AFM RSS Feed Follow Us on Twitter       
AMERICAN FOOTBALL MONTHLY THE #1 RESOURCE FOR FOOTBALL COACHES
ABOUT |  CONTACT |  ADVERTISE |  HELP  



   User Name    Password 
      Password Help





Article Categories


AFM Magazine

AFM Magazine


Changing the Tempo of the Game

And having fun doing it
by: Ryan Sulkowski
by: Joey Sulkowski:
© More from this issue

Click for Printer Friendly Version          

On behalf of the Hargrave Military Academy postgraduate coaching staff, we would like to thank American Football Monthly for printing our clinic article on changing the tempo of the game. Hargrave Military Academy is one of the premier one-year prep schools in the country where we are faced with teaching our offense to a whole new group of athletes on a yearly basis. We quickly found out that our athletes become bored with the same stale offensive schemes and felt that we would be able to create an offense that the kids could get excited about. We found that once we implemented some new wrinkles into the game, our players had a whole new love and excitement towards the game. We have included our version of the Polecat offense into our playbook.

Polecat

The Polecat formation is one which can be used by any offense and in any situation. This formation is especially successful in an offense where wide receiver screen passes are a staple. The key to making Polecat successful is as simple as counting the number of defenders in a given area. Polecat helps to spread out the field by lining up the Tackles and Wide Receivers out wide, while the Center, two Guards, a Running back and the Quarterback are in their normal alignments.

Personnel

Polecat can be used from any personnel grouping. Whether it is from a pro formation, a 3 wide receiver set, or a 4 wide receiver set. As we stated earlier this formation is great for teams who depend on wide receiver screen passes as a major part of their offense. The best screen teams in the country have speedy wide receivers that can make things happen. Here at Hargrave Military Academy we term it simply as getting the ball into the hands of our playmakers. We discuss how to accomplish this daily in our offensive staff meetings.

At Hargrave Military Academy we use the 3 wide receiver set. This is known as our Ace personnel. We will replace the Fullback with our H receiver giving us an additional playmaker on the field. Ace personnel places the Y (tight end) and Z receivers to the strength of the formation and the X and H (3rd receiver) receivers away from the strength. The Y and X receivers will always be on the line of scrimmage next to the tackles, while the Z and H receivers will line up 3 yards behind these pairings and are our best athletes on the field. The center and guards will line up on the ball, while the halfback aligns next to the quarterback in the shotgun.

Play Selection


We stated earlier that Polecat is as simple as being able to count the defenders in an area. We found it best to break the field into thirds to make it easier on our quarterbacks play selection. By counting the number of defenders in each of the three areas of the field, we can determine where we want to put the ball in order to have success (Diagrams 1 and 2 are more geared to passing the ball, while diagrams 3 and 4 give us a better opportunity to break a run in the open field). Regardless of what the defense lines up in, the Polecat gives the offense an opening whether it is by throwing the ball or running the ball.

Pass Plays

In order to determine where the best place to throw the ball is, you must first count the defenders in each third of the field and at what depth they are playing. The most basic of plays using the Polecat formation is what we call Smoke. Smoke is a simple quick screen to either the Z or H receiver. The routes are mirrored on both sides and who gets the ball is up to the Quarterback (See Diagram 1). Below you will see the assignments for each player on the field.

Smoke assignments (Diagram 1)



Diagram 1. Basic Formation

• X/Y- foot fire and look to mirror the outer most defender (Diagram 1 shows the CB as the outside defender).

• Tackles - foot fire and look to mirror the 2nd outermost defender. Do not attack, wait for the defender to commit (Diagram 1 shows the FS and SS as the 2nd outermost defender).

• Center/Guards - Attack man on/cut the defender.

• A Back- Step up and look to help out on protection.


• Z/H- Turn towards the QB on the snap of the ball and be prepared to catch and turn up keeping to the outside.

• QB- Presnap read. Find which side has the least amount of defenders. If balanced, make the easiest/shortest possible throw (Diagram 1 shows a balanced defense; the best throw would be the shortest throw).

By running the Smoke play we have devised a deep threat that we call Smoke-N- Go that we run off of the original Smoke play. We will line up in Polecat personnel and this time we will have the Y and X receivers run go routes, while the H and Z mirror their routes as if running smoke. This will hold the defensive backs and give the appearance of Smoke. Below you will find the assignments for each position on the Smoke “N” Go play.

Smoke “N” Go assignments (Diagram 2)


Diagram 2.

• X/Y- Stalk the outermost defender, then run a go route to the outside.

• Tackles - foot fire and look to mirror the 2nd outermost defender. Do not attack, wait for the defender to commit (Diagram 2 shows the FS and SS as the 2nd outermost defender).

• Center/Guards- Attack man on, do not cut, stay high to give the QB maximum protection.

