Michigan Football: Michigan at Ohio State

Nov 22, 2014; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Maryland Terrapins running back Wes Brown (4) is tackled by Michigan Wolverines linebacker Jake Ryan (47) in the second half at Michigan Stadium. Maryland won 23-16. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Posted at 6:10am — 11/29/2014

Michigan Wolverine Football: Michigan at Ohio State — What May Happen

Eclipse — Total or Partial — Lunar or Solar

Ohio State tried everything possible to pour on the points in the Indiana game last week. There is little to suggest anything will change against Michigan. Little blame can be placed upon the nuts as this showdown to make the final four playoff may involve more style points and wow factor than substance. A team capable of one or two play drives like Ohio State (or Oregon) has the potential to wow voters over an offense such as Alabama’s.

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Ohio State comes into the game with the near perfect offense for the collegiate game. The Buckeyes can go any point on the compass, except backwards, to hurt a defense. Michigan, on the other hand is adept at going backwards. The differences in the two offenses are stark, and on the surface should provide the league leading Ohio State team an easy win. The spread is around 20 points but many think the margin could be 30 points. The talk about emotion, rivalry, etc., is not of much use if one team’s offense is a near lockdown.

It will be hard to stop Ohio’s offense. Stopping them may mean holding the nuts to 24 points. So, how will Ohio State attack Michigan? Ohio State can run inside zone, outside zone, and power. Last week Indiana was gashed early on a simple spread play that had nice doubles on the inside and broke the runner, Marshall, into the clear. Michigan starts with facing the pressure of having the simple inside hand off go the distance on every play.

Ohio State will work the Michigan corners in the horizontal game. The match-up between Michigan’s not so strong corners and Ohio State’ successful blockers at wide out, plus the speed of the ball carriers on the flank, clearly spell trouble for Michigan. Ohio State has a file on Michigan that would rival Germany’s wartime geopolitical files. Clearly, the Buckeye coaching staff has seen the trouble Michigan corners have had defending the edge and bubble packages. Look for every version including the fake block and head straight up the field option.

Ohio State will attack Michigan over the top. Again, the coaching staff obviously notices the travails of the corners in covering deep. Look for formations to try and isolate Ramon Taylor for receivers to go deep or break over the middle. The middle always seems open for Ohio State and the likelihood of Michigan playing chasing man to man coverage is very high, probably a certain.

Ohio State will run the “Percy Harvin” jet sweep package and if Michigan does a poor job of recognition, or gives up edge containment, this play will be repeated.

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Ohio State has two top nationally ranked offensive weapons in J.T. Barnett and Ethan Marshall. After Miller’s injury Ohio Coach Meyer was unaffected stating that Barnett was a better game manager than Miller. Barrett is probably a better quarterback. His throwing is dangerous and his elusiveness is nasty. Troy Smith is not a bad comparison.

Barrett does throw the occasional pick but is a much better game manager and passer than Michigan’s counterpart.

Ethan Marshall really is Percy Harvin part two and can hurt a defense any way that can be defined, in any direction.

Jeff Heurerman is a top notch blocking tight end, one that easily could headline at the next level. He fills out a strong unit of wide outs.

Collectively, Ohio State is the strongest offense in the conference and perhaps top two or three nationally.

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The Ohio State defense has tons of high level recruits but can be had somewhat. The key is somewhat. So, to beat Ohio State an opponent will need to run up a minimum score in the high twenties and have a great defensive day. Even with the superior talent inside, some teams have ran decent against Ohio State, enough to move the chain know and then, but rarely if ever the entire game. Last week Indiana hit Ohio State hard on the edge with great results from Tevon Coleman.

The new co-co-co defensive coordinator quickly vowed that Ohio State’s defense would not lay back and play passively against Devin Gardner this year. He (Gardner) will be blitzed and the defense (Ohio State’s) will be aggressive.

Michigan will need to play the best game in two or three years just to stay within range. The big stumbling blocks will be Ohio States superior speed and the last place Michigan offense.

The forecast is for mid 40’s and Ohio State expects that many points to be put on the board. The eclipse has not yet been accurately placed on a timetable.

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Written by GBMWolverine Staff — Doc4Blu

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