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Ferris State 10 Personnel Run/RPO Package

Ferris State 10 Personnel Run/RPO Package

Posted by | Mar 20, 2022 | , , , , , , , , , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar with Sam Parker
Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach
Ferris State University (MI)
Twitter: @CoachParker

 

 

Over 60 percent of the Ferris State offensive system is derived from 10 personnel groupings. This means that it operates from either 2×2 open sets or 3×1 open sets much of the time. And when you add the presence of the quarterback run game it becomes impossible for a defense to match hats in the box without playing some form of man coverage. That’s where the Rip/Liz motion commonly used in Ferris State’s system truly separates a defense. While Ferris State does see a good deal of pure cover zero, it often results in a significant chunk of plays due to the athleticism it has on the perimeter.

So, while the offensive staff, under the direction of offensive coordinator Steve Annese, spends a great deal of time analyzing how defenses will align to these two formations, they have made a conscious choice to run their quarterback early and often. Now, granted the staff can recruit to that player and they do with a great deal of success. But like most offensive staffs, the goal is to design a quarterback run/RPO system that lightens boxes, takes cultivates easy throws, and alleviates direct hits on the most important player on the field.

 

Ferris State Offensive Personnel:

 

Offensive Line Personnel:

The Ferris State offensive line is among the biggest in the country at the Division 2 level, averaging over 300 pounds upfront. What is unique about this unit is that positions are interchangeable, including the Center. Offensive line coach/run game coordinator Sam Parker will continually prep up to ten linemen during a season. Much of that success is accredited to his simple, and universal teaching methodology. He doesn’t teach a point system in any of his run concepts. Instead, Bulldog offensive linemen are taught to “spot” block both on zone and gap runs. He says it helps in alleviating the confusion that may be caused when the continual motion it the Ferris State system takes the defender in and out of the run box. More on that later.

The success of the Bulldog run game perpetuated the advancement of these RPO attachments this past season. It helped in getting the ball on the perimeter to the speedier skill set of receivers. As Coach Parker told me, “defenses do us a favor sometimes by loading the box.” Because of this, a premium is placed on blocking scenarios, particularly in the front side of gap schemes. The six-box runs that populate the Bulldogs package consist of play-side man blocking at the point of attack. The success rate of those plays relies on these bigger, athletic tackles to handle the C gap defender. “Tackles cannot allow defensive ends to beat us across our face,” said Coach Parker. “If you have C gap players swiping in across your face it’s not negotiable. You can’t run gap schemes for us here.

How Coach Parker trains those individual man blocks are through his board progression drill below. It consists of the following progression:

  • Base Drive Footwork on Boards
  • Base Drive Footwork on Boards (Fit up Position)
  • Base Drive Footwork on Boards (From Stance)
  • Fit-Up Drill
  • Skip Pull Fit Up Drill on Boards

 

Skill Player Personnel:

In this offense, it all starts with the quarterback. A multi-talented threat that drives this entire system, the quarterback has been the continual lynchpin in head coach Tony Annese’s system. There has only been one season over the last decade when the quarterback has not both rushed and passed for over 1,000 yards. This past season the Bulldog signal-caller had 38 rushing touchdowns, the most in Coach Annese’s tenure. He also had 52 more carriers than anyone else in the program.

 

At the running back spot, Ferris State strives to recruit one within the 200-210 pound range, one that is durable enough to get over 100 carriers a season. “We don’t need a speed dude,” Coach Parker told me. “We usually have a balanced back.” That balance doesn’t consist of running and receiving. Instead, it’s about running and blocking which the back is required to do in all of the Bulldogs quarterback run schemes.

Ferris State doesn’t rotate its receivers. Instead, it plays with a right slot, left slot, boundary receiver, and field receiver. Altogether, they accumulated over 3,000 yards receiving and over 600 yards rushing.

 

It’s a diverse grouping that uses deception in many ways often asked to be both ball carriers and decoys on jet motions as well as block on the perimeter. One of the many things that impressed me when studying this offense is the willingness of those receivers to stick their “face in the fan” so to speak and block the edge. It’s completely contradictory to the current personality of receivers in some spread systems today. In fact, their blocking rules are simple and translate into much of the run game in the entire system. Those blocking rules are below:

 

Half-Line Drill Progression:

Before moving forward, if you’re going to major in quarterback runs, you’d better spend some time teaching the offensive line and running backs whom to block. This is why Coach Parker and running backs coach John Smith will spend ten minutes every day working through a half-line progression together. With two groups going at the same time, it’s a low-impact drill where both the line and backs are taught to block all the various fronts Ferris State encounters each week. “We’ll get up to 50 plays during this period,” he told me. “Sometimes it’s easy for running backs to be physical, but in this system, they have to know who to block. This is the drill we use to teach them how to do so.”

 

Terminology:

Ferris State is a tempo outfit so it becomes necessary to group plays into packages. Although it does use one-word calls, much of the verbiage is broken down into the following signal progression:

  1. Personnel
  2. Formation
  3. Motion
  4. Play-Action
  5. OL Call
  6. Skill Call
  7. Tag

 

Motion, like jet motion, is a simple component. Ferris State uses two words (“Rip”or “Liz”) to denote right or left which tells which receiver is running it. The play-action component is used to classify whether that receiver is running a jet read concept where he can be a viable ball carrier or if he’s simply jetting across the formation to be a bubble screen element in horizontal screen concepts. There is tags built-in where he will be asked to motion across and block the box like he would in pure quarterback power schemes.

Like most offenses, run concepts are separated by families in the Bulldogs system such as tight runs, gaps, and sweeps. Taking “sweeps” as an example- because so much of the Bulldog’s offense is based on perimeter concepts like bubbles and jet sweeps- the offensive line is taught on these schemes to secure the defender over them. If there is no one over them, they are told to block the defender two gaps over. The intention is understood they will never actually get there, but the mentality capture the box two gaps over at the second level. Of course, this is the starting point, but because of the continual motion used on 35% of snaps, there has to be a good deal of verbiage to let players know who the ball carrier is. This is done by a series of tags: “Q” or QB, “T” for running back, etc.

 

Call Side vs. Run Side:

In every one of Ferris State’s run concepts, there is a divide between the call side and run side of the formation. The run side is the front side of the play where the run action is going whereas the call side is the read side of the concept. Because of this, the run side of the play is taught a different technique than the call side of the play. Take the tight zone concept in the diagram below. The run side of the concept will work to expand gaps for the back by taking wider footwork while the call side of the concept is more vertical to help the quarterback declare his C gap read.

 

According to Coach Parker, this helps during the install process so that running backs understand their assignments. In the quarterback run game when the running back is asked to be an additional blocker, the offensive line is responsible for the run side of the play while the running back is responsible for the call side of the play. In any read elements where the running back is part of the option, the offensive line has to know where the run side is vs. the call side.

“We build it that way because we will read the backside of G/T counter, but read the front side of power in our power read scheme,” said Coach Parker. “The back and the offensive line has to know which side is the call side and which is the run side.”

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Two Deep Auto Sims from Mug Looks

Two Deep Auto Sims from Mug Looks

Posted by | Mar 20, 2022 | , , , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar with Dionicio Monarrez
Defensive Coordinator
Southwestern College (CA)

 

 

Southwestern College (CA) prides itself on getting off the field on third down. But to so, defensive coordinator Dioncio Monarrez mixes in his base quarters coverage look with a multitude of simulated pressures from mug looks. One of his top pressures this season was an “Auto” call vs. 10 personnel teams. He used it in long-yardage situations when it was clear offenses were throwing the football. It was all based on the protection slide.

 

Pressure Pattern:

The pressure pattern creates a two on one vs. the running back in protection. The pressure is checked to the running back in protection or to the quarterbacks throwing hand if the ball is in the middle of the field to get a two on one with the back. The Mike LB creeps to the heels of Tackle pre-snap and is aiming at the earhole of the Center. If the Center shows, he will cross his face.

If the Center doesn’t show, then hit the gap and go. The Mike must hit the correct gap. He has to get on the other side of the RB. We want two on each side.

