The Game: M 42 - "The" Ohio State 27 - Not Anymore. Post Game Thread.

[iam416]

By red zone game I mean that BOTH teams are going to move the ball between the 20s and the game will be decided by which team scores more TDs when they are inside the 20.

As has been boted, that analysis goes by the wayside if their are big scoring plays. But that's really how I see it going. So, I even have OSU moving the ball better, but M being way more efficient. I have it 35-30, or 5 TDs to 3 TDs and 3 FGs.

[Jeff Buchanan]

If, as we think, to remain in the game M has to limit OSU's big plays in the passing game (their strength), how good is the young Stroud in diagnosing post snap what's going on and then getting the ball to the area a blitzer may vacate? How good are the receivers in to and then getting open in those areas?

Just read a good article on how to beat OSU at mgo (Technical Flyover series). You can't let receivers get behind the defense. What CRD's offense does is run several targets underneath. Ss get drawn up; meanwhile Olave and the ninja guy are running wide open 1v1 behind the Ss and they will beat that coverage 90% of the time. The Solution? Keep a S deep enough so that you give up a 15 or 20 yard gain instead of a TD and keep Stroud's average YPA around 7 instead of the 10 he's been getting. Keep OSU driving the field, shorten it and make it a red zone game (talent, hi) and beat them there. This in not C2 which will make things easy for Trevyon Henderson. It's a Match 3 with one S closer to the LOS and one further away than usual.

But but, what about Trevyon Henderson, he's over 1000 yards and he's fast but inexperienced (not THAT inexperienced it seems). Well yes, let him run but not for big gains - hello Josh Ross and Michael Barett. Hello back side pursuit from Ojabo and Hutchinson. They will get their stops. The net result is giving up some rushing gains but stopping Stroud/CRD from the bread and butter of the OSU offense, big play, deep ball to a TD.

Macdonald is already pretty good at giving opposing QBs confusing looks. Get CRD, concerned he's not getting quick scores with deep balls, get him impatient and he'll dial down to the crossing routes and zone power runs that has murdered M's D the last two times M faced OSU. Not this time - not Don Brow's defense. You'll have OSU's high power offense, right where you want it. Macdonald can execute a D that messes with Stroud's reads. He's been doing that all season v opponent QBs. He can get his LBs to recognize and fill gaps where OSU likes to run with their zone power game. M will get some stops, not all the time, but some of the time and enough to beg the question: can OSU/CRD run a better NFL, pro style passing offense, driving the field for scores, burning clock and significantly lowering the offense's points per play than Michigan can run a pro-style running offense? If the answer is no, M has a chance to win it.

........and PS, M fans will grown when OSU is on offense about short gains that keep moving the chains. We've seen forcing CRD to go away from his big plays and drive the field catch up with OSU when they played Oregon, Minnesota and Nebraska, all teams that managed to limit OSU's big play passing offense and make them drive the field. Yes, I know 1 of 3 but still. OSU is a great football team. We can't have everything. We're talking about trying to give M a chance. This is how to do it.

https://mgoblog.com/content/technica...game#read-more

[Da Geezer]

I'm all for abandoning the playoff system altogether. When we had 25 bowls, we had 25 champions. Plenty of winners to go around. Now bowl games are consolation prizes for not being 'good enough' in the opinion of a selection committee.

Polls ignored, pre-CFP gave fans something non-political to argue about during the off season. (Ergo the hyper partisan state we find this country mired in is the fault of the college football playoffs.) :^) No playoffs was not a bad thing...for the most part. Sure, there will be times that a coach will retire and will put his tears a'flowin QB on TV to beg to backdoor into a share of a mythical championship. But that happens, what, every 70 years? TV companies are the financial winners of the playoffs, and its only money that matters, not the quality of the product.

So now we have a playoff, 1 champion and 131 losers. Expansion will never satisfy the squeaky wheels demanding a larger format. Let's do it like basketball, a 64 team tournament. Play a three game season with 2 wins getting you in.

Keep the 4 game set or get rid of the playoffs altogether.

Bah.

Give them all a trophy.

[Niffla]

Just read a good article on how to beat OSU at mgo (Technical Flyover series). You can't let receivers get behind the defense. What CRD's offense does is run several targets underneath. Ss get drawn up; meanwhile Olave and the ninja guy are running wide open 1v1 behind the Ss and they will beat that coverage 90% of the time. The Solution? Keep a S deep enough so that you give up a 15 or 20 yard gain instead of a TD and keep Stroud's average YPA around 7 instead of the 10 he's been getting. Keep OSU driving the field, shorten it and make it a red zone game (talent, hi) and beat them there. This in not C2 which will make things easy for Trevyon Henderson. It's a Match 3 with one S closer to the LOS and one further away than usual.

