OSU v. Michigan: The OSU Offensive Review

The OSU offense once again got off to a slow start, aided by Michigan showing a different defensive look.  But, in the end--as they have all year--the OSU offense geared it up to play at a high level until Tressel took the foot off the pedal.  This was aided by a great second quarter by Terrelle Pryor, and some minor adjustments that allowed the running game to get rolling.  By the end, OSU had recorded yet another blowout against a Rich Rodriguez led Michigan squad, aided by putrid Michigan special teams.

Michigan:  Waiting all Year to Unveil a Structurally Sound Defense?

Michigan clearly surprised OSU in moving away from its 3-3-5 stack that had produced such poor results all year, and instead lining up largely in a 4-3 under front.

Michigan then had their linebackers and safeties key Zach Boren and flow aggressively in response to the fullback's movement.  For example, here OSU successfully blocks the front 7, but the Michigan strong safety Jordan Kovacs commits aggressively to the run action.

In passing situations, Michigan would only rush three and play a soft 3 deep, 5 under zone.  Michigan likely did this because they knew they could not generate a pass rush against the OSU offensive line, or get to Pryor even if they did. 

This caused initial confusion for OSU both in terms of scheme and execution.  In the run game, the offensive line clearly had some communication problems about whom they should combo off onto at the second level--likely because they had practiced all week against a different defensive front.  This often led to one of Michigan's inside linebackers coming untouched, while two blockers committed to a different defender. 

The soft coverages also caused Terrelle Pryor early issues.  I will come back to this later, but Pryor was hesitant getting the ball downfield against the coverage-heavy looks.  It also threw a few kinks into OSU's game plan.  OSU clearly believed that Michigan would come out in the same blitz heavy stack look they had shown all year.  OSU thus inserted man-to-man coverage beaters into the game plan, such as double slants or 'mesh' crossing routes (these are man coverage beaters because you run away from and/or rub off man defenders). See mesh below:

The problem, of course, is that when a team is playing a 3 deep, 5 under zone, man coverage beaters are not going to have the same level of efficacy.  Michigan was thus able to slow OSU down initially.

Quads with Four Verticals vs. Cover 3

OSU was able to get itself going once it recognized what Michigan was doing.  One effective means OSU used to do so was to go to a 'quads' formation (four receivers to the same side).  I discussed this last year, but the limitation of Michigan's basic scheme is that it is predicated on getting eight defenders on both sides of the center and then balance their back three defenders off the eight man front.  But the OSU coaching staff knows you can take them out of their comfort zone through formation by overloading to the formation's strength (7 men to one side of the center line).  This year and last, OSU did it with their shotgun tight trips formation (3 receivers to one side including the tight end) with the HB to the same side.  But they also took it a step further and put four wide receivers to the same side.  From there, OSU ran 4 verticals routes, with Dane Sanzenbacher working back across the field. 

Not only did this attack Michigan through formation, but the four verticals is a coverage beater against Michigan's cover-3 (by getting a horizontal stretch of 4 deep receivers versus 3 defenders).  Michigan had no answer.  Indeed Michigan never even adjusted pre-snap to even adjust their coverage to handle the overloaded formation (showing the OSU coaches were correct in their diagnosis).  To compound it, Michigan's weak back 3 could not handle the four vertical OSU wide receivers (note how Michigan does not even adjust their safeties over to the quads side).

 

The Terrelle Pryor Show

Ultimately, however, it came down to Terrelle Pryor making plays with his legs and feet that blew the game open in the second quarter.  Now, almost through his Junior year as a starter, Pryor's performances can be difficult for many to quantity.  The marked improvement Pryor has made since last year is obvious to all but the most stubborn detractors.   But TP does still have some limitations, which the first quarter demonstrated.  First, Pryor tends to start slow.  Without being close to the situation it is impossible to know, but my guess is that he presses and tries to be a perfectionist to start games.  Pryor also struggles a bit when teams want to sit back and play deep zone coverages against him, like cover 3 or cover 4.  If anything, he tends to be too quick to check down to the running backs, rather than waiting for the routes to develop against zone coverage.  While this is obviously better than forcing throws, it leaves plays on the field.

