ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
FILM STUDY: OHIO STATE SURVIVED ITS TOUGHEST TEST OF THE SEASON THANKS TO COUNTLESS MEMBERS OF ITS TOP-RANKED DEFENSE
"I said, we talked about going into a big, heavyweight match and you're going to take shots. And one of the things about playing in a game like this is you have to be willing to take punches and you have to not flinch when it happens. And that was a great example." -Ryan Day
In the first half of Ohio State's 28-17 victory over Penn State last Saturday in the Horseshoe, it certainly felt as though the home team was the one throwing haymakers. Though they went into the break with only a 14-point lead, the stat sheet showed a major advantage for the Buckeyes, out-gaining the visitors 245-64 and tallying 16 first downs while only surrendering four.
One major reason for the dominance was the game plan set forth to contain Penn State's option-heavy offense. In the first half, the Nittany Lions rushed 10 times and came away with only 11 yards, leaving them scrambling for answers.
As expected, PSU often tried to read all-galaxy defensive end Chase Young instead of blocking him, hoping to put him in conflict and make him 'wrong' no matter what. To do so, they leaned on their split-zone concept to add an additional gap on the backside of an inside zone-read play, bringing the tight end back across the formation and disrupting gap responsibilities for the defensive front seven.
But the Buckeyes were prepared, utilizing a technique they refer to as "falling." With the running back and tight end on opposite sides, the unblocked end (Young) is instructed to get inside as quickly as possible on run action. This allows him to control the B-gap between the guard and tackle while giving the quarterback a signal to keep the ball instead of handing off. Behind him, the WILL linebacker fills the C-gap, exchanging roles with the end.
But when the tight end arcs back across the formation, the SAM (Pete Werner) can be seen signaling to the other linebackers, yelling "Fall! Fall!" to alert them of this action, and letting them know they must 'fall' over one additional gap. As result, the WILL maintains outside leverage on the D-gap outside of the tight end while the MIKE linebacker fills the C-gap inside, leaving the QB with nowhere to run.
Similarly, the Silver Bullet defense proved up to the task of slowing down the PSU passing game early on. Showing a mastery of their 3-deep zone-match coverage, the Buckeyes were able to shut down passing concepts which should have found open seams, with players like Werner and cornerback Jeff Okudah flawlessly trading route responsibilities on the fly.
Werner consistently had one of the toughest assignments of the day, matched up with tight end Pat Freirmuth who entered the day with 34 catches and seven touchdowns. But the presence of a linebacker lined up as the deep 1/3 player outside signaled an opportunity to Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford, who forced throws into his big tight end instead of seeing open receivers the other way, thanks to the help from free safety Jordan Fuller.
“(Werner) was matched up with (Freiermuth) at times, and I thought they had a really good plan,” OSU defensive co-coordinator Jeff Hafley said. “He's a good player. But 10 tackles for Pete. Guarded that guy most of the day. Played physical. Pete Werner's a great football player that in my mind is still underrated.”
Though the Buckeyes opened the second half with a third touchdown, the tenor of the game changed once Clifford left with an injury on the next drive. As backup Will Levis entered, the Penn State running game was reignited.
After Levis broke the pocket to convert a third down with his feet, running back Journey Brown emerged with two big runs in which he ran through Buckeye tacklers, finishing in the end zone and making the score 21-7.
Of course, the Buckeyes would give the ball right back one play later, and were forced to send the defense back on the field just moments after conceding a nine-play, 75-yard drive.
With the ball at the OSU 12, Penn State tried to get Freiermuth going again, but this time found success through an RPO. MIKE linebacker Baron Browning vacated the middle of the field while chasing the sweep handoff outside, leaving Werner exposed inside on a seam route.
Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...season-thanks-to-countless-members-of-its-top
"I said, we talked about going into a big, heavyweight match and you're going to take shots. And one of the things about playing in a game like this is you have to be willing to take punches and you have to not flinch when it happens. And that was a great example." -Ryan Day
In the first half of Ohio State's 28-17 victory over Penn State last Saturday in the Horseshoe, it certainly felt as though the home team was the one throwing haymakers. Though they went into the break with only a 14-point lead, the stat sheet showed a major advantage for the Buckeyes, out-gaining the visitors 245-64 and tallying 16 first downs while only surrendering four.
One major reason for the dominance was the game plan set forth to contain Penn State's option-heavy offense. In the first half, the Nittany Lions rushed 10 times and came away with only 11 yards, leaving them scrambling for answers.
As expected, PSU often tried to read all-galaxy defensive end Chase Young instead of blocking him, hoping to put him in conflict and make him 'wrong' no matter what. To do so, they leaned on their split-zone concept to add an additional gap on the backside of an inside zone-read play, bringing the tight end back across the formation and disrupting gap responsibilities for the defensive front seven.
But the Buckeyes were prepared, utilizing a technique they refer to as "falling." With the running back and tight end on opposite sides, the unblocked end (Young) is instructed to get inside as quickly as possible on run action. This allows him to control the B-gap between the guard and tackle while giving the quarterback a signal to keep the ball instead of handing off. Behind him, the WILL linebacker fills the C-gap, exchanging roles with the end.
But when the tight end arcs back across the formation, the SAM (Pete Werner) can be seen signaling to the other linebackers, yelling "Fall! Fall!" to alert them of this action, and letting them know they must 'fall' over one additional gap. As result, the WILL maintains outside leverage on the D-gap outside of the tight end while the MIKE linebacker fills the C-gap inside, leaving the QB with nowhere to run.
Similarly, the Silver Bullet defense proved up to the task of slowing down the PSU passing game early on. Showing a mastery of their 3-deep zone-match coverage, the Buckeyes were able to shut down passing concepts which should have found open seams, with players like Werner and cornerback Jeff Okudah flawlessly trading route responsibilities on the fly.
Werner consistently had one of the toughest assignments of the day, matched up with tight end Pat Freirmuth who entered the day with 34 catches and seven touchdowns. But the presence of a linebacker lined up as the deep 1/3 player outside signaled an opportunity to Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford, who forced throws into his big tight end instead of seeing open receivers the other way, thanks to the help from free safety Jordan Fuller.
“(Werner) was matched up with (Freiermuth) at times, and I thought they had a really good plan,” OSU defensive co-coordinator Jeff Hafley said. “He's a good player. But 10 tackles for Pete. Guarded that guy most of the day. Played physical. Pete Werner's a great football player that in my mind is still underrated.”
Though the Buckeyes opened the second half with a third touchdown, the tenor of the game changed once Clifford left with an injury on the next drive. As backup Will Levis entered, the Penn State running game was reignited.
After Levis broke the pocket to convert a third down with his feet, running back Journey Brown emerged with two big runs in which he ran through Buckeye tacklers, finishing in the end zone and making the score 21-7.
Of course, the Buckeyes would give the ball right back one play later, and were forced to send the defense back on the field just moments after conceding a nine-play, 75-yard drive.
With the ball at the OSU 12, Penn State tried to get Freiermuth going again, but this time found success through an RPO. MIKE linebacker Baron Browning vacated the middle of the field while chasing the sweep handoff outside, leaving Werner exposed inside on a seam route.
Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...season-thanks-to-countless-members-of-its-top
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