6B -- The Michigan Daily - FooTBALL SATURDAY - Wednesday, November 21, 2001
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Wednesday, November 21, 2001- FooTBALL SA.
Wednesday, November 21, 2001 - FOOTBALL SA
Wolverines face Buckeyes with Big Ten tide on the line
By Raphael Goodstein
Daily Sports Editor
Yet again, a year's worth of hard
work, comes down to one game
between Michigan and Ohio State. For
Michigan (6-1 Big Ten, 8-2 overall),
the Big Ten title will likely be on the
line - though if Illinois (6-1, 9-1)
loses to Northwestern (2-5, 4-6)
Thursday afternoon, Michigan would
clinch a share of the title and the BCS
bowl bid. Ohio State lost its chance
for the title last week when it lost to
Illinois without starting quarterback
Steve Bellisari. He was suspended for
drunk driving, blowing a .22 the
Friday before the game.
But the Buckeyes can still get a bet-
ter bowl bid, and possibly receive a
Jan. 1st bowl bid with a win. More
importantly, they have the chance to
beat Michigan - the Buckeyes' top
priority every season.
OHIO STATE RUSHING OFFENSE VS.
MICHIGAN RUSHING DEFENSE:
Michigan's rushing defense has, for
most of the season, looked as good as
anyone's. Senior linebacker Larry
Foote looked like a Butkus award can-
didate for the first seven games,
recording 21 tackles for a loss.
In the last three games, he's record-
ed just three.
Foote, Victor Hobson and Eric
Brackins will need to play their "A"
game, because Ohio State's offense is
oriented around running back
Jonathan Wells, who has run for over
1,100 yards already on the season, and
because Bellisari is not expected to
play, Wells needs to play that much
better.
The good news for Ohio State is
that Wells has already shown that he
can carry the Ohio State offense.
Against Northwestern, Wells ran for
179 yards and three touchdowns,
while running behind an offensive line
that consistently opened big holes.
What's more, this rivalry has a his-
tory of making good players stars -
Tshimanga Biakabutuka's 313 rushing
yards performance in 1995 is one
example.
Michigan will be gunning for Wells
and should keep him to around 100
yards. If so, the Wolverines should be
happy.
Advantage: Michigan
OHIO STATE PASSING OFFENSE VERSUS
MICHIGAN PASSING DEFENSE: Ohio
State's passing attack is a question
mark.
Just as Steve Bellisari, the
Buckeyes' starting quarterback, was
starting to get comfortable as their
quarterback, he was benched because
of the drunk driving charges.
If Tressell stays true to his word,
Michigan will have an advantage here.
Last week, both Krenzell and
McMullen played and neither was
effective in the Buckeyes' 34-22 loss.
Michigan's secondary played well
last week in Madison, containing
Wisconsin's Lee Evans to three catch-
es and 31 yards. The secondary limit-
ed Minnesota's Ron Johnson to four
catches and 73 yards, but 35 of those
yards came on a touchdown pass
where there was a miscommunication
in the secondary.
Health is one concern for the
Wolverines. Freshman cornerback
Marlin Jackson suffered a knee injury
last week, but is expected to play.
Then again, nothing Michigan
coach Lloyd Carr says this week
should be taken too seriously, in
regards to players' health.
Junior safety Julius Curry still is
recovering from a shoulder injury but
might be healthy -enough to play,
though it's more likely that he will not
suit up again until the bowl game.
The Wolverines need Jackson to
play, as he's their best cornerback.
Throughout the year, Todd Howard,
Bad QB play
hampers 'M',
Buckeyes
By Jon Schwartz
Daily Sports Editor
By the time a regular-season finale rolls
around, there are certain things that no
coach wants to worry about.
High on that list - his starting quarter-
back. But both teams in this year's edition
of the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry are
dealing with uncertainty under center.
Michigan's John Navarre has been far
less effective in the second half of the sea-
son that he was in the first. Last week at
Wisconsin, he threw for just 58 yards, a
touchdown and an interception.
Meanwhile, the situation in Columbus is
far more hairy. Senior Steve Bellisari, the
Buckeyes' three-year starter, was suspend-
ed last weekend after being arrested for dri-
ving under the influence. After missing
Ohio State's loss to Illinois, Bellisari was
reinstated for the Michigan game, but will
not start.