• HB - Step up and look to help out on protection.

• Z/H - Turn towards the QB on the snap of the ball and be prepared to catch, give a good fake to hold the defenders.

• QB - Presnap read. Find which side has the most vulnerable safety help. If balanced, make the easiest possible throw (Diagram 2 shows a balanced defense, the best throw would be to the best athlete in your offense).

Smoke and Smoke-N-Go are just a couple of the pass plays that can be run from the Polecat formation. An entire offense can be developed from this formation with help from your imagination. Tunnel screens and deep passes can be designed to keep the defense off guard and stop them from keying on just the Z and H receivers.

Run Plays

When the pass plays are effective out of the Polecat formation it will open up the running game. These two aspects compliment each other well. It forces the defense to make a decision as to what they want to stop. If they commit to stopping the Smoke screen or other pass plays, it leaves a nice opening for the Quarterback lead. The QB lead is simple to teach and the rules are consistent when running either way. In diagram 3 you will see a defense, which is committed to stopping the pass. The rules to running an effective Quarterback lead are listed below.

QB lead assignments (Diagram 3)


Diagram 3.

• X/Y - Attack and cut your 1st inside threat
Tackles - Attack and cut the your 1st inside threat, if no one is there release for the next level defender

• PSG - Zone step. If no defender is present, go to the next level
• Center - Zone step. If no defender go to the next level

• BSG - Secure the backside A gap by zone stepping to the play side. If there is no A gap threat turn and hinge block on the backside defender

• HB - Can line up on either side, but must be the lead blocker for the Quarterback. The A back will read the PSG’s block. If the defender fights hard outside, lead inside of the block. If the PSG reaches the defender, release and lead outside.

• Z/H - Release tight off of the hip of the X/Y receiver and cut the Cornerback.

• QB - Presnap read. Find which side has the least amount of defenders. If balanced, make the best decision (more grass, best blocking side, etc...). Follow the A back’s lead block whether it is inside or outside of the PSG’s block. Run to daylight.

In addition to the QB Lead, the Speed Option is a great play to implement when running the Polecat formation. The QB can make a decision as to which side is vulnerable to the option. Even if you do not have an athletic QB you can run the option by giving an automatic pitch call, which in essence turns into a toss play. Below you will see the assignments for running the Speed Option out of the Polecat formation.


Speed Option Assignment (Diagram 4)


Diagram 4. Odd Front Protection

• X/Y- Attack and cut your 1st inside threat

• Tackles- Attack and cut the your 1st inside threat, if no one is there release for the next level defender

• PSG- Zone step. If no defender is present, go to the next level

• Center- Zone step. If no defender go to the next level

• BSG- Secure the backside A gap by zone stepping to the play side. If there is no A gap threat turn and hinge block on the backside defender

• TB - Will line up on the called side. On the snap he will keep a good 4X4 yard relationship with the QB and be prepared for the pitch.

• Z/H - Release tight off of the hip of the X/Y receiver and cut the Cornerback.

• QB - Presnap read. Find which side has the least amount of defenders. If balanced, make the best decision (more grass, best blocking side, etc...). Take the snap and get down field. Force the first defender to make a decision to take you or the TB. Make the pitch or tuck and run down field.

Just like the passing series, there are many runs that can be designed to be effective out of the Polecat formation. Things such as the Zone, Toss, or Dive can add another dimension to the Polecat formation and can be installed with a minimal amount of effort.

Polecat Conclusion

The most important aspect of the Polecat formation is the fact that you can have fun developing plays from it. Instead of reinventing the wheel, it allows you to INVENT the wheel. The possibilities are endless and the only thing it takes to make this formation work is an imagination. Design your own plays and make it work for you!



Related Videos
American Football Monthly now offers a full line of coaching videos. So, if you enjoyed this clinic article, here are a few videos that you may find interesting:

FV 00399 Fundamentals of Pass Protection (Verducci)
FV 01306 Inside Zone Offense (Loney)
FV 00418 Running Game Fundamentals fot the Offensive Line

To find these videos and many others, view our online catalog at www.AFMVideos.com.

About the authors


Ryan Sulkowski just completed his third year as Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator at Hargrave Military Academy. Joey Sulkowski, Ryan’s younger brother, is in his second year at the school and in charge of Wide Receivers and Tight Ends as well as serving as Recruiting Coordinator. Brian White is Hargrave’s Offensive Line coach and in his first season. You can reach Ryan Sulkowski at: sulkowskir@hargrave.edu






NEW BOOK!

AFM Videos Streaming Memberships Now Available Digital Download - 304 Pages of Football Forms for the Winning Coach



















HOME
MAGAZINE
SUBSCRIBE ONLINE COLUMNISTS COACHING VIDEOS


Copyright 2024, AmericanFootballMonthly.com
All Rights Reserved