Using Formations to gain an advantage
1) Don't worry about balance (run/pass)
2) Allows you to keep it simple.
- 4 runs - 4 passes
3) Create run/pass looks.
4) Utilize your personnel.
5) Make game planning difficult for defense.
6) Create edges to get the ball to the perimeter.
7) Create Matchups.
- 4 x 1 formations - 5 x 0 formations
8) Motion to and from Empty.
9) Strength of formation to the boundary.
10) Allows you to be stubborn and boring.
11) Attack their bad players.
- Make their CB defend the run.
- Make their LB defend the pass.
Coach Martin was an entertaining speaker !
HEADER
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Next UP!
Sorry for the layoff, I have been collecting information and waiting to be inspired...So expect an article on EMPTY.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Notre Dame Clinic tidbits
Here are a few things I either noticed or wrote down during the clinic.
Instead of using the term FINISH they say SCORE.
When asked "What do you look for in a QB?"
ND OC Charley Molnar answered "We want a QB that can extend the play"
Coach Kelly's notable quotes
“Not to it, through it” in reference to cones as an ending point of a drill.
He told the QBs to “Keep your feet alive” instead of having happy feet.
When he meets with the players, he tells them
"You are here to play for Notre Dame"
Pride and Tradition will not be left up to the weak and timid.
SPREAD TEAMS are all FINESSE...NOT!
At the Saturday morning practice, within the first five minutes, Coach Kelly strongly told the QBs to get rid of the hand warmers and "quit being soft!"
OL coach Ed Warinner shouts “Knock him off the ball”
ESPN radio host Mike Golic was at practice on Saturday...he looked almost skinny, that P90X program is working!
X and O diagrams to come
Instead of using the term FINISH they say SCORE.
When asked "What do you look for in a QB?"
ND OC Charley Molnar answered "We want a QB that can extend the play"
Coach Kelly's notable quotes
“Not to it, through it” in reference to cones as an ending point of a drill.
He told the QBs to “Keep your feet alive” instead of having happy feet.
When he meets with the players, he tells them
"You are here to play for Notre Dame"
Pride and Tradition will not be left up to the weak and timid.
SPREAD TEAMS are all FINESSE...NOT!
At the Saturday morning practice, within the first five minutes, Coach Kelly strongly told the QBs to get rid of the hand warmers and "quit being soft!"
OL coach Ed Warinner shouts “Knock him off the ball”
ESPN radio host Mike Golic was at practice on Saturday...he looked almost skinny, that P90X program is working!
X and O diagrams to come
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
GUN BOOT PASS
When coaches think boot pass, many coaches think run play action. A few years ago I attended a clinic talk that used a hitch as the action fake. The boot pass is a great play and is often overlooked by spread teams. The hitch action allows a pass happy team to add a boot element to their offense. This also is an important addition which changes the QB’s launch point. The multiple routes and formations make this a very versatile play.
The starting point is the QB. The hitch action needs to be practiced to see what footwork works the best. The starting point is the QB pumps the hitch route and then opens to the boot side. Some QBs may prefer a harder pump, then a pivot on the lead which shows the QB back to the defense. The QB needs to whip his head around to find his WRs and the possible rush.
Protection is the standard turn back with the pulling guard.
If you don’t have a guard that can pull then you may add an H back and have him chip the DE before releasing.
As stated before, you can vary the routes and formations. First we will look at it from an ACE formation (3 WR and 1 TE).
BACKSIDE WR ROUTE = HITCH.
5 yard Hitch. Drive at CB's outside shoulder, plant, look for ball NOW!
BACKSIDE SLOT ROUTE = DRAG.
Run under LB at depth of 5 yards, avoid LBs! Get into QB view ASAP.
FRONTSIDE TE ROUTE = DELAY.
Hard inside step to PSE, push off the DE then get to flats to a depth of five yards.
FRONTSIDE WR ROUTE = POST CORNER.
Break at 7 to sell POST route, turn CB's hips THEN break to CORNER. Use Pylon rules.
From the ACE formation booting away from the TE.
BACKSIDE WR ROUTE = HITCH.
5 yard Hitch. Drive at CB's outside shoulder, plant, look for ball NOW!
