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Mixing Unbalanced Formations and Motions into Sugar Huddle Communications

Mixing Unbalanced Formations and Motions into Sugar Huddle Communications

Posted by | May 18, 2019 | , , | 0 |

By Danny Schaechter
Offensive Coordinator & QBs
Gonzaga College High School (Washington, D.C.)
Twitter: @CoachDShack

 

 

Whenever deciding to add something to the offense, I want to make sure it’s simple, effective, and cheap. Therefore, we decided to add a sugar huddle package to our offense. The sugar huddle is not new to football. Then again, neither is the fast-paced no-huddle offense. With defenses catching up to the speed of offenses, it’s our job as offensive coaches to keep them off-balance. This is why we began using the up-tempo sugar huddle. It allowed us to change the tempo while utilizing an unbalanced formation and motion paired with our base plays and a couple of tricks. Thus, we were able to go slow yet still be fast while keeping the defense on their toes, having to align and adjust quickly.

 

Mechanics

Furthermore, after research and tinkering, we decided it’s best to get the receivers positioned in their pre-snap alignments while the linemen and backs were in the sugar huddle. The combination of linemen getting set quickly in a two-point stance and already having all skilled players pre-aligned helped us make this an up-tempo sugar huddle. The coaches signal our sugar huddle tempo/motion (one signal) then the play (just like our no-huddle). The QB, TB, FB, and WRs get the play signal from the sideline. The QB, just like in our no-huddle, tells the O-Line the play. After making sure everyone is set on the perimeter, the QB breaks the huddle. The linemen get set quicker than Quick Draw McGraw. The QB is in charge for sending and timing the full speed jet motion, and we’re off to the races.

 

Communication

As mentioned earlier, we utilized an unbalanced formation and motion with our sugar huddle this year. One-word play calls are the rage, but we wanted this package to be more multiple, so we used one word to specify the formation, the motion, and that we were in our sugar huddle tempo. Below are examples of our two formations:

Diagram 1

Diagram 2

 

QB: Heels at 4 directly behind the center, in charge of timing the jet motion

TB: Toes at 7 directly behind the QB

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Mixing Coverage and Pressure to Defend Empty

Mixing Coverage and Pressure to Defend Empty

Posted by | May 17, 2019 | , , , , | 0 |

By Laban DeLay, Head Coach
Billy Skinner, Safeties
Arlington Lamar High School (TX)
Twitter: @Coach_DeLay & @CoachSkinz

Introduction:

We are in a football era where defending offenses is becoming a more difficult challenge each year. Winning football games 3-0 or 7-6 are few and far between due to athletic ability and the creative minds of offensive coaches. At Lamar High School, we are diligent about not staying in one front or coverage very often and trying to create confusion for the quarterback and offensive coordinator. This clinic report will feature the Lamar Vikings defending empty sets by bringing a variety of pressures and mixing the coverages.

Scheming Empty Formations

Our number one priority as a defensive staff is to be sound against the run in every formation while taking away the opponent’s favorite pass concepts. To do this, we analyze our opponent’s run game from each formation along with their personnel groupings. When we encounter empty formations, we design a 4 to 5 call package tailored to take away their favorite plays and to neutralize their best offensive player. These calls are designed to not only take away their favorite plays, but also to add confusion to their quarterback by a mixture of coverages & fronts. Here are a few examples:

  • If we are playing a quarterback who is better in the pocket, we design a man pressure that will move him off of his spot and ultimately throw off his timing in accordance to routes.
  • If we are facing an athletic quarterback, who is more prone to scramble, we will design a zone pressure that will allow us to keep “Zone Eyes” on him, while we play games with the coverage in the back end.
  • Against a stud receiver, we can design coverage adjustments using our base package to play “STAR” coverage, to eliminate him out of that particular play or series.

We like to mix and match all of these concepts together when we customize our empty package for each opponent every week. During our practice week, we will rep all of our calls while giving our linebackers the freedom to make our empty call checks and our safeties will adjust the coverage to keep everything sound. This allows them to feel ownership in our defense and encourages them to study our game plan thoroughly. We, as coaches, also have the capability to “lock” in a specific coverage per the game situation rather than our allowing our linebackers and safeties to make the adjustments. Our “adjust” call allows the safeties to call a coverage that is best suited vs the formation the offense presents to us. Our safeties have to be great communicators with each other because many times we will make a split coverage call. For example, we might play Cover 2 to one side while playing Cover 4 or perhaps man coverage to the other side. Our safeties will communicate the coverage with one another first & then relay the coverage call to their side corner & outside linebacker. We feel that our “adjust” coverage allows us the flexibility to get into the most favorable coverage as we will detail later in this report. 

“Adjust” Coverage vs. Empty

We teach our basic coverage principles in a classroom setting we call “Football 101”. We begin with Cover 2 and illustrate this coverage vs multiple formations. We instruct alignment, strengths, weaknesses as well as proper execution of Cover 2. We proceed to teach each of our coverages in this manner to educate our players on the multitude of looks we can run in the defensive backfield. We want to build comfort level with our players in such that we can run any coverage vs any formation. Through our “Football 101” education we then discuss which coverages we prefer to certain formations and concepts which is a critical part for our safeties with the “Adjust” call. Now that our players have a solid foundation of our coverage schemes, it enables us to mix and match coverages against our opponents. For example, if a team is running empty and runs a vertical scheme to the three receiver side we may want to run our quarter’s concept there, and run our read Cover 2 concept to the two receiver side.