 

The Will linebacker will also stack the offensive Tackle. He is going to the Center but must go the other way of the Center. He can’t go backside. He has to stay on his side because he might be the contain LB to that side if the QB breaks the pocket. If he gets stuck, he needs to locate the QB. Coach Monarrez talks about a landmark of getting five yards upfield on the QB. If the Center works to the Mike on the wrap, the Will must come directly off of the Mike.

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Teaching Robber Coverage through Three Universal Principles

Teaching Robber Coverage through Three Universal Principles

Posted by | Mar 14, 2022 | , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar with Mike Giancola
Defensive Coordinator
Bridgewater College (VA)
Twitter: @CoachGiancola

 

 

The entire premise of playing man match coverages like Robber is to physically contest routes. Coach Giancola calls it “route ownership,” and it’s the driver of what the Eagles do from a split field perspective. All coverages are routed in the Robber family and are separated into two main principles: match defenders and coverage defenders.

  • Match defenders are owners of routes underneath. They relate to receivers first, not to areas of the field.
  • Cover defenders are defenders over the top. They relate to areas first, then to receivers.

 

These concepts are communicated universally by teaching three base coverage concepts, which can be universally applied to all back-end defenders. Not only does the technique translate, but as detailed later in the report, the pressure catalog is even more streamlined. Split field robber coverage eliminates the necessity for third-level safeties to insert into the location of the pressure. As Coach Giancola tells us, you can defend 2×2 and 3×1 open sets without rolling safeties. “Offenses would continually pick on backside X,” he said. “This gives you the opportunity to play 2 over 1 and keep the language and the scheme of the coverage the same. We want to be aggressive in coverage. How often are quarterbacks going to fit the ball into really tight windows consistently?”

Like most base Robber outfits, Bridgewater operates from 4-2-5 spacing. Its system is modeled directly after those established down the road in Blacksburg and include the following personnel:

  • Field End
  • Boundary End
  • Nose
  • 3-Technique
  • Strong Side LB (Mike)
  • Weak Side LB (Backer)
  • Whip
  • Rover
  • Free Safety
  • Boundary Corner
  • Field Corner

 

The entire coverage system is built around these three main concepts:

  • Steal/Sluff Players
  • Rob/Carry Players
  • Apex/Overlap Players

 

 

Each of these coverages is defined, developed, and consists of a non-negotiable to drive home the learning process. The first word in each of these concepts (steal, rob, apex) is a player’s primary responsibility in the coverage while the second word in each of these concepts is their secondary responsibility when routes develop.  Essentially you are either owning routes or helping on routes. While the coverages may change, these principles do not. Because of this consistency, players can cross-train through position groups. Once the coverage concepts are taught, Coach Giancola and his defensive staff cycle through various drill work to make sure all coverage defenders understand these techniques.

 

Steal/Sluff Concept:

 

Definition: These would traditionally be known as “flat” defenders. Steal/sluff defenders are underneath match defenders who are taught to “steal” any immediate routes to the flat and “sluff” (or sink) which means to trail underneath if no one threatens the flat. They are also force defenders in the run game.

Coverage Responsibility: Steal/Sluff defenders are taught to steal inside of the number one receiver. They will run with any wheel routes.

Technique: They will align head up or inside the number one receiver. These players are taught what Coach Giancola calls “steal steps” to get them to play more aggressively. Steal steps are read steps that prevent the Steal/Sluff players from moving backward.  They are different based on the initial leverage on the number one receiver.  If you are declared inside, you can pop your feet. If you’re head up the first two steps need to slide you inside the number one receiver. The main coaching point is to not back up on the snap.

 

He will read the quarterback mesh to a quick game and steal through the three-step. If number one is vertical, they are taught to “sluff” off by trailing underneath number one as routes continue vertically. Against any 3×1 sets, the steal/sluff defender steals outside the number one receiver, not number two.

The Non-Negotiable: Steal/sluff defenders cannot let number one across their face, especially against two vertical routes.

 

Rob/Carry Concept:

Definition: These would be traditionally known as hook/curl defenders. They are pure trail defenders who are man defenders. If these defenders are overhangs, they may be tied to a run fit, which may be an interior gap if the 3-technique is not to their side.

Coverage Responsibility: Rob/Carry defenders will look to own number two through the zone. They will look to rob and funnel from inside out, not outside in. They will run with any number two vertical.

Technique: If number two runs vertically he has to trail underneath him as far as he goes to force the quarterback to put air under the ball. If number two eliminates (is in), he will look to rob the next closes receiver in the direction of his key went out or in. If number two sits down, he is responsible for stealing him on the inside shoulder.

Non-Negotiable: Rob/Carry defenders have to run vs. number two vertical and play two across their face if he drives inside.

 

Apex/Overlap Concept:  

Definition: These are the deep half defenders. They are secondary run support defenders and will only drive up on run if receivers get hands on the underneath match players.

Coverage Responsibility: Apex/Overlap defenders have to defend the entire half of the field. Coach Giancola calls it a “ceiling” on the hash, where they don’t run with number two vertical (that is the Rob/Carry defender’s responsibility). The apex/overlap defender is taught to midpoint two verticals but overlap number two vertical to better help the rob/carry defender.

Technique: These defenders must be able to read the quarterback’s eyes post-snap.  They are taught to midpoint number one and two by weaving to stay in between those receivers. They will work to lean on verticals by reading the post-snap demeanor of the QB.

Non-Negotiable: Apex/Overlap defenders cannot get across the face of number one vertical. That’s easier to throw than to number two. The Rob carry defender can trail number two.

 

Low Hole Defender:

In Robber coverage concepts, the low hole defenders are taught to be a match defender and relate to number three. He owns any crossers or drags immediately but will work to a ceiling of 10-15 yards deep if there is no immediate crossing route.

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Half Boot; Half Quick Game: The Quick Boot Concept

Half Boot; Half Quick Game: The Quick Boot Concept

Posted by | Mar 14, 2022 | , , , , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar with Elliott Wratten
Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach
Alcorn State University
Twitter: @CoachWratten

 

 

Alcorn State offensive coordinator Elliott Wratten would like to tell you that he took the concept from listening to a couple of Big 10 coaches’ clinic a high school staffer during a recruiting trip last spring. But in reality, this concoction was brewing for quite some time in his mind. The synthesis commenced when his starting quarterback entering the 2021 season was a shade under six feet. Clearly, he was going to have trouble delivering balls in the pocket. But he could evade pressure and extend plays. In previous years, Coach Wratten leaned on the sprint pass game to get smaller QBs on the perimeter. But the sprint out game had some significant deficiencies: the field gets cut in half, all of the action points to one direction giving the defense has a better opportunity at recognizing and reacting. Plus, secondary contain would be a problem with a smaller quarterback. “I didn’t want to worry about having the Mike linebacker pull up and knock our guy out,” he told me.

The boot game became another option. But, those concepts still emphasize only half the field and if the over route is not there immediately it can become a dead play. So, Coach Wratten needed to find a way to mesh full-field reads with a varying launch point. And it was after studying some Penn State and Arkansas film that he bought in full sail to what he calls his “Quick Boot” concept, which combines quick game elements to the boundary with a half roll element to the field. Alcorn State already built a free access package to the boundary and his quarterback was efficient in throwing on the run, so the merger was not only sensible but also inexpensive. It was so inexpensive that Coach Wratten installed it two weeks before pre-season camp. It became an easy drive starter and completion play for the quarterback. This season the Braves ran it 33 times and completed on more than 70% of balls. It quickly became the quarterback’s favorite concept and a reprieve after an incompletion. “Now we can get receivers able to work downfield routes and we can pull up later than in sprint out schemes. “You don’t have to pull up right away and make a quicker decision.”

 

Structure of Concept:

The structure of the concept is split between a boundary access route and field-side conversions. The offensive line is in a six-man protection scheme with the tight end, while the running back is in a check-release scenario as a late outlet for the quarterback.

