5th Drive
1st Play: 1st and 10 O32 (3:48 to go in half)
Form: I-formation, strong right, double flankers left
Def: 4 man front, 4 LBs across middle ( OLB on left showing coverage on inside flanker, OLB on right dropping into coverage)- 1 CB on far flanker, Cover 1 deep, with second CB wide to strong side reading run/showing blitz. Defense is tight, looking run.
On snap: Another 270-degree turn handoff up the gut
O-line gets about a 2-yard push as defense shoots up the middle on the run. No real holes inside, though gap to right is well blocked. Hall goes up the middle and is tackled for gain of 1-2 yards. Maybe he could have shifted to right and gotten more, but defense was definitely pegging middle and
OSU ran there.
2nd Play: 2nd and 9 O33
Form: same as previous play
Def: 5-3, 1 CB tight on far flanker, inside CB 8 yards off. Cover 2 safeties. Defense looking run or deep throw.
SM PA to Hall, PA forces man coverage, Jenkins runs 15 yard curl, SM hits him with nice pass. Called back- holding. SM got to line with 15 secondson play clock- seemed to audible routes. Defense was watching short and long plays, SM went middle which was open. Too bad it didn't count.
2nd Play (again): 2nd and 19 O23
Form: Single-set I, strong right, 1 flanker right, 2 left
Def: 4-3, left side LB wide in coverage, right side LB blitzing. DBs in 1 deep coverage, fairly tight on flankers both sides.
On snap: Straight 7-step drop, CB blitz from right (plus LB blitz on same side. Hall chip blocks LB and releases, as do RG and RT- looks like a good screen to Hall. Excellent blocking. Defense looked like it did not expect the screen or were conceding short pass- the hustle of RG and RT bust play for 15 yards. Great call vs. blitz and good blocking.
3rd Play: 3rd and 4 O38
Form: Same form but reversed (strong left, double Fl right)
Def: 4-2 (nickel?) 2 LB's in middle (1 showing blitz) 1 safety pinching to strong side, 1 safety pinching to weak... CB's tight on flankers, 1 deep safety. Looks like zone pass coverage with a delayed blitz or two.
On snap: LB does blitz (on outisde stunt), other fakes blitz then runs wide to cover Hall on wide side. Safeties all go into coverage. LB comes free on SM but ball is away quickly to Jenkins low on sidelines. Good adjustment.
Again, NW waited to see blocking assignments, then committed LB to blitz on a stunt, but SM got rid of the ball.
Decent play, O-line caught on a stunt, but SM is freed long enough to hit hot read. Low throw, but first down.
4th Play: 1st and 10 O43
Form: Same as prev. play, but TE motions to weak side
Def: 4-3, but 3 is shifted to wide side ( original weak side), standard 2-2 coverage with DB's, on motion LBs shift to the right and CBs pinch, 1 showing blitz on new strong side- looking run?
Snap: straight drop back, Hall flares wide side, Safety and LB blitzes are picked up by Tackles. SM feels pressure, steps up, starts to run, then stops and lofts pass up field too high for TE. Ball is tipped and intercepted.
SM showed indecision, the pocket was pushed around behind him, but he was protected- if he just runs, he does well. If he stays and passes, he does well. He couldn't make up mind- got busted. Good call, blitz was picked up nicely, SM just needed to commit to pass or run, not both.
Interception. Maybe the second real mental error by the team this game. The holding call wiped out a good play but was overcome and did not affect the final outcome of this series.
OSU just seems to be in the lackadaisical mode here.
the 6th Drive is to run out the clock, so no need to review.