2010 Michigan Wolverines Game Preview
written by: BB73, Buckeyeskickbuttocks, Bucklion, Bucky Katt, DaddyBigBucks, JCOSU86, and jwinslow,
written by: BB73, Buckeyeskickbuttocks, Bucklion, Bucky Katt, DaddyBigBucks, JCOSU86, and jwinslow,
Preface
It's finally TSUN week. The hair on the back of your neck probably stands up just thinking about this week's matchup. The scarlet blood flowing through your veins begins to boil as the countdown to kickoff winds down. You avoid mentioning the color of the sky, and want to rip into anything that displays the putrid urine-and-cobalt combination. And this year you're ticked off because you have to wait until after Thanksgiving for The Game, and next year these two teams will be in separate divisions.
You're getting almost nothing done at work, and that doesn't really bother you. You're posting obscenities on message boards because it helps ease the tension. You're avoiding the use of the 13th letter of the alphabet, unless it's printed on your toilet paper. You're simply a true Buckeye fan getting ready for the greatest rivalry in all of sports: The Game.
As we look forward to this Saturday's showdown in the 'Shoe against That School Up North, it's important to note that this will be the final home game for many Buckeyes who have played their hearts out on that field.
Before the game, the 24-member senior class, along with their parents, will be honored for their contributions to Ohio State football. This class enters The Game with three Big Ten titles, three wins over TSUN, a trip to to the BCS title game and three BCS bowl appearances (including a Rose Bowl victory) over the past four seasons. One more win should yield another BCS Bowl appearance.
For the Buckeyes, these 24 seniors will be playing their final game at Ohio Stadium Saturday:
Devin Barclay
Justin Boren
Bryant Browning
Chimdi Chekwa
Ricky Crawford
Aaron Gant
Cameron Heyward
Jermale Hines
Ross Homan
Garrett Hummel
Josh Kerr
Dexter Larimore
Chris Malone
Don Matheney
Jake McQuaide
Andrew Miller
Brian Rolle
Brandon Saine
Dane Sanzenbacher
Grant Schwartz
Scott Sika
Connor Smith
Devon Torrence
Taurian Washington
These seniors hold a record of 42-8 (84%) entering the Michigan game. There have been 13 Ohio State senior classes that have won 40 or more games, including the 2010 Buckeyes. The top classes in terms of wins:
Class Wins Moments
2009, 44, 3 AP Top 5 finishes
2008, 43, 2 BCS title games
2005, 43, Frosh on '02 title team
1998, 43, Rose & Sugar Bowl wins
2010, 42, Going for record-tying 6th straight Big Ten Title
2007, 41, 29-1 stretch of games
1997, 41, Rose & Sugar Bowls
2006, 41, Nov. 18, 2006 - #1 vs. #2
1996, 41, 1997 Rose Bowl champ
2004, 40, Sophs on '02 title team
2003, 40, Juniors on '02 title team
1976, 40, Rose & Orange Bowl wins
1975, 40, 4 straight Rose Bowls
Date and TimeYou're getting almost nothing done at work, and that doesn't really bother you. You're posting obscenities on message boards because it helps ease the tension. You're avoiding the use of the 13th letter of the alphabet, unless it's printed on your toilet paper. You're simply a true Buckeye fan getting ready for the greatest rivalry in all of sports: The Game.
As we look forward to this Saturday's showdown in the 'Shoe against That School Up North, it's important to note that this will be the final home game for many Buckeyes who have played their hearts out on that field.
Before the game, the 24-member senior class, along with their parents, will be honored for their contributions to Ohio State football. This class enters The Game with three Big Ten titles, three wins over TSUN, a trip to to the BCS title game and three BCS bowl appearances (including a Rose Bowl victory) over the past four seasons. One more win should yield another BCS Bowl appearance.
For the Buckeyes, these 24 seniors will be playing their final game at Ohio Stadium Saturday:
Devin Barclay
Justin Boren
Bryant Browning
Chimdi Chekwa
Ricky Crawford
Aaron Gant
Cameron Heyward
Jermale Hines
Ross Homan
Garrett Hummel
Josh Kerr
Dexter Larimore
Chris Malone
Don Matheney
Jake McQuaide
Andrew Miller
Brian Rolle
Brandon Saine
Dane Sanzenbacher
Grant Schwartz
Scott Sika
Connor Smith
Devon Torrence
Taurian Washington
These seniors hold a record of 42-8 (84%) entering the Michigan game. There have been 13 Ohio State senior classes that have won 40 or more games, including the 2010 Buckeyes. The top classes in terms of wins:
Class Wins Moments
2009, 44, 3 AP Top 5 finishes
2008, 43, 2 BCS title games
2005, 43, Frosh on '02 title team
1998, 43, Rose & Sugar Bowl wins
2010, 42, Going for record-tying 6th straight Big Ten Title
2007, 41, 29-1 stretch of games
1997, 41, Rose & Sugar Bowls
2006, 41, Nov. 18, 2006 - #1 vs. #2
1996, 41, 1997 Rose Bowl champ
2004, 40, Sophs on '02 title team
2003, 40, Juniors on '02 title team
1976, 40, Rose & Orange Bowl wins
1975, 40, 4 straight Rose Bowls
Date: Saturday, November 27, 2010
Time: Noon ET Kick-off
Location: Ohio Stadium - "The Horseshoe" (Columbus, OH)
Constructed: 1922 (Renovated in 2001)
Seating Capacity: 102,329 (Originally 66,210)
Playing Surface: FieldTurf
Events: Senior Day, Tunnel of Pride
Time: Noon ET Kick-off
Location: Ohio Stadium - "The Horseshoe" (Columbus, OH)
Constructed: 1922 (Renovated in 2001)
Seating Capacity: 102,329 (Originally 66,210)
Playing Surface: FieldTurf
Events: Senior Day, Tunnel of Pride
Broadcast Information:
TV Broacast: ABC: Sean McDonough (Play-by-play), Matt Millen (Analysis), and Quint Kessenich (Sideline)
Radio Broadcast: Ohio State Radio Network (97.1 FM The Fan in Columbus): Paul Keels (Play-by-play), Jim Lachey (Analysis), and Marty Bannister (Sideline)
The game can also be heard on Sirius satellite radio 125 and XM 102.
2010 Michigan Wolverines Offensive PreviewThe game can also be heard on Sirius satellite radio 125 and XM 102.
The first 11 games are in the books, which means that it is time for the game that really matters once again. This year, Michigan enters the game with their most prolific offense of the Rodriguez era thus far, led by a quarterback who wasn't even the starter last season. The Wolverines have played well with Robinson at the helm, ranking 5th in the nation in total offense with 514.6 yards per game. They have devastating balance within that, with 257.4 yards a game rushing (10th) and 257.2 yards a game passing (30th). They are scoring 36.8 PPG, good for 15th nationally. They are also moving the chains effectively (23.9 1st downs per game, T14), and converting on 3rd downs regularly (47.6%, 19th). They also rank highly in sacks allowed (T11, 0.91/game). Where they have had some trouble is turnovers, where they rank T98th in turnovers lost (24) and T101 in margin (-0.64). They will clearly have to take care of the football and play their best game of the season against the Buckeyes, because their defense will not be able to shut the Buckeye offense down, if the rest of the season is any indication.
Quarterbacks
QB #16 Denard Robinson (6-0, 193, SO, Deerfield Beach HS, Deerfield Beach, FL)
Robinson opened the season as somewhat of a surprise as the starter over Forcier, and immediately broke several school records. However, since being injured in the Bowling Green game, injuries and team fortune have led to some regular playing time for Forcier as the season has progressed. Robinson was a turnover machine last season, and though he has tossed some interceptions, he has been much more productive this season. He established himself as the starter with a great game against Connecticut, throwing for 186 yards and a TD and rushing for 197 yards and another score. Against Notre Dame he was a one-man gang, throwing for 244 yards and a TD and then rushing for 258 yards and 2 more scores. He followed that up with his third straight 200/100 game against UMass, passing for 241 and a TD and rushing for 104 and another score. He was injured early in a Bowling Green contest where he was 4/4 for 60 yards and had rushed for 129 yards and 2 TDs in just 5 carries. He came back with a vengeance against Indiana, throwing for 277 yards and 3 TDs in just 10 completions, and rushing for 217 yards and 2 TDs in just 19 carries, leading the team to a 5-0 record. After this point, however, he came back to earth and things slowed down a bit. He tossed 3 INTs in a loss to Michigan State and threw for less than 100 yards in a loss to Iowa. He had a strong game against Penn State (190 passing, 1 TD; 191 rushing, 3 TDs) but the Wolverines still lost their third game in a row. He threw for 305 yards against Illinois and for 176 against Purdue, though his rushing production had slowed and he threw 2 INTs in both games. Last week against Wisconsin, he bounced back by throwing for 239 yards and a TD and rushing for 121 yards and 2 more scores, but they were still no match for the Badgers down the stretch. He has thrown 10 INTs and taken just 7 sacks, both respectable numbers. Obviously at his best he can be very difficult to contain, but he has been roughed up some by the tougher defenses in the Big Ten and he has ceded some time to Tate Forcier down the stretch, as he has played in each of the past 6 games. Robinson had limited work in last year's game (2/4, 3 yards, 10 carries, 31 yards) so he will really be facing the Buckeyes for the first time as the primary signal-caller.