PLAYSIDE SLOT ROUTE = CORNER.
Break at 8 yards to corner of endzone. Use Pylon rules.
FRONTSIDE TE ROUTE = DRAG.
Run under LB at depth of 5 yards, avoid LBs! Get into QB view ASAP!
FRONTSIDE WR ROUTE = WHIP.
Run at LB at depth of 4 yards, avoid LBs! plant whip to outside gaining a depth of 5 yards.
From the TREY formation.
BACKSIDE WR ROUTE = HITCH.
5 yard Hitch. Drive at CB's outside shoulder, plant, look for ball NOW!
PLAYSIDE SLOT ROUTE = WHIP.
Run at LB at depth of 4 yards, avoid LBs! plant whip to outside gainig a depth of 5 yards.
FRONTSIDE TE ROUTE = DELAY.
Hard inside step to PSE, push off the DE then get to flats to a depth of five yards.
FRONTSIDE WR ROUTE = POST CORNER.
Break at 7 to sell POST route, turn CB's hips THEN break to CORNER. Use Pylon rules.
From the TRIPS formation
BACKSIDE WR ROUTE = HITCH.
5 yard Hitch. Drive at CB's outside shoulder, plant, look for ball NOW!
BACKSIDE SLOT POST.
Break at 7 yards then get behind the Free Safety and into QB's view.
BACKSIDE TE ROUTE = CROSS.
1 step upfield then run across BOX. Not a DRAG! Settle in grass.THEN climb up field.
FRONTSIDE WR ROUTE = COMEBACK.
Drive 12 yards then break to the sidelines at 45 degree angle.
Additional tweaks could include replacing the DRAG route with the Air Raid CROSS route.
I will try to find some clips from Wisconsin Whitewater dvd.
The starting point is the QB. The hitch action needs to be practiced to see what footwork works the best. The starting point is the QB pumps the hitch route and then opens to the boot side. Some QBs may prefer a harder pump, then a pivot on the lead which shows the QB back to the defense. The QB needs to whip his head around to find his WRs and the possible rush.
Protection is the standard turn back with the pulling guard.
If you don’t have a guard that can pull then you may add an H back and have him chip the DE before releasing.
As stated before, you can vary the routes and formations. First we will look at it from an ACE formation (3 WR and 1 TE).
BACKSIDE WR ROUTE = HITCH.
5 yard Hitch. Drive at CB's outside shoulder, plant, look for ball NOW!
BACKSIDE SLOT ROUTE = DRAG.
Run under LB at depth of 5 yards, avoid LBs! Get into QB view ASAP.
FRONTSIDE TE ROUTE = DELAY.
Hard inside step to PSE, push off the DE then get to flats to a depth of five yards.
FRONTSIDE WR ROUTE = POST CORNER.
Break at 7 to sell POST route, turn CB's hips THEN break to CORNER. Use Pylon rules.
From the ACE formation booting away from the TE.
BACKSIDE WR ROUTE = HITCH.
5 yard Hitch. Drive at CB's outside shoulder, plant, look for ball NOW!
PLAYSIDE SLOT ROUTE = CORNER.
Break at 8 yards to corner of endzone. Use Pylon rules.
FRONTSIDE TE ROUTE = DRAG.
Run under LB at depth of 5 yards, avoid LBs! Get into QB view ASAP!
FRONTSIDE WR ROUTE = WHIP.
Run at LB at depth of 4 yards, avoid LBs! plant whip to outside gaining a depth of 5 yards.
From the TREY formation.
BACKSIDE WR ROUTE = HITCH.
5 yard Hitch. Drive at CB's outside shoulder, plant, look for ball NOW!
PLAYSIDE SLOT ROUTE = WHIP.
Run at LB at depth of 4 yards, avoid LBs! plant whip to outside gainig a depth of 5 yards.
FRONTSIDE TE ROUTE = DELAY.
Hard inside step to PSE, push off the DE then get to flats to a depth of five yards.
FRONTSIDE WR ROUTE = POST CORNER.
Break at 7 to sell POST route, turn CB's hips THEN break to CORNER. Use Pylon rules.
