A high level look at Nebraska Offense vs Illinois Defense, 2021
Nebraska vs Illinois
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 20, 2022
Stack alignment. Between CB and Safety someone busts. Either CB should take vertical, or safety needs to gain width, depending on if they are just running their coverage or making a stack adjustment. Hard throw, which may be why safety playing so far inside pic.twitter.com/nmRpt6ALnX
Nebraska
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 20, 2022
LG and Center do a great job piggy backing. Center gets on LG back and pushes him through to LB and over takes 1st level block. LG keeps hand in contact until C over takes. Center gets under armpit until his past and flips hips to seal.
LT issues with hands pic.twitter.com/RgxfxVoGG6
Nebraska
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 20, 2022
Empty. Short motion. Mesh vs Cover 1. Poor job on levels and separation from two coming same side. Check depth of FS pic.twitter.com/7FbuimRwM5
Illinois
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 20, 2022
Cover 1 vs mesh. Short motion. Watch CB get on WR back at same level to avoid rub and then work back to desired relation pic.twitter.com/khTloketsn
The footwork can be taught differently
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 20, 2022
1st step toe to target gain width and depth. 2nd step straight to target. But 1st step then needs more depth to get to aiming point
1st step toe to target gain width and depth. 2nd step regain relation laterally to get body in front
One item of interest is that the way Nebraska is kind of running it (2nd step gain ground, C don’t provide support) is a bit more old school option, where you just want to get the OL out of their and reads clear. But now you’re working from gun instead of under center, etc.
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 20, 2022
Back field alignment and C blocking has to match up. Pistol or UC the RB is gets to front side no matter what the 1T does.
— Matt Nielsen (@Breakerdog) January 21, 2022
In gun, the 1T can disrupt if he penetrates (as shown).
So, if you are a UC/P team, C can combo forward. If Gun, he must combo back to cut off vs a 1T.
Good example of why WRs need to learn coverage. Anticipates Cover 1. Vs Quarters, the over should go more vertical to attack the call side safety that would realistically fill down on orbit swing. The route adjusts based on the coverage
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 20, 2022
Illinois
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 21, 2022
Nice Cover 1 pressure scheme. Looks like LB-End have a funnel on the RB and can green dog. LB loops around the NT pic.twitter.com/iedzHmuIQl
Illinois
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 21, 2022
Utilizing boundary CB blitz to mess with Zone Read. Slant away + allow LBs to flow gives clear keep read pic.twitter.com/B3XrV08byu
Nebraska
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 21, 2022
Counter/Freeze Option with a puller. Pulling OG and QB not on the same page. Pitch or keep could work if the LT moves his feet pic.twitter.com/WQKVbcvoqF
Nebraska
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 21, 2022
Leak variation with RB running the rail. Fake jet. Pull the center to set the edge for half roll. Throw back. Jet + TE vertical release and over keep coverage inside as they lose the RB after the play fake (most dangerous man after play fake) pic.twitter.com/hy5GtoyoxW
Illinois
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 21, 2022
Mint front. Nice job by WILL stacking and coming down tight to the 4i. Split block doesn’t even see him, but overhang has split block bracketed anyway pic.twitter.com/BAvn6f8Wws
Nebraska
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 21, 2022
RT does well with backside hand. Stiff arms as he climbs, stops DE from gaining width, allowing RG to seal. LB takes himself out of play, if RT continue to work path into safety it’s a TD pic.twitter.com/Yoy4x9v4VD
Nebraska
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 21, 2022
Sugar huddle into unique formation with 4 man surface. Jet sweep. A better path from H from being a TD pic.twitter.com/V9j8INP6nB
Illinois
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 21, 2022
Cover 1 with low FS. Downside of lack of depth is you must react to QB eyes early. End zone view shows how QB eyes take FS out of picture and open up post pic.twitter.com/24HWpOMYeU
Will keep an eye on this one. In my option, this is zone to offense left, which means C should have high foot and RG should overtake. Can’t see feet, but looks like RG is playing like he’s going to push NT onto center and climb. Let’s see how they work split zone
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 21, 2022
Nebraska
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 21, 2022
BASH Long Trap. What I find interesting here is the BASH read allows the backside RT to climb to the LB in support of the BASH run. pic.twitter.com/o0HqFGF03v
Nebraska
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 21, 2022
Influence QB Boot. RG influences LB level. 3T left unblocked. Would be scared to death calling this pic.twitter.com/fAdsaIeAVp
Nebraska
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 21, 2022
Bunch. Illinois plays Banjo (Stab and Combo, etc.) with point locked on #2. #2 delays release behind #1 vertical, runs the man coverage and is open on the wheel. Incomplete.
