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Zone Coverage Variations From a Three-High Alignment

Zone Coverage Variations From a Three-High Alignment

Posted by | Dec 23, 2017 | , , | 0 |

By Joey Didier
Co-Defensive Coordinator
University of Saint Francis (IN)
Twitter: @coachjoeydidier

Introduction:

CaptureWith the advancement of modern offenses and spread passing attacks, it becomes extremely important for a defense to give a QB and offensive coordinator multiple looks from the same alignment. With “check-with-me” cadences and audible systems, defenses need to be flexible and not be tied into a single coverage given a specific formation, down/distance, personnel group or vertical field position. In addition, with varying tempos and huddle systems an offense may employ, a defense must be prepared to be able to play consecutive downs within its sub-packages. For example, it is not guaranteed that a defensive coordinator can get his third and long Nickel sub-package off the field to play first and ten if the offense converts.

To show variations sounds simple at first. There are countless coverages, pressure schemes, and check systems a coach can call to attack with different looks. The tough task, however, is in creating a teachable system in which your players can effectively execute the techniques required to carry out these contrasting techniques. In a previous article, our defensive staff presented our Nickel cover 2 concept. This sub-package specifically designed to negate a vertical passing attack that has been extremely successful for us to utilize on longer conversion downs. This clinic report will show how our simplistic coverage variation to such a personnel group has taken that concept to the next level.

Cover 2 Recap

To get into our nickel sub-package, we insert our next best safety in for an inside linebacker. We try to keep a three high alignment at all times, as illustrated in Diagram 1 (shown against a 10 personnel 2×2 set).

Slide1

Our base coverage in this sub package is our Tampa 2. Diagram 2 below shows our Tampa 2 coverage rules which are as follows:

  • Corners: Soft Flat read on #2
  • Safeties: Deep ½ Read on #2
  • OLB: Hook-Curl Drop
  • Mike: Low Hole Drop
  • Nickel: Carry #3 or Deep hole

Slide2

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Empty QB Trap RPOs

Empty QB Trap RPOs

Posted by | Dec 16, 2017 | , , , , | 0 |

By Jeff Smith
Offensive Coordinator
Warrenton High School (MO)
Twitter: @C0ACHSM1TH

 

Introduction:

RPOs have evolved into a movement in today’s game. With the many types of RPOs out there, the type that intrigued me the most was what Baylor was doing. They were reading 2nd and 3rd level defenders and throwing the ball down field, as opposed to throwing screens. When I sat down to study them, I was impressed with the execution of their scheme. The byproduct of that was obviously huge offensive numbers. Like most other offensive coordinators in the nation, I tried mimicking similar concepts with my offense. When doing this I ran into 3 problems that a lot of high school coaches might also run into:

  1. My wide receivers weren’t fast enough to stretch the field vertically in the amount of time necessary to make the appropriate read of the 3rd
  2. If my quarterback did get a pull read and threw, he couldn’t always put it on a rope 15-20 yards down the field like most D1 quarterbacks.
  3. I had the realization that my quarterback was also my best runner, so why am I not making him a running threat in this scheme.

These problems created a quick shift in my mindset from traditional RPO concepts with 10 or 20 personnel and my quarterback reading 2nd and 3rd level defenders. Instead, I moved to Empty RPOs where my quarterback is the run option and is reading the 2nd level exclusively. In this article, I will go deeper into how I use modified empty formations, an outside trap scheme, and quick game with options to create major headaches for defenses.

Formations

As I said before, I wanted to run RPO’s from empty formations.  The problem with a traditional empty formation is that you are locked into a 5 man blocking scheme.  This led to me coming up with the following formations:

Slide1Slide1

With the insertion of the H back as a wing, these empty formations present five vertical threats while allowing me to have a 6-man blocking scheme. These are only two examples of formations that fit this mold.

Blocking Scheme

The blocking scheme that I have had the most success with is an outside trap scheme. With the insertion of the H, it can become a counter scheme. This is perfect for RPOs because it gives you an extra hat at the point of attack and you aren’t setting the weak side end free like a traditional counter scheme. The rules for our outside trap are as follows:

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22/11 Personnel Wide Zone Run Concept

22/11 Personnel Wide Zone Run Concept

Posted by | Dec 16, 2017 | , , , , | 0 |

By Shawn Byrnes
Offensive Line
Scottsdale Christian Academy (AZ)

 

 

Introduction

Our wide zone play out of our base 11 personnel package is designed to attack the perimeter to the TE or to the ghost TE. Our running back will take his wide zone track and read first down lineman outside/in to the #2 down lineman to the play side. We teach him to react to flow of the defense, be decisive, and get the ball downhill. Our blocking surface (offensive Line/TEs/FBs) will execute wide zone principles and rules.

Assignments for 11 Personnel

Slide21Slide21

There are many coaching points when it comes to running this play. This is our top rushing play and we practice it as such. We firmly believe that if it is not your featured play it will not be that effective. This play takes tons of time teaching and repping for the offensive line, TEs and RBs. The key to success is for your players getting a feel for all the different type of scenarios they will encounter (i.e.  soft- read defenders, penetrating defenders, LBs playing over the top or underneath, Stunts, Blitzes, etc.) and to have all the tools and calls to handle them.

