COLUMBUS -- During Ohio State's string of seven straight wins over Michigan, the devil has been in the details. The Buckeyes have rushed the ball like the dominant team and have been dominant.
Last year Ohio State held a 258-182 edge in rushing yards, with Dan "Boom" Herron carrying 22 times for 175 yards in a 37-7 win that has since been vacated. In 2009, the game was closer as the Buckeyes prevailed 21-10, but their rushing advantage was greater at 251-80. Herron went 19 times for 96 yards in that Ohio State victory.
Offensive tackle Mike Adams said earlier this week that another Boom-like performance would certainly boost the Buckeyes on Saturday when they face their rivals.
"As an offensive lineman, I would love to see Boom go out there and rush for 150 yards or something. It'd be great," Adams said. "But whatever we do, we're all going to be out there fighting. We'll go out and we'll execute and try to get this 'W.'"
Herron, a first-team All-Big Ten pick last season when he rushed for 1,155 yards, has been especially effective against the Wolverines. In three career games against Michigan, Herron has carried the ball 49 times for 351 yards and three rushing touchdowns and also has a touchdown reception.
Ohio State coach Luke Fickell knows Herron will have to play a vital role for the Buckeyes to be successful as underdogs in Michigan Stadium. If Herron is running well and Ohio State is grinding out the yards and moving the chains, good things should follow.
"He'll be as valuable as he's been all year," Fickell said. "His passion, his emotion is what we really need. We have a few guys back that can do a very good job carrying the football, but I don't know if there's a whole lot of people that bring the same passion and will that Boom does."
As one of the culprits in the tattoo and memorabilia scandal, Herron was slapped with a five-game suspension to start the season, then had another game tacked on for receiving excess payment on a job he had working for an OSU booster.
That meant Herron's 2011 season debut came in the seventh game of the season, against Illinois. He started and carried the ball 23 times for 114 yards in a 17-7 win.
Senior center Mike Brewster said he saw the determination in Herron's play from the first time he touched the ball.
"Boom's a hungry back and he runs very hard," Brewster said. "I don't know how many yards he ran for since he's been back, but I'm sure its pretty impressive. I thought he was really good last year, but coming into camp and watching him in camp, I thought he got a lot better, which says a lot."
Playing in five games, Herron leads the Ohio State running backs with 556 rushing yards, averaging 114.6 yards per game. Recent history confirms this rivalry loves a rush.
Ohio State out-rushed Michigan 229-15 in the 2007 meeting and won the game 14-3. The following year the Buckeyes held a 232-111 advantage in rushing yardage and dominated the score 42-7.
Herron sees his role, and that of the other Ohio State running backs and skill position players, as pretty simple.
"The big thing is just to come out and make a big play and just get the offense going," Herron said.
If that happens often enough, Fickell expects the Buckeyes to benefit. He looks for Herron to have a hand in any success the Ohio State offense has moving the chains.
"What he does carrying a football obviously gives us confidence, as coaches, as an offensive line, and for our quarterback," Fickell said.
Contact Matt Markey at: mmarkey@theblade.com, 419-724-6510 or on Twitter @MattMarkey.
First Published November 25, 2011, 5:15 a.m.
