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Middle Runner Personnel and Technique in Tampa Sims

Middle Runner Personnel and Technique in Tampa Sims

Posted by | Jan 3, 2022 | , , , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar with Ron Roberts
Defensive Coordinator
Baylor University (TX)
Twitter: @CoachRonRoberts

 

 

During the Covid shortened 2020 season, Ron Roberts spent much of his time researching how he can continually tweak the extensive creeper system he brought with him from Louisiana. While single high pressures were sound against the run, it left vertical seam routes vulnerable- despite closing the middle post with the backside safety (check our original report in 2019). So, his goal was to build in more two-high looks that can be used situational on third down and could combat his tendency of playing pure man coverage in these situations.  So, he emerged from the lab with what he termed “Tampa creepers,” a three-high coverage pressure that combined four underneath defenders and a simulated rush upfront. With a couple of easy checks, it looks like four pressures but it’s only one.

He liked them so much that he used them on nearly tktk percent of second and long and third downs. It was effective in leveraging vertical routes and forcing the ball underneath where defenders can rally and make plays. The philosophy was that the generated simulated pressure would get the ball to come out faster and force the quarterback to check the ball down. And if you watched them play Oklahoma and Oklahoma State this season, that’s exactly what happened. “I’m not going to call it on 2nd and 3 unless I give you a knuckleball or you’re trying to pick us,” he told me. “I’m calling it on 2nd and long or 3rd and long. Or, when teams are trying to get the back out fast and we have leverage to the flat (with the corner).  We want to hit it and make the ball come out quickly so we can tackle it and get off the field.”

 

Pressure Patterns:

In its simplest form, there are four main pressure patterns in this package, although I’ll tell you Coach Roberts has been continually tweaking them to find alternative middle runners. Essentially, he classifies the coverage defenders as the following (more on the technique later in the report):

  • Cloud Corners (2)- responsible for flat
  • Hash Droppers (2)- responsible for #2 in the seam
  • Middle Dropper (1)- post defender
  • High Safety (2)

 

As of now, these are the Tampa creepers Coach Roberts is using:

 

Middle Pressure (Mike or Will):

 

  • Corners are flat defenders
  • FS/WS are high safeties
  • Star (Nickel) and Jack (boundary DE) are hash droppers
  • Mike or Will is the middle hole defender

 

As explained later in the report, both of these two pressures are “checked” pressure based on one specific variable. The Will can even walk up on the line of scrimmage and play the same responsibility based on the call. Coach Roberts calls that a “loaded” front. See the diagram below:

 

Nickel (Star) Pressure:

 

  • Corners are flat defenders
  • FS/WS are high safeties
  • Mike and Jack (boundary DE) are hash droppers
  • Will is middle hole defender

 

Double Edge Pressure (out of Dime Personnel):

 

  • Corners are flat defenders
  • FS/WS are high safeties
  • Mike is middle hole defender
  • Will and Boundary end are hash droppers.

 

Call System:

Even though the patterns seem simple, there needs to be streamlined communication to alert players on who the middle runner is. Coach Roberts will use the following four protocols in calling these pressures:

  • Field Pressure– this would be the Nickel (or Star) pressure to the field
  • Boundary Pressure– this would be the Will pressure to the boundary
  • Passing strength pressure– this will usually be the Mike off the edge to the field
  • Point Pressure: this is checked pressure specific to the protection scheme

 

While I will not use Coach Robert’s terminology, it’s important to group these pressures in relative families. But you need to distinguish calls based on who the middle runner is. For example, if using “New York” as your base Tampa coverage variant, consider the following verbiages as changeups below:

 

“Mets”- Anytime where the Mike or Will (M term) is the middle runner. The opposite player is the pressure defender. The front is called.

“Yankees”- Anytime where the Free Safety is the middle runner. The front is called.

“Mug Mets/Yankees”- Tells the Mike or Will to walk up on the line of scrimmage.

 

Baseball teams can be your creeper pressures, while football teams, such as “Giants” and “Jets” can be base Tampa coverage with traditional four-down rush patterns.

The rest of this report focuses solely on how Coach Roberts can build these Tampa Creepers in to affect protection, including the built-in checks he uses that alter these pressure patterns.

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Identifying and Blocking Pressure in Pin and Pull Runs

Identifying and Blocking Pressure in Pin and Pull Runs

Posted by | Jan 3, 2022 | , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar with Pat Taylor
Offensive Line Coach
Kutztown University (PA)
Twitter: @CoachTaylor_OL

 

 

When the Pin and Pull concept makes up nearly 1/4th of your run game- as it does at Kutztown University (PA)- the focus shifts from learning the scheme to understanding how defenses will fit it. They’ll get a gamut of adjustments, including over-shifted defenses, open side pressure, and alternating fit patterns. This is why offensive line coach Pat Taylor spends more time teaching his unit about reaction rather than scheme. His method of protecting the play is the focus of his report. And it’s been somewhat foolproof. This season the Golden Bears leaned on the Pin and Pull to produce a 7.7 yards per carry average en route to an 11-2 record.

 

“Open Pull” Technique:

One of the interesting techniques surrounding Kutztown’s scheme is that offensive line coach Pat Taylor chooses not to use skip pull footwork for pullers. It’s a transition he made recently because it’s more conducive to blocking edge pressure. Instead, it’s more open-like footwork where linemen are taught to throw their inside foot behind the outside foot and run full speed. It almost looks like a trap pull. This way against any type of pressure, they are in a position to immediately kick it out.

 

Base rules dictate the first puller to the front side will be either the Guard or Tackle based on the front. For the most part, if there is a B gap first-level defender, the Guard will pull. If there is an A gap first-level defender, the Tackle will pull.

 

The Center will always be the second puller unless there is a concern about a cross face from the Nose or a shade defender that could not be reached. In those situations, he can tell the backside Guard to go instead. The first puller’s responsibility is to block the alley defender, providing he does not pass up color. The second puller is asked to work to the play side linebacker. “We talk about getting his eyes outside,” said Coach Taylor. The ball carrier stays in line with the second puller, it’s that simple. “We don’t have to make it a perfect block. The running back will make it right. And defensive players have the challenge of trying to fit that.”

