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The “Thunder” Odd Blitz Package

The “Thunder” Odd Blitz Package

Posted by | Nov 14, 2011 | , , | 0 |

 

Cancelling Gaps in the Run Game

Editor’s Note:  The following article was submitted by Andy Guyon, the defensive coordinator at Xavier High School in Middletown, Connecticut.  As of November 14, 2011, Xavier High School is 9-0 and ranked no. 1 in Connecticut. 

By Andy Guyon Defensive Coordinator Xavier High School (CT)

Despite the constant evolution of various styles of offenses, there is one constant and that is the importance of an effective running game.  Which is why defensively, there is nothing more important than stopping the run.  Spread offenses have made it difficult to defend the entire field and still be able to lock the run game up.  Those spread option offenses force defenses to stay gap and responsibility sound.  For that reason, we base our defense out of a 3-3-5 alignment. We play with a nose, two defensive ends, a Sam, Mike and Will linebacker, two corners, a Rover and both a free and strong safety (diagram 1).  We play this front at Xavier because are able to find more of the linebacker/defensive back type players than defensive linemen.  This defense also allows us to be flexible and adjust easily to any formation we see.  Since we starting using this front, we’ve won two Division Championships, make two playoff appearances, and win a state championship. During the 2010 season, we gave up 8.9 points per game including holding three teams who averaged over 31 points per game to an average of 11 points. Our defensive team statistics were solid.  We had 62 tackles for loss, 26 interceptions, 56 pass break ups, 10 fumbles recovered, and 40 sacks – all in a 13 game season. The most important statistic that led to all of this was our rushing defense that yielded an average of only 46.7 yards per game. This included two games in which we held our opponents to negative yards rushing.

 

We achieved that success because we mixed our front movements with zone and man to man pressures. Our most productive man to man blitz in run situations is called THUNDER. This is a blitz we use when the run/pass ratio is better than 65/35 (run to pass).  Our players have belief in this pressure; it is the first one installed in spring practice and training camp. It acts as our base defense and allows us to line up quickly because of the way we set our front. We are a field and boundary team, meaning we have set our strength to the field or to the two quick receiver side (diagram 2). The only people who do not move are our defensive linemen.  Our five technique defensive ends play to the left and right side.

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The QB Midline Off Outside Zone

The QB Midline Off Outside Zone

Posted by | Nov 7, 2011 | , , | 0 |

By Dan Ellis Head Football Coach W.C. East High School

Researcher’s Note: This is the third report in X&O Labs’ QB Runs Series by Dan Ellis.  Here are the links to Coach Ellis’ previous two reports documenting his most effective QB runs: The QB Power Read and The QB Trap Off Jet Action. 

We are a shotgun, fast pace, no-huddle offense with a zone scheme (and we also will add pistol in as well). This allows us to take advantage of our athleticism and numbers at the skill positions and uses our supposed weakness – smaller, more athletic lineman – to our advantage.

With our offense, our QB must be able to run the football and be a weapon that the defense must account for. He does not need to be a 1,000 yard rusher; he just needs to keep the defense honest with his feet. One of our key plays for our quarterback is the QB Midline off of our outside zone scheme.

First, with our zone scheme, we teach our linemen to work either vertical push or horizontal push.  We do not combo zone like some teams.  That means that we work a lot of horizontal movement up front.  As a simplified point of reference, we teach our linemen to step laterally to their gap and work to overtake the next defensive linemen.  If they are unable to overtake on their first three steps, they move up to the LB level.  We do not get engaged and combo the down linemen.  We stress the horizontal movement. Once we start getting the defense to move horizontally and thinking of stopping the outside zone, we hit them with our QB midline.

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The Sight Adjustment Study

The Sight Adjustment Study

Posted by | Oct 30, 2011 | , | 0 |

The following research report was written by X&O Labs’ newest offensive researcher, Mike Kelly.  Coach Kelly is the former head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and has worked for the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins.  In this report, Coach Kelly discusses what he found when studying how coaches are using sight adjustments to combat pressures.  He also adds his own experiences and advice that you can use to take advantage of an aggressive defense.

By Mike Kelly, Offensive Researcher, X&O Labs

Researchers’ Note: You can access the raw data – in the form of graphs – from our research of sight adjustments: Click here to read the Statistical Analysis Report.

Today, offenses are faced with a plethora of defensive alignments and a multitude of pressures and coverages, but the integrity of

X&O Labs’ Offensive Researcher, Mike Kelly, discusses his findings on how coaches are using sight adjustments to combat pressures.

defensive play remains constant.  A defense must maintain gap control and if one player vacates, another must replace.  It’s that simple.  Don’t get overwhelmed, just find the inherent weakness of each concept and prepare your players to read and react accordingly with what we like to call the “unspoken communication” of throwing the football.

With this in mind we posed the question of whether you ask your receivers to “sight adjust” their routes and do you incorporate structured “hot” throws into your passing schemes?  Over 300 coaches responded to the survey with nearly 80% currently coaching at the high school level.  The majority of the respondents (40.2%) possess the title of offensive coordinator and 26.5% are head coaches. 5% of the coach’s work on the defensive side of the ball leaving the remaining 27% as offensive positional coaches giving us a good perspective as to what presents difficulties in each aspect of offensive play.

