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Youngstown State’s Slide RPO Perimeter Blocking Rules

Youngstown State’s Slide RPO Perimeter Blocking Rules

Posted by | May 15, 2024 | , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar with Troy Rothenbuhler
Offensive Coordinator/QB’s
Youngstown State University (OH)
Twitter: @Coach_Troy_R

 

 

The Slide RPO became a fixture in Youngstown State’s offensive menu this season and helped the Penguins produce a program-record 243 yards through the air. The tight end was the benefactor of most of these slides where 30 of his 42 catches came as a result of this concept. For Offensive Coordinator Troy Rothenbuhler, the Slide became a modern descendant of the traditional bubble concept. “It comes down to the same thing,” he said. “You have numbers, angles, and leverage.”

But the challenge for defenses is having to recognize the Slide much more quickly than bubbles. The slide comes from across the formation off run action- preferably inside zone for the Penguins- causing second-level defenders to get lost in the mesh and out-flanked on the slide. “We liked it better off tight zone (than wide zone) because now you’re going to get those guys playing into the core downhill,” said Coach Rothenbuhler. “With wide zone, they can plant and react better.”

While much of the mesh game in Slide will be produced from offset alignments, Coach Rothenbuhler does work some Pistol in as well. “We get off the midline for the back and get him downhill to look frontside A gap to backside,” he said.

 

QB Pre-Snap Thought Process:

Since the Slide concept is mainly built for the two receiver side, much of the discussion revolves around which defender can potentially take the slide. And most of the time that defender is the inside linebacker. The quarterback is still taught to read the backside C gap defender off the zone run action, but he needs to be able to identify the inside linebacker’s leverage. Essentially, if the quarterback identifies that the Will is out-leveraged pre-snap, he can expect to throw the Slide. It starts with his alignment. Is he tucked in too far? Or does he have leverage on the Slide?

“We get a feel for what the backside end is doing and what the backside alley looks like,” said Coach Rothenbuhler. “The quarterback reads to find out how much leverage he has on the box linebacker. If the Will or Mike has leverage, he can take the throw even if the end doesn’t squeeze. “If he doesn’t have as much leverage then the quarterback needs to read it true as triple the end to the linebacker.”

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The Duo Lead Concept: An Easy Add to Your QBR Menu

The Duo Lead Concept: An Easy Add to Your QBR Menu

Posted by | May 15, 2024 | , , , , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar with Hayden Mace
Offensive Line Coach
Eastern Washington University
Twitter: @CoachHaydenMace

 

 

Eastern Washington University is traditionally built off a dynamic pass game built from an Air Raid system. But last season the Eagles were blessed with three quarterbacks that had the ability to run the football. So, the offensive staff took the foundation of its Duo play and built a quarterback run off it. It became an efficient short-yardage run and was particularly effective in the red zone.

 

Mesh Mechanics:

Although the Duo Lead is formatted as a gap scheme, it’s meant to look like wide or tight zone on the snap with a similar mesh of the running back. The running back is taught to work a “J-Path” through the mesh and kick the edge of the defense or climb to the second level. The footwork should originally look like zone footwork, followed by a J-Path to block his defender.

 

Depending on the offensive personnel grouping, his assignment is to block the unaccounted for defender outside of the tight end’s responsibility, which is usually an overhang Nickel or safety similar to a running back’s body type.

 

“We talk about fitting that near foot and near shoulder into the defender,” said Coach Mace. “If he goes to spill us, we try to flatten him off and take him vertically. It’s very similar to a fullback kick out in power.” The back can either be aligned automatically to the backside or can come across the formation providing for a mis-direction look. It’s something Coach Mace feels works better specifically against man teams forcing a man player to have to work through trash as he tracks the running back to the ball carrier’s aiming point. The concept is married with Pin-and-pull runs in case defenses work to crush the front to take away downhill possibilities. If they do, the offense gains an extra hat on the outside with a puller.

