Michigan Football Keys To The Game: Ohio State
Michigan closes the regular season with the annual grudge match against Ohio State, and the Buckeyes are a heavy favorite … as they should be.
OSU has had its disappointments, including an inexplicable blowout loss at Iowa in which the Hawkeyes had about as many points (55) as they did yards (66) the following week at Wisconsin in a loss in Madison.
Strange things happen in Iowa City at night. The Hawkeyes have upset U-M and Ohio State, and nearly beat Penn State under the lights over the last couple years.
Unfortunately, OSU will be much better prepared Saturday. They approach this one differently than any game on the schedule. Head coach Urban Meyer admitted this week that he and his coaches, along with his team, prepare for Michigan every day, just as Bo Schembechler admitted (in the days before his passing) he used to do.
It’s time for the Wolverines to match the Buckeyes’ intensity and play their best game. It still might not be enough to vanquish their rivals, but it’s a start.
Here’s what Michigan needs to accomplish to have a shot to upset Ohio State:
Make J.T. Barrett uncomfortable: Ohio State’s veteran quarterback carried the ball 30 times for 125 yards and a score last year, and 41 of his yards came on one run. U-M held him in check, and he was under 50 percent throwing the ball (15 of 32) with a quarterback rating of only 38.2.
The Wolverines have to make it that kind of game again Saturday. Barrett has been on fire this year, having thrown for 2,698 yards with 32 touchdowns and only seven picks. He’s also completing 66.9 percent of his passes and averaging 5.3 yards per carry.
This is the best defense he will have seen this year, however, and while the OSU offensive line has improved, the Wolverines have an advantage up front. They need to put Barrett in unfavorable down-and-distance situations and get off the field on third down.
Play out of their minds up front on offense: Pundits and analysts can talk about quarterback play all they want, but there aren’t many signal-callers who will play well behind a line that can’t protect. Michigan’s QBs were pressured on 13 of 26 pass attempts at Wisconsin, and hit on a number of them … quarterbacks simply can’t get comfortable when that happens.
This line isn’t capable of leading a dominant running game against a front like Ohio State’s, so the Wolverines are going to have to throw. This line has struggled to pick up stunts, twists, even slide protections this year, and needs to be outstanding in that area and at least solid run blocking Saturday to have a shot.
It would help, too, if the coaches broke tendency and came out with their best game plan of the year.
Force some turnovers: That probably means slowing the run and making Barrett throw. He tossed a career-high four interceptions in the 55-24 blowout loss at Iowa, including a pick-six, and that Hawkeyes defense isn’t as good at U-M’s.
That said … the Buckeyes still scored 24 points. The Wolverines need some breaks to set up short fields for the offense, and/or perhaps a big return or two on special teams. Freshman punter Brad Robbins is going to have to be better than he’s been this year, as well, to flip field position.
The Breakdown: Ohio State is one of the most talented teams in the country. That’s been the case for many of the last 15 years, and it’s not going to change in the foreseeable future.
Here’s a news flash, though — it was the same way during the 1980s and ’90s when the Wolverines owned the rivalry. Yes, those U-M teams were talented, too, but they played with the edge needed to win these games.
That’s been missing. So has the talent for many of the last several years, and in those in which it hasn’t, the breaks haven’t gone U-M’s way.
It will take a lot of them to win this year. That won’t be the case in the future under head coach Jim Harbaugh, but it’s going to take some luck this season — and a better whistle than they got last year in Columbus, if we’re being honest.
TheWolverine.com Staff Picks
TheWolverine.com Senior Editor Chris Balas: Ohio State 24, Michigan 13
How is Michigan going to score enough points to win this game? Ohio State will put some points on the board, even against a very good U-M defense … the Wolverines won’t be able to match them.
The Wolverine Senior Editor John Borton: Ohio State 27, Michigan 17
Michigan isn’t ready yet. It will be the last time, for a long time.
TheWolverine.com Recruiting Editor Brandon Brown: Ohio State 31, Michigan 20
Michigan absolutely needs to beat Ohio State, but I just don’t see it happening. Ohio State’s offense has really come along, and Michigan’s is still a huge question mark. Throw in the uncertainty at quarterback, and it’s not a good formula.
TheWolverine.com Writer Austin Fox: Ohio State 28, Michigan 13
Seeing as how Ohio State is clearly the better team, it’s time for Jim Harbaugh and Co. to come up with an elite game plan on Saturday to offset that. Unfortunately, this U-M coaching staff seemingly hasn’t been able to put together an “elite” game plan all season.
TheWolverine.com Writer Andrew Vailliencourt: Ohio State 30, Michigan 17
If fifth-year senior John O’Korn is under center, this one might be over early. Michigan’s offense just isn’t capable of scoring enough to pull off the upset. Redshirt freshman Brandon Peters would make this one closer if he’s able to go. Michigan’s defense is going to have to come up with a score of its own for the Wolverines to have a chance. Crazier things have happened in this rivalry, but I just don’t think it’s Michigan’s year.
TheWolverine.com Analyst Doug Skene: Ohio State 31, Michigan 13
Michigan’s defense plays great as long as it can, but the dam finally breaks.
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