Plays Of The (other) Day: Goal-To-Go Sequence vs. Ohio State
You got questions, we got…the same questions and no answers for Penn State’s four forgettable, unimaginative plays near the goal line with the game hanging in the balance.
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Why fuss around, right? Just rip off the damn Band-Aid. We’re discussing the failed 4th quarter goal-to-go sequence that sucked the juice out of a record-setting Beaver Stadium crowd like a poorly aimed straw popping a Capri-Sun pouch.
Hold your nose. Here we go.
Play 1
6 OL package. 56-JB Nelson squats at left guard, pushing usual starter 71-Vega Ioane outside the left tackle. Tight ends 44-Tyler Warren and 16-Khalil Dinkins align as “sniffers”, barely in the backfield, splitting the LG-LT and LT-6th OL, respectively. Wide receiver 3-Julian Fleming is the 7th man on the line of scrimmage. Aside from the right guard and tackle, everyone else is loaded on the left side of the ball. To fit gaps, Ohio State puts seven defenders to the left of Penn State center 53- Nick Dawkins, three to his right, and a 0-Tech nose tackle smelling his breath over the ball.
The concept, technically, is a short-yardage version of “Duo” – a play designed to displace defensive linemen through double teams and, therefore, create vertical push or “dent the defense.” Normally, Duo leaves the MIKE backer unblocked but placed in conflict. The running back reads the MIKE for the first three steps, aiming at the playside guard, then makes a decision – BEND, BANG or BOUNCE? If the MIKE sucks toward the line of scrimmage, the RB either “bounces” playside or “bends” backside. If the MIKE floats outside the B Gap, the RB “bangs” right through his initial aiming point.
The problem with Duo in short-yardage situations like this is that those reads are sped up and harder to decipher because the second-level defenders are closer to the line of scrimmage. By the time, 13-Kaytron Allen realizes he should cut laterally, he’s already too far in the mess and simply puts his head down.
No gain.
Plays 2 & 3
Andy Kotelnicki decides to stick with Duo (or the goal line version of it) but a different variation. Duo Kick. Everything in this is essentially the same, but the playside outermost defender is left for a kick out from the motioning 300-pound lineman. What’s the point, you ask?
Well, the idea here is that the momentum from the kick out will create a larger “bounce” gap for the RB should the MIKE suck toward the interior of line of scrimmage.
BIG NOTE: Contrary to popular belief, there was (more than very likely) NOT a pull read here for Allar. The three Duo runs you’ve seen thus far were “locked” – meaning no pull read. Now, it is possible (though, not probable) that Kotelnicki affords QBs what’s called an “opportunity pull” – essentially granting the QB the right to pull if the edge pops open…but I doubt it. Especially with Allar So for those of you yelling, “Why didn’t Allar just keep it?!?!?!”…there’s your answer.
Long story short: OSU got more push up front. Could we have used a more advantageous run scheme here? Yes. Do you also have to trust your big eaters to generate enough push to net 3 yards in 3 plays? Also, yes.
Play 4
4th and Goal on Paper:
4th and Goal on Video:
Penn State finally decides to throw on 4th and Goal. I’d imagine the Buckeyes had a pretty good idea that this was coming. The other predictable part of this play: the rub-flat concept is by far the most popular goal line man-to-man beater. OSU’s secondary sniffs it out immediately and gets overtop of the pick set by 6-Harrison Wallace, who is not running a route and therefore not in the QB progression.
Allar’s only other option is Dinkins on the over route, but the boundary is just too congested. Allar throws a decent ball, but this is a high-degree-of-difficulty catch…especially when defenders are hanging all over you.
The last play
Play 4 – last one – Now the sequence of Play Calling looks atrocious.
Here they should’ve just run it again – but w/ a tricky scheme and head to the edge – some kind of Option – an RO, RPO or RTO where Allar could give, keep, throw.
But a simple rub route in the flat to your #1 guy???? Insane. I can’t imagine this is Coach K’s gameplan or in the moment decision making.
All those tricky sets + schemes throughout the game…some of which were probably too overboard imo – NOW is the time to bring that stuff out – near the goaline. You don’t even need to pass – though having that as an option would be nice – but just some cool misdirection/playaction w/ the QBs legs in play – that’s all.
I guarantee if I said this to Franklin he would probably dismiss my thoughts as ignorant. He doesn’t want to take a chance of a turnover w/ the game on the line.
OSU was far from aggressive, but at least they let Howard run. Yes he fumbled at the GL – AND – they still won!!! The aggressive variety wins out in the end.
Franklin is finally letting his OC have some freedom, then locks it down with the game on the line.