Offensive Line Coaching Points:

  • Make sure calls are correct and the right “Mike” is spotted.
  • The footwork will change depending on the defender’s alignment. Aiming spots is will determine the footwork.
  • Lock the back hand when you are on the back side running the defender. Landmark is TEs original alignment.
  • If he is in a solo scenario on the front side, he will “club” or “back hand” technique that helps us with inside penetration when we have no inside help. We aim our inside arm for the defenders inside armpit while we are still aiming our helmet for the outside shoulder pad and trying to stretch the defender.
  • Cut the backside as much as possible. It gets the DL/LBs to play hesitant. Our mantra is “
    If you can’t block them then chop them!”
  • If you stay up on the LBs to the front side, the block on them does not need to be devastating. Fit them up on outside shoulder with a locked back hand to prevent the fight off inside if the back cuts behind your block. He will then lock on, and when he feels them fighting off, he must run his feet and make it hard for them to shed the block and make the tackle.
  • Chop hands on grabbing defenders on the backside.

Tight End Coaching Points:

  • Our TE alignment has his helmet breaking the belt line of the tackle. We keep him off the line of scrimmage because of the amount of motioning and shifts we do with him. We try to scheme with him to attack the defense on how they align and adjust to his movement. If they will flop the defensive ends, we will play games and just motion him over, and right back. If they don’t adjust and put a smaller “rush” defensive end on the open tackle, we like to motion him over to that side and take advantage of that match up.
  • This also gives us the ability to go from an attached TE 3×1 set to a 2×2 and vice versa very quickly.
  • Lastly, we like to slip our TE out the back side on our “naked-slide” play. This is one of our play action schemes off of the wide zone. Keeping him off the ball allows him to get out behind the offensive line into the flat. 

Running Back Coaching Points:

  • He must trust is read and be decisive. No double cutting.
  • Feel the flow and react.
  • Press the line of scrimmage and get the ball downhill.

Quarterback Coaching Points:

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Trap Coverage to Defend RPOs

Trap Coverage to Defend RPOs

Posted by | Dec 11, 2017 | , , | 0 |

By Pete DeWeese
Defensive Coordinator/LB Coach          
Milton High School (GA)
Twitter: @petedeweese

 

 

 

Introduction

Every coverage has a weakness. Offensive coaches know and understand what those weaknesses are and how to exploit them. As offenses continue to reinvent the wheel and add RPOs to their playbook, it seems like most good defenses are scaling back. Utilizing sound coverage principles and simple, time-tested, coverage checks are still a great way to defend most any offense.

Quarters coverage is easily one of the more popular coverages at all levels of football, but good OC’s know how to attack quarters teams. The simple trap check is a great addition for any quarters team. Trap allows a cornerback to “trigger” on a route to the flats while protecting any vertical by the #1 WR with leverage and help from the safety. Trap allows us to maintain our Cover 4 principles that we like versus drop-back-pass concepts while easily adjusting to quick game concepts that offenses like in most down and distance situations. 

Defend the Flats

One of the biggest flaws of Cover 4 is the ability to defend the flats. Most defensive coordinators are going to place an emphasis on stopping the run. While Cover 4 does add safeties to the box to assist with the run game, the defense is giving up the flats if they keep their LB’s or APEX players attached to the box to defend the run.

Slide1

Widening the LB’s/APEX defender gives the offense a potential numbers advantage in the box and makes the defense more susceptible to the run game. With so many teams using some form of RPO, defenses are often having to pick their poison and remain vulnerable in one phase or the other. Using a Trap check in your quarter’s coverage principle will help your defense handle quick game concepts while remaining strong against the run.

What Is Trap?

Our Trap check is an easy way of marrying your Cover 4 with Cover 2 principles while protecting your outside linebackers and run-game integrity. Trap is safe against four verticals and safe against 2×2 quick game staples like fade/out, smash, or all hitch. 

Teaching Trap

The basics of the Trap check are easy to install and implement. I like to start by teaching the concept and then training them on when to utilize the check. The concept starts with an understanding that we want to maintain inside leverage and “zone eyes” in the coverage. 

Coaching the Corner

In Trap, our corner will take his normal Cover 4 alignment which is 7 yards from WR and 1 yard inside). 

Slide1

Once we have made the Trap check, his alignment does not change. What does change is his eyes.  The corner will key the #2 receiver. We teach “three shuffles & go” to our cornerbacks for their read steps in Cover 4. Those steps do not change with the Trap check. What we ask is that the corner read the #2 to activate his “go” based on their route. If the #2 WR works either vertical or inside, the CB will snap his eyes to #1 and work to maintain his inside leverage.

Slide3

If the WR works outside in his route, then the corner will “trigger” and jump the outside route by the #2 WR.

Slide3

The hardest thing for our cornerback to read is a hitch route by both WRs. He has to understand that he can’t see a hitch by #2 and immediately drive #1 because he expects a hitch on the outside too. As a coach, I must remind him that we will give up that hitch if it means protecting against a double move. If we can drive the ball when it is thrown and tackle him where he is standing when he catches the ball, then we are doing a good job.

Coaching the Safety

In our traditional Cover 4, we ask our Safeties to align 9×2 (9 yards deep X 2 yards inside) from any #2 receiver that is removed from the formation. In Cover 4, he is reading the nearest uncovered lineman for his run/pass key and then getting his eyes to #2 for his coverage drop. Any time that we make a Trap check, we want the safety to show the same alignment then gain depth before the snap. Ideally, we would prefer that the safety get to 12 yards deep in a Trap check. For his read, the safety will simply follow #2 with his eyes and body.  If the #2 WR works vertical then the safety will match his vertical stem while maintaining his inside leverage.

Slide5

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6 Determinates for Maximizing Post-Season Self-Scout Protocols

6 Determinates for Maximizing Post-Season Self-Scout Protocols

Posted by | Dec 10, 2017 | , | 0 |

By Justin Iske
Offensive Line Coach / Co-Offensive Coordinator
SW Oklahoma State University
Twitter: @justiniske

 

Editor’s Note: Coach Justin Iske is considered one of the top offensive line coaches in the country. He is also one of the most read authors in X&O Labs history. Coach Iske has published a brand-new book through X&O Labs called, The Iske Offensive Line Manual. The book is available here.

