Ohio State Snowflakes: The Defense
November 26th, 2022 at 5:46 PM ^
For the first time in forever, Michigan got a LOT of calls in that game. We kicked their ass, don't get me wrong - but the refs were smiling upon us today.
November 26th, 2022 at 7:06 PM ^
But they were ALL good, solid calls. The only semi-questionable call was the PI in the end zone against Bell. But even then I'd say most refs would throw the flag with the defender not looking for the ball and making contact before the ball arrives. Michigan simply played a much better team game and deserves all the accolades for it.
HAIL!!!
November 26th, 2022 at 10:58 PM ^
Yes, the refs were fantastic.
The PI call in the end zone was one of their best. That was definitely catchable, but Bell was clobbered and so came up a few inches short. Replay was very clear.
November 27th, 2022 at 3:13 AM ^
Big Ten referees making good, solid calls… against OSU… in the Horseshoe, which may as well be Assembly Hall East at times. And they resisted the urge to “even out” the yardage by calling ticky-tack penalties against Michigan.
Heck, I would have been satisfied with the officiating in Ann Arbor. I feel like we’re underselling how unusual it is to get relatively competent Big Ten officiating. A couple of blown calls, yes; they’re human. But remember the Maryland game, where suddenly the most penalized team in the Big Ten plays flawlessly. Heck, remember last week against Illinois and the phantom Zak Zinter holding call.
If I’m going to call out the officials when they’re awful, it’s only fair that I notice when they’re not.
November 27th, 2022 at 7:47 AM ^
I’ll hold the Higdon holding call at Northwestern (Klatt called the penalty from Mars) against this crew forever since it remains the single worst call I’ve ever seen, but aside from one miss, they were pretty solid.
I didn’t like them blowing the Okie sack play dead where Stroud fumbled. Upshaw likely takes that ball to the house and it’s a 52-23 score that is a bigger differential than OSU’s 2018 win and matches the 2019 blowout.
What a world though, where the day after The Game that’s what I’m bitching about!
November 26th, 2022 at 5:41 PM ^
I agree that the 1 yarder stopped by Barrett was incomplete, but the non call probably helped Michigan. Kept the clock running in exchange for 1 yard.
November 26th, 2022 at 7:18 PM ^
They should have called a few more unsportsmanlike penalties too. The one at the sidelines was particularly egregious.
November 26th, 2022 at 8:20 PM ^
Targeting was suggested.
November 27th, 2022 at 6:09 AM ^
The intentional grounding call was correct, I think. Edwards is at the 22 yard line at the sideline, and the linemen are at the 29 halfway between the hash and sideline. That's a pretty sizable distance and Edwards is on the wrong side of the linemen from the throw.
They got the fumble wrong, but it took replay to see it, and I have some sympathy for refs whistling the play dead because they're trying to keep the emotions down at the end of a heavily-favorite home team getting blown out.
They did also miss the incomplete pass, but that was actually to our benefit - the clock kept running and it would have stopped for an incomplete.
November 26th, 2022 at 4:21 PM ^
Simply unreal. Especially without much of a pass rush from the ends.
They stopped getting gashed in the run game and the team as a whole started tackling after the tough start.
How about McGregor having the best game of his young career? Our line is going to be just as good next year.
And Mikey freaking Sainristil. Unbelievable story topped off by an unbelievable “don’t give up” pass breakup. What a leader. What a player.
I still can’t quite make sense of it all but I’m loving it. LFG!!!!
November 26th, 2022 at 4:22 PM ^
I dont know what Minter did but it was masterful. Really kept OSU in check
November 26th, 2022 at 5:09 PM ^
Looked to me like he shaded the DEs out on passing plays which took away the quick passes to the sidelines. Those plays were killing us in the first half. McGregor knocked at least one down in a critical situation. Beautiful adjustment.
November 26th, 2022 at 5:26 PM ^
Minter took away the home-run ball from OSU - note the one long TD pass to Harrison Jr. happened on a blitz from the safety who couldn't get there in time because of the distance. U-M's defense allowed Stroud time after, but on shorter plays that they could contain.
November 26th, 2022 at 4:22 PM ^
Literally as heroic a performance as this program has ever seen –– all of them are legends from here until the end of college football.
Upshaw also deserved to have a fumble recovery for a touchdown at the end.
November 26th, 2022 at 4:31 PM ^
Sainrastil's PBU in the endzone may have been the play of the game. It is a completely different dynamic if that is a TD
November 26th, 2022 at 4:31 PM ^
Play of the year on defense for Sainistril on that pass breakup in the end zone. Had TD written all over it.
November 26th, 2022 at 4:32 PM ^
Holding OSU to 23? Amaizing. Sainristl is an absolute boss. So many beasts. Minter deserves the Broyles.
November 26th, 2022 at 6:43 PM ^
He deserves the "Minter".
November 26th, 2022 at 4:33 PM ^
Stroud is OUT of the Heisman race.
November 27th, 2022 at 12:26 AM ^
End of the KSU-K-State game they had a Heisman contenders graphic. Corum wasn’t on it but they included JJ. Can’t remember if Stroud was on it or not.
November 26th, 2022 at 4:33 PM ^
Sainristil huge plays, other dudes with some big time plays too!
November 26th, 2022 at 4:33 PM ^
In one year Sainristil has gone from a likely undrafted wide receiver to a posible Day 2 pick as a safety. Nice.
November 26th, 2022 at 4:35 PM ^
What a performance! The D kept us in the game in the first half during some early struggles by the O. Then, completely owned the second half. What a game!
