I breakdown interesting plays - schematically, technically, and from an execution standpoint - from the 2021 Penn State at Iowa football game.
Some general thoughts first:
Penn State Positives:
- I believe in their offense with Clifford on the field. It was a pass first gameplan that understood the teams strengths and weaknesses and felt like it was good enough to generate 30+ points. While I think Iowa was starting to settle in and close to getting off the field in more key situations, PSU does just enough in a variety of ways (screen, intermediate, deep, scramble) to make it very difficult to generate stops
- Despite the OL, I thought the RBs ran pretty well. The run game as a whole I'll touch on in a second, but RB is not the position of issue.
- I still really like this DL, even after injuries. Very challenging scheme for DL to go against, made some big plays to knock Iowa off schedule.
- Again, defensive coverage diversity is a real strength. Makes it very difficult to dial up plays as an offense
- Once Clifford was hurt, they did not have a gameplan. 1) It became clear there was a chunk of the playbook the backup wasn't able to execute vs the Iowa defense. 2) The playbook already seemed limited based on lack of reps (not completely abnormal, but it felt pronounced). 3) The run game as a whole was never going to work.
- The right side of the OL has a lot of issues, both in the run game and protection. Previously I thought the left side was good. They still may be, since going up against Iowa is a challenge, but they didn't grade out well vs Iowa either.
- I do think Iowa was able to expose a few cracks in the armor of this defense, namely formationally able to dictate some things PSU did, but also attacking flow.
- We know the Iowa Center is great. He only reiterated that today. But the OTs looked much improved compared to the Iowa State game I watched earlier. A bit easier of a scheme from a run standpoint for the OTs, but even in pass pro they were improved.
- While gameplan as a whole wasn't great, there were some well designed plays called at good times.
- QB and receivers made some tough plays that helped keep the chains moving.
- I really felt like the defense was starting to settle in even before the Clifford injury. That seems odd given they were giving up a field goal on that drive, but PSU had some tough conversions on that series.
- The Iowa defensive backfield didn't get out-athleted. Questions about their athleticism on the backend should be a little less pronounced now, as it felt like they went toe-to-toe on the outside vs an athletic group of receivers.
- The turnovers are for real. I'm reiterating this, because a lot of people still feel it's luck. But the way they execute their assignments and techniques puts them in positions to make plays, and they do.
- They need to find a way to turn some of the solid gains into explosives. They are small improvements away, but it seemed there were a handful of instances that they were one or two guys away from really breaking one. They don't have great athletes across the board, but that wasn't the only thing holding them back. It's not a terribly efficient offense either, so generating explosives will be key for them to actually score points when the opposing offense isn't maligned.
- I think there are some issues at OG. While OTs were improved, they still weren't great necessarily. I think Iowa will continue to show flashes of a good run blocking group, but the consistency needs to improve. Same with pass pro (including from the RB position).
- It felt like because of some issues getting off the field, some guys on defense were starting to press. I said above it felt like Iowa was close, but this can go the other way too. You can feel close and start pressing and lose your discipline, and there was more instances of that in this game than I've seen from Iowa before. Something to watch for.
