Using Stick and Spacing Play-Action Pass as Triple Option Schemes
Head Coach
Bartram Trail High School (FL)
Introduction:
The Triple Option is known for making defenses play “assignment” football. Play action success within a triple options offense is based on the advantage of knowing the defensive assignments. Most perimeter defenders assigned to primary or secondary run support are placed in a run/pass bind; this conflicted position leaves them vulnerable to play-action passes.
The result has been increased efficiency for all of our concepts. This past year, our Inside Zone Triple (with a variety of blocking tags) was 70% efficient (4+ yards or gained a 1st down) and averaged over 6 yards an attempt. The 3-step play-action passing concepts, like Spacing and Stick shown below, were 65% efficient (7+ yards or gained us a 1st down). Lastly, the 5-step play-action concepts were 42% efficient (10+ yards or gained us a 1st down) and accounted for a number of our explosive plays, averaging 27 yards a completion.
Play-Action Basics
In our system, the Play-Action Pass serves the same function as manipulating the Option portion of the play or running Counters and gadgets. That is that they are all ways to protect our base play. It’s like life: our actions should reflect what we truly value. As the old adage goes, “show me your day timer and your checkbook, and I’ll show you what you value.” The Triple Option is what we want to be great at, so most of our practice play, much like a day timer, should reflect that. With the larger percentage of our daily practice routine dedicated to perfecting the Option, we must be very efficient with our complement plays. We can’t afford those “expensive” plays that eat up practice reps and don’t get results or even get called in games.
To economize reps, we use our existing 3 and 5 step concepts as the patterns we incorporate in our Play-Action Passes. This is an easy way to practice two things at once, and allow our players to play fast in concepts in which they are already confident.
Spacing Concept
A Horizontal Stretch, like the Spacing concept, is one way to take advantage of the voided underneath zones created by primary run support defenders aggressively attacking their assignments. Many defenses employ a Gap Exchange scheme or some other means of trying to dictate to the offense who will carry the ball (diagram 1). This can potentially compromise the flat defender and the ILB assigned to scrape outside to the QB.
By selling the Inside Zone up front and flash faking to the RB crossing the QB’s face, the offense can influence the defensive end to scrape hard, the zone side linebacker (danger player) to stay zone side, and the triple side linebacker (movement key) to step out. One of the great things about the Triple Option Play-Action Passing concepts is that the QB can read his movement key while meshing with the RB. Our Spacing concept (diagram 2) takes advantage of defenses attempting to add LBs to the option side. It also provides an easy way to tag the backside receiver to counteract when defenses drop the safety into the box to fill for the sliding linebackers (diagram 3).
Here are a few coaching points for running the Spacing concept:
#1 Receiver Play Side – Run a Slice route. Take an inside stem, climb to 8-10 yards behind the flat defender (1st underneath defender), and settle in the open space voided by the flat defender covering the Bubble route.
#2 Receiver Play Side – Run an Over-the-Ball (OTB) Route. Take an inside release on the 2nd underneath defender, climb to 6 yards, and present your front numbers to QB. If the 3rd underneath defender is over the ball, post him up play side (level with, not in front of) so your play side shoulder is “open”.
Back Side Back – Run the option track into a Bubble route. Open and crossover with your chin on your shoulder then drive for width to replace the #1 receiver’s original alignment.
#1 Receiver Back Side – Run the backside Hitch. This is a 6 yard Hitch route with 3 big steps and two little steps (3 big, 2 little). He will convert this route to a fade against press coverage or a hole route against cover 2.
Quarterback Pre Snap Read – Check backside window for a gift hitch. Take it right away if it is there.
Quarterback Post Snap Read – Read the concept from the inside out. The 2nd underneath defender is 1st movement key. Here is how we want him to respond to different movements by the movement key:
- In the case of a blitz, the QB will throw the ball right now to the slot player.
- If the key widens, hit the slot who is now posting up 3rd defender.
- If he brackets the slot, he needs to reset his feet and read the flat defender (1st underneath player) for a high low with the bubble and slice routes.
Protection – To keep things simple, we use the same Will Slide protection as we use in our drop back pro, but with “low hats”. The RB will flash fake, crossing the QBs face, and block from #1 to #2 to check down. The backside tackle is man, the back side guard is man if he is covered. If he is uncovered he starts the slide to the zone side.
Stick Concept
Another benefit of incorporating your existing 3 and 5 step concepts into your Play-Action Pass is the fact that the play has validity even if the defense doesn’t “bite” on the run fake. The Stick concept (diagram 4), is one of our most efficient 3 step concepts, and by also tying it to one of our base runs, we can call it even more often. As a “reaction” play, it is a great way to expand the sideline hole because the corner is now a primary run support defender.
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3 Solutions to the Rocket Sweep’s 3 Biggest Problems
Offensive Coordinator
Krum High School (TX)
Twitter: @okstate62
Introduction
Our offense is a multiple formation offense. We like to use a variety of looks to help us get in the best situation to run our base plays. The Rocket Sweep is a big part of our attack as we believe it gives us many advantages. With that said, we have also learned that you have to commit to running the play to get the advantages of the motion.
Once the Rocket is a staple of your offense, the defense will run specific schemes to disrupt your game plan on the edge. The purpose of this clinic report is to explain the common defensive schemes to attack the Rocket Sweep and the solutions we use to attack those schemes.
Advantages of the Rocket Sweep
Krum started its football program in 2008 with 7th and 8th grade teams and then built to a successful varsity program in the years since. In the beginning, we were a big Jet Sweep team. As the scheduling became tougher each year, the explosiveness of the Jet Sweep began to diminish. After watching Georgia Tech play, we decided to take their Rocket Toss concept and put it into the gun. We installed it in the Spring of that year and it became one of our base plays ever since.
Our number one reason for running the Rocket is that it gets our fastest athlete the ball in the perimeter. With the pitch being received outside the tackle box, the tackles block doesn’t have to be a perfect hook to have a successful play. With the success of this play, we were able to utilize the motion to open up every aspect of our offense. The influence it puts on defense will help the run game, passing game, and screen game.
Rocket Sweep Basics
The Rocket Sweep is nothing but a receiver toss play. The slot receive will “orbit motion” and the quarterback will reverse out and pitch it to the moving receiver. The receiver now becomes a running back, and now, one of your best athletes is carrying the football.
