Understanding the Opening Script

Many offensive coaches use an opening script to begin a game. What goes into that script? I had some ideas based on my experiences vs. opposing offenses, from film study of a variety of schemes, and from picking the brains of offensive coaches I've had the good fortune of working with in the past. I also reached out to a few offensive coaches to ask them for insight. Finally I crowdsourced info by asking coaches through twitter. The responses and willingness to share was amazing and a testament to the awesome "Football Twitter" community. The sheer number of responses was a bit overwhelming. To all those who contributed, Thank You!

After looking at the philosophy of offensive coaches as well as what they are scripting I broke the responses down into 5 categories: Identity, Diagnostic, Designer, Catalyst, and Cumulative Effect.

Identity - Plays that get scripted that are all about who the offense is at its core.

Top Plays - Call what the OC feels are the best run schemes and best pass concepts in the offense's arsenal. These calls are all about being who the offense feels they are as an offense and don't overly depend on the opponent's scheme.

Sure Things – Runs the OC feels can block any D look. This isn't necessarily the scheme the offense feels is their top production play or most explosive scheme. This extends to passes with protection that accounts the most possible looks. This might include max protection, play action, movement passes like boot/naked/sprint. Plays in this category are all about consistency and reliability. 

Get ball into the hands of the best player. What play calls guarantee the top player on offense is involved early?

Get multiple guys touches. A recurring theme was OC's wanting to get as many guys involved and engaged in the opening script as possible. This wasn't always just about getting the ball to the best player but getting everyone in on the action.

Get the QB in a rhythm. What plays allow for the QB to make easy throws? What plays have the easiest reads? This includes not only passes but also option schemes. How can the offense script to create consistent success for the QB early?

Diagnostic - Plays that are scripted to diagnose some piece of info about the defense.

Alignment to formations – Does the defense align in the front and show coverage that match what was is to be expected from scouting report breakdown data?

Motion/trade/shift adjustments – How are they adjusting? Is there confusion or misalignments? Can offense move one player and get multiple defenders to move? Are adjustments being made by running defenders with motion, spinning/rolling coverage, bumping LB's, sliding DL? This can inform follow up play calls. 

Personnel – Is the defense using the personnel expected from scouting report info. Are players aligning where they were expected? Are matchups as expected?

How does the defense respond to something outside of normal? A new formation, formation into the sideline (FSL), unbalanced, empty, compressed formation, etc are all possible in a script to diagnose what the defense will do. This info can inform subsequent play calls or can be one offs.

Correction – Is there a formation, motion, or play the defense struggled with in previous games? Have they made corrections? Have they fixed what went wrong previously? Football is a copycat sport. This script element is all about forcing defenses to prove they have corrected their previous errors. 

Who made the play? – Typically this is about running a base/foundational play and looking at what occurred. Who made the tackle or made the play difficult? This informs follow up plays that compliment the foundational play. This could be series based play calling like many wing-t and option schemes utilize. This could also be just an if/then type of game plan. If the backside DE is chasing hard, then call the complimenting naked concept. 

Designer- Play specifically designed for the defense.             

OC are looking to script potential big plays or plays that create stress. This may be a shot pass play. This could be a trick play like a double pass, reverse, flea flicker, etc. This could be a scheme design from game plan meeting looking a the defense's previous plan. There is no perfect play call for the defense. Offenses know what stresses each defensive concept. It could be a personnel, motion, formation, or play concept but the OC is looking to craft those elements into stress plays in the script. Some designer concepts however are fragile. They may not be great outside of the specific/desired defensive look. Many designer looks in the script also carry a can/alert/kill concept. Two plays are called in the huddle. If the defense is in the desired look the designer play is on as planned. If the look is sub-optimal, the QB cans the play to a base call that holds up against more defensive looks. Some OC's prefer to do this with a check the sideline mechanic vs. asking the QB to can the play at the LOS.

Catalyst - Plays designed to provoke a response from the defense.

