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Point Counterpoint - Winning with the Air Raidby: Bill Ramseyer© More from this issue 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” Diagram 2. “Shallow Cross” from Trips Diagram 3. “Mesh” Diagram 4. “Mesh” from Trips Diagram 5. Four Verticals Diagram 6. Four Verticals from Trips Diagram 7. Wide Receiver Screen Diagram 8. Wide Receiver Screen from Trips “The system teaches the offensive line to block ‘man’ leading to ‘zone’ vs. blitzes and twist stunts. The philosophy is ‘our 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.”
Diagram 9. “Shallow Cross” Diagram 10. “Double Out” Diagram 11. “Hitch Seam” Diagram 12. “Slant Seam” 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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