You might be correct, but why would a LB playing zone be chasing Smith 40 yards down field? I havent watched the game again, however I am certain their was a deep safety. OSU did play a lot of zone, which obviously was not enough.
They should have rushed 3, played 3 safeties, and 5 corners for the majority of that game. Wade should have been glued to Smith, regardless of the down and distance, with a deep safety on every down. Force Bama to make Harris run between the twenties. Inside the twenty bring 2 LB's in for the safeties and tighten up the coverage. Smith wouldn't have 60 yards to work with, much easier to cover.
OSU only scored 25 points, that would have never been enough. But for me, on the over, it was good enough, especially since Smith went out, he was good for 2 more TD's in the 4Q.
It's an offensive game now, get to 49 and hope there are enough stops between the twenties to force a FG. Sound defense now, is deep safties, zone and tackling in space. Slow, thick legged white LB's have been sent into extinction by Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.
NU might be the last of it's species, how fitting it's in the B-10, where big, slow white LB's were the kings in their day. Today they are more worthless then a teat on a Boar.
I like Kansas City this week again vs the Browns. -3