A Great Double-Move Concept for the Redzone

I noticed that this will be my fourth post about a play called by Lincoln Riley (unintentionally, of course). His offenses at Oklahoma have shifted from a pure air raid passing attack when he took over, to a run-based attack with heavy play action in 2016. Even with the focus on the run, Baker Mayfield finished the regular season at the top of the NCAA list for yards per attempt (a great stat for measuring efficiency in the passing game) while also finishing first in completion percentage.

With the prevalence of quarters coverage in today’s college football landscape, I like to look for the different ways that offenses try and take advantage of this coverage. In most cover 4 schemes, the safeties play aggressively to “rob”, or takeaway, any intermediate routes. This creates the potential for big plays down the middle of the defense.

Oklahoma used a play that takes advantage of this very idea. The image below shows the play. This play was taken from their game against West Virginia in 2015

The slant release by the slot on the right takes the safeties eyes to the outside receiver. The safety is no longer responsible for the slot once he goes inside. The slot will then run up the middle of the defense after he sells the slant route. The stem of the slant route must also sell the middle linebacker, to keep his hips square to the line of scrimmage.

After a few watches, this defense looks like it could be cover two. The idea of the play stays the same, the safety will still focus on the #1 receiver after #2 goes inside.

The videos below show the play. 

An inside release by the outside receiver on the right can also help draw the safeties eyes off of the slot receiver, as long as the outside receiver drifts back outside.

My new book has a few other double move examples. Click here to see what the book is all about.