tOSU Observation

[blion72]

JF has focused all recruiting and defensive philosophy on stopping OSU. Interestingly, most of the BIG West and UMich do not play that way (Purdue exception). This has led our recruiting to be focused on DB and SAM LB that is safety sized. UMich has not tried to do the same, and instead is grinder team, and did not try to chase tOSU the same way. tOSU has owned UMich since Harbaugh got there, which is what put Harbaugh on the hot seat last year.

So what changed?

• First, in Stroud, tOSU has a great passer who poses NO RUN THREAT. Justin Fields beat teams with his legs when things got tough. He converted 3rd and long with his legs. tOSU has had this type of QB all the way back to when Urban arrived to coach in 2012. The lack of a run from QB puts all the pressure on the passing game and WR's and the RBs. Currently, tOSU top 2 RBs are not factors, and their original top WR has not played. So Stroud not being a threat is a big change. tOSU will need a QB like Fields and a couple major DL recruits to get back.
• Second, the DL under LJ is not what it has been. They are not as dynamic as they have had in the middle or the edge. JT who looked like a Heisman edge rusher against us was just based on who was playing RT (backup). tOSU does not have the DL to compete against a team like UMich now. Illinois would have been a load for tOSU this year.
• Third, now UMich has the running QB. In fact you could say that this is his principal skill. UMich has not really had this in recent years. tOSU does not have the edge to cover this, and their DBs are not good enough to cover in 1 high or 0 base defense. Most all the big plays UMich had were the result of McCarthy being able to keep the play alive.

The observations on tOSU apply to us as well. To stop UMich, you need the DL to stop the run (Illinois did this to UMich), the edge speed to prevent McCarthy from running and the DBs to be cover. We currently have these, except the kind of DL it takes to contain the run. We need to have 3-4 guys who look like PJ Mustipher on the team. Next year we currently have none based on the roster and recruiting.

 

[DaytonRickster]

JF has focused all recruiting and defensive philosophy on stopping OSU. Interestingly, most of the BIG West and UMich do not play that way (Purdue exception). This has led our recruiting to be focused on DB and SAM LB that is safety sized. UMich has not tried to do the same, and instead is grinder team, and did not try to chase tOSU the same way. tOSU has owned UMich since Harbaugh got there, which is what put Harbaugh on the hot seat last year.

So what changed?

• First, in Stroud, tOSU has a great passer who poses NO RUN THREAT. Justin Fields beat teams with his legs when things got tough. He converted 3rd and long with his legs. tOSU has had this type of QB all the way back to when Urban arrived to coach in 2012. The lack of a run from QB puts all the pressure on the passing game and WR's and the RBs. Currently, tOSU top 2 RBs are not factors, and their original top WR has not played. So Stroud not being a threat is a big change. tOSU will need a QB like Fields and a couple major DL recruits to get back.
• Second, the DL under LJ is not what it has been. They are not as dynamic as they have had in the middle or the edge. JT who looked like a Heisman edge rusher against us was just based on who was playing RT (backup). tOSU does not have the DL to compete against a team like UMich now. Illinois would have been a load for tOSU this year.
• Third, now UMich has the running QB. In fact you could say that this is his principal skill. UMich has not really had this in recent years. tOSU does not have the edge to cover this, and their DBs are not good enough to cover in 1 high or 0 base defense. Most all the big plays UMich had were the result of McCarthy being able to keep the play alive.

The observations on tOSU apply to us as well. To stop UMich, you need the DL to stop the run (Illinois did this to UMich), the edge speed to prevent McCarthy from running and the DBs to be cover. We currently have these, except the kind of DL it takes to contain the run. We need to have 3-4 guys who look like PJ Mustipher on the team. Next year we currently have none based on the roster and recruiting.

Very good assessment. I wonder if Day is now on the hot seat with two straight losses to UM? I live in Buckeye country and losing to UM is unacceptable to their Alumni and fans. Is he John Cooper 2.0?

 

[psu31trap]

JF has focused all recruiting and defensive philosophy on stopping OSU. Interestingly, most of the BIG West and UMich do not play that way (Purdue exception). This has led our recruiting to be focused on DB and SAM LB that is safety sized. UMich has not tried to do the same, and instead is grinder team, and did not try to chase tOSU the same way. tOSU has owned UMich since Harbaugh got there, which is what put Harbaugh on the hot seat last year.

So what changed?

• First, in Stroud, tOSU has a great passer who poses NO RUN THREAT. Justin Fields beat teams with his legs when things got tough. He converted 3rd and long with his legs. tOSU has had this type of QB all the way back to when Urban arrived to coach in 2012. The lack of a run from QB puts all the pressure on the passing game and WR's and the RBs. Currently, tOSU top 2 RBs are not factors, and their original top WR has not played. So Stroud not being a threat is a big change. tOSU will need a QB like Fields and a couple major DL recruits to get back.
• Second, the DL under LJ is not what it has been. They are not as dynamic as they have had in the middle or the edge. JT who looked like a Heisman edge rusher against us was just based on who was playing RT (backup). tOSU does not have the DL to compete against a team like UMich now. Illinois would have been a load for tOSU this year.
• Third, now UMich has the running QB. In fact you could say that this is his principal skill. UMich has not really had this in recent years. tOSU does not have the edge to cover this, and their DBs are not good enough to cover in 1 high or 0 base defense. Most all the big plays UMich had were the result of McCarthy being able to keep the play alive.