The most important thing is to make sure your quarterback and wide receiver are on the same page with timing. We have a Rocket period that is 5 minutes every day in practice where we devote to getting the timing down. Here are a couple of key points for the wide receiver and quarterback.
Wide Receiver
Start with a flat motion toward the quarterback.
When you are about 3-5 yards outside of the tackle (depending on the speed of the receiver) orbit 1 yard behind the quarterback.
After you pass the quarterback, flatten out the motion and be ready for the pitch.
Quarterback
Set the receiver in motion.
When the wide receiver disappears from your peripheral vision, snap the football.
Open your foot about 60 degrees and pitch the football to the receiver.
Blocking Scheme
Our basic blocking scheme for the Rocket Sweep is an Outside Zone concept. The difference is being that do not worry about combos. The simple rules are as follows:
Play Side Tackle: Bucket step and hook the end man on the line of scrimmage.
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The Gorilla Goal Line Defensive System
By William Mitchell,
Head Coach,
Lewisville High School (SC)
As we all know, the game changes drastically as the offense approaches the goal line. Nearly every offensive coordinator I know changes the way their offense use formations and call plays due to both the proximity of the goal and the decreased vertical space that they have to work with. Conversely, experiences have shown me that defensive coordinators are mush less apt to change in this area of the field. Sure most of us have a goal line package that may switch to man coverage or add a defensive lineman, but most coaches still stick with their base stuff. This presents a variety of issues that can prove costly in the most important moments of the game.
It is for that reason that we have shifted the focus of our goal line defense from being a defensive adjustment to becoming a special team. Here are a few reasons for that change:
- No one is off-limits to this unit personnel-wise. If I need the starting tailback at a corner and I need the starting quarterback coming off of the edge, then I get them. Most of our normal defensive package is based on speed, quickness, & multiplicity, but we are different in goal line. By making our goal line unit a completely separate group, I can add the size that we would sometimes like to get in there in short yardage and I can add other athletes whose skill sets fit what we want to accomplish.
- We can create a separate mindset specifically for that unit. We really push being great on the goal line as being a key to our program. We attach a great deal of pride to getting on this unit, and players on both sides of the ball want to play on this unit.
- If we are in goal line, it usually means that things have not gone so great defensively. By running a separate unit onto the field (even if 7 or 8 of the players are on 1st Defense anyway), it creates a little bit of a “fresh start” mentality and gives us a confidence boost.
As is the case with many special teams concepts, simplicity and flexibility is key. Since we are subbing in players who may not be on defense full time and who may not be expecting to enter the game at that moment. If we have a turnover inside our own 10 and I need to call goal line defense unexpectedly, our scheme is simple enough that the players know what to do even if they are surprised. We also think that this approach, if executed correctly of course, builds the players confidence in the scheme. By keeping simple and flexible, the players always know exactly where to be regardless of the formation thus allowing them to play faster and more confidently.
Gorilla Personnel Types
Our scheme is a mix of several things the coaching staff has encountered, but a large base of the scheme comes from Bellevue High School in Washington. They are the team that broke De La Salle’s winning streak. These are the positions and what we look for to fill them:
- Two NOSE GUARDS – Quickness is a top priority. Wrestlers, running backs, Strong Safeties.
- Two ENDS – Preferably our two best defensive linemen…..size & strength needs to be a little more of a factor here.
- Two EDGES – The two best athletes on the team. Option quarterback, point guard on basketball team, change of direction ability is huge. Speed is important, size is not.
- Two LINEBACKERS – the best two linebackers, at least one must be able to cover man to man.
- Three DEFENSIVE BACKS – must be able to lock up man coverage for at least 2 seconds.
We call our goal line package GORILLA (as in 800lb Gorilla). Since we went to this package three seasons ago, we have made 15 successful stands in 28 opportunities. These are our alignments in GORILLA:
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Blitz Checks Case 1: Introduction and Protocols
By Mike Kuchar
Senior Research Manager
X&O Labs
Editor’s Note: We should be clear that this report focuses solely on a pressure check system, meeting blitzes that are NOT called from the sideline, but instead are CHECKED from the sideline based on various offensive variables such as offensive formation, down and distance, offensive personnel and field position.
Case1: Introduction and Protocols:
Plain and simple, this special report is centered on pressure- where to bring it, how to bring it and when to bring it. When creatively designed and accurately called, a pressure system cannot only be detrimental to offenses it can be downright degrading. While offensive coaches spend hours watching game film on how to attack defenses, defenses are finding new ways to counter what offenses present and they are doing so by pressuring tendencies on a down to down occurrence. What if you were able to put your players in the best possible situation to be successful each and every play? You’d be foolish not to. A pressure check system allows you that opportunity.
Why Use a Pressure Check System
There are plenty of reasons as to why coaches use a pressure checks system, all of which will be explained thoroughly in this report. The fact is 49.7 percent of coaches have been using a pressure check system for over five seasons now. Of these coaches, 28.1 percent will teach a check on roughly 50-74% of every called pressure down. What this means is that coaches will want pressure and communicate they will pressure, but where they pressure depends on various variables. We were inundated with responses from coaches at all levels preaching the advantages of using a pressure check system. The most common benefits are below:
- It complements no-huddle offensive systems- With offenses rushing to get on the ball and get it snapped, checking pressure eliminates any further verbiage from the sideline. In fact, coaches like Brown University’s defensive coordinator Mike Kelleher will use one word to denote the front, coverage and pressure. “We have about 10 calls where we will use against these up-tempo teams,” Kelleher told us.
- Takes advantage of offensive tendencies- This response was particularly common among high school coaches where tendencies are a little more prevalent. Once your game plan is in, create your pressures based off offensive formations.
- Eliminates bad play call capabilities- Why stay in a poor blitz call if you don’t have to? Using a pressure check system based on offensive tendency always gives your defensive the opportunity to check out of a poor call.
- Combats offensive pre-snap movement- Once offenses get on the ball they can get in a situation where pre-snap movement can pull you out of a pressure. Instead of running the pressure- or checking out of it- you can adjust the pressure to attack its vulnerability.
- Attacks Protections- We have found coaches will design their pressure check system against various protection variables such as back placement, Center movement, offensive line oversets and weak spots. Pressures can be tagged to attack each of those situations.
