Messingham Magic.
Somehow the K-State OC picked up this team from the struggles vs OSU and BU, showed improvement vs a good TCU defense last week, and seemingly brought it all together vs OU.
Several things will be apparent in this week's GIFs, namely completely keeping OU's LBs and DBs guessing from the beginning while also finding holes in OU's version of cover 2. K-State's offense brought counter off a power staple along with an impressive mix of paired plays using multiple schemes, unpredictable play action, and consistently finding the gaps between OU's safeties and corners in zone coverage.
1st Quarter
While this play wasn't the most explosive of the day and K-State settled for a 3 and out, the offense did set the tone on drive one that OU was going to see all kinds of distractions from K-State's offense. Here the Cats motion Gilbert out with the threat of bubble screen and run QB power back the other way. This is similar to old counter trey, but one of the pullers is the H back. Note that K-State messes this play up when the H blocks an OU defender already being blocked by the left tackle.
This is the play I've raved about all weekend; a counter play off of A gap power. The movement is more clear from the endzone view, but this is a great concept and executed perfectly by the left guard (first small circle). The FB and beginning of the pull influences all of the OU LBs (small circle) to attack K-State's right side, where A gap power would typically go. OU's front is also slanting the same direction, which makes caving OU's defense down (big circle) the play even better. The guard reroutes and kicks out OU's only remaining edge defender leaving a huge crease for Gilbert. K-State only ran this concept one more time in the game, but the tone was set and the thought placed firmly in the heads of OU's aggressive LBs.
Then K-State comes back with regular A gap power scheme with a cutback for a nice gain. It is slight, but we see some hesitation by the OU LB (circle) which allows room for Brown to cutback away from the FB and puller.
Here is the first example of K-State finding the hole between the corner and safety in OU's cover 2 look. Knowles is able to simply run a skinny post to find the gap while Youngbloods post route helps hold the only OU defender that could undercut the route. Plus Thompson gets a nice clean pocket and plenty of time for the route to break open in the zone.
Messingham hadn't used much Diamond since week 1, though Brown's injury was probably a key reason why. One of Messingham's favorite paired plays is QB power with stretch to a RB or Jet to a WR. Here K-State turns the stretch up because of how aggressive OU fills to prevent offenses from getting the edge. We've seen struggles blocking on the edge this year, especially at the point of attack, but Saturday blockers were really good in space. Here Gilbert and Brown both do a nice job and allow a nice crease for Trotter. Still, K-State wasted a blocker by blocking the read defender (circled) plus a few missed blocks in space on OU's backside defenders allowing them to run down the play. Still, a nice 7 yard run on first down and the first of many RB gives on stretch with power read, another way Messingham kept the OU LBs guessing.
Another nice paired play concept; inside zone with a quick bubble screen. Here you can see OU bring a OLB off the edge which makes for an easy read and throw to the bubble. Granted, this play looks like throw all the way, but again another 2 scheme concept that really can create confusion for a defense.
Speed option near the goal line isn't a new concept in Manhattan, but this time we saw it run to the wide side of the field. K-State uses a shift by the H back to get an extra blocker and completely take the QB player away from the play. OU's OLB (#44) is the pitch defender so Thompson has an easy lane to the endzone.
Here is the zone give off of the bubble. Notice OU's ILB (circle, #24) and his confusion as Gilbert uses patience in cutting behind his offensive line and getting vertical off of the left edge.
K-State didn't use any unbalanced formations last week, but the Cats have been a run heavy team out of the formation. I call this unbalanced because K-State puts the TE to the twin WR side of the formation, which creates an extra gap and numbers advantage, but the TE is ineligible to be a pass receiver. However, both receivers clear out with deeper routes leaving Dineen plenty of room in the flat to pick up the first down on the catch.
This is just a new wrinkle to the RB stretch, QB power option. K-State has generally run this with 2 halfbacks on the field, but here the H back motions to the split back gun position and provides the lead block. OU over-pursues once again, so K-State kicks out the OU defenders allowing Gilbert plenty of room to cut up vertical for a nice gain. A great block on OU's backside LB keeps backside pursuit away.