The survey revealed that 40% of the respondents only incorporate “hot” schemes in 10% of their passing game with nearly identical percentages pertaining to a free release by the running back into the pattern.  These numbers coincide with the responses that 74% of high school coaches are seeing additional pressure players deployed in less than 10% of their passing situations.

So, obviously with these numbers, it is not an alarming rate at which additional pressure players are causing conflict to the pass game.  However, when blitz is presented, it is a tremendous opportunity for the offense to take advantage and make a quick strike.

I have always felt it is important that the receiving corps and the quarterbacks are educated in the same manner in terms of reading additional pressure players with pre-snap alignment and understanding the inherent weaknesses present in every coverage utilized.  The “eyes” need to be the same looking back as looking out to and from the secondary.

To keep this in its most simplistic form, the receiving corps and the quarterback need to locate the free safety and recognize his alignment.  Is he lower than usual?  Is he creeping over an area outside defender to assume that player’s coverage responsibility?  These triggers will alert your players to possible dog or blitz.  The receiver can verbalize the threat by yelling, “Possible, Possible!” As your receivers develop, the verbalization will no longer be necessary and they will adjust in unison.  Regardless of the play called in the huddle, a quick strike is executed upon the snap as pressure is immediately being executed.

“Smoke”: It is noted that several coaches used a “west coast” style response to a coverage defender playing at depth with “smoke.”  The receiver will immediately turn his numbers to the quarterback on the snap. It is imperative that the receiver does not “drift” away from the throw or on either side of the line of scrimmage.  If anything, a step into the throw is what you’ll want.  Eighty-five percent of the respondents noted that they align their quarterback in the shot-gun in potential pressure situations and this allows for a better downhill throw providing the receiver with an opportunity to turn his shoulders up-field more readily.  The QB, who’s heels should be no deeper than four yards, must “grip it and rip it” urgently positioning his non-throwing shoulder towards his target with the side of the knee, side of the foot, short striding into the high elbow throw.

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Developing In-and-Out of Pocket Presence for Your Quarterback

Developing In-and-Out of Pocket Presence for Your Quarterback

Posted by | Oct 17, 2011 | , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar, Senior Research Manager, X&O Labs

Video Report: Steve Canter, Quarterbacks Coach, Norfolk State University, gives X&O Labs complete access to his daily quaterback drills.

We’ve reached the “crunch time” of the season. That daily grind where one or two games might decipher whether you’re playing in games that count in the early winter months or you’ll be putting together your off-season program workout program earlier than expected.  

So at X&O Labs, we thought what better time than now to prepare the most important player on your roster, your quarterback, for the challenges that lie ahead the next few weeks.

 

This week, we’ve been given access to how the staff at Norfolk State University (VA) trains their quarterback during the season.  Steve Canter, the quarterback coach for the Spartans, contributed his every day drills that he uses to develop his signal caller.  These are the core techniques and corresponding drill work that Canter uses to emphasize productivity in the following areas:

  • QB in pocket presence
  • QB out of pocket presence
  • Ball security

Steve Canter, an X&O Labs email subscriber and former graduate assistant at FBS power Virginia Tech University, has led the Spartans to a 6-1 record (as of 10/17/2011) with an offense that has been averaging over 400 yards per game.  We all know that the key to a successful pass offense is training the quarterback to be decisive.  How coaches train their quarterback’s to be decisive is by executing drills on a daily basis that emphasize in pocket movement, out of pocket movement and most importantly having ball security.  Having only given up four sacks this entire season, Norfolk State has shown these drills are a proven commodity. 

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Dictating Coverage Based on Offensive Field Position & Personnel

Dictating Coverage Based on Offensive Field Position & Personnel

Posted by | Oct 10, 2011 | , | 0 |

By James “Mac” McCleary Defensive Coordinator, Notre Dame High School (LA)

Researcher’s Note: This report was prepared by Coach James McCleary of Notre Dame High School (LA). McCleary shares his innovative way of instructing his defensive secondary to play coverage based on offensive spacing and personnel. It’s important to note that McCleary’s system is a “check system” made by his corners and safeties pre-snap and is entirely predicated on how and where an offense lines up its personnel. Although this may seem to be consuming to teach your players (he draws up 200 cards a week complete with detailed hash marks so his kids can make the proper calls), once it’s mastered your players develop a complete understand of how offenses plan on attacking spacing and leverage in a defense.

The ultimate goal of any defense is to take away what opposing offenses do best. Our philosophy at Notre Dame High School has been to use our fronts and coverages to do that. It is our desire to outflank offenses with these fronts and coverages. Anytime we defend an offense, we look at five key components of what offenses are doing:

  • What type of formation is on the field?
  • What part of the field are they placing formation?
  • Which type of personnel is in the formation?
  • Where is their best personnel lined up within the formation?
  • What is the spacing between the receivers?

Spacing and Personnel We try to teach our kids the game by understanding receiver spacing and where QB’s want to throw the ball based on that spacing and personnel placement. For example: When looking at a formation with wide spacing of the receivers, we tell our players that the space in between is where they are looking to throw the ball (diagram 1).

 

When formations have a receiver spacing that is tight, we tell them that they want to throw it to the space outside (diagram 2).