- “Opposite” Calls- What this means is that if a pressure gets detected and an offense can adjust, having a pressure check system allows you call the pressure opposite the detection, thus still getting home. Now, this part of it takes a tremendous deal of coaching, but still an advantage.
- Harnesses Unpredictability- Blitz checks can be made instantaneously at the line of scrimmage which makes it nearly impossible for offenses to determine where the blitz is coming from.
- Can be a Game Changer- If checked at the right time against the right tendency, a pressure can not only disrupt the play but also impact the entire course of the game.
- Defends Read option teams- Depending on the placement of the back, pressure checks can be designed to attack certain zone reads and power read scenarios.
- Fun for your players- Once you set up your pressure check system, it gives players accountability when making the checks. They have fun doing it.
- Helps smaller players play fast- Blitzing has always been a great equalizer on defense. It is even a better option for teams that lack the beef up in the box.
- Develops football IQ– This was one of the more intelligent responses we received from coaches. In order to develop a pressure check system, you need to teach your players how to identify formations, protections and personnel groupings just to get the right pressure. Again, it makes them accountable for their decisions, which means they have to be continual learners.
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Blitz Checks Case 2: Formation and Personnel Pressure Checks
By Mike Kuchar
Senior Research Manager
X&O Labs
Introduction
In this case, we will present our research on the most common pressure checks against various offensive formations and personnel groupings. According to our research, 74 percent of coaches choose to pressure certain formations and personnel groupings, more so than any other variable. While this may be true, we found it necessary for coaches to be efficient with teaching their players formation structures before installing their check system. Many of the coaches we spoke with when conducting our research said that they will install all of their various types of pressures- field, boundary, tight side, open side, etc. before getting into specifics about formations.
Pressure Checks to Closed and Open Surface
When we started to conduct our research on attacking formations/personnel groupings we’ve found coaches have two separate philosophies on identifying and pressuring formations:
- Formation classifications– This means identifying specific formations: pro/slot, pro/trips, doubles, trey, empty, etc. This is all relative to what your program calls these formations. Coaches that subscribe to this method, spend a good deal of time teaching their players the proper nomenclature for these formations. Pressure checks designed to attack specific formations are heavily based on tendency.
- Surface classifications– This is relative to coaches identifying formations by surface. For example, a two-man surface will usually consist of a Guard and Tackle without a Tight End whereas a three-man surface will consist of a Guard, Tackle and Tight End. Coaches will have different pressures to attack these surfaces.
Chris Ash, the defensive coordinator at Ohio State University, subscribes to the latter method of blitzing surfaces. “A lot of what we do is based off formation- Tight End, open side and back,” said Ash. “If we can gain an advantage by blitzing the formation than we will do it. If there isn’t an advantage we can find then we won’t.” In Ash’s system, he’ll use a code work like Yankee (Y) to blitz the Tight End and an “Oscar” call to blitz the open side, which would be an entirely different blitz. He will also have a bird check which means blitz the back. “The question is how much can they manage?” asks Ash. “If they are the same blitzes each week, you can scheme more. But if you’re starting to scheme new blitzes each week, I think that’s when you get yourself into trouble. “
Wallie Kuchinski, the defensive coordinator at the University of St. Thomas, a perennial division three powerhouse, teaches his players to attack two types of surfaces: a Tight End surface or a two-back surface. Kuchinski told us that 35 percent of his pressures are checked at the line of scrimmage, but at least 70 percent of snaps he will have his players run some type of pressure based on what the offense presents structurally. “I call blitzing attacking protections but our base package in run downs we send five (out of St. Thomas’s odd front) so I guess that can be called a pressure as well,” said Kuchinski. When he teaches his players formation structure, Kuchinski classifies formations into the following groupings:
- Empty structure- This means that five players that can get into five underneath zones with a very high level of five vertical threats with a possibility of 8 gaps with a running QB.
- 2×2 (balanced)- All wide receivers or Tight End/Flanker or any combination of thereof. This could be a double wing set or triple option type teams. This is a balanced set. According to Kuchinski how he pressures will be based on who number two is. “Is he a fast receiver where we play a two-read principle,” said Kuchinski. “Is he a Tight End or wing where we can play a Quarters concept so the Safety can get down into the run game?”
- Unbalanced Set- Here the End Man on the line of scrimmage (EMLOS) could be a Tackle and the Tight End is eligible backside. It’s different either one back or two backs.
- Half Balanced or 3×1 formations- Here Kuchinski decides to shift with coverage, particularly rolling to cover three.
Tom Mason, the defensive coordinator at Southern Methodist University, sees upwards of 68 formations per game so he talks more about triangles rather than surfaces. Mason will pressure about 70 percent of the time and will check his pressure 20 percent of the time. He uses four blitz checks out of his 3-4 front. “The hardest thing for a coordinator is getting caught in a blitz against a formation that you don’t want to be in,” said Mason. “So most of the blitzes will be dictated based on Tight End or running back. We talk in terms of three triangles: We are going to blitz from the strong triangle (Diagram 1), the weak triangle (Diagram 2) or the middle triangle (Diagram 3). It gives you a chance to get you in something that you will have success.” Mason made a point to say because SMU’s head coach June Jones spread offense doesn’t revolve around a Tight End, so he works more on pressuring those three-man surfaces instead of defending them. “I have enough confidence in our cover down rules that I’m going to bring pressure the way I want it,” said Mason. “I’m not going to let an offense dictate what we do.”
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Blitz Checks Case 3: Using Pressure Checks to Attacking Protections and Personnel
By Mike Kuchar
Senior Research Manager
X&O Labs
Introduction
When conducting our research, it becomes tremendously apparent that coaches are spending ample amounts of time dissecting offensive pass protections to get an advantage in their pressures. In fact, there were a good deal of coaches in our survey talked about using a pressure check system solely in third and long or passing downs when they can beat a protection. Once a coordinator has a “tell” on where the protection is being set, the possibilities become endless in attacking those protections. How this ties into a check system is simple: coordinators are devising their 3-4 most productive pressures to attack certain protections and letting their players make the adjustments. Our intent in this case is to present some of those pressure concepts so that you can have an idea of what to bring and how to bring it to attack protections.
Types of Protection Explanations
Editors Note: In this case, we will only study base 6-7 man protection schemes. As mentioned previously, Empty (or five man protection) stands on its own. Since most coaches have up to 3-5 adjustments against empty, we will provide a more in-depth study on this topic at a later date.
