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The Sling-T Wham Series

by: Anthony Panagakos
Offensive Coordinator, Port Richmond High School (NY)
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The core of the Sling-T offense was developed using elements of the Wing-T offense and the Run ‘n Shoot offense. What we did at Port Richmond High School in New York City is expand the traditional Wing-T offense and give it more firepower. We run spread formations that give us four wide receivers at the line of scrimmage and the ability to run the traditional Wing-T ground game. In the Sling-T offense, we still run the sweep and trap series, but we can also run any of our four receiver pass patterns. The Sling-T gives an offensive coordinator more options than the traditional Wing-T and it gives the defense more problems to deal with. The defense is hard pressed to stack the line to stop the run, because of the passing threat of the spread formations (See Diagram 1). This is our base formation. As you can see, we have four receivers at the line. Each man has a very different role to play in the offense.

Diagram 1: Base Formation

In the Sling-T offense we want to package our plays to give the defense the same Wing-T action to read in the backfield and still run a number of different plays. In this way we are trying to deceive the defense so they do not know who has the ball (e.g., sweep, trap, and waggle).

The Sling-T offense still has a power game that we have run at Port Richmond for a number of years with great success. This is our Wham Package. The Wham is our off-tackle isolation play on the middle linebacker. Again, the fakes and the number of different plays that we run out of this action are what make the series work.

Let’s start up front with the linemen. We want the play to go between the play side guard and tackle. When the linemen get over the ball, the guard and tackle will make a line call to either “man block” or “cross block”, depending on the defensive alignment. If there is a defender aligned on the outside eye of the guard or in the guard's outside gap, they will call a cross block (let the kids make their own calls – they will have fun with it). The tackle will go first and execute a down block on the man in the gap. Then the guard will take a trap step into the gap and come right off the back side of the tackle and trap block the DE (See Diagram 2). If the defender is head up or on the inside shade of the play side guard, then the guard and tackle will make a “man call.” They will “man block” or “on block” the man in front of them and try to get the back of their jerseys in the hole (See Diagram 3).

Diagram 2: Cross Block

Diagram 3: On Block

The center, backside guard, and tackle will all reach block play side and pick up any defenders in their area. If no defender is present, then they will continue to the next level and try to pick off the linebackers (See Diagram 4). If the backside DT is in the gap between the center and the backside guard, then they can use what we call a “gut block.” This is when the center will down block on the backside DT and then the backside guard will wrap around the center and try to get to the linebacker (See Diagram 5). The center will call off the gut block if he thinks that the linebacker is going to blitz. If the defense is in an odd front then the play side guard and center will double team the nose guard and then kiss off to the backside linebacker (See Diagram 6).

Diagram 4: Reach Block

Diagram 5: Down Block

Diagram 6: Double Team

The TE is lined up two-yards by two-yards off the play side tackle. On the snap of the ball, the TE will take an open step (a reach step back with his inside foot at 45 degrees). This is a timing step so the lineman can cross block if needed. He will try to get into the hole and isolate block on the first bad color that he sees in the hole and drive that man out (See Diagram 7).

Diagram 7: TE Block

The fullback is the ball carrier; on the snap of the ball he will take a parallel step play side. This step will serve as a timing step so the line can cross block. Then he will push hard off that foot to attack the line of scrimmage. He must keep his shoulders parallel to the line of scrimmage. He will get the ball deep enough in the backfield that he will have time to locate a hole to run through. The primary hole is between the guard and tackle, but he can cut it back and run behind the gut block up the middle (See Diagram 8).

Diagram 8: Fullback

On the snap of the ball (with the play going right), the QB will take the snap and take a short step back with his right foot, then pivot on his right foot until his shoulders are perpendicular to the line of scrimmage. He will then ride the fullback and ball into the line of scrimmage. Now, depending on whether we are going to use the Wham Keep (QB Keep) or Wham Pass (more as an accompanying play), this will determine the fake. If the Wham Keep is the fake then the QB will hand the ball off to the fullback and ride him into the line of scrimmage using his arms and legs. He then comes off the fullback’s backside and attacks the OLB (See Diagram 9). If the Wham Pass is the fake, then the QB will ride the fullback into the line of scrimmage with just his arms and not his legs. This is because the QB will have to push off his inside foot straight back to get separation from the line of scrimmage. Then he must carry out his pass drop fake (See Diagram 10).

Diagram 9: Wham Keep/Wham Pass

Diagram 10: Drop Fake

Before the ball is snapped, the halfback (HB) will go in motion. He will use one of two different motions. The first is the ‘base round motion’ that we use on most of our plays. The HB will start his motion one count before the ball is snapped. He will take an open step back, aiming for the heels of the fullback (FB). He must do this at full speed. When the ball is snapped, he will get himself into good pitch relationship with the QB for the Wham Option fake (See Diagram 11).

