Jump to content


Beefier Michigan getting closer to reclaiming Big Ten

knapplc

By knapplc,
in The Big Ten

Recommended Posts

knapplc Legend

knapplc

Posted
Posted

Looks like we'll have to take a back seat to Michigan, Husker fans. They're about to take over the Big Ten.

 

LINK

 

 

Ann Arbor — Nine years. Some players barely can spit out the words without recoiling in disgust.

 

 

It has been nine years since Michigan won a Big Ten football championship, and if you’re sick of hearing about it, imagine the guys roaming Schembechler Hall. They hear it from Brady Hoke, from assistant coaches, from each other. The pass code to enter the locker room is a numerical reminder of the drought, punched in daily.

 

 

So, how is Michigan going to reclaim their rightful position atop the Big Ten? By getting bigger. A lot bigger. Says Dave Brandon, UM Athletic Director: "We look like Michigan again. We’re bigger and stronger and prepared to play more of the smash-mouth football that defines the Big Ten.”

 

Nevermind, apparently, that the rest of college football is steadily moving away from the traditional, plodding offenses of the NFL. (Heck, even the NFL is adopting college football's need-for-speed attitude) Ignore the fact that Devin Gardner is better-suited for a spread offense featuring a mobile quarterback. Forget about the fact that the Big Ten is recruiting speed across the board like never before (well, except Iowa).

 

Nope. The way to win back the Big Ten, according to Brady Hoke, is to turn back the clock to a three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust offense. Every RB on their roster tops 200lbs. Their linemen aren't getting more agile and swift, they're getting bigger. LOTS bigger.

 

The Wolverines return only two starting offensive linemen — 6-8 Lewan and 6-7 right tackle Michael Schofield — but they’re adding raw beef (football term). Projected guards Kyle Kalis (297 pounds) and Ben Braden (314) are highly touted redshirt freshmen, and center Jack Miller is a 291-pound sophomore.

 

That's swell if you're planning on grinding out long drives. Heck, Bo Pelini will accommodate you with his "make them earn every yard" defense that rarely gets off the field in three-and-out in conference play.

 

But when your top competition for winning the conference are all going to faster-paced, higher-scoring offenses, what good does it do you to slow down your own offense? Why wouldn't you want to match your opponents score-for-score?

 

Brady Hoke doesn't see it that way. He thinks his pro-style offense will be faster-paced. “I had this conversation with (wife) Laura Hoke last night. I don’t think we’re playing as fast as we need to play to be a championship football team.” But he's not getting the pieces he needs to play faster. He's getting big, strong guys. That's fine, if you want to be 1980s-era Nebraska, who mauled Big 8 opponents week in and week out, but when they played more fleet of foot opponents (Oklahoma, Miami, Florida State, etc) they got run off the field. Literally.

Link to comment



Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

Visit the Sports Illustrated Husker site



×
×
  • Create New...