OFFENSE THEORYAND PROCEDURE

IF THEY DO NOT HAVE THE BALL, THEY CAN'T SCORE. IT'S JUST THAT SIMPLE. IF THEY CAN'T SCORE, THEY CAN'T WIN. THE FUNDAMENTAL BASIS OF OUR OFFENSE IS BALL CONTROL. A BIG AVERAGE GAIN PER TRY CAN BE VERY MISLEADING. THE IMPORTANT PERCENTAGE IS DETERMINED BY THE NUMBER OF PLAYS RUN THAT GAIN 3.5 YARDS OR MORE. WHEN THIS CONSISTENCY IS IN THE AREA OF 70%, THE OFFENSE CAN CONTROL THE BALL LONG ENOUGH TO SCORE A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF TIMES NECESSARY TO WIN. OUR OFFENSE WILL STRIVE TO MAINTAIN HIGH CONSISTENCY THROUGH BALL CONTROL. OUR AIM WILL BE TO ELIMINATE ALL THE MISTAKES THAT CUT DOWN ON CONSISTENCY SUCH AS BAD PLAYS, MISSED ASSIGNMENTS, PENALTIES, FUMBLES, INTERCEPTIONS, AND LACK OF AGGRESSIVENESS. IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A CONSISTENT OFFENSE, OUR MOTTO WILL BE: "DRIVE FOR FIVE." ON EACH PLAY WE WILL DRIVE DOWN THE FIELD FOR FIVE YARDS. WE WILL BE SUCCESSFUL IF WE CAN MAINTAIN A HIGH NUMBER OF PLAYS THAT NET A FIVE YARD GAIN. OUR SQUAD MUST CREATE WITHIN ITSELF A BURNING DESIRE AND PRIDE, THAT WILL NEVER ACCEPT ANYTHING LESS THAN ITS BEST EFFORTS. EACH PLAYER MUST ABSOLUTELY KNOW HIS ASSIGNMENTS WITH NO EXCEPTIONS. LACK OF AGGRESSIVENESS IS OFTEN THE RESULT OF NOT KNOWING YOUR BLOCKING ASSIGNMENTS OR A FEELING OF UNSURENESS. A LINEMAN OR A BLOCKER MUST HIT, HIT, HIT, HIT, AND DRIVE! A BALL CARRIER MUST RUN, RUN, RUN, AND NEVER BE BROUGHT DOWN BY JUST ONE MAN.

BASIC FORMATION

BALL CARRIERS MUST FIRST HOLD ON TO THE BALL. FUMBLES WILL DEFEAT A TEAM QUICKER THAN ANYTHING. SECONDLY, BALL CARRIERS MUST DEVELOP AN ATTITUDE THAT NO EFFORT IS TOO GREAT TO SCORE. NO DEFENSIVE TACKLER WILL EVER BRING YOU DOWN. GUTS, DRIVE, AND DETERMINATION WILL WIN MORE GAMES AND MAKE UP FOR LACK OF SPEED, OR ELUSIVE RUNNING ABILITY. OUR OFFENSIVE ALIGNMENT IS UNIQUE. IT IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER OFFENSE OUR OPPONENTS WILL ENCOUNTER THE REST OF THE SEASON. THEREFORE, THEY WILL HAVE TO SPEND EXTRA AMOUNTS OF TIME DURING THEIR PRACTICE WEEK ADJUSTING THEIR DEFENSES TO COMBAT OUR OFFENSIVE SCHEME. IN ADDITION, OUR OFFENSE FORCES THEIR DEFENSIVE PERSONNEL TO PLAY IN ALIGNMENTS THEY ARE NOT ACCUSTOMED TO PLAYING. SIMPLY STATED, OUR OFFENSE GIVES US AN EDGE BEFORE THE KICKOFF. THE FOUR THINGS THAT A DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR DOES NOT LIKE TO SEE FROM THE OPPOSITION ARE: 1. AN UNBALANCED LINE, 2. MEN IN MOTION, 3. BASTARD END SPLITS, 4. TRIPLE OPTION FOOTBALL. OUR OFFENSE HAS ALL THREE BUILT IN. THESE THREE THINGS FORCE THE DEFENSE TO THINK AND ADJUST ON THE FIELD FOR EVERY PLAY. IT GETS THEM TO THINKING ABOUT SITUATIONS THEY HAVE NOT ENCOUNTERED THE ENTIRE YEAR AND FORCES THEM TO MOVE AND ADJUST JUST BEFORE THE SNAP. THINKING ADJUSTING, AND MOVING AT THE TIME OF THE SNAP TAKES AWAY A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF THE DEFENSIVE AGGRESSIVENESS. IT PUTS THEM ON THEIR HEELS AND GIVES US THE ADVANTAGE. JUST BEFORE EVERY SNAP OF THE FOOTBALL, THE PLAYERS ON DEFENSE MUST RECOGNIZE THE FOLLOWING, ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS AND MAKE ON THE FIELD ADJUSTMENTS IN THE FEW SPLIT SECONDS PRIOR TO THE SNAP:

1. UNBALANCED WHICH WAY? HOW DO I ADJUST? 2. WHERE DO I LINE UP? 3. HOW DOES THE MAN IN MOTION AFFECT MY COVERAGE? 4. WHAT IS MY OPTION RESPONSIBILITY? THE UNBALANCED SET FORCES THE DEFENSE TO ADJUST OR BE OUT FLANKED. THIS ADJUSTMENT PLACES THE DEFENSIVE PERSONNEL INTO POSITIONS THEY ARE UNACCUSTOMED TO PLAYING AND THEY ONLY HAVE A FEW PRACTICE SESSIONS TO PREPARE. THE MAN IN MOTION FORCES FURTHER ADJUSTMENTS BY THE DEFENSE WHICH PUTS ADDITIONAL PRESSURE ON THE MENTAL ACUTENESS OF THE DEFENSE. WE ALWAYS HAVE THE HREAT OF THE OPTION. ON EVERY PLAY THE DEFENSE HAS TO RECOGNIZE THE OFFENSIVE SET, LOCATE THE UNBALANCED, ADJUST, REACT TO THE MAN IN MOTION, KEEP THEIR PASS RESPONSIBILITIES STRAIGHT, ADJUST AND REMEMBER WHOM THEY HAVE ON THE OPTION. THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF THINKING AND REACTING THAT MUST GO ON IN THE MINDS OF THE DEFENDERS DURING THE 3 - 5 SECONDS BEFORE THE BALL IS SNAPPED. FORCING THEM TO THINK - ON EVERY DOWN TAKES AWAY MUCH OF THEIR AGGRESSIVENESS. IN FACT, IT IS PROVEN THAT IF YOU PUT TOO MUCH INTO THE HEADS OF HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYERS, THEIR FEET DON'T WORK. YOU CAN GET PEOPLE OUT OF POSITION VERY EASILY BY JUST PUTTING ONE MAN IN MOTION. WE HAVE SEEN AS MANY AS SIX PEOPLE MOVE AND ADJUST ON DEFENSE WITH THE MOVEMENT OF JUST ONE MAN ON OFFENSE. THE BASIS OF THE OFFENSE FORCES THE DEFENSE TO CONTINUOUSLY BE MAKING DECISION WHILE THE PLAY IS BEING RUN. DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE PLAYS, OFTEN WHATEVER DECISION THE DEFENSE MAKES WILL BE WRONG. IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN THEY COMMIT TO ONE ASPECT OF THE OFFENSIVE, WE WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT COMMITMENT AND DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT OR UNEXPECTED. THIS IS "SMART" FOOTBALL. NO ONE IS COLLECTIVELY ANY SMARTER THAN WE ARE. THROUGH OUR PRACTICE AND COMMITMENT WE CAN OUTSMART OUR OPPONENTS. PART OF PLAYING SMART IS TAKING A BASIC PLAY AND BLOCKING IT SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS. IF YOU ARE PLAYING DEFENSE AND ARE CONSTANTLY GETTING HIT FROM MANY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, IT CREATES INDECISION ON YOUR PART. OUR OFFENSE WILL USE MANY DIFFERENT BLOCKING SCHEMES FOR OUR PLAYS. THESE BLOCKING SCHEMES ARE DESIGNED SO THAT YOU MAY HAVE THE BEST BLOCKING ANGLES IN THE EXECUTION OF YOUR ASSIGNMENT. ONCE AGAIN, EVEN IN BLOCKING ASSIGNMENTS ON CERTAIN PLAY, WE WILL ALLOW THE DEFENSE TO MAKE A DECISION. WE WILL ALLOW THE DEFENSIVE MAN AT THE POA TO MOVE DOWN THE LOS ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. WE WILL THEN BLOCK HIM IN THE DIRECTION HE WANTS TO GO AND KEEP HIM SEALED OFF IN THAT DIRECTION. WE WILL THEN REACT TO HIS DECISION, GO THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION INTO THE OPENING CREATED BY HIS MOVEMENT, AND GAIN YARDS. YOU SEE, DEFENSE IS ALL REACTION FOOTBALL. THE DEFENSE MUST REACT TO THE OFFENSIVE FORMATION, ANY MOTION OR SHIFTING DONE BY THE OFFENSE, WAIT FOR AND REACT TO THE SNAP COUNT OF THE OFFENSE, RECOGNIZE WHAT THE OFFENSE IS TRYING TO DO, REACT TO THIS ACTION, GET TO THE POINT OF ATTACK AND MAKE THE TACKLE. ALL THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE IN 4.5 SECONDS OR LESS WHICH IS THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF THE AVERAGE FOOTBALL PLAY. IN A CERTAIN NUMBER OF OUR PLAYS, WE FORCE ANOTHER DEFENSIVE DECISION INTO THIS EQUATION, REACT TO THAT DEFENSIVE DECISION, AND EXECUTE AN ALTERNATE OFFENSIVE ACTION THAT THEY DO

NOT HAVE TIME TO REACT TO IN THE SPAN OF THESE 4.5 SECONDS WHICH WILL ALLOW US TO GAIN YARDAGE. THERE IS AN OLD COACHING CLICHE THAT STATES, "WHOEVER HAS THE CHALK LAST, WINS." AN OFFENSIVE COACH WHO HAS THE CHALK AFTER THE DEFENSIVE COACH HAS ALIGNED HIS FORCES CAN DESIGN A PLAY TO DEFEAT IT. CONVERSELY, A DEFENSIVE COACH WHO HAS THE CHALK AFTER THE OFFENSE HAS DESIGNED THEIR ATTACK CAN POSITION HIS FORCES TO STOP THE ASSAULT. AND THE DEBATE RAGES ON AND ON. OF COURSE, THE OFFENSE HAS THE ABILITY TO AUDIBLE, BUT THE DEFENSE CAN ADJUST TO THE AUDIBLE. AUDIBLES ARE GOOD, HOWEVER, YOU ARE RELYING ON ELEVEN 16 - 17 YEAR OLD KIDS HEARING, ADJUSTING CORRECTLY, AND EXECUTING IN THE SPACE OF LESS THAN 5 SECONDS. OUR OFFENSE GIVES THE BIGGEST PIECE OF CHALK TO THE INSIDE OFFENSIVE TACKLE (IOT). HE WILL MAKE OFFENSIVE LINE BLOCKING CALLS BASED ON DEFENSIVE ALIGNMENT, STRENGTH, AND STRENGTH OF OUR OFFENSIVE LINE VS THEIR DEFENSIVE PLAYERS. THIS IS AN AUDIBLE, BUT IT IS SOMETHING WE WILL HAVE WORKED ON TOGETHER, EVERY DAY, FROM THE FIRST DAY OF PRACTICE WITH THOUSANDS OF REPETITIONS. THIS BLOCKING CALL ON THE LOS PUTS OUR PLAYERS AND TEAM IN THE MOST ADVANTAGEOUS POSITION AS THE BALL IS SNAPPED. IT IS UP TO YOU TO EXECUTE AFTER THAT. IT IS WHAT GOES ON IN THE 1.5 SECONDS AFTER THE BALL IS SNAPPED THAT DETERMINES THE SUCCESS OF ANY OFFENSE. THE AVERAGE BLOCK IS NOT SUSTAINED IN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL. THE AVERAGE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM IS COMPRISED OF AVERAGE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES. AVERAGE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES ARE 5'10" TALL AND WEIGH AROUND 170 - 190 POUNDS. THERE ARE PLAYERS WHO ARE BIGGER, BUT THERE ARE PLAYERS WHO ARE SMALLER. WHAT GOES ON AT THE POA 1.5 SECONDS AFTER THE BALL IS SNAPPED BECOMES CRITICAL. TIMING AND EXECUTION ARE CRUCIAL. EVERY FOOTBALL TEAM AND PROGRAM HAS A SIGNATURE PLAY. IT IS THE ONE PLAY THAT THE OPPONENT MUST STOP. IT IS THE PLAY THAT YOU TURN TO FOR THE FOUNDATION OF YOUR GAME PLAN. THE GREEN BAY PACKERS UNDER LOMBARDI HAD THE SWEEP. THE 49'ERS HAVE THEIR SHORT PASSING GAME. ARCHIE GRIFFIN WON TWO HEISMAN TROPHIES AT OHIO STATE FROM THE TAILBACK (TB) POSITION WITH THE I FORMATION ISOLATION PLAY. OUR BASE PLAY IS THE FULLBACK (FB) DIVE PLAY.

THE BASE PLAY

OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE HAD GREAT SUCCESS WITH THE FB DIVE RUN A VARIETY OF WAYS. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS SCHEME GETS THE MOST BANG. THE SUCCESS WE HAVE HAS HAS BEEN WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF ATHLETIC TYPES PLAYING FULLBACK. WITH ALL ELSE THAT GOES ON OFFENSIVELY, THE MYRIAD OF THINGS THAT SPIN THROUGH THE MINDS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE DEFENSE, OFTEN THE SIMPLE DIVE PLAY IS EITHER OVERLOOKED OR NOT GIVEN THE RESPECT IT DESERVES. WE KEEP ATTENDING COACHING CLINICS AND HEAR COACHES TALKING ABOUT "KISS" (KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID), AND THEY GO INTO COMPLICATED OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE SCHEMES. NOT ONLY IS THEIR A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT FLOWS THOUGH THE MINDS OF THE DEFENSE, THERE IS ALSO A LOT OF INFORMATION PROCESSED THROUGH THE MINDS OF THE OFFENSIVE COORDINATORS OF THE WORLD.

WE HAVE TRIED IT ALL OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS - OPTION, VEER, 1 BACK, QUICK PASS, RUN-AND-SHOOT AND ON AND ON. WE HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE ONLY THING WE HAVE DONE IS COMPLICATE MATTERS MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO BE SUCCESSFUL. THE FB DIVE BASE PLAY PROVIDES A MINIMUM NUMBER OF REQUIREMENTS OF EXECUTION TO BE SUCCESSFUL: 1. QB TAKES THE SNAP, SEATS THE BALL, OPENS AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE AND HANDS OFF TO THE FB. 2. FB TAKES HANDOFF RUNNING STRAIGHT AHEAD WITH HEAD UP LOOKING AT THE BLOCKING DEVELOP AT THE POA. 3. AT THE POA A BLOCKING CALL HAS BEEN MADE THAT WILL MAXIMIZE OUR BLOCKING ANGLES, SKILLS AND STRENGTH OF OUR PLAYERS VS THEIR DEFENSE. 4. EVERYONE ELSE ON THE LOS EXECUTES A "CUT OFF" BLOCK, I.E., CUTS OFF THEIR ASSIGNED DEFENDER FROM A DIRECT PATH TO THE BALL CARRIER. A DEVASTATING BLOCK IS NOT NEEDED, BUT JUST A SIMPLE SCREEN WILL DO. THIS SCREENING TECHNIQUE IS VERY FRUSTRATING FOR THE DEFENSE. 5. THE REMAINING BACKS CARRY OUT AS GREAT A FAKE AS POSSIBLE. AN OLD MAXIM OF OURS IS, "A GOOD FAKE IS WORTH AT LEAST THREE BLOCKS." IN THIS SCHEME WITH ITS MINIMUM NUMBER OF PLAYS, MORE EMPHASIS AND WORK CAN BE DEVOTED TO FAKING AND THE FINER POINTS OF THE PLAY ACTION. IN YEARS PAST WE SPENT MUCH OF OUR PLAY PATH TIME WORKING ON VARIOUS SERIES. WE HAD A SWEEP SERIES, OPTION SERIES, VEER, COUNTER ACTION, SPRINTDRAW, BLAST SERIES AND ON AND ON. WE PUT SO MUCH INTO THE ATHLETES' HEADS THAT THEIR FEET DID NOT WORK RIGHT. THEY SLOWED DOWN. WE AS COACHES WITH OUR ELABORATE OFFENSIVE SCHEME ROBBED OUR PLAYERS OF THEIR AGGRESSIVENESS. LOU HOLTZ IN HIS CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON AT NOTRE DAME TALKS ABOUT A SUCCESSFUL HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM. WHEN ASKED WHY THAT PROGRAM IS

SUCCESSFUL HE SAID IT WAS BECAUSE THAT COACH DID NOT TIRE OF RUNNING HIS BASIC PLAY. NOT TIRING OF RUNNING THE BASE PLAY IS ESSENTIAL. IF YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL TO SOME DEGREE WITH YOUR OFFENSE, YOU WILL RUN 50 - 60 PLAYS DURING A TYPICAL HIGH SCHOOL GAME. THAT FACT DICTATES THAT YOU CALL THE FB'S NUMBER 20 - 30 TIMES A GAME. THAT MEANS THE TB, QB, WB AND RECEIVERS SHARE THE REMAINING 30 REPS. THE FB POSITION IS THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE OFFENSE (BEHIND THE MUSCLE OF THE TANDEM IN FRONT OF HIM). YOU CAN SUB FOR THE FB ON OFFENSE. IN FACT, IT CAN BE ADVANTAGEOUS TO DO SO. A NEW DIVE BACK HALF WAY THROUGH THE 2ND QTR WITH FRESH LEGS AND A DIFFERENT RUNNING STYLE CAN BE DEVASTATING, EVEN MORE SO IN THE 4TH QTR. THE FB NEEDS TO AVERAGE CLOSE TO 4 YARDS PER CARRY TO BE SUCCESSFUL. THAT EXTRAPOLATES TO 100 - 120 YARDS OR MORE PER GAME FROM THE FB POSITION. THE OTHER 5 PLAYERS WHO HANDLE THE BALL WILL HAVE A MUCH LARGER PER AVERAGE ATTEMPT ONCE THE FB IS ESTABLISHED EACH BALL GAME. THE SE AND THE TE WILL AVERAGE AROUND 10 YARDS PER RECEPTION. THE WB WILL AVERAGE AROUND 8 - 10 YARDS PER CARRY (WHICH WILL ONLY BE AROUND 4 - 5 CARRIES PER GAME) AND 15 YARDS PER PASS RECEPTION. THE QB AND TB WILL AVERAGE 6 - 8 YARDS PER ATTEMPT. THIS OFFENSE WILL GENERATE 300 - 400 YARDS PER GAME WITH 200-250 ON THE GROUND AND 200 - 250 IN THE AIR.