Forcier (#5) is an interesting case. There was talk of his transferring after losing the job in the spring, but he has stuck it out and gotten back on the field some this season, completing 46 of 69 pass attempts thus far. He was 12/12 against Bowling Green and threw for 239 yards against Iowa, so clearly he still has some ability to lead this offense. He had a tough game against the Buckeye defense last year (23/38, 216 yards, TD, 4 INTs; 6 carries, 10 yards) but he is familiar with the Buckeye schemes, so it will be interesting to see if and how much he gets to play on Saturday. It appears he will probably at least get a series or two, and if Robinson gets nicked up, he could see much more of the field.
QB Rating: A-
Head-to-Head: Michigan versus Ohio State QBs
Robinson: 147/232 (63.4%), 2229 yards, 16 TDs, 10 INTs, 158.2 rating; 227/1538, 14 TDs
Pryor: 178/271 (65.7%), 2331 yards, 23 TDs, 10 INTs, 158.6 rating; 108/590, 4 TDs
After facing Stanzi last week, the Buckeyes will face an entirely different type of player this week ... though he is much more like their own QB than Stanzi was, so they have a good idea of what he is capable of. The passing numbers are very similar between the two quarterbacks, and though Robinson has more rushing yards, Pryor left little doubt as to who the clutch player for the Buckeyes is last week on 4th down. Total TD production is very similar, and intangibles favor Pryor, as he has a better supporting cast (especially in the backfield) and has won quite a few more games against the tougher defenses in the conference. Depth favors Michigan, as Forcier is good enough to get some snaps for them in the regular offensive rotation or come off the bench when Robinson is struggling.
Edge: Even
Running Backs
TB #2 Vincent Smith (5-6, 180, SO, Pahokee HS, Pahokee, FL)
Smith took over the starting job when conference play began and has been the leading ballcarrier from the position every since. He generally gets between 7 and 14 carries a game, as Robinson is the primary ballcarrier. His highlights include 62 yards and 2 TDs against Bowling Green, 73 yards against Illinois, and 18 carries for 99 yards and a TD against Purdue. He is also effective out of the backfield in the passing game, catching 9 balls over the past 6 games. He is a smaller, shiftier runner with decent speed and reasonably good technique. He also had arguably the best game of any Wolverine against the Buckeyes last year, rushing 8 times for 32 yards and catching 3 passes for 28 yards and a TD, their lone trip to the end zone of the game. With all of the focus on Robinson, he could find some opportunities to do some damage if the Wolverines can utilize him effectively.
Smith supplanted former starter Michael Shaw (#20), who started the first 4 games of the season. He gained 126 yards and scored 3 TDs against UMass in game #3, but has never really approached that level of production since. He has just 19 carries since conference play started, but he did have a big impact on the Illinois game, where he gained 44 yards and scored 3 TDs. He had an atrocious game against Ohio State last season (7 carries, 7 yards) but confidence does not seem to be something he lacks. Also backing up Smith is freshman Stephen Hopkins (#33). He is a bigger, more powerful runner (6-0, 227) who has been a regular part of the rotation of late. He gets about 5 touches a game on average and has scored a TD in 3 of the previous 5 games, so it would not be surprising to see him on the field Saturday, especially in short yardage situations. Junior John McColgan (#49) is the blocking back when one is required.
RB Rating: C
Head-to-Head: Michigan versus Ohio State RBs
Smith: 121/571 yards, 5 TDs, 4.7 YPC; 13 rec/113 yards, 2 TDs, 8.7 YPR
Shaw: 63/331 yards, 8 TDs, 5.3 YPC; 9 rec/73 yards, 0 TDs, 8.1 YPR
Herron: 170/893 yards, 14 TDs, 5.3 YPC; 18 rec/180 yards, 0 TDs, 10.0 YPR
Saine: 63/304 yards, 2 TDs, 4.8 YPC; 18 rec/184 yards, 5 TDs, 10.2 YPR
Smith is a decent player who will demand some attention from the Buckeyes after his 60 total yards last season. Shaw is a decent backup but not much more than that. Hopkins looks like he could have a bright future. None match the skill set or production of Herron, however, who could surpass the 1000 yard mark with a good game against the Wolverines, despite having shared the job for the first part of the season. Saine is a quality complement who traditionally plays well down the stretch and could be an important asset on Saturday for the Buckeyes. The contribution of Boren can't be overlooked either. Depth also favors the Buckeyes, who have a handful of quality backs.
Edge: Ohio State
Wide Receivers
WR-X #22 Darryl Stonum (6-2, 196, JR, Dulles HS, Stafford, TX)
WR-Y #12 Roy Roundtree (6-0, 176, SO, Trotwood-Madison HS, Trotwood, OH)
WR-Z #21 Junior Hemmingway (6-1, 225, JR, Conway HS, Conway, SC)
This is one of the more veteran groups on the team, and they are often overlooked because of the publicity that Robinson gets. Make no mistake, however, because this is a quality group that combines size, speed, and skill. The best of the lot is Roundtree, who led the team in receiving last year and has almost doubled his yardage production this season. His highlights include 82 yards and a TD against Notre Dame, 118 yards against Bowling Green, 126 yards and a TD against Indiana, and 114 yards and a TD last week against Wisconsin. All that pales in comparison to the Illinois game, where he went ballistic on the fighting Zooks, catching 9 passes for a team-record 246 yards and 2 TDs. He also burned the Buckeyes for 9 receptions and 116 yards last year, so the primary focus in the secondary will likely be on him. The Ohio product has good hands and great speed. Second on the receptions list is Stonum, who has also more than doubled his 2009 production. He had 121 yards and 2 TDs in just 3 receptions against UMass, 97 yards against Iowa, and 99 yards and a TD last week against Wisconsin. He is a cagey route runner with good hands, but his production is sporadic, as he comes up big in some games and virtually disappears in others. Hemmingway has emerged as a legitimate primary option as well. He has cracked the 100 yard mark 3 separate times, against Indiana (129, TD), Iowa (9 receptions, 134 yards, TD) and Illinois (104 yards, 2 TDs). He caught just 1 pass last week and 1 against Penn State, so his production also comes and goes. He has good size and is a tough matchup for shorter corners. Collectively this is a solid group who seem to have a different player emerge virtually every week. Roundtree is the one relative constant because of his speed and ability to get downfield.
Depth is a problem, as primary backup Martavious Odoms is not available. The primary backups are a freshman, Jeremy Jackson (#17), and a converted tailback, Kelvin Grady (#19). Grady has 16 receptions for 200 yards on the season, and caught 3 passes last week against Wisconsin. He is therefore a regular part of the rotation and should get some playing time Saturday. Jackson has just 2 catches all season.
WR Rating: B+
Head-to-Head: Michigan versus Ohio State WRs
Roundtree: 58 catches, 839 yards, 6 TDs, 14.5 YPR
Stonum: 35 catches, 493 yards, 4 TDs, 14.1 YPR
Hemmingway: 28 catches, 544 yards, 4 TDs, 19.4 YPR
Sanzenbacher: 49 catches, 818 yards, 9 TDs, 16.7 YPR
Posey: 45 catches, 696 yards, 5 TDs, 15.5 YPR
Brown: 7 catches, 92 yards, 1 TD, 13.1 YPR
Roundtree is as dangerous as pretty much anyone he runs out there against. Stonum and Hemmingway give the Wolverines 3 solid options, though they are both sporadic in their productivity. Sanzenbacher and Posey are both top-flight receivers in the conference, though Posey dropped a big pass last week that could have ended in disaster. His production has not quite lived up to the very high expectations for him in 2010 in some eyes. Brown has some talent but has struggled catching passes when he has had opportunities, and he does not match the 3rd level production of Michigan. Neither team has much behind those players.
Edge: Even
Tight Ends
TE #86 Kevin Koger (6-4, 255, JR, Whitmer HS, Toledo, OH)
Koger is a solid player who is primarily a blocker. He did have a 60 yard TD reception against Penn State, so he can get downfield occasionally in the passing game. Usually he runs short to intermediate routes, however. He is a good blocker in the run game, as is his backup, senior Martell Webb (#80).
TE Rating: B-
Head-to-Head: Michigan versus Ohio State TEs
Koger: 11 catches, 154 yards, 2 TDs, 14.0 YPR
Stoneburner: 15 catches, 150 yards, 2 TDs, 10.0 YPR
Koger is a decent player who has been in the system for a while. Michigan doesn't feature their TEs as much as they used to. Stoneburner has been a nice find for the Buckeyes and his backup Fragel has also made some clutch catches.
