As an OSU fan, I am naturally predicting an OSU win.  But there is more to it than simple partisanship.  The real problem that Michigan has (and has had all year) is not their defense.  While the defense has given up points, it has done so mostly when placed in terrible positions by the offense.  Further, some of the scores against Michigan have come off run backs off turnovers.

So I think we can all rest assured that the defense is not the problem.  The real problem is the offense.  This should be a bit galling for a team who thought that they had hired an offensive genius.  It is, of course, too early to judge Rich Rodriguez as he has yet to recruit any players into the system and is stuck with Llllllloyd Carr’s talent.  But some of the problems are of his own making.  Let’s take two big name transfers.


Michigan has one offensive lineman starting for this team who started for the team that beat Tim Tebow and Florida last year.  Some of that is due to graduation.  But some of it is due to bringing in a culture that pissed Justin Boren off enough to transfer to arch rival OSU.  Whenever you see a Michigan QB flushed out of the pocket this season, you should be thinking about the loss of experience and leadership that went south (literally) to Columbus.  It is all the more surprising given that Justin Boren’s dad was a stand out linebacker at the U of M during the 1980s.  To hear Boren tell it, the “family values” atmosphere is no longer part of the U of M culture.

While QBs are only as good as their offensive lines, Michigan’s top QBs this year Threat and Sheridan, aren’t very good at all.  Threat is injured right now, so it isn’t fair to judge him by his recent performances.  But Sheridan is abysmal.  In the loss to Northwestern last week he was 8 for 29 for 61 yards.  That’s less than a one third completion rate, and on some pretty short passes.

Oh for the likes of Ryan Mallett, who transferred when he saw Rich Rodriguez coming.  A drop back passer, he assumed he had no role to play in a spread offense.  But there is always something to be said for a guy who can throw down the field and over the middle.  If your QBs are limited to short passing and screens, it is just too easy to defend.

That leaves Michigan’s hopes centering around the running game.  They have some good running backs, Brandon Minor is a proven commodity (though banged up right now) and Sam McGuffie shows a great deal of promise.  But you can’t be one dimensional and beat OSU.  You have to come at OSU from all angles and not make mistakes.  You also can’t have turnovers.  And Michigan’s QBs throw a lot of footballs to the wrong areas.

Looking at Michigan’s schedule this year, they have only played one team with a really good defense, and that is Penn State.  They will not have seen a defense like OSU’s yet.  OSU’s defense isn’t built like PSU’s.  They are built around strength and great defensive line play.  Our defense has a good defensive line, but the real blend of talent and experience is in the Linebackers and the secondary.  With three top cornerbacks like Malcolm Jenkins, Chimdi Chekwa, and Donald Washington, there aren’t going to be many openings for Michigan’s QBs to throw into.

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