Chalk Talk: Installing Urban Meyer's Offense at Ohio State

Ohio State landed the white whale of dodgy coaching candidates by introducing Urban Meyer as head coach on November 28. More recently, talk concerning Meyer often includes the phrase, "game-changer";   he's landed several recruiting coups, most notably Colorado 4-star offensive lineman Joey O'Connor, who decided that attending Penn State wasn't the best idea post-scandal. By the end of last week, Meyer's recruiting class rank had climbed to #3 overall.

Lately, Buckeye fans have been drooling about how well Braxton Miller could run Meyer's offense, and it certainly seems as though Miller and Meyer is a match made in heaven (not unlike Tim Tebow's past prowess in the system). However, the offense's success next season will hinge more on the offensive line's ability to learn and execute the blocking concepts properly. Here's an example of what frosh linemen like O'Connor might be expected to do next season:

The video used in making these images is courtesy of CBS.

This shovel option play is from Florida's 2009 SEC Championship loss to Alabama. The game has since been marked by some as the beginning of the end for Meyer in Florida; the Gators still made a BCS bowl that season, but things would never be the same as they were during Tim Tebow's college heyday.

Tebow will fake the jet sweep, then run left with the option to pitch to his running back, shovel pass to his tight end (who will run in front of Tebow), or keep the ball himself. The blocking is diagrammed above. The left guard and tackle will leave the defensive end as the option man, and will instead double team the noseguard up to the backside backer. The center will block down on the 3-technique while the right guard pulls for the playside backer.

The right tackle has the most difficult block on this play, because he has to essentially account for two defenders. The center has a long way to go since the guard is leaving, and if the center doesn't get to the defensive tackle quickly enough, the d-tackle will disrupt the tight end's ability to get in position for a possible shovel pass. The right tackle also cannot let the defensive end (lined up over the tight end) run free, or else he will spoil the play. 

Therefore, the right tackle must step left to secure the center's block, then hinge right to block the defensive end. This is an incredibly difficult thing to ask of a tackle against such an athletic defense. Ideally, the fake jet sweep would keep the defensive end guessing long enough for the right tackle to get him, but there's no guarantee the fake will help.

At the snap of the ball, the blocking seems to be developing fairly well. The playside double team is underway, and the right guard has begun to pull. The center has secured his defensive tackle, so now the right tackle can hinge for his defensive end. The question is whether he can hinge quickly enough.

Four of the five linemen are executing their assignments properly, but that won't be enough. The right guard is almost up to the playside backer, and the double team has been executed perfectly, with one lineman already headed for the backside backer. The center is still on his block, as well.

Unfortunately for the right tackle, Tebow's fake jet sweep didn't deter the defensive end from crashing into the backfield. The right tackle tried to hinge quickly enough to get the defensive end, but was a mere split-second too late.

Now the defensive end is tailing the tight end, so the play is over already unless Alabama tackles poorly. Meyer's shovel option is predicated on getting a mismatch of players; if there were three offensive players (Tebow, running back, tight end) and only two defenders to account for them (playside defensive end, safety), the play would have a chance to be successful. Yet now the backside defensive end is here to account for the tight end. Any choice Tebow makes at this point will be the wrong one.

Tebow has decided to shovel the ball, and the defensive end trailing Tebow's tight end immediately makes the tackle.

Blown plays like this were fairly common by the end of Meyer's tenure at Florida. In order to be successful at Ohio State, Meyer needs to continue recruiting athletic linemen such as Joey O'Connor who can be taught to execute difficult blocks such as the right tackle's assignment from this play. Meyer's offense asks quite a bit of its offensive linemen, and talented players such as the Pouncey brothers are required to ensure its success. Braxton Miller will most likely be a huge star running Meyer's system, but he needs a star cast of offensive linemen in order to accomplish the task.

Chalk Talk: Alabama's Athletic Linemen

College football fans outside the SEC haven't been too excited for this year's national championship, seeing as it will be a rematch of the 9-6 yawn-fest that took place last November. It's been touted by media outlets as a battle of defenses, which is code for "unexciting" for fans that prefer a touch of offensive firepower. However, for fans of stellar offensive line play, the game should be excellent; what takes place in the trenches Monday will be the decisive factor.

Most of the "hype" (if you can call it that) surrounding today's BCS National Championship Game is centered on Alabama and LSU's impenetrable defenses, which are #1 and #2 in the nation statistically. However, both teams boast rushing attacks that average over 200 yards per game. LSU Head Coach Les Miles told the Associated Press yesterday to expect "...big boy football. And I'd expect it to be very, very physical." 

The "big boys" in question are the eight combined returning starters on the offensive line for both teams. Alabama's Barrett Jones was recently named the 2011 Outland Trophy winner. If there's ever a matchup to be dictated by offensive line play, it's this one.

Video used in making these images is courtesy of CBS.

The above play is from Alabama's 2009 SEC Championship victory over Florida. Although the game is older,  this play perfectly illustrates the athleticism of William Vlachos, who is now a senior for the Crimson Tide.

Alabama is asking Vlachos to snap the ball in a shotgun formation, then pull around for the playside linebacker (the Will). The Will backer will be in a perfect spot for Vlachos to execute his block, because the Will is going to flow downhill towards the ball.

Once Vlachos leaves, the two guards will double team the noseguard to the Mike backer (the standing defender who is further down in the frame). Since Ingram will be running the ball to the left outside the numbers (as shown by his arrow), this double team has a great angle and should be able to reach the Mike as he flows towards the ball.

Most of the other blocks here are straightforward; the tackles and tight ends are all performing a reach block on the individual players lined up over them. This involves taking a lateral step while placing one's helmet on the playside numbers of the defender's jersey, then delivering a punch on the inside numbers. The blockers will continue to work laterally to seal their man off and give Ingram a running lane to the left.

So far, the blocking has been executed perfectly. The right guard has already come off his double team block to get the Mike, and all the reach blockers are fighting to seal off the running lane. Vlachos is pulling for the Will backer, who is flowing towards Ingram and doesn't seem to expect a center in his lap.

Vlachos has now made contact with the Will backer and is beginning to drive him outside of Ingram's desired rushing lane. The rest of Bama's blockers are doing an incredible job of staying on Florida's defenders as long as possible. Holding a block for this long is a combination of tenacity and athleticism; against a speedy SEC defense, athleticism is the most important part of keeping these blocks long enough for the running back to make a play.

At this point, Vlachos is driving his man straight into the Alabama bench. This is the type of blocking Les Miles alluded to with his "big boy football" quote. Bama has now cleared an enormous rushing lane that allows for a 15-yard gain.

Look for Bama to combat LSU's incredibly fast defense with schemes such as this. In order to win the rematch, the Crimson Tide need their stellar linemen such as Vlachos and Jones to step up and use their athleticism to provide Trent Richardson with room to make plays. It might not be the touchdown party we saw in this year's Rose or Fiesta Bowls, but the offensive line play on both sides should be some of the best this season.