Ohio State 31, Michigan 20 Comment Count

Ace



[Patrick Barron]

Michigan did not lack opportunity, or talent, or coaching. They just lacked a quarterback.

The Wolverines jumped out to a 14-0 lead, held Ohio State to negative-six yards in the first quarter, got 5.5 yards per carry out of their running backs, and had receivers running wide open through the Buckeye secondary all afternoon. The defense forced JT Barrett to be a one-dimensional runner, kept OSU's star quarterback under constant pressure, and eventually knocked him out of the game with an apparent knee injury.

With Brandon Peters and Wilton Speight watching in street clothes, however, John O'Korn missed far too may of those open receivers. When including sacks, O'Korn averaged only 4.1 yards per dropback. His only turnover came at the worst possible time. With 2:47 on the clock and Michigan down four points after a missed Buckeye field goal, Kekoa Crawford settled down underneath OSU's safeties for what could've been a significant first down. O'Korn read the play differently and chucked a deep ball directly to OSU's Jordan Fuller.

"It was an option route," said O'Korn. "[Crawford] did the right thing. It's all on me."



[Eric Upchurch]

There were plenty more reasons the Wolverines lost. The second quarter featured a momentous change in fortune when Josh Metellus let an easy inteception fall through his hands; two plays later, JT Barrett—with, perhaps, an assist from whatever official was in charge of watching Mo Hurst—scrambled 21 yards to make it 14-7.

Michigan's ensuing drive ended with a 23-yard change in field position after an illegal formation penalty negated their first attempt at a punt. KJ Hill returned the next one to midfield—again, with a potential penalty overlooked—and Barrett needed only three plays to tie the game on a 25-yard pass to Marcus Baugh.

The teams traded touchdowns in the third quarter, though Ohio State took a one-point edge thanks to a blocked extra point. That loomed large when Sean Nuernberger hit a 44-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. It loomed less large when O'Korn threw the interception.

With an average quarterback performance, Michigan wins this game. The gameplan couldn't have reasonably been better; any criticism of Harbaugh or the coaching staff about this game can be mocked with impunity. When it came down to it, Harbaugh couldn't throw the ball for his quarterback, and that proved to be the difference.

"The hardest part for me is you come here to win this game for the senior class and we couldn't do it," O'Korn said with tears in his eyes, before again putting the blame on himself. "It's the worst feeling in the world."

Better days are ahead. This one's still going to sting for a while.

Comments

Adamantium

November 25th, 2017 at 5:31 PM ^

Man, I really feel for this team. They played so hard today, hung with a more talented team and almost straight up beat them.

These guys deserve congratulations for a well fought game that most said they'd have no shot in.

Credit Harbaugh for throwing the playbook at them. It turns out he WAS storing some stuff up contrary to what we thought after Wisconsin. And really that was probably the right move, as beating Wisconsin gains us nothing really, but beating OSU could salvage an entire season.

Anyway, another bitter loss in a way too long string of them. Go Blue forever.

Xitij

November 25th, 2017 at 5:35 PM ^

/rant_on

I've been lurking on this site for years finally decided to post today for some reason.

This loss sucked. I had 0 expectations going into this game, I honestly thought we'd lose by 40. I was baffled when I saw the spread was 11 or 12. We put a valiant fight we lost, same as it ever was. I'm numb like everyone else.

It's crazy to me that people get on here defending JOK with "He tried!". I'm sure the guy is a great dude, and I know he tried his best. Sweet bro. It's not hard to go out there and try your best. JOK sucks, that's fine. He filled in admirably kinda but he sucks. Sure, he tried. I'm glad we never have to see him again. Good luck in the future guy. I feel bad for (pretty much) every single person involved with the team today because (pretty much) everyone did their job well enough to win today. That is a shitty feeling.

As far as the future goes I know we'll be fine. I'm sure we'll eventually get over on OSU. Harbaugh is doing a good job we're going to win our fair share of games going forward. The thing that really depresses me is that I don't think this "rivalry" is flipping any time soon. OSU is locked into dominance as long as Urb is there. The only way they screw this up is messing up their next hire. Until then we're basically Auburn to their Bama. We should be good and competitive and we'll beat them occasionally. The best case scenario is that we put together a Cam Newton run one year. I guess that's fine; I'd probably take that if offered to me now.