When defending offenses, the primary idea is to take away were they want to go by body position first. When an offense places its best personnel into the boundary, we tell the players that they will most likely throw the ball short into the boundary. When they are to the field, they will most likely throw wide to the field. An example of this is when we might be playing a team that throws a high percentage of screen passes. Usually, there is that one player that they like to move around the formation in order to get him the ball. We may get into a press position with the corners to get in his pocket on the inside screens to make it difficult for the blocker to pick him off on schemes such as rocket or bubble screens. Another example might be when we play a team with a significant vertical threat. We will make sure the coverage is designed so that there is always someone over the top of him.

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Once you teach body position, now it’s necessary to design scheme to counter what offenses are doing. By teaching spacing and where the formation is on the field (middle or hash), the players become great predictors of what can happen, thus putting themselves in a position to take away what an offense wants to do just by lining up where offenses want to place the ball, and it’s our jobs as coaches to get us there. How we do this at Notre Dame High School is to have our corners and safeties change their alignment to take away the void areas (the space where they want to throw the ball) in the defense.

Take typical cover two for example, our corners will have three possible alignments that they can get into in cover two in order to take away what the offense wants to do. The first is the typical pressed outside leverage position. We use with average spacing of receivers to deny outside release and funnel to the safety (diagram 3).

The second spacing we will teach the corners are deep inside leverage or what we call choke technique (diagram 4). We use the choke technique when the receiver is on, or outside, the numbers. When a receiver is on, or outside the numbers there are only two things he can do. Go vertical or get inside. We take that away with our choke technique. Notice in diagram 4, we have taken his body position away just by lining up deep and inside. The corner still plays cover two, he just does it from a deep and inside leverage. He is now in a better position to take away any slant or vertical by his alignment.

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The Wide Receiver Study

The Wide Receiver Study

Posted by | Sep 25, 2011 | , | 0 |

Using Hands and Feet to Negate Press Coverage

By Mike Kuchar Senior Research Manager X&O Labs [email protected]

Researchers’ Note: You can access the raw data – in the form of graphs – from our research on the WR Play: Click here to read the Statistical Analysis.

After conducting extensive research on defeating press coverage, we found that the primary key in doing so relies on the proper use of hands and feet.   Not surprised?  You shouldn’t be (but we think we’ve found a few things that will surprise you – so, keep reading). Every essential fundamental of the game relies on the utilization of those two extremities.  In any case, the goal is to beat the defensive back off the line of scrimmage, and with the help of coaches around the country we’ll show you how.   We understand that there may be different kinds of press coverage – like a pure cloud cover two corner – so for the intentions of this report, we are focusing solely on man-to-man bump and run with no access to a stem of any kind by a receiver (Picture 1). 

Case 1: Redefining the Stance What our research found is that the majority of coaches will either teach a different stance when encountering press or spend more time developing a certain aspect of the stance (like the difference between the front and back foot).  For example, 73.6 percent of coaches will have the inside foot up in their stance, especially when lining up against press.   Receivers need to be comfortable when encountering press coverage.  Many times, the younger players get tensed or nervous with a defender less than a yard away from their nose.

The majority of coaches, 54.1 percent teach an 80/20 weight distribution, meaning 80 percent of the receiver’s weight is on his front foot.  The idea is to not rock back or false step.  With the weight heavily distributed on the front foot, receivers are now able to “roll over” their front foot and get into the route.  We couldn’t tell you how many coaches have likened their stance to a sprinter coming out of the blocks during a sprint.  Mike Hart, the receivers coach at South County Secondary School (VA) even tells his receivers to turn their inside foot in about a quarter of an inch in order to roll off the ball.

Po Pomajzl, the wide receivers coach at Grand Island Northwest High School (NE), takes it to a whole other level when teaching the stance to his kids.  He actually takes them through a progression (starting from their knees) to make them understand the importance of stance.

Coach Pomajzl’s WR Stance Progression:

  • Player starts on his knees
  • Bring inside foot up so the heel is even to the back knee (Picture 2)
  • Put hands shoulder width apart on the ground in front of your inside foot (Picture 3)
  • Raise your butt up assuming a sprinter’s stance as if coming out of the blocks
  • Raise your torso up to a 45-degree angle (Picture 5)
  • Hands are in front of torso with elbows bent at 90-degrees and hands relaxed (Picture 6)
  • 90% of weight is on the front foot
  • This stance can be adjusted slightly depending on the WRs height and leg length
  • Player looks down the LOS to the QB/ball
  • At the snap the WR drives his back knee forward pushing off his front foot (no false steps)

In order to emphasize the importance of not false stepping, Dabo Swinney, the head coach at Clemson University, reinforces that the weight of the front foot should be on the ball of the foot, and not the toe.

 

Coaching Point:  If players don’t understand where the ball of the foot is, tell them it’s where the shoelaces start.  It’s helped me in my clarifications.

“I don’t want the receiver up on his toe.  I want the weight on the ball of the foot as if I were in a chute,” says Dabo Swinney.  “We want to drive off the back foot and roll off the front foot.  The receiver needs as much weight as it takes to keep him from picking up the front foot at the snap of the ball.  If the balance is not right, the receiver will pick up the front foot.”

Swinney will often remind his players, who have NFL-caliber talent, that when they compete in the combines, the clock starts when they move.  A false step or hesitation could bring down that 40-time and eventually cost them millions of dollars.

