The Backside Guard Pull Menu in A-Gap Power

By Mike Kuchar with Tim Shields
Co-Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach
University of Wisconsin Whitewater
Twitter: @CoachTShields

 

 

One of the beauties of the A-gap power concept is that the backside linebacker can never be right. If he gets downhill in a hurry, he’ll get picked off on combination blocks front side. And if he hesitates or backfits, the play is going to hit inside him directly in the A-gap. The A-gap power needs to be run correctly, not necessarily perfectly. As Coach Shields will often say, it’s the operation time, the path of the ball carrier, and the tight insert of the pulling Guard that makes it so hard to defend.

Wisconsin Whitewater runs its A-gap power tighter than most. It’s tight. Really tight. And when you watch the film on them, it’s recognizable how many defenders are often caught outside the insert block making them irrelevant in the fit.

The rules of the concept are below:

 

Whitewater relies on horizontal double teams to crease the A gap. The emphasis is to eliminate run through lanes and make the minus one (or backside LB) make a quick decision. The focal point is the A-gap.

 

Play Side Combination Blocks: How Backside LB is Not a Factor

Coach Shields teaches a prototypical post man/drive man combination block fundamental play side. The post-man is responsible for the inside half of the defender and uses either a load stab or down block technique with the purpose of lifting him. “We want to create extension in the knees and hips of the defender to stop vertical movement,” said Coach Shields. “If you cannot keep your hip in front of the 3-technique anymore you cannot be part of the block.

 

The drive man (or PST Tackle) will use an angle drive or hip skip vs. a 3-technique defender. For any defender that is not a 3-technique, he will use a gallop. “We talk more about reinforcing the A-gap defender,” said Coach Shields. “We have to be flat enough to handle any run-throughs.”

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Manipulating the Leverage of “3:” Slide RPO Route Design from Single Wide, Double Wide, and Compressed Formation Pictures

By Mike Kuchar with Jared Ambrose
Offensive Coordinator
University at Albany (NY)
Twitter: @CoachJambrose

 

 

While some programs build the slide route off wide zone, the offensive staff at Albany chooses to format it off tight zone for one main reason: it gets the Will linebacker downhill and out leveraged for the slide.  The focus of this report is how to “manipulate three,” who typically is the free hitter to the side of the slide.

It’s the quarterback’s role to find number three pre-snap, who is often the most dangerous defender to the slide. Coach Ambrose will train the quarterback to identify where that number three is, who is Will linebacker. “We tell him to identify the number three defender and how tight he is to the slide,” said Coach Ambrose. “If he is in a tight 20 technique, the quarterback already knows pre-snap that he is going to throw the slide.”

 

“If he’s in a wider technique, then we go back to a read key and pitch key element post-snap. It becomes a triple option. Now if the quarterback pulls the ball and the Will linebacker’s angle is bad it becomes a pull and pitch for us.”

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Cover Zero Pressures from “6-Up” and “7-Up” Presentations

By Mike Kuchar with Rich Yahner
Defensive Coordinator
Virginia Military Institute
Twitter: @RichYahner

 

 

VMI Personnel:

In its base structure, VMI operates out of Odd Stack, or 3-3-5 spacing from a three-high align, and will use the following personnel:

Nose– zero technique

End- Field defensive end

Tackle- Boundary defensive end

Sam- Strong side linebacker

Mike- Middle linebacker

Will- Weak side linebacker

Rover- Field Safety

Bandit- Boundary Safety

Free Safety- Middle Safety

Field Corner

Boundary Corner

 

The “6-Up” and “7-Up” presentations are an off-shoot of VMI’s base personnel. But to the offense, it can look incredibly overwhelming. The entire purpose of this pressure system is to confuse the quarterback who will routinely see up to seven defenders at the line of scrimmage. On the back end, it’s a pure cover zero principle with defenders’ eyes split between the quarterback and their receiver. It’s simple but it works. “We won’t want to put too much pressure on the defense,” said Coach Yahner. “We want to get vision on the ball.”

The entire premise of the system is to pressure with more defenders than blockers. VMI is an Odd Stack outfit, so the front six defenders are typically the “six-up” in this package. The pressure defenders are typically the three down linemen and the three linebackers. “We will typically not bring a third-level defender unless we want to surge the defense,” said Coach Yahner. “When you can blitz more than they can protect it will work out.”

