Ohio State is coming off a forced bye week while Michigan State is coming off a huge win against Northwestern, so momentum would seem to be on the Spartans’ side. However, Michigan State has been up and down all season, and the Buckeyes are still making a case to be in the playoffs.
Earlier this week Buckeyes Wire scouted Michigan State. In that article, we talked about some of the issues the Spartans have had this season, particularly on offense. Still though, the game must be played and this thing could go south if Ohio State doesn’t execute in areas it needs in order to take care of busines.
This is where we start the five keys for this week.
NEXT … Stop the run game before it gets going
Michigan State has had two good running games this year, they won both
The 134 yards rushing in the first half are the most yards @MSU_Football has gained in a game this year. The previous high was 126 against Michigan in Week 2. In its last two games, the Spartans totaled a combined 119 yards.
— B Tripi (@btripi) November 28, 2020
Looking at the two wins from Michigan State, the thing that stood out the most is that the running game was successful in both games. Stopping the run means forcing the Spartans to pass, which has been marginal this season. Should the Buckeyes keep the Spartan rushing attack stymied, then the game becomes one dimensional.
Rocky Lombardi, the Michigan State quarterback, has been very inconsistent and has thrown eight interceptions so far this year. Keeping the running game behind the chains will force Lombardi to have to throw. It all starts up front and keeping the Spartans from grinding yards out on the ground.
NEXT … Win the turnover battle
Capitalize on mistakes and get turnovers
Rocky Lombardi with another turnover pic.twitter.com/zmS0koZobo
— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) November 14, 2020
One thing Justin Fields has not done a lot of this year is turn the ball over. Lombardi on the other hand has thrown eight interceptions. Keep that trend and good things will happen in the game. He has a tendency to throw the ball up at weird times, causing short fields for other teams.
The Spartans do have a player in their secondary that has done well to create turnovers, Shakur Brown. Outside of him, the Spartans have struggled forcing mistakes. Getting some short fields and winning the position battle will be a huge key for Ohio State.
Keep the ball away from the playmaker on defense
Shakur Brown is the biggest threat on defense, neutralize him
Shakur Brown in coverage this season
• 5 games
• 1 TD allowed
• 5 INTs pic.twitter.com/51M2BxTkGF— sportslevels (@sportslevels9) December 5, 2020
Michigan State has five interceptions this year, and all five were by Brown. He is the biggest threat for the Spartan defense, so finding ways to take away his playmaking ability will be paramount for the offense. If I am the offensive coaching staff, I am looking for ways to “pick” Brown or develop routes that will keep him away from the ball.
Brown is seemingly getting better, so anything the Buckeyes can do to keep the ball away from him will be beneficial for a victory. The rest of the Spartan defense has not been on the same level as Brown.
NEXT … Larry Johnson must be better than Mel Tucker
Outcoaching Mel Tucker will be a key for Larry Johnson
Mel Tucker said MSU had more of “a 12-hour rule” instead of 24 after upsetting Northwestern to quickly turn to preparing for No. 4 Ohio State. “I expect to win every game on our schedule,” he says and not a mindset “to give it the old college try and see what happens.”
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) December 4, 2020
Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker has not had a great first season, but that does not mean he isn’t a good coach. He coached with the Buckeyes from 2001-2004 and has been a coach on two national championship teams, the 2002 Buckeyes, and the 2015 Alabama team. However, this is only his second head coaching stop after his first run at Colorado.
Larry Johnson will have to rely on his assistants around him as he tries to fill the shoes of Ryan Day. If Johnson can get the team in the right positions against the Spartans, the talent of Ohio State should take over.
NEXT … Don’t forget the running game
Master Teague needs to be utilized and not forgotten
Master Teague III
Skinny thru Hole ✅
Vision/Cut ✅ pic.twitter.com/GXKKMzXDlf— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) November 25, 2020
Ohio State should pull away in this game fairly early, and turning the ball to Master Teague could come sooner than later. However, with the possibility of short fields, allowing Teague to grind out some of the tougher yards should help Fields capitalize in the air.
As the game winds down, Teague should be able to move the chains enough to help keep the game out of reach. If the running game lags a little, Johnson has to remember not to give up on it. Keeping Teague involved seems to help the team in all areas because of the balance it provides.
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