Football Stance
LINEMAN STANCE
1. FEET ARE SPREAD THE WIDTH OF THE SHOULDERS APART A LITTLE WIDER. IF YOU ARE RIGHT HANDED, THE RIGHT FOOT SHOULD BE DROPPED SLIGHTLY AS THE RIGHT HAND WILL BE DOWN (LEFT FOOT AND LEFT HAND FOR LEFT HANDERS). 2. THE RIGHT FOOT MUST HAVE NO MORE THAN A HEEL-TOE RELATIONSHIP. 3. FEET SHOULD ALWAYS BE POINTED STRAIGHT DOWN THE FIELD. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. 4. FROM THIS POSITION YOU DROP INTO A SQUATTING POSITION, DROPPING BOTH ARMS DOWN FROM THE SHOULDERS AND SLIGHTLY IN FRONT OF THE KNEES. 5. THE FORWARD FOOT IS NOW PLACED IN A POSITION WHERE YOU HAVE POWER PRODUCING ANGLES AT THE ANKLES AND KNEE JOINTS. TO GET THIS POSITION YOU WILL ROLL THE WEIGHT FORWARD ON THE BALL OF THE UP FOOT. THIS WILL RAISE THE WEIGHT OFF THE HEEL TO A POINT WHERE YOU CAN SEE SLIGHT DAYLIGHT UNDER THE HEEL OF THE UP FOOT. ROCK FORWARD.

6. THE HEEL OF THE BACK FOOT AFTER YOU ARE IN THIS POSITION WILL BE AN INCH TO TWO INCHES OFF THE GROUND WITH THE WEIGHT ON THE BALL OF THE FOOT. 7. THE SHOULDERS ARE PARALLEL TO THE GROUND. THE HEAD IS IN A NATURAL POSITION WITH LITTLE OR NOT MUCH STRAIN ON THE NECK MUSCLES. THE HEAD IS COCKED BACK SLIGHTLY. 8. THE RIGHT HAND IS DOWN, WELL FORWARD OF THE FEET, IN A DIRECT LINE WITH THE KNEE OF THE INSIDE LEG. THE BODY MUST LEAN FORWARD UNTIL THE RIGHT ARM IS VERTICAL WITH THE HAND DIRECTLY BENEATH THE SHOULDER. THE ARM IS PERPENDICULAR WITH THE GROUND. 9. THERE IS AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF WEIGHT ON BOTH FEET AND THE DOWN HAND IS IN A TRIPOD FASHION. 10. THE WRIST OF THE OTHER ARM SHOULD REST NATURALLY UPON THE KNEE OF THE LEFT LEG. 11. STARTING FROM THIS STANCE, YOU DRIVE OFF THE UP-FOOT, FIRING OUT WITH THE BACK FOOT. THE RIGHT HAND MOVES QUICKLY BACK ALONG THE GROUND, WHILE THE LEFT HAND IS "PUNCHED" IN THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT. 12. LINE UP ON THE REAR TIP OF THE BALL. 13. A GOOD STANCE IS THE FOUNDATION OF ALL YOUR MOVEMENT IN OFFENSIVE FOOTBALL.

FULLBACK AND TAILBACK

1. THE FEET SHOULD BE THE WIDTH OF THE ARMPITS AND PARALLEL. 2. THE FEET ARE POINTED STRAIGHT TO THE GOAL LINE. 3. THE HEAD IS UP WITH THE TAIL DOWN AND THE EYES FOCUSED STRAIGHT DOWN THE FIELD. 4. THE HANDS ARE RESTING ON BOTH THIGHS. 5. WEIGHT WOULD BE EVENLY DISTRIBUTED ON BOTH FEET. THE WEIGHT SHOULD BE CONCENTRATED MORE ON THE INSIDE OF YOUR FEET. 6. FROM THIS POSITION YOU MUST BE ABLE TO STEP IN ANY DIRECTION WITH QUICKNESS. 7. THE FULLBACK ALIGNS FIVE YARDS OFF THE FOOTBALL AND THE TAILBACK ALIGNS SEVEN YARDS OFF THE FOOTBALL. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN BOTH THE FULLBACK AND TAILBACK WILL WANT TO BE IN A THREE POINT STANCE. IN THAT CASE THEIR RULES FOR STANCE ARE:

1. THE BACK'S FEET SHOULD BE IN A SIMILAR POSITION AS THE LINEMEN'S EXCEPT THAT THEY ARE ALMOST PARALLEL AND A LITTLE WIDER. 2. EITHER HAND MAY BE DOWN. 3. THE FB WILL LINE UP WITH HIS HAND 4 YARDS FROM THE BALL. 4. THE REST OF THE STANCE IS THE SAME AS FOR LINEMEN.

QUARTERBACK
1. THE QUARTERBACK'S FEET SHALL BE PARALLEL AND SPREAD ABOUT SHOULDER WIDTH. 2. THE POSITION OF THE QB'S HANDS IS PARTIALLY DETERMINED BY THE PHYSICAL BUILD OF THE CENTER. 3. THE KNEES ARE BENT OR FLEXED JUST ENOUGH TO ALLOW FOR GOOD BODY BALANCE. THIS MAKES FOR QUICK, DEFT MOVEMENTS AND CORRECT HAND POSITION. 4. THE ELBOWS MUST BE BENT OR FLEXED SLIGHTLY, THIS WILL PERMIT THE QB TO MAINTAIN PRESSURE, ABSORB THE SHOCK OF A HARD SNAP, AND WILL PERMIT HIM TO MAINTAIN PRESSURE ON THE CENTER. 5. NINETY PERCENT OF ALL QB - CENTER EXCHANGE ERRORS ARE CAUSED BE THE QB NOT MAINTAINING PRESSURE ON THE CENTER WHILE THE EXCHANGE IS TAKING PLACE. 6. THE WEIGHT SHOULD BE EVENLY DISTRIBUTED ON BOTH FEET. THE WEIGHT SHOULD BE CONCENTRATED MORE ON THE INSIDE OF YOUR FEET.

THE FOUNDATION OF THE BASE PLAY CONSISTS OF THE TANDEM OF BLOCKERS AND THE FB. EVERYONE ELSE ON THE OFFENSE CAN, AND DO, APPEAR IN VARIED ALIGNMENTS, BUT THE BASE UNIT REMAINS THE SAME. THE TANDEM CONSISTS OF THE STRONG

GUARD, THE INSIDE TACKLE AND THE OUTSIDE TACKLE. WHEN A RIGHT FORMATION IS CALLED THE TANDEM ALIGNS TO THE RIGHT; WHEN A LEFT FORMATION IS CALLED, THE TANDEM FLIP FLOPS TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FORMATION. THE ADVANTAGE IN THIS IS THAT EVERYONE ON THE LOS IS CONSTANTLY WORKING TOGETHER. THE LINE SPLITS ARE IMPORTANT. GENERALLY SPEAKING, AS THE ABILITY OF YOUR OFFENSIVE LINE INCREASES, SO MAY YOUR LINE SPLITS. WITH AVERAGE LINES A SPLIT OF TWO FEET BETWEEN EACH PLAYER WORKS BEST FOR THE TIMING AND EXECUTION OF THE OFFENSE. TWO FOOT SPLITS ALSO USES THE DEFENSE AS BLOCKERS. CLOSE, TWO FOOT SPLITS CAUSE THE DEFENSE TO TRIP OVER AND BOUNCE INTO EACH OTHER WHILE TRYING TO PURSUE THE BALL CARRIER. WE WILL NARROW DOWN THE LINE SPLITS IN GOAL LINE OR SHORT YARDAGE SITUATIONS VS SHORT YARDAGE DEFENSES THAT ARE MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE ON THE LOS. THE BASIC ALIGNMENT FOR THE FULLBACK IS FEET AT FIVE YARDS OFF THE BALL POSITIONING HIMSELF DIRECTLY BEHIND THE IOT. HE IS IN A TWO POINT STANCE. AS THE SPEED OF THE QB (IN GETTING THE BALL TO THE FB) AND THE FB INCREASE, THE FB WOULD ALIGN WIDER AND DEEPER. THE FIVE YARD DEPTH AND TWO POINT STANCE ALLOW THE FB TO HIT THE LOS WITH MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF FORCE AND VISION DURING THAT 1.5 SECONDS AFTER THE BALL IS SNAPPED. THE UNBALANCED LINE WITH THE SHORT SPLIT END PUTS GREAT PRESSURE ON THE DEFENSIVE FRONT. THEY MUST EITHER ADJUST TO THE UNBALANCED OR BE OUT FLANKED.

WITH ADJUSTMENTS ETC., THE DEFENSE MUST PLAY OUT OF POSITION. WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT JUST IS NOT THE SAME AS THEY HAVE SEEN IN THEIR PREVIOUS FOOTBALL EXPERIENCE. THE BASE PLAY, AS WELL AS OTHERS IN THIS BOOK, WILL BE DRAWN UP AGAINST A WORSE CASE SCENARIO, EIGHT TO NINE MAN FRONT, BASE 6-2 OR 6-3 GAP, GOAL LINE PRESSURE DEFENSE. HOW THE DEFENSE ADJUSTS TO THE FORMATION AT THE PERIMETER IS NOT IMPORTANT WHEN DISCUSSING THE BASE PLAY. THE ONLY WAY WE FEEL THAT THE BASE PLAY CAN BE STOPPED IS TO OVERLOAD THE HEART OF THE DEFENSE WHICH WILL LEAVE A TREMENDOUS OPENING AND OPPORTUNITY IN OTHER AREAS WHICH WE WOULD THEN EXPLOIT. THE GOAL OF THE BASE PLAY IS TO GET THE FB INTO THE OUTSIDE RUNNING LANE OF THE DEFENSE. ALL DEFENSES, BY ALIGNMENT, HAVE CERTAIN RUNNING LANES THAT ARE CREATED AND MUST BE EXPLOITED. THESE LANES ARE EITHER THERE AT THE START OF THE PLAY, OR THEY APPEAR AS THE PLAY DEVELOPS. THE LANE WE ARE AFTER IN THIS CASE EXISTS OUTSIDE THE LB'ER, BETWEEN THE DT AND DE, AND EXTENDS DOWN FIELD BETWEEN THE HB AND SS. THE LANE WIDENS AS YARDAGE IS GAINED AND ALSO AS THE PLAY DEVELOPS. THE LANE OPENS AS THE PLAY DEVELOPS BECAUSE WE HAVE THE THREAT OF THE OPTION PLAY. SOME DEFENDER (USUALLY THE SS) IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PITCH BACK IN THE OPTION PLAY. WHEN PLAY ACTION DEVELOPS, THE SS MUST HONOR FOR AT LEAST A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME THE THREAT OF THE OPTION AND STEP TO COVER THE PITCH BACK. BECAUSE BOTH ENDS RELEASE OFF THE LOS, THE DEEP SECONDARY (WHO ARE USUALLY TAUGHT TO TAKE 3 "READ" STEPS) MUST HONOR FOR AT LEAST A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME THE THREAT OF A DEVELOPING PASS. IN ADDITION, SOMEONE, USUALLY THE DE, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE QB ON THE OPTION. FOR THESE REASONS, THEREFORE, THE RUNNING LANE WIDENS AS SHOWN, AND IN THOSE TWO SECONDS AFTER THE BALL IS SNAPPED THE LOS CHANGES ITS LOOK AS SHOWN. WHEN THE BALL IS SNAPPED: 1. THE DE, DT, AND M LB'ER MOVE TOWARD THEIR ASSIGNED GAP THAT IS THREATENED. OUR OFFENSIVE LINEMEN FIRE OUT, STRIKE THE OPPONENT, AND DRIVE THESE DEFENDERS DOWN THE LOS AND EXECUTE A CUT OFF BLOCK PREVENTING THEM FROM GETTING BACK TO THE OUTSIDE. 2. THE SECONDARY FOR THE DEFENSE EXECUTES THEIR "READ" STEPS. THESE READ STEPS START OPENING UP THE RUNNING LANE. 3. THE DE COMES ACROSS THE LOS LOOKING TO COVER THE QB FOR THE OPTION. THE WB WHO HAS BEEN IN MOTION, BREAKS DOWN AND SCREENS THE DE TO THE OUTSIDE. THE IMPORTANT TECHNIQUE FOR THE WB IS TO KEEP HIS BODY BETWEEN THE FB AND THE DE. HE USUALLY USES HIS HANDS AND PUSHES THE DE TO THE OUTSIDE AND USES THE MOMENTUM OF THE DE TO ALSO PUSH HIM DEEPER. THIS ACTION OPENS THE DOOR OF THE RUNNING LANE. THE RULE FOR THE WB IS TO SCREEN OUT ANY DEFENDER THAT ALIGNS ON THE OUTSIDE SHOULDER OF THE OOT OR BEYOND. THIS ACTION FREES THE OOT TO BLOCK DOWN THE LOS GIVING HIM A GREAT BLOCKING ANGLE ON THE FIRST MAN TO HIS INSIDE ON OR OFF THE BALL. IF SOMEONE ALIGNS HEAD ON THE OOT, THE OOT WOULD BLOCK HIM AND TAKE HIM THE WAY HE WANTS TO GO AND THE FB WOULD READ THE BLOCK OF THE OOT AND BEND OPPOSITE HIS BLOCK WHILE CROSSING THE LOS. THE FB WOULD THEN LOOK TO HIT THE RUNNING LANE TO THE OUTSIDE, OR HE MAY WANT TO HIT THE RUNNING LANE THAT EXISTS BETWEEN THE HB AND FS.

