I believe that Notre Dame and Duke have both done something with success teams had not tried successfully in a while. They are loading up the box, penetrating the line of scrimmage, getting right on top of the OL, shooting the gaps with LB's and Safeties. In other words they are selling out to stop the B-back and to get into the lane we need to run the option down the line of scrimmage. I thought Maryland gave us fits with this approach years ago.
More recently you have heard people talk about containing our option with assignment defense, assigning someone to stop the handoff, the keeper and the pitch. Such talk is usually music to my ears because the defense tends to wait and react, making them vulnerable to cut blocking at the line of scrimmage and if we execute properly, we will block the assigned player and have success with all three options.
So, does this mean that ND and Duke have solved the offense and we are doomed? No, but it does mean that we need to run sweeps and throw wheel routes or quick slants over the middle because LB's and safeties aren't home.
Cash of Duke had 12 tackles and four hurries Saturday. He's a safety. If you are going to sell out with your safety to come and attack our option the answer is not to figure out how to run the option successfully against eight men committed to attacking us. Get the ball to where the safety ought to be. After about three quick touchdowns the defensive adjustments will open back up the option.
