Ohio State Defense: Inside LB Pressure System

Ohio State does an excellent job with it’s inside blitz pressure scheme. They often will send one player on a blitz to the offside A gap while the other player, stack fits it, which allows him to play the RB accordingly. This scheme gives the other LB flexibility. If the RB goes to his A gap he can fill it or if not scrape over the top and play it. If it is pass it just becomes a simulated pressure with the DE to the boundary dropping and they will often play cover 3.

Many people would call it a cross dog type pressure but it really isn’t. It s a single LB pressure with the offside LB reading it, It makes the scheme more sound as the offside non blitzer can fit the run.

Here’s the weakside will pressure!

#6 will blitz opposite A with #5 playing the off A if threatened but can fallback if the ball bounces.

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Here’s another clip of them fitting it vs Michigan as they send the will to the boundary.

The will blitzes and the Mike can play football. They are in cover 3 so all gaps are covered. Watch the LB and secondary all being sound in their technique and execution.

Here’s how it looks from the endzone as every gap is covered.

Everyone fills their gaps nicely and the football has no place to go. #20 is unblocked as the center takes the blitzing LB with no one on the offside LB.

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Vs Pass it turns into a sim pressure. 4 man rush with cover 3.
Here’s how it looks like vs pass. The 2nd looper doesn’t fill and gets into coverage. If it was run he would fill.

The DE drops and the LB blitzes to the boundary

Here’s a few more clips of the concept below.

Safety blitzes

Another concept they used vs Michigan was blitz behind motion.

Vs Michigan, they brought the safety on the pressure at times behind the motion. This example, Michigan brings the H in motion from the perimeter.

Here comes the safety with the 2 LB playing run.

Every gap is covered and no place for the ball to go!

Film

Blitz behind motion