4. THE SE AND TE RELEASE OFF THE BALL DOWN FIELD. FOR THE 1.5 SECONDS AT THE START OF THE PLAY, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE RELEASING FOR A PASS ROUTE. THIS ACTION FORCES THE SECONDARY DEEPER AND WIDER. AFTER HE HAS DRIVEN THE HB AS DEEP AS POSSIBLE, THE SE BREAKS DOWN ON THE HB WHEN THE DEFENDERS BEGINS TO REACT TO THE RUNNING PLAY THAT IS DEVELOPING. THE SE'S JOB IS TO SCREEN THE DHB OUT OF THE RUNNING LAND BY EXECUTING A GOOD STALK BLOCK. THE TE NOT ONLY DRIVES THE FS AS DEEP AS HE CAN, BUT HE MUST ALSO START MOVING CROSS FIELD TO POSITION HIMSELF BETWEEN THE FS AND THE BALL CARRIER. MANY PEOPLE CALL THE BLOCK OF THE TE A "DOWN FIELD" BLOCK. ACTUALLY IT IS A "CROSS FIELD" BLOCK BECAUSE WE WANT THE TE TO GET ACROSS THE FIELD IN ORDER TO MAKE HIS BLOCK ON THE SECONDARY PERSON CLOSER TO THE BALL CARRIER. 5. THE REST OF THE LINE EXECUTES A CUT OFF BLOCK ON THE DG, OTHER DT AND W LB'ER. 6. THE FB MOVES STRAIGHT AHEAD TOWARD THE LOS. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE FB TO MOVE STRAIGHT AHEAD TO GET THE HAND OFF FOR SEVERAL REASONS. SINCE THE DT IS ALIGNED OUTSIDE THE PLANE OF THE FB AT THE SNAP OF THE BALL, BY MOVING STRAIGHT AHEAD THE ACTION OF THE FB GETS THE DT TO STEP DOWN THE LOS MAKING FOR AN EASIER BLOCK BY THE OOT. THE 5 YARD DEPTH OF THE FB ALLOWS HIM TO MOVE STRAIGHT AHEAD TO RECEIVE THE HAND OFF, SET THE BLOCK OF THE OOT AND THEN CUT OFF THAT BLOCK TO THE OUTSIDE AND GET INTO THE RUNNING LANE. THE CUT IS NOT A DRAMATIC ONE - MORE LIKE A BEND TO GET INTO THE RUNNING LANE. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE FB TO BE "UNDER CONTROL" WHILE RECEIVING THE HAND OFF AND THEN TO ACCELERATE OFF THE BLOCK OF THE OOT INTO THE RUNNING LANE. 7. THE QB TAKES THE SNAP FROM THE CENTER, SEATS THE BALL, STEPS BACK AT THE CORRECT ANGLE TO MESH WITH AND HAND OFF TO THE FB. AFTER THE HAND OFF IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE QB TO CARRY OUT A GREAT OPTION FAKE. A GOOD FAKE IS WORTH THREE BLOCKS. 8. THE TB CROSS OVER STEPS TO THE SIDELINE AND GETS INTO THE SAME PITCH ROUTE THAT HE EXECUTES ON THE OPTION PLAY. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE TB TO RUN THE EXACT PATH HE WOULD ON THE OPTION. AGAIN, A GOOD FAKE IS WORTH THREE BLOCKS. GOOD OPTION FAKING BY THE QB AND PITCH BACK WILL TAKE THE DE, SS AND HB OUT OF THE PLAY AND/OR PROVIDE BETTER BLOCKING ANGLES FOR OUR PERSONNEL. THESE DEFENDERS NORMALLY HAVE SPECIFIC OPTION RESPONSIBILITIES. THE FEAR OF THE OPTION IS A GREAT TOOL. WHEN THE DEFENSE KNOWS WE RUN THE OPTION, DEFENDERS WILL BE ALIGNED TO DEFEND THE OPTION AND BE GIVEN CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITIES. SOME DEFENDERS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DIVE BACK, OTHERS FOR THE QB AND PITCH BACK. WHEN OPTION ACTION BEGINS, THEY MUST RESPECT THAT ACTION FOR AT LEAST A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME AS THE PLAY BEGINS. THIS ACTION ENABLES OUR BLOCKERS TO GAIN A BETTER ANGLE AND GETS THEM INTO POSITION WHICH RESULTS IN GREATER SUCCESS. IT IS SIMILAR TO A DEFENSIVE BACK BEING TOLD, "DON'T GET BEAT DEEP!" A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO WE HAD A FS WHO WAS A FINE ATHLETE. OUR DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD COACH AT THE TIME MADE SUCH A DEAL OF "NOT GETTING BEAT DEEP" THAT HE TOOK HIMSELF OUT OF ALMOST EVERY PLAY. DON'T MISUNDERSTAND. HE WAS ALWAYS THERE; HE WAS ALWAYS IN POSITION TO MAKE A PLAY. BUT HE WAS ALWAYS ONE OR TWO STEPS AWAY FROM MAKING THE TACKLE. HE ALWAYS HAD A CORRECT PURSUIT ANGLE, BUT SOMEONE ELSE WOULD ALWAYS MAKE THE TACKLE BEFORE HIM. HE NEVER GOT BEAT DEEP, BUT HE WAS NEVER IN ON MANY OTHER PLAYS.

THE THREAT OF THE OPTION CAN HAVE THE SAME EFFECT ON THE DEFENSE. EVERYONE AT THE CORNER OF THE DEFENSE HAS SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES AGAINST THE OPTION. GREAT FAKING MAKES THE BASE PLAY LOOK LIKE THE OPTION FOR JUST ENOUGH TIME (PERHAPS TWO SECONDS) TO GET THESE PEOPLE AT THE CORNER TO STEP TO THEIR OPTION AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY. THEY EITHER FREEZE OR REACT TO THE PLAY EITHER MAKING THEM EASIER TO BLOCK OR COMPLETELY TAKING THEMSELVES OUT OF THE PLAY ALTOGETHER. THE OPTION IS A GREAT PLAY. WE ALL HAVE SEEN THE DEVASTATION IT CAN CAUSE WHEN EXECUTED PROPERLY. IT TAKES A GREAT DEAL OF PRACTICE TIME EVERY DAY TO RUN THE PLAY EFFECTIVELY; A GREAT DEAL MORE TIME TO RUN IT EXPERTLY. BECAUSE OUR OFFENSE DOES NOT HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF PLAYS, PRACTICE TIME IS FREED UP TO WORK ON THE OPTION AND THE FAKING NECESSARY FOR SUCCESS. EVEN THOUGH THE OPTION PLAY MAY ONLY BE CALLED 6 - 7 TIMES A GAME, THOSE TIMES THAT IT IS CALLED WILL RESULT IN BIG GAINS IN CRUCIAL SITUATIONS. RUNNING THE OPTION KEEPS PEOPLE HONEST, IT KEEPS THEM AT HOME, IT LIMITS THEIR AGGRESSIVENESS, ALL OF WHICH ARE EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL. MORE ON THE OPTION LATER. RUN THE BASE PLAY AT THE "BUBBLE" ON THE LOS CAUSED BY THE POSITION OF THE LB'ER. LB'ERS, ESPECIALLY IN HIGH SCHOOL, LIKE TO FLOW UP AND DOWN THE LOS MAKING TACKLES FROM SIDELINE TO SIDELINE. VERY FEW HIGH SCHOOL LB'ERS RELISH THE THOUGHT OF TRYING TO TACKLE A FULLBACK COMING STRAIGHT AT HIM, WITH A FULL HEAD OF STEAM, BEING LED BY EITHER AN IOT OR OOT. IN MOST OFFENSIVES TODAY, FULLBACKS (AND OTHER RUNNING BACKS) DO NOT RUN THE BALL DIRECTLY AT THE LB'ERS. THEY RUN AT OBLIQUE ANGLES WHICH PROVIDE LB'ERS SHOTS AT THE SIDES OF THE BACK. MORE OFTEN THE FB IS A BLOCKING BACK FOR AN I FORMATION TAILBACK. A GREAT MANY DEFENSIVE SCHEMES TODAY HAVE THE LB'ERS "KEY" THE BACKS OF AN OFFENSE AND NOT THE LINE FIRST. THE LB'ER DIRECTING HIS ATTENTION TO THE BACKFIELD WILL NOT "SEE" THE BLOCK COMING FROM THE IOT. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN KEYING THE BACKFIELD ACTION, THERE WILL BE "EYE CONTACT" BETWEEN THE BALL CARRIER AND THE LB'ER. EVERY GOOD RUNNING BACK KNOWS THAT WHEN RUNNING DIRECTLY AT A LB'ER WITH A BLOCKER LEADING HIM, EYE CONTACT WILL "FREEZE" THE DEFENDER FACILITATING THE BLOCK ALLOWING THE BALL CARRIER TO "RUN TO DAYLIGHT." THIS RUN TO DAYLIGHT IS MADE BY A BEND MORE THAN A CUT. FBS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO "CUT." THEY ARE TO RUN NORTH AND SOUTH. THEY ARE

GOAL LINE DIRECTED. THE BASE PLAY IS RUN AT THE HEART OF THE DEFENSE. ON EITHER SIDE OF THE POA THERE WILL BE FIVE DEFENDERS SCRAMBLING TO CATCH UP TO THE PLAY. TIMING AND EXECUTION DICTATE THAT THE FB GET UP FIELD ASAP. CUTS AND CUT BACKS ARE NOT IN ORDER HERE. WHAT IS IN ORDER IS FOR THE FB TO BEND PAST THE BLOCK ON THE LB'ER BY THE TACKLE AND MOVE ON TO THE FS OR HB. MANY TIMES THE FS/HB WILL BE OUT OF POSITION TO MAKE A GOOD TACKLE ON THE FB DUE TO THE OPTION FAKING AND RESPONSIBILITIES. PROPERLY EXECUTED, THE BASE PLAY PUTS THE FB PASSING THE LB'ER AND 4 - 5 YARDS DOWN FIELD IN A ONE-ON-ONE SITUATION WITH THE FS/HB 2 TO 2.5 SECONDS AFTER THE BALL IS SNAPPED WITH EVERYONE ELSE ON THE DEFENSE IN A RUN-DOWN SITUATION. WHILE MOST FBS ARE NOT GOING TO BREAK AWAY AND SCORE, THEY WILL WIN WITH PERSISTENCE AND TENACITY WHICH IS MORE EFFECTIVE IN BREAKING THE HEART AND WILL OF THE DEFENSE. AFTER ONE OR TWO HEAD-ON COLLISIONS WITH THE FB, MOST FS/HBS MOVE TO THE SIDE TO MAKE THE TACKLE AND GET CARRIED FOR A FEW EXTRA YARDS, GET STIFF ARMED, OR SLIDE OFF WHILE THE FB MAKES EXTRA YARDS. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON WITH EVERYONE ON THE DEFENSE TRYING TO CATCH UP TO THE PLAY TO SEE THE FB CARRYING THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE ON HIS BACK WHILE GAINING SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT OR MORE YARDS ON THE PLAY. THERE ARE A GREAT MANY OFFENSIVE SCHEMES TODAY THAT NO LONGER HAVE A FB IN THEIR OFFENSE OR A TE. THOSE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT THE FB POSITION IS NOT AN ESSENTIAL PART OF TODAY'S OFFENSIVE GAME PLAN (ESPECIALLY IN HIGH SCHOOL) SHOULD LOOK CLOSELY AT WHAT NOTRE DAME DOES WITH THEIR FB AND WHAT SEATTLE DID OVER THE YEARS WITH JOHN L WILLIAMS. FOR A LONG TIME THE ONLY TRUE CONSISTENT PLAYS THE SEAHAWKS HAD WERE WITH THE FB. ADDITIONALLY, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU SEEN THE RUN-AND-SHOOT OFFENSE DIE INSIDE THE 20 YARD LINE BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE A FB-TE SCHEME FOR SHORT YARDAGE OFFENSE? WE BELIEVE THAT THERE HAS TO BE ALLOWANCES FOR BOTH. THERE IS A TIME AND PLACE FOR THE ONE-BACK-MOTION OFFENSE, BUT THERE IS ALSO A TIME FOR THE FBFULL HOUSE-SHORT YARDAGE OFFENSE. OUR OFFENSE HAS IT ALL, BUT IT BEGINS WITH FUNDAMENTALS. THE FUNDAMENTAL PLAY IN FOOTBALL IS THE DIVE. THE SUCCESS OF THE DIVE DEPENDS UPON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE

TANDEM
THE TANDEM IS MADE UP OF THE STRONG GUARD (SG), INSIDE OFFENSIVE TACKLE (IOT), AND THE OUTSIDE OFFENSIVE TACKLE (OOT). IN A RIGHT FORMATION THEY TAKE THEIR POSITION TO THE RIGHT OF THE CENTER, AND IN A LEFT FORMATION THEY TAKE THEIR POSITION TO THE LEFT OF THE CENTER. THEY ARE A UNIT THAT ALWAYS WORKS TOGETHER. THE FB ALIGNS FIVE YARDS OFF THE BALL BEHIND THE IOT. ON MOST FORMATIONS THERE WILL BE A DIVE BACK POSITIONED BEHIND THE IOT. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU COULD POSITION YOUR TAILBACK IN THE DIVE BACK POSITION AND HAVE THE FB OR POSSIBLY A RECEIVER ASSUME WHAT MANY REFER TO AS AN "H-BACK" POSITION IN THE ONE BACK FORMATION. PUTTING YOUR TB IN THE FB POSITION, ADDING ANOTHER RECEIVER, IN MOTION, OFTEN WEAKENS THE DEFENSIVE FRONT SO MUCH THAT GIANT GAINS CAN BE MADE WITH THE BASE PLAY WITH THE TB RUNNING FROM THE FB POSITION.

IT IS NOT OUR PLACE HERE TO BE DISCUSSING ALL THE BLOCKING COMBINATIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE WITH THE TANDEM. THE ONES THAT ARE MOST OFTEN USED AND CARRY THE HIGHEST DEGREE OF SUCCESS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT. REMEMBERING THAT WE FIRST WANT TO RUN THE BASE PLAY AT THE "BUBBLE" ON THE LOS CAUSED BY THE ALIGNMENT OF THE LB'ER, YOU MOST OFTEN GET ONE OF THE FOLLOWING LOOKS FROM THE DEFENSE. TO OPEN THE INSIDE RUNNING LANE VS A GAP CONTROL DEFENSE, THE FOLLOWING BLOCKING SCHEME IS OFTEN USED: IN THIS FIRST CASE, THE IOT CALLS FOR A FOLD BLOCK BY THE OOT AND HIMSELF. THE RULE IS TO ALWAYS BLOCK THE DOWN MAN ON THE LOS FIRST. THE IOT, THEREFORE, GOES FIRST AND THE OOT STEPS AROUND THE IOT'S BLOCK TO MOVE AND BLOCK THE LB'ER. THIS "STEP-AROUND" TECHNIQUE IS IMPORTANT. THE OOT (AND OTHER LINEMEN) NEED TO PERFECT THIS MOVEMENT AS THEY WILL BE USING IT REPEATEDLY THROUGHOUT THE SEASON. FROM HIS STANCE THE OOT TAKES A SMALL POSITION STEP WITH HIS INSIDE FOOT. THIS IS AROUND BUT NO MORE THAT A 6" STEP AT ABOUT A 25 DEGREE ANGLE TO HIS LEFT. HIS SECOND STEP MADE WITH HIS RIGHT FOOT WOULD BE A NORMAL SIZED STEP LANDING IN A 45 DEGREE POSITION FROM HIS INITIAL STANCE. ON HIS THIRD STEP HE SHOULD BE "SQUARING UP" IN THE HOLE AT THE LB'ER. AT ALL TIMES HE SHOULD WORK TO KEEP HIS SHOULDERS PARALLEL TO THE LOS. PARALLEL SHOULDERS NOT ONLY FACILITATE GOOD BLOCKING POSITION, BUT THEY ALSO ALLOW THE EYES OF THE BLOCKER TO ALWAYS BE LOOKING AT WHAT HE IS GOING TO BLOCK. YOU CANNOT BLOCK WHAT YOU CANNOT SEE. THIS TECHNIQUE KEEPS YOUR HEAD UP. YOU CAN SEE WHERE YOU ARE GOING. YOU HAVE YOUR SHOULDERS SQUARE, AND IF ALL ELSE FAILS, YOU CAN AT LEAST BE SQUARED-UP IN THE HOLE AND IN THE WAY OF THE LB'ER MAKING THE TACKLE AND THE FB CAN MOVE THE WHOLE PILE FORWARD FOR A GAIN.

THE IOT EXECUTES A FAN BLOCK ON THE DEFENSIVE MAN ON THE LOS. HIS FIRST STEP IS A SHORT 6" 45 DEGREE STEP ACROSS THE LOS INTO THE DEFENSIVE LINEMAN, FOR BEST RESULTS THE AIMING POINT OF THE BLOCK SHOULD BE THE HIP OF THE DEFENDER. THE IOT HAS THE ANGLE AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO STRIKE THE HIP OF THE DEFENDER.

STRIKING THE HIP ACCOMPLISHES TWO VERY BIG REQUIREMENTS FOR THE OFFENSE. FIRST, BY STRIKING THE HIP THE DEFENDER NOW IS IN A RUN AROUND SITUATION. HE MUST RUN AROUND THE BLOCK OF OUR OFFENSIVE LINEMAN TO GET TO THE BALL CARRIER THAT IS CARRYING THE BALL TO THE INSIDE. SECONDLY, THE HIP IS A VERY VULNERABLE TARGET AREA. IT IS DIFFICULT TO DEFEND THE HIP AREA. ONCE STRUCK IN THE HIP AREA THE DEFENDER IS EASILY KNOCKED OFF-COURSE AND OFF THE LOS.

