Beating Ohio State - Defense

Submitted by Maize and Blue… on

This is for all of the Coaches out there, the Armchair Defensive Coordinators, and General Football Straegists.

Date: November 29, 2014

Time: High Noon

Place: Hostile Ohio Stadium

Conditions: Warm with scattered showers, some rain, high about 50 with a 13 MPH wind - not debilitating, but perhaps a bit disruptive to their Offense.

Opponent: Ohio State runs a spread read option that prefers the run, but can pass the ball as well. They employ a Freshman QB, a competent, but unspectacular running back, one better than average tight end, and three very good WR's. At times, they will go four wides and remove the tight end to spread you out a little more. but their bread and butter is the read option run with the QB keeping the ball. If you watch their film, you will see that they run the read option on every key play, and almost always, Barrett keeps and runs the ball himself.

How I try to stop them: Schematically, I run a five, two, four, and a five, three, three depending on whether the tight end is on the field or not, no tight end = five two four, tight end = five three three.

The five DL are there to take up all of OSU's Offensive line, and keep them off of the Linebackers, I would have the DL running stunts on every play to try and get pressure on Barrett whether it be a run or pass, any plays they make, sacks, TFL's anything is gravy.

The Linebackers alternate responsibility, one is assignd to the running back on every single play, no matter what, and the other is assigned to going after Barrett on every single play - no matter what. The third Linebacker is assigned to the Tight End whenever he is out there. The key being that Freshman Barrett has six guys coming at him on every play, and only five guys to block for him.

The secondary has to grow up and go mono on mono with OSU's three or four receivers. I know the inherent risk of allowing what has been a sub par secondary to go man on man with anyone, but they seem to get burned no matter what Defense they play, and if Barrett is allowed to sit back and pick them apart. the results would be the same.If the QB is on his rear, he cannot hit the open man.

My Defense is predicated upon putting pressure on the Freshman QB Barrett on every single play, and hoping that he makes a number of bad plays to go with the good ones he will no doubt make. Turnovers, bad throws, and mental errors are what Freshman QB's do when they are under extreme duress for an extended period of time. In fact, our own QB can tell you what happens to a QB under constant pressure. A shitty weather day, combined with constant pressure might just be enough to give him the worst day of his life, and us a chance to pull off a minor miracle.

That is my DEFENSIVE plan - What's yours ?

LSAClassOf2000

November 24th, 2014 at 8:49 PM ^

Even though Virginia Tech gave up about 320 yards or so, the 7 sacks, 3 INTs and the 9-29 passing performance from Barrett were, within the context of the game, chuckleworthy. Actually, Ohio State's points / play came out to a paltry (for them) 0.304 points per play. If you can make them less efficient as Virginia Tech did in that game, you have a better shot. 

B-Nut-GoBlue

November 24th, 2014 at 7:55 PM ^

JT Barrett is going to tee off on us.  It won't be pretty.  There is no hope of a freaky occurence like last year.  Yes, defense is this team's strong point, if you will, but my gosh Barrett is legit.

Wmonette

November 24th, 2014 at 8:10 PM ^

Someone offers young J.T. some before he goes all "Heisman Pose" on us? 

 

I myself pay more attention to offenses. I think Ohio State is going to air it out a lot, like they did against MSU. Basically, they'll run up the seams and put pressure on the safeties to make decision in space, while also utilizing their speed guy (I think D. Smith is his name, but I could be wrong) to stretch the field vertically.

 

The hall-mark of Urban's offense is that it is inherently indefensible when run correctly. When he has the right pieces in place (which he does) there is no stopping it. To beat an Urban team, you have to do what Saban did, utlizing what he called "Rip/Liz/Match" (read about it here, if you are inclined:http://www.sbnation.com/longform/2013/9/10/4714802/alabama-vs-texas-am-…)

 

 

Quoted for ease of time: "Rip/Liz Match is a pattern-matching adjustment to a traditional three-deep zone, which means that the zone defenders essentially play man-to-man coverage after the receivers have run the called pass pattern.  Below is an image from Saban's playbook on Rip/Liz:

The insight behind Rip/Liz is that when offenses -- like the Steelers in 1994 -- want to defeat three-deep zone, they run the tight end and slot receivers down the seams, but if they want to defeat Cover 1 man, they run picks and crossing routes. Rip/Liz match therefore gives the offense precisely what it doesn't want to see. To oversimplify, they do this because when the inside receivers run vertical, those nickel defenders and linebackers run vertical with them, but if they quickly break outside to the flat or inside on a cross, those linebackers and nickelbacks, rather than chasing the receivers across the field, pass them on and drop to their zones and match up to the offense's other receivers."

 

This actually worked to stop Johnny Football in the rematch, and it absolutely destroyed A&M this year (59-0)

 

I don't think we have the DB talent or coaching that Alabama does though--most teams don't--so most solutions against Urban's teams has always been "score more than they do", which is what we did when we beat them during Tebow's Heisman year.

 

Sorry for the novel. I think my understanding of Defenses has always been "how to attack them" so I apologize for using that in an Inverse "how to stop them way."

