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.