Edge: Ohio State
Offensive Line
LT #77 Taylor Lewan (6-8, 295, FR, Chaparral HS, Scottsdale, AZ)
LG #52 Stephen Schilling (6-5, 308, SR, Bellevue HS, Bellevue, WA)
C #50 David Molk (6-2, 288, JR, Lemont Township HS, Lemont, IL)
RG #65 Patrick Omameh (6-4, 299, SO, St. Francis DeSales HS, Columbus, OH)
RT #72 Mark Huyge (6-6, 306, JR, Catholic Central HS, Wyoming, MI)
The line for the Wolverines is beginning to change a bit, as the big, physical lineman of the past are making way for the sleeker, quicker linemen necessary for the spread schemes. The interior of the line has started at the same positions all season. Among this group the best and most veteran player is Schilling, who has started 47 games in his Michigan career. He was named one of Michigan's top linemen and honorable mention all-conference in 2009, and he is a team captain in 2010. He started at RT in the first half of his career, then shifted to LG, where he has excelled the past 2 seasons. Molk was injured much of last season, which caused a lot of upheaval along the line and a lot of snaps to miss the QB. He has been very solid this year and has started all 10 games at center, bringing him to 27 career starts there. He is a potential future Rimington finalist. Omameh has started 14 career games, and has played at both tackle positions in addition to his primary position of RG. At the tackle positions, there is less experience. Huyge has started 4 games at LT and 3 games at RT. He can also play guard. He has good size and is a smart and versatile player. Lewan has made 7 starts at LT. He is a young and promising player with good height and wingspan. Veteran Perry Dorrestein (#79) has also started 8 games at RT this season and 20 in his Michigan career. He is more in the traditional mold of a Michigan tackle (6-7, 321) and he is capable of playing either tackle spot.
Behind these 6 players, there isn't a lot of experience. A bevy of underclassmen, including sophomores Ricky Barnum (#56), William Campbell (#73) and Elliott Mealer (#57), as well as freshmen Michael Schofield (#75) and Rocko Khoury (#63) round out the chart.
OL Rating: B
Head-to-Head: Michigan versus Ohio State OL
Michigan's line has played well for the most part this season. They now have the type of lineman that better suit their scheme, and the return of Molk has really helped. They have not allowed many sacks, and the running game has functioned pretty well with Robinson. Whether they can get the tough yards against the Buckeyes on 3rd and 1 or 2, however, remains to be determined. The Buckeye line has stepped up their game in the second half of the season, and they are now run blocking very effectively at the right time. Quality depth also favors the Buckeyes.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Offensive Analysis
Robinson is a one man wrecking crew who has wrought havoc for most of the season. This will be his biggest test to date, however, and he has not fared as well against the tougher defenses in the conference (Iowa, Wisconsin) thus far. He has a crew of good wideouts to throw to and the offensive line has played relatively well for the most part. The tailback position has not been an area of strength, but Smith is a decent player and they could get some production out of him Saturday. The Wolverines cannot afford another slow start like they had against Wisconsin, because if they get behind they will find it difficult to come back against the ferocious Buckeye rush. The first 20-25 minutes may well determine the outcome of this game, as both teams have had their share of slow starts, and neither can afford one this weekend. The Wolverines must protect the football, as they have been bad with turnovers all season and must cut down on those significantly this game. If they can get the running game going early, it could open up some throwing lanes for Robinson and have the Buckeyes on their heels. An early turnover or a lot of 3rd and longs will be playing right into the heart of the Buckeye attack, however. What keeps this from being an A offense is the complete reliance on one player ... as goes Robinson, so go the Wolverines. The other players they have rely on Robinson to either get them the football or draw away the attention. If the Buckeyes can rattle him early, it could be another long day for the Wolverines against Tressel ... something many people have almost learned to take for granted.
Overall Offensive Rating: B+
2010 Michigan Wolverines Defensive PreviewQB #16 Denard Robinson (6-0, 193, SO, Deerfield Beach HS, Deerfield Beach, FL)
Robinson opened the season as somewhat of a surprise as the starter over Forcier, and immediately broke several school records. However, since being injured in the Bowling Green game, injuries and team fortune have led to some regular playing time for Forcier as the season has progressed. Robinson was a turnover machine last season, and though he has tossed some interceptions, he has been much more productive this season. He established himself as the starter with a great game against Connecticut, throwing for 186 yards and a TD and rushing for 197 yards and another score. Against Notre Dame he was a one-man gang, throwing for 244 yards and a TD and then rushing for 258 yards and 2 more scores. He followed that up with his third straight 200/100 game against UMass, passing for 241 and a TD and rushing for 104 and another score. He was injured early in a Bowling Green contest where he was 4/4 for 60 yards and had rushed for 129 yards and 2 TDs in just 5 carries. He came back with a vengeance against Indiana, throwing for 277 yards and 3 TDs in just 10 completions, and rushing for 217 yards and 2 TDs in just 19 carries, leading the team to a 5-0 record. After this point, however, he came back to earth and things slowed down a bit. He tossed 3 INTs in a loss to Michigan State and threw for less than 100 yards in a loss to Iowa. He had a strong game against Penn State (190 passing, 1 TD; 191 rushing, 3 TDs) but the Wolverines still lost their third game in a row. He threw for 305 yards against Illinois and for 176 against Purdue, though his rushing production had slowed and he threw 2 INTs in both games. Last week against Wisconsin, he bounced back by throwing for 239 yards and a TD and rushing for 121 yards and 2 more scores, but they were still no match for the Badgers down the stretch. He has thrown 10 INTs and taken just 7 sacks, both respectable numbers. Obviously at his best he can be very difficult to contain, but he has been roughed up some by the tougher defenses in the Big Ten and he has ceded some time to Tate Forcier down the stretch, as he has played in each of the past 6 games. Robinson had limited work in last year's game (2/4, 3 yards, 10 carries, 31 yards) so he will really be facing the Buckeyes for the first time as the primary signal-caller.
Forcier (#5) is an interesting case. There was talk of his transferring after losing the job in the spring, but he has stuck it out and gotten back on the field some this season, completing 46 of 69 pass attempts thus far. He was 12/12 against Bowling Green and threw for 239 yards against Iowa, so clearly he still has some ability to lead this offense. He had a tough game against the Buckeye defense last year (23/38, 216 yards, TD, 4 INTs; 6 carries, 10 yards) but he is familiar with the Buckeye schemes, so it will be interesting to see if and how much he gets to play on Saturday. It appears he will probably at least get a series or two, and if Robinson gets nicked up, he could see much more of the field.
QB Rating: A-
Head-to-Head: Michigan versus Ohio State QBs
Robinson: 147/232 (63.4%), 2229 yards, 16 TDs, 10 INTs, 158.2 rating; 227/1538, 14 TDs
Pryor: 178/271 (65.7%), 2331 yards, 23 TDs, 10 INTs, 158.6 rating; 108/590, 4 TDs
After facing Stanzi last week, the Buckeyes will face an entirely different type of player this week ... though he is much more like their own QB than Stanzi was, so they have a good idea of what he is capable of. The passing numbers are very similar between the two quarterbacks, and though Robinson has more rushing yards, Pryor left little doubt as to who the clutch player for the Buckeyes is last week on 4th down. Total TD production is very similar, and intangibles favor Pryor, as he has a better supporting cast (especially in the backfield) and has won quite a few more games against the tougher defenses in the conference. Depth favors Michigan, as Forcier is good enough to get some snaps for them in the regular offensive rotation or come off the bench when Robinson is struggling.
Edge: Even
Running Backs
TB #2 Vincent Smith (5-6, 180, SO, Pahokee HS, Pahokee, FL)
Smith took over the starting job when conference play began and has been the leading ballcarrier from the position every since. He generally gets between 7 and 14 carries a game, as Robinson is the primary ballcarrier. His highlights include 62 yards and 2 TDs against Bowling Green, 73 yards against Illinois, and 18 carries for 99 yards and a TD against Purdue. He is also effective out of the backfield in the passing game, catching 9 balls over the past 6 games. He is a smaller, shiftier runner with decent speed and reasonably good technique. He also had arguably the best game of any Wolverine against the Buckeyes last year, rushing 8 times for 32 yards and catching 3 passes for 28 yards and a TD, their lone trip to the end zone of the game. With all of the focus on Robinson, he could find some opportunities to do some damage if the Wolverines can utilize him effectively.
Smith supplanted former starter Michael Shaw (#20), who started the first 4 games of the season. He gained 126 yards and scored 3 TDs against UMass in game #3, but has never really approached that level of production since. He has just 19 carries since conference play started, but he did have a big impact on the Illinois game, where he gained 44 yards and scored 3 TDs. He had an atrocious game against Ohio State last season (7 carries, 7 yards) but confidence does not seem to be something he lacks. Also backing up Smith is freshman Stephen Hopkins (#33). He is a bigger, more powerful runner (6-0, 227) who has been a regular part of the rotation of late. He gets about 5 touches a game on average and has scored a TD in 3 of the previous 5 games, so it would not be surprising to see him on the field Saturday, especially in short yardage situations. Junior John McColgan (#49) is the blocking back when one is required.
RB Rating: C
Head-to-Head: Michigan versus Ohio State RBs
Smith: 121/571 yards, 5 TDs, 4.7 YPC; 13 rec/113 yards, 2 TDs, 8.7 YPR
Shaw: 63/331 yards, 8 TDs, 5.3 YPC; 9 rec/73 yards, 0 TDs, 8.1 YPR
Herron: 170/893 yards, 14 TDs, 5.3 YPC; 18 rec/180 yards, 0 TDs, 10.0 YPR
Saine: 63/304 yards, 2 TDs, 4.8 YPC; 18 rec/184 yards, 5 TDs, 10.2 YPR
Smith is a decent player who will demand some attention from the Buckeyes after his 60 total yards last season. Shaw is a decent backup but not much more than that. Hopkins looks like he could have a bright future. None match the skill set or production of Herron, however, who could surpass the 1000 yard mark with a good game against the Wolverines, despite having shared the job for the first part of the season. Saine is a quality complement who traditionally plays well down the stretch and could be an important asset on Saturday for the Buckeyes. The contribution of Boren can't be overlooked either. Depth also favors the Buckeyes, who have a handful of quality backs.
