Ohio State 31, Michigan 20
[Patrick Barron]
Michigan did not lack opportunity, or talent, or coaching. They just lacked a quarterback.
The Wolverines jumped out to a 14-0 lead, held Ohio State to negative-six yards in the first quarter, got 5.5 yards per carry out of their running backs, and had receivers running wide open through the Buckeye secondary all afternoon. The defense forced JT Barrett to be a one-dimensional runner, kept OSU's star quarterback under constant pressure, and eventually knocked him out of the game with an apparent knee injury.
With Brandon Peters and Wilton Speight watching in street clothes, however, John O'Korn missed far too may of those open receivers. When including sacks, O'Korn averaged only 4.1 yards per dropback. His only turnover came at the worst possible time. With 2:47 on the clock and Michigan down four points after a missed Buckeye field goal, Kekoa Crawford settled down underneath OSU's safeties for what could've been a significant first down. O'Korn read the play differently and chucked a deep ball directly to OSU's Jordan Fuller.
"It was an option route," said O'Korn. "[Crawford] did the right thing. It's all on me."
[Eric Upchurch]
There were plenty more reasons the Wolverines lost. The second quarter featured a momentous change in fortune when Josh Metellus let an easy inteception fall through his hands; two plays later, JT Barrett—with, perhaps, an assist from whatever official was in charge of watching Mo Hurst—scrambled 21 yards to make it 14-7.
Michigan's ensuing drive ended with a 23-yard change in field position after an illegal formation penalty negated their first attempt at a punt. KJ Hill returned the next one to midfield—again, with a potential penalty overlooked—and Barrett needed only three plays to tie the game on a 25-yard pass to Marcus Baugh.
The teams traded touchdowns in the third quarter, though Ohio State took a one-point edge thanks to a blocked extra point. That loomed large when Sean Nuernberger hit a 44-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. It loomed less large when O'Korn threw the interception.
With an average quarterback performance, Michigan wins this game. The gameplan couldn't have reasonably been better; any criticism of Harbaugh or the coaching staff about this game can be mocked with impunity. When it came down to it, Harbaugh couldn't throw the ball for his quarterback, and that proved to be the difference.
"The hardest part for me is you come here to win this game for the senior class and we couldn't do it," O'Korn said with tears in his eyes, before again putting the blame on himself. "It's the worst feeling in the world."
Better days are ahead. This one's still going to sting for a while.
November 25th, 2017 at 5:06 PM ^
and it's not hard to be a good quarterback. It's essentially a knowledge of algebra, hand-eye coordination, quick reflexes, and practice. That is all. You can hit doods on the money if you have that skill set.
November 25th, 2017 at 5:18 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 5:26 PM ^
I missed two points - arm strength, and testicular strength. I entreat you, commenter, to a duel of either strengths. And if Tunneler is out there trolling, the entreaty stands open to a threesome.
November 25th, 2017 at 5:30 PM ^
I would factor in one remaining element. An utterly unflinching obliviousness to fear. Having seen and/or smelled death. Football pales in comparison - even MS State broken ankles. NBD. JoK has spent too much time in church and Mott. Go sing for your kids, boo.
November 25th, 2017 at 5:07 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 5:10 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 5:16 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 5:21 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 5:20 PM ^
OK Okorn is not gonna light the world on fire and is not likley going to win the game by himself. But I thought he played ok and had us in the game. He should have really hit all those open receivers to start the game and he should not have that tendancy to just hold the ball and eat a sack like he commonly does. That's on him. But I also thought the coachgin, the OC or PEP or whoever has to know that he does this and try to gameplan and simplify things for him.
Like our final drive. We had like 2-3 minutes left and it is obvious we are either gonna score or we are gonna lose. That first down play call was probably one of the worst I have ever seen. EVER..... I mean WHY call that? We had time, we could have called some plays and dinked and dunked our way down the field. WHY take that shot bc even if we hit it we still dont necessarily get the touch down. That was high risk low reward IMO. I think if you are gonna take a chance like that it has to have a payoff. Not at that place on the field. Not at that down and distance right when we get the ball. To me that was less about Okorn throwning a bad ball. That was more about our coaches not being smart.
Plays I would have liked to see sprinkled in there. I mean basically any easy read misdirectin play you can list here...
Simple run look play action with lead fullback that runs into the pile gets lost while running back runs other way. FB then leaks out into the flat. Easy 5 yard completion.
That rollout TE throwback screen we hit earlier in the year.
Jet sweep action that gets linebackers flowing to the edge then slip the TE behind them going vertical. Same concept on that Iowa fake FG play.
Try a fade down the sideline against man coverage
Khalid hill shovel pass running across the formation that I think Meyer himself popularized with Aaron Hernandez back in Florida
Some rub routes against man coverage
Man beating crossing routes over the middle that they were killing us with
Finally whatever running play I think power where we cut to the backside gap and had success with earlier in the year.
I think these are way easier reads lower risk plays. NOT that post call. Yea Okorn missed the safety read but again WHY put your quarterback in that position to screw it up??!!??!?!?!
At the press conference the main and only question for me is
WHY?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!!??