 

 

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We’ve also found that the stagger is just as important in a stance.   Many coaches will narrow the base of their wide receiver’s stance when encountering press coverage.  He doesn’t want as much stagger in his stance because he has to get his feet up under his body quicker to execute whatever move he is using.  Jason McManus, the former receivers coach at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, teaches more of a 90/10 ratio with 90 percent of the weight being on the front leg.  He tells his receivers to lean their chin over their front knee, and lower their pad level with the arms at the ready.  But he varies his stance into two different types – a base stance, which means one against “open access” where a receiver can get a clean release and one against pure press coverage with no access.

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Simplifying Offensive Formation Recognition

Simplifying Offensive Formation Recognition

Posted by | Sep 12, 2011 | , | 0 |

                                    By Mickey Mays, Researcher, X&O Labs

During an S.E.C. game last year, the announcer stated that one goal of Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn’s game plan was to “wear down the opponent’s defense both physically and mentally by using a fast tempo, multiple formations, and pre-snap shifts and motions.”  A confused football player performs with doubt in his mind instead of the inner confidence needed to excel.  Simplifying offensive formation recognition will help your players eliminate the thinking process by making precise run and passing strength calls, align correctly and concentrate on assignment and technique. This report will focus on one back and two back offensive formations, which will be divided into three categories:

  1. Two back formations.
  2. One back 2×2 formations (meaning two eligible receivers on both sides of the formation; a balanced set).
  3. One back 3×1 formations (meaning three eligible receivers on one side of the formation). 

Through recognition simplification, the different possible one back and two back formation total is nine.   Although personnel groupings may change, man coverage match-ups and zone coverage drops can remain the same with one exception – some defensive coordinators flip the back-side corner vs. Twins or Trey when playing zone coverage.

 

For the purpose of this report, we will identify the five eligible receivers as follows:

F: Running back

H: Blocking back or 3rd receiver

Y: Tight end

Z: Flanker

X: Split end

***U: Second tight end (two tight end formation)

  

It must be noted that formation terminology can vary widely from team to team.  Regardless of terms used to label each formation, your players must identify and communicate all nine.  We will use the following terminology for the nine one and two back formations:

Two Back Formation Possibilities (diagram 1):

    • Pro: 2 Backs, 1 T.E., 1 Wide (receiver) each side
    • Flex: 2 Backs, 0 T.E., 3 Wides (receivers)
    • Twins: 2 Backs, 1 T.E., 2 Wides (receivers) aligned opposite the T.E.

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OL Drills – Pin and Pull Schemes – University of Wisconsin

OL Drills – Pin and Pull Schemes – University of Wisconsin

Posted by | Aug 28, 2011 | , , | 0 |

Video Presentation: X&O Labs’ Senior Research Manager, Mike Kuchar, explains Wisconsin’s pin and pull scheme in this exclusive video below.

By Mike Kuchar Senior Research Manager X&O Labs

Since over half of the country is knee-deep in two-a-days this time of year, X&O Labs didn’t want to produce a long drawn out report. We know how precious your time is during the start of the season.  Instead, we wanted to produce a quick tutorial on the pin and pull scheme, particularly the practice drills needed to incorporate the scheme.  Commonly referred to as an outside zone/perimeter concept, the pin and pull play has been used by major programs across the country.  It’s a variant of the outside zone scheme, but instead of combination blocks at the point of attack, teams will man block the scheme.  The premise is for any uncovered lineman to pull while any covered lineman will block down. 

Instead of putting together an entire report on the scheme (we’ve done that with our outside zone report) we wanted to give you a couple drills that you can use to incorporate the individual blocks into your routine.  It’s already the end of August, and chances are you have your offensive package installed already.  So instead, we’ve decided to showcase the drills of two of the best college programs that run it: Wake Forest and Big Ten Champion, Wisconsin Badgers.

Because this research report is all on video, there isn’t a ton of copy, facts or figures tied into our material.  Instead, we’re providing you with what we all know is important…video.  This way you can see for yourself how these major college programs drill their players to execute the pin and pull scheme.  But before we show our offensive line drill tapes, we did want to provide an overview of the pin and pull scheme.  Below is a PowerPoint video presentation on exactly how Wisconsin and Wake Forest teach the pin and pull concept.

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DB Drills – Cover 4 Run Read Drill – Union HS (IA)

DB Drills – Cover 4 Run Read Drill – Union HS (IA)

Posted by | Aug 15, 2011 | , , | 0 |

By Jared Pospisil, Defensive Coordinator, Union High School (IA)

“The drill described here assumes that our safeties have made a run call based on the offensive formation before it. For the most part, because our safeties are the run-first players in this call, much of the drill focuses on their reads and reactions.” Jared Pospisil, DC, Union High School (IA)

We use a version of Cover 4 as our base coverage because it helps us get as many players defending the run as possible. Out of a base 43 defense, Cover 4 allows our safeties to be very active in run support while ensuring that we have at least two pass-first, deep pass defenders. Therefore, because the run fit for the safeties is so important to our defense, we incorporate the Cover 4 Run Read Drill as the cornerstone of our defensive practice. We have set up our in-season weekly practice schedule to include one day devoted entirely to defense and two days that split offense-defense evenly. We incorporate the Cover 4 Run Read Drill into the defense-only day so that we can devote as much time to the drill as possible.

