Inside the Playbook: OSU's Inverted Veer Package

By -
Ohio State does some interesting things within their offense that make it difficult for defenses to key them correctly. For one, they effectively mix up zone blocking and man blocking schemes, especially power blocking as of lately. In this post we are going to look at 4+ different plays which all utilize and inverted veer look, and explain why it is so difficult to stop them on offense.


*     *     *     *     *     *     *

Counter Inverted Veer
As I described the inverted veer as power blocking from an option look, let's first look at how "counter trey" is blocked. "Trey" is a bit of a misnomer, as there often isn't a trey block, but it is the most common type of double team that comes from this blocking scheme and thus it is called trey.
Slide5_medium

To note:

Trey is a combo block from the playside PSE (playside TE) and the PST (playside OT) to the MIKE or backside LB. Deuce is a combo block from the PST and the PSG (playside OG) to the MIKE or backside LB. Ace is a combo block from the PSG and the C to the MIKE or backside LB. For many teams, the FB will typically lead the defense to the ball. The same is said for a typical counter play, where the FB will counter step and lead the defense to the ball. But on a typical "Counter Trey" the offense will pull two of the OC, BSG (backside OG), and BST (backside OT). The first puller will typically used to seal the playside EMOL inside (or kick him outside if he gains too much depth or width) and the second puller will pull up through the hole and lead to the playside LB.

Well OSU is running this by using the read option like the FB again. They are using the read to block the backside DE. In general, OSU will pull the BST and the C. The reason you pull the C is for multiple reasons: he's closer to the playside and will be more effective sealing the EMOL; the play is run from gun so it is easier for the C to pull compared to the play being run from under center; it messes with the defensive keys by not pulling an OG as you typically would to the playside.

Slide6_medium

Now this makes the read a bit more indirect. Yes, the read is the same, if the EMOL crashes you hand off, if he contains he is essentially blocked and you keep. That said, the QB's eyes are not in the area where he'll eventually be running, making the read indirect compared to where he is eventually going.

But like Counter Trey, it takes advantage of fast flow from the backside so they can't overload the playside.


(Note that the OT reads the defense incorrectly and passes by the MIKE)

And the give:


Now, it's interesting to note that Michigan has run what is a standard counter power scheme from an inverted veer look. This only pulls one player (the BST) and actually blocks the EMOL (because the FB on a counter power play will counter step and lead for the RB). Different philosophy, often something that true pro-style, I-form schemes will run both of once the blocking has developed enough.

*     *     *     *     *     *     *

To read more about OSU's inverted veer package, including how they package it with a FB/Wing, and to learn about their pop pass and play action portion of their package, follow the link the Maize n Brew

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Football Fundamentals: Twins Passing Concepts

By -
Image
In this post we will look at some of the standard route concepts run from a twins alignment. Obviously, these can be paired with other routes (some I'll show including a RB), but this is to get the fundamental understanding of the routes. I'll try to explain the concept briefly, as well as provide names for what you'll hear the concept called elsewhere at times (these things get lots of names, some people use the same names but have different meanings too, so it can get confusing). If a number is visible near the end of a route, that is the nominal yardage the route will be run to. For more information on specific routes, we took a look at the  route tree earlier . In this article I will not discuss routes that utilize rub concepts close to the LOS (such as a switch concept). I will have a later article dedicated to rub routes from a Twins set. Many of these are similar to the TE-Flanker Concepts discussed earlier.
Read more

Football Fundamentals: 2x2 and Mirrored Passing Concepts

By -
Image
We are going to continue our look at various passing concepts, this time with 2x2 and mirrored passing concepts. In this post we are going to trim out the concepts that are designed to attack the middle of the field and put those into a separate post. 2x2 concepts allow an offense to attack a defense based on post-snap looks and coverages via a simple read of the safety. Completely mirrored concepts, when the same concept is run on the both sides of the formation (such as all-hitches), is something of which I'm not a huge fan, but there are advantages to it. You look at something like all-hitches, which overloads underneath zones, and you see a viable option in the short passing game against zone heavy teams; similarly, completely mirrored concepts can allow you to pick on certain defenders or to a certain side of the field based on defensive look. We'll also look at "base" concepts, which see the outside receivers run the same route, and a third receiver work the mid
Read more

Football Fundamentals: The Tite Front Defense

By -
Image
The defense du jour against modern spread attacks is what is commonly known as the “Tite” front. Over the past couple years, you’ve seen Big 12 teams run it increasingly often, and SEC and other teams start to incorporate variants of the look more often as well as they begin to deal with an increasing number of spread formations. But what exactly is the “Tite” front? Like any front, say, a 4-3 Under, it isn’t necessarily any one thing. You can have single-high, two-high, or even three-high safeties. You can attach your overhangs differently. And with Tite, it may even mean different box numbers. And of course, there are multiple techniques that can be employed along the way. This post is a primer to the Tite front. At the end, I’ll link some of the better articles that get into greater depth for those interested, but for now, we need to understand the basics, so that we can understand how to attack it.
Read more