 

Free Access Element:

Like most programs, the free access element is built-in based on the depth and leverage of the boundary corner. Free Access throws are a major part of the Braves’ offensive system. And in the RPO world, many times the receivers, not the quarterback or Coach Wratten, communicates the intentional route at the line of scrimmage by reading coverage. This isn’t the case in these concepts according to Coach Wratten. These boundary routes are built into the play call. Earlier in the season, stops were used to take advantage of leverage. It was a solid answer vs. “cat” pressure from the boundary. “We would continually take a favorable one-on-one matchup with a receiver and that safety on those pressures,” he said. “But in doing so, that receiver needed to expand to the tics to widen the safety.”

 

But as the year progressed, those access throws were now transitioned into field side throws like slants to take advantage of leverage and space. They were designed against press coverage to hit a moving target on the run.

 

QB Footwork:

All of these concepts are utilized from gun alignments. The quarterback will execute a drop step with one, two footwork to check the free access throw. If the access throw is there, he bangs it. If it is not there by the second step, he bows back, loses ground, and boots away from the line of scrimmage to work the field side routes.

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SELU’s 3rd Level Horizontal RPO’s

SELU’s 3rd Level Horizontal RPO’s

Posted by | Mar 6, 2022 | , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar with Greg Stevens
Offensive Coordinator
Southeastern Louisiana University
Twitter: @CoachGregStevensSLU

 

 

For whatever reason, SELU wasn’t as proficient in running the ball this season. Longtime offensive coordinator Greg Stevens will be the first to admit it. Normally a ground and pound outfit, SELU was blessed with a gifted thrower at quarterback and plenty of speed on the perimeter to compliment him. So, like most good coaches, Coach Stevens played to his strength by building in an inexpensive, third-level RPO that got the ball out of the quarterback’s hands quickly into one of those lightning-fast receivers in space.

He did that by complementing a tight zone run with a third-level RPO to stress the play side high safety. It resembles boot action with an immediate flat route that can come directly across the formation. “We used to run nakeds by bringing that receiver across the formation, so we figured why wouldn’t we just do that with an RPO,” he told me. It became a concept the Lions ran 35 times this season and produced a 91% completion percentage with 8.7 yards per completion. But more importantly, it became a solid base-down play, setting up the offense in manageable third downs. And it was a productive tempo play out of all personnel groupings.  “It became a really good play for us because it was a good way to get our athletes the ball in space and an easy completion for the quarterback.”

 

The SELU Difference:

While most of these flat control concepts are utilized with fullbacks, tight ends, and H-backs controlling the flat, Coach Stevens decided to incorporate a receiver as the primary target. The reason: most defensive front structures will choose to “back-gap” or rock its safeties when a tight end comes across the formation because they have to respect the extra gap. They may not do it vs. a true receiver.

 

“That is where we’ve had the most success with the concept,” he told me. “Most teams will not rock safeties with a receiver or a skill guy. I haven’t seen anybody do it. Running him across post-snap is difficult to match whether a defense is in man or zone coverage because no one is accounting for him. And if you know they are a man team, you can bring it to the one receiver side on the backside. It produces a good amount of space for him to work in.”

 

Communication:

Since all of the RPOs in the SELU system are termed after rap stars, this concept is called “Tu-Pac.” It’s a built-in tag with the tight zone run game. How the concept is termed is simple. As a base call such as “24 Tu Pac,” the farthest inside receiver knows he is the player running into the flat.  If they are bringing a receiver from the backside (across the formation) it becomes necessary to ID the receiver who is running the route. Consider the following scenarios:

 

“24 Z Tupac”- Tells the Z receiver he is running into the flat from across the formation.

“24 Y Tupac”- Tells the Y he is running into the flat from across the formation.

 

 

The rest of this report focuses on how the quarterback is taught to read the high safety and how the concept translates vs. potential problem coverage like man and trap coverage structures.

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3-High Safety “AFC” Protocols From Odd Spacing

3-High Safety “AFC” Protocols From Odd Spacing

Posted by | Mar 6, 2022 | , , , , | 0 |

By Cory Quinn
Head Football Coach
Lake County High School (TN)
Twitter: @CoachQLakeCo

 

 

In Single-A football, what walks through the door is what we get. For the last two seasons, we have played with 28 players on the football team. In 2020 we were a base 3-4 defense because it suited our personnel. Due to graduation and typical 1A cycles, we were left with one true LB on the roster and a host of DB bodies. During the spring and summer, we experimented with different players in our base 3-4 look. The players we tried there were either too young or not the correct body type to play Inside Linebacker in a run-heavy league. I knew we needed to make a change and adapt to the players on our roster. I went back to the drawing board and created a defense that maximized the bodies we DO have. What resulted was an “Under front” and 3 High Safety structures that produced 2 shutouts and held opponents in our classification to an average of 14 ppg.

As an offensive-minded coach during my career, I formulated ways to create space. Now, tasked with designing a defense, I aimed to do the opposite: constrict space. In our league, as in most High School football leagues, stopping the run is objective number one. I had to find a way to populate the box but do so without traditional personnel. With the concept of suffocating space in mind, I designed the defense around the tactical idea of creating a triangle at leverage points around the box and perimeter to simulate an automatic three Man Trap. From there, I taught the players their assignments within the parameters of the triangles. Once we understood the leverage points of the triangle and our rules within the structure of the defense, we were fast to the football. Practice time could then be devoted to the three most important pieces of defensive football: technique, diagnosing plays, and forcing turnovers.

 

Body:

To keep this new defense simple, I installed base rules by position. These rules were steadfast and allowed us to get lined up and play fast. We defined the offensive strength based on the number of WRs (10P 2×2 balanced we called the strength to the field or RB tendency). The positional assignments are as follows:

Bandit– Align to the weak side in a wide 9 technique on the imaginary TE. IF there is a TE, play head up. Hands-on the tight end. Your responsibility is holding the outside most gap. NOTHING gets outside of you. Fight a reach block and post outside. The Bandit is coming off the edge every time to give us an Under-reduction post-snap.

Read EMLOS for the following reads:

  • If the tackle is down, surf. Take on kick-out block with inside shoulder, outside arm remains free.
  • If the tackle is down and there is no kick-out block surf zone read, play to RB after the ball is given.
  • If there is a High Hat from the EMLOS Pass Rush outside in.

 

DT: 4i. Post-B gap. Engage through the neck of the tackle.

  • If you get a down block, you MAY redirect, shed, and get over the top.
  • If you get a reach, “Stretch the Stretch” working to get flat down the line of scrimmage.

 

Nose: 0 Tech. Work to strong A gap. Fight double team and occupy space.

Anchor: LB position. Calls out the strength. Four yards directly behind the Nose. Reading guard away from the strength for a run, pass, pull. Pass responsibility: If the back is out weak, he is mine. If the RB is out strong, Mirror QB. Run responsibility: play underneath blocks. Work to mirror the RB.

DE: 4i. Post B Gap. Engage through the neck of the tackle. If you get a down block, you MAY redirect and get over the top. If you get a reach, “Stretch the Stretch” working to get flat down the line of scrimmage.

Delta: This is our Alley/Nickel player. Read EMLOS.

  • If you get a pass read, drop to help. Stop Slant, Stick. Rally to the Flat.
  • If the RB is out to your side, he is yours.
  • If the QB rolls to your side, BOMB the RB on the outside shoulder to turn the QB back in to help.
  • If you get a run read, play the gap the same way as the Bandit. Splatter the puller from depth, keeping the outside arm free. Inside Zone, you are the QB player! Nothing gets outside of you!

 

$ Safety: This is our best player. Alignment changes based on offensive formation and personnel. Pictures will illustrate this concept.

Rover: Align to the passing strength. If there are two receivers, play 2 read with CB. If three receivers check to our Tri concept (2 Read on Outside 2, F locks 3).

Free: Align away from the passing strength. If two receivers play 2 read with CB. If there are three receivers push to the Trips side. Base check to Trips is “Tri.” You have #3 Man to Man. Rover and CB play 2 read on 1 and 2.

