Najee Harris wasn’t a lock to go in the first three rounds had he turned pro after last year.
So he came back to school and has improved and produced to the point that he may now go in the first round. Already two touchdowns tonight.
pic.twitter.com/pEoAjTVC1M— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 12, 2021
This is one that Bijan Robinson should be able to take advantage of a few times.
Sarkisian motions John Metchie from the left, leaving no one on the left side of the formation. The Ohio State defense follows the flow of the play and a linebacker blitz puts Harris in acres of space to run.
Harris scoring the touchdown and making three people miss is all on his ability. However, we know exactly what Robinson is capable of in open space, especially in the passing game after the Alamo Bowl against Colorado.
"Pylon" concept here from Sark/Bama. Nice wrinkle with the Yo-Yo motion from the S. Gives the QB a man coverage ID and clears any flat coverage. Underneath pylon is always first read. Idea vs man is to allow the top pylon route to clear the MOF safety, turns it into a chase game. pic.twitter.com/CK75PZn1xC
— James Light (@JamesALight) December 4, 2020
The play and why it worked so well is described in the tweet. Using DeVonta Smith’s motion helped Mac Jones recognize the type of coverage the defense was running and clear an extra defender. From there, their 6-4, 230-pound tight end (hello Ja’Tavion Sanders) is one-on-one and running past his man for the touchdown.
DeVonta Smith with a Touchdown 🤩pic.twitter.com/CzUtkE8S9h
— Alabama Diehards (@AlabamaDieHards) January 12, 2021
The final play we’ll take a look at, to no surprise, is another Smith touchdown. When the ball is snapped, the Heisman winner starts running across the formation before stopping on a dime and reverses back to the left when Jones finishes the ball fake.
The entire Ohio State defense follows Harris, leaving Smith wide open for a walk-in touchdown after Jones flips it to him. Sarkisian has been running this play for a while now, using it with the Atlanta Falcons and Calvin Ridley.
Observing the play calling throughout the first few games of Sarkisian’s tenure will be fascinating. Whether it will translate to Texas without the brilliance of the Alabama personnel will make or break the Longhorns’ offense in year one.