Fulton Analysis: Aiming Underneath

In Ohio State's 24-20 win on Saturday, Northwestern deployed the same framework that opponents have used for the last month against the Buckeye offense to limit Ohio State’s preferred tight zone run and play-action passing game. Defenses slant the line with the boundary safety or field overhang player defending the edge behind the slant, combined with a soft zone to take away deep throws. Northwestern’s variation was often playing a soft cover 3 rotated to the field with the boundary safety coming down as an additional run defender.

Following the loss to Penn State, Urban Meyer's staff came out Saturday determined to counter this defensive scheme. The Buckeye primarily used two run plays to target away from the slant – a ‘Gut’ counter play where the offensive line rides out the first slanting down lineman to the play side with the next offensive lineman folding around to lead on a linebacker,