Diagram 11: Base round Motion

The other motion is the ‘extended motion.’ This is where the HB will run across the formation and stop just passing the TE. This will go along with the Wham Pass fake. On the snap of the ball, the HB will block the outside linebacker or whoever is trying to cover him (Diagram 12). You can use whatever motion fits the game plan and whatever gets the desired reaction out the defense.

Diagram 12: Extended Motion

The wide receiver will try to get the middle safety, or if there are two safeties, will try to get to man on their side. This will also bring the cornerbacks to the middle of the field. If they are in any sort of man coverage, this will give the FB a chance to break to the outside where there is less support.

The next play in the series is the Wham Pass. There are a few different versions of this play. Let's start up front with the linemen. The easiest way to block this play is for all the linemen to take a slide step play side. We want the play side tackle, guard and center to be very aggressive, so we teach them to take a step forward at the defensive linemen. As you know, linemen can't go down field, but there is a three-yard cushion that most leagues will allow. The back side guard and tackle will step hard play side to protect the inside gap. If there is no inside pressure then they will hinge back side to try and force any backside rush wide and to the outside to make it a long run to the QB for the defender (See Diagram 13).

Diagram 13: Slide Step Blocking

There is another variation to the blocking that we use against teams that like to concentrate on our lineman and the blocking schemes that we use. By blocking the wham with a cross block we can block the play in a very similar way while giving the defense a different read.

The play side tackle will down block on anyone inside. The play side guard will pull and log block the DE. Be aware that some teams will try and crash that DE to take away the Wham and blow up the cross block. Now the guard will get on the outside shoulder of the DE. The FB will fake the Wham and run to the B gap the guard has vacated. The center will reach block play side and the backside guard and tackle will step and hinge backside (See Diagram 14).

Diagram 14: Log Block

The HB will go in extended motion across the formation to about halfway between the TE and the WR. On the snap of the ball he will turn and block down on anything inside and maintain the edge so the QB can get to the outside (See Diagram 15).

Diagram 15: HB Motion

The TE will block down on anybody inside of him for three seconds to slow the edge players down and give the pulling guard and HB time to get into place. This also makes the defense think that he is blocking on a run play. He will then release to the flats and work his way to a depth of five yards.

The WR on the play side will run a post/corner route. He will run inside as if he was going to block the FS, then break back to the corner of the end zone. Remember, this is a deep route. Don't let the WR cut this short so that the DB can cover both the WR and TE. The backside WR will come across the field working between 10 and 15 yards looking for a dead area in the middle of the field (See Diagram 16).

Diagram 16: Post/Corner Route

The QB will take the same steps as in the Wham. He will fake just with his hands and not his legs and still ride the FB into the line. Then he must push straight back with his back foot. This is so he can get depth away from the line of scrimmage. While riding the ball to the FB, the QB must get his eyes down field, looking at the WR to see if he is going to beat the defender deep. We want to throw the deep ball quickly so the QB doesn't have to throw the ball 50 yards down field. After the fake and push off, the QB must get to the outside and be a threat. If the WR is open, he is throwing the ball right away. If the WR is covered, he looks for the TE in the flats. His last read is the backside WR coming across the field. If all the men in the pass pattern are covered or if the QB sees 10 yards of open field in front of him, then he will give a 'go' call and run down the field. We want the QB to run with the football and to be a threat to the defense with his legs. This will bring the defense tighter to the line, so that later in the game when the defense starts to come up to stop the run, the QB should have an easy throw downfield or be able to drop the ball over the defense's heads to an open receiver.

There are many different versions of this play that we use at Port Richmond. We will tag the routes such as Wham Pass/Curl. This changes the post/corner to a curl route and the back side WR will run a post down the middle of the field (Diagram 17). Let's say a team has a very active FS in the middle of the field. Then we will call a Wham Pass/Trail, which tells the TE and the WR that they are both pausing for two seconds and then taking off straight down the field. The TE will try to run past the aggressive FS, who is coming up to stop the Wham (See Diagram 18).

Diagram 17: Wham Pass/Curl

Diagram 18: Wham Pass/Trail

The last version that we use a lot is what we call a Wham Pass/Ohio. This is a three-man pattern. The play side WR will run a go route and try to bring the corner deep with him. The TE will still block for three seconds, then release to the flats to a depth of three yards. The HB will now come across in extended motion. On the snap of the ball, he will come down like he did on all of the previous plays, but now after about three steps will release into the pattern and cut it out at about 10 yards. The corner should be run off by the WR and OLB should jump on the out route, thus leaving the HB wide open out in the middle of the two (See Diagram 19).

Diagram 19: Wham Pass/Ohio






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