Behind Enemy Lines
I was listening to local radio here in Columbus yesterday afternoon and heard Common Man(one of the hosts of the afternoon show) say regarding The Game, that he didn't know how good we were after the first 3 weeks of the season based on our schedule(fair opinion). He said that we are in fact good and even went as far as to say we may be better than OSU right now and that scares him. Just thought I would share this as it has been awhile since we made them nervous. Granted we have things to clean up and work on, but I just wanted to share this as this gives me some satisfaction in that we are making them this nervous just a few weeks out.
November 1st, 2022 at 8:09 AM ^
It's nice to hear that, certainly better than further exploration of the depths that human tribal behavior can sink to. OTOH, I'd rather the scarlet and gray machine take us for granted.
November 1st, 2022 at 8:22 AM ^
They won't. We're in their heads.
November 1st, 2022 at 8:56 AM ^
That's sort of a problem IMO. Last year we let out a few years of frustration on them and they weren't ready from a motivational standpoint. Now they're a machine AND motivated. Our guys have to not just match their motivation, they have to realize that the bad guys are pissed off about last year.
November 1st, 2022 at 9:39 AM ^
Living in Delaware OH (30 miles north of Columbus), I can tell you that many here just took a 2021 OSU win for granted. Not the case this year. Everybody - and I mean everybody - has had this year's game circled for a year now They will be ready.
November 1st, 2022 at 12:34 PM ^
I'm not sure how much a bunch of fans circling a game on a calendar will impact the outcome. They might poop in a few more coolers....but that's about it.
November 1st, 2022 at 10:46 AM ^
This is the first I have heard of it this year that someone might believe we are better.
They believe their offense to be the greatest group put together.
And if we are hearing of another 2 touchdown underdog situation like last year.
I'd be delighted to think they haven't learned their lesson from last year.
November 1st, 2022 at 1:07 PM ^
My two concerns:
- Organic pass rush on standard downs
- WR development and route trees that build off one another
Team-wide, these seem to be the elements that have slid since last year. The former gets a lot of play in conversations around here. For the latter, which seems under-discussed to me, I'm open to the idea that we do not AT ALL miss Gattis as an OC but may miss him quite a bit as a WR coach.
November 1st, 2022 at 1:30 PM ^
After watching Miami games, Gattis can keep his WR route trees. We had All kinds of concerns last year including WRs. They will make plays when they need to, but pounding the rock is still on the table.
Don't underestimate a good coverage team that can adjust in second half. There are more than one ways to keep their offense in check. It is not like Iowa and PSU had some great organic pass rush.
November 1st, 2022 at 8:11 AM ^
Most osu fans now understand our offense and aren't looking at passing stats and are looking at what our team does and how we play. Most are understanding they had a great passing game last year. They hope the improved physicality of their lines will be the difference.
November 1st, 2022 at 8:15 AM ^
I am not sure about the improvement of their line on either side as of yet. PSU tested them late into the game and that seems to be the best they have gone up against all year save for Notre Dame that is.
November 1st, 2022 at 8:56 AM ^
Reading Brian's opening about the scary sound the team makes on the way into the tunnel got me thinking that there's a different character to our teams now, that the idea that Michigan fields finesse teams that can be intimidated may be over. Stealing other teams' rituals and performing them with gusto, slowly strangling teams on D, not shrinking from the fight. The psychology of this thing seems to have shifted. If we win in Columbus this year, I believe that will have been part of the equation.
November 1st, 2022 at 9:38 AM ^
Stealing other teams' rituals and performing them with gusto
Dancing during "Jump Around" in Camp Randall may have been the first public display of this trait. That was sooo cool to watch!
November 1st, 2022 at 9:51 AM ^
I have a feeling that Matt Weiss has alot to do with this...go back to playing in Madison, the jump around. This is a place we rarely win, going back to Bo. Weiss got the team to contribute to it, and we crushed them. If you look at the time of his arrival, ever since, the team feels very different.
November 1st, 2022 at 9:58 AM ^
This seems accurate. A win might both partially result from this shift and fuel its continuation.
November 1st, 2022 at 7:26 PM ^
Also, don't discount the fact that what the team is doing -- on both sides of the ball -- is now working very, very well. On offense, Harbaugh has wanted this bludgeoning run game since he arrived. On defense, we are comparable to last year's punishing unit.
This team has swagger partially because they are 'walking the walk" in all phases of the game.
November 1st, 2022 at 10:18 AM ^
Yes, they'd better hope their line has improved it's physicality. This short clip from last year's game of Hutch faking a jab step at them is quite embarrassing:
November 1st, 2022 at 8:12 AM ^
Haskins ate them alive last year. Corum looks even more dangerous. It'll be a great game.
November 1st, 2022 at 8:29 AM ^
Your avatar is perfect for that sentiment.