I'm numb, who cares. Eat Arby's.

/rant_off

Kevin Holtsberry

November 25th, 2017 at 6:01 PM ^

Being competitive and beating OSU once in a while is all I want at this point.  The idea that Michigan is anywhere near going on a run like OSU has in the last 6 years is ludicrous.  They simply have better players and system.  Meyer shows no sign of slowing down in recruiting.  We stunk under Hoke and RichRod and have moved up to good.  But even a young and strugging OSU team scored 31 on us.

Occam's Razor

November 25th, 2017 at 6:21 PM ^

A part of that 31 is on the defensive staff. How the fuck do you let a freshman beat you like that?



Fuck what Ace and Brian say. They’re love blowing Harbaugh no matter how questionable shit gets.



Add that on top of completely moving away from Evans and Higdon when they’re gashing OSU on ground. Unreal. Instead you put it on JOK. Bad coaching in crucial spots.



UM Griff

November 25th, 2017 at 5:35 PM ^

Game plan and coaching were much improved for this game. The team played with a lot of heart and were in it until the end. I have a lot of sympathy for the players - it really hurts to have come so close and walk away with a loss.

Better days are coming - so many good experienced players will be back.

dvh901

November 25th, 2017 at 5:36 PM ^

....this would be a close game, even closer if the Refs weren't looking at pretty girls in the stands on a number of plays. This team was competitive in every game except Penn St., and with a decent QB the record could've been a LOT different. I feel bad for the defense because they played a great game, and I feel bad for the team because once again we just couldn't get the 'football gods' to look kindly on us. I'm very frustrated...but not like last year, which I will always see as a Michigan victory taken away by the Refs.

Northville

November 25th, 2017 at 5:43 PM ^

For having a 5th-year QB, with years of experience in this program (and Houston)... who is blitheringly dysfunctional?

Um. Okay. Speak for yourself.

MGOBLOG is now the official Harbaugh apologist site. And that’s okay, that’s your stance, I get it. Nobody wants to pay $$$$ for a dud. I get it. We all still want to believe. Me included. I mean, the guy isn’t Hoke, not a tall order though really.

So I hope he and his staff prove the doubters wrong, but I’d say the doubters have something at this point. They just do. And next year, please don’t lean on the “tough schedule “ excuse. You are what your record says you are.

I hope we face Stanford in a bowl game. Just for kicks.

ryebreadboy

November 25th, 2017 at 7:06 PM ^

MGoBlog is always going to blow sunshine up your butt because they want page views and to sell HTTV, etc. It's their business model. Fans don't (usually) want to read about how their team is garbage and will never be good. It's important to keep in mind that their posts may not reflect what Ace and Brian actually believe.

Amaznbluedoc

November 25th, 2017 at 5:36 PM ^

Did I miss something, cause I was in the stands. The fans were great as usual and were cheering all of the way. For 57 minutes, it was a well fought contest and yes the officiating was bad as usual. But we were down by 4 with 2:45 to play and we had the ball and were able to determine our own fate. A loss is a loss, but wtf was that play calling? Having a guy who can’t throw, chuck one deep across the middle against a two deep safety d? Sorry, but it felt like the oc was saying f.u. To the fans and the players who played their hearts out.

Njia

November 25th, 2017 at 7:00 PM ^

It seems as though the Offensive staff is going to follow their playbook regardless of who is playing for their team. That’s pretty non-sensical. I don’t agree that we were necessarily out coached overall; but expecting JOK to hit a deep pass was literally the worst play that could have been called considering his limitations.

umumber1

November 25th, 2017 at 5:36 PM ^

THis one is all on JH.  Okorn should never EVER be placed in that situation;   he is simply not equipped to play qb at that level.  3 years in and this is what we get?  Pathetic.

I am not ready to call for any firing, just pissed.  JH, this one is on you.

mm92.

