How would you beat Michigan?

Submitted by canzior on November 27th, 2019 at 11:29 AM

If you were Ryan Day, how would you attack this Michigan team?  Last year, Indiana provided an offensive and defensive blueprint. This year, no such luck. Would you try to go full Wisconsin on offense and run? Or Quick to the line and try to have Olave do his best Hamler impression? 

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Swayze Howell Sheen

November 27th, 2019 at 12:42 PM ^

yeah, I think you're right. With 2016 (he was short), last year (OSU playing out of their minds after almost losing to Maryland and getting blown out), and then the entire RichRod/Hoke era, plus the inability of OSU to make a bad hire, plus the many close losses at the end of the Lloyd era, everyone is fed up. A win (not a close game) is really the only cure, alas.

Joined: 10/05/2008

MGoPoints: 47108

wolverinekeith

November 27th, 2019 at 11:32 AM ^

Abuse our DTs up the middle until we have to commit more bodies there, then hit the edges.  Make McGrone cover guys in space.  He's a heat seeking missile when he can track down ball carriers, but is not nearly as effective in coverage.  

For their D, I'd try to pressure Shea.  

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 207

Jordan2323

November 27th, 2019 at 11:33 AM ^

I dont feel like it's any different on either side, its gonna be about matchups and execution. If Michigan gets 1 on 1 coverage with Nico and Shea slings it downfield, you have to connect on it, same as them. I dont feel like they are built like Wisconsin to ground and pound all day. I dont think there is any one way to beat either team imo 

Joined: 11/09/2013

MGoPoints: 48915

chunkums

November 27th, 2019 at 11:37 AM ^

OSU is probably the first team we've played since Wisconsin who will have the interior linemen to hit our greatest weakness up the middle. Once we start selling out to stop it, target Gray and Hawkins with deep stuff.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 29029

ijohnb

November 27th, 2019 at 11:42 AM ^

Go after our corners over the top on early downs. They are very good cover guys at or near the line of scrimmage.  They are very handsy deep and often in trail over the top.  Mettelus and Hawkins are not always boring enough for my liking.  Penn State had the blueprint.

Joined: 09/21/2009

MGoPoints: 69986

BlueMk1690

November 27th, 2019 at 11:44 AM ^

Id count on the fact that you cant put pressure on the QB without bringing extra people and that you need to watch my QB’s running ability.

Both those facts are bound to create openings.

Joined: 02/04/2011

MGoPoints: 12933

outsidethebox

November 27th, 2019 at 12:55 PM ^

For sure. Defensively I would start out coming after Shea big-time...make him beat me. Under any semblance of pressure he is still only a one-read QB. Play soft man coverage, read Shea's eyes and be ready to jump the route-he will not make it to the second read. This being said, the progress Shea has shown-especially last week, "I" might get killed with this strategy. 

Offensively, if I'm OSU, I employ all my talent and preach/demand execution...because I do not believe you are good enough to keep me from doing what I do well. 

Joined: 01/23/2017

MGoPoints: 18816

SeattleWolverine

November 27th, 2019 at 11:48 AM ^

I'd go the full Wisconsin with Dobbins, especially if Fields is injured. Not sure the interior DL can stand up to that approach and while OSU isn't as manball in approach they have the athletes to pull it off. We'd have to overcommit with the safeties and then they could use play action. 

Joined: 11/07/2012

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trustBlue

November 27th, 2019 at 7:27 PM ^

OSU isn't really built like Wisconsin though. OSU is a spread to run team. They are not going to line up with 7 OL and dare you to stop them unless they throw away their entire offense.

If OSU wants to pack away the spread and the QB run threat and try to just run Dobbins up the middle and leave Fields in the pocket, I will take that tradeoff in a minute. 

Joined: 04/14/2014

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TomBradyBunch

November 27th, 2019 at 11:49 AM ^

OSU is going to try to bully UM in the run game, and I’m sure try believe they can stop UM on the ground. UM has not ran the ball well against a good run D all year. Plus, Wisky and Army were able to run the ball effectively. OSU will stack the box and stop the run. They have the #1 pass D in the nation and will roll the dice with their pass rush / DBs. On O, it’s going to be a heavy dose of Dobbins and Fields on the ground. 

Joined: 01/08/2019

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Perkis-Size Me

November 27th, 2019 at 11:50 AM ^

We don't have the same DL we had the last few years. If I'm OSU, I challenge Michigan to stop me on the ground, especially since there's going to some bad weather. Between Fields and Dobbins, that's going to be an extremely tall order. I could see Michigan making a few big stops early on, but I trust my defense to hold Michigan's offense in check and give my offense plenty of chances to wear Michigan's defense down. 

I'm game-planning for a repeat of 2015. A close first half, but bust the floodgates open in the second half as Michigan's DL gets tired and can't stop Dobbins or Fields anymore. I don't think we're going to see a ton of crossing routes. If the wintry mix truly is on the way, my guess is Day won't want to force Fields to have to make too many throws and risk throwing picks. OSU is one of the few teams in the country that could run the ball 80%+ of the time against any opponent and probably get away with it. 

Joined: 11/30/2011

MGoPoints: 105754

McLeft Shark

November 27th, 2019 at 11:54 AM ^

I'd play a lot of press coverage and make Shea beat em deep.  Blitz heavy.  Pretty much just run Don Browns defense.  Obviously what Day was looking to do last year when he tried to hire Don Brown...

Joined: 02/16/2018

MGoPoints: 1215

lhglrkwg

November 27th, 2019 at 12:12 PM ^

Try to pick on the DTs in the run game. After that, try to pick on non-Ambry and non-Hill DBs in coverage

On defense, I would try to hit Shea early and knock him out of his rhythm. When he's been having time, he's been deadly lately. I'd try to bring back panic button Shea

Joined: 07/03/2008

MGoPoints: 87934

username03

November 27th, 2019 at 12:17 PM ^

I would probably do what they've been doing all year as it seems to have been pretty effective. I might go a little pass heavy to try to get an early lead and see if Michigan folds.

Joined: 02/12/2016

MGoPoints: 14529

XtremeUMich

November 27th, 2019 at 12:42 PM ^

If I were O$U I'd throw money at the best players I can buy, fleece the NCAA for a transfer, and overlooked all transgressions and bury all scandals for years...

Joined: 10/05/2011

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