Film Study: Mike & Mike Figure Out QB Run Game

Hope everyone had a safe and happy Halloween. We’re back at with another film study. Today we are going to look at two different run plays by Walsh. The first play we are going to look at is the long run Walsh made in the fourth quarter.

As you can see in the above picture OSU is set up with trips right, fullback, and tailback in the back field.

Jeff Carr is the third WR lined out wide, Walsh motions him into the backfield.

When Carr goes towards the backfield, the entire Tech linebackers shift with him. Tech will be at a disadvantage against a QB run purely based on alignment.

On hut Walsh runs a zone read, this is where he reads what the defense does and decides whether tokeep it or hand it off. As you’ll notice, all the Tech defenders bite hard on the handoff. Walsh makes the easy read and pulls the ball back to run the QB keeper.

I love this play so much. The linemen block down to the right, the RG pulls to become the lead blocker for the QB. I’ve said, it is so much easier to block a man with the direction they are already going than it is to move them from a spot they want to be.

Tech is in a bad spot, if the backers stay at home and honor the QB run, Carr has two lead blockers and a lot of open space, as we saw in the Kansas game, when Walsh handed it off and he walked in untouched. If they flow with the handoff, Walsh can keep it with one lead blocker and the linebackers out of position.

The circle next to Walsh is a Tech player who fell down after Walsh made a nice move to the right, it was subtle but just enough to cross the defender over. Up top you have Washington making a great block, and then you have the line doing a great job walling off the rest of the defense. Now it’s just a footrace.

Can I get a “COME ON, MAN” there is no reason whatsoever that JW Walsh should ever be caught from behind like he was. He was so close, surely he had some reserves in the tank to get him across the end zone. I’m joking of course, this was great and even better execution. I really hope to see this more, you could run it with Rudolph, he won’t gain as many yards, but you could set it up for a play-action pass

Also, shameless self-promotion, I’d like to point out that I called for this same formation and play to be used at other spots on the field and not just goal line. Mike & Mike, I know you’re reading my posts, first off you’re welcome. Second, great job last couple of weeks, please keep these styles of play calling. The WR will start catching the ball more consistently, so please don’t be scared away from the long ball with Rudolph. If y’all are hiring, I’m listening.

Next up, we have the play that Walsh scored on after the big run. OSU lines in a two receiver set, with a TE, fullback, and tailback. Tech knows what’s coming, but because OSU has thrown out of this, Tech can’t fully sell out to stop the run. This is something Yurcich has really improved on. You run multiple options out of the same formation or similar formation, and the defense can’t ever go all out to stop a single play. I imagine Walsh has the option to hand it off, keep it, or hit the TE or WR on a pass. 

Walsh motions Ateman to the right. This tells Walsh that he has man coverage. Essentially taking two defenders out of a run play, this also helps set up the play fake. OSU has pitched it to the WR several times this game.

The fake to Ateman and the running backs acting as lead blockers, causes the Tech linebackers to bite. They all step to their left, now Walsh has a pulling guard as his lead blocker and the defensive flow going another direction.

If Walsh steps to his right, he walks in untouched. My guess is that he was still angry about only having getting away from the hall monitor speed and wanted to hit someone.

All in all, this was a great offensive effort. If the receivers had played better I think this game could have been put away much earlier. I hope Rudolph understands that he is the man. The offense goes as he goes. Walsh is a great change of pace and in reality, his three possessions were two plays, three plays and two plays. OSU found a weakness in Tech and exploited that weakness.

Something OSU hasn’t been doing.