On the flip side, once Pryor makes a play or two--especially with his feet--he calms down and can get on a roll.   It's almost like you can see his attitude change.  Once he starts to escape pressure he stops over-thinking issues and begins to play, which is where he is really dangerous.  This is why Pryor has run completion streaks together in numerous games. 

Teams make Pryor's job easier by blitzing him.  If I am OSU I would dare teams to blitz me because most of the time Pryor will make the blitzer miss, and it usually results in him making plays downfield.  And that is exactly what happened against Michigan.  TP made an absolutely amazing play by reversing field and throwing a bullet to Taurien Washington across his body.  (Not how this was another quads, 4 verticals play).

For the remainder of the second quarter, Pryor was a one-man wrecking crew.  He started making great plays with his legs and arm, such as stepping up against the unblocked blitzer and hitting Posey on the mesh route.  Of course, it helped that Michigan moved away from their original plan and went back to blitzing.

Pryor ended up throwing for nearly 200 yards with 29 yards rushing before halftime, punishing Michigan for being overly concerned with taking away the OSU run game.  This again showed OSU's balance as an offensive football team, and why Pryor is OSU's best offensive player and their offensive identity.  

The OSU Run Game:

From that point, OSU was able to take the game home with the running the football.  OSU did so with one minor adjustment.  As noted, Michigan had their linebackers and safeties flowing hard based upon keying Zach Boren.  So OSU began to use run plays where Boren could block away and give a false key.  Specifically, Boom Herron's big runs came off of inside zone and counter trey respectively, both plays where Boren was able to block away from the play.  As you'll see below, Michigan's linebackers took a false step based on Boren's action, creating enough space for Boom to get through the second level.

OSU offensive line also took the game over.  To me, the biggest improvements this season with the offensive line play is the dominance of Mike Adams and Justin Boren, and the better execution by the line of getting off zone combo blocks to get to linebackers , particularly with Mike Brewter and the guards.  Look at the above play and how Justin Boren comes off his combo block with Brewster to get enough of the Mike linebacker to spring Herron.  Bryant Browning also dominated pulling when OSU would run counter-trey left, delivering a picture perfect fold block to spring Boom on his 89 yard run.  With this minor scheme change, OSU allowed their offensive line's dominance vis a vie Michigan to take over, and rack up another big game offensively.  But for an old-fashioned version of Tressel-ball in the second half (even by Tressel standards), OSU could have pulled a Wisconsin and put up 60 points.

