There is no question that Ohio State's running game was vastly improved during the Purdue game. However, what was the root of that success? Was it a change in scheme, better execution, or simply a bursty one cut back named Dallan Hayden. Let's get down to it. 

Saturday marked a pretty drastic philosophical change from the offensive minds at Ohio State. For the past couple seasons, Ohio State has had an offense built primarily from mid and outside zone runs. To keep defenses honest, they would often tie a variety of bubble screens, jet sweeps, or rarely quick slants, to keep the weakside of the defense honest. Along with this, from time to time OSU would show a power/counter gap scheme, which again, was used more as a tendency breaker. 

Saturday was the first time since the arrival of Urban Meyer, in which OSU built a gameplan specifically around a power gap scheme, with only a mixture of Split Zone to keep the defense honest. Instead of relying solely on zone blocking, OSU consistently pulled weakside tackles and guards to form a power run look. Most often used was the GT counter. In the play below, both Jones and Fryar pull. In addition, OSU adds a triple option component to it (more on that later)

Not only does OSU execute this play at a high level, but they also add a ton of confusion by running this play out of a balanced 12 personnel set. In the 2 plays above, both plays went towards the direction in which the RB takes the ball. However, in this play below, they run a misdirection and direct the play to the same side of the field. Purdue thinking the run is coming to the Field Side, sends a run blitz, which unfortunately for them, is to the wrong side of the field. 

It became apparent that Ryan Day built this gameplan around the Power gap scheme, when even his counters were based off of such plays. In the past, Day has countered outside zone runs, with variations of bubble screens or even fake bubble screens, a play that JSN scored numerous times on. However in this game, Day's counters were built around the power gap scheme. In order to keep the LB's slow on their feet, Day employed an attack that challenged the linebackers vertically and horizontally. 

First, for the vertical aspect. Day has often steered clear of quick passes over the middle, as they are often the most risky. However, they are a necessary in gap schemes to slow the LB's down, and allow the pulling lineman time to get to them. If the LB's are too aggressive, a tight end can easily slip behind them. In an ode to a famous playcall in Ross-Ade stadium, below Cade Stover is easily able to slip behind the coverage on a version of Y Shallow Cross, as the LB's were far too aggressive in stopping the run. It wasn't quite a holy buckeye moment. But it was a holy smokes moment as Ryan Day made some obvious changes. 

With the linebackers being challenged to maintain their depth and be less aggressive, Day hit them with a dagger play challenging them horizontally that he may or may not gotten from watching The Waterboy on the plane ride there. 

All joking aside, the play above is nothing more than a modern version of the triple option, and is being used to keep the weakside of the defense from crashing too hard. 

With the running running game and play-action game operating at a high level, OSU added one more touch to keep the defense off-balance. Without outside zone in the playbook, OSU had to get creative in finding ways to get speed in space. Hello Crack Blocks. After scoring a touchdown vs. Maryland thanks to crack sweep, it was apparent that OSU wanted to expand on that. So what is a crack sweep? Obviously it uses crack blocking, but what else? On a deeper level, it rids the playside tackle from the daunting responsibility of sealing the edge from a position of poor leverage. See play below. Fryar is being asked to do 1 of 2 things. Seal the edge against a defender who has a positional advantage pre-snap (lined up closer to the sideline than Fryar is), or shove him towards the boundary and create a cutback lane. The problem is that the cutback lane doesn't work if the interior lineman don't get upfield and block the LB's, which Joel Klatt so kindly pointed out.  

While asking a WR or TE to block a DE sounds like disaster, the fact that they are lined up in a massive leverage advantage can make it possible. In the play below, instead of being asked to run his ass of to get leverage on the standup DE, OSU pulls Fryar and uses a combination of Stover and Fleming to take his man. This makes Fryar a de facto lead blocker in the play. Honorable mention goes to Carnell Tate as he simply put, does not look like a True Freshmen when he blocks. Or when he does anything...

In summary, I am extremely interested to see how this rushing attack fares against the best rush defense in the country. Are all their problems fixed? Absolutely not. Purdue is not good. But Indiana and YSU aren't good either, and OSU struggled in those games. 

For the first time this season, OSU seemed to acknowledge their weaknesses and attempt to scheme away from those and towards their strengths. OSU's offensive line is small, but they are athletic. Getting them boys out pulling and running upfield is where they excel. In addition, the WR blocking, particularly by Fleming and Tate, allows OSU to put more responsibility on them to help out the offensive line. 

So at the end of that day what was it? Scheme, Execution, Dallan Hayden? Personally I lean towards it being the Scheme and Execution. Not taking anything at all away from Dallan, but I have a hard time believing Treveon doesn't hit the same holes that were created Saturday. In addition, both Chip and Xavier found success toting the rock as well. 

At the end of the day, the scheme helped the offensive line execute by keeping Purdue guessing, and by using WR's to help out in their known weak spots. Job well done. Keep it going.