Occasionally Messingham will go back to the well on consecutive plays and this was one of those times. Brown comes in for Gilbert, the H motions to the backfield, and RB stretch with QB power comes again. Notice that this time the puller sees the LB run through and stays on the LOS to pick him up. Brown does a nice job coming underneath OU's over pursuit. Lenners doesn't really get anyone blocked, but some nice downfield blocks by the OL free up Brown for a nice run.
2nd Quarter
OU didn't play man often, but Messingham had a great play dialed up on this 3rd and long when they did. Granted, the OU DB is trying to defend the out from 12 yards off the LOS at the snap, bt Gill stems a nice route inside, before breaking out at the sticks for a big first down.
K-State may not run speed option to the boundary anymore, but how about a jet sweep to the boundary? Again, this is a play paired with QB power inside, but the Cats have numbers at the edge and Youngblood does a nice job of navigating a solid trio of blocks to the end zone. Thompson makes a nice read on the unblocked LB closing fast for the give.
Another play action out of unbalanced twins. Again K-State gets man coverage and Schoen runs a good out route at the sticks. The value of running good play action out of what has been a typical run formation can't be undersold for both this game and the future.
Here is the one other case of K-State running A gap counter vs OU. Notice that they aren't able to cave the OU front as much as the OLB for OU gets up the field. Still, the reroute by the puller and cutback from Gilbert leads to a nice 1st down gain. Again, notice the hesitation by the OU LB (circled).
Nothing very complex here, but the play action while hitting the H back on the quick flat route only provides another thread on the field and again forces the defense to defend another option that they don't expect.
Another zone buster hole shot, though its a similar man route that we saw above. This is a pretty unusual coverage for 4th and 6, but K-State catches the CB carrying the outside vertical route, a deep safety, and the out route inside the curl defender. Not much OU can do here and a good throw by Thompson into the gap in the zone.
A very similar concept for QB draw that we saw last week on 3rd and long following the big interception late in the half. K-State catches OU blitzing both LBs and does a great job sealing both with the OT and then Brown. All Thompson has to do is beat the safety in space for the go ahead score.
2nd half GIFs coming later in this thread.
Somehow the K-State OC picked up this team from the struggles vs OSU and BU, showed improvement vs a good TCU defense last week, and seemingly brought it all together vs OU.
Several things will be apparent in this week's GIFs, namely completely keeping OU's LBs and DBs guessing from the beginning while also finding holes in OU's version of cover 2. K-State's offense brought counter off a power staple along with an impressive mix of paired plays using multiple schemes, unpredictable play action, and consistently finding the gaps between OU's safeties and corners in zone coverage.
1st Quarter
While this play wasn't the most explosive of the day and K-State settled for a 3 and out, the offense did set the tone on drive one that OU was going to see all kinds of distractions from K-State's offense. Here the Cats motion Gilbert out with the threat of bubble screen and run QB power back the other way. This is similar to old counter trey, but one of the pullers is the H back. Note that K-State messes this play up when the H blocks an OU defender already being blocked by the left tackle.
This is the play I've raved about all weekend; a counter play off of A gap power. The movement is more clear from the endzone view, but this is a great concept and executed perfectly by the left guard (first small circle). The FB and beginning of the pull influences all of the OU LBs (small circle) to attack K-State's right side, where A gap power would typically go. OU's front is also slanting the same direction, which makes caving OU's defense down (big circle) the play even better. The guard reroutes and kicks out OU's only remaining edge defender leaving a huge crease for Gilbert. K-State only ran this concept one more time in the game, but the tone was set and the thought placed firmly in the heads of OU's aggressive LBs.
Then K-State comes back with regular A gap power scheme with a cutback for a nice gain. It is slight, but we see some hesitation by the OU LB (circle) which allows room for Brown to cutback away from the FB and puller.
Here is the first example of K-State finding the hole between the corner and safety in OU's cover 2 look. Knowles is able to simply run a skinny post to find the gap while Youngbloods post route helps hold the only OU defender that could undercut the route. Plus Thompson gets a nice clean pocket and plenty of time for the route to break open in the zone.
