Fulton Analysis: Setting Up the Future
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Following a J.T. Barrett interception, the Ohio State offense scored on nine straight possessions against Rutgers – while using the contest to break tendencies and diversify the passing game. In Rutgers, the Buckeyes faced a familiar look in Chris Ash’s 4-3 over, cover 4 defense.
Ash – perhaps more than anyone – knows that the key to limiting Urban Meyer’s Ohio State offense has been to take away the inside run game. So to respond, Meyer and Ed Warinner opened against Rutgers by relying upon running Curtis Samuel outside. They featured Samuel on what is increasingly becoming the Buckeye offense’s favorite play – particularly in short yardage situations. Ohio State flips Samuel and Y-off Marcus Baugh – with Samuel shifting from the slot to the opposite halfback position and Baugh moving to the opposite side where Samuel vacated – to run lead outside zone with Samuel. Samuel does an excellent job on the play being patient before hitting the hole.
The reliance of lead outside zone to Samuel reflects a change in emphasis. While in previous years a defense must first stop Ohio State’s inside run game, when Ohio State needs a play they are generally looking to Samuel on the edge or downfield – whether in the run or pass game.
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