In our version of Cover 4, before each play begins, each side of our secondary makes one of two calls based on the offensive formation that comes out before it. Certain formations allow the safety to stay tighter to the tackle box, allowing him to be a key player in the run. Other formations pull him out wider and deeper to allow him to play the pass more effectively.

The drill described here assumes that our safeties have made a run call based on the offensive formation before it. For the most part, because our safeties are the run-first players in this call, much of the drill focuses on their reads and reactions. The corners, who assume the pass-first responsibility during a run call, basically go through their alignment, stance, and start when the ball is snapped, and finish each repetition with their late fill technique. When we play teams that crack heavily, however, we incorporate the crack-and-replace concept into the run read drill.

Although we set up the Cover 4 Run Read Drill to mimic the unique offensive look and blocking scheme we will see each week, the standard set up for our drill consists of the following: 4 or 5 trash cans that represent 5 offensive linemen, 2 players representing end men on the line of scrimmage (EMLOS), 2 or 3 players representing offensive backs, 2 safeties, 2 corners, and 2 coaches (one acting as the QB and one giving blocking/running assignments) (diagram 1).

We start each drill with three things in mind that we hope the athletes carry over into games: alignment, stance, and key. Generally, when our safeties make a run call to their sides, they align at 8-10 yards deep, on the outside shade of the EMLOS; in most cases, this is a tight end or an offensive tackle, depending on the offensive set we see that week. For the stance, we ask our safeties to use a square stance, with knees and hips flexed, back slightly flat, hands loose in front of the body. During a run call, we want our safeties to keep their eyes out of the backfield. As a result, we tell them to key the EMOLS solely. We find that, in most cases in high school offenses, the tight end or open side offensive tackle tip off the type of play. At the snap of the ball, we tell our safeties take a couple pop steps in place as they key the EMLOS; this gets their feet moving without losing ground.

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The QB Trap Off Jet Action

The QB Trap Off Jet Action

Posted by | Aug 8, 2011 | , , | 0 |

“Our goal for this trap play is to get people thinking jet, get the defense moving laterally, and use the QB trap away from that motion.” Dan Ellis, Head Coach, W.C. East High School

By Dan Ellis Head Football Coach W.C. East High School

Researcher’s Note: This is the second report in X&O Labs’ QB Runs Series by Dan Ellis.  Coach Ellis is documenting his most effective QB runs: The QB Power Read, QB Trap and QB Midline.  

We are a shotgun, fast pace, no-huddle offense with a zone scheme – and we also will add pistol in as well. This allows us to take advantage of our athleticism and numbers at the skill positions and it uses our supposed “weakness” – smaller, more athletic lineman – to our advantage.

 

With our offense, our QB must be able to run the football and be a weapon that the defense must account for. He does not need to be a 1,000 yard rusher; he just needs to keep the defense honest with his feet.

One of our key QB runs is our trap off of jet action. We run jet motion and jet a lot throughout a game.  Our goal for this trap play is to get people thinking jet, get the defense moving laterally, and use the QB trap away from that motion.  This gives us a great counter.  Our QB series of runs hits to the same side of the action with our QB Power, the QB Midline hits the middle of the defense, and now our QB Trap hits away from the action.  All three plays give the added benefit of using the QB as a true threat.

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Exclusive: Utica College’s One Back Power Run Game

Exclusive: Utica College’s One Back Power Run Game

Posted by | Aug 1, 2011 | , , | 0 |

 

By Curt Fitzpatrick Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach Utica College (NY)

“Over the past few seasons our offense at Utica has been effective at throwing the football out of our one back formations. Therefore, we have faced more and more defenses that employ a 2-high safety structure, leaving fewer defenders in the box at the line of scrimmage. When we see this, our eyes light up because we know that we’re going to get the count we’re looking for to run the football effectively.” Curt Fitzpatrick, Offensive Coordinator, Utica College

On behalf of our Head Coach Blaise Faggiano and the rest of the staff here at Utica College, I’d like to thank X&O labs for giving me the opportunity to contribute this clinic report to the new website.  The work that X&O Labs does in researching and sharing information with football coaches around the country is tremendous.  It is truly an honor to be a small part of all that they do for our profession.  For this report, I’d like to share with you the best way we utilize the Power O play; the one back Power. 

The Power O scheme has been a proven winner in the game of football for many, many years.  However, long gone are the days of everyone running this play out of strictly two back formations.  More recently the Power O has evolved into a scheme that is utilized by both pro-style and spread offenses alike.  With many teams moving towards an offensive philosophy that utilizes the skill set of a more athletic quarterback, the Power scheme is being seen more and more as a “read” concept, which adds to its reputation as being an effective “attitude-type” run play.  The point being, Power is a versatile blocking scheme that can be used in a variety of ways, as well as in the red zone and goal line scoring areas.  In 2010, the Power O scheme accounted for approximately 35% of our run game out of various formations and personnel groupings.  About 20% of our runs were of the one back Power variety.  For us, the one back power gives us a physical down-hill run play that can be run out a variety of traditionally “pass heavy” formations. 

