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AFM Magazine


The Situation

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You’re down, 21-17, late in the fourth quarter. Your opponent has been playing a multiple front defense based out of a 3-5-3 with a base Cover 3 behind it. It’s third and 10 with the ball on the right hash of their 35-yard line. You’ve been running the spread shotgun for the entire game with some success. There’s only 1:15 left and you desperately need a first down to continue the drive.

What play would you call in this situation?


Kevin Tallman, Assistant Head Varsity Coach, Stevens High School, Claremont, NH. AFM subscriber since 2007.

In this situation we would call ‘Double Slot Left, Z-Rip, Y-Crack Double Screen.’ We want to have the option of getting the ball to two of our best play makers. The 3-5-3 Defense is aggressive with stunts and various blitz packages. We are facing a Cover 3 with man under on 3rd and 10 with 1:15 left in the game on their 35-yard line. We must slow down their blitz and stunt packages by having our offensive line maintain the LOS and not go chasing shadows. Our offensive line will incorporate zone blocking schemes while shutting down the defensive gaps. On a count of three, our offensive line will release into the defense’s second level on their screen blocks. Let the DEs come up field; this will create an open area for the screen.

It’s of vital importance that everyone in the skill positions fulfills their assignments as if the ball were coming to their area. In the Double Screen you never know! On a one count the quarterback puts the Z-back into motion towards the boundary side of the field. And with the snap of the ball he will fake to the fullback and will look to throw the screen to the X-back (Option #1) to the boundary side of the field. The Z and H backs both have key blocks on the corner and force backer. If the X-Back is covered, then the quarterback will swing back to the fullback (Option #2) on the field side. The TE has a key crack back on the weak side Will linebacker. The success of the play is decided by how aggressive the defense is: the more, the better!

Stevens HS: Double Slot Left, Z-Rip, Y-Crack Double Screen


Jeff DiSandro, O-Line Coach, Greenville College (IL). AFM subscriber since 2006.

We would run a high low concept that forms a pattern that we call ‘Triangle.’ The QB will read from the plug to whirly. He is looking to throw the plug route (#1 strong) into any space created by the underneath coverage. The plug route must make sure that he is past the first down markers because he will not have a chance to get out of bounds. If the plug is taken away we can then work the whirly route (#2 strong) and the receiver must get out of bounds. The #3 (strong) WR will run a vertical route to help clear underneath coverage and add a vertical stretch to the play.

This would be four down territory for us; the QB must know we can still survive and play another down with the shorter throw. We can also tag X choice routes (# 1 weak) if we did see something we wanted to take advantage of such as an out at the sticks. That would give us the chance to get a first down and get out of bounds. We would line up in a 3 x 1 left (to the field). In some cases, the Will linebacker is a plus to a split alignment (away from a stack or 0 Mike alignment). The defense alignment would influence our base protection plan for the week. In a stack alignment we would use six- man protection. The center and playside guard would work a combination for the Mike. Both tackles would be man protecting. The RB will dual read to the side of the combination guard. The other guard will dual read also. Based on the defense’s ‘profile,’ we might be using a four-man slide protection which is our base and also a six-man protection.

'Triangle'

6 Man BOB Protection






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