Whatever progress Ruffin McNeill made last week with regards to in-game adjustments, he took a step backwards this week.  There’s just no pretty way to spin it.  I’ve been mulling it over for a couple of days now about how I wanted to relay this, but I’ve come to the conclusion that I’ll just give it to you like I always do, which is how I saw it.  Ruffin McNeill got outcoached in all three phases of where you can get outcoached: (1) Formationally (2) Substitutionally and (3) Schematically.  I couldn’t figure out how to accurately describe in words how fucking bizarre the things I saw were, so I’m just going to walk play-by-play through Nebraska’s second possession or first scoring drive.  My only conclusion was that either Ruffin’s scheme is flawed or he’s betting on the games.  Sorry, that was the first thing that popped into my head.  It didn’t get ugly until the second half when the Nebraska coaching staff started placing their formational slider over the plate effectively suckering Ruffin into playing Marlon Williams as his MLB for most of the half.  June Jones was the first one to exploit this and I warned that, if a decent coaching staff got a hold of that tape, they could give us some problems in our base defense.  It happened.  On this particular drive, they don’t jack with McNeill’s head using unbalanced sets:

1^st & 10 NU 26 – NU comes out in a 4 WR balanced set.  TT is rolling with a base 4-3 look playing what appears to be cover 2 zone.  Ratliff/Riley at DE and Sesay/Jones at DT, Duncan at MLB, MWilliams and Bird at OLB.  NU calls a dive play to the right side where Ratliff and Jones are executing a stunt.  They effectively both have their backs turned to Marlon Lucky as he runs by, and Ratliff gets pushed far enough back that his forward momentum carries him onto a near perfect form block to seal off Duncan from making the play.  Marlon Williams does nothing, but stand out in the flat until Lucky runs by falling on the back of his legs for an 8 yard gain.

First off, depth is only considered depth, if there’s not a significant drop off in the level of play between your starter and backup.  There are 6 levels between Ratliff/Riley/Sesay and Dixon/BWilliams/Whitlock.  It’s early in the game and NU had only run 7 plays for 27 yards on their first drive.  If they’re winded by now, they would get their shit kicked in by the Rule Bobcats in a 6-man game.  And it certainly plays out that way as Ratliff can’t even stay out of Duncan’s way.

2^nd & 2 NU 34 – NU comes out in a 2 TE/2 WR unbalanced set.  TT plays base 4-3 and what I think is cover 3 zone and rolling the coverage to the strong side of the field.  Same personnel.  This allows Daniel Charbonnet to walk up on the slot WR.  Ganz makes one of his few bad throws of the game and it hits the open TE in the feet. 

Our CBs were headed up the tunnel.  I guess we thought they might take a deep shot here.

3^rd & 2 NU 34 – NU has a 4 WR set with trips left.  TT is using base personnel, but playing Bird over one of the slots in kind of a nickel look with Cover 2.  NU motion reveals we are playing zone all the way. They wisely throw a hitch screen to the slot man, the outside WR cracks back on Bird, the motion man kicks out Nickerson, and NU gains 10.

 

Now, I like what we’ve done on these last two plays with our alignment.  If we’re going to play a base 4-3, let’s at least overload the run and be effective at stopping something.  However, I’m just speculating here, and I don’t think Nebraska is going deep with a squadron full of possession receivers.  Why in the hell would you be playing 2 deep safeties?  The starting QB for Southlake’s freshman team could have checked into this play. 

1^st & 10 NU 44 – NU is in a 3 WR/1 TE balanced set.  TT rolls with base 4-3, substitutes Hunter in for Duncan, and plays cover 2 man under.  You guessed it.  Zone fucking read.  Richard Jones makes a nice play to limit the damage to 5  yards.

We’re hitting all around it, but never really on the mark.  If Jamar Wall is such a great athlete, why are we scared of Todd Peterson?  No offense to Mr. and Mrs. Peterson.  It does no good for us to have Marlon Williams and Bront Bird both out in the flat chicken fighting with slot receivers.  Especially, if we’ve got them in there to improve our run defense.  How can you expect your players to not play scared, if the coach does all the time?  What kind of confidence does that instill in them?  If you’re going to play prevent defense on 1^st and 10 in the 1^st quarter with a 7-0 lead, at least sub out your OLBs for Hines and Rowland.  Don’t half-ass this thing and try to call it something different.  At a minimum, they’re quick enough to ole’ block attempts or stay on their feet against cut blocks improving your perimeter run defense.  Plus, they’re faster.  Not to mention, they at least might give you a fighting chance at getting a jam on a WR. If we’re going to try and play 2-gap responsibility with our MLB, let’s at least have the only one on our roster capable of doing it.  Duncan doesn’t need to come off the field.  He’s the only playmaker we have at LB.  It also requires elite DTs to run successfully.  See link: http://barkingcarnival.fantake.com/dedfischer/mlb-play-vs-the-zone-read We only have one on our roster.  He shouldn’t be on the bench this early in a close game unless injured.  That feels better.  Let’s move on like a herd of turtles.

