It took me a while to settle on a play to highlight from last week’s game. Then I remembered it’s an off week; I get two plays from the Oklahoma State game. I want to show you what went wrong on Avery’s interception (other than throwing it to the wrong team) but I’m going to save that for next week. It’s been a loooong week down here in Athens, Georgia and I need something positive.

You can’t get more positive than DJ’s immaculate 3rd quarter touchdown run.

Inside Zone

Blocking Scheme: The offensive circles are responsible for the defensive squares that corresponds with their color.

I’m not sure I’ve seen a better example of a team running inside zone. This should go on every coaching film. This run is designed for DJ (lavender circle) to hit the A gap going full speed. You’ll notice he’s lined up in the pistol (behind Avery instead of beside him). Essentially, DJ gets a running start and builds momentum behind the line, making it easier for him to hit the second level with a full head of steam.

The ‘Cats are known for running power run plays. Those involve pulling guards and tackles and blowing up the defense at the point of attack. This isn’t a “power” run, instead it’s close to a perfect example of zone blocking.

The goal for the interior line is to tag a double team and then climb to the second level and pick off linebackers. To achieve this, the climbing linemen need to engage the double team with their left arm, tag the defensive player to help with the double, keep their right arm clean, and climb to the second level.

Oklahoma State is essentially playing three linebackers. Their strong safety (blue square) is in the run box. That’s where the zone portion of inside zone comes into play. Avery Johnson is reading the strong safety. If he crashes, Avery should pull it and run off the back side of the formation. If he stays, DJ gets the ball.

I don’t know if Avery is reading the safety or if this is a straight handoff, but it’s designed, best case scenario, to either give DJ a shot at the free safety in space or to give Avery a shot at the strong safety in space.

Work the Combo and Climb

Left guard Hadley Panzer (yellow circle) and right guard Taylor Poitier (black circle) are responsible for tagging and climbing on this play. You won’t find two more experienced guards, and they execute to perfection.

At the snap, center Sam Hecht ignores the Oklahoma State nose guard and wall off the Cowboy defensive end to the outside. I didn’t mark this because everything got too muddled, but you can see #75 doing a great job with the end. At the same time, Poitier (black circle) tags the defensive end with his left arm and climbs to the linebacker (black square). Notice how he keeps his outside (right in this case) arm free to keep from getting stuck on the first block.

Hadley Panzer (yellow circle) steps left, tags the nose guard with his left arm, and then climbs to find the middle linebacker (yellow square). The Oklahoma State nose almost accidentally spoils the play by stepping left at the snap. Ideally, Panzer gets a better tag and allows left tackle Easton Kilty to get his inside (right leg) further inside to wall off the nose to the outside. Instead, the nose has his left arm free because he immediately engages Kilty at the snap. He’s moving away from Panzer, making the tag less effective. That’s a small thing that could turn an otherwise perfectly blocked play into a 3-yard game. Fortunately for the ‘Cats, DJ Giddens has the ability to erase small mistakes with his power.

The strong safety (blue box) is unblocked. He’s the option man and Avery is responsible for “blocking” him with his speed. The safety needs to fear the pull enough to ignore the inside give. Notice how wide receiver Jadon Jackson (#0) runs something like a slant route? He’s clearing out he backside for the QB keep. I assure you; the strong safety is terrified of Avery’s speed.

The wild thing about this play is the blocking is so sublime (I tried several different adjectives) I see a touchdown two ways. DJ in the A gap was the correct call because the strong safety stays home, but if Avery pulls this, he’s racing the safety to the corner, and there’s a good chance that ends up as a touchdown as well.

One Man to Beat

You can see the blocking scheme clearly from this angle. Panzer (yellow circle) has the middle linebacker in hell. Poitier is engaging the outside linebacker (black circle) and Hecht is driving the defensive end out of the hole.

Again, the only small issue is the green circle. Notice how Kilty’s left foot is in front? His right foot should be in front. That’s not Kilty’s fault. The tag from Panzer is supposed to stuff the nose tackle further outside allowing Kilty to get his right foot inside to wall off the nose. Don’t get me wrong, Panzer did his job, but because the nose tackle slanted to the right at the snap, he was tough for Hadley to reach and still get the middle linebacker. At any rate, the nose tackle’s inside arm is free. Kilty should be angled like Hecht (actually the opposite of how Hecht is angled but you get the point) in order to seal off the inside lane for D.J.

The strong safety (blue square) is in decent position. It looks like he might be able to shoot the gap between Panzer and Kilty. The problem is, he knows Avery can fly. If he shoots the gap and Avery pulls the ball, it’s all over. He has to stay outside.

At this point, D.J. (lavender circle) is staring down the free safety (purple square). On most big runs, the back is responsible for beating one guy and D.J. has his man lined up. All he needs to do is make it through the trash at the line.

Burst

This is the moment of truth and illustrates why D.J. is an elite college back.

The nose tackle makes and attempt, and middle linebacker does a decent job of getting inside on Panzer. He also has his inside arm somewhat free.

It doesn’t matter.

D.J. is hits the seam at full speed because he started in the pistol. I’m not even sure he registers the attempted arm tackles when he hits the gas and clears the first line of defense.

I don’t have it marked but check out Jadon Jackson at the top left. That’s the type of wide receiver blocking that leads to touchdowns instead of first downs.

You know that sinking feeling you get in your stomach right before something bad happens? That’s what the free safety (lavender box) is feeling right now. His absolute worst-case scenario is D.J. Giddens bearing down on him, barely touched, at a full sprint, and that’s where he is right now.

Caught Leaning

This is pure filth from D.J.

He’s ignoring the linebacker desperately diving at his legs, plants hard on his left leg, and gets the linebacker to commit.

Too Big and Yet Too Fast

Deuce Vaughn couldn’t have done this any better.

D.J. has the free safety so messed up that he can’t even make a try hard dive at his heels. I’m not sure what you do about a 6’1”, 215 pound back that can run you over or juke you out of your shoes in the open field. The Oklahoma State safety doesn’t know either. This is the definition of a no-hitter in the open field.

Turn on the Jets

D.J. is 30 yards out and is one step, maybe a step and a half in front of #2, the corner from the short side of the field. Most backs would get pulled down somewhere around the 10 or 15, but D.J. isn’t most backs.

What makes D.J. a true menace is his long speed. He’s eating up ground in the open field. The safety tries to catch up but eventually gives up and avoid being in the touchdown shot. The corner tries, but he doesn’t gain any ground. He was a step and a half behind at the 30 and is a step and a half behind at the goal line.

The best he can do is pat D.J. on the back and congratulate him on the touchdown.