 

Base Zero Coverage Rules:

Day one install rules tell the corners to play number one man-to-man, while the safeties play number two. If there is no number two to their side, the safeties rule is to find number three away. So, the presentation will look different based on the potential blockers at the line of scrimmage.

  • If there are five potential blockers, six defenders will be presented at the line of scrimmage
  • If there are six potential blockers, seven defenders will be presented at the line of scrimmage.

 

Consider how the presentation plays out based on the following formation structures:

 

3X2 Empty Formation:

 

2×2 Open Formations:

 

2×2 Closed Formations:

 

3X1 Open Formations

 

3×1 Closed Formations

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Scoots, Shuffles, and Helmet Stretches: 3 Ways to Cutoff the Backside on Wide Zone Insert

By Mike Kuchar with Shawn Byrnes
(Former) Offensive Line Coach
University of Northern Colorado

 

 

While at the University of Northern Colorado, the play was tagged “Wanda Man,” which told the offensive line to block wide zone to the play side with man principles on the backside. The tight end is the insert player to the backside to handle the minus-one linebacker. The backside is locked and it became an open-edged weak side run. It became a good way to separate and dent the defense vertically, an alternative to pin and pull runs. While it may be an expensive concept to install it was a strong complement to base wide zone runs that stretch the defense. Here, it became more of a stretch and puncture action.

 

Play Side Combinations:

Because the front side and backside are separate from one another, the Center, play side Guard and play side Tackle are working together while the backside Guard, backside Tackle, and Tight End are working together. The front side is treated in the same fashion as a pure outside zone with the emphasis being on the leverage of the play side backer which will dictate which of the three offensive linemen are in the combination.

In the image below against a wide 50-technique linebacker, the Guard and Tackle are in the combination while the Center is solo on the Nose.

 

Against movement fronts or the potential of spikes to the play side, three-man combinations can be called to the front side where the Center, play side Guard, and play side Tackle are going three for three to the play side.

 

Against any 30-technique backer, the combination will be called with the play side Guard and Center, putting the Tackle one one-on-one with the C gap defender.

 

While this report is focused on the backside (or man side) of the concept, Coach Byrnes talked about the Center trying to stay square- and not reach the Nose- giving the back a two-way go. “We block the play side armpit on the block then work the combination the way the defense plays it,” he said. “If the Nose crosses his face, he has to lock on because he has no help. The back hits it behind the crease.”

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Segmenting Open Gap vs. Closed Gap Combos in Duo

By Mike Kuchar with Loren Endsley
Offensive Line Coach
University of Minnesota Duluth

 

 

We all know Duo to be a “culture play” that’s built off violent doubles along the line of scrimmage. At Minnesota Duluth, the offensive line room refers to the play as a “bucket of blood.” “It is a play that allows us to shut off our brain a bit and focus on hammering the first level of the defense,” said Coach Endsley. “We can be full speed and put our face on somebody and not have to worry too much about rules.” Duluth was mainly an outside zone/mid-zone operation, so Duo became a great downhill complement when those safeties started to flow laterally to defend those perimeter runs. It’s been a consistent and efficient concept all season.

Coach Endsley provides the “A to Z” of Duluth’s Duo scheme in this clinic report. And he starts with the heart of what makes the concept effective- the double teams at the line of scrimmage.

 

The Drive Combo:

Coach Endsley calls his double teams “Drive Combinations” and they are built off zone tree principles. He separates the combinations based on the front side and backside of the scheme:

  • The Goal of a Drive Combo on the Frontside of the Scheme is to Nail Down the Near Shoulder & Create a Wall
  • The Goal of a Drive Combo on the Backside of the Scheme is to Create Distortion of the Defense

 

 

Lead Man vs. Trail Man Distinction:

The lead man is the covered offensive lineman in the scheme. Whether he is covered on his playside shoulder or backside shoulder, he is still considered the lead man.

 

The trail man is the uncovered offensive lineman who can be uncovered working to an open or closed gap.