C3 Robber to start for PSU. Great job understanding responsibility. Will be interesting to see if Iowa comes back to this look with a snag or angle route to take advantage of Robber following the drag route pic.twitter.com/68lMA6iYyj
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 12, 2021
Lead OZ as Iowa does so well. Watch the C wash down, backside combine get vertical displacement, and the FB insert to the MIKE pic.twitter.com/BOqr3eFgP6
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 12, 2021
Watch the hands of the playside DE to the the bottom of the screen pic.twitter.com/yNO6Xu1rdV
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 12, 2021
Pass made clear by formation, OGs getting rocked back in pass pro pic.twitter.com/rG9rT2RIYV
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 12, 2021
Breakdown in your sprint out protection. Clifford probably needs to feel this earlier and throw away, but OL breakdown leads to this TO pic.twitter.com/SHDdV4KIqx
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 12, 2021
This is a team that doesn’t run a lot of power, does it in the red zone, and the play gets executed exactly as you’d expect pic.twitter.com/irb7iyz6uK
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 12, 2021
2nd and G from the 6 for a team proven inefficient in short pass game and you take away the run threat and don’t even add a threat to the outside. Very frustrating pic.twitter.com/X0aYRPZS9I
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 12, 2021
Again, an OL with protection issues, a QB with pocket movement issues, and promise pass from the 6 and the play has zero chance pic.twitter.com/GUcRmDHxK4
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 12, 2021
Really nice play here to get your QB some confidence coming out pic.twitter.com/zq6D3ZckMl
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 12, 2021
Where the 2 high coverage can get exploited on the edge. SAM needs to do better to win in outside gap though pic.twitter.com/9crHCfSv0R
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 12, 2021
This is what was going to happen if you took away PSU’s pass threat. Foreboding once Clifford got lost hurt pic.twitter.com/sLtoVsFbd3
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 12, 2021
PSU 3rd and 5ish go to play. Well defended here but converted pic.twitter.com/Dg5T3jLxbL
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 12, 2021
PSU will not win this game on the ground and I don’t think RPOs will sustain them because the Iowa D front is dominating the PSU OL pic.twitter.com/0Np4pijgv8
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 12, 2021
Can’t run, open up the 4x1 playbook. Defense doesn’t have a lot of coverage answers, good stuff pic.twitter.com/YnbH1cI2PO
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 12, 2021
PSU tries to hit the pop pass off insert. But D doesn’t feel “run” and covers it. We’ll see Nebraska run it vs Michigan much better later pic.twitter.com/1nstE6n3ML
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 12, 2021
Right back to sequencing. Making things easy for the QB pic.twitter.com/ySL17VgmGm
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 12, 2021
No movement up front, but this is why you try to block safeties instead of CBs pic.twitter.com/1aQ6IoxxAF
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 12, 2021
Great presnap look here, slant kills the play. Always be suspensions of a strong side 3T-5T… games are afoot pic.twitter.com/PpvGCR9xsT
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 12, 2021
Protection issues for Iowa pic.twitter.com/ZbI5Ayl2si
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 12, 2021
Busted play, good job living to see another down pic.twitter.com/i9hrEzsYUa
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 12, 2021
Rare rush lane integrity failure by the Iowa D pic.twitter.com/D6XqBQGVuG
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 13, 2021
Attempted double move after successfully executing levels a few times. Safety doesn’t bite and makes a nice play on the ball pic.twitter.com/YvV2Myf4S9
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 13, 2021
What does Iowa look like when they want to run from shotgun? Here ya go pic.twitter.com/OcrKMIAx8d
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 13, 2021
They at least utilize consistent alignment for the PAP game. Defense executed tip drill pic.twitter.com/p9asRK6qog
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 13, 2021
Interesting seeing Iowa run more cover 3 and PSU adjust play calling to attack it with flood concept. No one picks up the corner pic.twitter.com/Hlt4hVyXJV
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 13, 2021
Lead draw TD. One of the more effect goal to go schemes pic.twitter.com/CVBUOiWquE
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 13, 2021
Again stretch. Love seeing the front side be patient and start the combo to get movement on the 6T DE. Watch the C reach the 3T without barely any support needed from the RG, crazy play pic.twitter.com/FSU3coyvSD
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 13, 2021
Watch the C block zone pic.twitter.com/fJ9vJ2ShSK
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 13, 2021
Back to the same RPO look. Maybe need some insert, QB sped up pic.twitter.com/mAWIgLpcYV
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 13, 2021
A little Green 2 shell from PSU. Iowa drops a 1st down pic.twitter.com/7tCDGKB3tj
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 13, 2021