The quarterback’s aiming point is the butt of the play side Guard. He’s taught to look for space and leverage. “He will get downhill at the mesh,” said Coach Mace. “If he has daylight, he’s not going to stop he will just stay downhill. Many of these runs do end up bouncing play side because of how defenses want to spill the ball and prevent it from hitting vertical downhill.”

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Lane Teaching the Vertical Switch Concept

Lane Teaching the Vertical Switch Concept

Posted by | Apr 29, 2024 | , , , , , , , | 0 |

By Eric Struck
Offensive Coordinator
Lincoln High School (SD)
Twitter: @EricStruck

 

 

At Lincoln High School, the choice concept is close to 90% of the drop-back pass game. In fact, we only use one other concept and we’ve run it a total of 15 total times last season. The choice is the day one install and it’s the first concept worked in June through fall camp. Once we decided to do it, we committed to it and said we are going to do it as much as possible.

 

Lane Basics and Landmarks:

The entire premise of our deep choice system is built on space. Our players must understand the importance of separation. So, one of the first things we do as a staff is teach the field as a four-lane highway:

  • Lane 1– This is the top of the numbers to the sideline.
  • Lane 2– This is the top of numbers to the hash
  • Median– This is the area between the hashes. In 2×2, we try to stay away from that area.

 

 

This is the foundation of the deep choice menu. Within that framework, we build in the following deep choice concepts:

  • Outside Choice Concepts
  • Inside Choice Concepts
  • Switch Choice Concepts

 

Outside WR’s Choice Concept: “Cobra”

Since “Cobra” has an “O” in it, it depicts an outside choice concept. Cobra is run when we are looking to exploit a one-on-one vs. a corner. We build our alignments off the outside choice based on leverage. Our alignment to the field is the top of the numbers to the bottom of the numbers. Our alignment to boundary is 3-5 yds from the sideline. If the ball in the middle we are anywhere from 5 yds from the sideline to the bottom of the numbers. Again, the premise is we are trying to get a one on one vs. the corner.

 

We can tag both outside receivers or just one to run the choice. On the snap, the receiver is taught to sprint at the belly button of the corner for ten yards and then make one of the following choices based on his reaction:

  1. If we’re even, we’re leaving on a vertical route
  2. If the DB lifts, we work our stop route. This is most common.
  3. Against any press technique, we will take the best release (inside or outside) and stack him once we get past him.

 

 

2X2 INSIDE RECEIVER RULES

The next receiver inside the tagged outside receiver runs the “bury” route. His objective is to keep the lane two defender inside to clear out lane one for the choice. He will feel the overhang defender and work to aim for the inside number of the safety, looking to cross his face. He’ll work off the following two reactions:

  1. If the overhang widens past you look for the ball right away
  2. If the safety widens out over number, hold the seam open

 

In essence, his job is to take two defenders (safety and overhang) to clear space for the stop route. Then he looks for grass to it sit down. When the overhang disappears, that is the QB’s next option. Once you get good at it that’s all you need to do. It’s two on one. Find grass and go.

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Inside-Out Teaching of The Vertical Switch Concept

Inside-Out Teaching of The Vertical Switch Concept

Posted by | Apr 29, 2024 | , , , , , , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar with Conner McQueen
Offensive Coordinator/QB’s
University of Incarnate Word (TX)
Twitter: @Conner_McQueen

 

 

If you’re even remotely familiar with the deep choice system, then chances are you’ve seen the switch vertical concept that has been a staple in these offenses. Programs like Tennessee, USC, Georgia State, Fordham, Old Dominion, and Incarnate Word have used it to generate maximum efficiency in the passing game. For Incarnate Word, the Twist concept has produced an 80% efficiency rating and generated an explosive play (12 yards or more) every time it was completed.

For offensive coordinator Conner McQueen, the Twist concept is used both to the field and to the boundary. It’s used with both six-man protection and seven-man protection and on any downs. It was the number one pass concept in the Cardinals’ menu. As a graduate assistant at USC under Lincoln Riley, Coach McQueen already had extensive knowledge of the concept. So, when he was hired by head coach and prior holdover Clint Killough it was a no-brainer to be a day one install.

