ESPN's piece with Jim Leonhard this week contained many interesting tidbits. While many focused on the motivational aspects, perhaps the most interesting parts were the revealing of strategy -- such as that Wisconsins wants to slow play the option and force Barrett to keep.
One additional piece was Leonhard's discussion with his safeties about coming down into the box as bandit/hybrids. This hearkened back to Wisconsin's defensive strategy in the 2014 Big Ten championship game. Although many act as if that game is irrelevant to this season's contest, it is pertinent in one critical respect. Wisconsin plays the same defense, so it is pertinent to gaming out what the Badgers may do and how OSU may respond.
The Badgers base defense is a 3-4. It is designed for pro-style attacks. Against spread teams, Wisconsin generally pulls their nose tackle and uses an even 2-4-5. This leaves them a bit light in the box. So against OSU in 2014, Wisconsin would frequently slant to the field and crash down their boundary safety, playing basic C1 or C3 behind.
But by the end of the first half Ohio State had run Wisconsin out of the 2-4-5 with essentially 3 plays. They ran split zone, using the H to kick out the backside backer and allowing Elliott to cut back behind the slant. They ran buck sweep, out leveraging the Badgers to the field -- where they lacked any force support beyond their deep 3. And they ran 3 verticals (with 7 man pass pro) -- providing the outside receivers the option to use comeback routes if Wisconsin's corners bailed. This provided easy throws when Wisconsin's covers played off -- and explosive plays when they played man. Within that, OSU moved Devin Smith into the slot to get a favorable matchup for the middle (bender) vertical route against the safety.
As I stated, by the second half, Wisconsin had abandoned the 2-4-5, to use a hybrid 3-3-5. This threw OSU for a loop for a bit, but it allowed the Buckeyes to go back to their base tight zone play. This look also creates additional problems for Wisconsin, because their linebackers are their strength -- do they pull a LB off the field? Or do they stick in a 3-4 against OSU's 11 personnel?
So when OSU gets the ball Saturday, look for a) does Wisconsin have 2 or 3 down linemen? And b) is a safety coming down at the snap (or do they try to play some type of cover 4?).
OSU will need a big game from Curtis Samuel, as he excels at running split zone from a deep I-tailback, getting to the edge, and is OSU's vertical threat from the slot.
One additional piece was Leonhard's discussion with his safeties about coming down into the box as bandit/hybrids. This hearkened back to Wisconsin's defensive strategy in the 2014 Big Ten championship game. Although many act as if that game is irrelevant to this season's contest, it is pertinent in one critical respect. Wisconsin plays the same defense, so it is pertinent to gaming out what the Badgers may do and how OSU may respond.
The Badgers base defense is a 3-4. It is designed for pro-style attacks. Against spread teams, Wisconsin generally pulls their nose tackle and uses an even 2-4-5. This leaves them a bit light in the box. So against OSU in 2014, Wisconsin would frequently slant to the field and crash down their boundary safety, playing basic C1 or C3 behind.
But by the end of the first half Ohio State had run Wisconsin out of the 2-4-5 with essentially 3 plays. They ran split zone, using the H to kick out the backside backer and allowing Elliott to cut back behind the slant. They ran buck sweep, out leveraging the Badgers to the field -- where they lacked any force support beyond their deep 3. And they ran 3 verticals (with 7 man pass pro) -- providing the outside receivers the option to use comeback routes if Wisconsin's corners bailed. This provided easy throws when Wisconsin's covers played off -- and explosive plays when they played man. Within that, OSU moved Devin Smith into the slot to get a favorable matchup for the middle (bender) vertical route against the safety.
As I stated, by the second half, Wisconsin had abandoned the 2-4-5, to use a hybrid 3-3-5. This threw OSU for a loop for a bit, but it allowed the Buckeyes to go back to their base tight zone play. This look also creates additional problems for Wisconsin, because their linebackers are their strength -- do they pull a LB off the field? Or do they stick in a 3-4 against OSU's 11 personnel?
So when OSU gets the ball Saturday, look for a) does Wisconsin have 2 or 3 down linemen? And b) is a safety coming down at the snap (or do they try to play some type of cover 4?).
OSU will need a big game from Curtis Samuel, as he excels at running split zone from a deep I-tailback, getting to the edge, and is OSU's vertical threat from the slot.