CBs: Coverage based on receivers.

  • If we get 2 Speed, it is 2 Read.
  • If we get Trips, we check Tri. Align in press. Bail to 6 yards, back and tilt once QB starts his cadence.

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Surfaces vs. Controls: How UT Martin builds its Wide Zone Concept

Surfaces vs. Controls: How UT Martin builds its Wide Zone Concept

Posted by | Feb 27, 2022 | , , , , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar with Matt Jones
Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line/Tight Ends
University of Tennessee Martin
@CoachMattJones

 

 

Having followed Coach Jones on Twitter for over five years, I’ve been privy to seeing the nuggets on offensive line play he distributes daily. So, when I got the opportunity to work with him on this report I was more than thrilled. I had already known of the success UT Martin was having in the run game this season. I studied all their film and was enamored with the success it was having, particularly in their wide zone concept.

During my research, what I found is that there are three main pillars in Coach Jones’s teaching methodology of building the wide zone.

They consist of the following:

  • Differentiating Surfaces vs. Controls
  • Segmenting Open vs. Closed Side Runs
  • Incorporating Pods to teach these pillars

 

I’ve talked with numerous coaches who build their zone play in similar fashions, but it’s the clarity in Coach Jones’s teaching that made sense to me. His reliance on differentiating surface in his wide zone run game is predicated on the fact that 86% of his explosives in the wide zone runs hit in the front side A or B gap, which as we reported previously is where these plays hit for success. “Our wide zone play doesn’t get to the backside B gap,” he told me. “If we don’t get a gap pried open play side the play is dead. If it winds back, it gives defenses time to chase the ball down.”

 

Differentiating Surfaces vs. Controls:

It’s important to note that from day one of install the QB (and offensive line) are taught to understand defensive numbers based on the play side surface. The goal is to never run a good play into a bad look. To do this, the QB is continually given the freedom to check the play into “the right math,” as Coach Jones put it. The “math” is in direct correlation to the surface structure. As he admits there is nothing more frustrating than having play-side offensive linemen dominate their responsibility yet the extra hat is the one that made the play. “That’s a coaching problem, not a kid problem,” he said.

 

Targeting Defenses: “Stretch and Strain”

Separating the defense is essential to generating explosives in the wide zone and to separate the defense, you need to stretch the play side and cutoff the backside. This comes with what Coach Jones calls “stretch and strain,” where there is lateral displacement to stretch the front side with equal hats to block or “strain” the backside.

 

How that is taught is by players understanding numbers advantages based on both the play side and backside of the concept. Coach Jones uses the scenario of cutting the formation in half at the Center’s spot. If the numbers dictate a mathematical advantage, run the play in that direction. By blocking all defenders to the side of the field where the ball is going, you give yourself the greatest chance of explosive runs. If the numbers dictate a disadvantage, well, that is where the controls come into play.

 

Most outside zone teaching starts at the Center and many coaches may not run the scheme if the Center can’t handle the play side A gap. Coach Jones is no different in that regard. The Center is always considered a factor on the front side of the scheme. Even the ball carrier in UT’s system is taught to tempo the play side block of the Center.

 

The Center is responsible for making the identification declaration and understanding the possibility to block the box. That comes with teaching him to communicate traditional play side point identifications. More on that as our report continues.  Targeting means being able to block the box without having to push out declarations to perimeter defenders. If this is done correctly, all you need to do is win one gap to the play side and the play pops. This idea of targeting is taught through the understanding of two factors: front-side surface and backside controls. We’ll start with the backside first.

 

Explanations of Controls:

Controls are simply how you’re handling the backside of the play. The full flow nature of the wide zone concept lends itself to defenders being able to chase the ball down from the backside. So, how do you keep defenders from doing that? It comes from having the quarterback responsible for a defender in every run. They have a read built-in and that read can vary from the backside A gap, B gap, and C gap. Every time the ball is snapped in the run game, the QB is reading someone. While Coach Jones admits on 90% of the time he’s handing the ball off it’s vital that at least one defender gets read to keep the math right. “We have to have answers if they have more than we can block,” said Coach Jones.

These answers come in the form of the following controls:

 

Nakeds- Used from Pistol alignments

 

D-Gap Reads- Used with a three-surface backside

 

C-Gap Reads- Used with a two-surface backside or arcing the tight end to handle number four backside

 

B-Gap Reads- Used with two surface backside, where first level or second level defenders can be read.

 

All of these backside controls are built-in by play call communication, which is explained later in the report.

 

Explanations of Front Side Surfaces:

Surface teaching is also communicated by pre-snap verbiage. UT Martin will segment its wide zone call system into three surfaces: open surfaces closed surfaces and loaded surfaces:

 

Open Side Surface- Two-man surface structure, where Center, Guard, and Tackle are allocated to blocking the front side. Here the offensive line can handle three defenders, but not four.

 

Closed Side Surface- Three-man surface structure where Center, Guard, Tackle, and Tight End are allocated to blocking the front side. Here the offensive line can handle four defenders, but not five.

 

Loaded Side Surface- Four-man surface structure where Center, Guard, Tackle, Tight End, and Y are allocated to blocking the front side. Here the offensive line can handle five defenders, but not six.

 

Segmenting Open, Closed, and Loaded Surface Runs:

On day one of the wide zone install, Coach Jones and his staff provide specific communication to denote what surface the ball is being run to. The surfaces and controls are automatically built into the play call. Consider the following communication:

 

“O-Words:”- Any word with an “O” signifies outside zone to the open, or two-surface side. Consider the following:

“Oscar”- Open side outside zone from Pistol alignments (auto boot for backside control)

“Ollie”- Open side outside zone from Offset alignments (two-surface backside, auto backside C gap read)

“Otto”- Open side outside zone from Offset alignments (three-surface backside, auto backside D gap read)

“Owen”- Open side outside zone from Offset alignments (two-surface backside, auto second level B gap read, which could be a run-run read or RPO)

“Omar”- Open side outside zone (two surface backside) with divide action (cutoff C gap backside)

“Oren”- Open side outside zone (three surface backside) with divide action (cutoff D gap backside)

 

“C-Words:”- Any word with a “C” signifies outside zone to the closed, or three-surface side. Consider the following:

“Charlie”- Closed side outside zone from Pistol alignments (auto boot for backside control)

“Chris”- Closed side outside zone from Offset alignments (two surface backside, auto backside C gap control)

“Craig”- Closed side outside zone from Offset alignments (three surface backside, auto backside D gap control)

“Carl”- Closed side outside zone (two surface backside) with divide action (cutoff C gap backside)

“Cam”- Closed side outside zone (three surface backside) with divide action (cutoff D gap backside)

 

“E-Words:”- Any word with an “E” signifies that the count needs to be pushed out or go “extra” a defender. This may be needed against back gap defenses or combined with any jet motion away from the play. Consider the following examples:

 

“Ollie Ernie”- Open side outside zone from offset alignment, where the entire box count needs to work one past the point to account for “extra” defender.

 

“Chris Ernie”- Closed side outside zone from offset alignment, where the entire box count needs to work one past the point to account for “extra” defender.

 

“The picture changes post-snap immediately,” he said. “There is nothing worse than jetting away from the open side with a fourth element and you don’t have a blocker there.”

 

For any “midline” reads where there is an “A or B” gap backside read, consider the following:

“Mable”- Closed side outside zone (two surface backside) with A or B gap backside read (first down defender past the Center)

“Martha”- Open side outside zone (two surface backside) with A or B gap backside read (first down defender past the Center)

 

According to Coach Jones, having linemen be able to distinguish the surface cuts down on learning time. And once they know the surface, all they need to remember is the control. “We spend more time learning the line calls than the play names,” he told me. “You would know the entire run game with 87 plays in just a little package.”

This teaching methodology is conducive to pre-snap motion as well. Oftentimes, Coach Jones will change the picture by moving the tight end to get a numbers advantage but the offensive line is not aware of it. All they know is whether it’s an open, closed, or loaded side run based on the call. The tight end either handles plus one to the point if he is on the play side or needs to be aware of the type of control above if he’s on the backside.

