Hype? Wolverines have their first test

It has to say something when the AP and a whole bunch of college football coaches rank your program number 11 or 12 in the country but I haven’t bought into all the hub-a-baloo.  The Wolverines looked solid against lesser teams with a much improved defense and a sometimes dynamic offense that brought them back against Notre Dame and completely overpowered Minnesota.  Still, an objective viewer could see the chinks in the armor.

This weekend marks the first time in the 2011 season the Maize and Blue could be tested through four quarters.  I say could because even though the Michigan State Spartans have a more balanced offense and a more experienced defense, the little brother from Lansing has the ability to choke at the crucial moment and then completely implode.  We haven’t seen it in the last couple of seasons and I don’t expect it Saturday simply because they’ve bled the Wolverines to the point where they’ve lost their fear in much the same way Michigan lost its swagger under the RichRod regime.

Hoke and his coaches are going to have to bring their A-game plan to East Lansing if they want to continue this unbeaten streak but more than snazzy plays and offensive schemes.  It’s going to take an old-school Big Ten black and blue beat down to secure the win this week, meaning U of M needs to be able to run the ball consistently with their backs and work the play action pass / option.  While the blitz schemes have been effective, the defense needs to swarm on the ball and tackle well. 

Smash-mouth football will give the Spartans pause after a couple of quarters of having the ball run down their throats for no other reason than the Michigan they have played has looked more like ballerinas than boxers the last couple of times out.  The Wolverines need to “punch them in the mouth” as Hoke said earlier in the week.

Can they?  It depends on the fundamentals.  Look back to the days when Woodson roamed the secondary and you’ll remember a defense that tackled well and didn’t give up big plays.  That defense would bend but not break, eventually wearing the opponent down and then turning it up another notch to seal the game.  The offense was much the same, not a lot of big plays but they were balanced and consistent. 

The little brother has grown up, put a little weight on and isn’t shy about throwing it around.  Look for a motivated Spartan team to come out swinging.  If the Wolverines can contain them and turn this into a good old-fashioned Big Ten grind, they can come out with a win and prove a portion of the hype.

Michigan by 3