By the time Northwestern enters the Big House on Saturday to face No. 9 Michigan, the Wildcats’ coaches will have already completed the toughest task at hand: trying to create a game plan for attacking a team with no apparent vulnerabilities.
“You don’t look at them and say there’s a real weakness at this group or this group,” NU coach Randy Walker said. “They have great diversity throughout their team, both sides of the ball.”
The Cats (5-4, 4-2 Big Ten) will attempt to get their first win at Michigan Stadium since 1995 against a Michigan squad (8-1, 6-0) led by a couple of true freshmen and an impressive group of receivers.
Freshman Chad Henne has emerged as one of the Big Ten’s most consistent quarterbacks while throwing to senior receiver Braylon Edwards, the Big Ten’s leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
Edwards is joined at wideout by juniors Jason Avant and Steve Breaston, creating a trio that should prove the ultimate test for NU’s 102nd-ranked pass defense.
“In order to win this game, we have to win in the secondary,” senior cornerback Marvin Ward said.
The Cats’ secondary improved against Purdue and Penn State, allowing the Boilermakers just 210 passing yards and the Nittany Lions 183. But those outings were against a struggling Purdue squad and a mediocre Penn State offense.
NU’s defense can’t get too caught up in stopping the passing game. The Cats also have to worry about freshman running back Mike Hart, the conference’s leading rusher with 128.9 yards per game.
Between the upperclassmen at receiver and the freshmen who play like veterans, NU defenders could have trouble against an offense that has averaged 428.2 yards per game in Big Ten play.
“When you get multi-dimensional like that, and they can play with both their right and left hand, they’re going to be difficult to stop,” Walker said. “We have to hold on and minimize the damage.”
The Cats’ offense will need production from senior running back Noah Herron, who’s set to face the 18th-best rushing defense in the country, a unit that has allowed just 104.6 yards per game.
But to keep up with the Wolverines’ quick-scoring offense, NU quarterback Brett Basanez will need a big game against Michigan’s 42nd-ranked secondary. He’ll be missing top receiver Mark Philmore, who’s out with a sprained right knee.
“(The Wolverines’ secondary) is one of the staples of their team,” senior receiver Ashton Aikens said. “It’s a big part of their success. … They’re good athletes, and they’re probably some of the best players at their position in the conference.”
Michigan just had its bye week after a seven-game winning streak. That didn’t bode well for NU last year, when the Wolverines came into Evanston after a bye week and crushed the Cats 41-10.
“They hit us 100 miles an hour,” Walker said. “I’m hopeful they change their routine this year.”
If the Cats can avoid giving up 31 first-half points like last year, the game could be interesting. NU is 5-1 and Michigan is 4-1 in games decided by eight points or less.
Reach Teddy Kider at [email protected].