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Shuffle to Sprint Technique for 2-Players in Hot Pressures

Shuffle to Sprint Technique for 2-Players in Hot Pressures

Posted by | Feb 27, 2022 | , , , , | 0 |

By Kevin Bowers
Defensive Coordinator
Medina High School (OH)
Twitter: @coachbowers59

 

 

Blitzing six is and has been a successful choice for defenses for years. The question is, how do you cover it without playing the obvious zero man coverage? The answer is zoning it with five defenders. 2 Under 3 Deep coverages give you the best of the 6 man pressure with sticky coverage of the threatened underneath players, and over the top help with 2 of your 3 deep droppers. It was a concept we played on more than 94% of snaps this season en route to a 14-1 record, among the best in school history. In this report, I will detail the coverage responsibilities of each defender and how we adjust to open formations.

 

Pressure Patterns:

Building in the pressure patterns is where the fun comes in. In these hot pressures, you can fill six gaps any way you want. We mustn’t have pressure players in a single wave. They need to be on different levels. Some of the thought process we partake in each week includes the following:

  • Two blitzers off the same edge
  • Two blitzers into same side A and B gaps
  • Two blitzers into opposite A and B gaps
  • Two blitzers into double A gaps
  • Twist the blitzes

 

We use the following terminology in our pressure patterns. They are all weapons in our hot pressures:

“Arrow”- Double A gap pressures

“Bayonet”-  Since “B” and “A” are at beginning of the word, both are on the same side.

“Bomb”- Coming off the edge from the tail side (RB side) which is good vs. zone

“Railroad”- Coming off edge away from RB side. Good against counter schemes

“Club”-  C gap blitzer on one side, B gap blitzer on the other side

 

When it comes to defending the run, we make sure all blitzers understand they are spill players forcing the ball out to the Hot 2 defenders. Below are some general guidelines we use in defending the run:

  • Cross Face all DL & LBs Read the down block and rip across face
  • Pace the Blitz so the DL hits 1st and the LBs are 2nd
  • Read on Run allow for adjustments by the LB on their blitz path

 

General Description:

In general, the defense is constructed with 2 underneath players purely reading the directional key of the QB and 3 deep players playing off of the intentional read of the QB. We refer to the underneath players as “Hot” players, the outside deep ⅓ players as, “Deep ⅓” and the middle of the field deep ⅓ player as the “Hinge” player.

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Northern Illinois 4-Surface Pin and Pull Concept

Northern Illinois 4-Surface Pin and Pull Concept

Posted by | Feb 21, 2022 | , , , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar with Eric Eidsness and Daryl Agpalsa
Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach
Northern Illinois University
Twitter: @CoachEidsness @CoachAgpalsa

 

 

Like most innovations in football, this one happened as a result of consequence. It was week two this season and while the Huskies were riding high off a win at Georgia Tech where they rushed for over 200 yards. But coming into the Wyoming game, the offensive line was struggling with getting the backside cutoff in its premier run concept- the four surface pin and pull.

 

It became a concurrent issue when running a man concept on the play side yet a zone concept on the backside. It continually produced indecision on the backside, particularly against movement. “So, we figured that if we can’t get him why not pull him around so that we can seal him on the play side?” said offensive line coach Daryl Agpalsa.

 

So, when the offensive staff under the direction of offensive coordinator Eric Eidsness were prepping for Michigan the following week, the decision was made to man the backside of the concept and add an extra puller to the play side, be it the backside Guard or Tackle. How that player is taught to find and block his assignment will be the focus of this report. But, first, it’s important to understand the structure of the four-surface pin and pull concept and why it’s been so effective in the Huskies menu this season.

Coach Eidsness has Missouri Valley conference in his veins. Having coached at South Dakota State University for 13 years, he’s familiar with the heavy personnel run game used in that conference. And 22/13 personnel run game was one of the first implementations he brought with him when he made the move to NIU in 2019. One of the advantages of these personnel groupings he told me is the ability to create walls to the play side with heavier run surfaces populated by additional tight ends which created faster access to the perimeter. “It’s harder to outside anymore on just plain outside zone,” he told me. “You used to be able to do it. Now you can’t anymore.”

So, started to build in the four-surface formations that are synonymous in the Missouri Valley conference and it immediately helped in creating a better edge presence. While the first install was the load power concept to the play side, the complement became the four-surface pin and pull which was able to create the separation needed in the alley to get a very good ball carrier in the “freeway” as the staff puts it.

 

Mesh Variations:

The Huskies utilize two alignments in its Pin and Pull concept: pistol and sidecar alignments. In both alignments, the ball carriers aiming point is one yard outside the tight end, which includes the wing element in four-surface formations.

The mesh rules for both are below:

 

Pistol Alignment:

  • Open to the play side at a 45-degree angle
  • Get the ball back to the ball carrier by the third step.
  • Drop back three steps after mesh to sell play-action pass (boot)

 

The ball carrier is taught to execute a “V” step, which opens his hips to get downhill. It’s the typical crossover, plant footwork. According to Coach Eidsness, the key coaching point is for the quarterback to keep him online with the D gap aiming point, which he calls “staying high.” “We don’t want to get downhill too fast,” he told me. The backside C gap can be controlled with naked or with motion or a backside tight end.

 

Offset Alignment:

In sidecar alignments, the quarterback sets his toes at 4.5 yards with the ball carrier’s toes at 5 yards. It’s the quarterback’s job to get off the line with a step-back technique or what some coaches call a “clear” mesh. “We want the running back to be able to run laterally and not run downhill and have to bubble back to the perimeter,” said Coach Eidsness. “The quarterback has to allow him to stay flat.” In sidecar alignments, it’s built-in for the quarterback to read the backside C gap defender.

 

RB Read: “See First Puller Through Second Puller”

It’s the ball carriers’ job to identify the front side so he knows where the defense will be separated. The staff at NIU refers to this as reading the first puller through the second puller. His rules are as follows:

  • If the first puller kicks out the edge defender, read the second pullers block
  • If the first puller logs edge defender, get the ball outside

 

In either case, it’s imperative that the ball carrier not outrun the backside Tackle who may often be the third puller in the concept.

 

The Fourth Element: “Leave 2 Fundamental”

The key cog in making the concept efficient is the addition of the extra tight end, who essentially is the “eliminator” in the concept. His role is to secure the play side C gap before climbing to track the backside linebacker. He became instrumental in setting an edge in the C gap, particularly against four-down defenses who played outside linebackers in 6-techniques on the tight end.

 

His rule is to “leave two” for both play-side pullers in the concept, counting outside from the front side of the play. “We are blocking force to the front side linebacker so he can always leave two on his count,” according to Coach Agpalsa. “So that way he never chases and can’t get beat over the top.”

 

The rest of this report will focus on how the staff at NIU teaches individual blocks, communicates pullers at the line of scrimmage, and builds in controls to the play side to handle extra defenders on the perimeter.

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Bethel University’s 2 Deep-3 Under Pressure Scheme

Bethel University’s 2 Deep-3 Under Pressure Scheme

Posted by | Feb 21, 2022 | , | 0 |

By Steve Erxleben with Mike McElroy
Defensive Coordinator
Bethel University (MN)
Twitter: @McElroy26

 

 

Utilizing different versions of simulated pressures, 5-man fire zone pressures, and 6-man zone or man pressures have become the “en vogue” topic for many Defensive Coordinators across the country. Like many pressure-based systems, Bethel University (MN) and Defensive Coordinator Mike McElroy base out of one high structure as they apply pressure, but like every coverage, it has its disadvantages, especially down the seam, in the Dig window, and the immediate flat.  Bethel plays in the ultra-competitive Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) and regularly qualifies for the NCAA Division 3 playoffs, so having an answer for 4 verticals on 3rd and long situations and in the red zone without leaning on cover 0 was a must for Coach McElroy. To change up how they handled 3rd down, while still keeping their aggressive mentality and looking for more of a “man eyes” situation for 3rd down, Coach McElroy and his staff began utilizing more 2 deep, 3 under schemes to relate to all 5 eligible receivers, still bring 6, and create a situation where the QB has to pat the ball and take a sack.

