Tag Archives: Brady Hoke

KENNY’S KEYS TO AN OHIO STATE WIN OVER MICHIGAN

PROTECT THE PIGSKIN – If the Buckeyes don’t turn the ball over on offense or special teams the Wolverines can’t beat them. The only way Ohio State loses this game is if the Buckeyes beat themselves. Michigan can’t match Ohio State’s offense point for point this season like they did last year in OSU’s 42-41 win in Ann Arbor. Urban Meyer has too many weapons for even the 9th ranked defense in the country to stop in J.T. Barrett, Ezekiel Elliott, Jalin Marshall, Michael Thomas, Jeff Heuerman and Devin Smith just to name a few. If those guys hold onto the ball and don’t give Michigan a short field to work with or cough it up in the red zone and don’t come away with any points, then Michigan can’t beat Ohio State.

J.T. Barrett TD Pass vs Navy

A BALANCED OFFENSIVE ATTACK – Urban Meyer and Tom Herman need to use all the weapons I mentioned above on offense. The strength of this Michigan team is on defense so you’re going to need to keep them off balance. Start with the run, mix in some throws, a few option plays, hit them with the play action pass, follow that up with a few jet sweeps and then a deep ball or two. Keep the Wolverines guessing and get everyone involved in the offense. Ideally you’d like to throw for 250 yards and run for another 200 yards in this game.

DON’T GIVE UP THE BIG PLAY – In the last three games Ohio State’s defense has given up touchdown runs of 30, 33, 52 and 90 yards. The Buckeyes need to do a better job of tackling and taking better angles to the ball. Also they can’t go for the “Sports Center” hit of the game. Be fundamentally sound and just “Do Your Job” on defense. In other words, wrap up and tackle. Don’t let quarterback Devin Gardner or wide receiver Devin Funchess take what should be a minimal gain and turn it into a momentum changing “BIG Play”. Joey Bosa, Joshua Perry, Raekwon McMillian and Doran Grant need to lead the way.

Marcus Hall Flipping the Bird to Michigan Fans 2013

YOUNG STARTERS NEED TO HANDLE THE PRESSURE – The Buckeyes will have 13 starters on offense, defense and special teams that are either freshmen or sophomores playing in “The Game”. Those “‘Yutes” (see My Cousin Vinnie for clarification) need to have complete “Focusness” (Jim Thome term) and don’t let “The Game” get too big for them. Keep your composure and don’t go all Marcus Hall on the Wolverines (although that was classic last year) and again just “Do Your Job”, instead of trying to do too much. If they play like that, then these young talented kids should be fine.

Urban Meyer

BE SOUND ON SPECIAL TEAMS – Nothing gives an underdog more hope and confidence then returning a punt or a kickoff for a touchdown. OSU’s coverage units must stay in their lanes and again just “Do Your Job” and they should be fine. Also, Urban Meyer who is in charge of the special teams units, needs to have his troops on high alert  for fake punts, field goals and extra points. The Wolverines have nothing to lose and everything to gain in this game, so you can bet that Brady Hoke will be pulling out all of the stops in what should be his last game as head coach at Michigan.

“INSTANT ANALYSIS” – OHIO STATE 42 MICHIGAN 41

REASONS WHY OHIO STATE SHOULD BLOW MICHIGAN OUT

Urban Meyer is a better coach than Brady Hoke.

Braxton Miller and Kenny Guiton are better quarterbacks than Devon Gardner. Miller should be able to throw the ball all over the Wolverines secondary, as Michigan is ranked 9th in the Big Ten in passing defense.

Carlos Hyde is a better running back than all of the running backs combined on Michigan’s roster and will rack up another 100 yard game, just like he did last year versus Michigan.

Ohio State’s offensive line is one of the best in the entire country and will handle Michigan’s front seven which has only 21 sacks all year. There should be time for Miller to throw and holes for Hyde to run through, as well as Dontre Wilson, Miller and Guiton.

Linebacker Ryan Shazier is playing a very high level right now (36 tackles in his last 2 games) and Michigan doesn’t have anyone who can control him. So he and the rest of the “Silver Bullets” will be able to handle a Wolverines ground attack that ranks 100th in the country at only 129 yards per game.

Even though he’s had an average year, cornerback Bradley Roby has a ton of motivation for this game. He’s played better football in recent weeks and he’ll be going up the #2 ranked wide receiver in the Big Ten in Michigan’s Jeremy Gallon.  A good showing in Ann Arbor will allow Roby to bring his stock value back up with NFL scouts.

Joey Bosa and the Buckeyes defensive lineman will be able to put pressure on and get to quarterback Devon Gardner for a few sacks and a turnover or two, as Michigan has given up 32 sacks already this season to go along with 19 turnovers.

The Buckeyes offense leads the Big Ten in scoring and is 3rd in the entire country averaging just under 49 points per game, Michigan is averaging only 33 point per game. Even if the Buckeyes defense should struggle, the Buckeyes can outscore Michigan.

The weather doesn’t seem like it’s going to be a factor as the forecast for kick off at noon in Ann Arbor is calling for sunny skies, 0% of precipitation and temperatures in the mid 30’s with winds at maybe 10mph.

Ohio State has more depth and more talented players from top to bottom and has a lot more to play for than the Wolverines do.  A possible national championship birth is on the line in this game and Urban Meyer has, and will repeatedly remind them of that so they don’t take Michigan lightly.

Bottom line is, Ohio State has more talent, is a better football team, has a better coaching staff and they have something monumental to play for and therefore will be focused.

My prediction  –   Ohio State 38     Michigan 10.