ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Skull Session: Will Howard Breaks Down Ohio State’s “3rd-and-Jeremiah” Play in the CFP Title Game, Oregon Cornerback Brandon Johnson Calls Jeremiah Smith “A Generational Talent”
Will Howard breaks down Ohio State's “3rd-and-Jeremiah” play in the national title game, and Oregon cornerback Brandon Johnson calls Jeremiah Smith “a generational talent.”
Will Howard Breaks Down Ohio State’s “3rd-and-Jeremiah” Play in the CFP Title Game
How did the play come to be?Howard started from the beginning.
“We go out there (on the final offensive drive), and we were kind of in a four-minute drill mode there, so we’re trying to run the ball. I think Coach Day wanted to call that play earlier on in the drive, but Coach Kelly was like, ‘Let’s see if we can get some with the run. Let’s push it and see what we can get with the run.’ We get stuffed twice, and it’s 3rd-and-11.
“Then, we knew we had that play in on 3rd-and-extra-long because we had seen guys that hit some go balls against them. It was quite literally – we call it, ‘Grill Grill.’ It means go balls on either side. It’s mirrored go balls and Emeka (Egbuka) has a middle read route where he can take the middle if it opens up to two-high (safeties) or break it off like a basic if it’s one-high.”
But wait! There’s more!
“Dos Left was our formation, our two-by-two deal. And we had a 73 protection, so we had a seven-man protection,” Howard continued. “We were saying, ‘Hey, we’re going to block this thing up and we’re freaking launching.’ I looked out to the boundary and Carnell (Tate) had a little tighter coverage, and 29 (Notre Dame cornerback Christian Gray) was off and soft to the field. He was damn near looking right at me. I was like, ‘Alright, I think this is the time to let this thing rip.’
“Emeka had said on the sideline, he’s like, ‘When 29 is inside leverage, we have to take advantage of it.’ All week, 29 and 15 (Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore), if I had my choice, I was going at 29. He was out there on an island. I knew they probably would bring some sort of pressure, but we had it blocked up because we had a seven-man protection called, 73 Grill.”
Once Howard received the snap and took a three-step drop, he knew exactly where to throw the football: Far out in front of Jeremiah Smith.
“I’m taking my three-step and a hitch and putting it on a cone, man, and No. 4 will be there every single time,” Howard said. “That was electric. I was so fired up that (Day and Kelly) called that because, you know, in that situation, I want the ball in my hands to seal the game. I love it, man. Bring it on. Throw a freaking go ball to No. 4 to seal the natty? That was poetic.”
Just sayin': The great Ohio State QBs like Shane Falco and Will Howard always want the ball in their hands when the game is on the line.
Last edited:
Upvote
0
