4th Quarter

Submitted by Carcajou on

After the first Ohio State drive, Michigan dominated most of the first three quarters. But the 4th quarter and OT, Michigan, especially the line, seemed tired relative to the Buckeyes.  Why, I wonder.

Yes, the offense could not produce a 1st down when it needed one, but the defense gave up 10 and 13 play drives, the longest of the day.

I know that OSU started to use Samuels more, and rely on Barret's running. All defenses do tire as the game goes on (though I think Michigan led in TOP), and the Buckeyes were oviously getting some help extending drives by you-know-who, but still curious as to why and what attention and the S&C staffs might give to that going forward.

Haven't seen the film yet, but late in the game Ohio State seemed in better shape- was it a difference in conditioning? Or something lse.
Michigan winning so easily earlier in the season that they were not used to playing full gear for 60 minutes in games? 



Thoughts?

 

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Fralebomb

November 27th, 2016 at 11:15 PM ^

I think it was simply that our offense could not stay on the field whatsoever the entire second half. That shit gasses a defense especially against a fast pace and physical offense like OSU



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SBo

November 27th, 2016 at 11:17 PM ^

This game should've been 17-14. IIRC, we had them stopped on third down back around their thirty. On that third down, a bs pi call was made. They proceeded to drive down the field using Barrett, eventually kicking the tying field goal.

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BursleyBaitsBus

November 27th, 2016 at 11:20 PM ^

Blame the offense. Defense did everything within its power to win that game with bias officiating. What could've been if Wilton just held on to the fucking ball at the goaline.

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caup

November 27th, 2016 at 11:30 PM ^

It was the 2 INTs that gave them their only TDs in regulation. And the offense gained all of FIVE FRICKIN YARDS in the entire 4th quarter.

That the D held them to only a FG at the end was nothing short of heroic.

I'm sure the OL are great guys and tried their hardest, but that's where the game was lost (other than the BS officiating of course).

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elhead

November 28th, 2016 at 1:05 AM ^

We knew the O line was a relative weakness going into this. I figure we'll get to where we want to be in 2 years, with some improvement next year. Though I pity whoever we play in a bowl game because the team, O line included, will be more than ready for that game.



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Carcajou

November 28th, 2016 at 6:20 AM ^

Michigan had 12 yards on 3 & outs on the last couple of drives, and a few more at the beginning of the quarter, actually. Used up only 3:53 when they needed it most, when Michigan had been dominating TOP the rest of the game. But part of that was on the defense too- allowing Ohio State to control the ball for 9 of the last 10-1/2 minutes of regulation on 10 and 13 play drives.

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bamf16

November 28th, 2016 at 12:20 AM ^

The fumble at the goaline was pretty inconsequential, as OSU ran the fake punt and Michigan scored a TD off it.

 

If you're a game manager, like Speight is (even when healthy), by nature you're not going to be the big play guy who puts up the gaudy numbers and win the game yourself.  You're entrusted to make the simple play and not commit the huge mistakes to lose the game for your team.

 

Some may say Speight failed in that regard, and perhaps rightfully so.  But that first pick wasn't on him, and that TD pass to Darboh in OT was pretty damn clutch.

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Pepto Bismol

November 28th, 2016 at 9:58 AM ^

We fumbled.  OSU picked up a first down, then was forced to punt and ran the ill-fated fake. 

If we score instead of fumble, and then kick-off, play D and put them in that same punting situation, why wouldn't they try that same fake?

You're not the first person that has insinuated that if we don't fumble, they don't fake punt.  To me, those two are completely separate. 

The punter read something in our block/cover and took off on his own.  Why would his read change based on the result of our previous possession? 

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BoFlex

November 27th, 2016 at 11:26 PM ^

Michigan started the 4th quarter with the ball. Kept it for a grand total of 56 seconds (5 yards)

Next offensive possession: 1 minute and 31 seconds (-6 yards)

3rd possession: 1 minute 35 seconds (6 yards)

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CoverZero

November 27th, 2016 at 11:37 PM ^

The OL has been crap in the 4th Q vs. Iowa and OSU.  Perhaps that was due to some adjustments that Iowa and OSU made on D.....however if that is the case, then Drevno needs to make adjustments back. 

To my eyes, they just appeared tired and weaker and the play calling was vanilla in the 4th vs. both opponents, and MSU too.

Harbaugh tightened up in 4th Qs of games this season that were close.