 

Pin Block Technique:

Understanding the pin (or down) block has a lot to do with knowing which tap that defender is responsible for.  For the most part, Coach Taylor teaches a traditional down block with a hat on outside leverage. Against a stagnant front, linemen can be more aggressive because they know where color is. But with so much potential movement, linemen have to be studious in recognizing where movement can occur- this is a focus later in the report.

 

Even Front:

Even front responsibility is quite simple. If the play is being run to the three-surface side (and as stated below it doesn’t have to be), the play side Tackle will block the B gap defender while the play side Guard and Center are out on the perimeter. What Coach Taylor does on the backside of the play is quite interesting, and is something covered later in the report.

 

Odd Front:

Against any Odd front, Coach Taylor prefers to still get the Center out despite him being covered. He’s comfortable in getting the backside Guard out as well to block the play side linebacker, having the play side Guard block the zero Nose which helps against more athletic Nose techniques. If the Nose is slower, the backside Guard can work to get him reached, which is something covered later in the report.

 

The rest of this report focuses solely on how Coach Taylor teaches his linemen to identify and combat the common defensive reactions that can completely hinder the concept.

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“Sifts, RKB’s and Veers”: Wisconsin-Whitewater’s BST Technique in Zone Read

“Sifts, RKB’s and Veers”: Wisconsin-Whitewater’s BST Technique in Zone Read

Posted by | Dec 20, 2021 | , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar with Peter Jennings
Offensive Coordinator/QB’s Coach
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Twitter: @PeteyBananas

 

 

Heavy run boxes are commonplace when defending the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. It’s no surprise considering the Warhawks have been 39-4 the last three seasons, averaging over 200 yards a game on the ground. And as the offensive coordinator since 2020, Pete Jennings had to choose to integrate the QB run game just to add a hat back. Naturally, it came in the form of zone read, a Day 1 install that the entire run game stems off of. All levels of the defense can be read depending on the skill set of the QB. This past season read zone averaged 4.92 yards per carry and was efficient 60.2% of the time it was called. His metric for efficiency is as follows: 1st down, 4 plus yards. 2nd down, split the remaining yardage in half. 3rd down, get the first down. 4th down, get the first down.

But while the responsibility of running the play efficiently lies on the quarterback, the challenge of running the play effectively is entirely placed on the backside Tackle who has to correctly identify the placement of the read defender and the technique needed to block him. Wisconsin-Whitewater can read first and second-level defenders based on the ability under Center. “If you have an elite running QB, you need to put that defensive end in conflict,” Coach Jennings told me. “But you put a lot of stress on those Tackles to be smart and athletic to understand how to release off that 4i. If you can teach those to your Tackles you can have a huge advantage in your run game.”

 

Tight Zone Scheme:

Like the two other programs we profiled recently- Monmouth University and Rice University- the Warhawks teach tight zone as a man concept. The Mike is identified as the point and all combinations work to him. For many of their schemes- both run and pass- they ID the defensive front and the Mike, inside zone is no exception. We can push or pull the point depending on the defensive scheme and or game plan, for the ease of explaining in this article we will say the Mike or “Point” is the middle front LB.

 

“We call it a zone scheme but in our system, it’s really a man scheme,” he said. Coach Jennings did tell me that they will push the point against Odd because they won’t get vertical movement. “Tight zone vs. Odd puts the frontside linebacker in a bind in 50 split but he can get beat,” he said. “He can get stuck in a 50 tech waiting to see if the RB cuts back. The 4i is a two-gap player and if he gets beat the RB can jump cut it frontside.”

The proper step depends on the aiming point. It can be a drop step or a zone step. Whatever step is needed to hit the aiming point of the frontside number. But whatever the front step does, the second step must be in the ground as quickly as possible.

 

Things to know for the OL:

  1. Point is middle front unless “pushed” or “pulled”
  2. If you are covered assume man
  3. If you are uncovered, make the combo call
  4. Man blocking scheme pre-snap
  5. Zone blocking scheme post-snap
  6. 3-point, slightly staggered stance, must be comfortable
  7. The down hand is side dependent and should carry 30% of body weight
  8. If covered take a “drop step” 2-4 inches gaining depth and width aiming for the bottom of the defender’s frontside number
  9. If uncovered take a “bucket step” 4-6 inches gaining depth and width aiming for the midline of the next play side defender
  10. When in a combo, 2 hands-on, 4 eyes up, do not leave for the LB until you can reach out and touch them, the RB will bring LB’s to your combo
  11. Use “Tip of Spear” when striking. Tip of Spear is a phrase we use to give our guys a visual of their blocking technique. It refers to using the area of the palm where the hypothenar muscles are located, (Area of your palm closer to your wrist) and keeping your thumbs up.
  12. We ask a lot of our tackles, smart, athletic, crafty
  13. In RZ we say backside guard-forward is blocking for the give, Backside tackle back is blocking for the pull

 

RB Declares the Front:

“In our league, we end up seeing a lot of different defensive fronts,” said Coach Jennings. So to try and keep identifying fronts as simple as possible he uses 4 basic families: Even, Pro, Odd, and Bear.

 

The running back is responsible to identify the front and echo the structure to the wide receivers. That will change the count on the perimeter for wide receivers to block, be it the Sam linebacker, Sky Safety, etc. In the Odd front, the aiming point is the frontside leg of the Guard. In the Even front, the aiming point is the trail leg of the play side Guard. When in Pistol alignments, the play is widened out to the B gap or inside leg of the Tackle. “We just give them a framework and go,” said Coach Jennings. “They need to be responsible for setting up the frontside LB with their path but make a cut off the Guard’s ass on what the Will is doing.”