The observations on tOSU apply to us as well. To stop UMich, you need the DL to stop the run (Illinois did this to UMich), the edge speed to prevent McCarthy from running and the DBs to be cover. We currently have these, except the kind of DL it takes to contain the run. We need to have 3-4 guys who look like PJ Mustipher on the team. Next year we currently have none based on the roster and recruiting.

You need to give Harbaugh and Michigan some credit. They beat OSU two years in a row because they were willing to change their recruiting philosophy after 2018/2019. To prove my point look no further than their offensive line or how about their DL, much bigger and stronger. Yesterday’s game was close until half way through the 3rd quarter, then Michigan did what OSU usually does to their opponents, they started to grind them down making OSU look slow and lost.

 

[ChandlerPearce]

JF has focused all recruiting and defensive philosophy on stopping OSU. Interestingly, most of the BIG West and UMich do not play that way (Purdue exception). This has led our recruiting to be focused on DB and SAM LB that is safety sized. UMich has not tried to do the same, and instead is grinder team, and did not try to chase tOSU the same way. tOSU has owned UMich since Harbaugh got there, which is what put Harbaugh on the hot seat last year.

So what changed?

• First, in Stroud, tOSU has a great passer who poses NO RUN THREAT. Justin Fields beat teams with his legs when things got tough. He converted 3rd and long with his legs. tOSU has had this type of QB all the way back to when Urban arrived to coach in 2012. The lack of a run from QB puts all the pressure on the passing game and WR's and the RBs. Currently, tOSU top 2 RBs are not factors, and their original top WR has not played. So Stroud not being a threat is a big change. tOSU will need a QB like Fields and a couple major DL recruits to get back.
• Second, the DL under LJ is not what it has been. They are not as dynamic as they have had in the middle or the edge. JT who looked like a Heisman edge rusher against us was just based on who was playing RT (backup). tOSU does not have the DL to compete against a team like UMich now. Illinois would have been a load for tOSU this year.
• Third, now UMich has the running QB. In fact you could say that this is his principal skill. UMich has not really had this in recent years. tOSU does not have the edge to cover this, and their DBs are not good enough to cover in 1 high or 0 base defense. Most all the big plays UMich had were the result of McCarthy being able to keep the play alive.

The observations on tOSU apply to us as well. To stop UMich, you need the DL to stop the run (Illinois did this to UMich), the edge speed to prevent McCarthy from running and the DBs to be cover. We currently have these, except the kind of DL it takes to contain the run. We need to have 3-4 guys who look like PJ Mustipher on the team. Next year we currently have none based on the roster and recruiting.

It will help next year when Tony Rojas is playing with Abdul Carter and hopefully Curtis Jacobs.
The rebirth of LBU!

 

[Bvillebaron]

You need to give Harbaugh and Michigan some credit. They beat OSU two years in a row because they were willing to change their recruiting philosophy after 2018/2019. To prove my point look no further than their offensive line or how about their DL, much bigger and stronger. Yesterday’s game was close until half way through the 3rd quarter, then Michigan did what OSU usually does to their opponents, they started to grind them down making OSU look slow and lost.

Michigan beat OSU with big plays yesterday.

 

[DaytonRickster]

It will help next year when Tony Rojas is playing with Abdul Carter and hopefully Curtis Jacobs.
The rebirth of LBU!

Not sure about Rojas' weight. Looks rather light @ this time. He is definitely talented but he has to gain weight/strength to play LBer in B1G.

 

[Global Fan]

JF has focused all recruiting and defensive philosophy on stopping OSU. Interestingly, most of the BIG West and UMich do not play that way (Purdue exception). This has led our recruiting to be focused on DB and SAM LB that is safety sized. UMich has not tried to do the same, and instead is grinder team, and did not try to chase tOSU the same way. tOSU has owned UMich since Harbaugh got there, which is what put Harbaugh on the hot seat last year.

So what changed?

• Third, now UMich has the running QB. I

Running QB, UM's QB, #9, reminds me of a former PSU QB that wore #9 also.

 

[LB99]

I think where PSU needs to rethink their personnel is at the DT position. They seem to like to take lighter more athletic DT/DE guys and make them into DTs. I think the Michigan game proved that having big, strong, immovable DTs are key to stopping the run. The OP was right, PSU has recruited to stop the spread and it has worked, but they struggle with old school pound the run type teams.

 

[psu31trap]

Michigan beat OSU with big plays yesterday.

True, but it was the relentless punishment the Michigan O-Line inflicted in the trenches that forced the OSU safeties to play closer to the line of scrimmage leaving man to man coverage in the secondary, hence the big plays. In the 4th quarter they could not stop the run or the passing game, to be honest I saw an OSU defense that was dejected and beaten up. JMHO

 

[Bvillebaron]

True, but it was the relentless punishment the Michigan O-Line inflicted in the trenches that forced the OSU safeties to play closer to the line of scrimmage leaving man to man coverage in the secondary, hence the big plays. In the 4th quarter they could not stop the run or the passing game, to be honest I saw an OSU defense that was dejected and beaten up. JMHO

Michigan ran for less than 30 yards when the same receiver burned them twice for 70 yard TDs. I acknowledge that OSU was determined to stop the run and played the safeties up, but those 2 passes demonstrated two of the worst defensed plays by a CB I have seen in a long time.