 

Introduction

Scouting our own offense is an invaluable resource. It is a great way to determine what our best offensive plays are and what formations those plays are best out of. Self-scouting can also show an offensive coordinator what play calling tendencies we have developed based on personnel, formation, down and distance or field zone. The focus of this article is not on play calling, but on how to use the raw data from the self-scout to help make our plays (and players) better.

Organizing Plays/Determining Efficiency

The first step in the process is how to determine what makes a play efficient. Simply adding up the number of yards gained on a particular play and dividing by the number of times the play was ran can be deceiving. For instance, big plays can make the average for a play look good, but that doesn’t mean that a play was efficient.

We split our run game up into four categories (Inside Zone, Outside Zone, Gap and Man Schemes). If your offense uses run/pass options or give/keep reads as part of your offense, those categories can be added as well. For us, an efficient run is a gain of four yards or more on first or second down, and a first down gain on third or fourth down. Our goal is to be efficient on 55% or more of our called runs.

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Backside Choice Routes In 20 Personnel RPOs

Backside Choice Routes In 20 Personnel RPOs

Posted by | Dec 10, 2017 | , , , , | 0 |

By Dallan Rupp
Head Coach
New Plymouth High School (ID)
Twitter: @DallanRupp

 

Introduction:
This past year we felt we had two good running backs who could carry the ball and a quarterback who was a dual threat and had the ability to make decisions within the game. We added a 20 personnel shotgun split backs formation to our offense which we call our pro formation. Out of this formation, we developed a run/pass option play in which we could run an outside zone and combine it with some backside receiver option routes. We like this formation because we feel like we can run the outside zone to either side of the formation and have a good run play based on our quarterback’s pre-snap alignment reads, but also have a backside throw possibility off our receiver’s pre-snap alignment read of the defense. We feel as if this play will then open the field even more for our offense because we have several complimentary plays that we can go to off this base play to take advantage of the way the defense plays it.

Slide1

Outside Zone Post/Go RPO:
The outside zone is not our best run play but the action of the outside zone gets the defense to move horizontally opening up space on the backside of the run play.  The outside receivers (X & Y) are reading the alignment of the cornerback to determine their route. They make the decision on what route they are running, and they communicate their route to the quarterback and the Z receiver. We want to run the post, but if we have a corner who is playing heavy to the inside (2 to 3 yards or more) with off coverage (5 yards or more) then he will run the go route.

It is the same read versus press coverage, which we don’t see much of, but because he is tighter we can now say that if he is playing your inside shoulder run the go/fade otherwise run the post. The receivers must also consider the flow of the game as they make their decision. An example of this would be if a cornerback is continuously playing 3 yards inside and we have ran the go several times already, it would be smart to mix things up and run a post. The importance of good route running comes into play in order to be able to do this. The receiver must be good at setting up his defender.

Zone Strong RPO:
Against a 1 high safety we are going to run the outside zone to the strong side of the formation (Diagram 2).

Slide1

Player Assignments:
QB: Pre-snap check the route of the X receiver and the location of the safety. Post-snap get your eyes on the safety, step back with your back side foot then take two shuffle steps as you ride the mesh with the TB. If the FS moves back side or stays in the middle give the outside zone to the TB. If the FS moves to the outside zone pull the ball, set your feet, and throw the post.

TB: Turn, open and lead with your inside foot first and run to the sideline across the toes of the QB.  If the ball is not there or the QB pulls it out then the QB is throwing. Carry out your fake. After you receive the hand off get outside and read the blocks of the Z and the Y.

FB: Lead for the TB around the end up to the ILB. If the OT needs help hooking the end then double team first before getting up to the ILB.

Z: Block the OLB. Run at him like you have a route. Do not run inside of him; stay on his outside. Break down 3 yards away from him, mirror him till contact then try to work to the OLB’s outside armpit to seal him in. Keep a wide base with your feet chopping and your hands inside.

Y: Block the CB. Run at him like you have a route. Do not run inside of him; stay on his outside. Break down 3 yards away from him, mirror him till contact then try to work to the CB’s outside armpit to seal him in. Keep a wide base with your feet chopping and your hands inside.

X: Read the corners alignment and communicate your route to the quarterback. To run the post, work towards the inside shoulder of the CB, push vertical, then plant the outside foot at 10 yards and cut at 45 degrees. To run the go, work towards the inside shoulder of the CB, plant on the inside foot before you reach the cornerback and cut up the field at the bottom of the numbers.

Play Side Tackle (PST): Reach block the play side C gap. Take a flat step down the line with the play side foot working to control the play side armpit of the defender.

Play Side Guard (PSG): Reach block the play side B gap. Take a flat step down the line with the play side foot working to control the play side armpit of the defender.

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TMC’s Pistol Triple RPO System

TMC’s Pistol Triple RPO System

Posted by | Dec 3, 2017 | , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar
Senior Research Manager
X&O Labs
Twitter: @MikekKuchar

“The quarterback knows who is going to end up with the ball based on the formation. It doesn’t make sense to target individual defenders for mismatches in the RPO game because we know who is going to end up with the ball based on how they defend it. Once the play starts its hands off for the coaches, and that’s the way I like it.”- Trevor Stellman, offensive coordinator, Thomas More College

 

Introduction

As a former flex bone option quarterback at his alma mater, offensive coordinator Trevor Stellman was enamored with the flexibility of the post-snap RPO game but wanted to find a way to mesh it with the structure of a pure triple option offense. While most RPO offenses contain a backside read away from the run action, Coach Stellman wanted a read directly in his quarterback’s face. Something most option quarterbacks are accustomed to seeing. This would mean the quarterback would actually have the option of running the football on the perimeter, rather than throwing it out there to an intended receiver. The creation became a pure option football concept that is quarterback friendly. Coach Stellman calls it a “QB driven system,” so much so that in 2016 he called it 114 times. He called this play 114 times or 17% of the time and the QB ran it 12 times. TMC averaged 6.8 yards per play on this scheme and 9 yards a completion. The QB averaged five yards a carry and handoffs were seven yards a carry.

