Vilanova\'s 5-man Protection Series

Wide Receivers, Villanova
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Over the past six seasons, Villanova University has thrown for over 20,000 yards. One aspect we stress is constantly attempting to stretch the defenses that we see both vertically and horizontally. We will try to force the opposition to cover the entire field. We will do this by incorporating multiple formations and personnel groupings. We will also attempt to stress the defense by having the ability to get into several formations from the same personnel group. For example, we will jump to a No-Back look from our 1-Tight End/2-Back personnel. Everything we do game plan-wise is in an effort to constantly stress the defensive coverages and attack those stretched seams.

One of the packages that we will use is a 5-Man protection with five free-releasing receivers. If we are using this package, we will spread the field with a wide formation. This allows us to begin stretching the field before the snap. The other big reason we will use these from spread sets is to allow the quarterback to “see” the defense. The quarterback must be able to get a good pre-snap feel as to who the potential rushers are. By spreading the field we feel that we are forcing the defense to declare who these rushers are by supporting them with secondary coverage.

One of the points of emphasis in any 5-Man protection is to teach the quarterback who is blocked and who are the “free” rushers. He must fully understand which of the rushing defenders can get to him first unblocked, therefore who he must beat with the release of the ball. We will teach this by stressing to the quarterback that he must not only make quick reads but he must also get rid of the football quickly.

We like our 5-Man series versus blitz. We feel that our quarterback can get rid of the ball before the defender can get to him. Moreover, we feel that once the ball is caught there is more room to run with the football. This room is created by the vacating, blitzing linebackers.

What follows are four of our 5 Out Now patterns. For background information, we number our receivers from the sideline and according to which side of the formation they are on, strong or quick.

5 OUT NOW

Protection: As a general rule the five offensive linemen will have the four down linemen and the Mike linebacker. We will game-plan week-to-week as to who will be the dual reader of the down offensive linemen. As a general rule versus blitz, we will always try to pick up the five most dangerous men, those five that have the shortest run to the quarterback. That is, we will always try to force the “contain/edge” rusher be the sixth (or seventh) man in the blitz. Since he is unblocked, he is the responsibility of the quarterback. Remember, these throws are quick and the quarterback will not hold the ball long. We will also help the quarterback by setting him in the shotgun.

50: (Y Stick)

Diagram 1. Diagram 2. Diagram 3.

We can run this from any three and two set. Primarily it is a way for us to get the ball to the Tight End (See diagrams 1-3).

1 Strong: The Z will run right through the outside shoulder of the corner. He is to force the corner vertically. If, on his route, he sees the corner gather his feet he is to gather his feet and engage. This is because the ball is in the air to the fullback. He is not getting the ball.

2 Strong: Has the “stick route.” We will run this at a depth of 3 yards. He is always turning to the inside. We have made this a constant rule for him because the route was slowed sometimes while he was deciding on the leverage of the linebacker over him. We would rather have him there quickly than losing time thinking about it.

3 Strong: (Fullback) Runs the slide route. We do not give him a depth on this route. We stress, however, that he is a horizontal player. He must get outside the edge now.

1 Quick: Has a three-step slant. (We will have our inside leg up to enable this count.)

2 Quick: Has a three-step slant.

In order to ensure the correct spacing between the two slants, we will either slightly delay the release of 1 Quick or we will align 2 Quick on the ball with 1 Quick off the ball.

Quarterback: His read is 3 Strong to 2 Strong to “Double Slant.” If the 3 Strong outflanks the flat player on his release, he gets the ball NOW. The quarterback must be conditioned to throw this ball very quickly. If the linebacker expands with the fullback, the read then comes to the Mike linebacker. If the Tight End replaces in the void left by the Sam he gets the ball. If the Mike “jumps” the Tight End, we now have a good Inside/Out on the Will linebacker with the double slants. Versus blitz, the quarterback will decide pre-snap if he feels the fullback will outflank the man responsible for him in coverage (usually that defender will have to run “over” the route of 2 strong) or he can go out the back to the double slants.

Coaching Points:

• Have the Tight End (2 Strong) get in the habit of getting upfield immediately after the catch. While this route is not designed to be a “big play,” he must realize that he is getting the ball because he is in a seam. Have him stay in that seam post catch.

• Have 2 Strong recognize a Man (Zero) Coverage Shell. This will allow him to recognize which defender has the fullback (3 Strong) man to man and will help him determine the depth of his route as to force that defender to “run the hump” over top of his route therefore slowing him down. This is easier to teach to a 2-point slot than a 3-point tight end.

• Constantly enforce with the fullback (3 Strong) that he must snap his head around over his outside shoulder immediately. He could (will) get this ball very quickly.

562: We will use this versus any coverage. It will become a type of frontside flood combination versus Cover 3 and a “Smash” combination versus Cover 2. Used from any three and two set. (See diagrams 4-6)

Diagram 4. Diagram 5. Diagram 6.

1 Strong: Circle Out. Inside angled release to 5 yards, vertical to 10, then depart on a 45-degree angle to the corner. He is usually getting to 15-16 yards.

2 Strong: Inside angled release, then true vertical to affect the Mike linebacker in a 2-Shell and the Sam linebacker in a 3-Shell. He is trying to force the Mike/Sam linebacker to carry him vertically. If the Mike/Sam linebacker comes off of him to jump the crosser, he will sit down above the ball at 10 yards.

3 Strong: Slide Route. Same route as in 50.

1 Quick: 5-yard hitch.

2 Quick: Shallow cross. Must work across the field never getting more than 4 yards deep.

Quarterback:

Versus 3-Shell: Will read fullback to shallow crosser to 2 Strong. If the Fullback beats the flat player to the flat, he gets the ball. If the flat player expands immediately, the read comes to the Mike linebacker. If he is carrying the route of 2 Strong vertically, the ball comes to the shallow cross. If he has come off of that route, the ball comes to 2 Strong on the Sit Route.

