Since we're in the B1G and play in the midwest with it's cold and often windy, wet late autumn weather we have to be able to play an effective, power run-based offense and also defend against big, power run-based offenses.  Otherwise, we may get beaten by someone in-conference like Michigan who's teams are large, run-first teams.

However, since we are consistently one of the few teams who competes for a national championship most years we also need elite speed and quickness on both sides of the ball to compete on fast tracks in the playoffs against fast, elite teams from the southeast.

There is a natural trade-off between being a team built on speed/quickness vs being a power/smash-mouth team.  TTUN has been a great example of being a large, power-oriented team the past 2 years.  They won the conference but again can't win games against quick/fast teams in warm weather during the playoffs or NY6 bowl games. They aren't built around elite speed at the skill positions and it becomes obvious in the playoffs and against top teams in top bowl games.

Another example is ND.  They played us very well a few weeks ago but watching their game yesterday -- even in the first half when they were hanging in there against Louisville it was quite noticeable to me how much quicker/faster the Louisville RB and receivers were compared to the ND defense (with the exception of the ND CB #20).  I thought even early in the 2nd quarter, "wow, Louisville looks so much quicker in space and ND is lucky to be in this game."  Eventually that speed showed itself and ND couldn't keep up.  (BTW, no I don't think Louisville is elite, but it was a bad match-up for ND and Brohm was smart to use his speed vs trying to "out-tuff" ND).

I think this is going to continue to be a dilemma for Day as he builds his team.  Hopefully, with the expanded B1G including fast west coast teams and good weather locations that the former power-based teams like TTUN, Wisconsin, etc. will need to retool to be quicker otherwise they will lose conference games when they go out west.  Hopefully that will help in the future to lessen the B1G power-focused teams.

Until that time, I hope Day focuses our game plans around our strengths and plays "our style" as opposed to trying to "out-tuff" teams like ND and TTUN.  Joel Klatt even alluded to this against Maryland when Day kept trying to run on first down against a stacked box.  Rather than do what we are best at - pass, he was trying to establish the run.  As Joel alluded to, you can pass first and set-up the run based on your success passing.  I think Day may be too focused recently on trying to prove how tough we are.  I think Day is a great coach so don't get me wrong but I think he may be too focused on the "toughness" narrative the past 12-18 months.