 

Slot Receiver Technique:

The slot receiver in zone read is asked to step to the heel of the defensive lineman, rip and put him on his back. When you watch the film it looks like a butt block, but Coach Jennings calls it a “turtle shell”. “We put ourselves between the ball and the defender like a box out in basketball,” said Coach Jennings. “If you watch enough football you watch that slot work his tail off to get on his near shoulder and push the Sam- who can make the play- into the pile.”

 

Things to know for the WR’s:

  1. Frontside #1 always error on the side of push cracking
  2. Frontside #2 responsible for +1 vs even and +2 vs odd
  3. Backside #2 is always responsible for -2 in some way shape or form
  4. Backside #1 always error on the side of staying on in case there is a pull
  5. Slots have inside legs back, the first step is at the heels of the DL, which will utilize a turtle shell if necessary. The turtle shell is a technique remarkably like a box out in basketball. Clip one should show this nicely. Attack your blocking responsibility flat, rip your outside arm through and box out. Get the defender on your back, aka a turtle shell.
  6. “6-second players, .5 second blockers” this means we don’t need WR’s who block for the entire play. We need WR’s who block for the .5 seconds it takes for the ball carrier to get past the defender they are responsible for. Be patient

 

Things to know for the QB:

  1. Clear the midpoint of the mesh when necessary to allow the RB to keep his shoulders square
  2. Pull the ball if you can beat your read to 4-yards at the sideline
  3. Touchdown, first down, get down, or get out of bounds
  4. Crack your wrists on the pull, added stimulus to the running back
  5. Even on gives you are responsible to pull defenders, carry out your fake
  6. Understand where the -1 is and if we will get a sift by the backside tackle, a sift is for the QB that’s in contact with reading and the Backside OT will sift. If the QB sees, contact between the OT and his read he will give the ball. The sift technique forces the give.
  7. Contact with the read = Give, live to play another down

 

Below are how the Warhawks block each of the following fronts in its zone read concept:

 

The focus of the rest of this report is solely on how Coach Jennings teaches the backside Tackle to identify and block the “minus one” defender on the backside of the scheme.

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“Face” and “Lever” Concepts in 2-Trap Activations

“Face” and “Lever” Concepts in 2-Trap Activations

Posted by | Dec 20, 2021 | , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar with Travis Niekamp
Defensive Coordinator
Illinois State University
Twitter: @CoachNiekamp

 

 

When RPO’s, smart quarterbacks and four vertical concepts were prying Travis Niekamp and his defensive staff out of the 3-deep, 3-under zone pressure world they had to make some difficult decisions on how they were going to fit the run. He knew that two trap coverage would be sound against heavy personnel run game, but he didn’t want to put too much responsibility on corners to make tackles. After all, this was the Missouri Valley Conference country, where the average ball carrier can tilt the scales over 200 pounds, which is an inherent mismatch for the 175 lb. corners he had in his system.

 

So, he and his staff decided to do anything in their power to make sure the two best tacklers in his system- the Mike and Will- get as much action as possible. Makes sense. But in four underneath coverage, at least one of those backers had to wall vertical routes by number two. The process he used to train the eyes of those backers to get in pass windows and become active in the run game was of extreme importance. How he did that is the focus of this report.

 

RPO’s Non-Factors:

Sure, MVC isn’t exactly the Big 12 in the RPO world, but Coach Niekamp did concede that the two-trap system did hold up well against the types of RPO’s in that conference such as slants, glances and bubbles. While it’s not a heavy RPO conference- he says he’ll only see 3-4 concepts per game and he credits the two high look in being able to get color on color (bodies on bodies) in early downs, situations that are most synonymous with RPO’s. The pressure was able to speed up the clock of the QB. “It helps us be aggressive on bubbles,” he told me. “That’s why we went to trap coverage.” With the field activations described below, pressure is right in the quarterback’s face with what he calls a “fence” defender being able to handle anything vertically based on the formation presented.

 

Base Pressure Patterns:

In its Odd look, Illinois State will rely on two types of pressures- field and boundary. The field variety will take shape in the following patterns:

  • OLB/ILB pressure
  • OLB/Safety pressure
  • ILB/Safety pressure

 

It’s called “Strike” and is essentially a two off the edge system. Below are the base field activations against two-back formations:

 

These are coupled with boundary activations, which usually take the shape in the following patterns:

  • Boundary Corner and ILB
  • Boundary Corner and OLB

 

Coverage Structure:

Predominantly it’s halves coverage to field. In most forms the opposite safety works over the top to the side of the pressure playing a mid-point technique- although that has been altered last spring as I describe later in the report.  He will be asked to handle the vertical of number one. Boundary coverage is going to be some form of quarters or man coverage.

The difference in this scheme is in the play of the corners. As shown in the diagram below, corners to the side of the pressure are secondary contain defenders, not primary contain defenders against the run game. And in the pass game corners will play with inside leverage and read two to one. If two goes out he can be aggressive on it. If both are vertical, he works to sink and protect the hole shot to the field, which in Coach Niekamp’s opinion doesn’t happen very often.

 

The focus of the rest of this report is what Coach Niekamp calls “face” and “level” technique, which is taught for each defender to cancel gaps up front and keep the ball in the box, not on the perimeter.

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OL Eye Discipline In “No Chase” Tight Zone Principles

OL Eye Discipline In “No Chase” Tight Zone Principles

Posted by | Dec 12, 2021 | , , , , , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar with Sanders Davis
Offensive Line Coach
Rice University (TX)
Twitter: @SandersDavis225

 

 

The foundation of the Mike Bloomgren school of running the football is built on tight zone runs. It’s something opponents in Conference USA know all too well. Which is why the offensive staff at Rice University will get up to 2-3 reactions each week of how defenses will fit its tight zone run concept- this includes back gapping second-level defenders, 2i technique defenders, and second-level run-throughs. So, it became necessary for offensive line coach Sanders Davis to build in two separate ways to block the scheme; chase and no-chase zone concepts.