This is why defenses also have Oscar checks pic.twitter.com/hTiRWXaPSO
Nebraska
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 21, 2022
Bunch. Illinois plays Banjo (Stab and Combo, etc.) with point locked on #2. #2 delays release behind #1 vertical, runs the man coverage and is open on the wheel. Incomplete.
This is why defenses also have Oscar checks pic.twitter.com/hTiRWXaPSO
Nebraska
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 21, 2022
Nebraska motions stack and gets a top hat check (see CB top helmet). On ball WR politely stops running his route to avoid contacting the CB as the H back is running a bench route underneath pic.twitter.com/5Y7WNUfdDG
Nebraska
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 21, 2022
Really cool midline read with a backside “Club” call (RT work to LB, RG kick out End). Play designed to go inside kick block. Poor read by QB as DT stays disciplined and doesn’t chase RB. But love the design pic.twitter.com/DbOJoR8Unh
Nebraska
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 21, 2022
Empty Quads formation. Route distribution sort of a combination of spacing and drive and chase. A few good options (including weakside post with no safety help) but protection breaks down. Scoop and score pic.twitter.com/MyCI5sJzc6
Nebraska
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 21, 2022
Bunch. It appears Illinois busts the check, as point man locks in man on #1 and it looks like off guys are bracketing #1 and #2 (meaning #3 isn’t covered). Again WR jumps out of the way on the rub pic.twitter.com/q6OomorvyL
Nebraska vs Illinois
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 21, 2022
Weakside CB and Safety not on same page. CB plays tandem to “dirty stack,” safety is locked. TE open. Can’t get them as Cha Cha stunt (Over, Ted, End over 2 interior DL) doesn’t get blocked up. Center can’t wash DT onto LG, looper gets home pic.twitter.com/o6luheLolh
“Dirty” stack and bunch are when the RB is aligned offset behind a TE or a condensed set (think DOS) and the defense wants to treat it from a coverage standpoint similar to stack/bunch (ie they will make some call to match it)
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 21, 2022
Illinois
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 21, 2022
Was hesitant to call it Cover 1 behind the boundary CB blitz before, but this really looks like Cover 1. Dangers of playing MOF player low is any vertical gets his eyes out of the backfield. Q run threat is big if it breaks through LOS pic.twitter.com/mn4L8GEdSl
Nebraska
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 24, 2022
Nice design attacking Cover 1. Motion simulates a lot how Nebraska can get into their slide RPO. Cause man coverage to take flat path. Snag route sets the rub, wheel up to generate explosive.
Sequence: Split zone -> Slide RPO -> Wheel pic.twitter.com/4QYX2JaODs
Nebraska vs Illinois
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 24, 2022
Zone Read Lock. BST locks on End, leaving a BOB Read (backside LB). Traditionally RPO, can be used in Run-Run option too).
Playside combo both come off to second level. But RT needs to do more to define read. End gets hat inside, but controls block, 2-gaps pic.twitter.com/GtCil6igSZ
Nebraska
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 24, 2022
Y Stick. Throw away from flat defender pic.twitter.com/ZqBxFF3tAt
Nebraska
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 24, 2022
Midline read. Frontside doesn’t communicate the front. RT thinks he’s getting RG take over. C-RG combo 2i. TE releases to safety. Should be a nice gain, instead nothing pic.twitter.com/00MA37ZoQJ
Nebraska
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 24, 2022
Z-Snag + double slant. Often paired together, but read can vary by team.
Option 1: C3/C4 = Snag, Man/C2 = Slants. When in doubt Snag
Option 2: Off Zone/C2 = Snag, Man/Pressure = Slants
Option 3: Slants unless MIKE adds number pic.twitter.com/Fp1Od2iDBS
Illinois
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 24, 2022
9-man spacing from quarters. 2 off the edge to RB alignment running “Back-to-Back” stunt (1st one chases RB down LOS; 2nd runs off his back for QB) pic.twitter.com/eoMkNpohVb
Illinois
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 24, 2022
Pirate Stunt. Poor DT on QB pic.twitter.com/lPphGKmR6X
Nebraska
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 24, 2022
End around (orbit) return vs Cover 1 pic.twitter.com/zvMxG0EfMO
Illinois
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 24, 2022
Cover 1 bunch check. Point man locks on #1. Banjo #2 and #3 pic.twitter.com/UFDQMin45g
Nebraska
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 24, 2022
Counter Option with a puller to Log the end pic.twitter.com/zcbXL9fiZQ