Ohio State sophomore quarterback Justin Fields (1) makes a run to make the first touchdown of the game during the first half of the game against Florida Atlantic on Aug. 31. Ohio State won 45-21. Credit: Amal Saeed | Photo Editor
Head coach Ryan Day let a smirk form across his lips Tuesday after fielding a question from a surprised reporter about the high frequency with which Ohio State went under center.
“I know you guys were asking me that all preseason, so I was trying to keep it under the vest,” Day said.
During fall camp, Day reiterated time and again that under center formations, in which the center hands it to the quarterback directly from his starting position, would be saved for special situations and Ohio State’s offense would look similar to how it did in 2018.
The Buckeyes didn’t go under center a single time in 2018. During Saturday’s game against Florida Atlantic, they did it no fewer than 13 times.
Day is adding a new wrinkle defenses will need to account for against Ohio State.
“When you look at college football today, I think it’s important to have a balance,” Day said. “I think it’s important to be able to line up under center, run the football, play-action pass and do some things, and also run the spread and run with tempo.”
Lining up with the quarterback under center and running downhill establishes a power running game for the Ohio State offense, of which it showcased the benefits against FAU in a couple different scenarios.
Early in the first quarter, Ohio State utilized a stretch run from under center to pick up 17 yards. It went play action the next snap. Two FAU defensive backs were sucked in and senior wide receiver Binjimen Victor was left wide open for a 32-yard touchdown grab.
On a third-and-one against the Owls in the late third quarter, junior running back J.K. Dobbins steamed ahead for eight yards up the middle from an under center look, then picked up a one-yard touchdown run on the next play from the same formation. Day said that while it’s a delicate balance to switch between tactics, there are clear benefits.
“I think that it gives us a lot of things, and I think it gives us some direct runs,” Day said. “It’s good to have for a lot of reasons schematically.”
Problems could arise with the snap and the mindset. Redshirt sophomore center Josh Myers worked exclusively with shotgun snaps in 2018, and sophomore quarterback Justin Fields has drilled with him on a clean under-center exchange to prevent fumbles or timing issues.
Myers and Fields would run laps together if they fumbled snaps in practice.
“It would be a certain play where he would have to reach a guy to the left or to the right, and he would move faster [than usual],” Fields said. “Adjusting to his speed, the way he moves helps his snaps a lot.”
Offensive line coach Greg Studrawa said the team has been working for a long time on under-center snapping. Despite his concerns entering Saturday’s contest, he added, he felt that Myers performed well.
Blocking from under center typically requires more aggressive, power run blocking from offensive linemen. After pushing FAU defensive linemen around in the first quarter, Studrawa said, their players started to move laterally and confuse the offensive line, contributing to a seven-possession scoreless stagnation from the Buckeye offense.
“What we have to do at that point when that happens is change our technique,” Studrawa said. “You can’t come off and try to kill a guy that’s gonna move lateral, side-to-side and jump around the block. We have to be more sound with our footwork. We have to be a little bit less aggressive and get on that guy when he moves.”
This week, the Buckeyes play Cincinnati, coached by Luke Fickell. Multiple Ohio State players and coaches pointed to Fickell’s defensive mind, which helped the Bearcats produce the nation’s No. 9 scoring defense in 2018.
Ohio State’s offensive linemen are preparing for the former Buckeye to throw looks at them similar to those that worked for the Owls.
“You’ve gotta be able to communicate with the line and with coach [Studrawa] when you come off to the sideline, and make the adjustments necessary,” redshirt senior guard Jonah Jackson said. “Not everybody’s gonna play Ohio State straight up. They’re gonna send the kitchen sink at you. You’ve just gotta be ready for it all.”
Ohio State will continue to test its new offensive balance against Fickell’s defensive mind Saturday at noon.
