At a second glance, it appears as if the Buckeyes were, in fact, going for it, though with a bit of trickeration.
The ball looks designed to be hiked to Rossi, who moves toward his left as if to follow a block by Eichenberg and seize on plenty of open turf. On the right side, Stover lets in three of Michigan players from punt coverage to rush punter Jesse Mirco, leaving fewer Wolverines downfield.
None of them are protecting Mirco, who caught a high snap and got off a punt before it was nearly blocked. It resulted in a touchback.
Kind of desperate to try a fake punt and not just line up and go for it on 4th and 5. However:
A day later, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said the Wolverines were fortunate the fake punt never went off.
Speaking on a Big Ten championship game coaches webinar, he said they got “so lucky.”
“Nobody on the field saw it, and they had us cold," Harbaugh said. "I think their snapper snapped to the wrong guy, snapped it to the punter instead of to the faker, but it would have been a huge gain. We got extremely lucky. They actually were going for it and would have pulled off a big fourth down conversion.”
I just don't see how we are going to be able to stop their tight ends unless the CBs can play man all night allowing the safeties to play over the top.
The only path to victory, I think, is winning a 60-58 shootout. I'd feel better if JSN was playing, but keep an eye on Ebucka, he could pop.
Isn't it a little racist to call it Black Friday? - Joy Behar
I just don't see how we are going to be able to stop their tight ends unless the CBs can play man all night allowing the safeties to play over the top.
The only path to victory, I think, is winning a 60-58 shootout. I'd feel better if JSN was playing, but keep an eye on Ebucka, he could pop.
The last few years it always seems like Ohio State has a matchup problem. Whether it is a big athletic WR or TE. The tight ends do worry me as our LBs won't stand a chance against them.
Knowles has to stop playing so much cover zero. Apparently that is what led to the big plays for Michigan.
Marvin Harrison, Jr. is the WR that will really need to play well for a Buckeye win.
Kent State, Missouri and Kentucky keeping their games close against Georgia is what is giving me hope at this point.
I am most concerned about Stroud not having time to throw, as I think running on Georgia is going to be very difficult.