Michigan-Ohio State Final Thoughts: Sherrone Moore saved the good stuff for Buckeyes match
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – In honor of Michigan ’s 12-0 regular season, here are 12 final thoughts on Michigan’s 30-24 victory against Ohio State and the Wolverines’ upcoming date with Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game.
Heading into the season, that was the kind of scenario that kept Michigan fans awake at night. On a team loaded with depth, cornerback was the spot where Michigan could least afford an injury, especially an injury to Johnson, the player typically tasked with covering the other team’s best wide receiver.
Johnson’s importance was obvious in the early stages of Saturday’s game. He started out shadowing Harrison and set the tone for Michigan’s defense by jumping a route and intercepting Kyle McCord to set up Michigan’s first touchdown. When Johnson left the game with a leg injury, it put major pressure on the rest of Michigan’s secondary to step up.
After officials reviewed Fleming’s catch, the Buckeyes had the ball at Michigan’s 37-yard line with 34 seconds remaining. They didn’t need to force anything. Even if McCord had been able to step into his throw, Rod Moore had his eyes on McCord the whole time and would have been in position to make a play on the ball. The pressure from Jaylen Harrell , who ran a twist with Mason Graham and knocked left guard Donovan Jackson off his feet, was enough to affect the throw, giving Moore an opportunity to make the interception.
pic.twitter.com/lBrdrwdCai
— PFF College November 25, 2023
With at least four chances to score a touchdown, a veteran quarterback might have taken the check down or thrown the ball away to avoid a sack or a turnover. McCord’s decision-making under pressure was a huge key, and on the game’s biggest play, Michigan forced a first-year starting quarterback into a mistake that cost Ohio State a shot at a game-winning drive.
“Before the defense went out there, I told myself, ‘You’re either going to make the play or somebody else is to seal the game,’” Moore said. “I told them upfront they have to get to the quarterback for us. I believe Mason and Jaylen did, and I made the play.”
Acting head coach Sherrone Moore indicated Johnson’s injury wasn’t anything long-term. Jim Harbaugh, speaking Sunday on a Big Ten conference call with reporters, didn’t have much to add but said he expected to know more later in the week. With no disrespect to Iowa, getting Johnson healthy for the College Football Playoff is the main consideration. He’ll have close to a month to heal up between the Big Ten Championship Game and Michigan’s first game in the CFP, assuming that’s where the Wolverines end up.
Zinter had successful surgery Saturday night and posted a photo with Harbaugh from the hospital. His broken tibia and fibula were, in Harbaugh’s words, the “best of the worst-case scenario,” meaning the bones should heal and Zinter should make a full recovery. It’s still an awful way for Zinter to end his season and perhaps his Michigan career.
“He’s just so tough, so strong,” Harbaugh said. “When you’re lying on the field with a broken bone, those bones tend to rub together. It’s really painful. At the hospital, he was so happy for his team.”
Surgery went great, Love TEAM 144!! Thanks for having my back boys and finishing strong! I’ll be back better than ever. See you in Indy! pic.twitter.com/AveMNWcAvJ— Zak Zinter November 26, 2023
“Who could be against the players being compensated for what they do?” Harbaugh said. “At least even minimum wage. Who could argue against that, (whether) there’s injury or not?”
Losing Zinter is a big loss for Michigan’s offensive line, no matter how you spin it. My sense was that Michigan liked having the flexibility to use Jones as an extra blocker and wanted to keep him in that role, even when Barnhart had his struggles at right tackle. It will be interesting to see if Jones stays in the starting lineup or if Michigan opts for Myles Hinton , who was questionable for Saturday’s game with an injury.
On the first, Rolder had a shot to bring down Chip Trayanum in the hole but wasn’t able to make the tackle. On the next play, Ohio State called an audible at the line of scrimmage and got Rolder matched up with tight end Cade Stover in man coverage for a 32-yard gain.
Michigan planned to redshirt Rolder and use him selectively in four games down the stretch, with Saturday being game No. 4. It’s not clear whether Michigan planned to give Rolder some snaps or if Ernest Hausmann was temporarily unavailable, but either way, that was a tough spot for a player who hasn’t seen much action this year.
Maybe Moore was just saving the good stuff for Ohio State. Moore went for it three times on fourth down, dialed up a trick play for Donovan Edwards and caught Ohio State off guard by inserting backup quarterback Alex Orji to run the ball on two plays. For anybody who was wondering what kind of head coach Moore will be when he gets a full-time job, Saturday was a pretty strong indication.
“It goes back to the kids and how they prepare, how they attack things and how they work,” Moore said. “I’d be doing them a disservice if I try to be conservative when they’re going out there running 150s in the summer, blood, sweat and tears, working their tails off in the weight room. They put their trust in me as a play caller on offense to be aggressive in this game.”
JJ threads an absolute needle to Roman Wilson. lol I don’t even know how.
Literally right over the head of the LB. pic.twitter.com/yCrm8pxigq
— Due# November 26, 2023
I mean, look at this thing. If the ball is off-target by a couple of inches, it probably hits one of the two defenders. Somehow McCarthy squeezed through a tiny window, and Wilson held on long enough to preserve the touchdown, even as Denzel Burke tried to rip the ball out of his hands.
Wilson credited quarterbacks coach Kirk Campbell for the play.
“He drew it up for me, right?” Wilson said, turning to Moore for confirmation. “That’s a play that I know J.J. is looking for me to get open. That’s what I’ve got to go do. I’ve got to make a big play in a big way and help this team win.”
Saturday’s conference championship game will be more than a little awkward considering it involves a team that tried to take the conference to court. Whatever Harbaugh’s personal feelings are about the matter, he seems to be making a concerted effort to keep the focus on the team and not on Michigan’s beef with the Big Ten.
“My focus has been with the team the entire time,” Harbaugh said. “It’s been a tremendous season. (We’re) right in the exact position that we hoped for, that we worked so hard to be in. It’s onward now.”
Both players are injured and out for the season, which takes some of the shine off Saturday’s game. On paper, this looks a lot like 2021, when Michigan faced Iowa in this game and won 42-3. The Hawkeyes have had some improbable wins this season, but hanging with Michigan would be a whole different level of improbability.
The goal for this week is to take care of business against Iowa, and then see where the chips fall on Sunday. The Wolverines are well on their way to a third consecutive CFP, and the No.1 seed isn’t out of reach if Michigan can get some help from Alabama in the SEC Championship Game.
“The job’s not finished,” McCarthy said. “We’ve been here before. We’ve been in this situation. We’ve just got to focus on watching film, getting after it on Monday, getting after it on Tuesday and keeping it simple like we’ve been doing all year.”
(Photo: Adam Cairns / USA Today)