   

As a back drop for this report, I think it’s important first to know what our offensive style is and how the Power play fits into our overall scheme.  While we do use bigger personnel groupings at times, we are primarily a one back offense that utilizes a mixture of 12, 11, and 10 personnel.  From a player standpoint, we currently do not have a QB that we feel comfortable running “read” type plays with, therefore the new age Power front and back side read schemes that many spread teams run do not apply to us.  I believe that this is an important point in solidifying the use of this blocking scheme in any offense.  You can find a way to utilize the Power O with whatever type of personnel that you have!  Over the past few seasons our offense at Utica has been effective at throwing the football out of our one back formations.  Therefore, we have faced more and more defenses that employ a 2 high safety structure, leaving fewer defenders in the box at the line of scrimmage.  When we see this, our eyes light up because we know that we’re going to get the count we’re looking for to run the football effectively.  Formationally speaking, we run our one back Power play out of both 2×2 and 3×1 sets, however there are a couple different criteria that must be true out of any formation in order for us to run this play:

  1. We must run the play to a TE side (at least a 3 man surface).  We also could choose to add a slot receiver (TE Trips) via formation or motion to create a 4 man surface so that we can account for a possible 4th defender to the play side. 
  2. We must have an even count to the play side in order for us to keep the play on.  For example, if we have the play called to a 3 man surface the QB must verify that we are getting an even amount of defenders to that side – our 3 vs. their 3 (See Diagram 1). Conversely, if we are out-numbered at the point of attack the QB must recognize this as a bad situation and check the play into a more advantageous run or pass based on the game plan for that given week – our 3 vs. their 4 (See Diagram 2).  As I mentioned earlier, one way that you can account for that 4th defender is to create a four man surface to the play side by motioning into a 3×1 formation so that the slot receiver can account for that edge player (See Diagram 3).  You could also call the play out of a 3×1 formation to begin with, giving you a 4 man surface to work with right off the bat (See Diagram 4).  If you have a slot WR that is a physical blocker this could be a great matchup for you, or it could be a nightmare if that guy isn’t willing to be physical blocking an OLB/Safety type player. 

Now that we’ve looked at some different formations, motions, and defensive structures that are conducive for running the one back power play, let’s talk about the overall emphasis of the play and some of the blocks at the point of attack that make this play successful.  The thing that I like best about this play is that it brings with it a “nastiness” up front like the Power O scheme always has.  For our offensive line, we install this play just like if we were running it out of 22 personnel or on the goal line, with a physical mindset.  Our goal when running the one back Power is to remove defenders from the box by formation, then separate the defense with a physical gap scheme that allows for a double team at the point of attack.

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Defending Pre-Snap Movements

Defending Pre-Snap Movements

Posted by | Jun 26, 2011 | , | 0 |

New Research Reveals the Most Effective Defensive Adjustments

Researchers’ Note: You can access the raw data – in the form of graphs – from our research on defending pre-snap movements: Click here to read the Statistical Analysis Report.

Two weeks ago we released a new research report, Pre-Snap Movement to Gain Leverage, detailing how offensive coaches are using pre-snap movements to out-leverage and out-number defenses at the snap.  We featured the schemes, complete with detailed film cut-ups, of the three most prolific offenses in the country: Boise State, Auburn and Oregon to show you exactly why they do what they do.  I learned quite a bit researching that particular report.  As a defensive coach, I was mesmerized by the way in which Chris Petersen and his staff at Boise would manipulate defenses by using pre-snap movement to gain leverage and get them into compromising positions.  Gus Malzahn, the newest offensive prodigy, was baiting defenses to fly to the perimeter with his jet motion, just to gash them inside with Cam Newton on the power read scheme.  Then you have Chip Kelly shredding defenses with his “flash sweep concept” by sending the offensive line opposite the motion of the back and reading the front-side defensive end.  It was in a word…stealing.  They are all simple offensive concepts to teach and implement, it’s just that those three had the guts to run it, and run it at the highest level of college football.

So enough marveling, this report will focus on how defensive coaches are adjusting to these types of motion and more importantly how they are putting their players in the best spot to make plays.

My research staff and I were surprised to find that 57.5 percent of coaches surveyed said they see pre-snap movement on less than half of all offensive snaps.  This was somewhat surprising considering Boise moves on nearly 80 percent of its total offensive snaps.  Truth is, most offensive coaches (the good ones anyway) run their motion for a reason, and not just to “window dress” their playbooks.

For a quick refresher from our last report, the following reasons are why offensive coaches will utilize pre-snap movement:

  • Gain a mismatch in personnel
  • Gain a leverage advantage on the perimeter
  • Gain a numbers advantage
  • Identify coverage rotation
  • Promote a “toe-to-heel” mentality to the defense

So after my staff and I analyzed the data from our survey results (1,724 coaches responded), we were interested in determining which movements give offenses the best opportunity to capitalize on those five indicators above.  We found the following three pre-snap movements to be the most used against defenses:

  • TE Trade (Diagram 1): This is a trade/shift, where you bring your tight end from one side of the offensive formation to the other.  It also can be used in conjunction with an H-back or wing where both will travel together.

  • Jet or Flash Sweep (Diagram 2): The jet sweep motion is a full-speed motion from one side of the formation to the other, mainly utilized by a slot receiver.  It’s been a staple of the Wing T offense, but has integrated itself into more spread schemes recently.

  • Shuffle or Return Motion (Diagram 3):  This motion is a square-shouldered motion by an H-back or Wing who will start on one side of the line of scrimmage and either shuffle across the formation or return to his original location.

