The Opening Drive 6/8: The Anatomy of a Play
Revisiting the Big Ten Championship Game and one of our successful plays on the ground.
Football games are made up of hundreds of plays, but a select few tell the story of a season.
The Anatomy of a Play is where we take one snap from the Buckeyes’ season and break it down frame by frame. What was Ohio State trying to accomplish? How did the defense respond? Which players made the difference? And what can we learn about the Buckeyes moving forward?
This week, we’re diving into a variation of GY Counter that Ohio State ran against Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game.
I know—it’s not exactly a game most Buckeye fans are eager to revisit. For many, it felt like Ohio State was outplayed from start to finish. And in several areas, that’s a fair assessment. But even in a disappointing performance, there were flashes of what this offense could be when things clicked.
This play was one of those moments.
What’s interesting about this snap is that Ohio State didn’t necessarily dominate the line of scrimmage. There wasn’t significant movement up front or a defender getting washed out of the picture. Instead, the Buckeyes executed the details. They got a hat on a hat, covered up defenders across the front, and gave the running back a chance.
The rest was on the ball carrier.
With excellent patience and vision, the back pressed the aiming point, allowed the blocks to develop, and recognized the crease when it appeared. What could have been a modest gain turned into an explosive play because of his ability to see the picture unfold and react accordingly.
It’s a great example of how successful run plays aren’t always about overpowering a defense. Sometimes it’s about assignment sound football, trust in the scheme, and a running back who can make the right decision when the moment arrives.
Let’s break it down.
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The Play
To start, the Buckeyes come out in 12 personnel (1 RB, 2 TE). Before the snap, Max Klare shifts from the “far” side of the formation (away from the attached tight end) to the “near” side (toward the attached tight end).
Why does that matter?
Because Ohio State had shown on film that similar shifts often led to the motioning tight end kicking out the defensive end opposite the attached tight end. Against a defense as disciplined and well-coached as Indiana, tendencies matter. The Hoosiers do an outstanding job of studying formations, motions, and backfield actions. If you’re going to create an advantage, sometimes you have to give them something they’ve already seen before showing them something different.
Following the shift, Klare takes several steps away from the play before redirecting and wrapping up through the formation just as he would on traditional GY Counter. It may seem insignificant, but those few false steps are enough to influence the second level. Getting the linebackers to hesitate—or even take a single step in the wrong direction—makes life much easier for the down blocks developing in front of them.
Speaking of down blocks, penetration was a major issue for Ohio State throughout this game. Too often, Indiana defenders were able to cross the face of blockers and disrupt plays before they ever had a chance to develop. On this snap, Will Kacmarek does an outstanding job preventing that from happening. His block keeps the picture clean and allows the play to unfold as designed.
From there, the Buckeyes simply get a hat on a hat.
They don’t dominate the line of scrimmage. They don’t create massive running lanes. What they do is execute. Every defender is accounted for, and that gives Bo Jackson a chance to be Bo Jackson.
The freshman’s vision is what turns a well-blocked run into an explosive play. He stays attached to Klare’s wrap block, presses the front side, and recognizes the backside crease as it opens. His ability to see the play develop in real time and trust what he’s seeing is crucial to the future success of Ohio State’s running game.
Let’s run the full clip.
In a frustrating afternoon for the Buckeyes, this play was one of several bright spots. It served as a reminder that Ohio State didn’t need to be perfect up front to move the football. With sound execution, creative design, and a running back capable of making the right read, the Buckeyes showed they can run the ball against anybody on their schedule.
Buckeye Film Breakdown will return soon with some fresh content.
