Why Michigan Looks Mighty Vulnerable Heading Into Columbus
By Will Burchfield
@burchie_kid
Michigan won on Saturday and that's what matters -- but it didn't look good doing so.
The Wolverines squeaked past a middling Indiana team, 20-10, thanks largely to running back De'Veon Smith and their typically-stout defense. Otherwise, the third-ranked team in the country looked very ordinary.
And that's concerning heading into next weekend's colossal clash with Ohio State in Columbus, where, suddenly, it's very hard to like the Wolverines' chances.
Their vulnerability comes down to their quarterback.
It was John O'Korn on Saturday. And it will likely be John O'Korn next Saturday, barring an unexpected recovery by Wilton Speight (shoulder). There's a reason, as we found out versus Indiana, that one was starting over the other.
"Every game you want to come out and get into a rhythm," said O'Korn, who was making his first start in over two years. "Didn't really do that off the bat and that's kind of how it transpired."
All week long, we heard about O'Korn's impressive skill set. The transfer from Houston was praised for being a dual-threat quarterback. His track record may have warranted that, but his performance versus Indiana did not.
O'Korn completed seven of 16 passes for 59 yards. He ran six times for 19 yards. He did break off a 30-yard scramble in the third quarter, one that sparked Michigan's second-half comeback, but all in all it was a pedestrian showing by the team's new starting quarterback.
The weather conditions, snowy and windy for much of the game, didn't help, but they don't serve as an excuse.
"Not real pleased with the way I threw the ball, but that's part of battling the elements," O'Korn said. "Gotta complete passes when opportunities present themselves. One that stands out was the one to Amara (Darboh) on the deep corner route in the third quarter. But luckily our run game and our O-line had my back today."
On the play he was referring to, O'Korn missed an open Darboh in the end zone for a sure six points. But it wasn't his only errant pass of the game. Far from it. And O'Korn's inability to hook up with his receivers ultimately swayed Michigan from passing the ball in a number of third-and-long situations.
The Wolverines converted just three of 15 third downs (20 percent) on the game. They entered the contest with a conversion rate of 50 percent. They'll have to be much closer to the latter number to contend with the Buckeyes next weekend.
Michigan ran wild against Indiana, mostly on the back of the senior Smith, who set a career high with 164 yards. The Wolverines totaled 225 rushing yards in all, with both of their touchdowns coming via the run.
But they'll find much tougher sledding in Columbus. Ohio State has the second best run defense in the Big Ten and has allowed just three rushing touchdowns all season – tied with Michigan and Alabama for the fewest in the country. It is thus imperative that the Wolverines' passing game steps up.
And with O'Korn under center rather than Speight, that's a daunting proposition.
Michigan has been balanced on offense all year long. It's been the key to the team's high-scoring attack. Entering Saturday's contest, the Wolverines were averaging 236 rushing yards and 231 passing yards per game.
That was thrown wildly out of kilter against Indiana, with Michigan gaining 166 more yards on the ground than in the air. A disparity of that level will likely spell doom against the Buckeyes.
Jim Harbaugh said everything you'd expect him to say after O'Korn's first start. He praised the quarterback for protecting the ball in tough conditions and managing the offense.
"He did a lot of good things," Harbaugh said, later adding, "I thought he did extremely well."
But the coach's play-calling indicated otherwise. Michigan ran the ball 51 times while throwing it just 16, a gap that grew wider as the game went on. The only time this season the Wolverines have been more unbalanced on offense was during their 78-0 drubbing of Rutgers.
In that game, Michigan shut down its passing attack out of respect. In Saturday's game, they did so out of necessity. It didn't cost them against a weak Indiana team, but the Wolverines will have no such luxury against Ohio State.
There's still a possibility that Speight returns next weekend, with Harbaugh deeming the quarterback "day-to-day." And that's this team's best hope. Because if O'Korn plays on Saturday the way he played against Indiana, Michigan's championship dreams will die in Columbus.