Michigan Monday vs. NW up at the Ozone

Submitted by StephenRKass on

Ohio blog "The Ozone" has their weekly "Michigan Monday" up early this week, due to the Ohio bye week. LINK:  http://theozone.net/football/2012/Wisconsin/michiganmonday.html

Here are some quotes, and then a few bullet points. As always, this is a long column, and  you can't cut and paste the whole thing. Go and read it yourself if you're dying for more analysis.

 

The point of Michigan Monday is to keep an eye on the Wolverines and then later extrapolate how their season of performances relates to how they will do against Ohio State.

After seeing the way the Wildcats ran the ball, and the way they had open receivers running around, it's hard to think the same shouldn't also happen for the Buckeyes when the Wolverines come to town.

The Wildcats' mostly moved the ball through hard work and patience. Ohio State has that same type of patience, and they have a much better power running game.

Last week, I asked how Michigan would defend Ohio State. . . .  the budding brilliance of the Buckeye offense is that they can allow a defense to dictate what they do and be perfectly happy with that. 

If a defense is intent on stopping the running game, then the offense attacks the edges and seams, forcing the defense to open up the middle. When the defense then spreads out, they leave their belly exposed for Carlos Hyde, who is quite happy to gash it.

I expect the Wolverine defense to play at their absolute best against the Buckeyes, but I'm not sure how well they will be able to contain the Ohio State running game. However, as we have already seen, just because a team can run on Michigan doesn't mean they can beat them.

Basically, I believe that if Michigan is going to win in Columbus, they will need to make sure that quarterback Braxton Miller has a poor day throwing the ball, which is something that he doesn't always need help to do.

  • Gardner looks comfortable, and "his scrambling was fantastic."
  • After seeing two seasons of jump balls favoring the Wolverines, it isn't just luck, but is something Borges must be coaching.
  • Apart from one big run a game, Toussaint still isn't doing much.
  • Michigan doesn't defend the option pitch well.
  • Making Michigan play defense in space is a great way to attack them, if you have the talent. NW did. So does Ohio.
  • Kovacs can be beaten with above average throws.
  • Jake Ryan looks mortal when he has to react instead of attack.
  • Michigan needed the speed of Ross more than the experience of Morgan.
  • There were quite a few cutback lanes for QB Colter, as there should be for Braxton Miller.

Closing thoughts:  there are a number of ways for Ohio to attack Michigan's defense. However, this fact won't help Ohio if Miller has a subpar game. Miller has to be able to pass in order to keep the running game going. Michigan has shown repeated ability to win games they probably shouldn't have won. Ohio has the same skill. Oh, and Michigan doesn't have anything to fear against Iowa.

Blue in Yarmouth

November 13th, 2012 at 9:08 AM ^

I haven't watched enough of either team to know for sure, but from what I have watched I'm not sure I agree. I mean, Miller can be scary, but he still isn't a great QB. As far as the comparison to Colter, he might be a little better, but I don't think he's miles better by any means. Also, OSU doesn't have Mark. With Colter and Mark they can attack you on the perimeter with both guys, but OSU will only do that with Miller, Hyde isn't near the back that Mark is IMHE.

UM has shown that they struggle a bit when their are multiple weapons in the backfield that can reach the perimeter, but have done well when there is only one.I think UM will contain Miller and Hyde in the run game, the trouble will be whether Miller gets open receivers running around all day like last year. 

This year though, there is no posey (not that they don't have some talent at WR, but not a posey). I think UM can win this game if they have a consistent defensive effort whether Denard or Devin play QB. I do hope Denard is good to go though. Al could unleash the same type of plan he blistered them with last year.

Paly33

November 12th, 2012 at 7:42 PM ^

I would say that's a pretty good assumption. We're going to have to bring more men in the box against OSU and force Braxton beat us with his arm.



Love seeing Ross getting more time on the field. He has great instincts and quickness we have been lacking the last 5 years at LB.



Can't wait for OSU!

corundum

November 12th, 2012 at 7:48 PM ^

Has OSU pitched the ball on the option much this year? It seems like most of Braxton's yards come on designed runs. No doubt they will see the film and attempt to replicate Northwestern's success, but if they haven't been practicing the option pitch all season, I doubt it will be as effective. If Michigan can force Braxton into bad decisions or turnovers we should be fine. Beat OSU!

