I'm more interested in watching this game than any during the Kill era. We're playing a beatable Michigan team at their Big House on National TV on a Fall day that is supposed to have a high of 77 degrees with no chance of rain. It's what we wait for all year. Claeys is going to come out with a solid gameplan and we'll need it because if what is causing Gardner most of his problems is between his ears, it's likely he's going to feel better about himself this week since he's killed us twice now. He'll likely play a lot better than he has, but our D should be able to compete well and keep us in the game. That brings it down to Kill and Limegrover and what they have ready to go on offense. We have obvious concerns at QB. We have a stout run D that we're going to face. Was Nebraska last year a mirage, or can our O coaching staff rise to the occassion more consistently now and put together a plan that will enable us to win a big game even if we're maybe not able to run the ball between the tackles as well as Kill would like to? I'm skeptical, but Saturday is the day when we might just find out what we have to look forward to in the Kill era. Is he going to open things up even in the face of adversity, or is he going to always play it safe and hope for a few breaks, our D and special teams to carry the day? To me, the latter won't beat quality B1G teams. We play hard, we have good kids; we need to lay it all on the line and open things up and be creative and leave everything on the field; including whatever we have in the playbook that could keep Michigan off balance. For the love of God let's see 5-6 jet sweeps to Jones or Edwards, 3-4 screens to Cobb and 4-5 bubble screen to Edwards/Jones, et al. Maybe even surprise us with a couple of plays none of us are even expecting or calling for. I think a stubborn adherence to the "play it safe" strategy dooms us in big games most of the time. If Kill wants to muddle around with 6, 7 or 8 wins a year, keep his job and put money in his and his assistants pockets for the next three or four years he can probably do that playing offense that he's comfortable with. If he wants to start this Saturday with taking us to the next level, he's going to have to work with Limegrover to loosen things up and take some chances and put his faith in his fellas (yes even Streveler and Leidner; I think we have sucked the confidence out of our QBs the past three years) and let them play some semblance of modern day football, we might just be rewarded with a big win this weekend that could get us over the hump.
