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AFM Magazine

AFM Magazine


Point Counterpoint - Winning with the Air Raid

by: Bill Ramseyer
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 You can put up big passing yards with this version of the spread -- and these key plays from its master architects.

The spread is everywhere. Coaches from junior high to the NFL have used it to extend defenses, create passing and running lanes and utilize the increased number of talented players at the skill positions.

But one version of the spread – the Air Raid – stands above all other offenses in its ability to produce prolific passing numbers. Just look at the stats from this season in the FBS. Virtually all the top-ranked passing offenses – whether it’s Houston with Case Keenum, Oklahoma State with Brandon Weeden or Baylor with Robert Griffin III – rely on the Air Raid to put up passing numbers rarely, if ever, seen before.

In the Air Raid, it is not unusual to have 70% of the plays called be pass plays. The offense uses short passes as an extension, or even replacement, of the running game, with the short pass intended to result in additional yards after the catch. Having an intelligent, nimble quarterback is critical to its success. Depending on the coach and the quarterback, almost complete control in changing the play can be given to the quarterback at the line of scrimmage. He is charged with checking off when appropriate to a predetermined alternative, depending on how the defense is aligned.

While the Air Raid’s success at the FBS level is unquestionable, we wondered if it could be an appropriate choice for high schools and smaller colleges. So we asked some of the Air Raid’s best practitioners to dissect the offense, provide keys to its execution and describe plays that can be incorporated into virtually any team’s playbook.

Chief among these coaches is Hal Mumme, who most consider the “father” of the Air Raid. Now head coach at Division III McMurry University, Mumme created the no-huddle, spread Air Raid while at Iowa Wesleyan in the late 1980’s. With the help of assistant Mike Leach, Mumme spent the next 10 years refining the system and, along with Leach, went on to set records with it at Valdosta State and Kentucky. Even after twenty years, Mumme is still getting results with the Air Raid. McMurry is enjoying their first winning season in 10 years and they are ranked – you guessed it – number one nationally in passing yards out of 239 D-III teams.

Along with Mumme, AFM received input from Evan Burk, his receivers’ coach at McMurry, East Carolina OC Lincoln Riley, Head Coach Bill Nyers of Plainfield High School (NJ) and assistant coach Kendrick Parker of Pasquotank High (NC). The renowned Southlake Carroll Dragons have run the Air Raid for over a decade and have produced one of the nation’s most impressive records. According to Head Coach Hal Wasson, “This is a popular offense partly because everyone is involved, and you practice and play at a fast pace. You ‘spread the wealth,’ and everyone touches the ball.”

“One very important aspect is the splits of the offensive linemen,” said Mumme. “Where many pass offenses employ very tight offensive line splits, the Air Raid formations use very wide splits forcing the defensive linemen to cover a greater distance to get to a hoped-for sack of the quarterback. The splits may be as wide as 4½ feet. The system teaches the offensive line to block man leading to zone vs. blitzes and twist stunts. The philosophy is ‘our five have to beat their four’.”

“The way the offense practices is vital to the success of the Air Raid Spread,” according to East Carolina’s Riley. “No longer do you have the traditional method of practicing. One example is that quarterbacks, running backs and receivers don’t stretch in the traditional manner. Rather, they catch and throw. To be successful you must be committed to it. After a bad game, you don’t make changes, you coach better and you practice better.”

The four most widely used passes of the Air Raid Spread Offense are the Shallow Cross, Mesh, 4 Verticals, and the Wide Receiver Screen. In addition to these basic plays, many times “tag words” are added to the call, changing one or more of the routes. Diagrams 1-12 show each of these plays, with variations, including each receiver’s route.


Diagram 1. “Shallow Cross”

The shallow cross is a staple of just about every Air Raid Spread Offense. “It is one of our more effective plays because of the options it presents for the quarterback,” said East Carolina’s Riley. “He can throw the ball to five different receivers spread across the field.”

Coaching points:

Vertical Routes - Outside release. Align inside the numbers. Must get back on top of the numbers.

“Shallow Cross” receiver – Sprint one-yard deep across the field. Run through the feet of the defensive linemen. Your route should go no deeper than three yards past the LOS. Let the sideline turn you upfield.

“Dig” receiver – The inside receiver opposite the shallow cross. Pattern is 10 yards deep. Sit down vs. zone, run through vs. man.

RB – Check release into the flat, or check flare.

QB – The shallow cross is the first read. Immediately look to the side of the field where shallow is moving to.


Diagram 2. “Shallow Cross” from Trips

The shallow cross with a trips formation also gives the quarterback five potential receivers but the field is narrowed down.

Coaching points:

“Shallow Cross” receiver – Cut the split in towards the ball.

Post receiver – Five-step post route. Take the middle of the field.