OSU v. Michigan: OSU Offense
FIRST HALF
First Possession: OSU 31
1st-10: I left. Mich shift to 4-3 under. 2 high. Dropback. Cover 3. Deep Outs. Sanz open, not a good throw by TP.
2d-10: 10. Gun doubles left HB weak. 4-3 under. 1 high. Zone read. Pryor should have gave here. Mich had two guys waiting for keep. Give would have gotten 4 yds.
3d-12: 20. Gun split backs twins left. 3-3-5 1 high. Dropback. 3 high, 5 under. All curl. Sanz was open over middle. Pryor check down too quickly 5 yd gain.
4th: Punt..
Second Possession: OSU 29
1st-10: I twins right to field. 4-3 under 1 high. Stretch left. Adams lost his feet, no one got to second level. Clearly confused because Mich using a different defense than expected.
2d-11: Gun doubles right. 10. 3-3-5 1 high. Cover 3. 4 verts. Poor snap. Pryor didn’t give play time to develop. Saine somehow lost 2 yards with his run.
3d-7: 11. Gun tight trips right. HB Strong. 3-4. 1 high. Shallow in cross. 3 high, 5 under. Michigan not trying to rush because they know they can’t get there, counting on TP to be impatient. Nice decision here, just too much gound to cover. 6 yd gain. Needed those 2 yards Saine lost.
4th-Punt
Third Possession; OSU 9
1st-10: Gun tight trips left HB weak. Shift to 4-3 under. 2 high. Stretch right. Poorly blocked. Brewster and Browning pull around and take the same player. Sanz lost his block on the edge. 1 yd gain.
2d-9: I right. 3-4 under. 1 high. FB screen left. The initial set-up was there, Boren ran it back into the mix rather than follow Brewster. 5 yd gain.
3d-5: Gun. Empty. Quads right. 3-3 stack 2 high. Dropback double post. 4 verts. Nice job by Pryor stepping up and making the throw. (First, 2:15).
1st-10: Missed play. Sprintout hitch to Posey, 7 yds.
2d-2; I twins left to field. 5-3 under.1 high. Lead zone left. Numbers issue. The 5-3 allowed the Mike to come free and stop Boom short.
3d-1: Tight wing string I right. 5-3 under 1 high. Fake ISO, post flat route. Great play fake. Cover 1. GREAT adjustment by Stoneburner on throw. 30 yd gain.
1st-10: Power I left. Missed assignment by either Boren or FBs. Allowed LBer to shoot gap. 1 yd gain.
2d-9: Gun tight wing right twins left HB weak. 3-3-5 stack 1 high. Midline option read. Saine too tentative hitting hole. Holding call. (1st-:30).
2d-19: Gun empty motion to quads left. 3-3-5 stack. 1 high. Mich only 3 defenders to quad. QB draw. Nice run here by Pryor, good vision. 8 yd gain.
3d-10: Gun tight trips right (field). 3-3-5 stack, 0 high. All slant. Cover 0. Good call there, but miscommunication between Posey and Pryor.
4th-FG
Fourth Possession: Michigan 35
1st-10: Gun tight wing left, twins right HB strong. 4-3 under 1 high. Zone read right. Good read by Pryor. Michigan had some form of a scrape exchange. Again missed assignment, Adams left MLB unblocked. Continued to happen, OSU clearly not prepared for 4-3 look. (2d 14:05).
2d-6: Gun motion to tight trips right HB strong. 4-3 under 1 high. Fake speed option right. Inverted cover 2. Pryor never set his feet so he short hopped it.
3d-6: Quads right. 40 nickel. Cover 2. Michigan again not adequately adjusted to the quads. Dropback. Double slant. Cover 4 zone blitz. Unbelievable play by TP. 10 yd gain. (2d 13:20)
1st-10: Gun tight trips right tight. 3-4 1 high. Fake zone read left boot right flood. Cover 3. Again, great run by TP. 10 yd gain.
1st-Goal at 7: Gun empty trips left (boundary). Stack 4 across. Fake bubble, switch slant/fade. Great throw by TP, stepping up and delivering a strike. Nice blitz pick-up by Boren on X dog. TD
Fifth Possession: OSU 38.
1st-10: Shotgun trips left HB strong right. 3-4 1 high. Dropback flood route left. Cover 2. TP didn’t pull the trigger on the flat route, scramble for 3 yd.
2d-7: Tight ace bunch left (field). 4-3 under. 0 high. Toss sweep left. Not blocked well at all. Outflanked at POA and Boren did not get outside enough on the pull.
3d-11: Gun 10 trips right. 3-4 2 high. 3 man rush. Q-Q-H coverage. Double post route. Great route and catch by Dane.
1st-10: Double tight tight trips right. 3-4 1 high. Zone read left. Big initial hole, Saine slipped, not a very good run.
2d-6: I twins right. 4-3 under 2 high. ISO right. Michigan is using their safety really well to come up in run support. Boom tries to bounce where the hole is and quickly closed. (2d 3:58)
