Del Olaleye's college football report

The time is now for Michigan to beat Ohio State

Del Olaleye
Nov 21, 2018, 8:15 am
Urban Meyer and Ohio State are vulnerable. Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Now or Never for Harbaugh

If he’s not going to beat Urban Meyer now, then when it is ever going to happen? Ohio State is 10-1 but is as vulnerable as they have ever been in Harbaugh’s tenure at Michigan. Meyer can barely stand up straight from play to play and that normally solid Buckeyes defense has appeared to be a sieve in multiple Big Ten games against lesser opponents. That defense is coming off a game where they gave up 44 of the total 51 points scored in an overtime win at Maryland. Michigan on the other hand has had a pretty easy run during Big Ten play. Since coming back from down 17 points at Northwestern the Wolverines have made easy work of their  Big Ten schedule including dominant wins over Big Ten East rivals Wisconsin and Penn State by a combined score of 80-20. Those two games were at the Big House. Saturday’s game is at The Horseshoe where Michigan hasn’t won since 2000. Harbaugh’s hasn’t beaten Ohio State since he was hired at Michigan and the Wolverines overall losing streak is at six. Harbaugh was hired to beat Ohio State. This is his best shot.

Big 12 Pettiness

Texas defensive end Breckyn Hager told the world that Oklahoma still sucks this week because that is what Texas people do. The Big 12 responded with issuing a public reprimand of Hager and added that they expected a public apology from Hager. Hager obliged shortly afterwards. As you might imagine Texas people weren’t thrilled. That will only be footnote in this year’s edition of the rivalry if things go the way I want them to. If things break right in Morgantown on Friday and Lawrence, Kansas on Saturday, Hager may get a chance to prove himself right in a rematch against Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game. In what would be the biggest game in the rivalry since 2008, Texas would have chance to beat Oklahoma twice in the same year and win their first conference title since 2009. An Oklahoma win would put the Sooners in line for a possible CFP berth if favorable things happen in other games around the country. “OU Sucks,” “Horns Down.” Whatever. Just give me a rematch.

Chad Morris is No Fun

I thought he was fun. Dabo Swinney hired him at Clemson to run the offense and he helped turn that program from an afterthought into a national power. When he was hired at SMU he sanctioned the use of the hashtag #PonyUptempo as part the social media campaign for the Mustangs football program. All that goodwill is now undone. Not really, but I’m less of fan. Morris decided to suspend starting defensive backs Ryan Pulley and Kamren Curl because they “fraternized” with the spirit squad of the Mississippi State Bulldogs before this past Saturday’s game. The fraternization included taking pictures and coming back out of the locker room to exchange information with members of the squad. The Razorbacks aren’t very good and they’re not going to bowl so the two starters are done for the season. I get why Morris did it. He’s in his first year at Arkansas and he’s trying to instill his culture at the program. All that coach stuff and blah, blah, blah. In modern basketball, shooters are taught to shoot their shot no matter the situation. “Shoot your shot” is the way the phrase goes. Pulley and Curl are clearly shooters.

College Football Playoff Game of the Week

#4 Michigan at #10 Ohio State.

It means everything to Michigan and Ohio State is unfamiliar position of spoiler. The time is now for the Wolverines. Go get it done #goblue

 

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BROWNS BEAT TEXANS

11 observations from Texans' 31-21 loss to Browns

Texans fall to Browns. Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images.

The Houston Texans kept it closer than the experts thought they would, but couldn't pull out a victory. Here are 11 observations from the loss in Cleveland to the Browns.

1. The game looks totally different if Texans quarterback Tyrod Taylor finishes the game. Taylor left at halftime with a hamstring injury. He was playing exceptionally well against his former team. Taylor is not expected to play Thursday according to NFL Network.

2. Davis Mills had a rocky NFL debut which was to be expected. Mills looked to have the wrong elements of a few plays. He also couldn't hit backup wideout Andre Roberts over the middle and threw an interception. It was a fine performance considering what Mills showed he could do in the preseason.

3. Mills didn't work with a full load of offensive weapons in the second half. Rookie wideout Nico Collins didn't return to the game after his lone catch and big run early in the game. Veteran slot receiver Danny Amendola left the game with an injury. Tight end Anthony Auclair left with an eye injury. The Texans entered the game without wide receiver Anthony Miller who was inactive.

4. Brandin Cooks is a monster through two games. He is the most dangerous skill position player on the team, and defenses still have trouble covering him and staying with him. Cooks turned in yet another impressive day for this team and hauled in a Davis Mills touchdown pass.

5. The Browns did a solid job against the ground game of the Texans. Mark Ingram averaged under three yards per carry and Tyrod Taylor was the only rusher to have a big play on the ground. This led to a fair number of third-and-long situations which the Texans usually had trouble converting.

6. Justin Reid was set to increase his payday on his next contract with his early play. Reid forced a fumble and had an interception in the first half. Unfortunately, Reid would leave the game multiple times with injuries. The knock on Reid has always been his health.

7. The Texans were worn down by the Browns rushing attack all day. Once Cleveland committed to the run they saw the success of their work culminating in a 26-yard scamper by Nick Chubb for a touchdown. The Browns didn't run as much as I excepted them to run early.

8. Tim Kelly had another nice day calling plays. Kelly remains creative in finding ways to get the ball out of Taylor's hands quickly as well as manufacturing matchups where the Texans can win and pick up yards. He even got creative to get Davis Mills a passing touchdown late in the game. Kelly has been very impressive through two games.

9. Andre Roberts was inexcusably bad today. The Texans defense held on the opening drive and his muffed punt eliminated the momentum from the defensive stand. He also had poor returns on kickoffs. His lone job is to be a solid returner, and he failed at that on Sunday.

10. David Culley had a head-scratching decision foregoing an offsides call on a third down. The head coach opted for the result of the third down, and a punt on fourth down, instead of another third down. He did not explain himself well postgame on the decision either.

11. The Texans hung tough and should feel solid about where they could have been without the injury to their quarterback. With no Taylor in the short week, it will not be easy to beat the Panthers who upset the Saints on Sunday.

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