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Video Breakdown: Why Ohio State Was Offsides Four Times

Matt Gutridge's picture
November 22, 2015 at 10:56am
17 Comments

The Buckeyes were called for being offside four times in yesterday's loss. Three of the penalties were committed by Joey Bosa. The last two penalties were costly and kept Michigan State's scoring drives alive. Had they not occurred it's not a leap to believe Ohio State would have won the game.

So, what was drawing the Buckeyes offside? Were they too aggressive or was something else going on?

Every offside penalty was when Michigan State was in the shotgun formation. There is a reason why the four penalties only happened when the Spartans were in the shotgun. Let's turn to the tape.

During Michigan State's first series Bosa jumped early. The reason he reacted is because the Spartan's center moved the ball. When MSU was in the shotgun the center would hold the ball vertically. He would then drop the ball down to snap. Some plays he would go from vertical to horizontal to vertical several times. 

Watch the ball closely and you will see why Bosa jumped:

As you can see, the vertical to horizontal movement caused Bosa to react. 

 

It happened again on Michigan State's second series:

Fortunately the first two offside penalties did not cost Ohio State. The same cannot be said about the third and fourth penalties.

 

Down 14-7 at the start of the 4th quarter Michigan State was facing 4th and 8 from the 35. If Ohio State gets the stop the Spartans don't tie the game. Unfortunately, the center ball move reared its ugly head.

Watch closely and you will see the center mover the ball four times:

From a different angle and in slo-mo. Watching it several times I believe this deception was called in the huddle.

The Spartans then had 4th and 3 and were able to convert:

 

Late in the 4th quarter the Spartans had 3rd and 8. This time Tyquan Lewis was tricked:

A shame that the ball movement caused the Buckeyes to jump four times. A bigger shame is that the players and coaches did not adjust to the ball movement.

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