Ohio State Offense vs 2008 USC Defense Part 3 (IZ/ZOR)
When Ohio State coaches reviewed the 2008 game film versus USC and evaluated their run game numbers I am sure they were not too happy with what they saw. Subtracting sack yardage the Buckeyes netted just 71 rushing yards on 34 carries. I suspect the staff will do a couple of things differently in the 2009 game versus USC. For starters the Trojans will face more two back power plays and I suspect that Ohio State will run some counter plays as they did versus Texas in the Fiesta Bowl with great success. Also I expect Ohio State simply to put the ball in Terrelle Pryor’s hands and have him run the Zone Option Read play more often. In 2008 this was arguably the most effective run play Ohio State ran at USC averaging 6.8 yards on five carries. Expect those rush attempt numbers to go up this Saturday…
Here are several examples of the zone option read play in pictures from the 2008 game with both sideline and end zone angles. One one the QB “gives” and on the other he disconnects and “keeps”. Both plays worked for considerable gain. I’ll insert a third example as well where there is no read on the play just a regular looking inside zone play with a TE blocking the backside defensive end…At the end of this post will be the video of all the Zone Option Read plays and Inside Zone plays that Ohio State ran versus USC in 2008.
ZOR QB Give Example SL View
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| Here Ohio State puts the TE + 2 WR’s to the wide side of the field and a split WR into the boundary. The back is set to the strong side of the formation. | This the zone option read play where the DE at the top of the screen is allowed to penetrate into the back field for the read…the TE cuts off the linebacker on the play |
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| The QB disconnects and gives on this play and there is a seam for the RB inside the DE as the TE has cut off the LB on the play… | The tailback is finally dragged down after close to a ten yard gain on the play. |
ZOR QB Give Example EZ View
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| The same play from end zone unfolds like this. USC was in a double eagle front with the NT covering the center and two three technique DT’s. Two stand up ends / LB’s complete the front. Looks like the secondary rotated to a single high free safety. | The LB / DE on the left is left unblocked and the QB reads off this defender. I suspect the DE is to take the QB on the play and leave the RB to the LB in terms of assignment…however you can see the problem as the USC LB will be cut off and the DE can not handle two threats… |
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| Here the QB gives on the play and the DE/LB can not recover in time to make the play. The LB is cut off by the TE as well leaving a gap for the running back. | The tailback Herron motors up field for a sizable gain until the secondary support arrives and OSU nets a good gain. |
ZOR QB Keep Example SL View
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| Here is the version where Pryor Keeps. This time there is a TE + 2 WR’s to the field and a TE into the boundary. Back set is strong. | Here is the same read as before that the DE is forced to make on the play. This time he favors the RB it appears and the QB will disconnect and keep. |
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| Pryor is now in open space and the unoccupied unblocked defender for USC is the free safety in the middle of the field. | Pryor is finally brought down after a 10+ yard gain well into the secondary. If this play works this well every time OSU will be successful versus USC in the run game. |
ZOR QB Keep Example EZ View
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| Same play from end zone angle. USC aligns in a flavor of their under front with the nose tackle in a 1 technique strong along with a five technique or loose 7 tech inside the TE. On the back side is a 3 technique DT and a player roughly heads up on the TE to the left. | Here is the read from the end zone angle. Once again the DE is in conflict on the assignment of QB vs. RB. The OSU Tackle heads up to the second level and aims to cut off the LB. |
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| The DE took the RB it appears on this play and the QB disconnects and heads up field. | This is a bad, bad picture for the USC defense as the MLB was handled easily by the RT of Ohio State. If this happens repeatedly on Saturday Pryor will have lots of rush yardage… |
IZ TE Blocks Back Side DE Example SL View
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| Ohio State also runs the inside zone play with no QB read just as USC and many other teams. On this one Ohio State creates what I call a TE Bunch formation to the right. QB is under center and there is a single tailback. | The offensive line blocks the inside zone play to the right and the back side end for USC is left unblocked by design. Since he is a threat to run the play down from behind the flexed TE secures the backside of the play. |
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| There is no read on this play just a straight give to the tailback on this version. | USC held Ohio State to a four yard average on this play and Ohio State only ran it a couple of times. |
IZ TE Blocks Back Side DE Example EZ View
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| From behind we can see USC in the double eagle front with the NT on the center and two 3 tech players up front. #2 Mays is the single deep defender on the play. | Here you can see the double team block on the NT #44 on this play. I assume it was by design but it leaves the DT #75 and backside DE/LB #47 unblocked on the play. |
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| USC does a nice job on this one of plugging the line pretty well. #84 stands up his man and no one is escaping to the second level. Consequently LB’s #58 and #43 are unblocked… | USC shuts down the play for a short gain. I expect Ohio State to run more of the zone option read play than this one on Saturday. Still they need this play out of this formation to avoid having a formation tendency… |
Video of Zone Option Read Plays
Video of Inside Zone Plays
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