Quarter, Quarter, Half vs. Empty

When we run quarters to the trips side of empty it is imperative that the safety and corner read the route concepts. If the route combination does not threaten our zone then our eyes must move to the next most dangerous threat, thus we never “cover grass”. Corners will be responsible for the outside quarter, so their eyes will go from the #1 receiver (the furthest outside) to #2, and then to the #3. If there is a smash concept (#1 stop, #2 corner route) the corner will stay over the top of the corner route and allow the underneath coverage to be responsible for the stop. The safety is responsible for the inside quarter, so his read must go from the #3 receiver to #2 and then to #1. If he reads that #3 is vertical he pedals for depth and protects his hash. On the quarters side, the key to success is the underneath coverage.  The outside backer starts with his eyes in the backfield for his run/pass key. If pass, outside backer must take speed off the #2 receiver with a violent re-route. He is the curl/flat player and we believe that the quarterback’s front shoulder will direct his drop. If the shoulder is quick game or screen now and his hand comes off the ball, we must locate the “quick man” and trigger. If the quarterback’s shoulder and eyes lock vertical, he can carry his re-route deeper. Inside backer’s initial alignment against empty is to discourage the hot of #3 strong and #2 weak.  Their main responsibility is to handle the quarterback run scheme that the offense presents.  After reading pass, the inside backers will protect the hash allowing nothing to cross the face underneath them while taking away the hot routes.  The job of the inside backers is to force the quarterback to attempt the longest and/or widest throw to give time to the secondary players to react and make a play on the ball.  The #1 goal of the inside backers is to protect the hash so the safeties are not put in a matchup with more than 2 receivers in their zone.

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The FSL Package: Boundary Concepts From 3×1 Formations

The FSL Package: Boundary Concepts From 3×1 Formations

Posted by | May 17, 2019 | , , , , | 0 |

By Patrick Murphy,
Head Football Coach,
Saint Anselm College 
Twitter: @Spredm_N_Shredm

Introduction:

CaptureConventional offenses have often scoffed at the idea of running trips into the boundary, but at St. Anselm College we have found a way to turn this type of thinking into an advantage. We find that by putting trips to the boundary, we force the defense to make a choice; defend numbers or defend space. From there we can build plays to attack the different choices that they make.

Philosophy:

To give you an understanding of why our philosophy is what it is here at Saint Anselm College, you have to understand the history of the program since my staff and I arrived here in spring of 2008. When we arrived, we inherited the nation’s longest losing streak (38 straight D-II losses with the average loss by more than 30+ points). We had only 35 players on roster that first spring, the program was dead last in nearly every offensive statistic, and there was zero confidence in the team’s ability to move the ball, score points or be successful at anything.

Unlike the rest of our league, our program had yet to make the jump to scholarships, so we were operating as a non-scholarship program in a scholarship league with some of the toughest admissions standards in the area. We’ve since began to add scholarships to the program, but we are still far behind the rest of the league in scholarship numbers. It is because of these hurdles that we have developed into a no-huddle, multiple read, “smoke & mirrors” offense that relies more on not blocking defenders than it does on scheming to block the outstanding defenders we compete against. For us, we spend time as a coaching staff devising ways to not block these defenders so we “Improvise, Adapt, & Overcome”.
I think our offensive philosophy itself allows us to play at a very fast pace that dictates that the defense play “vanilla”. The FSL package further magnifies that tempo and can handle different fronts/coverages/pressures because it has “built in” answers to each. Along with the base package, we also build a surprise or two into it, just as we do with our base offensive attack, on a weekly basis. So the package is constantly growing and presenting different counters to defensive problems.

We have either lead the league or been in the top 2-3 teams in the conference in rushing, passing, total offense and scoring during our time here at St. Anselm. The last several years our FSL Package has helped tremendously to “even the playing field” against some of the more talented programs we face. Ultimately, it still comes down to “Numbers, Angles, & Grass” and how to engineer those three elements to our advantage.

FSL Basics:

Depending on what our opponent is doing from a coverage/scheme standpoint, we are capable of reading all 11 defenders in a 2-high shell defense (Diagram 1). Against an 8-man front, we are capable of reading the entire front 8 in a 1-high shell defense (Diagram 2). Who we read will be determined by several factors, some of which are personnel, formation, the scheme employed against us, and where we can turn the numbers angles and grass to our advantage. Throughout the game plan process, we’re looking to take the path of least resistance. We do not spend a lot of time scheming to block the top defenders we face. Instead, we “erase” them by either formationing them or reading them. The FSL package allows us another way to disguise how we are erasing their best defenders.

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Flexbone Issue – Case 1: Keeping Concept Integrity by Varying Balanced, End Over and Trips Formation Structures

Flexbone Issue – Case 1: Keeping Concept Integrity by Varying Balanced, End Over and Trips Formation Structures

Posted by | May 15, 2019 | , , | 0 |

By Scott Dieterich
Offensive Coordinator / QB & FB’s Coach
Parkview Baptist School (LA)
Twitter: @deterball

 

  

I would like to open by thanking X&O Labs for the opportunity to share this report with you. As a coach, I greatly appreciate the value of the resources that football coaches from across the country share and the forum that X&O Labs provides for its readers is greatly appreciated and respected.

As a long-time flex bone offensive coach, there are a few things I need to begin this report with to help the reader understand the “why” and not just the “what” of this article. Just as there are many different varieties of the modern spread offense, the same can be said for today’s modern flex bone offenses. I believe it’s safe to say that most flex bone offenses are similarly deeply rooted in a few core plays (i.e. triple option & midline options etc.), but there are many subtle differences within different versions of the flex bone offense.  Some of these differences are not always easily noticeable and they can include elements such as the types of complementary plays used, the type & frequency of the passing game, and the use of formations and personnel.

The main concept that will be covered in this article will be using different formations and specializing personnel in the flex bone offense to be the most effective and efficient. I believe that most high school coaches learn many things from visiting and studying college teams every year. But not all things transfer down to the high school level equally. The main issues that most often must be considered for high school coaches are time and the ability of our players. We are a 1-platoon team, so we must share our players in each phase of the game (O-D-K), which greatly limits our time with them in each phase as well as limiting how much we can put on each of them mentally. This article is written with much thought given to these issues. Things obviously change for the better when a coach has more time and/or more ability with regards to his players. It will also be assumed that there is some working knowledge by the reader of the flex bone offense. This article will touch on some of the plays we use in this offense, but the plays will be covered more within the context of how they are used with different formations more so than in-depth detail of the plays themselves.