Not to compare him to Urban, but Urban was much more agressive yesterday than Harbaugh was.  Perhaps Harbaugh was trying to limit mistakes and protect Speight, however that would only apply to Saturday and not vs. MSU or Iowa.

You cant take your foot off the offensive gas in college football, but if you do...you had better be able to run block to win late Nov. games in the B1G.

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YouRFree

November 28th, 2016 at 12:52 AM ^

Harbaugh tried to be agressive in first quarter with play action pass in our red zone, we got a pick six.

I think this all come down the execusion, some of the safe play still can be converted to 1st down, our players are still not clutch enough. It's not only on this game but the IOWA game. We will get there eventually, I have faith in Harbaugh.

The only complain for 2nd half play call  I have for this game is that we should have called a few more running play in the 3rd down. Particuarly 3rd and 5 or shoter. We have had effective delay draw play in the 2nd half of many games, but Harbaugh didn't seem to go with those in IOWA and OSU game. I have seen a few 3rd down that OSU are buying into pass, a simple delay hand off would make the 1st down and even more. But we never call those, probably only one. I'v see a few games that we have some effective delay draw that we get big chunk of yardage. I understand that Smith is slow and not a typical good fit for this. But still he's tough to bring down. I would trust his feet more than Speight's hand after he throw two INTs. If Evans get improve in pass protection and become 3rd down back next year. Our 3rd down playbook can open up more i think. 

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fksljj

November 27th, 2016 at 11:37 PM ^

as much as I don't like the guy i do like how meyer is aggressive and goes for it on 4th and does fakes. whereas harbaugh just likes to punt it away.

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Sten Carlson

November 27th, 2016 at 11:58 PM ^

This "aggressive vs. vanilla" meme needs to stop because it's bullshit. Why? Because all Meyer does that you think it so wonderfully aggressive is run JT. The difference is when running a designed QB run they've got an extra blocker. So, both coaches go to the ground (conservative) they just do it a different way. As I see it, the problem has been the Michigan OL -- as much as I hate to say it -- just isn't elite. When the chips were down this season, when we desperately needed just one more first down against Iowa, and just a couple against OSU, they failed to control the LOS. Fans go nuts yelling about play calling, playing not to lose, and vanilla. You don't hear that from Bama fans. You know why? Because when they need to churn out hard on the ground and kill the clock, their OL rises to the occasion. Amazingly, with just a fraction better OL play this year and last year, Michigan gets that first down against MSU and the punt debacle never happens, they come away with a tough win versu Iowa this season, and very likely leave Columbus with a win on their way to Indy. 3, maybe 4 churn em out first downs, and Michigan is 11-2 last year, and 12-0 this year. Close, but no cigar. When the OL gets where it's going under Harbaugh you'll be signing a different tune. You love the fact we can salt games away and not have to run the risk of passing late in a game.

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Sten Carlson

November 28th, 2016 at 12:35 AM ^

QB is fine, despite the turnovers yesterday. The second one was on Wilton -- looked like he was blocked by the ref from seeing the LB ... sometime he'll know better as he gains more experience -- but the pick 6 was entirely upon the OL. All season long, IMO, Wilton has hung tough and showed in the face of pressure. He's pressured because the OL is the weakest link on this team ... still. When the OL blocks at a high level our RB's gash the opposition and our QB throws it all over the lot. Duh, right? The problem is, they seemingly only against avaergae to poor competition. Against MSU, Iowa, and OSU they just aren't there yet. Nobody has more than 2 seasons under Drevno, and it seems that whatever Funk was teaching them for the three years prior wasn't up to elite OL standards. OL isbsaid to be the longest and toughest developmental cycle, with the most variance between recruiting and actual performance. All in all, I feel like the defense lived up to expectations time and again, especially against OSU. The offense, however, didn't clock at the most crucial times, but actually exceeded most of my preseason expectations. Much of the downside was OL, while most of the upside was WB -- both were HUGE preseason question marks.

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The Fan in Fargo

November 28th, 2016 at 12:18 AM ^

Peppers did miss him but he at least took the edge and made him cut back the other way. Samuels should've been cleaned up right there by someone. They were tired and their pursuit was lacking at that time though. Offensive line has to become more dominant. A dominant offensive line and running backs puts that game away in the third quarter and takes the bullshit refs right out of the game. It's coming. I reallly believe it.

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