Catalyst concepts take many forms. Some may be simple like getting in a 3x1 and taking a shot to the X in isolation. The catalyst is all about looking to force the D to respond by playing some type of weak 2 over 1 coverage concept. The O certainly would like to complete the pass but the bigger goal was to create opportunities to the 3 receiver side or in the run game. Catalysts can be schemed in the run game also. The O may feel the best path to success running the ball is to get the DE aligned in a specific location on the TE. Scripted early calls like pin & pull may not be the O's most desired scheme. It is being scripted to encourage the defense to widen the DE's alignment, which sets up the opportunity to run other schemes on future plays. Not all catalyst plays provoke the same type of responses. Some OC's are scripting looks that are meant to confirm to the defense what the offense looks like. These are scripted calls that mirror the expected looks from the scouting report. The personnel, formation, play, etc was what the D expected based on film study. The goal here is to provoke the defense to be locked into their plan. If the D feels confident the O matches the scouting report, they are going to do what they planned to do on defense. Once the offense is locked into what the D's plan looks like it sets up the plan of attack. Most OC's don't like defensive variance so the catalyst may be to get the defense locked in a specific plan. Catalyst plays may take the form of setup plays. A distinct motion or formation leads the defense to talk it over on the sideline. When that look comes up again defenders make the ID and believe they know what is coming off that look. This may be where the setup leads to the payoff. The offense wanted the D to feel like they know what is coming and really cared much more about the payoff play vs. the setup play. Catalyst plays may be about manipulating defensive personnel usage. An offense that uses 11 but begins flexing to create 10 personnel formations vs. more traditional TE in the core 11 looks to get the D into sub-personnel. Once the D is subbing to Nickel or Dime, the O can attack those sub-personnels by putting the TE back into the core and running their base 11p package. The O may go 22 personnel to get the D in base personnel but create an empty formation and isolate a TE vs. a LB. Catalyst plays can take many forms but they want to force the defense into an action favorable to the offense. 

Cumulative effect - Plays that aren't about a single play but affecting the defense through repetition. 

Perimeter run/screen – The goal is to force the DL to run sideline to sideline. Tiring out DL early in the game can affect pass rush, run fits, block shed, pursuit and overall effort.

Establish tempo of the offense. Many OC's mentioned wanting to set or change the tempo in the script. This concept is also tied to creating fatigue on the defense early in the game. This may also get the D into more basic schemes. 

Attack the best player – If the defense has a great player the offense may look to make that player's life difficult. A defense with a dominate 3tech DT for example. The offense may script early concepts that double him, trap him, wham him, read him, and screen him. That player is now getting hit from all angles. The goal is to create frustration and prevent that player from getting going. A slow start for that player may keep him from getting going at all. 

Attack the worst player - Isolation of a weak link on defense with the goal that enough attacks on the weakest player will lead to big plays. It might not happen immediately but attacking as many times as possible is the best path to exposing the weak link as the weak link.

Being as multiple as possible. By showing various personnels, formations, trades, shifts, motions, and schemes plus varying tempo and snap count the defense has a lot to address and process. The goal is to slow down pressure looks including base pass rush and force the defense into basic concepts. Cumulative effect occurs from the the variety making the D be ready for anything/everything.

After doing this research, I have a different viewpoint of evaluating an offense's early play calling. It is always interesting to look at how offensive coaches think and plan. Hopefully there is something in this info that can help you and your defense or offense better understand the opening script. If there is something you think was missed be sure to reach out, I'd love to continue to build my understanding of the scripting process. 

2 Point Play

Here is a really nice 2 point play from the Bears back in 2017. The play is combination of some classic football plays. There is an element of the hand to hand counter found in wing offenses, a speed option concept, as well as blocking of gap scheme staple power. The play shares some concept with power read as well.

The OL is blocking power to the open edge. The EMLOS (Will) is the read on the option. The play begins as a lateral flow handoff to the RB. The RB gives the U an underneath handoff following the pulling guard. Following the handoff the QB gets into pitch relationship with the U. The U is reading the EMLOS. If the read key runs up the field to take the QB as the pitch the U will follow the puller into the endzone. If the read key plays to the U, the ball is pitched to the QB.

Really nice design and execution on a 2 point play from the Bears. Good stuff from former offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains.

