OSU vs. Indiana; Thoughts on OSU's Invincibility Now?

Submitted by FauxMo on

Last week there were a few folks chalking up our game vs. OSU as a loss this year, given how strong they have looked. I mentioned in one thread that maybe we should wait until they've played a live team before anointing them the 1985 Chicago Bears. Now, this may have been discussed in other threads yesterday (I was offline pretty much all day), but I wonder what people think now after their game vs. IU. Barrett looked pretty ordinary at best (9-21 for 93 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT). He ran for 137 yards, but I doubt Urban will want to run that risk vs. UM; he could get killed. Their defense was still pretty stout, but definitely not invincible. 

So, what does everyone think about "The Game" now? I truly believe we will both enter the game undefeated, and it will be the most hyped Game since 2006. I see OSU as a 4 or 5 point favorite, should everything play out as expected. I am already getting butterflies... 

P.S. If there was already a thread like this, I apologize. I honestly searched and saw nothing. Mods can delete if this is redundant... 

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BornInA2

October 9th, 2016 at 1:57 PM ^

I think we'll know more after OSU plays Wiscy next weekend.

That said, we're going to need something more than an offense that scored 14 on Wiscy to beat OSU. Feeling better because we pounded a sad, sad Rutgers team that clearly gave up in the 3rd quarter is overconfident.

We're either going to need a Rudock-style improvement in Speight, or some scoring from defense/special teams to leave Columbus happy, I think.

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I Like Burgers

October 9th, 2016 at 2:14 PM ^

Pretty much where I was at with it last week and this week too. It's not the OSU offense vs the Michigan defense matchup that worries me, it's the OSU defense vs the Michigan offense that's the problem. Speight can't be as inaccurate as he has been the last few weeks against Ohio State. Their defense is way too opportunistic.

Still lots of games left to fix that though, so here's hoping he has a late season Rudock style light that goes on.



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charblue.

October 9th, 2016 at 8:29 PM ^

comparisons because they are irrelevant. Football is about matchups on gameday against a certain opponent, not how one team looks and is projected to compete against a certain offense or defense. It matters not one iota.

What I like about Michigan is its experience and at season's end, both OSU and Michigan will be playing at their peak, so there is no argument about how good they'll be, they will both be at their best and whatever that level is, each will offer challenges to the other in all phases of the game, and the team best able to take advantage of those matchup differences wins. I don't care about motivation or desire to win, because execution and poise under pressure determines the winner of those games.

Let's be clear that OSU has more playmarkers than any team in the league outside Michigan, and their offense will seek to exploit the perimeter and their team speed. Ultimately, that is what the spread is all about putting guys in space and allowing them to beat the coverage designed to stop their formation and play call. So, all the rest is window-dressing because that game comes down to the team making the most plays under pressure. I don't give a shit about the pre-game buildup and stats on both sides of the ball. Can your team make plays when it matters? That is all that counts. And all that matters.

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evenyoubrutus

October 9th, 2016 at 3:04 PM ^

Before this week I thought that OSU would likely roll over Wisconsin, especially given that we left so many points on the field, and OSU would probably be able to finish more drives, etc. But after the IU game they seem to be weak on the D line and their secondary has some holes. On top of that their passing game is becoming consistently poor, and I don't know that their RB's are anywhere near Elliott's elite status. Having said all that, next week's game being at night in Madison could be really interesting if Wisconsin can get a leg up early and slow down that OSU offense.

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Squash34

October 9th, 2016 at 11:04 PM ^

The problem was osu was mad and finally played up to their talent level for the first time that season. And Michigan just did not have the talent to match that. If any team including osu, stacks the box harbaugh will call plays to attack that and speight is good enough to execute. Maybe not everytime, but he has done well in these situation so far.

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DrMantisToboggan

October 9th, 2016 at 1:59 PM ^

No matter what OSU does for the rest of the year, if we get better each week and go into the game healthy, we will have a 45-55% chance to win that game. 

 

And playing Urban in the Shoe, that is a chance you like and roll with and hope that Harbaugh, Peppers, and a superior defense tilts in your favor. 

