Preview: Michigan Offense vs. Ohio State Defense

Preview: Michigan Offense vs. Ohio State Defense


November 28, 2019
Chase Young (image via Eleven Warriors)

The picture above is a reminder that Chase Young should not be participating in this game. He missed two games because he took money as an amateur athlete. Say what you want about what the rules should be, but the rules are what they are and he broke them.

Hit the jump for the preview.

RUSH OFFENSE vs. OSU RUSH DEFENSE

Michigan is tied at #76 in rushing offense (155 yards/game) and comes in at #85 in yards per carry (4.00). They’re dedicated to the running game near the goal line with the 37th-most rushing touchdowns (24). Last week was not a good rushing performance for anyone, but Zach Charbonnet (635 yards, 4.8 YPC, 11 TD) and Hassan Haskins (483, 5.3 YPC, 3 TD) lead the way. Quarterback Shea Haskins is averaging just 0.92 yards per carry (with sacks included), but Michigan will need to use him more to keep Ohio State’s defense off balance. Ohio State is allowing just 91 yards per game (#5 nationally) on 2.53 yards per carry (#3 overall). Their worst performance was the 184 yards (on 39 carries) they allowed against Nebraska in a 48-7 victory. Middle linebacker Malik Harrison (6’3″, 240) and weakside linebacker Pete Werner (6’3″, 239) lead the team in tackles with 61 and 49, respectively. Harrison is a terror in the middle with 14.5 tackles for loss, 10 of which have come in the run game. He is just second on the team in TFLs, but Chase Young (6’5″, 265) does most of his damage against the pass, with 16.5 of his 19.5 TFLs coming on sacks.
Advantage: Ohio State

PASS OFFENSE vs. OSU PASS DEFENSE

Michigan is #49 in pass offense (247.5 yards allowed/game) and #41 in passer efficiency rating. Patterson is completing 59.5% of his passes for 8.4 yards/attempt with 21 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. In his last two games, he’s over 11 yards/attempt with 9 touchdowns and 1 interception in that span. Nico Collins had a huge game with 146 yards and 3 touchdowns last week, but he’s #2 on the receptions list with 31, which is behind Ronnie Bell’s 38. Michigan is tied for #52 in sacks allowed with 20. This is a terrifying matchup against the Buckeyes, who are #2 behind Pitt with 47. Young leads the way with 16.5, followed by Harrison with 4.5. Young has at least 0.5 sacks in every game that he has participated in this year, and against the three ranked teams on OSU’s schedule, he has 8.5 sacks total. The Buckeyes are #1 in passing defense (126 yards allowed/game) and #2 in passer efficiency defense. They’re tied for #7 in interceptions (14) with former 5-star cornerback Jeff Okudah leading the way (3) and safety Jordan Fuller right behind with 2. Michigan has the most varied and talented passing attack the Buckeyes have faced this year, but Young is an equalizer off the edge. Last week Penn State did a terrible job of helping its offensive tackles out; they didn’t chip on him much, nor did they roll away from him. They just took their chances, and they paid in the way of 4 sacks allowed to him. Hopefully Michigan – running a similar offense to PSU’s – learned a lesson from watching that game.
Advantage: Ohio State

ROSTER NOTES

  • OSU players offered by Michigan include: OL Joshua Alabi, WR Kamryn Babb, LB Baron Browning, RB Steele Chambers, DE Jonathan Cooper, DT Jashon Cornell, OL Wyatt Davis, TE Luke Farrell, DE Tyler Friday, S Jordan Fuller, LB Dallas Gant, WR Jaelen Gill, DT Davon Hamilton, WR Jaylen Harris, DE Zach Harrison, TE Jake Hausman, S Ronnie Hickman, LB Justin Hilliard, CB Tyreke Johnson, OL Dawand Jones, OL Matt Jones, WR Austin Mack, RB Demario McCall, OL Harry Miller, LB Teradja Mitchell, OL Josh Myers, CB Jeff Okudah, WR Chris Olave, OL Nick Petit-Frere, S Josh Proctor, S Isaiah Pryor, CB Amir Riep, LB Cade Stover, DT Tommy Togiai, WR Binjimen Victor, DT Taron Vincent, CB Shaun Wade, LB Pete Werner, CB Marcus Williamson, DE Chase Young
  • OSU players from the State of Michigan: OL Joshua Alabi (Detroit Cass Tech), LS Bradley Robinson (Troy Athens)
  • OSU co-defensive coordinator Greg Mattison and linebackers coach Al Washington coached at Michigan

LAST TIME THEY PLAYED…

  • On November 25, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio State beat Michigan, 62-39
  • OSU quarterback Dwayne Haskins was 20/31 for 396 yards and 6 touchdowns
  • OSU wide receiver Parris Campbell caught 6 passes for 192 yards and 2 touchdowns
  • Shea Patterson was 20/34 for 187 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception
  • Michigan gave up 3 sacks and recorded 0 on defense

Stay tuned tomorrow for the second half of the preview.

One comment

  1. Comments: 1863
    Joined: 1/19/2016
    je93
    Nov 28, 2019 at 8:10 PM

    Not looking good. But, typical of me, each day this week I trend closer and closer to believing we will win

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