Wmonette

November 24th, 2014 at 8:23 PM ^

They did ENOUGH to win. That's kind of how these offenses work when they have the perfect personnel in place. With Johnny Football, they had that extra dimension that can't be exactly accounted for. This year... not so much.

 

The bad thing for us, is that J.T. has that same look about him. He can run enough to keep your secondary in bad positions, and he is precise enough throwing the ball to really cause havoc.

 

In my opinion, OSU can only be beaten (not counting the Va Tech fluke) by outscoring them. Which we can't do.

Wmonette

November 24th, 2014 at 11:47 PM ^

Kind of what I was saying... Schematically, this offense SHOULDN'T be stopped if it is run correctly with the right personnel. You have to SCORE on a team that runs this kind of offense. Alabama was able to do that while getting just enough stops when it mattered.

 

Frankly, only LSU and Florida 'stopped' Manziel, and only in his Freshman year. Which leads me to believe that Les would be able to stop Urban if he were the coach here, which he should have been seven years ago...but that's neither here nor there.

 

We are, as a defense, rather weak up the seams. They won't have to run that much read option on us...they can just run Y-Stick at the safety until the linebackers move over and the safeties come down, and then run a skinny post behind them. That's an "air-raid" flavor easy 6 every time. And it's basically what they did to MSU. If State couldn't stop them, we have NO chance. 

 

Not trying to start an internet argument. I misspoke when I said that the Liz/Rip match stopped Manziel. Alabama won because they could score, which was part of my original argument on how to beat OSU. OSU will only lose games when they have a true dual threat (which Miller is not in my opinion) at quarterback unless they are out scored. 

BlueTuesday

November 24th, 2014 at 8:04 PM ^

That has to happen to have any chance of winning. 

Our game plan is pretty simple: Play to stop the run. That means man coverage most of the game.

Gardner needs a big day on the ground. Like 100+ yards.

NO turnovers.

If all of that happens, I still only give us about a 20%-25% chance of winning.

 

UMich07

November 24th, 2014 at 8:05 PM ^

Blitz early and often.  High variance strategy, plus maybe you get to see if Cardale Jones can play.  Gonna be a longshot either way, might as well dictate the terms.

Jacoby

November 24th, 2014 at 8:08 PM ^

I would blitz the hell out of them. I know it's a gamble, but I think that heavy blitzing would be unexpected. They have great wide receivers and their QB has had a strong season, but that's not a reason to be conservative on defense. We have to take some risks and try to force some 3-and-outs by not letting their plays develop.

acnumber1

November 24th, 2014 at 8:12 PM ^

Paint the home locker room pink, turn off the hot water in their hotel, and have homeland security search the OSU bus before leaving the hotel, at some random roadblock along the way, and prior to entering the stadium.  Severing a few crucial achilles tendons before kickoff.  Foil up before putting on gloves.  What am I missing?  That may be the equation to cover the spread at least.

tolmichfan

November 24th, 2014 at 9:11 PM ^

While I like some of you defensive philosophies your missing one crucial element. It's the Lawrence Taylor pregame scheme. I would employee hookers armed with kilos of coke. Everyone knows no buckeye can resist this combination of sluttiness and speed. After the cocaine high wears off, high noon on Saturday will be very early and surly lead to a wolverine victory.

ford_428cj

November 24th, 2014 at 9:24 PM ^

"and face 1st year starting QB. If OSU and VT were to play again, OSU would blow VT out of the water."

Your putting OSU up on a pretty high pedestal. Indiana gave them a run for their money just last week...

Perkis-Size Me

November 24th, 2014 at 10:35 PM ^

Call Bud Foster and ask for his game plan. That's really all I've got.

OSI doesn't have a Carlos Hyde back there, but I have a bad feeling we're going to get gashed on the ground unless the weather becomes a factor. And Barrett isn't a passing sieve like Miller was. So...uh....yikes.




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Space Coyote

November 25th, 2014 at 8:50 AM ^

I know a lot of people are all doom and gloom and feel that self-inflicting jokes will make it all easier, but Michigan has opportunities to win this game. Will they? Most likely not. But I certainly get tired of the self-loathing nature, the "look how bad I think this team/coaching staff is, I think it's so much worse than you think it is" communtary. I get that there are multiple reasons to take that route, but I don't think it's flattering. I don't think it's cool. It doesn't make you fit in with a rival because you "know" Michigan will get beat down. In my opinion, it's just kind of annoying, which is probably the best aspect of it when communicating with opposing fans.

Anyway, there are certainly things Michigan can do. I've been advocating for Cover 1 Robber for much of the year, though we haven't seen much of it. But I would run that quite a bit on 1st down. I'd press the outside corners and play a loose base 4-3 Over inside. But I wouldn't rest on just that, or else Meyer and Co will dial up plays to defeat it. I'd rotate between Cover 1 Robber and some Cover 4 and on rare occasions go to Cover 3 to attempt to bait some throws and give multiple looks to the young QB that still isn't being forced to work through a progression that much (the most multiple team he faced, where he could rely on pre-snap reads, was Penn St). The goal here isn't that you won't give up some chunks, it's to get them behind the chains and force them to make more reads to get back on pace. Stuff them on a 1st or 2nd down and get them in a position where you can take advantage of their weaknesses.

