I'm watching the Ohio State/Michigan State game again to see what can work for the Buckeyes heading into their matchup with Michigan.
Here's my thoughts from the first quarter.
First quarter
Offense
Ohio State didn’t need to take any big shots in that first offensive drive.
The Buckeyes knew what they were getting into against the Michigan State defense: facing the worst pass defense in college football statistically. But redshirt freshman quarterback C.J. Stroud didn’t need to rush or push anything downfield. Instead, he just took what the Spartans were giving up.
He spread the ball around horizontally, beating Michigan State in man coverage with simple curl routes, getting space at the top of the route and throwing it where his receiver is expected to be.
The linebackers brought increased pressure, but with the speed of the players he was working with, it was really no issue, using short routes and the run game to methodically move the ball.
Stroud’s first touchdown pass of the day — a 23-yard pass to Chris Olave, tying David Boston’s school record for most in a career — was when you realized Stroud was up to something special: threading the needle through the middle of Michigan State’s first zone look.
What’s separated Stroud recently is his ability to now force things downfield. But when he sees an opportunity the redshirt freshman takes it like he did on his 77-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson: looking the safety Xavier Henderson away toward Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the middle of the field, and firing on the outside post for the score. He did it again against Michigan State safety Angelo Grose, stepping up to take on tight end Jeremy Ruckert to allow Olave to get behind him and score on a 43-yard post
Defense
From the very first defensive play, what head coach Ryan Day described as Ohio State’s approach against running back Kenneth Walker II proved to be true.
The Michigan State running back took the delayed handoff after quarterback Payton Thorne pointed out the linebacker blitz. Ohio State defensive tackle Haskell Garrett sped out into the backfield, trying to bring down Walker himself, but the running back shook him off. Luckily, Garrett gave Craig Young and Steele Chambers to get to the backfield for a one-yard loss.
This would prove to be important for the Ohio State defense all day: showing pressure not only in getting to the quarterback, but making him uncomfortable by batting down passes at the line of scrimmage, forcing rushed throws.
Thorne found some open windows, especially in the middle of the field with Tyler Hunt and with Jayden Reed in man coverage against Denzel Burke. But the physicality remained and the windows became tight so the gains were not too big for the Spartans. The same could be said about the running game, when Walker showed why he’s one of the best backs int he country — using cutbacks and speed to get to the second level — but never turned on the jets for a monster gain.
What does this mean for Michigan?
In terms of an offensive and defensive pairing, this is the ideal scenario against Michigan.
If Ohio State can get the passing game going, scoring relentlessly and quickly, taking a three-touchdown lead like it had at the end of the first quarter, it’s going to force Michigan to try and keep up offensively.
That will make Cade McNamara revert to the pass much more, trying to move the ball downfield, instead of the strength in the run game, just like where Michigan State’s strength lies.
That’s the Buckeyes’ mindset moving forward, is to score relentlessly and force the opposing offense to force the ball downfield out of necessity, something that will work to Ohio State’s favor, especially with the amount of pressure the defensive front brings.
Here's my thoughts from the first quarter.
First quarter
Offense
Ohio State didn’t need to take any big shots in that first offensive drive.
The Buckeyes knew what they were getting into against the Michigan State defense: facing the worst pass defense in college football statistically. But redshirt freshman quarterback C.J. Stroud didn’t need to rush or push anything downfield. Instead, he just took what the Spartans were giving up.
He spread the ball around horizontally, beating Michigan State in man coverage with simple curl routes, getting space at the top of the route and throwing it where his receiver is expected to be.
The linebackers brought increased pressure, but with the speed of the players he was working with, it was really no issue, using short routes and the run game to methodically move the ball.
Stroud’s first touchdown pass of the day — a 23-yard pass to Chris Olave, tying David Boston’s school record for most in a career — was when you realized Stroud was up to something special: threading the needle through the middle of Michigan State’s first zone look.
What’s separated Stroud recently is his ability to now force things downfield. But when he sees an opportunity the redshirt freshman takes it like he did on his 77-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson: looking the safety Xavier Henderson away toward Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the middle of the field, and firing on the outside post for the score. He did it again against Michigan State safety Angelo Grose, stepping up to take on tight end Jeremy Ruckert to allow Olave to get behind him and score on a 43-yard post
Defense
From the very first defensive play, what head coach Ryan Day described as Ohio State’s approach against running back Kenneth Walker II proved to be true.
The Michigan State running back took the delayed handoff after quarterback Payton Thorne pointed out the linebacker blitz. Ohio State defensive tackle Haskell Garrett sped out into the backfield, trying to bring down Walker himself, but the running back shook him off. Luckily, Garrett gave Craig Young and Steele Chambers to get to the backfield for a one-yard loss.
This would prove to be important for the Ohio State defense all day: showing pressure not only in getting to the quarterback, but making him uncomfortable by batting down passes at the line of scrimmage, forcing rushed throws.
Thorne found some open windows, especially in the middle of the field with Tyler Hunt and with Jayden Reed in man coverage against Denzel Burke. But the physicality remained and the windows became tight so the gains were not too big for the Spartans. The same could be said about the running game, when Walker showed why he’s one of the best backs int he country — using cutbacks and speed to get to the second level — but never turned on the jets for a monster gain.
What does this mean for Michigan?
In terms of an offensive and defensive pairing, this is the ideal scenario against Michigan.
If Ohio State can get the passing game going, scoring relentlessly and quickly, taking a three-touchdown lead like it had at the end of the first quarter, it’s going to force Michigan to try and keep up offensively.
That will make Cade McNamara revert to the pass much more, trying to move the ball downfield, instead of the strength in the run game, just like where Michigan State’s strength lies.
That’s the Buckeyes’ mindset moving forward, is to score relentlessly and force the opposing offense to force the ball downfield out of necessity, something that will work to Ohio State’s favor, especially with the amount of pressure the defensive front brings.
