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The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Three Step Naked Package

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We are an offense that likes to use multiple formations and motions to enhance our passing game. Our passing game is based on our three-step package and using the play action passing game to move the pocket. The three step naked package gives us an opportunity to incorporate both of these concepts into one play.

The hitch naked package is something that I have been running since my days as an offensive coordinator at Millikin University. It is a play that we like because it is an easy read for the quarterback, it has great protection and it gives an athletic quarterback a chance to put pressure on the defense by possibly breaking contain and getting to the outside. It is also a play that can be used with a variety of motions to give it different looks.

The play itself fits into most offensive packages and is a great complement to any offense that uses the 3-step passing game as a staple of its offense. When I was hired this year as the offensive coordinator at The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, I was walking into a program that already had an outstanding 3 step passing game. By incorporating the hitch naked package, we were able to enhance our short passing game and put pressure on opposing defenses by making them defend a 3 step passing game, and a naked concept on the same play.

We primarily run our three-step naked package out of any of our gun 2 x 2 or 3 x 1 formations. We can get to these formations by using a variety of motions.

The reads for the quarterback never change regardless of formation. The quarterback will always look to throw the called three-step route first. If the called route is covered, the quarterback will pump fake and roll away reading low to high to run. The primary called three-step route we use is the hitch. As we get inside the 10-yard line, we will use either a slant or a fake instead of the hitch.

THREE STEP NAKED PACKAGE OUT OF OUR 2 BY 2 FORMATIONS
In Diagram 1 we are in our Doubles Right Gun formation.

Diagram 1

Responsibilities/Rules:
Quarterback: The QB will be in a shotgun position with his toes at 5 yards. Once he receives the snap, the quarterback will look to throw the hitch. If the hitch is covered, the QB will pump the hitch and roll to his right attacking the LOS and reading Y to Z to R to run.

X Receiver: Run a 5-step hitch. If the ball is not thrown, burst across the field and run an over route.

R Receiver: Run a crossing route working towards a depth of 12-14 yards.

Y Receiver (TE): Run a slam release route, getting no deeper than 4 yards downfield. The tight end will not release until he sees the quarterback rolling to his side.

Z Receiver: Minus split and run a home run corner. The Z receiver should step and gain as much depth as possible.

A Back: Block the end man on the LOS opposite of the direction that the O-Line will slide to. The A back must work to pin the defender inside so that the quarterback can get out clean.

Offensive Line: The O-Line will slide protect to the left, away from the side that the quarterback may roll to.

In Diagram 2, we are aligned once again in our Doubles Right Gun formation, but will run the play the opposite direction. The rules will change slightly because we will be rolling away from the TE. When we do this, our X receiver will run a bench route and our TE(Y) will run a crossing route. The reads for our quarterback will not change. The following routes will always be run when we are rolling away from a TE in our 2 x 2 formations.

Diagram 2

Responsibilites/Rules
Quarterback: Throw the hitch. If the hitch is covered pump the hitch and roll left reading X to R to Y to run.

Z Receiver: Run a 5 step hitch. If the ball is not thrown, burst across the field and run an over route.

Y Receiver (TE): Run a crossing route working to a depth of 12 to 14 yards.

R Receiver: Run a home run corner. Step and nod at 10 yards and gain as much depth as possible.

X Receiver: Run a bench route. Take 3 steps inside, plant and work back outside getting no deeper than 4-5 yards downfield.

A Back: Block the end man on the LOS opposite of the direction that the O-line will slide to. The A back must work to pin the defender inside so that the quarterback can get out clean.

Offensive Line: The O-Line will slide protect to the right, away from the side that the quarterback may roll to.

HITCH NAKED PACKAGE OUT OF OUR 3 BY 1 FORMATIONS
We also run our three-step naked package out of our 3 x 1 formations. When we run our three-step naked package out of our 3 x 1 formations we will incorporate our flood concept into our 3 receiver side. In Diagram 3, we are aligned in our Trey Right Gun formation.

Diagram 3

Responsibilities/Rules:
Quarterback: Throw the hitch. If the hitch is covered, roll right and read Y to R to run.

X Receiver: Run a 5-step hitch. If the ball is not thrown, burst across the field and run an over route.

Y Receiver (TE): Run a slam release route.

R Receiver: Run an out rolling to the sideline at a depth of 12-14 yards.

Z Receiver: Run a Go route, forcing an outside release vs. a cover 2-corner.

A Back: Block the end man on the LOS opposite the direction that the O-line is sliding to.

Offensive Line: Slide protect to the left, away from the side that the quarterback may roll to.

Another variation that we have used is for our Z and R receiver to run a scissors concept (Diagram 4). The Z receiver would work inside to a depth of 12 yards, one yard outside the hash while our R receiver would run a wheel route working to a depth of 14 yards, planting and working back towards the sideline. This route has been very good to us in the red zone.

Diagram 4

Hopefully, this article has given you some ideas of how to incorporate your 3-step game into your naked package. With motions and shifts, the combinations that you can use with this package our endless.


WHAT IF?

Q1. What if you're facing a defense that continuously blitzes against your three-step naked package? Does the quarterback's reads change and/or any base blocking assignments?

Nothing changes. The RB needs to be aware that he is responsible for the OLB blitzing to the naked side. If we are facing a heavy outside pressure team we will only run it to the TE side so that the TE can slam on the end and the RB can block the OLB. We don't want to get caught running it to a side where we can get 2 high off the edge.

Q2. What if yourWRs have press coverage against them in a 3 x 1 set? Are the reads or receiver routes adjusted in any way?

The only adjustment we make is that the hitch will convert to a fade. All other routes stay on. Against press man teams we like to motion as much as possible to create some softness.

Q3. What if you face a defense that stunts and twists with some success? Do you adjust any blocking responsibilities?

No adjustments are made. The RB just needs to be aware that if the end goes hard inside, the tackle may be coming outside and he will then be the guy we pin. We believe that moving the pocket with a play such as this sometimes deters teams from stunting and blitzing as much because of the possibility of the QB getting outside.






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