November 1st, 2022 at 8:13 AM ^
Fair to say both teams are making each other nervous. The game as it should be.
November 1st, 2022 at 8:26 AM ^
Of course, there is a natural sense of nervousness for a competition, but are we really that nervous? Really? I don't think so. We got what it takes to beat those guys AGAIN and we know it. They know it too.
November 1st, 2022 at 8:18 AM ^
They’re looking at it as grinding them down to a pulp. Can their defense hold up against the run all day?
Can Michigan convert inside their 30 with TD’s instead of FG’s. That game should have been 49-7.
November 1st, 2022 at 8:59 AM ^
Our Red Zone TD% last season was at 61.19% through the 14 games, and through the first 8 games last season, it was 56.41%. Through the first 8 this season it’s 63.64%.
November 1st, 2022 at 9:45 AM ^
The announcers were talking about Sparty's explosive plays during the first half - they had a handful where we had a couple. In the second half, we adjusted and ground out the clock to limit the total amount of plays they had; limiting the number of second half explosive plays.
I feel we'll do something similar to OSU. Maybe more blitzing to get to Stroud, or at least rattle him. Drop him on the field so he gets dropped from the Heisman list!
November 1st, 2022 at 9:47 AM ^
Didn’t just limit the amount of their explosive plays but plays in general. Doesn’t get more impressive on both sides of the ball than to defend 6 plays in the entire 3rd Q.
November 1st, 2022 at 10:12 PM ^
They are scoring in the red zone. Just the ratio of FGs to TDs is higher than in the past and vs peers.
November 1st, 2022 at 8:21 AM ^
We're getting some good gas mileage from 42-27. It wasn't just a win, it was a beatdown. I'm sure the memory of us running the ball down their throats still resonates in their collective psyche. Of us stuffing their run game, of thoughts of them being soft being bandied about. The very same aspects of both teams are on display this year, you'd be a fool not to believe it couldn't happen again. All we need is a good snowstorm 11.26, lol.
November 1st, 2022 at 8:28 AM ^
plus from what I've read and heard recently the tunnel leading into our stadium is a source of terror that removes men of their faculties and free will
November 1st, 2022 at 12:07 PM ^
This comment wins!
November 1st, 2022 at 8:23 AM ^
The best thing that Michigan can have going for us is for confidence in Columbus to remain extremely high and for Michigan to be the underdog on all fronts. Count us out. Talk about their receivers, Stroud etc.. hope the media keeps hyping them up.
We'll focus on our games, hopefully quietly, and punch them in the mouth in November.
November 1st, 2022 at 11:41 AM ^
TRVB, I completely agree. I want ALL the press to say that the Bucks are the equivalent of the Death Star. That they are unbeatable. The Bucks offense is a machine that can't be stopped. That Knowles and their defense are comparable to Georgia's D last year - and, potentially, the best D ever in college football.
Please, please - give the Bucks every benefit of the doubt, Michigan has "no chance" in the game, favor the Bucks by 20 or more - it's David vs Goliath and the Bucks are Goliath.
November 1st, 2022 at 8:25 AM ^
Harbaugh, or even Hoke for that matter, played them close most years, even when OSU had a dominant team. Michigan is going to get up for that game and so would OSU. OSU has been pulling away in the 3rd quarter in most of those close games under Harbaugh. Last year that was not the case. Michigan clamped down on D. This year's team and the adjustments they made in second should make them nervous. Love this feeling. I wish they would play Illinois this year before our game. Would have loved to see how they handle Chase Brown.
November 1st, 2022 at 11:41 AM ^
The thing that has me optimistic is that I think Michigan has a better defense this year than they did last year. SP+ ranking in 2021 right before the OSU game was 14.5 (ranked 7th). This year, they are at 12.5 (ranked 4th). (Low ranking is better for defense).
And I'm not sure that OSU's offense is better than their team last year. For all the talk about their receivers this year, last year they put out JSN, Olave, and Wilson. Olave and Wilson were 1st round draft picks and JSN would have been if he were draft eligible. Their receiving room was INSANE. Last year, OSU's offense was rated 47.2 (ranked 1st) heading into The Game. This year, they are rated 46.3 (ranked 1st).
If PSU could run on the OSU defense last week, I like Michigan's chances to run on OSU on November 26. And I like the recipe of running the ball effectively, burning the clock, and limiting OSU's offensive possessions.
For comparison's sake, Michigan allowed PSU 9 offensive possessions in their game this year. OSU allowed PSU 13 possessions in their game this year.
In OSU's first 9 possessions of their game vs. PSU, they scored 16 points.
In OSU's first 9 possessions vs. Iowa, they scored 26 points.
In The Game last year, OSU had 10 total possessions and scored 27 points.
That's significant.
If Michigan can limit OSU's number of possessions, it bodes well for them, especially given the level the defense is playing at and the ability of the offense to run the ball and grind down the opposing defense.
