2015 SEASON PREVIEW: THE SILVER BULLETBLITZ PACKAGESBy Kyle Jones (/Users/Kyle-Jones) on August 25, 2015 at 10:45a @jones (https://twitter.com/@jones)

U

2015 SEASON PREVIEW (/OHIO-STATE-FOOTBALL/2015-SEASON-PREVIEW)OHIO STATE FOOTBALL (/OHIO-STATE-FOOTBALL)

Email this Article

Share on Reddit

Share on Twitter

Share on Facebook

0388

56

FOOTBALL (/OHIO-STATE-FOOTBALL) BASKETBALL (/OHIO-STATE-BASKETBALL)

RECRUITING (/OHIO-STATE-FOOTBALL-RECRUITING) FORUM (/FORUM)

LOG IN / SIGN UP

(/)

Urban Meyer's aggressive approach isn't limited only to the offensiveside of the ball.

(/ohio-state-football/2015-season-preview)

Though Buckeye defenses had long been solid, dependable units in the 2000's under the directionof coordinators Mark Dantonio, Jim Heacock, and Luke Fickell, rarely did the Buckeyes ↄndthemselves amongst the nation's most feared pass rushes during that time. Even as star pass-rushers like Vernon Gholston and Cam Heyward passed through Columbus, the Silver Bullets wereknown more for a conservative, bend-but-don't-break pass defense more adept at stufↄng the run.

But when Meyer took over the program in 2012, the philosophy of the OSU defense took a 180-degree turn. Not only did he and his staff ensure their defensive front would be stocked with ↄve-star talents like Adolphus Washington, Noah Spence, and Joey Bosa, the Buckeyes' play callswould look vastly different when their opponents faced long third-downs. Much as the OSUoffense would transform into an aggressive, attacking unit, the defense happily follow suit.

Much has been made about the effect of Chris Ash on the Buckeye defense, having taken over theplay-calling duties prior to the 2014 season and solidifying the secondary by implementingquarters coverage. But Ash didn't need to touch a pass rush that had improved greatly underMeyer and Fickell, moving from 71st nationally in sacks-per-game in 2011, to 29th in 2012,seventh in 2013, and ↄnishing their national championship campaign last fall ranked 12th in themetric.

While sacks are certainly momentum-changing events that can shake the psyche of an opponentand electrifying (or demoralizing) the home crowd, all a defense really needs to do on third down isget a stop and force a punt. Whether or not they actually bring down the quarterback for a loss is

almost irrelevant, as those few yards lost can easily be made up in the following play's punt. Tothat end, the Buckeye D created enough errant throws from the opposing QBs to result in a third-down conversion rate of 33.95 percent, the 13th-best mark in the nation in 2014.

Though those blue-chip linemen are able to create pressure on their own, Meyer, Ash, & Fickelldon't rely solely on that group to create pressure, often involving the linebacking crew in their blitzpackages. While bigger athletes like Joshua Perry and Raekwon McMillan seem like they'd be theideal choice to send into the opposing backↄeld, the linebacker called on most often to rush thepasser is converted high school quarterback, Darron Lee.

After bulking up to nearly 220 pounds during his redshirt year, Lee still retained his quickness,proving to be a handful for opposing offensive linemen. The New Albany product tallied 7.5 sackslast year in his debut season, the second-highest total on the team.

Lee proved to be the top choice when Ash and Fickell would call for a blitz on early downs, whenthey'd leave their base 4-3 defense on the ↄeld. Sometimes Lee would simply blast through thehole he'd otherwise be responsible for on a 'run blitz', hoping to disrupt any run-blocking schemesor quick pass routes, leaving the Buckeyes with six defenders in pass coverage.

In most situations though, the key to a successful blitz is creating confusion for the opposingoffensive line. With the OSU base personnel aligning almost identically on every snap, the SilverBullets began bringing pressure from Lee in the form of a zone blitz, replacing him in coveragewith a defensive lineman, allowing the Buckeyes to maintain a conservative pass defense, keepingeverything in front while making things more difↄcult for the opposition.

The most creative and aggressive blitz packages show up on third downs, however. Much likenearly every other team in the nation (http://www.si.com/vault/2009/12/28/105890984/lasting-impact), the Buckeyes feature a 'Double-A' gap blitz, looking to attack the interior(http://www.theonlycolors.com/2012/8/21/3220614/better-know-a-blitz-package-double-a-gap) ofthe line.

The blitz can cause problems in one of two ways. First of all, the presence of twoadditional rushers over the center forces the line to adjust their assignments, either by slidingprotection to one side or the other to ensure both A-gaps are covered. This often leaves thosedefensive ends mentioned earlier in one-on-one situations, where they're the most dangerous.

Second, the A-gap blitzes are staggered, with one coming ↄrst to engage an unsuspecting center,leaving the second with a theoretical clear path to the quarterback unless the offense keeps inextra protectors.

