The Michigan Wolverines have undergone something of an offensive renaissance since halftime of their loss against Penn State.
UM quarterback Shea Patterson has thrown 12 touchdowns and just one interception in the last four games.
Michigan has put up 45, 38, 44, and 39 points over that span, after struggling to 10 points against Iowa, 24 against Army, and 14 at Wisconsin earlier in the year.
It certainly seems like the Wolverines have hit their stride just in time to face their bitter rivals from Columbus.
This week, however, the challenge they’ll face gets a lot tougher. Ohio State ranks as one of the best defenses in the nation: No. 1 in SP+ defense, No. 1 in points allowed per game, and No. 1 in yards per play allowed.
One big reason is the impact of junior defensive end Chase Young.
Young already owns the single-season Ohio State sack record with 16.5.
He didn’t just pile those up in meaningless games, either. With four against Wisconsin and three against Penn State, Young got halfway to Vernon Gholston’s old record of 14 just in the two biggest games the Buckeyes have played so far.
“Chase is a great player. It is no secret, he is going to make plays. It makes a tremendous impact on the field and it makes everyone’s jobs easier,” said OSU junior LB Tuf Borland.
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh knows all about Young and the impact he can have on the field.
“He’s a tremendous football player,” Harbaugh said. “Extremely athletic. Very physical. Shows up at the ball. And he’s a tremendous pass rusher.”
What makes Young even dangerous is that his presence is still felt on plays where he doesn’t get on the stat sheet.
“I feel like I hear quarterbacks talking in their heads, ‘Oh, I’ve got to get it out in a certain amount of seconds because I’ve got him in front of me,’” said Ohio State junior LB Pete Werner.
That can make a big difference because it can take certain slower-developing pass routes out of opponents’ game plans, and allowing OSU’s defensive backs to sit on shorter routes.
That alone could help decide this weekend’s game at Michigan.
The Wolverines have struggled to run the ball consistently for most of this season. They’re averaging just 4.0 yards per carry this fall, and were well short of even that against Penn State (3.4 YPC), Michigan State (2.4), Iowa (3.6), and Wisconsin (2.1).
If Michigan is going to move the ball on the Buckeye defense, they’ll likely have to rely on the big-play ability of their talented receiving corps. Nico Collins, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Tarik Black, and Ronnie Bell are all among the best in the Big Ten.
But if Wolverine quarterback Shea Patterson doesn’t have time in the pocket, their impact could be limited.
“That’s going to help our whole defense because we have a guy (who’s) a threat like that right in front of us,” Werner said. “It’s just great to have a guy like that with the ability to put so much pressure on the quarterback.”
Guys, I think Jim Short’s real last name is Harbaugh.
Junior Chase Young and Senior Joey Bosa… what could have been.
The problem for most opposing teams is not only Chase Young, but there are a number of other defensive Buckeyes that are not far behind Chase in ability. With all of those bearing down on opposing Quarterbacks, they can’t be anything but worried about getting off a pass, ending up running for their life. Ohio State has a bunch of good, tough linebackers and deep defensive players as well that are top notch players. I believe they will be up for this game and ttun will score no more than 17 to 24 points at most. The Buckeye offense will score at least 31 or more points perhaps depending on the weather, not ttun’s defense. I don’t believe it will be a blow-out like last year, but even that is not out of the question. GO BUCKS, MAKE IT 8 IN A ROW!
It will be interesting to see if the B1G refs call any holding against SCum Saturday.
Tom- yes, indeed. I read that, in the NFL, teams can contact the league before the upcoming game with specific complaints/ “our opponent pulls this crap all the time” notiifications so officials know BEFORE the game. I wonder if it is the same way in the BIG. Given the horrific quality of officiating I doubt it, just a curiosity really. Does anyone know?
I do
Gym Shorts- the kids’ section is next door, find it. (Enjoy rooting for UM Saturday, troll boy).
I got your troll boy moron. Grow up simpleton!
I’d like, excuse me, LOVE, to smack you around.
Let’s take a poll. Is Gym Shorts:
1) a 60 year old who suffered complications from a lobotomy? OR
2) a 19 year old who is mean spirited and petty, yet lacking in life
experience to truly be clever and funny?
Which is it? I’m leaning on choice 2, as he displays the “twitter muscles” that come with the territory. (No matter what the answer is, I suspect he’ll be sporting blue this Saturday).
Don’t try to recklessly come up with a profile of a commenter. You have NO idea. You on the other hand, I can tell, r a goofball.
Well, you ARE the expert on people who have no idea, Gym- you truly are a lower form of life. Fans like you are the reason UM fans occasionally have a valid point about Buckeye followers. If you don’t like being ripped up, don’t start the stupidity and hope no one bites back. ( I touched a nerve earlier, didn’t I?..got too close to the truth, would be my guess).