Didn't watch the game live ; OSU thoughts ?
So far this season I couldn't catch ND or Penn State or this Indiana game. After ND game I was actually encouraged by our offense unlike many here (that's how shitty our O was last year) I saw light at the end of the tunnel. Well M has passed with flying colors so far.
Seeing highlights seems like we totally got into a shell in the red zone. I think it's a combo of saving plays and confidence in run game that it'll break for big. I am no expert but defense just seemed a bit off for whatever reason. Hope chase is ok. Need him. God forbid if he doesn't go, who is WDE? This is the reason I want 5-6 dlinemen in this class. Get Harrison . Get rushing DT and another WDE. Hope villain rehabs and contributes. Dline wins you close games.
What does the board think about The Game. I am personally getting M vs MSU vibe. M wears down OSU and repeats it's winning formula of running tough and leaning on it FTW. unlike a few (many?) Whose families go generations in this rivalry I was just an undergrad so my hate for OSU comes from learning about M football history, their regular beatings (I saw the final great M team in 2006 before graduating) , reading this blog and honestly now Urban Meyer. But hidden is also their "MSU like" ability to win close games. Take Maryland for example. I mean WTF. Seeing those highlights what are you doing Maryland. OSU just won't die. And I hate that. This air of inevitability Michigan has started developing this season. Indiana game - reading comments - was never in doubt. OSU kinda has had that under meyer. Nebraska game, and Maryland game (how can you let them win and drive with a minute to go!!!) .
Rambling aside, early thoughts on The Game.
My prediction : 34-28 Michigan wins
November 18th, 2018 at 4:07 PM ^
How the fuck do you come up with 34-28 but get an MSU game vibe lol
November 18th, 2018 at 4:08 PM ^
We should be able to move the ball pretty effectively against them and bust a few big plays like basically everyone has this year. If we pressure Haskins consistently on the other side of the ball I think we could bust this open in the second half. That said, we should have buried them about 5 times in 2016 and didn't so yeah, they don't die easily.
November 18th, 2018 at 4:28 PM ^
November 18th, 2018 at 4:32 PM ^
Our run game is also significantly better than it was in 2016. That year we ran all over our cupcakes and struggled against the good defenses. This year we've run on everyone save ND in the opener - and OSU is far from the best run defense we'll face.
November 18th, 2018 at 4:34 PM ^
Don’t forget to throw in how shitty they looked against Nebraska and the first 3 quarters vs MSU
November 18th, 2018 at 4:35 PM ^
I agree this is a different team mentally than the one we had in 2016, but anOSU has a history of not beating themselves in this game and unfortunately we do. I think we're going to win this and possibly big, but look at how many times we could have put the game away in 2016 without having to worry about the officiating (Speight drops the ball on the one-yard line for no reason, Delano Hill commits pass interference on third down in the fourth for no reason, Mason Cole grabs a face mask on a 30 yard screen pass for no reason). We need to be the smarter team for once. I think we will this year, finally but I'm still nervous about it.
November 18th, 2018 at 5:23 PM ^
I agree with you, we have to play smart. Can't let the refs help determine the outcome. Haskins is a great QB; if we don't get in his grill, they have a good chance to win. If there is holding going on, it better be called.
Which brings up a good point; who are the refs? Has that been determined yet? Are they all from Ohio?
November 18th, 2018 at 5:37 PM ^
I went back and watched the 2016 and 2017 games yesterday on youtube. The officials handed that 2016 game to anOSU in overtime, but up until that point the officiating wasn't that bad. They missed one egregious pass interference call against the bugeyes in the first quarter (Darboh was literally tackled with the ball in the air) but other than that it was OK. The themes I saw in both games were: 1) anOSU made better in-game adjustments, 2) they were better conditioned in the fourth quarter and 3) they committed far fewer mental mistakes. I think Harbaugh has finally changed the culture to where we'll be OK on all three fronts this year...fingers crossed.
November 18th, 2018 at 7:08 PM ^
Uhhh, there were some posts put up after the game that showed like 5 or 6 really egregious penalties committed by the buckeyes directly in front of the refs that weren't called. Whatever you "think" you saw the reality was that game was called massively in favor of OSU including refs that were self proclaimed buckeye fans that had previously been banned from reffing that game.
November 18th, 2018 at 9:11 PM ^
That's how I remembered it, but seriously, go back and watch it. It might ease the general paranoia here about officiating. It was a travesty in overtime but until that point it was just normal / bad Big Ten officiating.