In this example, the Buckeyes bring pressure with six on the 'Double-A' blitz, leaving only ↄvedefenders in zone coverage, which sounds like a perilous situation for the defense. However theSpartans' response was to leave both backs in to help pick up the blitz, meaning the Buckeyes onlyhave to cover three receivers. The result is still a rushed, off-target throw as Washington pushesthe tackle directly into the QB, winning his individual battle.

The 'blitz-six, drop-ↄve' philosophy is a common one among both pro and college coaches, yet theBuckeyes doubled down on it after adopting a 3-3-5 nickel personnel package(http://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-state-football/chase-complete/2015/02/49900/ↄlm-study-the-defensive-adjustments-that-led-to-a-title) on passing downs midway through last season. Inthese scenarios, the offense is expecting pressure, and it's much easier to predict the path of adown lineman, so an additional upright rusher on the ↄeld allows OSU more ↄexibility.

The additional athleticism brought forth from that extra linebacker paid dividends on its own right,though. Lee's ↄrst step on the outside was often too quick for opposing tackles, especially on theoffense's right side.

But the interior action of his teammates allows him to have such free runs. With 'crossↄre' blitzesthat feature twists over both guards, the edge rushers are often unaccounted for.

These three-deep, two-under zones do have weaknesses though, particularly on the outside. Inorder to take advantage though, the offense usually has to wait for a long-developing play like ascreen (above) to take shape, or throw a pass that's short of the ↄrst down marker. Either way, theBuckeyes are clear favorites to come away with a stop in those situations.

Once the Buckeyes have had some success against getting pressure with the schemes above,they turn up the pressure even further. Instead of showing the offense the same alignments, theSilver Bullets line up in a "UFO" front, with seven players on the line at the snap, including thenickel safety.

The concept has many names, and even more variations. Sometimes called an 'amoeba' front, thedefenders hop in and out of positions moving up and down the line, more often than not in a two-point, upright stance. But the onus is on the offense to determine which of the defenders isblitzing, and if so, where.

Even if the offense keeps a back in to block, giving them six protectors for the expected sixblitzers, they don't know which of the seven men on the line isn't coming. No one wants to be theguy standing there, blocking air, yet there seems to always be one (looking at you, No. 55).

With Bosa and Washington up front, and Perry, Lee, and McMillan behind them, the Buckeyesreturn 5 players with major experience in these 3-3-5 blitz packages. While the exact packagesmay chance weekly, one can fully expect the schemes to get even more complex...and more fun towatch.

2015 SEASON PREVIEW (/OHIO-STATE-FOOTBALL/2015-SEASON-PREVIEW)OHIO STATE FOOTBALL (/OHIO-STATE-FOOTBALL)

Email this Article

Share on Reddit

Share on Twitter

Share on Facebook

0388

56

You May Like(https://www.lendingtree.com/info/powerful-2-step-method-pay-off-credit-cards?esourceid=6181046&cchannel=display&csource=taboola&cname=TheFastestWayToPayOff10,000InCreditCardDebt)

LendingTree

(https://www.lendingtree.com/info/powerful-2-step-method-pay-off-credit-cards?esourceid=6181046&cchannel=display&csource=taboola&cname=TheFastestWayToPayOff10,000InCreditCardDebt)(http://www.nextadvisor.com/blog/2015/04/02/pay-interest-2017-credit-cards/?kw=tbla_dsk_PayNo2017-A-13&site=elevenwarriors)

NextAdvisor

The Fastest Way To Pay Off $10,000 In Credit Card Debt

Here's why transferring a credit card balance to a 21-month 0% APR is a stupendous plan

(http://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&taboola_utm_source=elevenwarriors&taboola_utm_medium=bytaboola&taboola_utm_content=thumbnails-a:Below Article Thumbnails:)

(http://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&taboola_utm_source=elevenwarriors&taboola_utm_medium=bytaboola&taboola_utm_content=thumbnails-a:Below Article Thumbnails:) (http://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&taboola_utm_source=elevenwarriors&taboola_utm_medium=bytaboola&taboola_utm_content=thumbnails-a:Below Article Thumbnails:)

Log in (/user/login?destination=node/58072%23comment-form) or Sign up (/user/register?destination=node/58072%23comment-form) to Join the Discussion #beatmichigan

(http://www.nextadvisor.com/blog/2015/04/02/pay-interest-2017-credit-cards/?kw=tbla_dsk_PayNo2017-A-13&site=elevenwarriors)(http://www.ancestry.com/s64393/t32179/rd.ashx?utm_source=taboola&utm_site=elevenwarriors)

Ancestry

(http://www.ancestry.com/s64393/t32179/rd.ashx?utm_source=taboola&utm_site=elevenwarriors)(http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/list/201303/6-worthless-exercises-you-probably-do?utm_source=Taboola&utm_medium=elevenwarriors&utm_term=thelist&utm_campaign=TheList)

ThePostGame

(http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/list/201303/6-worthless-exercises-you-probably-do?utm_source=Taboola&utm_medium=elevenwarriors&utm_term=thelist&utm_campaign=TheList)

Do You Come From Royal Blood? Your Last Name May Tell You.

