Understanding BOB vs. the 3-4

In the earlier post on understanding BOB protection (here) the focus was on 4 man (even) front defenses. Now the focus will shift to 3 man (odd) front defenses. As previously discussed the offensive line in a BOB protection vs. an even front must declare a "Mike" and account for the 4 down linemen and the "Mike" in protection. Similarly, versus an odd front defense the offensive line must account for the 3 down linemen and 2 linebackers. Which 2 LBs the offensive line is responsible for depends on the offensive philosophy. The 2 linebackers can be the 2 inside, 1 inside & 1 outside, or both outside.

In this example the offensive line is responsible for the two inside linebackers. This creates a 3 for 3 scenario for the Guards and Center vs. ILBs and the Nose. The backs are responsible for the outside linebackers.

Here the LG, C, and RG have the two ILBs and the Nose.

If the offense went to a one back formation the single back would have a dual read on both outside linebackers.

The second BOB scheme the offense can use vs. the 3-4 is to have the offensive line responsible for 1 inside linebacker and 1 outside linebacker.

 

In this scenario the offense has a 4 for 4 match up vs. the defense (LT, LG, C & RT for Left DE, NOSE, LOLB, & LILB). This protection scheme shares many similarities to 1/2 slide protection. The RT is manned up and the 2 backs have the RILB and ROLB. If the formation is single back the one back would have a dual read on the ILB to Outside linebacker.

The third protection option for BOB teams is to assign the offensive line both outside linebackers.

   

The OGs and OTs are working together for the DEs and OLBs, the Center has the Nose and the backs are on the ILBs. If it were a single back formation the one back would have a dual read on the two inside linebackers. For more information on this version of BOB be sure to check out posts on Brophy's Blog here and here.

The first step to attacking BOB with the 3-4 is determining which 2 linebackers the OL are responsible for and which ones the backs are responsible for. The up coming post will focus on each of the three versions of BOB and strategies for attacking them.

Blitz of the Week #10

The 10th installment of Blitz of Week comes from Coach Saban's 2001 LSU playbook. Over Python (page 156) is a 7 or 8 man pressure adjusted based on the backfield set.

The front is set with the 3 technique and Sam to the TE.

Vs. an I backfield.

• Call End - Heavy 9 technique, Bull*
• Tackle - B gap
• Nose - A gap
• Away End - Bull
• Sam - Key Blitz** the TB or near back
• Mike - Man FB in an I backfield
• Will - Key Blitz TB/Near back
• SS - Key Blitz TB/ Near back
• FS - Man TE
• Corners - Man receivers

*Bull (page 133) - "(2 Gap) Power the Tackle Alert for Screen"

** Key (page 135) - "Peel on Back"

This blitz overloads the offense. The three blitzers share man responsibilities on the TB.

The TB is accounted for if releases strong (SS), middle (Sam), or weak (Will).

Over Python adjusts if the backfield is not the I.

Vs. Near I the check is "Plus"

The Plus check tells the SS, Mike, and Will to handle the key blitzes. The Sam has the offset FB. The away End is no longer Bull technique he is now Lion technique. Lion (page 139) = "Alert for flare back".

Vs. I Far and Split backs the check is Reno.

The Reno check gives both Ends the Bull technique. The Mike and Will key blitz the offset (near) back while the SS and Sam key blitz the TB. The same principle is applied to split backs.

Vs. 1 back sets the check is Cop

In the Cop check the Away End is a Jam technique. Jam (page 131) = Inside move to the B gap. The Sam and Will are outside while the Mike blitzes the call side A gap. All three are key blitzing the single back. The safeties adjust to the extra receiver.

The key blitz concept can be incorporated to any style of defense. The key concept allows for max pressure as well as being able to handle routes/screens by the RB. Also the Bull technique Ends can make getting the OT out to block for receiver screens more difficult.

Playbook

An excellent 4-2-5 playbook that doesn't get nearly the same attention as the TCU or Boise State playbooks is from Villanova in 2004. Joe Trainer, the current Rhode Island head coach, was the Nova defensive coordinator. The '04 Wildcats were 7th in Div. I-AA is scoring defense (16.2 ppg).
The playbook also contains position manuals for DL, LB, and DB at the end. The secondary manual is excellent. If you are a split field safety 4-2-5 team it is a must read.

2004 Villanova Defensive Playbook

Attacking BOB protection Part 3

The next strategy for attacking BOB protection involves sending defensive linemen up the field then under the pass set of an offensive lineman.

In this example of the NCAA blitz the Mike has been declared the "Mike". The TB is able to pick up the Sam. The pressure falls on the LG and LT to handle the exchange of the End and the blitzing "Mike". Unfortunately, offenses are getting better at handling the long stick concept. Here is a variation that can be very effective vs. BOB and serve as a nice compliment to the NCAA blitz.

 

Here the Mike is walked up into the B gap showing the pressure or timing it up to hit it running. This forces the LG to pay attention. The End jabs up field to hold the attention of the LT then loops to the A gap. Jabbing also helps the timing. The timing of the twist makes the jobs of both the LG and LT very difficult. The LT must react back inside to a blitzer who is already gone and the LG must come off a blitzer he is already engaged on to pick up an End he may or may not see. The same up and under concept can be applied if the Sam has been declared "Mike".

