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. 

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. 

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. 

3 Match Coverage Variation

Why do you need all those coverage calls? This is an example of why we need them.

Here is a stick route variation from 2x2.

The read progression:

Pre-snap the peak outside. The Peak is there for cover zero looks to take a shot against a press corner and also a hole shot vs. a cover 2 look. 

Hot - against any max pressure look the ball can go to the peak or the RB in the flat

Post-snap:

#1 read is the RB is the flat. If the overhang gets depth, turns his shoulders inside, or doesn't expand the RB in the flat is getting the ball immediately. 

#2 is the slot working away from the ILB. This route is designed to isolate the LB with a speed WR. If the LB gets depth or isn't attacking the route the ball is going to the WR running away from the LB.

#3 is the dig. If the LB is tight on the in/out route the ball is going to the dig route behind the LB. 

#4 The money ($$$) is for quarters coverage concepts. If the defense is 2 high with a safety who is aggressive on the dig the QB can take a shot to the post one on one vs. the corner.

Against a base odd front 3 match concept the defense can rush an OLB and roll the coverage to replace the pressure.

In this example the field OLB is in the charge with the coverage rolling that direction. The coverage can handle all the routes. The issue is the isolation of the ILB vs. a slot WR. This plays into what the offense is trying to accomplish. They want WR vs. LB which they hope is a mismatch.This is why we carry coverage change ups.

The charge is the same basic concept only now the end is working outside and the ILB is pressuring the B gap. The Safety is now the hook player. The coverage plays out the same only now the speed WR is 1 on 1 with a DB not a LB. 

This is just one example of a coverage change up that is not about changing the coverage concept just about job swaps. 

Having coverage change-ups is necessary to avoid an offense being able to repeatedly isolate a poor match up in coverage. 

Attacking Quarters Coverage with a Zone Run/Post RPO

This concept is a Run Pass Option (RPO) play that combines outside zone blocking with a post route. 

Here the concept is being run from 11 personnel and is attacking the weak side of a 4-2-5 quarters coverage defense. The OL and Y are blocking outside zone (stretch) with even numbers (6 vs 6).
The Defense has the advantage of being +1 as soon as the WS reads the TE is blocking and gets into a run fit. This concept is designed to read the weak safety. The QB will shuffle while meshing with the RB. The QB's vision is on the WS. 

If the QB reads the WS coming downhill into the run game, the QB will pull back and throw the skinny post. The post is leaning his outside shoulder on the corner before breaking the route deep and skinny. The goal is for the WR to win the 1 on 1 against the corner who has no post help. 

If the QB reads the WS not committing downhill to defend the run, the ball is handed off on the outside zone. 

This type of run pass option is safe way to take a shot. The play has a chance to be a homerun post or an efficient run. 

Bunch Formation Chase Route Concept

Here is a 5 Step passing concept from a bunch formation designed to create an interior triangle read for the QB.

The route progression for the QB is:

Peek the Vertical (X)

1. Chase Route (S)

2. Dig Read (Y)

3. Drive Read (Z)

The Peek is a pre-snap read used vs. a press man look.

The QB can throw the outside release vertical to the X as a 1 on 1 winner route. If the QB likes the matchup he can take it, otherwise he follows his normal route progression.

The post-snap read progression is an interior triangle read.

The first route in the progression is the S on chase route. The S is letting the Z & Y clear while selling a flat route. The chase route is three hard steps outside, plant, and angle into MOF chasing the Drive route. The chase route is climbing to a depth of 5 yards.

If the inside linebackers drop with depth the chase route should be open.

The second route in the progression is the Y on the dig read route. The Y should take an outside release and break to the dig at 10-12. The Y is reading for open space to settle and square his numbers to the QB. If there is a zone dropper underneath; the Y will keep working inside until there is open space to settle. If there is a player running with the dig in man; the Y will keep running across. The Y does not settle the route vs. man coverage.

If the ILB takes an angle to cover the chase route; the dig should be open.

The third route in the progression is the Z on the drive read route. The Z is releasing at the heels of the DL and gaining ground. As the drive crosses the Center; the Z is reading the flat defender. If the flat defender is wide, the Z is squaring this shoulders and showing his numbers to the QB. On the away side the X is running an outside release vertical. Against press coverage the X will run a vertical and must be ready for the peek throw from the QB. If there is no press coverage; the X will turn the vertical into a comeback at 10-12 yards. The comeback is there is force the flat defender to widen.

Here the ILB’s take angles to take away both the Chase and Dig routes. The Z is reading on the drive route. In this example the FS is inverting to the flat. The X runs the comeback to force the FS to widen. The Z will settle in area of the OT. The max depth is 5 yards.

