Okay so there's a lot going on here, and I don't want to be that "you so right" jerk. Gonna take it one by one.
it was frustrating because while no one has seen Michigan attempt to throw downfield, it was well known that JJ lacks the consistency to put together 8-12 good small throws together consistently. it's what they're doing to one of the most accurate QBs in b1g history in stroud, yet they won't make JJ prove he can take what the defense gives him? c'mon.
I'm not sure how to respond to this because frankly even Michigan fans, don't really know what JJ McCarthy is. Last year he was the guy we brought in to take deep shots and if you go look at the numbers; he hit them. This year, he started off being absolutely clinical in the short passing game (albeit against weak competition) but couldn't hit the deep shot; that lasted for about eight weeks, and then he seemed to hit a wall. I was genuinely VERY worried after the Illinois game. But as you know, it worked out okay in The Game. So the fact is I dunno how you're supposed to defend JJ; it very much depends on which JJ shows up. The fact is, he has almost the entire toolbox (do not love his back corner fade game, but that's a HARD throw to make at any level) but we have no idea what he's going to do, or what his "natural" game is even now a full season later.
the entire game turned on that zone blitz.
OSU has usually received solid play from their safeties. it has never received steady play from its corners, so asking him to make that play, and have the DE be the backup, is a pretty huge problem.
This is the part where I just say "you so right." I was more or less getting ready for a beatdown till Corny broke that tackle. As an aside tho; you guys took WEIRD pursuit angles all day. Definitely felt like you underestimated our speed in real time, because again, I've seen enough OSU games to know that normally it's not a problem for the Buckeyes. Still can't get over how bad a game #12 had; not picking on him, just the worst time to lose your markers and struggle with flipping your hips in space.
even with as bad as they played, and as well as Michigan did, they had chances to take it back. they just didn't execute, and Michigan did, throughout the game. there are fluky games, this one went as it was played.
My stomach was in my throat until literally the SECOND long Edwards touchdown; then I felt relaxed. I mean not picking a fight but more or less isn't this the story of every game you guys ever lose? Talent and coaching wise, y'all are more or less in the top tier of college football, so aren't MOST games you lose a question of execution? Doesn't feel like the problem for the Buckeyes is EVER going to be "the horses." That having been said; if your staff calls a bad game (and forgive me, I believe they did) it makes it not only harder for the team to execute their way out of trouble, but forces them to do it more often. My read is that your staff called a game that forced kids to "make a play" too often, and eventually they crumbled.
the fake punt gets plenty of attention, but the great breakup by sanristil should never have happened. the guard needs to block his man, so stroud could not panic. Then a brilliant play design could have capitalized on how badly Michigan was outflanked. Marvin was streaking to the far corner for a much higher percentage throw, and egbuka was wide open in that flat on the fake jet sweep that Michigan incorrectly swapped personnel for, leaving no one to stop emeka. A common execution error. but they forced it to stover for the twentieth time and it ended poorly.
I was pretty sure that play was a touchdown, but I'm not gonna complain that your QB put too much air under it and Mikey got the recovery and swat. I don't think they PLANNED to feature Stover quite frankly, I think OSU's playcalling made Stover the guy who was open, in light of the defense we're playing. I think Day needed to scheme someone else into the spaces Stover was roaming, because we had to, by necessity, leave those spaces open. I think that's why Day kept going to his screen game, because it schemes one of your stud WR open automatically; it's just that we were jumping the screens and quite frankly your dudes outside are not willing blockers for the screen target. THAT part, is all on the players imho. It's probably a whole different game with your all world slot guy in there because at least half those passes to Stover, go to a future NFL all-pro instead.
it will be interesting to see how the scheme is adjusted if there is a rematch. The real problem is how do you avoid playing tight, which is a repeating problem for days offense.
that's where I thought OSU would squeeze. JJ makes bad choices when things are chaotic. instead, they simplified the reads for him and asked him to make throws while pressured instead of while thinking too much.
Well, on defense, Michigan will make no adjustments because we more or less can't. This is the scheme that the talent we have allows us to run. We tried other things throughout the year and nothing looked anywhere near as good as the coverage-based zone scheme we're playing now; we don't have the pass rushers to spend all day in man, and while our secondary plays lights out as a unit, there is a lack of pure speed that forces us until the 2 high shell with pattern matching coverage underneath. We literally can't play any other way.
On offense, I would expect us to play a whole different game; less reliant on big plays, and more methodical. I think JJ will surprise you in that situation, he's excelled there before and faded down the stretch, but the ability is there. The truth however is the difference between this Michigan team, which believes it can win a national title, and last year's team, which we all suspect was just happy to be there, is JJ; and we're only going to go as far as he can take us. If OSU can confuse him, we will lose the rematch (assuming there is one ofc, fingers crossed and all that) - but I think he'll surprise you, he's harder to confuse than the highlights would lead you to believe.