Shotgun Wing-T Jet Motion Slip Screen

Lenoir-Rhyne is in 31 personnel shotgun wing-t. The formation begins as a guard over unbalanced. Following the shift the formation is a standard 2x2 wing-t formation.

The screen is built off of the jet motion and fake. The OT's both set with the C-G-C as the three OL using a set-club-go to build the wall as the releasing OL on the screen. The TE seals the ILB helping occupy the Corner. The OL get out to set the wall outside the TE's seal. The slip happens behind the LOS getting lost with the backfield jet fake.

The slip screen is difficult to see defensively and allows the offense to quickly outnumber the defense opposite the motion. The typical challenge with wing-t is the offense gaining number advantage to the side of motion not opposite the motion.

Nice design from Bob Bodine, excited to see what the offense will look like at Mercer. 

Attacking Odd Front Cover 1 with Long Trap

The Bills are in 11 personnel on 1st & 10 against an odd front 3-4 spaced Nickel personnel.

The Patriots have a DB body in the box with an ILB hybridized on the LOS as an OLB. The play starts with motion. By running the outside receiver across the formation the Bills confirm a pre-snap Cover 1 look. 

New England is in a odd front 5 man double edge pressure concept. The down Safety and Mike LB are sharing the Y off and RB in man coverage.

The Bills are running a long trap.

The playside WR is able to run off the man coverage DB. The PST/TE work a combo on the DE working to the backside ILB who in this case is a down Safety. The PSG/Center stick a double team on the Nose. The BSG is the trap puller on the edge rushing 9 technique. The BSG is working a B gap check.

The combo by the PST and TE is impressive. On first look it is easy to say the Mike is wrong. On the play he is unblocked and the ball hits downhill at his initial alignment. That is the impressive part of the nuance of the play design from Buffalo. 

The man coverage technique by the box players is the key factor.

When the Y blocks his side the two box players work in tandem. The Mike pulls over the top to fit the extra gap created by the Y's block, the Mike also has the Y in any route in man coverage. The Safety pulls to fit the A gap the Nose isn't fitting and has the RB in man. 

When the Y blocks across the formation the Safety pulls over the top to fit the extra gap and has the Y in man coverage.The Mike fills the A gap the Nose isn't playing and accounts for the RB in man coverage.

The brilliance of the trap design is it puts the fit rules into conflict. The Mike pulls over the top of the Y's playside block to fit the extra gap it creates. The block of the TE influences the Mike out of the play. The PSG/Center double team sticks to create maximum movement on the Nose. The PST/TE combo opens the running lane and cuts the DE off from making the play. When the down Safety pulls across to fit the A gap he gets a face full of the PST coming off the combo. The RB path is tight to the midline keeping him as far from possible from the Mike and playside DE preventing either defender from falling back in to make the tackle. The Patriots play Cover 1 frequently, understanding both the likely defense and the run fit rules helped Buffalo create an explosive run off of the trap scheme. 

Nice design from Brian Daboll.

Spread Run to Attack a 7 Man Box

The Patriots are in an 11 personnel Y flex formation on 1st and 10 against the Chiefs in a even front Cover 1 from Dime personnel.

The motion brings the 7th defender into the box going from a 4 out formation to a Y in the core alignment. 

New England is running a split zone run scheme. The RB's path is aiming to the backside inside leg of the Center and he is reading the Mike Backer.

A 1 high concept has two basic choices to fit this play.

The first run fit is to use the 3 box defenders (Dime, Mike, Nickel)  as a 3 man funnel. It is a 3 vs. 2 concept on the Y and T. When the Y cuts across the formation it pulls all 3 defenders into their fits. The Dime pulls over the top and plays the extra gap created by the Y as well as taking the Y in man coverage. The Mike pulls to the opposite A gap and the Nickel pulls into the open B gap. The RB is reading the Mike. When the Mike pulls back to the backside A gap the RB jumps the ball playside to the B gap. The crack block of the X from a compressed split is there to handle the Nickel and hopefully occupy the Corner. The Corner is forced to come off his man responsibility late to make a tackle on a full speed RB.