“Receivers were our best players here when I got here so it made sense to hit the ground running with it,” he said. “In doing this, you’re allowing your best players to make decisions on the run. And if they have a good grasp of it they will make you right.”

The structure of the Twist or switch vertical concept is simple: outside receivers are taught to Dig read routes while inside receivers work either a vertical or drop out. We’ll explore the specifics shortly, but the foundation is what is presented above.

 

The Apex Defender Read:

Before delving into the route tech and responsibilities of receivers, it’s important to note that while some coaches emphasize reading from outside in, Coach McQueen teaches his quarterback to read inside out, by having them wired in on overhang defenders. “This gives receives the freedom to make decisions downfield based on secondary looks,” said Coach McQueen. “When you run this concept the right way, the only thing that can cover receivers is the underneath defenders.”

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Furman’s Loaded Presentation Pressure Menu

Furman’s Loaded Presentation Pressure Menu

Posted by | Apr 9, 2024 | , , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar with Chad Byers
Co-Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers
Furman University (SC)
Twitter: @CoachC_Byers

 

 

This past season, Furman was among the best in the country in defending third down and a big part of its third down menu consisted of presenting overloaded fronts to affect protections in third and long. For co-defensive coordinator Chad Byers, the priority was to get offenses to declare their protections and attack opposite. And if they can’t get an offense to declare protections, well then it becomes a game of picking on your personnel. “Let’s say your left Tackle is a weak spot, now I can overload away from him and I guarantee a one on one where the Guard can’t help him,” said Coach Byers.

All of the following loaded presentation calls are one-word calls and became a safe alternative to being too exotic on third down as Furman was in previous seasons. “We just couldn’t play fast,” said Coach Byers. “This lets us get to a specific game plan mindset and work from a menu of a few different looks. Now we took our five or six base pressures and figured let’s just call a front and use them.”

Furman’s loaded front pressure menu will be the focus of this report. But it’s important to keep in mind that Coach Byers and his staff will alternate between pure four-man rushes and pressure patterns in these presentations. He will pair several four-man games at the line of scrimmage to alter protection schemes and exploit personnel.

 

“Tab” Front Presentations

The cornerstone of the menu is what Furman calls its “Tab” presentation, which tells the Tackle and Bandit (Boundary End) in Furman’s three-down outfit to align as a 5-technique or wider on the line of scrimmage.

 

This also tells the weakside (Will) linebacker to be at the heel line of the line of scrimmage to present the illusion that they are bringing three off the edge to get some over-setting. Essentially, this becomes a 3-5-9 surface into the boundary, which is preferably where Coach Byers likes to design his overload.

 

“We mainly load into the boundary because our front is built with field/boundary personnel and predicated where the 3-technique is,” he said. “It’s more efficient for us to load to that side.” And the initial benefit of the load is that with a zero technique, the  Guard has to declare quickly if he is going to help the Center or leave the Center singled up. “ When we build our game plan, we assume most protections will slide to the boundary because that is where our overload is,” he said. “If they are not going to slide to the boundary, then we are bringing a corner pressure or Will pressure. As soon as they slide to the boundary then we are bringing field pressure. There is a point in doing both.”

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Correlating Pin/Pull with Zone Read Mesh

Correlating Pin/Pull with Zone Read Mesh

Posted by | Apr 9, 2024 | , , , , , , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar with Joe Spagnolo
Head Coach
Iona Prepatory School (NY)
Twitter: @Joespags12

 

 

Coach Spagnolo got fed up with defenses scrape exchanging the backside of zone read and leveraging his quarterback run. So, when he installed the read off his Pin and Pull scheme he made a conscious choice to make the mesh look exactly like zone read. Which means that he wasn’t a flat mesh. Instead, the quarterback opens on a 45 degree angle- as he would on zone read- to read the backside C gap defender.

