Michigan Football: 3 keys to beating the Ohio State Buckeyes

Bonus Key: Why Michigan football has a legit chance to win

Guys and gals, this year is different than the rest. Michigan is in the best position to win this game since 2016.

The offense is built to attack in ways that Ohio State doesn’t want to be. The Wolverines have their best offensive line in the Harbaugh era. With a running back stable of Hassan Haskins, Blake Corum, and Donovan Edwards who can all catch the ball out of the backfield, and grind it out between the tackles they should be able to win the time of possession battle.

With an efficient quarterback in Cade McNamara who only has 2 interceptions to date, and a red-zone weapon in J.J. McCarthy the passing game is well equipped to take advantage of opportune strikes.

The defense? Well, the entire defensive scheme is designed to stop Ohio State. Keeping everything underneath on defense is vital to success on Saturday.

We saw what happened in 2018 and 2019 under former defensive coordinator Don Brown. Ohio State picked them apart with crossing routes and pick plays — the kryptonite to Michigan’s man defense. Michigan doesn’t do that anymore.

The Wolverines run exotic zone defenses (what we see in the NFL today) that not only will get pressure on Buckeye quarterback C.J. Stroud but as we said earlier, will hopefully keep Ohio State from scoring touchdown after touchdown and make them settle for field goals.

Sustain drives, cap them off with points, keep the Buckeye offense off the field. Get push on the Buckeye offensive line from the interior of the Wolverine defensive front.

Do that and Michigan football has more than a puncher’s chance to win. In fact, this is the best chance they’ve had since 2016.

When Michigan wins (that’s right, I said when not if), don’t be the fan that was depressed all week. The fan who didn’t enjoy rivalry week. The fan who didn’t embrace the rivalry all week. The fan who wasn’t ready to run through a brick wall head first come Saturday at 5:00 am.

Enjoy this week and live it up. If you’re at the game, be loud and stand the entire time. When the clock hits zeros, storm the field. Name the babies made Saturday night after the Maize n’ Blue heroes who win this game.

But most importantly whatever happens on Saturday, forever, Go Blue!