Perhaps the biggest question mark entering the 2018 Ohio State season was how the Buckeye offense would adapt with quarterback Dwayne Haskins replacing J.T. Barrett. Ohio State began answering that question against Oregon State – but the answer was not entirely new. Instead, the coaching staff built off what the Buckeyes did when Haskins entered the game against Michigan.

This begins with a more diversified run game; one that minimized the use of read plays. On Saturday, this came in primarily two forms against Oregon’s State’s odd defensive front. The first was variations of tight zone that removed the read aspect by having the tight end block the backside edge defender. This includes “cab” (Y-off blocks the backside end), and “split zone” (Y-off blocks back on the backside end).

The second was the use of other run concepts. Two stood out. The first was outside zone from the pistol formation, a Kevin Wilson staple that was largely absent last season.

The second – and perhaps most successful on Saturday – was lead zone/ISO-insert. This play was also an Ohio State staff favorite against odd front defenses last season.With this concept, the tight end motions back into the backfield as an offset fullback to lead block the play side linebacker. This takes advantage of the natural off-tackle bubble against the odd front, allowing the play side tackle to turn out the outside