Oklahoma State vs. Texas (Sept. 26, 2015) Film Review

[Ryan Bridges]

May as well start with the scoring plays. This is most of the all-22 of the first touchdown (they didn't show the whole replay).
 

 
Rudolph wanted to target that sort of fade-stop route by the slot receiver on the top. He stayed on that concept way too long. I think maybe OSU was expecting Cover 3 and thought the slot could stop in the hole vacated by the deep corner, but it ended up being bracketed. I tried to highlight in the diagram that the slot on the bottom comes open on the seam route.
 
Around the time Rudolph realizes that the concept he wants isn't open, Yakety Sax starts playing. I don't know why our defensive line can't tackle quarterbacks.
 
Once the scramble drill starts, DBs need to forget the coverage, find a receiver and stick to him. I guess you could blame Jason Hall for that, but then there's the defensive line ...

 

[Shannon Kelley]

May as well start with the scoring plays. This is most of the all-22 of the first touchdown (they didn't show the whole replay).
 

 
Rudolph wanted to target that sort of fade-stop route by the slot receiver on the top. He stayed on that concept way too long. I think maybe OSU was expecting Cover 3 and thought the slot could stop in the hole vacated by the deep corner, but it ended up being bracketed. I tried to highlight in the diagram that the slot on the bottom comes open on the seam route.
 
Around the time Rudolph realizes that the concept he wants isn't open, Yakety Sax starts playing. I don't know why our defensive line can't tackle quarterbacks.
 
Once the scramble drill starts, DBs need to forget the coverage, find a receiver and stick to him. I guess you could blame Jason Hall for that, but then there's the defensive line ...

Actually, I can't blame the D-line here. It's an odd front rushing 3 vs 5, and yet still, they force the QB to have to scramble. Thus, they did their job. I actually believe this was supposed to be a form of Tampa 2 and the Mike backer screwed up the coverage by not dropping deep enough. They man the corner in the boundary and play halves to the field. The Mike is wrong here. Your point about "tackling" is noted...Have to be able to tackle!

 

[utisdabomb12]

 It's an odd front rushing 3 vs 5, and yet still, they force the QB to have to scramble. 

This is actually a problem a lot of people don't see. Some of the supposed "defensive line struggles" are more about 2nd and 3rd level guys making mistakes in coverage and not filling gaps (which is expected with all the young guys we are playing at those positions). 

Several players, like Malik, have even said the problems defensively are not physicality problems but mental mistakes. I tend to agree. There's obviously some issues with the defensive line, but it's not nearly as bad as people think (a lot of times they do their job against odd fronts). 

 

[Ryan Bridges]

I put too much information in this gif but I wanted to capture as much as possible. It's QB Power-O with Walsh, and a lot of things go wrong for Texas.

Let's start with Peter Jinkens. He starts on the line of scrimmage and ends up at the bottom of the "E" in the end zone. Not only can he not make the tackle, but he makes the holes on either side that much bigger. Terrible.

Then let's look at Naashon Hughes. He keeps his outside arm free so he can keep contain — so why is Jason Hall hopping outside? That leaves a wide gap between OSU's #86 and #44.

Now check out Malik Jefferson. He appears to have been on an A-gap blitz, but he recognized the pulling guard and redirected to meet the block. But there's no one there to clean up because the other inside linebacker, Anthony Wheeler, is held by the motion and doesn't recognize the pull. He's so far away from the point of attack that the other guard doesn't even have to touch him. And notice how far Bryce Cottrell, the defensive end to Wheeler's side, widened and came upfield because of the jet motion to his side.

Finally, I'd just like to highlight that the officials should have penalized Paul Boyette, the defensive tackle on the bottom who was double-teamed, because that was clearly holding by the standard they established later in the game. Of course that's a joke, just like the officiating was. 

 

[Ryan Bridges]

Actually, I can't blame the D-line here. It's an odd front rushing 3 vs 5, and yet still, they force the QB to have to scramble. Thus, they did their job. I actually believe this was supposed to be a form of Tampa 2 and the Mike backer screwed up the coverage by not dropping deep enough. They man the corner in the boundary and play halves to the field. The Mike is wrong here. Your point about "tackling" is noted...Have to be able to tackle!

My thinking exactly on the coverage. I didn't mean to put everything on the D-line. I give them credit for getting pressure, but my point was that they're still not finishing sacks. 

 

[utisdabomb12]

My thinking exactly on the coverage. I didn't mean to put everything on the D-line. I give them credit for getting pressure, but my point was that they're still not finishing sacks. 

Tackling is for sure a problem. Need to come up with those tackles there. 

 

[Ryan Bridges]

There wasn't a shot that showed the back end, but it's possible this could have been a touchdown the other way if Rudolph hadn't inexplicably dropped this football.

Peter Jinkens, the strongside linebacker, is lined up over the slot receiver but comes on a blitz. On the other side of the field, the "Fox," Naashon Hughes, drops into coverage.

