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AFM Magazine

AFM Magazine


Maximize Offense in the Real World of High School Football

by: Jay Stolfi
Youth Coach
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Introduction

Time is a football coach’s most precious commodity. Most coaches at the high school and youth levels are challenged with limitations (such as player talent and perhaps a limited number of experienced coaches); but all teams are limited by time. Even the best coaches believe there simply isn’t enough time to fully teach, install and rep all phases of the game to all players.

The Double Gun offense is unique because it offers such a wide variety of options with one simple, time-efficient system. This article expands upon the introduction of the basic Double Gun offense (Gridiron Strategies Vol. 14 No. 2) which illustrated how teams can run varying formations under one set of unifying blocking rules. The simplicity of using one set of rules to execute both the power-laden double wing, and pass-friendly shotgun formations, requires much less time to install than the process used by many programs use to install two (or more) separate types of formations. Used successfully by our junior high-level teams, the basic Double Gun offense is an effective way to move the chains given the real-world constraints of time and talent.

This article will expand beyond the basic concepts of morphing between double wing and shotgun formations. It will show how the Double Gun offense can be used by high school programs that want to incorporate currently popular plays such as read-option, screen passes, multi-receiver pass plays and quick-hitting Wing-T style plays. This can be achieved all under the same simplified system. Defenses will be challenged as they face an offense that has had time to master assignments, yet still execute a wide variety of plays. Double Gun teams can feel confident, as early as week 1, knowing their players can effectively attack all areas of the field with run or pass.

The Formations

As we previously described in the first article, the “base” double wing formation consists of two tight-ends, two wings, a fullback (very close to the quarterback), and virtually zero line splits (Diagram 1).


We also demonstrated how we can seamlessly change to a shotgun formation and use the same, easy-to-learn blocking scheme. The right wing simply moves out about 10-15 yards to a wide receiver position, the fullback moves to the right wing’s position, and the quarterback steps back into shotgun depth (Diagram 2). The tight line splits used in the base double wing formation are kept in the shotgun formation. This allows the core double wing plays to be run from the shotgun (as well as the more wide-open plays) without tipping-off the defense as to which type of play will be selected.

The Blocking Scheme

As we illustrated, the Double Gun’s blocking system is capable of successfully blocking power runs, traps, sweeps, passes, etc., regardless of what defensive front is used from play to play. It allows us to target any part of the field with run or pass from either the base formation or the shotgun formation.

The Double Gun blocking system is based on two simple concepts: 1.) group tags; and 2.) blocking progressions which use the acronym “GOOD-GOD” to identify our priorities1.

First, all plays are grouped together and identified by simple “tags” (such as “power” or “trap” for running plays, and “pass” or “screen” for pass plays). Each tag has its own rule(s). For example, in our system, the tag “power” means that we pull both the backside guard and tackle to the point of attack. The offensive linemen know that any play tagged as “power” uses that rule whether we are in double wing or shotgun formation, and they apply it if we are running the play right or left. The same is true for plays tagged “screen”, “trap” and so on. In other words, our linemen only need to know a handful of tags/rules as opposed to memorizing a different blocking scheme for each play or formation. The important benefit of this tagging concept is that it simplifies the blocking without sacrificing or limiting your play-calling options.

Second, we use a simple blocking progression for our core plays to determine whom to block. This “GOOD-GOD” progression is also used by a number of successful high school double wing teams. It is based on rules that determine which lineman, by virtue of being “called-out” in the name of the play, apply either the “GOOD” or “GOD” progression. For example, if we are running a play named “34 Power”, the “3” tells us that our 3-back is getting the ball and running it at our “4” man (right tackle). Since the 4-man/right tackle is named in the play, he knows to follow the GOOD progression of blocking priorities. Other blockers on the line will use the GOD progression, and the “power” tag instructs the backside guard and tackle to pull.

In the previous article, we diagramed “34 Power” and showed how we could run the “same” play (which we call “14 Power”) from the shotgun formation using the same rule. In both examples, the linemen need only to hear “4” and then “power” to give them all the information needed to execute the play. They do not need to concern themselves with anything else, and therefore can go to the line confident in their assignment.

By combining the simplifying tags with the flexible blocking progressions, the Double Gun blocking scheme becomes a powerful but simple system. Using only digits and tags, blockers instantly identify their assignment against any defensive front from either formation for any play called. In the real world, defenses shift and adjust, trying to break down the offense and disrupt the play. Offenses need to make decisions in real time. An offensive line that is confident in their assignments because they can easily and instantly identify their blocks is of immense value.

