Preview: Michigan vs. Nebraska

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12Nov 2022
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Preview: Michigan vs. Nebraska

Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communications

RUSH OFFENSE vs. NEBRASKA RUSH DEFENSE
Michigan is #4 in rushing with 250 yards per game. They’re slightly lower at #8 with 5.65 yards per carry. Running back Blake Corum has 1,187 yards on 199 attempts and has scored 16 total touchdowns. Backup Donovan Edwards has 41 carries for 324 yards over the past three weeks, including two 100-yard games. Last week’s performance was particularly impressive considering left tackle Ryan Hayes missed the game, left guard Trevor Keegan was hurt for part of the contest, and right tackle Trente Jones has been out for the past several weeks. Michigan’s dominance of Rutgers took place minus three starters up front. Nebraska, meanwhile, is #107 in rushing defense (182.9 yards allowed/game) and allows 4.51 yards per carry, which is #99. They have done better in recent weeks by tamping down explosive running games of Illinois and Minnesota (neither team has topped 4.0 yards/carry), but Minnesota was missing its starting quarterback, which allowed the Cornhuskers to focus on running back Mo Ibrahim. Junior middle linebacker Luke Reimer (6’1″, 225) leads the team with 67 tackles, but the second leading tackler, safety Myles Farmer, will miss the game due to disciplinary issues. Sophomore safety Marques Buford, Jr. (5’11”, 190) has 62 tackles and sophomore nickel Isaac Gifford (6’1″, 200) has 52, meaning three of the top four tacklers are in the secondary. Junior edge Garrett Nelson (6’4″, 245) is the most dangerous edge defender on the team with 45 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks.
Advantage: Michigan

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13Oct 2021
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2021 Michigan vs. Nebraska Awards

Daxton Hill (image via ClickOnDetroit)

Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . A.J. Henning. Henning, who is athletic enough to be Michigan’s punt returner, had 0 offensive touches against Nebraska and has 0 catches for the past three weeks.

Let’s see less of this guy on offense . . . backup offensive guards. Michigan played five offensive guards due to injuries. The offensive guard position has been a relative weakness for Michigan this year, but nobody is good when they get down to guard #5. I’ve seen worse problems at guard #3 or #4, so this isn’t a glaring weakness, but it would be nice to have some consistency and for somebody to step up and take over both guard positions.

Let’s see more of this guy on defense . . . nobody.

Let’s see less of this guy on defense . . . nobody.

Play of the game . . . Brad Hawkins’s forced and recovered fumble against Adrian Martinez. Late in a tied game, Nebraska had the ball and had a chance to drive down the field for a score. Star quarterback Adrian Martinez took off on a rush attempt, and while trying to fight for a first down, he was held up by a couple Michigan defenders. Despite his claims that he was “just standing there” and thought the play was over, he was fighting for extra yardage and driving his feet forward. The whistle wasn’t blown, and Hawkins ripped the ball out. That turned into the game-winning field goal for the Wolverines.

MVP of the game . . . Aidan Hutchinson, Daxton Hill, and Hassan Haskins. Triple H. Hutchinson made 6 tackles and helped keep Martinez in check. Hill made 5 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, and 1 interception, playing solid in coverage and making that 1 ridiculously nice pick. Meanwhile, Haskins churned out yards with 21 carries for 123 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a highlight-reel hurdle over a defender and tons of yards after contact.

10Oct 2021
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Michigan 32, Nebraska 29

Hassan Haskins (image via Courier Express)

Even a broken clock is right twice a day. I predicted a 34-28 victory for Michigan (LINK), which was only 3 total points off. And if Michigan hadn’t whiffed on their two-point conversion attempt, it would have been even closer. Essentially, the game went almost exactly how I thought it would. I thought Michigan would be ahead late and then force a turnover, stopping a final drive, much like what happened against Rutgers. Instead, Michigan and Nebraska were tied late, and Brad Hawkins forced a fumble, leading to the game-winning field goal. Nebraska is a tough place to play at night – which we learned back in 2012 when Denard Robinson hurt his elbow and Russell Bellomy entered disastrously. Escaping with a victory this time feels good.

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8Oct 2021
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Preview: Michigan at Nebraska

Adrian Martinez

RUSH OFFENSE vs. NEBRASKA RUSH DEFENSE
Michigan is #7 in rushing offense (255 yards/game) and #12 in yards per carry (5.57) despite not running the ball very well the past couple weeks against Rutgers and Wisconsin. Last week Michigan managed just 112 rushing yards on 2.55 yards per attempt, and that was a game in which Michigan did not suffer any sacks. Nebraska is #44 in rushing defense and allowing 3.67 yards per carry, which is a middling #54 nationally. While they allowed FCS Fordham to average 4.61 yards per carry, the Cornhuskers buckled down and held Michigan State to just 71 yards and 2.37 yards a pop a couple weeks ago. Sophomore inside linebacker Luke Reimer (6’1″, 225) is their leading tackler with 51, while sophomore outside linebacker Garrett Nelson (6’3″, 245) leads with 8.0 tackles for loss.
Advantage: Michigan

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