Here the flat defender is the Corner. Again the Z will settle & square in area of the OT.

Here the flat defender is the ILB expanding. Again the Z will settle & square in area of the OT.

If the flat defender does not expand to cover the comeback; the Z will keep running. If there is a player running with the drive in man; the Z will keep running across. The Z does not settle the route vs. man coverage. The Z will also keep running if any zone defender attempts to match up. If it feels like man coverage treat it like man coverage.

The A back is running a swing to widen the flat defender to the bunch and is not part of the read progression. While not part of the read; the A back must be ready for the ball in a hot throw situation. Against pressure the QB can throw the peek vertical to the X if he likes the matchup. The other hot option is to throw the swing route to the A back.

Adjustments

The route can easily be run from a 2x2 motion look.

Here the same concept from a 4x1 empty; forces the defense to handle and inside bunch and waste a coverage player on the A back. The A can run any route that forces the flat defender to cover him.

The route can be run from 3x2 empty as well. The A runs vertical to clear out space and take the top off the coverage.

Another option is to run the route from a 3x1 formation with the A back running the chase route. This can be an easy way to get the A back involved in the passing game.

In all of the adjustments the QB has the same interior triangle read.

Combining Boot with Quick Game Passing Concepts

Here is another offensive passing game concept. The play is from a 3x1 formation combining a quick game passing concept on the weak side with a boot route concept on the strong side.

The route progression for the QB:

1 Hitch (X)

2 Corner (S)

3 Slam Flat (Y)

4 Run

If there is space to throw the hitch take it. 

If there is no space; the QB will pump the hitch and boot to the strong side. Typically if there is no space the offense is playing a 2 over 1 coverage concept to the weak side.

Weak Side Squat & Half

Weak Side Invert Safety

In either situation the defense is overloading the coverage weak. Against both looks the goal is to work the flood route concept strong.

The Z is running a skinny post. His route is designed to cross the face of the corner in man, cover 3, or quarters coverages. If the route is run correctly the skinny post should force the corner too deep and inside to play the corner route. The skinny post must be cautious not to break too far inside on the post. 

Against cover 3 or quarters the Corner may pass the post off to the Safety if the post break is too aggressive.

The S is running a corner route breaking at 10. The corner route must stay deep enough to high low the flat defender. If the flat defender can cover both the corner and the flat route; the corner route is not deep enough.

The Y is running a slam flat. The Y will hit the DE and release to the flat. The route is working to get width before depth. The Y will throttle the route at the numbers.

Once the QB runs the boot; he is reading high to low from the corner to the flat route. If both are covered the QB will tuck the ball and run.

Route Adjustments

By game plan the weak side Hitch can be adjusted to a Slant or Speed Out.

Strong side can be adjusted to any 3 man route combination.

The Protection – Full Turn Back Gap Protection

The protection is set to the 3 receiver side

Away Tackle – Cut C gap defender

Away Guard – Block back on B gap, No B gap threat = firm body position the A Gap with eyes on your B gap

Center – Block back on A gap, No A gap threat = firm body position the call side A Gap with eyes on your A gap

Call Guard – Block back on A gap, No A gap threat = firm body position the B Gap with eyes on your A gap

Call Tackle – Block back on B gap, No B gap threat = firm body position the C Gap with eyes on your B gap

A – C gap defender, block his outside number and seal the edge

Here is an example with the protection set to the Right:

The LT is the away OT and will cut the C gap defender (DE). The cut is designed to keep the DE’s hands down and out of the throwing lane to the hitch.

The LG has an immediate B gap threat from the DT and will block back.

The Center has no immediate gap threat in the A gap. The Center will provide firm body position on the call side A gap to help the RG. While holding position the Center’s eyes are in the away A gap looking for threats from a slanting DL or blitzing LB.

The RG has an A gap threat and is blocking back.

The RT has no immediate gap threat in the B gap. The RT will provide firm body position on the call side C gap to help the A. While holding position the RT’s eyes are in the call B gap looking for threats from the slanting DL or blitzing LB.

Another example, again with the protection set to the Right:

The LT is the away OT and will cut the C gap defender (DE).

The LG has an immediate B gap threat from the DT and will block back.

The Center has and immediate gap threat. The Center will block back on the blitzing Will in the A gap.

The RG has an A gap threat and is blocking back. When the Nose slants to the call the RG will let the slant go and block the new A gap threat from the blitzing Mike.

The RT will block back on the Nose slanting into the B gap.