A Buckeyes special teams edge? Matt Patricia's future, TE talk: Ohio State-Michigan Mailbag

Answering more of your questions ahead of Ohio State vs. Michigan

Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia enters Ohio Stadium before the Penn State game. (Photo courtesy of Ohio State athletics)

COLUMBUS — Another Ohio State-Michigan mailbag coming your way. If you missed our earlier Q&As this week, you can find them here and here. Thanks as always for your questions. Let’s dive in.

Michigan’s special teams this season have been surprisingly mediocre. Our special teams have improved throughout the season. Special teams were an under-covered reason we lost The Game last year. As much as I’m surprised to write this, could special teams be a potential differentiator in The Game for the Buckeyes? — Jason K

FEI special teams efficiency: Ohio State is No. 34, Michigan is No. 63.

SP+ special teams rankings: Ohio State is No. 41, Michigan is No. 114.

Advantage Buckeyes?

It’s difficult to wrap my arms around the idea with some of the special teams play we’ve seen from Ohio State over the years. However, this year? Yes, OSU is better than Michigan in the kicking game. What a thing to say, one game removed from Brandon Inniss nearly yeeting a kickoff return out of bounds on a lateral attempt to James Peoples against Rutgers.

Ohio State has had kick and punt return issues over this four-game losing streak, so I’m still on alert for that this week. I still don’t trust the Buckeyes’ ability to flip the field with a punt if needed. The most significant special teams development, however, is that Michigan’s kicker, Dominic Zvada, might have the yips.

Zvada was the difference for Michigan last year, making two field goals (including a 54-yarder) in a game that the Wolverines won by three. (You may recall Ohio State kicker Jayden Fielding also missing two field goals.) Fielding has been bad against Michigan, but otherwise solid. Zvada was good in his one game against Ohio State last year, but he is in a funk right now. He’s 2-for-5 in his last two games and has made only 63 percent of his attempts this year, after making 95 percent of his attempts last year.

I’m not sure either head coach is feeling great about the prospect of sending their kicker out there for important field goals.