The first 2 games showed us a lot of great things for Messingham's offense, but this was the game that would begin to prove if this offense was for real. Could this group manage success against an SEC defense that dominated K-State last year and do it at their place? While it wasn't perfect, the offense went to Starkville and passed the test. This week's breakdown will highlight a) continued diversity of personnel (I charted 16 different formations this week), b) a nice mix of power and play action for success, and c) a bit more focus on some of the schemes that didn't work and why.
1st half - Drive 1
1 Back Counter Trey
A big focus in this game was off tackle power. This first example is a version of counter trey (which I designate b/c of two pullers). Here K-State has twins to the top of the screen and a TE/H stack to the bottom. As you will see, Messingham used this TE/H combo to set the edge often against the MSU defense. Here the that duo gets a great the double team (first circle) on the defensive end, allowing both pullers to get out to the edge. Gilbert shows great patience and it is only the effort on pursuit by the backside defensive linemen (2nd circle) that stops the play from being even bigger.
Power Read - QB Keep
This game also mixed in more option (both zone read and power read), plus jet sweep action from a motioning receiver. This play is true power read as you see Thompson read the backside defensive end (1st circle) before pulling the ball. He follows his puller (who uses a similar pull technique to A gap power), then cuts back to the leftside in the 2nd level. The jet pulls the safety (2nd circle) and the offensive line is able to get a pair of guys to the 2nd level to block the ILB (3rd circle). This was the only keep by Thompson on option, but running it once early in the game is often just enough to keep defenders honest.
Play Action Comeback Route
This play action is off another version of Power Read, using the backside RB as the outside sweep fake instead of a motioning WR. Brown is the lead blocker and runs a seam route off of the fake; this is enough to hold the OLB (circled) which creates a little more space for Thompson to hit Knowles on the comeback route.
Power Read - Jet Sweep Give
The formation is a bit different, here with compact twins to the top and a split/H combo to the bottom. Thompson makes the right read (1st circle) with the give, plus the H makes a huge block on the edge (2nd circle). The play should have gotten enough for the first down, but Schoen isn't quite able to hold his down field block (3rd circle) and gets pushed back into Knowles' path, though he is kind of in a bind with 2 defenders at the point of attack. Plus Gilbert probably makes a miss read on the edge by trying to reroute his block to the backside pursuit from the OLB instead of moving ahead to help Schoen.
Inside Zone from Unbalanced Twins
Here K-State comes out on 4th and short in an unbalanced formation with the TE to the top with the twin WRs. K-State runs inside zone lead to the weakside, where they actually have the numbers (1st circle) for a successful play However, the MSU DT is able to blow up the playside guard (2nd circle) and he ends up making the play in the backfield. If he doesn't get penetration, I think the back is able to pick up the first down right at the marker.
Drive 2
Drop Back Pass - 3 WR Combo vs Man
MSU brought quite a few blitzes vs spread formations, here is one K-State picked up and barely missed on a corner route. Note the safety has to pick up the #3 WR in trips because of the blitz, leaving nobody over the top. Gill stems his route really well with an inside out move, before breaking out to the numbers and has his man beat (circle). The throw comes at a tough angle for a WR and he isn't able to quite run through his route to make the catch.
Drop Back Pass - Out Route at the Sticks
This time MSU keeps a safety over the top, but Brooks gets a favorable match up vs the other safety. The outside 2 WRs run vertical routes allowing Brooks to break out at the marker and make a nice first down catch.
A Gap Power
K-State has set the tone this year with the power run game, A-gap being one of the staples. Here the playside guard and tackle completely cave the defensive front, which technically puts the running lane at the C-gap. The puller and FB are able to pick up 2 of the 3 remaining playside defenders (circled) while Trotter makes a nice vertical cut for a good gain.
Unbalanced G Power
Here is a new unbalanced formation that K-State used several times vs MSU. A pair of TEs is aligned to the split WR side, leaving just a guard and tackle to the top of the formation. A scheme I call G power (because typically the playside guard pulls out to the edge) is set up by the pair of TEs helping cave down MSU's front. The puller and FB are able to pick up 2 defenders (circle) allowing Trotter to get through the 2nd level for another nice gain.
A Gap Power Blown Up
Against K-State's 2 back sets, defenses are going to find ways to attack and MSU did several times Saturday. Here a defensive end (1st circle) is able to come down and blow up both the puller and FB at the point of attack. That leaves 2 guys for Kaltmayer to block in the 2nd level and the OLB is able to knock Trotter down at the LOS.
Drop Back Pass vs Bluff Blitz & Zone
MSU is typically very aggressive, but here #32 drops to the flat after showing blitz and MSU plays zone coverage vs trips. K-State probably expected #32 to then carry Schoen on the post route and Thompson looked for Gill underneath. However, the dropping defenders (circled) were able to converge and keep Gill short of the sticks.
A Gap Power Play Action - TE Vertical
This is a play we've all been waiting for; a TE route off of A Gap Power. Note how well the TE sells run with the early block (1st circle) and the run action holds the LBs (2nd circle) leaving the TE wide open. Thompson just overthrows him, but MSU bailed K-State out with the roughing penalty.
Drive 4
RB Counter off Jet from Unbalanced Trips
This is an unusual formation that Messingham used some at NDSU. There are trips WRs to the bottom of the screen, but #1 and #2 are both on the LOS (#2 is ineligible). To the top of the formation is an H back off the LOS, leaving the OT on the end. K-State again uses Jet by the inside WR to try to confuse the defense while bringing a puller and the H back for the counter. MSU is again disciplined and doesn't bite on the jet, leaving the numbers (circled) to defend the play. Gilbert is still able to get a decent 4 yard gain on the play.