Diagram 3. “Mesh”

The ‘mesh’ route is also a fundamental part of most Air Raid offenses. Hal Mumme uses the mesh often during a game. “In the mesh the route receivers keep running vs. man coverage, and vs. zone coverage they stop and sit between the linebackers and find the open window between zones,” said Mumme.

Coaching points:

Corner receiver – Four-step corner. Take outside release of the defender.

Underneath mesh receiver - One step and go fast. Try and rub shoulders underneath other mesh. Sit down in first open window after mesh vs. zone. Run through vs. man coverage.

Deep mesh receiver - Set the depth at six yards. Sit down in the first open window after mesh vs. zone. Run through vs. man coverage.

Flat receiver - Aim for three yards out of bounds.

RB – Check release into the flat, or check flare.


Diagram 4. “Mesh” from Trips

For the mesh play in a trips formation, it is important for the underneath receiver to cut his split in towards the ball.

Coaching points:

Underneath mesh receiver - Cut the split in towards the ball.

Flat Receiver - Aim for three yards out of bounds.

RB – Check release into the flat, or check flare.


Diagram 5. Four Verticals

ECU’s Riley is a big proponent of the four verticals play and it’s a regular part of the Pirates offense. “You have four receivers going long but the quarterback also has the option of a flat pass to a running back,” said Riley.

Coaching point:

Inside Receiver – should occupy the middle of the field.


Diagram 6. Four Verticals from Trips

In the trips formation, the quarterback, again, has the option of a flat pass to a running back.


Diagram 7. Wide Receiver Screen

The wide receiver screen play is an important part of the McMurry offense. According to offensive coordinator Evan Burk it can be used in just about any situation. “The wide receiver screen is one of the least expected plays in our offense,” said Burk.

Coaching points:

Screen receivers - One step vertical, then come back across the LOS for the ball. Read the block and get upfield.

Screen blockers - Take a flat path over the screen. Be patient, and block the most dangerous defender. The defender will tell you where to go.

RB - Block/Fake run.


Diagram 8. Wide Receiver Screen from Trips

One advantage of the wide receiver screen from a trips formation is that it gives the receiver two blockers immediately in front of him. 

Coaching Point:

Players concern themselves more with securing the double team block than they do with the corner. They feel that their wide outs vs. their corner is a win for them every time and they don’t want the safety or Sam LB making the tackle.


“The system teaches the offensive line to block ‘man’ leading to ‘zone’ vs. blitzes and twist stunts. The philosophy is ‘our
five have to beat their four’.”  - Hal Mumme

Many high schools run the same combination of routes on both sides of the ball. Nyers of Plainfield High School, runs his spread from different formations. “Some teams emphasize formations, and run the same plays from a variety of looks,” he said. “The more formations and combinations, the harder it is for the defense to react.”

Whatever the variations, practicing helps any offense improve. “The key is repetition, and communication with the players,” said coach Parker of Pasquotank. “We use a number of formations, like many schools, but we try to get as many reps as possible each day. The coaches have to communicate with each player and make sure they understand their individual responsibility on every play.”


Here are four additional plays with various combination looks :


Diagram 9.  “Shallow Cross”

This variation to the shallow cross is a staple part of our offense,” said Clayton George, Southlake Carroll’s offensive coordinator. “In this play, a running back and a wide receiver cross each other.

Coaching points:

Wide Outs – both go down and out toward the sidelines at 10 yards.

Running Back – Runs across the LOS and passes the wide out crossing the middle.

Dig Receiver – Inside receiver opposite the shallow cross receiver – Pattern is 12 yards deep.


Diagram 10. “Double Out”

Coaching points:

Play is based on a three-step drop.

Outside receivers – Run a 10-yard out pattern.

Inside receivers and running back all run hitches at six yards.


Diagram 11. “Hitch Seam”

Coaching Points:

Play is based on a three-step drop.

Outside receivers – run a hitch route at six yards.

Inside receivers – run a seam route, breaking inside after ten yards.


Diagram 12. “Slant Seam”

Coaching Points:

Play is based on a three-step drop.

Outside receivers - slant at 6ix yards.

Inside receivers – run a seam route, breaking inside after ten yards.

Whatever the method employed, the Air Raid definitely poses threats to every defense, especially those who usually face a two-back, run-first offense, with 20-25 passes, many of which are play-action passes. Easily overlooked are the wide line splits. This affects areas of responsibility,  discouraging teams from having their linemen and linebackers stunt. The fast tempo, audible game is also difficult to exactly mimic with a scout team to adequately prepare the defense for what they will be facing.

Can the Air Raid work at all levels of the game? Assuming you have an intelligent, accurate quarterback, the answer is yes. These plays, courtesy of some of the masters of the Air Raid, will help get you started. 






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