November 25th, 2017 at 5:43 PM ^

So you think Alex Malzone should have been playing instead? I don't understand your logic. Speight and Peters both cannot play due to circumstances JH cannot control. Mcaffrey is a true freshmen playing scout QB in practice all year. O'Korn was the only option in this game.

Eph97

November 25th, 2017 at 5:38 PM ^

As an OSU fan, my opinion is JT Barrett sucks. He can't complete a pass under pressure and holds the ball all day. Any qb in Meyer's system is going to put up huge numbers running the ball. The OSU offense is going to look so much better next year with Haskins as qb. He isn't as good a runner as JT, but he has 10x the passing ability.

KC Wolve

November 25th, 2017 at 5:42 PM ^

Can we talk about all of the fucking commercials? I know it has been bad all year and Brian brings it up occasionally, but holy shit. Play, 6 commercials, Gus and Joe do a live read or two, play, stop, 3 commercials, Gus with another “relay brought to you by”. I love CFB, but I’m older now and have young kids. Watching a game is more difficult than ever for me and my time is valuable. I’m honestly contemplating whether or not being beaten to death with ads is worth my time anymore. I can read the blog and watch the fucking replay if UM wins.

Johnno123456

November 25th, 2017 at 6:25 PM ^

I feel somewhat weirded out by the Discover Card commercials.  As a male of three adult decades, whose caucasian friends have chosen American Asian wives, perhaps because of their beauty and perhaps because of their quick wittedness, or other qualities, I find the obnoxious claim-your-extra-cash commercials out-in-front, or perhaps, behind.  I'm glad they're out there, and would like them to be played less.  But thanks for creating them, if you, a Michigander, are to blame.

Johnno123456

November 25th, 2017 at 6:49 PM ^

Actually, I will double down on this.  You had one job.  One important thing to do - catch the ball.  As a much less physically gifted human being, I've made it my thang to catch every ball.  Balls are balls.  Be a guy, be a dood, be an animal.  Or at least watch Empire Strikes Back as Luke gets his new hand and has a droid doiing the multimeter thing.  Purchase a multimeter from Meijer, if you happen to be in Ann Arbor during this next month.  Test everything in your vicinity.  You have some time now.  

Eric080

November 25th, 2017 at 5:44 PM ^

Ha, yeah, no.

 

What can be mocked with impunity is putting the game in John O'Korn's hands WHATSOEVER.  No wildcat formations, no trick plays, no reverses, nothing on that end.  Wow, some really creative blocking schemes with pulling guards, etc.  Never seen that before.  I saw a screen, or something akin to one.  Twice.  Pulling out all of the stops!

 

But even in terms of circumstances in the game, why aren't we running twice on 3rd & 4 instead of making O'Korn throw the ball twice?  Totally idiotic.  And the basic criticisms of the offensive coaching staff still stand.  Yes, we can score running a pro style if we execute.  And yes sometimes spread teams (or power spread teams like Ohio State) run into a brick wall.  But the point remains, we'd be better off running something similar to Ohio State than running what Jim Harbaugh grew accustomed to in the late 80's and early 90's.  Maybe the fact that the ENTIRE COLLEGE FOOTBALL WORLD sans Stanford, Arkansas, and Michigan have turned away from fullbacks, I-formation, 2-TE, etc. should tell us something.

 

Unfortunately, Michigan fans are biased against sissy spread teams because of our Rodriguez experience, even though the offense technically was never really the issue.  But even then, we don't have to run the spread option like Rich Rod ran it.  Ohio State and Penn State have big offensive lineman and have use for bruising RBs with some burst.  It just provides a different look to do the same stuff and it maxes efficiency.  Michigan's moronic scheme requires you to hit 5 or 6 first downs on 3rd down.  In other words, you have to be perfect to hit paydirt.  Ohio State can run two dud plays and go for 40 the next, so they skip over 4 of those hypothetical first downs.  This leads to a higher likelihood of scoring touchdowns per drive.  Which leads to increased likelihood of winning games.  This isn't rocket science.  But Michigan is so concerned with losing "the right way" so they deliberately self-sabotage.

