Theory on no passing: feel free to share your competing theories

Seems like a stretch. I was thinking ball security, minimizing turnover risk, and running out the clock were the main reasons. Also they couldn't really stop us. If we were playing catch up then I'm sure we would have passed it more.

Barnhart got smoked on speed rushes repeatedly, so they had to go to sprint-outs and waggles to give JJ time, and Penn State was covering those too. So passing posed a high risk of getting off schedule or turning the ball over. Staying on the ground, grinding out 3.5 YPC, and playing defense was the right strategy.

That would imply JJ, or Jim, or the program, is driven by pursuit of individual goals and records.  That seems to be the furthest thing from what this team is about.  So I would say no, no, a thousand times no!

I think you are being overly imaginative.

The coaches wanted to win. PSU thought they could win by taking away the pass. JJ had little time. 

PSU could not stop the run. We kept running.

We also gave away nothing in the playbook for OSU to learn. 

Hopefully JJ's ankle has nothing to do with it. He seemed to be running around ok after the game.

I don't care how we best OSU ... Just that we do. Again. Please.

Bad take.

I still think it’s too much to ask 1 guy to coach the OL, and call plays, AND be Head Coach.

Hopefully we don’t need to worry about it the rest of the year.

Their offense couldn’t do anything.  The only way we were going to lose the game was if we gave them chances via turnovers.  The idea was to keep the clock running… deny them extra opportunities in our end… let our defense do what it does.

My logic is Sheron knows how well the run game works against defenses like PSU. He also knows we only need ~20 points to win. If we throw three outcomes are likely. 

1. We will score another touchdown or two. Maybe more than we actually need.

2. More time will be left and the game extends. 

3. More likelihood for injuries.

Their defensive ends are insanely fast. Our Oline is better at the ground game than protection against PSU. JJ was hobbled a little. We have two, maybe three excellent back, only one Heisman QB. Get 19 or 20 and you know all PSU can do to get back in the game is to run. So let us double down on draining the clock together. Or force them to attempt to pass. We almost had 2 late INTs on Allar. He was very, very bad late. If we even throw one INT due to an aggressive pass rush, it may have changed the outcome (see their fumble and/or their turnover on downs)...

I don’t hate that theory but I suspect that not-seen-before 7 lineman package is a major clue. Its clear, based on comments that said package was in the garage all year waiting for the right team, that the coaches were aware of PSUs pass rush and know a good run game neutralizes a great pass rush (PSU had 38 sacks coming into the game). If we had to pass to win I am sure we would have opened things up but I think it was as simple as we are ahead and we can get to the finish with the run. Its seems very simple but it was a coaching masterclass. 

I think the staff saw PSU tendencies (before and during the game) we the average fans do not see that they felt confident would result in a win.  Not a pretty win, but a win.  If PSU changed tack, then we would have. 

Also, I think it was fairly obvious the staff had everything on their in-game plate they could handle without Coach Harbaugh at the helm.  They did amazingly well on short notice.  But times they struggled to get plays calls in, used timeouts at less then opportune times, etc.  Me thinks considering when records were likely to be broken would not have been on the radar.

Such a satisfying win, not just because it was a win, but because of how well the coaches and players competed and represented Michigan.

Go Blue.

Connor Stalions telepathically told him to keep calling run plays.

I mean, it is crazy to see that they ran from the middle of the 2nd quarter on, against a really good defense, and dominated the way they did.  

But I think it was because it was working, eating up clock, and Penn State was doing nothing offensively so a pick and return or sack fumble was they only way to get them back in the game. 

I think a pleasant side effect is that nothing flashy/new/tape-worthy for Ohio State was needed. 

The crazy part to me was that there were threads and comments before the game where I recall some debates on "our running game has not been good, that spells trouble" vs. "we have a Heisman-caliber QB, get over it, pass to open the run"...and then the game plays out the way it did.  

I too was at the game.  The atmosphere was surreal.  PSU has a legit home field advantage.  Even sitting way up in the bleachers, it was LOUD.

My theory is that we lose the game throwing the ball.  Several times we were stuck by the student section which was loud.  Any mistake there would have been costly.

OP, I respectfully disagree on Penn State fans. Judging by the people who've showed up at Michigan games with PSU gear, they're below the mean on the meathead scale (but not as bad as MSU and OSU). Apologies to the civilized alums who frequent this board.

As others have pointed out, the priority is to win the game. I hadn't really thought about protecting JJ until others pointed it out, but the last thing the team needs is an injured JJ. I  agree with you on the TV timeouts when watching a game live. It's especially bad when you're at a game by yourself.

one upvote here for crazy

They did call a pass on the 3rd down deep in our end that was foiled by the time out as the play clock ran down, and the PI call.  Should have been more, methinks, but I am an ignorant fool.  

JJ got sacked on the each of the first 2 series, looked like Edwards, then Corum, should have stayed to block Robinson.  Sherrone decided he could not rely on the pass blocking and the run was working.

Every play call was to win the game.

My theory is that, like Forrest Gump, they just felt like running.