THE SG EXECUTES A DOWN BLOCK ON THE DEFENDER IN HIS GAP. THIS DOWN BLOCK IS THE SAME BLOCK WITH THE SAME ADVANTAGES AS THE FAN BLOCK OF THE IOT JUST DISCUSSED. WITH AVERAGE EXECUTION BY THE TANDEM THERE IS AN AREA ON THE LOS THAT IS 9 12 FEET OR MORE WIDE ON THE LOS THAT THE HAS TO FILL AND COVER. THIS WIDE AREA ALSO HAS THE OOT AS A LEAD BLOCKER IN IT THAT THE LB'ER MUST DEFEAT AND MAKE THE TACKLE ON THE FB WHO IS HITTING THE HOLE WITH MAXIMUM VELOCITY. WHEN RUN RIGHT AT THE LB'ER IN THIS FASHION, HE HAS A TENDENCY TO BECOME A "CATCHER" OF THE PLAY RATHER THAN AN ATTACKER. IT IS THE JOB OF THE FB TO READ THE BLOCK OF THE OOT, BEND INTO THE OPEN AREA, AND RUN TO DAYLIGHT. PROPERLY EXECUTED, THE BASE PLAY WILL GAIN LARGE AMOUNTS OF YARDAGE, CONTROL THE BALL, EAT UP THE CLOCK, MAKE A LOT OF FIRST DOWNS THAT EVENTUALLY LEAD TO TOUCHDOWNS. IN THE NEXT SITUATION WE NOTE THAT THE LB'ER IS ALIGNED ONE WHOLE WIDER THAN IN THE FIRST CASE. REMEMBERING THAT WE MUST BLOCK THE DOWN MAN ON THE LOS FIRST, BOTH THE SG AND THE IOT BLOCK THE DOWN MAN TO THEIR INSIDE GAP. THE OOT IN THIS CASE ALSO MUST BLOCK THE LB'ER IN THE INSIDE GAP WHILE THE WB IN MOTION WILL SHIELD BLOCK THE DEFENDER WHO IS ALIGNED IN THE BASTARD SPLIT. KEEP IN MIND THAT THESE DEFENDERS WHO ARE ALIGNED AT THE END OF THE LOS WILL HAVE OPTION RESPONSIBILITIES, AND THE OPTION FAKE WILL KEEP THEM HOME TO SOME DEGREE. THERE ARE OTHER GAP SITUATIONS THAT ARISE, BUT THE BASIC RULES APPLY IN ALL SITUATIONS FOR THE TANDEM. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU MIGHT HAVE DEFENDERS ALIGNED IN EVERY GAP ON THE LOS. IN THAT CASE A "GAP" CALL WOULD BE IN ORDER. A GAP CALL MEANS THAT EVERY OFFENSIVE MAN ON THE LOS IS TO BLOCK THE INSIDE GAP AND DRIVE HIS MAN DOWN THE LOS. THE MOTION WB IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEFENDER ON OR OUTSIDE THE OOT. IN THE SITUATION SHOWN, WHICH IS THE BASE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SE, THE SE ALSO BLOCKS DOWN THE LOS AND SEALS OFF THE LB'ER. THERE ARE NOT TOO MANY TIMES THAT YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THIS

ALIGNMENT BECAUSE IT SO WEAKENS THE DEFENSE IN OTHER AREAS. IN ADDITION, A SIMPLE AUTOMATIC BY THE QB TO EITHER AN OPTION OR A QUICK PASS WOULD KEEP THE DEFENSE OUT OF THIS GAP EIGHT TYPE ALIGNMENT. THE POINT IS THAT ANYTIME WE ARE FACED WITH A GAPPED OUT SITUATION ON THE LOS, THE SIMPLE SOLUTION IS TO BLOCK DOWN THE LOS AND ROLL BACK THE DEFENDERS. THE BACK WHO BREAKS A TACKLE AT THE LOS WILL HAVE A BIG GAINER AHEAD OF HIM. THE OTHER PRIMARY CONCEPT FOR DEFENSIVE SCHEMES INVOLVES A MAN-ON PHILOSOPHY. THIS IS USUALLY SEEN WHEN THE DEFENSIVE FRONT IS MANNED WITH SEVEN PEOPLE AS OPPOSED WITH EIGHT DEFENDERS IN THE GAP SCHEME. WITH MAN-ON WE CONFRONT PRIMARILY TWO SITUATIONS. THE "NORMAL 4-3" ALIGNMENT ALLOWS THREE BASIC BLOCKS BY THE TANDEM. FIRST IS JUST OLD FASHIONED ONE-ON-ONE BLOCKING. JUST BLOCK THE MAN OVER YOU. THERE IS MORE TO IT THAN THAT HOWEVER. MOST MAN-ON SCHEMES INVOLVE SLANTING BY THE DEFENSIVE LINE WITH SCRAPE LB'ERS COVERING OPPOSITE THE SLANT. KNOWING THIS WE ADJUST THE PLAY IN THE FOLLOWING FASHION. THE FB IS ALIGNED BEHIND THE IOT AND "READS" HIS BLOCK. EVERYONE ELSE ON THE LOS FIGHTS TO CUT HIS MAN OFF (STEP WITH YOUR PLAYSIDE FOOT, DRIVE YOUR HEAD ACROSS THE DEFENDER, KEEP YOUR FEET MOVING AND MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH THE DEFENDER DOWNFIELD). THE MAN ALIGNED OVER THE IOT WILL NORMALLY WANT TO SLANT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. THE IOT DRIVES OFF THE BALL UNDER CONTROL, STRIKES THE OPPONENT AND TAKES THE DEFENSIVE MAN THE WAY HE WANTS TO GO. SIMILAR TO THE MARTIAL ARTS, THE IOT JUST HELPS THE DEFENDER MOVE ALONG THE LOS TO THE AREA HE WANTS TO GO. THE FB READS THIS BLOCK AND BENDS OPPOSITE JUST ENOUGH TO BREEZE THROUGH THE HOLE CREATED ON THE LOS BY THE VACATING DEFENSIVE LINEMAN. OF COURSE, THERE IS A LB'ER WHO IS ASSIGNED TO SCRAPE INTO THE AREA VACATED BY THE DEFENSIVE TACKLE. KEEP IN MIND THAT THE LB'ER IS ALIGNED THREE OR MORE YARDS OFF THE LOS. HE MUST READ HIS KEY, MOVE LATERALLY TO HIS ASSIGNED POSITION, DEFEAT THE BLOCKER WHO IS ASSIGNED TO HIM AND MAKE THE TACKLE. IF HE MAKES THE TACKLE, IT WILL BE AFTER A GOOD GAIN BY THE FB. THE BEND TECHNIQUE OF THE FB IS VERY IMPORTANT ON THIS PLAY AND HE MUST KEEP IN MIND THE CONCEPT OF BENDING AND NOT CUTTING. IF HE MAKES A BIG CUT ON THE LOS HE WILL SIMPLY RUN INTO THE PATH OF ANOTHER DEFENDER. THERE IS A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY THAT DEVELOPS ON THE LOS DUE TO THE SLANT OF THE DEFENSE AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DEFENDERS. THE FB MUST FOCUS ON THE BLOCK OF THE IOT FROM THE BEGINNING. ALWAYS FOCUS ON THE POA. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE QB TO GET THE BALL TO THE FB. THE FB, THEREFORE, "FEELS" THE HANDOFF FROM THE QB WHILE CONCENTRATING ON THE BLOCKING THAT IS GOING ON IN FRONT OF HIM AT THE POA. GENERALLY SPEAKING, IF THE DT SLANTS OUT AND IS TAKEN FURTHER OUT BY THE BLOCK AND SCREENING OF THE IOT, THE SEAM TO RUN AT IS TO THE INSIDE AND THAT IS WHERE THE FB SHOULD BEND. IF THE DT SLANTS OUT, THEN IT IS THE JOB OF THE LB'ER TO FILL TO THE INSIDE. THE SG IS RESPONSIBLE FOR BLOCKING THE LB'ER. OFTEN THE MOMENTUM OF THE LB'ER AND THE BLOCK OF THE SG WILL TAKE THE BLOCK TO THE OUTSIDE AND THE FB MUST BEND AROUND THE BLOCK OF THE SG. SOMETIMES, HOWEVER, THE LB'ER DOES NOT STEP TO THE GAP AND THE BEND OF THE FB WILL TAKE HIM TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE BLOCK OF THE SG. ONCE THE BEND IS EXECUTED, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE FB TO RUN NORTH AND SOUTH BECAUSE THERE ARE DEFENDERS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE LOS THAT ARE PURSUING ON TO THE FB AND WANT TO CONVERGE ON HIM. THE RUNNING LANE THAT OPENS UP IS DIRECTLY AHEAD BETWEEN THE FS AND HB. THE SOONER THE FB GETS INTO THAT LANE THE MORE YARDS HE WILL GAIN.

MAN-ON SITUATIONS ALLOWS US MANY BLOCKING COMBINATIONS FOR THE TANDEM (CROSS OR X BLOCKS, G BLOCKS, COMBO BLOCKS). DURING PRACTICE TIME THE LINE WILL WORK TO PERFECT THESE VARIOUS BLOCKS. THE REASON FOR HAVING VARIOUS BLOCKING COMBINATIONS IS TO MAKE IT EASIER TO BLOCK THEIR TOUGHEST MAN AT THE POA. BY MAKING BLOCKING CALLS ON THE LOS AT THE POA, THOSE EXECUTING THE BLOCKS WILL BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT BLOCKING COMBINATION WILL WORK THE BEST WHICH PUTS OUT LINEMEN IN THE BEST POSSIBLE SITUATION FOR SUCCESS. ONE OF THE GREAT ADVANTAGES WE HAVE IS THAT THE TANDEM WORKS TOGETHER ALL YEAR LONG ON THESE VARIOUS BLOCKING SCHEMES. IN REALITY THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY DEFENSIVE LOOKS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO SEE THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE SEASON. THE DEFENSE MAY THINK THEY ARE PRESENTING US WITH A "NEW LOOK" THAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN BEFORE, BUT IN REALITY, AT THE POA THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY THINGS YOU CAN DO. THROUGH PRACTICE AND PREPARATION ON THE PRACTICE FIELD, WE HAVE A PACKAGE THAT BEST SUITS THE SKILLS OF THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE IT HAPPEN ON THE LOS. WE CAN MAKE THE TANDEM'S JOB EASIER WITH VARIOUS FORMATIONS WHICH WILL DISCUSSED LATER.

The Option
THE PLAY THAT LOGICALLY FOLLOWS THE DIVE IS THE OPTION. IN OUR TERMINOLOGY, WHEN WE SAY "OPTION" WE WILL FAKE TO THE FB AND OPTION THE END MAN ON THE LOS. WHEN WE SAY "VEER" WE WILL RUN A TRUE TRIPLE OPTION WHERE THERE IS A "READ MAN" AND AN "OPTION MAN." FIRST THE OPTION. WHEN WE USE THE SAME ALIGNMENT AND MOTION AS WE DO ON THE DIVE PLAY (TO MAKE EVERYTHING LOOK THE SAME) THE PLAY DEVELOPS AS FOLLOWS: 1. THE WB'S MOTION WILL TAKE HIM INTO THE BASTARD SPLIT. WHEN THE BALL IS SNAPPED, HE WILL CONTINUE TO A POINT BEHIND THE SE AND THEN HE WILL ARC UP FIELD. HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR BLOCKING THE FORCE MAN WHO IS USUALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PITCH BACK. THIS DEFENDER USUALLY HAS SOME PASS COVERAGE RESPONSIBILITY AS WELL AS THE PITCH BACK, AND FOR THE FIRST 2 SECONDS AFTER THE BALL IS SNAPPED MUST HONOR THE RELEASE OF THE WB AND WILL DROP FOR PASS COVERAGE. THE WB WILL DRIVE TO THE OUTSIDE SHOULDER OF THE SS, TAKE HIM AS DEEP AS HE CAN IN PASS COVERAGE AND THEN STALK BLOCK HIM KEEPING HIM TO THE INSIDE. 2. THE SE RELEASES DOWN FIELD AND HAS THE SAME RESPONSIBILITIES AS HE DOES ON THE DIVE PLAY. IF A "LOADED" CALL IS HEARD IN THE HUDDLE, SE WOULD BLOCK THE FIRST MAN TO HIS INSIDE ON OR OFF THE BALL. IN THIS CASE IT WOULD BE THE DE.

3. EVERYONE ELSE ON THE LOS (EXCEPT FOR THE TE WHO HAS THE SAME ASSIGNMENT AS ON THE DIVE) BLOCKS THE FIRST MAN TO HIS INSIDE ON OR OFF THE BALL AND EXECUTES A CUT OFF BLOCK ON THAT MAN. 4. THE FB EXECUTES A GOOD FAKE INTO THE LINE. A GOOD FAKE INVOLVES MAKING A POCKET FOR THE QB TO SET THE BALL INTO, AND AFTER THE BALL IS REMOVED BY THE QB, THE FB WILL CLOSE HIS ARMS TOGETHER AND ROLL HIS INSIDE SHOULDER WHILE HITTING THE LINE. THIS MOVEMENT WILL GET THE LB'ERS ON THE DEFENSE TO STEP UP TO THE LOS MAKING IT EASIER TO WALL THEM OFF. MANY TIMES THE FB WILL BE TACKLED AT THE LOS (A GOOD FAKE IS WORTH 3 BLOCKS). IF HE IS NOT TAKEN DOWN, THE FB WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE LOS, VEER TO THE OUTSIDE AND LOOK FOR A LB'ER TO BLOCK. 5. THE QB'S STEPS ARE THE SAME FOR THE DIVE AND OPTION. FIRST STEP IS A 45 DEGREE STEP BACK TO THE FB. THE SECOND AND THIRD STEP CONTINUE THIS ACTION. THE THIRD 45 DEGREE STEP IS A "PLANT" STEP. THIS STEP IS A CRITICAL STEP FOR THE OPTION AND THE VEER TO BE RUN PROPERLY AND REQUIRES A GREAT DEAL OF PRACTICE FOR THE QB. MOST QB'S, ESPECIALLY YOUNG, INEXPERIENCED ONES, HAVE THE TENDENCY TO RUSH THIS PLAY. WE WANT TO GIVE THE DEFENSE TIME TO REACT TO THE DIVE FAKE. THE THIRD STEP BY THE QB IS A PLANT STEP, THEREFORE, ACTUALLY STOPPING HIS MOVEMENT AWAY FROM THE LOS MUCH LIKE A PLANT STEP ON A THREE STEP DROP FOR PASS. HIS FOURTH STEP IS A "RIDE" STEP TOWARD THE LOS WITH THE FB. DURING THE FOURTH STEP, THE QB PLACES THE BALL IN THE "POUCH" CREATED BY THE FB THEREBY GIVING HIM A BALL FAKE. THIS BALL FAKE IS CRUCIAL. THE BALL MUST BE PLACED INTO THE POUCH OF THE FB. USING A "SOFT BALL" TECHNIQUE, THE QB REMOVES THE BALL FROM THE POUCH. A SOFT BALL MEANS THAT THE QB, KEEPING BOTH HANDS ON THE FOOTBALL, USES VERY FLEXIBLE ELBOWS TO DRAW THE BALL OUT OF THE POUCH. THE FLEXIBLE ELBOWS ALLOW THE QB TO MOVE WITH THE FB AS THE MOVES TO THE LOS. THIS IS THE POINT WHERE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE OPTION HAS A TENDENCY TO BREAK DOWN WITH YOUNG QBS. MOST INEXPERIENCED PEOPLE WILL WANT TO RUSH THROUGH THE FAKE TO THE FB ACTUALLY NOT STOPPING TO FAKE AND RUNNING THROUGH THE FB FORCING THE FB WIDER THAT HE SHOULD GO.

RUNNING THROUGH THE FB FAKE WILL ALSO PUT THE QB TOO DEEP AND TOO WIDE FOR AN EFFECTIVE OPTION TO TAKE PLACE. WHEN THE QB PULLS THE BALL FROM THE FB'S POUCH, IT WOULD BE NATURALLY POINTED DIRECTLY AT THE DE. THE QB SHOULD STEP DIRECTLY AT THE INSIDE SHOULDER OF THE DE. THE NEXT NUMBER OF STEPS (SHORT CHOPPY CONTROLLED STEPS) SHOULD BE ALONG THE SAME PATH TO THE INSIDE SHOULDER OF THE DE. CORRECT EXECUTION OF THESE STEPS WILL GET THE QB TO "RUN DOWNHILL" AS THEY SAY IN THE OPTION GAME. ON OR AROUND THE EIGHTH STEP THE QB WILL REACH THE "OPTION POINT." THE OPTION POINT IS ONE YARD DEEPER AND ONE YARD OUTSIDE WHERE THE DE LINES UP. AT THIS POINT THE QB MUST HAVE EITHER PITCHED THE BALL TO THE TB OR HAVE MADE THE DECISION TO CARRY THE BALL UP FIELD (NORTH AND SOUTH). IF THE QB IS CARRYING THE BALL WIDER THAN THE OPTION POINT, THE DEFENSE HAS TIME TO PURSUE AND JUMP ON THE QB'S BACK. AS HE MOVES TO THE OPTION POINT, THE QB KEEPS BOTH HANDS ON THE FOOTBALL AND "SEATS" IT, EXTENDING HIS ELBOWS AND SWINGS THEM SIDE TO SIDE. BY RUNNING TO THE INSIDE SHOULDER OF THE DE IN THIS FASHION, THE DE IS FORCED TO MAKE A DECISION. HE MUST EITHER TAKE THE QB OR MOVE TO PITCH. IF THE DE STEPS TO TACKLE THE QB, HE IMMEDIATELY "SQUATS" AND PITCHES THE BALL TO THE TB WHO CONTINUES TO RUN THE BALL ON THE OUTSIDE. THE ROLE OF THE QB ON THIS PLAY IS TO CARRY THE BALL ON THE INSIDE RUNNING LANE UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT THE DEFENSE MAKES A PLAY ON HIM. WHEN THIS HAPPENS HE IS TO PITCH THE BALL TO THE TB. THE TB'S ROLE ON THIS PLAY IS TO CARRY THE BALL ON THE OUTSIDE. THE INEXPERIENCED QB HAS THE TENDENCY TO TRY TO RUN TOO WIDE AND TO TRY AND CUT AROUND DEFENDERS IN THE SECONDARY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE WHOLE PLAY SLOWS DOWN AND PURSUIT TACKLES THE PLAY FROM BEHIND. THE MAN USUALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE QB ON THE OPTION IS THE DE OR THE FS IN THE DEFENSE THAT IS DRAWN. IF WE PUT THE WB INTO EXTENDED MOTION AND WIDEN THE SS AND GET A SOFT CORNER, MANY DEFENSES ASSIGN THE DE TO PITCH FIGURING THEY CAN COVER THE QB WITH THE FS. THIS IS A COMMON ADJUSTMENT MADE BY MANY OF THE COLLEGES AGAINST THE OPTION. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU SEEN AN OPTION CALLED ON THE GOAL LINE AND THE QB SCORES EASILY BECAUSE NO ONE IS ASSIGNED TO THE QB ON THE GOAL LINE LOS? THE WASHINGTON HUSKIES DO IT ALL THE TIME. SO DOES NOTRE DAME. DEFENSIVE PEOPLE BELIEVE THEY CAN COVER THE QB WITH A FS. IT JUST DOES NOT HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY IN HIGH SCHOOL. WHEN A DEFENSE PLAYS THREE DEEP IN THE SECONDARY, HAS THE PHILOSOPHY OF NOT GETTING BEAT DEEP, AND COACHES "READ STEPS" (TAKE THREE STEPS BACK AS YOU READ FOR RUN OR PASS), NOT EVEN THE ABOVE AVERAGE FS IS GOING TO MAKE ALL THE RIGHT DECISIONS, REACT AND STOP THE PLAY ON THE LOS. IN FACT, WE ARE COUNTING ON OUR FB AFTER CARRYING OUT A GREAT FAKE TO KNOCK OFF THE FS BY LOCATING HIMSELF IN THE PURSUIT LANE. A WORD ABOUT PITCH RELATIONSHIP: WHEN A DEFENSIVE PLAYER (HOPEFULLY THE DE OR FS IN THE FORCE AREA) COMMITS TO TACKLING THE QB, HE IS TO PITCH THE BALL TO THE TB. WE DO NOT GET REAL TECHNICAL WITH THIS PITCH. WE WANT THE QB TO "SQUAT," I.E., SLOW DOWN AND SIT DOWN, LOOK AT THE TB, PITCH HIM THE BALL, AND FALL BACKWARD WHEN THE DEFENDER HITS HIM. THIS TECHNIQUE RESULTS IN FAR FEWER INJURIES TO THE QB. SOME QB'S EGO WILL NOT LET THEM USE THIS TECHNIQUE IN A GAME, BUT IT ONLY TAKES ONE OR TWO GOOD LICKS BY THE DEFENSE TO CHANGE HIS MIND. THE PITCH ITSELF IS JUST A FLICK TO THE TB. THERE ARE THOSE WHO WILL SPEND HOURS TALKING ABOUT HOW THE QB SHOULD PITCH THE BALL, END OVER END, THUMB DOWN, AND ALL THAT. OUT QB IS GOING TO BE ONE OF OUR MORE SKILLED ATHLETES. SINCE HE IS AN ATHLETE. WE EXPECT HIM TO GET THE BALL TO THE TB AT THE PROPER TIME. WE DO NOT WANT HIM THINKING, "NOW SHOULD I HAVE MY THUMB