Here the Sam has been declared "Mike" by the offense. The LG is in a bind. What needs to happen is the LT to pick up the Sam, the LG on the up & under DE, the Center on the up & under DT, and the RG on the Nose. This is problematic for the LG because he has to continue to block the DT on a regular pass rush move where he would rip under this pass set because this is a man scheme. But here the LG must compute the fact that because the "Mike" is blitzing that he has to pass the DT to the Center. This pressure forces the Center, LG, and LT to all react properly in a fast moving situation. If an offense is prepared to pick this up they have committed a great deal of practice time and therefore haven't spent as much time on something else.

Another application of the up & under concept can be seen here.

In this example the TB is responsible for the Sam. Once the Center is engaged with the Mike it is hard to see a looping DL. The LG is stuck is chase mode against the DT. 

Attacking Big on Big Protection Part 2

After establishing who the offense is declaring "Mike" in their BOB protection scheme the next step is capitalizing on that information. The simplest solution is to force the hot throw by bringing both players the running back has in the dual read. If the offense doesn't throw hot there will be an unblocked blitzer in the QB's face.

In this example the easy solution is to bring both the Sam & Will because the back has both.

The RB can pick up one and the other will be unblocked. A nice compliment to this pressure is to bring the Sam & Will inside in the B gaps instead.

The pressure from the Sam & Will should arrive more quickly through the B gaps. In order for both of these blitzes to be successful plays, the safeties must be ready to take away the hot routes to the slot receivers and all the DB's must anticipate the ball to come out early. Both of these pressures are also ideally suited to be bluffed.

The Sam & Will can easily bluff the edge or B gap blitz and still execute their drop in split safety read 2 concept on both halves of the formation with the Mike taking the 3 drop.

Building on the concepts of bringing both the Sam & Will and bluffing pressure the next strategy is based on where the back is looking first.

The Sam bluffs outside pressure to attract the attention of the RB then executes his drop. The Will blitzes inside and should get quick pressure. If the Sam is a decent salesman and the back commits to him at all the block on the blitzing Will is difficult. If the back does pick up the Will there is still a high probability that the timing of the QB has been disrupted. 

Attacking Big on Big Protection Part 1

The previous post (available here) discusses understanding what is BOB protection? The next challenge is how to attack this protection scheme? The first step in attacking BOB is to establish who the offense is declaring "Mike". We use film study to answer these questions.

• Where are the uncovered offensive linemen stepping/looking?
• Does anyone on the offensive line or the QB point out a linebacker pre-snap?
• Where is the back stepping/looking?

We build our game plan around who we think the offense will declare "Mike". Due to the fact offensive coordinators also game plan, we must have a plan for the offense declaring a different linebacker as "Mike" during the game. We ask our players on the field to listen to who is being called "Mike" and to report that information to the coaches between series. We prepare a primary blitz plan for what we expect based on film. For example we expect the defensive position of Mike to be declared the "Mike" we will plan accordingly. We will also have a section of the call sheet labeled SAM as "MIKE" and WILL as "MIKE" to be ready in the event the offense is adjusting their protection.

Understanding BOB protection

Big on Big (BOB) protection is a man based protection scheme. The general concept is the bigs on offense (offensive line) will block the bigs on defense (defensive line) man to man. Most defenses don't utilize 5 defensive linemen therefore the offense has more bigs on the field than the defense. BOB protection teams will assign a linebacker as the extra big meaning the OL is responsible for the 4 down linemen and 1 linebacker (Mike). Who the offensive line declares the "Mike" depends upon the scheme.

In this example there are 7 blockers for 7 potential rushers. The running backs are manned on the outside linebackers (Sam & Will) if either of them blitz the running back will pick them up. The offensive line is manned on the 4 down linemen and the linebacker declared the "Mike". If the "Mike" doesn't blitz the uncovered offensive lineman will give help to an adjacent covered lineman. If the "Mike" does blitz the offensive line will adjust to pick up the "Mike" depending on which gap he blitzes.

In each of these three situations the offensive linemen blocking the "Mike" is different but the man concept is the same, one blocker for one rusher. If the defense is in an 8 man front the offense must assign a dual read player (typically a back) to account for the defensive numbers advantage.

In this example the defense has 8 players (4 DL + 4 LB) in the box while the offense only has 7 potential blockers (5 OL + 2 RB). Here the RILB has been declared "Mike" and is the responsibility of the OL while the ROLB is manned by the FB. The TB has the dual read on the LILB and LOLB. If one blitzes the TB blocks him. If they both blitz the TB will block the inside blitzer and the QB must throw hot. This same concept is applied in BOB protection from single back formations.

Here the offense is protecting with 6 blockers against 7 potential rushers. The running back is responsible for the dual read. Offenses will vary on who they declare the "Mike" and which 2 linebackers are the dual read responsibility of the RB.

 

Here the offense has declared the OLB (Sam) as the "Mike" in their protection. The OL has the 4 DL and the "Mike" while the TB has the dual read on the other 2 linebackers. If the defense is in a 3 man line the offensive line will have 2 linebackers they are responsible for in addition to the 3 down linemen. I will focus on BOB protection against odd front (3 man line) defenses in a later post. This will be the first in a series discussing strategies for attacking BOB protection.