2^nd & 5 NU 49 –NU aligns with 3 WR/1 TE unbalanced to the left.  Tech breaks out in base 4-3 Cover 1 man under, walking Charbonnet up to cover the slot.  Bird is lined up near the LOS on the outside shoulder of the TE.  Marlon is blitzing from the weakside.  NU runs a misdirection play to the strong side.  Although, Hunter careens into the stands on the misdirection, this pile of shit caused by half our DL 3 yards in the backfield forces Lucky to bounce, where Charbonnet, our best open field tackler, is there to make the play for a 2 yard gain after the slot cracks on Bird. 

Recognition was not one of Marlon Williams’ gifts from little 6 lb 8 oz Baby Jesus.  Neither was playing downhill.  Now, we’re getting somewhere and I feel a little movement in my pants.  I didn’t even mention that Sandy Riley and Brandon Sesay were indeed in the game and getting pile-drived by the Nebraska  OL.  Hell, even Jake Ratliff got his first penetration since the weekend of the 2003 Lawton Stampede.  You know why?  Because that’s what you do when you play with a shortage of talent.  You overload to stop something.  Four guys can get their ass whipped and three can make the play.  Ask Gary Patterson Dennis Franchione.  I like the call given the down and distance.  You’ve got to trust one guy on an island in Cover 1 and Jamar Wall seems to be right there with the ball when given opportunities to play man.  Or leave Nickerson on the left side in man.  Every QB in this league is right handed.  They aren’t going to throw to the left if you get up in their grill.  Bait, some fucking throws, mix in some of your Cover 3 zone on 3^rd and 8.  Make the offense do something uncomfortable at a minimum.  I don’t want to listen about how Jerod Johnson is one of the best young game managers in college football this weekend.  Please Ruff.  Please Ruff.  I’m begging.  I don’t want to throw up in my mouth again.  Great call here and I’m hoping Ruff is starting a trend.

3^rd & 2 Tech 49 – NU ends in a 4 wide balanced set after some motion.  We’re in base 4-3 using the same personnel and back in an undermanned front playing cover 2 zone.  We play good coverage, but Ratliff loses containment on Ganz (not fast).  Hunter is too slow to get there from the MLB and Marlon is late reacting.  Ganz runs for 3 yards.

I then start my own trend of switching from Miller Lite to double Vodka tonics.  Why go soft again on 3^rd & 2?  It makes no sense.  Your 3 best players are on the bench in Dixon, Whitlock and Duncan.  Play the run short?  Give up 10 yard cushions?  I’m confused.  It’s like the next two weeks after the time you screwed the girl that was waaay out of your league.  I know I’m crazy for giving a shit this much, but I’m not crazy for thinking this is a shitty strategy?  Right?  Someone help me.

1^st & 10 Tech 46 – NU with 4 WR balanced set.  Tech still in base 4-3, cover 2 zone.  Duncan and J. Howard have entered the game at LB.  NU runs a nice playaction rollout and hits the TE on a shallow arrow route coming back behind the line to the left flat.  Good play design.  Sandy Riley is playing on the backside in lieu of Brandon Williams and gets hooked by a TE playing in the slot position.  Bront Bird just hit his knee on the Under Armor trunk on the Tech sideline.  He catches back up 7 yards down the field.

Why is Sandy Riley playing in the 1st quarter of this game?  I’m not sure Williams would have been much better, but he damn sure wouldn’t have got his ass kicked by a TE.  Riley just looks waaay too small to be playing DE in this league.  Was someone hurt?  We’re rolling a whole series in a 7 point ball game with Ratliff and Riley at DE? 

2^nd & 3 Tech 39 – NU lines up in 4 WR set trips to the right.  TT defends with base 4-3, cover 2 zone.  Whitlock and B. Williams are back in the game.  Bird and Duncan are slid over the slots leaving J. Howard as the effective MLB.  NU runs the zone read away from Duncan.  Whitlock and B. Williams correctly execute a nice stunt on the weakside because they have talent.  The double team stays on Whitlock to the outside, Williams disrupts some things on the inside with single blocking, and J. Howard has the opportunity to look better than he really is with a solo tackle for a 2 yard gain.  I won’t complain, but that one was set up to make Sportscenter for a good LB. 

Nice call, although with the pattern I’ve seen develop throughout this drive, I have a hard time not wondering if it was luck.  If you want to do fancy shit like this, have the guys in the game who have the ability to execute it.  Sometimes it works, like in this case.

3^rd & 1 Tech 37 – NU with 2 TE/2WR balanced set.  We’re in base 4-3 Cover 2 zone.  NU predictably runs the dive play, but run it at Whitlock who ties up and splits the double team and Duncan makes a nice MLB play for the 2 yard gain.

