GBMW: Doc4blu’s Preview of Ohio State at Michigan

Ohio State at Michigan

Big Day or Bad Day at the Big House?

Help, please help us Hollywood! It will take a Hollywood-type script for the Wolverines to win on Saturday. But, for certain, such a near fantasy seems far-fetched and surreal. Michigan has not been saving many secrets for the season ending game against the Buckeyes. And the loss of Brandon Minor might slightly limit some potential trickery. There might be a ‘halfback pass” or a sweep and then a pass to the backside to the quarterback, a fake punt or field goal, or maybe nothing.

There will be nothing from Michigan of a surprising nature that will have a game long effect on either side of the ball. The Michigan defense has thrown the sink at everyone and the sink has leaked badly. A few more basic passing plays from the common stem may be tried and hopefully the passing game features the tight end and quick patterns.

So, what is the view from here as to what Michigan could possibly do to help its cause come Saturday? The answer is to use some concepts that have worked against Ohio State this season. Ohio State’s secondary is very talented, but like any team, sometimes the secondary takes time to settle into its assigned areas. Hit the seams quickly, throw the ball very quickly on the quick slant, and use the tight end, any time possible. UM will run the base plays, but at best expect only limited success. Michigan better be ready to pass on Saturday, because the front seven will likely stuff the running game, especially sans Minor. This breaks the football basic of trying to control the game. Michigan will try to control the line of scrimmage, it must try, but the team must also have a “Plan B.” If the game gets out of hand and the front seven can tee off on the quarterback, it is Dunkirk.

This game is very important to Tressel. Everyone knows he owns the state with an annual win over Michigan. Three coaches have been assigned year-long Michigan game preparation as part of staff duties (or so it was stated long ago on OSU media). The players live for the set of gold pants received for a victory over Michigan. The cry around campus since the summer has been something like, tell them Boren is coming.

Tressel and staff will have a precise game plan. In the past the Buckeye staff has picked out flaws in Michigan defensive habits and alignments and at the right time exploit the find. Remember the year OSU put a player in motion at the goal line and on film noticed a Michigan safety cutting back and forth a few feet (for no earthly reason) and when the defender cut inside a few feet, the ball was snapped and the defender was caught inside with no chance for recovery? Remember the deep posts and crossing routes that confused Michigan safeties and led to Buckeye leads? Remember the little seal block that allowed running backs to cut by crashing safeties and linebackers for 60-yard gains? This is how Tressel will work the game Saturday.

Michigan will be challenged off the start to control Saine and Herron. If Michigan chases, expect waggles, a wide receiver reverse, a screen (to maybe even a fullback) or Pryor running outside of contain. If Pryor can run outside contain, OSU can likely do anything it wants to do on offense. The defense must contain at all costs. Purdue used backside pressure on Pryor very successfully in the big upset. You can bet Coach Rob will send the fort, with results to be determined.

Michigan needs to hang tough early and fluke injuries could change the entire game. Everything being equal, Michigan will be fighting for survival on the field. Michigan still has the longest scoring streak in the nation going (not being shut-out). Here is hoping that concern is out of the way early and other opportunities arise.

Strange things can happen, but luck, as Lombardi put it, is when preparation meets opportunity.

Take heart, the guys in Vegas are very good and there was some shock when the spread came in at “only 12.”

Come back later today to see GBMW predictions

Thanks for stopping by Go Blue Michigan Wolverine

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Written by Doc4blu