Overview of the System

At Thomas More College everything revolves around the midline zone scheme, which is analogous to Coach Stellman’s triple days. The difference is he’ll use multiple formation groupings (which he calls formations) particularly in the form of 21 (two backs, one tight end), 11 (one back, one tight end), 20 (two backs, no tight end) and 10 (one back, no tight ends) for every run he uses. “We think of groupings as what they can do from that formation,” Coach Stellman told us. “Our goal is 24-26 formations. If it’s too much, we’re not getting enough time during the week to practice it. If we’re too little, we get stale in what we’re doing.”

But Coach Stellman doesn’t use numbers in his system. Instead, he’ll use colors for each personnel grouping so players know exactly what they are supposed to do from that grouping. Because of this labeling, he’s able to get creative on what he can do from those formations, whether it’s a motion look or moving the fullback from the backfield into a wing.

Although TMC is a no huddle outfit, it doesn’t run at breakneck up-tempo speed. Coach Stellman calls it a “methodical” up-tempo. “We’ll get the ball snapped with less than 20 seconds in the play clock,” he told us. “We’re not trying to get it snapped in 30 seconds. We’re not like the Baylor’s and the Oregon’s of the world. It’s about being efficient and not too quick.” The reason for this is because Coach Stellman will use various pre-snap shifts and motions to help see coverage and in order to clear up the read key for the quarterback. There are specific concepts built into a name. All of TMC’s runs are cities and states. If it starts with an “M” it’s a midline run such as divide zone, isolation or the midline RPO concept that will be discussed in detail in this report.  Power runs start with “P” and counter runs start with “C.” Cold is left, hot is right, it’s that simple. “Because of this we don’t use built in tags that we have to add,” said Coach Stellman. “We don’t need to necessarily tag every little thing. If we want a passing concept built in, we just tag that concept.”

Midline Blocking

Quite simply, the offensive line blocks inside zone just like midline but the distinction between midline and inside zone is that the midline play is not designed to cut back in this system. According to Coach Stellman, the read side offensive tackle must track the hip of guard on the midline mesh because that linebacker will really be coming downhill. “The midline hits so quick, those linemen can block the second level just by being in the way,” Coach Stellman told us. “The tight end either zone blocks or will get wider than the defender on or inside them. If it’s a 9-technique, we still arc on them so what that does is promote the handoff on the midline zone scheme.” One of the things that Coach Stellman will do is over split his play side offensive tackle to make sure there are two off the edge on the read side (Diagram 1).

Slide1

Pistol Mesh Mechanics

Before we detail the post-snap read, it’s important to cover the midline mesh that Coach Stellman teaches his quarterback. For starters, his quarterback is typically 4.5 yards from the line of scrimmage with the back at 6.5 to 7 yards from the Center. He will move a faster tailback further back and a slower tailback further up, with the goal being a 2.5-yard gap between the quarterback and tailback. As in most pure option coaches, Coach Stellman puts a premium on the quarterback getting off the mesh point, but it’s a completely different mesh than zone read. “In true zone read, you tell your quarterback to replace the defender that you’re reading,” said Coach Stellman. “We can’t replace the guy we’re reading, because we’re going to get tackled and not throw the ball.” According to Coach Stellman, the key coaching point is about getting from the back to the front foot and bursting out straight for a couple steps. “If he (quarterback) goes for three hard steps his shoulders and eyes will be in line to make the completion,” said Coach Stellman. “We’re not asking him to throw 30 yard passes here on the run. It’s five-yard routes. There’s not a lot of deep throws or hole shots. It’s quick intermediate routes.”

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Defending Air Raid Offenses from Odd Stack Looks

Defending Air Raid Offenses from Odd Stack Looks

Posted by | Dec 3, 2017 | , , , , | 0 |

By Jason Winstead
Defensive Coordinator
South Pointe High School (SC)
Twitter: @FootballSPH

 

Introduction

For most defensive units, the goal is to stop the run first. This makes since as there is nothing worse than having the ball crammed down your throat 4 yards at a time. Defenses tend to be built with this in mind. Stop the run, worry about the pass next.

At South Pointe High School, we do things a bit different. Our defenses are built on speed. We prefer speed more than size. If you can run, you have a chance to play. Our philosophy has developed because we were playing a number of Air Raid offenses year in and year out. This has led us to set up our defense to stop the pass first, while staying sound vs. the run with as few players in the box as possible. We will use multiple coverages to confuse the QB and to change our run fits against Air Raid teams.

Base Alignment

As stated earlier, we value speed. We are a gap assignment team. We are not big enough, or strong enough to utilize 2 gap techniques. We also want to take away as much thinking as we can. We tell our players to, “Know their gap responsibility and GO!”

At South Pointe, we make sure our best 11 are on the field. We do not believe in fitting our players into a scheme. Instead, we believe in fitting our scheme around our players. That means that we will do whatever we have to do to get our best 11 on the field. Against Air Raid offenses, it is vital that the 11 on the field can not only run, but also tackle in the open field. 