6 Worthless Exercises You Probably Do

ITT Tech - Official SiteTech-Oriented Degree Programs. Education for the Future.

VIEW 56 COMMENTS (/COMMENTS_LOAD/58072/ANON/0/NOJS)

ACTIVE DISCUSSIONS

(/ohio-state-football/2015/10/60785/instacap-ohio-state-survives-scare-from-indiana-34-27)

Instacap: Ohio State Survives Scare... (/Ohio-State-Football/2015/10/60785/Instacap-Ohio-State-Survives-Scare-From-Indiana-34-27)Article

(/ohio-state-football/2015/10/60785/instacap-ohio-state-survives-scare-from-indiana-34-27#comments)285

Early Game Thread Oct 3 Noon Bangers (/Forum/College-Sports/2015/10/60739/Early-Game-Thread)Forum Topic

(/forum/college-sports/2015/10/60739/early-game-thread#comments)254

(/ohio-state-football/2015/10/60726/nike-makes-it-official-releases-photos-of-uniforms-ohio-state-

will-wear-against-penn-state)Nike Makes It Ofↄcial, Releases Black... (/Ohio-State-Football/2015/10/60726/Nike-Makes-It-Ofↄcial-Releases-Photos-Of-Uniforms-Ohio-State-Will-Wear-Against-Penn-State)Article

(/ohio-state-football/2015/10/60726/nike-makes-it-official-releases-photos-of-uniforms-ohio-state-will-wear-against-penn-state#comments)181

No More Making Fun Of MI. Our Offense... (/Forum/Ohio-State-Football/2015/10/60757/No-More-Making-Fun-Of-Mi-Our-Offense-Is-A-Mess)Forum Topic

(/forum/ohio-state-football/2015/10/60757/no-more-making-fun-of-mi-our-offense-is-a-mess#comments)163

GameDay (Leland Corso, Speciↄcally)... (/Forum/Ohio-State-Football/2015/10/60729/Gameday-Trolling-The-Bucks)Forum Topic

(/forum/ohio-state-football/2015/10/60729/gameday-trolling-the-bucks#comments)110

RECENT POSTS

We All Have Our Opinions On The... (/Forum/Ohio-State-Football/2015/10/60817/We-All-Have-Our-Opinions-On-The-Different-Situations)Forum Topic

(/forum/ohio-state-football/2015/10/60817/we-all-have-our-opinions-on-the-different-situations#comments)1

Why We're Still #1 (/Forum/Ohio-State-Football/2015/10/60816/Why-Were-Still-1)Forum Topic

(/forum/ohio-state-football/2015/10/60816/why-were-still-1#comments)18

STATS DON'T LIE (/Forum/Ohio-State-Football/2015/10/60815/Stats-Dont-Lie)Forum Topic

(/forum/ohio-state-football/2015/10/60815/stats-dont-lie#comments)21

JT Fans, Stop Living In The Past. (/Forum/Ohio-State-Football/2015/10/60814/Jt-Fans-Stop-Living-In-The-Past)Forum Topic

(/forum/ohio-state-football/2015/10/60814/jt-fans-stop-living-in-the-past#comments)25

Sick Of Watching Clemson Players... (/Forum/College-Sports/2015/10/60812/Sick-Of-Watching-Clemson-Players-Celebrating)Forum Topic

(/forum/college-sports/2015/10/60812/sick-of-watching-clemson-players-celebrating#comments)15

(http://drygoods.elevenwarriors.com/products/thats-ohios-

moon-tee)

(/12th-warrior)

Scroll To Top

Fresh cotton and other wares at Eleven Warriors Dry Goods(http://drygoods.elevenwarriors.com).

$28.00 $28.00 $28.00

“WE'RE STRETCHING—AND YOU'RE A KICKER!”

Eleven Warriors is where Ohio State fans gather. As an independent site, we're committed todelivering Buckeye fans the news and analysis they deserve, all while remaining free.

If you're into supporting indie sites with your wallet, you can do so by purchasing one of our t-shirts (http://drygoods.elevenwarriors.com/) or shopping Amazon with this link(http://11w.rs/amazon11w).

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Google

Youtube

RSS (http://feeds.feedburner.com/ElevenWarriors)

Our Story (/about) / Masthead (/masthead)Contact Us (/contact)11W Dry Goods (http://drygoods.elevenwarriors.com)Advertise (/advertise)FAQ (/help/faq) / Commenting Policy (/help/commenting-policy)Privacy Policy (/privacy-policy)

WHERE OHIO STATE FANS GATHER   © 2006–2015 ELEVEN WARRIORS LLC