OSU Diamond Formations?

By SEC BUCKEYE -10 January 2013
27 Comments
- Football

Can someone please explain this offense to me? To my understanding, we will be implementing this style into our Offensive attack. Did Ross already explain this and is it basically a way to get 3 rbs on the field at the same time? Just curious!

Goose on 10 Jan 2013 - 3:33pm #

It's basically an inverted Wishbone. You have a tailback about 8 yards deep and two FB/RB offset about 4 yards deep. Saw both Nebraska and Michigan run it this year.

BME_Buckeye on 10 Jan 2013 - 6:00pm #

I'm assuming this is the play Denard Ran to get his touchdown vs. us.... If so I think this might be the play he's refering too.

Ohio State's band SLAUGHTERED Michigan's band. If this were a football game, it would have been Florida State vs. Savannah State. - SB Nation following OSU vs. UM 2012

Kevbo714 on 13 Jan 2013 - 11:17am #

MAVERICK!

Tom Crean listens to Nickelback...

Bolt on 13 Jan 2013 - 12:45pm #

Is this what you're talking about? This is the Redskins' full house formation that they've run a lot this season with RGIII. The two pictures show one set up with RBs on either side of Griffin and another with them both on the right. This would be fantastic lead blocking for misdirection and sweeps and I hope it's something we do...especially because I saw Rod Smith show some great ability as a lead blocker as well. I can't remember where the interview came from, but they were asking Urban (on Dan Patrick maybe?) about his type of offense in the NFL. He specifically pointed out Mike Shanahan and the interactions he's had with Shanahan. He went on to praise Shanahan a couple more times and says he thinks he's going a great job with RGIII and running this type of offense. Especially getting Hall back, I'd expect to see some full house formations next year in Columbus.

VasanthAnanth on 10 Jan 2013 - 4:15pm #

I think the best example of this formation is one the 49ers are utilizing with Colin Kapernick. This theory also comports with the notion that UFM is going to implement some "pro" tweaks to his power spread formations. I leave all technical explantions to the guru (i.e. Ross).

I believe Ross (or someone else) used this play as an example of the above. The formation mirrors the description provided by Goose.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm4dDYsI96E

d1145fresh on 10 Jan 2013 - 5:55pm #

It is interesting you bring up San Fran... a couple weeks ago Urban was on the Dan Patrick Show and was discussing how he has looked at Washington, San Fran and Seattle as to how they have used the more mobile quarterback in the NFL and he stated that there was some things that San Fran did that OSU will be implementing ASAP. I have a feeling this is a part of what he was talking about where you are putting 4 playmakers near each other with some options and misdirection. I see this being very difficult to defend when there are so many options.

Buckeye_in_SEC_... on 10 Jan 2013 - 3:46pm #

In the future this will give us a lot of possibilities. We can have Jacobs, Marshall, and Zeke all on the field at the same time. Or even farther in the future with Hurd, Haden, and Autry. I like the formation and with the playmakers Urban is bringing in it could be really hard to stop.

chromedomebuck on 10 Jan 2013 - 3:54pm #

Smith, Hyde, and Hall led by Miller....oh my! Throw in some occasional wrinkles with Marshall and Zeke or Heuerman and/or Vannett. A formation tailor-made for all the playmakers the Buckeyes have.

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bodast67 on 10 Jan 2013 - 3:56pm #

I am giddy as a schoolgirl about this seasons team...

HighBallAce on 10 Jan 2013 - 4:14pm #

Does this mean we won't be recruiting any more WR's this year or that they don't think they'll be getting Gibson and or another speedster to spread wide for next season?

Nick on 10 Jan 2013 - 4:22pm #

Jalin Marshall, Darron Lee and Taivon Jacobs are incoming recruits we also have Chris Fields, Corey Brown and Devin Smith on the roster already. 2014 is a deep class so we can fill up more next year.

HighBallAce on 10 Jan 2013 - 5:37pm #

I guess my point was that we might be seeing less and less 5 wide reciever sets is all.

OldColumbusTown on 10 Jan 2013 - 4:27pm #

You have to understand that unless OSU really tweaks the way this formation is being run by others currently, it is not something where you can really put three guys like Hall, Marshall, Zeke, Jacobs, etc. on the field at once. The main purpose of two of the three "backs" is to block, so if you are looking for the most effective lineup, it may be something more along the lines of Smith, Hyde, and Dunn.

As you can see in the video example above, the two FB/TE types are there to block, or possibly take a handoff. I doubt Ohio State wants one of their "scat backs" as the lead blocker for Braxton or another scat back.