From the TRIPS formation
BACKSIDE WR ROUTE = HITCH.
5 yard Hitch. Drive at CB's outside shoulder, plant, look for ball NOW!
BACKSIDE SLOT POST.
Break at 7 yards then get behind the Free Safety and into QB's view.
BACKSIDE TE ROUTE = CROSS.
1 step upfield then run across BOX. Not a DRAG! Settle in grass.THEN climb up field.
FRONTSIDE WR ROUTE = COMEBACK.
Drive 12 yards then break to the sidelines at 45 degree angle.
Additional tweaks could include replacing the DRAG route with the Air Raid CROSS route.
I will try to find some clips from Wisconsin Whitewater dvd.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
MESH DRILL
I had the opportunity to meet with the new Valparaiso University staff and watch practice. The new head coach is bringing the Air Raid to VU. One of the main drills I got and wanted to pass on was how they practice MESH. They do this daily for at least 6 minutes. They break into two groups. The Meshers/Out combo and the Corner/Swing combo.
In the meshers group, they position coaches as the LBs to make the WRs either settle or run. I would point out to have the QB "look" at the corner route then to the Mesh. The QB throwing to the Out would "look" Corner, Mesh then Out.
In the corner group, the QB needs to work on releasing the ball quickly (Rhythm). The QB throwing the swing would need to "look" Corner,Mesh then Swing.
I plan to see VU again, being that the commute is about 5 minutes from my house!!
In the meshers group, they position coaches as the LBs to make the WRs either settle or run. I would point out to have the QB "look" at the corner route then to the Mesh. The QB throwing to the Out would "look" Corner, Mesh then Out.
In the corner group, the QB needs to work on releasing the ball quickly (Rhythm). The QB throwing the swing would need to "look" Corner,Mesh then Swing.
I plan to see VU again, being that the commute is about 5 minutes from my house!!
Friday, April 9, 2010
BOOT PASS
We had some requests for an article on BOOT pass...the problem, We didn't run boot from gun last year. I will make some diagrams and notes on Wisconsin Whitewater's Boot Naked concept. I practiced this concept two years ago, but never ran it in a game. Coming soon!
Next Week, Notre Dame Clinic!!!
Next Week, Notre Dame Clinic!!!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
MIDLINE VARIATIONS and diagrams
You could run all the formation variations but, in spread reality, the 2x2 formation has the best “bang for your buck”. This is also why I will only post the blocking against 4-2 and 30 stack. In the diagram,the RB is offset, but a pistol look would look great too! If they have more than SIX in the box you should be throwing the football (refer to my Football Math article). One blocking variation could be having the Playside tackle take a hard influence step and pop his head up to sell pass. The WRs can fake QUICK or BUBBLE screens. I have come to the conclusion that when a play is hitting inside, there really isn’t a need to have WRs run down field to stalk block when they can keep the DBs thinking by running a short route.
LINE BLOCKING ASSIGNMENTS for MIDLINE
PST: Short step back with right (playside) foot then drive out Playside Defensive End.
PSG: DO NOT BLOCK PLAYSIDE DL! Step down hard to inside gap, DOUBLE team block on D LINEMAN.
C: DOUBLE team BLOCK on most dangerous D LINEMAN.
BSG: SCOOP BLOCK on D LINEMAN in playside gap.
BST: SLOW BACKSIDE RULES: No one cross the face into the playside gap, work up to LB level.
MIDLINE versus 30 STACK
MIDLINE versus 4-2
MIDLINE to the 1 technique
LINE BLOCKING ASSIGNMENTS for MIDLINE
PST: Short step back with right (playside) foot then drive out Playside Defensive End.
PSG: DO NOT BLOCK PLAYSIDE DL! Step down hard to inside gap, DOUBLE team block on D LINEMAN.
C: DOUBLE team BLOCK on most dangerous D LINEMAN.
BSG: SCOOP BLOCK on D LINEMAN in playside gap.
BST: SLOW BACKSIDE RULES: No one cross the face into the playside gap, work up to LB level.
MIDLINE versus 30 STACK
MIDLINE versus 4-2
MIDLINE to the 1 technique
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)