Ohio State Football: Is it time to go zone?
This year’s Ohio State football team has given up a lot of big plays on defense. We will take a look at why the Buckeyes should switch to zone coverage.
The Ohio State defense has struggled all season giving up big plays. The defensive backs have struggled to stay with receivers and linebackers are getting burned by tight ends and running backs.
This leaves the question, why don’t the Buckeyes switch to a zone defense? It’s been widely reported Urban Meyer and Greg Schiano are going to continue to play man coverage?
Are they being stubborn or is there a reason. Let’s take a look at how it may benefit the Bucks should they go zone.
One of the biggest problems according to Greg Schiano is that the defensive backs aren’t tackling in the open field. The angles that the defensive backs are taking to the ball have been terrible.
With only one defender in that area, speedier players have given problems to the Bucks. Forcing a defender to guard a zone will help put more people in that area. If one defender takes a bad angle or misses a tackle there will be someone else to pick up the slack.
Against Minnesota, it felt like the Gophers ran a slant on every play. The linebackers and DB’s struggled to cover that pattern often.
At one point during the first half, Minnesota ran three straight slants over the middle and the defensive backs had no idea how to defend it. Against zone coverage it’s risky running wide receivers across the middle. The linebackers will be able to cover underneath and safeties will be behind them.
The Buckeye defense has had problems giving up big plays deep. Zone coverage eliminates many of those plays. With at least one safety back it’s difficult to throw the ball over the top.
Even though completions may go up it will force the opposing offense to go the length of the field in smaller doses. The more plays the offense has to run the more likely they are to make a mistake.
A zone can produce more turnovers and keeps defenders focused on the ball. This allows them to break on routes faster.
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Also, with the defenders focused on the ball it is less likely that a pass interference penalty will be called. With the Buckeyes in the top ten in penalties per game, this would be a huge improvement.
There are a lot of talented players on defense but the linebackers aren’t as athletic as they have been in the past. A zone doesn’t need as many athletic bodies on the field.
It could help the linebackers cover running quarterbacks. That’s something the Buckeyes will need to pay attention to as they head to the final game of the season against the Team Up North.
dark. Next.
All of these reasons seem to still leave the question, why are the Buckeyes still playing man?