3d-5: Gun 11. Tight trips right. Stack 1 high. Cover 3. Mesh. Clearly expected Mich to play more man. Great individual play by Pryor. Why do you blitz him? That puts him in the position where he has to make plays, where he excels. TD
Sixth Possession: OSU 46
1st-10: Gun tight trips HB strong. 4-3 under 2 high. Zone read left. Right read by TP, Dane has to come down and block 13. Made nice open field tackle
2d-9: Gun trips left. 11. 4-3 under to field. 1 high. Cover 2. 4 verts. Great read by TP seeing the open field. Once he gets his legs going he starts relaxing and making plays.
1st-10: Ace 12. Motion to doubles right. 4-3 under to field. 2 high. Q-Q-H. Boot right throwback. Nothing there, threw away.
2d-10: Gun 11. Doubles left. 3-4 1 high. HB screen right. It was set up, but our Oline released too early. Didn’t sell it enough. Bad screen team.
3d-10: Fake speed option right. Cover 4. Deep cross. Nice pitch and catch by TP.
1st-10: Gun doubles slot left. 3-4 2 high. Dropback cover 3. Had Dane on the post and missed it. 3 verticals. Checks down to Stoney.
2d-3: Gun quads right. Michigan again doesn’t adjust. Q-Q-H. Hits Posey on quick screen. 5 yd gain.
1st-10: Gun tight trips right. Cover 2. Mesh. Had all kinds of time. Great protection. Didn’t let the play develop. Posey came open. 3 yd gain.
2d-7: Gun tight trips right. 3-4 2 high. All slants. Can tell they planned for a lot more man coverage. Adams got himself overextended, got beat back inside.
1st-10: Gun tight trips right. 3-4 3 high. Cover 3. 3 man route. 2 verticals. If Pryor drills that thing in there it’s a TD. But leaves it hanging out there too long.
SECOND HALF
First Possession: OSU 30
1st-10: I right. 4-3 under 2 high. IZ right. Nice run by Boom, best yet. Mich also had 2 deep safeties, so no help in run support. 6 yd gain.
2d-4: I left. 4-3 under 1 high. Dave play pass right (first time haven’t seen it from twins). J. Boren misses his block, by Pryor throws a bullet on the hitch to Posey. Nice throw, sometimes he throws better on the run.
1st-10; Tight wing right twins left. 4-3 under to twins. Boot right flood right. Think he could have waited on Sanz there. 2 yd run.
2d-8: Tight wing twins left. Under to field 1 high. Boom needs to cut that thing up behind J. Boren’s block. Instead he strings it out. 4 yd run.
3d-4: Gun 10. Doubles left. 4-3 under 2 high. CB blitz. Snag. Had the snag route also. But good throw to Saine. 5 yd gain. 1st down.
1st-10: I twins left. Stack. 1 high. Slant left. IZ right. OSU trying to get them to stop keying Boren. Like clockwork Michigan goes stack and gets gashed rushing. Great block by Brewster getting to the second level. He has gotten 1000 times better at that. (3d 12:50).
Second Possession: OSU 2
1st-10: Tight I right, motion wing left. 4-3 under. Counter trey left. Great use of misdirection against overflowing defense. Fantastic pull block by Browning. Picture perfect. And great block by Fragel. 98 yards plus ridiculous holding call.
1st-10: Tight I motion left. 4-3 under to field. 1 high. Counter trey left. Michigan massed more at the POA this time. 0 yd gain.
2d-10: Open I twins right. Stack 2 high. Dave play pass. Pryor could have run for HUGE yards—didn’t seem looking for it. Could have run for a TD
3d-10: Gun tight trips right. Fake speed option right. Nice play call by Mich bringing a blitzer right off the edge. Boom needs to block him, just no other options for TP.
4th-FG
Third Possession: Mich 46
1st-10: Tight wing left (boundary). Stack 1 high. Dave left. Great pull block by Browning, great down block by Adams. 4 yd gain.
2d-6: I twins right. Stack 1 high. Great scramble by TP. 8 yd gain.
1st-10: 1st-10: Stack. 2 high. ISO right. Great read by Boom. 6 yd gain.
2d-5: I strong left. 3-4 eagle. Counter trey right. Boom missed hole, but tough run. 4 yd gain.
3d-1: Dave right. Good cut by Boom. 2 yd gain.
1st-10: Fake dave keep right. Pryor doesn’t generally want to follow blocks inside. If he follows J. Boren here he will be fine. Holding on Z. Boren.
1st-20: Gun doubles left (boundary). Stack 1 high. HB screen right. Just not set up well again. 2 yd loss.
2d-22: Quads left. 2 high. QB Draw. Good run up field there. 8 yd gain.
3d-14: Gun trips right 10. Strong side blitz. All 4 verts. Also had Sanz. PI.
1st-10: Inside zone. Saine tip-toes. 3 yd gain.
2d-7: Tight I right. ISO right. 4 yd gain.
3d-4: Gun quads right. Stack. 2 high. Snag right. Mich dropped 9. Pryor could have run for a TD. C. Brown needs to get more aggressive there.
4th-FG.