OSU Snowflakes: The Defense
November 25th, 2023 at 8:59 PM ^
The D got the job done!
November 25th, 2023 at 9:52 PM ^
For my "told ya so," I commented on the pregame write up that McCord is lucky to have only thrown 4 INTs this year and low and behold threw 2 this game
November 25th, 2023 at 9:58 PM ^
I was a bit worried how OSU was running on our D in the 2nd half but the big plays helped us!
November 26th, 2023 at 1:35 AM ^
For the love of all things holy, Jaylen Harrell, keep your fukkin helmet on.
November 26th, 2023 at 2:53 AM ^
The key stat of the game obviously is the +2 turnover margin (so close to +3 with Barrett almost coming down with a pick as well). But, really, looking at the box score what caught my eye was anOSU's long rushing play was 12 yards by Chip Trayanum. So, you're telling me that the best anOSU can do on the ground in The Game is barely making double digits with a converted LB->RB transfer player? Poor babies. If only they could recruit some actual talent...
Without TreVeyon Henderson slashing through the line for a 70-yard TD (like in all our nightmares the night before), anOSU had to rely solely on Harrison Jr. being an alien. And, well, he is an alien (5 catches 118 yards 1 TD, made a hobbled Will Johnson look bad a couple times). But, "go be an alien, MHJ" just isn't enough of a gameplan to beat a defense like Michigan's in the Big House.
Tackling was pretty solid. Rod Moore with the "dawg" in him. The guy makes plays. The D Line got pressure when it mattered, even if there were BLATANT holding penalties not being called. The drive where anOSU tied it 17-17 was especially egregious, with Kenneth Grant getting hooked and throwing up his arms, only for anOSU to get the benefit of a doubt again on the very next play where they ran around the edge courtesy of yet another uncalled holding penalty.
Sainristil with the hit of the season on Henderson. Wow. Textbook.
I also thought Kris Jenkins had one of his best, most active games of the season. Usually he's stuck eating doubles, doing grunt work, but he made his presence known. I expect a nice UFR for the lad.
November 26th, 2023 at 5:25 AM ^
OSU had some nice schemes going. They freed up Egbuku for a TD by running him behind the line and putting a blocker in the way of his defender (legal, as long as he's behind the line!), which gave McCord an easy throw and Egbuku a race to the pylon against a slower defender.
They did something similar with MHJ late, letting him outrun his defender on a drag route. Both plays made it easy for McCord, which was the key for getting the best out of him.
They also dialed up that 3rd-and-8 draw that fooled pretty much everyone in the stadium.
And Michigan rose above it all, kept making plays, kept the pressure on, and really forced OSU to make all those plays just to stay in range.
The offense didn't punt in the 2nd half. The defense didn't really bust anything (maybe the seam route to Stover? but Rolder clearly had him, just got outrun and McCord saw the matchup and locked on). Michigan won today because they played largely mistake-free all day.