Edge: Ohio State
Wide Receivers
WR-X #22 Darryl Stonum (6-2, 196, JR, Dulles HS, Stafford, TX)
WR-Y #12 Roy Roundtree (6-0, 176, SO, Trotwood-Madison HS, Trotwood, OH)
WR-Z #21 Junior Hemmingway (6-1, 225, JR, Conway HS, Conway, SC)
This is one of the more veteran groups on the team, and they are often overlooked because of the publicity that Robinson gets. Make no mistake, however, because this is a quality group that combines size, speed, and skill. The best of the lot is Roundtree, who led the team in receiving last year and has almost doubled his yardage production this season. His highlights include 82 yards and a TD against Notre Dame, 118 yards against Bowling Green, 126 yards and a TD against Indiana, and 114 yards and a TD last week against Wisconsin. All that pales in comparison to the Illinois game, where he went ballistic on the fighting Zooks, catching 9 passes for a team-record 246 yards and 2 TDs. He also burned the Buckeyes for 9 receptions and 116 yards last year, so the primary focus in the secondary will likely be on him. The Ohio product has good hands and great speed. Second on the receptions list is Stonum, who has also more than doubled his 2009 production. He had 121 yards and 2 TDs in just 3 receptions against UMass, 97 yards against Iowa, and 99 yards and a TD last week against Wisconsin. He is a cagey route runner with good hands, but his production is sporadic, as he comes up big in some games and virtually disappears in others. Hemmingway has emerged as a legitimate primary option as well. He has cracked the 100 yard mark 3 separate times, against Indiana (129, TD), Iowa (9 receptions, 134 yards, TD) and Illinois (104 yards, 2 TDs). He caught just 1 pass last week and 1 against Penn State, so his production also comes and goes. He has good size and is a tough matchup for shorter corners. Collectively this is a solid group who seem to have a different player emerge virtually every week. Roundtree is the one relative constant because of his speed and ability to get downfield.
Depth is a problem, as primary backup Martavious Odoms is not available. The primary backups are a freshman, Jeremy Jackson (#17), and a converted tailback, Kelvin Grady (#19). Grady has 16 receptions for 200 yards on the season, and caught 3 passes last week against Wisconsin. He is therefore a regular part of the rotation and should get some playing time Saturday. Jackson has just 2 catches all season.
WR Rating: B+
Head-to-Head: Michigan versus Ohio State WRs
Roundtree: 58 catches, 839 yards, 6 TDs, 14.5 YPR
Stonum: 35 catches, 493 yards, 4 TDs, 14.1 YPR
Hemmingway: 28 catches, 544 yards, 4 TDs, 19.4 YPR
Sanzenbacher: 49 catches, 818 yards, 9 TDs, 16.7 YPR
Posey: 45 catches, 696 yards, 5 TDs, 15.5 YPR
Brown: 7 catches, 92 yards, 1 TD, 13.1 YPR
Roundtree is as dangerous as pretty much anyone he runs out there against. Stonum and Hemmingway give the Wolverines 3 solid options, though they are both sporadic in their productivity. Sanzenbacher and Posey are both top-flight receivers in the conference, though Posey dropped a big pass last week that could have ended in disaster. His production has not quite lived up to the very high expectations for him in 2010 in some eyes. Brown has some talent but has struggled catching passes when he has had opportunities, and he does not match the 3rd level production of Michigan. Neither team has much behind those players.
Edge: Even
Tight Ends
TE #86 Kevin Koger (6-4, 255, JR, Whitmer HS, Toledo, OH)
Koger is a solid player who is primarily a blocker. He did have a 60 yard TD reception against Penn State, so he can get downfield occasionally in the passing game. Usually he runs short to intermediate routes, however. He is a good blocker in the run game, as is his backup, senior Martell Webb (#80).
TE Rating: B-
Head-to-Head: Michigan versus Ohio State TEs
Koger: 11 catches, 154 yards, 2 TDs, 14.0 YPR
Stoneburner: 15 catches, 150 yards, 2 TDs, 10.0 YPR
Koger is a decent player who has been in the system for a while. Michigan doesn't feature their TEs as much as they used to. Stoneburner has been a nice find for the Buckeyes and his backup Fragel has also made some clutch catches.
Edge: Ohio State
Offensive Line
LT #77 Taylor Lewan (6-8, 295, FR, Chaparral HS, Scottsdale, AZ)
LG #52 Stephen Schilling (6-5, 308, SR, Bellevue HS, Bellevue, WA)
C #50 David Molk (6-2, 288, JR, Lemont Township HS, Lemont, IL)
RG #65 Patrick Omameh (6-4, 299, SO, St. Francis DeSales HS, Columbus, OH)
RT #72 Mark Huyge (6-6, 306, JR, Catholic Central HS, Wyoming, MI)
The line for the Wolverines is beginning to change a bit, as the big, physical lineman of the past are making way for the sleeker, quicker linemen necessary for the spread schemes. The interior of the line has started at the same positions all season. Among this group the best and most veteran player is Schilling, who has started 47 games in his Michigan career. He was named one of Michigan's top linemen and honorable mention all-conference in 2009, and he is a team captain in 2010. He started at RT in the first half of his career, then shifted to LG, where he has excelled the past 2 seasons. Molk was injured much of last season, which caused a lot of upheaval along the line and a lot of snaps to miss the QB. He has been very solid this year and has started all 10 games at center, bringing him to 27 career starts there. He is a potential future Rimington finalist. Omameh has started 14 career games, and has played at both tackle positions in addition to his primary position of RG. At the tackle positions, there is less experience. Huyge has started 4 games at LT and 3 games at RT. He can also play guard. He has good size and is a smart and versatile player. Lewan has made 7 starts at LT. He is a young and promising player with good height and wingspan. Veteran Perry Dorrestein (#79) has also started 8 games at RT this season and 20 in his Michigan career. He is more in the traditional mold of a Michigan tackle (6-7, 321) and he is capable of playing either tackle spot.
Behind these 6 players, there isn't a lot of experience. A bevy of underclassmen, including sophomores Ricky Barnum (#56), William Campbell (#73) and Elliott Mealer (#57), as well as freshmen Michael Schofield (#75) and Rocko Khoury (#63) round out the chart.
OL Rating: B
Head-to-Head: Michigan versus Ohio State OL
Michigan's line has played well for the most part this season. They now have the type of lineman that better suit their scheme, and the return of Molk has really helped. They have not allowed many sacks, and the running game has functioned pretty well with Robinson. Whether they can get the tough yards against the Buckeyes on 3rd and 1 or 2, however, remains to be determined. The Buckeye line has stepped up their game in the second half of the season, and they are now run blocking very effectively at the right time. Quality depth also favors the Buckeyes.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Offensive Analysis
Robinson is a one man wrecking crew who has wrought havoc for most of the season. This will be his biggest test to date, however, and he has not fared as well against the tougher defenses in the conference (Iowa, Wisconsin) thus far. He has a crew of good wideouts to throw to and the offensive line has played relatively well for the most part. The tailback position has not been an area of strength, but Smith is a decent player and they could get some production out of him Saturday. The Wolverines cannot afford another slow start like they had against Wisconsin, because if they get behind they will find it difficult to come back against the ferocious Buckeye rush. The first 20-25 minutes may well determine the outcome of this game, as both teams have had their share of slow starts, and neither can afford one this weekend. The Wolverines must protect the football, as they have been bad with turnovers all season and must cut down on those significantly this game. If they can get the running game going early, it could open up some throwing lanes for Robinson and have the Buckeyes on their heels. An early turnover or a lot of 3rd and longs will be playing right into the heart of the Buckeye attack, however. What keeps this from being an A offense is the complete reliance on one player ... as goes Robinson, so go the Wolverines. The other players they have rely on Robinson to either get them the football or draw away the attention. If the Buckeyes can rattle him early, it could be another long day for the Wolverines against Tressel ... something many people have almost learned to take for granted.
Overall Offensive Rating: B+
For the first time in his 3 year tenure at Michigan, Rich Rodriguez has the same Defensive Coordinator as he did a season ago, Greg Robinson. Prior to taking the Syracuse head coaching job (2005-2008), Robinson was a co-defensive coordinator under Mack Brown at Texas (2004) where he also had responsibility for the linebackers. He brings with him NFL experience as well, as prior to returning to college in 2004 he was the defensive coordinator for the Jets (1994), Broncos (1995-2000) and Chiefs (2001-2003). He also coached D-Line with the Jets from 1990 to 1993. A former linebacker at Bakersfield Community College (1970-71) and Pacific (1972-73), Robinson began his coaching career at the latter in 1975. In 1977 Robinson took a position at Cal State Fullerton, before then moving on to the ACC's North Carolina State for two seasons (1980-81). He then went back west to coach UCLA's D-line from 1982 - 1988 where he helped the Bruins win 3 Rose Bowls (1982, 83, 85). In 1989 he was UCLA's offensive coordinator. In this, his second season at Michigan, though, things have not gone well. Running a 3-3-5 scheme with a shortage of players has rendered his defense at or near the bottom of the nation in nearly every statistical category.
