Can they stop Chris Wells?
Since going to the 4-2-5 set the defense looks like they're playing with a chip on their shoulder (which they should be).
The 4 DL seem to be paying dividends by getting more pressure on the QB which resulted in the 3 INT's in the past 2 games while giving up less than 100 yards rushing in each game.
The defense will have 6 days to devote a way to stopping Wells but can they do it? Everyone reading this blog knows that Wells is getting the ball at least 25 to 30 times, Shafer knows it, RR knows it and so does the defense but can they contain Wells enough to make Pryor throw the ball? That's 6 days worth of film, technique, blitz packages, stunt packages and practices dedicated to stopping 1 person. With all of that preparation and knowing what OSU is going to do, can they stop Wells from running directly through the middle of the defense?
If they contain Wells and Pryor has to throw the ball I like UM's chances of staying close into the 4th quarter. Pryor has 10 TD passes, 3 INT, and 6 rushing TD in 11 games this year. If you eliminate his padded stats in the Troy and Northwestern games his stats are 3 TD passes, 2 INT and 6 rushing TD in 9 games. I would much rather make Pryor throw the ball to win rather than seeing Wells put up 200+ yards (again).
The offense may have Freshmen at a majority of the positions but there aren't any excuses for the defense. I want to see Feagin throw the ball at least 1 time and I don't care if it's incomplete but you can't let someone stack 9 in the box against you. I want to see a steady dose of Minor, Brown, Shaw and only use Sheridan when absolutely necessary. Let Mesko pin them deep and dear God keep Odoms away from the punts.
After setting records this year for all the wrong reasons I have to believe there is a nasty rage building up in that defense and hopefully we see it this weekend. I also have faith in the running game that they will find a way to get it done against OSU. Keep handing the ball off to Minor, Brown, and Shaw and UM could make sure OSU is playing in Florida rather than Pasadena.
November 17th, 2008 at 4:19 PM ^
i hope you are right--but i am afraid you are not. even with extra emotion and a clever scheme on our side this week our defense has tackled poorly all season--especially in the back seven. wells runs hard and fast and often does not go down on first contact. he is difficult for good defenders to bring down, let alone our guys. pryor is a mediocre passer, but he also runs hard and fast. i am afraid that the osu running game is enough to get the lead, then osu can hit a just enough passes after we are forced to put 8-9 on the line of scrimmage to make it a blowout
November 17th, 2008 at 5:04 PM ^
A lot of OSU's passes are deep balls and we have a penchant for not covering those routes.
I can only see us winning if we win the turnover margin and I don't mean by just one. We will need a few.
November 18th, 2008 at 7:30 AM ^
Pryor has a tendency to under throw a lot of deep balls. Which should give the DB's oppurtunities for Int's.
November 17th, 2008 at 5:08 PM ^
I think they can if the offense can sustain drives throughout the game. In the State game Ringer got 70 yards in the 4th quarter and if you take away that 64 yd TD run in the first half he racked up 60 yds in the first 3 quarters.
If the D can stay off the field the trick will be containing Pryor's runs and tackling (like jsimms said).
November 17th, 2008 at 5:34 PM ^
I am repeatedly amazed by Wells' strength. Any would-be tacklers who try to come at him in the open field have no chance unless they're coming at him head on. From just about any other angle he gets the stiff arm out and either drops the defender to the turf, or keeps him at bay long enough for him to waltz into the end zone. It is really amazing how well and how often he does his. I worry about our poor tacklers' ability to bring down Beanie Wells if he gets past the D-Line.
November 17th, 2008 at 5:36 PM ^
I don't think Michigan can completely stop Wells, but I do believe they can limit him. I expect Michigan to play pretty conservatively on defense. I think Pryor will make mistakes on his own, but I don't see a big need to blitz him like crazy. If they can get Graham and Jamison upfield to limit Pryor's scrambling and then stack their linebackers/Harrison inside to stop the run, I think that's our best chance. Blitzes should be used judiciously because Pryor can outrun everyone and then there's a hole in the zone or a mismatch downfield.
Offensively, I expect to see a heavy dose of Brandon Minor, more option keepers, and a trick play here or there. We really haven't used any trick plays this year (not counting the ISQD's by Minor, Brown, and Feagin).
November 17th, 2008 at 6:27 PM ^
even if they do manage to contain wells, who is going to run down pryor? its almost like the oregon combo of dixon and stewart last year except wells and pryor are bigger and stronger than stewart and dixon. and ohio state probably has a more dominant o-line.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:29 PM ^
Wells will get at least 150. Our DBs will be bouncing off him like pinballs. Pryor will escape time and time again from what little pass rush we can establish to get big third downs with his feet and his arm. If we hold them to less than 50 I'll be somewhat surprised.
From 1900 through 2007, Michigan has had 11 losing seasons. Those losing Michigan teams have never defeated the Buckeyes down in Columbus. The only losing Michigan teams to beat Ohio State were the '51 and '59 teams; they beat the Bucks in Ann Arbor, and the teams they beat were hardly vintage OSU teams. The '51 OSU squad was Hayes's first, and they went 4-3-2. The '59 OSU team was 3-5-1. I don't like the historical precedents here.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:55 PM ^
No they cannot.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:27 PM ^
Wells is going to McGuffie Stevie Brown, just like he did to the Minny defender: http://buckeyes.fandome.com/video/104535/Beanie-Wells-Jumps-Over-Defend…
November 18th, 2008 at 8:17 AM ^
We had a terror of a defense in 06 and Wells broke off that huge run and looked good in limited carries. This defense isn't close to that one, and Wells is even better than he was then. Shit, even last year the defense was better in the LB spots (where it wasn't all that great), and Wells killed us.
I can't see us stopping him, and even if we slow him, as mentioned Pryor too?!
I agree that the only way we win this is fluky turnovers and luck. tUoOS isn't all that great this year, but we're as bad as we're ever gonna be, so it could be really ugly.
November 18th, 2008 at 10:27 AM ^
Man its going to be hard to stop the bucks offense, to be honest. You stop wells, which is a huge task in itself, then pryor is going to drop back, and he might not throw for a ton a yards, but he will be able to run enough to keep drives alive, look what a no talent running quaterback at purdue did against us, man it could be ugly. They have to play with heart and fire, and the secondary needs to play lock down d, to even have a chance.
Minor and Brown in the back feild could be a feirce combo, hopefully minor is close to 100% on staurday. They have to establish the run to have a chance, cuz god knows sheridan isnt going to carry us...
November 18th, 2008 at 1:32 PM ^
of three yard runs by Wells and we'll get them in 3rd down. Then few scrambles by Pryor to keep drives alive. Then it'll take one hole through our d-line and Wells will break an arm tackle to the house. We'll load up the box and Pryor will throw a short pass that will be taken the distance. I don't think OSU puts up that many points, 21 28, but the score will look closer than actually will be.
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