 

These are defined below:

 

As a point of clarification, “chase zones” consist of concepts like zone read where linemen have to be aware of scrape exchanges by backside C gap defenders. No chase zones consist of concepts such as split zone, zone bluff concepts, and tight zones to an open end with a three-surface backside- all scenarios where second level defenders are expected to fall behind the point. In no-chase zones, linemen are taught to block a spot which helps protect against these back fitters or lag fits most commonly associated with split zone concepts. “If the defender falls behind our double team our eyes snap forward,” he told me. “We snap our eyes forward and block the defender that enters the box.” This report is focuses solely on no- chase zone concepts.

Like most tight zone operations, Rice will identify the point as the play side inside linebacker. Each lineman is responsible for the defender in his cylinder (spot) post-snap. Quite simply, once he commits, you commit. The point clarifies where to start combinations and how to define spots. Certainly, it’s a clear box when there are no fallback defenders.

 

But most recently, Coach Davis has relied on the “no chase” principle in order to get bodies on bodies up front to create explosives in the scheme. The premise is built around blocking the box, most notably the A gap first, and letting RPO’s and play-action handle the perimeter. The back is not asked to read anything at the second level. It starts with instructing the line to delete the defender that leaves the box and block the guy that enters the box.  “We’ll get 2-3 reactions per week, but if we just teach them how to train their eyes it becomes easy to identify,” he told me. “It’s great against pressure and it helps them just be physical on contact where they can get right into their double teams. Second level defenders struggle to get into fits when they fall back, especially with combinations hitting right into their laps.”

 

But to hit the play vertically, the point needs to stay the point. It will not get pushed. Otherwise, what’s the purpose of running an A gap tight zone concept? Rice will only vary the point if the point walks up on the line of scrimmage. This would not include an outside backer/Sam or Nickel, which would force targets wider. But when the Mike walks up, communication needs to be made to identify potential movement. In this scenarios, Coach Davis teaches a higher target area to protect against inside penetration. The target now goes from an inside V landmark to a hip or triceps target. “We want to be higher up the field not flatter to create a wall,” he said. “We don’t want them to cross our face. It’s not a flat angle, a higher angle. Now the ball should pipe through the A gap and the back should press it.”

 

RB Aiming Point:

According to Coach Davis, the ideal aiming point for the back is the backside heel of the play side Guard with a read of the first down lineman past the Center. The aiming point is so specific that he’ll often put a quarter on the heel of that Guard and tell them they cannot cut back until they touch the quarter. “He must work to that aiming point before making any cut,” he said. “It helps bait linebackers into gaps and brings them into double teams. If he doesn’t do that, linebackers can fall back to where our combos can’t see them.”

While some coaches choose a tighter aiming point like the butt of the Center, the backside heel of the Guard provides a better opportunity to push the ball out to the play side C gap, getting a back on a back fit safety, where big hits can occur. “We used to use the Center’s crack as the aiming point but the ball always cut back and it got congested,” he said. “Now you’re not as concerned as cutting off on the backside, you’re thinking about getting more vertical.”

 

How he teaches his lineman to keep tight zone as an A gap track, which includes training their eyes to handle back gapping, as well as 2i/4i techniques, is the focus of this report.

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Buzz to Cut Rotations in 2-Trap Zone Pressures

Buzz to Cut Rotations in 2-Trap Zone Pressures

Posted by | Dec 12, 2021 | , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar with Jeff Long
Defensive Coordinator
John Carroll University (OH)
Twitter: @CoachLongJCU

 

 

Thanks to current Los Angeles Charger head coach and former X&O Labs contributor Brandon Staley, John Carroll University (OH) defense has had a continual presence on the Division 3 football landscape for years. This year was another solid 7-3 finish with a top 25 ranking in the country. Talking with new defensive coordinator Jeff Long, much of his pressure game was from two-deep, trap coverage. He felt that one-high looks just made things too simple for offenses to recognize. Quite simply, he fell in love with the exotic pressure patterns that can be derived from that coverage. Those patterns are what we will explore in this report.

But what separates Coach Long’s package from what I reported with Indiana is that he will mainly use his trap coverage to the boundary with a multitude of coverage looks to the field. The split safety look was the perfect complement to the 60% middle field closed presentations that John Carroll utilized this season. It was a solid answer against 21 and 12 personnel outfits and were good run/pass pressures as we’ll see on film. Plus, they were very efficient in mid-yardage situations, where each week Coach Long and his defensive staff would build in 1-2 each week.

 

“Fist” vs. “Front” Structure:

JCU bases out of an odd structure and calls itself a passing strength defense. But how they play that structure is unique. Most Odd outfits put a lot on their hybrid (mainly boundary) defensive end. John Carroll is a bit different in that they will vary his alignment based on the pressure. Coach Long calls this Anchor as a two-point defensive end who is taught to hammer, not spill, everything in the run game. His alignment is varied based on the following:

 

“Angle”– Anchor plays C gap either to field or boundary, opposite DE. Provides for an even front spacing.

 

“Flex”- Odd, static look. Can be 4i or 4-techniques. 11 personnel adjustment. Anchor is asked to find a tight end.

 

The advantage of the JCU defensive system is that it allows that Anchor to align all over the place with simple rules. There is a lot on his plate. Oftentimes, he’s the only player moving. For example, the term “Up,” tells him to go the boundary while the Penny (Nickel) goes to the field. “Down” tells the Penny to find the passing strength with the Anchor to become part of the pressure. According to Coach Long, it can get extremely confusing for coordinators because they cannot track where the pressure is coming from. “It gives you an Okie element based on where the linebackers are but we can twist and knife the front,” Coach Long told me. “The front six is to the boundary but the passing strength gets adjusted. The Anchor is the only defender moving.”

The sample single high pressure is an example of this below:

 

All that said, one of the things I admired in studying Coach Long’s system is his ability to teach buzz-to-cut techniques from his back end. This means that defenders that can be on the line of scrimmage can work to play the low hip of any receivers in the seam. It’s not easy to do and it takes a lot of practice. Coach Long uses the term, “show buzz but don’t be in a position to get on low hip.” Easy enough, right? It’s something we explore in detail in this report.

