Focus and Pressure
The Michigan State Spartans defeated a Wisconsin team last weekend that most fans and media had practically crowned Big Ten champs. The Spartans were able to win the game for a few key reasons. They overcame a rough start with the focus to avoid mistakes and the pressure applied to force opponent mistakes. For the Huskers, maintaining their own focus and disrupting the opponent focus is going to mean a few difficult tasks to take care of.
Kirk Cousins is clearly the leader of this team, and has been hailed as the face of the Big Ten conference. His ability to fit a tight spiral through the eye of a needle is surely a benefit, but his preparation abilities are what leads to the intense focus he has had against Ohio State, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Unfortunately, against Notre Dame his team got behind without a solid rushing attack to keep the defense honest and were only able to accrue 29 rushing yards that day. Combined with the 12 penalties, it spelled disaster for MSU. No amount of preparation will save a team with those kind of numbers.
To put the Spartans back into that situation means grinding the ball out early, getting on the scoreboard early, and forcing them to play from behind. Because of Cousins accuracy and excellent protection, it is still necessary to keep bringing new ways to confuse the looks the defense shows at the snap. The return of the "peso" or "nickel" formation as a base set for the majority of defensive snaps could mean sending pressure off the edge from a safety-like spot.
On defense, the strength in the middle is going to be the tough area to deal with. The Husker's use of the jailbreak screen, reverse, misdirections, and sweep runs are meant to damage a defense with an aggressive, over-pursuing mentality. Slow developing plays like long play action passes or Taylor Martinez standing too long in the pocket is going to mean a potential sack or a throw into a crowd. This weekend could see the return of the "old" Martinez with the designed QB keeper to help alleviate some of that pressure. Anytime a quarterback has the ability to be used as a powerful offensive weapon, someone on the field has to account for that.
The emotional factor has been hard to ignore, as Michigan State has held up for some very dramatic and significant wins in October. It would be easy to write this game off as a possible let-down for them against a fresher Husker team. But it would be safer to assume that this team is just ready to play every week with a better game plan and conditioning than the opponent. Using Rex Burkhead to grind out some major yards could help make the game a let down for Sparty, as it is demoralizing to be run blocked all the way down the field as the third and fourth quarters roll around.
10/26/2011
Michigan St. beat Wisconsin for two reasons:
1. Luck (Catch at the end)
2. Wisconsin played horribly.
This was not the Wisconsin the beat Nebraska. Wisconsin played against Mich St like we played against Wisconsin. As long as Nebraska plays like it is capable, then this game should go Nebraska’s way.
10/26/2011
HuskerFaithful1 is right and Michigan State has not played that well on the road, barely beating an offensively handicapped Ohio State team; i.e. if the Ohio State offense that showed up in Lincoln had showed up against Michigan State, MSU would have lost that game. The biggest key for Nebraska winning will be eliminating penalties, turnovers, missed tackles and missed assignments: With good execution and creative offensive play calling that keeps MSU’s defense off-balance, NU wins . . . np. Running a nickel defense will screw them up, too.
10/26/2011
I’m a huge Husker fan but don’t believe we will beat Michigan State this weekend. To me Michigan State has had much better focus on their defensive assignments and have created much more pressure on opposing offenses. I believe defense wins championships especially at the college level. Offense is very important also but not as important as defense. I saw some good defensive signs last week against Minnesota but Michigan State has been way more consistent with their excellent defensive play. Look for a close game but for Michigan State to keep thier momentum going. I hope not but that’s how I see it. Go Huskers!
KC, MO
10/26/2011
I don’t there is a reason that “the Ohio State offense that showed up in Lincoln” didn’t show up against Michigan State. And that reason is Michigan State’s defense. We have to be honest with ourselves that at this point their defense is much better than ours. They do a great job getting after the QB, which is what scares me the most because we know how much our offense struggles when Martinez is pressured.
On the other hand, I think our offense is better than theirs if we can manage to run the ball effectively. And our defense at least won’t have to deal with the QB running around too much. Playing at home definitely gives us a solid chance to win this one, and if we pull this one out it could really build some great momentum for us down the stretch.
KC, MO
10/26/2011
I think* there is a reason. Not sure where that “don’t” came from.
Tampa Fl
10/26/2011
I don’t believe that college football games are won by luck and defense. Wisconsin should have never allowed them to be in the game that late, it is as much their fault for losing as it is for MSU for winning. If defenses win championships, why doesn’t NU have the last two Big12 championships, because no one in the Big12 could match those two defensive squads? MSU played against Wisconsin the same way it does every year, just like we did against OU. There were years that we shouldn’t have beaten OU, but came out on top. This MSU squad has improved its self since the OSU game; don’t make any mistake about that, just as NU has improved since the Wisconsin game.
It takes a well rounded football team willing and able to go 100% on each snap! (of course talent does help a lot!) We have that on the field now, I believe. This team is going to be ready this Saturday, and they will bring a game to MSU. I have stated many times this week, they have to play Husker football for 4 quarters to win though, if we don’t, then it will be a loss.
Special teams are the only areas that I worry about the most, and it will be the one part of the Minnesota tape that MSU will pay attention. We didn’t look our normal selves during punts. This is the one area that can change a game faster than any other. We need to find a way to pick up big yards on our returns and shut down any of theirs. A return won’t hurt either!
GBR!!
10/26/2011
The hail mary was not do or die for MSU - the score was tied.
MSU won because:
1. No penalties
2. Forced errors
3. UW receivers dropped balls.
NU will lose because of:
1. Penalties
2. Fumbles/interceptions by Martinez
3. The few times Martinez actually hits the receivers, there will be dropped balls. I guess they are just surprised they did not have to do a corkscrew to get the ball!
These are NU trademarks to date, regardless of everything else.
10/26/2011
I think college football has a lot to do about luck. Kids are young and mistakes are bound to happen. With that being said, this games outcome will come down to who doesn’t make self destructive penalties, the defense that is on target and what QB is confident. GO BIG RED. I will be there supporting my guys.
10/27/2011
Sure… Michigan St deserves credit for playing some good defense. They do have a good defense. I do, however, believe that some of of you are giving them far to much credit. Some of you act like they have already beat us. Michigan St is NOT a better football team than Nebraska. I also get a little tired of reading all the ‘Debbie-Downer’ posts that talk about how Taylor Martinez is going to screw things up for us. Just like 99% of college football players, if he didn’t make mistakes he would be in the top spot for the Heisman.
10/27/2011
Ruggerhusker, the two best college defensive teams in the country are Alabama’s and LSU’s, IMO. One of these two teams will probably win the national championship this year. Maybe Stanford with their incredible quarterback has a chance but we will see.
Tampa Fl
10/27/2011
Ralph, I agree with you on those two teams defenses, but it isn’t just the defense that is making get to that level. It is the great offense that they are putting out on the field as well, and the special teams play.
That is my point, we have had great some great defenses in the past without making, because we were not well rounded. It takes more then one side of the football to make it.