 

Coach Endsley teaches this fundamental using his High Hip Carry Drill where the hands will be on the down defender with eyes on the linebacker. Coach Endsley talks about “hands on the wheel, eyes looking through dashboard.” Clearly, the idea is to not have any space between the combination block.

 

When it comes down to understanding which lineman will work to second level, a great deal of importance is placed on whether lineman are working to a “thick” or “thin” linebacker.

  • Thick Backer = Backer in an Alignment that Allows you to stay on the Combo Longer
  • Thin Backer = Backer in an Alignment that Forces you to leave the Combo Earlier

 

 

In order to do this, Coach Endsley teaches a double under technique, taking on the linebacker square. He wants his earhole to the far pec of the defender. “If the linebacker triggers hard downhill or pressures we can double under, meeting his force with leverage getting under him and lifting up,” said Coach Endsley. “If he is running away from the gap we go earhole to far pec and guide or accelerate his movement.”

An emphasis is placed on the departure of the Drive Combination to the linebacker. In order to get that done, Coach Endsley teaches and angle step which eliminates any wasted movement. The goal is to get their hips in line to generate power on the linebacker.

 

For the lineman taking over the first-level defender, Coach Endsley teaches what he calls a “Helmet Redirect” technique which is used to gain leverage on the down lineman. It allows the blocker to regain leverage on the down defender. This is used on the frontside of a Closed Drive Combo (see below), to nail down the near shoulder and create a wall. “We wouldn’t do it on the backside combo because the running back would read the linebacker and bend it out behind us,” he said.

 

The Take Over technique is used on the Duo scheme by the Trail Man when the Read Key Linebacker Fits Inside and it’s known the ball is going to bend back behind. “We want to secure the block,” said Coach Endsley.

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First Day Duo: Vertical Chips Not Vertical Doubles in the Priority Gap Mentality

By Landon Miller
Offensive Coordinator
Waverly High School (OH)
Twitter: @Lmiller0524

 

 

We frame our Duo play as a “hard dive” mentality. We don’t expect it to be a large explosive play. We are going to come out to you right now to see how tough you are. Oftentimes it is used to set up Counter, which has been our most explosive play. We teach Duo as an “own your gap” mentality. We don’t Mike point anything. It’s a true gap scheme, that is similar to Power. The difference is power hit too slow for us and the line always has to be right. In Duo, the back has to be right and they are more dynamic players so we will rely on them.

 

Priority Gap Responsibility:

When we talk to our offensive line about a “priority gap” mentality, we talk about owning our gaps up front. This gap is the gap opposite gap of the play call. For example, if we call the play to the right (12 for us) the offensive line has a priority gap to the left. This is highlighted in the diagram below with corresponding responsibilities. For example, the RIGHT TACKLE is RED. His responsibility is to first block any LOS (Line Of Scrimmage) defender that can threaten his PRIORITY GAP (RED TRIANGLE). If a LOS defender does not threaten his priority gap, you are to CHIP on the nearest LOS defender to the CALL SIDE and then responsibility for the 2nd level defender that is threatening your PRIORITY GAP (since most defenses will be gap sound they will have a defender for each gap).

 

Below are some still images on how our line is taught to block first or second level defenders using the priority gap rule.

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Second Level Exchange Reads Off Outside Zone

By Mike Kuchar with Ryan Pugh
Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach
Abilene Christian University (TX)
Twitter: @CoachRyanPugh

 

 

If you’re an offense that majors in wide zone, then you know how important it is to handle the backside. The athletes on the perimeter today can run things down often getting you behind the sticks. Some, like Coach Pugh, would argue that the play is often made on the backside and not the front side. If the backside is handled correctly, it will produce a numbers advantage for the back to hit play side. And if you’re not an offensive operation whose linemen cut, then you’re left figuring out ways to protect the backside edge.

At Abilene Christian University, Coach Pugh and his staff do not define the read for the running back. His aiming point is the outside leg of the EMLOS if he’s in Pistol, but that will get tightened up if he’s in the off-set alignment. “We will use the aiming point of the inside leg of the Play side Tackle in those circumstances,” he said. “We will speed him up so that he can get to the read on the third step and get to his cut on the fifth step.” His read is traditionally the end man on the line of scrimmage but when it’s run to the boundary- as Coach Pugh likes to call it- that play will often cut back.