 

Flex Bone Formations

The discussion for formations in any offense can’t accurately be complete without considering the assignments & roles of specific players & positions within each formation, for each play, and vs. all defenses. All (11) positions on each play are vital, but within the flex bone offense, there are (2) positions that have “more on their plate” than any others; The QB & the Halfbacks. NOTE: I call our halfbacks “T & Y” or collectively “TY-Backs”; many flex offenses call this position “A-Backs”. The formation itself cannot necessarily take pressure off the QB, but we do try to take pressure off the Halfbacks by limiting where we align our halfbacks and what we ask them to do.

The Split-End or Wide Receiver is a position that isn’t very demanding mentally, but physically it is very demanding in its own way. Many flex teams have really expanded recently what they will ask this position to do by specifically using the SE to align and perform more like a TE. Again, I have seen this done effectively at the college level but I really haven’t seen it trickle down to the high school level very effectively and consistently. Again, a college team can recruit specifically what they are looking for to fill the needs of what they ask their positions to do where most high school teams must develop their players to best fit what they can within their natural abilities.

 

Formation “Integrity”

The “integrity” or effectiveness of a formation in the flex bone offense for us comes down to a (3) key concepts that we try to maintain with 99% of our sets:

  1. Always have an “attached” halfback. By having an attached halfback this gives us the most flexibility for the plays we run.
  2. Always have a “true” fullback aligned behind the QB. A true fullback threatens the defense immediately and it is the trigger for many of our plays. When a flex bone team doesn’t have a true fullback, this eliminates much of what a defense must defend.
  3. We want to be able to run the bulk of our offense out of all formations that we use, especially our options: By making the defense always align option sound to both sides of a formation greatly limit what they can do defensively and still be sound.

 

A Few Different or Unusual Alignments that you may notice within our Formations

I really don’t care for coaching something just because “that’s just the way it’s always been done” or because “that’s what everybody else does.” I don’t mind thinking outside of the box a little bit, especially when I feel like it gives our players the best chance for success. Below are a few alignment things that we do differently as compared to most flex teams.

  1. Our TY-Backs/Halfbacks align deeper than most flex teams – this tends to make most of their assignments easier such as improved motion paths & blocking fits.
  2. Our Fullback (aka B-Back) is aligned in a 2-point stance. Although it’s rare to see this from a flex team, I feel the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.
  3. Our O-Line is aligned further up on the LOS than most flex teams that tend to get as deep as legally possible with their O-Line. We feel this alignment helps us our O-Line function better overall in most blocking situations.
  4. Our T.E. will align in a 2-point stance many times. We give the T.E. the choice to align in a 2 or 3 Point stance and many times they choose the 2-point stance because most of their assignments are executed easier from this alignment.

 

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Flexbone Issue – Case 2: Troubleshooting Common Flex Bone Issues Against Odd Fronts

Flexbone Issue – Case 2: Troubleshooting Common Flex Bone Issues Against Odd Fronts

Posted by | May 15, 2019 | , , | 0 |

By Ken James, Nate James & Matt Donegan
Northwood High School (OH)

 

  

The 3-4 defense can have a variety of appearances; therefore, it is important to first identify where the defenders are lining up and how they are attacking your offense.  Running the triple option/midline, we are always trying to put ourselves in an advantageous position by using a variety of formations and motion to help us gain a numbers advantage.  Seeing how defenses align to simple formation adjustment can give the offense the upper-hand.  Regardless, it is important for the quarterback to identify the dive and pitch reads before the snap.  Equally important is for the play side halfback and wide receiver to identify the primary and secondary force defenders and to communicate so two people are not blocking one person.  Many teams have played a 3-4 against us because we run midline very effectively and they think having a NT will prevent that from happening.  Being able to execute a multitude of option attacks can help provide answers when teams try to take away the midline or inside veer.

 

Inside veer

Diagram 13

 

In Diagram 13, there is an image that displays how we block a 3-4 defense and whom we are trying to option.  Our backside G and T are scoop blocking to protect against an angle from the NT, blitz from BSLB, or a pinching backside end.  The C and play side G are going to combo the NT up to the backside LB (if the LB is gone, work up to the safety).  The play side T will release inside, making sure to rip with his outside arm to negate the DE from getting his hands on him allowing him to get the play side LB.  I teach the quarterback to envision a clock at his feet, so he should have a first step at 4 o’clock (3 o’clock is obviously a lateral step) and to draw the ball back as quickly as possible to get the ball into the FB’s belly while keeping his chin on the front shoulder.  By doing this it forces the ball back and keeps the quarterback’s eyes are the predetermined dive read.  The quarterback must decide (whether to give or keep) by the time the ball reaches his front thigh then immediately get eyes up to the pitch read (practicing meshes and different mesh defenses every day is crucial to being successful).  The front side wide receiver is responsible for the secondary force and must take a good angle to attack the safety.  The play side running back is going to arc release and block the primary defender (it is beneficial to come up with some sort of simple hand gesture, so the two players can communicate and block the correct defender).

A common defense to this is to pinch the DE (or place him in a 4-technique) to prevent the play side Tackle from getting to the LB, leaving him unblocked and able to scrape over the top for tackles.  Therefore, we have our Tackles make a “zone” call (if they cannot release inside) to signify to the guard he is going to outside release to block the LB (if taken by the G he will climb to the safety).  The play side guard must take a play side zone step up to the LB and the C must also take a play side step to get his head in front of the Nose Tackle.

Diagram 14

 

To study game film of the Inside Veer concept, click on the video below:

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Flexbone Issue – Case 3: Individual OL Drill Progressions for the Flex Bone Offense

Flexbone Issue – Case 3: Individual OL Drill Progressions for the Flex Bone Offense

Posted by | May 15, 2019 | , , | 0 |

By Pete Llaneza
Offensive Line Coach
Boonton High School (NJ)

 

  

Before the 2018 season our head coach, Bryan Gallagher decided to fully commit to the spread option offense developed by Paul Johnson.  In ten games this season we rushed for 3,960 yards.  We scored 44 rushing touchdowns.  We averaged 7.4 yards per carry.  These totals were a big improvement from our 2017 rushing stats.  Part of the reason for our success was due to the talent we had in the backfield. Another reason for our success can be tied to the scheme. There are many teams that run this style of offense and have talented backs but do not have the same type of success. The thing we had, that all teams who run this style of offense successfully have, are five tough guys up front who were willing to work at the details of blocking every day. 