Stats.......|Score..|Tot.Yds..|Rush..|Pass..|INT.| Fum.|Sack.|1stD..|3rd D..|.PCT..|Red Zone.|.PCT.|RZ TDs.|PCT.|TOF..|
Michigan....|.33.5..|..445.2..|181.3.|263.9.|.10.| .7..|.16..|.247..|65-159.|.41%..|.39-45...|.87%.|.30-45.|67%.|32:29|
Ohio State..|.13.9..|..241.5..|.86.4.|155.1.|.17.|..9.. |.18..|.153..|41-138.|.30%..|.18-24...|.75%.|.13-24.|54%.|27:23|
* TOF = Time on Field (Opponent's T.O.P)
There is little secret that Michigan's defense is historically bad in 2010. After yielding 48 points to Wisconsin last weekend, the Wolverine defense has set a school record for most points yielded in a single season - 369 - with two games yet to play. There are several reasons for the problems on the defensive side of the ball. Among them are that Michigan seems to be forcing a 3-3-5 scheme on the players, even while coming into the 2010 season Michigan had a significant depth issue among defensive backs. The pre-season problems were compounded by injury (Troy Woolfolk) and transfers. Nonetheless, Michigan continues to trot out young DBs who, frankly, are not quite ready for college football in the Big Ten. In as much as Michigan's secondary has been problematic going back to the end of the Lloyd Carr era, it's confounding why this team insists on this scheme. Perhaps another part of the problem is that Michigan's offense has become productive and actually maybe scores too quick - putting an already winded group on the field for extra minutes. No matter the measure, as the numbers reveal, whatever the cause the 3-3-5 simply has not been successful. Michigan yields nearly 100 yards more per game on the ground than does Ohio State, while also giving up more than 100 yards per game more through the air. The Wolverines have not been particularly good at generating pressure and have only created 17 total turnovers. Ohio State has that many interceptions. On third downs, Ohio State is clearly superior getting off the field far more frequently than the Wolverines can. Ohio State enjoys a clear advantage in the traditional red zone stats, and the numbers bear this out when considering points per red zone appearance as well. Ohio State yields 4.4 points to an opponent per trip to the red zone while Michigan gives up 5.2 points. All in all, the gap between Ohio State and Michigan is vast on this side of the ball. To be sure, Michigan's offense should be good enough to move the ball some against Ohio State this weekend - but it will take something of a miracle for the defense to stop an Ohio State offense that established early in the season the ability to throw the ball, and which has recently demonstrated an ability to run as well. This Saturday, much will depend on what Tressel wants to do. The safest bet is that Ohio State pounds the ball - limiting Michigan's offensive touches. If, however, Tressel wants to air it out, chances are the yards will come in bunches.
Michigan....|.33.5..|..445.2..|181.3.|263.9.|.10.| .7..|.16..|.247..|65-159.|.41%..|.39-45...|.87%.|.30-45.|67%.|32:29|
Ohio State..|.13.9..|..241.5..|.86.4.|155.1.|.17.|..9.. |.18..|.153..|41-138.|.30%..|.18-24...|.75%.|.13-24.|54%.|27:23|
* TOF = Time on Field (Opponent's T.O.P)
There is little secret that Michigan's defense is historically bad in 2010. After yielding 48 points to Wisconsin last weekend, the Wolverine defense has set a school record for most points yielded in a single season - 369 - with two games yet to play. There are several reasons for the problems on the defensive side of the ball. Among them are that Michigan seems to be forcing a 3-3-5 scheme on the players, even while coming into the 2010 season Michigan had a significant depth issue among defensive backs. The pre-season problems were compounded by injury (Troy Woolfolk) and transfers. Nonetheless, Michigan continues to trot out young DBs who, frankly, are not quite ready for college football in the Big Ten. In as much as Michigan's secondary has been problematic going back to the end of the Lloyd Carr era, it's confounding why this team insists on this scheme. Perhaps another part of the problem is that Michigan's offense has become productive and actually maybe scores too quick - putting an already winded group on the field for extra minutes. No matter the measure, as the numbers reveal, whatever the cause the 3-3-5 simply has not been successful. Michigan yields nearly 100 yards more per game on the ground than does Ohio State, while also giving up more than 100 yards per game more through the air. The Wolverines have not been particularly good at generating pressure and have only created 17 total turnovers. Ohio State has that many interceptions. On third downs, Ohio State is clearly superior getting off the field far more frequently than the Wolverines can. Ohio State enjoys a clear advantage in the traditional red zone stats, and the numbers bear this out when considering points per red zone appearance as well. Ohio State yields 4.4 points to an opponent per trip to the red zone while Michigan gives up 5.2 points. All in all, the gap between Ohio State and Michigan is vast on this side of the ball. To be sure, Michigan's offense should be good enough to move the ball some against Ohio State this weekend - but it will take something of a miracle for the defense to stop an Ohio State offense that established early in the season the ability to throw the ball, and which has recently demonstrated an ability to run as well. This Saturday, much will depend on what Tressel wants to do. The safest bet is that Ohio State pounds the ball - limiting Michigan's offensive touches. If, however, Tressel wants to air it out, chances are the yards will come in bunches.
Defensive Line
DE #53 Ryan Van Bergen (6-6, 280, Jr.)
NT #68 Mike Martin (6-2, 294, Jr.)
DE #88 Craig Roh (6-5, 249, So.)
Martin has a good motor and when he's healthy represents the line's top defender. With legitimate size and a good first step, Martin will have a decision to make this off season - try his luck in the NFL draft or return for his senior season. His production has been somewhat down this season, but much of that may be due to teams being able to avoid the interior when looking for rush yards. He has 30 tackles, 6 for loss with 2.5 sacks thus far. Van Bergen provides the line with a consistent presence, having started every game for the last two seasons. While he's not a speed rush guy, he does demonstrate ability to get behind the LOS with regularity and has good hands, making him a threat to knock down passes if he can't get to the QB. He has 25 tackles this season, 5.5 for loss and 3 sacks. Rounding out the line is Roh. More of a hybrid, Roh has been the most productive member of the line this season, recording 39 tackles, 5.5 for loss with half a sack. Roh is the line's quickest player and may be the strongest as well.
Reserve linemen include #55 Jibreel Black (6-2, 265, Fr.), #39 Will Heininger (6-6, 271, Jr.), #92 Greg Banks (6-4, 285, Sr.), #95 Renaldo Sagesse (6-4, 285, Sr.), #99 Adam Patterson (6-3, 272, Sr.), and #76 Quinton Washington (6-4, 315, r-Fr.). Of the reserves, Banks has been the most productive and, in fact, is the second leading tackler among all D-Linemen. He has 32 stops this season, 6 behind the line with a team leading 3 sacks. Sagesse has played in 10 games this year and has 5 tackles with one for loss, while both Black and Washington have seen action in each of the 11 contests. Black has recorded 3 tackles and Washington 1. Patterson has 15 stops in 11 games with a sack, while Heininger has made one tackle in his only action this season, last week against Wisconsin.
DL Rating: C-
Head-to-Head: Michigan versus Ohio State DL
Michigan's D-Line may well be the strength of the defense, but that's not saying a lot considering the fact that teams have been able to run the ball at will against them and quarterbacks have had more than enough time to carve up a particularly weak secondary. Ohio State, on the other hand, has one of the better lines in the nation, lead by senior Cam Heyward who may look to make a statement in this his last Ohio State-Michigan game. As alluded to above, a great deal of the "blame" may rest at the feet of the scheme Michigan insists on running, as opposing O-Lines have had little trouble making second level blocks after the front 3 have been contained. While the Buckeyes have a strong rotation, Michigan's depth does not provide the starters with a great deal of opportunity to get a rest and they tire as games go long. Ohio State-Michigan begins as an emotional contest, and Michigan's front 3 may be able to make some plays early, but as the game settles down, Ohio State should take advantage. The Buckeyes will have to find a way to contain Denard Robinson and be careful to keep the shifty QB in front of them. Robinson will probably make a few plays with his legs, but he's been known to panic under pressure and throw the ball to opponents. If the Buckeyes can force him to make decisions quicker than he'd like, it could end up being a long afternoon for the Wolverines.
Edge: Ohio State
Linebackers
OLB #45 Obi Ezeh (6-2, 240, Sr.)
MLB #25 Kenny Demens (6-1, 244, So)
WLB #8 Jonas Mouton (6-2, 228, Sr.)
