Establishing a Multiple Attack Running Game

by: Alvin Parker
Elizabeth City State University
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During my time as a coach, I have learned that it is extremely hard to be one-dimensional and have constant success. Some teams do it and have success but on an overall basis we as a staff feel better about our chances with a multiple attack running game. First of all, we think it is much harder for our opponents to prepare for and if a team has success stopping one phase of our running game then we easily can retract to another phase. In today’s business of coaching there is so much turnover in staff, it would be just a waste to have some one on your staff who has knowledge of an offensive running scheme and not use it.

    The three running plays that will be discussed are our Power, Fly Sweep, and Dart. I know some offensive minds out there are probably saying these are three totally different plays and that is the exact mindset you want to have. You must understand that you have to be able to run the ball effectively in different ways; that goes back to us saying we want a multiple attack running game.

    I fell in love with the power game as a collegiate player. We dominated teams and this play was about 75% of our running game. Since this was a play I learned over my college years, I had a good chance to digest the ins and outs of this play. I learned what made it go and what prevented it from going. The power game for us is mostly run out of a pro set. In our pro set we have a Tight End, Fullback, Halfback, Split End and a Flanker. With this set we can line up in a traditional I formation or just offset the fullback. This is heavily dependant on the defense’s tendencies. In order to have success in running this play you must first be dedicated to running it. We don’t feel that this is a play you can run one or two times a game; I would probably say seven or eight times a game.

    The quarterback in this package is very important because he sets up the play action and his fake is equivalent to a block. The quarterback reverses out deep coming a little off of the midline to the play side. He will try his best to get the ball to the halfback as deep as possible. After his handoff he carries his hands with the fake and then boots out. It is important for him to always carry out his fake because this holds the backside DE.

    The fullback is responsible for kicking out the end man on the line of scrimmage as seen in Diagrams 1-2. He will do this by stepping with his inside foot first to make sure that he obtains inside leverage. He will then attack with his head inside of the defender. This will put his body between the defender and the runner.

    For our six front guys we have one simple rule: “Do not let anyone cross your face.” The TE will have different responsibilities depending on which front we see.

Diagram 1. Power vs Even Front

Versus an even front (See Diagram 1), the TE will hit the DE and go inside looking for the MIKE LB. If the SAM LB tries to cross his face then he will be forced to take him. Versus an odd front (See Diagram 2), the TE will double-team the 5 tech with the OT looking for the WILL LB again.

Diagram 2. Power vs Odd Front

If the SAM LB tries to cross the face of the OT, the OT will come off and take him.

    The Playside Guard and the Playside Tackle versus an even front (Diagram 1) will double-team the 3 tech looking for the WILL LB. If the MIKE LB tries to cross the PSG face, then he will take him; if not, they will stay on the aiming point for the WILL LB. Versus an Odd Front (Diagram 2) the PSG will be by himself on the Nose. As said before, the PST doubles the 5 tech with the TE looking for the WILL LB.

    The center is responsible for getting the Backside Guard out on his pull. We tell our center to “get big” and smother the 1 tech (See Diagram 3).

Diagram 3. Power vs Even Front

He must reassure us that nothing will trail our pulling guard. Versus an odd front (See Diagram 4), the center must also free the BSG out.

Diagram 4. Power vs Odd Front

He will do this by filling the space that was left by the pulling guard; again, we tell him to “get big.”

    The BSG will do the pulling on this play. Versus an even front (Diagram 3), he will pull around hugging tight to the double team and looking for the first second-level defender, preferably the SAM LB. It will only become one of the other LB’s if someone tries to cross someone’s face. Versus an odd front (Diagram 4), the BSG will pull around hugging tight to the double team looking for the MIKE LB preferably.

    The rule we tell our halfback is to take a timing step. When I was a player our coaches instructed us to take a jab step. This worked in some instances but it also would allow faster guys to get to the LOS before the play developed. We first let all our backs get adjusted to the play. Once they understand the play they also understand the importance of timing it right. This is our basic power play run to the strong side. As you can see it is a very extensive play, but it is more difficult for your opponents to stop.

