Keys to the Game: Michigan

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Downward to sports Breef the Husker Buzz Keys to the
Game edition with our insider Sean talay Like and Rosie
clowd Shanow.

Speaker 2 (00:08):
It seems to me the keys are fairly simple, but
you walk us through it.

Speaker 3 (00:12):
Yeah. I think for Nebraska it starts with how they
attack the run on defense. What is the game plan
that John Butler is going to come out with at
the line of scrimmage, because you know that's what Michigan
is going to test early in this game. And I
do believe Nebraska has sat on some things the last
two weeks and what they're going to show and how
they're going to come at it. Number two, obviously, the

(00:35):
little legs of Bryce Underwood. They turned him loose last week,
gave him the green light on passing plays just to
take off and go, and he had a lot of
scramble runs, two design runs and the others were all scrambles.
And so obviously that's gonna be another key factor for them.
But then offensively, you know, can they get enough out

(00:55):
of Hima Johnson, Emma Johnson to somebody they're going to
really need in this game. It's going to be probably
a twenty five plus day for him when you talk
about carries and receptions, it could be thirty. They've kind
of geared him up for this. Are they going to
get enough out of him? And then Dylan Ryola keeping
him in rhythm and you know you're giving him time

(01:16):
in the pocket because I do expect Michigan to come
at him with a lot of pressures to try to
confuse him and get him out of rhythm because he's
been in great rhythm all season long, and I think
that will be one of their plans to get him
off his game.

Speaker 2 (01:30):
Yeah, he's not been touched in the last two games,
and that probably isn't helpful because steal typically sharp and steel.
That's what Chris Peterson said about as the former coach
of Washington now one of the Fox Sports Network commentators.
But where do you think Ryola's head is? This is
the stage for him now he's still a relatively young guy.

(01:50):
But this is it, man. This is all these other
games that they've been messing around with up till this
one really doesn't matter and they don't really count compared
to this. So where do you think is mentally?

Speaker 3 (02:01):
You know, a year ago he had this opportunity to
go four and oho on national TV and they lost
to Illinois. Illinois and would be a good team, and
he had a chance to win the game and he
fell off in the second half. I don't think we'll
see that version of Ryleway. I think he's so much
further ahead than he was a year ago. I think
Dana Holgerson also being in his headset the entire game

(02:25):
is good. I mean, he's gonna help Dylan through a
game like this, but the receivers are so much better.
As long as Dana can create concepts to get guys open,
Dylan will see these guys and he'll get the ball out.
And I do believe you're gonna see also a lot
of new wrinkles and things on offense. The last two
weeks they just ran the basic things and obviously it
put up points in yards. But you will see some

(02:46):
new wrinkles to this offense too, and ways to get
Dylan going. But he's got to just relax. And I
like that he's at home and has more time at
home with Michigan State still ahead two and it's been
a great schedule in that sense, just to get this
entire team ready for moments like this. And comfortable playing

(03:08):
and getting a lot of confidence as well.

Speaker 2 (03:10):
Oh, it's been ridiculously advantageous this schedule for him, But
this is it.

Speaker 1 (03:15):
You know.

Speaker 2 (03:16):
Ernest Housman will make him sore, Jan Rahan Bonham will
make ji. Shwayne Botham will make him sore. Tomorrow. He's
going to get hit tomorrow. Do you think he's ready
for that? Because he hadn't been hit probably since the
Bowl game.

Speaker 3 (03:32):
Yeah. I mean he got hit a little bit in
the Cincinnati game on a couple of plays, but yeah, no,
he has to be ready. And the key is holding
on the ball. I mean the stat of the season
thus far as there's been one turnover by the offense
in three games. I mean they get back to the
Colorado game and Matt Rules first year of the Minnesota game.
I think at one point the start that year, they
were like minus eight. That's a team in turnover.

Speaker 2 (03:55):
Well you can thank Jeff Sims because he alone was
minus fourteen. What you mean? The turnover situation has been
huge for Nebraska so far.

Speaker 3 (04:03):
And if they play that sound with special teams playing
like it has, they're gonna be able to keep any
game close. And I think that's the key as well
tomorrow is that you know, this is the turnovers and
the special teams. Pro Bowl Focus currently has their special
teams now number two in the country in terms of
overall team score. So they've gotten a lot out of

(04:24):
that special teams with Counanan. The punting, which we haven't seen.
By the way, Archie Wilson, I would assume will punt
in this game for the first time in.

Speaker 1 (04:32):
Lincoln, the may thag repair man. What do you think
about intangibles in this one, Sean, You know, we can
talk about this position in that position, these matchups in
tangibles favor Nebraska in this one or Michigan.

Speaker 3 (04:48):
I think they favored in Nebraska. I mean, this is
a Michigan team that lost a ton. I mean people
aren't giving that enough. No, I mean, look how many
draft picks they have on our defense. I think it
was four in the top one hundred last year. And
they've had to rebuild this unit. So it's a lot
of new faces. You know, Key Spots a freshman quarterback. Yes,
he's very good, but they don't have near the receivers

(05:10):
they've had Justin Haynes. Justice Haines is a good running back,
but you know he's not, in my opinion, as good
as some of the ones they've had in the past.
So if you're going to get Michigan, this is an
opportunity to get him.

Speaker 1 (05:23):
Sean Harwall Michigan teams right, Sean thanks. He's back with
Emry the afternoon Buzz including his game production and then
of course Huscar on Lion Show tonight. A six