An Old School Answer to a New School Problem

This past season we ran the Zone Read and Counter Read with the Triple option.  Which was effective to a point when people started to gap exchange it did create some problems for us. especially with the Zone.  We would have the Defensive End who chased down back and the Linebacker would just stand there our Zone and he would end up stacked up with the defensive end because of the horizontal movement of our offensive line. Also the Pitch key would blitz making it a really short pull and pitch.  Texas Tech Defensive Coordinator Matt Wallerstedt breaks down the film of what opponents started to do with us.

Our counter out of the pistol looks like this:

Our Jacks Formation everybody does the same exact job just from different positions. Our H and B Backs are aligned in B Gap two yards from the heals of the offensive linemen.  

As you can see we keep it simple but complex to Defensive Coordinators I am stealing this idea from Gus Malzahn of Auburn who is an ex wing-t guy and was taken from one of the greatest coaches of all time Vince Lombardi.  

 

Nothing changes for our 8 of our players the Offensive Line and A Back is still running Counter. The X and Y are still running their Routes.  

The H is Buck  "Buck is he kicks out the defense's force player."

The B is Packer "Packer runs flat across the center then sickles around getting shoulder pads vertical blocks linebacker to safety."  

QB Opens Up to the Left reads the DE is he chases the QB is pulling and replace and runs the ball in the alley.  

So basically the H and the B are running buck sweep if they were the guards if the Quarterback gets a pull read.  

Putting it all together it should look like this:

In conclusion be a great answer to Defensive Coordinators who Gap Exchange and bring their Force Defender off the Edge. Also linebackers are going to have Offensive linemen pulling in front of them going one way and backs pulling across the other way that action will slow down their reads. I

  

Assistant Coach and the Star fish

As an assistant you control what you can and if the powers that be will see your work its ok if not its still ok. I heard this story in church this morning:

Based on the story by Loren Eisley...

I awoke early, as I often did, just before sunrise to walk by the ocean's edge and greet the new day. As I moved through the misty dawn, I focused on a faint, far away motion. I saw a youth, bending and reaching and flailing arms, dancing on the beach, no doubt in celebration of the perfect day soon to begin.

As I approached, I sadly realized that the youth was not dancing to the bay, but rather bending to sift through the debris left by the night's tide, stopping now and then to pick up a starfish and then standing, to heave it back into the sea. I asked the youth the purpose of the effort. "The tide has washed the starfish onto the beach and they cannot return to the sea by themselves," the youth replied. "When the sun rises, they will die, unless I throw them back to the sea."

As the youth explained, I surveyed the vast expanse of beach, strectching in both directions beyond my sight. Starfish littered the shore in numbers beyond calculation. The hopelessness of the youth's plan became clear to me and I countered, "But there are more starfish on this beach than you can ever save before the sun is up. Surely you cannot expect to make a difference."

The youth paused briefly to consider my words, bent to pick up a starfish and threw it as far as possible. Turning to me he simply said, "I made a difference to that one."

I left the boy and went home, deep in thought of what the boy had said. I returned to the beach and spent the rest of the day helping the boy throw starfish in to the sea.

 

As an assistant I challenge you to throw as many starfish back as you can and I challenge the head coaches to have their entire staff throw back as many starfish as they can.

Lessons learned from the Book "The Tao of Chip Kelly:

Lesson 1 "Win the Day" 

The only thing we can control is today.  It means practice harder be Freddy Kruger like in attentiveness and focus on execution.  (Freddy Kruger= Relentlessness)

Lesson 2 "Feed the Tuna Mayonnaise" 

Become efficient No one stops to correct or explain things to one player while everyone else stands around watching.  If a player needs it explained he is substituted out of the play until he gets it while every else continues.  The goal is to get as many reps in practice as possible one rep every 20 seconds in Group, Seven on Seven, Inside, Half-Line, and Team.
http://www.footballscoop.com/news/9676-take-a-look-at-chip-kelly-s-music-playlist-for-practice

Lesson 3 Receivers are expected to block 

Receivers are expected to block on run plays and screens just as well as they catch passes.  It is a very selfish player who refuses to block for his teammates.  (See 2.32 of YouTube video bellow)

Play Calling

There are several factors involved in play calling.