The play-action doesn't affect the DBs like Oklahoma State may have hoped, but it's still a solid route concept for the coverage. I can't see what the outside receiver runs but I'd guess it's a post. Here's the goal:

If the corner became too focused on the outside receiver, the slot would be running free down the sideline. Fortunately, we don't know if the routes were well-covered because Rudolph derp'd the play away. 

Hassan Ridgeway was a monster; he lost his right shoe, by the way. I'm also pretty sure the left tackle would have been called for holding if he'd had a Longhorn on his helmet. 

 

[Shannon Kelley]

My thinking exactly on the coverage. I didn't mean to put everything on the D-line. I give them credit for getting pressure, but my point was that they're still not finishing sacks. 

True...and please know, that your analysis is darn good, it's fun and very thorough. I just frequently hear complaints about pass rush when most have no clue what is actually going on. Pressures have to convert to sacks...Cuz you know and I know, that there is NO secondary in the world that can cover for 7+ seconds!! Thanks

 

[Shannon Kelley]

I put too much information in this gif but I wanted to capture as much as possible. It's QB Power-O with Walsh, and a lot of things go wrong for Texas.

Let's start with Peter Jinkens. He starts on the line of scrimmage and ends up at the bottom of the "E" in the end zone. Not only can he not make the tackle, but he makes the holes on either side that much bigger. Terrible.

Then let's look at Naashon Hughes. He keeps his outside arm free so he can keep contain — so why is Jason Hall hopping outside? That leaves a wide gap between OSU's #86 and #44.

Now check out Malik Jefferson. He appears to have been on an A-gap blitz, but he recognized the pulling guard and redirected to meet the block. But there's no one there to clean up because the other inside linebacker, Anthony Wheeler, is held by the motion and doesn't recognize the pull. He's so far away from the point of attack that the other guard doesn't even have to touch him. And notice how far Bryce Cottrell, the defensive end to Wheeler's side, widened and came upfield because of the jet motion to his side.

Finally, I'd just like to highlight that the officials should have penalized Paul Boyette, the defensive tackle on the bottom who was double-teamed, because that was clearly holding by the standard they established later in the game. Of course that's a joke, just like the officiating was. 

Gotta give the TE (86) and the H (44) credit here..That TE was a boy dawg here..He blocked his tail off, but you are right about Jenkins...Dang, he has to get off that block! That H digs out Hughes, and the rest is history! I will say, that Q power is an awesome freakin' call.. One of the rare instances where you get 11 vs 11...Love the numbers offensively when you can run your QB, ESPECIALLY in the red zone! Again, great job... You need to come break film for me. I'd probably be able to get home at a decent hour! ha

 

[Shannon Kelley]

There wasn't a shot that showed the back end, but it's possible this could have been a touchdown the other way if Rudolph hadn't inexplicably dropped this football.

Peter Jinkens, the strongside linebacker, is lined up over the slot receiver but comes on a blitz. On the other side of the field, the "Fox," Naashon Hughes, drops into coverage.

The play-action doesn't affect the DBs like Oklahoma State may have hoped, but it's still a solid route concept for the coverage. I can't see what the outside receiver runs but I'd guess it's a post. Here's the goal:

If the corner became too focused on the outside receiver, the slot would be running free down the sideline. Fortunately, we don't know if the routes were well-covered because Rudolph derp'd the play away. 

Hassan Ridgeway was a monster; he lost his right shoe, by the way. I'm also pretty sure the left tackle would have been called for holding if he'd had a Longhorn on his helmet. 

This coverage is what we call Cov 5. You rush 5, drop 6. As apposed to Cov. 3 where you rush 4 and drop 7. Both cov. 5 and cov. 3 are a single high safety dividing the field into 3rds. What was supposed to happen was the field corner who dropped, who is definitely playing zone (he turns inside) on the number 1 receiver, thus would be looking to pass him off to the roof player (safety), and then would pick up the wheel by the number 2 receiver. At least that is what should happen. As you have shown in your diagram, often you can get the corner to chase the post with he and the free safety covering the Number 1, while number 2 is skating up the sideline uncovered. Not sure that happens here, because you see the Free already rolling strong to field pre-snap.

 

[Ryan Bridges]

The "Storm Swooper" package of plays was extremely simple, which is fine for what it's intended to do: Overpower the defense with QB Power, and when they stop that, use misdirection and overpower them with QB Counter.

There are so many lines this just looks like nonsense, but the main idea is Texas lines up with a bunch of people to the right, pulls the left guard and runs behind them. This is Power.

Texas ran this twice for big yardage — and more importantly, first downs. Then came the counter:

Again, that's a bunch of lines to say they lined up with everybody to the right just to run it to the left.

So long as Swoopes can remember that he's a big strong dude, this package should be a good one for Texas. They'll add motion and sweeps to it soon, and I'll be disappointed if we don't eventually see a POP pass to Andrew Beck or Caleb Bluiett from this package. I can't think of a good example off the top of my head, but imagine a goal-line version of this:

 

[Ryan Bridges]

This coverage is what we call Cov 5. You rush 5, drop 6. As apposed to Cov. 3 where you rush 4 and drop 7. Both cov. 5 and cov. 3 are a single high safety dividing the field into 3rds. What was supposed to happen was the field corner who dropped, who is definitely playing zone (he turns inside) on the number 1 receiver, thus would be looking to pass him off to the roof player (safety), and then would pick up the wheel by the number 2 receiver. At least that is what should happen. As you have shown in your diagram, often you can get the corner to chase the post with he and the free safety covering the Number 1, while number 2 is skating up the sideline uncovered. Not sure that happens here, because you see the Free already rolling strong to field pre-snap.