Navy Head Coach Ken Niumatalolo said, “Culture beats strategy all day long. Our culture is the way we come off the fricking football.” I believe our success is based upon the culture of effort, toughness and attention to detail developed during our offensive line individual period. I remind our guys every week, the reason we rush for 400 yards on Friday night is because of the work we put in during our individual periods.  This article will discuss our offensive line individual run block drill progression and how we have developed the Boonton Bomber offensive line culture.

 

Stance

Diagram 22

 

I am not a coach who wants his guys in a “comfortable stance”.  The stance is the first part of executing a good block.  I want our players to start in a position that will give them the best chance to be successful in executing their assignment.  That stance is usually uncomfortable at first.  As the players become more flexible, the stance gets more comfortable.

In our version of the spread option offense our lineman will have more weight on their down hand than most offensive lineman.  However, we do need to pull, pass set and down block often.  We ask our guys to be in a more balanced stance than most spread option teams and we do not want a stagger. Pad level is a point of emphasis.  We want our guys as low as possible in their stance. The following is the progression we use to teach the stance.  We will do this before each practice at the start of the summer. After a few practices, we will eliminate this portion of practice.  However, we are constantly coaching the stance in other drills.

When we set up the stance progression we align our first team, second team, third team on yard lines.  The centers will align in a row.  The left guards in a row. The left tackles in a row.  The right guards and tackles will also align in rows on the other side of the center. Everyone will do this progression at the same time.  We ask the center to put his toes on the near tip of the yard line.  The guards will take a 3 foot split from the center. The tackles will take a 3 foot split from the guard. We have a split stick to help measure this.  Our split stick is a PVC T that is 3 foot long at the top.  We can lay it down to quickly assess the split of our offensive line. 

We also want our guards to take a vertical split so their helmet breaks the beltline of the center.  This vertical split has many benefits.  The main benefit is it allows our guards and tackles a better chance of reaching a defensive lineman on the backside of scoop blocks.  To get this vertical split we ask the guards and tackles to put their hand down on the yard line that the center has his toes on.

 

Stance Progression and Technique Fundamentals

  1. Step up to the line in a hip width power stance. Same width as when Olympic lifting. Pigeon toed in, with heals out.
  2. Squat down, shaking hands until forearms touch thighs.
  3. Stretch out down hand out. Right side OG/OT use left hand. Left side OG/OT uses right hand.  Center will stretch non-snapping hand out.  We want to promote forward movement.  Stretching the down hand out promotes that.
  4. Reach hand out until heals pop off the ground. Pinky should be in line with the big toe. All five fingers in the ground. Thumb of the offhand should be under the chin with fingers spread.
  5. Back should be flat and down hand should be out in front of the eyes. Hips should be slightly higher than head.

*** The center will reach out to grab the ball, putting thumb on the top lace.  Center’s arms should be extended.

 

To study film of this drill, click on the video below:

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Flexbone Issue – Case 4: Weak Side Veer Concepts from Unbalanced Formations

Flexbone Issue – Case 4: Weak Side Veer Concepts from Unbalanced Formations

Posted by | May 15, 2019 | , , | 0 |

By Nate Teichgraeber
Head Coach
Council Grove High School (KS)
Twitter: @CoachCGBraves

 

  

Unbalanced formations in our Flex Bone system presents problems for defenses and how they adjust. We run our core base plays out of unbalanced formations (inside veer, outside veer, midline, zone option, belly, rocket toss, and counter iso) without making changes to our blocking rules and schemes, and we want to run them to both the strong (heavy side) and weak side. Being primarily an option team, we feel unbalanced gives us an added advantage when teams have to adjust by still forcing teams to account for the dive/QB/pitch while still lining up sound to our unbalanced formations. Y over (Diagram 32) Twins (Diagram 33), and Trips (Diagram 34) are (3) three ways we run inside veer triple or double option to the weak side of an unbalanced formation. We are giving the defense a lot of looks to prepare for, and we aren’t changing what we do for our OL. We can modify our blocking schemes to any front with our blocking rules and scheme our wings to block either the force player, high safety, or corner, which gives us a numbers advantage to the weak side of an unbalanced formation.

Diagram 32

Diagram 33

Diagram 34

 

Y over unbalanced weak side inside veer vs 4-4

Diagram 35

 

  • QB – reading 1st man 4i or + play side.
    • pitch key is called-in from the sideline pre-snap to the QB and play side wing.
    • in this play, the high safety has been designated the pitch key.
  • F – regular inside veer path right
  • R (play side wing) – sideline call to block the corner
  • L (backside wing) inside veer pitch path
  • Y – backside inside veer rules
    • unbalanced TE scoop, climb, and hinges (SCH) inside and tracks to 2nd level
  • X – inside veer rules
    • TOE SS combo block with LT
  • LT – inside veer rules
    • TOE SS combo block with X
  • LG – inside veer rules
    • GOT SS combo block with C
  • C – inside veer rules
    • GOT SS combo block with LG
  • RG – inside veer rules – since uncovered and #1 is read key, track to 2nd level
  • RT – inside veer rules – since #1 is read key, best path release and track to 2nd level

 

In the clip below, the QB knows the wide 5 will have a hard time squeezing the dive, and our G & T will release w/good angles to LB. Good decision by the QB to give the ball. The play side wing is assigned to block the corner, with the pitch key the high safety. We don’t block very well weak side, or this would have been a bigger play.

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Flexbone Issue – Case 5: Flexbone Preview for 2019 – What You Must Know

Flexbone Issue – Case 5: Flexbone Preview for 2019 – What You Must Know

Posted by | May 15, 2019 | , , | 0 |

By Dr. Lou Cella
Sport and Performance Psychologist
tripleoptionfootball.com

 

  

Army, Navy, and Georgia Tech combined to do the following in 2018:

  • Played 39 games.
  • Executed 2,653 plays.
  • Averaged 68 offensive plays/game.
  • Ran the football 86% of the time.
  • Averaged 58 running plays/game.

 

45% of Army, Navy, and Georgia Tech’s combined offense consisted of the following three concepts:

1: Zone Option with Variations.