Senior Jonas Mouton is generally reliable and may be the team's best tackler, a metric in which he is the team's leader with 102. He's better against the run than he is against the pass, but has demonstrated the ability to pluck the errant ball out of the air and fall on lose footballs put on the ground. He has a team leading 7.5 TFLs and 2 sacks to go along with 2 INTs and 2 fumble recoveries. Ezeh is coming off a junior campaign which failed to live up to the expectations he had set with a fairly good sophomore season. He's able to play all of the LB positions and is better against the run than against the pass, but can be observed taking bad angles too frequently. He has 56 stops, 3.5 for loss with a pick. Rounding out the starting three is Demens, a top special teamer from a season ago. With good Big Ten size, and among the most gifted of Michigan defenders in raw talent, Demens may wind up being something to build around should he continue to show improvement. He has made 61 tackles this season, his first as a regular, with 1.5 TFLs.
Depth is a problem at LB as #42 J.B. Fitzgerald (6-3, 239, Jr.) is the only other player listed as a LB who participated in the Wolverine's game against Wisconsin. Last season he recorded 16 tackles and has matched that production in 2010, though he has 3 less TFLs than a year ago when he had four. #44 Mark Moundros (6-1, 233, Sr.) moved over from FB to begin the 2010 season and saw action at LB against UConn in the opener. While he started on the weakside against Purdue and is a team captain, the bulk of his time appears to be as a special teams player. He has 11 tackles in 11 games.
LB Rating: C-
Head-to-Head: Michigan versus Ohio State LBs
If it was simply a matter of counting up the number of tackles a player makes, Mouton would be the clear leader of all LBs who will participate this Saturday. However, there is much more to the equation than that. Michigan's linebackers are called upon to do too much and as a consequence are in tough spots with regularity - having to choose between helping a D-line that's getting pushed around, or a secondary which has more than struggled this season. Schematically, Ohio State's LBs aren't called upon to make every play and have established themselves to be much better in pass coverage than are their Wolverine counterparts. Each of Ohio State's top 3 LBs has recorded an INT this season, with Brian Rolle leading the way with 2. It wouldn't be surprising to see Rolle, a speedy option in the middle, spying on Robinson while it may be Homan who is more likely to deliver the hit which lets Robinson know what week this is. Expect both seniors to try and finish their careers on a high note this weekend. In terms of depth, again it's no contest as Ohio State has been able to redshirt Etienne Sabino even while suffering some injury issues earlier in the year.
Edge: Ohio State
Secondary
Spur #4 Cameron Gordon (6-3, 208, r-Fr.)
CB #18 James Rogers (6-1, 191, Sr.)
SS #32 Jordan Kovacs (5-10, 200, So.)
FS #20 Ray Vinopal (5-11, 185, Fr.)
CB # 5 Courtney Avery (5-11, 174, Fr.)
The secondary is led by Jordan Kovacs, a player who does not have all the skill in the world, but who provides all out effort. With all the injuries and transfers suffered by the Wolverine secondary, Kovacs also represents the most seasoned veteran of the group, even though he is himself only a sophomore. He is second on the team in tackles with 95. Kovacs is also tied for the team lead in TFLs, with 7.5, one of which was a sack, to go along with a pick and a fumble recovery. Gordon is a former WR who is now trying to make a name for himself on the defensive side of the ball. With good size and speed, Gordon is the unit's most likely option to deliver a big hit. Gordon is currently third on the team with 68 tackles, one for loss, and has recorded 2 INTs and 2 fumble recoveries. Rogers is a senior who, after beginning on the defensive side of the football, spent a couple seasons as a wide receiver before now returning to the secondary. Rogers leads the team with 3 INTs to go along with 33 tackles, one for loss. Vinopal has seen action in 10 of the 11 games this season and now finds himself in a starting role he likely would not have earned had it not been for significant depth chart troubles this season. Vinopal has made 26 tackles this season, one for loss to go along with a 32 yard INT return. Rounding out the starting 5 is Avery, who like Vinopal has seen action all season long but who is starting based on need rather than skill. Avery has 27 tackles, .5 of which came behind the LOS.
Defensive backs #13 Carvin Johnson (6-0, 211, So.), #17 Tony Anderson (5-11, 193, Jr.) and #22 Terrence Talbott (5-11, 179, Fr.) may see the field this weekend as well. Johnson has played in 8 of 11 games and has recoded 10 tackles with 2.5 for loss, while Anderson has made 4 tackles in 9 games. Talbott has seen action in each game and has recorded 14 tackles.
DB Rating: D
Head-to-Head: Michigan versus Ohio State DBs
Michigan's secondary has been a problem for the defense going back to the late Carr years and things have only become worse in the Rodriguez era. There's really no way to sugar coat it - the unit is just not very good when it's at 100% and unfortunately for the Wolverines, they're not even close to 100%. Injury and transfers has left a mishmash of players who are more or less playing because someone has to and not because they have earned the job - with the exception of Kovacs, perhaps and maybe Gordon. Conversely, Ohio State has been hit by the injury bug as well this year, but has managed to use it's depth to field one of the better secondaries in the nation, not just the Big Ten. Pryor should find plenty of room to throw the ball this weekend should he want to, but as mentioned above, most of that will depend on whether or not Tressel employs a run first game plan as expected. Ohio State's secondary, however, will have to be careful to keep their responsibilities as a good deal of Michigan's passing yards come when Denard Robinson hints that he may be running, causing DBs to bite.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Defensive Analysis
Michigan used to represent the hardest defense Ohio State would face in any given season. Those days are deep in the rearview mirror, however, as this group has been bad in all phases. There are some players, Mike Martin for example, who would compete for starting spots on more talented rosters, but overall the talent level at Michigan is not where it needs to be and it seems Rodriguez's recruiting has grossly miscalculated the importance of defense in the Big Ten. Ohio State, in contrast, continues to field one of the finer stop forces in the nation and shows no signs of slowing down in the foreseeable future. There's not a lot of mystery as to what Michigan will do offensively - it all begins and ends with Denard Robinson. As the season has gone along, and as the competition has stiffened, Robinson has seen a deterioration in his numbers. That's not to say he's been unproductive, however, and he will see successful plays this weekend as well, but unless Michigan's defense steps up its level of play it is very unlikely that the offense will be productive enough against Ohio State to break the 6 year string of losses. Pryor could have his best day as a passer if Tressel wants to play that way, but a safer bet is that the Buckeye are simply content to run the ball the bulk of the time. This strategy keeps the ball out of Robinson's hands and is just as likely to work against the Michigan defense which ranks at or near the bottom in the Big Ten and in the nation.
Overall Defensive Rating: D+
2010 Michigan Wolverines Special Teams PreviewDE #53 Ryan Van Bergen (6-6, 280, Jr.)
NT #68 Mike Martin (6-2, 294, Jr.)
DE #88 Craig Roh (6-5, 249, So.)
Martin has a good motor and when he's healthy represents the line's top defender. With legitimate size and a good first step, Martin will have a decision to make this off season - try his luck in the NFL draft or return for his senior season. His production has been somewhat down this season, but much of that may be due to teams being able to avoid the interior when looking for rush yards. He has 30 tackles, 6 for loss with 2.5 sacks thus far. Van Bergen provides the line with a consistent presence, having started every game for the last two seasons. While he's not a speed rush guy, he does demonstrate ability to get behind the LOS with regularity and has good hands, making him a threat to knock down passes if he can't get to the QB. He has 25 tackles this season, 5.5 for loss and 3 sacks. Rounding out the line is Roh. More of a hybrid, Roh has been the most productive member of the line this season, recording 39 tackles, 5.5 for loss with half a sack. Roh is the line's quickest player and may be the strongest as well.
Reserve linemen include #55 Jibreel Black (6-2, 265, Fr.), #39 Will Heininger (6-6, 271, Jr.), #92 Greg Banks (6-4, 285, Sr.), #95 Renaldo Sagesse (6-4, 285, Sr.), #99 Adam Patterson (6-3, 272, Sr.), and #76 Quinton Washington (6-4, 315, r-Fr.). Of the reserves, Banks has been the most productive and, in fact, is the second leading tackler among all D-Linemen. He has 32 stops this season, 6 behind the line with a team leading 3 sacks. Sagesse has played in 10 games this year and has 5 tackles with one for loss, while both Black and Washington have seen action in each of the 11 contests. Black has recorded 3 tackles and Washington 1. Patterson has 15 stops in 11 games with a sack, while Heininger has made one tackle in his only action this season, last week against Wisconsin.
DL Rating: C-
Head-to-Head: Michigan versus Ohio State DL
Michigan's D-Line may well be the strength of the defense, but that's not saying a lot considering the fact that teams have been able to run the ball at will against them and quarterbacks have had more than enough time to carve up a particularly weak secondary. Ohio State, on the other hand, has one of the better lines in the nation, lead by senior Cam Heyward who may look to make a statement in this his last Ohio State-Michigan game. As alluded to above, a great deal of the "blame" may rest at the feet of the scheme Michigan insists on running, as opposing O-Lines have had little trouble making second level blocks after the front 3 have been contained. While the Buckeyes have a strong rotation, Michigan's depth does not provide the starters with a great deal of opportunity to get a rest and they tire as games go long. Ohio State-Michigan begins as an emotional contest, and Michigan's front 3 may be able to make some plays early, but as the game settles down, Ohio State should take advantage. The Buckeyes will have to find a way to contain Denard Robinson and be careful to keep the shifty QB in front of them. Robinson will probably make a few plays with his legs, but he's been known to panic under pressure and throw the ball to opponents. If the Buckeyes can force him to make decisions quicker than he'd like, it could end up being a long afternoon for the Wolverines.
