FootballSaturday, September 21, 2018
8B

What to Watch For: Nebraska

By ETHAN WOLFE

Daily Sports Writer

Big Ten football is in full swing in 
Ann Arbor. You can feel it in the air. 
It starts Saturday, with the Michigan 
football team’s matchup against first-
year coach Scott Frost and Nebraska 
(0-2 overall). Prior to the start of the 
season, some expected a contentious 
head-to-head between two resurgent 
programs. 
For 
the 
19th-ranked 
Wolverines (2-1), that remains to be 
seen. For the Cornhuskers, that ship 
has seemingly sailed.
Nebraska visits Michigan Stadium 
coming off a heartbreaking home 
loss to Troy, while Michigan is 
riding a two-game win streak with 
momentum in tow.
The Daily breaks down what 
to watch for in Saturday’s Big Ten 
opener.

Patterson’s other peoples

Sophomore 
wide 
receiver 
Donovan Peoples-Jones finally gave 
credence to the five-star hype against 
SMU. The Detroit native scored 
three touchdowns in Saturday’s 
45-20 win in different ways — a deep 
crossing route, a back shoulder fade 
and a go route. Now we know what 
he is capable of, but can he continue 
doing it (at a more reasonable rate, of 
course)?
So far, nothing points against the 
contrary. Junior quarterback Shea 
Patterson acknowledged an improved 
rapport with Peoples-Jones that 
could see more balls thrown his way.
“(Donovan’s) a freak athlete,” 
Patterson said. “He’s very smart, very 
fast, great football size to him. I know 
if I throw it up, there’s a lot of trust in 
him (to make the catch).”
But Peoples-Jones is only one 
athlete in the deep wide receiving 
corps. 
And 
with 
Nebraska’s 
uninspiring secondary, that depth 
could become more pronounced. 
Sophomore Nico Collins made waves 
with a 44-yard touchdown against 
WMU and 52-yard reception at Notre 
Dame, but was quiet facing SMU. 
Collins, along with Oliver Martin and 
Grant Perry to round out the next 
three wide receiver options, have 
combined for just 16 receptions to 
Peoples-Jones’ 14.
Their opportunities may come 
in the future, though. Junior right 
guard Mike Onwenu said only about 
half the playbook has been used 
through three games as the team has 
more complex schemes drawn up for 
the latter half of the season. Senior 
Tyree Kinnel mentioned that trio 

of receivers as emerging players in 
practice, too.
The oft-referenced stat of only 
three wide receiver touchdowns in 
2017 has faded into the background. 
That number has already doubled 
the past two games, and the new 
offensive installations could also 
include expanded receiving roles for 
the tight ends and running backs. A 
matchup against the Cornhuskers 
could be a good litmus test for how 
other receivers get involved.

Secondary progression

The nation’s No. 1 secondary from 
a year ago, to put it mildly, hasn’t 
replicated that production with the 
same, more experienced players 
thus far. But if walk-on quarterback 
Andrew Bunch starts under center 
for Nebraska, the defensive backs 
could have a field day defending 
rushed throws.
That’s not to say the Cornhuskers 
don’t boast talented receivers. Their 
two primary options — Stanley 
Morgan Jr. and J.D. Spielman — 
have over half the team’s receiving 
production in its first two contests.
Michigan cornerbacks also have 
shown a proclivity towards giving 
up big yardage. Just last week against 
SMU, wide receiver James Proche ran 
rampant, collecting 11 receptions for 
166 yards and two touchdowns. One 
of Proche’s scores included a 50-yard 
bomb opened up from a coverage 

miscommunication between Brad 
Hawkins and David Long.
“It’s not like they flat out beat us,” 
said junior safety Josh Metellus. “It 
was more on what we did. We knew 
he was a big play guy for them; we 
knew he was the number one guy for 
them. And we didn’t do a great job of 
playing to that. We didn’t do a great 
job of knowing when he’s gonna get 
the ball and put on double coverage 
or just make sure we watch him. He’s 
a good player, but we go against good 
wide receivers every day.”
All 
of 
Michigan’s 
defensive 
shortcomings 
must 
also 
be 
contextualized. The unit has given 
up the 16th fewest passing yards per 
game on average, which is still pretty 
darn good. But for a Don Brown 
secondary that was the crown jewel 
of college football last year, it has to 
prove that it can continue to play at a 
College Football Playoff level.

Cleaning up their act

The worst kept secret is the entire 
defense’s 
propensity 
to 
commit 
penalties. Michigan has committed 
an astonishing 27 penalties through 
three games, 21 of them on the 
defensive side of the ball. Nebraska’s 
ability to instigate mistakes by 
the Wolverines is a tough bet. But 
after only a week of practice since 
a 13-penalty game, it’s in the realm 
of the possibility that the issue 
persists and keeps Saturday’s game 

uncomfortably close for Michigan.
“You address each of them,” 
Harbaugh said of the penalties. “… 
And penalties are hurting us. That’s 
something we have to clean up and 
get better at. We address each one 
— technique, what we’re using, the 
discipline that we have. Get them 
corrected, get them coached, get 
improved. Don’t want 13 penalties in 
a game. Don’t think anybody does.”
Kinnel 
mentioned 
that 
the 
secondary discusses the committed 
penalties amongst each other. But 
the senior captain also reinforced 
the notion that it’s a unit with a 
particularly short memory, evidenced 
by Metellus’ pick six against SMU.
But 
interception 
return 
touchdowns are few and far between. 
If the flags continue to pile up, it 
could spell trouble in the future as 
thrown flags become a symptom of 
an uncharacteristically undisciplined 
defense.
From strictly a playing perspective, 
If the offensive line demonstrates 
improvement, then all of the on-field 
talent can be Big Ten Championship 
level. But then, playing with reckless 
abandon becomes the new top 
priority. In week four against a Big 
Ten opponent, we should see the 
frequency of penalties decline.

Bottom line and prediction

A loss at home to Troy is 
unexpected. A loss at Michigan with a 

quarterback facing the most talented 
defense in his football career is not.
The 
Wolverines 
should 
have 
another cakewalk ahead of them, 
with an opportunity for the defense 
to play disciplined and dominate. Oh, 
and don’t forget that Shea Patterson 
guy. He’s been pretty good.

Prediction: 
Michigan 
38, 
Nebraska 14

BY THE NUMBERS
Michigan vs. Nebraska
434
Total yards by Michigan against 
Southern Methodist

110
Rushing yards allowed by Michigan 
against Southern Methodist
364
Total yards by Nebraska 
against Troy
143
Rushing yards allowed by Nebraska 
against Troy

EVAN AARON/Daily
Sophomore wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones scored three touchdowns at Michigan Stadium last weekend in Michigan’s 45-20 win over Southern Methodist.

