Michigan St. vs. Ohio St.: 5 Halftime Adjustments the Buckeyes Must Make

Ohio State has looked a little passive on offense today, settling for short pass plays and runs. In a huge home game to open conference play, you'd like to see them open it up a bit and take advantage of Braxton Miller's mobility.

If the play calls are going to stay short and simple, then at least mixing it up a bit would benefit the Buckeyes. This is a very winnable game if they can just get a few points on the board. 

Here are five big halftime adjustments Ohio State must make:

1. Open Up the Playbook

As I mentioned, the play calling has been boring and ineffective so far. Something needs to happen besides screens and routes to the flats as far as the passing game goes. And the running game is just not finding holes to bust through right now.

Michigan State scored on a big play in the first quarter, and the Buckeyes need to answer with one of their own. The Spartans are having no trouble keying in on defense right now because they know what's coming. Give them a little dose of their own medicine and make a bold play call.

2. Run Options or Draws

If the play calling isn't going to change, then at least just make a couple alterations to it. Try an option or a draw to screw with the defense's rhythm. A draw play would open up some space to run in.

And an option with someone as elusive as Miller is definitely going to at least give them a shot to pick up a big chunk of yardage and get some momentum back. If they continue to sit back and be passive, they are basically relying on the defense to mess up. That's not a good idea against Michigan State.

3. Change the Defensive Scheme

MSU averaged almost 7 yards a play in the first quarter. That’s unacceptable. If the Buckeyes are going to make a statement at home, it’s got to be out of the zone scheme.

The Spartan receivers are just finding the flat and making hard cuts to get open. And unless Cousins is getting pressured, he’s going to hit those open guys all day. Try a man-to-man defense or putting some mixed blitzes in there to change things up a bit.

4. Put Some Pressure on Cousins

Right now Cousins looks way too comfortable in the pocket. He’s a good, veteran QB, but even the best will be rattled by a couple hurries or knockdowns. Force him to make a mistake, because it looks like the running game is getting going too.

If they can bring the heat and force him to get moving, he's going to have to roll out and throw on the run. Or he will have to try and make throws off his back foot. Either way, this might force a big mistake out of him. 

5. Cover B.J. Cunningham

This one should be pretty self-explanatory. Cunningham has been one of the most prolific receivers in MSU history and Kirk Cousins is going to keep throwing it to him until he’s invisible. Cunningham made the biggest play of the game so far on the long touchdown reception on the broken play in the first quarter.

He's the main target for this offense and has the skills to put up huge numbers, so OSU needs to get a guy on him like their lives to depend on it. Because the outcome of the game actually might. It's almost worth it to double him on obvious passing plays.