Aloha Gang! Ok, lets get this Bad Boy started. Tonight we have a matchup of two teams with seemingly one-dimensional Offenses. Mich St. and their aerial attack led by QB Jeff Smoker vs Nebraska and their ground it and pound it run Off. In this one, I see several KEYS which represent advantages that one team has over the other. They, if successfully played out, will definately determine the outcome of this game as I see it. Lets look at these KEYS which should spell victory tonight.
**MST when on Off
57th in Tot Off)
Keys- QB Jeff Smoker ranked 15th in the nation in passing. He also led the Big Ten in this category as well. This year, he has thrown for over 3,200 yards, 21 TD, 11 ints., and comp rate of 62%. He also avgs passing for 269 yard per gm. Smoker is MST and as he goes , so does the Spartans. He can win this game if he is given time to sit in the pocket and pick a def apart.
-no real strong ground game. (106th in Run, 104 ypg)
-WR are active, but they lack any big name stars, go to guy, or any real deep threats.
**Neb on Defense:"(14th in Tot Def)
Keys: Pass Def- 13th ranked against the pass. #1 in nation in Ints. w/ 29. Held opponents to just 179 ypg, and allowed just 10 TD's via the pass.
Keys: Run Def- 31st ranked stopping the run. Held opponents to just 127 ypg.
Keys: Solid LB corp. of Ruud and Williams, combined this year for 262 tackles , 11 sacks, 24 QB hurries, and 31 TFL.
Keys: 6th ranked scoring def avg 15 ppg.
Keys: #1 ranked in turnover margin.
**Results of this Matchup***
-Nebraska's Def, clearly has many Key advantages in dealing with Smoker and this Mich St Off. Because Mich St completely relies on Smoker to win it with his arm, getting to him is the what Neb will need to do tonight. The disruption of Mich St's passing game, is the only way to prevent Smoker from taking over the game, and putting Neb's Off in a position which they are not equiped to handle. The Key is applying pressure all night long, with multiple blitzing schemes by Neb's aggressive LBing corp. LB's Ruud and Williams should find success in getting to Smoker, who has been sacked 24 times already this year.
An added advantage for Neb is the cover abilities of their talented secondary squad that got the most picks in the nation this year. They will give Smoker and his WR's corp their toughest challenge to date. The Nebraska def is good at causing turnovers and the secondary is one main reason why. If the blitzes are successful in sacking Smoker or at least causing him to rush his passes. There is a good chance that this Neb secondary will be able to pickoff several of his passes tonight. They have already 6 ints off of the potent Texas and Kansas St's Off's. So I feel confident that they can get a couple off of Smoker as well, especially because he lacks any run game to help keep the Neb blitzers honest. Working also in Neb's favor is Smoker's inability to beat them by running. This year, only QB's Roberson of Kansas St. and Smith of Missouri were able to cause all kinds of fits for this Neb defense, but that was due to their ability to move and avoid blitzes, as well as tuck the ball and run for a big gain. Smoker doesn't possess this ability, and his drop back passing tendencies will be an easier target for the Neb pass rushers to make a B line for, from any direction.
Nebraska tonight wins on the play of their Def effectively harrassing of Mich St's Mr Everything Jeff Smoker shutting him down. Defense is what wins games, and teams who run more effectively does as well. Neb locks up the two key categories equalling success. And as I mentioned, as Smoker goes down, so does the Spartans. Take Nebraska -3 for 5 Unit Play. Aloha and Good Luck to All, Co-Captain
(WINNER)
[This message was edited by Co-Captain on December 30, 2003 at 12:34 AM.]
**MST when on Off
Keys- QB Jeff Smoker ranked 15th in the nation in passing. He also led the Big Ten in this category as well. This year, he has thrown for over 3,200 yards, 21 TD, 11 ints., and comp rate of 62%. He also avgs passing for 269 yard per gm. Smoker is MST and as he goes , so does the Spartans. He can win this game if he is given time to sit in the pocket and pick a def apart.
-no real strong ground game. (106th in Run, 104 ypg)
-WR are active, but they lack any big name stars, go to guy, or any real deep threats.
**Neb on Defense:"(14th in Tot Def)
Keys: Pass Def- 13th ranked against the pass. #1 in nation in Ints. w/ 29. Held opponents to just 179 ypg, and allowed just 10 TD's via the pass.
Keys: Run Def- 31st ranked stopping the run. Held opponents to just 127 ypg.
Keys: Solid LB corp. of Ruud and Williams, combined this year for 262 tackles , 11 sacks, 24 QB hurries, and 31 TFL.
Keys: 6th ranked scoring def avg 15 ppg.
Keys: #1 ranked in turnover margin.
**Results of this Matchup***
-Nebraska's Def, clearly has many Key advantages in dealing with Smoker and this Mich St Off. Because Mich St completely relies on Smoker to win it with his arm, getting to him is the what Neb will need to do tonight. The disruption of Mich St's passing game, is the only way to prevent Smoker from taking over the game, and putting Neb's Off in a position which they are not equiped to handle. The Key is applying pressure all night long, with multiple blitzing schemes by Neb's aggressive LBing corp. LB's Ruud and Williams should find success in getting to Smoker, who has been sacked 24 times already this year.
An added advantage for Neb is the cover abilities of their talented secondary squad that got the most picks in the nation this year. They will give Smoker and his WR's corp their toughest challenge to date. The Nebraska def is good at causing turnovers and the secondary is one main reason why. If the blitzes are successful in sacking Smoker or at least causing him to rush his passes. There is a good chance that this Neb secondary will be able to pickoff several of his passes tonight. They have already 6 ints off of the potent Texas and Kansas St's Off's. So I feel confident that they can get a couple off of Smoker as well, especially because he lacks any run game to help keep the Neb blitzers honest. Working also in Neb's favor is Smoker's inability to beat them by running. This year, only QB's Roberson of Kansas St. and Smith of Missouri were able to cause all kinds of fits for this Neb defense, but that was due to their ability to move and avoid blitzes, as well as tuck the ball and run for a big gain. Smoker doesn't possess this ability, and his drop back passing tendencies will be an easier target for the Neb pass rushers to make a B line for, from any direction.
Nebraska tonight wins on the play of their Def effectively harrassing of Mich St's Mr Everything Jeff Smoker shutting him down. Defense is what wins games, and teams who run more effectively does as well. Neb locks up the two key categories equalling success. And as I mentioned, as Smoker goes down, so does the Spartans. Take Nebraska -3 for 5 Unit Play. Aloha and Good Luck to All, Co-Captain
[This message was edited by Co-Captain on December 30, 2003 at 12:34 AM.]
