In order for Ohio State to beat Michigan on Saturday, Dwayne Haskins must get into a rhythm moving the offense down the field through the air. For that to happen, the Buckeyes need to pair their passing attack with a steady run game that forces the Wolverines to respect the ground game enough to open up lanes for Haskins.
Neither will happen, though, if Ohio State’s offensive line can’t win the battle at the line of scrimmage.
“I feel like the toughest team is going to win the game, the most prepared team,” Isaiah Prince said on Tuesday. “Just have a good week of practice and go through it and make sure you prepare, watch film and just take care of your business.”
For nearly the entire season, Ohio State hasn’t been able to maximize its run and pass games together at once, and many of the offensive issues have stemmed up front.
Three first-year starters – Demetrius Knox, Malcolm Pridgeon and Thayer Munford – combine with Prince, an up-and-down three-year starting right tackle, and Michael Jordan, who plays out of position at center, to form the offensive line. Despite each player standing at least 6-foot-4 and weighing at least 310 pounds, the line hasn’t often collectively imposed its will.
The ground game declined each week of the season until it bottomed out with 2.9 yards per rush against Minnesota. After the following week’s loss to Purdue, the Buckeyes’ coaching staff opted to make changes to its rushing attack, going away from the run-pass option-heavy offense in favor of designed, called runs, which allowed the offensive line to tee off on defenders.
Since then, results have improved. J.K. Dobbins rushed for 163 yards against Nebraska and 203 yards versus Maryland. Mike Weber managed 104 yards on Saturday against the Terrapins and had 10.1 yards per carry on nine rushes versus Michigan State.
“I feel like we’re doing really well right now,” Knox said. “A lot of people challenged us as far as picking up our run game and stuff like that. But during (the game against Michigan State), Mike Weber rushed for over 100, then J.K. 200-and-something. So I think (we answered) pretty well.”
However, the line couldn’t get consistent movement against Michigan State, which has a comparable front seven to Michigan's linemen and linebackers. The Spartans held the Buckeyes to 2.7 yards per carry, and Haskins couldn’t get into a rhythm, which led to just a single offensive touchdown that came in the second-to-last minute of the game.
Ohio State can’t afford to have a repeat performance against the Wolverines, but Michigan’s stout run and pass defense will make yards difficult to come by.
“Whenever you face an elite team, elite defense, which they are, personnel stands out, front seven stands out,” Urban Meyer said on Monday. “And also very good, I think they're number one in the nation in pass defense. And just very good personnel, very well-thought out scheme and very good defense.”
Defensive coordinator Don Brown’s unit allows the fewest rush yards per game (78.9 yards) and fewest pass yards per game in the country (123.2 yards).
“I feel like the toughest team is going to win the game, the most prepared team. Just have a good week of practice and go through it and make sure you prepare, watch film and just take care of your business.”– Isaiah Prince
Penn State, Michigan State and Notre Dame each averaged fewer than three yards per carry against Michigan. Wisconsin managed 6.3 yards per carry and Indiana had 4.8 yards per carry last week, but neither team cracked 200 passing yards. No team has been able put together a complete offensive game against Michigan the entire season.
In order to be the first team to do that, Ohio State needs an impressive performance from the offensive line against a stout defensive front.
“I feel like they do a really good job of controlling the box,” Knox said. “They control the line of scrimmage really well too. They sit in there. They’ve got some big dudes in the middle who anchor in well.”
Chase Winovich, Michigan’s stud edge rusher who has 13.5 tackles for loss and four sacks, might miss the game. Jim Harbaugh has kept his status under wraps.
“You know, I’d say he’s built his resume over the past couple of years and his film speaks for itself,” Knox said. “He’s an amazing player, as everybody can see. You know, he’s a big part of their team and it will be fun to see whether he plays or if somebody else can step up and take over that role.”
Even if the Wolverines don’t have Winovich, they have enough playmakers up front to worry Ohio State’s offensive line, including Rashan Gary, who has 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
“He gives maximum effort every play,” Prince said. “I don't think I have seen ever be lazy on a play.”
Josh Uche leads the team with seven sacks, and Devin Bush has five sacks and nine tackles for loss. Both linebackers fly around the field. Knox complimented Michigan's linebackers’ pursuit.
Regardless of whether Ohio State can gash Michigan on the ground, Haskins needs an pocket uninhabited with Wolverines to operate against one of the best pass defenses in the country. Per Pro Football Focus, Haskins’ passer rating when pressured drops to 59.1 compared to a 129.1 passer rating in clean pockets.
Minnesota’s Carter Coughlin, Michigan State’s Kenny Willekes, Nebraska’s JoJo Doman and others have used Ohio State’s offensive linemen like turnstiles at times. Ohio State knows the same outsiders who prop up Michigan’s defensive front as possibly the best in the country have questions about the Buckeyes’ ability to protect Haskins, and Prince intends to use that as fuel.
“It gives me a lot of energy,” Prince said. “I like competition and I love to compete, so I am looking forward to that.”
