The TCU defense is built to stop the run and take away the short passing game and combination passing routes. Due to the way TCU employs their safeties in pre-snap alignment, they get tremendous leverage in run game support. They will often pair that with Double B-gap blitz packages from the linebackers to totally take away the inside zone plays. Their goal is to create early down negative plays on those run blitzes should a spread team try to run a first down zone play. The youth and inexperience of this particular group has led to a more conservative approach and less all out run blitzes from Coach Patterson. After watching tape on OSU this season, I suspect that run blitzes against the single back spread with Rudolph in the game will be more common than they have shown in recent weeks. The jet sweep action package becomes a nice counter to this approach to run defense, particularly when paired with a quick hitting inside play action pass. The Walsh package is an entirely different animal as it forced the defense to play more base defense and be assignment sound.
TCU’s schemes have basically dared offenses to try and beat them deep. West Virginia tried repeatedly to go over the top. They had guys open, but could not connect (lots of drops). The Cowboys should be able to take advantage of man coverage situations deep down the field due to the way TCU plays on the back end. Each half of the field operates independently of the other. (More on that later.) As we break down their base coverages, we discover that it is possible to manipulate by formation and route structure a man to man match-up on a vertical route versus a safety with no over the top help. On the flip side, their underneath coverages are very well disguised, morphing from a zone to man and back to zone look on a single play. Mason Rudolph will need to be careful on throwing inside and underneath. TCU will base a lot of coverage keys off the action of the slot receiver and free up a robber to jump those routes.
If OSU’s offense can effectively throw deep and soften up the safeties, the running game should become more viable. The secondary is separated from the assignments of the front six and then cut in half into two separate groups, with the ability to play man coverage on one side and a zone on the other side in a number of different combinations. In some ways this structure makes it far easier for him to integrate new players into the defense. They do not have to know everything that is going on. The base alignments conceal blitzes naturally, keeping the offense from getting a clear pre-snap read which obviously increases their effectiveness.
When Coach Patterson talks about his defense, he talks about wanting to create confusion at the line of scrimmage, play with great leverage, establish an eight-man front, and bring consistent pressure. The leverage is an important part of what makes the defense work as TCU does not load the box traditionally by dropping another LB or safety into the tackle box. They align the weak safety and the strong safety just outside the box, allowing them proximity to the line of scrimmage to make plays against the run, but to not give up anything in coverage while doing it. The front six is supposed to funnel everything outside to those safeties. The safeties are taught to play "inside and in front", meaning that once a ball-carrier declares their intention, the safeties are not to allow them to cross their face. This helps explain why TCU always has such great flow/pursuit to the ball.
So, OSU will effectively be dealing with an 8-man front in this game. The run game will be difficult apart from the QB option package and some hit or miss opportunities when they catch TCU guessing wrong on which way to slant/stunt. With Rudolph in the game, the defense will have a numbers advantage at the point of attack. This is a situation where the pass really has to set up the run, unless you want to sell out for power or expose your quarterback. TCU has 30 different options of stunts and twists that they employ with the front six. This causes all kinds of trouble for the offensive line as it creates confusion on who to block, making it even easier for the safeties to come in and make plays. If you want to mess up their scheme, you have to attack their safeties!
TCU has shown more blitz threats than actual blitzes so far this year. It will be interesting to see what they choose to do in this game. When they blitz, they use cover zero which opens up man to man matchups all over the field that could play to the Cowboys advantage. Calling regular deep shots against TCU is a good strategy. If you catch a tell on a blitz, it sets the offense up for a big play. Just know that you will also get a few negative plays along the way.
When they do not blitz, TCU will likely be in Cover 2 "Read". They will pair that with Blue and Cover 5 looks against one-back formations. I can go into this more in follow-up posts, but if you watch the games against Baylor, you will see how attacking the safeties hurts the TCU defense. OSU may not have the same elite speed and playmaking RB that Baylor has, but many elements of those passing game threats are present in Stillwater.
TCU’s schemes have basically dared offenses to try and beat them deep. West Virginia tried repeatedly to go over the top. They had guys open, but could not connect (lots of drops). The Cowboys should be able to take advantage of man coverage situations deep down the field due to the way TCU plays on the back end. Each half of the field operates independently of the other. (More on that later.) As we break down their base coverages, we discover that it is possible to manipulate by formation and route structure a man to man match-up on a vertical route versus a safety with no over the top help. On the flip side, their underneath coverages are very well disguised, morphing from a zone to man and back to zone look on a single play. Mason Rudolph will need to be careful on throwing inside and underneath. TCU will base a lot of coverage keys off the action of the slot receiver and free up a robber to jump those routes.
If OSU’s offense can effectively throw deep and soften up the safeties, the running game should become more viable. The secondary is separated from the assignments of the front six and then cut in half into two separate groups, with the ability to play man coverage on one side and a zone on the other side in a number of different combinations. In some ways this structure makes it far easier for him to integrate new players into the defense. They do not have to know everything that is going on. The base alignments conceal blitzes naturally, keeping the offense from getting a clear pre-snap read which obviously increases their effectiveness.
When Coach Patterson talks about his defense, he talks about wanting to create confusion at the line of scrimmage, play with great leverage, establish an eight-man front, and bring consistent pressure. The leverage is an important part of what makes the defense work as TCU does not load the box traditionally by dropping another LB or safety into the tackle box. They align the weak safety and the strong safety just outside the box, allowing them proximity to the line of scrimmage to make plays against the run, but to not give up anything in coverage while doing it. The front six is supposed to funnel everything outside to those safeties. The safeties are taught to play "inside and in front", meaning that once a ball-carrier declares their intention, the safeties are not to allow them to cross their face. This helps explain why TCU always has such great flow/pursuit to the ball.
So, OSU will effectively be dealing with an 8-man front in this game. The run game will be difficult apart from the QB option package and some hit or miss opportunities when they catch TCU guessing wrong on which way to slant/stunt. With Rudolph in the game, the defense will have a numbers advantage at the point of attack. This is a situation where the pass really has to set up the run, unless you want to sell out for power or expose your quarterback. TCU has 30 different options of stunts and twists that they employ with the front six. This causes all kinds of trouble for the offensive line as it creates confusion on who to block, making it even easier for the safeties to come in and make plays. If you want to mess up their scheme, you have to attack their safeties!
TCU has shown more blitz threats than actual blitzes so far this year. It will be interesting to see what they choose to do in this game. When they blitz, they use cover zero which opens up man to man matchups all over the field that could play to the Cowboys advantage. Calling regular deep shots against TCU is a good strategy. If you catch a tell on a blitz, it sets the offense up for a big play. Just know that you will also get a few negative plays along the way.
When they do not blitz, TCU will likely be in Cover 2 "Read". They will pair that with Blue and Cover 5 looks against one-back formations. I can go into this more in follow-up posts, but if you watch the games against Baylor, you will see how attacking the safeties hurts the TCU defense. OSU may not have the same elite speed and playmaking RB that Baylor has, but many elements of those passing game threats are present in Stillwater.
