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http://www.omaha.com/huskers/keep-i...cle_14c919a9-e336-5159-bd4c-2260abff3d0a.html
LINCOLN — A team’s objective is clear when five big-bodied offensive linemen have a hand in the turf, tight ends are flanking each side of the formation and a fullback is lining up in front of the tailback.
There’s nothing subtle about the tactics of teams like Minnesota. They want to ram, bash, pummel and maul — for four long quarters.
Sure, the Gophers have other personnel groups. They’ll sprinkle in play-action passes to keep Nebraska off-balance, and they’ll create some misdirection with pre-snap motions and shifts, and they’ll see if they can catch the Huskers off-guard with some abrupt increases in pace.
But the core of Minnesota’s identity is a no-frills style of running the ball with unrelenting physicality.
Complicated play designs aren’t needed. The plan is as basic as it gets. Run downhill until the other team weakens — because eventually it will.
NU’s defenders are well aware of this. They say they can’t let that happen...
It’s Big Ten football.
This Minnesota squad seems to be the epitome of the conference’s longtime space-clearing, smash-mouth stereotype.
All five of the Gophers’ projected starters on the offensive line weigh more than 300 pounds. They have a 328-pound guard. Their tackles are 6-foot-7 and 6-foot-9. There’s a 6-foot-10 tight end and a couple of more space-clearers listed at 250 pounds.
“Button up and tighten your chin strip. That’s the adjustment you have to make in this league,” defensive line coach Hank Hughes said. “To me, you don’t change things because you’re going against two 320-pound guys. You still take on a double team or you still beat a reach block the same way.”
It’s the same thing on the other side of the ball.
The Minnesota defensive front will try to take over the line of scrimmage, while its defensive backs shove and tug their way to dominance on the perimeter. NU’s challenge will be to focus on technique as it battles and collides with the Gophers.
“They are strong defensively,” coach Mike Riley said...
LINCOLN — A team’s objective is clear when five big-bodied offensive linemen have a hand in the turf, tight ends are flanking each side of the formation and a fullback is lining up in front of the tailback.
There’s nothing subtle about the tactics of teams like Minnesota. They want to ram, bash, pummel and maul — for four long quarters.
Sure, the Gophers have other personnel groups. They’ll sprinkle in play-action passes to keep Nebraska off-balance, and they’ll create some misdirection with pre-snap motions and shifts, and they’ll see if they can catch the Huskers off-guard with some abrupt increases in pace.
But the core of Minnesota’s identity is a no-frills style of running the ball with unrelenting physicality.
Complicated play designs aren’t needed. The plan is as basic as it gets. Run downhill until the other team weakens — because eventually it will.
NU’s defenders are well aware of this. They say they can’t let that happen...
It’s Big Ten football.
This Minnesota squad seems to be the epitome of the conference’s longtime space-clearing, smash-mouth stereotype.
All five of the Gophers’ projected starters on the offensive line weigh more than 300 pounds. They have a 328-pound guard. Their tackles are 6-foot-7 and 6-foot-9. There’s a 6-foot-10 tight end and a couple of more space-clearers listed at 250 pounds.
“Button up and tighten your chin strip. That’s the adjustment you have to make in this league,” defensive line coach Hank Hughes said. “To me, you don’t change things because you’re going against two 320-pound guys. You still take on a double team or you still beat a reach block the same way.”
It’s the same thing on the other side of the ball.
The Minnesota defensive front will try to take over the line of scrimmage, while its defensive backs shove and tug their way to dominance on the perimeter. NU’s challenge will be to focus on technique as it battles and collides with the Gophers.
“They are strong defensively,” coach Mike Riley said...