 

Those are the top pre-snap movements that defensive coordinators will see from offenses.  Now let’s take a look at how they adjust.

Case 1: Defending the TE Trade Tight end trade, or as some teams refer to as “Y walk,” is used mainly by the offense to dictate the formation strength of the defense.  Most defenses, particularly four down lineman fronts, will call the strength to the tight end or three-man surface.  “Walking” the tight end from one side of the formation to the other can cause various personnel problems for the defense.  A weak side defensive end may end up playing on the strong side once the tight end resets, it’s a position he’s not familiar with.  Also, a nose guard who will line up away from the tight end, may end up playing to the tight end surface on a trade.  This can make the nose guard susceptible to playing double teams, a block he may not be used to seeing because he’s now on the front-side of the play.  In our last report, I detailed how Boise State was able to trade its tight end and get Fresno State to play out of position.

In any movement by the offense, it’s important to note that there are really only three ways in which a defense can respond to offensive pre-snap movement.  They can adjust with their first level players (DL) their second level players (LB’s) or their third level players (DB).  How they adjust these levels could vary in dropping a defender down, moving a defender up, widening defenders or slanting defenders.  In this instance, we found that 61.8 percent of coaches will bump their defensive front against the tight end trade, perhaps creating some of the same personnel mismatches that were mentioned earlier.  

Sam Tavlealea, the former defensive coordinator at the St. Louis School in Hawaii, has seen the evolution of the spread trickle down from former Hawaii coach June Jones.  Jones has been using H-backs and slot backs in his package for years, and now many high school coaches on the west coast have adopted those same principles.  So one of the challenges Tavlealea faces each year is to adjust his personnel/coverage depending on whether or not a wing is a smaller slot receiver or a bigger H-back.  Most smaller slots would signify a pass concept, whereas the H-back would be used as an additional blocker in the run game.

“We’re seeing a lot of bounce back motion with that wing,” said Tavlealea.  “What he’ll do is line up in a wing alignment and either motion full across the formation or stops and bounces back to where he came from.  The coordinator was actually trying to see if anyone was going with him.  If it wasn’t man coverage, he would go across the formation hoping you would bump your front.  They would run the inside zone to the shade technique then trap the three-technique.  It got to a point where we were seeing it 15 times per game.”

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The Science of Pass Rushing

The Science of Pass Rushing

Posted by | Jun 20, 2011 | , , | 0 |

New Research Identifies Most Effective Methods

Researchers’ Note: You can access the raw data – in the form of graphs – from our research on the defensive line: Click here to read the Statistical Analysis Report.

For the last couple of Coaching Research Reports, we have centered on offensive and defensive concepts and schemes. Sure, the scheme all looks pretty on the whiteboard, but what good does it do when their X is better than your O? So what we’ve decided to do for this report is get back to the core – focus on the fundamentals of the game. And what better way to do that than start with the defensive unit up front – the backbone of any solid team. In this report, we’ll focus solely on effective pass rush moves and rush points – an area often neglected in coaching. What our researchers found astonishing was that among all problems that coaches encounter when instructing their defensive rushers, 38.3% felt that losing gap integrity was the most alarming concern.

So we’ve consulted with a select group of coaches from various levels of football – from high school through the professional ranks – to bring you a detailed report on the science of pass rushing. No need for diagrams here, we’re focused on mastering the technique.

Based on our research these are what are considered to be the most high percentage, most productive pass rush moves. It’s no nonsense content, in a way that only X&O Labs could produce. But before we get started, it all starts with the hands.

Case 1: Coordinating the Eyes and Hands Without question, this area seemed to be the most integral when developing a pass rush. In fact, 60.7% of our coaches train their players to lead with the eyes – meaning focus their eyes on the blocker, while feeling the QB. While most coaches would agree that the use of the hands and feet were vital in getting the QB to the turf, teaching that correlation is something many coaches spend a ton of time on – even at the highest level of football. Ray Hamilton, the defensive line coach of the Atlanta Falcons takes his entire unit through a hand placement circuit every day of practice. According to Hamilton, who has 24 years experience in the league tutoring greats such as John Abraham and John Henderson, hand placement is one of the most under taught skills in the game. 

“Everything starts with hands,” says Hamilton. “We teach our defensive linemen to first identify how the offense lineman is trying to attack us. When you’re rushing the passer, if you’re at a point where you can touch him or he can touch me we call that a contact zone. As soon as you get there, it’s a boxing match; you need to have your hands ready. They need to replace his hands. We need to knock his hands off two or three times before he gets inside on us. If he can’t get his hands on you he starts to retreat by moving his feet and that’s when you got him.”

 

Once he feels that his player is in the advantage, Hamilton then teaches a swipe move, with the aiming point being the forearm of an offensive lineman, not the wrist. “The wrist is too small an area,” he says. “We go from forearm to elbow. Some guys are betting at wiping them off, knocking both down or just knocking one arm down. The key is to get his hands off as quickly as possible.” In order to teach this concept, Hamilton breaks what he calls his “quick hands” segment into the following progressions for drill work:

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Pass Rush: Get Off, Set Point & Escape

Pass Rush: Get Off, Set Point & Escape

Posted by | Jun 20, 2011 | , , | 0 |

By Menson Holloway Assistant Coach Ysleta High School (TX)

Teaching pass rush is sometimes considered an art more than a science. There are certain principles that make up a good pass rush. Without question, the get off is most important and there are many ways to enhance this aspect of the pass rush. The second most important element is racing to the set point of the QB drop. Both of these intangibles will make most offensive linemen panic. The final quality of a successful pass rush is the escape, which is where all of the hard work of beating an O-lineman can either fall to waste or flourish. With today’s mobile QB, accelerating to the QB is as important as beating the Lineman trying to protect him.

