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Reading the Buckeye Leaves: Nebraska

Tony Gerdeman
Ohio State Football Helmet

Ohio State Football Helmet

Another week closer to the showdown versus Penn State, but the Buckeyes first must handle business in a tough environment on the road in Lincoln.

Both squads have established tendencies while the Buckeyes have shown steady improvement in a number of key areas.

This week, the Buckeyes face an “Odd” front, similar to that of Oklahoma, UNLV and Maryland of late.

In this edition of Reading the Buckeye Leaves, we look at a few key plays we can expect to see utilized versus the Cornhuskers as well as what to expect to see from Nebraska when they are on offense.

When Nebraska Has the Ball

The Huskers utilize a Tight Bunch formation to create a number of matchups in the passing game while also relying on this personnel grouping to run the ball.

Out of this alignment, the Huskers use two Tight Ends and one Wide Receiver, running Power blocking schemes to much success.

The Huskers like to move Tanner Lee outside of the pocket and do so through a variation of the same formation. The Tight End fakes the pull then runs to the flat, creating multiple options for Lee.

When Ohio State Has the Ball

The Huskers predominately utilize an “Odd” front defensively, something the Buckeyes had struggled against in seasons past, but since the second half against the Oregon Ducks, they appear to have found an answer to running the ball against such a defense.

With the injury to Right Guard Branden Bowen, the Buckeyes will look for ways to ease the burden put upon his replacement, Matthew Burrell.

As we have already seen this season, the Buckeyes have used a Power Read Counter to much success, and it provides an alternative to attacking the right side of the line of scrimmage while putting Burrell in a position to succeed.

Burrell’s strength is in run blocking, so anytime the Buckeyes can have him work a double-team with Billy Price, good things are bound to happen.

In terms of the passing game, the Buckeyes will be working to manipulate the “Alley” defender to create space. This defender, likely Gifford (#12) or Joshua Kalu (#46) creeping into the box, aligns either in a run-first alignment or declares himself as a pass defender.

The Quarterback will read the depth and width of this defender to determine the numbers advantage. Look for the Buckeyes to utilize the bubble screens to create conflict with Gifford and establish a horizontal passing game.

If the screens are effective, good things will happen with the rushing attack, which proved to be a weakness last week against Wisconsin where the Huskers allowed 353 yards on the ground.

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