Have to admit that Spath identified some very good match up points in his keys to the game missive. I was especially impressed by his take on Thorson. The young first year QB has come a long way in a short time. His last 6 quarters have been impressive. But it's still the biggest game on the biggest stage against the best defense he has ever experienced ... by a very wide margin. So who knows whether his progression will come to a screeching halt on Saturday.
One match up Spath missed on, however, was giving Michigan the edge against NU's secondary. Our pass defense is not entirely dependent on the DBs. They are good and capable of making plays, but it's their front seven, and Doc Hank's 3rd down defensive schemes, that has made NU's overall pass defense very good to this point in the season. Stanford's offensive schemes and personnel are as close to Michigan's as we are going to see. And they had no chance on 3rd down or otherwise against this NU defense.
For NU to steal one in the Big House, we're going to have to win 3rd downs in a big way. Will probably need to be +2 in the turnover margin. But the potential is there because Jake has his turnover tendencies, and this NU defense is very opportunistic. DE Dean Lowry can tip/knock down passes with the best of them. There may be an interception off a tip as we saw in the Duke game when Lowry caught his own tip on one play (to take Duke points off the board) and scooped up another tipped lateral for a TD that was called back on replay. And MLB Anthony Walker's talents include being a clever pick pocket. He picked ND (Golson) and PSU (Hackensack) in game changing plays last year, and he had a 3rd this year slip through his hands vs. Stanford (Hogan). All were on check downs where Walker's read and react was outstanding. Unlike NU defenses of past years, this year's D has some playmakers in the front seven that help make the overall pass defense package much more effective.
I think this one comes down to the first quarter of play. If Michigan jumps out to a fast start, NU won't likely catch up. But if the Cats can stay even or better after the opening period, I like their chances of pulling the upset. They are a good road underdog team.
GOUNUII
One match up Spath missed on, however, was giving Michigan the edge against NU's secondary. Our pass defense is not entirely dependent on the DBs. They are good and capable of making plays, but it's their front seven, and Doc Hank's 3rd down defensive schemes, that has made NU's overall pass defense very good to this point in the season. Stanford's offensive schemes and personnel are as close to Michigan's as we are going to see. And they had no chance on 3rd down or otherwise against this NU defense.
For NU to steal one in the Big House, we're going to have to win 3rd downs in a big way. Will probably need to be +2 in the turnover margin. But the potential is there because Jake has his turnover tendencies, and this NU defense is very opportunistic. DE Dean Lowry can tip/knock down passes with the best of them. There may be an interception off a tip as we saw in the Duke game when Lowry caught his own tip on one play (to take Duke points off the board) and scooped up another tipped lateral for a TD that was called back on replay. And MLB Anthony Walker's talents include being a clever pick pocket. He picked ND (Golson) and PSU (Hackensack) in game changing plays last year, and he had a 3rd this year slip through his hands vs. Stanford (Hogan). All were on check downs where Walker's read and react was outstanding. Unlike NU defenses of past years, this year's D has some playmakers in the front seven that help make the overall pass defense package much more effective.
I think this one comes down to the first quarter of play. If Michigan jumps out to a fast start, NU won't likely catch up. But if the Cats can stay even or better after the opening period, I like their chances of pulling the upset. They are a good road underdog team.
GOUNUII
