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AFM Magazine


West Coast Offense: East Coast Style

Ithaca introduces their tight end and back combo package
by: Mike Welch
Head Coach, Ithaca College
by: Brian Angelichio
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Seven years ago, Ithaca College made a philosophical change to our program by incorporating the West Coast Offense. Rule changes, the excitement of the passing game and the ability to effectively match up against more talented defenses were all factors for this decision.

We needed to develop a system of plays rather than a series of plays based on our background in option football. Therefore, we traveled to East Carolina University to meet with head coach Steve Logan, offensive coordinator Doug Martin, and the rest of the ECU staff. It was this visit that provided us with the expertise to implement successfully the West Coast Offense.

Over the years we have visited with many staffs to learn the intricacies of this style of play, and we have added and deleted thoughts and techniques that have improved our performance.

Two concepts that have been an integral part of our package from the beginning are the Flat and the Angle. They yield a high percentage of completions with the potential for the big play. Although they can be run from several personnel groups, our most popular set is with our tight end, two backs and two wide receivers. We can run our entire offense from this group limiting our predictability factor. Motion with the receivers, backs or tight end provides a different look to the defense, but no change with the assignments. We have complete confidence that the Flat and the Angle concepts can be successful against any defense. They also allow us the opportunity to get the ball in the hands of our running backs, which is a priority in this style of offense. We have been fortunate to have had talented tight ends at Ithaca College. (Two have been selected to play in the NCAA Division III Aztec Bowl.) They present a big target for our quarterback to throw to and are difficult to bring down after the catch.

PROTECTION
Everything in the passing game starts with protection, and we use several different types in our offense. Our base is “cup” protection, blocking six defenders and throwing hot off the seventh. We want to secure the inside gaps with our five offensive lineman blocking the four down and the Mike LB. The running back will block the remaining LB and we control the “hot LB” with a free releasing back or wide receiver. This is the protection we use in our Flat and Angle concept.

IDENTIFYING COVERAGES
Multiple coverages in today’s defenses have forced offensive coaches to try and simplify identification. The idea of identifying coverages as being open, closed, or zero made things easier for our quarterbacks, receivers, and backs.

Open is any two-deep shell. It could be Cover Two, Cover Two Man, and Cover Four, or a show for some type of rotation. Closed is a three deep look that could be Cover 3, Man Free, or some type of FS Robber coverage.

Zero is man coverage with no safety help. Blitz or some type of pressure is anticipated with Zero coverage.

FLAT CONCEPT

The following are the assignments associated with the Flat concept:

Z - Take a normal alignment: ball on the hash, align four yards outside opposite hash; ball in the middle align on top of the numbers. Closed: run a post. Stem to a head up position and at ten yards break to the near goal post. Open: If the SS is a flat-footed defender, we will have the corner one-on-one without post help from the SS. If it is Cover 2 with a hard corner, the Z will site adjust to a fade. We do not like to site adjust, but we will make a few exceptions.

Tight End - He will release inside and climb to a depth of eight to ten yards, plant the inside foot and break out at 90 degrees towards the sideline.

Fullback - His alignment in our Pro formation will vary according to each play. In both concepts, he will align splitting the inside leg of the offensive tackle with heels at 5 yards. It is an ability split. The less quickness and speed, the more outside alignment he needs to take. The key coaching point for the back is to get in the pattern as quickly as he can. He is a free release receiver with no blocking responsibilities. He aims for a point three yards outside the tight end’s hip, getting depth as he gets width. He will work towards the sideline to a depth of 5 yards and flatten out. If his hot defender (who has been identified by the QB) blitzes, he will snap his head around looking for the ball. Don’t stop running. If they drop or peel a DL in a zone pressure, you have to out run him.

Tailback - Block the first linebacker away from Mike to the next outside threat. No blitzers. Run a snip route. Release through the B gap area to a depth of 3-5 yards. Plant the outside foot and break in across the center.

X - Run a post corner to keep the safety occupied if the quarterback wants to hit the post. Verses Zero coverage, QB may check to a go route.

Quarterback - All our timing routes are thrown from the three, five and seven step drops. The footwork of the quarterbacks has to be exact. The flat concept is thrown from five step and hitch rhythm. Closed: His first look is the post cut by the Z, which we call an alert. He must decide quickly to hit the post, otherwise it will disrupt the timing of the other routes. Therefore, he must look at film during the week to see if we have a chance to hit the big play against our opponent. If his judgement warrants throwing the post, he will take a shot with a five-step and hitch. If the post is not there, he will immediately look for his first option, which is to throw the flat route to the back. If the back is covered, then his second choice is the tight end. If the tight end is covered, then he will “stay alive” and hit the back on the snip route. He has vision of all four choices on the same side of the formation. Open: The quarterback with film study during the week, will narrow the number of coverages that our opponents play in the open look. His progression stays the same as closed: Z on the post or fade. A vertical release by the Tight end should hold the safety to take away his help on the post.

If it is cover two or two man with a hard corner, he will convert it to a fade. They will have to make a judgement if he has the throw. If he recognizes Zero coverage, he will anticipate a blitz and throw hot to the back.

ANGLE CONCEPT

The assignments Associated with the Angle concept are:

Z - Normal Split. Go route verses open and closed. If you have cover two with hard corners convert to a fade.

Tight End - Outside release and read open or closed. If it is closed, run at the outside number of the linebacker. At 12 yards, curl behind the first inside linebacker. Open run a shake route. Stem the safety and at 8 to ten yards turn your head and shoulders to the outside so that the outside ear hole faces the LOS, then break up field looking for the ball 18 to 20 yards over your inside shoulder. Zero coverage: Run go route. Look for the ball quickly because the QB may try for the big play if he has to throw hot.

