Boston Concept: High Percentage Run Action Pass

Oct 31, 2016 | Offense, Pass Game, Play-Action Pass Concepts, 11 Personnel Concepts, Personnel

By Gabe Fertitta
Offensive Coordinator
Catholic High of Baton Rouge
Twitter: @fertitta_gabe

Introduction:

fertittaAs part of our multiple spread offense at Catholic High, we incorporate multiple formations and personnel groups to run a base set of plays. One of our most popular running plays is power from a traditional 2x1 set with an H or sniffer back. This past season, we incorporated more speed sweep into our running game as well. When looking to add some play action to our base system, it made sense for us to have a run action pass that looked exactly like our power, power read, or power read sweep. We wanted the concept to be simple for our quarterbacks to understand and versatile enough to attack any coverage. Our answer was a quick game concept that we had already been running. We made adjustments to our basic bubble slant concept so that we could use it in our play action game as well.

Power Play Action Protection

We use a variety of protections when running Boston, but our power play action protection is the most common. There are a few factors that determine our decision to use this protection from week to week. This protection gives the most realistic run action, but is also more susceptible to pressure from blitz. If we decide that a defense runs too many edge pressures, isn’t reading the guards for run game, or has defensive linemen that run up field more than squeeze, then we will simply use an aggressive half man half slide protection instead.

Power play action for us involves blocking down with the play side tackle, guard, and center. The techniques of these sets will vary depending on what type of defender they are blocking. Sometimes these sets will look more like a traditional slide protection and other times they will be more aggressive.

The key to the protection is pulling the back side guard to give linebackers and safeties a realistic run action look. We pull the back side guard to kick out the front side defensive end. Depending on the technique of the back side defensive tackle, the guard will flat or skip pull in order to work to the front side end. The back side tackle will man set the back side defensive end. Depending on which run we are faking in the backfield, we may be able to use the running back to fill in the backside B gap for the pulling guard.  If we are faking power read or sweep read, we will not have the RB in the protection. That said, if we are faking downhill power, we can use the back as a 6th man in the protection.

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