What is the X factor for The Game?

Submitted by GVSUGoBlue on
It's Hate Week. Let's talk football. What do you think the X factor is for The Game? A lot of people will say our QB play or JT's rushing yards. I believe it will come down to how many times Ohio State turns the ball over. They make a few mistakes and our defense keeps us right there until the end. This can also serve as a Monday posbang too.

trock444

November 21st, 2016 at 9:07 AM ^

If our dline and linebackers can hold the run game, our dbacks are like glue.  Any catches that Indiana made, our dbacks were draped all over them.  

Fezzik

November 21st, 2016 at 9:10 AM ^

1 Stop the run and force Barrett to beat us through the air.

2 Move the ball offensively. Does not matter if its by air or ground game but our last two offensive outings were subpar.

trueblue262

November 21st, 2016 at 9:27 AM ^

This, also we need Smith to have the type of game that he had Saturday, if not better. LJ Scott kept MSU in the game. It certainly was not the QB play.
TOC qb rating was 5.6, terry was a much better 19.7 after looking at The box score of that game , I feel a lot better.
Now if we can just somehow get the game relocated to AA, lol




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CRISPed in the DIAG

November 21st, 2016 at 9:30 AM ^

I've given this a lot of thought. I don't think OSU really gives a shit when they're playing MSU. I know - 2014 in EL - but they appear more focused on some other game on their schedule. #michiganarrogance.

I Like Burgers

November 21st, 2016 at 10:45 AM ^

So you think we're totally fine at QB? We've struggled to hit 20 points in our last two games and that's because of the QB. We'll be facing the best defense (or the second best of you like Wisconsin better) and the best offense we've played all season and we'll need to score more than 20 to win, but yeah....QB is not the biggest X-factor.

All Ohio State has to do is load the box and dare Speight/O'Korn to throw into their very good and very opportunistic secondary. If Michigan can't complete passes down the field (something they haven't been able to do the last two games) then they won't be able to move the ball.




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I Like Burgers

November 21st, 2016 at 1:31 PM ^

Not sure what happened here.  I replied on the app to "The Fan in Fargo" (who must be banned) who was saying I was way off on QB being an x-factor and I must not even watch football.  So it looked like I was replying to Hops instead of some troll.

So if I was a little snarky, that's why.

And I totally agree with Hops that TOC is hot garbage and that was still good enough for MSU to be a 2-pt away from beating OSU.

Hops

November 21st, 2016 at 9:13 AM ^

Containing Curtis Samuel in the passing game and on the edge in the run game. He is basically their only source of explosive plays. I can't see them sustaining long drives against our D. This armchair coordinator would lock Lewis on him whenever he's out wide and let their other WRs try to beat us. 

Candor for Sale

November 21st, 2016 at 9:18 AM ^

Coaching adjustments. Both before and in-game. Both teams will likely pull out things that the other hasn't yet seen. Coaches need to scheme for O'Korn to have success and switch things up if he has early troubles. 

ijohnb

November 21st, 2016 at 9:42 AM ^

yes, we will pull out a bunch of new wrinkles.  I am concerned, however, that many of the wrinkles we had planned on offense may be shelved due to the Speight injury.  I am hopeful that, even if Speight can't "play-play," that he is capable of being put into the game to run some of the more advanced stuff that we were planning out of the jet-sweep/Peppers looks.  He is at a mimimum capable of throwing the ball, as evidenced by Indiana warmups. so if he able to at least keep the defense honest with the threat of the pass, I think we may see Speight play 10-15 low-QB-risk plays on Saturday in order to use a few of the wrinkles that Harbaugh may not be comfortable with O'Korn executing.

 

chomz14

November 21st, 2016 at 9:20 AM ^

to be honest it's probably weather. neither team will be nearly as explosive if it's cold and windy. but I like our defenses chances in a tight game. They're due for a game changing play. Jabril?

atticusb

November 21st, 2016 at 9:22 AM ^

The question, as I see it, is who will best break their own and exploit their opponents tendencies...  Can OSU exploit the edges?  Can Michigan attack the edges without exposing the middle?  Can OSU stay home against Peppers/TE/FB mis-direction?  Can Michigan get OSU's excellent secondary a step behind/out of position with motion/play action?  Who can manage to bust when it doesn't matter but win one-on-ones when it does?



...yeah, basically, who can play better damn football...



Go Blue! We support you!

taistreetsmyhero

November 21st, 2016 at 9:27 AM ^

For me it's Barrett's arm. He's going to get yards on the ground, there's no avoiding this. If we can make him one-dimensional, then we should be able to absorb more of those yards. If he's throwing darts then it's gonna be a long day. With that in mind, weather could be the X factor.




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MontuckyYooper

November 21st, 2016 at 11:44 AM ^

It seems like everyone is resigned to OSU running the ball. I'm not so sure. The key matchup there is probably McCray on the edge vrs Barrett. It seems like they were able to hide him against IU; seemed like Gedeon is far faster sideline to sideline. Also Taco was able to get upfield and push the play inside. IUcould not get the edge.

If it's a pure race to the sideline with Samuel/Barrett vrs McCray; we should be worried. If Taco and Worm can push those plays back inside; we'll stone them.

Also a healthy Glasgow this year! They gashed us up the middle and that will not happen this time.

Maynard

November 21st, 2016 at 11:51 AM ^

I don't think they will run all over us. I'm with you on that. Weber is legit though and will get his yards. The difference I think will be the pressure on Barrett. I don't think he is that great under pressure and their pass blocking has gotten exposed several times this year already. I am with those who say Peppers should either act as a spy or patrol the edge. The one vulnerability we have is quarterback draws up the middle when we come on edge blitzes though. Otherwise, I think the matchups favor us. And I think we win this game. I think we are the better balanced team on both offense and defense and our special teams are much better than theirs outside of the kicker position.

defcow

November 21st, 2016 at 9:27 AM ^

OSU's punt returners have had a difficult time securing punts, we have got to get one of those. Also getting after a rugby style punter I have faith we can draw something up to get a block and flip the field.

Blueinsconsin

November 21st, 2016 at 9:32 AM ^

Curtis Samuel.  When he's split out, Lewis needs to be on him.  When he's in the backfield, Peppers needs to be on him.  The rest of the D can take care of business.

UM Fan from Sydney

November 21st, 2016 at 9:33 AM ^

I fully expect, what seems to happen every year against them, OSU to get a 50+ yard run for a touchdown. I mean seriously....it sure as shit seems it happens annually.

ijohnb

November 21st, 2016 at 9:38 AM ^

times it won't go for a TD, but we will make an irritating tackle arond the 4 yard line that only drags out the misery an extra three minutes or so.  2006 was a full fledge debacle in this regard though.

Dano1984

November 21st, 2016 at 9:35 AM ^

Hope for wind/rain. Force Barrett to throw the footall.

Durkin basically did nothing last year.

Stack the box and stop the run. Find a way. Be elite in man coverage. We're going to have to work our bread and butter which is force passing downs.

 

If Iowa had to throw the ball more against us we'd have killed their QB. Need to stop the run.

Coldwater

November 21st, 2016 at 9:36 AM ^

The X factor is matching OSU intensity and hate in this rivalry. We have to draw a line in the sand and say No More! We're done being your doormat!



This game will be won by the team with the most heart, guts, and balls....,and oh, yeah we can't let then run the ball down our throats like in past games