Ohio State 42, Michigan 13 Comment Count

Ace



Bryan Fuller/MGoBlog

One team came prepared.

Ohio State's coaches prepared for Michigan's soft edges with an attack heavy on the power read. The Buckeye defense prepared for every wrinkle the Wolverines could conceive to utilize Jabrill Peppers and stopped them.

Michigan looked unprepared to deal with the Buckeye running game. The scheme was too passive and the adjustments ineffective, especially a move to a 3-man line. The linebackers weren't prepared to tackle Ezekiel Elliott in the gap or track JT Barrett in space. Nobody was prepared to block Joey Bosa.

For the tenth time in eleven years, Ohio State won The Game. The Buckeyes ran at will; Michigan couldn't trust its run game enough to even use it without ample trickery. While Michigan's 9-3 record and obvious team-wide improvement stand as a testament to the remarkable work of Jim Harbaugh, today's game showed just how much ground the program must make up on their chief rival.

Unlike last year, Michigan will get a full slate of bowl practices to work on their issues, and they'll face a quality opponent in a decent bowl game. Much like two years ago, there's a good chance they'll have to play that game with their backup quarterback, as Jake Rudock exited the game with an apparent shoulder or collarbone injury after taking a huge hit from Bosa.

Ohio State looked like a playoff team today. Michigan looked a long way off. That's exactly what we expected heading into the season; it's still hard not to be disappointed after seeing how the last few months have played out.

Comments

HollywoodHokeHogan

November 28th, 2015 at 3:40 PM ^

Is there a power program that has been worse in rivalry games in the last decade than Michigan? I can't think of one. To be honest, hasn't been real fun to be a Michigan football fan for a long while.




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Gofor2

November 28th, 2015 at 4:13 PM ^

It's not that Michigan is so bad, it's just that Ohio State is so far superior a team, as a program, and with such superior coaches that UM has just looked like a laughing stock. But when compared to programs at the same level, programs like Purdue, Illinois, and Bowling Green, then UM looks like a solid middle of the pack team. So be proud of where you are, it's right where you belong.

schreibee

November 28th, 2015 at 4:07 PM ^

My wife wandered thru the room to see how it was going near end of 3rd quarter. All she could say was "Ooh! What happened?"

I said we're getting beaten so thoroughly we've already lost next year's game too!

Seriously, what infusion of talent and coaching would be required to close the gap we witnessed today? O, D, ST... we were outcoached, outplayed & worst of all, out-hustled all day in all facets.

The '16 & '17 crootin classes have to hit at about an 85% success rate or this rivalry will truly just wither and die. And 85% is asking A LOT! Almost asking the unreasonable really.

But if there's one person I'd feel ok with asking to accomplish the unreasonable it'd be Jim Freaking Harbaugh!

ijohnb

November 28th, 2015 at 4:27 PM ^

Is my biggest issue trying to come to terms with this. The disparity between the two teams today was eye opening. That is a long term fix. 5-7 years. Not 1 or 2. Very discouraging day. Way too much red in stadium to begin with, and a very concerning game for this team going forward. Next year looks much different now.

In reply to by ijohnb

elhead

November 28th, 2015 at 5:04 PM ^

year, in other words that this loss has a great positive effect on the psyche of the coaching staff and the underclassmen. However, at present, I am not overly affected by my alcohol consumption. I really wish that it had added effect.

In reply to by ijohnb

harmon40

November 28th, 2015 at 6:29 PM ^

That might make a difference.



What if we have a better ground game next year? That also might help.



Do you really think the team will go backwards instead of forwards under Harbaugh?

In reply to by ijohnb

Jinxed

November 29th, 2015 at 7:11 AM ^

affects*

Ohio State probably gets 4-5 players into the first round of the next NFL draft... that alone makes a huge difference. 

MI Expat NY

November 28th, 2015 at 4:32 PM ^

Take a step back.  They have potentially a dozen nfl draft picks leaving.  We may not have any if Butt and Lewis stay (please stay!).  That talent flip alone is going to equalize things a good bit.  Another year of this staff should devolop the talent Hoke did bring in.  I think we'll be damn good next year.

MIGHTYMOJO91

November 28th, 2015 at 8:37 PM ^

What is exciting about losing to osu? If everybody wants it sugar coated, maybe The Voice is what you should be watching. Optimism is fine, but in reality things are much different. Do I wish things were different? Hell yes I do!!!! But in reality they are not. Is it really that hard of a concept for people to understand? It sure does seem like it. Call me a troll thats fine. I have been called far worse by far better. The truth hurts so get over yourselves!