DOWN HERE OR . . ." WE NEED TO HAVE THE QB MAKE A CORRECT READ ON THE OPTION MAN AND PITCH THE BALL. THAT'S ENOUGH TO THINK ABOUT. OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE HAD A DIFFICULT TIME MAINTAINING PROPER PITCH RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE QB AND TB. HAVING THE PITCH BACK BEGIN FROM A SEVEN YARD DEPTH MEANS HE NOT ONLY GET THE WIDTH HE NEEDS, BUT HE ALSO CAN START MOVING UP FIELD LIKE HE NATURALLY WANTS TO DO. THE MAJOR CONCERN WITH THE TB IS RUSHING THE PLAY. DUE TO THE DIVE FAKE AND THE READ, THE TB MUST "TAKE HIS TIME" MOVING DOWN THE LINE WITH THE QB. HE MAY BE AT ONLY 50% SPEED. THAT IS OK. WE WANT THE TB TO ACCELERATE WITH A BURST OF SPEED WHEN HE RECEIVES THE PITCH. A GOOD PITCH RELATIONSHIP IS AROUND 4 YARDS OUTSIDE THE QB AND TWO YARDS BEHIND. MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TELL YOU 4 X 4, BUT THAT IS A VERY DIFFICULT RELATIONSHIP FOR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS TO MAINTAIN. WE DO NOT MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF IT. THE TB NEEDS TO BE DEEP ENOUGH AND WIDE ENOUGH SO THAT NO DEFENDER CAN PLAY BOTH THE QB AND MAKE THE TACKLE ON THE TB. 6. THE TB CROSS OVER STEPS TO THE PLAY SIDE AND IMMEDIATELY WORKS TO GET INTO A GOOD PITCH RELATIONSHIP WITH THE QB (AS EXPLAINED ABOVE). ALWAYS BE UNDER CONTROL. SPEED IS NOT IMPORTANT AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS ROUTE. WE WANT YOU TO ACCELERATE AFTER RECEIVING THE PITCH NOT BEFORE.

The Option Pass

THE THIRD MOST RUN PLAY IN THE OFFENSE IS THE PASS PLAY OFF THE DIVE/OPTION GAME. THIS PLAY IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND CONSISTENTLY SUCCESSFUL PASS PLAY WE HAVE. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PLAY, ALL ACTION IS THE SAME AS FOR THE DIVE AND OPTION. BECAUSE WE HAVE RUN SO MANY OF THESE OTHER PLAYS PREVIOUSLY,

THE DEFENSE IS USED TO REACTING TO THEM AND DOING SO HERE WILL ALLOW OUR RECEIVERS TO GET OPEN. RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THIS PASS PLAY ARE: 1. EVERYTHING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PLAY IS EXACTLY THE SAME FOR EVERYONE AS FOR THE DIVE AND THE OPTION FOR THE FIRST TWO STEPS. 2. THE WB IN MOTION AT THE SNAP OF THE BALL ARCS UP FIELD AS RUNS A DEEP POST CORNER ROUTE. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR HIM TO GET AS DEEP AS HE CAN AS SOON AS HE CAN. HIS PASS ROUTE RUNS TO A DEPTH OF AT LEAST 25 YARDS. 3. THE SE RUNS A BLOCK-RELEASE ROUTE. AT THE SNAP OF THE BALL, THE SE BLOCKS THE DE TO THE INSIDE HARD FOR TWO COUNTS. HE THEN RELEASES TO THE OUTSIDE AND RUNS AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE TO THE SIDELINE. AT A DEPTH OF 15 YARDS, HE LEVELS OFF AND SQUARES OUT TO THE SIDELINE. 4. THE FB EXECUTES A GOOD BALL FAKE TO THE LOS AND RELEASES INTO THE FLAT AT A DEPTH OF 5 YARDS AND SQUARES OUT TO THE SIDELINE 5. THE TB STARTS ON A PITCH ROUTE. WHEN HE PASSES THE PLANE OF THE SE/DE BLOCK HE TURNS UP FIELD AND TAKES OVER THE BLOCK ON THE DE KEEPING HIM SEALED OFF TO THE INSIDE. 6. THE QB EXECUTES A GOOD BALL FAKE TO THE FB. AFTER THE FAKE HE SPRINTS BACK TO A DEPTH OF AT LEAST 7 YARDS BEHIND THE LOS. HE ROUNDS THE CORNER AND ATTACKS THE LOS AS SHOWN. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE QB TO REMEMBER THAT THIS IS AS MUCH A RUNNING PLAY FOR HIM AS IT IS A PASS. HE MUST ATTACK THE LOS. BY ATTACKING THE LOS, HE FORCES THE DEFENDERS IN THE FLAT TO MAKE A DECISION TO EITHER PLAY PASS OR COME UP TO TACKLE HIM. THE MAIN READ FOR THE QB IS TO LOCATE THE DEFENDER RESPONSIBLE FOR FLAT COVERAGE. IF THE DEFENDER HANGS BACK TO PLAY PASS, THE QB SHOULD RUN THE BALL. IF THE DEFENDER COMES UP TO TACKLE THE QB, THE QB PASSES THE BALL TO THE OPEN RECEIVER IN THE FLAT (EITHER THE FB OR SE). THE RULE FOR THE QB IS TO LOOK SHORT, MIDDLE, LONG. THE RECEIVER THAT MOST OFTEN COMES OPEN ON THIS PASS PLAY IS THE SE BECAUSE OF HIS BLOCKRELEASE ROUTE AND THE FACT THAT HIS ROUTE USUALLY TAKES HIM BEHIND THE SS IN THE FLAT. 7. THE OFFENSIVE LINE "FIRES OUT" INTO THE DEFENSIVE LINE, MAKES CONTACT WITH THE DEFENDERS AND KNOCKS THEM AWAY FROM THE PATH OF THE QB. THE LINE THEN GETS SEPARATION FROM THE DEFENDERS, HINGES, AND MAKES ANOTHER CONTACT WITH THE DEFENDERS KEEPING THEIR FEET MOVING AT ALL TIMES. 8. THE TE BLOCKS THE DE FOR 2 COUNTS AND THEN RELEASES OVER THE MIDDLE OF THE FORMATION. THE IDEA IS FOR THE TE TO GET IN BETWEEN THE LB'ERS AT A DEPTH OF 810 YARDS AND RUN ACROSS THE FIELD WITH THE QB. 9. THE WG IN THIS CASE IS THE "UNCOVERED LINEMAN." IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE UNCOVERED LINEMAN TO CLOSE THE BACK DOOR AND BLOCK THE DE AFTER HE COMES OFF THE BLOCK OF THE TE. ONCE THE TE GETS TO A POSITION THAT IS EVEN WITH THE QB, HE SITS DOWN IN THE HOLE OF THE DEFENSE AND ACTS AS A SAFETY VALVE RECEIVER FOR THE QB.

The Fullback Blast

THERE IS ONE MORE BASIC PLAY THAT FORMS THE HEART OF OUR OFFENSE. IT IS OUR BASIC SHORT YARDAGE/GOAL LINE PLAY. FOR THIS PLAY WE CHANGE THE FORMATION BY PLACING THE FB BEHIND THE QB IN A THREE POINT STANCE, AND THE TB MOVES UP TO A POSITION THREE YARDS DEEP BEHIND THE IOT. THIS FORMATION IS CALLED "POWER RIGHT."

FROM THIS FORMATION WE RUN A LEAD PLAY WITH THE FB CARRYING THE BALL OVER THE IOT WITH THE TB LEADING. SOME YEARS WE MAY SUBSTITUTE ANOTHER PLAYER FOR THE TB IN ORDER TO GET BETTER BLOCKING AT THE POA. IT DEPENDS UPON THE BLOCKING CAPABILITIES AND SIZE OF THE THE TB. SINCE THIS IS A SHORT YARDAGE PLAY WHERE THE OBJECT IS TO GAIN I-3 YARDS, THE DEFENSE USUALLY ALIGNS IN A GOAL LINE DEFENSE. TO MAXIMIZE OUR BLOCKING AND PREVENT ANY INSIDE PENETRATION WE NARROW DOWN THE SPLITS TO AS LITTLE AS 6 INCHES. ALL LINEMEN ARE TO DRIVE THEIR INSIDE GAP. THE WB FROM MOTION WILL STEP TO THE BUTT OF THE OOT WHEN THE BALL IS SNAPPED AND SEAL OFF THE INSIDE SHOULDER OF THE DE. THE SE WILL DRIVE DOWN THE LOS JUST BEHIND THE DE AND DRIVE THE LB'ER TO THE INSIDE OF THE FORMATION. THE TB LEADS THE FB THROUGH THE LOS. BY THE TIME THE TB GETS TO THE LINE, THE OOT WILL HAVE MADE CONTACT WITH THE DT AND HAVE KNOCKED HIM DOWN THE LOS AT LEAST A STEP. THE TB SCRAPES THE BUTT OF THE OOT AND BLOCKS THE FIRST ODD COLOR JERSEY HE SEES. THE FB'S FIRST TWO STEPS ARE CROSS OVER AND PLANT. HIS FIRST STEP IS A CROSS OVER STEP TO GET LATERAL DISTANCE TO THE POA. ON HIS SECOND STEP HE PLANTS WITH HIS RIGHT FOOT, RECEIVES THE BALL AND DRIVES INTO THE LOS RUNNING ON THE OUTSIDE HIP OF THE TB. THIS PLAY IS AS MUCH A HALLMARK OF OUR OFFENSE AS ANY OTHER. EVERYONE KNOWS THE PLAY IS COMING WHEN WE GET NEAR THE GOAL LINE OR NEED 1 YARD TO MAKE A FIRST DOWN. IT IS PROBABLY OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL PLAY WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT THE OBJECT IS TO GAIN 1-2 YARDS. IT IS JUST PLAIN FLAT OUT HARD TO STOP FOR LESS THAN A YARD.

THESE PLAYS - DIVE, DIVE OPTION, DIVE OPTION 48 PASS, AND BLAST 34 - ARE THE HEART AND SOUL OF OUR OFFENSE. WE WILL RUN THESE PLAYS FAR MORE THAN ANY OTHERS IN THE OFFENSE. WE WILL SPEND AS MUCH AS 50% OF OUR PRACTICE TIME ON THESE FOUR PLAYS AND THEY WILL ACCOUNT FOR AS MUCH AS 70% OF OUR OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION. REMEMBER THAT IF YOU WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL DOING SOMETHING, YOU MUST PRACTICE IT EVERYDAY. JUST AS WE CANNOT TIRE OF RUNNING THE BASE OFFENSE DURING THE GAME, WE CANNOT TIRE OF PRACTICING THE BASE ON THE PRACTICE FIELD. WE MUST TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN BOTH ACTIVITIES. SEVERAL YEARS AGO WE WERE PLAYING A GOOD FOOTBALL TEAM. IN FACT, THEY JUST THE WEEK BEFORE HAD MADE USA TODAY'S TOP SPOT FOR TOTAL OFFENSE WITH OVER 450 YARDS OF PASSING OFFENSE. OUR GAME PLAN WAS TO CONTROL THE BALL ON OFFENSE AND KEEP THEIR OFFENSE OFF THE FIELD. IN THAT GAME THE FB CARRIED THE BALL CLOSE TO 30 TIMES AND GAINED OVER 200 YARDS. DURING A POINT IN THE SECOND HALF WHILE OUR OFFENSE WAS GETTING INTO POSITION TO RUN THE NEXT PLAY, OUR LINEMEN HEARD THE DEFENSE SAYING THAT, "OVER HERE, THEY'RE GOING TO RUN OVER HERE." OUR IOT LOOKED AT THE DEFENSE AND SAID, "YES. WE ARE GOING TO RUN THE BALL RIGHT HERE, AND THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT!" HE AND HIS TANDEM TEAMMATES WERE TAKING GREAT PRIDE IN THEIR ABILITIES IN CONTROLLING THE LOS AND THE GAME WHICH WE WENT ON TO WIN BY OVER TWO TOUCHDOWNS.

Play Calling
1. ALL PLAYS WILL CARRY A NAME AND A NUMBER. THE NAME IS FOR THE USE OF THE BACKS SO THAT THEY WILL CARRY OUT PROPER BACKFIELD MOVEMENT. THE NUMBER TELLS EVERYONE WHO IS GOING TO CARRY THE BALL AND WHERE HE IS GOING TO RUN (THROUGH WHICH HOLE). 2. EACH RUNNING PLAY HAS A TWO DIGIT NUMBER. THE FIRST NUMBER INDICATES WHO IS TO CARRY THE BALL (WHICH BACK - THE QB IS NUMBER 1, THE WB IS 2, THE FB IS 3 AND THE TB IS NUMBER 4); THE SECOND NUMBER IS THE HOLE THROUGH WHICH HE IS TO RUN. 3. EACH PASSING PLAY HAS A THREE DIGIT NUMBER. THE FIRST NUMBER INDICATES WHICH PASS PROTECTION TO BE USED, THE SECOND NUMBER IDENTIFIES THE PASS ROUTE OF THE INSIDE RECEIVER, AND THE THIRD NUMBER IDENTIFIES THE PASS ROUTE OF THE OUTSIDE RECEIVER. 4. ANY HOLE MAY BE OPENED BY SEVERAL DIFFERENT BLOCKING ADJUSTMENTS. THESE BLOCKING ADJUSTMENTS WILL BE DETERMINED FOR THE MOST PART BY A CALL MADE BY THE QB IN THE HUDDLE. 5. ALL BLOCKING ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE DETERMINED BY APPLYING A SET OF "BLOCKING RULES." ABSOLUTE MASTER OF THOSE RULES IS ESSENTIAL. 6. OFFENSIVE FORMATIONS WILL BE CALLED BY THE QB WHEN HE CALLS THE PLAY.

7. WE WILL BE ABLE TO BLOCK OR OPEN 10 HOLES. BY UTILIZING OUR BLOCKING VARIATIONS WE MAY BLOCK EACH PLAY BY SEVERAL METHODS. 8. EVERYONE MUST KNOW WHERE EACH HOLE IS LOCATED.

OFFENSIVE HOLES AND SPACING

1. THE HOLES ARE DETERMINED BY THE SPACING OF THE OFFENSIVE LINEMEN. 2. THE HOLES ARE NOT OPENED AT A STRICTLY DEFINED SPOT BUT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN DEFINITE LIMITS. 3. THE HOLES TO THE RIGHT OF THE CENTER ARE GIVEN EVEN NUMBERS, AND THE HOLES TO THE LEFT OF THE CENTER ARE GIVEN ODD NUMBERS. 4. THE SPACING OF THE LINEMEN AS INDICATED IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR BACKFIELD TIMING IN COORDINATION WITH LINEMEN BLOCKING.