Why in the hell would you use an undermanned front and play soft zone coverage on 3^rd & 1?  Beats the ever living dog shit out of me.  Sesay was getting a bent over backwards welcome by a NU guard on the backside.  This was really a nice defensive play by both Whitlock and Duncan given the circumstances surrounding them.  And NU has a 1^st down.

1^st & 10 Tech 35 – NU in 2 TE/2 WR balanced set again.  We stick as well except Jones and Dixon are back in the game.  NU runs the stretch play to the right with zone blocking against our undermanned front.  Dixon does an outstanding job of stringing the play out, Bird makes every attempt he can to run himself out of the play before jumping back in, and Duncan is late getting there due to an attempted tackle along the journey by an NU OL.  NU gains 5.

 Bird had the right idea, but his inexperience at the position really showed up here.  He does display the athletic ability that Marlon lacks by being able to get himself back into the play.  Dixon played it perfect and it was a miracle Duncan made it as far as he did to assure things were cleaned up.

2^nd & 5 Tech 30 – NU lines up with 3WR/1 TE unbalanced set (2 WR and 1 TE to the left).  TT counters with base 4-3, cover 2 zone.  Bird slides over to the slot and Duncan to the TE leaving Marlon at MLB.  NU runs an isolation play to take advantage of Marlon against himself and Lucky gets the best of this matchup on a seam route for 15 yards.  Duncan comes off his man to make the tackle as Marlon does not get enough depth and whiffs on his jam in the open field. 

This might be the best microcosmic example of why our scheme is entirely wrong for the offenses in the Big 12.  Nobody rolls with a fullback these days except Texas, but they’re currently using him as their best tailback.  There’s just too many things spread teams in this conference can do to exploit mismatches given the level of QB play, if you don’t have speed on the field at every position. 

1^st & 10 Tech 15 – NU using 4 WR trips left.  TT using base 4-3, but in a cover 1 shell and Charbonnet drops back into cover 2 just prior to the snap.  However, this has allowed us to keep Bird and Marlon in the box against a TE and we’ve effectively overloaded against the run.  Marlon blitzes from the weakside.  NU runs a counter play using the TE in motion to peel back as the lead blocker on the DE.  Brandon Williams and Bront Bird play it perfect forcing the RB back to the middle of the field.  Now, two bad things happen here.  First Whitlock falls for the counter and gets earholed and pancaked on a down block from an NU tackle.  Duncan makes one of his few bad reads of the game and gets tied up with a guard or center.  In other words, we had a lot of shit going wrong for us on the cutback.  But since we’ve overloaded our front, the large mass of bodies and carnage lying around limits the RB to 3 yards. 

Now, we’re talking.  Another example of how everyone doesn’t have to play every play perfect for things to be o.k. in the end.  Whitlock and Duncan just got caught, which doesn’t happen to both on the same play very often.  Nine times out of ten, they keep this one at the LOS.  Maybe we’re trying to stiffen up and actually try to stop them from scoring a TD.

 

2^nd & 7 Tech 12 – NU aligns in a 2 TE/2 WR balanced set.  Ruff goes safe with 4-3 cover 2.  Dixon was obviously winded from his 3 plays, so we go to our “depth” near the goalline using Ratliff.  NU runs the stretch play again on the undermanned box.  It was kind of a bizarre play as it appeared NU committed a false start, which caused some timing issues on defense.  None the less, I still think it would have gone for the 6 it gained.

 

Or maybe not.

 

3^rd & 1 Tech 6 – NU comes out in the I formation with 3 TEs.  We roll with the same package we use to defend 4 wide sets on 1^st and 10 from our opponents’ 20 yard line.  And Ratliff.  NU runs the lead play and Ratliff along with Duncan make a really nice play in a way undermanned front for a 2 yard gain.

Good thing.  I was worried myself that an H-back with a lack of vowels in his name might get behind our CBs.  From the 6 fucking yard line.

1^st & Goal Tech 4 – NU uses a 3 WR/1 TE balanced set.  Again, we go with base 4-3, cover 2.  NU runs the stretch play to the left.  Our LBs flee from the monsoon of  guards and tackles falling upon them, and abruptly overrun the play allowing the RB to go in untouched on the play.

TD Nebraska.  I’ve had several people request that I explain what was wrong with our defense in this game.  Nebraska formationally challenged us in the 2^nd half, and then their OL took turns performing some kind of disturbing ritualistic Midlands sodomization on Marlon Williams for the rest of the game. 

So in conclusion, if you’re still reading this, I think we’ve got about 4 good players making plays on this unit in Whitlock, Dixon, Duncan and Charbonnet, which is 4 more than we had last year.  Just like I felt before this game.  I think we were 2 defensive plays away from being 10-2 last year.  Dixon just made one of those plays.  I think Tech will win 99% of the games in which they outrush someone.  I think when put in advantageous positions to make plays, the guys respond well and they’re good enough to deliver.  I also think they will be handcuffed formationally and schematically when making most of their big plays.