The second fit for the defense is to fill the open A and B gap with the Dime and Mike. This requires the Nickel to pull all the way over the formation with the Y. The Nickel has the Y man to man and needs to fit the extra gap created by his block. The RB is reading the Mike. If the Mike stays playside the RB works A gap to cut back. The stress falls on the Nickel to get over the top and make the tackle on a full speed RB hitting the cut back off the backside of the zone blocking.

The motion creates confusion on the fit. The Nickel is trying to pull all the way over the top like run fit number 2 but the LB looks like he is thinking they are going to play it like a funnel. The Dime also looks like he is filling the open A gap again showing fit number 2. The RB reads the Mike the Mike appears to be playing over the top of the double to the backside so the RB jumps the ball frontside. With the Mike late to the B gap the result is a reach and grab tackle on a full speed RB. The crack block sucks the Corner in and blocks the Nickel making the Corner is late to get involved. 

The plan of showing a 4 out formation and motioning back into Y in the core is a something I think more teams will use to attack defenses. With more teams playing Dime personnels, 3 high safeties, etc. offenses will look to attack those schemes with concepts that show spread then force DB bodies to play into box run fits. Zone schemes reading the Mike aren't new. They may gain more popularity as teams look to attack defenses that rock back the fit with a LB vs. spread sets. The LB is trying to be in two fits at once, the read of the RB is trying the make the LB wrong either way.

Nice design from Josh McDaniels and the Patriots.

Taking A Shot with Play Action Climb

Here is a play action shot play concept.

The progression is:

1 Post

2 Climb

3 Pearl (Stem Post Curl)

The QB will peek the post if it is there he can take a shot. The likely outcome is the deep coverage is running with the post. The post takes the top off for the climb route. The climb is a under Sam over Mike type of route, starting as an under route and gaining depth once the route is in the core. If the Climb route is covered the QB can work back to the Pearl route.

Against 3 weak coverage: 

The post holds the Corner and Safety while the Climb is able to get too much depth for the C-F dropper to recover off the play action fake.

A 2nd example against 3 Strong coverage:

Again the post holds the Corner and Safety. The weak C-F and Hook player are reacting to the play fake and have difficulty gaining depth to the Climb route.

Against a Quarter Quarter Half Coverage:

The Strong side Quarter Safety is convinced by the initial under route release of the Climb the route is an under. If the Safety had stayed on the Climb the QB would work to the 3rd read and take the Pearl route. On the back side the Safety is on the Post while the Hook dropping LB is reacting to the play fake again allowing the Climb into open space. 

Against an aggressive Quarters Safety.

The weak side safety is very aggressive. The Climb sells the strong side Safety on running the under route climbing late to gain depth over the aggressive weak side safety. If the strong side Safety matched the Climb the QB could work to the 3rd read on the Pearl route.

Good stuff from former Florida Tech Offensive Coordinator Jayson Martin.

Attacking 2 Read with Y Cross

The Y cross concept is a staple of offenses across the country showing up in the West Coast, Air Raid, and many other offensive systems. Here is an example from Florida Tech.

The flash fake helps hold the underneath defenders. Strong side the flat/fade combination forces the Corner in a 2 read to roll up in the flat. The Safety has to get over the top of 1 clearing out space for the back side cross. If the Safety doesn't get over the top of 1, the QB can take the hole shot down the sideline. Next in the progression is the cross from the back side and finally the post. If the back side Safety hangs on 2 vertical  the cross comes open over the top of the LBs and into the space cleared out by pulling the Safety over the top of 1's fade to the front side. The switch action on the backside puts the back side coverage in a bind. 

If the Safety tries to come off 2's post and take the cross the post has excellent inside leverage on the Corner. 

Great version of the Y cross play from former Florida Tech Offensive Coordinator Jayson Martin. 

Split Back Midline QB Iso

Split back midline QB Iso dual option scheme:

Dive key is the 4i. Key sits = Give to the Dive on the midline course. Key crashes to Dive = QB keep and follow lead block. The backside split back (F) is going over the top of the QB to become the lead block on the Iso scheme.

The BSG isn't able to climb to the ILB due to getting caught up with the BST's cut on the backside 4i. The lead block does a great job leading tight outside the QB as he bypasses to get into the lead block position. Unfortunately the lead doesn't find a block, had he covered up the playside Safety the run might have gone to the endzone. 