Edge: Ohio State
Linebackers
OLB #45 Obi Ezeh (6-2, 240, Sr.)
MLB #25 Kenny Demens (6-1, 244, So)
WLB #8 Jonas Mouton (6-2, 228, Sr.)
Senior Jonas Mouton is generally reliable and may be the team's best tackler, a metric in which he is the team's leader with 102. He's better against the run than he is against the pass, but has demonstrated the ability to pluck the errant ball out of the air and fall on lose footballs put on the ground. He has a team leading 7.5 TFLs and 2 sacks to go along with 2 INTs and 2 fumble recoveries. Ezeh is coming off a junior campaign which failed to live up to the expectations he had set with a fairly good sophomore season. He's able to play all of the LB positions and is better against the run than against the pass, but can be observed taking bad angles too frequently. He has 56 stops, 3.5 for loss with a pick. Rounding out the starting three is Demens, a top special teamer from a season ago. With good Big Ten size, and among the most gifted of Michigan defenders in raw talent, Demens may wind up being something to build around should he continue to show improvement. He has made 61 tackles this season, his first as a regular, with 1.5 TFLs.
Depth is a problem at LB as #42 J.B. Fitzgerald (6-3, 239, Jr.) is the only other player listed as a LB who participated in the Wolverine's game against Wisconsin. Last season he recorded 16 tackles and has matched that production in 2010, though he has 3 less TFLs than a year ago when he had four. #44 Mark Moundros (6-1, 233, Sr.) moved over from FB to begin the 2010 season and saw action at LB against UConn in the opener. While he started on the weakside against Purdue and is a team captain, the bulk of his time appears to be as a special teams player. He has 11 tackles in 11 games.
LB Rating: C-
Head-to-Head: Michigan versus Ohio State LBs
If it was simply a matter of counting up the number of tackles a player makes, Mouton would be the clear leader of all LBs who will participate this Saturday. However, there is much more to the equation than that. Michigan's linebackers are called upon to do too much and as a consequence are in tough spots with regularity - having to choose between helping a D-line that's getting pushed around, or a secondary which has more than struggled this season. Schematically, Ohio State's LBs aren't called upon to make every play and have established themselves to be much better in pass coverage than are their Wolverine counterparts. Each of Ohio State's top 3 LBs has recorded an INT this season, with Brian Rolle leading the way with 2. It wouldn't be surprising to see Rolle, a speedy option in the middle, spying on Robinson while it may be Homan who is more likely to deliver the hit which lets Robinson know what week this is. Expect both seniors to try and finish their careers on a high note this weekend. In terms of depth, again it's no contest as Ohio State has been able to redshirt Etienne Sabino even while suffering some injury issues earlier in the year.
Edge: Ohio State
Secondary
Spur #4 Cameron Gordon (6-3, 208, r-Fr.)
CB #18 James Rogers (6-1, 191, Sr.)
SS #32 Jordan Kovacs (5-10, 200, So.)
FS #20 Ray Vinopal (5-11, 185, Fr.)
CB # 5 Courtney Avery (5-11, 174, Fr.)
The secondary is led by Jordan Kovacs, a player who does not have all the skill in the world, but who provides all out effort. With all the injuries and transfers suffered by the Wolverine secondary, Kovacs also represents the most seasoned veteran of the group, even though he is himself only a sophomore. He is second on the team in tackles with 95. Kovacs is also tied for the team lead in TFLs, with 7.5, one of which was a sack, to go along with a pick and a fumble recovery. Gordon is a former WR who is now trying to make a name for himself on the defensive side of the ball. With good size and speed, Gordon is the unit's most likely option to deliver a big hit. Gordon is currently third on the team with 68 tackles, one for loss, and has recorded 2 INTs and 2 fumble recoveries. Rogers is a senior who, after beginning on the defensive side of the football, spent a couple seasons as a wide receiver before now returning to the secondary. Rogers leads the team with 3 INTs to go along with 33 tackles, one for loss. Vinopal has seen action in 10 of the 11 games this season and now finds himself in a starting role he likely would not have earned had it not been for significant depth chart troubles this season. Vinopal has made 26 tackles this season, one for loss to go along with a 32 yard INT return. Rounding out the starting 5 is Avery, who like Vinopal has seen action all season long but who is starting based on need rather than skill. Avery has 27 tackles, .5 of which came behind the LOS.
Defensive backs #13 Carvin Johnson (6-0, 211, So.), #17 Tony Anderson (5-11, 193, Jr.) and #22 Terrence Talbott (5-11, 179, Fr.) may see the field this weekend as well. Johnson has played in 8 of 11 games and has recoded 10 tackles with 2.5 for loss, while Anderson has made 4 tackles in 9 games. Talbott has seen action in each game and has recorded 14 tackles.
DB Rating: D
Head-to-Head: Michigan versus Ohio State DBs
Michigan's secondary has been a problem for the defense going back to the late Carr years and things have only become worse in the Rodriguez era. There's really no way to sugar coat it - the unit is just not very good when it's at 100% and unfortunately for the Wolverines, they're not even close to 100%. Injury and transfers has left a mishmash of players who are more or less playing because someone has to and not because they have earned the job - with the exception of Kovacs, perhaps and maybe Gordon. Conversely, Ohio State has been hit by the injury bug as well this year, but has managed to use it's depth to field one of the better secondaries in the nation, not just the Big Ten. Pryor should find plenty of room to throw the ball this weekend should he want to, but as mentioned above, most of that will depend on whether or not Tressel employs a run first game plan as expected. Ohio State's secondary, however, will have to be careful to keep their responsibilities as a good deal of Michigan's passing yards come when Denard Robinson hints that he may be running, causing DBs to bite.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Defensive Analysis
Michigan used to represent the hardest defense Ohio State would face in any given season. Those days are deep in the rearview mirror, however, as this group has been bad in all phases. There are some players, Mike Martin for example, who would compete for starting spots on more talented rosters, but overall the talent level at Michigan is not where it needs to be and it seems Rodriguez's recruiting has grossly miscalculated the importance of defense in the Big Ten. Ohio State, in contrast, continues to field one of the finer stop forces in the nation and shows no signs of slowing down in the foreseeable future. There's not a lot of mystery as to what Michigan will do offensively - it all begins and ends with Denard Robinson. As the season has gone along, and as the competition has stiffened, Robinson has seen a deterioration in his numbers. That's not to say he's been unproductive, however, and he will see successful plays this weekend as well, but unless Michigan's defense steps up its level of play it is very unlikely that the offense will be productive enough against Ohio State to break the 6 year string of losses. Pryor could have his best day as a passer if Tressel wants to play that way, but a safer bet is that the Buckeye are simply content to run the ball the bulk of the time. This strategy keeps the ball out of Robinson's hands and is just as likely to work against the Michigan defense which ranks at or near the bottom in the Big Ten and in the nation.
Overall Defensive Rating: D+
The Buckeyes put together a fine effort last week against the Iowa Hawkeyes to keep their Big Ten title hopes alive. In such a tight game, every yard counts, and the kick coverage units and the return units played as well or better than any game this year. Add Barclay's accuracy to Basil's deep and high kicks and the recipe is OSU wins. Special Teams may not seem on paper to be as critical with a sub-par Michigan team coming to town, but there is no reason to let up. It is THE GAME after all.
Special Teams
Michigan
P #43 Will Hagerup (6-4, 222, Fr., Whitefish Bay HS, Milwaukee, WI)
PK #34 Brendan Gibbons (6-0, 245, Fr., Cardinal Newman HS, West Palm Beach, FL)
PR #9 Martavious Odoms (5-8, 173, Jr., Pahokee HS, Pahokee, FL)
PR #10 Jeremy Gallon (5-8, 171, Fr., Apopka HS, Apopka, FL)
PR #8 Terrance Robinson (5-9, 173, So., Oak HS, Klein, TX)
KR #22 Darryl Stonum (6-2, 193, Jr., Dulles HS, Stafford TX)
KR #9 Martavious Odoms (5-8, 173, Jr., Pahokee HS, Pahokee, FL)
LS #91 Tom Pomarico (6-4, 238, Jr., Lumen Christi HS, Jackson, MI)
Hldr #30 Doug Rogan (6-1, 188, Jr., Grass Lake HS, Grass Lake, MI)
The Wolverines are not going to impress anyone with their Special Teams' statistics. Most of their units are mediocre at best, lousy at worse. A few telling stats: Michigan has only returned 12 punts on the year. They have only defended 9. That says that there aren't too many 4th downs out there. On the flip side of the coin they have returned 57 (57!) kickoffs and defended 55. That's over 5 per game each. That's a lot of scoring.