• Personal
• Space 
• Defensive Structure 
• What is working
• Preparedness 

Personal this is determined by several factors your personal should be getting better right now until August rolls around.  This is off-season workouts, 7 on 7, Spring Ball (if you are allowed to do it), summer workouts, and finally having to steal for Urban Meyer high GSF.  My philosophy of personal is that you cannot control what level of athleticism that they came to you at but your job is to guide them to get as close as you can to that genetic ceiling as possible.  Remember Michael Jordan was cut as a high school freshman from the basketball team and through inhuman determination with practicing for the sport he loved became the greatest basketball player ever! You ever wonder what Mike Leach is writing down on that little index card during games? It was a hit chart that he counted how many times each of his receivers got the ball he was looking for even distribution.  The problem is that I don't live in that world I can only on campus recruit.  This coming up year I will have a couple of really good high school football players.  I am going to make sure that each one of those of guys touch the ball at least 20-25 times a game and then after that I am going to equally distribute the ball to the rest of the offensive skill guys.    

Space we are going to attack space.  In the run game look for bubbles and in the pass game look for grass.  With our offensive scheme the defense is going to have to defend 53 and a 1/3 yards wide and 18 yards from the line of scrimmage.  Also we are going to throw the post against outside leverage Un Capped and throw the go or the corner route against inside leverage Un Capped.

Defensive structure it's a mathematical equation:

2 Safeties= run the ball

1 Safety=utilize the option

0 Safeties=Throw the ball and Screens

Now of course we will run the ball, throw screens, and throw the ball against all defensive structures but as a general rule to attack the defense it is simple why try to run a play against the teeth of a defense when your hims are the same or not as good as his hims.

Do what is working try not to out smart your-self. Against one team this year we ran Counter 31 times for 260 yards for an 8.3 yards per play. Both of Bill Snyder's stints at Kansas State if his offense would find a play that worked he world run it over and over again until the defense stopped it then he would go to the next read or complement to it.

I am going to go back to my Copperas Cove days and since we run only two basic run schemes a Gap and Zone.  I am going to talk to our Offensive line coach and see what he thinks about just working Gap one day and Zone the other day.  The way we conduct practice offensive line gets a minimum of 10 5 minutes segments of individual.  That way all of his individual run blocking drills can be focused on that scheme for that day and tie in our screen game and passing game into it.  

Zone Day:

• Zone Running Stretch, Inside Zone, Speed Option and Speed Sweeps
• Sprint Out Passing Game
• Solid Screens
• Fast Screens
• 3 Step Passing Game

Gap Day

• Gap Running Game Counter and Power
• 5 Step Passing Game
• Counter Screens
• Jail Break Screens
• 3 Step Passing Game

Time and Reps last year we averaged 1 rep every 30 seconds during Group and Team.  This year our goal is going to run 1 play every 20 seconds if an athlete continually makes mistakes then his coach will pull him out put in a back up in and coach him up. We are going to have to coach off of film and coach on the run.    

