College Football Week 5: 5 Keys to an Ohio State Victory over Michigan State

Ohio State kicks off the Big Ten season against a tough Michigan State squad that returns 13 starters from a year ago. Although Ohio State has won its last seven (and 12 out its last 14) meetings versus Sparty, this will be their toughest test of the season thus far. Does this mean it’s a game they can’t win? Not exactly, but they will most certainly need to bring their A game if they expect to come away with a victory in their Big Ten opener. Here are five keys to victory over the Spartans. 

5. Make Special Teams “Special”

In the first couple games this season, the Buckeye special-teams has looked shaky to say the least. They've missed field goals, given up huge yardage on kickoff and punt returns, missed tackles and allowed a punt to be blocked in their own territory. With an improved kicker in Drew Basil, a flashy return guy and dangerous overall player in Jordan Hall and a young group of improving silver bullet defenders, they hope to turn things around this week.

What I Would Do: Continue to practice special teams' drills and try to turn up the heat in blocking punts. 

4. Win the Turnover Battle

Turnovers can help or hurt a team tremendously. They are momentum changers, they are key in the field position battle and they essentially give teams a greater chance to win ball games. Against any tough team, especially a potential Big Ten title contender, it’s vital for the young Bucks to win the turnover battle. So far this season they have done just that, forcing six turnovers while turning the ball over just four times. If they continue to force more turnovers than they commit they will find that things will go a lot smoother.

What I Would Do: The same thing the Buckeyes have been doing in the first four games. Play solid defense (for the most part) and put their young quarterback in positions where he will limit mistakes on offense. 

3. Put Pressure on Kirk Cousins

Kirk Cousins is the most efficient passer in the Big Ten and one of the most efficient passers in the nation, completing 69.2% of his passes. If the Buckeye defense gives him time to sit back and scan the field they could be in for a long day. However, if they consistently put a defender in his face, they will have a better chance to win.

What I Would Do: Send multiple blitz packages with either Andrew Sweat or Etienne Sabino and mix up the coverages in the secondary.

2. Move the Ball Through the Air

As of right now the Buckeyes are 10^th in the Big Ten and 100^th in the nation (out of 120 teams) in terms of passing yards. They only have 627 yards through the air over a four-game stretch, averaging just 157 yards per game.

In Ohio State’s loss to Miami, they had a measly 35 yards passing the football. They found a spark in the run game led by an explosive Jordan Hall (who is perhaps the most dangerous Buckeye in open space), but, as demonstrated in Miami, that won't be enough to win against a tough team. Michigan State has had a pretty good defense over the last couple years and, in order to keep them on their toes, Ohio State must have a balanced attack on offense.

What I Would Do: Give Braxton Miller the option to either run or throw the football. Start off by giving him easy throws to limit mistakes and keep the defense off balance by occasionally going play action on first down. 

1. Stop the Run

Ohio State gave up huge yardage (240 yards) on the ground against Miami and that was, perhaps, the reason why Miami’s offense was so successful. Michigan State will try to do the same thing.

As it is with almost every offense in the country, the run game is imperative to the success of the Spartans’ offense. Regardless of how good Kirk Cousins is as a signal caller, Michigan State is still a run-first football team and they have two capable backs in LeVeon Bell and Edwin Baker. So, just how important is it for Ohio State to stop the run this weekend? Well, Michigan State rushed the football for 1,978 yards in 2010, averaging 152 yards per game. However, in their two losses last season, they had an average of just -8.5 yards per game (-17 total rushing yards). Let’s see if the silver bullet defense can get it done at home!

What I Would Do: Put eight defenders in the box and continue to make Kirk Cousins prove that he can beat you with his arm while being pressured.