Our base alignment is a 3-3 cover 3 look with our SS splitting the difference between the end man on the line of scrimmage and the #2 WR. We will show what looks to be a 4 man box, hoping to encourage them to run the ball. Our DE will control B gap. Our NG will be given an A gap by the MLB. The Mike will take the other A gap. Our SS will read thru the tackle to the RB and will fill C gap against the run. What appears to be a 4 man box, quickly becomes a 6 man box against run.

Our goal is to make the offense bounce their running game to C gap. We feel that we have the speed on the field to run it down. We have no expectation of completely shutting down the run. We are playing the run/pass percentages. We will live with a few long runs in order to stop the chunk pass plays when possible. Adjustments will be made if the opposing OC makes a point to run the ball. 

Slide1

Base Coverage

Our base coverage is Cover 3. We prefer to drop 8 in many instances. The nature of the Air Raid is to throw the ball quickly. We will pick and choose when to send pressure, but have found this to be a lot of show with minimal results. Most QB’s we face, including our own, will throw without the laces. Catch and throw. What ends up happening most of the time is that a throwing lane is opened and our blitzer(s) can’t get to the QB in time. We prefer to keep the extra droppers when possible.

That said, it is how we get to Cover 3 that has benefitted us. Our corners play a hard Cover 2. They will beat up the # 1 WR and funnel them inside. We are a zone Cover 3, Cover 2 team, so this is not something new we have to teach the week of the game. Our Corners will play #1 in a 1 x 1 alignment if the WR is on the LOS and at 3 x 3 if #1 is off the LOS. Our goal is to get our hands on them quickly and take away the screen game. If no screen happens, the corner sits in the flats.

Everyone else is playing Cover 3. Our SS plays Curl, Mike plays hook to the strong side. Our FS stays in the middle of the field. Our 2 deep safeties (S) will align between the #1 and #2 WR and bail into deep their assigned. 

Slide1

Coaching Points:

Defensive Line 

  • Must control the running game. Our goal is to clog the middle and make all runs bounce.

  • The DE’s must attack B gap. They DO NOT have contain. If they beat their tackle and flush the QB, it is somebody else’s responsibility. In this case, the DE becomes a chaser. Against the Air Raid, we want the QB to have to scramble. We do not want him to be able to set his feet.

  • The DE will attack the inside shoulder of the offensive tackle. We do not want to necessarily “slant” into B gap. Our goal is to control B gap, not get washed out of it. If he gets a pull, he will jump into the hip pocket of the puller. If he gets doubled, he will fight the double team and drop if needed.

  • The nose can go 2 ways. We like to play our best DE at nose. If this is not an option, then we will play a “plugger” type player here. If we can draw a double team between the Center and Guard, we believe our DE can beat his Tackle into B gap.

Linebacker

  • Must NOT leave his A Gap. He is a major piece of stopping the run. With 7 DB’s on the field, he has to stay home.

  • We want him to be late to help with the pass. Read run first, if pass, turn and run, looking for crossers. To help with his reads, we have him align at 6 yards in his A Gap. We teach a flat footed read.

  • Against a QB scramble, the LB has contain on QB. He has to know that against a pass, he has the middle of the field. When he sees the QB take off, he has to go to the QB now! Note that this is what we teach against the Air Raid. If the QB is a runner, we are not in this defense.

Strong Safeties

  • Our SS use OLB techniques and reads. They read through the end man on the line of scrimmage to the RB. They have the QB in the running game.

  • The SSs will play underneath any puller to spill everything. In our

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10 Things OCs Do That Make DCs Uncomfortable

10 Things OCs Do That Make DCs Uncomfortable

Posted by | Dec 3, 2017 | , | 0 |

By Adam Hovorka
Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator
Schreiber High School (NY)

Introduction

Do you want to know what will make a DC uncomfortable? This report will explain from a defensive perspective the things that any offense can do that will bother a defense and in turn can give the offensive some sort of advantage. Each of the ten ways to make defensive coordinators uncomfortable listed below have one thing in common; they create confusion and doubt.   

We surveyed ten defensive coaches, and these are some of the things that we found are keeping them up at night. 

10) Trick Plays

Reverses, double passes, throwbacks to the QB, and so on. Coaches keep on running these trick plays because they work. So why do they still work is the real question. First, they usually have really good players getting the ball in space. These trick plays should be tied into the offense’s base plays and protect those base plays. If you run a lot of stretch; a reverse off of that same look protects that play.  As defensive coaches, we always stress getting to the ball and pursuit. Tricks work against teams that pursue hard and stress getting to the ball. An added bonus is that the defense will see your trick play on film and pursue a little less diligently and spend time defending the trick play and a little less on your bread and better plays.

9) Play with A Tight End

Tight Ends create unique problems for the defense from an alignment and personnel perspective. The defense has to figure out if they want align certain personnel to the TE or just have players play a side regardless of TE location. Offenses can create great matchups by using the TE in the run game and pass game alike. TE’s create an extra gap in the run game while still having the threat of 4 or five receivers in a pass route. For teams that like to blitz, TE formations create a little bit longer edge and can give the offense one more pass protector while forcing defenses to still account for the TE as a receiver. Teams that run any form of split field coverage have to make a decision of where to put the extra player with the TE. If you do not have a TE simply put your 6th best lineman there or best bigger WR. 

8) Compressed and Stacked Sets

Defensive coaches like to have easy alignment rules for the players to follow. Compressed sets really bother those alignment rules. This creates some doubt in kids and makes kids play slower.  It also creates some nice blocking angles for wide receivers. Compressed sets tend to bring more defenders closer to the football and one missed tackle and there are no defenders near the sideline.  Stacked sets should force outside players to widen out or risks being out leveraged by the formation. This makes it easier to run the ball by removing a defender from the box simply by formation. Stacked and compressed sets also make it difficult for teams to play man coverage. If a team is living and dying with man coverage these are two musts for any offense. 