    We use our Fly Sweep when we feel as though we are faster than our opponents – if we feel like we can reach their end man on the line of scrimmage. This will allow us to get one of our fast guys on the opponent’s perimeter. We teach our offensive line one blocking technique for this play (Diagrams 5-6).

Diagram 5. #1 and #3 Combined (Power vs Even Front)


Diagram 6. #2 and #4 Combined (Power vs Odd Front)

We want to reach the opponents DE, which is why we choose to use some of our wide-open sets that include a TE. We feel as though our TE is just as athletic as any DE that we will face.

    Our QB is set at regular depth about five yards; our halfback is set a regular depth of 5 1/2 yards; our HB will lead our ball carrier around to the perimeter. He will look inside for a different color jersey if everything is sealed up inside. The HB then will go to the next level looking for the next defender. We bring our “W” receiver in fly motion (See Diagrams 7 and 8).

Diagram 7. Fly Sweep vs Even Front


Diagram 8. Fly Sweep vs Odd Front

The most important thing on this play is the snap-count because it sets the timing. I must stress timing is the key to this play. If the snap-count is off it will distort the hand-off and that kills the timing of the play. In practice when running this play we spend most of our time on the snap count and the exchange. Once the timing is set we just let our “W” receiver be an athlete and use his speed to get to the corner. This is a fairly easy play to teach if your team is good at zone blocking. It is not as extensive as the power play but at times can be just as effective.

    The Dart play gives us a misdirection run out of a spread set. We usually use our four wide packages when running dart. The first thing you must do when running the Dart play is to find the one technique. This play is much more effective when run to the one technique side versus an even front. It can be run either side versus an odd front (See Diagrams 9 and 10).


Diagram 9. Dart vs Even Front


Diagram 10. Dart vs Odd Front

    The dart play is a read play for our QB. Since we pull the BST on this play we will read the backside DE. If he follows the pulling tackle, the QB will pull the ball and get up field, replacing the area that the DE was responsible for (See Diagram 11).

Diagram 11. Dart vs Even Front - QB Reads DE

    The HB is responsible for the mesh on this play because as soon as the QB gets the ball he will put his eyes directly on the DE. The HB will use counter action to get the ball; he will not try to take the ball but will let the QB release it to him. As soon as he gets the ball he will turn back to the call side direction with a burst of speed.

    The PST’s job is to invite the playside DE up the field making a natural hole. He is to maintain leverage keeping him outside. The PSG is responsible for the double team. He and the center will double-team the 1 tech in an even front and 0 tech in an odd front. The BSG has a one on one block with the 3 tech in an even front. He will at all costs avoid letting him get to the other side of the center. Versus an odd front he blocks an area getting a piece of the 5 tech. The BST has the key block on this play. He pulls and turns up inside the PST looking for the WILL LB in an even front and the MIKE LB in an odd front. To the backside all WR's block man on because they never know when the QB will be keeping the ball.

    If you are already running one or all of these plays I hope that one or more of the adjustments will be of some help to you. Before you think of having a multiple attack running game, ask yourself if you can risk being great at nothing but good at everything. Keep in mind that I have illustrated here just a few ways we have had success with these plays. There are tons of different ways to run them and even more formations to run them out of. These plays coupled with their individual play action passes create a variety of looks for your opponents, giving you a Multiple Attack Running Game. 

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About the Author

Alvin Parker

Alvin Parker is in his third season as OC for Elizabeth City State. Parker came to ECSU after five seasons at Virginia Union where he was the offensive coordinator and running backs coach. A four-year letterman at Virginia Union, Parker was team captain (1997-98) and offensive MVP (1996 and 98). He also holds a Masters Degree from Virginia Commonwealth and serves as an assistant professor in the Department of Physical Education.

Questions?
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AlvinParker@AmericanFootballMonthly.com

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