2025 Gap Scheme Research and Development – Case 5: Utah State’s “Open G” Concept

“One back power in our offense became a wasted play because our tight ends were 240-pound receiver types that couldn’t dig out a 260-pound 6-technique it was a wasted play. The G scheme was our answer.” - Cooper Bassett, co-offensive coordinator, offensive line coach, Utah State University

By Mike Kuchar
Senior Researcher/Co-Founder
X&O Labs
@MikeKKuchar

Cooper Bassett found himself in the same conundrum as many offensive line coaches when working through the outside zone. There were just too many nuances of the scheme to make the play efficient. So, because he and the staff at Utah State wanted to make sure they built outside runs into their menu, the only other option was the Pin/Pull play. The problem was that they had no outside complement to that scheme.

So, he and graduate assistant Cob Summers started studying some University of Memphis tape from seasons before, where they both admired how Tigers offensive coordinator Kevin Johns was marrying some Pin/Pull elements from 11 personnel open formations. “Cob had been in the option offense before,” Coach Bassett told me. “And he was able to infuse some of those belly option principles into our Pin/Pull runs.”

Thus, the “Open G” scheme was formed.

Why it Works:

According to Coach Bassett, the lynchpin that makes the concept run is the mid-zone path of the back. Because he’s taught to press the play side leg of the Tackle, it looks identical to the two-surface mid zone play.

Allowing him not to be flat forces linebackers to get downhill quickly, setting up the front side kickout block of the Guard, where the entry point occurs. “We want the defense to see the shoulders turned of the running back, setting up flow to the sideline and creating a seam to hit underneath,” said Coach Bassett.

The back will press the kickout and get vertical as opposed to getting the edge and getting strung out with a pin/pull scheme. Coach Bassett classifies this into two important coaching terms based on the reaction of the C-gap defender.

• Numbers Down- get around
• Numbers To- run through

The “Open G” scheme can be paired with pure Pin and Pull when a detached tight end is added, which is explained later in the report. Ideally, the Open G can be checked to a play side 3-Technique where the Pin/Pull can be checked to a shade Nose.

Editor’s Note: In this report, Mike reveals the details of how this works, and best practices, and he identifies who else is using it. And, as always, Mike includes a lot of video and diagrams—as well as shares where to find more game film in X&O Labs’ Film Room. Login below to get unlock the full report (and if you’re not a member, click the ‘Join’ button in the upper right-hand corner of this page).