Using Two Styles of Motion for an Advantage

The Double Gun uses both slow, deep motion and jet-sweep style motion. Almost every play starts with motion, reinforcing the notion that the play is likely to go in that direction. The ability to seamlessly use both styles of motion within our system gives the offense an advantage.

While in the double wing formation, we use the typical deep and slow motion from each wing (which moves back and toward the middle) (Diagram 3). This allows us to bring more lead-blockers to the point of attack by ignoring the backside defenders. Most double wing coaches know this is possible because: 1.) the offensive line is set back from the ball; 2.) the ball-carrying wing back is also set back from the line, and 3.) the motion and/or depth of the ball carrier is away from the unblocked defensive end. This allows us to pull two linemen giving us multiple lead blockers at the point of attack, thus forcing defenses to adjust to meet the overwhelming force.

Conversely, wing-T and spread offensive coaches recognize the advantages of using a fast, flat jet sweep motion. The obvious benefit is that it forces defenses to respect the sprinting motion player’s immediate threat to the outside flank. For decades, teams with good offensive speed simply put their fastest players in motion and gave them the ball. This threat creates opportunities to design plays that take advantage of those adjustments. This basic punch and counter-punch is used at every level.

NFL analyst Bucky Brooks describes how the Dallas Cowboys generated “a big play off a jet-sweep concept” against the St. Louis Rams in 2014. The play begins with “[Dez] Bryant poised to come in motion to fake the jet sweep. Bryant’s motion is designed to pull the defense to the right. [Quarterback Tony] Romo pulls a sleight of hand by faking the handoff to Bryant heading right before flipping the ball out left to [running back DeMarco] Murray….Murray takes the pitch and turns the corner, weaving his way through traffic for a 44-yard gain that helps set up another score for the Cowboys.”

We use jet-sweep motion while in our shotgun formation. When using our RW, the player sprints left and angles back toward the QB. This threatens the defender responsible for containing that side and also puts the wing in a very usable spot.         When using the LW, the player sprints flat behind the line to his right. This motion threatens the edge defender on that side, but also makes the deep safety choose between a deep pass threat from the RW (wide receiver) or a sweeping ball carrier.


We also begin each shotgun play with motion. The goal is to make the play initially look the same to the defense so we can use the motioning player to setup a number of very different plays. Using our LW jet-sweep motion as an example, we can see that the most immediate threat is a sweep to the right (Diagram 4). As in the Cowboys’ play described above, the defense must do some sort of adjustment to meet our threat.


At this point in the pre-snap motion, our wing is in position to help us attack the defense in a number of ways (other than an actual jet-sweep). He can 1.) lead block on our off-tackle power run; 2.) attack the CB on our bubble screen; 3.) fake the bubble screen and run a go route; 4.) pass block backside on our backside screen pass or flood pass; or 5.) block backside on our FB counter trap (Diagram 5). Which play is best depends upon the observations of the defense’s adjustment to our motion.

As you can see, the jet-sweep motion creates a number of opportunities to take advantage of the defense’s reaction to the sprinting motion. We have similar opportunities with jet-sweep motion to both sides of the field.

The ability to benefit from the advantages of both the deep double wing motion and the swift jet-sweep motion is built into our system. As demonstrated, we can run with overwhelming power in either formation and still threaten the edges with speed and the secondary with passes.

Digging Deeper into the Playbook

On the surface, the power running schemes used by double wing and Double Gun teams don’t seem to have much in common with today’s more widely used spread and read-option offenses, but there are more similarities than meet the eye. An important similarity is that read-option teams and Double Gun teams often do not block the defensive end by design.

Running Read Option in a Power Running Offense

As you can see in figure 3 above, the off-tackle power running plays intentionally leave the backside defensive end (or force/edge defender) unblocked. This true in our shotgun formation as well.

When running this type of off-tackle power play, the unblocked backside defensive end/edge defender will either be disciplined and “stay home” (protecting his side), or will (perhaps eventually) lose contain and pursue the ball carrier down the line. If the backside end stays home, he will take himself out of the play (and not help his out-manned team at the point of attack). If he pursues quickly enough to have a chance at catching the ball carrier from behind, he loses the ability to hold the edge (and becomes vulnerable to a sweep, counter or reverse). The observant Double Gun offensive coordinator will be keeping an eye out for the actions of the unblocked backside end. Proper play calling will put this defender in conflict to try and make him “always wrong”.


