Mobile quarterback is the difference; theoretically should be a lot easier to stop Rutgers than Nebraska.
But we'll see, ultimately our defense has been one of the worst in college football the first 5 games. If we continue to play like that, we'll lose to virtually everybody else on the schedule.
I'd like to think that there will be changes that make that not happen, but we all have to wait and see.
FYI
our QB, Vedral IS mobile though. We run a lot of QB draws and he escapes out of the pocket a lot to extend players with his legs. We run RPO.
Terrible passer though (no touch, low velocity on balls) which is why we do a lot of short passing (especially screens and to the flat). We very rarely take intermediate shots. Mostly 5yd passes or long bombs.
We have started using the TEs more in the MSU game though for 10yd passes, so that is promising.
Running game is often used to stretch the field east-west as does the passing game. This helps free up the middle when the defense is napping for a QB draw or a run up the gut.
Our top 2 WRs are injured and we have a bunch of other key injuries/players missing across the team (paintball gun incident removed a starting CB and a backup CB). Our secondary is depleted. Our run D is now better than our pass D due to personal losses in the secondary.
Our OL and DL line play was suspect against MSU, Michigan, and OSU. We were getting dominated along both lines (less so against Michigan whom we shut down in the 2nd half).
Our redzone offense is atrocious as we rely on dinking and dunking so we don't have a big play ability.
We lack playmakers and game breakers on the team other than Arron Cruickshank who is one of the best returners in the country.
We have one of the best punters in the country as well whom routinely punts 40-60yds often pinning the ball within the oppositions 10yd line (which is probably the only reason we beat Syracuse other than due to their idiot coach, Babers).
Our team is very disciplined (one of the least penalized teams in the big ten) and will play hard even when outmanned and outgunned and will be opportunistic in trying to create turnovers. We also have a tendency to block kicks.
RB room is solid provided our OL can run block on any given day.
Game will be decided by line play like any other game.