Fulton Analysis: Tight Zone Strategy
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For Ohio State's offensive coaching staff, 2015 marks a second consecutive season of offensive strategy revolving around responding to defensive attempts to limit Urban Meyer's base tight zone play. Under Meyer, Ohio State is a run-first team, with passing utilized to gain chunk yardage off play-action. And tight zone is Meyer's base run play, using double teams to run vertically at the A-gaps (which is why the play is sometimes referred to as zeer).
So it is not surprising that most opponents' first goal is stopping the play. For the Ohio State offensive coaches, 2014 was defined by developing answers to the bear front that Virginia Tech used to stop tight zone - and with it, the Buckeyes. Those answers not only allowed Meyer's staff to defeat the bear from future opponents - it provided for a more diverse offense that could respond to a variety of fronts.
But after scoring 42 points against Virginia Tech in a rematch Ohio State in 2015 has faced a new strategy to stop tight zone- fronts slanting away from halfback Ezekiel Elliott combined with run-focused edge defenders. Although the Buckeyes have found certain answers, they have not always applied those responses - particularly without running the quarterback - resulting in inconsistent outcomes.
The Song Remains The Same
Opponents have applied this strategy within the framework of their defense but the particulars are similar. Defensive coordinators slant their front away from Elliott (or towards the tight end if Elliott is in the pistol). In the back seven, defenses often play an aggressive inverted cover 3. The two curl-to flat defenders (often a linebacker and strong safety) aggressively play the run, while the defense protects itself with a soft three deep.
The goal is the same as the bear front. By slanting, defenses want to shoot gaps and eliminate the double teams that are the backbone of tight zone
The overhang players can then squeeze down unblocked from the backside to tackle Elliott. And by setting the edge, those defenders can also eliminate the jet and buck sweeps that are often Ohio State's first response to a crowded interior.
Some But Not Enough
Ohio State has not been helpless against such strategies. For instance, one successful response has been to align Elliott and the tight end together and run tight zone to the open side so that the tight ends can block the overhang defenders.
More effective have been gap runs, such as counter trey against Western Michigan, dart against Maryland, and power against Indiana and Rutgers.
And the Buckeyes' passing game has functioned when it exploits the cover 3 shell with:
Wide receiver screens against run-focused overhang players
Vertical stem routes to Michael Thomas against soft corner coverage;
And routes off play action that create a vertical stretch on a deep cover 3 defender with post or deep crossing routes, or a horizontal stretch with fly routes from slot receivers;
The combination of gap and horizontal runs with stretches off play action should sound familiar - it was largely the strategy that Ohio State used against Alabama and Oregon's odd-front defenses last season.
But although the 2015 Ohio State's coaching staff has dabbled with these concepts they have failed to consistently deploy these plays. In particular, the Buckeyes' run game has too frequently relied upon tight zone to start games - even against defenses designed to stop the play.
For instance, against Indiana, Ohio State had little success running tight zone until they turned to power in the second half - resulting in three 40+-yard touchdown runs. Against Maryland, Ohio State deployed effective constraints with run-pass options. But against Penn State, the Buckeyes reverted to tight zone - and an unsuccessful first quarter run game - against an overcommitted defense.
The limits of tight zone were amplified this season without the threat of Cardale Jones keeping on a read. The quarterback keep is by definition a constraint upon defenses overplaying tight zone. Without a keep threat this concern vanishes - enabling opponents to slant and commit backside overhang defenders to the tailback. And the halfback alignment makes it is easier for opponents to know which side the zone play is going. By contrast, gap runs can go to either side from the shotgun. And with a lead blocker the offense can somewhat negate an overaggressive defense by putting an additional blocker at the point of attack.
In sum, Meyer's goal is to be a "pound you and play action team." The offensive line is better suited to such a game plan and Meyer does not want to throw regularly on first down.
But relying on tight zone with Jones at quarterback led to too many unsuccessful runs on standard downs. In particular, Ohio State has had a high number of runs for little or negative gain, leaving the Buckeyes too often in third and long situations. Rather than throwing off play-action, the Buckeyes had to rely upon an inconsistent passing game in must-throw situations, resulting in a low third down and red zone conversion rate.
One Fix to a Broken Record
Meyer's staff found their most consistent remedy to this problem by returning to what they know - the quarterback run game. J.T. Barrett's read and running ability limits a defense from overplaying tight zone. When a defense slants to Elliott, Barrett can keep to the opposite side.
The Rutgers contestClick Designed quarterback runs also not only prevent defenses from overplaying tight zone; they also re-equate numbers and add diversity to the run game. For instance, lead outside zone is run from the same formation as tight zone - but in the opposite direction. Ohio State can check to this run against field pressure or when an opponent slants away from Elliott.Here to view this Link. was a microcosm of how opponents have limited tight zone - and how Ohio State has responded with Barrett's running. Using a shaded bear front, the Scarlet Knights limited Elliott to 15 yards on nine carries in the first half. But the Buckeyes avoided three and outs with Barrett on power read and designed runs. And by Barrett using his legs to keep Ohio State ahead of schedule, Meyer's staff could utilize gap-play action passing with a pulling guard that put the offensive line in a better pass-blocking position and generated explosive plays. Yet it was not until the second half - when Ohio State reverted from tight zone to power blocking - that Elliott got on-track and the Buckeyes generated four consecutive touchdown drives.
Time is a Flat Circle
Minnesota will likely apply a similarly aggressive one-high safety with man coverage strategy. Barrett's suspension puts the onus on Meyer's staff to develop a game plan with Jones that does not result in the offense again stalling early with tight zone. This likely includes power-O runs, in combination with screens, slants, hitches, and vertical routes off the Buckeyes' gap-play action scheme.
And the gap run game should include Jones as a ball carrier. Although he is not as effective or as versatile a runner as Barrett, Jones picked up critical conversions in the playoffs and against Virginia Tech when he ran north and south on plays such as power read and QB-counter trey. It was only after thae opening contest against the Hokies that Jones disappeared as a run threat, limiting the Ohio State offense. But whether it is Barrett or Jones under center, Ohio State's offensive success will continue to be defined by how well Meyer's staff adjusts to defenses committing defenders to limit tight zone.
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