Film Study: How to Stop Trevone Boykin on the Goal Line

Let’s take one final look at that monstrous stop against Trevone Boykin and TCU last Saturday.

What TCU was doing

TCU is lined up in a spread formation. It’s a 4 WR set with the RB lined up to the right of Boykin. As you can see, there are three WR at the bottom of the screen, on the strong side of the field.

The play is a QB keeper, which Boykins runs to the right (weak) side of the field. In addition to the linemen, the RB and WR to that side of the field serve as his lead blockers.

This play doesn’t need too much explanation, from an X’s and O’s standpoint. It’s a play OSU fans are familiar with; when facing a goal line situation, we often see J.W. Walsh take the snap out of the shotgun (or diamond) formation. The play relies on the QB either finding a hole in the line to run through or kicking it outside to run to a corner of the end zone.

From a strategy standpoint, the play makes a lot of sense for TCU. OSU is dominant against the run, so taking the snap from under center for a QB sneak or HB dive play has a good chance of not being successful. But if you spread the defense out like TCU attempting to do, then you can get Boykin (who is the most athletic QB in the country) in space and allow him to make a play.

What OSU Was Doing

OSU is in a goal line defense, which is really just the base 4-3 defense it runs but with the goal being to, obviously, play more aggressive and keep TCU from picking up that yard needed to score.

The linebackers are playing closer than they normally would. Seth Jacobs and Chad Whitener are playing about two yards off the ball, while Jordan Burton is lined up right off the edge of the right side of the line.

Kevin Peterson, playing man coverage, is lined up a yard in front of the WR at the top of the screen.

All the linemen have a gap assignment they must carry out in order to prevent Boykin from finding an opening in the line. With the linemen disrupting the blocks of the offensive line, it allows the linebackers to take the appropriate angles to the ball carrier to stop him.

Why this worked for OSU

The key to goal line defense is discipline when it comes to gap assignments and having multiple games flying to the ball carrier. When the offense only has to pick up a couple yards (or in this case, inches), the defense has hardly any room for error.

When the ball is snapped, the very first thing I noticed is the force with which the defensive line comes off the line of scrimmage. Vincent Taylor, Darrion Daniels and Jordan Brailford are able to drive their blockers back, and this is important because it causes Boykin to elongate his path the end zone.

Daniels completely out-muscles the right guard (that hold!) and Brailford is able to push the right tackle back while doing a good job of playing contain on Boykin.

Jacobs takes on the lead block of the RB and easily stands his ground.

Boykin, seeing his opportunity to score, lowers his shoulder and tries to blast his way though the defenders. However, when Jacobs is able to shed the block and meet Boykin head on.

While this is going on, Peterson is battling against the block of the WR. It’s fascinating watching Peterson on this play. When the ball is snapped, the WR drives Peterson a couple yards back. Peterson then digs his heels in the ground and responds by moving the receiver back up the field a couple yards.

When Boykin is closing in, Peterson is able to free himself of the WR’s block and, along with Jacobs, stop Boykin in his tracks. It’s impressive Peterson had the presence of mind to wrap Boykin up and then turn and fall away from the goal line, so Boykin’s momentum wouldn’t carry him over the line.

One of the reasons why this play works for OSU is the mismatch between Jacobs and the RB. The RB’s job is to get a hat on Jacobs to free up room for Boykin. The RB doesn’t do too bad a job at sticking the block; it’s just that he’s going against a 230-pound linebacker who is coming downfield with a full head of steam.