These two changes are making a difference in the Ohio State offense

After struggling to generate any offense against Michigan, the Buckeyes have exploded for 83 points and nearly a thousand yards in their two playoff games. Here is a look at two changes made by Ryan Day and his offensive staff that have helped turn the Ohio State offense into a juggernaut.

Where’s Jeremiah?

When you have a player like Jeremiah Smith, a defense has to keep track of him and identify where he is lining up each play. Down the stretch in the regular season, offensive coordinator Chip Kelly got into the bad habit of virtually always putting his freshman phenom out wide as the X receiver (the X is simply the split end who lines up on the line of scrimmage).

Regardless of whether he was on the left or right, it was easy for a defense to keep track of him because Kelly wasn’t putting him in motion or shifting him before the snap. But in these two playoff games, Smith has been lining up all over the place.

In addition, he’s been put in motion and shifted before the snap. This is creating havoc for defenses. On his first touchdown against Oregon in the Rose Bowl, when Smith came in motion across the formation, you saw a lot of arm waving and pointing by the Ducks defense. There was a lot of confusion over how they were to adjust. Moving Smith around in formations and using pre-snap movements has helped create situations to get him the ball.

A gap in the offense

We all know how the Buckeyes have struggled to run the ball at times this season, and they REALLY struggled against Michigan. But in these two playoff games, they’ve rushed for over 330 yards. Yes, rotating in Luke Montgomery at guard has helped, but there is a much bigger reason.

They have gone from zone blocking to more of a gap scheme, which creates good blocking angles for offensive linemen. Without getting into a long-winded explanation, gap scheme is basically each play-side offensive lineman blocks down.

Meaning, if the play is run to the right, the center, right guard and tackle will block the player to his left. Usually, this leaves a defender on the line of scrimmage unblocked, and that is why you see a lot of pulling by the backside guard (and tackle as well at times)-they’ll pick up that unblocked player.

Gap scheme is designed to help the offense create a numbers advantage to the play-side. TreVeyon Henderson’s 66-yard touchdown run against Oregon is a good example of gap scheme blocking. This blocking concept is also the perfect answer to when a defense loads the box with extra defenders-you see it used a lot in goal line situations.

For running backs, it can require more patience at times, but there are far fewer reads to make than in-zone blocking. Making the change to this type of blocking is something that obviously agrees with the Ohio State offensive line.

Two changes that have made a huge difference in the Ohio State offense. Tennessee and Oregon couldn’t figure out how to adjust to them. Can Texas? Players on the Longhorns’ defense are certainly talking a good game right now. If they can’t back it up, it is going to be a very long night for them.