 

What does Auburn, Alabama, Clemson, UCF, Washington, Penn State, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU, Miami, Notre Dame, Michigan State, etc. all have in common?  A QB that save possessions by scrambling on 3rd and 6 instead of being forced to take a chance downfield because they have no scrambling ability.  So what do we do, we stockpile statues that resemble QBs.  Although with McCaffery and Milton, maybe Harbaugh is learning something.  How can you not when you watch what Penn State, Florida State, Ohio State, etc. does to your defense.  A QB who has the ability and the intelligence to keep plays alive is probably worth 14 points to an offense per game.

 

Michigan can talk up their defense all they want, and they acquitted themselves well today.  But that's what they always do, they always hold their own.  They never go out and actually win the battle.  Holding Ohio State to 20 points, that's winning the battle.  But anytime we face an offensive juggernaut, they get their 30 points.  Which is respectable, but if we want to be thought of as an elite defensive team, we need to do more than shut out the Rutgers and Minnesotas of the world.   Instead we always have coverage issues.  Against Ohio State, the push they get on the inside is unreal.  For the last 7 or 8 years, I have never felt confident that we could stop them if they decided to use all four of their downs.  I take their punting as a conservative act of mercy because they can basically do what they want.  How many times has Urban punted on 4th and 1 or 2 even though he knows that although they have roughly an 80% chance of converting that it's not quite worth the risk?

 

I bought into Michigan's defensive hype in 2015 when they were the #1 ranked rush defense in the nation.  Then all the smart people on FanDuel played Ezekiel Elliot and JT Barrett and they combined for 350 yards rushing.  Ohio State also got their 200+ yards today on the ground.  I don't think Urban has ever not gotten 200 yards rushing against Michigan.  I don't care what our stats say, we can't stop that offense cold, we can just do decent enough to give ourselves a prayer.  Just get [Insert Tall, Thick Athletic Ohio State QB With Rocket Arm]'s wheels churning and he'll pick up 6 yards every time.  Or get some converted sprinter RB or Zeke Elliot wannabe on the perimiter and he can bust it.

 

/rant

Eric080

November 25th, 2017 at 5:52 PM ^

People with attention spans who are tired of Michigan self-sabotaging via an outdated offensive scheme?  I don't know.  I've read walls of text on here before and it's never bothered me as long as the content is interesting.

 

And it's cathartic.

Dvoltzwolverine

November 25th, 2017 at 5:45 PM ^

I'm going to be honest. I hate losing to those ass holes but we played a good game. I feel excited about the bowl game and nxt year. O korn, just isn't good. But peters, mccafrey, milton, Doyle at qb looks good. We basically have the same d nxt year. Sorry to say but happy kugler gone but the o line will have everyone back but kugler and Cole. Dpj, black back. Another year of higdon, Evans, walker. I feel like the best is coming. Im a 76ers fan also, not as bleak but still #trusttheprtocess go blue 1

Dvoltzwolverine

November 25th, 2017 at 5:45 PM ^

I'm going to be honest. I hate losing to those ass holes but we played a good game. I feel excited about the bowl game and nxt year. O korn, just isn't good. But peters, mccafrey, milton, Doyle at qb looks good. We basically have the same d nxt year. Sorry to say but happy kugler gone but the o line will have everyone back but kugler and Cole. Dpj, black back. Another year of higdon, Evans, walker. I feel like the best is coming. Im a 76ers fan also, not as bleak but still #trusttheprtocess go blue!

Wolvie3758

November 25th, 2017 at 5:49 PM ^

stop saying that..JOK was a DISASTER..so many STUPID STUPID penalties that killed our drives and enabled theirs ..dropped and over thrown passes ..Metallus really fuckd us and well I could go on and on..we did NOT play a good game..we played a very POOR game and oh yeah our Punter SUCKS and special teams with another failure..did we watch the same game?

GoBlueSPH

November 25th, 2017 at 6:00 PM ^

I watched the game and I thought we played pretty solid. We were overmatched and still put it to the wire. Most people had Michigan getting blown out, but that didn’t happen. It was competitive.



