The Situation

by: AFM Editorial Staff
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It’s midway in the fourth quarter and the game is tied, 10-10. You’re on offense with
a third down and three on your opponents’ thirteen yard line. You need three yards to continue the drive in the Red Zone and get a first and goal. If you don’t make the first down, you’ll have to try a field goal. Obviously, you’d like to score a touchdown and go up 7. Your offense has operated out of a spread
formation for most of the game with one
wide receiver on both sides of the ball.

Against a 3-4 defense, what play do you call for this all-important first down?

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Doug Pettit, O-Line Coach, Lyman High School (FL).
AFM subscriber since
February 1996


Assuming that in my spread I’m also operating all night from the shotgun, I’d have a HOT call for the QB to the OL just for situations like this. This hot call means after getting the offense set, the QB comes from the gun and sprints up under center, pauses for the required second and on the first sound we’ll QB sneak with wedge blocking on the interior bubble, typically right behind the center in a true 4 - 3. We’ll set the offense in a formation that will spread the defense and remove as many LB/DBs from the box as possible (possibly an “empty” set), make the hot call and execute the play. It's a great mix up for a spread offense, but can only be used 2-3 times a season.

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Rey Hernandez, Defensive Coordinator,
La Jolla High School (CA).
AFM subscriber since March, 2003


In these situations it is best to always have one or two plays that will show the defense an alignment that is different from anything they have seen during the game. This usually will cause some indecision on the part of some of the defenders. Against a 3-4 alignment that will probably be playing some type of short yardage defense I would line up in an unbalanced spread set with twin receivers on the strong side and an eligible “tackle” and split end on the weak side of the formation. I would call two plays in the huddle and on the line of scrimmage have my quarterback read the alignment of the safeties. The two plays for example could be a strong side zone or a naked zone waggle to the weak side. If the defense opted to align the safeties on opposite sides to better defend the eligible tackle I would run the strong zone. If however the defense opted to align the safeties on the strong side to better defend against the run, the quarterback would audible to the zone waggle and look for the eligible tackle in the short flat. The quarterback would of course be a threat to run if he is able to flank the contain backer who could possibly be influenced by the zone play fake away.

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Jaime Luis Aguilar,
Head Coach, Yaks School, Sonora, Mexico.
AFM subscriber since July, 2006


I would use the Shotgun, left TE, RB on left side showing strong left side to the defense. A possible RB run. Play action to the right side with RB and then screen it to the inside right WR. See my diagram. Works all the time!

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William Martin, Defensive Line Coach,
West Windson Plainsboro High School (NJ).
AFM subscriber since April, 2006


I would run an option to the split end/open side based on will linebacker alignment.

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Dave Davidson,
Offensive Line Coach,
Sequoyah High School (TN).
AFM subscriber since November, 2005


Run the play action ISO right at the Sam... have the FB run past the Sam to a 5 yard flat, TE on a 7 yard curl, WR run fade and have the QB read high to low.

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NEXT MONTH - ’The Situation’: You’re on defense with your opponent facing a third and 7 from midfield. They’re in a spread formation with two receivers on the right side, one flanked left and another in the left slot. You’ve been in a 4-4 defense most of the day and effective with blitz packages.  You see their quarterback drop straight back... how do you stop them  from converting on third down?

Send your responses and play diagrams to AFM Managing Editor Rex Lardner at rlardner@lcclark.com. Diagrams can be faxed to Clark Publishing at 561-627-5275... AFM plans to publish responses each month to ‘The Situation’... make sure you include your name, title, and school affiliation with your response and diagram.

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