While there are a myriad amount of protections that an offense can employ, the following four protections seem to generate more chances of drawing a pressure check system. Having said that, there are four base protections schemes that we will examine in this case: They are as follows:
Full-Slide Protection (Diagram 70A)- Full slide protection simply means the offensive line will slide all in one direction and put its back away from the slide. Here, the offensive line could slide in many directions- to the field, to the boundary, to the QB’s backside, etc. It’s important to get a tendency on where they are sliding most often based which could be based on down and distance and personnel.
Insert Protection (Diagram 70B)– Insert protection means that the line will slide in one particular direction (to the right, to the left, to the field or to the boundary) while the back inserts into a opposite, unblocked gap.
Man or Big On Big (BOB) Protections (Diagram 70C)– This is more of a man protection concept where the back is dual reading- from inside to outside second level player. 
Sprint Out/Roll Out Protection (Diagram 70D)– This protection scheme is designed to get the quarterback on the perimeter. In these protection schemes, the back will usually account for a perimeter defender so the QB can have a run/pass option.
Breaking Down Protections/Game Planning
Once you understand the various types of protection an offense can employ, it’s important to devise those pressures that attack those protections. This, of course, comes in the film room during the days leading up to game day. Middle Tennessee State University defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix gave us insight into how he breaks down protections during the week. Nix takes every game he has available- which could be close to ten by the end of the season when MTSU played in a bowl game. “We start with protection and where they are sliding their front,” said Nix. “You tally each time they slide a certain way. You count right or left, field or boundary, strong or weak, Y (TE) or away from Y (TE). Every time they throw the ball, you chart where the Center blocks. All of those things play a part. Whatever adds up the most, you blitz opposite. When you design a pressure, you’re just trying to bring four on three that’s all it is. When the offense sees it and they slide it, then you can come from the other side or you don’t come at all.”
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22 Tags in the Four Vertical Concept
By Mike Kuchar
Senior Research Manager
X&O Labs
Twitter: @MikekKuchar
Introduction:
It’s no secret that the four vertical concept is the most popular pass scheme in football today, at least not to the thousands of coaches that completed our survey on spread pass concepts last month.
In fact, 38 percent of these coaches said it was their most utilized pass concept last season, over ten percentage points higher than Snag, Shallow or Mesh concept. It seems the proficiency of the concept was increased as well. 47 percent of coaches, the majority, said this concept netted between 11-15 yards per completion. We all know it can be a homerun ball if executed correctly, but the execution of this concept is what we wanted to uncovered. We found the concept is easy to install but harder to master.
Before we divulge our data, it’s important to note that we already conducted a two-part research study on the four vertical concept some time ago, which could be accessed below:
Four Verticals Study – Part 1
Four Verticals Study – Part 2
While these reports relied mainly on the quarterback progressions and route structure of the purely linear four vertical concept, this report is centered on the various tags coaches are now using in the concept as it relates to the outside receivers, inside receivers and the back. While the four vertical concept can be utilized with a multitude of formations, we did find that 84 percent of coaches are still utilizing the scheme out of 3×1 open and 2×2 open spread formations. So, much of our research and diagrams will be focused on those structures.
Case 1: Running Back Tags
We wanted to start our research on discovering what four vertical teams are doing with their back if he’s not tied to protection. Seven on seven tournaments are filled with coaches who decide to match the back on a linebacker, but we’ve found this route often goes unnoticed on Fridays and Saturdays in the Fall. So, we reached out to a select group of coaches who do utilize the back in the concept and practice what they preach.
Stay Route Tag
Jeff Russell at Wethersfield High School (CT) uses a stay route with his back in his four vertical game. He can either start from the backfield or motion to line up behind one of the outside receivers to execute it. If the flat defender rushes out too quickly to defend it, the bender route on the inside opens up (Diagram 1). If the corner or deep third defender comes up to defend the stay route behind the line of scrimmage, the outside release vertical route is hit in the hole before the safety.
“If teams adjust by bringing players over, we’ll either get a great one on one matchup backside or we’ll motion a fourth receiver to that side and get three vertical routes with two benders and one perimeter on the same side as the stay route and we’ll take advantage of the most displaced defender,” Russell told us.
Cross Route Tag
Scott Anderson, the offensive coordinator at Pearl River Community College (MS) will use both a cross and angle concept for his back based on the action of the middle hole player. It becomes more of an option route for the back.
“Our cross route is a drag back across field to window over ball,”said Anderson. “We run the route to go under (but towards) the bender. However, against Tampa two coverage, we try to break at a 45 degree angle.”
Kim Nelson, at Roosevelt High School, will also use motion to free up the back in four vertical concepts. “We usually run him in motion to create a trips formation from 2×2 formation,” said Nelson. “If not, we have him work outside release on the outside LB, (or whoever is re-routing him) lean hard to the inside and out run the defender (Diagram 6). Motion works best if he can’t avoid the re-route.”
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4 Perspectives on the No Huddle
By Sam Nichols
Managing Editor
X&O Labs
Twitter: @SNicholsXOLabs
Introduction:
Throughout this interview process, I was fortunate enough to talk to some great coaches from all over the country. Some of those coaches were willing to give us an even closer look at how they run the no huddle. Each coach in this section has a unique perspective that I felt would help coaches better understand how the no huddle can change the way a team operates. Below you will find the following coaches / topics:
- Pac 12 Offensive Coach – This no huddle veteran explains how his teams culture is built around their no huddle philosophy.
- Phil Longo – Championship college coach explains the no huddle concepts that have made his teams successful at multiple stops.
- Joe Osovet – Veteran no huddle coach explains how his system helped increase their plays per game by 15 plays per game over the course of the 2012 season.
- Brian Tabatabai – Southern California coach outlines how the no huddle changed the culture of his football team and helped them break countless records in the process.
Using Pre-Snap Tempo to Manipulate Defenses
By Joe Osovet, Offensive Coordinator – Nassau Community College (NY)
Editor’s Note: Coach Osovet is serving his second stint as offensive coordinator at Nassau Community College in New York. Prior to coming back to Nassau, he served as the wide receiver coach at LIU-Post from 2010-2011. This past season, Coach Osovet’s offense ranked 11th nationally averaging 40.8 points per game. His team also boasted two 1,000 yard rushers and a rushing offense that ranked 6th in the nation. X&O Labs Managing Editor Sam Nichols had the opportunity to talk with Coach Osovet about his no-huddle system.
