"
"When you have Denard Robinson, you can have everything"
~George Walden
A knuckleball!? We kicked
A knuckleball!? We kicked their ass on the line of scrimmage. A knuckleball would be that double option play they had to pull out of their hat to even score last year.
Hail to the Victors!
Home town pessimism....
I wouldn't be too confident in Nebraska if a hometown sports writer spends 90% of his article talking about how sweet Michgan's defense is, how badly it dominated them last year, and mixing in Offensive coordinator quotes to support it all....The the only 10% glimmer of hope is...
But Nebraska’s believes it’s ready for the wrinkles this year. The Huskers have half of a season on tape, and memories of mistakes in the Big House last year to build on.
“We have a better game plan this year,” tight end Kyler Reed said. “Just talking to Coach Beck, we’ve kind of got them down, kind of understanding what they want to do on defense.”
Well Kyler Reed, will see on
Well Kyler Reed, will see on Saturday if you've got the UM defense down.
They expect to see more
They expect to see more hijinks and interesting looks/schemes (such as stunts, blitzes, coverage drops out of Okie-like formations, etc.) but Michigan is going to come out and play a pretty vanilla game of defense (bend but don't break, if you will) and catch Nebraska looking for much more than they'll get, further confusing them! Mattison Hails.
I am not saying that we aren't good defense, but its not like we're running 3-3-5 or 46 defense.
"It was open," Toussaint said. "I can't compare this hole to any other holes because I can't remember that but it was a huge hole."