What are the 3 Most Important Factors for a Michigan Win against OSU?
What do you think are the 3 most important factors that will determine whether Michigan wins or not vs the Buckeyes? Here's mine:
- Stop Trevyon Henderson. If he is able to consistently get 5-8 yard chunks in a 5 or 6 man box, then that's gonna be a big problem for us, as we'll have to bring more players into the box, leaving us vulnerable to the pass.
- Double team MHJ on every play. Make someone else beat us. I still think that Will Johnson should single cover Egbuka and use some double team combination against MHJ, because we're asking for trouble to put Will Johnson solo on MHJ.
- How does our pass protection do against OSU's pass rush? Need to buy JJ time to make some big throws or at least give him the opportunity to escape the pocket and improvise.
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:02 PM ^
"Have more points on the scoreboard than they do when the clock hits zero" is probably the biggest key to beating them.
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:06 PM ^
FUUUUCCCKKK OHIO
That is all.
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:29 PM ^
Well, you can also win by out-hitting your opponent.
November 23rd, 2023 at 4:49 AM ^
Where is Scott frost nowadays?
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:41 PM ^
Knew this would be the first response. Touche!
November 22nd, 2023 at 8:08 PM ^
How about this:
Show nerves of steel when shit is going against you
Stick to who you are with every ounce of your soul
Win the scoreboard
November 22nd, 2023 at 8:42 PM ^
I thought you were going here at first:
Judge Smails:
It's easy to grin / When your ship comes in / And you've got the stock market beat. / But the man worthwhile, / Is the man who can smile, / When his shorts are too tight in the seat.
Win the scoreboard
Win the turnover battle
Score early and often balancing long runs with long runs and short passes with long passes.
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:03 PM ^
Your list is good. Our rungame is also important. JJ will need to make some big plays, but if Blake and Edwards can grind out 5+ per carry, it will be hugely impactful.
Has anyone made a Blake Edwards joke around here before?
November 23rd, 2023 at 12:00 PM ^
No Blake Edwards jokes. Just hoping for some trick plays that lead to touchdowns.
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:03 PM ^
- Score more points than Ohio State.
- Win the rushing battle. That’s determined the winner this century.
- Michigan can’t turn the ball over.
- Don't give up too many big plays to Harrison.
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:56 PM ^
OP knows Alex Drain already wrote a highly detailed post about this very topic right?
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:04 PM ^
- UM runs for more yards than OSU.
- UM D is able to continually pressure McCord.
- JJ doesnt try any ill-advised throws.
Those 3 things happen, UM wins.
#GoBlue
#Bet
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:05 PM ^
JJ plays like his usual self. He does that and we're good.
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:07 PM ^
- JJ not throwing behind his receivers
- DL getting pressure
- Defensive secondary not getting lost
- Cheating to get a #4 which is a given: rush for more yardage
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:07 PM ^
1, lots of quick pressure on McCord.
2, protect JJ.
3, win the turnover battle.
November 22nd, 2023 at 9:54 PM ^
Yeah its basically:
1. Our DL beats their OL
2. Our OL beats their DL
3. Turnovers
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:07 PM ^
1. How often does our pass rush get home? McCord and the OL are a lot more vulnerable than the receiving corps. The best way to stop OSU is to force sacks and throwaways, don't Even give MHJ a chance to make a pass.
2. Agreed on Treveyon Henderson. If we have to play the run game straight up we are in trouble.
3. Good play calling early. We have to keep it close enough for our run game to take over late. That means successful pass plays in the first place, none of this conservative run-run-run or run-run-pass into 3 and out.
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:15 PM ^
Here’s a fun fact I heard today… The team that rushes for the most yards has won the game the last 21 times in a row.
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:16 PM ^
1. Pass rush on McCord
2. Do not allow Henderson any big runs (20+ yards)
3. Don't sleep on Ohio's fake punt
November 22nd, 2023 at 9:19 PM ^
I think McCord is going to at least be feeling pressure most of the game so he will be off
Not letting Henderson get to the 2nd level is key
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:17 PM ^
1) hAVing TheiR siGns!
2) kNOwinG tHeiR pLAys
3) tHe WeAtHer
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:17 PM ^
Blake goes for 135.
JJ has 225+ passing yards
OSU less than 115 yards rushing
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:25 PM ^
Nice try Ryan but I’m not telling you
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:25 PM ^
1. Win the turnover battle.
2. Win the running battle.
3. Win the points battle. (*Most important of the 3).
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:28 PM ^
Going for 2 and converting them multiple times
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:30 PM ^
Michigan keys: Mash, mash, mash
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:30 PM ^
Run the damn ball
Pressure McCord
no turnovers
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:33 PM ^
Disagree on 2 points, they are irrelevant. The threat from Henderson isn't getting 5 yards per carry, it's taking it to the house. They almost exclusively run on 1st down, and then throw in literally every other situation, we'll run cover 2 for 90% of the game. Our pass blocking vs their pass rush is nothing compared to our pass rush vs their pass blocking. Our rush is far better than their rush, their blocking is several steps worse than ours, and our qb is extremely mobile, while theirs is the opposite of mobile. He's run for -65 yards on the season, before playing us.
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:36 PM ^
-Use Loveland, Wilson, and McCarthys legs in the passing game
-On defense pressure the hell out of Honda McCord
-No turnovers, but force them
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:37 PM ^
How coach speak can I do this?