SN: Hey coach, thanks for taking the time to talk to us today. I know you have been successful with the no huddle for years now and we look forward to hearing some of the keys that you have found to making that happen year to year. So let’s start with this…why do you stick with the no huddle?
JO: I think the biggest thing as I have been at different levels, be it D2, Junior College, whatever, is that the no huddle forces the defense so show their hand. Very rarely in a game are you going to be stuck in a bad play because you have so much time at the line to make the changes. The quarterback has more time to scan the field and get you in the right play and over time those 7 and 8-yard runs add up and you bust those into 50 yard explosive plays in the second half. I think that those factors combine are dangerous for an offense.
SN: I agree coach. It can be hard to stop if you aren’t prepared. Tempo is an important part of making that happen. Tell us how you guys use tempo to control the game offensively?
JO: First of all, just so you understand where we are coming from, you need to know that we are all hand signals. That said, anything that is a lot of verbiage we put it on the wrist card. We will take the card with those 10-12 plays and use it to keep us moving fast even if we want to run a more complicated play.
We keep it really simple with tempo. We use a snap variance cadence so predominantly have one snap count. From there, we will use a freeze cadence that gives us a chance to get out of something that we have called. That is sent in with the play as a code word. If we just want to get the defense on their heels, the center will signal to the QB he is ready by flashing his hand between his legs, the QB then says “Hut, Hut,” throw his hands up, and then look back at me.
What a lot of teams have started doing is they look back to their sideline and change the play as well during that time. To counter this, we have another code word that tells our guys to fake the look to the sideline and catch them looking over for a new play. We aren’t necessarily snapping the ball on one, two, or three. It is all based on the center and quarterback. The other thing we can do is use a few words to speed things up. The first word, “Copy,” tells the players to get lined up in the same personnel and run the exact same play. If the defense adjust to that we have code words, like “Oregon” that mean flip it too the other side. The opposite play can be made in the prior to the previous play as well. When we do this, we can get in snapped in about 7 seconds, as long as refs cooperate.
In the end, we think the combination of the same play quickly, the false cadence, and the freeze or look cadence is all we really need to adjust the tempo. We don’t have like a “indy” or “nascar” like some teams.
SN: Talk to me more about the speed. How fast are you guys trying to go?
JO: Well you have to understand that this was my first year back at Nassau so in the beginning we were slow. We even huddled some early in the season as the kids were trying to get the grasp of the concept. During those first 3 games, we were averaging around 67 snaps per game. By the end of the year we were completely no huddle and running 87 snaps in a game. Overall we averaged 73 snaps and that includes those first few games where we were low.
So to answer your question, we are trying to snap the ball in 17 seconds. I know this is slower than Oregon who claims to be at 13, but we are fine with 17 as long as we can execute. It is good to say you are no huddle and fast, but it you can’t execute than it is worthless. This past year we had two 1,000 yard rusher and we were second in the nation in rushing averaging over 300 yards rushing a game.
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Defensive Line: Varying Movement Steps
By Shaun Weaver
Defensive Coordinator
Gettysburg College (PA)
Introduction:
In today’s offense centric game, stopping an offense starts with what you do on the defensive line. No matter what scheme you decide to use, you must be able to stop the run and get to the quarterback. Your defensive line can and should be a big part of the production in your defense.
Part of giving defensive line the best opportunity to produce is moving them within the scheme. If you are aligning your guys in the same spot every single down, you are putting them at a competitive disadvantage unless they are just physically better than the other team. Having a good teaching progression and plan for teaching movement techniques is vital to being effective. In this report, I will go in detail about our gap step, penetrating, two gap and twist steps we use in our 3-4 scheme here at Gettysburg College.
Base and Pass Rush Stances
The key to being able to effectively move as a defensive lineman is having a great starting stance. We teach two different types of stances based upon the situation. Below are our teaching progressions for both our Base and
Pass Rush Stances
Right (Left) Handed Base Stance
- Feet shoulder width apart (under your arm pits) pointing straight ahead.
- Right foot should be back and at a toe to instep relationship.
- Put both hands on the ground 3 to 6 inches in front of your face mask.
- Pick your left hand or “Flash Hand” up off the ground and put it to the side of your face mask with your thumb pointing up in a position to strike a blow.
- Weight is slightly on the balls of your feet so you feel “air” under your heels.
- Good power angles in your hips, knees and ankles. Do not be stiff.
- Eyes up on the man across from you and butt up slightly above head level, while maintaining flexed hips ready to explode off the ball. Key the ball to the inside with your peripheral vision for a better start.
Right (Left) Handed Pass Rush Stance
- Feet slightly less narrow than shoulder width apart.
- Right foot should be back and at a toe to heel relationship.
- Put both hands on the ground 3 to 6 inches in front of your face mask.
- Pick your left hand or “Flash Hand” up off the ground and put it to the side of your face mask with your thumb pointing up in a position to strike a blow.
- Weight is heavy on the balls of your feet so you feel more “air” under your heels.
- Good power angles in your hips, knees and ankles. Do not be stiff.
- Eyes up on the man across from you and butt up slightly above head level, while maintaining flexed hips ready to explode off the ball. Key the ball to the inside with your peripheral vision for a better start.
Base Movement Steps and Technique
We teach four different types of movements to our defensive line. Each has a different role in our scheme. Each is specific but very easy to teach. Below, I provide an explanation of each movement as well as details of how we use each technique against common blocks that we encounter.
Spark Step
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Virginia Tech’s Bear Package: Case 1 – Philosophy, Personnel and Alignments
By Mike Kuchar
Senior Research Manager
X&O Labs
Twitter: @MikeKKuchar
Introduction:
The construction of Virginia Tech’s Bear package came in the result of a visit that Defensive Coordinator Bud Foster made as a guest to the University of Mississippi last spring. Rebels Defensive Coordinator Dave Wommack, who based out of a three-down front, was experimenting with a five down front in order to better defend the interior run game he was seeing in the Southeastern Conference.
According to Foster, what Wommack was doing was having his edge players, or defensive ends “wire,” which means read the guards in order to fit inside on any run schemes.
