Opposing Defense Philosophy vs Michigan?

Sorry, I don’t have any answers. 

This has puzzled me as well. Why not sell out to stop the run and just live with the consequences?

My only guess is a blown assignment on a pass is a TD. Blown assignment’s on a run play still has to get pass the LBs, any dbs in the area, and the safety?

Not a bad question, honestly. Though I'm told Nebraska played a lot of single high (we'll know more when the offense UFR posts tomorrow) and Michigan wasn't going to open the bag of tricks against them.

A large number of teams have banked on Michigan grinding down in the red zone and played softer defenses to avoid giving up big plays that can easily go for TDs with Michigan's speedy athletes. That, of course, is just fine with Michigan.

The question ultimately comes down to what Ohio State does. I haven't seen enough of them to be able to observe their defensive strengths, so I'll wait until Alex writes them up next week. They can play soft and bank on Michigan failing in the red zone. Or they can try to crowd the LOS and try to force Michigan to pass (which still doesn't always work) but expose themselves to bigger play options.

Michigan has access to a number of good man-beater concepts that they simply haven't bothered to use lately. Think mesh with Schoonmaker or Bell crossing over the middle, or even pretty simple slant stuff that creates lots of space. Michigan is *really happy* to get man coverage and send three guys deep and attack a good matchup underneath. They don't even need to strike deep downfield to exploit that kind of thing.

Also, if you cheat in to the box too much, Michigan will attack you laterally. Bubble screens with fast receivers and lots of space on one play, three TEs on another. Michigan has the diversity to do this... and keep in mind that Michigan has shown a good ability to do this already. 

And if there are formations that give receivers better releases and better downfield options in the tank, that's when we'll see them. 

It's an interesting chess match. Michigan keeping within striking distance into the third quarter will be absolutely crucial. It's what the macro-philosophically similar 2018 team could not do. It's what 2021 did, and this team has some hope to be able to do. Maybe.

TBh, I am worried about OSU switching to a bear front like Virginia Tech did to urban meyers run-oriented offense in 2014. 

I think we need to see solid situation passing in this Illinois game.

With the number of gaps Michians run offense creates, combined with our TE threat, and JJs legs, its a lot safer for inexperienced college defenses to sit back and play reactive in the backfield than to expose themselves by committing and then getting busted. Edwards has found recent success in his run game by waiting for defenders to commit before cutting or picking his gap, than to simply burst through the line like he did earlier in the season. 

Nebraska left 1 safety 10-15 yards from the LOS, the other was playing in the "box" for the majority of the first half. 

I think we're likely to see what happens if teams do this on Saturday, because this is exactly how Illinois has played all year. Man to man across the board with a single safety playing very deep. 

I would tell you to rewatch the Indiana game. Obviously the level of competition caveat applies, but routes were open constantly and JJ was hitting the receivers regularly for big chunks. The lone interception was partly a bad decision and partly bad luck but the passing game was working well that day. Why? Because Indiana was stacking the box and running run blitzes the whole game. 

oops. 

puppies are cute. 

Did some UM guy do Heather Dinich wrong?  Every week she negs UM.  She’s chatting up IL pass and run defense.  Someone out there ‘fess up. 
 

You need to have the athletes to do it. You can win a conference title being one dimensional, but it won’t win a national title.  Starting in Columbus, UM is going to need an answer through the air. 

From what I have seen, Michigan is still good at short and intermediate throws. You cheat too much on those with a stacked box, one of those WRs or DE or TE is going to take it to the house. We are too worried about our passing game because of down field throws that didn't click in the last few weeks and issues in RZ. 

Then they go to have a good passing game inside RZ and some great PA. 

I think crowding the LOS will not work against Michigan as they may open up their short, intermediate throws and play action game. Down field throws might still click by OSU game. 