There are two base ways that Abilene Christian will handle the backside edge- slices and swipes. And when these two elements are combined it makes for an extremely efficient play.

 

Outside Zone Slice Concept:

The wide zone slice concept isn’t a novel idea. It’s meant to slow down the edge, or at least produce some hesitation so the play can hit front side. But there are several advantages in using the swipe exclusively against defenses that either will rock back with the second level or trace with the third level based on the movement of that Y. The beauty of the wide zone play is that it can hit either frontside or backside. But if defenses are clued into the movement of that Y, there are several ways you can manipulate having the ball hit frontside.

For example, when defenses track the high safety with the swipe motion, they become one gap short on the play side.

 

Similarly, when second-level linebackers track the Y on swipe, the same thing will occur. They become a gap short to the play side.

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The QB Run Menu in the Spread Wing

By Mike Kuchar with Ken Vigdal and Thomas Vigdal
Head Coach and Quarterback Coach
Le Mars High School (IA)
Twitter: @kevigdal

 

 

For a large portion of my coaching career, I ran the double-tight Wing-T offense. A significant aspect of that offense involved using fakes and motion to distribute the ball to many different offensive threats. As defenses continued to increase the numbers in the box, we made the decision to transition to the spread wing. Despite keeping our motions and fakes, we were no longer effectively getting the ball to one of our key threats: our quarterback.  Our offense has truly flourished with the installment of the quarterback counter.  This past season, our quarterback led the district in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.

 

Formations

We started with our 2-back backfield and ran the basic G-T counter with our quarterback. Our play selection grew as we started using a variety of formations such as trips, wing sets, and our unbalanced formations.  By adding these other formations, we had to add tags to our counter names, so the players would know who was exactly pulling and who was covering.

 

Blocking for G-T Counter

PST Gap down to backer (#1 coaching point, if the tackle does not have a great angle to down the defensive end, leave him for the pulling guard.)
PSG Gap down to backer
C On or cover for pulling guard
BSG Pull and kick out the first man to show. If the defensive end squeezes and closes the gap, we will wrong arm and seal everything to the inside.
BST Pull and lead up the hole. He has to read the numbers of the pulling guard to see if the guard is kicking the end out or sealing him to the inside.
QB Will open to the side of the H by pivoting back on his front foot, so his feet are parallel, fake handoff to the W who is in the pistol, then pivot back to the backside and follow pulling tackle.
W Fake getting the handoff and aiming on the inside leg of the tackle to help block defensive end or blitzing linebacker
H Lead on the outside leg of the guard, for aiming point, to block the defensive end.
X,Y Stalk corner
Z Stalk OLB

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Double Load Power Read from 12 Personnel

By Mike Kuchar with Pete Jennings
Head Coach
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Twitter: @PeteyBananas

 

 

Utilizing a power read from a three-man surface has its advantages: you’re able to widen the read defender a gap further and you’re able to get an extra blocker (the tight end) on the perimeter for the QB pull. University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh head football coach Pete Jennings spent several seasons as the offensive coordinator at Division 3 powerhouse Wisconsin Whitewater, so the A-gap power was a major staple in his arsenal. The problem was, he didn’t have an athletic enough quarterback to run the power read element.

That all changed when he took the job at Oshkosh which had a good amount of tight ends on the roster. He had an elite athlete running quarterback, but couldn’t get him on the edge on zone read. So, he started looking at different ways to affect not just the defensive structure but the individual technique of defensive players. So, Coach Jennings merged his teachings of power with a read principle and did it out of 12 personnel with the intent of getting an additional hat on the perimeter to block for the quarterback pull and get his athlete in space.

 

“Force the Log:” Backside Guard Technique:

Defensive ends have become better at surfing to take away the frontside A gap and retracing back to a QB pull on the play. “If you don’t have an elite quarterback, that would be a problem,” said Coach Jennings. So, rather than read the end, he decided he would block him with the backside puller. As noted in the video, Coach Jennings teaches a shuffle pull technique for that backside Guard. And having him get a piece of that C gap defender has been a major advantage against squeeze and spill defensive ends. “Now he sees the down block from the Tackle which forces him to squeeze,” said Coach Jennings. “This forces a pull read by quarterback and how you’re out on the edge with the QB just like zone read. We’re forcing the technique of the defensive end. Something he’s been taught to spill since eighth grade. We use this technique against him.”