 

Premise:

As a base 1 high structure scheme, primarily a cover 1 man-free, Bethel University, and Defensive Coordinator Mike McElroy needed to create some sort of alternative for 3rd down and long down and distance situations where the QB is more of a “statue” and not a real run threat. Bethel is a more of a 2 down defense but primarily uses a 6 man box mentality, so they live in a nickel world personnel-wise. Bethel’s defensive staff wanted to create situations where there were as many “mesh” readers underneath and as many 3rd level defenders that could have a “vision” break on the QB, basically playing everything deep to short. What the Bethel coaches came up with was more of a 2 deep 3 under that has a “double robber” feel to it.

To categorize it more specifically, this coverage is sort of a one high, inverted cover 2 where the High safety is more of a read-out player that matches 3 while the “2” player and corner play cover 2 vs #s 1 and 2.

The main idea or focus is to create uncomfortably for the QB by taking away the verticals to the outside and creating an almost reroute by alignment with the “2” players and to use the bonus FS to undercut the “now” throws inside, much like a 1 high structure would allow. Since Bethel is utilizing 5 and 6 man pressure, the coverage structure includes:

  • 2 Deep Half Players (Corners)
  • 2 “2” Players (Q/S: Strong and Weak Safeties)
  • A “3 Low” Player (Non-Pressure LB or 5 Technique)
  • A “3 High” Player (MOF Safety)

 

6 Man Tagged Pressure Situation

 

5 Man Tagged Pressure Situation

 

Each of these positions has specific techniques within the scheme that will be discussed below.

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Max Gap vs. Back Gap Fits in 3-High Spacing

Max Gap vs. Back Gap Fits in 3-High Spacing

Posted by | Feb 14, 2022 | , , , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar with Joel Taylor
Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
Mercer University (GA)
Twitter: @KoachTaylor

 

 

Coach Taylor’s initial motivation came from the success he was having using Drop 8 coverage in the pass game. He transitioned from three-down into four-down specifically to defend Samford University, a SoCon opponent that can sling the ball up and down the field. The Bears surrendered more than 400 yards through the air against Sanford back in 2020, so something needed to be done. So, he backed up a pair of eyes- by putting his boundary End at the second level- and put more vision on the quarterback in zone coverage. He played two versions of Drop 8, from both a halves and a thirds structure. We profiled both of these coverages concepts already in a prior report.

But while Coach Taylor was enamored with how the coverage eliminated windows in the pass game, it was how he was defending the run that consumed him. “The coverage doesn’t matter until you stop the run,” he recounted. “When we were playing teams like Sanford that was playing with tempo we continually wondered how we’re going to stop the run? That’s when I came out of the Rabbit hole and came up with what I came up with.”

What he came up with was an adaptation of his two-high quarters run fits and complemented from three-high alignments. He took his back gap principles made it fit from 3-high structures. And he was able to do this by teaching a “loaded box” vs. a “bump box” run fit based on the formation structure. “It was simple teaching,” he told me. “I studied it and made simple rules that fit our defense.”

 

Mercer Personnel:

The Bears utilize a three-high safety defense on more than 20% of snaps this season. They essentially play with the following personnel:

  • Nose
  • Two Defensive Tackles
  • Boundary Defensive End (Kat)
  • Mike LB
  • Sam LB
  • Will LB
  • Free Safety- Middle Safety
  • Nickel Safety- Field Safety
  • Boundary Safety
  • Two Corners

 

Like most Odd front outfits, the Kat outside linebacker can play both on the line of scrimmage and off the line of scrimmage. While he needs to be cross-trained to play coverage, according to Coach Taylor it’s inexpensive and advantageous to do so. This way the Bears don’t need to change personnel to keep this structure intact.

 

Front Structure and First Level Fits: “Rely on the Knockback”

While Mercer played most of the 2021 season in a Mint (4-0-4) front structure, Coach Taylor has made a conscious choice now to move to reduction fronts. He’s going to do so by setting the reduction to the side of the back. The image below is a base alignment vs. 2×2 open sets, which will be explained later in the report.

 

He’ll play with a Zero nose that will only be responsible for one gap by lagging into the backside A gap. The defensive end away from the side of the back will play a “knockback” technique by owning both the C and B gap based on the block of the Tackle. If the Tackle works to reach him, he’ll fit the B gap and push the ball to the Sam or Will. If he gets any down block, he’ll close the hip and expect to spill any blockers coming to him. “We just tell them to let that offensive tackle reach you and get that ball pushed to the overhang,” said Coach Taylor. “When teams stretch game us, we have them fall inside instead of playing outside so that the backer can fit off of it.”

 

“Back Gap” vs. “Max Gap” Run Fit Methodology:

In Mercer University’s defensive system, the entire run fit is based on a simple premise: if you are inside the box, you spill. If you are outside the box, you box (contain). The idea is contrary to typical one-high, 8-man fit defenses because Coach Taylor wants the ball pushed to overhangs as much as possible.

It’s important to note that in the Bears defensive system, there are two forms of Drop 8 coverage. Both come from 3-Deep, 5-Under spacing. One of which is a cover three variant, where the field and boundary safeties are inserted into underneath coverage to play hook curl, the Sam and Will play the flat and the Mike has the high hole.

 

The other variant is a cover two variant, where the field and boundary safeties are pure halves defenders. He calls it “Frog” because the Middle Safety acts as a “Tadpole” playing the middle of the field from the top down.

 

Coach Taylor will teach two separate run fit scenarios based on those two structures: Back gap vs. Max gap:

“Max Gap”- Cover 3 run fit. This means defenders own the gap to their side. This is very similar to an Odd Stack run fit.

“Back Gap”- Cover 2 run fit. Defenders can back gap the run game based on the mesh of the quarterback. This fits with the “hold and fold” technique (referenced below) that Coach Taylor used in quarters coverage.

 

Since the majority of Mercer’s Drop 8 coverage falls into that cover two variant, most of Coach Taylor’s run fit patterns fall into back-gapping principles. But these principles are separated into load box vs. bump box scenarios which are classified by the formation and are detailed in this report.

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Multiple Mesh Point Design in Jet Sweep Concept

Multiple Mesh Point Design in Jet Sweep Concept

Posted by | Feb 14, 2022 | , , | 0 |

By Ken Vigdal
Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator
Le Mars High School (IA)
Twitter: @kevigdal

 

 

For a large part of my coaching career, I have run the Wing T offense.  I began with a double tight formation, but through time I have implemented the gun.  We are now more into a spread-wing offense.  The reason for this change was to allow defenses to continue to put more defenders in the box.  When we made the change to the spread wing we also incorporated an RPO system to go along with our trap and belly series.  This system is how we have been able to get the ball to the outside in space.  As a tight under center team, we did run a lot of Jet Sweeps.  However, this was not going to be a big part of our offense when we decided to spread the defense out.    Based on the way the defense will play some of our RPOs, we found that Jet Sweep has become an easy and effective way to get the ball to the edges. It’s been an answer for us for limited personnel upfront. It was our number one play because we didn’t have to block the box.

 

Formation Breakdown:  

The number one formation we like to run Jet Sweep out of is a tight wing.  We prefer this formation as the defense has to be balanced up.  We can run Jet Sweep to the wing or we can have the wing run the sweep to the slot side.  The other formation we like to run Jet Sweep out of is our 20 Personnel.  With this formation, we can create a misdirection to our Sweep.  Finally, we use an unbalanced double tight formation to run jet sweep, which allows us to have three different formations with one blocking scheme.

 

Basic Blocking Rules

PST: Reach DE, DE tight Reach step, DE wide, use a drop step, get inside arm to his outside armpit.

PSG: Reach. He will come down the line for 3 steps and then climb.

C: Reach, and climb to LB, with his reach step he might collide with DT.

BSG: Reach and try to cut off the backside LB.