Blue in Yarmouth

November 13th, 2012 at 9:15 AM ^

I don't agree with the guy making a big deal about you calling him Braxton, but just say you prefer to call him that. Saying it's because Miller is a common name is either a lie or you don't give people on this board much credit for their ability to perform a little deductive reasoning. I mean, we are in a thread where the conversations is focused squarley on OSU. I think we could all figure out you meant Braxton Miller if you said Miller.

Again, I think the guy above was being a little ridiculous making a comment about your use of Braxton, but your response was a little disingenuous IMHE.

justingoblue

November 13th, 2012 at 12:03 PM ^

That's always the rule I've used in general, even for people I actually know. People around here know what I'm saying if I used "Charles" to identify Charles Woodson, but in my head I immediately think "Woodson" because it's an easier identifier for me. The opposite is true for Desmond Howard.

Blue in Yarmouth

November 14th, 2012 at 10:19 AM ^

We are in a thread on Mgoblog talking about OSU. I would wager a good portion of my salary that everyone on this thread when reading "Miller" would be able to extrapolate that the poster is refering to Braxton Miller. I couldn't care less how people choose to identify athletes, it's up to the individual. But to say the reason I use Braxton as opposed to Miller is because there are a lot of Millers and I didn't want to confuse people on this blog in a thread about OSU. That just doesn't really add up to me. 

If he were to say I have become accustomed to calling him Braxton because many of the people I know don't follow football like people on this blog so if I were to say Miller they won't know....wait now, even that wouldn't make sense if you are talking about OSU. Some just prefer to use first names and I'm fine with that, but when you try to say it is for identification purposes it implies I'm not smart enough to figure out that when people are talking about a Miller who plays for OSU they mean Braxton Miller.

So I guess what I am saying is either A) his worry of being misunderstood was misguided or B) there is another far more sinister reason for referring to him as Braxton (though I can't be sure what that sinister reason might be at this point).

HartAttack20

November 12th, 2012 at 7:56 PM ^

In terms of avoiding taking hits and risking an injury, Braxton Miller reminds me of a young Denard. He might take some even worse hits than Denard did early in his career. Denard has become very good at falling safely to the turf of running out of bounds to avoid a hit. Braxton might want to work on that. I don't really expect Michigan to win in Columbus, but I expect them to play their hearts out and compete. Can't really ask for much more than that.

Blue in Yarmouth

November 13th, 2012 at 9:28 AM ^

but Miller is also significantly bigger than Denard has ever been, not to mention how small he was as a freshman. I mean, Miller was like 6'3 210 lbs as a HS senior while Denard came in at somewhere near 6" and 170 lbs. Miller has a much bigger body to absorb some of those hits that he takes.

JimBobTressel

November 12th, 2012 at 8:07 PM ^

A humble suggestion: What if one of the Mgoblog staff started writing these kinds of articles about OSU each week? I think it would go over well.

LSAClassOf2000

November 12th, 2012 at 9:42 PM ^

In the last two weeks, as you'll note (I will apologize if this is difficult to read - the full size chart is on the large side), the passing game has picked up quite a bit, and I think some of that is, as Gerdeman mentions, the receivers gaining some confidence. With Gardner, I think Borges feels a little more at ease to go with the West Coast playbook, as he should, and at least in my understanding, the receivers become even more critical, especially when you're using a precise horizontal game to soften up the defense for bigger plays. The receiving corps has stepped up and it has been good to see.

StephenRKass

November 13th, 2012 at 7:30 AM ^

Can't believe I did that. How gauche and uncivilized of me. Thanks for pointing that out. The shame.

Oh, and I really enjoy Michigan Monday too. I've usually found that Gerdeman has at least some real analysis and commentary. I have to say, I'm not quite as interested in what Ohio is doing as Ohio is interested in Michigan. Or maybe I just don't have the football smarts to understand and explain what they're doing very adequately, at least on my own.

Magnus

November 13th, 2012 at 8:48 AM ^

I think Michigan matches up better with OSU's running game than Northwestern's.  OSU is more about running downhill, and Michigan's defensive line and inside linebackers hold up to those types of runs fairly well (excluding Alabama, obviously).  The wild card is Miller, who can make just about anyone miss and/or outrun just about anyone on our defense.  But the Buckeyes' running backs don't really scare me.  Hopefully Miller has an off day and makes a couple turnovers.