ST Rating: D+
Ohio State
P #17 Ben Buchanan (6-0, 195, Fr., Westerville Central HS, Westerville, OH)
PK #24 Devin Barclay (5-10, 204, Sr., McDonough HS, Annapolis, MD)
KO #24 Drew Basil (6-1, 206, Fr., Chillicothe HS, Chillicothe, OH)
PR #8 DeVier Posey (6-2, 200, Jr., LaSalle HS, Cincinnati, OH)
PR #10 Corey Brown (5-10, 170, Fr., Cardinal O'Hara HS, Upper Darby, PA)
PR #7 Jordan Hall (5-9, 195, So., Jeanette HS, Jeanette, PA)
KR #1 Dan Herron (5-10, 202, Jr., Harding HS, Warren, OH)
KR #3 Brandon Saine (6-1, 219, Sr., Piqua HS, Piqua, OH)
KR #7 Jordan Hall (5-9, 195, So., Jeanette HS, Jeanette, PA)
KR #4 Jaamal Berry (5-10, 200, Fr., Palmetto HS, Pinecrest, FL)
LS #96 Jake McQuaide (6-3, 234, Sr., Elder HS, Cincinnati, OH)
Hldr #14 Joe Bauserman (6-1, 233, Jr., Lincoln HS, Stasburg, VA)
Punting: 37 for 1471, 39.76 avg, 3 touchbacks, 34.03 net, 96th
Punt returns: 28 for 284, 1 TD, 10.14 avg, 39th
Kickoff Returns: 33 for 831, 25.18 avg, 12th
Punt Return defense: 12 for 152, 1 TD, 12.67 avg, 102nd
Kickoff return defense: 70 for 1545, 2 TDs, 22.07 avg, 6 Touchbacks
The Buckeye Special Teams had an outstanding game against Iowa last week. No big returns on kicks or punts and their own kick and punt returns led to better field position. Barclay's career long FG and Basil's good kicks aided in the victory. Perhaps this is the ramblings of someone who endured the 90's but Michigan can not be overlooked. Ohio State will be a heavy favorite and, on paper, has an advantage at every position. Not good enough! So many games are won and lost on Special Teams that it's ridiculous! Ohio State must continue the excellent play from the last 2 weeks and build upon it. Michigan must not be allowed to gain the upper hand, even for 1 yard, on Special Teams. As was noted earlier in this review, no quarter, no mercy.
ST Rating: C
Overall Special Teams Analysis
The last game of the season. The Game. A win and a share of a record-breaking 6th straight Big Ten title is Ohio State's. A win and the BCS is all but assured. A loss? Hello Orlando and the Capital One Bowl. The Buckeyes would rather smell Roses (or Oranges or taste Sugar) than pal around with Mickey Mouse. To that end all three units: Offense, Defense and Special Teams must have great games. Give no quarter because you can expect none.
Edge: Ohio State
PredictionsMichigan
P #43 Will Hagerup (6-4, 222, Fr., Whitefish Bay HS, Milwaukee, WI)
PK #34 Brendan Gibbons (6-0, 245, Fr., Cardinal Newman HS, West Palm Beach, FL)
PR #9 Martavious Odoms (5-8, 173, Jr., Pahokee HS, Pahokee, FL)
PR #10 Jeremy Gallon (5-8, 171, Fr., Apopka HS, Apopka, FL)
PR #8 Terrance Robinson (5-9, 173, So., Oak HS, Klein, TX)
KR #22 Darryl Stonum (6-2, 193, Jr., Dulles HS, Stafford TX)
KR #9 Martavious Odoms (5-8, 173, Jr., Pahokee HS, Pahokee, FL)
LS #91 Tom Pomarico (6-4, 238, Jr., Lumen Christi HS, Jackson, MI)
Hldr #30 Doug Rogan (6-1, 188, Jr., Grass Lake HS, Grass Lake, MI)
The Wolverines are not going to impress anyone with their Special Teams' statistics. Most of their units are mediocre at best, lousy at worse. A few telling stats: Michigan has only returned 12 punts on the year. They have only defended 9. That says that there aren't too many 4th downs out there. On the flip side of the coin they have returned 57 (57!) kickoffs and defended 55. That's over 5 per game each. That's a lot of scoring.
ST Rating: D+
Ohio State
P #17 Ben Buchanan (6-0, 195, Fr., Westerville Central HS, Westerville, OH)
PK #24 Devin Barclay (5-10, 204, Sr., McDonough HS, Annapolis, MD)
KO #24 Drew Basil (6-1, 206, Fr., Chillicothe HS, Chillicothe, OH)
PR #8 DeVier Posey (6-2, 200, Jr., LaSalle HS, Cincinnati, OH)
PR #10 Corey Brown (5-10, 170, Fr., Cardinal O'Hara HS, Upper Darby, PA)
PR #7 Jordan Hall (5-9, 195, So., Jeanette HS, Jeanette, PA)
KR #1 Dan Herron (5-10, 202, Jr., Harding HS, Warren, OH)
KR #3 Brandon Saine (6-1, 219, Sr., Piqua HS, Piqua, OH)
KR #7 Jordan Hall (5-9, 195, So., Jeanette HS, Jeanette, PA)
KR #4 Jaamal Berry (5-10, 200, Fr., Palmetto HS, Pinecrest, FL)
LS #96 Jake McQuaide (6-3, 234, Sr., Elder HS, Cincinnati, OH)
Hldr #14 Joe Bauserman (6-1, 233, Jr., Lincoln HS, Stasburg, VA)
Punting: 37 for 1471, 39.76 avg, 3 touchbacks, 34.03 net, 96th
Punt returns: 28 for 284, 1 TD, 10.14 avg, 39th
Kickoff Returns: 33 for 831, 25.18 avg, 12th
Punt Return defense: 12 for 152, 1 TD, 12.67 avg, 102nd
Kickoff return defense: 70 for 1545, 2 TDs, 22.07 avg, 6 Touchbacks
The Buckeye Special Teams had an outstanding game against Iowa last week. No big returns on kicks or punts and their own kick and punt returns led to better field position. Barclay's career long FG and Basil's good kicks aided in the victory. Perhaps this is the ramblings of someone who endured the 90's but Michigan can not be overlooked. Ohio State will be a heavy favorite and, on paper, has an advantage at every position. Not good enough! So many games are won and lost on Special Teams that it's ridiculous! Ohio State must continue the excellent play from the last 2 weeks and build upon it. Michigan must not be allowed to gain the upper hand, even for 1 yard, on Special Teams. As was noted earlier in this review, no quarter, no mercy.
ST Rating: C
Overall Special Teams Analysis
The last game of the season. The Game. A win and a share of a record-breaking 6th straight Big Ten title is Ohio State's. A win and the BCS is all but assured. A loss? Hello Orlando and the Capital One Bowl. The Buckeyes would rather smell Roses (or Oranges or taste Sugar) than pal around with Mickey Mouse. To that end all three units: Offense, Defense and Special Teams must have great games. Give no quarter because you can expect none.
Edge: Ohio State
BB73's prediction: 31-27, Ohio State
Buckeyeskickbuttocks' prediction: 45-24, Ohio State
Bucklion's prediction: 38-21, Ohio State
Bucky Katt's prediction: 41-31, Ohio State
DaddyBigBucks's prediction: 51-20, Ohio State
JCOSU86's Prediction: 45-21, Ohio State
jwinslow's prediction: 42-28, Ohio State
Previous Game's Results (tOSU 20 - Iowa 17)
Low score wins the year-long battle of prediction supremacy! (Difference of actual score versus predicted score. 10 point penalty for picking the losing team.)
(186) DaddyBigBucks's prediction: 27-18, Ohio State (8 + 178 last week = 186)
(198) Bucky Katt's prediction: 23-21, Ohio State (7 + 191 last week = 198)
(210) Bucklion's prediction: 31-24, Ohio State (18 + 192 last week = 210)
(211) jwinslow's prediction: 31-21, Ohio State (15 + 196 last week = 211)
(217) JCOSU86's prediction: 34-21, Ohio State (18 + 199 last week= 217)
(221) Buckeyeskickbuttocks' prediction: 31-13, Ohio State (15 + 206 last week = 221)
(228) BB73's prediction: 37-23 Ohio State (23 + 205 last week = 228)
Adjusted scores for weeks missed. Participant must take the highest score from the week they missed.
Buckeyeskickbuttocks' prediction: 45-24, Ohio State
Bucklion's prediction: 38-21, Ohio State
Bucky Katt's prediction: 41-31, Ohio State
DaddyBigBucks's prediction: 51-20, Ohio State
JCOSU86's Prediction: 45-21, Ohio State
jwinslow's prediction: 42-28, Ohio State
Previous Game's Results (tOSU 20 - Iowa 17)
Low score wins the year-long battle of prediction supremacy! (Difference of actual score versus predicted score. 10 point penalty for picking the losing team.)
(186) DaddyBigBucks's prediction: 27-18, Ohio State (8 + 178 last week = 186)
(198) Bucky Katt's prediction: 23-21, Ohio State (7 + 191 last week = 198)
(210) Bucklion's prediction: 31-24, Ohio State (18 + 192 last week = 210)
(211) jwinslow's prediction: 31-21, Ohio State (15 + 196 last week = 211)
(217) JCOSU86's prediction: 34-21, Ohio State (18 + 199 last week= 217)
(221) Buckeyeskickbuttocks' prediction: 31-13, Ohio State (15 + 206 last week = 221)
(228) BB73's prediction: 37-23 Ohio State (23 + 205 last week = 228)
Adjusted scores for weeks missed. Participant must take the highest score from the week they missed.
Last edited:
I suppose a missed xp could happen again.