Messingham hadn't used much Diamond since week 1, though Brown's injury was probably a key reason why. One of Messingham's favorite paired plays is QB power with stretch to a RB or Jet to a WR. Here K-State turns the stretch up because of how aggressive OU fills to prevent offenses from getting the edge. We've seen struggles blocking on the edge this year, especially at the point of attack, but Saturday blockers were really good in space. Here Gilbert and Brown both do a nice job and allow a nice crease for Trotter. Still, K-State wasted a blocker by blocking the read defender (circled) plus a few missed blocks in space on OU's backside defenders allowing them to run down the play. Still, a nice 7 yard run on first down and the first of many RB gives on stretch with power read, another way Messingham kept the OU LBs guessing.
Another nice paired play concept; inside zone with a quick bubble screen. Here you can see OU bring a OLB off the edge which makes for an easy read and throw to the bubble. Granted, this play looks like throw all the way, but again another 2 scheme concept that really can create confusion for a defense.
Speed option near the goal line isn't a new concept in Manhattan, but this time we saw it run to the wide side of the field. K-State uses a shift by the H back to get an extra blocker and completely take the QB player away from the play. OU's OLB (#44) is the pitch defender so Thompson has an easy lane to the endzone.
Here is the zone give off of the bubble. Notice OU's ILB (circle, #24) and his confusion as Gilbert uses patience in cutting behind his offensive line and getting vertical off of the left edge.
K-State didn't use any unbalanced formations last week, but the Cats have been a run heavy team out of the formation. I call this unbalanced because K-State puts the TE to the twin WR side of the formation, which creates an extra gap and numbers advantage, but the TE is ineligible to be a pass receiver. However, both receivers clear out with deeper routes leaving Dineen plenty of room in the flat to pick up the first down on the catch.
This is just a new wrinkle to the RB stretch, QB power option. K-State has generally run this with 2 halfbacks on the field, but here the H back motions to the split back gun position and provides the lead block. OU over-pursues once again, so K-State kicks out the OU defenders allowing Gilbert plenty of room to cut up vertical for a nice gain. A great block on OU's backside LB keeps backside pursuit away.
Occasionally Messingham will go back to the well on consecutive plays and this was one of those times. Brown comes in for Gilbert, the H motions to the backfield, and RB stretch with QB power comes again. Notice that this time the puller sees the LB run through and stays on the LOS to pick him up. Brown does a nice job coming underneath OU's over pursuit. Lenners doesn't really get anyone blocked, but some nice downfield blocks by the OL free up Brown for a nice run.
2nd Quarter
OU didn't play man often, but Messingham had a great play dialed up on this 3rd and long when they did. Granted, the OU DB is trying to defend the out from 12 yards off the LOS at the snap, bt Gill stems a nice route inside, before breaking out at the sticks for a big first down.
K-State may not run speed option to the boundary anymore, but how about a jet sweep to the boundary? Again, this is a play paired with QB power inside, but the Cats have numbers at the edge and Youngblood does a nice job of navigating a solid trio of blocks to the end zone. Thompson makes a nice read on the unblocked LB closing fast for the give.
Another play action out of unbalanced twins. Again K-State gets man coverage and Schoen runs a good out route at the sticks. The value of running good play action out of what has been a typical run formation can't be undersold for both this game and the future.
Here is the one other case of K-State running A gap counter vs OU. Notice that they aren't able to cave the OU front as much as the OLB for OU gets up the field. Still, the reroute by the puller and cutback from Gilbert leads to a nice 1st down gain. Again, notice the hesitation by the OU LB (circled).
Nothing very complex here, but the play action while hitting the H back on the quick flat route only provides another thread on the field and again forces the defense to defend another option that they don't expect.
Another zone buster hole shot, though its a similar man route that we saw above. This is a pretty unusual coverage for 4th and 6, but K-State catches the CB carrying the outside vertical route, a deep safety, and the out route inside the curl defender. Not much OU can do here and a good throw by Thompson into the gap in the zone.
A very similar concept for QB draw that we saw last week on 3rd and long following the big interception late in the half. K-State catches OU blitzing both LBs and does a great job sealing both with the OT and then Brown. All Thompson has to do is beat the safety in space for the go ahead score.
2nd half GIFs coming later in this thread.