 

“Now the linebacker can’t look at our mesh point and tell the difference between either,” he said. “The linebacker has to play honest on zone read so now the quarterback can get to the backdoor. It became our own solution to the play,” he said.

If linebackers are not flowing with pin and pull run action, the backside defensive end can be read. With two false pulls, the quarterback works out the backdoor. If they don’t flow, the Tackle can work to the play side LB on his block.

 

Now, the linebacker can’t look at mesh point to see zone vs. pin and pull. “To him, it looks like zone,” said Coach Spagnolo. The backside Tackle is drive stepping his footwork, so it looks like it would against a 3-technique in tight zone.”

It’s important to note that Iona Prep runs two variations of the concept. They will lock the backside defensive end and read the play side linebacker. And he will also tell the backside Tackle to block B gap and read the defensive end.

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Teaching the QB Pre-Snap Perimeter Leverage on the Slide RPO

Teaching the QB Pre-Snap Perimeter Leverage on the Slide RPO

Posted by | Mar 31, 2024 | , , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar with Adam Hollifield
Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach
Charleston Southern University (SC)
Twitter: @CoachHollifield

 

 

At Charleston Southern, the Slide RPO is built on inside zone principles. The offensive line will identify the five box defenders and work off them. But while it’s built off tight zone, the actual fundamentals for the offensive line are more similar to outside zone footwork. In fact, the play side of the concept blocks a tight zone track, and the backside of the concept blocks a wide zone track. This allows for the horizontal stretch needed to get the defense to move opposite the slide. “With the backside Guard and Tackle in a cutoff phase it puts the C gap player in a bind because he needs to squeeze hard,” said Coach Hollifield. “If he doesn’t squeeze hard we are going to get him kicked out on split zone on vertical concepts. When he does squeeze hard we get into our slide RPO.

 

Any uncovered offensive linemen in this scheme are taught what Coach Hollifield calls a “KTC Rule,” which means they will either “Knock Over,” “Take Over” or “Climb” to the second level. “We key the near hip,” said Coach Hollifield. “If it comes to me I K.T.C. If it goes away I climb.” He talks about “biting apple off the play side shoulder” of the defender. “We want to be both lateral and vertical up front with our shoulders squared,” he said. “This way we give our running back a two-way go.”

If a defense stays stagnant it turns more into a vertical push on the front side and backside. When defenses start slanting or back gapping, he tells his linemen to keep their eyes flat and try to push the ball front side. “We don’t chase anything backside across our face,” he said. “Our rule is to block our play side Gap to our linebacker. We want our line to block the first level while our back reads the second level.”

As far as communication goes, the play side linebacker is the point except in a 4-3 box. In that situation, the read gets pushed out to the Sam linebacker.

 

QB/RB Mesh:

Since installing the scheme in 2019, Coach Hollifield has transitioned into more of a mid-zone track for the back, despite the run blocking being a more tight zone play side. The aiming point for the back is the inside leg of the play side Guard. One of the coaching points Coach Hollifield has used is to slow up the back on the exchange. “He doesn’t take his first step until the quarterback catches the ball,” he said. “That allows us ample time to read on the backside.”

The quarterback is taught to ride and throw unless it’s automatic pressure. Then he reads the blitz angle. if he’s up the field, hand the ball off. “If he chases the dive on the heel line, the quarterback should pull and pitch on the perimeter,” said Coach Hollifield.

 

If the quarterback gives the ball and the run portion of the play is activated, the back reads the first linebacker in the box. If he presses downhill, the ball will press and cut back. If the LB’s back gap, the ball is pushed front side into the play side A gap, B gap and C gap. The ball can hit anywhere from the play side C gap to the backside C gap on the dive element.