Fullback - Aim at a point three yards outside the tight end. When he hits the line of scrimmage, plant outside foot and cut 45 degrees inside replacing the dropped linebacker. Look for the ball to be placed right on your numbers. Plant and run the ball north and south as quickly as you can. If the hot defender to your side blitzes, convert the route to a flat route looking for the ball immediately over your outside shoulder.

X - Open and closed: run post corner to keep FS occupied. Zero coverage: run a go route.

Quarterback - Closed: Alert with Z on go route. See if you have a mismatch or press coverage. After alert, first option is TE on middle read second FB on Angle to TB on snap.

Open: alert with Z on go or fade. First option is tight end on shake route to fullback on Angle to TB on snap. It is a five step hitch and throw tempo.

Zero- If the hot defender blitzes, he will quickly get his fifth step down and throw his chest and shoulder at his target. The FB will site adjust his angle route to a flat.

FLAT VS. COVERAGES

Cover 4: Quarter’s coverage with Robber Technique by the SS and FS. In this coverage we anticipate a one-on-one matchup with the TE and Z receivers. We feel that the TE will occupy the SS by the depth of his route of 10 yards, then by breaking to the sideline at 90 degrees. If we see a flat foot read by the SS, we will look past the post. We want the X receiver occupying the FS by running a post corner to hold him from playing the front side post. If we don’t like the Z, the QB will read FB to TE with one-on-one matchups vs. Cover 4. In Cover 4, the MLB will run the TE and the SLB will run a flat route by the FB. If this happens, we like the TB on a snip route working one-on-one off the WLB. We feel this gives a favorable matchup. (See Diagram 1)



Diagram 1.

Cover 2: In our Cover 2, our Z receiver will convert his route to a fade and allow us the opportunity to hit him in the seam at 18 yards. The SS is much softer, therefore we feel we will have the TE matchup one-on-one vs. the SLB. The QB will look quickly to the Z, then work the high/low horizontal stretch with the FB and TE. The TB and X will run their normal routes. We still like the snip because of the deeper drop by the MLB in Cover 2. (See Diagram 2)

Diagram 2.

Cover 3: Versus a Cover 3, we will still try to get the high/low horizontal matchup on the flat defender. In this coverage, our Z runs a skinny post and may still get the alert if the FS plays flat footed which some teams will play to get the extra run support. All other routes will stay the same. (See Diagram 3)



Diagram 3.

Cover O: Versus a Cover O, we feel we will still get one-on-one matchups across the board. We have two options, we can either convert routes to take off and throw the home run or take the one-on-one matchup withy our back free releasing vs. a SS and/or LB. By game plan, we would also check the protection with our backs check releasing and protecting first to allow us to get the matchup. Try a possible quick throw to the TE vs. four-man pressure. (See Diagram 4) Angle vs. Coverage’s

Diagram 4.

Cover 4: We like to run angle vs. Cover 4 to isolate the MLB and SLB on the TE & Back. In cover 4 the MLB has to rotate off No. 3 WR so the SLB will rotate off of No. 2 WR. This play looks like Flat but the FB will come back underneath the MLB. This presents a problem to the SLB and MLB on how they choose to switch the routes off. The Z Receiver will outside release and run a Go route. The TE has what we call a middle read. Verse open he wants to snap his head at 10 yards as if he was running an out route then push vertical on a skinny post not crossing the hash unless the QB brings you across. The TE wants to gain leverage by getting the SS to widen then come back inside. The X receiver will run a post corner to occupy the backside safety like he does in the flat concept. The TB runs a snap route, which is pushing vertical in the B gap to 3-5 yards, then break away from the ball. In Cover 4 this will take the WLB out of the Box. We want to read the MLB drop and throw to the FB on the move off the stem of the TE. (See Diagram 5)

Diagram 5.

Cover 2: When we get softer safeties who are half players we like to isolate the TE up the seam. We will make the Safety choose to either come off the hash and double the Z receiver on a take off or double the Y on his Middle Read route. If the Safety doubles the Z we throw to the TE who is guarded by the MLB. If we can’t get leverage on the Safety we will come underneath to the FB putting a high low read off the MLB. We always have the option to hit the Z in the seam at 18 yards if the safety chooses to double the TE.

To the defense this should look like the Flat concept to a depth of 10 yards for the SS and underneath LB’s.

Cover 3: The only adjustments that we make to the Angle package vs. Cover 3 is that the TE now will run a 12 yard curl over the first LB inside. This would be his middle read adjustment vs. a one-safety look.

The QB will still read High to Low off of the ILB who has the Hook/Curl Zone off of the No. 3 Receiver. (See Diagram 7)

Diagram 7.

Cover O: In a four across man look by the defense where they are going to bring seven man pressure we can take a shot deep with the best matchup vs. press man or throw hot to the TE or Back. (See Diagram 8)

Diagram 8.


It has been an honor to have the opportunity to present our ideas in this outstanding publication. Our success has been the results of what we learned from other coaches and programs. It is our hope that the principles presented in this article will benefit you and your team this fall.

Mike Welch
Def. Coordinator/Linebackers

Ithaca College's ninth head football coach, Welch has continued the success of one of Division III's winningest programs. His teams have been consistent playoff contenders, and he owns a record of 63-24 (.724) as Bomber coach. Taking over for Jim Butterfield, one of college football's most successful coaches, Welch was college football's most successfull rookie coach in 1994. He led the Bombers to a 10-3 record and the NCAA Division III semifinals that year





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