I wouldn't do any DL twists on 1st or 2nd down, I'd let them play their gaps and throw in some slants/angles to work to snuff out the inside run game. I wouldn't let Elliot release through the LOS, if he comes forward you meet him in the hole, don't let him become a lead blocker, but rather force him to become a receiver through the LOS after taking a pop. When not in a base, I'd twist LBs because OSU's OL has the propensity to become confused with those types of games still. On 3rd down I would mix blitzes with DL twists and stunts and give a variety of looks from the 3-3-5 formation, with multiple coverages behind it to force Barrett to read a defense and a progression and force the OL to pick it up.

So yeah, I get that we're all self-loathing, no chance in hell hoping Michigan fans this week. We're "enjoying Thanksgiving" and not giving a damn about the whole state of Michigan, because being a quasi-OSU fan is easier than pinning our happiness on hope. You don't need to base the enjoyment of your weekend on the outcome of The Game. Enjoy your long weekend. Enjoy being with family. You don't need to get your hopes up only to be disappointed. But damnit, be a fan. Care. Have some fun. And always, always understand that there is a chance.

This isn't some fan-badge speech. Every team has strengths and every team has weaknesses. You may not like this coaching staff and you may not believe in them or this team, you have that right. But you don't root against them. You don't root against this team, this program, this university. You don't root against Michigan. And you hope that this team and this coaching staff, which will likely be together for the last time on Saturday, doesn't come out like many of the fans are coming out in their support this week. Because through hell and highwater, if they believe, if this team comes out and executes the way they are capable, then maybe, just maybe, if you believed too, you'll have the right to be there cheering with them as that clock ticks down to zero. You'll have the right to be proud, to be happy, to feel what fandom is really all about. For the university, for the program, for the team. For Michigan.

LSA91

November 25th, 2014 at 10:11 AM ^

I'll never root against Michigan.   But if being a fan means believing they can beat OSU, well. . .

If a hundred things fall into place, we can beat Ohio.   Other challenged teams have held on to Ohio for a while.    And I hope that happens.   With that said, I would not bet the mortgage on us even beating the spread.

Maize and Blue…

November 25th, 2014 at 3:44 PM ^

You rock man.

I wrote this hoping that I could start a meaningful discussion on how to stop OSU's Offense, with what we have, and outside of you, Wmonette, and a few others, all I received were crap responses, and negativity, calls for miracles and outrageous fortune to give us a chance to win, but you alone gave me what I was looking for, a technical, honest discussion on what the Defense can do Saturday to keep the team in the game.

If we played this game ten times, OSU would probably win eight or nine, the key is in getting the team to play that one, or two games where they would go out and win the game. Back in 1969, I'm sure that few thought that we had a chance to beat OSU too, but as Michigan fans, they came out anyway, and supported the team, and they share a precious memory that nobody can ever take away from them because of it. This team has a chance to do the same, but will they ? Probably not, but as long as hope exists, a REAL Michigan Man never gives up, and finds a way to win with honor.

I was going to write a companion post about the Offense for today, but since the first was so poorly received, I'm going to the store instead.

Last point, I still think that the key to beating this team is to put constant pressure on the Freshman QB, stop him from running, his default setting, make him beat you with the pass under great duress, and hope he makes more bad Freshman mistakes, than great highlight plays.

tolmichfan

November 25th, 2014 at 8:33 PM ^

I liked the idea of your post, and was gonna write something more than just snark, but my bitterness got to me. Sorry, so here it goes.

First off I'm with Space and don't think we should run stunts except on obviouse passing downs. I Don't know much about DB coverages, but I think you have to play zone when we r between the 20s. When we have them backed up go man and try to pressure with various blitzes.

I think the big key to the game is when Poggi will be playing. Frank really hurt the team and has forced two positions into not being as good. Moveing Taco over to the weak side hurts the strong side. Urban will attack Poggi with zone read and it will be up to the coaches to use multiple defenses to stop this. By multiple I mean some downs we use the nickle back is assigned to the QB while Poggi has RB, or switch up with Playside linebackers.

NFL attacks zone read by crashing the D end down and useing line backers to cover the QB. I would teach the d end, when they read zone read, to use the linemans momentum and collapse the Line of scrimmage. And use both play side and backside linebackers to attack the runners. Play side takes QB and back side takes RB. Playing option teams is all about doing your assignment all the time.

I would also use Ross III over bolden. OSU doesn't have Hyde anymore so we need speed over power.

mwoody

November 25th, 2014 at 11:17 AM ^

we need to get a few well-timed turnovers and not give up any to have a chance (the last thing the defense needs is a short field).

It is always about execution and for the most part we have been good-average on defense all year. But luck and taking advantage of breaks could loom large in this game.