Get off

The get off is the most important segment of developing a pass rush. Most defensive linemen typically key the ball for the get off, but the center is not the only man on the offensive line that could know the snap count. If a defensive lineman is aggressively attacking the offensive line all game chances are they will start slightly jumping the snap. For example, they will go from: Down, color, number, color, number,…… set, HUT….(snap the ball, then start pass set) simultaneously, to Down, color, number, color, number,…… set, H (start movement) UT, snap the ball (and jump the snap). Anticipating an offensive cadence can be a major advantage to your get-off as a defensive lineman.

  • Key: A better key for get off is the lineman himself. Reaction time is very important and the later the initial impulse the slower the reaction time. There are certain trigger points that an offensive lineman may show before the snap: he will move his elbow, hand, knee or ankle before the whole body starts moving. If you use a visual key to focus on the lineman (“V” of the neck, helmet screws, jersey numbers, etc.) and peripheral vision to see the ball you can see both.
  • Focus: Use the long focus technique by staring at something behind what you are really looking at. This will help to see movement in your whole frame of vision. (Please refer to the following two images). 

 

The Finger Sausage Illusion: Point your fingers together (like the above photo). Next, stare at an object directly behind your fingers – you’ll see the illusion.

 

  • Mind Set: The mindset of a quick get off is not to wait for an impulse to go, but to have to hold yourself back from already running. Have the defensive lineman think of getting off as a gun half-cocked with a quick trigger; as soon as the first twitch occurs, get off.
  • Drills: We practice this every day by doing the get off drill with the ball and adding someone to simulate 1 of 4 movement keys at the same time (see diagram).

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    Attacking the Alley Against Odd Front Defenses

    Attacking the Alley Against Odd Front Defenses

    Posted by | Jun 13, 2011 | , | 0 |

    Researcher’s Note: You can access the raw data – in the form of graphs – from our research on Attacking the Alley Against Odd Front Defenses: Click here for the Statistical Analysis Report.

    It’s a classic case of the tail wagging the dog.  With the advent of four receiver spread formations infiltrating the collegiate and prep landscapes, defenses have been forced to adjust.  Commonly referred to as “sub” personnel, our researchers at X&O Labs have found that many four-down (defensive line) teams have shifted to three-down structures just to match speed with speed.  What started out as nickel packages has grown more into an every down occurrence.   Coordinators are replacing one of their defensive linemen with linebacker/safety hybrids in order to combat the speed and defend the width of the field.

    After surveying 2,000 college and prep coaches, we’ve found that the most difficult challenge when facing odd front teams is finding a way to occupy the alley defender (usually an outside linebacker or drop safety).  Often taught to be the force player, it’s this overhang player that can cause problems for offenses wishing to push the ball to the perimeter.  Sure, it’s offensive pedagogy to attack the B gap bubbles vs. odd front teams, but it’s only a matter of time until defenses try to take that away by slanting or stemming to a four-down front pre-snap.  Eventually you’ll need to get to the perimeter, so why not save time by getting there immediately?  Our researchers at X&O Labs have sifted through your feedback, and we’ll show you how to do just that below.

    Case 1: Using Tight End Structures, Particularly 12 or 11 Personnel Even if you don’t have a tight end in the program, start to develop one.  Over 80% of coaches polled by X&O Labs attack odd defenses by using various tight end formations. Whether by using 12 personnel (two tight ends, one backs) 11 personnel (one tight end, one back) or 21 personnel (one tight end, two backs), the implementation of the tight end seems to be a pivotal tool in the run game.

    We’ve all seen how productive spread offenses like Oregon, Boise State and Florida have been within the last three years.  What separates those teams from traditional spread teams is the implementation and execution of the tight end on normal downs.  According to our research, using a tight end in spread personnel accounts for two valuable advantages:

    • It changes the structure of the defense: No longer can that safety/linebacker play in space, which is exactly what he wants to do.  Now he’s forced to cover down on a bigger, stronger opponent, giving you leverage to get to the alley.
    • It provides for an instant mismatch in the run game: Many of these hybrids don’t like to get their hands dirty.  These types, who usually weigh in the 180-210 pound range, are forced to balance up and fit in the framework against bigger tight ends.

    Mike Canales, associate head coach and offensive coordinator at the University of North Texas, contributed heavily to this Coaching Research Report.   Canales has modeled his spread scheme after studying the details of what Oregon does to attack the perimeter with their speed-sweep and option series.  “Anytime we’re going to get odd fronts, like we do when we play Louisiana-Monroe, we need to make some adjustments to our scheme,” said Canales.  “Teams are going to give you a six-man box, regardless of what you’re putting on the line of scrimmage.  Handling that overhang player with a six box is a bitch.  You can’t stay in 10 personnel with no tight ends because those slot receivers aren’t big or strong enough to handle those safety types one-on-one, so you need to get into 11 or 12 personnel to force the defensive coordinator’s hand.”

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