November 18th, 2018 at 6:20 PM ^
This game still scares me, but I can't even begin to disagree with anything you said. Michigan has performed so much better than OSU this year it's not even funny. I can't stand how lucky OSU is. That shitshow down there should be coming into this game with three losses.
I hope we smack the shit out of them and it's a complete laugher.
November 18th, 2018 at 7:52 PM ^
November 18th, 2018 at 4:11 PM ^
I think Michigan is much more crisp and executes at a much higher level next week. OSU was lucky to come out of that game yesterday with a win. They have lots of issues right now and lots of things exposed that we will take advantage of. It's close thru 3 qtr then we pour it on late and win by double digits. That's what the better team does.
November 18th, 2018 at 4:11 PM ^
I thought Indiana's tempo had our defense looking confused and/or unready on many snaps. I hope we're ready for OSU's tempo next week.
November 18th, 2018 at 4:23 PM ^
Peyton Ramsey also played really well. He was looking like Tom Brady on some of the balls he dropped in there. You have to tip your cap to that kid - he is about as much improved a player as I have seen over the last year.
November 18th, 2018 at 7:18 PM ^
Can/does OSU have the ability to play at that pace? I’m not sure. I agree that they are fast, but are they going to get 70+ offensive snaps in? I can’t see them passing 50 or more snaps, while rushing 20~ish times.
November 18th, 2018 at 8:04 PM ^
Yeah, them using tempo on us concerns me for two reasons. Ohio used it on Maryland with success, and we struggled against tempo by Indiana.
November 18th, 2018 at 4:11 PM ^
I strongly hope that Warde Manuel is fighting to get a fair, unbiased, competent officiating crew.
Take care of that, and we're in good shape to win.
November 18th, 2018 at 5:20 PM ^
Good luck with that.
November 18th, 2018 at 5:22 PM ^
When is the officiating crew announced? Do they just show up Saturday morning or is provided in advance as part of the media prep?
Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after Michigan, ya know?
November 18th, 2018 at 5:23 PM ^
Serious question, does it come out before Saturday on who the officials are??
November 18th, 2018 at 4:13 PM ^
Haskins is a death machine who is routinely on the money with 30-40 throws. Dobbins had cavernous holes and ran hard. Maryland Caveats apply, but their offense look formidable. This is not an offense that we are going to “shut down” or hold to under 200 yards of offense. They have a ton of talent.
Their defense is the worst I have ever seen at Ohio State. The issue looks like more than coaching, their personnel seems lacking and I have no clue how that is possible.
Michigan, on the other hand, has a terrible tendency to run Higdon into the line twice in a row when we get into the red-zone. It would actually appear that third and long is their actual desired outcome. Our play-calling does change in the red zone. I know a lot of people say there is no such thing as “red zone offense. For us there is, and it is a struggle.
All in all, Michigan wanted to be there mentally yesterday but they weren’t. All they cared about was that they won, and I think they knew they could sleep walk and do that so that is what they did.
Next week will be a battle. OSU had every reason to shut it down yesterday literally like 9 times and they bounced back. They will not be down-trodden next week, they will be on an emotional high.
Five opportunities for me to look stupid next Saturday.
1. Haskins throws for 2 touchdowns and over 200 yards;
2. Michigan offensively owns OSU and controls the line of scrimmage;
3. Higdon and Evans combine for at least 150 yards;
4. Shea Patterson breaks one big run;
5. For some fucking reason, we still get hosed by the refs.
Michigan 37-30.
November 18th, 2018 at 4:27 PM ^
It's almost like we have been setting up our red zone offense for this game. I'm sure it will be something different than what we have seen thus far.
November 18th, 2018 at 5:51 PM ^
I have said that a couple of times since Harbaugh got here, but unfortunately it has turned out to be..... just what it is.
November 18th, 2018 at 6:44 PM ^
We were so Vanilla yesterday. Is everyone totally blind? Not going to be that way next week. You must be the guy I met on the elevator last night saying Michigan sucks. Sad Sad. This meant for ijohnb.
Maryland QB hits the wide open guy 30 feet away, we are not having this conversation.
Revenge tour continues next week. Big Clue: Good Guys Win.
November 18th, 2018 at 4:28 PM ^
If we lose it will be as bad as if we had lost to smu. Ohio is garbage. Their defense is atrocious and if they think Haskins is going to lineup and throw the ball 40 times against Michigan... think again.
November 18th, 2018 at 4:41 PM ^
Can we stop with the "garbage" stuff? They are 10 - 1. They might not be a vintage OSU team, but they are not garbage. They 5 stars littered all over the field and will be ready Saturday. Having said that, I see 27 - 10 Michigan.