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Frostburg State’s Down and Distance Pursuit Progression

Frostburg State’s Down and Distance Pursuit Progression

Posted by | Dec 3, 2017 | , , | 0 |

By John Kelling
Defensive Coordinator / Linebacker Coach
Frostburg State University (MD)
Twitter: @JohnKelling37

Introduction:

Pursuit drills are not a revolutionary concept for most defensive coaches. In fact, most of us use them in some fashion every year. Our pursuit drills have become the foundation for all our teaching and the backbone for our defense. We are no different in the fact that our drills are not revolutionary, but it teaches our players during this drill everything they need to be successful in games. Our pursuit drill teaches our players pursuit angles, proper run fits including which shoulder and arm to keep free, proper form on our “Hawk tackling”, line movements on pass, appropriate blitz gaps, teaching proper practice tempo in our “Pin the Hip” periods, and finally learning 100% effort we expect on each play.

First Down Pursuit:

Goals:

Teach run fits from different fronts and coverages, proper form on Hawk tackling, proper pursuit angles, and 100% effort. We do not practice line movements or blitzes on this drill.

Set Up:

The drill is set up where you place five trash cans in a straight line to represent the opponent’s offensive line with the center in the middle of the field. There are cones on either side of both numbers and two “rabbits” that are 5 yards deep and 1 yard outside the last garbage can. These rabbits represent the running back and will run with the imaginary ball once tossed. The defense gets aligned based off the call you make as well as the formation you tell them they are seeing in front of them. There are 2 coaches aligned on the numbers 40 yards down the field, one coach behind the center, and the other coaches are 5 yards behind the rabbits. If you are fortunate enough to have extra coaches, you can place one to snap the ball while the other one tosses the ball.

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The Start:

Once everyone is set, the drill is ready to start. The coach behind the center will go through a cadence and toss an imaginary ball to one of the rabbits. The coach should communicate with rabbits before the cadence to ensure both rabbits don’t take off. Once the imaginary ball is tossed, the rabbits run directly to the numbers and once they get there they will continue to run to the other end zone in the numbers. The coach that tossed the imaginary ball should then go the opposite direction as if running a bootleg.

Each player is expected to touch the hip of the rabbit or tag off on the coach. When you tag off on either, each player is expected to be in an athletic position but not stationary. Their fingers should be down towards the ground and their palms are up and as they tag off and they should never impede the rabbit’s ability to run down the numbers. The repetition concludes when the last person has tagged off on the rabbit and the coach. The coaches who went 40 yards down field aligning with the numbers has an important task. The coach on the same side of the rabbit must watch to make sure every player touches the hip of the rabbit. The coach on the other hash is responsible to make sure each defensive player takes their own path and is in athletic position once they reach the rabbit.

We do not want our players to follow and take the same pursuit angle as a teammate. The coaches who start behind the rabbits are responsible for grabbing another player to replace the rabbit quickly for the next repetition. They are also ensuring we have the correct fits on the field. The defensive players are expected to understand their fit before the ball is snapped.

 We have 4 major categories the players fall into:

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Variations of the PAP Glance Concept

Variations of the PAP Glance Concept

Posted by | Nov 26, 2017 | , , , , | 0 |

By Matt Kelly
Pass Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (MA)
Twitter: @CoachMKellyWPI

Introduction:

The glance concept is a staple in our passing attack at WPI. We use it out of our play action passing game and our drop back game. We believe that it gives us answers not matter what coverage we see while giving us a chance to get our single receiver isolated and give an easier throw for our QB. We use it with both 20 personnel 2×1 and 10 personnel 3×1 formations.

At WPI, we are a balanced offensive attack that attempts to establish the run first and build our passing attack off our primary run plays. The highest percentage of our passing game is made up of play-action, followed quickly by our quick game and drop back game.

A lot of teams are running this as an RPO and reading either the safety or LB to the side of the post depending on coverage. We choose not to do that as we don’t leave it up to chance, we want to put it more on us as coaches to dictate exactly what we are doing on each play. 

Base Concept

The glance concept for us is a Bang 8 (8 yard post) by the single receiver, with our sniffer back running an arrow (3 yards on the sideline width before depth) to the frontside. On the backside, we will run a pivot concept with #1 on a 12 yard dig, #2 on a pivot, 6 yards reading the 1st defender inside of him. 

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Rules

The rules we give for the QB are pretty simple. We really want to throw the post, that is our goal of the play and we want our QB to look there first. Against 1 high/Cover 4, it should be going to the Post anyways as the safety to that side would be either rolling away or coming down. This creates the void for our WR to win inside the CB. Against Cover 2, we used to teach him to work off the Hook/Curl defender and look Pivot to Dig. We no longer do this as we have struggled throwing digs to the field, especially to our left. We now teach him to look to throw the post and work from there.  We do have a “hot” built in for the QB. If he sees 2 rushers outside the tackle on the backside he will hit the pivot route. The WR running the pivot route will look right away if he sees any 2nd level defender blitz. The front side “hot” is technically the arrow route by our sniffer back. We don’t teach it as a hot as we feel we would be able to protect the front side with a pulling guard and TB. 

Protection

At WPI, we are mainly a gap scheme rushing attack, with our most called run plays being Power and Buck Sweep. Our main play action pass protection is based off the counter scheme (power in our verbiage) with the backside guard pulling and being responsible for the C gap player and our Tailback getting the fake coming across the QB and filling outside the puller to account of D gap. With this look, we show “power” to the defense and get the conflict defenders to trigger on the run and allow us to get over the top with the single post. 