 

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Speed Sweep: Ferris State’s Complement to Jet Read

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

 

 

Having majored in the Jet Read for most of head coach Tony Annese’s tenure, the staff at Ferris State needed a complement that could easily push the ball to the perimeter. But rather than build in traditional outside zone schemes, the Bulldogs wanted to stay true to its roots as a gap scheme team. So, the answer was using a speed sweep with a false pull. But run game coordinator Sam Parker and the offensive staff will complement the speed sweep with its traditional power read scheme based on the look they are getting from the defense. “The entire point of running outside or sweep is to stretch everyone and if you have a threat of a box run with it, that’s when you get the efficiency you need,” he said. “You get the false key with the pull. We are always going to threaten defenses with an A gap run element.”

 

The Advantage of Cluster Formations:

Since most of Ferris State’s jet read scheme is presented using condensed formations, it made sense for the staff to build its speed sweep around the same design. According to Coach Parker, it helped in disseminating whether or not there were numbers to the field for the speed sweep or numbers in the box to run the power read. “We look at how well they handle aligning to cluster formations,” said Coach Parker. “Can they take the perimeter sweep to the field off the table? If they do, we look at running power read back to the boundary.”

For example, since so many defenses at that level are field rotation defenses, if there are any additional numbers to the field, the call gets adjusted to power read back to the boundary. It’s an easy adjustment by the quarterback.

 

But Coach Parker did mention he’ll live with running the scheme to the field if he can get it run on a field corner in space.

 

In order to do that, both the receivers and the back need to be in constant communication on who to block on the perimeter. “We will either crack the EMLOS with the receiver or handle him with the back,” he said. “We let those guys communicate it.”

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Minnesota Duluth QB Run Package from Heavy Personnel

By Mike Kuchar with Chase Vogler
Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach
University of Minnesota Duluth
Twitter: @CoachVogler

 

 

Minnesota Duluth is in its third year of developing the quarterback run package, but it may be indisputable that this season was it’s strongest. The Bulldogs leaned on quarterback runs to generate over 240 yards per game on the ground and its quarterback had many of those by himself. The Bulldogs QBR package is versatile enough to have rules for every front and often times Coach Vogler trusts his quarterback to make these changes at the line of scrimmage. We’re going to dive into the Bulldogs two most efficient QB run schemes- the zone read bluff and G lead- and why they have been so efficient.

 

Zone Bluff Concept:

Duluth is traditionally a 12 and 13 personnel outfit, so it made sense to keep those heavier groupings when designing the complementary QB runs. When Coach Vogler designs his zone read principles, he chooses to use tight ends to block on the perimeter for the quarterback keep. And instead of using tight zone blocking, the Bulldogs use the mid-zone variety and read the C gap defensive end. The running back is taught to track the inside foot of the play side Tackle. “We used to track the inside foot of the Guard, but it was too tight,” said Coach Vogler. “We wound up banana-ing the path.”

 

Double Swipe Principle:

One of the innovations that Duluth uses in its zone bluff concept is a double swipe concept- having two blockers block for the QB on the pull read. It’s helped in generating over 14 yards a game this season on the concept. Modeled after what Utah was doing, there will be two blockers at the point of attack for the quarterback. One is a jet motion element and one is an off-line tight end. “When you present jet motion and a swiper you are going to freeze linebackers,” said Coach Vogler. “It’s difficult for defensive ends to see the ball through all that movement. But the ideal snap point should be on the backside Tackle.”

These players are responsible for both the force defender and the -1 defender in the count, but Coach Vogler and his staff will vary their responsibilities. So, he had to be deliberate in teaching which blocker was the lead blocker and which was the wrapper- or what Coach Vogler calls the “fixer.” Duluth is a huddle, longer verbiage based operation so these words are all communicated in the play call.