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Forcing the Corner to be the Free Hitter: Elon’s Interior Blocking Rules in Gap and Zone Runs

Forcing the Corner to be the Free Hitter: Elon’s Interior Blocking Rules in Gap and Zone Runs

Posted by | Mar 31, 2024 | , , , , , , , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar with Alex Stadler and Kyle Perkins
Offensive Line Coach and Receivers Coach
Elon University (NC)
Twitter: @Coach_Stad and @CoachKPerk

 

 

If you’re an eleven-personnel outfit and you want to major in interior run schemes, you’re going to need to figure out how to dig out the Sam/Nickel so he’s not a factor in the run game. Sure, RPOs can be an option, but if you don’t want to throw off number seven you’d better have answers. For Elon University, it started with motioning a slot receiver in to come in and crack him. “With that receiver coming in to crack it forced the Mike to be wider on his path,” said offensive line coach Alex Stadler. “Power was an efficient play for us just for that reason. It was pushed to the field alley and it put the Mike in conflict. There was a lot of space for the Mike to navigate and go make a play.”

So, Elon started to bunch receivers to the field which helped dig out the Sam. “We found that the tighter we get, the tighter they are going to get so there had to be a way to keep them honest and circle the defense if they are going to keep adjusting down inside,” said Coach Stadler. “Some of it is structurally based and some of it is personnel based on how they are going to align. It helped us get the edge.”

For Coach Perkins, the length of the motion is determined by where that force player is. “We talk about motioning to align inside of him,” he said. That could be 2-5 yards from the EMOL or in the hip of the Tackle. If he shoots (penetrates) on the snap and you are still out-leveraged, you will crack him with your head in front and keep rolling.”

This report is going to focus on how Coach Stadler and receivers coach Kyle Perkins teaches their receivers to handle box defenders for the interior run game. Our research will be separated into gap schemes, speed sweeps, and the Duo concept.

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The Backside Guard Pull Menu in A-Gap Power

The Backside Guard Pull Menu in A-Gap Power

Posted by | Mar 19, 2024 | , , , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar with Tim Shields
Co-Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach
University of Wisconsin Whitewater
Twitter: @CoachTShields

 

 

One of the beauties of the A-gap power concept is that the backside linebacker can never be right. If he gets downhill in a hurry, he’ll get picked off on combination blocks front side. And if he hesitates or backfits, the play is going to hit inside him directly in the A-gap. The A-gap power needs to be run correctly, not necessarily perfectly. As Coach Shields will often say, it’s the operation time, the path of the ball carrier, and the tight insert of the pulling Guard that makes it so hard to defend.

Wisconsin Whitewater runs its A-gap power tighter than most. It’s tight. Really tight. And when you watch the film on them, it’s recognizable how many defenders are often caught outside the insert block making them irrelevant in the fit.

The rules of the concept are below:

 

Whitewater relies on horizontal double teams to crease the A gap. The emphasis is to eliminate run through lanes and make the minus one (or backside LB) make a quick decision. The focal point is the A-gap.

 

Play Side Combination Blocks: How Backside LB is Not a Factor

Coach Shields teaches a prototypical post man/drive man combination block fundamental play side. The post-man is responsible for the inside half of the defender and uses either a load stab or down block technique with the purpose of lifting him. “We want to create extension in the knees and hips of the defender to stop vertical movement,” said Coach Shields. “If you cannot keep your hip in front of the 3-technique anymore you cannot be part of the block.

 

The drive man (or PST Tackle) will use an angle drive or hip skip vs. a 3-technique defender. For any defender that is not a 3-technique, he will use a gallop. “We talk more about reinforcing the A-gap defender,” said Coach Shields. “We have to be flat enough to handle any run-throughs.”

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Manipulating the Leverage of “3:” Slide RPO Route Design from Single Wide, Double Wide, and Compressed Formation Pictures

Manipulating the Leverage of “3:” Slide RPO Route Design from Single Wide, Double Wide, and Compressed Formation Pictures

Posted by | Mar 19, 2024 | , , , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar with Jared Ambrose
Offensive Coordinator
University at Albany (NY)
Twitter: @CoachJambrose

 

 

While some programs build the slide route off wide zone, the offensive staff at Albany chooses to format it off tight zone for one main reason: it gets the Will linebacker downhill and out leveraged for the slide.  The focus of this report is how to “manipulate three,” who typically is the free hitter to the side of the slide.