BST: Reach and climb.

X, Y: Talk corner, if backside side run RPO, speed out or hitch.

Z: Sprint at 100%, receive the ball and then belly back a ½ yard and get to outside, landmarks are hash, number, side.

W: Responsible for the 9 Tech or OLB, if extra-wide run and cut off with a side block.

QB: Alignment 4 yards, 1 Shuffle step, snap the ball when the gall carrier gets to the tackle inside leg.

H: Align for success, side of the sweep, lead on OLB, or first to show.

 

 

The rest of this report focuses solely on how Coach Vigdal alters the mesh in his jet sweep concept based on formation structure.

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Targeting the C-Gap Outside Zone

Targeting the C-Gap Outside Zone

Posted by | Feb 7, 2022 | , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar with Brian Ferentz
Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends
University of Iowa
@CoachBFerentz

 

 

“It Starts with 7 on 7”

The Iowa slant play is built around purpose: get to man block scenarios. They believe that their front seven will beat your front seven. “We firmly believe that in all 7 spots we will kick your ass,” Coach Ferentz told me. “And we train that way year-round.” The vision of the play is enveloped in the mindset of “owning” blocks at the line of scrimmage. And this is done by getting into man-blocking scenarios. For instance, the tight end owning the 9-technique, the Tackle owning the 5-technique, the Guard owning the play side backer, etc. “We want to get to a one-on-one as fast as possible,” he believes.

How Iowa’s offensive staff attains and wins one on ones at the line of scrimmage is the focus of this report. The premise is to be aggressive in many blocking scenarios but be able to attain help if needed in zone combinations. He calls it “targeting,” which is different than traditional zone blocking. The target is the outside armpit in a wide reach technique which essentially is an over-reach and explained later in the report.  “We never want to chase anything in this concept,” he said. “The ball needs to hit wider.” This is created by a wide C gap track of the back. Iowa’s outside zone is modeled after the Alex Gibbs/Terrell Davis philosophy of getting the defense to run on the front side just to cut on the backside. Coach Ferentz calls it a “force the hole” play and that hole is usually the C gap. “All we want to do is separate pursuit in the C gap,” he told me. “We want to end up at that landmark with more speed than bodies that can defend it.”

The base rules of the concept are below:

 

Point System and Communication:

The cornerstone of blocking rules starts with blocking seven for seven across the front in 12 personnel structures, and six on six in 11 personnel structures. Iowa bases out of what Coach Ferentz calls “Zoro,” a seven-man combination along the front where the identification is the play side linebacker. The Nose or first down defender is the play side and the rest is counted out. If defenders are stacked, such as in Odd front scenarios, whoever ends up at the 0 area becomes the zero.

The graphics below provide a better illustration of Iowa’s count system based on the front:

 

Below are some of the terminology Iowa uses to communicate blocks upfront:

 

“Slip”- Front side combination with Guard and Tackle

 

“Sting”- Front side combination with Tight End and play side Tackle. The tight end will reach the play side armpit because he has help. Play side Tackle tries to overtake and push thru to linebacker.

 

“Triple”- Puts the play side three linemen (TE, PST, PSG) in combination. Good vs. 3-4 defenses with a 4i play side.

 

“Trio”– Combination between Play side Guard, Center, and Backside Guard. Mainly uses vs. Odd Stack teams with a nested Mike linebacker.

 

“Homer”- Four-man combination (sting and trio combined). Tells Guard who is covered to check the 7 technique. It’s good vs. Pirate movement along the line of scrimmage.

 

C Gap Mentality:

What separates Iowa from other outside zone outfits is the hell-bent nature of getting the ball to insert into the C gap. While the C gap can widen post-snap as evidenced in one of the diagrams below, Coach Ferentz and the offensive staff preaches that all players understand that C gap entry point. It’s all part of the education process of teaching players how the play is run. Quite frankly, every offensive player on the field is cognizant of that C gap entry point. While he says the most important block on the slant play is on the perimeter, he uses the following scenarios positionally to reinforce the timing of the play:

  • Play side Guard on a 3-Technique: Importance is to keep pressure, or what Coach Ferentz calls “slow down” on a B gap defender. If it’s too quick to reach him, the ball can cut back inside the play side C gap. If the defender runs, the shift is to move him vertical. It’s called an “overreach” technique and is detailed below.
  • Center- If the Center can’t reach the A gap defender, there is no play. This is because geographically, the A gap defender is able to cut the ball off faster from the C gap than a 3-technique.
  • Backside Linemen- Coach Ferentz talks about the longer time needed to beat that defender to the C gap entry point. He can’t cut anybody early because the defender can get up too early or the lineman can’t get vertical on him. “It’s a long way to that frontside C gap,” he said.

 

QB/RB Aiming Point and Mesh: C Gap Angle of Departure

When watching Iowa’s film, it’s clear the Hawkeyes are running the slant play by witnessing the path of the back. Like most operations in the Iowa program, the backs are extremely disciplined in hitting their landmark on the wide zone- which is the play side C gap. Iowa bases out of under alignments, mostly because of the potential of the naked and boot game off outside zone. Coach Ferentz doesn’t incorporate many Pistol alignments and he feels the sidecar alignment drifts the aiming point too wide. For Iowa, the C gap is the non-negotiable target for the ball carrier. Coach Ferentz talks about lining a can of spray paint in the C gap to identify the landmark for the back. “That ball should never hit behind that X geographically,” he said. “It may cut behind the Center at some point, but that Center should be at that X before it does. In a perfect world, we get it cut right at that C gap.” Now, that C gap can stretch once the play gets moving, but essentially the ball carrier needs to hit that area with his shoulder square and downhill. “If the back is cut off from the C gap, you have no play,” he told me. “We want defenses running.”

 

The footwork for the back is to pivot off the play side foot and get downhill at C gap. Coach Ferentz calls it “speed control,” which means to press the line of scrimmage, not the hole. The QB is taught to open at 10/2 o’clock and get the ball to the running back behind the C gap. “He’s got one job, get the ball to the running back job and boot away from play,” he said. “He can’t reach the ball out late and he better come off the exchange with the intention that he may have the ball.” The running back’s aiming point is the tight end to the three-surface side or the ghost tight end to the two-surface side. Again, it’s purely a C gap play.

Below is the drill work Iowa uses to teach its QB’s and RB’s the mesh on the wide zone:

 

 

The rest of this report focuses on the specific technique of individual and combination blocks play side as well as how the staff at Iowa formations the play to attain soft edges at the C gap.

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Replace Rushes from Drop 8 Coverage

Replace Rushes from Drop 8 Coverage

Posted by | Feb 7, 2022 | , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar with Joel Taylor
Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
Mercer University (GA)
@KoachTaylor

 

 

For most of his career, defensive coordinator Joel Taylor was a four-down, quarters-based coach. The last time we worked with him back in 2018 he was at The Citadel (SC) using similar fronts. But as the athleticism of players in the SoCon advanced, particularly at the quarterback position, Coach Taylor shifted to using more 3-3-5 spacing. And the ball was getting out so fast, he didn’t see the purpose of rushing four defenders anymore. “We were wasting a rush,” he told me. “So, why not just add dropper?” That additional dropper became an off-the-ball outside linebacker (the Kat in his system). While the extra cover defender solved the rush problem, it only exacerbated another issue- quarterbacks were pulling the ball down and either scrambling for extra yardage or extending plays on their feet and delivering the ball into soft zones.

The breaking point came in the last game of the 2020 season when the Samford quarterback lit up the Bears for 443 yards in the air, most of it came from extending plays. And when Coach Taylor decided to designate one second-level defender- usually the Mike- as the fourth rusher the issue didn’t get resolved. “He couldn’t tackle the quarterback in space and he had no pass presence because we eliminated him from coverage,” he said. “He was in purgatory. We needed more leverage on the quarterback.” So, heading into this season the Bears tweaked second-level rush responsibilities from Drop 8 coverage. This one simple tweak helped propel the Bears from 60th in total defense in 2020 to a top 20 finish this season at the FCS level.