But but, what about Trevyon Henderson, he's over 1000 yards and he's fast but inexperienced (not THAT inexperienced it seems). Well yes, let him run but not for big gains - hello Josh Ross and Michael Barett. Hello back side pursuit from Ojabo and Hutchinson. They will get their stops. The net result is giving up some rushing gains but stopping Stroud/CRD from the bread and butter of the OSU offense, big play, deep ball to a TD.

Macdonald is already pretty good at giving opposing QBs confusing looks. Get CRD, concerned he's not getting quick scores with deep balls, get him impatient and he'll dial down to the crossing routes and zone power runs that has murdered M's D the last two times M faced OSU. Not this time - not Don Brow's defense. You'll have OSU's high power offense, right where you want it. Macdonald can execute a D that messes with Stroud's reads. He's been doing that all season v opponent QBs. He can get his LBs to recognize and fill gaps where OSU likes to run with their zone power game. M will get some stops, not all the time, but some of the time and enough to beg the question: can OSU/CRD run a better NFL, pro style passing offense, driving the field for scores, burning clock and significantly lowering the offense's points per play than Michigan can run a pro-style running offense? If the answer is no, M has a chance to win it.

........and PS, M fans will grown when OSU is on offense about short gains that keep moving the chains. We've seen forcing CRD to go away from his big plays and drive the field catch up with OSU when they played Oregon, Minnesota and Nebraska, all teams that managed to limit OSU's big play passing offense and make them drive the field. Yes, I know 1 of 3 but still. OSU is a great football team. We can't have everything. We're talking about trying to give M a chance. This is how to do it.

https://mgoblog.com/content/technica...game#read-more

Great stuff, Jeff!

[lineygoblue]

In fairness to my plump zebra donning buddy...B1G Officiating is not good. CFB in general needs to upgrade how it does things...although I've been out of it for several years now I still have several of my old crews still in the game and they agree. The game has changed significantly over the last 20 years and officiating in general has not kept up. That said I don't think any specific team gets screwed over more than any other...just seems that way with your Maize & ,Blue shades on. Hell UNL got royally screwed with the blatant missed DPI call at the 1 yard line at the end of the Wisky game...looked like the official was in perfect position to call it...he just chose to keep the flag in his pocket and not make that a deciding call in the game...which I'm actually fine with as long as that is called or not called consistently. Let them play is fine by me and call the big ones...not ticky tack holding calls...but drag down holding calls. In watching games this year I have come to the conclusion that they need to change the review process badly. Get some "command centers" that can assist the replay booth/crews like the NFL does. Go to more of a challenge system like the NFL...but most important they need to invest in training of these guys badly. New younger blood is needed and train the hell out of them. Until then...this is what we have...a multi-billion dollar business with guys making peanuts affecting games. Not going to change anytime soon. Best you can do is try to not let the refs have to make calls...win the game with your play. There are about 60-80 offensive plays per team per game. Most times games are NOT determined by one bad call, spot, etc. Great teams overcome a bad call. But I do think the conferences need to make some serious advancements in officiating.

I couldn't agree more. Well stated, sir.

now kindly STFU

[THE_WIZARD_]

Say please

[lineygoblue]

Please kindly STFU

[THE_WIZARD_]

Ok

[lineygoblue]

And stop making rational arguements regarding officiating, when I'm working so hard to be irrational.

[Obi-Jon]

Give them all a trophy.

Nope. Only 40% go bowling (in a 25 bowl scenario) and only half of that will earn a trophy.

[lineygoblue]

I do miss the old bowl system at times. But I think the playoffs system could work, if it had the participation that the FCS has. 16 teams isn't unreasonable. It takes 4 weeks to play it off, and the lower divisions have been doing it successfully for decades.

I know .. somebody has to appease "the bowls".

[THE_WIZARD_]

STFU

[Jeff Buchanan]

For those of you calling for more Donovon Edwards, this is for you...... from the Maryland, UFR Offense at mgo.

The likelihood that he’ll be part of the Ohio State gameplan? Pretty high, I hope. Their linebackers are still their weakest link, and Edwards is a weapon built just for them. I don’t expect him to keep leading the team in receiving, but because of the matchups he should get, he’ll be among the leaders.

OSU's weakness is in their LB unit. This is where you want to have M play their game to control the ball and drive the field. Donovon Edwards as a pass receiver running underneath routes is a terrible match-up problem for OSU's LBs. Work that favorable match-up.

[Mike]

The main problem for Michigan is they’re operating at a talent disadvantage in 90% of the matchups on the field and on the sidelines.

[THE_WIZARD_]

True...but you have HARBAUGH!!!