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denardogasm

October 9th, 2016 at 2:03 PM ^

Meyer is not going to fear "the risk" of running Barrett against us.  You play to win that game however you have to.  There's no holding back.  It's going to be epic, and I think we have a very good shot.  It's always been the power run game that has killed us against them, and although they reloaded with Samuel and Weber, we have Glasgow, Mone, Godin, and Hurst staring them down this year. 

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Squash34

October 9th, 2016 at 11:10 PM ^

This defense is no joke. They are relentless, fast and very physical. The dl and backers have abused qb all year and that was verse teams that did not try many designed qb runs. Running him a bunch verse this defense will not end well for him. I'm not sure he would hold up to the beating he will take.

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hisurfernmi

October 9th, 2016 at 2:00 PM ^

This is the most 'internet' OP that I could think of. Tell everyone that they shouldn't be jumping to conclusions too early on OSU... then declare you think we'll be undefeated and in the most hyped up game 1 1/2 months from now. Cool.

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bacon

October 9th, 2016 at 2:02 PM ^

They're not invincible. They're a bunch of talented kids without a ton of game experience who keep beating inferior opponents. OSU's signature win was over Oklahoma, who is overrated. Urban Meyer is a great coach, but he's also not invincible. Everyone has built up OSU to the point where they seem like it, but they were still playing their starters against Rutgers up 44 at the end of the third quarter to run up the score. It's a common theme from them this year. I think they struggle against better teams.

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Rabbit21

October 9th, 2016 at 3:24 PM ^

Was watching Navy and Houston(and then BYU-MSU)at the time and last year IU came much closer to beating them. Still feel like we're grasping at straws to think they may not be as good as we fear. That said I have faith in Michigans D to keep it close and let offensive and special teams miscues be the deciding factor.



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Squash34

October 9th, 2016 at 11:18 PM ^

Yet tell people who actually did watch, and know the game was closer than the final score indicates due to a late td, that they are grasping at straws? I have not watched them much this year, but have seen them off and on in a few games and can tell you they are not the offensive juggernaut mist people claim they are. They have pulled away late in alot if games, scoring a bunch on worn down defenses to make the the box score look like they dominated all game.

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somewittyname

October 9th, 2016 at 2:31 PM ^

The score was misleading. It was certainly not a "beating." OSU got a late score after IU threw a pick on a drive with a chance to cut it to 7, which would have set up an on sides opportunity. In the first half, a fumble set OSU for a TD and they closed the half with what was effectively a KR TD to pull the lead back to 14. And they couldn't pull away in the second half.

I'll give OSU's D credit for not allowing the game to get any closer than it did as IU really couldn't do much on offense, but Barrett looked flat out bad through the air and the bucks only had 380 yards total. Really, I think it's the OSU D's dominance that has been an unfortunate surprise thus far. I was hoping they would struggle more with all that youth. 

Anyway, I don't expect Wisconsin to take them down, but I think it could be a good game. 

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stephenrjking

October 9th, 2016 at 5:01 PM ^

Also, one TD was setup by a kick return to inside the 10, and one was set up by an absolutely horrid call that ruled a clear incomplete pass a fumble that OSU recovered inside the IU 10. So they're not perfect. My main takeaway was that our game against Indiana is going to be dangerous. But it was good to see OSU struggle against a good defense.

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Squash34

October 9th, 2016 at 11:23 PM ^

And the advanced stats and s& p says the same thing. The defense and special teams is their driving force. And they typically pore it on at the end, which people then use to say they dominated offensively. I personally think michigan's defense will shut them down if they remain healthy. Their defense poses the real threat though.

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Squash34

October 9th, 2016 at 11:23 PM ^

And the advanced stats and s& p says the same thing. The defense and special teams is their driving force. And they typically pore it on at the end, which people then use to say they dominated offensively. I personally think michigan's defense will shut them down if they remain healthy. Their defense poses the real threat though.

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allintime23

October 9th, 2016 at 2:04 PM ^

I think we go into Columbus and win. I have a feeling Ohio state will do what they normally do and drop a game before we play them. I think it could happen Saturday against Wisconsin. I think Webber and JT will have major difficulties getting to the edge and that power option will finally be stopped by peppers. Harbaughs only road loss was his first game as head coach. For some reason he seems to thrive on the challenge.