"Steve will be available to play and I can
honestly say that I have mixed emotions,"
said first-year Ohio State coach Jim
Tressel. "I'm sure the guys can tell you that
they have mixed emotions also. They
shared a little bit about that yesterday. My
plans are to get Craig (Krenzel) and Scott
(McMullin) ready to play against
Michigan. As I stand here today, Steve
would be No. 4 (on the depth chart)."
Bellisari was arrested with a blood-alco-
hol level of .22, more than twice Ohio's
legal limit.
Krenzel will start in Bellisari's place. The
sophomore, who replaced Scott McMullen
against the Fighting Illini, threw for two
touchdowns and 164 yards in just over two
quarters of play.
Krenzel's teammates realize that the situ-
ation may not be ideal, but they still sup-
port the quarterback.
"I think everybody needs to step up, not
PROCF
OHIO
,BREUN D UN NLL/Dily
Michigan's hopes for winning will rely on quarterback John Navarre not turning the ball over. Las week in Madison, he threw an
interception and fumbled once.
STA
the 'Wolverines' second-cornerback,
has struggled when he's had to defend
a No. 1 receiver.
Howard, however, has been very
successful as the No. 2 cornerback.
Without Jackson and Curry, Ohio
State's biggest offensive flaw will not
be as exposed as Michigan would like.
If Bellisari plays for Ohio State, and
Jackson and Curry do not play, Ohio
State will win this battle.
But expect Jackson to play and
Bellisari not to - or if he plays, don't
expect him in for very long.
Advantage: Michigan
Michigan needs to establish some
sort of passing threat to prevent the
Buckeyes from putting eight-men on
the line to defend the run.
Ultimately, Carr will be happy with
Navarre if he does not turn the ball
over.
Advantage: Ohio State
In a game like this, do not under
estimate the importance of special
teams.
Advantage: Michigan
just nlyself," senior running back Jonathan
Wells said. "I plan to step it up every game;
I want to get better every week. This is a
special game for us. I think all the seniors,
especially, have to step up their game as
well as the rest of the team.
"We have a guy with some inexperience
who is going to be our quarterback, but I'm
confident he can get the job done. We need
to go there and makes some plays for him
and give him some confidence."
A quarterback issue is particularly prob-
lematic against a team like Michigan,
which gives up so few yards on the ground.
"I don't even know exactly how to attack
Michigan," Tressel said. "They're giving up
80 yards a game rushing. They're the top
defense statistically in the Big Ten. We've
got a lot of work to do to figure out what it
is that is the best attack. Then I think you
plug in who can do what best."
Michigan needs to prepare for both a
scrambler (Bellisari) and a pocket passer
(Krenzel) - something that could cause
some problems.
"We have faced both pocket passers and
scramblers all year long, so our preparation
is just that," defensive lineman Shawn
Lazarus said. "Last week, we faced Brooks
Bollinger and he scrambled, so I think you
have to rely on your experience over the
year."
Michigan's quarterback situation is less
troubling, but is certainly a concern. In
each of the last two games, Jermaine
Gonzales has seen action, but has not been
restricted to garbage time.
Navarre is still the starter, but Michigan
will need a better performance if it wants to
hang with Ohio State's impressive sec-
ondary.
"This might be the most aggressive sec-
ondary we face this year because they are
fast and have an aggressive mentality," said
Michigan wide receiver Marquise Walker.
"They also have an experienced group back
there and have made a lot of big plays
throughout the season."
MICHIGAN RUSHING OFFENSE VERSUS
OHIO STATE RUSHING DEFENSE:
Michigan running back B.J. Askew
might be the most complete back in
the Big Ten. The junior can block,
catch the ball and run.
If the Buckeyes can get away with
stacking eight-men on the defensive
line to defend the run, Michigan will
struggle.
Advantage: Ohio State
MICHIGAN PASSING OFFENSE VERSUS
OHIO STATE PASSING DEFENSE: This is
the biggest mismatch on the field. Ten
games into the season, Michigan's
John Navarre still looks rattled when
placed in a close game.