Versus 2-Shell: If the field corner squats (traditional Cover 2), we will high-low him with the Smash combination created by 1 and 3 Strong. If the field corner bails (as in quarters coverage), the read will follow as above: Fullback to shallow cross to 2 Strong on the sit route.

Versus Blitz:

Man - Still have a good rub combination (the man who has the fullback is forced to run “over” the route of 2 Strong) between 2 Strong and 3 Strong or the shallow cross as the separator.

Zone - Throw the hitch to 1 quick immediately.

Coaching Points:

• Have the quarterback get a good pre-snap read between Cover 2 Shell and Cover 3 Shell.

• 2 Strong should inside angle his release so he is not getting caught up with the Sam/Strong Safety.

• 2 Strong should never avoid contact with the Mike/Sam linebacker. Invite contact and force him to marry up with your route. He is always coming outside the Mike/Sam to force his back to the crosser.

• 2 Quick must get vertical as soon as he gets the ball. Again, he is catching the ball in a seam therefore he should stay in that seam. If he continues to work across the field he will run into the defender that is being stretched by the route of the fullback

Vertically Stretching Series

554: We will use this versus teams that play from a 2-Shell. We are trying to create an immediate isolation high/low on the Mike linebacker. We can run from any three and two set. (See diagrams 7-9)

Diagram 7. Diagram 8. Diagram 9.

1 Strong: 5-Yard Hitch

2 Strong: Corner Route. It is important that he gets good depth on his route before he breaks to the corner. The break should occur at 10-12 yards. His route is designed to pull the front half-field safety off of the hash.

3 Strong: Centerfield seam route. His release should take him outside of the frontside defensive end.

1 Quick: Shallow cross. He must get across the field at no more than 4 yards deep.

2 Quick: Corner route. Same concept and break point as 2 Strong. He must pull the back half-field safety off of the hash.

Quarterback:

Key read the Mike linebacker. If the Mike works for depth with the route of 3 Strong (Fullback), the ball is dropped down to the shallow cross of 1 Quick. If he settles his feet, the ball goes over his head to the fullback.

Versus Blitz:

Man: Good separator with the route of 1 Quick.

Zone: Will throw the ball to the hitch immediately.

Coaching Points:

• If aligning the fullback in the backfield (it seems to time up better from the backfield alignment), cheat his split wider to allow for an easier release. We always have him work outside the end, any inside release can get clogged up by a twist scheme by the defensive line.

• Fullback should work to not “bend” the route after he is above the Mike. He must stay in the middle seam. Any bending of the route will bring it closer to the Free Safety

• 1 Quick’s route will time up a bit better if he inside angle releases to a depth of three yards and then continues on his shallow cross. If he “goes now” the timing is a bit too quick.

559:

We will use this as a way to take a deep shot at the coverage. It becomes a way to overload the frontside half safety by sending three vertical routes right at him. (See diagrams 10-11)

Diagram 10. Diagram 11.

1 Strong: Landmarked take-off. His landmark is the bottom of the numbers.

2 Strong: Landmarked seam route. His landmark is 2 yards outside of the hash.

3 Strong: Middle seam route. 3 Strong must identify 1 or 2 safeties. If there is only 1 safety, he must work to cross his inside shoulder. If there are 2 safeties, he must work to bisect them, being careful not to work too far over where the frontside safety will pass him off to the backside safety.

1 Quick: 5-yard hitch route. He is the answer to any zone blitz pressure.

2 Quick: Landmarked take-off. Since 1 Quick is running the hitch, 2 Quick will assume his landmark of bottom of the numbers.

Quarterback: Must be aware of any type of pre-snap blitz look. Since these are vertical routes he must feel good about it being a Zone coverage in order to stay with it. He is simply reading the near safety. If it is a 2-Shell, he reads the strong safety, if it is a 3-Shell, he will read the free safety. Regardless of the look, he knows that that safety is being overloaded. It is a good coaching point to have the quarterback “look the safety off,” that is to not lock into his receiver with his eyes. He must add to the stress on the safety by looking that safety off.

Coaching Points:

Preach your landmarks and maintaining their spacing. All of the receivers must understand the spatial importance of their routes. We always try to put in terms of maximizing stress on that frontside safety. If the landmarks become compressed, his stress level is reduced.

All of these routes look good on paper. Fortunately, we have been blessed with two great quarterbacks over the past six years, Chris Boden and Brett Gordon, who have turned these diagrams into pretty good plays. While it may seem like a lot to teach your quarterback in terms of knowing who is unblocked, invariably it is the 5 Out Now series that become our quarterback’s favorite plays.

About the author Drew Maginnis Drew Maginnis returns as wide receiver coach in 2002. After coaching at Villanova from 1995-97, Maginnis spent the 1998 season as the Offensive Coordinator at St. Anselm College. In their first year of football in 1998, Maginnis helped St. Anselm to a 5-1 record as his offense averaged 24 points per game. From a recruiting standpoint, Maginnis is in charge of Maryland, Virginia and Atlanta. Under Maginnis’ guidance, Villanova wide receiver Murle Sango became one of the top playmakers in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Sango, who earned third team All-Conference acclaim last year, ended his Wildcat career second on the school’s all-time reception list and one of just three players ever in school history to tally 200 or more receptions in his career. In 1999, Sango garnered All-American honors with a school record 98 receptions for 1,064 yards and 10 touchdowns. Prior to arriving at Villanova in 1995, Maginnis was the defensive coordinator at LaSalle College High School for one season. For more information contact: Andrew.Maginnis@villanova.edu .

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