 

Personnel:

The Bears utilize a three-high safety defense on more than 20% of snaps this season. They essentially play with the following personnel:

  • Nose
  • Two Defensive Tackles
  • Boundary Defensive End (Kat)
  • Mike LB
  • Sam LB
  • Will LB
  • Free Safety- Middle Safety
  • Nickel Safety- Field Safety
  • Boundary Safety
  • Two Corners

 

Like most Odd front outfits, the Kat outside linebacker can play both on the line of scrimmage and off the line of scrimmage. While he needs to be cross-trained to play coverage, according to Coach Taylor it’s inexpensive and advantageous to do so. This way the Bears don’t need to change personnel to keep this structure intact.

In the Bears defensive system, there are two forms of Drop 8 coverage. Both come from 3-Deep, 5-Under spacing. The difference is in the responsibility of the outside pieces. One of which is a cover three variant, where the field and boundary safeties are inserted into underneath coverage to play hook curl, the Sam and Will play the flat and the Mike has the high hole.

He calls it “Bunny:”

 

The other variant is a cover two variant, where the field and boundary safeties are pure halves defenders. He calls it “Frog” because the Middle Safety acts as a “Tadpole” playing the middle of the field from the top down.

 

According to Coach Taylor, both are extremely inexpensive to install and efficient against 10 and 11 personnel offenses. In fact, the only times Coach Taylor will choose not to use these coverages is against multiple tight end groupings because of heavy run concepts like the Duo play.

 

Vision-Based Coverage:

One of the driving forces in Coach Taylor adjusting his mindset is the shift from a man-based coverage approach to a zone-based coverage approach. He calls his unit a “vision-based” team as it pertains to zone coverage and he does to through anticipating the actions of the quarterback. Most of this comes through what he calls a front-shoulder read of the quarterback.

This premise is best described below:

 

“High Shoulder Read”- Dictates a deeper route such as corners or verticals.

 

“Low Shoulder Read”- Dictates a shorter route such as a flat throw.

 

“Hash Shoulder Read”- Dictates a ball expected to be thrown between the numbers and hash.

 

“Sideline Shoulder Read”- Dictates a wider throw such as outs and comebacks.

 

These are important coaching points to understand as we move further into this report.

The rest of this report focuses solely on how Coach Taylor has built-in replace rushes from both of these coverage spacings to limit mobile QB’s extending plays.

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Run Game Divides: Separating the Defense

Run Game Divides: Separating the Defense

Posted by | Jan 30, 2022 | , , , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar with Patrick Murphy
Offensive Coordinator
University of Rhode Island
Twitter: @CoachMurphURI

 

 

At the University of Rhode Island, offensive coordinator Pat Murphy has built his run game around what he calls “segment runs,” which essentially are divide runs, where the QB is asked to read any defender in any gap along the line of scrimmage. While many coaches have implemented some of these concepts- such as zone read, midline read, bash, etc.- Coach Murphy and his staff use all of them and will use them every week. He will ask his quarterback to read the B gap, A Gap, C gap, or D gap and will invert the read where the QB is the dive element, which allows for bigger QB’s to run in the box. He can do that is by building his run game around these particular defaults where each concept has a built-in read.

Take the following illustration as an example:

“Power”- D gap read to call side

 “Mid Zone”- A gap read to call side

“Tight Zone”- C gap read to the backside

“Outside Zone”- A gap read to the backside

“Counter G/T”- C gap read to the backside

 

It’s important to know that these reads can change based on the personnel and scheme of the defense, which is something we will detail later on in this report. Which divides Coach Murphy and his staff selects also depends on the skill set of the quarterback. But one thing is certain, using all of these read concepts as a primary element of your system allows quarterbacks who are not particularly great runners to be a threat in the run game. And with a signal-caller this season that is 230 pounds, Coach Murphy makes sure that he gets at least 10-12 carriers per game, particularly on interior runs, which is different than getting an edge or dealing with space outside. This year the URI quarterback finished with 408 yards on 113 carriers and in two seasons the Rams were undefeated when he rushes for over 30 yards a game.

The progression starts by deciding where he wants to divide the defense. While linemen have their rules based on the run concept, the divide gap is the read gap and cannot be blocked. How Coach Murphy and his staff formulates the read each week is what makes the system unique. “Essentially you’re mixing tight zone with mid-zone on the same play and you can displace people fighting to stay in their gaps,” he says. “It’s not something defenders see regularly. Often there is no one in the divide but the actual read defender because they are getting tight zone action one way and stretched opposite.”

 

Divide Verbiage:

How Coach Murphy can bucket all these concepts is by creating a streamlined system of language that is broken down into both front side and backside reads and combined with the run concept. Any front side read is coupled with an “F” word, which tells the front side offensive line they are involved in the read side.

Consider the following examples:

“Fate”- Front side A gap read

“Fiber”- Front side B gap read

 

So, if mid-zone is called “Mustang,” mid-zone with an A gap front side read can be called something like “Mustang Fate.” And if outside zone is called “Ozzie,” outside zone with a B gap front side read would be called something like “Ozzie Fiber.”

 

It’s important not to get the big guys up front confused, so although Rhode Island is primarily a one-back outfit any “F” tag instructs the line to use two-back blocking, where the Center works backside away from the read.

Conversely, backside reads are labeled with “B” words such as “Bat” where the quarterback will read the first down lineman (either A or B gap defender) past the Center on the backside. This tells the Center to now work frontside. Against a 2i defender, the backside Guard blocks the B gap, the backside Tackle blocks the C gap, and the backside tight end blocks the D gap or can seal the safety. These can be coupled with any run concept (mid zone, tight zone, pin, pull, etc.). But as detailed below what makes these concepts lethal is the invert run action presented to a down defender where he is asked to make a real-time decision on playing the back or the QB with run action in his face right now. It’s different than pure zone read where the back is working away from him. It completely negates any traditional surf technique by a down lineman.

 

According to Coach Murphy, because the backside is man blocking it’s important to teach the offensive line to be able to handle two-man and three-man games on the backside. They have to be able to work in space and block second-level defenders by using the same principles as a backside Tackle would on a traditional zone read by veering to a second-level defender. Coach Murphy calls it “V.C.C.” which stands for Veer, Climb and Cover a second-level defender. At times it’s important to let the defender declare, rather than try to decide which way he is working. “We talk about picking our inside foot up and putting it down to get a true determination of the best path to the linebacker,” he said.

 

Varying Mesh Points:

Each of these reads is correlated with a particular mesh fundamental by the quarterback and running back. As defenses got smarter in being able to tip off backfield alignments, Coach Murphy went to a universal backfield alignment of having the running back always align in the B gap and always have his toes on the heels of the quarterback as to not tip off which concept is being run. Which mesh fundamental the QB and running back is based on the particular segment run. But it will always be one of the following:

 

“Clear” Mesh– Here the quarterback will step back and replace his heels with his toes moving from near leg to far leg to seat the mesh. The coaching point is to have feet slightly wider than his armpits so he can come downhill down the hash. These are used in mid-zone reads, and wrong way runs where the QB is reading a backside B gap or C gap defender.

 

“Skate” Mesh- Here the quarterback clears the mesh with a shuffle to the front side. These are used in front side reads, where the quarterback reads a front side A gap defender as he would in the mid-zone read the example above.

 

“Pivot” Mesh- Here the quarterback will pivot on his play side foot with a short six-inch step with opposite foot in a staggered stance. He will ride the ball from near hip to far hip before making a decision. These are used in interior runs like veer, power, and counter.

 

As far as making the right decision on gives or pulls, Coach Murphy classifies a give or pull in a simple formula:

 

“On or In= Out”- This means that if the read defender is on or inside the line of scrimmage the ball should go outside to the running back.

 

“Upfield or Outside= In”- This means that if the read defender is upfield or outside the line of scrimmage the ball should go inside to the quarterback.

 

The rest of this report focuses solely on how Coach Murphy and his staff piece together these segments runs weekly to manipulate defensive schemes and personnel.

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