1) Win the trenches
2) prevent breakdowns, errors and big plays
3) execute our assignments
Translation: 1) block their face off, hold down their run game and pressure McCord
2) dont let MHJ and Egbuka dominate, or Treyveon break out, or turn it over
3) just win the game. We are better so just do it.
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:44 PM ^
1) A fully operational JJ: able to succeed on some designed runs, scramble for first downs, and extend plays to hit receivers downfield. I think this is the biggest factor by a mile. If this comes to pass then I think we will run effectively too.
2) Pressure from the front 4 on McCord
3) No "home runs" from Henderson.
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:46 PM ^
Would love to see a very loud stadium.
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:46 PM ^
Show up, show up, show up. A lot of pain!!!
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:46 PM ^
1. Stop Henderson for the reasons OP pointed out.
2. Confuse McCord. He'll throw quick passes to avoid the rush. Drop into his passing lanes.
3. Play action passes!
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:47 PM ^
1. Our oline
2. our oline
3. our oline
we are better than them. Our oline will win or lose this one.
November 22nd, 2023 at 8:52 PM ^
Oline the reason we won the last 2 years, So I agree!
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:49 PM ^
Win the run game battle. Corum and company have to outdo Treveon. Needs to be consistent so we can use play action.
Use JJ’s legs. There is no saving him now, use his athleticism. If we don’t win, we are going to a bowl the players won’t give a shit about.
Don’t give them home runs. Make them drive the field and score inside the red zone. They are gonna generate offense, just avoid the explosive stuff.
Gonna add that we need pressure without using too many defenders and confuse McCord into mistakes.
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:50 PM ^
STOP THE RUN …. don’t make McCord look like Stroud … don’t play Lloyd Carr or early Rose Bowl BO conservative offense , throw the fucking kitchen sink at them !!!!
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:51 PM ^
Defense has to keep everything in front of them, they will move the move but Michigan has to make plays when it counts .
I think the TEs vs their LBs could be a major advantage for Michigan.
then the obvious, the line of scrimmage.
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:53 PM ^
- Run the ball effectively
- contain their running game
- no explosive plays from their offense, (make them score from inside the 25 yd. line)
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:56 PM ^
Score more points
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:57 PM ^
The NCAA
The B10
Those they choose to arbitrate the on the field effort of their student athlete charges in real time.
Makes me long for the days of bomb sniffing dogs and cold showers.
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:59 PM ^
I think Ryan Day is extremely aware of the fact that his job may well be on the line Saturday, as ridiculous as that may be. I wonder whether he is going to try to out man-ball us so he can appear tough, or if he is going to keep finessing his way on offense through the air, jet sweeps, etc.
Despite having MHJ and Egbuka, if he tries to finesse this game, OSU is going to be in trouble. And I think we've seen enough of him to know that is his tendency at this point. I think McCord is going to have no time to throw. Every drop back he's going to be either scrambling or feeling pressure, on a road environment, with a pass d built to confuse and confound. It's going to make for a bad day, regardless of how much talent you have at the skill positions.
If he overcomes his natural tendencies (and seemingly every data point to date) and just tries to ram the ball down our throat, plays a run-to-pass style offense, Henderson could hurt us, a lot. I think much as the D last year was "don't let MHJ+CJ Stroud score 6 easy", this year it's gotta be "don't let Henderson score 6 easy." If Ryan Day calls a run-heavy offense, I think that's our worst case scenario.
The thing is I don't think Ryan Day hired a PI firm to investigate Michigan and publicly blamed the last two losses on the same sign stealing that he engages in so he could evolve at the last second just to trick Michigan. I think Ryan Day has not changed in the last year. I also don't think he knows what his own tendencies are and how visible and beatable they are.
I think Ryan Day is going to try to win MHJ a Heisman Saturday. And I think that is going to turn out very poorly for Kyle McCord.
But I mean, if JJ plays the way he has for 80% of the season none of that shit is going to matter and we are going to torch them for 50.
November 22nd, 2023 at 8:00 PM ^
1. McCarthy being 100% healthy, playing like McCarthy, and being allowed to play like McCarthy;
2. Getting pressure on McCord;
November 22nd, 2023 at 8:01 PM ^
Play with intensity… be pissed off but use it wisely to be focused 100% on your assignments… and as Keegan put it “ we lose this game the season was for nothing “ …. remember you’re playing against three opponents, the hairless nuts, the B1G , the NCAA !!!
November 22nd, 2023 at 8:07 PM ^
Michigan on defense needs to hold OSU to 2.5 yrds average on 1st downs. And pressure McCord often on 2nd and 3rd. He has a poor completion rate under pressure.
Michigan on offense needs to do a good job blocking on run downs. Blake and Dono will take care of the rest. Michigan does this and OSU will be off schedule and Michigan will control the game.
November 22nd, 2023 at 8:09 PM ^
Offensive line must play better specifically the tackles we need to be balanced and control the clock.
November 22nd, 2023 at 8:10 PM ^
1 ). Control the line of scrimmage or at least run the ball more effectively than OSU.
2). Win the turnover battle.
3). Pressure McCord more effectively than OSU pressures JJ.
November 22nd, 2023 at 8:13 PM ^
STEAL SIGNS!
CLUCK OHIO STATE!