Ohio State Football: Key Match Ups Ahead Of “The Game”

What should we keep an eye on for Saturday’s Michigan/Ohio State game?

There’s nothing like Michigan week for Ohio State football, especially in a season that has so much at stake for both teams. A berth in the playoffs is on the line to say nothing of the year long bragging rights that come along with the pair of gold pants. There are some key match ups to keep your eye on that will ultimately decide the victor in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday.

1. Jabrill Peppers vs Curtis Samuel

Jim Harbaugh won’t mess around here, trusting the rest of his secondary to handle Noah Brown, K.J. Hill, and really anyone else the Buckeyes throw out there.

The only player in the passing game that will adjust the Wolverines’ game plan for their secondary is Samuel. Enter Peppers, arguably the most talented player on defense in the country.

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Granted, Peppers isn’t exactly intercepting passes left and right. Part of that is scheme and the way Peppers is moved around the field based on down and distance. But part of it is also the talent alone might not be enough to get the best of Samuel.

Think about the talent in the Buckeye receiver group. There’s tons of talent, but not much overall production outside of Curtis Samuel.

This match up will still be something that the broadcast team and the coaches will fixate on. If Samuel can beat Peppers in coverage, he helps free up running lanes for Mike Weber. Samuel also would give J.T. Barrett a reliable option in the passing game; Two things that will be needed against one of the best defenses in the country.

2. Jake Butt vs Buckeye Linebackers

Raekwon McMillan, Chris Worley, and Jerome Baker are as good of a group as there is in the country. Jake Butt is as good of a tight end as there is in the country. He has the same blend of size and athleticism we see from the Buckeye linebackers. Something’s got to give.

The strength of the Buckeye defense is in the secondary. With Wilton Speight unlikely to play, John O’Korn is not exactly a deep ball passer. Butt would easily be his favored target via play action as well as dedicated action against a run-focused Buckeye front seven.

For the Buckeyes, McMillan will need to stay in the middle and keep an eye on De’Veon Smith. That means Baker and Worley, and maybe even some safety help, will be essential against such a talented player as Butt. He has a history of playing well in The Game, so keeping him in check will be a priority for the Buckeye defense.

3. JaMarco Jones and Isaiah Prince vs Taco Charlton and Chris Wormley

There’s a lot of promise at offensive tackle for Ohio State, but both Jones and Prince have had their fair share of struggles. They’ve played well, but The Game always demands finding another level of play. Against Michigan’s defense and tough players like Charlton and Wormley, that level needs to be found or else.

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Barrett, despite what Peppers says, can read a defense and can make good decisions. He might not always make a great throw, but you can roll the film and see how much better he is when he has time to operate in the pocket.

Aside from keeping Barrett clean, both players are instrumental in the run game. While Weber can bust big runs between the tackles, Urban Meyer relies heavily on outside runs and stretch plays.

Charlton and Wormley are the two leading pass rusher on the Wolverine roster and both have shown flashes against good team throughout the year. As important as the Peppers match up is on Samuel, this is a close second in terms of importance to Michigan’s success.

Not only is it imperative that Charlton and Wormley harasses Barrett, but they must be effective against the run. If they can’t keep the Buckeyes from attacking the edges, it will be a long day for the Wolverines’ defense.

4. Urban Meyer vs Jim Harbugh

What other match up did you think would be the finale? In Harbaugh’s second year in Ann Arbor, Michigan has turned itself back into a title contender. All Meyer has done in that time is win a National Championship and cement himself atop the coaching ranks with Alabama’s Nick Saban. No small feat for either man.

Where these two will make an impact is the adjustments they make. What happens when one of the match ups above goes sideways? What happens if there is an injury and a coach can’t make up for it?

Or, what would happen at halftime when the game plan has gone to hell because, well, it’s Ohio State – Michigan? Meyer has proven he can adjust on the play and craft a gameplan that works right out of the gate. Just look at last year’s dismantling of the Wolverines after an ugly home loss.

Next: Ohio State-Michigan:Tale of the Tape

Harbaugh with all of his warts has become a better coach at Michigan. He has made strides as both a recruiter and a game manager; Even if Captain Khaki loses his mind every other play. Brady Hoke and Rich Rodriguez were an early Christmas present for Ohio State every year. Now? Not so much.