OSU Counterintelligence: 11W film study; Urban Meyer analysis

Submitted by Communist Football on November 24th, 2023 at 12:51 PM

For those who want to see how OSU football wonks view the matchups, here's Eleven Warriors' film study article, which downplays the role of sign-stealing and calls attention to the strength of Michigan's defensive interior.

Meanwhile, Urban Meyer outlines how, in his view, Michigan can be "dominated."

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Communist Football

November 24th, 2023 at 1:29 PM ^

Meyer believes that Barnhart is a major weakness, and he plans to highlight that in his Big Noon commentary.

If you'd like some more neutral/balanced commentary, here's Nick Baumgardner in The Athletic ($). Here's his summary:

The reason this rivalry (in my opinion) remains the best in football is the century-long arms race between the two. When one side finds something good about itself, the other immediately does all it can to ruin it.

There are two reasons why Michigan beat Ohio State the last two years: red zone defense and an ability to completely dominate the line of scrimmage. The Buckeyes’ response, therefore, has been about the trenches on both sides — an adjustment that could make this matchup a true classic.

You’ll note we’ve gone this far without getting into Michigan’s illegal sign-stealing saga. When it comes to being able to fit a run and get off a block, Michigan could’ve given Ohio State its entire game plan the last two years and those rush numbers would’ve remained. However, the number of critical defensive stops Michigan was able to come up with — specifically on third downs — is another story. If Michigan had terrific sign intel, those are moments where Ohio State is right to argue this was a problem.

Harbaugh will miss Saturday’s game as he serves the third of a three-game suspension. Michigan’s offense is paying a price there because Moore — who already was wearing multiple hats as offensive coordinator/OL coach — now is doing the job of three people. Last week’s win over Maryland (without injured LT LaDarius Henderson, who’s expected back Saturday) was Michigan’s worst offensive day of the year.

The offense at Penn State two weeks ago, against a defense similar to Ohio State’s, was ultraconservative in ways it cannot be Saturday.

I expect Ohio State’s defense to have a much better answer versus the run this time, which would put the whole thing back in McCarthy’s hands. McCarthy has had legit Heisman-worthy stretches this season. He’s no longer near the top of that award debate, but his talent is undeniable, and this will need to be the best game of his college career. As part of that, although he’s appeared a bit banged up of late, McCarthy likely will have to be involved in the run game for Michigan to win.

Michigan’s run game has to work or its plan goes to hell. It’s that simple.

This year’s installment of The Game will be won or lost by what happens on third down when Ohio State has the ball in the red zone. I’d expect both sides to be able to move it offensively, though not in any overwhelming sense. It could be a lower-possession game, so if Day’s offense can execute in those moments, the Buckeyes can snap this skid and get the rivalry flipped back their direction.

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Midukman

November 25th, 2023 at 4:56 AM ^

I think OSU will be ready for anything we throw at them (they have our signs). The question is, can they stop it?  I watched Penn state last night and came away even mor impressed by their ends. Those 2 are their version of Hutch/Ojabo. Robinson has one of the fastest first steps I’ve ever seen, no wonder Barnhart looked downright awful. He still scares me against just about anyone, especially guarding JJs blindside. 

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Vote_Crisler_1937

November 24th, 2023 at 3:57 PM ^

I agree. This was not worth a listen for any technical analysis.
 

Did you know Barnhart’s pass pro has been a problem? Did you know Will Johnson is a draftable player who will sometimes be matched up on Harrison? Do you also think Corum and Edwards are good? Do you believe Michigan’s D line is a strength and OSU’s O line is improved? 
 

Then you know literally every single insight Meyer had to offer. Otherwise it was just a lot of reflecting by the host about how great Meyer was because he won games. 

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UMForLife

November 24th, 2023 at 1:04 PM ^

Urban Meyer is OSU insider? He works for Fox and also works as insider. Nice perks for OSU. Didn't he tell us last year before the game how OSU is going to stop our run? He forgets that Day does not have the coaching chops as himself.

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GoBlue1969

November 24th, 2023 at 1:11 PM ^

Well he came out at halftime of last years game and called out Michigan for not being able to run- then we ran for almost 300 yards in the second half. 

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Colt Burgess

November 24th, 2023 at 3:13 PM ^

"if he’d coached Michigan State and did the same amount of winning, he’d be beloved by Michigan  State fans."

I fixed it for you. I seriously doubt that Michigan fans would accept the coach who had at least 31 players arrested while he was at Florida, or the guy who covered for a spousal abuser at Ohio State. How about the coach who didn't fly back with his team so he could play "quarterback under center" with a young woman on a bar stool? Yeah, we're not that lacking in ethics/morals. If Tennessee fans can reject Schiano, I think we could reject Urban Meyer.

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bronxblue

November 24th, 2023 at 1:33 PM ^

Kirk Barton (a) sounds exactly like how I thought a guy with his name and being associated with OSU would sound and (b) is the guy who got booted from OSU media access because he stole OSU's practice video, so I guess interesting tact by him.  Anyway, the couple minutes I listened to was mostly trash analysis by some dipshits, but I'd like to point to this comment are representative of a LOT of them in that video in response to some narratives going around the internet that there's some "cult" around Harbaugh because his players seem to like him and don't want to see him suspended for half the year because of largely bullshit claims.

 

Loving Urban Meyer "as a coach and as a person" is one of the most cursed statements I've seen on the internet in the minute.  You can absolutely recognize his greatness as a football coach but there are few more loathsome human beings who have scurried along a sideline in recent memory.

EDIT:  I have no idea why this image keeps getting scrunched down to text for ants but feel free to load that video in Youtube and you'll see it.

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jimmyshi03

November 24th, 2023 at 1:38 PM ^

Consumed a bit more OSU media this week and they are utterly convinced it was all Stalions. To the point where I heard something like “I believe last year I saw a lie,” in one video, and I think they believe there’s going to me an ‘18 like reckoning. 

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CaliforniaNobody

November 24th, 2023 at 1:40 PM ^

OSU fans acting holier than thou followed by a thorough polishing of Urban's balls will never stop being hilarious. Sure, Urbz has recruited more murderers than 2 stars and knowingly hid a wife beater from consequences for years, but Jim employed an analyst that might have violated the spirit of the rules by himself, who's the real villain, UM?

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Tesel

November 24th, 2023 at 1:41 PM ^

I will not be listening to Urban Meyer, but the 11W study was pretty good. Interesting to see what Maryland was doing with their safeties to clog up our run game. I can't say there's much new info compared to UFR though.

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ILL_Legel

November 24th, 2023 at 1:47 PM ^

I have to take another shower after listening to Urban.  One thing he said that I agree with is hatred is an incredible motivator.  I think the hate is on Michigan’s side.

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