TOM HERMAN'S COACHING CLINIC PART I: RUN-PASS

COMBINATIONS
By Ross Fulton on May 20, 2014 at 1:00p @rossrfulton

OSU FOOTBALL
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As regular readers know, one of the biggest trends in college football is
packaging a pass option with running plays. With a packaged play, the offense
will execute a run play except for one receiver designated to run a pattern.

HERMAN'S HEAD: Gun Pap Play-Action | The QB Run Game

Depending upon the defense's reaction, the quarterback has the option to pull the
football from the hand-off post-snap and deliver it to the wide receiver.
Packaged plays have become an increasingly big part of the Ohio State offense.
And at a coaching clinic in April, Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman
provided details as to how the Buckeyes package plays, which we examine
below.

IT STARTS AT THE BASE

Herman and Urban Meyer begin by packaging routes with their two base inside
tailback run plays -- tight zone and power. Tight zone, aka inside zone, is the
basis of the Buckeye offense.

The offensive linemen take aggressive half steps play side, seeking to create
double teams upon the down linemen before working to the second level. The
halfback aims for the frontside hip of the center, looking for the cutback to the
backside A gap bubble.

Meyer and Herman can package one of several routes with tight zone. One basic
combination is a bubble screen, either from doubles or trips. The quarterback
reads the second level linebackers. If they aggressively play the run the
quarterback has the freedom to pull the football and throw the bubble to the slot
receiver.

SMOKE AND POWER

Ohio State's other base run play is power. Unlike tight zone, power uses gap
blocking. The play side offensive linemen block down, while the backside guard
pulls. The tight end kicks out the defensive end and the backside guard leads
through the hole on the frontside linebacker.

With power, the Buckeyes often package a smoke, aka flash screen. Unlike a
bubble screen, the smoke screen goes to the outside wide receiver. The receiver
takes a step upfield and then comes back to the football. The inside receiver(s)
kick out the defensive backs, creating a seam.
The quarterback reads the outside linebacker responsible for the slot
receiver. If the linebacker overcommits to the run game the quarterback
can pull and throw the screen. Flash screen is a versatile combination that
can not only be combined with power but also to the backside of tight
zone.

HITCH IT UP
The final route that is often combined with tight zone and power is a quick hitch.
With tight zone, the Buckeyes utilize a backside hitch.

With power, the hitch is run to the front side, allowing the quarterback to make
the necessary read.
The quarterback reads through the outside linebacker to the cornerback. If the
corner takes an immediate deep drop (to allow the safeties to aggressively play
the run) or bites inside on the run action, the quarterback can throw the hitch.

Combining bubble, smoke and hitch routes with tight zone and power all
serve the same purpose preventing a defense from cheating second level
defenders against the run game. And if the defense does cheat, then Meyer
and Herman are happy to take easy yards resulting from the defense's
structural unsoundness. As the Buckeye coaching staff looks to
more complicated packaged plays, it is clear that run/pass options will
only become a more important part of the Ohio State offense going
forward.