Because JJ is a good passer on shorter routes and he is a great runner.  Sure, he hasn't shown the ability to connect on the long rputes but that doesn't mean opposing teams will totally disregard the threat.  That and the fact that Michigan runs using different looks and formations, so it is almost impossible to consistently stop the running game.

Illinois has a decent defense, will have to wait and see what strategy they implement and if they are successful or not with it.

PSU’s linebackers were flooding gaps aggressively. It didn’t work. 

By no means am I a smart guy, but this is my take

Stacking the box to stop the run does help against inside the tackle runs, but it often gets confused with blitzing the QB. It is first about plugging holes. If the SS comes up to add to the numbers as you say, it leaves one-on-one coverage without much help and, with the skill set of Michigan's receivers, outside runs/passes are one missed tackle or one block away from taking it to the house. Michigan receivers can sure deliver that block. And one-on-one with no safety help is almost pitch and catch.

Playing man coverage without safety help is asking for it and a big risk to let the score get away from them quickly, so coaches are just hoping they can guess correctly, keep it close, and hope crazy stuff happens. I don't think it is arrogance, they are just trying to stay in the game.

(I wonder if our receivers blocking so well and often is why I don't see real separation on their routes? Do they like sticking DBs so much that they let 'em hang around so they can pop 'em? :)

I think some teams are stacking the box. And what it looks like is that the run concepts are creating and moving gaps which throws off run fits.  The neck sharpies and Jdue on Twitter both showed how this worked against PSU. An extra TE, and 2 pulling guards can add 3 new gaps that need to be covered and Corum and Edwards are good enough to hit the one that gets missed.

Everybody knows M is going to run a lot. Will osu be able to stop them and get off the field?  We all know JJ has missed several long throws but they havent been interceptions, so thats good.  All we need is for him to connect on 1 or 2 deep shots to change the game and we will forget about all the misses.

I'd love to see stokes get a few carries to see what he can do, and to give corum and edwards a quick break.  Having corum and edwards out there at the same time would keep osu guessing. Start both in the back field and make them guess whos getting the ball. Start them both off in the backfield and shift edwards to the slot and make osu guess if corum is getting it or will it be a pass.  

Just like last years game Harbaugh has many looks he can give them and as long as they execute and get those 15-25 yard big plays and keep osu on their heels Michigan has a great shot getting points on this questionable osu defense.

It's just not a simple as stacking the box and trying to force Michigan into a 3rd and 3 every set of downs. You can do that and a couple of teams have tried, but that gets tiring for their D line and you have seen the results of that all year. The other team collapses into the 3rd quarter and Michigan runs them into the ground. 

However, OSU has a bench and can rotate. I don't know if there would be enough time in the game to wear them all down. It will have to come down to passing.

JJ has had problems with his long-ball touch this season. I'm expecting to see Michigan pound OSU once again and hit the TE with crossing routes. Donovan Edwards can really upset the apple cart and I hope he gets used. Edwards is a superstar in waiting. He can run, pass, catch, and do all with grace and ease.

I expect Michigan to keep the game close to the vest. A knife fight in a phone booth type of game. Out muscle them once again. I expect OSU to pander to the fans and go for the long ball, quick scores, and make use of their receivers. Stroud has proven he's not real good under pressure when he's being chased around. We keep the ball out of Strouds hands and the Michigan team will have a fun bus ride back to Ann Arbor.

Opposing teams would want to stop us on first down. OSU will do their best to fit gaps and squeeze the edge and put us in 2nd and long. Easier said than done. Many teams have gone zero on us and gave up 6 yards on first. OSU has good Edge players so they will bring pressure fast on any drop back passing. Second and long brings that opportunity.

You’d think backers following the pulling lineman would be easier. But this line seals off gaps so fast with really good technique. I guess it comes from running 13 Duos and as many counters a game. They have gotten really good working together.

Individually OSU has great talent. But how well do they play team defense, keep gap integrity? 

To quote Vance Bedford “Tyson used to say everyone has a plan until they get hit in the mouth.”