If this is Coach K, not Franklin, then my bad. But I’ve seen this before under Franklin. So…
Same exact scheme 2 plays in a row – really? This is my big ? in the play calling.
The first play was screwed by the ref. But I like the use of tempo there.
The second play could have been a TD if Warren works to the 2nd level – I’m ok with a run there as well.
But the same exact call two plays in a row?? Franklin is known for this nonsense. There’s no way this is Coach K’s thinking. Franklin held back Yurcich horribly and other OCs as well, he seems to have meshed well with Kotelnicki. And he may be the most adenturous – BUT… his creativity is heavy in the run game – so I think Franklin’s ok with it. But with the game on the line – the Franklin Fear reared it’s ugly head once again.
Play 3
Again OSU jammed the middle, but this time they weren’t even concerned with the QB keep. I think they realized after 2 similar plays that there was no option.
Also, NT McDonald also knew what was coming finally. Look at him fire off the ball compared to Play 2. Completely different.
Gameplans need variety now – this isn’t the 50s or even the 80s. Can’t just bash – unless there’s extenuating circumstances as we saw on OSUs last drive.
So, Allen probably should’ve bounced, but McDonald crushed the C, making that difficult. With Ransom/Hicks crashing and ignoring the QB keep, a bounce probably doesn’t work anyway.
Which brings up the BIG ? – DID ALLAR HAVE A CHANCE FOR AN OPPORTUNITY PULL?? If he did – this was it! He wouldve walked in the EZ.
Even w/ the conservative play-calling with the game on the line, this little bit of variety – giving Allar an OppPull here, would have tied the game. He would’ve walked it in.
Truth be told, this is Kelly/Day’s gameplanning a lot these days. A ton of conservative play-calls setting up a little variety and catching the D by surprise. Not Will Stein material – where there’s consistent Aggressive Variety w/ some Flexibility – but it can work if you have top talent.
But PSU, wouldn’t even do that OR Allar really did screw that one up…. I’m not sure which it was, but I have a hard time believing there wasn’t an option for him on that play. 3rd & Goal. Unless the thought was that there is no way they are expecting a 3rd Power Slam into the line. We deceive with insane Tendency…the D never expects to break that tendency…. who knows?
This it THE PLAY – that really lost this game. (though it’s never just one play).
Play 2/3 – The Fat WR Slam Motion!
You explained this scheme well – Duo and the Fat Man on the Edge. I like the little 3 TE Shift as well.
Play 2
Allen about to do another nice bounce, but Hicks (11) does a great job of outside in and burning the Fat Man. Ransom has the QB Keep – so again – if there is an Opp Pull, Allar made the right read.
This play could have been a TD or inches away if Warren had worked his way up to the LB Simon (0). He and the other TE were crushing their down blocks on Sawyer – which almost screwed up Simon’s read. Simon did a great job of scraping and getting back to his gap and made the big hit just as Allen was building a head of steam!
I know you say this is Duo – but I can’t believe that part of Warren’s assignment (or any of the duo scheme) is not to work to the 2nd level. Usually that’s the assignment.
Wow – only 1 comment – figures. The good stuff isn’t viewed nearly like the BS online.
Again, thanks for this breakdown of the GL Stand. I’d like to add the following:
Play 1 – PSU was running what I call a Quick Snap on this one so I do think that was an absolute give up the gut and the RB was supposed to hit it hard – not worry so much about bend and bounce. Whattya you think?
Allar confirmed in an interview the quick snap (called it something else), but the ref screwed up and held the play, which blew the whole concept. With xtra time OSU got lined up and jammed the middle space.
Good job by Allen as he bounced it (no use jamming up the gut w/o the tempo snap) and he almost got by Styles/Ransom crashing inside, but it looks like Styles grabbed a Facemask or Pad or something as Allen’s head got turned and his momentum came to a halt as he was about to hit the opening.
The opening was due to the crash down of Ransom and Iggy protecting for the QB keep run to the outside. If this was a RO, then Allar made the right decision anyway to give. I don’t think there was any option (locked as you called it), because of the quick snap attempt. I don’t even think there was an “opportunity pull” afforded. BTW – love that terminology – never heard that one.
Great stuff. I’ve looked across the internet for info on whether PSU was running a Read Option on plays 1-3 near the goaline or if it was just a straight power give (no option for a spread run). I saw all the interviews and not one interviewer asked that question. I looked at film breakdowns – nada. Thankfully I stumbled upon your review. Thank You! I will leaving another comment adding to your analysis – and I will also check out your Allen vs Chip vid.