AFM Home | Back Issues | July 2004 | Into the Void

By Dan Kratzer
Assistant Head Football Coach, Kent State University

In the early years of football an end was not overly involved in the game. An end lined up next to a tackle and usually blocked the man over you, blocked the man inside of you or, on occasions, ran a post route or a corner route. Well, times continue to change and most coaches under 40 probably don’t remember when there weren’t wide receivers on an offense. Those of us that do remember know that when the forward pass became a part of the game we needed to throw the ball to an end who was in a void. The ‘Void’ being an area between linebackers, or between linebackers and defensive backs, or between defensive backs and the goal line. Today, the end must line up in various positions on the field and be able to recognize different defensive coverages that try to disguise the ‘Voids’ in their coverage.

In today’s changing playing field, the ‘Void’ has become a major topic of conversation among QBs and receivers. With many changes in personnel and zone and combination coverage that intend on taking the Big Play out of the passing game, we are continuously looking for ways to hunt and peck our way down the field, as witnessed in the mid 80’s and early 90’s by teams like the San Francisco 49ers.

Hearing the terms, Void, Window, Hole and Vacant Spot brings concepts to our minds, but not always specific enough definitions for us to understand the importance of what they really are. We decided to identify specifically in our offense the usage and definition of the terms Void, Window, and Separation and teach them accordingly, as it applies to our passing game.

Diagram 1. 4 under 3 Deep Zone Diagram 2. Unobstructed View Diagram 3. Separation & Lack of Separation Diagram 4. Field Coverage Diagram 5. Coverage Area per Void Diagram 6. Void, Definition, Identification Diagram 7. Cover 2 Diagram 8. Cover- Robber Diagram 9. Cover - Nail - 4 Deep Diagram 10. Increasing the Void

We use the following three specific key words for our QB and Receivers to relate on the same page with the same definitions in mind.

Void – The distance between 2 or more defenders based on the Horizontal and/or Vertical depth of their drop. (Diagram 1)

Window – The unobstructed vision between the receiver and the QB. (Diagram 2)

Unobstructed view – No defenders or offensive lineman in the QBs vision line to the receiver.

Separation – The specific distance between a receiver and any defensive player in specific coverage on the receiver.

We must identify the field coverage areas now by identifying the three levels in which the defense must account for by field identification: flat–fade–curl–hook–middle–fade and deep areas and by yardage levels:

Level I: 0-10 yards
Level II: 11-20 yards
Level III: 21 yards and beyond…

Now we identify the number of defenders in each level and how much coverage area each defender has to account for. There is always one more Void than there are defenders. The number of defenders obviously determines how much coverage area is in each Void. (See Diagram 5)

Level III
3 Defenders must cover 17 3/4 yards of field. Establishing 4 Void areas to attack of 13 1/3 yards each.
Level II
4 Defenders must each cover 13 1/3 yards of the field establishing 5 Void areas to cover of 10 2/3 yards each.

The following diagrams 6–7–8–9 are all examples of Void areas in different zone coverages. The number and size of the Voids depends entirely on the defenders on each level, and the field position of the offense – Left Hash, middle of the field, or right hash.

By placing receivers in separated areas and directions the Backs to Hold on full underneath Level I or Level II defenders one can increase the size of the Voids. The timing of our routes along with the depth of the QBs. Defenders can increase the size of the Voids. The timing of our routes along with the depth of the QBs drop all help in the Void progress. As in all passing games, timing and movement is key.

Void yardage will vary depending on reaction of the defenders, based on our specific pass plays in our game plan.

Let’s finish by showing a specific pass play in our system that is designed to increase the size of the Level I and II Middle Void.

We are trying to develop a larger Level II Middle Void for the running back to find. By running Y on an inside release thru M’s area stretching him horizontally and vertically and attracting W by running H on a swing out route – now instead of a normal 13 1/2 yard Void between W & M in this particular defense, we have created a 19 yard Void – increasing the opportunity for an uncontested completion. We leave it up to the receiver now to get greater separation from the defenders by properly running his route.

Z = Pulls strong safety out
Y = Attracts M outside and up field
H = Attracts W and pulls him out of the middle of the field
X = Attracts drop E and corner to outside and up field
F = Delay block help and run controlled angle route as Void develops

QB = 7 step drop, eyes should go from Z Y to F(RB), X + Z alert on 5 step drop versus soft corners (See Diagram 10)

This particular play shows you how we can manipulate the ‘Void’ both horizontally and vertically, but the ability to throw the ball deep also helps to develop the controlled passing game by consciously getting defenders to drop a little deeper in coverage on Levels II and III. The QB has to be totally aware of where each receiver is and his responsibilities then the ‘Voids’ come easy. So receivers, line up and find your Voids!

About the author
Dan Kratzer

Dan Kratzer has been Assistant Head Coach at Kent State University since 2001. He previously was Head Coach and Athletic Director at Lindenwood University and Head Coach at Hastings College. Coach Kratzer graduated from Missouri Valley College and received a Master of Science degree from Central Missouri State. He played in the NFL for both the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs. You can reach him at dkratzer@kent.edu