  • This includes Speed Option, Quarterback Power, and Quarterback Sweep.
  • Zone Option with variations was run 461 times.
  • This concept was 17.4% of Army, Navy, and Georgia Tech’s 2018 Offense.
  • Zone Option with variations is the featured constraint when they don’t get four yards on the give phase of the Triple Option.

 

2: Triple Option

  • This is the “Inside Veer” concept.
  • Triple Option was run 403 times.
  • This concept was 15.2% of Army, Navy, and Georgia Tech’s 2018 Offense.
  • Triple Option is more than just a singular concept, the Triple Option is the foundation of the offense.

 

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Screen Drill: 80 Reps in 10-Minutes

Screen Drill: 80 Reps in 10-Minutes

Posted by | May 12, 2019 | , , | 0 |

By Shawn Liotta
Offensive Coordinator
Clairton High School (PA)

 

Introduction:

clairtonIn 2014 the Clairton Bears led the nation in scoring and finished second all-time nationally with 958 points scored on their way to a 15-1 record. The Bears “No-Huddle, No-Mercy” offense totaled 8,162 total yards and averaged 12.75 yards per play with a balanced attack 3,249 yards passing/ 4,913 yards rushing.

The screen game is a key component of our offensive attack at Clairton High School. We employ a diverse and effective screen package that makes up one third of our total offensive attack. We place great emphasis on the fundamentals and execution of these concepts. That means treating screens in your offensive package the same way that you would with your running game or pass attack. Too often coaches employ screens as an exotic or off-tempo type of concept that they maybe get four or five reps of the concept in practice often during team drills. These same coaches will get frustrated when they call the Screen play in the game and it does not work due to poor execution and timing. By utilizing this screen drill daily for 10 minutes, you will greatly enhance the success of the screen package in your offense.

We utilize screens as a way to get the ball to our playmakers in space and force the defense to defend our offense sideline to sideline. We enter each game with the following screen concepts.

  • Fast Screens
  • Slow Screens
  • Key Screens
  • Double Screens
  • Screens Packaged with our Run Game
  • Suckers and Gadgets

We are an up-tempo, no huddle offense with the goal of getting the ball snapped within five seconds of the ready for play signal. This philosophy carries over to our practice schedule as we attempt to set an extremely fast pace in practice so that our games appear to slow down. This allows us to get the maximum number of quality snaps during our practice sessions, however this also necessitates our coaches to coach off of film or during our group periods such as our screen drill so that we do not slow down our pace. Our screen drill provides us with an opportunity to teach each of our screen concepts in a team setting during each practice session. We use this drill to allow us to rep each of our screen concepts in each direction during a ten-minute session where we can average seven to eight snaps per minute during this period.

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Using Catch Man in the Red Zone

Using Catch Man in the Red Zone

Posted by | May 12, 2019 | , , | 0 |

By Darren Garrigan
Defensive Backs Coach
East Central University
Twitter: @collegeDB_coach

 

 

img 9883

Introduction

Red zone coverage has its challenges regardless of the coverage technique you use, but after I reviewed our 2012 tape, I was sure that we needed to go back to the drawing board.  I was tired of seeing DB?s get beat on the fade and back shoulder time and time again.  So I asked a variety of offensive coaches what makes things difficult for them in the red zone and their answers were rather consistent.  They said that they struggle with DB?s that sit back and are slow to turn on the receiver?s movement.  They went on to explain that by sitting just past the depth that they like to cut and collisioning the receivers at the point of the cut their timing was impacted and the success rate dropped.

This all brought me to the catch technique, which for us means standing 8-9 yards off the receiver flat footed and ready to collision and react to the receiver as he makes his break.  This forced the receivers to change the way they ran their routes and forced the quarterbacks to wait an additional second before releasing the ball.  We put the concept in early in the year for it?s red zone effectiveness, but we found that as the season went on we had more and more success with it in the field as well.  In the end, we saw far fewer fades because of this concept and we also found that our new alignment positioned us even better to react and attack the underneath concepts like the slants and out routes.

Catch Man Technique

The simplest understanding of catch man is that the DB works to stay put and the receiver would likely make his break in front of the defender between 7-10 yards. If receiver runs a vertical route, the DB will shuffle/slide feet, collision, turn & run. When the DB has more confidence, his pre-snap cushion can be shortened.   We teach our DB?s that by just aligning in the path of a receiver?s stem, they already re-routed the receiver.  Either the receiver runs over the defender, not running his route or he is forced to make his break early, declaring how the DB will play the route.   Here is a breakdown of the coaching points for this technique as it applies to different aspects of its execution:

Stance Coaching Points

  • Feet square in red zone
  • Inside Foot up in Open Field

CT Pic 7

Eye Coaching Points

  • Red-Zone, no reading 3-step, focus only on the WR
  • Open Field, option to read 3-Step

Progression Coaching Points

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Game Planning RPO Packages from Quads Formations

Game Planning RPO Packages from Quads Formations

Posted by | May 2, 2019 | , , , , | 0 |

By George Karafantis and Chris Taylor
Assistant Coach and Offensive Coordinator
Saint Anthony’s High School (NY)
Twitter: @greek42e @coachtaylorc4

 

 

The best offensive coordinators always seem to have the answers to any defensive scheme or adjustments that they see. If those same OC’s possess individually great athletes and players, they can create matchup nightmares that are virtually unstoppable. 

At St. Anthony’s HS we have been blessed with some great athletes and players in the past. The best and most versatile way, in our opinion, to create mismatches with these players is by using and operating out of a spread offensive system. Our pre-snap run pass combinations or post-snap run-pass options, from the spread, allow for multiplicity but simplicity (to borrow Gary Patterson’s defensive terminology) in play calling. It allows us to eliminate confusion up front by simplifying run schemes and simultaneously eliminating pass protection confusion. The spread allows for greater versatility in pass game concepts that traditional misdirection offenses do not. They offer the ability to stress defenses on the first, second, and third levels as well as from sideline to sideline all while utilizing one play call. You can attack through the air like Mike Leach’s Air Raid or on the ground in a power spread like Gus Malzahn’s power spread. Simple personnel changes and formation adjustments can help to further provide offensive advantages while limiting defensive looks.