THE HUDDLE

1. THE HUDDLE IS CALLED BY THE CENTER. 2. THE QB DOES ALL THE TALKING IN THE HUDDLE. 3. THE QB CAN EXPEL ANYONE FROM THE GAME WHO, IN HIS OPINION, IS A DISTRACTING INFLUENCE TO THE SQUAD. 4. NEVER LEAN ON ANYONE IN THE HUDDLE. 5. ALWAYS KEEP A GOOD DISTANCE BETWEEN EACH OTHER IN THE HUDDLE. 6. THE OFFENSIVE PLAY BEGINS WHEN THE QB GIVES THE SIGNAL TO BREAK THE HUDDLE. THE SPEED, DETERMINATION AND SNAP THAT WE LEAVE THE HUDDLE WITH, WILL DETERMINE THE DEGREE OF SUCCESS FOR EACH PLAY. 7. THE QB WILL REPEAT THE PLAY TWICE, CLEARLY AND PRECISELY, NO GARBLED WORDS. 8. AFTER THE QB CALLS THE PLAY THE FIRST TIME, THE CENTER, SE, AND WB LEAVE THE HUDDLE EARLY TO TAKE THEIR POSITIONS IF WE ARE CALLING A FORMATION WHERE THE SE AND WB WILL BE SPLIT WIDE. IF NOT, JUST THE C LEAVES THE HUDDLE EARLY. 9. AFTER REPEATING THE PLAY A SECOND TIME THE QB WILL SAY, "READY. ." EVERYONE WILL CHANT "BREAK!" CLAP THEIR HANDS AND SPRINT TO THE BALL. 10. HUDDLE COMMANDS: DURING EACH HUDDLE THE QB WILL GIVE THE TEAM FOUR COMMANDS: 1.) THE FORMATION, 2.) THE PLAY, 3.) THE STARTING COUNT, AND POSSIBLY 4.) THE WAY IN WHICH THE PLAY WILL BE BLOCKED.

OFFENSIVE STARTING COUNT

1. WE USE A NON-RHYTHMIC SERIES OF COMMANDS TO START AN OFFENSIVE PLAY. 2. WHEN WE BREAK THE HUDDLE, EVERYONE WILL SPRINT TO THEIR POSITIONS AND GET INTO THEIR STANCE IMMEDIATELY. 3. THE QB WILL "PREREAD" THE DEFENSE FOR ANY SPECIAL KEYS FOR THE PARTICULAR PLAY CALLED. 4. THE FIRST COMMAND IS A HARD "GO!" 5. NEXT COMMAND: "SET." THIS COMMAND IS SOMEWHAT DRAWN OUT. 6. THE FINAL COMMANDS WILL BE, "HUT-1, HUT-2, HUT-3." 7. THE BALL CAN BE SNAPPED ON ANY ONE OF THESE COMMANDS, AS LONG AS ALL TEAM MEMBERS ARE MOTIONLESS FOR AT LEAST ONE SECOND BEFORE THE BALL IS SNAPPED. ONE PERSON MAY BE IN MOTION BEFORE THE SNAP, AS LONG AS HE IS IN MOTION ONE FULL SECOND OR MORE BEFORE THE SNAP, AND HIS MOTION MUST BE PARALLEL TO OR AWAY FROM THE LOS. 8. FIRST SOUND: WE MAY RUN OUR PLAYS ON THE "FIRST SOUND" OF THE QB. WHEN THE PLAY IS TO BE RUN ON THE FIRST SOUND, THE QB'S FIRST SOUND IS TO BE - "HUT-1!"

AUTOMATICS
1. THERE ARE TIMES IN THE GAME WHEN WE WILL WANT TO CHANGE THE PLAY AT THE LOS. THIS WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE QB. 2. BEFORE EACH HALF, WE WILL DETERMINE A "LIVE" COLOR, FOR EXAMPLE: BLUE. THIS MEANS THAT IF THE QB CALLS THE COLOR BLUE AT THE LOS, HE IS CHANGING THE PLAY FROM THE ONE THAT IS CALLED IN THE HUDDLE. WHAT PLAY WE WILL RUN WILL BE BASED ON THE SCOUTING REPORT AND PRACTICE THAT WEEK. LET'S SAY HE CALLED "BLUE 48." THIS WOULD MEAN THAT WE WILL RUN DIVE OPTION 48 RATHER THAN THE PLAY THAT WAS CALLED IN THE HUDDLE. 3. THE BALL IS ALWAYS SNAPPED ON THE COUNT OF ONE WHEN USING AN AUTOMATIC. 4. THE SEQUENCE FOR THE QB'S LINE CALL WOULD BE: A. CHECK - CHECK - CHECK B. BLUE 48 - BLUE 48 C. GO - SET - - HUT 1 5. IF THE SNAP COUNT IN THE HUDDLE WAS "FIRST SOUND," WE WILL RUN THE PLAY THAT WAS CALLED IN THE HUDDLE.

Offensive Formations
OFFENSIVE FORMATIONS
WE HAVE A LIMITED BUT EFFECTIVE NUMBER OF FORMATIONS. THE FORMATIONS WE EMPLOY FORCE THE DEFENSE TO ADJUST, EXPECIALLY TO THE UNBALANCED. WHEN THEY SHIFT TO THE UNBALANCED, WHICH THEY HAVE TO DO OR BE OUTFLANKED, THEY ARE FORCED TO PLAY "OUT OF POSITION." A NOSE GUARD WHO IS USED TO PLAYING OVER THE CENTER WHEN MOVED OVER THE GUARD IS NOT PLAYING THE SAME GAME AS BEFORE. THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR OTHER MEMBERS OF THE DEFENSE, ESPECIALLY THE FRONT SEVEN. A DE TO THE STONG SIDE IS PLAYING MUCH FARTHER AWAY FROM THE BALL THAN HE IS NORMALLY ACCUSTOMED TO PLAYING. HE IS ISOLATED AND ON A ISLAND OUT THERE WITH LITTLE READILY AVAILABLE HELP. FORMATIONS ARE DRAWN TO THE RIGHT SIDE. IF A LEFT FORMATION IS CALLED IN THE HUDDLE, IT IS THE MIRROR IMAGE OF THE RIGHT FORMATION.

RIGHT

SPLIT RIGHT
IN THIS FORMATION THE TB AND THE FB ALIGN 5 YARDS DEEP ON THE OUTSIDE LEG OF THE GUARD IN A TWO POINT STANCE.

POWER RIGHT
HERE THE FB ALIGNS BEHIND THE QB IN A THREE POINT STANCE WITH HIS DOWN HAND AT A DEPTH OF 4 YARDS OFF THE FOOTBALL. THE TB ALIGNS AT THE SAME DEPTH DIRECTLY BEHIND THE IOT IN A 3 POINT STANCE.

FLEX CALL
WHEN "X" IS CALLED WITH THE FORMATION, IT MEANS THAT THE SE AND THE WB ARE TO SPLIT OUT INTO A WIDE POSITION AS THE WOULD IN A SPLIT RECEIVER SET.

PRO RIGHT
THE PRO RIGHT FORMATION IS USED MORE IN THE PASSING GAME. THE OOT ALIGNS NEXT TO THE WG, THE SE IS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FORMATION AWAY FROM THE TE, THE WB IS SPLIT IN A FLANKER POSITION AND THE BACKS ALIGN IN A "SPLIT" TECHNIQUE.

A-B-C PRO RIGHT A

A - B - C ARE CALLS TO MAKE THE FORMATION A ONE BACK FORMATION. WHEN A IS ADDED TO THE FORMATION CALL, THE TB ALIGNS AS A TIGHT WING TO THE SINGLE RECEIVER SIDE OF THE FORMATION. THE SE SPLITS OUT AND THE WB TAKES A FLANKERPOSITION TO THE TE SIDE OF THE BALL. THE FB ALIGNS BEHIND THE QB AT A DEPTH OF 5 YARDS.

PRO RIGHT B
A "B" CALL ADDED TO THE FORMATION PLACES THE TB IN A SPLIT POSITION TO THE SINGLE RECEIVER SIDE OF THE BALL.

PRO RIGHT C
WHEN C IS ADDED TO THE FORMATION CALL WE MOVE INTO A SHOTGUN FORMATION. THE QB ALIGNS AT A DEPTH OF 6 YARDS, THE FB OFFSETS TO THE TE SIDE OF THE FORMATION AT A DEPTH OF 5 YARDS.

DOUBLE SLOT RIGHT

DOUBLE SLOT RIGHT IS A TRIPS FORMATION WHERE THE TB AND THE WB ALIGN IN THE SLOT CREATED BY THE SPLIT OF THE SE. THE RECEIVERS SPREAD THEMSELVES OUT ACCROSS THE FIELD SPREADING THE DEFENSE.

Motion Calls
MOTION CALLS

EVERYONE THAT IS ALLOWED, EXCEPT THE QB (AND WE EVEN HAVE HAD OCCASIONS TO RUN HIM IN MOTION) HAS MOTION CALLS. UNLIKE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WE KNOW, THERE ARE DEFINITE REASONS THAT WE SEND PEOPLE IN MOTION. AS PREVIOUSLY STATED, THE MAIN REASONS FOR MOTION ARE: (1) TO CAUSE THE DEFENSE TO THINK RIGHT BEFORE THE BALL IS SNAPPED AND THEREBY TAKE AWAY SOME OF THEIR AGGRESSIVENESS, (2) TO CREATE MOVEMENT BY THE DEFENSE OPENING UP A RUNNING OR PASSING LANE THAT WE MIGHT EXPLOIT, AND (3) MOTION BY THE BACKS ALSO HAS DEFINITE BLOCKING ADVANTAGES FOR US DUE TO DEFENSIVE ALIGNMENTS.

THESE ARE OUR MOTION CALLS. THERE IS NO MAGIC WITH THESE. THEY WORK FOR US. WHEN GOING IN MOTION, WE WANT OUR BACKS TO LOOK LIKE THEY ARE UP TO SOMETHING. WE HAVE ALL SEEN MOTION WHERE THE MOTION BACK LOOKS LIKE HE IS IN SLOW MOTION OR EVEN JOGGING IN PLACE. THAT IS NOT WHAT WE WANT. WE LIKE OUR MOTION TO BE QUICKER, ABOUT THREE-QUARTER SPEED. SPEEDIER MOTION FORCES FASTER JUDGMENTS BY THE DEFENSE AS WELL AS FASTER ADJUSTMENTS WHICH MEANS THEY MAY BE MOVING MORE QUICKLY OUT OF POSITION IN THE WRONG DIRECTION WHEN THE BALL IS SNAPPED. OUR CADENCE IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR MOTION ATTACK. OUR TEAM BREAKS THE HUDDLE, MOVES TO THEIR ASSIGNED POSITION, AND TAKES THEIR STANCE. THE QB MAKES SURE THAT EVERYONE IS SET FOR AT LEAST ONE FULL SECOND THEN YELLS GO! YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED HOW MANY TEAMS, IN A TIGHT SITUATION, EVEN AFTER HEARING THE GO COUNT THE WHOLE BALL GAME WILL JUMP ON GO! ON THE COMMAND GO, THERE IS USUALLY A MAN IN MOTION. THE NEXT COMMAND IS SET FOLLOWED BY HUT-ONE, HUT-TWO, ETC. THIS IS A NONRHYTHMIC COUNT. THERE ARE PAUSES BETWEEN GO AND SET TO ALLOW THE MOTION BACK TO GET WHERE WE WANT HIM TO BE WHEN THE BALL IS SNAPPED.

WING BACK MOTION

OUT - THE WB GOES IN MOTION OUT OR AWAY FROM THE BALL FROM WHERE HE IS ALIGNED IN THE FORMATION THAT IS CALLED TO A WIDE RECEIVER POSITION. THE BALL IS SNAPPED WHILE THE WB IS IN MOTION (THE SAME IS TRUE FOR ALL EXTENDED MOTION CALLS FOR THE OFFENSE). FLY - THE WB "FLIES ACROSS" THE FORMATION (BALL) AND TO A WIDE RECEIVER POSITION ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FORMATION. FLEA - FLEA IS SMALL OR SHORT MOTION, HENCE FLEA. THE WB MOTIONS ACROSS THE FORMATION TO A POINT BEHIND THE OOT. FROM THIS POSITION HE SETS TO BLOCK THE MAN ALIGNED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE OOT. WHEN FLEA MOTION IS CALLED WE WILL NORMALLY SNAP THE BALL ON ONE SO THAT THE WB MAY TIME HIS MOTION WITH THE

SNAP COUNT TO BE IN THE PROPER POSITION. ON FLEA MOTION THE WB TAPS THE QB AS HE PASSES. WHEN TAPPED THE QB WILL IMMEDIATELY MAKE HIS HUT-ONE COMMAND. THIS SEQUENCE PUTS THE WB IN THE PROPER POSITION FOR BLOCKING AT THE OOT SPOT AT THE PROPER TIME. IT IS POSSIBLE TO USE THE QB'S HEEL TO SIGNAL THE START OF MOTION SO THAT THE FIRST SOUND CAN BE USED AS A STARTING COUNT. THE QB SIGNALS THE START OF MOTION WITH HIS HEEL, THE WB GOES IN MOTION, TAPS THE QB AND THE QB SAYS HUT-ONE FOR THE FIRST SOUND STARTING COMMAND.

TAILABCK MOTION
RIP - ON RIP MOTION THE TAILBACK STEPS UP TO A POSITION IN FRONT OF THE FB AND GOES INTO EXTENDED MOTION TO THE RIGHT MOVING TO A WIDE RECEIVER POSITION. THE RULES ARE THAT A MAN IN MOTION MUST BE MOVING PARALLEL TO OR AWAY FROM THE LOS FOR A FULL SECOND PRIOR TO THE BALL BEING SNAPPED. THE MOVEMENT BY THE TB TOWARD THE LOS AT THE BEGINNING OF HIS MOTION, THEREFORE, IS LEGAL. LIZ - LIZ MOTION INDICATES THAT THE TB WILL STEP UP AND MOTION TO A WIDE RECEIVER POSITION TO THE LEFT OF THE CALLED FORMATION. EITHER OF THESE MOTIONS ALLOW US TO MOVE INTO A ONE-BACK OFFENSE (AS DOES MOTION BY THE FB), TRIPS, OR TO FOUR RECEIVERS SPREAD ACROSS THE FIELD DEPENDING UPON WHAT FORMATION IS CALLED.

FULLBACK MOTION
ROAR - ON ROAR MOTION THE FB STEPS UP TO A POINT 2 - 3 YARDS DEEP OFF THE BALL AND GOES INTO EXTENDED MOTION ASSUMING A WIDE RECEIVER POSITION TO THE RIGHT OF THE FORMATION. LION - LION MOTION PLACES THE FB IN A WIDE RECEIVER POSITION TO THE LEFT OF THE FORMATION. RAT AND LIP - RAT AND LIP MOTIONS ARE SHORT MOTION CALLS FOR THE FB. THEY ARE USED TO GET THE FB ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FORMATION IN FRONT OF THE TB. THESE MOTIONS ARE ONLY FOUR STEP MOTIONS BY THE FB. THEY ARE VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE DEFENSE TO ADJUST TO BEFORE THE BALL IS SNAPPED.

The Veer
THE RUNNING GAME
AS STATED, THE BASE PLAYS FOR THE RUNNING GAME (AND THE PLAY ACTION PASSING GAME) ARE THE FB DIVE, DIVE OPTION, AND THE DIVE OPTION PASS. THE FB DIVE WILL BE CALLED AROUND 50% OF THE TIME WE HAVE THE FOOTBALL. WE WILL RUN THE DIVE FROM VARIOUS FORMATIONS USING A VARIETY OF MOTION CALLS. WE KNOW THE DIVE

WILL BE SUCCESSFUL. WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR WHILE RUNNING THE DIVE IS HOW THE DEFENSE IS ADJUSTING TO FORMATION AND MOTION CALLS. EVERY DEFENSE HAS WEAKNESSES THAT MAY BE EXPLOITED. VARIOUS FORMATIONS AND MOTIONS ACCENTUATE THESE WEAKNESSES. WHEN A GLARING ADVANTAGE PRESENTS ITSELF, WE WILL FAKE THE FB DIVE AND RUN A COMPANION PLAY WHICH USUALLY RESULTS IN A MUCH BIGGER GAIN.

THE VEER
THE VEER IS A TRUE TRIPLE OPTION, AND YES, WE DO RUN IT, ESPECIALLY TO THE SHORT SIDE OF HE FORMATION AGAINST A SEVEN MAN FRONT. IT IS NOT AS GOOD A PLAY AGAINST THE EIGHT MAN GAP ALIGNMENT (EXCEPT ON THE GOAL LINE). AGAINST AN EIGHT MAN GAP ALIGNMENT YOU WOULD WIND UP WITH A LOT OF "LOADED" CALLS (LOADED MEANS THAT THE DIVE BACK'S PART OF THE OPTION IS OFF AND HE BECOMES A BLOCKER BECAUSE THE DEFENSE HAS OVER LOADED THE LOS). IF YOU FACE MANY SEVEN MAN FRONTS, THE VEER IS AN EXCELLENT ATTACK. A WORD ABOUT THE DEFENSIVE FRONT ANOTHER MAJOR REASON WE RUN THE FORMATION WE DO IS THAT IT FORCES THE DEFENSE TO ACCOUNT FOR MORE THAN THEY ARE ACCUSTOMED TO HANDLING. IN A NORMAL PRO OFFENSIVE SET THE DEFENSE MUST ACCOUNT FOR 8 SLOTS ON THE LOS THAT CAN EASILY BE ATTACKED.

AGAINST OUR BASE FORMATION THE DEFENSE IS FORCED TO ACCOUNT FOR 2 MORE SLOTS ON THE LOS WHICH USUALLY FORCES SOME MAJOR CHANGES IN THEIR ALIGNMENT.

OUR OFFENSE IS UNIQUE IN THAT A VEER RUN TO THE TANDEM'S SIDE IS AN INSIDE VEER, WHILE A PLAY RUN TO THE SHORT SIDE OF THE FORMATION BECOMES AN OUTSIDE VEER. THE STEPS FOR BOTH THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE VEER, THEREFORE, ARE THE SAME FOR THE BACKFIELD. YOU GET DOUBLE THE ATTACK WITH THE SAME AMOUNT OF PRACTICE TIME.

