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AFM Magazine


AIR RAID Running Back Techniques and Drills

by: by Tony Franklin
Offensive Coordinator, University of Kentucky
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The most productive running backs in the SEC over the last three seasons combined have been from the University of Kentucky. Anthony White and Derek Homer have combined for more yards (rushing and receiving totals) than any other two-back combination. White had three straight 1,000-yard seasons from rushing and receiving yards combined, and Homer combined with White in 1997-98 to put the pair over 4,000 yards combined for those two seasons. White also became the third player in NCAA history to have 1,500-yards rushing and 1,500-yards receiving in his career.

With the emergence in the NFL of Edgerrin James and Marshall Faulk as the top running backs in the league, versatility will become a primary focus for future running backs. The more adept at both catching and rushing, the more valuable a player will become to his present and future teams.

University of Kentucky head coach Hal Mumme has always put a premium on versatile running backs that are a dual threat out of the backfield. From the high school level to small college football, and finally in the SEC, his running backs have always produced big numbers because of their versatility in running and receiving.

The following presentation will focus on the habits, techniques, and daily practice skills that have consistently put the "Air Raid" running backs at the top of their league.

All running backs should expect to score every time they touch the football. In order to make this more realistic, we require our running backs to score every play during practice. If we are doing a drill from the 30-yard line, the back will not finish until he has crashed the goal line.
See Diagram 1.


Diagram 1

Even if he falls down or is knocked down by the defense, he will get up and finish the play with a touchdown. Not only does this reinforce the attitude to score each play, but it also gets our running backs in superior condition to our opponents. We have no need to run sprints or gassers after practice because we have scored 20-40 touchdowns by the end of the day.

While scoring a touchdown is important, it is equally important in practice to score with "vivid imagination." Our backs are expected to use open field imagination skills on each play, even versus air. We never want a catch and score to be without making an imaginary defender miss the tackle and two to three cuts to avoid other would-be tackles. (See Diagram 2.)


Diagram 2

Finishing the run is one of the habits that have made our backs at UK gain many yards after first contact. We require the backs to lower their bodies as they near the goal line to get leverage on the defender. The running back will then throw his non-ball-carrying forearm in an upward attacking mode through the imaginary defender. This habit will make your ball carriers much more aggressive and they will gain extra yards after contact because they will always finish the run. (See Diagram 3.)


Diagram 3

White averaged over 60 catches a season out of the backfield in his three seasons in the "Air Raid" offense. One of the best daily practice habits that allowed him to have fewer than 5 dropped passes in these three seasons was the habit of "exaggerating the look." In all of our pre-practice, practice, and post-practice drills, we emphasize to "exaggerate the look" of catching the ball all the way until your see it securely in your hands. Ninety percent of the dropped passes can be attributed to not seeing the ball all the way through its security to the body. Even if a ball is caught, we will watch the eyes to see if they focused through until security. Film study reminders should help your players to understand this point and it's importance.

The following routes are the primary routes that our backs have used to be productive in our offense. The swing, shoot, angle, option, arrow and wheel routes are practiced daily. The following information and charts are the keys to running these routes productively.

Swing

1. The swing begins after the back has checked his blitz responsibility. He will begin on a flat plane as if he is attempting to steal second base. This allows him to see and adjust to a delayed blitz. He then releases toward the numbers with his width being "minimal assignment" to the numbers. He should not arc the route or lean upfield until the ball leads him up field. He must swivel his head after he clears the defensive end and look for the ball, then look back to the flat defender's area and continue to head swivel until the ball is thrown. If he is wide open and knows that he can gain 10 yards, he should yell for the ball. If he hasn't received the ball when he reaches the numbers then he should maintain his depth and not move up field until the ball is thrown. If he releases late and can't get over the defensive end's rush he may go under but he must regain his depth as he widens to get back to his depth at his original alignment before he reaches the numbers. It is crucial that he make an aggressive attempt with speed to get to the numbers before he slows down. The integrity of the route depends on him widening the field. (See Diagram 4.)