November 18th, 2018 at 5:23 PM ^
Yeah, there are a lot of people on here that think this will be like a 42-10 game. We are not THAT much better than OSU. We are a damn good team, but they are one-less Top 10 team with a really good QB, and it is a road game. It will be a battle.
November 18th, 2018 at 6:06 PM ^
I have us winning like 42-10.
November 18th, 2018 at 7:10 PM ^
Close...42-7.
November 18th, 2018 at 5:28 PM ^
Right here ... Maryland scores 45 on OSU in regulation but only 7 on UM's 1st team defense, that is a 38 point differential.
UM 59 OSU 21
November 18th, 2018 at 5:47 PM ^
I really want to believe your score score prediction. I am thinking more along the lines of a 7 to 14 point victory. I hope you're right and I'm wrong.
November 18th, 2018 at 5:50 PM ^
This game is an entity in and of itself. The Maryland game doesn’t matter. The Purdue game doesn’t matter. Prepare yourself for it, the crowd will be nuts, the tension nearly unbearable. The Michigan v. OSU game, with a lot on the line like this year, may be the biggest pressure cooker in all of sports. Literally, throw out the records, the PFF and S&P advanced whatevers. Gonna be a war man. Buckle up.
November 18th, 2018 at 4:19 PM ^
My prediction is that we are going to roll on both sides of the ball and Urban Slimer's head is going to explode by the 3rd quarter.
November 18th, 2018 at 4:21 PM ^
Urban sure looked ready for a break yesterday. Michigan should help him get an extra week off.
November 18th, 2018 at 4:26 PM ^
Don Brown needs to play way more zone. His man coverage got carved up on picks/rubs and crossing routes.
November 18th, 2018 at 4:50 PM ^
Confirmation bias? Ramsey was 16-35 for 5.6 YPA. IU's two TDs were not set up by pick plays but by deep balls up the sideline.
This was Ramsey's second-lowest YPA of the year, the first time all season he was held under 50% completions and the first B1G game in which he did not pass for 200 yards.
November 18th, 2018 at 6:45 PM ^
Details, man. Got carved up, I tell you!!! LOL!!
November 18th, 2018 at 7:12 PM ^
Furthermore he hit some absolute PERFECT passes that even the BEST QB's don't always hit.
November 18th, 2018 at 4:32 PM ^
OSU thoughts? I’ve got one for you... FUCK OHIO!!!
November 18th, 2018 at 4:34 PM ^
It definitely felt like we didn't want to show our whole hand in the red zone. I don't remember too many run-run-run play sequences in the red zone before yesterday.
November 18th, 2018 at 5:00 PM ^
Given how early we saw Berkley Edwards in the game, I'm also inclined to think that something is afoot. I really don't think we are just going to sit back and run inside all day. Time to take the parking brake off of Shea.
November 18th, 2018 at 4:38 PM ^
If Don Brown routinely leaves the middle wide open again, the game will probably look the same as Indiana. If that's the case UM will probably need at least 35 to win.
I think the offense will be able to move the ball but they will obviously need to score TDs instead of FGs in the red zone. UM scored 1 TD in 8 redzone appearances yesterday.
If they look like team during the Wisconsin, MSU, PSU stretch it's a UM double digit win. If the team from the last two weeks plays, it'll be a frustrating game to watch.
November 18th, 2018 at 5:14 PM ^
Went plain vanilla. Don't show those boys down south nothing. Plus, we needed to test Moody under live bullets. Mission accomplished.
November 18th, 2018 at 5:55 PM ^
That doesn’t account for the defensive lapses. He is right, OSU will set us on the fire up the seam if there are secondary lapses like that. Need to tidy that up.
November 18th, 2018 at 7:14 PM ^
If that's the case and this game looks like Indiana...I'm good with that because IU didn't get to 200 yards passing.
November 18th, 2018 at 7:15 PM ^
It was a problem in the first few games of the season and then it completely went away. Now it's back. It's not back because we can't defend it, it's back because we played super vanilla yesterday.
November 18th, 2018 at 4:50 PM ^
I expect a 3 hour celebration of Michigan football, and a glorious shifting of power in the Big Ten.
November 18th, 2018 at 5:10 PM ^
Indeed. I also look forward to a 3 hour Michigan Football symphony of delight, followed by perhaps some BBQ!
November 18th, 2018 at 5:11 PM ^
OSU can't tackle worth a damn and has major issues on defense. Pound the rock.