  • “Plane” Tag- This tells the jet motion man there is no mesh to the QB; the motion clears to the other side of the formation.
  • “Jet” Tag- This tells the jet motion man he will mesh with the QB and is part of the read element of the concept. These are clearly used in jet read concept, which although they are part of the offensive menu at Duluth, are not detailed in this clinic report.
  • “Brake” Tag- This tells the jet motion man there is no mesh to the QB; but he is in a block scenario on the edge to block for the quarterback on the pull read.

 

While the terminology is one thing, making sure both blockers handle their correct responsibilities is a whole other teaching point.

For example, if the tight end is aligned to the side of the read, he will block support while the jet motion man is the “fixer.”

 

If the Tight End is on the backside of the read, the motion man is on alley support while the tight end is the “fixer” blocking the second threat.

 

Coach Vogler will also build in “crack” calls which tells the single receiver to cracking on the perimeter. This means the motion man is on support (or first threat) while the tight end is the fixer, who will usually block the -1 linebacker to the side of the read or the Will linebacker.

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Bryant University’s 11 Personnel Duo Concept

By Mike Kuchar with Steven Ciocci
Offensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator
Bryant University (RI)
Twitter: @CoachCiocci

 

 

When Bryant University (RI) moved into the competitive environment of the Northeast Conference, the offensive coaching staff had to decide on what run concepts they wanted to hang their hat on. And despite being a traditional inside/outside zone outfit, they knew they needed to build something different to win against a higher level of defensive lineman. So, run game coordinator Steven Ciocci felt the Duo scheme- which provided for more double teams at the point of attack- would be the answer to win in the trenches. Reading backside linebackers was an easy ask for an athletic running back and adding it to their eleven-personnel menu gives them the option to run it strong or weak.

While Coach Ciocci and his offensive staff treat Duo differently than inside zone, he does consider it to be a mix between true zone and gap schemes. “The play side will look like zone because of lateral double teams and not horizontal double teams,” he said. “But if you treat it like inside zone, you may lose the physicality of the play.”

 

We are going to take an inside look at how Bryant built its Duo scheme, starting with the count system.

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High Safety Inverts in Odd Spacing

By Mike Kuchar with Cody Baethke
Defensive Coordinator
Coe College (IA)
Twitter: @CodyBaethke

 

 

It was three years ago when Cody Baethke decided to incorporate interior drops from his safety who is responsible for playing hook defenders. But, it really took shape this season when Coe College boasted one of the top returning safeties in the country at the Division 3 level. So, Coach Baethke decided to get him tied into some box run fits at the second level. He termed it “Slip,” which tells the strong safety to insert “inside” to replace the blitzing linebacker. Most times it was the Mike who became the fourth rusher in Coe’s Odd front presentation.

 

At Coe, the safeties don’t flip. So a different call, say “Flip,” can be made to alert the Free Safety to replace the blitzing Will linebacker.

 

So, essentially the safety knows which is rotating down based on the call. “We tried to do more ‘Flip’ this season because our Will was the better blitzer of the two,” said Coach Baethke. “But we would billed it based on game plan as well against teams that used swipe concepts. So, we would call the backer away from the TE to do be the pressure defender and it worked well against those schemes.”

 

Front Movement:

The first level movement pattern consists of a cross dog between the Nose and blitzing linebacker. The Nose is responsible for “RAC-king” or ripping across the Center while the pressure defender (Mike or Will) works opposite him.

 

At times, Coe will move the Nose to A gap or just align him there. And in pass situations, it would make sense to keep the Nose away from the side of the pressure because it helps with pass rush integrity. Coe often plays with two 4i technique that are responsible for the B gap in the run game. If pass develops, they are asked to make the trip into the C gap for contain. Coach Baetke calls it a cross technique.

 

Naturally, the linebackers are given the freedom to read out of pressure against any pulls or keys way. This allows him to be an extra fitter to the side of the run.

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Teaching the “Blade” Technique in Cross-Dog Pressure Patterns

By Mike Kuchar with Bill Nesselt
Defensive Coordinator
University at Albany (NY)
Twitter: @BillNesselt_UA

 

 

Albany terms all of its six-man pressures as four-legged animals. So, “Mutt” indicates the cross-dog pattern that this report is focused on. And while they can play it with any coverage the Great Danes have had the most success pairing with “Hot” (3 Deep, 2 Under) zone coverage. It’s consistently been their top pressure and its versatility lent itself to be utilized on any down and distance and any field zone. Coach Nesselt credited the success of the scheme to the ability to have two outstanding defensive ends who were able to box the run back inside to the interior pressure. “When we have defensive ends like we did we try to keep them on edges,” he said. “A lot of what we were doing was keeping them as upfield rushes on the edge and getting them into one one-on-one scenarios with offensive tackles. Because of this, we were able to get free hitters with the second blitzer.”