The midline QB scheme doesn't look like the top threat weak here with no clear immediate insert Iso lead blocker in the formation. Nice job by the Eagles to get the back side split back into the lead block assignment. 

As always good stuff from the Carson-Newman split back option scheme.

Crack G Sweep

Here is a crack G scheme sweep from split backs.

Playside the OT has a good angle to down block on the 4i. The TE goes is short motion to crack the playside ILB. The pulling Guard wraps to pick up the flow and overlap backside ILB. The outside receiver is also crack blocking. The result is a 2 for 1 by blocking the safety and slowing the Corner from fitting the run. The QB's keep fake helps control backside pursuit.

Nice efficient run with good perimeter blocking from Carson-Newman. These are the types of schemes that may become more popular as teams look for scheme answers to tite front defenses.

A couple of examples of how spread teams may integrate the concept into their schemes.

From Trey Y Off - The QB showing the keep helps control the backside pursuit

From a Y Flex 

Or possibly from with a QB run element 

The play fake to the RB helps control the backside pursuit and holds the LB's in the box. The QB takes over as the ball carrier.

Something to have in mind for teams looking to scheme up tite front with G scheme perimeter runs. 

Split Back Option Play Action Throwback Wheel

Interesting play action variation from Carson-Newman.

The backfield action simulates option strong. Off the dive fake the QB sets up opposite the action and throws the weak side seam/wheel route combination. 

With the weak OLB pressuring the coverage is light in the weak side flat. The man corner is occupied by the seam release X receiver. The route runs the Corner inside and creates a natural pick on the Safety. 

The seam/wheel route combination is a staple play action concept in flexbone offenses. 

The major difference is the standard flexbone option play action seam/wheel route is going with the backfield flow. The motion, backfield action, and route combination all work is the same direction.

Great design by Carson-Newman to us a throwback play action off the option to punish a defense playing fast to backfield action or over playing the strong side of the formation. 

Shotgun Spread Midline Option

Navy is in a hybrid 30 personnel with a big body at X receiver who can attach as a down TE. The formation and motion along with the shotgun backfield looks more like an 11 personnel spread team than a traditional flexbone team.

Following the motion Navy is in a common 11 personnel attached TE 2x2 formation. The blocking is traditional midline QB iso blocking. The option is a dual option with the odd front 4 technique DE as the read key. If the DE sits the ball is handed to the RB on the midline path. If the DE crashes to the dive the QB keeps and follows the fold iso block. 

The DL is slanting with the read key DE on an inside slant making the read very easily a keep read for the QB. The fold iso block has a great angle on the ILB and the OT is a physical mismatch for the OLB. When the OT covers up the OLB the QB has an inside/outside 2 way go. 

Really nice blocking scheme against an odd front spaced defense. Awesome job by Navy offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper to use spread shotgun window dressing to run a flexbone classic run scheme like midline option. Good stuff as always from the Navy offense.

This type of scheme is something more shotgun spread run games may adopt if they are struggling to block odd front defenses using 4 and 4i DEs. The midline read is clean read and easy to teach to a QB and portable to shotgun formations. Something to be on the look out for as shotgun run teams adjust to Tite front defensive structures. 

Split Back Load Option vs. Odd Front Defenses

Here is Carson-Newman running split back load option vs. two odd front structures.

The defense is in a 3-4 with the LB's bumped to crate a 3-3 spacing. 

The fit here is the OLB (9 Technique Sam) is slow playing the QB with the stack LB (Mike) the crack and load blocking scheme gets both the force safety and the corner blocked. The stack spacing makes the angle for the TE to get to the Stack LB difficult. The TE's angle ends up cutting off the middle LB in the stack.The QB does a good job of attacking the OLB and pitching late. The QB's attack of the edge helps hold the OLB and Stack LB. 

The next look the spacing is a 3-4 with a coverage rolled strong to a 1 high.

The OLB tries to slow play and widen to play the inside of the pitch late with the safety playing force outside the pitch. The TE now has an angle on the ILB. The QB does a great job of pressing the edge. As the OLB widens the QB keeps. The TE seals the ILB and the load block of the A back handles the safety. Really nice path of hash-numbers-sideline by the QB to take the most efficient angle. 

