Previously: Northwestern Offense
This didn't result in a touchdown, making it different from every other clip in this post.
Michigan probably isn't going to take advantage of this because of reasons you're all very well-versed in—namely, Michigan isn't good at offense—but Northwestern gave up 38 first-half points to Iowa so I really have no choice here but to point out the the Wildcats may not be very good. I realize this will only add to the sadness, and for that.
Personnel: Diagram goes here—click to embiggen:
It's unclear if strong safety Ibraheim Campbell will be able to play, let alone at 100%, on Saturday. He was supposed to return to the starting lineup from a hamstring injury against Iowa, but was a late scratch when his leg didn't cooperate; Campbell says the "chances are pretty high" that he'll play—as a senior captain, he's certainly going to do eveything he can to get back on the field.
Also, Northwestern has an honest-to-god punter controversy after sophomore Chris Grandone was replaced by redshirt freshman Hunter Niswander after struggling against the Hawkeyes. The Wildcats are 120th nationally in net punting; there could be an opportunity or two for a big play there.
Base Set? 4-3. The Wildcats ran an over front last year, but against Iowa they played a lot of under.
[Hit THE JUMP for the rest of the breakdown.]
Man or zone coverage? Mostly zone. Man coverage went rather poorly:
Jake Rudock finished 12/19 for 239 yards and the above touchdown, so zone coverage didn't exactly hold it down, either.
Pressure: GERG or Greg? Mostly GERG-ian; Northwestern didn't record a sack in this one and didn't bring a ton of heat. They'll roll their strong safety into the box frequently, but that's mostly for run defense.
Dangerman: I'm sticking to my Draftageddon guns and saying that Chi Chi Ariguzo is a quality weakside linebacker. This game didn't provide much reason to select anyone else.
OVERVIEW
You've seen Rudock's very un-Iowan stat line. Now here's the part where I tell you Mark Weisman ran for 94 yards and not one...
...not two...
...but three...
...touchdowns, all in the first half, on 20 carries. Then there's the part when I tell you something called an Akrum Wadley led the Hawkeyes in rushing with 106 yards and a score on just 15 carries. Northwestern definitely misses senior MIKE Collin Ellis, who missed this contest and is expected to sit out on Saturday due to a concussion.
I'll readily admit to, uh, skimming through the film a bit, but this defense is obviously permeable. They don't have an overpowering line or a frightening pass-rusher; the linebackers are banged up; there isn't a lockdown cornerback; the safeties are average and/or injured. I actually like Campbell's replacement, Godwin Igwebuike, quite a bit as a playmaker from that strong safety spot, but he's prone to the usual litany of (redshirt) freshman mistakes. Nobody else really jumps off the screen.
Can Michigan move the ball on these guys? That's entirely up to Michigan. We shall see.