What I like about the call is the corner to that side was Holton Hill. Of all the freshmen CBs he's the one I'd most trust to play this correctly, but he's still a freshman. Good stuff.

 

[Ryan Bridges]

Well, I was asking for an example of a play-action pass for that Swoopes package. I forgot there was an example in this game. 

This looks like it's going to be the QB Power play — and they could pull the backside guard if they really wanted to sell it. When Charles Omenihu's more experienced, maybe he'll give the fullback a little nudge to buy some time for the man covering him (here it's Dylan Haines). Ultimately it's on Haines to be able to run with a damn 250-pound fullback. 

And yes, the announcers may have inadvertently circled offensive pass interference. 

 

[utisdabomb12]

There wasn't a shot that showed the back end, but it's possible this could have been a touchdown the other way if Rudolph hadn't inexplicably dropped this football.

Peter Jinkens, the strongside linebacker, is lined up over the slot receiver but comes on a blitz. On the other side of the field, the "Fox," Naashon Hughes, drops into coverage.

The play-action doesn't affect the DBs like Oklahoma State may have hoped, but it's still a solid route concept for the coverage. I can't see what the outside receiver runs but I'd guess it's a post. Here's the goal:

If the corner became too focused on the outside receiver, the slot would be running free down the sideline. Fortunately, we don't know if the routes were well-covered because Rudolph derp'd the play away. 

Hassan Ridgeway was a monster; he lost his right shoe, by the way. I'm also pretty sure the left tackle would have been called for holding if he'd had a Longhorn on his helmet. 

Is that Malik who picks up the RB out of the flat? 

 

[Ryan Bridges]

Here's the last touchdown of the game, Holton Hill's pick six.

It's 3rd & 11. Malik and Peter Jinkens are showing blitz, but Texas is actually rushing four and playing two high safeties. If this coverage is what I think it is (Palms), it would be unusual from what I've seen from Texas; normally they'd run a Cover 2 or at least Quarter-Quarter-Half in this situation, but I don't think that's what we're looking at.

The other reason I mention the coverage — besides the fact I'm pretty sure it's a rare call for Texas — is that in Palms, the corner (Hill) would play the deep 1/4 unless the slot receiver ran a shallow out route. This route isn't really shallow, but based on down and distance and the fact that the safety to that side (Hall) seems prepared for Hill to jump the route, I still think it's probably Palms. The outcome is the same, but it's the difference in Hill jumping the route because his instincts and reaction time are fantastic, or jumping the route because that's his job.

This pass was picked because Rudolph overthrew it, not really because of anything Hill did. But even if it were a good pass, Hill was about to light up the receiver, so it wouldn't be an automatic first down. 

 

[Ryan Bridges]

Is that Malik who picks up the RB out of the flat? 

You are correct.

 

[Reverent Horn]

New around here and wanted to say that this is a nice feature.  Well done, Ryan.

 

[Ryan Bridges]

Take a look at how OSU kept Heard from running up the middle.

Texas is in an empty set, and OSU does something crazy — they pull both linebackers out of the box and leave just the four defensive linemen. Before the snap it looks as though Heard should be able to walk into the end zone. If left guard Sedrick Flowers and left tackle Connor Williams had been able to pick up the "Ex" stunt, maybe he could have, but that's the genius of this play call by defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer — there was no way Texas' offensive line was going to pick up these stunts.

Aside from the failed pick-up, what OSU ends up with is a slower pass rush but players moving horizontally instead of vertically. In your basic, straight-ahead pass rush, the ends would likely have wound up behind Heard and the tackles would have been mostly stonewalled inside, leaving several large creases for Heard to run through. Instead, the "ends" (actually the tackles because of the twists) are still in front of Heard and the "tackles" are flashing past more than one gap on the inside. 

And also, Flowers. 

It's hard to analyze the rest of the play without knowing what routes were being run on the bottom, but there is an 80% chance Daje Johnson came open briefly when he crossed the safety's face on his post route. Heard would have taken a big hit, but he could have thrown that ball.

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

Well, I was asking for an example of a play-action pass for that Swoopes package. I forgot there was an example in this game. 

This looks like it's going to be the QB Power play — and they could pull the backside guard if they really wanted to sell it. When Charles Omenihu's more experienced, maybe he'll give the fullback a little nudge to buy some time for the man covering him (here it's Dylan Haines). Ultimately it's on Haines to be able to run with a damn 250-pound fullback. 

And yes, the announcers may have inadvertently circled offensive pass interference. 

OPI is one of the most difficult calls for a flank official to make. Unless the WR extends his arms after making contact, it's tough to see that definitively. Now trying catching it with a 5-man TXHSFB crew!