It’s the quarterback’s role to find number three pre-snap, who is often the most dangerous defender to the slide. Coach Ambrose will train the quarterback to identify where that number three is, who is Will linebacker. “We tell him to identify the number three defender and how tight he is to the slide,” said Coach Ambrose. “If he is in a tight 20 technique, the quarterback already knows pre-snap that he is going to throw the slide.”

 

“If he’s in a wider technique, then we go back to a read key and pitch key element post-snap. It becomes a triple option. Now if the quarterback pulls the ball and the Will linebacker’s angle is bad it becomes a pull and pitch for us.”

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Cover Zero Pressures from “6-Up” and “7-Up” Presentations

Cover Zero Pressures from “6-Up” and “7-Up” Presentations

Posted by | Mar 12, 2024 | , , , , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar with Rich Yahner
Defensive Coordinator
Virginia Military Institute
Twitter: @RichYahner

 

 

VMI Personnel:

In its base structure, VMI operates out of Odd Stack, or 3-3-5 spacing from a three-high align, and will use the following personnel:

Nose– zero technique

End- Field defensive end

Tackle- Boundary defensive end

Sam- Strong side linebacker

Mike- Middle linebacker

Will- Weak side linebacker

Rover- Field Safety

Bandit- Boundary Safety

Free Safety- Middle Safety

Field Corner

Boundary Corner

 

The “6-Up” and “7-Up” presentations are an off-shoot of VMI’s base personnel. But to the offense, it can look incredibly overwhelming. The entire purpose of this pressure system is to confuse the quarterback who will routinely see up to seven defenders at the line of scrimmage. On the back end, it’s a pure cover zero principle with defenders’ eyes split between the quarterback and their receiver. It’s simple but it works. “We won’t want to put too much pressure on the defense,” said Coach Yahner. “We want to get vision on the ball.”

The entire premise of the system is to pressure with more defenders than blockers. VMI is an Odd Stack outfit, so the front six defenders are typically the “six-up” in this package. The pressure defenders are typically the three down linemen and the three linebackers. “We will typically not bring a third-level defender unless we want to surge the defense,” said Coach Yahner. “When you can blitz more than they can protect it will work out.”

 

Base Zero Coverage Rules:

Day one install rules tell the corners to play number one man-to-man, while the safeties play number two. If there is no number two to their side, the safeties rule is to find number three away. So, the presentation will look different based on the potential blockers at the line of scrimmage.

  • If there are five potential blockers, six defenders will be presented at the line of scrimmage
  • If there are six potential blockers, seven defenders will be presented at the line of scrimmage.

 

Consider how the presentation plays out based on the following formation structures:

 

3X2 Empty Formation:

 

2×2 Open Formations:

 

2×2 Closed Formations:

 

3X1 Open Formations

 

3×1 Closed Formations

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Scoots, Shuffles, and Helmet Stretches: 3 Ways to Cutoff the Backside on Wide Zone Insert

Scoots, Shuffles, and Helmet Stretches: 3 Ways to Cutoff the Backside on Wide Zone Insert

Posted by | Mar 12, 2024 | , , , , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar with Shawn Byrnes
(Former) Offensive Line Coach
University of Northern Colorado

 

 

While at the University of Northern Colorado, the play was tagged “Wanda Man,” which told the offensive line to block wide zone to the play side with man principles on the backside. The tight end is the insert player to the backside to handle the minus-one linebacker. The backside is locked and it became an open-edged weak side run. It became a good way to separate and dent the defense vertically, an alternative to pin and pull runs. While it may be an expensive concept to install it was a strong complement to base wide zone runs that stretch the defense. Here, it became more of a stretch and puncture action.