1st half - Drive 1
1 Back Counter Trey
A big focus in this game was off tackle power. This first example is a version of counter trey (which I designate b/c of two pullers). Here K-State has twins to the top of the screen and a TE/H stack to the bottom. As you will see, Messingham used this TE/H combo to set the edge often against the MSU defense. Here the that duo gets a great the double team (first circle) on the defensive end, allowing both pullers to get out to the edge. Gilbert shows great patience and it is only the effort on pursuit by the backside defensive linemen (2nd circle) that stops the play from being even bigger.
Power Read - QB Keep
This game also mixed in more option (both zone read and power read), plus jet sweep action from a motioning receiver. This play is true power read as you see Thompson read the backside defensive end (1st circle) before pulling the ball. He follows his puller (who uses a similar pull technique to A gap power), then cuts back to the leftside in the 2nd level. The jet pulls the safety (2nd circle) and the offensive line is able to get a pair of guys to the 2nd level to block the ILB (3rd circle). This was the only keep by Thompson on option, but running it once early in the game is often just enough to keep defenders honest.
Play Action Comeback Route
This play action is off another version of Power Read, using the backside RB as the outside sweep fake instead of a motioning WR. Brown is the lead blocker and runs a seam route off of the fake; this is enough to hold the OLB (circled) which creates a little more space for Thompson to hit Knowles on the comeback route.
Power Read - Jet Sweep Give
The formation is a bit different, here with compact twins to the top and a split/H combo to the bottom. Thompson makes the right read (1st circle) with the give, plus the H makes a huge block on the edge (2nd circle). The play should have gotten enough for the first down, but Schoen isn't quite able to hold his down field block (3rd circle) and gets pushed back into Knowles' path, though he is kind of in a bind with 2 defenders at the point of attack. Plus Gilbert probably makes a miss read on the edge by trying to reroute his block to the backside pursuit from the OLB instead of moving ahead to help Schoen.
Inside Zone from Unbalanced Twins
Here K-State comes out on 4th and short in an unbalanced formation with the TE to the top with the twin WRs. K-State runs inside zone lead to the weakside, where they actually have the numbers (1st circle) for a successful play However, the MSU DT is able to blow up the playside guard (2nd circle) and he ends up making the play in the backfield. If he doesn't get penetration, I think the back is able to pick up the first down right at the marker.
Drive 2
Drop Back Pass - 3 WR Combo vs Man
MSU brought quite a few blitzes vs spread formations, here is one K-State picked up and barely missed on a corner route. Note the safety has to pick up the #3 WR in trips because of the blitz, leaving nobody over the top. Gill stems his route really well with an inside out move, before breaking out to the numbers and has his man beat (circle). The throw comes at a tough angle for a WR and he isn't able to quite run through his route to make the catch.
Drop Back Pass - Out Route at the Sticks
This time MSU keeps a safety over the top, but Brooks gets a favorable match up vs the other safety. The outside 2 WRs run vertical routes allowing Brooks to break out at the marker and make a nice first down catch.
A Gap Power
K-State has set the tone this year with the power run game, A-gap being one of the staples. Here the playside guard and tackle completely cave the defensive front, which technically puts the running lane at the C-gap. The puller and FB are able to pick up 2 of the 3 remaining playside defenders (circled) while Trotter makes a nice vertical cut for a good gain.
Unbalanced G Power
Here is a new unbalanced formation that K-State used several times vs MSU. A pair of TEs is aligned to the split WR side, leaving just a guard and tackle to the top of the formation. A scheme I call G power (because typically the playside guard pulls out to the edge) is set up by the pair of TEs helping cave down MSU's front. The puller and FB are able to pick up 2 defenders (circle) allowing Trotter to get through the 2nd level for another nice gain.
A Gap Power Blown Up
Against K-State's 2 back sets, defenses are going to find ways to attack and MSU did several times Saturday. Here a defensive end (1st circle) is able to come down and blow up both the puller and FB at the point of attack. That leaves 2 guys for Kaltmayer to block in the 2nd level and the OLB is able to knock Trotter down at the LOS.
Drop Back Pass vs Bluff Blitz & Zone
MSU is typically very aggressive, but here #32 drops to the flat after showing blitz and MSU plays zone coverage vs trips. K-State probably expected #32 to then carry Schoen on the post route and Thompson looked for Gill underneath. However, the dropping defenders (circled) were able to converge and keep Gill short of the sticks.
A Gap Power Play Action - TE Vertical
This is a play we've all been waiting for; a TE route off of A Gap Power. Note how well the TE sells run with the early block (1st circle) and the run action holds the LBs (2nd circle) leaving the TE wide open. Thompson just overthrows him, but MSU bailed K-State out with the roughing penalty.
Drive 4
RB Counter off Jet from Unbalanced Trips
This is an unusual formation that Messingham used some at NDSU. There are trips WRs to the bottom of the screen, but #1 and #2 are both on the LOS (#2 is ineligible). To the top of the formation is an H back off the LOS, leaving the OT on the end. K-State again uses Jet by the inside WR to try to confuse the defense while bringing a puller and the H back for the counter. MSU is again disciplined and doesn't bite on the jet, leaving the numbers (circled) to defend the play. Gilbert is still able to get a decent 4 yard gain on the play.
