Oklahoma Offensive Analysis:

After breaking down every single play of Oklahoma’s offense vs Ohio State these are the 5 main things that stuck out to me:

 
Play Action 

Oklahoma has an outstanding play action game. Even as I watch in slow motion for line and back keys it is very hard to tell right away when a play action is not a run play. Because of the BOB or Man on Man pass protection scheme, the guards are taught to sometimes pull around to pick up a rusher. This completely screws with linebacker reads because most LB keys are to attack the run if a Guard pulls. By the time Baker Mayfield pulls the ball out from the play action (which he sells better then any other QB I’ve seen in a long time) the LB’s are sucked up in the run game and the receiver is behind them. How can teams stop this? One option is to play man to man coverage so LB’s don’t have to cover  any passing zones. The problem with this is that Oklahoma has a series of outstanding man beaters and pick plays that put a ton of pressure on defensive backs to stop. And if you sacrifice deep safeties, the talented Oklahoma receivers will get behind you. I’m very impressed with how effective this “play action” pass protection is executed. Lineman fire out but don’t get downfield. Lineman make the play action look like a zone run or a gap run. Even though RPO’s get all the publicity, Oklahoma does not need to rely on them because they can effectively control linebackers with their play action.  Linebackers who play agains Oklahoma have to be disciplined to see backs releasing on the pop pass instead of just keying the line and the backs. That three pieces of information for a linebacker to process - not something easy to do in fractions of a second. 

Zone Run

Oklahoma’s zone run game is top notch obviously. They run the traditional Zone-Read, Split zone and Zone Duo. Their zone read is effective because they have a dual threat QB so the defense has to protect against him running as well as against the play action. When they go to a two back set like Split backs they also add in a F-Screen as the second option if the zone is taken away. As for their split zone play, this is usually a called give. The Zone Duo - where the F is a wing and blocks the unblocked end at the back of the zone is also highly effective. Off that same Wing look, Oklahoma sometimes slips the the ball to the F right behind overreacting linebackers.

Power Read/Counter

Running a second gap scheme that also challenges defensive fronts is another key component of Oklahoma’s offense. Their counter pulls both the Guard and Tackle from the same side with the Guard kicking out the End and the Tackle leading up on the play side linebacker. As simple as this is, when Oklahoma adds a jet sweep to put the unblocked End in a bind, the defense has to decide quickly whether to pursue a full speed Jet Sweeper or stay put and defend the onslaught of blockers coming with the counter. 

Screens

Any Air Raid team worth their salt has to be effective in the screen game and Oklahoma is no exception. Bubble Screen can come on the outside at any moment a DB is playing too soft. And if defenses get too aggressive defending them watch out for the Bubble Slant or Bubble go that is even more deadly off their play-action blocking up front. Ohio State learned this one the hard way!

Baker Mayfield

Accurate, On-time, throws completions. He’s the complete college QB package. Runs the game, motivates, makes good decisions and just flat out makes things happen. Who knows his potential, but he is the real deal in college right now and so much fun to watch!