 

Play Side Combinations:

Because the front side and backside are separate from one another, the Center, play side Guard and play side Tackle are working together while the backside Guard, backside Tackle, and Tight End are working together. The front side is treated in the same fashion as a pure outside zone with the emphasis being on the leverage of the play side backer which will dictate which of the three offensive linemen are in the combination.

In the image below against a wide 50-technique linebacker, the Guard and Tackle are in the combination while the Center is solo on the Nose.

 

Against movement fronts or the potential of spikes to the play side, three-man combinations can be called to the front side where the Center, play side Guard, and play side Tackle are going three for three to the play side.

 

Against any 30-technique backer, the combination will be called with the play side Guard and Center, putting the Tackle one one-on-one with the C gap defender.

 

While this report is focused on the backside (or man side) of the concept, Coach Byrnes talked about the Center trying to stay square- and not reach the Nose- giving the back a two-way go. “We block the play side armpit on the block then work the combination the way the defense plays it,” he said. “If the Nose crosses his face, he has to lock on because he has no help. The back hits it behind the crease.”

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Segmenting Open Gap vs. Closed Gap Combos in Duo

Segmenting Open Gap vs. Closed Gap Combos in Duo

Posted by | Feb 29, 2024 | , , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar with Loren Endsley
Offensive Line Coach
University of Minnesota Duluth

 

 

We all know Duo to be a “culture play” that’s built off violent doubles along the line of scrimmage. At Minnesota Duluth, the offensive line room refers to the play as a “bucket of blood.” “It is a play that allows us to shut off our brain a bit and focus on hammering the first level of the defense,” said Coach Endsley. “We can be full speed and put our face on somebody and not have to worry too much about rules.” Duluth was mainly an outside zone/mid-zone operation, so Duo became a great downhill complement when those safeties started to flow laterally to defend those perimeter runs. It’s been a consistent and efficient concept all season.

Coach Endsley provides the “A to Z” of Duluth’s Duo scheme in this clinic report. And he starts with the heart of what makes the concept effective- the double teams at the line of scrimmage.

 

The Drive Combo:

Coach Endsley calls his double teams “Drive Combinations” and they are built off zone tree principles. He separates the combinations based on the front side and backside of the scheme:

  • The Goal of a Drive Combo on the Frontside of the Scheme is to Nail Down the Near Shoulder & Create a Wall
  • The Goal of a Drive Combo on the Backside of the Scheme is to Create Distortion of the Defense

 

 

Lead Man vs. Trail Man Distinction:

The lead man is the covered offensive lineman in the scheme. Whether he is covered on his playside shoulder or backside shoulder, he is still considered the lead man.

 

The trail man is the uncovered offensive lineman who can be uncovered working to an open or closed gap.

 

Coach Endsley teaches this fundamental using his High Hip Carry Drill where the hands will be on the down defender with eyes on the linebacker. Coach Endsley talks about “hands on the wheel, eyes looking through dashboard.” Clearly, the idea is to not have any space between the combination block.

 

When it comes down to understanding which lineman will work to second level, a great deal of importance is placed on whether lineman are working to a “thick” or “thin” linebacker.

  • Thick Backer = Backer in an Alignment that Allows you to stay on the Combo Longer
  • Thin Backer = Backer in an Alignment that Forces you to leave the Combo Earlier

 

 

In order to do this, Coach Endsley teaches a double under technique, taking on the linebacker square. He wants his earhole to the far pec of the defender. “If the linebacker triggers hard downhill or pressures we can double under, meeting his force with leverage getting under him and lifting up,” said Coach Endsley. “If he is running away from the gap we go earhole to far pec and guide or accelerate his movement.”

An emphasis is placed on the departure of the Drive Combination to the linebacker. In order to get that done, Coach Endsley teaches and angle step which eliminates any wasted movement. The goal is to get their hips in line to generate power on the linebacker.

 

For the lineman taking over the first-level defender, Coach Endsley teaches what he calls a “Helmet Redirect” technique which is used to gain leverage on the down lineman. It allows the blocker to regain leverage on the down defender. This is used on the frontside of a Closed Drive Combo (see below), to nail down the near shoulder and create a wall. “We wouldn’t do it on the backside combo because the running back would read the linebacker and bend it out behind us,” he said.