SINCE THE VEER IS A TRIPLE OPTION, THERE IS A "READ MAN" AND AN "OPTION MAN" IDENTIFIED ON THE DEFENSE. OUR BLOCKING ASSIGNMENT IS TO DOUBLE THE FIRST DOWN LINEMAN ON OR PAST THE CENTER ON THE LOS EVERY TIME VEER IS CALLED (EXCEPT WHEN THE DEFENSE ALIGNS IN A GAP DEFENSE IN WHICH CASE THE ASSIGNED BLOCKING WOULD BE ONE MAN DOWN). THE OOT IS TO BLOCK THE FIRST MAN TO HIS INSIDE ON OR OFF THE BALL. THE SE RELEASES OFF THE LOS TO BLOCK SECONDARY SUPPORT. THE WB FROM MOTION IS TO BLOCK THE FORCE MAN. THE READ MAN IS SO CALLED BECAUSE THE QB "READS" WHAT HE IS DOING. WE TELL OUR QB'S, "YOU ARE NEVER WRONG IF YOU GIVE THE BALL TO THE FB." WE FEEL THAT WITH A GOOD DOUBLE TEAM ON THE LOS AND THE OOT'S BLOCK ON THE LB'ER THAT OUR FB WILL GAIN YARDAGE ON THIS PLAY. THE ONLY TIME THAT THE FB DOES NOT GET THE BALL ON THIS PLAY IS WHEN THE READ MAN STEPS TOWARD THE MESH POINT BETWEEN THE QB AND THE FB. WHEN THE MESH POINT IS THREATENED BY THE READ MAN, THE QB PULLS THE BALL, USING A SOFT BALL TECHNIQUE, AND STEPS AROUND THE VIOLENT COLLISION CREATED BY THE FB BLASTING INTO THE READ MAN. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE FB TO MAKE CONTACT WITH AND STOP THE PENETRATION OF THE READ MAN INTO OUR OFFENSIVE BACKFIELD. IF THE QB DECIDES TO GIVE THE BALL TO THE FB, HE USES A "HARD BALL" TECHNIQUE. A HARD BALL TECHNIQUE IS EXECUTED WHEN THE QB HAS BOTH HANDS ON THE FOOTBALL, PLACES THE BALL IN THE POUCH OF THE DIVE BACK AND RIDE STEPS HIM TO THE LOS AS HE READS THE READ MAN. IF THE QB IS GOING TO HAND OFF TO THE DIVE BACK, HE SLIDES HIS INSIDE HAND OUT OF THE POUCH AND PRESSES THE BALL INTO THE STOMACH OF THE DIVE BACK THEREBY, SIGNALING THE DIVE BACK THAT THE BALL AND PLAY IS HIS. IF THE QB IS GOING TO PULL THE BALL, HE USES A SOFT BALL TECHNIQUE WHERE HE USES FLEXIBLE ELBOWS TO PULL THE BALL AWAY FROM THE POUCH OF THE FB.

WHEN KEEPING THE BALL, THE QB MUST STEP AROUND THE COLLISION CAUSED BY THE DIVE BACK AND THE READ MAN. THIS IS A CRITICAL PART OF THIS PLAY. ONCE AROUND, THE QB MUST PLANT HIS FOOT AND GET UP FIELD ATTACKING THE INSIDE SHOULDER OF THE OPTION MAN. MANY TIMES THERE WILL BE NO OPTION MAN BECAUSE HE HAS SUPPORTED ALREADY AND IS IN THE PITCH BACK'S FACE LEAVING THE RUNNING LANE WIDE OPEN FOR THE QB. TOO OFTEN YOUNG INEXPERIENCED QB'S MOVE TOO FAR LATERALLY TRYING TO GET AROUND THE COLLISION AND PURSUIT DEFEATS THE PLAY. THE QB MUST NOT GET BEYOND THE OPTION POINT (1 YARD OUTSIDE THE ALIGNMENT OF THE DE) WITHOUT EITHER PITCHING THE BALL OR GAINING POSITIVE YARDAGE THROUGH THE RUNNING LANE THAT OPENS. THE VEER PLAY TO THE SHORT SIDE OF THE FORMATION IS RUN WITH THE SAME STEPS AND PROCEDURE. BY ALIGNMENT, HOWEVER, THE READ MAN BECOMES THE DE AND THE OPTION MAN IS THE FORCE MAN FROM THE SECONDARY.

AS ON THE STRONG SIDE, THE QB READS THE READ MAN AT THE MESH POINT AND EITHER GIVES THE HARD BALL TO THE FB OR PULLS, STEPS AROUND THE COLLISION AND MOVES ON TO THE OPTION MAN ATTACKING HIS INSIDE SHOULDER. THERE IS A TENDENCY FOR THE QB TO GET TOO WIDE. THE FB NEEDS TO RUN THROUGH THE OUTSIDE LEG OF THE WG. RUNNING WITH THIS ANGLE FORCES THE READ MAN TO MAKE A DECISION. HE MUST EITHER STEP DOWN TO TACKLE THE FB OR DO SOMETHING ELSE. THE HARDEST READ FOR A QB IN THE OPTION GAME IS THE DE WHO DOES NOTHING OR "SLOW PLAYS" THE QB UNTIL PURSUIT COMES TO HIS AID. WHEN THE DIVE BACK RUNS THE PROPER PATH, THE QB'S READ IS EASIER BECAUSE A SLOW PLAY DE WILL BE BEATEN TO THE INSIDE BY THE DIVE BACK. AFTER MOVING PAST THE READ MAN, THE QB MOVES TO THE NEXT LEVEL WHERE THE OPTION MAN EITHER THREATENS THE QB AND HE PITCHES TO THE TB, OR THE OPTION MAN GOES FOR THE TB AND THE QB KEEPS THE BALL AND RUNS. BOTH THE OPTION AND THE VEER ARE EXCELLENT PLAYS IN OUR OFFENSE. THE DEFENSE REALLY BITES ON THE FB. SUCCESSFUL DIVE PLAYS PRIOR TO THE OPTION MEAN THE DEFENSE REALLY CONVERGES ON THE DIVE BACK. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON TO SEE THE WHOLE SIDE COLLAPSE ON THE DIVE BACK LEAVING THE QB NO ONE TO OPTION. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, IT IS THE QB'S JOB TO GAIN POSITIVE YARDAGE IMMEDIATELY. HE WILL EITHER SCORE OR BE THREATENED BY SOMEONE ROTATING

THROUGH THE SECONDARY. WHEN THREATENED, SQUAT AND PITCH THE BALL TO THE TB WHO WILL CONTINUE THE PLAY RUNNING ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE DEFENSE. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS CREATED WHEN THE QB TRIES TO RUN AROUND THE DEFENSE AND GETS TOO WIDE, RUNNING TO THE SIDE LINES, THE PLAY GETS STRUNG OUT AND POSITIVE YARDAGE STOPS. IT IS THE JOB OF THE TB, NOT THE QB, TO RUN THE BALL ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE DEFENSE.

The Tailback Counter

THE TB COUNTER IS OUR VERSION OF THE PLAY MADE FAMOUS BY THE WASHINGTON REDSKINS. IT IS A PERFECT COMPANION PLAY TO THE DIVE AND BLAST ONCE THEY ARE ESTABLISHED. A NUMBER OF SUCCESSFULLY RUN DIVE PLAYS AND THE OPPOSITION'S SCOUTING REPORT WILL GET THE DEFENSE TO STEP TO TACKLE THE FB ON THE DIVE. THE PLAY BEGINS WITH THE SAME BACKFIELD ACTION AS THE DIVE OR BLAST AND THE OPTION. THE QB TAKES THE SNAP, SEATS THE BALL AND PRESENTS THE BALL TO THE FB WHO STEPS TO THE LOS JUST AS ON THE BLAST OR DIVE. THE FB EXECUTES A GOOD FAKE INTO THE LOS BY ROLLING HIS INSIDE SHOULDER. THE FB IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FILLING THE AREA VACATED BY THE PULLING IOT.

THE QB, AFTER PRESENTING THE BALL TO THE FB, TAKES THE BALL DEEPER IN THE BACKFIELD AND HANDS OFF TO THE TB. THIS PLAY CAN BE RUN FROM EITHER THE REGULAR RIGHT FORMATION OR FROM THE POWER FORMATION. WE HAVE HAD MORE SUCCESS WITH TIMING AND EXECUTION RUNNING THE PLAY FROM THE POWER FORMATION ESPECIALLY WHEN WE RUN SO MANY SUCCESSFUL FB BLAST PLAYS. IN ADDITION, THE PLAY ACTION PASS SEEMS TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE FROM THE POWER FORMATION. AFTER THE HANDOFF THE QB DROPS AS IF FOR PASS.

FROM THE POWER FORMATION THE TB TAKES ONE STEP TO THE LOS AS ON THE BLAST PLAY. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE TB BE DELIBERATE WITH THIS STEP. ALONG WITH THE STEP IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE TB TO LOOK INTO THE EYES OF THE DEFENSE AT THE 4 HOLE. AFTER THE FIRST STEP AND LOOK, THE TB GETS INTO A POSITION THAT IS PARALLEL TO THE LOS FOR THE HANDOFF. FROM THE RIGHT FORMATION, THE TB TAKES HIS FIRST TWO STEPS (CROSSOVER AND PLANT) JUST AS HE WOULD FOR THE DIVE OR DIVE OPTION PLAY. HE THEN GETS INTO POSITION FOR THE HANDOFF. TO RUN THIS PLAY FROM THE RIGHT FORMATION WHERE THE TB IS A FULL 7 YARDS DEEP REQUIRES THAT THE TB HAVE CONSIDERABLY BETTER THAN AVERAGE SPEED. THE POA FOR THE TB IS THE OUTSIDE LEG OF THE WG. THE SG (PULLING GUARD) IS RESPONSIBLE FOR BLOCKING THE END MAN ON THE LOS USUALLY THE DE. SINCE THE DE IS NOT BLOCKED INITIALLY, HE HAS A TENDENCY TO CHARGE ACROSS THE LOS AND GET DEPTH IN OUR BACKFIELD. THE GUARD MUST, THEREFORE, AS HE PASSES THE CENTER WORK TO GET SOME DEPTH WITH HIS PULL TO BE IN POSITION TO BLOCK THE DE. THE BLOCK OF THE SG MUST BE EXECUTED IN SUCH A FASHION AS TO KEEP THE DE TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE FORMATION. OFTEN THE SG ENDS UP PUSHING THE DE A LITTLE WIDER BUT MUCH DEEPER INTO THE BACKFIELD DUE TO THE MOMENTUM OF THE DE'S CHARGE. THIS IS PERFECTLY ALL RIGHT BECAUSE THE TB IS RUNNING A PATH THAT WILL TAKE HIM INSIDE THE DE'S PATH. THE PULLING GUARD IS FOLLOWED BY THE PULLING IOT. IT IS HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO LEAD THE TB THROUGH THE HOLE. IF EVERYONE HAS DONE THEIR JOB, THE IOT WILL BLOCK THE CB ON THE SHORT SIDE OF THE DEFENSIVE FORMATION. IF A DEFENDER GETS IN THE PATH OF THE IOT BEFORE HE CAN GET TO THE CB, THAT DEFENDER MUST BE BLOCKED. EVERYONE ELSE BLOCKS AS INDICATED. THEY USE THE SAME ANGLE, CUT-OFF BLOCK AS IN OTHER PLAYS OF THE OFFENSE. THEIR JOB WILL BE MADE EASIER BECAUSE THE DEFENSE WILL COLLAPSE ON THE FB FAKE. THE WB FROM MOTION BLOCKS THE BACKSIDE DE. IF THE DE DOES NOT CHARGE HARD ACROSS THE LOS, THE WB SHOULD CONTINUE UP FIELD AND POSITION HIMSELF TO BLOCK THE BACKSIDE DEFENSIVE PURSUIT. THE SE RUNS THE FS OFF AND "STALK BLOCKS" HIM KEEPING HIMSELF BETWEEN THE FS AND THE BALL CARRIER. THIS PLAY IS A GREAT ONE TO CALL AT MID FIELD IN A SECOND AND MEDIUM OR SHORT SITUATION. A LARGE GAIN OR BREAKAWAY IS OFTEN THE RESULT.

The Quarterback Lead Option

FROM THE POWER RIGHT FORMATION THIS PLAY IS A GREAT SHORT YARDAGE/GOAL LINE PLAY FOR A QB THAT HAS AVERAGE OR BETTER RUNNING ABILITIES. THE PLAY BEGINS LIKE THE VEER. AFTER THE MESH WITH THE QB, THE FB TAKES A WIDER PATH THAN HE WOULD TAKE FOR THE VEER. THE FB IS RESPONSIBLE FOR BLOCKING THE FORCE MAN ON THIS PLAY. UNLESS THE DE HAS SOME KIND OF GAME ON, WHICH THEY NORMALLY DO NOT HAVE IN A THREE-DEEP SITUATION, THE CB WILL TAKE HIS THREE READ STEPS BACK AND TO THE OUTSIDE WHEN THE BALL IS SNAPPED. HE MUST THEN

READ THE PLAY AND REACT. THIS RESULTS IN A RELATIVELY SOFT CORNER FORCE. THE IDEA IS FOR THE FB TO RUN THROUGH THE CB WITH ENOUGH FORCE THAT THE QB AND THE TB WILL PASS THIS COLLISION AND EXECUTE A PITCH DOWN FIELD, OR THE QB WILL SCORE (A BIG GAIN OR A TD!) IF THERE IS NO ONE THERE FOR THE FB TO BLOCK (WHICH SOMETIMES HAPPENS), HE IS TO BEND HIS COURSE TO THE INSIDE LOOKING TO BLOCK THE FS COMING FROM DEEP MIDDLE TO MAKE A PLAY. AFTER MESHING WITH THE FB, THE QB POSITIONS HIMSELF ON THE OUTSIDE HIP OF THE FB STAYING TWO YARDS BEHIND. FROM THIS POSITION THE QB CAN READ THE BLOCK OF THE FB AND BEND TO THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE OF HIS BLOCK ON THE CB. THE QB'S JOB IS TO MOVE PAST THE BLOCK OF THE FB AND EXECUTE A PITCH DOWN FIELD WHEN THE DEFENSE THREATENS TO TACKLE HIM. OR THE QB CAN HIT THE SEAM OF THE DEFENSE AND RUN TO DAYLIGHT. THE TB IS TO MAINTAIN A GOOD PITCH RELATIONSHIP WITH THE QB DURING THE ENTIRE PLAY. THE PITCH CAN COME AT ANYTIME DURING THE PLAY'S DEVELOPMENT. AS IN THE OPTION OR THE VEER, THE ROLE OF THE TB IS TO CARRY THE BALL ON THE OUTSIDE WITH A BURST OF SPEED WHEN HE RECEIVES THE PITCH.

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE PLAY WHEN EXECUTED PROPERLY. IT QUICKLY PLACES THREE OFFENSIVE PLAYERS ON THE PERIMETER OF THE DEFENSE AGAINST JUST ONE DEFENDER. LIKE THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AND NOTRE DAME, WE LIKE TO CALL THIS PLAY IN A GOAL LINE OR SHORT YARDAGE SITUATION WHICH OFTEN RESULTS IN THE QB HITTING THE SEAM BETWEEN THE CB AND THE FS FOR A SCORE.

