Most anticipated that the offense would have few issues in Stillwater, but for the first 2.5 quarters that wasn't the case. The Cowboy defense stymied the Wildcat offense, starting with the running game. This first post will highlight some of the issues K-State faced throughout the game.
This first play highlights one of the concerned I expressed during and after the game; Messingham and staff going away from what had been so successful the first 3 games of the season. Granted, you have to make adjustments and this is potentially a nice concept, but OSU was able to knock it down. First, KSU is in an unbalanced trips formation, and even added another blocker by placing the H back to the trips side of the formation. The scheme is power read; you can see the backside guard pull and Thompson is reading the unblocked DE (circle). In theory, K-State has bodies to account for every OSU defender besides the safety, and initially the play looks like it could be a solid gain. However, the H is unable to get the key block at the point of attack and OSU's speed is able to get outside to the ball and knock down Gilbert for just a short gain.
Here K-State uses jet motion and a fake in attempt to slow down the OSU LBs. 1st, OSU gives no respect to the jet motion, 2nd both of OSU's playside defensive linemen are able to hold the LOS, and 3rd KSU has no one to chip off and block the ILB, who takes the clean run through between the center and playside guard. OSU was clearly reading pullers and here that can't be more obvious. Even if KSU had somehow been able to chip to the ILB, OSU still has the play defeated at the point of attack as well.
Finally on the 3rd drive, K-State gets into a power set and runs A gap power. Even with OSU having 9 in the box, KSU looks to have a nice play initially. OSU is able to get penetration and waste the pulling guard, but there are still 2 FBs to lead into the hole. However, they decide to double team one LB, leaving another free and no cutting lane for the back away from the safety filling in the middle. The should have been a nice 5-7 yard gain minimum if executed better.
The next play was back to 1 back, but still a nice power concept with a backside pulling G. The KSU OL is unable to complete the double team (1st circle) to the OLB and the guard stumbles getting out to the ILB. OSU is able to win the LOS leaving Gilbert no running lane and it was then magnified by the offense's first turnover of the season.
Many people blamed Trotter for this poor run, and that is partially true. But KSU again is very bad with the double on the NG and chip to the LB. The playside guard over commits to helping the OC and comes off way to late, allowing the run through by the LB. That penetration forces Trotter to sta inside and he runs into the back of the OC, whoh as been pushed into the backfield. Again, OSU simply won the LOS and K-State's timing for the zone blocking was off against OSU's speed.
Messingham likes to shift and then run weak, which is actually a pretty nice tendency break for this offense. However, once again KSU struggles up front with the zone blocking scheme. There are 2 LBs here and you can only block one (circled), but the OG come off and simply misses the OLB. If he just takes a better angle and hits him square at the point of attack, that leaves a little running lane outside and likely picks up the first down. You can see him turned at the end of the play showing how the LB simply got inside of his block, which can't happen on this play in this situation.
Similar to the first play with the power read pitch, this is another that KSU simply couldn't execute against OSU's speed. It is essentially a spread version of triple option, with a possible give to the back running zone, QB keep off the edge, or throw out the bubble for the pitch. 1st, it looks like K-State has decent numbers to give to Brown. After the keep, the bubble throw is the correct read by Thompson and K-State has the numbers to get a play, but OSU's DBs simply beat both of K-State's blocks on the outside. If blocked well by the WRs, the play likely gets a first down easily.
Here is a similar zone read concept, without the bubble attached. Again, KSU looks to have numbers to zone block the OSU front and LBs. Note that OSU is able to hold up KSU's OL (circled) who is unable to get off and block the OLB who then makes the play for the short gain.
K-State is back to the more traditional 2 back, unbalanced TE-H look we saw several times vs MSU. Here K-State is running zone weak again and the FB goes opposite to help hold the LBs. KSU is able to block the front and LBs pretty well, but the OSU safety fills quickly. A better play for K-State, but again OSU's speed limits the gain.
The next play KSU keeps the same peronnel and comes back with A gap power. KSU again wastes a blocker as the playside OT gets turned (circled) trying to help with the DT and is unable to chip off to the LB. The puller gets a decent block at the point of attack, but by wasting the blocker, Gilbert is left with 2 OSU defenders as the safety fills.
Here is another A gap power later in the 3rd quarter. Notice that KSU's shift seems to have OSU confused initially, but the LB is able to bump the DE a gap, leaving a clean run through to the back. This looks like a misread by the puller who likely needs to come off and fill that lane to prevent the run through as K-State ends up with decent blocking on the edge after caving OSU's front.
Here is a final A gap power out of 2 back spread. On this play, OSU closes down hard leaving an outside line for Gilbert to bounce it. Granted, his strength is staying downhill and vertical, but it looks like he has plenty of room to bounce outside for a decent gain. Fortunately OSU bailed K-State out with a personal foul after the play.
It seems pretty clear that throughout the game, K-State had a lot of trouble adjusting to the speed of OSU's defensive front, plus simply lost too many battles at the LOS. K-State was able to get a bit more push as the game went along and got better timing and fitting up in both zone and gap run schemes. However, such a poor offensive start to this game never allowed K-State to be a part of it and by the time the offense found some rhythm it was simply too late.
