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Offensive Minded: FAU - Mastering the Play Action Pass

by: Dan Weil
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Coaching legend Howard Schnellenberger, now heading the program at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, has forged quite a reputation as a master of offensive strategy, particularly passing. We spoke with the coach about his play action attack. He said it is important that the blocking scheme be the same for the passing play as it would be for the running play that is being faked and that the quarterback and running back are convincing in making it look like the play actually will be a run.

The Play (See Diagram 1)

    The play action play favored by Schnellenberger is a sprint draw (6-Texas-104 in FAU’s nomenclature). “We run a draw where the onside tackle and the guard set up for a pass,” the coach said. “The play action is off a draw. It takes longer. It holds linebackers longer and can even freeze the strong safety in zone coverage. By sending both backs to the strong side, it creates a flow, which is the biggest key for linebackers on a running play. That generally means a power running play is coming to that side. We have the tight end on that side too,” going further to make it look like a running play.

    FAU runs the play from an I formation. “We start the fullback to the tight end on the right,” Schnellenberger said. “The fake goes to the tailback as he rolls into the four hole behind the right tackle. The quarterback will put the ball in the tailback’s belly, takes three steps back after the fake, and then he’s seven yards deep.”

Receivers’ Routes

    Here is what the receivers and backs do: “The tight end (or ‘Y’ receiver) releases to the inside in what appears to be a block on the inside linebacker,” Schnellenberger said. “But he slips the linebacker and generally steps behind and continues on to the weak side, usually ending up about six yards deep. He has to elude the Mike and get behind the weak side linebacker.

    “The split receiver  (‘X’) starts like he will block the cornerback. But instead of blocking, he runs a deep post pattern. He makes sure to get the free safety out of middle coverage to cover X deep to the post.”

    The flanker (“Z”) is the strong side wide receiver. “He starts out like he will block the first guy out of the secondary for a running play,” Schnellenberger said. “He will straighten that guy up and then run a square pattern 18 yards deep in the middle of the field. The tight end will be open if the linebackers go to their normal depth.

    “The first receiver the quarterback looks at is the tight end. If the linebackers cover him, then look at the free safety, who is supposed to cover the deep post. If he is indeed doing so, then the Z receiver will be open in the hole at 18 yards. If the free safety gets sucked up and covers Z, then the post (X) is open behind him.”

    The running backs act as safety valve receivers. “After the backs take care of their blocking responsibilities they have check downs,” Schnellenberger said. “They go three yards down, plant and turn toward the quarterback. If the defense drops deep to cover the other three receivers, the quarterback goes to one of the backs. If the back is tackled right away after turning up field, it’s a five-yard gain. If he makes one guy miss, it’s 15 yards.

    “The running backs don’t get out right away. If the linebackers are coming on a blitz, the backs have to stay in and block. If we get good protection on that play, it’s pretty hard to defend.”

    Running out of the I formation with the tight end close to the tackle and the wide receivers spread wide gives the quarterback superior visibility on the play. “A second goes by before the defense realizes a pass is coming, so your offense has one second where the defense isn’t ready for a pass,” the coach said. “So with a play action, you really only have to block for two seconds,” because you’re getting one second for free.

    “That’s been our number one pass play since my days with the Miami Dolphins (1970-73),” Schnellenberger said. “It’s good against a man and zone. That’s why it’s such a prolific play. We have so many choices that are good for a zone or man. On man coverage, the quarterback just has to look at the tight end. If he’s beaten the linebacker, you go to him first. Then go to the Z receiver and then over the top. If it’s a zone, you go through the same progression. “Each receiver has to understand that against a man defense, you must run off your man, and against a zone defense, you have to find a hole in the zone.”

When to Use it
    Schnellenberger utilizes his play action attack in running situations to catch the defense by surprise. “First down and 10, second down and six or less, third down and four or less,” he said. “The defense is expecting us to run, so they will bite on the run fake. When it’s long yardage, the tendency is to pass. That’s when you use your draw and screen. The play action plays off drop back passes are draws and screens. Either way, when the action in the backfield starts, the defense can’t tell whether it’s a run or a pass.”

    Blitzes present the biggest defensive obstacle for FAU’s play action pass attack. “The defense is committed to have all the linemen coming up the field with a guy in every gap,” Schnellenberger said. Obviously that makes it difficult to protect the quarterback long enough to run the play. “What you want is four guys rushing the quarterback and for the linebackers and secondary to hold back at the hook areas.”

    As for protecting against the blitz, with his play action scheme, Schnellenberger said, “we have everyone covered as long as they only bring seven. If they bring eight, then we don’t have enough. But most people don’t bring their safeties or corners that much. If they do, most of the time we have a check off, where we get out of play action and go to some sort of quick pass.”

    The faked exchange between the quarterback and running back is obviously crucial in allowing the play action pass play to work. “If the linebackers don’t believe it’s a running play, you haven’t gained anything, and you have wasted your backs as far as being outlet receivers,” Schnellenberger said. “The whole idea of the fake is to fool the linebackers. That’s the beauty of the play action. So if you don’t make a good fake, then it’s useless.” 


FAU Play Action: Texas


FAU Play Action: Moose Under Texas/X Square In


FAU Play Action: Roger/Louie-Texas


Schnellenberger’s Sprint Draw Play Action Pass Play (6-Texas-104)

1. I Formation. Fullback moves toward tight end on the right, quarterback fakes handoff to tailback, who rolls to four hole.

2. Tight end (Y) releases to inside, faking a block on inside LB and then going to weak side, 6 yards deep.

3. Split receiver (X) fakes block on cornerback, then runs deep post, hoping to draw free safety.

4. Flanker (Z) on strong side fakes block on first man coming out of secondary to cover run. Then he goes 18 yards on a square pattern in the middle of the field.

5. Running backs run 3-yard safety-valve routes assuming there is no blitz.

6. Quarterback looks first for the tight end. If the linebackers have him covered, QB looks to see what free safety did. If he covered the post, quarterback looks for the Z receiver. If free safety covered Z, the QB looks for the X receiver. If X, Y, Z are all covered, QB looks to dump off to a back.





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