The single most important reason U-M lost yesterday was the inability of our DL to get to Haskins. How did this happen? Why did our shut-down defense suddenly encounter an impenetrable wall when that same group of OSU offensive lineman couldn't handle Purdue?
I'll tell you, OSU held on every play.
The refs started out calling this game like every other game this year, and that meant flagging OSU for 50 yards in penalties right out of the gate. Meyer and the god-awful fans went ballistic. I thought Meyer was going to blow a vein in that slimy head of his. That badgering of the officials was right out the Woody Hayes book of how to win at football.
Then the officials just gave up calling penalties. They already had their quota being filled with the handsy play of both teams' defensive backfields. We were headed for a 4-1/2 hour game (which we got anyway) and the officials then just said "unless the fans can see the foul, let 'em play".
Well, that was bad news for our pass rush, without which Haskins had plenty of time to wait for his receivers to come open.
One thing about Urban Meyer, he is all-world at bending the rules so I can hear him now..."whatever happens, don't let Michigan get to our quarterback. If it means you have to hold, so be it. They can't call holding the entire game!"
OSU missed no opportunity to take advantage of using their crossing receivers on pick plays, either. If there's a loophole in the rules, Meyer is always interested. Again the officials were in see-no-evil mode.
The media will say that OSU had the ability to play this way all along and not until yesterday were they motivated to perform. Well, that's not how I saw it.
I'll tell you, OSU held on every play.
The refs started out calling this game like every other game this year, and that meant flagging OSU for 50 yards in penalties right out of the gate. Meyer and the god-awful fans went ballistic. I thought Meyer was going to blow a vein in that slimy head of his. That badgering of the officials was right out the Woody Hayes book of how to win at football.
Then the officials just gave up calling penalties. They already had their quota being filled with the handsy play of both teams' defensive backfields. We were headed for a 4-1/2 hour game (which we got anyway) and the officials then just said "unless the fans can see the foul, let 'em play".
Well, that was bad news for our pass rush, without which Haskins had plenty of time to wait for his receivers to come open.
One thing about Urban Meyer, he is all-world at bending the rules so I can hear him now..."whatever happens, don't let Michigan get to our quarterback. If it means you have to hold, so be it. They can't call holding the entire game!"
OSU missed no opportunity to take advantage of using their crossing receivers on pick plays, either. If there's a loophole in the rules, Meyer is always interested. Again the officials were in see-no-evil mode.
The media will say that OSU had the ability to play this way all along and not until yesterday were they motivated to perform. Well, that's not how I saw it.