Great job selling pass and we’re a 5.6 40 from the RG away from breaking for a TD pic.twitter.com/pS58JtKQiG
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 13, 2021
We are going to see if this stays in the PSU O or if it was a one game package. Getting 4-8 yards regularly with the now screen pic.twitter.com/0BMe48T9h5
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 13, 2021
Fare motion into a spacing concept, over load the zone pic.twitter.com/EBDxh2KjLm
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 13, 2021
Cool throwback screen design pic.twitter.com/gQOQB4l3Oy
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 13, 2021
Chair route well executed pic.twitter.com/cgrKJXbj7a
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 13, 2021
Iowa DL usually great at keeping the QB inside, and does pretty well on the T-T. But man under vs a mobile QB? Tough once he breaks through pic.twitter.com/dUJg5N3CAg
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 13, 2021
Double TEX stunt with a B gap LB attacking from the field. Fire zone look gets home pic.twitter.com/rXZPV3p30N
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 13, 2021
Gonna cut on the backside you better get the big guy on the ground pic.twitter.com/url0LIo6ZS
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 13, 2021
Really anticipated more of this action from Iowa vs PSU. Empty with base personnel pic.twitter.com/nhgUVHwKPT
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 13, 2021
Iowa sprinkling in some split zone to hold the LB eyes, force them to adjust gaps a bit, and help the double teams climb pic.twitter.com/pvkTHNedrq
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 14, 2021
Deep mesh on 3rd and 8 for a first down pic.twitter.com/xxDjn82bwq
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 14, 2021
Same side pin and pull sweep. Gotta block the initial force pic.twitter.com/rV3Wqto238
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 14, 2021
Dragon-spacing concept. Man throw the dragon, get the rub, TD. Poor relationship on the levels forces inside guy over the top of the rub, can’t have that in the red zone pic.twitter.com/sEonXaEcTR
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 14, 2021
Crash concept. Need to help your QB out a little with better routes, but this is well covered regardless pic.twitter.com/4geZdaPvAW
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 14, 2021
Really well timed tunnel screen. Should have been a TD though pic.twitter.com/ioQVhjCLYg
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 14, 2021
These are inconsistencies that kill Iowa’s O. They aren’t terribly explosive, but then you miss free yards like this too often too pic.twitter.com/lYT6us3CQe
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 14, 2021
Sorry, two high safety look
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 14, 2021
PSU running the same run tag but with Outside Zone and Inside Zone pic.twitter.com/YuUxEvEh08
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 14, 2021
Iowa adjusting to FIB triple option. Why i questioned if it was a play they will sustain pic.twitter.com/q2a9minfrc
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 14, 2021
Lead Stretch just so pretty when executed pic.twitter.com/NmfgsmosnM
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 14, 2021
Lead Sweep generates some free yards. A few thoughts on how it fits in the Iowa O and maybe a tweak to make it more explosive pic.twitter.com/fE3ttHsQIR
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 14, 2021
Grubber technique gets a 2 for 1 but center earns one back. Great strike by the FB too pic.twitter.com/BUWCPlyxZn
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 14, 2021
Good use of defensive formation to cut off flow and get a free hitter after being hit a few times on stretch pic.twitter.com/tdRRFMoHJV
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 14, 2021
Reverse off stretch action. Gotta find the margins to turn these into explosives pic.twitter.com/GezAFn62ih
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 14, 2021
I think this is a version of Roll Cover 2? One high look presnap, FS jumps the corner route pic.twitter.com/otAa91nMuM
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 14, 2021
Old school RPO. WR not on the same page pic.twitter.com/M0WbvfzZMG
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 14, 2021
Rare poor tackling outside for PSU pic.twitter.com/PleNYvQVL5
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 14, 2021
Red zone cover 2. PSU very effective with this scheme vs Iowa pic.twitter.com/vXbn73XpVV
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 14, 2021
Much better pass rush discipline from Iowa pic.twitter.com/RfdVdgzpln
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 14, 2021
Attempted hidden TE! Can’t put it on film and then expect it to work again though pic.twitter.com/VsCyrAhM20
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 14, 2021
Throw back TD pic.twitter.com/wTz7S4uqfQ
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 14, 2021
Post followed by post-corner. One of these two plays needs to be a completion pic.twitter.com/J5l0QJSGyK
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 15, 2021
Final play with a chance for success. Switch verts vs Cover 3. Big time reroute by the LB pic.twitter.com/2pGjl7pTLz
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) October 15, 2021
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