I dont know if thats Drevno or PEP calling that. But to me that was a real headscratcher. Plus calling these passing plays where Okorn drops back and has to look around. That is not his strength in case you havent noticed over his entire body of work. He tends to miss reads and eat sacks. These plays should have been abandoned long time ago. Needed simpler plays that got the ball out of his hands faster. I dont think once did we execute one of those longer devleoping plays by Okorn. (Also OC protection becomes an issue) So who is the genius that keeps calling those?
We were really in that game right up until the end. It wasn't just Okorn although I have a feeling he will be the scapegoat. To me it was the coaches not helping him out even though he does need more help than a quarterback should.
November 25th, 2017 at 5:23 PM ^
ANOTHER couldve wouldve shouldve game against OSU Plaqued by stupid penalties , big mistakes and poor QB play...When will EVER end?
November 25th, 2017 at 5:29 PM ^
If O'Korn reads the coverage correctly, we have an easy first down with the receiver parked in a seam in the zone, wide open. Hopefully the rest of your points were a bit more on point.
November 25th, 2017 at 5:44 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 5:45 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 5:09 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 5:15 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 5:27 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 5:28 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 6:44 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 5:09 PM ^
Ohio State has better players and better coaches. I hate it, but it's true.
November 25th, 2017 at 5:55 PM ^
...laughable. Harbaugh had one year with a bunch of players he had to retrain, and a QB that thankfully came to UM to help out. He went 10-3. The next year, those same players were a zit from going undefeated, were it not for injuries where it hurt, and 'Ref Job' at Ohio. Don't forget that half that team went to the NFL. This year, close competitive loses without even having a fully capable QB like Ruddock. Speight was never the same after he got hurt last year, and Peters was pretty capable for a rookie...then he gets hurt. In comes O'Korn....a guy who was dissed by Houston and we see why. He's just average to below average.....and we still won 8 games and were in all but one.
Thorw in a great QB next year, and watch out. This team will be on fire.
November 25th, 2017 at 5:13 PM ^
I also give JoK a just-okay because of his affinity for a spent out, splayed out, played out religion. Reliance on hope has nothing to do with winning football games; certainly don't display that old religion at a secular, research-based institution such as Ann Arbor. Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid. Simple tricks and nonsense.
November 25th, 2017 at 5:30 PM ^
Go back under your rock, fuckhead. You are stupidly stupid.
November 25th, 2017 at 5:30 PM ^
Go back under your rock, fuckhead. You are stupidly stupid.
November 25th, 2017 at 5:30 PM ^
Go back under your rock, fuckhead. You are stupidly stupid.
November 25th, 2017 at 5:31 PM ^
And yes, I meant to post it three times.
November 25th, 2017 at 5:47 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 5:15 PM ^
The new lovable losers. Sigh. Oh well at least my anger faded in 10 minutes this year.
November 25th, 2017 at 5:16 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 5:19 PM ^
1-5 vs Rivals 1-7 in "Big Games" 3 years into a program and JOK is the best we can come up...REPEATED STUPID penalties that either killed our drive or enabled theirs..So many Fucking Mistakes AGAIN...you mmight have drank the koolaid but today I spit it out..8 million a year FOR THIS? the M in Michigan once again stands for Medocrity something that many of you seem to be just fine with..I am NOT..can we please find a coach who can actually BEAT Ohio St...I ony have so many years left to live
November 25th, 2017 at 5:19 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 5:28 PM ^
hasnt been JH thas for sure..Here we are AGAIN and in wait till next year mode ..I mean at some point you for 8 mil a year he needs to produce SOMETHING....and with next years road schedule were looking at more of the same...
Its lookin g more and more that JH is overhyped and over paid and has produced no real results...I guess thats OK for most of you...not me..I prefer my millionaires to be SUCCESSFUL
November 25th, 2017 at 5:39 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 5:41 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 6:05 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 5:34 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 6:04 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 5:17 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 5:25 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 5:56 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 6:20 PM ^
Unforced error takes us from 2 & 1 to 3rd and four. Stalled the drived. Confidence buster as well.
November 25th, 2017 at 5:20 PM ^
The defense giving that TD to Haskins. Yes, I realize it looked like all the world like holding and the coverage on the big 3rd down was tight but why does this defense seem to give up TD drives at the most inopportune moments? Is it youth, scheme, or something else? I thought they played good enough to win this game obviously, with competent QB play as Ace notes, nbut it bugs me that against Penn State, Wisconsin and Ohio State immediately after something good happens the defense gives up a TD drive (to a redshirt Freshman thrown into The Game while behind).
This is what truly makes these game feel out of reach. When the offense steps up and makes a play, the defense promptly gives up points.
November 25th, 2017 at 5:23 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 5:28 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 5:31 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 5:42 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 5:58 PM ^
You don’t think we’ll get there? Our depth chart for next season will read Peters, Speight, McCaffery, or some iteration thereof. With JH coaching them we will be just fine
November 25th, 2017 at 5:59 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 5:59 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 6:10 PM ^
Wouldn't be playing if the OL could pick up a stunt 11 games into the year.
November 25th, 2017 at 5:28 PM ^
This one stings but last year was harder to stomach. Despite O'Korn's horrible game, offense still put up points and gave us a chance to win. Defense needs to take some of the blame too.
Comments