Spotlight #1: Nebraska DT Jared Crick
Spotlight #2: Wisconsin S Aaron Henry
1st quarter
14:51: Crick run at, disengages, tackle for short gain.
13:42: Crick unblocked into backfield, whiffs on a tackle as a quick quarterback is able to evade it.
13:07: Crick sealed off the play on a run.
12:19: Crick double teamed on a blitz, Lavonte David, the linebacker, with a sack. Lavonte David is one of several highly rated prospects on Nebraska’s defense. He’s projected in about round 2 right now.
11:05: Henry finishes a guy off after a first down completion earned by breaking a couple tackles.
10:52: Henry helps in coverage on a deep route, runs well with the receiver, incomplete pass.
7:32: Henry explodes in for a clutch stop just short of the first on 2nd down.
6:53: Henry in on a fumble, recovered by Nebraska.
5:58: Henry shows poor instincts on a goal line run.
5:16: Crick breaks into the backfield, but the quarterback rolls away from him.
4:39: Crick forced off of the line on a run play.
4:00: Crick forced off of the line on a pass play, eventually forces the quarterback out of bounds on a decided quarterback run after a big gain.
2:51: Crick with a nice swim move, but misses a dive tackle on a powerful running back, Montee Ball.
2:16: Crick pancaked.
1:28: Crick muscled off the line on the goal line. He’s struggling with this stronger Wisconsin line.
2nd quarter
14:53: Henry on a nice tackle on a big quarterback run.
13:36: Henry blocked off the play on a big YAC catch.
12:31: Nick Toon with an amazing catch for Wisconsin against double coverage 38 yards. This is one for the highlight reel.
12:11: Crick run at, unable to disengage.
11:14: Crick gets push and gets his hands up, almost able to deflect it.
10:54: Crick with a nice swim move, but the quarterback is so fast, runs right past him.
9:48: Crick pushed off run play again, run at, can’t disengage. He’s having all kinds of trouble with Wisconsin’s line.
6:36: Nick Toon with a nice catch on not the most accurate short slant.
6:08: Lavonte David with his 2nd sack of the night.
4:52: Mike Taylor, who has made a few nice run plays, makes a pick as a coverage linebacker.
4:38: Crick with a weak effort on a pass play. Took that play off big time.
3:54: Crick with another lazy effort. He seems to be putting in less effort, frustrated with Wisconsin’s line dominating him. That’s a very bad thing.
3:41: Toon gets position, short first down catch. I’ve been very impressed with him.
1:20: Henry with nice coverage and gets the pick on an overthrow. He was in the right place at the right time and the ball was pretty much thrown to him.
1:01: Crick goes in coverage on a blitz out of necessity and gets a tackle after a short completion.
0:52: Nick Toon with another touchdown. Huge game for the senior receiver.
3rd quarter
14:40: Crick blocked, able to disengage and get in on the tackle, but only after a 9 yard gain.
11:49: Crick pushed off the line on 4th and short, Wisconsin converts.
8:53: Crick gets into the backfield and pressures the quarterback.
8:25: Run right through Crick’s gap, Crick can’t disengage.
7:53: Lazy effort by Crick after being beat off the snap and pushed back big time. Give up play.
7:08: Crick shies away from helping on a tackle.
4th quarter
14:55: Henry in on a tackle on a quarterback run stopped for a short gain.
12:41: Lavonte David explosive to blow up play in the backfield. He’s been Nebraska’s most impressive defensive player tonight.
5:11: Montee Ball with his 4th rushing touchdown on the night. He’s looked like a very good back tonight. It’s worth noting that Crick wasn’t in on that entire series.
4:54: Henry with a tackle on the sideline.
0:00: I watched this game because Jared Crick has recently torn a pectoral muscle and is out for the season, and thus for his college career as he is a senior. The last time I saw Crick was against Washington and I said he was the most talented player on the field. He had an excellent game, but that’s Washington. This is Wisconsin.
Crick was absolutely outmuscled by Wisconsin’s big line. I know Wisconsin might have the best offensive line in college football, but Crick is going to play to go against lines like this all the time in the NFL. They dominated him for most of the game and on several plays, he appeared to give up after getting beat off the snap. At 6-5 285, Crick probably doesn’t have the size or strength to stay inside at defensive tackle in the NFL. He belongs at 3-4 defensive end, much like former Nebraska defensive tackle Adam Carriker.
Crick is quick and long. He uses his great, long arms to bat balls down, or, in this game, block a field goal. He’s a good pass rusher as well and even got some pressure in this game. He has 19.5 sacks in the last 2 plus years, but he’s not good enough against the run to stay inside in the NFL against NFL caliber lines, which Wisconsin really is.
Nebraska cornerback Alfonzo Dennard, once a projected first round pick, struggled some in coverage tonight as well. However, Lavonte David impressed once again. He had 2 sacks and looked explosive all night long. He certainly didn’t give up in this game. He’s solidified his standing as a 2nd round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.
As for Wisconsin, Aaron Henry is their best defense player and one of the top safeties in this very weak safety class. He’s solid in coverage and played deep on most plays. He looked great in coverage and had a nice pick as well. He also played pretty well against the run, but he wasn’t in on a ton of running plays because Wisconsin does line him up so deep because of his coverage abilities.
Mike Taylor is another talented defensive player for Wisconsin. He not only had a pick, but he also had 14 tackles on the day to give the senior 36 tackles in 4 games. The senior linebacker is moving up boards and getting onto NFL scouts’ radar as a senior. Right now, he projects as a day 3 prospect, but he and Henry are the only legitimate NFL prospects on Wisconsin’s defense.
Fortunately, they make up for it with all of their talented players on offense. Center Peter Konz, right guard Kevin Zietler, and left tackle Ricky Wagner could all be day 2 picks or higher. Konz especially had a great game tonight against Jared Crick and another talented Nebraska defensive lineman Baker Steinkuhler. I’ll have to spotlight him, but after talented Ohio State center Mike Brewster, he might be the best center in this class.
Wisconsin also has a lot of skill position talent. Nick Toon had several highlight reel catches. He caught 4 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown to give the senior receiver 25 catches for 447 yards and 6 scores on the year. He also looks like a day 2 prospect. Another potential day 2 prospect is Montee Ball, who rushed for 4 touchdowns tonight. On the year, he has 93 catches for 511 yards and 13 touchdowns on the year. He’s also caught 6 passes for 120 yards and another score.
Finally, there’s Russell Wilson. Russell Wilson is undersized at 5-11 200, but he has a high release point on his throws like Drew Brees, who is also about 6 foot tall. He’s mobile as well and he’s got a strong arm, especially for his size. He’s having a fantastic season for Wisconsin, completing 74.8% of his passes for an average of 12.6 per attempt and 13 touchdowns to 1 interception, as well as 140 yards rushing and 2 rushing touchdowns. I’ll have to spotlight him at some point, but if he keeps this up and he picks football over baseball, he could be a mid round prospect in the 2012 NFL Draft.
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