Video: Friday Practice before Nebraska

Preview: Michigan vs. Nebraska

Rush Offense vs. Nebraska Rush Defense
Michigan has the #11 rushing offense in the country, but Denard Robinson has been struggling to run the ball in recent weeks . . . while Fitzgerald Toussaint has picked up the slack.  For the first time in his career, Robinson has dropped below averaging 100 yards per game.  But Toussaint has 63 carries, 420 yards, 3 touchdowns, and a 6.7 yard average over the last three weeks.  Nebraska gives up 161 yards a game on the ground and sits firmly in the middle of the pack at #66 in the country.  Outside linebacker Lavonte David leads the team in tackles, but all-everything defensive tackle Jared Crick is out for the year, which has opened up some more running room in the middle.
Advantage: Michigan


Pass Offense vs. Nebraska Pass Defense
The Cornhuskers don't have many ballhawks on defense, so it's unlikely that they will suddenly start picking off passes at an alarming rate.  They have 8 interceptions on the year . . . but Michigan's quarterbacks have combined for 14 picks.  Furthermore, Denard Robinson has thrown an interception in every game this year except for the 58-0 drubbing of Minnesota.  Nebraska is #21 in pass yardage defense, #29 in pass efficiency defense, and #86 in sacks, so they know how to cover but don't get after the quarterback that well.  They'll have a tough time tracking down Denard Robinson, but I expect Robinson's struggles to continue with throwing the ball.
Advantage: Nebraska


Rush Defense vs. Nebraska Rush Offense
The Huskers are #13 running the ball with nearly 233 yards per game.  Starting tailback Rex Burkhead has 1,072 yards on the year, 14 touchdowns, and averages 5.1 yards a carry.  Quarterback Taylor Martinez has 768 of his own rushing yards and 9 touchdowns and has lightning quick acceleration.  No real rushing threats exist beyond those two.  The Wolverines have yet to shut down a stellar tailback this season, but they are coming off an excellent performance against Illinois when the Illini averaged slightly over 1 yard a carry.  This will be the most potent rushing attack the Wolverines will see all season.
Advantage: Nebraska


Pass Defense vs. Nebraska Pass Offense
Taylor Martinez has perhaps the ugliest throwing motion in all of NCAA football.  Kenny Bell, the leading receiver for the Cornhuskers has 23 catches and for 307 yards, and six other players have 15 catches or more.  It's a balanced passing attack . . . but it's not a very good one.  The Wolverines have improved their pass coverage throughout the season and sit perched at #22 in the country, giving up 191 yards a game.  Barring some crazy events on Saturday, that number will drop even further.
Advantage: Michigan


Predictions

• Taylor Martinez takes advantage of a young defensive end/outside linebacker and breaks a big run
• Fitzgerald Toussaint continues in his groove with 150 yards
• Jordan Kovacs confuses Martinez into throwing him the ball
• Michigan 31, Nebraska 28

Player notes

• Players offered by Michigan: DE Jason Ankrah (12 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack), RB Rex Burkhead, WR Khiry Cooper, DT Jay Guy, OC Tyler Moore, DE Tobi Okuyemi, DT Chase Rome (7 tackles, 1 sack), DT Kevin Williams
• DT Todd Peat, Jr. is the older brother of Andrus Peat, a class of 2012 offensive tackle from Arizona who has visited Michigan
• Walk-on sophomore tight end Jake Long shares a name with someone who's awesome

An Update on Demar Dorsey

Demar Dorsey

Eric Lacy of the Detroit News wrote a piece on former Michigan commit Demar Dorsey, who is now at Grand Rapids Community College.

For updates on other ex-Wolverines, check out the Ex-Wolverine Encyclopedia.

2012 Recruiting: Senior Year Statistics

Ann Arbor (MI) Pioneer got a statistically dominant season out of Drake Johnson (#2 in white and purple)

Blake Bars - OT - Nashville (TN) Montgomery Bell
54 pancake blocks

Joe Bolden - LB - Cincinnati (OH) Colerain
86 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 interception returned for a touchdown; 1 receiving touchdown, 1 rushing touchdown, and a 39.0 yard average on 25 punts

Ben Braden - OT - Rockford (MI) Rockford
No stats available.

Pharaoh Brown - TE/DE - Lyndhurst (OH) Brush**
31 receptions, 499 yards (16.1 yards per catch), 7 touchdowns; 33 tackles, 9 sacks, 1 pass breakup, 1 forced fumble

Jehu Chesson - WR - St. Louis (MO) Ladue Horton Watkins
53 receptions, 757 yards, 6 touchdowns; 57 tackles, 2 interceptions

Jeremy Clark - S - Madisonville (KY) North Hopkins
70 tackles, 15 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble, 3 interceptions (3 touchdowns), and 1 fumble recovery (1 touchdown)

Devin Funchess - TE/LB - Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison
21 receptions, 452 yards (21.5 yards per catch), 5 touchdowns; 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 interception, 3 pass breakups

Allen Gant - S/WR - Sylvania (OH) Southview
79 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 3 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles; 12 carries, 106 yards (8.8 yards per rush); 24 receptions, 419 yards (17.5 yards per catch), 4 touchdowns

Matt Godin - DE - Novi (MI) Catholic Central
90 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 16.5 tackles for loss

Willie Henry - DT - Cleveland (OH) GlenvilleNo stats available.

Sione Houma - FB - Salt Lake City (UT) Highland
93 carries, 790 yards (8.8 yards per carry), 8 touchdowns; 1 kickoff return touchdown

Royce Jenkins-Stone - LB/FB - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
84 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries; 309 yards rushing, 5 touchdowns; 4 receptions, 43 yards, 1 touchdown

Drake Johnson - RB - Ann Arbor (MI) Pioneer
343 carries, 2,805 yards (8.2 yards per carry), 37 touchdowns; 5 receptions, 83 yards (16.6 yards per catch), 1 touchdown; 5-for-9 passing, 90 yards

Kyle Kalis - OL - Lakewood (OH) St. Edward's
No stats available.

Erik Magnuson - OL/DE - Carlsbad (CA) La Costa Canyon
69 pancake blocks

Dennis Norfleet - RB - Detroit (MI) King2,033 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns

Mario Ojemudia - DE - Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison
80 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 blocked punt

Ondre Pipkins - DT - Kansas City (MO) Park Hill
60 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, 3 pass breakups

Terry Richardson - CB/WR - Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
49 tackles, 7 pass breakups; 24 receptions, 425 yards (17.7 yards per catch), 2 touchdowns; 1 kickoff return touchdown

Kaleb Ringer - LB - Clayton (OH) Northmont
59 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery, 1 pass breakup

James Ross - LB - Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary's
138 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery; 1 touchdown reception

Caleb Stacey - OL - Cincinnati (OH)**
38 pancake blocks, 0 sacks allowed

Anthony Standifer - CB - Crete (IL) Crete-Monee**
46 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 4 interceptions (1 touchdown), 2 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery

Tom Strobel - DE - Mentor (OH) Mentor
55 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 33 quarterback hurries

A.J. Williams - TE - Cincinnati (OH) Sycamore
No stats available.

Jarrod Wilson - S - Akron (OH) Buchtel
71 tackles, 3 interceptions (1 touchdown), 1 blocked punt

Chris Wormley - DE - Toledo (OH) Whitmer
66 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 pass breakup

**Decommitted from Michigan

Press Conference: Hoke, Van Bergen

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Press Conference: Borges, Mattison