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Indiana University’s 2-Trap Simulated Pressures

Indiana University’s 2-Trap Simulated Pressures

Posted by | Dec 5, 2021 | , , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar with Kasey Teegardin
Outside Linebacker Coach/Special Teams Coordinator
Indiana University
Twitter: @CoachTee34

 

 

The 2020 season produced a ton of first for the Indiana football program. A final #12 ranking in the AP Top 25 was the first since 1988. It was also the first time in quite a while that the Hoosier defense led the county in takeaways, producing over 2 steals per game. It was also number one nationally in red zone defense, producing a 64% win percentage in that area of the field.  Much of that success was directly attributed to the Hoosiers trap pressure package, which they ran on over 40 percent of snaps. It was built as a complement to change up the looks, and the single high windows that Indiana was using in 2019 on over 87% of snaps. “We were getting killed in the RPO and vertical game,” defensive staffer Jeff McInerney told me. “These sims gave us a way to hang in there against the run and to play better against RPO’s. And that’s why we did it.”

It turned out to be a great look in the red zone and, as detailed below, against condensed formations. “We ran it all the way to the goal line,” Coach Teegardin told me. And since losing defensive coordinator Kane Wommack to the head post at South Alabama- who currently is among the nation’s leaders in red zone defensive efficiency- the Hoosier’s have yet again changed their defensive identity. But last summer I had the opportunity to meet with outside linebackers’ coach Kasey Teegardin to talk specifically about the concept and how he used it to defend the multitude of offenses in the Big 10.

 

Indiana Personnel:

Husky – Alley player to passing strength (aka Nickel)

Bull – Drop End

End – Big End

Tackle – 3 Tech

Nose – Nose

Stinger – Weakside inside linebacker

Mike – Strongside inside linebacker

Rover – Passing strength safety

FS – Boundary safety

CB’s – Indiana doesn’t rotate its corners. They play both left and right.

 

Indiana’s trap pressure simulations are categorized by the following:

 

Mike or Stinger Pressure:

 

Husky (Nickel) Pressure:

 

They are named after fruits and are built off two common front structures based on the placement of the 3-technique in the Hoosiers four-down outfit.

 

“Apple”- 3- technique is weak. Tells the 2i technique is in the boundary. Nose must loop for contain when pass develops.

Below are two pictures of either Mike or Stinger Pressure from the Apple front.

 

“Radish”- Tells the 3-technique to go to the field; Nose must be looper and take the trip for contain.

Below are three pictures of either Mike or Stinger Pressure from the Apple front.

 

“Melon”- Walks the Mike up as a penetrator and to skin the Nose. It’s a mug look with the intent to steal the Center and Guard.  The Mike takes one up the field and slams into Guard and go up and wrap to steal the Center and Guard. The Tackle is on an automatic wrap.

Below are two pictures of the Mike pressure from the Melon front:

 

These pressure can all be checked based on “by rules,” either 2×2 or 3×1 formations. In most cases, the Mike pressures in 2×2 and the Stinger pressures in 3×1. Another option is tagging the pressure to the back. All of which is explained later in the report.

 

Two Deep Pressure Coverage:

Like all defensive coordinators, we’ll start with the coverage structure. These are two-deep, trap coverage simulated pressures which means that the corners will be asked to play the flat and be in run support. With a four man simulated rush, the seven coverage defenders will lay out in the following progressions:

  • Flat Defenders (2)
  • Seam Defenders (2)
  • Hash Defenders (2)
  • Hole Defender (1)

 

Of course, who these defenders are will be predicated on the rush itself. As detailed later, the “Bull” or boundary defensive end can often be added to the rush as a fifth rusher based on the formation structure.

The coverage is the coverage, but why these concepts worked so well in 2020 basically comes down to how Coach Teegardin and the defensive staff under defensive coordinator Kane Wommack were able to “steal” defenders in the run game, by alleviating them from pass responsibility. That came in two ways: with pre-snap communication from coverage defenders to trigger blitzes by formation and the post-snap “Center read” principle that was built in for the Mike and Stinger to quickly identify and react off block progressions to get an extra defender in the run game.

The rest of this report focuses solely on these two important distinctions.

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A-Gap Distortion: Man Blocking the Tight Zone Concept

A-Gap Distortion: Man Blocking the Tight Zone Concept

Posted by | Dec 5, 2021 | , , , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar with Brian Gabriel
Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach
Monmouth University (NJ)
Twitter: @CoachGabeMU

 

 

As a high school coach in New Jersey, I’ve been well versed in the success that Monmouth University has had running the football the last several years. Guided by perhaps the longest tenured coach at the FCS level in head coach (29 years) in Kevin Callahan, the Hawks continually are at or the near the top in several offensive categories. And the last couple seasons were no different. The Hawks tight zone concept- the top run scheme in its menu- averaged 7.8 yards per carry in 2019 and 7.6 yards per carry in 2020.

But how they’ve built their tight zone scheme is what makes it so efficient. Back in 2019, the offensive staff under the direction of coordinator Jeff Gallo made a conscience choice to separate the scheme into two separate concepts:

  • Front side exchange (“Atlanta”) which is a wider exchange where the aiming point is the inside leg of the play side Guard. Here the read is defined for the running back with the intention of tracking second level defenders. It’s a zone scheme until leverage (on the point) takes you back.
  • Backside exchange (“Arkansas”) where the Center’s leg is the target in a much tighter exchange. The ball carrier gets the ball in the backside A gap but must get to Center’s play side foot as an aiming point until they get a clear read. It’s a man scheme unless the point takes you to a zone scheme.