Good stuff running split back load option from the Eagles.

What is Open?

Newest entry into the book club. Just finished with Dub Maddox's book What is Open?.  

The book covers a bunch of topics about game planning run, pass, and play action.

For example the section on Structural Strain (chapter 5) dives into using personnel and formation in game plans.

The book has many big picture and fine detail insights. Definitely one I will have to go back and review to digest it all. Highly recommend it.

Unbalanced Down Scheme in the Wing-T Offense

Here is a wing-t down play using G scheme blocking and a belly step by the FB.

The formation starts as a guard over unbalanced with formation into the sideline (FSL).

Initially the defense is working to sort out alignments against an unbalanced formation with 4x0 into the short side of the field and a extra OL 3 man surface to the field. Next the OL shifts.

The shift puts the OL back to their normal spacing. The new formation is an unbalanced 4 man surface.

Play side the B back arcs to the play side ILB.

The TE/OT work a double down on the DT and the G scheme guard pulls and logs the DE.

The back side is zone and reaching. The Center climbs immediately to the back side ILB.

Really nice design to create alignment issues for the defense with unbalanced, FSL, and a full line shift. Also good execution blocking and running a base wing-t run scheme. Good stuff from Lenoir-Rhyne and former OC Bob Bodine (currently Mercer OC).

Run & Shoot Lo Red Zone Offense

Here are three plays from Hawaii. The first is 4th down the next two are 2 point plays.

The first play is a sprint out pass concept.

Nice route combination. The sprint out side is a pylon high low with an interior sit route creating a 
strong side triangle spacing. The QB also has the 4th option to turn into a rush threat. 

The WR's are really well coached here. The #2 and #3 receivers are delayed into their release 
which times up well with the hard inside route of the sit by the #1. The timing leads to natural and legal picks. This is very well coached and executed.


In the 2nd concept Hawaii uses motion by a WR to build a two back structure. The boot concept is a different protection and presentation but a very similar concept.

Hawaii uses the same basic route combination with a job swap. The RB takes over the role of #3 to the flat but the pylon high low with a sit creating a perimeter triangle is intact.

The counter boot action with the motion WR does a good job selling counter run to create a soft edge for the boot. The concept again gives the QB the run threat option.

In the final example, Hawaii uses a similar motion and set up.

The play is a GT counter run reading the DE. The DE sits for the QB which leads to the a give and the ball being handed to the receiver. If the QB had a keep read the A back serves as a lead blocker of the QB. The outside two receivers also present routes that may be a third phase throw option for the QB on a keep read.

The presentation is the same as the previous boot action play.  The field DE holds for the QB. Playing the DE in a shuffle squeeze also helps the defense against the threat of boot. The motion and backfield action is hard on the man coverage player to get to his run fit against the WR running the ball. The ILB is affected by the lateral flow of the backfield action. The LB plays fast and lateral which puts him on the track of the 2nd puller. 

Nice package of lo red zone plays from the Rainbow Warrior offense and former head coach Nick Rolovich. Excited to see if these concepts show up at Washington State in 2020.

Split Back Trap

Here is a nice example of a trap in a split back option offense.

The formation is an unbalanced 3x0 2 back set with a motion back to 2x1

The QB opens and meshes with the B back. The presentation to the defense is a triple option strong. The defense here is in a 3-4 personnel bumped into a 3-3 stack spacing. The trap is on the weak side 4i DE.

The success of the trap comes from a few factors:

1. The trapping guard and B back are on the DE fast. Too fast for the DE to effectively attack the block, shed the block, and make the tackle.

2. The option presentation and full carry out of the option fake from the QB/A back help force hesitation in the strong side of the defense

3. The wide split by the OT helps prevent the DE from chasing to tackle the B back from the backside

4. The B back goes a great job keeping his path tight and his shoulders square to hit the run inside the guard's trap block while being able to immediately burst to gain yards

5. The trap hits quick which affects the ability of either safety to fold in to make the tackle. The ball is running too quickly down the MOF for the angles of the safeties helping create the explosiveness of the run.

Really good scheme and execution from Carson-Newman.