Chuck Martin Clinic notes

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 !

Next UP!

Sorry for the layoff, I have been collecting information and waiting to be inspired...So expect an article on EMPTY.

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

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.

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!!

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!!!

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

VEER and MIDLINE from the GUN

This has been a hot topic lately, so I figured this to be a great article. I have some experience coaching this type of gun run game. These plays are very effective because of the option element that always gives defenses fits! However, like any option attack, a lot of time and repetition are needed for a successful play. I prefer the gun veer and midline for many reasons.
1) The QB can be involved in the run game without getting beat up.
2) The read is a bit slower.
3) It can be just as effective from two back, one back (2x2), or one back (3X1).
In the past, my “rule” was run Veer to the 1 tech and Midline to the 3 tech. Now, teams are running either play to any side. Even running Midline to the 1 tech is common! Running Midline to a 30 stack front can be done with some change in the blocking assignments.
There are three factors in perfecting the Veer and Midline options.
1) The QB READ
2) The MESH between FB and QB
3) The pitch phase between the RB and the QB
The best way to teach this is the Perimeter Drill


The first diagram (FIG. 1) shows the lines for the path of the FB to the right.
RED LINE is VEER RIGHT
YELLOW LINE is MIDLINE RIGHT
(BLUE LINE is ZONE READ LEFT) This is not covered in this article.



The second diagram (FIG. 2) shows the lines for the path of the FB to the left.
RED LINE is VEER LEFT
YELLOW LINE is MIDLINE LEFT
(BLUE LINE is ZONE READ RIGHT) This is not covered in this article.



The third diagram (FIG. 3) shows a typical set up for perimeter VEER run. The extra player line up and swap positions. Every three is a good rotation. The DT line is slanted outward to simulate a true veer path if all blocks are completed. I will sometimes have this line hold bags and hit the FB as he runs. I will also have the first player in line slide to one side to get the FB to cutback (FIG. 4).

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The slanted line is also a great reminder of the old school running progression of HOLE-HASH-NUMBERS-SIDELINE-TOUCHDOWN. The QB line is the READ KEY or DE. When first installing the drill you may need to be the read OR stand behind the player and pull him right or left. This is the first spot I will stand because I can see if the QB is looking at the READ KEY. After making sure that the QB in line knows to look for the QB’s eyes I move to the pitch phase. The RB must walk two steps back at an angle to insure proper timing. He must wait and watch the MESH then he opens to get into pitch relationship. Pitch relationship is 5 yards and trail. Yes, TRAIL the QB. If you teach the old school 5 and 1 (or 2) the RB is often 5 yards deep in the backfield. Another key coaching point is the RB MUST adjust his relationship to the QB. The QB must attack the line of scrimmage and avoid bowing back, which loses yards.

When the QB makes a pitch read:

1) He must step to the RB

2) He needs to stay low as he pitches.

3) He needs to FOLLOW the pitch.

4) He should end up behind the RB

These coaching points are for two reasons: the QB avoids contact (always a good thing!) and IF there ever is a bad pitch, he is in a good position to recover the football.

A few rhymes or quotes for the QB read, courtesy of Coach Tony DeMeo.

THE MESH-“If in doubt, GIVE”. The FB should always get 3 yards…

THE PITCH-“Never pitch in a MESS or under STRESS”. The QB should keep the ball if there is too much traffic.

When the QB makes a keep read, HE MUST GET VERTICAL!

VEER ASSIGNMENTS

QB: Secure snap, EYES on READ KEY, SHOULDER SQUARE to LOS, get ball back to start MESH, Steps using a clock would be 5-3-5 (right) and 7-11-7 (left). IF GIVE then carry out PITCH PHASE. READ PITCH KEY.

FB: Step, EYES on FIRST DL past center, MESH with QB. Make sure QB has the snap secure before making second step.

Vs. 1 tech-PRESS the hole (FS A GAP) GET VERTICAL, then look for cutback (BS A GAP).

Vs 3 tech-PRESS the hole (FS B GAP) GET VERTICAL, then look for cutback (FS A GAP).

RB: WALK Two steps back and watch the MESH. After MESH, pivot and get into PITCH Relationship (5 yards and trail QB)

MIDLINE

The fourth diagram (FIG. 5) shows a typical set up for perimeter MIDLINE run. The extra player line up and swap positions. Every three is a good rotation. The DT line is the READ KEY This line is now straight to keep the FB in “GET VERTICAL” mindset. I will sometimes have this line hold bags and hit the FB as he runs. The QB line is also straight to keep the QB in the same “GET VERTICAL” process. The the first spot I will stand will be the DT line, so I can see if the QB is looking at the READ KEY. The RB must get into pitch relationship even though I have never had the QB pitch. If this is your choice too, then I would suggest the RB to carry out a great fake and call out “BALL, BALL, and BALL”. The QB will almost replaces the spot that the DT lines up. That is why the diagram has the QB line going through the DT line.

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MIDLINE ASSIGNMENTS

QB: Secure snap, EYES on READ KEY, SHOULDER SQUARE to LOS, get ball back to start MESH, IF GIVE then carry out PITCH PHASE. READ PITCH KEY, if in the game plan.

FB: Step, EYES on FIRST DL past center, MESH with QB, PRESS the hole (FS A GAP) GET VERTICAL, then look for cutback (BS A GAP). Make sure QB has the snap secure before making second step.

RB: WALK two steps back and watch the MESH. After MESH pivot and get into PITCH Relationship (5 yards and trail QB), if in the game plan. Or carry out a great fake and call out “BALL, BALL, BALL”.

The Midline play is quicker hitting and the coach must stress the importance of “GET VERTICAL”. Too much “dancing” in the hole can result in the ball carrier getting blindsided.

LINE BLOCKING ASSIGNMENTS for VEER

Y: release inside and look to block SAFETY.

PST: DO NOT BLOCK PLAYSIDE END! Step down hard to inside gap, DOUBLE team block on D LINEMAN.

PSG: DOUBLE team BLOCK on D LINEMAN in playside gap.

C: DOUBLE team BLOCK on most dangerous D LINEMAN.

BSG: SCOOP BLOCK on D LINEMAN in playside gap.

BST: BACKSIDE RULES: No one cross the face into the playside gap, work up to LB level.

LINE BLOCKING ASSIGNMENTS for MIDLINE

Y: release inside and look to block SAFETY.

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.

Blocking the 30 stack is really only changes the PST release. But I would run Midline more against the stack then Veer.

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VARIATIONS by FORMATION

2 x 2 Formation

The RB needs to come in motion to the play side. The motion could be like jet. The timing would need to be worked to make sure the RB doesn’t travel too far.

The other motion could be deep and into the backfield . The motion doesn’t need the timing practice and can provide easy counter action.

3 X 1 Formation

The action is the same as in the perimeter drill. This is a great formation to run play action to expose an over active Safety.

2 back Formation

The only consideration for this formation is the RB needs to be fast and get into pitch relationship.

VEER from a TWO BACK FORMATION




VEER from a TRIPS FORMATION



VEER from a 2 x 2 formation with JET motion



VEER from a 2 x 2 formation with DEEP motion



BLOCKING for MIDLINE and variations coming next!!