Glazier December Webinar Schedule

Date	Speaker/School	Position	Topic Title	Time
12/3/13	Lambert Brown - Chaska HS, MN	Head Coach	Pistol Offense: Inside and Outside Zone Read Schemes and Variations	7PM EST
12/5/13	Jeff Moore - Framingham State Speaker Biography	DC	Framingham State 4-3 Black Shirt Defense with Split Field Coverages	7PM EST
12/9/13	David Feeley - Ball State Speaker Biography	Dir. of Strength & Cond./Football	Achieve the Squat to Achieve Your Ultimate Goal	7PM EST
12/10/13	Roger Holmes - Dublin HS, GA	Head Coach	Dublin Variations in the Waggle & Play-Action Passing Game in the Wing-T	7PM EST
12/12/13	Jim Ryan - Washington University in St. Louis Speaker Biography	DC/LB Coach	Defending the Spread with the 4-2-5	7PM EST
12/16/13	Fred Guidici - San Jose State Speaker Biography	Spec. Teams Coor.	Organization of Special Teams: How to Put it All Together for Practice, Coaches, and Games	7PM EST
12/17/13	Gabe Infante - St. Joseph's Prep HS, PA	Head Coach	Spread Topic TBD	7PM EST
12/19/13	Brandon Staley - John Carroll University Speaker Biography	DC/Sec. Coach	John Carroll 3-4 Defense: Middle of the Field Coverage Principles (Cover 1 & 3 Deep)	7PM EST

Verticals 2.0

This year I am going to install the R4 operating system in our offense.  We are going to keep our 4 Verticals and apply R4 to this concept.  I am a big believer in the Pat-N-Go throw in-order to throw it your receivers must be disciplined enough to stay on the numbers and physical enough not to get pressed into the sideline.  (remember the sideline hasen't missed a tackle since 1869).

These are the Rules

R4 from Darren Slack

Rhythm: Option 1 Throw on 3rd step in the Pistol (No hitch) Ball in Thrown in 1.8 seconds

Read: Option 2 Thrown off one hitch Ball in Thrown in 2.2 seconds

Rush: Thrown off ANY Step in Route Breaks under 5 yards

Release:  The QB Practices scrambling drills can buy an additional 1.5 seconds

Identify Coverage

The Reads are based on coverage so it is critical that the QB understands how to Identify the coverage: 

Man vs Zone

Vs Man the Read route is not an option. since you only have 2 seconds. 

Vs Zone you have 3 seconds so there are 3 reads. 

Collision and Cushion Conformation 

Collision Conformation if any inside route is re-routed by a defender then that speeds up the QB read to the next one.  

Cushion Conformation if an outside receiver breaks the cushion of the defender then the ball is thrown deep its pre-snapped then confirmed on the last step of the drop.         

Pre Snap

Look left to right low, look left to right high QB is looking for Grass and Leverage with Rhythm Routes. 

The Routes 

All of the Receivers have some sort of sight adjustment this is only for 2 X 2 Formations 

Outside Receivers X and Y They must stay on the top of the numbers which will allow the QB to have 7 yards to work with on a Pat-N-Go throw.  They run their route after ten yards they look in at the QB and will be able to see the back shoulder fade if the QB throws the football.  It is important that both the QB and WR know he is all ways open if they both are on the same page. We will rep this every day and I am really think about outlawing the Deep Ball Throw in Practice during 7 on 7 or just make him throw the Pat-N-Go or the Back Shoulder Fade.  

Inside Receivers H and B They must get to their hash if there are two safeties they have to win over the top by 12 yards if not they stop and do a half curl.      

A Back runs a check Down he releases through B gap and gets to 5 yards and turns to the QB

Vs Zone he turns and replaces the dropping linebacker.

Vs Man he works leverage against the linebacker maned up with him works leverage inside leverage go out side outside leverage go inside.   