 

The Take Over technique is used on the Duo scheme by the Trail Man when the Read Key Linebacker Fits Inside and it’s known the ball is going to bend back behind. “We want to secure the block,” said Coach Endsley.

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First Day Duo: Vertical Chips Not Vertical Doubles in the Priority Gap Mentality

First Day Duo: Vertical Chips Not Vertical Doubles in the Priority Gap Mentality

Posted by | Feb 29, 2024 | , , | 0 |

By Landon Miller
Offensive Coordinator
Waverly High School (OH)
Twitter: @Lmiller0524

 

 

We frame our Duo play as a “hard dive” mentality. We don’t expect it to be a large explosive play. We are going to come out to you right now to see how tough you are. Oftentimes it is used to set up Counter, which has been our most explosive play. We teach Duo as an “own your gap” mentality. We don’t Mike point anything. It’s a true gap scheme, that is similar to Power. The difference is power hit too slow for us and the line always has to be right. In Duo, the back has to be right and they are more dynamic players so we will rely on them.

 

Priority Gap Responsibility:

When we talk to our offensive line about a “priority gap” mentality, we talk about owning our gaps up front. This gap is the gap opposite gap of the play call. For example, if we call the play to the right (12 for us) the offensive line has a priority gap to the left. This is highlighted in the diagram below with corresponding responsibilities. For example, the RIGHT TACKLE is RED. His responsibility is to first block any LOS (Line Of Scrimmage) defender that can threaten his PRIORITY GAP (RED TRIANGLE). If a LOS defender does not threaten his priority gap, you are to CHIP on the nearest LOS defender to the CALL SIDE and then responsibility for the 2nd level defender that is threatening your PRIORITY GAP (since most defenses will be gap sound they will have a defender for each gap).

 

Below are some still images on how our line is taught to block first or second level defenders using the priority gap rule.

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Second Level Exchange Reads Off Outside Zone

Second Level Exchange Reads Off Outside Zone

Posted by | Feb 26, 2024 | , , , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar with Ryan Pugh
Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach
Abilene Christian University (TX)
Twitter: @CoachRyanPugh

 

 

If you’re an offense that majors in wide zone, then you know how important it is to handle the backside. The athletes on the perimeter today can run things down often getting you behind the sticks. Some, like Coach Pugh, would argue that the play is often made on the backside and not the front side. If the backside is handled correctly, it will produce a numbers advantage for the back to hit play side. And if you’re not an offensive operation whose linemen cut, then you’re left figuring out ways to protect the backside edge.

At Abilene Christian University, Coach Pugh and his staff do not define the read for the running back. His aiming point is the outside leg of the EMLOS if he’s in Pistol, but that will get tightened up if he’s in the off-set alignment. “We will use the aiming point of the inside leg of the Play side Tackle in those circumstances,” he said. “We will speed him up so that he can get to the read on the third step and get to his cut on the fifth step.” His read is traditionally the end man on the line of scrimmage but when it’s run to the boundary- as Coach Pugh likes to call it- that play will often cut back.

There are two base ways that Abilene Christian will handle the backside edge- slices and swipes. And when these two elements are combined it makes for an extremely efficient play.

 

Outside Zone Slice Concept:

The wide zone slice concept isn’t a novel idea. It’s meant to slow down the edge, or at least produce some hesitation so the play can hit front side. But there are several advantages in using the swipe exclusively against defenses that either will rock back with the second level or trace with the third level based on the movement of that Y. The beauty of the wide zone play is that it can hit either frontside or backside. But if defenses are clued into the movement of that Y, there are several ways you can manipulate having the ball hit frontside.

For example, when defenses track the high safety with the swipe motion, they become one gap short on the play side.

 

Similarly, when second-level linebackers track the Y on swipe, the same thing will occur. They become a gap short to the play side.

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