Inside the Playbook: Illinois RPO vs Ohio State "Solo" Adjustment

Illinois were not very successful against Ohio's defense, but they had a really good transition option (RPO, also known as a pack game) that continued to benefit from Buckeye's fourth base defense.

installing

Illini spent most of the day in triple groups with pros and cons to attack. This attack actually simplifies some fast-paced escape-run options, which prevents many Cover 4 teams because they do not include defenders up to the slot run / pass option. However, the Buckeyes use their safes deeper than many Cover 4 defenders (e.g. Michigan), which is one way to adjust their spread, as it mitigates some of the trigger / transmission conflicts that a particular country may have. attack and give you more time. to read security. play before answering.

However, some thrips do not relieve tension from the defense. This continues to involve more than one player in complex passing conflicts and requires defenders to withdraw from the field to help defend the defense. Let's see how the USO usually reproduces sets of thrips.

Cover 4 Shock adjustment

Buckeyes usually make trips called solo deals. The designation "solo" is for the fact that the isolated CB will no longer have excessive security assistance, but will fit on an island with a separate receiver. Initially, the security built on it will be responsible for covering №3 WR on the opposite side of the field when attacked vertically.

Run-Pass options

One of the main ways to defeat this cover is to attack the remaining defenders on the island. However, he is usually on the border and assisted by the LB below, so he must go deep enough (the attack must be sufficiently defended) so that the receiver can go deep into the field; Illinois did not sharply criticize the proposal. Instead, they chose the corridor option.

The first reading for QB is the standard DE area reading. Adjusting the RB in the set of cuts allows the first and second readings to be on the same path for the QB. If DE stays at home at the end of the game, QB replaces RB during the inner zone transition. When DE crashes into RB, throw the ball and pay attention to the second reading: a straight defender (usually OLB on this side against the Cover 4 scheme).

Therefore, the right defender is forced to stay in the bubble n. 2 of the owner or stay at home to avoid traffic jams. The delay is about 7-9 yards, deep enough to go beyond LB, but between levels 2 ^{and 3} , but low / fast enough to prevent safe play on the opposite side of the field. and run and cross. Will be placed in the lighting space.

When the right defender jumps out (points to the side of the shoulder), the QB will watch the swing. If the shoulder stays straight or turns inward, it usually cannot pass through the bubble screen and thus releases the QB bubble.

The outside receiver will basically control the post, but actually pushes the CB out of range and tries to block security by taking care of two defenders at the same time. This keeps her confidence in line with the thrips ensemble and forces her to play deep (does not allow cheating).

eXAMPLES

Here are the 2nd and 10th parameters.

What you will see after filming is that MIKE, Illinois, in a yellow frame, is actually reading ILB. Fill in, then draw the QB. It then reads OLB, which rotates and operates with a bubble, as you can see. You will also notice that the FS is pulled deep into the coverage area, while the SS remains in a kind of semi-deep cover.

When it comes to catching up, this is the SS that will help you CB over №1 in the longest progressive game and help you roll down.

We are two draws after Illinois' first loss. The same system, but vice versa.

Immediately after the shoot, watch as Mike is loaded on the run and like an OLB (Lee turns his back inside. He's about to swell.

The ball player goes beyond Lee's limits, which leads to a 20-meter win.

The other show, OSU, is already like that.

QB makes a mistake and trusts what he has read before, which tells him that Mike is in charge, so he is out of the game. Then stretch your arms. You will notice that the safety of the thrips band is further reduced to eliminate the quick hit, but the slope (where this path is turned) is still open in the middle of the field. This is a bad and impatient reading of Lanta.

Buckeyes is eliminated and wins the TFL against the mile with extra LB. However, we will discuss this parameter with MIKE below.

USO regulates the housing system

There are some things OSU can and can do. First, their blitz package is usually 3 less, 3 more or 2 less, 3 more clothes; or, in general, it is a three-height guard that differs from the standard cover 4 and has a different rotation (thus changing the position in which the QB should appear). Therefore, teams simply cannot be predicted.

Of course, there are things they can do with the Cover 4 scheme, such as running a cover trap (allowing the CB to take any bubble, such as a bubble, running away from the apartment immediately) that can stop reading QB. .

When it comes to OSU, most of them have the best players. OLB Li, which is usually assigned to play in this low area, is a kind of safe hybrid and LB, where it acts as a safe, but beats like an LB. It goes well in its line beyond №2, so it is very difficult to cross it, even if a bubble does not form immediately. The rest of the defense, especially BB, is athletic and mostly strong. This allows them to leave the KB border on the island.

But sometimes even a large database is not enough to cover. After several executives in this game, OSU has made changes to its system. They relied on boxing with 5 men to win 5 OLs and split MIKE in key positions between the EMOL striker and Nr. 3. As you go down reading / running, get out of the place where you are trying to lower the traffic jam, ie lower yourself slightly below where you want the attack to go. This forces the buyer to go further, allowing the remote guard to respond and gain coverage.

Has Illinois adapted to this?

In fact, they did. When splitting the shirt in width, lean on the top 5 to win battles. But you also put pressure on your safety to help you escape the cabin. Trust in a thrips belt is still largely a cover protector, but safety, which is far from a number of thrips, puts more pressure on them when running. This makes the crime look like this:

It all happened in the middle of the third quarter in two rides and it was very interesting to watch.

result

Illinois also failed to move the ball to the Buckets all the time, but in many ways it was due to their inability to move the ball completely to the ground. Over time, they became less successful. Regardless of the outcome of the celebration, the game of chess offers Ohio a good movie for its next closest rivals in terms of skills. However, in the end, OSU is still very strong on defense and simply proves that even if the scheme is in your favor, good players and good performance can overcome some schematic shortcomings.