Foster loved the idea, but with the speed of the quarterbacks on Virginia Tech’s upcoming schedule (Ohio State, Georgia Tech, Duke, etc.), he was concerned about the quarterback perimeter run game. He had to find a way to accomplish two tall tasks: load the box to stop the interior run, yet be sound enough on the perimeter to defend the read option game. So when Foster got back to work in Blacksburg, he hit the lab to try to find a way to mesh what the Hokies were doing with its three down package, which was mainly used on third downs, to Wommack’s concept. A few days later, the birth of the Hokies’ Bear package came to fruition.
Advantages of the Bear Package
It was called a Bear package because of the presence of two 3-techniques on the line of scrimmage, which will be detailed below. Having two 3-techniques on the line of scrimmage negates any combination blocks at the point of attack, which is foundation of the one-back gap scheme run game infiltrating college football today. It was built off the former Chicago Bear defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan 46 defense philosophy, to create as many one on one blocks at the point of attack as possible, and just coach your players up on the back end better than your opponent.
Like many defensive structures, we found the Bear package to be more of a philosophy rather than a scheme. In Foster’s words, “I can’t win by giving up 35 points. That would piss me off. I don’t want the offense to have [expletive]. I’m not a bend but don’t break guy. I make the quarterback have to make good throws with pressure in his face.”
According to Foster, the entire premise of the Bear package is to get +1 in the box to defend quarterback option teams. Its coverage structure is man heavy, so part of the decision in implementing it is having the guts to play with one or sometimes no high safeties in the middle of the field. Many times, Foster would play his remaining free safety in a “cheat post technique” which allows him to play both run and pass responsibilities based on his post-snap key. “You have to play with a free hitter somewhere,” Foster told us. “If you can’t expect guys to come off blocks and make plays against dynamic players, you are barking up the wrong side of the tree.”
Personnel
Base Package (Diagram 1)
The base Bear package consists of the following personnel:
- Two defensive tackles who are interchangeable. Whichever tackle is on the same side of the backer (usually into the boundary) will align in a zero technique on the center. The defensive tackle who is away from the backer will align in a 3-technique.
- Two defensive ends who play left and right. Whichever defensive end is on the same side of the backer (usually into the boundary) will align in a 3-technique on the guard. As shown on film, the threat of a defensive end type as an interior player can cause a repeated disturbance in pass protection. “You have a dynamic kid who is a 3-technique on a guard who is not used to seeing that kind of quickness,” said Foster. “It’s a mismatch. Even if they try to switch block with the center it’s hard.” The defensive end who is away from the backer will align in a loose 5-technique on the tackle (in a stand-up position) and will be the force player to his side of the formation.
- Backer — Virginia Tech’s weak side inside linebacker who will align into the boundary or away from the passing strength of the formation. He will align in either a loose 5-techique (for a two-man surface) or a loose 9-technique (for a three man surface). We asked Foster about the cross training of this player to be both a box linebacker and a perimeter player. “You are using defensive ends inside that are very twitchy at 270 pounds who can get off the ball and are strong,” Foster told us. “The backer and defensive end will play in a two-point stance, so they can see pullers. If the back is to him, he tightens his alignment down. He will squeeze down if the tackle blocks down. If the tackle blocks out, he’s going to free his outside arm to play force.” The backer will be the force player to his side of the formation.
- Mike — The middle linebacker is the linchpin for this defense as he will be unblocked a good portion of the time. He will align in a zero stack position (directly behind the center) at 5 to 6 yards in depth depending on the position of the single back, which we will explore more in case two.
- Rover — This is the weak safety in Virginia Tech’s defensive scheme. He will align to the boundary or away from the passing strength and will mainly handle the responsibility of playing the number two receiver to his side, which can be a tight end or open receiver. This player can be interchangeable with the free safety depending on game plan.
- Whip/Nickel — This is the strong safety in Virginia Tech’s defensive scheme. He will declare himself to the passing strength of the formation or to the field. Foster would use a Whip (linebacker type) against 21 or 12 personnel teams and a Nickel (corner type) ag
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Virginia Tech’s Bear Package: Case 2 – Assignments Against the Run Game
By Mike Kuchar
Senior Research Manager
X&O Labs
Twitter: @MikeKKuchar
Introduction:
Let’s get one inalienable truth straight: the entire Bear package is designed to stop the run. We know that shouldn’t come as a surprise, but remember the roots of the Bear system is centered around two main objective: get plus one in the run game and eliminate combination blocks at the point of attack. If teams are running the ball on Bear, there is a technical problem, not a structural one. In fact, when Virginia Tech used the Bear package they surrendered 2.9 yards per carry. That is nearly one yard less than what the Hokies gave up per run play using any other defensive structure.
Level Reads on Single Back:
Foster and his defensive staff place a premium on the horizontal and vertical level of the offset back in one-back offenses. In fact, the Mike will call out the level of the back on every snap because it affects how the defensive line, Mike linebacker and secondary defend the run game. Foster was hell-bent on this being a big key to decipher which run or pass concepts can be used. He told us that a lot of what he does with his front is based on the anticipation of the play concept he is getting with the offset in that position. He did tell us that the level could be disguised if the team has a dynamic center and the ball gets back quickly, but in most occasions this is not the case and the back cannot lie in order to get to the mesh point. Since the Bear package puts a nose on a zero technique on that center, it’s much harder to both snap the ball and block efficiently. In any case, we detail each of these levels below.
Level One Alignment (Diagram 14)
Definition: The offset is even or parallel with the quarterback.
Play Concepts Anticipated: Perimeter run game such as speed sweep, outside zone or power read. There is also a high tendency of pass because of the offset’s proximity to the A gap.
Affect on Defense: In level one, Foster will have the Mike key the triangle (center and two guards) to detect any pullers for power read. “He anticipates some kind of pull so he doesn’t fly out of there,” said Foster. “It’s either full zone or the power read stuff.”
Level Three Alignment (Diagram 15)
Definition: The offset is behind the quarterback.
Play Concepts Anticipated: Downhill zone run game such as mid-zone, tight zone and split zone. Mainly A-gap accountable runs.
Affect on Defense: Foster will generally will spark the A gap away from the back with the nose and have the Mike run through the A gap to the side of the back in order to draw the combination block of the guard (Diagram 16). “Our Mike is 5 to 6 yards deep as a base,” says Foster. “If it’s level three, he may tighten up because you’re getting zone. He runs through the A gap if he has a level three pre-snap picture.”
