Picture Play: The Fourth Down Option

The play above is one of the moments in The Game that really bothered me. It looked like the triple option that Oregon runs, but it didn't have the inside zone read (i.e. tradition speed double option). The idea of this play is to go to the outside and to option off a defender. This depends on what the defender does. If he commits to stopping the quarterback, he pitches to the running back. If the defender commits to the pitch, the quarterback takes off up field.

When Hoke talks about poor execution, this is the type of play that he's talking about.

Let's start by looking at the start of the formation:

Denard is in the shotgun with a two backs in the backfield, two tight ends and a receiver left.

Simulataneous with the snap, Smith motions behind Denard and to the left. The play is going to the left, and it's pretty clear that it's going to be an option left. The next picture is where we begin to see the breakdown in execution.

You'll see that Denard runs inside the tackles rather than running the option. Had he ran outside, he would've optioned off #4 CJ Barnett. With the WR blocking one on one with the corner, you would have liked your chances of getting the first down there. Instead, Denard does what he usually does, which is improvise. You let Denard do these kind of things because he often turns these things into big plays.

This also looks like it could be a big play. Hopkins is ahead of Denard on the left and Omameh is pulling from the right. Michigan has Lewan and AJ Williams ahead, and if all the blocks are executed right, Denard could have been sprung.

Hopkins whiffs on the block, forcing Etienne Sabino to the inside and Omameh doesn't even bother to meet him. Meanwhile, down the field, Ryan Shazier is getting off Lewan's block.

Both Sabino and Shazier funnel to Denard and stop him dead for a two yard loss. While Ohio State did well to stop Michigan, it all came down to poor execution:

• Denard should not have improvised. Had he run to the outside, Michigan is most likely looking at a new set of downs. By running where the defenders are, he put the fate of the play in his offensive linemen's hands. There is a reason why this play has stood the test of time: it works. Denard didn't run the play properly.
• The blocking failed on all levels. Hopkins whifed on Sabino, letting Sabino get past him. Omameh missed a pancake opportunity on Sabino that could've possibly sprung Denard to the next level. Lewan let Shazier get off his block, allowing the All-Big Ten linebacker to deliver the death blow to the play.

Re-looking at a play like this where I knew there was poor execution when I saw it live makes me want to look at more plays and see if there was a similar breakdown in execution. I raked Borges over the coals yesterday, but perhaps I didn't criticize the players enough besides the turnovers. If you're given an assignment on a play, it is your responsibility to do execute it. Michigan didn't. It made a difference in the final score.