One of the ways we simplify the looks that we get from the defense is by using TE Empty formations, especially when facing odd fronts. This article will focus on some of our answers to an odd defense which is through 11 and 12 personnel Quads formations.

 

Quads from 11 (or 12) Personnel

This season we found that you can dictate to the defense the one look you want to see or at least one of a couple of looks that you will see. You must be multiple in offensive formations and incorporate a TE. THERE IS A FINE LINE WITH BEING MULTIPLE in looks and keeping it simple. We will share one of our simple install methods to implement an 11 (or 12) personnel quads look to your spread.

What we discovered this past season was that if we lined up in a somewhat non-conventional formational grouping the defense would be forced to give one standard front/ coverage, most times. That simplified and made it easy to install, block and execute against. We gained this advantage by using the 11 and 12 personnel quads formations. This is especially useful against odd fronts. Because of increased popularity and our utilization of RPO’s into our offense, we very often see odd-front defenses. More on our RPO’s and RPC’s in the upcoming paragraphs. 

Diagrams 1 and 2 show our basic 11 and 12 personnel Quads formations.

Diagram 1

Diagram 2

 

We believed that by giving the defense a somewhat unconventional formation, while using a versatile TE (or 2), we would likely see a standard defensive alignment. Any defensive coordinator that has time to prepare for this package will be able to align to it, however, we hoped that they would spend an excessive amount of time on it while we ran our base run/pass and RPO concepts from it.

In diagram 2 the defense is forced to fit 8 gaps in the run game while still having to account for the 5 eligible receivers. (2 A Gaps, 2 B Gaps, 2 C gaps and the 2 outside D’s).  The more gaps, the more run fits which require more defenders to be sound in their assignment.

We have found there are countless benefits to spreading the defense out using an Empty backfield and 11 or 12 personnel Quads to a side. Quads, for the sake of this article, will be four receivers with a TE to one side of the formation. Some of the ways it’s effective are:

  • By adding gaps in run games that they have to fit
  • Helping a sub-par OL in pass protection
  • Allowing great running QB to see a lighter box
  • Having the single receiver matched up with one man
  • Simplifying looks you will see to Standard Empty Formations
  • Makes OLB’s in odd defenses have to play either on the TE or in space, whichever WE CHOOSE
  • Allows QB to remove an OLB from the box, opening up QB draw possibilities
  • 12 personnel increases offenses ability to run at weaker OLB/Safety type

 

Our run game consists mostly of 1 back, zone and gap scheme, read runs with RPO’s attached. We can, and do, run any run scheme out of Quads and several passing concepts out of it. The first thing we will discuss is the top formations we run using one or two TE’s from Empty as well as personnel adjustments or packages. Before we share some run-pass combinations (RPC) and run pass options (RPO) from our 11/12 Quads formation we must first define and /or review some terms.

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Simple 2-Man Tags to Diversify Your Passing Game

Simple 2-Man Tags to Diversify Your Passing Game

Posted by | Apr 29, 2019 | , , , , | 0 |

By Eric Struck
WRs/Passing Game Coordinator/Special Teams Coordinator
Sioux Falls Washington High School (SD)
Twitter: @EricStruck

 

 

We went into the last off-season and wanted ways to be more multiple in the passing game without adding a bunch of new plays that our kids would have to learn. I think most coaches watch their game film or scout film and see things that are available that they would like to or wish they would have been able to run but maybe don’t have the flexibility within their scheme to do so.  We wanted something that would work with the Four Verticals Concept, which is what we hang our hat on in the passing game, as well as something that was simple for our kids to learn and something that was simple for us as coaches to teach to our kids. What we were able to develop was a system of 2 man tags that we could attach to our passing game that would give us multiple options from week to week based on what the defense was making available, provide some diversity into our offense and allow for more freedom to call plays based on in-game adjustments.

 

Installation

When we started this process, we were looking for concepts that would help us attack coverages that we see most often. The main coverage that we see is some form of Quarters or Cover 4.  With the way that we run our Four Verticals concept we have had success versus Cover 4 but there was always open areas or space that we weren’t able to take advantage of.

Diagram 1

 

With our system of 2 Man tags, we were able to take advantage of some of the open areas that the defense was giving us. We wanted most of these tags to be vertical in nature (as far as releases and stems) so that it would appear like Four Verticals to the defense. When we started implementing these tags during our summer workouts, we started everything from a 2×2 formation. We are a no-huddle offense, so when we signaled plays in, we decided it was best that the first concept signaled in pertained to the left side of the formation and the 2nd signal would apply to the right side of the formation. It didn’t take very long for our kids to pick up the system and we were quite happy with it coming out of the summer.

 

Double Post Tag

The first tag that we implemented was the Double Post tag, which we called “Depot”.

Diagram 2

 

Both receivers would run a seven-step route (we are inside foot forward team) and then plant off the outside foot and break at roughly a 45-degree angle. The outside receiver has more freedom on how sharp to break his route based on the open space available. On the opposite side, we could tag any of our main concepts that we wanted to be based on the game plan, matchups, space, etc. The main concept run to the other side would be our Four Verticals.

Diagram 3

 

When we run/call this play we really like it vs Cover 3 or Cover 4. We are looking to get the outside receiver open by using the inside post to take the near safety away from helping on the outside receiver. We are hoping to create open space for that outside receiver. The QB would start his read to the nearest safety and if that safety travels with the inside post then he can hit the outside receiver.

To study game film of this concept, click on the video below:

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Matching Coverages to Formations in the 4-2-5

Matching Coverages to Formations in the 4-2-5

Posted by | Apr 29, 2019 | , , | 0 |

By Adam Hovorka
X&O Labs Managing Editor
Defensive Coordinator
Plainedge High School (NY)
Twitter: @XOLabs_Editor

 

 

With the evolution of modern offenses to include multiple formations, many personnel groupings, RPO’s, and various tempos, it has become increasingly difficult to call defense to match all those variables.  It has also become harder for defensive coaches to put their players in the best possible situation to always succeed.  One thing we have done to combat today’s modern offenses is to match coverages to the formations we see.  This has enabled us to not worry about being in the perfect call all the time but rather just know what coverage to be in based on what the offense is giving us.  One word tells our defense that we are playing zone match coverage and the players will call the coverage to the formation.  We do this to play sound against our opponents’ best run plays while being sounds against vertical routes.  We will pattern match all routes because we want to wind up in man situations and not spot dropping.