Level Two Alignment (Blur) (Diagram 17)
Definition: Foster calls level two “blur” which means that it may be blurry, or unclear, whether or not the back is in level one or level three. Maybe the offset’s toes are at the heels of the quarterback. “It looks like level one but it may be level three but they are just deep enough,” says Foster. “He is just a little behind the quarterback. People will try to fudge it, but they often get too deep on the speed sweep and a bad snap will throw off the timing on that thing.”
Play Concepts Anticipated: Could be a mixture of tight zone and wide zone schemes.
Affect on Defense: Foster admits that a lot of film study goes into deciphering what play concepts teams are using out of blur looks. One of the things he will do is use a “Spill” call to the side of the back, which is described below.
Wide Alignment (Diagram 18)
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Virginia Tech’s Bear Package: Case 3 – Assignments Against the Pass Game
By Mike Kuchar
Senior Research Manager
X&O Labs
Twitter: @MikeKKuchar
Introduction:
In Blacksburg, defensive backs coach Torrian Gray has cultivated an atmosphere of grit and tenacity among his protégés. Gray, a former All-American at Virginia Tech, has tutored the likes of Kyle Fuller, Macho Harris, Brandon Flowers and Kam Chancellor throughout his nine-year tenure. It’s the cultivation of the atmosphere of competition that Gray credits for the Hokies success in playing many of the pure man concepts they employ, which was used to defeat Ohio State.
“Defensive back play is a mindset the way we coach it,” said Gray. “I try to impinge my mindset among those players. We want to contest every throw. I told them going into Ohio State that for us to go to Columbus and play in front of 100,000 people the way we have to win is to load the box and play man coverage to stop the run.”
It worked. Virginia Tech limited the Buckeyes to 108 yards on the ground, made three interceptions, and one pick six which sealed the game.
Philosophy
Many of the coverages in the Hokies system are man or a matchup man concept, particularly in its Bear package. It’s a mindset deeply rooted in Bud Foster’s system. “When they (defensive backs) come here they need to know that is how we play,” Gray told us. “It becomes a matter of teaching them the fundamentals necessary to execute these techniques. Young players need to know plays that you do or don’t make in the back end wins or loses games.” But in order to do this, Gray has to cross train his entire back end, especially his safeties, in being responsible for playing a man in coverage and defending a run gap. It takes tremendous eye discipline to do so, particularly with a sense of “intelligent recklessness” as Gray calls it. Quite simply, if those safeties see a down or fan block by their cover key, they are triggering in the run game immediately.
Press Technique
We wanted to spend some time reporting on how the Hokies teach their press technique. As seen on film, Gray gives his corners the choice to play press or off technique in Bear. However, since many Bear snaps are first and second down based, those corners are usually pressed on the line of scrimmage. Gray talks more about the first five yards of the route than the routes themselves. He preaches winning in the first five yards. “What that means is that whatever technique I use in the press technique, I want to be high on that receiver and not let him get stacked on me,” said Gray. “The first thing you have to do is defend the takeoff.”
In order to win the first five yards of the route, Gray teaches his safeties and corners the following techniques in press coverage:
- Revis Technique: Modeled after NFL All-Pro Darrelle Revis, this is a technique where players are moving their feet and working their hands on the snap of the ball. It’s a square, square, punch technique that reinforces the defensive back to stay square until he feels threatened. The alignment is a shoe-to-shoe stagger.
- Stagger Square Technique: Here, the defensive backs are doing the same things, but they are staggering their feet pre-snap. “We got our feet staggered and we are trying to give ground and let the receiver close to ground,” said Gray. “Once he gets on top, we want to turn and use our off arm to run with him.”
- Quick Jam Technique: This is a more physical technique, which is mainly used in the red zone where the ceiling is low. Here, players use both hands to jam the receiver without shuffling. The defensive back is almost forcing the receiver to get on top.
To see cutups of Virginia Tech’s press technique fundamentals, click on the video below:
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Inside CSU’s Mental Conditioning Program
By Mike Kuchar
Senior Reseach Manager
X&O Labs
Twitter: @MikeKKuchar
Jim McElwain knows how important it is to develop mental conditioning in his players. After all, he was the offensive coordinator for two national championship seasons at the University of Alabama- and worked with perhaps the guru of “toughness training” Nick Saban. So as McElwain left Tuscaloosa to become the new head coach at Colorado State in 2012 he was given the task of turning around two 3-9 win seasons. While the Rams 4-8 record this season may not be indicative of tremendous progress–it’s about the “process” (that Saban buzz word) that continues to develop in Fort Collins. And it’s that process that Coach McElwain shared with X&O Labs Senior Research Manager Mike Kuchar in an exclusive interview.
Editor’s Note: Part of this interview contains the transcript of Dr. Lowell Wightman, a sports psychology expert who lead the Colorado State University football team through an extensive 16 session mental training program this summer and spoke in great length with Mike Kuchar about it.
MK: When you first got to Colorado State, it was coming off three 3-9 seasons. What the general feeling that you felt among the kids?
JM: The biggest thing was the disconnect of the “why.” I wasn’t here to look at what happened, but focused on what we can do to get ourselves better every day. First and foremost is understanding the “why.” They must know why they are doing what they are doing. From there, pushing themselves to be great on every aspect of their life. We had to educate and understand the investment in each of us in what we had to do every day to get better. One of the analogies we use is that each of us own our own company and our own brand. We don’t stay the same- we either get better or get worse. It’s not just the players. It’s the equipment room, it’s the trainers, and it’s the support staff. Whatever it is that touches the program and has meaning to us getting better- the investment must be on a daily basis. As we build we get a bunch of Fortune 50 companies. They have to buy into the investment.
MK: What are some of the every day investments that you did with them to make them accountable?
JM: It doesn’t happen overnight. Every day you’re striving to be great. Whether it’s in your personal life, your social life or your athletic life. Our goal is when your playing days are over, your personal well-being is so much better off because of the experience here at Colorado State. We are in an instant gratification society, yet we need to understand that being committed every day is really what gets you there. Worry about each rep in the weight room, each note you take in class. Let’s not endure, let’s attack. It’s hard because of the instant gratification society. When you’ve invested, the games become easy because of your preparation. We’ve done it through mental conditioning and how you think.
