The NI-5: 5 things to watch in Saturday’s NIU-Michigan game

DeKALB – Fresh off a near-comeback against Wyoming, the Northern Illinois University football team heads to Ann Arbor to face Michigan at 11 a.m. Saturday.

The Wolverines entered the AP poll this week at No. 25 and are 2-0. After winning at Georgia Tech in Week 1, the Huskies erased a 26-point deficit against the Cowboys but fell, 50-43.

Here are five things to watch for in this showdown, the second all-time between the schools.

What can the NIU run game do against Michigan?

Harrison Waylee has been one of the top rushers in the country through two games with 323 yards and three scores and an average of 6.1 yards a carry.

Clint Ratkovich also has been effective with 13 carries for 76 yards and three touchdowns, all against Wyoming.

“On top of confidence, it just affects the game,” NIU quarterback Rocky Lombardi said of the run game. “They have to put another hat in the box if they want to defend the run. When Harry busts a 75-yard run and they put more guys in the box that allows us to open the passing game more.”

Michigan has allowed only 176 total rushing yards this season.

Lombardi said no one on the team works harder than Waylee, and he called Ratkovich an impressive and unique talent that excels at every aspect of the run game – whether it’s inside or outside blocking, pass-catching or anything else.

NIU coach Thomas Hammock repeated what he said in the preseason about Ratkovich, that if he still were a running back coach in the NFL he would want Ratkovich on his roster.

“If I was in Baltimore I would be trying to draft him,” Hammock said. “I think this guy is an exceptional player. We have to find more ways to use him, find mismatches to use him. We have him for one season. Let’s maximize that one season to the best of our ability.”

Michigan has one of the top rushing attacks in the country

The Wolverines have run for 678 yards in wins over Western Michigan and Wisconsin, both by at least three touchdowns – 31-10 against the Huskies from the Pac-12, 47-14 against the Broncos from the MAC.

“Some people choose to travel on the ground, some people by air,” Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said. “George Patton was able to get his job done on the ground. Neil Armstrong, through the air. Last Saturday night, we chose to grind it out on the ground, and we were able to get out mission accomplished.”

Hammock said that Georgia Tech and Wyoming also had exceptional rushing attacks. NIU has allowed 231 rushing yards a game.

“They want to be a physical outfit. That’s their DNA,” Hammock said. “They’ve got a good offensive line. They have good tight ends. They have two exceptional backs and a quarterback that is going to manage the game. We understand what is coming our way.”

Harbaugh said a lot of stuff has come together to lead to the potent attack this year, which has two players with more than 200 yards so far – Blake Corum (35-282) and Hassan Haskins (40-225).

“It’s a deep and talented group of tight ends, and they are as involved with the offensive line,” Harbaugh said. “They’re pulling, they’re lead blocking, they’re wrapping. They’re blocking in every way in conjunction with the offensive line. That’s the next biggest factor [after physicality] along with the running backs. Tough to bring down. They’re rarely tackled by one guy. They’ve got great balance and vision and are able to elude, get yards after contact.”

What does the flow of the game look like?

Harbaugh has been using a no-huddle offense this year, and he said he was impressed when his team put together about a 7-minute scoring drive against Washington.

“It’s not something that’s been easy for a no-huddle team to achieve,” Harbaugh said. “It definitely warms the cockles of the heart. A 7-minute drive, that’s the equivalent in the no-huddle world of a good old 10-minute, 11-minute, 12-minute drive.”

The Huskies, on the other hand, have been using a hurry-up at times. Hammock said it’s a balancing act on when to use it.

“It definitely creates some advantages, creates some stress for the defense,” Hammock said. “At the same time we don’t want to hurry up and get off the field. We need to be selective in how we use it, when we use it, the situations that we use it in. We’ll continue to evaluate that as we move forward.”

Lombardi said the hurry-up for the Huskies is just one thing the team does to be versatile when it has the ball.

“I think it’s been a really good tool for us,” Lombardi said. “We’ve done a lot of different things on offense. We’ve shown 22 personnel downhill running, we’ve thrown the quick game well, downfield play-action pass. [The hurry-up] has been good to us, and we’ll keep doing it.”

Hammock knows the Harbaugh DNA

Hammock spent five years coaching with Jim Harbaugh’s brother, John, with the Ravens. He said there’s some definite family similarities.

“I worked with Jim Harbaugh’s brother for five years, so I know the DNA of the Harbaugh family,” Hammock said. “They have a style that is very physical and demanding. That’s going to stress you out on all three phases.”

And it’s true of the plays as well.

“He’s running a lot of plays I’m very familiar with,” Hammock said. “A lot of plays we ran in Baltimore. Obviously, coach Harbaugh went back to his roots, his Standford roots of being able to window dress run schemes, but be able to attack.”

Can NIU stay on-brand?

Hammock said the Huskies need to limit turnovers, run the ball effectively and play clean, and he said that’s what the team needs to be known for.

“We have to create a brand of football that is going to be long-standing for the season,” Hammock said. “We have to run the ball. We have to be great on special teams. And we’re a team that can be better on defense. But we can’t turn the ball over, can’t give away points.”

He also said one-possession games is a part of that, something that has happened in each of the first two games for NIU this season after an 0-6 record last season.

“Considering the type of team we were last year, and we know we’re a much-improved football team, but we have to play clean,” Hammock said. “That’s what’s needed.”