This was only a disaster if you had unrealistic expectations.

buddha

November 25th, 2017 at 5:49 PM ^

@Ace - Can you chill on the "impunity" comment a bit? Outside of the first quarter, there were lots of head scratching calls the remainder of the game on BOTH offense and defense. To suggest we can't criticize Harbaugh for some of the play calls and Brown for giving up 4-straight scoring drives to a backup QB (why can't we have that type of success) is patronizing. You're better than that.

Wolvie3758

November 25th, 2017 at 5:53 PM ^

I guess my eyes deceived me because that was a disaster...we just continue to find ways to han d the game to Ohio St year after year after year after year after year after year after year after year after year after year..There should not be ONE Michigan fan that can acept this con tinual FAILURE...we are a laughing stock in  the college FB world and mocked repeately for our medocrity ..Arent you sick of it?

Johnno123456

November 25th, 2017 at 5:50 PM ^

The more I reflect on this, the more I think about fellatio as an instrument of power.  I consider the vacuum packed action that must have taken place to convince western humans to sign on to a red team, when, in essence, blue means good, in the northern United States.

NateVolk

November 25th, 2017 at 5:54 PM ^

It's those dagger plays. The dropped int at a swing point in the game, the 3rd down conversions given up. Win those plays, game could look vastly different. Inexperienced teams seem to do the dropping. Talented teams with veteran talent do the converting. 

Game effort today. Considering the QB situation and youth on the offense particularly, much better than I thought it would go. Better days ahead and those plays will be won.

MGoStrength

November 25th, 2017 at 6:04 PM ^

Proud of the guys, proud of the coaches, proud of the team.  We just had too many injuries to overcome this season, particularly at QB.  Better days are to come next season.  This was an excellent opportunity to learn and grow for the young guys.  This experience will serve them well next season.

Amaznbluedoc

November 25th, 2017 at 6:08 PM ^

Proud of the coaches? Really? We’re down by 4 driving with 2:45 left in the 4th quarter with a meager qb who can hardly throw and the coaches call for a deep throw against a two deep safety d? Are you kidding?

Eric080

November 25th, 2017 at 6:05 PM ^

....Is the "it'll fix itself" wishful thinking, and blaming injuries, weather, refs, etc.falls into that "wait until next year / future is bright!" narrative.  Somebody has to actually MAKE it happen on the field in a big spot.  I'm not saying they didn't give an effort, I'm saying that the team has no killer instinct. When the going gets tougher you can always sense in the players some kind of tightening up, which usually gives way to the inevitable.

 

Of course, I don't have a fix for this.  You can't just turn on a switch.  It's probably a psychological problem for the entire team.  Harbaugh yelling at them isn't going to do anything.  In all reality, Ohio State is going to have to lose one of these games before Michigan can start winning them.  Until that happens, random individuals on Michigan in make-or-break spots will continue to choke.  In order to have authentic confidence, you need to see your belief in yourself justified.  You can't fake it until you make it.  Michigan has been trying to fake it.  Either that or they're just cursed and we're all doomed to suffer.

bo_lives

November 25th, 2017 at 6:05 PM ^

Are expectations really so low now that we must shower praise on the coaches for simply not getting obliterated?

A good game plan would have won the game 55-24, which is what 7-5 Iowa did to this same OSU team. Harbaugh and company coached a reasonably competent game. That's it.

Eric080

November 25th, 2017 at 6:10 PM ^

Exactly.  The coaching staff is so vanilla and conservative.  Try something out of the box?  F*%@ that!

 

You remember what Lloyd Carr did in his final game?  Balls-to-the-wall 5 WR sets, spread offense passing game.  Florida was f'd.  Should have been doing that the entire season with Chad Henne, but I'll take the fun memories.  That's catching an opponent off-guard.

 

Obviously we don't want O'Korn throwing the ball, at all.  But that's an example.  We could have been running wildcat or option or reverses or whatever.  There was obviously little thought put into the gameplan outside of what they had been doing all year.