American Football Monthly Magazine is dedicated
to being the industry's #1 source of information for the football coach. AFM has
more articles on football coaching, football plays and football strategies
than any other source available.
The Situation
Get Published in American Football Monthly Magazine. Each Month we invite our
subscribers to respond to the actual on-field
situation and what they would do to counter the play. All that's needed is
roughly 100 words of text in response to the actual situation and an
accompanying diagram to illustrate your points.
You’re on offense and have been running the traditional Wing-T with some success. The score is tied just before halftime and you're backed up on your own five-yard line facing a third and five situation. You need a first down to continue the drive and not give up the ball. Your opponent has been using a 30 Stack defense for the entire first half. What play would you call?
Frank Laratta, Head Coach, Grover Cleveland Middle School, Caldwell, NJ. AFM subscriber since 2005.
On the minus five yard line, I’m anticipating an aggressive front looking to make a big play. Therefore, we will run one of our Sally plays and hopefully take advantage of their aggressiveness. Being a traditional Wing-T team, we will show Belly Keep Pass but, in turn, run Sally back the other way with our wingback motion getting the ball. The beauty of this play is that it looks ‘exactly’ like Belly Keep Pass.
Also, the absence of a guard pulling to the play side makes for a very effective counter play for those defenses that are keying our guards. On the back side we also have a false key with a BSG influence as he executes a cross block technique with the tackle. The SE and HB run their Keep Pass routes to further sell the Keep Pass. The play side blocking will be ‘step and cup’ with the center reach-stepping the nose to protect the play side A-gap. The PSG, PST and TE will each step to their inside to protect their inside gap first. They will then hinge back. If the defender is a runner, work him up field into the backfield and ‘swat’ if possible. If no one shows after a two-count, go and block a second level defender.
The QB and FB use typical Belly Keep Pass footwork. The WB will go into rocket motion (full speed motion behind the FB) on the heel of the QB. The ball will be snapped as he reaches a position behind the BSG. He then proceeds as if he were going to protect the front side of the Keep Pass. However, on his second step, he sits on his outside foot and winds back for the handoff, looking for an opening that can vary from A to C gap – FIRST DOWN!
Belly Sally to Rocket Motion vs. the 30 Stack
Ron Capurso, Head Coach, Willow Glen High School,
San Jose, CA. AFM subscriber since 2006.
I think in this situation I would have a tendency to be conservative and run the old Wing-T power play. But I would try to get a free first down by using ‘check cadence’ before actually running the play.
We would line up with TE to the right and a wingback and split end to the left. Our backs would be strong to the TE side (FB behind the center and HB behind the RT). Our QB would do his best job of using a hard count cadence to get the defense to jump offside. If they did, we would get the first down. If not, our QB would yell out ‘CHECK’ and we would now start our cadence once again and run the power play. As for the power play itself, these are our rules:
TE: gap-down-backer (vs. 5-3: block down on 5 technique). RT: gap-down-backer (vs. 5-3: help double the 5 technique with TE and release to middle backer). RG: gap-down-backer (vs. 5-3: block down on nose guard). C: zone off (vs. 5-3: double with RG on nose). LG: zone off (vs. 5-3: climb to second level and wall off backside backer) LT: zone off (vs. 5-3: wall off backside 5 technique). HB: kick out edge player (vs. 5-3: kick out 9 technique). FB: lead up the hole (vs. 5-3: lead up the hole between TE's down block and HB's kick out block and then block first threat). WB: 3-step motion into backfield and receive handoff from QB and follow your FB and run to daylight. QB: get center snap and meet the WB where the FB normally aligns and give the WB the ball and fake bootleg away from the point of attack. WR: attack the cornerback and stalk block him away from the point of attack.
The result we are looking for is either a free first down due to defensive offsides; a first down with our best running play; or a fourth down situation where we will punt and play defense. It is not in our interest to gamble too much in this spot and risk a turnover.
Wing-T Power vs. the 30 Stack
The 5th Down... AFM is crossing new boundaries as June marks the beginning of a cutting edge new feature – The 5th Down. It’s a new department and an opportunity to share ideas, anecdotes, and stories relative to your program in all realms of the coaching profession – not just the on-the-field technicalities. We’ll center the first three topics on situations off the field that affect your program – delegating adequate playing time, handling an over-obtrusive administration and finding ways to sell the “me” player on the “team” concept. We want to hear your ideas and reflections. Send them to AFM’s Managing Editor, Rex Lardner at rlardner@lcclark.com
Respond to a Situation
November's game 'Situation': Deadline September 20th, 2007
You're on offense and down 21-13 with only 1:15 left before halftime.Your opponent's
been using a multiple front defense based out of a 4-4 with a base Cover 3 behind it.
It's 3rd and 10 and the ball is on the right hash of their 35 yard line. Your spread
offense has been somewhat successful but you need a first down to continue the drive
and, hopefully, score before the half. What play do you call?
The Situation: December, 2007 AFM: Deadline October 20th, 2007
You're on special teams where your opponent faces a fourth and four at their own 25
yard line. Your opponent leads, 20-17, with just over a minute remaining in the game.
They're in punt formation with gunners spread on both sides and a personal protector
lined up in front of the punter. There are also two blocking backs over each guard
as signals are called. How would you align your defense and what strategy would you
use to do everything to block this punt and get possession in your opponent's territory?
To Submit Your Response:
Please complete the form below and submit.
You may submit a response to as many situations as you wish;however, please submit your response to each situation separately.
American Football Monthly Magazine is dedicated
to being the industry's #1 source of information for the football coach. AFM has
more articles on football coaching, football plays and football strategies
than any other source available.
