Ohio State v. Colorado: Offensive Analysis

The Ohio State offense showed signs of life against Colorado. Not only is Ohio State finding some play makers, such as Jordan Hall, Devin Smith, and Braxton Miller, but OSU got positive production from their passing game. More importantly, OSU is starting to display a run game that can be successful no matter what variety of looks a defense demonstrates. Combined with a good defense and very good special units, OSU now has a formula for success.

The Braxton Miller Show

Of course, the most obvious storyline from the game was Braxton Miller's first start. And Miller handled it well. Miller's passing numbers will not wow anyone.  But what he did provide was 'production' from the passing game. Let me explain. Ultimately, the passing games' success rate should be judged by yards per attempt.  As Chris Brown writes:

More important to me than passing efficiency, or completion percentage (by itself), yards per completion, or any other statistic is Average Yards Per Pass play (including sacks). Bud Goode, legendary football statistician to the stars (Dick Vermeil, Bill Parcells, etc) has been harping on this stat for years.

The key is that it, in effect, combines completion percentage and yards per completion. The NFL QBs who have had the highest totals ever in a season are as diverse as Joe Montana (exceptionally high completion percentage) to more long-ball throwers. It penalizes the guy who inflates his completion percentage and the guy who points to his long-balls while ignoring how inefficient he is.

These two stats converge in the most important first and second down stats, which are average yards per play.

That is why Todd Blackledge astutely observed  that if you do not have a future NFL quarterback, you are better off with a guy that can also make plays with his feet. A drop back passing game is complex, requiring a quarterback to a) successfully diagnose coverage pre-snap; b) read coverage while dropping back; c) anticipate where both your receiver and defenders will be and d) deliver an accurate throw. The NFL has difficulty finding 32 guys that can do it, which is why many college passing offenses are less complex than many fans think.

As Chris Peterson notes, most good college quarterbacks only get to the point where they can read progressions with some coverage keys. Miller is perhaps not even at that point . He certainly looked more comfortable passing as the game went along, and he has a nice, quick release. His passing will continue to improve as he gets more comfortable. And OSU will need him to improve as the competition toughens. But what he does bring, if his first progressions are not there, is the ability to tuck the ball and run for yardage.  For instance, see the below video from the :30-1:00 minute mark.  On each play Miller takes a called pass play and makes positive plays with his legs, creating positive production from the pass game.

This provides additional production to the OSU passing game, particularly on third down, and is very difficult for a defense to game plan around. If Miller can produce 150-200 yards per game, suddenly you have a productive offense, particularly when combined together with OSU's run game.

The Ohio State Offensive Line and Run Game

What Ohio State had to be most encouraged about regarding their run game was their ability to consistently gain yardage regardless of the looks and numbers in the box Colorado presented.

Colorado throw a myriad of pre-snap looks. They opened in essentially a 6-1 look with their linebackers walked up on the line (in a blitz happy position). They next rotated in with a standard 4-3 under, with the backside rotating into support  (See at the :35 and :57 second mark).

Finally, they went to a double-eagle 8 man look, often bringing an edge rusher (see above video at 2:04 mark).

In other words, Colorado continued to try and employ different aggressive fronts to stop the OSU run game.  The OSU offensive line (and I include the tight ends and Zach Boren) handled all the looks and games well and Colorado was never able to contain the OSU run game. Part of this is simply execution. The OSU offensive line is one of the best in the country. Corey Linsley has only increased the line's effectiveness. With Linsley, the interior line does a nice job with combo blocking back into the linebackers and getting to the second level. Ohio State's run game effectiveness is also aided by an increasing reliance upon the zone run game with Jordan Hall (see :10 and :57 second mark).

As I previously noted, the zone run game's effectiveness is that it provides the offensive line clear rules regardless of what defense the opposing team presents. It also allows OSU to attack away from the eighth man.

Ohio State's offensive line and tailbacks talents are also simply more tailored to the zone run game, particularly Hall's penchant for seeing the cut and getting immediately north and south. OSU is also (finally) able to run against stacked fronts because their tailbacks are doing their job to negate that eighth defender, both through inducing that man into the hole and then bouncing, or simply by making that guy miss.  For example, at the :58 mark of the video above, you will see Hall run stretch perfectly, influencing the safety to play the edge in support, then planting his lead foot and cutting directly up-field, taking that defender out of the play without him having to be blocked.  OSU has also done a nice job making sprint draw an effective part of their run game, and Carlos Hyde in particular seems to do a nice job finding holes with the lead draw game.  (See video at the :27 mark.  Note how Hyde does a nice job drawing in the run support safety before cutting back to the hole).

The OSU Offense Moving Forward

The Buckeyes were also assisted by a defense that forced turnovers, and special teams units that provided excellent field position. But that should not be looked at as a negative anomaly, but a strength of this team that must be counted on for OSU to succeed. The initial 'Tressel ball' formula heavily relied upon the other units to shorten the offense's field (no better currently exists in college football than Nick Saban and Alabama). The Buckeye special teams units have gradually deteriorated the last few years, however.

Fortunately for Ohio State, this problem seems to have been ameliorated and OSU's special teams are again a strength. Jordan Hall is a huge asset. Teams either have to risk him gaining return yards or kick away from him, which will result in shorter kicks (and thus better field position). Ben Buchanan has become a real weapon as a punter. This OSU team needs this type of production to make up for the offensive inexperience.

The offense is gradually, however beginning to find an identity. That starts up front.  OSU must continue to run the ball successfully and put the ball in Jordan Hall--their best playmaker--hands 20+ times a game.  And that includes the screen game.  If OSU is going to use the screen game--and they did a nice job setting up a few screens against Colorado--then Hall needs to be the focus.

OSU must then get some production from their passing game.  The Buckeyes look like they have finally identified a guy that can make plays from the wide receiver position in Devin Smith.  He must play extensively OSU has held themselves back by playing too many players, particularly at the wide receiver position, that frankly are not threatening the defense. When you are low on play makers, you need to make sure the guys that can make plays are on the field, because the defense must account for them.  Miller's ability with his legs falls in to that category, which makes things easier on the rest of the offense,

As OSU moves forward, they need to ensure that they take advantage of their playmakers'  abilities to constrain the defense.  Two instant examples come to mind. When OSU put Jordan Hall in the slot, Colorado's defense did not cover him up.  (See video at the 1:05 mark).  That needs to be an immediate check to a  bubble screen every time. No reason for OSU to put Hall in the slot and then run zone read or tailback screens without him involved in the play.  Similarly, from under center, OSU needs to threaten the defense with Miller on bootlegs every time. Colorado's backside pursuit got more and more aggressive as the game progressed.  OSU did use some bootlegs with Miller to positive effect, normally with him carrying the football.  (See video at :43 second mark).  This is also the way for Jake Stoneburner to remain a factor.  Stoneburner was the one receiver Miller was missing all day on shallow crosses.  The combination of Miller with Stoneburner in the flat and a run/pass option continually threatens the backside defense and prevents a team from over committing to the front side run game.

Against better competition, OSU must punish teams for doing so by attacking with Miller away from run action. Even with called bootleg runs. OSU must also continue to ensure that they are putting the ball in the hands of players that can make plays. The Buckeye offense must make it one more week before they get three huge pieces back, in Boom Herron, Devier Posey, and Mike Adams.

Once they are back OSU has the makings of a good offense, with a fantastic offense line, two versatile running backs that each need 15-20 touches, and three receivers Miller can rely upon with Posey, Smith, and Jake Stoneburner (plus Corey Brown's return). But OSU must first make it through Michigan State by relying upon Hall and Miller's legs.