Using Quick Game Tags to Attack Voided Alleys

Aug 22, 2015 | Offense, Post-Snap Manipulations, RPO's

By Scott Girolmo 

Offensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach

Liberty High School (VA)

Twitter: @CoachSGirolmo

Introduction:

Liberty Handley Walters HUGGINS-320x246T.U.G. stands for “Throw to the Uncovered Guy,” and is a way for us to attack a perimeter weakness displayed in the defense as a result of poor alignments or over adjustment to stop our run game.

“T.U.G.” is used in our offense to any twin or trips receiver set that is back side of a perimeter run play, or that is to either side of any interior run play. “T.U.G.” has provided our offense with two quick pass options and successful plays with minimal risk. The first is a classic bubble route by the #2 receiver with a lead block by #1. The second is the opposite, a quick step back by #1 and a lead block by the #2 receiver. Our “Lookie” concept involves tagging quick pass routes on our run game to take advantage of match ups in man coverage or loose zone defensive alignment.

Identification of the “Coverage Triangle”

When we teach our receivers about coverage during spring install, the first topic we focus on is reading the “coverage triangle” to their side of the field. The coverage triangle refers to the spatial relationship between the deep safety player, corner and alley or primary force player on your side of the field (Diagrams 1 and 2).

We use this teaching method in all of our pass route concepts, and more often in our “T.U.G.” concept. For our conversion routes, it indicates to our receivers what adjustments to make pre-snap, and for our “T.U.G.” concept it will help them decide where the ball is going.

In the “T.U.G.” “concept specifically, we designate our outside receiver as the “shot-caller,” to dictate which of the screens we will be running and communicate that verbally to our slot. We only currently tag “Lookie” to a solo receiver, so it is up to the lone “X” to decipher the defense and relay his thoughts to the QB. The first step in reading his coverage triangle is to identify the deep safety to his side, and determine if he is a 1 high, 2 high, or no deep safety based on his relationship to the hash mark. Next, we determine if the technique of the corner is man or zone (inside or outside leverage) by assessing whether he is rolled up tight or backed off soft-aligned. Finally, locate the invert or alley player to your side who is most likely the primary force defender.

Slide1Slide2

Coverage Triangle Indicators:

The alignment of the triangle to your side will be the best indicator of overall coverage the majority of snaps. The situations that we practice against are condensed to provide the least amount of thinking possible for our players. Here are the concepts we expect our players to identify and understand:

Cover 2: If the safety is 10 or more yards deep and two yards outside the hash, we consider him to be a deep half player. The corner is tight and the alley player is splitting the slot’s alignment (Diagram 3).