Since the start of the 2003 season, OSU is 11-24 (0.314) when the opponent’s quarterback rushes for 10 yards or more in a game (Table 1).  But when OSU can hold the opponent’s QB to less than 10 yards in the game, the Beavers are 54-25 (0.684).  This is a very large disparity in winning percentage and merits further investigation.  For the purposes of this discussion, a mobile QB is defined as one that rushes for 10 or more net yards per game.  This net yardage includes losses in rushing yards when the QB is sacked.

Table 1.  OSU’s record vs mobile QBs.

For a mobile QB to be effective against the current defensive practices, he does not have to rush for a lot of yards and needs only to be able to move around and be able to create an opportunity when the play breaks down. Table 2 shows characteristics of OSU’s wins and losses against mobile QBs. Note also that OSU has had trouble containing the conventional aspects of the running game with mobile QBs in these losses, and these QBs have generally have had some success in the passing game as well.  Having that running threat at QB makes other parts of the offense work better, but the problems for OSU’s defense are not limited to spread option offenses.

Table 2.  Characteristics of wins and losses versus mobile QBs.

In our wins against teams with mobile QBs, OSU was able to stop the rest of the rushing attack, and have been able to minimize the damage caused by the passing game, but the defense only marginally reduced the yards gained on the ground by the QB. With a mobile QB, OSU’s recruiting difficulties are most exposed because the success of the gap cancellation defense is predicated on team play and not on the play of individuals. Mobile QBs tend to put the defense more often in one- on- one match ups where the less talented or athletic defensive player is at a disadvantage. However, improving talent is not alone in improving the defense of the mobile QB. Proper implementation and application of containment and pressure strategies have been shown to nullify the impact of the mobile QB and could be utilized without altering the gap cancellation scheme presently employed by OSU.

The most troubling aspect of the inability to control mobile QBs by the Beaver defense is that these losses were among the most critical in important seasons preventing OSU from being selected for better bowl opportunities such as the Rose Bowl.  This problem with OSU’s defense has persisted for the past 10 seasons and is in need of a prompt resolution.  The success of the defense against Wisconsin suggests that change is possible and that OSU might improve in its record against mobile QBs.