Putting it All Together

Cover Zero: Man Two Reads

Rhythm: Go, Pat-N-Go, Back Shoulder Throw

Read: Seam or 12 yard stop

Rush: Check Down 

Release: Scramble 

Cover One: Man Two Reads

Rhythm: Go, Pat-N-Go, Back Shoulder Throw

Read: Seam or 12 yard stop

Rush: Check Down 

Release: Scramble  

Cover Two Zone Three Reads

Rhythm: Hole Shot

Read: Seam or 12 yard stop

Rush: Check Down 

Release: Scramble

Cover Three: Zone Three Reads 

2 Read Routes= Read the Free Safety  

Read: Seam or 12 yard stop

Read: Seam or 12 yard stop

Rush: Check Down 

Release: Scramble

Cover Four: Zone Three Reads

Rhythm: Go, Pat-N-Go, Back Shoulder Throw

Read: Seam or 12 yard stop

Rush: Check Down 

Release: Scramble

Darren Slack Links:
http://www.youtube.com/user/darinslack/videos

http://www.nationalfootballacademies.com/      

http://coachxo.com/darin-slack-r4-quarterback-system/

http://www.footballcoachingpodcast.com/dubmaddox/

http://smartfootball.com/uncategorized/improving-a-quarterbacks-throwing-motion

 http://www.nationalfootballacademies.com/staffbio/darin-slack/

http://www.quarterbackacademy.com/

  

           

Solid Screen From the Pistol

I do want to add a Stretch Play from the pistol and use Rich Rodriguez and Herb Hand running back reads for the Zone: Bounce, Bend, Bang.  It also will allow us to run the Solid Screen (Tony Franklin System)  without having to do it just from a Sprint Out, Hand Sweep or Speed Option Look which we will do those three looks also.

51 Solid

Y Block #1
B Block #2
RT Zone Right
RG Sell Zone 3 steps to Rt and then release –Peel Block
C Sell Zone 3 steps to Rt and then release – 2nd LB in Box
LG Sell Zone 3 steps to Rt and then release – 1st LB in Box
LT Sell Zone 3 steps to Rt and then release – Alley defender
H 2 Steps up field – Block #1 or M.D.M.(Most Dangerous Man)
X 3 Steps up field, Retrace, Work toward QB straight down line of scrimmage
A Back Fake Stretch Right
QB Fake Stretch Right retreat / get feet fast and throw solid screen to H as soon as he begins down L.O.S.

52 Solid

Y Block #1
B Block #2
RT Zone Right
RG Sell Zone 3 steps to Rt and then release –Peel Block
C Sell Zone 3 steps to Rt and then release – 2nd LB in Box
LG Sell Zone 3 steps to Rt and then release – 1st LB in Box
LT Sell Zone 3 steps to Rt and then release – Alley defender
H Bubble 3 Steps, Retrace, Work toward QB straight down line of scrimmage
X 2 Steps up field – Block #1 or M.D.M.(Most Dangerous Man)
A Back Fake Stretch Right
QB Fake Stretch Right retreat / get feet fast and throw solid screen to Y as soon as he begins down L.O.S.

41 Solid

Y 3 Steps up field, Retrace, Work toward QB straight down line of scrimmage
B 2 Steps up field – Block #1 or M.D.M.(Most Dangerous Man)
RT Sell Zone 3 steps to Lt and then release – Alley defender
RG Sell Zone 3 steps to Lt and then release – 1st LB in Box
C Sell Zone 3 steps to Lt and then release – 2nd LB in Box
LG Sell Zone 3 steps to Lt and then release –Peel Block
LT Zone Left
H Block #2
X Block #1
A Back Fake Stretch Left
QB Fake Stretch Left retreat / get feet fast and throw solid screen to X as soon as he begins down L.O.S.

42 Solid

Y 2 Steps up field – Block #1 or M.D.M.(Most Dangerous Man)
B Bubble 3 Steps, Retrace, Work toward QB straight down line of scrimmage
RT Sell Zone 3 steps to Lt and then release – Alley defender
RG Sell Zone 3 steps to Lt and then release – 1st LB in Box
C Sell Zone 3 steps to Lt and then release – 2nd LB in Box
LG Sell Zone 3 steps to Lt and then release –Peel Block
LT Zone Left
H Block #2
X Block #1
A Back Fake Stretch Left
QB Fake Stretch Left retreat / get feet fast and throw solid screen to B as soon as he begins down L.O.S.

I believe that Screens can add up 100 plus yards to your offense in yardage and can add about 50 to 75 in hidden yardage both in the passing game and running game because it wears out the defensive line and also takes the aggressiveness out of them.