Use this thread to talk about anything game-related. For away games, we'll have a separate travel thread.

Date: December 7th, 2024 12:00 PM

Opponent: Miami (OH)  (8-4, 7-1 MAC)

Site: Ford Field

TV/Webcast: ESPN

Radio: The Varsity Network App (free) 

Ohio Game Notes

Miami (OH) Game Notes

Miami (OH) statistics and roster 

Miami (OH) message board:  MiamiHawkTalk

GAME OF THE CENTURY??

This feels like the 2004 Red Sox taking on their arch-rival Yankees to win their 1st World Series in 86 years.

In the immortal words of Kevin Millar, "Why not us?"

This is everything. I'll be there +4 ready to be lOUd.

How about letting Navarro run the ball ? Then pass on the 100'th play.

Go Bobkitties!

Cheering for you from the cornfields of Illinois.

Ohio is going to win the MAC Championship! The opening line on this game was Ohio +1.5, and it's now at +2.5, which is very close. Keep in mind, strange things always happen in Detroit for the favorite. It's almost like a curse for the team coming into this game as a favorite in recent years. Keep in mind that FIVE of the last six MAC Championship games have seen the underdog win outright! Miami beat Ohio in the regular season matchup, but Ohio is winning this one. I'm taking Ohio plus the points all day long as the Cats are winning the MACC outright!

I'm concerned that we may not match up well with Miami. In the first matchup they stopped our run and forced us to throw causing 2 costly picks. We've gotta be creative in finding ways to throw more. I'm thinking we see more screens, reverses and RPOs than just between the box stuff. Defensively, I am confident our guys are just plain better than they were 2 months ago...but we have to stop the big plays. And of course it is cliche, but whoever wins the turnover battle will likely win the game.

We're an entirely different team now. Parker is a different guy. The offense knows what they can and can't do. Playcalling is tight. They're wearing teams down. The defense is as confident as ever. Our 1st team defense hasn't given up more than two td in the last 5 games (Ball State putting one in with a minute left down 4 td vs back-ups and walk-ons was fun).

Miami was able to stop the run early, but we kind of abandoned it forcing Parker to go rogue. And then we went to Poulus and kept airing it out more. It's been a few weeks since that's happened. Pound the ball. Keep pounding. It'll open up some shots. The offense has been wearing down defenses and Tyus and Parker will break it open. I forget which game it was now, but Tyus was like 15 carries for 30 yards... then BOOM. 50 yarder. Then Parker ran over them. Then they both ended up with 100+.

I'm confident. And I'm never confident. I think they can wear them down and take over the 2nd half.

Will they "except" it? I hope not!

Speaking of injuries, anyone know how Parker Titsworth (center) and Colby Garfield (long snapper) are doing? Both were dinged up against Ball State.

This is what we asked for. This is the game we all wanted. In order to win, we must beat our main rival to stop a potential 3 game losing streak. It doesn't get any better than this. This game will be remembered for a long time and to have a 1-0 record against them in a championship game would be fantastic

Keys to the game:

1. Both teams have good defenses so staying ahead of the chains and avoiding sacks/TFLs is critical. Field position is everything this game.

2. Salopek. This guy is the heart of Miami defense. Calling zone runs away from him or pulling OL to his side for extra blocking on runs can really slow him down. I would not try to throw in his zone on pass plays.

3. Confuse Gabbert. Mix man coverage with zone press (looks like man at the snap). It can be a great scheme to force some bad decisions. Gabbert has been taking deeps shots with Virgil and McDonald at WR. Ideally, we need to take away those deep shots early (no defensive holding/PI calls) and force Gabbert to throw elsewhere or hold the ball longer.

4. No turnovers. We have to play a clean game with minimal penalties. Especially, those 15+ penalties.

5. Time to bring out the old option pass after we run a successful option to get a first down. With Miami playing heavy zone, we must force them to come downhill to eventually get behind their DBs.

6. With Miami playing heavy zone, jet and orbit motions are good ways to get catch their defense in bad positions. Our pre-snap motions can be great decoys for PA passes and quick underneath routes.

7. Keep Mozee from bouncing runs to the outside. Easy to say, hard to do. Little backs are shifty and he hides well on inside/outside zone runs.

I've seen what I thought was likely an RPO, but Parker often tucks it immediately.

I'm all for a few tricks, Albin always throws in a few, but I hope we don't get too cute. If we can eliminate turnovers, I think we can run them down and run them over.