We are a 4-2-5 defense that will always play split-field coverage unless we are blitzing 5,6,7 and playing straight man or man free.  We will always employ a four-man front varying the alignment of the two defensive tackles depending on the Tight End, the location of back or field/boundary.  Our Defensive Ends will always be playing in a five-technique to an open end and slightly inside eye of the Tight End.  Our Inside Backers will always be in the box and move slightly to our game plan rules.  We will play our Free Safety and Strike (Strong Safety) to the field.  Our Whip (Weak Safety) will always align to the boundary and we do not flip our corners.  The FS is the boss of his side of the formation and the Whip is the boss of his side.  Both bosses are responsible for letting the defenders on their side know the coverage calls.  The FS makes a Roger/Louie call telling everyone which side he and the Strike will align.  To make it easy we do this by:

  • Field
  • Ball in MOF- TE or Multiple receivers
  • Ball in MOF and formation is even- to the back
  • Ball in MOF and formation is even, and back is in the pistol- defensive left

 

The first day of installation we teach defensive players, mainly the FS and Whip to recognize the formation to their side of the ball and to call out the number of backs (this is the job of the Bandit backer).  To one side of the formation it can only be the following:

Pro- TE/Wr 

Twins- two detached WR

Sky- Wide receiver by himself in two backs

Trips – Three detached receivers

Nub- One TE as only eligible to that side

FOUR and Empty (not covered here today)

 

2 READ (PALMS) Black

The first coverage we teach is what we call black (2 read) or (Palms).  We only run this to the side of the formation with a detached two receivers.  This can be run to the Roger/Louie call or away from it.  Diagram I shows the basic alignment and keys in this coverage.  The cornerback is at 5 yards with inside leverage and tilted inside toward the QB with his eyes on the #2 receiver.  The FS is at 8-10 yards inside of the #2 receiver with his eyes on that #2 receiver, buzzing his feet or slowly backpedaling depending on his ability and the speed of the WR.

Diagram 1

 

We teach both players to think I have the man I am aligned on “unless”.  The unless principle here means if #2 goes out in his first three steps.  If #2 were to go out in those first three steps, the corner has #1 and the FS would switch on #2.   We teach it a little different than most teams that run this type of coverage.  We have the corners real aggressive on the out breaking route and we are not waiting for our leverage to be threatened.  We feel we can do this because the FS is aligned on #2 and is looking at #2 for his read and not the QB or uncovered lineman.  If #2 bubbles or backpedals this triggers the corner to play the bubble and the FS to be over the top of the blocker in case if it’s a stalk and go or crack and go to the receiver who was blocking. 

The real benefit of playing this coverage is that to the Roger/Louie side we have an extra player.  We align that extra player, the Strike, between EMLOS and #2 cheating closer to the box on run downs.  He reads EMLOS for run/pass read and on pass reads he gets underneath #1 or plays the swing of the back.  The reason we like it so much is the fact he can really help in the run game from that alignment.  On any down block by the OT, he is coming right now.  If its zone read, our DE is bending and forcing the QB to pull the ball to that Strike. There are many times we force the QB to pull on zone read, and the Strike is right there on the QB.   If it’s a gap scheme play with DE getting kicked out the Strike will be there for the bounce when the defensive end plays the kick-out block correctly making the ball spill.   If the #2 WR decides to block down on the Strike, this triggers the FS to come up right away playing downhill vs the run. 

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Freeze Backers with the Shovel/Bubble

Freeze Backers with the Shovel/Bubble

Posted by | Apr 20, 2019 | , , , , | 0 |

By Dan Ellis

Head Coach

West Chester East High School (PA)

Editor’s Note:  Coach Dan Ellis is one of X&O Labs’ most popular monthly columnist.  His columns focus on offensive schemes that just flat out move the ball.  His previous post have been some of the most read and commented articles in X&O Labs’ history.  Ellis is the former record-setting quarterback at Virginia and currently serves as the Head Football Coach at West Chester East High School (PA).  And one of the best things about Coach Ellis is that he takes the time to answer any and all questions asked. So, if you have any questions after reading his column, just post it in the comments section below this report and Coach will respond shortly.

This season, we wanted to simplify our blocking rules for our offensive line and not get into too many plays and too many rules.  One of our basic plays that we will always run in Power and so we tried to think of other ways to use the scheme with different action, much the same way zone teams do with their schemes.  As a spread team, we try to be as innovative as possible in getting our skill guys on the field and into open space. 

As we began this process, several years ago we decided to add the power read.  Power read did a great job for us adding pressure on the defense.  This past off-season, we worked on running the same power scheme with the traditional shovel pass, but we also added a bubble to it on the edge to add an extra dynamic.  This gives us a simple scheme similar to other plays we run (both power and bubble) and adds pressure on the defense to play disciplined football similar to a traditional triple option team.

Here are our basic power rules:

PST – Combo to ILB

PSG – Combo to ILB

C – Backside A gap

BSG – Skip pull to PSLB

BST – Gap, hinge

Key Coaching Point:  Pulling guard will not block the play side defensive end and needs to pull tight to the play side combo, keeping his shoulders square to the line of scrimmage.

The Bubble will always come from the inside receiver to the same side as the shovel. We do this out of multiple formations, mostly doubles and trips looks. It also can be run out of pistol. 

Quarterback Read

Teaching the QB to read the play side defensive end is really the crucial point of the play.  Key coaching point for the QB – assume you are going to get the edge.  The QB cannot be surprised that the defensive end closes on the RB or squeezes the B gap.  If the QB comes out slow or is stalled by indecision, the integrity of the play and relationship between the RB, QB and Bubble player is ruined.

