Wisconsin hosts Nebraska in this week’s match up of Top 10 teams. Two opponents meeting for the first time 1974. Old school Big Ten versus the newest addition to the now twelve team league. Bret Bielema matching up against Bo Pelini. The Leaders taking on the Legends. A game that many folks, myself included, believe to be a preview of the newly created Big Ten Championship Game.
The Badgers enter the contest with a high powered offense who has absolutely throttled the four “not very good” opponents they have faced to date. Russell Wilson has become an instant star for a new red and white team and while he has started to make believers of his dynamic capabilities this is the game most flagged as the first true test of how good he can be in Wisconsin.
On defense Nebraska is going to have their hands full as the Badgers’ offensive attack is a true bear that aims to bully teams into submission with the run before hitting them for big plays over the top in the passing game. The Huskers have had some issues on defense that absolutely must be corrected, they have not got the penetration their looking for which doesn’t bode well for passing situations and Russell Wilson. The Black Shirts have also shown soft underneath coverage, disarray in scramble drills and poor tackling down the field.
In short, the Cornhuskers are going to have to fix a lot of issues and play extremely well to not just slow down Wisconsin’s attack but have success against the Badgers. It is a tall order to ask the Black Shirts to “shut down” the Wisconsin offense and an even wilder proposition to expect them to simply hold the Badgers in check.
Enter the key to Nebraska pulling out their first Big Ten victory in Madison; getting their offense going in a big way.
We’ve all seen Taylor Martinez the sophomore sensation who finished a mere 35 yards on the ground short of being a thousand yard runner and passer in his debut a year ago. The kid is built for explosive plays both with his legs and with his arm. The offense’s run heavy nature sucks defenders into the box and T-Magic’s legs make safeties commit to stopping him, leaving gaps in the back end and big play opportunities.
The Cornhuskers have to capitalize on these instances because as it stands now their ability to drive the football against quality defenses is not something to hang their hat on. In looking at Wisconsin the defense is stout BUT they do have holes. This is not an Alabama or LSU styled suffocating unit that stifles the inside and outside run or a defense that smothers wide receivers and pressures the quarterback.
Wisconsin’s biggest issue is the edge of their defense. “The edge” meaning both their contain and their perimeter defense. There are openings to hit the corner of this Wisconsin defense and play in space and make a team, one that is strong up the middle, tackle and pursue on the edge.
Here is where Nebraska is going to have their area of opportunities. Getting guys like Aaron Greene, Rex Burkhead and of course Taylor Martinez loose on the perimeter of this Wisconsin defense is going to be the way for the Huskers to keep pace with the Badgers churning offensive attack.
Tim Beck, the Nebraska offensive coordinator, has got the plays within his offense to make these explosions happen. The Huskers can grab chunks of yardage and score in a hurry. The plays are there to extend drives, keep Wisconsin off balance and make sure the pressure is on the Badgers’ offense to get in the endzone consistently.
Where routine plays are concerned watch for the Huskers offense to make use of the sweeps with both the running backs and Martinez. The backs can bounce their leads and off-tackle runs wide in a hurry to push the issues to the edge and in the pass game their screens will help get the ball to the edge quickly. Not talking about a purely horizontal game from the Huskers but more a plan of getting to the edge fast and then getting up field, escaping the teeth of the defense for the softer play of the perimeter of Wisconsin.
On the big play front Beck also has some options in his holster. While T-Magic is no Brandon Weeden or Andrew Luck when it comes to delivering the football the sophomore has seen some success in a couple of areas; hitting open crossers in the soft underbelly of defenses and delivering the deep ball after play action. Beck has got to let Martinez hit crosser, that will increase the kid’s confidence and allow the Huskers to keep moving the football. As the Badgers grow increasingly concerned with stopping runs to the edge and receivers getting down field crossers can become a quarterback’s best friend when the middle opens up.
To aid in opening that middle? Look for run action passing out of the Huskers that forces the safeties to make a decision quickly and leaves wide receivers open downfield. Their option pass is effective and Martinez can pick up chunks of yardage when his receivers are isolated on safeties or corners OR best case scenario the defense fails to recognize pass and he has receivers wide open to hit for scores.
Also in the Nebraska quiver? My favorite route in all of football, the wheel. Getting Burkhead and the speedy Aaron Green out to the corners and up the field against linebackers can definitely result in big plays as long as Taylor Martinez delivers the ball in the open window. The wheel is a great route; Huskers can fake the run, let the back get up the field against a linebacker and once the ball is in their hands there is daylight for Green and Burkhead to make plays.
A special bonus for the Huskers?
Their return game. Freshman Ameer Abdullah has been exceptional with the ball in his hands although he did sustain an ankle injury against Washington. On the kick returns he boasts an average of a 42.5 yards. That’s through 8 kickoff returns and includes one kickoff return for a touchdown to go with his slew of other big gainers. Provided he is truly healthy this is an area that Nebraska can do some damage. Off Wisconsin scores this kid can hush the Camp Randall crowd with a big return.