MK: Assuming you must “break them down before building them back up,” What is the protocol you use for assessing their mental state of mind in the beginning of this program?
LW: We start by using what the NCAA provides to us such as their SAT and ACT scores, which is a pure academic case. But we also have a questionnaire which is a profile questionnaire asking them the following:
- What are their hobbies?
- What are you levels of interest outside of school (music, theater, drawing, etc.)?
Each coach will go through all of them and we start so find out whom this person is and start to develop a relationship with them. It’s a complete assessment of the whole person, not just the athlete. We ask some questions about the acculturation of the athletes who come from different areas. If a kid likes to play the guitar and likes bluegrass music, we try to find a place here in Fort Collins that plays blue grass music. We may not find it, but the kids see that we’re willing to do those things.
MK: The mental conditioning is something has always been a part of the game that is neglected. What are some of the things you’ve done to train your players on that side of the game?
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Scaffolding the Truck Concept and its Variations
By Josh Stratton
Head Coach
New Richmond High School (OH)
Twitter: @StrattonJosh
and
Ben Osborne
Offensive Coordinator
New Richmond High School (OH)
Twitter: @CoachOz79
Introduction:
Many coaches get caught up in running plays and not necessarily having a system. While this approach can work, I feel that the disjointed nature of those offenses keeps the players from maximizing the ability of each individual concept. As an answer to this type of approach, we have put together a unique way by scaffolding each run play.
Scaffolding is a common term in the classroom, but we have found that it is also very effective on the field. Within our offense, scaffolding means that we must have answers within the same play for ways the defense may react to that particular play. This, in turn, forced us to create our passing game from the perspective of finding ways to protect our runs.
The result is an offense that is simpler and harder for a defense to read. Much of what we do on offense will look similar to the defense causing them to be slower to react. We only have 4 base runs and our system is built around that. This style of building our system also helps us play as fast as we can; both our players and our play calling is aided by this type of scaffolding.
Building Our Base Offense
Before we came to New Richmond, they had been an under center, triple option team that huddled for almost 40 years. The system that Coach Osborne and myself brought to New Richmond was a drastic change from what the players and fans were used to seeing.
From the start, we vowed not to install a run play unless we could protect it in a number of ways. If an assistant comes to me with an idea, my first question is, “Can we protect it?”
We want to get the best looks from the defense in order to put our players in the best situation to be successful. Instead of installing a “new play” to have an answ’er for what the defense may do to a certain concept, we want answers that are built-in within that concept. In this article, we will examine our “Truck” concept (pin and pull) and the built-in answers that we use to adapt it to various situations.
The Truck Concept
Truck is our off tackle run. We like Truck because we feel it’s a downhill physical run and that is a reflection of our offensive identity. We set the aiming point for RB as the inside leg of the Y. As he runs that path, he is taught to read the blocks and either bang or bounce the run. This play cannot be cut back because there is no help backside with the guard pulling and tackle climbing to next level.
Quarterback – Make pre-snap read and determine if the BS throw is open for the WR. If it is there, he must communicate this with the back. If throw is not there, the QB will take the snap and get his eyes to the read. If the read sits, he will hand it off. If the read chases, he will pull the ball and go out the back door.
Running Back – Alignment for the RB is level with the QB and aligned between the guard and tackle, but can be adjusted based on speed of your back. On the snap, the back will open to the direction of the play and run flat in front of the QB. He will get his eyes to his aiming point as he is securing the handoff from the QB. If the ball is pulled, the back will roll over top and continue through the run. As he runs, he should find the BSG and follow him. He will look to put his foot in the ground and get vertical as soon as possible.
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3rd Down Offense: Case 1 – Developing a Play-Call Attack
By Steve Axman
Contributing Editor
X&O Labs
Introduction:
The more I coach, the more I have come to believe that there are some very important game situational keys, or concepts, to winning or losing football games from an offensive standpoint. Most, or many, of these keys become the important goals that you put on your weekly goal board for all of your players to see. Meet a solid majority of those goals and you help to give your team a tremendous opportunity to win. Some of theses goals could include scoring in the Red Zone, scoring on the Goal Line, converting your 3rd Down situations, and succeeding on your Coming Out offense when backed up on your own one or two-yard line. Other scenarios could include being productive with your Two-Minute offense and running the clock down to zero in the fourth quarter with your “Slow-Slow” offense and “Kill-The-Clock” offense and desperation offense are, definitely other keys that vitally need specific game planning and practice attention.
Over the years, the one game situational key that I have increasingly come to believe that has much more importance, in its ability to help its team win games is the successful execution of 3rd down. A major reason for this is that 3rd down offense is such a big part of the other, vital, key game situations. It’s hard to succeed in the Red Zone, on the Goal Line or when using your Two-Minute offense if you’re not successful with your 3rd down offense.
Having said that, 3rd down offensive success is not easy chore. In 2011, Wisconsin led the country in 3rd down efficiency with a 54.7 conversion percentage. That means the best offensive 3rd down conversion team in the country didn’t convert their 3rd down situations 45.3% of the time! Of the 120 Division 1A football programs in the country, only 7 had a 50% or more 3rd down conversion success rate percentage which means 113 FBS football teams had 3rd down conversion percentages of less than 50%. The bottom line is that, on offense; converting 3rd down situations is hard….very hard!
Having your offense trot off the field in a disparaging manner after a failed 3rd down conversion attempt is extremely disconcerting to a team’s positive momentum, energy and exuberance. What’s even worse is a failed 3rd down conversion as part of a three and out offensive series. Your defense is now quickly back on the field after just helping to give the offense possession of the football. Failing to convert on 3rd down can easily be a major reason that a team may win, or lose, a football game. Conversely, successfully converting a 3rd down attempt, resulting in that all-invigorating “….moving of the chains…” allows the offense to aggressively and confidently feel in command of their play.
Developing a 3rd Down Play-Call Attack
Successful 3rd down offensive starts with focused, detailed planning. After a season and a detailed video breakdown study of our offense, we will then create mini, situational game plans for every part of our offense versus “….the world.” By “the world,” we mean a general, yet tight, listing of the play calls we feel confident are sound calls in our offense for our situational needs versus the basic defenses we will see during the course of a season. As a result, we will come up with mini, 3rd down game plans for the following situations:
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