Let's play a game. Let's pretend we are a DC about to face Ohio State's offense and are building a gameplan. 

• Cover 1 - Only to be used on 3rd and short/medium. Can't risk man on early downs
• Cover 2 - Not a 1st down call, as we need to stop the run on 1st
• Cover 3 - Best call for early downs. Prevents deep shots and extra run fit
• Cover-4/Quarters - Good run fit, but susceptible to deep concepts like MILLS. Use as change of pace call
• Blitzing - Can't do it. Running backs too good in pass-pro, and WR's will get open
• QQH - Best call on the hashes. Can play high/low on boundary WR and bracket the outside WR to the field side. Decent run support. 

Our gameplan - Early downs we will play Cover-3 or QQH if the ball is on the hashes. Only once we get them into obvious passing downs, will we mix in C2, C4, or maybe send a blitz as a change of pace. 

Okay back to reality. What you guys saw on Saturday was an absolute offensive clinic that left Wink Martindale completely useless. If you cannot stop Ohio State's running game, you are absolute toast. I've watched the game in full twice, and I've watched highlight clips countless times. And sitting here right now, I am fully certain that Michigan is still in Michigan Stadium running the same coverage. 

Let's get rolling:

The running game

Yes there are some schemes and mods that OSU made to help (which we will discuss), but at the end of the day. This was quite simply hat on hat domination. One modification that OSU has made however, starting a couple of weeks ago, and on full display saturday, was lining up a TE in the backfield. From this position, the TE is closer to the weakside if his job is to block the weakside defender, or operate as a lead blocking full-back if it is a Lead run play. 

With the running game in full-effect, Michigan had no choice but to sit in base defense. For Michigan (just like our theoretical DC), this means C3 and QQH depending where the ball is located. With OSU knowing this as well, passing routes became simple. 

This passes to Carnell Tate is a simple RPO read against both C3 and QQH, as the Corner has responsibility for covering Tate vertically, and will give tons of cushion. 

This next pass is not an RPO, but a similar concept. Instead of using the RPO to hold the inside defender, Inniss is used to carry the inside defender vertically to create the space for the comeback route. 

Deep shots:

On both touchdowns to Smith and Tate, OSU attacked the exact same defensive coverage, albeit in opposite directions. On Smith's touchdown, OSU knows that Michigan is in QQH, meaning that Smith can get a 1-on-1 over the top if the inside safety is late. While Smith's double move kills the CB, it also holds the safety inside, allowing the ball to get to Smith before the safety arrives. 

On Carnell Tate's deep ball, Michigan is once again, you guessed it, in QQH defense. This time, OSU is able to isolate Tate 1-on-1 by using Max Klare to occupy the boundary side safety. The safety #6 has to help with Klare vertically. This play shows the importance of Klare. OSU is able to line their 2 best WR to the same side, and line Klare up alone, yet Michigan still runs the same coverage because Klare is too talented to leave 1-on-1. 

Hat on Hat

I have said all year the benefits of 12 personnel is that it forces the defense to make a choice. Provide safety help on both Tate and Smith, and only put 7 in the box. Or, put 8 in the box and give someone a 1-on-1. Michigan chose to put 7, and as I said last week, OSU HAS to be able to win these situations on the ground, which they have not done the past few years. Saturday was different. 

7 blockers, 7 defenders. 

In summary, the offense really didn't do anything "special". This is quite simply how unstoppable this offense is if they are running the ball effectively, because the coverages you can run, are so limited by the talent in the passing game and the combination of excellent RB pass-pro against blitzes. You can't do anything as a defense.