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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MonkeyMan

November 27th, 2016 at 11:49 PM ^

Correct me if i am wrong- but it seemed Brown went away from the blitzes more in the 4th and used 4 man rush. I think this was a huge mistake. JT will carve you up with his legs if you only rush 4- it gives him room to pick lanes. I have been watching OSU all year and 3 -4 man rush will never stop JT- felt bad when I saw it. Why did Brown stop blitzing?

The O-line was weak on rush blocking all day but got a little better in the 3rd- then cratered in the 4th. 

I think we need an overhall of the running game. We blow up bad teams but struggle big time on the road with decent teams.

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bronxblue

November 27th, 2016 at 11:54 PM ^

It was the offense not getting a first down in the 4th, but also just a bit of bad luck.  OSU had a couple of terrible stretches as well but UM simply didn't capitalize on them.  I don't think it's a conditioning issue or anything; the OSU offensive line wasn't getting amazing pushes or anything.

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Qmatic

November 28th, 2016 at 12:11 AM ^

This has been the case for two years and is the reason we have 3 of our 5 losses with Harbaugh.

When the opposing team knows we are going to run to try and kill the clock, our OL and Smith cannot get first downs. The line cannot create big enough holes and Smith is not quick enough to make plays on his own against an 8 or 9 man box.

If we can get 1 or 2 first downs, we beat MSU in 2015, and both Iowa and OSU this year.

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South TX MFan

November 28th, 2016 at 5:18 AM ^

In the OSU game it doesn't all fall on the OL or backs. When we got the ball with 5 mins left the backs picked up 6 yards on first and second down setting up a very manageable 3rd&4. Darboh was wide open on the slant and Speight missed him. There were several plays that we missed by inches that likely affect the outcome.



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Sten Carlson

November 28th, 2016 at 8:45 AM ^

This is true. However, trying to take the glass half full mindset, finds me pleased with 20-5 in the first two seasons and that in the five losses all but one (2015 OSU) Michigan was literally one first down (or so) away from sealing the win. Not where we want the end to be, nor where I think it will be, but man is that some positive progress!

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maizenbluenc

November 28th, 2016 at 6:51 AM ^

a good o-line again? This one's gone from historically the worst to passable to maybe good. Maybe there are injuries: half of them have arm braces on. But still, in the time these guys have staggered about, MSU manages to find a line from piece parts every year, and OSU manages to reload every year. Our o-line is where we would lose to Bama if we had made the playoffs. I don't remember the last year I felt this o-line kicks ass.

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funkywolve

November 28th, 2016 at 9:47 AM ^

But to the op's question, OSU changed their play calling some in the 4th. They started attacking the edge of UM'S defense a lot more with Samuel. The other change was they also spread UM out with only Barret in the backfield, and then ran Barret between the tackles.

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sj

November 28th, 2016 at 9:46 AM ^

Ultimately, the weakness for this team is that Hoke had one great recruiting class followed by a few small, less-talented ones. Those senior players lead this team to a great season, but there was no depth and no way for the big guys to rest. This was a major problem on the offensive line and for the linebackers that will show itself late in the game. 

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uminks

November 28th, 2016 at 9:48 AM ^

The offense goes flat during the 4th QTR. It happened @ IA and @ MSU as well. No wonder our D gets tired and is more susceptible to big plays.

Hopefully over the next few years, Harbaugh will get a good OL and a good QB and we will not have an offense that peters out in the 4th QTR.

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CoverZero

November 28th, 2016 at 11:05 AM ^

That PI call extended the Buckeye drive and gave them the chance to tie it at the end.

No one is talking about that kick off return which Jourdan Lewis almost took to the house to win it.  That would have been Epic.

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