First, the QB must press the edge, putting pressure on the defense to not allow him to get the corner.  We teach the QB to get lateral quickly.  He is looking to get out on the edge unless the defensive end stops him, turning his hips or getting up field.  If he does either of those things, the QB will continue into the alley and force the LB/Alley player to make a decision.  If the LB attacks the QB, we will deliver the ball to the Bubble screen as quickly as possible. 

One of the key parts of the play for the QB is if he gets immediate pressure from the LB/Alley player.  In this situation, he will have to redirect directly to the Bubble.  We work consistently working quick feet to get hips and shoulders around to our target (Bubble).  We tell the QB to ‘two step’ – this means to take two quick steps right under their shoulders and get their shoulder and hip pointed to the Bubble immediately and then get the ball out now.  This is a technique we also use in our running game with the Bubble attached on the backside, so it is not a new technique that we need to teach.

Running Back

For the Tailback, we teach him to patiently run his track as he would on the regular Power play.  In our offense, we teach the aiming point for the Tailback to be the butt of the guard.  He will take a slower path and be very patient. We prefer to be slower rather than faster.  If we are too fast, the tailback will be in the ‘junk’ of the combo and pulling guard.  Patience will allow the tailback to avoid the ‘junk’ because the tailback is looking at the QB for the pitch.  Too fast and he will run into the guard.  Once he catches the shovel pitch, the tailback must get vertical now and not work too far laterally.  It is still a power play for him.  Patience!

Even Front vs Odd Front

The beauty of this play is that at its core, it is a simple power play that many teams run as a base running play.  There is no real teaching other than the QB read.  For us this play is a call it/run it.  We don’t need to worry about the front given or blitz shown.  We will run it either way. 

Key coaching point vs the odd front:  If the PST gets a 4I, we will vacate that player vs a true odd front or stack and work up to the LB.  Against the stack, see below.

Below you can see the different ways we run the play vs the different fronts:

Slide1

shovelbubbleSlide2Slide3

 

Adjustment agains Stack Teams:

With a stack team, we often get the games from the stack and so we always want to block the LB, not the DE.  If he is in a 4I, we rip outside the DE for the Stack LB.  Same if it is a 5, rip inside for the Stack LB. If the 5 slants and crosses the face of the PST, we never let someone cross our face.  In that case, the PST will block the slant and the BSG will pull around for the Stack LB.

Slide4Slide5

 

To see video of these concepts live this year, click on the link below:

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“Buster” Split Safety Coverage

“Buster” Split Safety Coverage

Posted by | Apr 20, 2019 | , , | 0 |

By Brandon Staley
Defensive Coordinator/Secondary Coach
John Carroll University (OH)
Twitter: @CoachStaley_JCU

TyranskyIntroduction:

Do you need a way to deny the ball on 3rd down in a “Gotta Have It” type situation?

Do you need a coverage that will deny in-breaking route concepts, which occur primarily on 3rd down when the ball is on a hash?

Do you need a coverage that can eliminate a great player on the backside of 3 x 1?

Do you need a coverage that has coverage answers to the outside in case an Offense runs their 3rd down concepts based on leverage?

Let me introduce you to a coverage at John Carroll that we call “Buster.”

Defining Buster Coverage:

“Buster” is a deny-the-inside 2-man concept that protects your defense against the weakness of 2-man coverage, which is number two to the flat. At JCU, we usually play “Buster” in our Dime Rabbits Personnel grouping, which includes six defensive backs, one linebacker and our four best pass rushers. We are a defense that is predicated on matching up, especially on 3rd down when we are playing some version of man-to-man.

“Buster” is a concept that we play to a 3 receiver side. In 3 x 1 it’s easy; you automatically have your 3 man side. (Diagram 1) In 2 x 2, the 3 man side becomes wherever the offset back is (Diagram 2). Away from the “Buster” side, we just play regular 2-man coverage, which we call “Macho.” This is a traditional trail technique that we will discuss in detail later. If it’s 2 x 2 and it’s Pistol or under center, than we just play “Macho” to both sides and the Middle LB (MAC) will have the RB man-to-man.

Slide1Slide2

Buster Corner Technique:

The essence of “Buster” is the corner technique. We play “Off” to the “Buster” side at 7-8 yards deep and 1-2 yards inside. We want to give the illusion that we are playing some form of zone (3 deep, quarters, 2 deep). The corner to the “Buster” side reads the #2 receiver and traps the flat if #2 comes out in the first 5 yards of the pattern. The slot defender then “cuts” to the #1 receiver and plays him man-to-man.

Slide3

If the #2 receiver goes under or pushes vertical, then the corner “sinks” with the #1 receiver and plays trail technique on him. For advanced players and coaches, you can have the corner “roll over” on the deep sail route at 15-18 yards after you have “sunk” with the #1 receiver. It’s the most difficult route concept for the slot defender because he has to cover a long ways, but if you have the corner “roll over,” you have a built in trap that the QB will never see.

Slide4

On the “Buster” side, the slot defender’s communication is critical. He is charged with assigning “Me” or “You” depending on the split of the #2 receiver. If the #2 receiver has a normal split, he communicates “Me” which tells the defender to his inside that he has #2. In a “Me” call, the defender inside the slot defender automatically has #3. It doesn’t matter if the formation is 2 x 2 or 3 x 1, all the slot defender is concerned with is the split of the #2 receiver to the “Buster” side.

If the #2 receiver has a tight split and he can’t play his inside leverage, he communicates “You,” which tells the defender inside that “You” have the deeper of #2 and #3 (Diagram #5). In a “You” call, the slot defender plays outside technique and delivers the #2 receiver to the inside defender. Remember, we are playing Dime Personnel, so that inside defender is usually a safety. In any 2 behind 3 scenario (Drive), the inside defender takes #2 and the slot defender pushes to undercut #3. A “You” call can also occur in 2 x 2 (Diagram 6).

Slide5Slide6

Trouble Shooting “Buster”:

Issues that ALWAYS need to cover on any down, but particularly 3rd down are 2-man stacks and 3-man bunches. The details of these difficult scenarios are critical to your success because if teams can’t win at the line of scrimmage vs. man-to-man, they will try and create access for their players to get open.

“Buster” vs. Stack:

Within the “Buster” concept, we play “Stack” to 2-man stacks, wh

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