WR Rules

The post route we run is breaking at 8 yards keeping a 45-degree angle aiming for the near goal post. We give a couple of rules for our WR running the glance route while also trying to give them freedom to be athletes. They are taught that they must win inside because we want this to work against any coverage scheme.

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Helping OL Block in an RPO Heavy Offense

Helping OL Block in an RPO Heavy Offense

Posted by | Nov 26, 2017 | , , | 0 |

By Jared Smith
Offensive Line Coach
Sioux Falls Roosevelt High School (SD)
Twitter: @Mr_CoachSmith

Introduction

RPOs are far from new at this point. X&O Labs has done a great job of spreading the word about these concepts since day one. That said, I believe that offensive line play within RPO schemes has not had as much attention as it should. This report will focus on how to coach offensive linemen that can be effective in an RPO heavy offense.

Every defensive coach that has played against a team that effectively runs RPO concepts has complained about linemen being illegally downfield. From Nick Saban to your biggest rival, they are constantly reminding refs to watch for linemen down field on every RPO. That is until they have the ball and their OC starts running them too!

When we first started using RPO plays a few years ago, we did have linemen down field occasionally. Sometimes there was even a flag thrown. We knew that if we were going to get better and avoid these penalties, we needed to make some adjustments to blocking schemes and improve how I coached the linemen.  In addition, we added calls from our QB that have been very helpful in keeping that to a minimum. Now, it is very rare that we have a lineman illegally downfield on our RPOs which means that we are far less likely to have a big play brought back.

Throughout this report I will discuss how our program redesigned our RPO playbook to make things as easy as possible for our linemen. This will include choosing which run and pass schemes we use as well as how to pick a name and/or signal for each play. Each of these three steps started with the OL in mind.

Know the Rules

As a coach, it is your job to know the rules so you can teach your players correctly and to also use the rules to our advantage. Many of you witnessed the Baltimore Ravens hold every Cincinnati Bengal on punt coverage for 11 seconds to end their game last year. Whether that is unsportsmanlike conduct is a conversation for another day. What we do know is that the Ravens coaches know the rules and used that rule to their benefit at the appropriate time, just as they did in Super Bowl XLVII against the 49ers.

With that said, the NFHS rule book states the following;

“Rule: 2-28-2… The neutral zone may be expanded following the snap up to a maximum of 2 yards behind the defensive line of scrimmage, in the field of play, during any scrimmage down.“

By understanding that rule, we designed and stole RPO concepts that would help us succeed and we ditched any that made it tougher on our lineman. My linemen quickly adapted to the RPO plays because they’re all run schemes with which they are familiar.

Choosing the Run Scheme & Coaching Points

Our staff understands that the line is the most important piece to the success of every play. Most coaches believe if you can run the ball effectively it will open up all aspects of the passing game. With that said, we wanted each play to be as easy as possible for the lineman to execute so all of our RPOs start with a run concept that we already run proficiently.

We teach several run schemes and we want to be able to incorporate as many of them as our linemen feel comfortable with into our RPO arsenal. The run concepts that we decided to use include plays with tackles pulling such as counter trey and dart and quicker hitting run concepts like wedge, inside zone, QB Iso and short counter. From film study, we will decide which RPOs to use each week based on what we believe our opponent will show us defensively. We will also decide where the blocking scheme needs to be tweaked because of what the defense does well or poorly.

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Developing an Off-Season Corrective Action Plan to Prevent Missed Tackles

Developing an Off-Season Corrective Action Plan to Prevent Missed Tackles

Posted by | Nov 26, 2017 | , , | 0 |

By Vince DiGaetano
Program Analyst for Football
Wagner College (NY)
Twitter: @CoachDig

Introduction

From a defensive perspective, there is only six different ways from a play to end; tackle, incomplete pass, out of bounds, penalty, takeaway or a score. On average each season you find that 70-75% of all plays defended end in a tackle. With that being said, is that same percentage of time reflected in your practice schedule?

The offseason is a great time to go back and see what you are doing well in the realm of tackling so that you can address the areas of need throughout the offseason and into the next. This report is meant to focus on fundamentals, planning and corrections in the area of tackling. I began looking at how our players tackle after 2012. At that time, I was at SUNY-Maritime and I set out to create a plan to improve on it in the offseason and preseason. The focus was on finding what specific corrections need to be made by position and player. Since then, we have built this into a program that has changed the way that we practice out tackling.

Classifying Tackles

We assess missed tackles by failure to secure the ball carrier and stop the play. If the tackler is able to get the ball carrier down they are considered tackle. If the ball carrier gains additional yardage, it would still count as a tackle, but a correction also applies. We have also spent a lot of time calculating the yards after first contact. 

The percentages are all based on the amount of total times that they play would end in a tackle, missed tackles also, to apply the correction. Each of the plays are graded based on the fundamentals applied to the tackle. 

With this information in hand, we are able to spin it forward to working the proper drill work to correct these issues in winter workouts (weight room, etc.) or in spring. We are looking to work two specific concepts.

  1. Drills revolve around 3 main areas. Tracking/approach, Form or rugby/roll (below the waist)
  2. Corrections are based on 4 main areas. Approach (buzz), Hitting position (hit), force (shoot), secure tackle(rip)

This that information in hand, we the construct our drill time accordingly based on need and the progression. Once we master approach, we work on next phase. Interior guys will have more form. Perimeter more rugby roll. We change approach based on position group as well.

We try to steal time and apply these concepts to all seasons. In the weight room, we focus on squeezing from the lat muscles to secure tackles and preach the shooting of the hips in the explosive moments. Terminology remains consistent in the weight room and work outs. In the spring, we spend a little more time advancing progression. Take a little more time to do non-contact work. This gives us an opportunity to slow down and teach a little more. It also gives us an opportunity to get new coaches to staff involved and trained as early as possible. 