 

 

They’ve made a conscience chose to major in the latter and it’s helped in displacing A gap defenders, which need to be handled in tight zone runs. I spoke at length with offensive line coach/run game coordinator Brian Gabriel about why he’s decided to make the shift. He told me that now he doesn’t ask his linemen to cover defenders up. Instead he defines the gaps for ball carriers. “We’ve gone away from the old school mentality of just covering people up and letting the back run,” he said. “Instead it’s become more of an iso mentality now because it’s all about protecting the A gap and displacing that defender. We don’t emphasize looking at LB’s, those downs (lineman) will get you first. So, now we try to just open gaps.”  He says it’s helped in providing accountability in making the play efficient. “It becomes a missed assignment for the offensive line and not the back,” he said. “We never want to say the back read it wrong. We have to define it for him.”

This report focuses on the identification system Monmouth uses to block various fronts in the Arkansas concept and the specific techniques that Coach Gabriel uses to help define those gaps for the ball carrier in its tight zone concept.

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The Mid Zone Mindset for the Play Side Tackle

The Mid Zone Mindset for the Play Side Tackle

Posted by | Nov 29, 2021 | , , , , , , | 0 |

By Mike Kuchar with Greg Whalen
Offensive Line Coach
Marian University (IN)
Twitter: @CoachWhalen59

 

 

The Mid zone concept- the offspring of the inside zone and outside zone family may be the most ideal boundary run scheme to two-man surfaces. It’s the preferred run of choice against any front- 4-3, 4-2-5, 3-man fronts- and against any coverage look. It can also be run from under center, shotgun, offset or pistol alignments. It can also be tagged with RPO’s, PAP’s or bootlegs to make the play much harder to defend.

But if you’re running mid zone in your system, you already know that. And if you’re not running mid-zone, you probably need to. Yet it’s important to note that the mid zone may not always be an effective play. The sources we talked to continually referenced the necessity of the back to understand the timing of the play. There’s more fitness to it than inside zone, and you don’t have the “circle the defense” mindset as you would in wide zone schemes. The back must blend the perfect mix of vision and speed in order to get the play right.

 

RB Aiming Point:

The ball carrier aiming point is the inside heel of the play side Tackle, which is a universal aiming point to two-man surfaces. Most prefer the same aiming point in pin and pull schemes as well. The back is taught the bang, bend, bounce methodology.  He will press and read shoulder tilt of play side Tackle. If his shoulders are parallel, he continues on his path and reads the next down defender. If any doubt in his mind, he sticks his foot to go north.

Marian offensive line coach Greg Whalen calls it the “flashlight” in the butt of the play side Tackle. “We tell him to run to that light,” he said. “We take the edge if it’s there, otherwise we need to read it back.” He’s gone to using more of a Pistol mesh because the drop step puts the ball carrier directly on the right path. In Pistol, the aiming point is pushed wider to the butt of the tight end or ghost tight end to two man surface. Now, the quarterback sprints to the mesh like he would on outside zone. “We want QB to get there easily so blocks can develop,” said Coach Whalen. “It helps because you can get behind a penetrating B gap defender in Pistol. You have more space that way. It puts him in right track and slows him down to let blocks develop.”

Quite frankly, a lot of responsibility is placed on the play side Tackle, which is why some mid-zone majors, like the outfit at Trinity College (CT), prefers to use a boundary and field tackle putting their better mid zone technician to the play side.   At the University of Marian (IN), the concept is called Minnesota/Gopher for a reason. Modeled after the success that the University of Minnesota has had utilizing the scheme, the Mid-Zone run play is a staple in Marian’s system- helping produce over 190 yards per game on the ground this season.

 

In its base form, the Mid Zone concept is best utilized to a two man surface, putting the play side Tackle on an island to handle the C gap defender down defender. The play side Guard and Center work in combination to block the second down defender and play side linebacker, or one past the point.

 

Two-Back Mid-Zone

While it’s often used as an open side concept, the staff at Marian has more success running it to an artificial three-man surface from a Y off formation or with a grounded tight end. With the Y-off formation, the tight end is responsible for “plus two” past the point. In this concept, the Y needs to clear the running lane and define the entry point for the running back. Coach Whalen calls the tight end the fixer. “You have a pre-snap assignment,” he said. “But if anyone crosses your face before your assignment, you take him.”

 

Against four-down structures, the benefit of having the lead back gets him in a position to block a high safety or overhang defender if the boundary corner is locked in man coverage.

 

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Base Reduction Principles to Defend Run Game

Base Reduction Principles to Defend Run Game

Posted by | Nov 29, 2021 | , , , , , | 0 |

By Steve Erxleben with Spencer Leno
Co-Defensive Coordinator
Massillon High School (OH)

 

 

The benefits of the reduction front lie in the ability to play both even and odd looks on the snap of the ball. Its simple spacing keeps box and spill defenders consistent without an immense amount of checks. At Massillon High School (OH) co-defensive coordinator Spencer Leno uses two base reduction principles (Up and Eagle) to help solidify run fits by playing single gap control (and no two-gap) defense.

 

Base Front Structure:

At its core, Massillon is an “Up” Front defense. 3-4 spacing, with two interior linebackers, a hybrid strong safety or outside linebacker and a hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker. With the strength set to passing strength, the outside linebacker is the most critical component of the defense. He and the Sam linebacker are apex defenders against a removed number two and key the EMLOS for both run and pass reads. They are box defenders against the run game and will attack the line of scrimmage. The 5-technique and shade are to the “Sam” linebacker and the 4i and OB are set away. The 4i is aligned over the offensive tackle but will key the V of the neck of the offensive guard, essentially playing a 3 technique from 4i positioning.

 

The changeup front Massillon uses are what they call “Eagle,” where the OB walks up on the tip of the offensive tackle, reducing the Tackle to a 3-technique. Everything else stays the same.

 

Front Techniques:

Where Massillon differs is the way in which they play the Odd front. They are not a two-gap outfit and will work to attack the “V” of the neck of the down lineman for two essential reads: if the offensive lineman comes at them, they play vertical. If the offensive lineman works downhill, they squeeze and spill chasing pullers. The difference lies in that 4i technique. If he’s playing a true 4i, Coach Leno works to have him work down the line of scrimmage and chase pullers. If he’s playing a 3-technique, he’ll work to squeeze down blocks to play the jump cut lane on cutback. In both circumstances, they are Guard read defenders.