Diagram 4

Shoot

2. The shoot route also has the numbers as it's landmark. Running backs must check their blitz responsibility before releasing. They begin as if stealing second base and after clearing the defensive end their angle is such that when they reach the numbers their depth should be 3 yards maximum past the LOS. They should look over their outside shoulder once they have cleared the defensive end and are nearing the LOS. It is crucial that they release and run with speed toward the numbers and continue with speed until they reach their landmark. If they haven't received the ball when they reach the numbers, they may turn back to the QB facing up field. (See Diagram 5.)


Diagram 5

Angle

3. The angle route is used to break the back heading up field in the middle of the field. Our backs will begin a shoot or swing for approximately 6-8 steps and then stick hard with the outside foot and break sharply across the middle of the field towards the center. Normally when they reach the center they would be at a depth of 3-6 yards when they caught the ball. The back will read man or zone and this will determine whether or not to set down in an open area or to continue to run with speed. It is crucial to accelerate straight up field after the catch to make as many positive yards as possible. (See Diagram 6.)


Diagram 6

4. The option route begins with a check-release and the back should step around the defensive end, if possible. He will then head straight up field to 3-5 yards reading the defender assigned to cover him. If the defender mans the back, he will then swap off the route when he is close enough to touch the defender and break with speed square outside or inside. We allow the back to go either way. If he reads spot drop zone, then he will simply settle in the open spot that he reads. (See Diagram 7.)


Diagram 7

Wheel

5. The wheel route is a continuation of the shoot route. When the back has nearly reached the numbers, he will flash his eyes back to simulate looking for the ball. He will then snap up field on the numbers and run vertical looking for the ball. It is important to not get walled off the numbers by the defender. (See Diagram 8.)


Diagram 8

All of the daily drills that our backs do play an important factor in the building of successful habits. The following are all drills that have made our backs more productive on a daily basis.

1. The strip drill is used to begin our day with great ball security habits. Two backs will partner up and work with each other. One will carry the ball and change it from arm to arm as he walks 10 yards at a normal walking pace. The other back will walk behind or to the side and continually attempt to knock the ball out. We emphasize "high and tight" continuously to our backs throughout this drill. We make two trips of 10 yards with both backs everyday. (See Diagram 9.)


Diagram 9

2. Our backs work the "Big Bertha" drill daily. The back will begin off-center at 2-3 yards depth and slide to center with quick feet on command. He will continue to move his feet in place at shoulder width while sinking his hips and waiting for the Bertha dummy to come to him. The coach will verbalize three concepts while he performs this drill: Patience, Leverage and Violence. The back should be patient as he awaits the attack of the defender and wait until the last moment before attacking. While waiting, he must maintain leverage, meaning keep his helmet below the defender's helmet. When the defender reaches the back he must attack with a violent upward thrust of his hands and fingers to explode to the top portion of the numbers of the defender. Each back should get daily repetitions with "Big Bertha". It is crucial that our backs are great pass blockers and our daily work with "Big Bertha" assures us of great technique. (See Diagram 10.)


Diagram 10

3. Our backs also work on lead blocks versus the one-man sled on a daily basis. Starting at 8 yards away from the coach, the back will begin in the direction to block the coach who is situated about 3 yards to the left or right of the one-man sled. As the back approaches the coach, the coach moves toward the sled, simulating the linebacker moving in a direction toward a cutting runner. The back will adjust without crossing over his feet and still maintaining leverage until he reaches the one-man sled and attacks with an upward punch and thrust. He will drive the sled 4-5 yards, until the coach's command, with a wide base and short, choppy steps. (See Diagram 11.)


Diagram 11

Our running backs must be consistent with their routes, ball-catching ability, running, and blocking talents. The preceding techniques have played a large role in the success of running backs in the "Air Raid" offense.






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