Get a stop: An analytical view of OSU's defense on third down
- Gabriel Trevino, Staff Reporter, @GabeCTrevino
- Oct 14, 2021 Updated 9 hrs ago
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Kansas State needed a big play.
The Wildcats were trailing Oklahoma State by double-digits entering the fourth quarter.
It was third and 15 on the 25-yard line. The Cowboys showed a deep “prevent” defense, lining up defenders far from the line of scrimmage. The safeties then charged toward KSU quarterback Jaren Lewis.
Lewis could not escape the wrath of black jerseys, firing a pass out of reach for his target while enduring a blow from safety Jason Taylor. The Cowboys blitz stopped Kansas State from gaining momentum.
For most defenses, a man-blitz on third and long is something to be avoided. If just one receiver gets open down-field, it could result in a touchdown. Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and the Cowboys are not a normal defense.
OSU is currently ranked the 14th best third down defense in the NCAA. The Cowboys have allowed 22 conversions on 74 total third downs, equaling a 29.7% success rate for opposing offenses.
In a film review, I analyzed the schemes, formations and adjustments OSU has used to be successful against Kansas State and Boise State on third downs, as well as discovering what does not work ahead of its matchup with Texas.
Defensive Line
The abnormal defensive line formations and lineups caught the opposing offense off-guard.
OSU would often place five or six defenders on the line-of-scrimmage, with many not in their normal spot. On a third and 11 play during the third quarter against Boise, defensive end Tyler Lacy, placed his hand in front of the Bronco center. Normally, Lacy rushes off the edge, combating with tackles.
On this play, Lacy used his speed to easily get past the center, who wasn’t experienced against speed rushers, sacking the quarterback, despite OSU only rushing three players.
On blitzes where many players are across the defensive line, stunts are also frequently used. A stunt is when a defensive lineman, typically an edge rusher, fakes as if he is going to rush as normal, then before making contact with the offensive line, flips their hips and switches to rushing another gap.
The use of stunts is to catch offensive lineman off guard, and get to the quarterback. The use of a stunt is exemplified by Brock Martin on a third and eight in the third quarter of the KSU game.
The stunt allowed Martin and Jayden Jernigan to apply pressure to the quarterback, leading to an incomplete pass.
Placing different defenders in several different spots across the defense line, and the use of stunts put offensive lineman in uncomfortable situations. Instead of winning in the trenches by being more physical or more athletic, the Cowboys are winning with planned attacks.
Secondary
The Cowboys often blitz on third down. OSU sent five or more defenders toward the quarterback 11 times across the 31 total third downs during the Boise and KSU games. Blitzes on third down are risky, as if a receiver gets open due to the lack of presence in the secondary, the offense may get a big play.
The Cowboys secondary is experienced. All five of the starters are at least redshirt juniors, with four of the starters being seniors. When OSU blitzes, its secondary must step up. On the 11 third downs where the Cowboys blitzed, they prevented a first down nine of those times.
The defense’s success is built from trust and experience. When OSU blitzes, the secondary is in one-on-one man coverage, also known as “Cover 0”, or in man coverage with only one safety in zone, known as “Cover 1.”
Knowles frequently asks his cornerbacks and safeties to play in one-on-one coverage. The experienced secondary, such as seniors Jarrick Bernard-Converse and Tanner McCalister excel in man coverage. When the five upperclassmen in the secondary lock up their man, it makes it harder for opposing quarterbacks to complete passes.
OSU safety Tanner McCalister has not taken for granted the trust defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has in his secondary, and credits Knowles for their success.
"You're going to lose some and you're going to win some too,” McCalister said. “The fact that coach Knowles has that trust in us, I think it's also helped our defense become the defense we are now."
The combination of pressure applied to the quarterback and the secondary locking up the receivers forces opposing offense to punt.
Linebackers in pass coverage
OSU linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez leads the team in tackles, with a whopping 54 total tackles in five games. Fellow linebacker Devin Harper is second on the team in tackles, with 29. However, the OSU linebackers can be too aggressive in pass coverage.
On a third and seven play versus Kansas State, Wildcat running back Deuce Vaughn ran a wheel route with Rodriguez in coverage. Rodriguez, thinking Vaughn would run a simple check down route in the flats, tried to jump in front of Vaughn. Vaughn planted one foot in the ground, and ran full speed up field past Rodriguez down the field.
Kansas State quarterback Jaren Lewis was under pressure from the OSU pass rush, and was unable to locate Vaughn. However if Lewis completed a pass to Vaughn, it may have been a touchdown.
Looking ahead to Texas
OSU coach Mike Gundy acknowledges the Texas Longhorns will be the most talented offense they will face so far.
“They’re challenge will be greater this game,” Gundy said. “There will be skill across the field and this will be the best offensive line they faced.”
Texas running back Bijan Robinson has exploded for the Longhorn offense, totaling almost 1,000 total yards of offense, and ten total touchdowns. The Texas offense, helmed by quarterback Casey Thompson, scored 48 points and over 500 total yards of offense in its most recent game versus Oklahoma.
Ahead of OSU’s matchup in Austin this Saturday, Gundy said the Cowboys defense will have to continue to play at a high level, and will rely on Knowles to make adjustments when need-be.
“Well coach (Jim) Knowles and his staff deserve a lot of credit,” Gundy said. “Since he’s been here he’s been impressive to me. We’ve been good at what we do. We take a lot of risks, at times you can get beat, but it’s worked for us so far. We would not have won at least three games if they had not been playing at an extremely high level. I have confidence in them. As long as we have a decent pass rush we’ll have a chance.”
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