November 1st, 2022 at 8:34 AM ^
I am hopeful our coaching staff, especially the defense, can scheme a good gameplan. Biggest difference is schedule and what promises to be a hard/physical game against Illinois:
Michigan: @Rutgers (#79), Nebraska (#82), Illinois (#12)
OSU: @NW (#120), Indiana (#92), @Maryland (#29)
November 1st, 2022 at 8:59 AM ^
On the other hand, I'm kinda looking forward to OSU/Maryland. That could be a track meet. Hoping Tagavailoa had a big game.
November 1st, 2022 at 9:49 AM ^
With them away and us home, they may have a harder game than we do leading up to the big event. Time will tell, but I don't think anyone is sleeping on Illinois this year. Not hard to see them sleeping on Maryland, though.
November 1st, 2022 at 11:38 AM ^
I agree that the weekend of the 19th has interesting games for both the Bucks and Michigan.
But, in one way - the results of the games on the 19th won't impact the B1G East Division. Why? because the game on the 26th (assuming both teams win the next two games) - will decide the B1G East Division.
If either team goes into the game on the 26th with one conference loss - the winner of the "head to head" would be the Division winner. Now, this might impact the CFP Ranking - but, the game on the 26th will still be for "all the marbles" - the Division and an opportunity to compete for the conference title.
November 1st, 2022 at 12:12 PM ^
was it 2018 ohio v. maryland where maryland dropped a pic in their endzone, let ohio score (maybe went to OT) and ohio barely, barely scraped out a win? could be that scenario again.
November 1st, 2022 at 12:49 PM ^
XM - it might have been 2018. I think Locksley is doing a good job in College Park and has the Terps on a positive trajectory. I'll be interested in the Terps game on the 19th.
November 1st, 2022 at 12:13 PM ^
Isn't Tagavailoa still hurt?
November 1st, 2022 at 2:10 PM ^
After his injury, they had a bye and then Northwestern. We'll see if he's back for Wisco this weekend.
November 1st, 2022 at 12:52 PM ^
Actually, Marylands' backup quarterback is pretty good; I think he runs the offense just as well but doesn't make those killer mistakes that Tagavailoa makes, and he makes them ALL the time. I doubt Maryland will pull the upset, but if OSU isn't ready, Maryland will score some points, both in the air and on the ground.
November 1st, 2022 at 8:35 AM ^
This feels like the first game since...oh, 1996? where they are the ones that will be feeling all the pressure.
November 1st, 2022 at 8:39 AM ^
My ex stepson lives in c'bus and is a huge ohio st fan..... we were talking last night and he pretty much said the same thing.... there is real concern down there, they think this years Michigan team is more dangerous than last years and last year they knew what we were going to do and couldn't stop it.....
He's young enough that he's never seen the rivalry on even ground.... I've always told him that most of the 80s and 90s we owned their ass, the pendulum swings both ways.... they've had their fun, for longer than they deserved, but one day it will swing back in our direction. I believe that time has come. When Morris puts stroud on his ass a couple times, he won't be looking like the heisman front runner (just like last year when Hutch planted him).
Onward.... Go Blue!
November 1st, 2022 at 9:51 AM ^
Our downgrade in pass rush is a bit concerning. I do think it will take a much more impressive effort to hold them to 27 this year.
November 1st, 2022 at 2:11 PM ^
agree that a more productive (stats-wise) pass rush would be great, but our rush D has been fantastic.
November 1st, 2022 at 8:44 AM ^
I think the difference in this game will be our D Line and if we can apply pressure to Stroud. When stroud has time to throw he can be very dangerous especially deep down the field. Our DBs have been good all year but have not seen a WR core anywhere near Ohio’s. Im excited to see Minter’s game plan. Huge game for him and his D.
November 1st, 2022 at 11:43 AM ^
23, agreed about the defensive pressure. I believe Michigan can - and will - apply pressure on Stroud. The question is - can the pressure be applied with four, or - will it take five (or more).
Like you, I'm looking forward to Minter's game plan.
November 1st, 2022 at 8:45 AM ^
Yeah, but how many jersey's are being sold in Ohio? That is the indicator.
November 1st, 2022 at 8:47 AM ^
So OSU is loaded with 5 star and high 4 star talent. They are extremely athletic and skilled. HOWEVER, there is something to be said for 'toughness', especially in the trenches. This is where Michigan has the advantage with some of these hard-nosed, hard working lunch pail type of student athletes. The trenches are where i think Michigan has the advantage, and that is very important. I think the game is going to be a great one, win or lose. Titanic matchup coming.
November 1st, 2022 at 8:53 AM ^
It’s about having the right players, not the best. Harbaugh and his recruiting staff have done an excellent job at getting talent that both believes in what they we’re trying to build and what are very moldable to be the players they needed them to be, if they weren’t already.