Line Segment: Patched-Up Line Holds Strong, but Shows Vulnerabilities at Tech

We already looked at what went right at Texas Tech, but what about the bad stuff? Unfortunately, because of the injuries and shifting around, OSU had a few poor plays that they need to get corrected before the Baylor game. Let’s take a look at those.

I understand this is a fundamental of pass blocking in a zone scheme, but I just hate this.  Tech sends five to apply pressure and Justice Hill ends up 1 on 1 with a blitzing LB. It ends exactly like you think it will. Rudolph can feel it, too. His first read isn’t there, and he immediately pulls the ball down and runs. This problem popped up a few times vs. Tech and TCU, all of them ended up in negative plays.

One small note on the next two GIFs. Rudolph gets 1 second to make a decision on whether to hand the ball off or pull it. I get to watch the play 100 times and criticize. Big difference, have that in mind when reading.

This is the lone sack of the game. On the surface you watch this play and think that it was blocked poorly and Rudolph had no time. Although this play is a RPO, the OL sure seems like they were banking on a run play. Check out Crabtree at RT. He’s blocking down hard like this is a run play to the left.

If Rudolph hands the ball off to Hill, I think he’s still running so it seems like there was a miscommunication, Rudolph picked the wrong option (or maybe the OL blocked incorrectly) and it didn’t work in OSU’s favor.

To piggyback off the last play, I think this was very similar. The corner on Washington is showing inside leverage so you know it’s man to man. Although you love 1 on 1 coverage with Washington, not sure I love inside leverage against a slant (funny thing is he still beats the coverage).

The OL blows the DL off the ball and if Hill is savvy enough, he would walk into the end zone if he bounced it outside to the left. I think this was a poor decision on Rudolph’s part to pull the ball for a pass.

This was one of the few times the OSU OL saw a stunt from the Tech DL. Overall the left side of OL handled it poorly, however I think Rudolph panics and steps up right into the pressure prematurely. Cochran is a little late to realize the twist, and Keyes is unable to come off the inside rusher, leaving the DE free to come back inside.

I’ve watched this play 100 times, and I think Keyes is the person to blame on this one.  It’s easy to throw Lundblade under the bus, but it’s pretty clear he is trying to get to the second level. Generally OSU lets the backside DE rush free on plays designed to go to one side. Cochran pulls and for some reason Keyes goes to the left when he should’ve been trying to get a reach block on the DT in front of Lundblade.

That DT ultimately blows up the play. Add in the fact that a pulling Cochran misses his block on the backer, and you get a rush for no gain.

Overall I thought Johnny Wilson had a really nice game.  Making the move over to center, I was expecting a few more of these. Glad this was the only one I could find.  Unfortunately it happened on 3rd and goal on a crucial play late in the fourth. Bad snap that pretty much blew up the play, forcing Rudolph to pull it down and get what he could.

All in all, the line has played pretty well for being pieced together like it’s been, but these were some of the mistakes I found. Mike Gundy touched on this topic after the game on Saturday.

“I thought 72 did a nice job filling in for Lundblade,” said Gundy. “Had to bump him down and put 73 at guard, which he’s never practiced guard. Overall they held up pretty good and kind of patching the O-line together and keeping it going.”