Fulton Analysis: The adjustment
The Ohio State defense turned in its best performance of the season in holding Maryland to 66 yards in the Buckeyes’ win over the Terrapins.
This defensive turnaround continues to be powered by Ohio State’s shift from a cover 1 to a cover 4 structure. Against Maryland, defensive coordinator Greg Schiano featured a new tweak to that framework, frequently placing the defense in an under front,
The Buckeyes generally use an over front (3-technique and 7-technique defensive ends to the field). But with the under, it flips the defensive front. The 1-technique nose guard and 5-technique defensive end align to the wide field, with the Sam set outside the defensive end, as outlined by Chris Brown.
This allows the Sam linebacker to act as outside contain, freeing the wide side defensive end to be more aggressive.
Whether from an under or over front, on early downs Schiano ran what has become his go-to concept – a run blitz from the boundary force support with the defensive line slanting to the field, protected by a cover 3 zone. Depending on offensive formation, this blitz came from the boundary corner, safety, or outside linebacker.
Both the under front and the boundary blitz concepts are likely implemented to limit Ohio State’s numbers’ disadvantage to the short field. The under places the 3-technique to the boundary, allowing that defensive tackle to clog the backside B-gap. And the boundary blitz frees the defensive line to penetrate and make plays behind the line of scrimmage.
On Saturday, Ohio State’s nose guards were also disruptive to the field, repeatedly forcing the running back to cut behind the line of scrimmage.
But perhaps the Buckeyes’ primary improvement was from its linebackers. First year starting Sam linebacker Dante Booker has gradually improved with experience. He seemed comfortable as an under linebacker with more run support responsibility.
The biggest progress, however, came from Will linebacker Jerome Baker. Baker limited his freelancing and over-aggressiveness, shuffling his feet and remaining patient before playing the football.
Combined with backup Mike linebacker Tuf Borland, the linebackers were better in reading keys and scraping down the line of scrimmage.
The linebackers also again flourished as blitzers, with Schiano also employing a double-A gap inside linebacker blitz against the run.
By limiting Maryland on early downs, the Buckeyes repeatedly forced the Terrapins into must-throw situations against Ohio State’s nickel defense. Schiano continues to operate from a cover 1 framework with nickel, where the Buckeye corners have been more sound in coverage by better using their hands to play the football.
But Schiano is also increasingly mixing his third down coverage to confuse opposing quarterbacks. Below, the Buckeyes showed cover 1 pre-snap before rolling to cover 3 zone, placing nickel defender Damon Arnette into the flat to trap any quick breaking routes.
Must-pass situations play to Ohio State’s advantage with its four-defensive ends. Nick Bosa remains particularly difficult for a single offensive tackle to block.
Yet it is difficult for opponents to slide coverage to Bosa – given the threat from Tyquan Lewis, Jalyn Holmes, and Sam Hubbard. The variety of blitzes that Schiano uses with his nickel linebackers further strain offensive line blocking schemes.
And Holmes again played well inside at 3-technique defensive tackle, increasing Schiano’s flexibility up front when starting 3-technique Dre’mont Jones (and 1-technique Michael Hill) return.
Ohio State’s otherwise impressive victory was marred, however, by poor special teams play. The primary culprit was the kicking game, namely the kickers themselves – though the Buckeyes also had problems with their punt and field goal protection schemes.
While the blocking issues can likely be fixed, Urban Meyer will have to decide whether Ohio State’s kickers can adequately perform the corner kickoff. Meyer’s kickoff scheme has traditionally resulted in better starting field position for Ohio State than kicking into the end zone. But if the kicker cannot adequately place the football it becomes a risky strategy – especially with Saquon Barkely looming.
It is easy to write off Ohio State’s last month as merely the result of playing poor competition. But advanced statistical formulas – which take strength of opponent into account – do not. Bill Connelly’s S & P+ now has Ohio State as the top team in the country, with the third best offense and sixth best defense. As the Buckeyes face better competition, the issue will not be proving they can play against top opponents – it is continuing to play at the level they are playing at now.
And though the record may not reflect it, Nebraska is a step up in competition (50th in S & P+). The Cornhuskers and quarterback Tanner Lee should provide an adequate test of how much the Ohio State coverage has improved.