Coming later this week; Passing Game Problems and Successes from the last 1.5 quarters.
This first play highlights one of the concerned I expressed during and after the game; Messingham and staff going away from what had been so successful the first 3 games of the season. Granted, you have to make adjustments and this is potentially a nice concept, but OSU was able to knock it down. First, KSU is in an unbalanced trips formation, and even added another blocker by placing the H back to the trips side of the formation. The scheme is power read; you can see the backside guard pull and Thompson is reading the unblocked DE (circle). In theory, K-State has bodies to account for every OSU defender besides the safety, and initially the play looks like it could be a solid gain. However, the H is unable to get the key block at the point of attack and OSU's speed is able to get outside to the ball and knock down Gilbert for just a short gain.
Here K-State uses jet motion and a fake in attempt to slow down the OSU LBs. 1st, OSU gives no respect to the jet motion, 2nd both of OSU's playside defensive linemen are able to hold the LOS, and 3rd KSU has no one to chip off and block the ILB, who takes the clean run through between the center and playside guard. OSU was clearly reading pullers and here that can't be more obvious. Even if KSU had somehow been able to chip to the ILB, OSU still has the play defeated at the point of attack as well.
Finally on the 3rd drive, K-State gets into a power set and runs A gap power. Even with OSU having 9 in the box, KSU looks to have a nice play initially. OSU is able to get penetration and waste the pulling guard, but there are still 2 FBs to lead into the hole. However, they decide to double team one LB, leaving another free and no cutting lane for the back away from the safety filling in the middle. The should have been a nice 5-7 yard gain minimum if executed better.
The next play was back to 1 back, but still a nice power concept with a backside pulling G. The KSU OL is unable to complete the double team (1st circle) to the OLB and the guard stumbles getting out to the ILB. OSU is able to win the LOS leaving Gilbert no running lane and it was then magnified by the offense's first turnover of the season.
Many people blamed Trotter for this poor run, and that is partially true. But KSU again is very bad with the double on the NG and chip to the LB. The playside guard over commits to helping the OC and comes off way to late, allowing the run through by the LB. That penetration forces Trotter to sta inside and he runs into the back of the OC, whoh as been pushed into the backfield. Again, OSU simply won the LOS and K-State's timing for the zone blocking was off against OSU's speed.
Messingham likes to shift and then run weak, which is actually a pretty nice tendency break for this offense. However, once again KSU struggles up front with the zone blocking scheme. There are 2 LBs here and you can only block one (circled), but the OG come off and simply misses the OLB. If he just takes a better angle and hits him square at the point of attack, that leaves a little running lane outside and likely picks up the first down. You can see him turned at the end of the play showing how the LB simply got inside of his block, which can't happen on this play in this situation.
Similar to the first play with the power read pitch, this is another that KSU simply couldn't execute against OSU's speed. It is essentially a spread version of triple option, with a possible give to the back running zone, QB keep off the edge, or throw out the bubble for the pitch. 1st, it looks like K-State has decent numbers to give to Brown. After the keep, the bubble throw is the correct read by Thompson and K-State has the numbers to get a play, but OSU's DBs simply beat both of K-State's blocks on the outside. If blocked well by the WRs, the play likely gets a first down easily.
Here is a similar zone read concept, without the bubble attached. Again, KSU looks to have numbers to zone block the OSU front and LBs. Note that OSU is able to hold up KSU's OL (circled) who is unable to get off and block the OLB who then makes the play for the short gain.
K-State is back to the more traditional 2 back, unbalanced TE-H look we saw several times vs MSU. Here K-State is running zone weak again and the FB goes opposite to help hold the LBs. KSU is able to block the front and LBs pretty well, but the OSU safety fills quickly. A better play for K-State, but again OSU's speed limits the gain.
The next play KSU keeps the same peronnel and comes back with A gap power. KSU again wastes a blocker as the playside OT gets turned (circled) trying to help with the DT and is unable to chip off to the LB. The puller gets a decent block at the point of attack, but by wasting the blocker, Gilbert is left with 2 OSU defenders as the safety fills.
Here is another A gap power later in the 3rd quarter. Notice that KSU's shift seems to have OSU confused initially, but the LB is able to bump the DE a gap, leaving a clean run through to the back. This looks like a misread by the puller who likely needs to come off and fill that lane to prevent the run through as K-State ends up with decent blocking on the edge after caving OSU's front.
Here is a final A gap power out of 2 back spread. On this play, OSU closes down hard leaving an outside line for Gilbert to bounce it. Granted, his strength is staying downhill and vertical, but it looks like he has plenty of room to bounce outside for a decent gain. Fortunately OSU bailed K-State out with a personal foul after the play.
It seems pretty clear that throughout the game, K-State had a lot of trouble adjusting to the speed of OSU's defensive front, plus simply lost too many battles at the LOS. K-State was able to get a bit more push as the game went along and got better timing and fitting up in both zone and gap run schemes. However, such a poor offensive start to this game never allowed K-State to be a part of it and by the time the offense found some rhythm it was simply too late.
Coming later this week; Passing Game Problems and Successes from the last 1.5 quarters.