Since there is no two-gap technique across the board, the Nose is a shade with a single purpose of getting his hands on the Center. If the Nose feels pressure from the offensive Guard, he “hips” the Guard but doesn’t fully turn, keeping both linemen on two different levels preventing them from getting hip-to-hip on the double team or working to the Mike.

 

Base Coverage System:

Both safeties key number two pre-snap and are in a palms coverage scenario. They have a man-play-man rule, which Coach Leno describes that their initial read is #2, then they become a surface to alley defender. If there is no number two, the safety is reading the end man on the line of scrimmage, making the outside linebackers correct. This helps with the consistency of OLBs as box players and safeties as alley players keeps the run fits fast.

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Variations of Trap in the Power Spread

Variations of Trap in the Power Spread

Posted by | Nov 7, 2021 | , , | 0 |

By Matt Kimmes (with Kyle Borland)
Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach
DeForest High School (WI)
Twitter: @norskicoachk (@kblu54)

 

 

We utilize the Trap concept in our offense because of its quick-hitting nature and its flexibility regarding personnel. We are primarily a gap scheme/skip-pull team, so Trap gives the illusion of that while being a “rule-breaker” for us in terms of how we block it. There are also many ways to “dress it up” with motions, RPOs, triple-option looks, and by using the QB as the primary ball carrier. Double-wing, Wing T, and similar-based teams have been using Trap effectively for years, but we’ve adapted the same concept to our shotgun-based approach. First, let’s start with the basics of our shotgun Trap:

 

The main crux of the blocking scheme comes from the middle 3 linemen: both guards and the center. Essentially, they block each other’s first threat to give the appearance of a gap scheme but also leaving no reaction time for the defense. This first diagram is drawn up against an Even/4-down front with a 1-tech to the side of the TB and a 3-tech aligned away. This is the traditional “favorite” defense for Trap because it allows enough spacing for the blockers to hit their marks as well as keeping the TB on a normal track.

Starting with the center, he should down block to the backside DL which in this case would be the 1-tech. The play side guard should release up to the #2 linebacker, which is usually the Mike LB. These two blocks should create a crease in the play side A-gap and influence the unblocked 3-tech. The backside guard then takes a direct angle to perform the Trap block onto the play side DL and opens the A-gap for the TB. The TB should secure the handoff and aim directly upfield; it will look messy for a split second before a significant opening. Ideally, the TB should not take any lateral movement.

Since the crux of the blocking scheme is in the middle, that allows a lot of variation for the rest of the scheme as well as flexibility for personnel and tags. In the first diagram above, the play side tackle releases up to the #1 linebacker and the tight end (Y) base blocks on the edge defender. On the backside, our fullback (H) will release up to the #3 linebacker and the backside tackle will base block the edge defender. It can simply be explained as a “first threat” scheme for the periphery blockers. In some offenses, Trap requires both tackles to immediately release to their nearest linebacker, as the next diagram shows:

 

Here, the backside tackle releases up to the #3 linebacker, mirroring his tackle counterpart. This then allows the H to perform a more natural block on the backside edge. This might be an easier variation to teach as both tackles are now doing the same thing, as well as opening Read variations in different personnel sets. For example, you can put a “Read” tag on the play, out of 11 personnel and leave the backside edge to determine to give/keep for the QB:

 

If the middle 3 linemen perform their blocks and the ball carrier remains on a tight inside track, you can break off a big play before the defense can properly react or run fit.

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Teaching Eye Discipline to Buzz Safety in One-High Structures

Teaching Eye Discipline to Buzz Safety in One-High Structures

Posted by | Nov 1, 2021 | , , , , | 0 |

By Brian Stoldt
Former Defensive Backs Coach
Alfred University (NY)
Twitter: @Brian_Stoldt13

 

 

Playing defensive back is one of the most physically difficult positions in football considering that defensive backs need to defend the best athletes on the field. One of the best ways to gain an advantage on the opposing offense is through our pre-snap eye discipline. Many physical traits are essential for a successful defensive back such as good feet, being balanced, but mentally, defensive backs can create a major advantage with their eye discipline. Specifically, this report will focus on the eye discipline of a strong safety in our Cover 3 Buzz.

First, the players need to understand the basic concepts of each coverage they are running. Man, Zone, or Zone blitz? No matter the coverage, eye discipline is incredibly important. Based on each coverage we run, each formation we face, and certain tendencies that we find, our safeties will have different responsibilities in each given situation. The process all starts with their eyes.

In Zone coverage, we want to have awareness of the offensive formation, but defensive backs want to read the drop and shoulders of the QB. This is especially true for an insert safety in our Cover 3 Buzz.

 

Buzz vs Run

The first key for our Strong Safety when he is inserting is to get a run/pass read in the backfield. If he sees the ball handed off, his responsibility is to take an inside path to the ball carrier by tracking his inside hip to the ball. Essentially, he is a spill player because he has a force/flat player outside of him. That player’s responsibility is to force the ball back inside. In the first clip, our strong safety, #5 reads that there is a low ball, and he inserts inside the RT to make the tackle.

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QB Decision Protocols in 12 Personnel Split Zone RPOs

QB Decision Protocols in 12 Personnel Split Zone RPOs

Posted by | Oct 25, 2021 | , , , , , , | 0 |

By Artie Allen
Former Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach
Chaffey College (CA)
Twitter: @coachallen5

 

 

At Chaffey College, we do our best to be in offensive sets that complement the skill sets of our players. We try to take advantage of the strain that 11, 12, and 21 personnel looks, put on a defense. We are huge believers in running Tight Zone as a base run play. The flexibility to align and move Tight End’s to various positions allow for variability within the concept while keeping the offensive line’s responsibility simple.

