Like most teams, TCU's first goal is going to be to limit the OSU run game. So a lot of their early down defensive calls will be made to limit tight zone and other inside runs. A couple things I would look for:
1) Slanting. They will likely slant most plays, probably based on TE alignment relative the HB, with the alley player "rifling" down behind to take the backside edge.
2) Run blitzes. Two to look for are 1) Double A-gap ILB blitzes and 2) Boundary CB blitz. These are a couple of MSU favorites against the OSU offense as well, and Double A-gap is a Patterson favorite.
3) Double A-gap DT alignment. This looks to accomplish some of the same thing as the double A-gap blitzes -- clog the interior for tight zone.
I cannot think of a team in recent years that heavily blitzed OSU -- because OSU is so good at running the football that you have to be gap sound. And because most teams want to try and limit the big hits behind so they will use some type of zone to protect themselves. What teams have wanted to do (what Rutgers tried to do Saturday) is 1) limit the inside run game, 2) take away the deep ball, and 3) force OSU to move the football down the field with underneath routes. If OSU remains as successful throwing the football on early downs, then all bets are off . . .
1) Slanting. They will likely slant most plays, probably based on TE alignment relative the HB, with the alley player "rifling" down behind to take the backside edge.
2) Run blitzes. Two to look for are 1) Double A-gap ILB blitzes and 2) Boundary CB blitz. These are a couple of MSU favorites against the OSU offense as well, and Double A-gap is a Patterson favorite.
3) Double A-gap DT alignment. This looks to accomplish some of the same thing as the double A-gap blitzes -- clog the interior for tight zone.
I cannot think of a team in recent years that heavily blitzed OSU -- because OSU is so good at running the football that you have to be gap sound. And because most teams want to try and limit the big hits behind so they will use some type of zone to protect themselves. What teams have wanted to do (what Rutgers tried to do Saturday) is 1) limit the inside run game, 2) take away the deep ball, and 3) force OSU to move the football down the field with underneath routes. If OSU remains as successful throwing the football on early downs, then all bets are off . . .
