Fitting the run from 3-High with the Buckeyes
I’ll be honest, 3-High run fits have always been a bit of a blind spot for me. But watching Ohio State’s 4-down, 3-high structure finally helped connect the dots. Or maybe it just feels easier when Caleb Downs is the guy on the backend cleaning everything up. (Spoiler: he’s really damn good.) In this article, we’re diving into how the Buckeyes fit the run from their 3-High shell against some of the most common run schemes they saw in 2024.
Fits Versus Counter
In the clip above, Ohio State fits Counter out of a 3-High Tampa 2 look. The D-line handles the interior gaps, keeping things clean for the second level. The linebackers play as force overhangs, sealing the edge, while Caleb Downs, lined up as the middle safety, triggers downhill and meets the pulling tight end (Y) in the alley. It’s a clean, layered fit that lets a dude like Downs play fast and physical.
It’s more of the same here, interior gaps get sealed by the front, the linebacker sets the edge as the force player, and the middle safety triggers as the support. He runs the alley to meet the tight end and plugs the gap the offense is trying to open. Simple in concept, but tough to execute without a dude in that middle safety spot.