 

One of our favorite variations of the zone is Split Zone with a TE/Wing player. How we run Split Zone with RPO attachments allow us to do the following:

  • Block or more in the run box to give the quarterback protection
  • Pre-snap read conflict defenders to each side
  • Post-snap read a sole conflict defender to a specified side

 

The focus of the report is the Quarterback’s decision making. I however want to briefly explain some details of each position.

Offensive Line: The primary goal of the offensive line is to vertically push the defensive line and get bodies on the 2nd level players to give the running back vertical seams to run through. The offensive line’s first step and working to get vertical with double teams are two of the most important techniques. Each offensive lineman will generally take the same step, but the steps may adjust slightly based on the different alignments each player may see.

 

Running Backs: The running back is critical to the play as he is responsible for working with the double teams and not against them. The running back has 1st-level keys and 2nd level keys. On the 1st level, we are identifying pre-snap what front we see. We expect vertical or lateral movement based on the alignment of each defensive tackle. On the 2nd level, we are looking for fast-flow or slow-flow based on alignment. The running back’s eyes will start on the 1st defensive lineman playside of the Center. He will “Bang” it front side, “Bend” it backside, or “Bounce” it outside.  One of the biggest coaching points is that the running back is patient and makes his move into the line of scrimmage. This helps the angles for the offensive line’s blocks.

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Pairing the Jet Package with Sugar Huddle Tempo

Pairing the Jet Package with Sugar Huddle Tempo

Posted by | Oct 18, 2021 | , , , , | 0 |

By Seth Storer
Offensive Coordinator
Oberlin High School (LA)
Twitter: @SethStorer1

 

 

Our philosophy is to use our team speed coupled with the sugar huddle to try and outflank the defense and hit them before they are ready. We like to be able to attack both vertically and horizontally. We try to have a concept to attack all gaps and areas of the field to and away from jet motion or the featured play of our series. In doing this we have “if-then” built into our 3-prong attack. “If-then” is our answer to how the defense plays us. A 3-prong attack is being able to hit the defense with an inside run, outside threat, and deep threat vertically down the field. Essentially making defense cover the entire field. The Sugar Huddle or quick huddle is breaking the huddle and sprinting to the LOS. There are a few different ways you can do this.

We will start with the jet that we like to run out of multiple formations with a few misdirections off the jet. One of the reasons we went to the jet is the same reason we went to the Wing-T 7 years ago our;  undersized line. The Jet requires minimal blocking at the point of attack and our best players are usually making the key blocks.  Like any series-based offense, the counters and PAP are only as good as the featured play, so we spend a great deal of time on the little things that make the Jet work for us.

 

Sugar Huddle:

The sugar huddle has been a key part of our offensive identity and success over the past 3 seasons. We have used it in a few different ways. We started out by just simply using a tag when we wanted to break the huddle at a super-fast pace and almost exclusively used it for sweep plays. We then used it for entire series or drives and eventually implemented it almost full-time. Auburn University has used it in a variety of ways leaking out the C and a few WR’s and then having the rest of the offense break to the LOS and run the play. We simply leak WR’s and then break to LOS. The main idea behind the sugar is to catch the defense misaligned. Often when we snap the ball the defensive line is still not set and allows our OL to get a great push off the LOS. One of the biggest obstacles for Wing-T teams using sugar huddle is deciding if you do or do not flip your OL.  There are trade-offs for both, and we have done both over the years. Not switching allows you to break faster. Our goal is to run the play from break to snap within 4 seconds. We have a few tempos that we use within our system also. These include quick, turbo, and milk. When we call milk, we stay in the huddle until the 10-second mark then breaks as fast as possible for LOS. This allows for our players to catch their breath and run time off the clock. Using different cadences when in sugar also help to keep the defense off-balance. We use a first sound cadence often and then switch it up while using sugar huddle. We feel like the combination of the two often causes the defense to jump offside.

 

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Incorporating 4 Footwork Releases to Attack Press Coverage

Incorporating 4 Footwork Releases to Attack Press Coverage

Posted by | Oct 11, 2021 | , , | 0 |

By Luc Polglaze
Wide Receivers and Tight Ends Coach
Kenyon College (OH)
Twitter: @LucPolglaze

 

 

When facing coverages, receivers should be armed with a variety of tools and releases to help them attack the leverage of the cornerback. I want them to have the confidence to get off the line against press coverage and into their route as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Football is a physical sport, and nothing sums that up better than press coverage. It is a one-on-one coverage that challenges receivers to overcome a defensive back lined up directly across from them. As a result, the receiver’s mindset needs to be aggressive and physical. This is a great opportunity for them to make a play and get open.

At the same time, though, receivers shouldn’t overthink the release. It should be automatic and repeatedly drilled. I will rep releases on an almost daily basis – I want to make sure that this is something that feels natural to the players. Also, I make sure that the releases I coach are boiled down to the essentials. I effectively coach four releases against press coverage – each with its own benefits and risks.

When we talk about a release against press coverage, it comes down to two things: hands and footwork. Both of them operate independently, and both can be the cause of a great release, or lead to a poor release.

Hands: When a receiver is in their stance normally, I allow receivers to have some flexibility with their hands. They should do whatever feels the most comfortable for them, but that will still allow them to accelerate off the line of scrimmage quickly and smoothly. Most receivers will either rest their hands on their front knee or leave them dangling.

 

However, against press coverage, I want the receivers to have their hands up in almost a boxer’s stance. This makes sure that the defender does not have easy access to their main target area – the breastplate/shoulders of the receiver. The receiver is effectively making that window smaller for a defensive back to reach and allows him to have his hands already in a position to react, as we see here from this receiver. Having the hands at chest height means the receiver doesn’t have to waste precious time bringing them up from a lower angle.

 

When a DB shoots his hands, there are two main target areas for the receiver: the wrist, and the elbow. When targeting the wrist, the receiver should flatten their hand and chop the defender’s wrist with the side of the palm. When targeting the elbow, the receiver should cup their hand and swipe up at the defender’s elbow.

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