 

Front Structure:

Albany is an Even-front outfit, but where the 3-technique is set is inconsequential to this pressure pattern. He will always be a B-gap rusher to clear the interior gaps for the cross-dog pattern but he can be set in the following locations:

 

  • To the Back: “Toby”

 

  • To the Boundary: “Bench”

 

  • To the Field:

 

It can also be paired with both Over and Under fronts. But Coach Nesselt did talk about the challenge of getting into these locked fronts if the ball is in the middle of the field, particularly against Tempo operations in the CAA. “In these situations, we will do more of setting it to or away from back so that linebackers and secondary don’t get rotations messed up,” he said. I’s important that both hot seam defenders (the Field Nickel and boundary safety in Albany’s scheme) get on opposite sides. Back 7 have to be on the same page.

 

Front Technique:

Before getting into the coverage and pressure specifics, it’s important to note that there several techniques associated with the front in this pressure. The first of which is the play of the edge defenders in this system- which are the field and boundary ends. Because they are edge defenders, they are taught to be in “loose” alignments at the line of scrimmage so they are in a position to box the ball back inside.

 

“Our defensive ends are taught to hammer everything back inside so we try to keep everything between them with this pressure by trying to create layers,” said Coach Nesselt. “If the front six don’t make the tackle we are expecting the hot seam players to. If they don’t then we have the middle of the field safety and two third corners to finish it off.”

Against gap scheme runs, they are box defenders who will hammer pullers to squeeze the ball back inside. And against any read option these defensive ends are quarterback players but are taught what Coach Nesselt calls a “Pogo” technique on the mesh. Once they see bare hands from the QB they can fall in and be an extra hitter on the ball.

 

The interior Nose and Tackle are taught what Coach Nesselt calls a “Take Two” technique, where they are asked to play vertically through the B gap. In the pass game, they are pure B gap vertical rushers. In the run game, their responsibility is to try and draw two blockers to free up the interior gaps for the cross dog.

 

The “take two” is a production point in Coach Nesselt’s weekly grading system. “Our Nose isn’t going to make a ton of plays unless they are getting vertical up the field,” he said. “If the Nose Guard doesn’t take the combo we don’t get the free hitter running through. A to B technique.”

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Torque Technique on Gap Double Teams

By Mike Kuchar with CJ Westler
Head Coach
Pleasant High School (OH)
Twitter: @CoachWestler

 

 

Some coaches prefer to group Duo with gap scheme family runs while others, like Coach Westler, choose to pair it with inside zone. Over 50% of the run game at Pleasant High School consists of the Duo play and Coach Westler and his staff try to make it look like inside zone as much as possible. In order to do that, he teaches the play side Tackle to work with the Center in identifying the Mike linebacker. But like most schemes, all double teams work to the backside linebacker. “We tell the tackles that if you don’t know what to do, work to whomever the Center tells you to,” said Coach Westler.

The Mike linebacker is identified in every play. The Center’s rule is to identify the first defender head up to the play side of the Duo scheme. That tells the play-side Tackle to work to the identified Mike while the Center works to the next linebacker in the box. The running back is taught to track the backside leg of the Center and press the line of scrimmage. “We tell him that if linebackers are making tackles that is on him,” said Coach Westler. “He has to press the LOS and draw the linebackers to our linemen. We are not always good enough to block linebackers in space.”

 

How those linemen work the correct technique to block the second level is the focus of this report.

 

Double Team Technique:

First thing- Coach Westler doesn’t talk much about covered or uncovered principles in combination blocks. And he doesn’t talk about vertical double teams either. “With our RPO game, we don’t want five yards of vertical movement because we don’t want to get downfield,” he said. Instead he relies on a couple of specific techniques to get the first level moved to generate space in the Duo scheme.

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