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Michigan will have a daunting challenge on Saturday, going up against Ohio State and the No. 1 rated defense in the country. But that’s just one way to look at it — OSU’s defense will also be tasked with stalling an offense that has been on fire as of late.
After a scoring differential of 189-126 in the first 6.5 games of the season the Wolverines have outscored opponents 180-52 in the last 4.5, dating back to halftime at Penn State. That included that feverish comeback in Happy Valley, an all-out rout of Notre Dame and Michigan State, the passing game coming alive in the latter and last week in Indiana, and a game in Maryland where Michigan was content on being vanilla and just getting in-and-out of College Park.
So what do the Buckeyes see as the challenge that the Wolverines offense presents? It’s quite variable, when you ask around.
“Schematically, big bodies, multiple tight ends packages,” OSU linebacker Tuf Borland said. “They have the ability to run the ball right at you but then they also have playmakers along the perimeter, a quarterback. Just multiple ways they can attack the defense.”
“I wouldn’t say anything particular,” fellow OSU linebacker Pete Werner said. They do well at what they do, though. That just means we have to prepare harder than we ever have. But that goes into every single game we’ve played this year — somebody does something very well and we have to prepare to stop that. I respect their offense, and that just means we have to prepare a little bit better.”
Borland feels like the Buckeyes defense is prepared (and built) to stop the RPO attack, but that’s easier said than done, especially now that Michigan QB Shea Patterson and the passing game has come alive.
Two games ago, hosting Michigan State and what was supposed to be a top-rated defense, Patterson had his best passing attack he’s ever had in a Michigan uniform, toppling 300 yards for the first time and nearly getting to 400, with 384 yards and 4 touchdowns. How did he follow that up? With 366 yards and 5 touchdowns on the road at Indiana this past week.
Werner is well-aware of Patterson and his skill-set, noting that he can make a sleeping defense pay for its mistakes.
“He’s playing very well,” Werner said. “He’s one of those guys who is kind of tricky. He’s got a lot of different options, he scrambles very well, throws a great ball and if you’re (caught) lacking around, leave a guy open, he’s going to make a play from it.”
“(He has a) strong arm, the ability to extend plays and still keep his eyes down the field,” OSU safety Jordan Fuller added. “I think he looks comfortable in these past few games. He looks very comfortable and he’s playing at a high, high level right now.”
But it’s not just Patterson and the rushing attack that Ohio State has to worry about.
Coming into the season, many thought that Michigan could have one of the best receiving corps in the country, with a trio of practically unguardable targets in Nico Collins, Donovan Peoples-Jones and Tarik Black. But they went seemingly under-utilized earlier in the season, while sophomore Ronnie Bell made a name for himself, embodying the quintessential ‘speed in space’ mantra the offense has used since the offseason.
But as of late, the rest have come on, particularly Collins, who had a career best 165 yards and 3 touchdowns against Indiana. His three scores were the most since he found the endzone twice last year against this Ohio State team.
Fuller is well aware of the challenge that Michigan’s multiple options present, noting that it could be one of the best WR corps OSU has faced to this point.
“We definitely look forward to it,” Fuller said. “After watching the film and just knowing them from prior years, they’re definitely a very talented group, one of the most talented groups we play all year, so we definitely have our hands full with them. But I’m confident in our group as well. So we’re going to prepare hard and try to get a bead on the kinds of stuff they like to do. But we definitely have our hands full. It should be fun.”
But what makes this group so special?
“Really, they can do it all,” Fuller said. “They have guys that have great hands, that can go up and get the ball but also, when they have the ball in their hands, they can they can make something happen with it. They can attack you in every which way. So that’s something you’ve got to be prepared for.”
This offseason, Michigan’s offense made a wholesale change with Josh Gattis coming in as the new offensive coordinator. Gone is the traditional pro-style attack and now the Wolverines employ a more spread-oriented look, albeit still with the big tight ends and a fullback from time-to-time.
Though, as far as Fuller sees it, the offense isn’t terribly different from what he saw a year ago.
“They are a bit different, just with certain things they like they to do,” Fuller said. “I usually watch the pass stuff. I haven’t watched too much of the run game. They try to get the ball in the hands of their playmakers in different ways than last year. It’s still a similar offense, I would say.”
Michigan and Ohio State are set to kick off at noon EST on Saturday at The Big House.
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