The Tailback Sweep Strong

Sweep 48 Ram

THE TAILBACK SWEEP IS A MOST EFFECTIVE PLAY WHEN THE DEFENSE CROWDS THE LOS TRYING TO STOP THE FB, ESPECIALLY WHEN PLAYING THE DE TO THE SE SIDE OF THE FORMATION INSIDE. WHEN THE DE MOVES INSIDE, THE SE HAS AN EXCELLENT ANGLE TO SEAL HIM TO THE INSIDE. IT IS A VERY GOOD PLAY TO SNAP THE BALL ON THE "FIRST SOUND" AND RUN QUICKLY WHILE THE DEFENSE IS LINING UP. THE KEYS TO THE PLAY ARE: 1. THE BLOCK OF THE SE ON THE DE. THE SE MUST HIT AND DRIVE THE DE TO THE INSIDE. THIS DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A SPECTACULAR BLOCK (HOWEVER, OFTEN IT IS). BECAUSE THE TB IS PLAYING AT A DEPTH OF 7 YARDS AND SHOULD HAVE SOME SPEED, THE SE JUST HAS TO MAKE CONTACT AND PUSH THE DE TO THE INSIDE. 2. THE FB MUST SPRINT TO BLOCK THE MAN IN THE FORCE AREA. THE FASTEST WAY TO GET TO THE CORNER IS WITH A CROSSOVER FIRST STEP. PLANT ON THE SECOND STEP AND SPRINT TO THE FORCE MAN. THE RULES FOR BLOCKING THE "FORCE MAN" ARE: A. IF THE FORCE MAN IS ON THE LOS OR IN OUR BACKFIELD, BLOCK THE FORCE MAN OUT. DRIVE HIM TO THE SIDELINE. ON A PLAY GOING TO THE RIGHT, THIS WOULD MEAN THAT THE FB WOULD USE A RIGHT SHOULDER BLOCK. B. IF THE FORCE MAN IS PLAYING SOFT AND NOT COMING UP STRONG, THE FB WILL TURN UP FIELD AND USE A "RUNNING SHOULDER BLOCK" ON THE FORCE MAN. ON A PLAY GOING RIGHT THIS WOULD MEAN THE FB WOULD PLACE HIS LEFT SHOULDER ON THE OUTSIDE NUMBER OF THE FORCE MAN, GET HIS HIPS AROUND, AND SEAL THE FORCE MAN TO THE INSIDE. 3. THE TB'S FIRST STEP IS A CROSSOVER STEP. THIS STEP SHOULD NOT BE A BIG ONE. THE SECOND STEP SHOULD BE DIRECTLY TO THE SIDELINE. EYES SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON THE QB AT ALL TIMES LOOKING THE FOOTBALL INTO THE FINGERTIPS. AFTER RECEIVING THE BALL, FOCUS ON THE BLOCK OF THE FB. READ THE BLOCK OF THE FB AND ACCELERATE OFF HIS BLOCK. THE BEGINNING OF YOUR PATH SHOULD BE RUN AT ABOUT 75% SPEED. ONCE YOU DETERMINE THE BLOCK OF THE FB, ACCELERATE TO FULL

CONTROLLED SPEED OFF HIS BLOCK. YOU AR TO RUN THE BALL ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE DEFENSE. CUTBACKS ARE NOT IN ORDER ON THIS PLAY (UNLESS YOU ARE 15-20 YARDS DOWNFIELD). THE MAN YOU HAVE TO BEAT IS THE SS (FORCE MAN). THE REMAINDER OF THE DEFENDERS ARE BEING SEALED OFF. ONCE YOU ARE BY THE BLOCK OF THE FB ON THE FORCE, GET TO THE OUTSIDE AND SPRINT FOR POSITIVE YARDAGE. YOUR GENERAL RULE OF THUMB HERE IS AS SOON AS YOU CAN GAIN 4+ YARDS, CUT UP FIELD AND GET THAT 4+ YARD GAIN. 4. THE QB REVERSE PIVOTS AND PITCHES THE BALL TO THE TB. IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET THE BALL OUT IN FRONT OF THE TB SO HE CATCHES IT IN STRIDE. AFTER THE PITCH, CONTINUE TO RUN WITH THE PULLING GUARDS AND BLOCK THE FIRST ODD COLOR JERSEY SEEN. GET IN SOMEONE'S WAY AND DISRUPT THEIR PURSUIT TO THE TB. 5. THE GUARDS ARE TO PULL AROUND THE SEAL BLOCK OF THE SE, GET UP FIELD AND BLOCK. AGAINST A COVER 2 SECONDARY, THE LEAD GUARD WOULD FOCUS ON THE DEEP DEFENDER. USE A RUNNING SHOULDER BLOCK TO SEAL HIM TO THE INSIDE. EVERYONE ELSE SHOULD EXECUTE A CUT-OFF BLOCK ON THEIR ASSIGNED DEFENDER. THEY SHOULD THEN GET CROSS FIELD TO BLOCK OTHER DEFENDERS.

The Tailback Sweep Weak

ONE OF THE BEAUTIES OF THE UNBALANCED SET IS THAT IT GIVES YOU A SHORT CORNER TO RUN TO. THIS PLAY IS RUN ENOUGH TIMES DURING THE GAME SO THAT THE DEFENSE DOES NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXTREMELY OVERLOAD ON THE STRONG SIDE. IT IS A VERY QUICK DEVELOPING PLAY AND DIFFICULT FOR THE DEFENSE TO ADJUST TO ADEQUATELY. THE FB PICKS UP IN SHORT MOTION (LIP) AND THE BALL IS SNAPPED WHEN HE IS CLEARING THE WG. IT IS THE JOB OF THE FB TO BLOCK THE FORCE MAN. IDEALLY WE WOULD LIKE THE FORCE MAN TO BE BLOCK TO THE INSIDE. THIS IS NOT AS HARD AS IT MAY SEEM GIVEN THE FACT THAT MOST SECONDARY PEOPLE TAKE THOSE THREE READ STEPS AWAY FROM THE LOS WHEN THE BALL IS SNAPPED. THE FB RUNS A PATH THAT WILL ALLOW HIM TO PUT HIS INSIDE SHOULDER ON THE OUTSIDE NUMBER OF THE DEFENDER. ONCE CONTACT IS MADE, HE SHOULD SWING HIS HIPS AROUND AND KEEP THE CB SCREENED OFF THE PLAY. IF THE CB ATTACKS THE LOS STRONGLY, THE JOB OF THE FB IS TO BLOCK THE CB TO THE OUTSIDE AND KEEP HIM SCREENED OUT. THE TB WOULD THEN READ THE FB'S BLOCK, CUT UP UNDERNEATH AND THEN BREAK AGAIN TO THE OUTSIDE ONCE HE HAS PAST THE BLOCK. OUR GENERAL RULE OF THUMB IS THAT IF THE FORCE MAN IS ON, NEAR, OR BEYOND THE LOS, WE WILL BLOCK HIM OUT; IF THE FORCE MAN IS OFF THE LOS, WE WILL ROLL HIM UP TO THE INSIDE AND RUN ON THE OUTSIDE. THE QB TAKES THE SNAP, REVERSE PIVOTS, AND EXECUTES A TWO HANDED TOSS PITCH TO THE TB. HE THEN CONTINUES BEYOND THE BLOCK OF THE WB TO SCREEN DEFENSIVE FLOW FROM THE INSIDE. THERE ARE THOSE THAT WOULD QUESTION THE WISDOM OF LEAD BLOCKING BY THE QB. IT HAS BEEN OUR EXPERIENCE THAT THE QB IS VERY EFFECTIVE IN LEADING AROUND THE CORNER ON THE SWEEP. THE BLOCK OF THE QB DOES NOT HAVE TO BE DEVASTATING. HE MERELY NEEDS TO POSITION HIMSELF

BETWEEN THE DEFENDER AND THE BALL CARRIER AND KEEP THEM SCREENED TO THE BACKSIDE OF THE PLAY.

WE USED TO BLOCK DOWN AND PULL GUARDS ON THE SWEEP MUCH LIKE THE PACKERS. WE WERE VERY EFFECTIVE DOING THIS AND GAINED MANY YARDS. OVER THE YEARS, HOWEVER, WE HAVE FOUND THAT IT TAKES A GREAT DEAL OF PRACTICE TIME TO GET EVERYONE IN POSITION IN FRONT OF THE BALL CARRIER PARTICULARLY THE PULLING GUARDS. THEY HAVE A TENDENCY TO DRIFT TOO WIDE AND STRING OUT THE PLAY. THIS PLAYS RIGHT INTO THE HANDS OF THE DEFENSE SLOWING THE PLAY DOWN. COMPACTING THE DEFENSE WITH THE BASE FORMATION, SEALING THEM OFF TO THE INSIDE, AND QUICKLY ATTACKING THE CORNER WITH JUST THE BACKS IS MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE AND TAKES DRAMATICALLY LESS PRACTICE TIME AND ORGANIZATION.

The Wingback Counter

THIS IS A DEVASTATING PLAY. AS IF THE DEFENSE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TO THINK ABOUT, FORMATION, MOTION, OPTION, DIVE, TB COUNTER) NOW WE HAVE THE COUNTER BY THE WB. THE PLAY COMES OFF SHORT SIDE SWEEP ACTION. THE FB GOES IN SHORT MOTION AND CUTS IN FRONT OF THE WB TO SEAL OFF THAT AREA ON THE LOS. THE QB REVERSE PIVOTS AND HANDS THE BALL OFF ON AN INSIDE HANDOFF TO THE WB COMING UNDERNEATH. THE TB EXECUTES A SWEEP MOVEMENT TO THE SHORT SIDE AND RUNS A PATH TO SCREEN THE CB TO THE OUTSIDE. THE WG PULLS TO BLOCK THE FIRST MAN ON THE LOS AT OR BEYOND THE HOLE CALLED. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT HE TAKE AN INSIDE OUT CHARGE TO BE IN POSITION TO BOCK THE TRAP MAN WHEREVER HE MAY BE. SOMETIMES THE TRAP MAN DISAPPEARS AND THERE IS NO ONE TO BLOCK. WE HAVE HAD GUARDS LITERALLY STOP DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HOLE ONLY TO HAVE THE BALL CARRIER SLAM INTO HIS BACK. IF THERE IS NO ONE TO TRAP BLOCK, TURN UP FIELD AND BLOCK THE NEXT ODD COLOR JERSEY YOU SEE.

THE WB TAKES THE HAND OFF AND WHEN HE PASSES THE CENTER MOVES UP FIELD INTO THE HOLE. THERE IS A RUNNING LANE THAT OPENS BETWEEN THE HB AND THE FS. RUNNING TOO FAR ONE WAY OR THE OTHER MEANS RUNNING DIRECTLY INTO A TACKLER. SPLIT THE SECONDARY AND RACE THEM TO THE GOAL LINE. THIS PLAY IS RUN THREE OR FOUR TIMES A BALL GAME ALMOST ALWAYS FOR A GOOD GAIN. PART OF THE PLAY'S SUCCESS IS THAT OUR WB'S ARE USUALLY THE SMALLEST RUNNING BACKS WE HAVE OFTEN IN THE 5'5" TO 5'7" RANGE. THE PLAY HITS SO QUICKLY, THE HAND OFF TAKES PLACE CLOSE TO THE LOS, DIRECTLY BEHIND LARGER OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE LINEMEN THAT THE DEFENSE, ESPECIALLY THE LB'ERS, CANNOT LOCATE THE BALL CARRIER UNTIL THEY ARE IN A RUN DOWN SITUATION. THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE PLAYS TO RUN AROUND MID-FIELD IN A SECOND AND SHORT SITUATION. THE DEFENSE IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A DIFFERENT PLAY. THEY ACTUALLY FORGET ABOUT THE WB COUNTER EVEN THOUGH THE SCOUTING REPORT INDICATES HOW BIG A PLAY IT CAN BE. THERE IS JUST TOO MUCH FOR THE DEFENSE TO CONCENTRATE ON DURING THE COURSE OF THE GAME TO RETAIN FOCUS. MID-WAY THROUGH THE SECOND QUARTER IN THE MIDST OF A BIG DRIVE, THEY JUST FORGET THE WB AS A BALL CARRIER.

The Split End Reverse

WE CALL THIS PLAY "89 REVERSE - GUT." OUR ENDS HAVE NUMBERS IN THE OFFENSE. THE SE IS #8 AND THE TE IS #9. THIS PLAY IS OUR VERSION OF THE SE AROUND OR HE OLD STATUE OF LIBERTY PLAY. IT CAN BE A GAME BREAKER. THIS PLAY CAN WIN BALL GAMES. IT IS A PLAY THAT IS NOT CALLED VERY OFTEN, PERHAPS ONLY ONCE OR TWICE EVERY THREE OR FOUR BALL GAMES, BUT WHEN THINGS ARE PROPERLY SET UP, IT IS A BREAK AWAY.

THE PLAY BEGINS JUST LIKE THE ACTION FOR THE DIVE. AFTER THE DIVE FAKE TO THE FB, HOWEVER THE QB HANDS OFF TO THE SE COMING AROUND ON A REVERSE. IT IS THE JOB OF THE FB TO BLOCK THE AREA VACATED BY THE PULLING GUARD AND TACKLE. IT IS THE FB'S JOB TO LOCATE THE DOWN MAN ON THE LOS AND STOP HIS PENETRATION. THE SG AND THE IOT PULL AS THEY DO ON THE TB COUNTER. IT IS ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE THAT THE SG MAKE STRONG CONTACT WITH THE DE. THE IOT TRAVELS PAST (USUALLY INSIDE THE BLOCK OF THE SG) AND LOCATES THE OUTSIDE DEFENDER ON THE WEAK SIDE OF THE FORMATION AND BLOCKS HIM. THE TB ALONG WITH THE BLOCK OF THE QB IN MOTION SEALS THE BACKSIDE WITH A FAKE (BY THE TB RUNNING THE PITCH ROUTE) AND A BLOCK BY THE WB.

THE SE MUST RUN A PATH THAT TAKES HIM BACK TO A DEPTH OF 5 YARDS FOR THE HANDOFF AT WHICH POINT HE MAY HAVE TO GET EVEN GREATER DEPTH (PERHAPS AS MUCH TO 7 - 9 YARDS) TO GET AROUND THE BLOCK OF THE SG ON THE DE. AFTER CLEARING THE BLOCK OF THE SG, THE SE IS TO TURN ON THE SPEED TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE DEFENSE AND RACE TO THE GOAL LINE.

The Flip
THIS PLAY IS OUR VERSION OF THE OLD IOWA WING T QUICK PITCH PLAY. WE CALL IT FLIP, HOWEVER, BECAUSE FLIP IS EASIER TO CALL IN THE HUDDLE. WE STRIVE TO KEEP OUR HUDDLE CALLS SIMPLE, MEANINGFUL, AND ONLY ONE SYLLABLE IN LENGTH MAKING IT EASIER FOR THE QB AND THE MESSENGER SERVICE FROM THE SIDELINE. THIS PLAY CAN BE CALLED FROM THE POWER FORMATION OR FROM THE REGULAR FORMATION. FROM THE POWER FORMATION THE TB CARRIES THE BALL AND FROM THE REGULAR RIGHT OR LEFT FORMATION THE FB CARRIES THE BALL. THE PLAY IS

DESIGNED TO GET THE BALL CARRIER WIDE AS FAST AS POSSIBLE WITH BLOCKERS IN FRONT. FOR THE FLIP, WE WILL PULL BOTH THE OOT AND THE IOT. DEPENDING UPON THE TYPE OF MOTION THAT IS CALLED WE CAN HAVE UP TO THREE BLOCKERS LEADING THE BALL CARRIER AROUND THE CORNER. WHEN THE DEFENSE IS LINED UP CROWING THE LOS EXPECTING THE FB BLAST ON SHORT YARDAGE, CALLING THE FLIP CAN CATCH THEM ENTIRELY OFF GUARD AND MAY RESULT IN A BIG PLAY. OBVIOUSLY IN THAT SITUATION WE WANT TO "MAKE THE FIRST DOWN." THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE RUNNER ARE "THE MINUTE YOU CAN MAKE A FOUR YARD GAIN (OR ENOUGH YARDAGE FOR A FIRST DOWN) YOU ARE TO CUT UP AND THROUGH THE LOS. THE PLAY IS DESIGNED NOT TO RUN ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE DEFENSE BUT TO CUT UNDERNEATH THE BLOCK OF THE OOT ON THE SS. ONCE YOU GET BY THE BLOCK, YOU CAN THEN BREAK IT TO THE OUTSIDE FOR YARDS.

THE OOT PULLS AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR BLOCKING THE SS OUT, SIMILAR TO A TRAP BLOCK. THE IOT ALSO PULLS AND LEADS THE BALL CARRIER UP THE SEAM BETWEEN THE BLOCK OF THE SE AND THE OOT. ON THIS PLAY THE BALL CARRIER (EITHER THE FB OR THE TB) ALIGNS A FULL 5 YARDS DEEP BUT CHEATS TO THE OUTSIDE AND ALIGNS BEHIND THE OOT. ON THE SNAP IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE BALL CARRIER TO BELLY BACK TO A DEPTH OF 6 - 7 YARDS AND GET WIDE. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE QB TO GET YOU THE BALL. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO GET WIDTH AND DEPTH. THE WIDER AND DEEPER YOU GET AT THE SNAP, THE MORE POTENTIAL TACKLERS YOU WILL LEAVE BEHIND ON THE LOS. RUN PARALLEL TO THE LOS IN THE HIP POCKET OF THE OOT TO SET HIS BLOCK. CUT OFF THE BLOCK OF THE OOT, CROSS THE LOS AND PAST THE BLOCK OF THE OOT, GET TO THE OUTSIDE AND GAIN YARDS. THE QB ON THIS PLAY IF RIGHT HANDED ALWAYS OPENS TO THE LEFT. BY ALWAYS OPENING TO THE LEFT, HIS STRONG HAND WILL ALWAYS BE UNDER THE BALL BOTH FOR FLIPS TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT. (IF THE QB IS LEFT HANDED, HE SHOULD ALWAYS OPEN TO THE RIGHT ON THIS PLAY.) IT IS IMPORTANT TO USE BOTH HANDS WHEN FLIPPING THE BALL. THE STRONG HAND ACTUALLY IMPARTS MOST OF THE POWER TO THE FLIP WHILE THE OFF HAND ACTS AS A GUIDE. THE ACTION USED IS THE SAME ACTION THAT MOST OFFICIALS USE WHEN FLIPPING THE BALL AROUND THE FIELD TO POSITION FOR THE NEXT PLAY - THE UNDERHAND THROW.

THE SG AND THE CENTER ON THIS PLAY SHOULD "REACH" BLOCK TO THE PLAY (IF THEY ARE UNCOVERED OR IF THERE IS A DEFENDER IN THEIR OUTSIDE GAP). THEIR BLOCK DO NOT HAVE TO BE DEVASTATING; THEY JUST HAVE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE DEFENDERS TO KNOCK THEM INTO A POOR PURSUIT ANGLE TO THE SIDE LINE. THE BACK NOT GETTING THE BALL SHOULD EXECUTE A CROSSOVER PLANT STEP SEQUENCE AND DRIVE STRAIGHT UP INTO THE LOS AT THE 2 OR 3 HOLE TO TRY AND HOLD THE LB'ERS FOR AT LEAST A ONE COUNT.