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TrueBlue2003

October 9th, 2016 at 5:39 PM ^

OSU doesn't "normally" drop a big ten game before we play them.  In 3 of 4 Urban years, they've been undefeated in the Big Ten coming into The Game. Only 2 of 4 have they dropped ANY game before we played them. Besides, it doesn't matter if we lose one, they lose one or both teams lose one.  Any any of those scenarios, the winner of The Game controls their playoff destiny.

And if you're using Harbaugh's road record at Michigan as evidence that he's good on the road, let's see what road games we've played the last year and a half:

@Utah - lost to a solid team in his first game.  Excusable but certainly not thriving.

@Maryland - shutout the 85th best team in Sagarin with a record of 3-9.

@Minn - incredibly lucky gift from mediocre team (64th) with coach who didn't know how to use timeouts.

@IU - another fortunate win in 2OT against a mediocre (69th), albeit #chaos team, in which we gave up 500+ total yards and 300+ on the ground.

@PSU - hey, a win in which we clearly outplayed an inferior opponent. James Franklin caveats apply.

@Rutgers - massacre on a historic level.

While I love our chances, and no doubt think Harbaugh personally relishes the road challenge, our five game road winning streak isn't so impressive as to think we're necessarily a great road team. We might be, it's just TBD. Haven't really been challenged yet. And in the moderate challenges, we didn't do so hot.

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brad

October 9th, 2016 at 2:07 PM ^

Barrett will definitely run vs UM, it's Meyer's go to move and makes the most of the numbers advantage his offense is based around. He is slippery and pretty good at avoiding hard direct hits, and I don't think Meyer cares about his long term health anyway.

If M executes more or less flawlessly on offense, they'll score enough and it should be a dog fight in the fourth quarter.



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TrueBlue2003

October 9th, 2016 at 5:13 PM ^

the comment that Urbz wouldn't "risk" running Barrett against Michigan, in Football Armageddon II, is insane.  He'll run it 30 times if that's what it takes.  For both teams, losing that game will mean the end of the season.  Everything will be left on the field.  I'm actually excited to see everything we break out because of that.  Jabrill might log 120+ plays.

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dragonchild

October 9th, 2016 at 2:08 PM ^

#CHAOSTEAM; any conclusions based on this game are null and void.

The OSU game is. . . egads, I'm nervous.  Some of it is trauma, I guess.  Our D is nothing like they've faced or will face until we roll into town.  And they're still improving week-to-week (Brown runs a VERY complicated scheme).

My concern is the offense.  Everyone's hinging their hopes on Speight clicking, which to be sure is what happened with Rudock last year, but Speight's issues don't stem from just needing to get up to speed.  He has bad habits that are very common among QBs and notoriously hard to break.  Even then, we have the talent to destroy Rutgers, but do we have the talent to crack an athletic defense?  Because OSU definitely does.  Wisconsin basically showed how to slow us down, and while I expect us to score at least 20 against a similarly top-10 D. . . that means Brown's squad has to limit OSU's offense to less than that.

That's. . . eeeehhhhh.  They'll need to play the best game of their lives.  But hell, I'll even be OK with that as long as OSU just stops steamrolling us every damn year.

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RockinLoud

October 9th, 2016 at 3:20 PM ^

Wisconsin runs a 3-4 and has the linebackers to run it well. It's a very effective D with the right guys and not a ton of college teams run it. OSU runs a 4-3 playing primarily quarters, similar but not exactly the same as MSU from what I can gather. I think we're better suited to attacking OSU's D than Wiscy's, and we could've put up over 30 on Wiscy had we executed in the RZ better (credit to Wiscy's D too, they're damn good).

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stephenrjking

October 9th, 2016 at 5:30 PM ^

Weren't you high on Speight before the Wisconsin game? I can't argue with you here. OSU does not have a scrub defense, and Michigan has shown neither dominance on the ground nor dominance through the air. Points will be hard to come by. And, as you say, when you consider the pressure our defense would be under... holding OSU to 20 or less is a hard ask no matter how good it is. Even the best defenses give up points. OSU will have their best game plan and their best week of prep before they play us. It will be tough. Our offense needs to be good. And that means Speight must improve.

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