November 26th, 2022 at 4:36 PM ^
I don't want to dismiss the efforts of the TEAM, but Sainristil had 3 MAJOR defensive plays late in the game.
I wish McGregor could have had that pick 6 too!!!!!!!!
GO BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 26th, 2022 at 4:38 PM ^
A fantastic effort and great job all the way around. Didn’t look promising early on but resilient group.
November 26th, 2022 at 4:38 PM ^
Never thought with a negligible pass rush and giving up consistent short gains on runs that Michigan would be able to stop Stroud and the Buckeyes, but with some good pass coverage, the bend-don't break worked.
November 26th, 2022 at 11:02 PM ^
A big difference in this game was that McCarthy ran for good yardage; Stroud didn't. This was a complete turnaround from the previous bad years. It's no coincidence that the running game started to click once JJ kept the ball a couple of times and ran for first downs.
November 26th, 2022 at 4:40 PM ^
Give that man a RAISE!!
November 26th, 2022 at 4:46 PM ^
The only downside to today's defensive performance is that Minter's phone is going to start ringing off the hook with offers.
The AD needs to be working out how they are going to keep Minter around, starting NOW.
November 26th, 2022 at 4:47 PM ^
Picking up a Sainristil jersey on Cyber Monday.
November 26th, 2022 at 4:56 PM ^
McGregor was born !!!!
November 26th, 2022 at 7:14 PM ^
Michigan kids get the rivalry. He’s a Michigan kid who’s getting stronger. Next year could be epic.
November 26th, 2022 at 5:01 PM ^
Great game. Lots of tremendous individual efforts. Mikey S.’s PBU was absolutely epic; huge play in an incredibly high-leverage situation.
November 26th, 2022 at 5:05 PM ^
MVP on defense against OSU == Mike Sainristil
Is this a debate?
November 26th, 2022 at 5:11 PM ^
Harrell played well. Seth needs to cyan more people on defense
November 26th, 2022 at 5:31 PM ^
3 points in the second half. ‘Nuf said. Minter for president.
November 26th, 2022 at 5:37 PM ^
Minter is a freaking genius and kudos to Sainristil and our DBs for bringing the A game.
November 26th, 2022 at 5:44 PM ^
Sanristil with the play of the game IMO, breaking up that TD
November 26th, 2022 at 5:40 PM ^
Brilliant, brilliant coaching job, spectacular execution by the boys. THREE points in the 2nd half!
The amazing ability of this staff and team to completely shut down teams in the 2nd half is nothing short of stunning. Stroud is dangerous, and they have crazy-armed track stars all over the damn field - yet somehow we shut them down. Incredible!
By comparison, perhaps my favorite moment of the game was when the announcers talked up Knowles "THIS is why they brought him in, for moments like this" - as Donovan took the rock and jetted right past them to the end zone. God, that was rich. Big 12 coordinator is NOT the savior...
...but Minter? Hell yes! Clink, Elston, Minter, Harbaugh - what a brilliant defensive coaching staff.
And the players - toughness, composure, tackling, almost no breakdowns. They were amazing.
Finally - Sainristil - one of the greatest plays EVER in The Game.
I love everything and everyone!
Go Blue! Let's Party!!!!!
November 26th, 2022 at 11:06 PM ^
Yup -- can't say it enough. That Sainristil pass breakup in the end zone on 3rd down just sticks in my mind. It was an easy and obvious TD -- but then he came in and poked it out. Game of inches, but he showed just enough to save the TD. Great entertainment! Thank you Mikey S!
November 26th, 2022 at 5:45 PM ^
If you had told me before the game we would hold Ohio to a single FG in the second half without our best DE, I woulda asked who your crack dealer was.
November 26th, 2022 at 5:50 PM ^
This defensive game plan was a masterpiece. While we didn't get much pressure on the QB our passing coverage was excellent. This is probably Harbaughs least heralded secondary but probably the best as a team. Nothing is easy for the receivers. Harrison had a couple of drops. Just amazing.
November 26th, 2022 at 5:56 PM ^
How many points did ohio state score in the 2nd half
November 26th, 2022 at 5:58 PM ^
Big plays at big times. OSU’s guys got some numbers, but we kept them in front of us all afternoon long.
November 26th, 2022 at 6:13 PM ^
In the UFRs, the question came up over and over why they kept rolling with Harrell and Upshaw even though offered very little as pas rushers. And this isn’t meant as a slight against Seth because he does a fantastic job, but I think we found out.
Because Minter had a great plan to keep Stroud guessing and it involved regularly dropping DEs into coverage. Harrell had two massive plays in coverage (the 4th down one on Stover and another one where he forced Stroud to throw high to Fleming? When he dropped into a zone). That same strategy worked on a 3rd down when McGregor tipped a ball dropping into a slant.
The secondary was huge. Bent, but didn’t break. Harrison and Egbuka had like 16 catches for 240 yards and 2 TDs combined, but they never felt dominant.
November 26th, 2022 at 7:18 PM ^
Harrison felt pretty dominant in the first half but was extremely quiet in the second half.
November 26th, 2022 at 9:05 PM ^
Exactly amongst the heroes of todays game were absolutely Harrell and McGregor and I’m so happy for Upshaw with his pic at the end. Just such a great performance
November 26th, 2022 at 6:15 PM ^
OSU was holding the shit out of our Dline.
And Okie's sack was a fumble.
November 26th, 2022 at 6:29 PM ^
Soooo much holding.
November 26th, 2022 at 6:49 PM ^
No No, don't you get it? He was just stopping his forward progress.
What bullshit.