That's not to say this particular personnel could never be used in the formation, but the reason why it is so effective for a team like San Fran in the NFL is that the defense has no clue which way the play could be going, and it is completely symmetrical - no strongside or weakside. This way they cannot outnumber the offense when Kaepernick runs the option.

Braxton Miller would be deadly in this offense, IMO.

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Bolt on 13 Jan 2013 - 12:48pm #

Hall is sturdy and a solid blocker, Hyde is a beast (not sure about his blocking prowess) and Rod Smith really impressed me with his lead blocking for both Braxton and Hyde last year. This is absolutely something I could see them doing. I think we will see it honestly. And yes, I am in total agreement...Braxton would be killer in a full house backfield.

MediBuck on 13 Jan 2013 - 1:00pm #

Well, the way we've seen Kaepernick and teams like Oklahoma run it have been primarily with backs as lead blockers, but it was actually invented by Air Raid wunderkid Dana Holgorson, who used it to set up the pass. Watch for playmakers like Zeke or Hall to motion in as one of the "fullbacks" to take the handoff as in the first play in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc-SzcmfF_8&list=PL2027BA5E5F73B0BF

"There is a force that makes us all brothers, no one goes his way alone." --Woody Hayes

SEC BUCKEYE on 10 Jan 2013 - 4:41pm #

I can't wait to see what Urban has in store for next year. I know that we have only went through about 50% of his playbook the first year. This offense is going to be nightmarish for teams to defend.

All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

tennbuckeye19 on 10 Jan 2013 - 5:38pm #

Does this mean Urban went to Jared?

VintonCountyBuck on 13 Jan 2013 - 12:25am #

Well played Sir...well played.

“Right now, Michigan is not at the pinnacle of college football, and that’s all Urban Meyer cares about...He’s been there and knows what it takes to get there.”

SEC BUCKEYE on 13 Jan 2013 - 12:27am #

Watching the 49ers run this offense flawless tonight. BTW a helll of a TD run by Kaepernick out of the diamond...How does it not work at Ohio State with Braxton Miller? THis team is gonna be scary.

All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

farmerbuck on 13 Jan 2013 - 12:49am #

I agree, we should be damn good. Kaepernick is playing great tonight.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning! GO BUCKS!!

Buckeyevstheworld on 13 Jan 2013 - 12:54am #

Am I the only one that got really excited after seeing this 49ers game?

"YOLO" = I'm about to do something extremely ignorant/stupid & I need an excuse to do it.

ODEEZ330 on 13 Jan 2013 - 1:34am #

Yea buddy that looks scary

O'Deez330
stark county football

Buckeye80 on 13 Jan 2013 - 11:15am #

Yeah, it's basically just the wishbone. Michigan did run it against us quite a bit. They were sending a guy in motion (breaking the bone) and running a QB sweep. They just through in a fake off tackle to help hold the linebackers, so that the blocks could get set up.

partisan on 13 Jan 2013 - 12:37pm #

Ross!

We require a wall of text explaiin how this will work.

Crimson on 13 Jan 2013 - 12:49pm #

I'll think of a funny/snarky comment later:

http://www.elevenwarriors.com/2012/12/18043/the-nfl-the-spread-and-the-p...

Statutoryglory on 13 Jan 2013 - 12:50pm #

I would rather see Hyde Rod and Zeke in this. This formation really allows the opportunity for a backfield rb to sneak away for downfield pass. Zeke would be brilliant at that.

MediBuck on 13 Jan 2013 - 1:09pm #

An exciting dimension of the diamond is that it's just as effective in executing the pass as the run. Though the Niners primarily use it to run their athletic QB with two fullbacks, Dana Holgerson, who invented it at Oklahoma State, never had any intention of running his signal callers (Brandon Weeden, Geno Smith) from the formation.

Also, WVU often doesn't use two true FBs, instead lining up their dynamic (and little) playmakers like Tavon Austin at the fullback position to either take the ball around the edge or swing out for a pass. I've seen Holgo bring in both Austin and Stedman Bailey in at the FB spot, then have them take off into the flats on a designed throw play with now-four WRs.

We'll probably end up using it something like this, with Hyde or Rod Smith as the pistol back and Heuerman and Vannett as the lead blockers: http://offensivebreakdown.blogspot.com/2011/01/diamond-formation-oklahoma-sooners.html.

I'm glad Coach Urban has this play on his radar, as another team we play next year which may be sneaky-good will also be running this little wrinkle:
http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2012/12/18/3747550/cal-bears-sonny-dykes-tony-franklin-diamond-formation-bear-raid

"There is a force that makes us all brothers, no one goes his way alone." --Woody Hayes