MIGHTYMOJO91

November 28th, 2015 at 8:38 PM ^

What is exciting about losing to osu? If everybody wants it sugar coated, maybe The Voice is what you should be watching. Optimism is fine, but in reality things are much different. Do I wish things were different? Hell yes I do!!!! But in reality they are not. Is it really that hard of a concept for people to understand? It sure does seem like it. Call me a troll thats fine. I have been called far worse by far better. The truth hurts so get over yourselves!

MIGHTYMOJO91

November 28th, 2015 at 8:38 PM ^

What is exciting about losing to osu? If everybody wants it sugar coated, maybe The Voice is what you should be watching. Optimism is fine, but in reality things are much different. Do I wish things were different? Hell yes I do!!!! But in reality they are not. Is it really that hard of a concept for people to understand? It sure does seem like it. Call me a troll thats fine. I have been called far worse by far better. The truth hurts so get over yourselves!

MI Expat NY

November 28th, 2015 at 9:04 PM ^

They'll be good next year, no doubt, but nobody loses a prodigious amount of talent and just stays at the same level. Every dynasty, even Alabama, takes steps back. They'll lose most of the d line, over half the o line, a generational RB, and who knows how many other support players. This was their year. There was a reason they were unanimous number 1 entering the year. They're kicking themselves that they're missing the playoffs.

MI Expat NY

November 28th, 2015 at 9:04 PM ^

They'll be good next year, no doubt, but nobody loses a prodigious amount of talent and just stays at the same level. Every dynasty, even Alabama, takes steps back. They'll lose most of the d line, over half the o line, a generational RB, and who knows how many other support players. This was their year. There was a reason they were unanimous number 1 entering the year. They're kicking themselves that they're missing the playoffs.

LV Sports Bettor

November 28th, 2015 at 4:33 PM ^

Just like 2 years ago we weren't 1 point worse than them either. They wouldn't beat us by 30 every time they played us. They haven't looked this good probably all season.



If you look at their entire resumes for this year and compare them it was close that's why the spread was less than a TD throughout most of the season.



Guys will come and guys will go. Injuries play a role also. They lose two of the best players they've had in the past decade in Elliot and Bosa also.

Templeton Peck…

November 28th, 2015 at 4:43 PM ^

9-3 is a GREAT first season of what will hopefully be decades with Jim Harbaugh. Too many dropped passes by wide receivers, too many missed tackles by linebackers and some bad penalties. Definitely not outcoached. OSU ran the option well, blew the D line off the ball for long stretches today, and UM doesn't have great linebackers. I suspect that will probably come out in the post game analysis, but that is something that's been lacking all year. OSU was the second team that was able to really take advantage of UM's linebackers (IU being the first). It's just that IU can't stop anybody and OSU can.

 

jackw8542

November 28th, 2015 at 7:17 PM ^

Agree.  We were definitely NOT outcoached.  On virtually every play, we had a player in position to make a stop, but that player either missed the tackle or got chipped by an OL who had so quickly dominated (or gone directly to the second level) that he was able to help take our guy out of the play.

The coaches can only tell them where they have to be to make the play.  They don't get to make the tackle for them or make the right read for them.  Our LBs were terrible today.  They either went the wrong way, waited too long or got trucked by Elliott or JT.

Too bad, but there was tremendous improvement.  Now, if our DBs could start seeing the ball a little quicker and our DL could start punching the ball out, things might work out a little better.

DavidP814

November 28th, 2015 at 5:10 PM ^

A similar statement could have been reasonably made after watching the MSU game last year.  That game was much different this year, and will likely be different again next year after the Spartans lose Connor Cook.  1 year is a long time in college football.

buddhafrog

November 28th, 2015 at 3:42 PM ^

For some time I had the suspicion that THE_KNOWLEDGE was just an Internet character and not really gifted with insight. Now we can be certain. At least we have that going for us.




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CoachBP6

November 28th, 2015 at 3:43 PM ^

Now watch as MSU fucks it all up and allows osu into the playoff. Baylor lost last night, now ok state will lose, nd will lose, and osu will go win another title.




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Franz Schubert

November 28th, 2015 at 3:43 PM ^

but the defensive coaching is highly questionable. Indiana and OSU ran at will and Michigan never thought to fortify the front with additional bodies. 6 men in the box against that rushing attack really? The passive defense robs the defensive players of their aggression and energy and when you cant get off the fucking field you run out of gas.

MayOhioEatTurds

November 28th, 2015 at 4:08 PM ^

an answer to questions about interviewing for the HC job at Maryland.  Durkin's focus was elsewhere this week, and it looked like that wavering focus trickled down to insufficient game planning. 

I'm concerned it may also trickle down to recruiting:  You drop a stinker like that at the end of the season, on a giant stage with post-season implications, with ~30 recruits in town, and--yeah, definitely suboptimal.