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Hardball and Solo Coverage to Defend RPOs

Hardball and Solo Coverage to Defend RPOs

Posted by | Nov 20, 2017 | , , | 0 |

By Jerrod Sparling
Head Football Coach
River Valley High School (OH)

Introduction:

Sparling XOLab

We have used 3 Cloud Coverage (“Hardball” to us) and variations of it against 3×1 and 3×2 formations since 2014. During that time, we have had great success in taking away RPOs (Bubbles, Smokes, Read Slants), as well as vertical based concepts, without having to thin out of box to do so. This coverage also decreases the amount of space 2nd level defenders can get horizontally stretched away from the box, which allows for more freedom in your run defense. Over the years, we were able to match 4-2, 4-3, 3-4, and 3-3 fronts with the coverage with relative ease.

Structure

Here is a look at the structure that we use in our Hardball Coverage. Note that when we are using this coverage, we use a standard 6- and 7-man box setups such as 3-3, 3-4, 4-2, and 4-3 variations to get proper gap alignment and responsibilities. For us, we usually have 6 in the box to 10 personnel and 7 in the box to 11 personnel, unless specific tendencies have us doing different.

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Trip-Side Flat Defender

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Depth & Alignment – 2 to 5 yards, with his butt to the sideline. Pre-snap he will stem to 2 yards inside the #1 receiver. If the formation is condensed or if the corner is worried about being able to get inside #1, we tell him to line up in between #1 and #2.

Responsibility – Funnel by looking #2 to #3. Playing curl to flat. 

If both go vertical, he must attempt to get hands on #2 and sink to your curl zone. He can be aggressive because he have over-the-top help. He will then be a late flat player on any outside flat route by #1. Rally to any catch in flat area.

If he gets a flat threat by #2 or #3 (Arrow or Out), he must continue to sink to curl zone and be a late flat player. He must also be aware of any flood concept so that a throw is not made over his head. At that point, he will rally to any catch in flat area. 

  • If #2 goes away – Get your eyes on #3 immediately.
  • If you get any bubble screen – Jump the bubble.
  • If #2 or #3 Runs a Wheel – Collision and Run with it.

Trip-Side Invert Defender (This is usually the SAM Linebacker)

Depth and Alignment – 4 to 6 yards, splitting the difference between #3 and the tackle. If he is in the box against 11 personnel, we like him to be on the outside shoulder of the tight end or H-back, depending on the front.

Responsibility – Funnel by looking #3 to #2. When in the box, funnel #2 while maintaining leverage on #3 and play the Curl zone.

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Methodologies in Building Formation Packages

Methodologies in Building Formation Packages

Posted by | Nov 20, 2017 | , | 0 |

By Adam Hovorka
Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator
Schreiber High School (NY)
X&O Labs Contributing Writer

Introduction

Games are won on match-ups, match-ups are created by leverage and leverage is created by formations. How offensive coordinators design their formation packages can not only accentuate top personnel but also take advantage of opponents’ deficiencies, either by personnel or scheme. But our research has found that there is a fine line between what’s effective and what is too much in building formation packages. All offensive coordinators want to protect their top concepts, but risk battling the limits of long-winded verbiage (both by words and signals), player retention and correlating word associations.

We reached out to nine contributors (both at the high school and college levels) and researched how they build their formation packages to out-leverage defenses and isolate their top personnel.  The contributor list is below:

Contributor List (In Alphabetical Order)

  • Johnny Cox (JC): Offensive Coordinator, University of North Carolina Pembroke (NC)
  • Rich Holzer (RH): Head Football Coach, Mount St. Joseph High School (MD)
  • Kyle Ralph (KR): Head Football Coach, New Palestine High School (IN)
  • Kyle Schmidt (KS): Head Football Coach, Archbishop Spalding High School (PA)
  • Jeff Smith (JS): Offensive Coordinator, Warrenton High School (MO)
  • Mike Stanley (MS): Head Football Coach, Carey High School (NY)
  • Ryan Turnage (RT): Head Football Coach, Lee Davis High School (VA)
  • Scott Walden (SW): Head Football Coach, East Texas Baptist University
  • Kevin Wallace (KW): Offensive Coordinator, Glenn High School (NC)

We asked our contributing list the following nine questions:

  1. In your opinion, what is the most important component to formation design and creation?
  2. How many total formations to you have roughly in your offensive system?
  3. Is there a word or signal length you limit yourself to in calling formations? If so, what is that length?
  4. Explain the correlation between how many formations you have in your system to how many formations you will enter each game week with. How is this predicated on defensive personnel or structure.
  5. Explain how to designate formation groupings in your system. For example, how do you differentiate 12 personnel formations vs. 10 personnel formations? Are they the same calls, different calls?
  6. How do you package your formations either by word associations or signal associations to make them easier to group. For example, does every 2×2 formation start with “D”, every 3×1 formation start with “T,” etc.
  7. For single back offenses: explain the communication you use to change the back’s alignment.
  8. For H/Y off offenses: explain the communication you use to change the H’s alignment. 

 

In your opinion, what is the most important component to formation design and creation?

JC: “Design it how teams are playing you based on your personnel.  Take advantage of match-ups within your personnel groupings.  It is also to force teams to play our close splits of our wide receivers. We also number our spots where number one is closest to the sideline enabling us to move players around.”

RH: “The most important thing is how the defense adjusts to the formation- stack, bunch or pistol formations. The second thing is the match-ups. Can we go empty? Can we do different things and get match-ups with speed advantages?  We evaluate the defense against teams similar to us and how they align.”

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