Last week against Wisconsin, he
was 11-for-24 for 58 yards. What's
even more alarming is that Michigan
could only muster 28 total yards in the
second half.
To spark the offense, Carr has given
playing time to backup Jermaine
Gonzales. While at times, Gonzales'
athleticism has impressed, he's yet to
establish himself as a legitimate pass-
ing threat. Consequently, defenses are
expecting one of three plays from the
Michigan offense when he's in the
game: the quarterback draw, the
naked-bootleg to the tight end and the
option.
Last week, while running the option
- an offensive scheme Michigan is
not used to - the Wolverines' fum-
bled the ball, but recovered it.
Meanwhile, the Buckeyes' sec-
ondary is the best in the Big Ten.
INTANGIQLES: Tressell guaranteed
that Ohio State fans would be proud of
his team 310 days ago.
Plus, at some point, one has to think
the Buckeyes are due to win (they
haven't won in Ann Arbor since 1987,
the second longest streak in the rival-
ry's history).
On the other hand, Carr is as good a
coach as there is in the country, and
considering the Buckeyes used to get
too excited about this game when
John Cooper was the coach.
Expect more of the same.
The Buckeyes will likely make an
early mistake that they normally
would not make as a result of the pres-
sure.
As long as the Michigan offense
doesn't lose the turnover battle, Carr
will find a way to get the Wolverines
some cheap points.
Advantage: Michigan.
MICHIGAN SPECIAL TEAMS VERSUS
OHIO STATE SPECIAL TEAMS: It's hard to
imagine a special teams unit playing
better than the Wolverines' did last
week: Two blocked punts - one
returned for a touchdown - two made
field goals - including the game-
winner with 10 seconds left - and a
fumble recovery with 14 seconds to
play.
To date, Brandon Williams' fumble
recovery is the play of the year for the
Wolverines, as they had punted the
ball and were awaiting overtime when
he pushed Wisconsin freshman Brett
Bell into the ball.
The Buckeyes have struggled all
year to make important field goals.
MICHIGA
The magic of The Big
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Jon Schwartz were ba
down.
For this week's mate
Wolverines and coach
iting Buckeyes.
Play of the game -
ving, QB No. 16 threw
before stepping out c
next play, CB No. 37
have possibly seen be
Michigan WR No. 4.
Most unrealistic play
Player of the game -
rumors that he woulk
yards and six touchd
Michigan key stats
Passing: QB No. 16 -
Rushing: RB No. 23 -
Receiving: WR No. 4
WR No. 82 - 4 rece
Defense: FS No. 26,
sack; CB No. 12, 4 t
Ohio State key stats
Passing: QB No. 8 -
Rushing: RB No. 28
Receiving: W R No. 8
WR No. 12 - 3 recei
Defense: FS No. 25,
loss, 1 sack; CB No
PRESS CO'
Michigan head coach.
I am disappointed to e
you've got to throw a
this up - I would if Ilw
This is pretty embarra
embarrassing. I don't
I would say that QB Nc
us any chance of winn
my problems, so he is
I'm proud of my team
Ohio State head coaci
What'd I tell you 310
proud. Sure, my predic
never should have don(
but I was right. So ha
Where you at Cooper?
Looking for a job? Say
This flat out sucks. I (
and I didn't want Mic
Whatever QB No. 8's I
because it sure as hel
The weaknesses in Ph
exploited easily by my
I'm lad the season is
SSX Tricky and predic
will do
I guarantee that Ohio
BCS Poections
The Michigan Daily projects the ur BCS bowls:
Oregon vs. Oklahoma
aa
Michigan vs. Texas
APtPHTltahergames -Florida vs. Miami (Fa.)
PPHTSOther candidates: Oklahoma and Nebraska Maryland vs. Tennessee
PREDICTION: Without their starting
quarterback, the Buckeyes will have
difficulty scoring. So long as the
Michigan offense doesn't turnover the
ball.
Carr knows this and will call a con-
servative game to ensure Michigan
doesn't give the ball away.
Michigan 24, Ohio State 14
AP PHOTO
Backup quarterback Craig Krenzol will likely start against Michigan. Last week, he
threw a late interception that clinched the game for Illinois.