Similarly, we can use a read-option play to isolate the unblocked edge defender so as to put him in conflict. Using the same pre-snap motion from our shotgun-based plays, our motioning wing will be in the same position as a typical read-option back (Diagram 6). This accomplishes two things: 1.) it gives the defense the appearance of both our wing-T style sweeps and our sweep pass plays, and 2.) it puts the back in position to attack the off-tackle or dive hole. The quarterback will time the snap so the wing is in a good read-option position. Once snapped, the QB simply “rides and decides” by holding the ball as the runner attacks the off-tackle hole. The defensive end is forced to react to the attacking wing back; he will either “bite” on the handoff, or “stay home” waiting for the possible QB run to the outside. Remember, the offensive line does not need a new set of rules for running read-option. We can attack the defensive end with the read-option using the same blocking rules as they would for a power, trap or (in this example) our “gut” tag.

Passing Opportunities



The Double Gun offense offers more passing opportunities when compared to other run-heavy offenses. In fact, it shares some passing advantages with some of the more “wide open” offensive formations. Florida coaching legend and long-time wing-T guru Corky Rogers said this about his offense: with “two wing backs and a wide receiver and a tight end….You have four quick receivers immediately. Well, what is the spread [offense]? It’s four quick receivers immediately.”4 Similar to Coach Rogers’ Wing-T, the Double Gun offers four quick receivers in the double wing formation (Diagram 7) and five quick WRs in the shotgun formation (Diagram 8). Having four or more receivers immediately threatening the defensive backs while still being able to execute overwhelming power run plays is a powerful combination.


As an example, the typical double wing flood pass (Diagram 9) immediately threatens pass defenders with three receivers. Linebackers or corners that are quick to attack the off-tackle hole in order to absorb the many lead blockers on the power run may now find themselves out of position to cover the receivers. Again, the pre-snap motion by the wing is identical to the power runs, traps and sweeps, giving the defense no pre-snap key to indicate pass.

The shotgun formation’s five quick receivers will force the defense to spread themselves a bit wider and also to respect the pass. As mentioned, this adjustment gives the offense more room to run, yet doesn’t sacrifice a single lead blocker or require any blocking adjustments. We have had success running power and trap the first time we align in the shotgun formation, and use this running success to setup play-action passing.

The Double Gun shotgun play-action game is similar to Kansas State University’s QB draw/pop concept. As described by SB Nation’s Ian Boyd, the KSU concept is designed to bait aggressive linebackers into the line. Boyd writes “Everything the middle linebacker has ever learned about football tells him to charge and meet the lead block as close to the line of scrimmage as possible, preventing a crease from forming for the runner. But during pop plays, that aggressive instinct is turned against him.”3 This was very effective in KSU’s win against Michigan in the 2013 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl.


Our Double Gun pop pass concepts do exactly the same thing. Our TE pop pass starts with our usual pre-snap shotgun motion. At the snap, the motioning wing heads into the line at the off-tackle spot (as if to lead block for the “14 Power” run) (Diagram 10).

The linebackers are quick to fill since they likely have already seen the (Tebow-like/Wildcat style) quarterback power run. Our QB is instructed to take a step into the line and then hit the TE with a quick, firm pass.

Summary

The Double Gun offense combines some of the best elements of several successful offenses by distilling them into one. It is a power running offense at heart, yet it allows coaches to use wing-T style jet-sweeps as easily as double wing grinding power. Play-action passes, read-option, screens and multi-receiver pass plays are built into the system, and coaches can call upon the different types of motion to put defenders in conflict anywhere on the field.

All of these options stem from the simple but flexible Double Gun blocking scheme. An offensive line that can execute their assignments is a tough challenge for any defense at any level.

Coach Corky Rogers says that “Too many guys, in my opinion, try to do too much of everything. You just can’t do that. You have to have something that you’ve polished and attempted to perfect”4. The Double Gun offense allows coaches to polish and perfect one powerful but simple system.

About the Author: For more than a decade, Jay Stolfi has been a coach for youth football. He also serves as a video and technology coordinator for St. Paul Catholic High School in Bristol, CT and as a sideline replay and technology consultant for a number of Connecticut high schools.









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