Here are two of my favorite ways to attack cover three out of empty. These two are great because they attack quickly, and are simple progression reads for the quarterback. 1. "Hoss Y Juke"
I wrote about this play a few years ago. CLICK HERE to read the article.
Zach Dunn had an extensive write up on it more recently. CLICK HERE to check it out.
2. Hitches with a split-seam (please excuse the crude drawing)
This play attacks the same landmarks and "Hoss Y Juke", but has potential for creating a bigger play. The two receiver side will run hitches, and the #3 on the opposite side will run a "split seam" to get to the seam on the opposite side of the field. This creates a nice triangle for the quarterback. If the underneath defenders take the bait (hitch routes), this will open up the split-seam route.
Unless the hook defender commits to the inside hitch route, the hitches will be open every time. If the weak side hook defender commits to the inside hitch, the split-seam will be open. It's a 3 on 2 in the offense's favor.
Here are a few videos of the Saints running it. In the second video, Brees tries to get the ball to the split-seam route, but gets hit as he is throwing it.
When I watch film, my mind tends to look for two things:
How teams execute their base plays. I like to see if they have any specific technique that helps make the play work better. I also look for how teams mix their base schemes together to create hesitation for the defense (e.g. power/counter)
Unique play designs. This can be either an entirely new play that I have never seen before, or a small wrinkle/double move to create leverage for an explosive play.
I saw one of each when watching Pitt vs North Carolina.
Play # 1
North Carolina uses the "Middle Read" concept quite often in their game plan each week. The play is shown below:
Pitt uses a lot of cover 4, which will typically match the safety in man coverage against the slot receiver after 7-8 yards. Pitt played their safeties with inside leverage on the slot receivers, which gives the defense leverage against this play.
North Carolina had a play prepared to attack this. They ran the smash concept for a touchdown.
Smash is a nice compliment to their base play. It was called at the most opportune time as well, in the red zone.
Play # 2
North Carolina used a nice wrinkle on the traditional concept of four verticals out of trips, in order to take advantage of the solo coverage. Solo is designed to stop most versions of four verticals, with the backside safety keying the number three receiver.
The vertical from #3 is meant to occupy the backside safety, and the play action keeps the linebackers from gaining depth. This leaves nobody to cover the #2 receiver running across the field.
Big plays change the dynamic of games. Finding ways to create them often doesn't come easy, so we must take note when we see good examples.
This book has many other plays that attack different cover 4 schemes. Click here to check it out
When evaluating prospects taken at the top of the draft, it is important to look at the film in order to disseminate fact from conjecture. Mitch Trubisky is no different. Some fans, and even some analysts, have strong opinions without ever turning on the tape.
In my world, the two most important qualities a quarterback can possess are sound decision making and accuracy. While accuracy can be judged after watching a few different game tapes, decision making is harder to evaluate.
When it comes to accuracy, it is easy to place Trubisky at the top of the prospect list. His quick release and precise footwork gets his body in position to deliver the ball where it needs to be, both accurately and on time. Accuracy often slips when a quarterback has to get rid of the ball quickly, or faces pressure in his face. The next two videos show Trubisky facing these scenarios, without sacrificing accuracy.
Decision making is a harder trait to analyze. Without being privy to a North Carolina playbook, assumptions have to be made about read progressions based on common concepts used. When projecting his decision making to the next level, we need take a look at the core concepts he ran each week that are often used in the NFL.
Playing in an air raid based offense at North Carolina, Trubisky ran "95" or "Y Cross" multiple times each game. The play is shown below.
This play has a lot of carry over into NFL playbooks. The Arizona Cardinals, for instance, have feasted on hitting Larry Fitzgerald on the deep cross for years. The concept can be found in west coast offenses as well, like the Green Bay Packers. Here is a clip of the Eagles using it in 2016
Trubisky consistently reads this play well. He moves quickly through his progression, often hitting the deep cross on time.
The other full field read Trubisky routinely used at North Carolina is the "Middle Read" or "Doubles" concept. This play can be found in pretty much every NFL playbook. The play is drawn below.
Against a single high safety (cover 1 or cover 3), the quarterback usually has 1 on 1 match ups to the outside. The routes to the outside receivers can be called in the huddle, hand signaled before the ball is snapped, or it can be designed as a post snap option route.
Against two high safeties, the quarterback will most likely look to his slot receiver as his primary, and his backs as checkdowns. The middle linebacker will be placed in a high low read.
When North Carolina called this play, they would often simplify the read for Trubisky and keep the backs in for max protection. If his primary receiver wasn't open, he would look to scramble. In the NFL, these backs will have protection responsibilities against a blitz, but will check release into their routes if they do not have a blitz threat. Below are a few videos of North Carolina running the "Middle Read" concept. North Carolina had a lot of success throughout 2016 getting big plays on fade routes to their outside receivers on this concept.
Watch how Trubisky controls the safety with his eyes in the first video. This is something that most quarterbacks don't do on a regular basis. When running the middle read concept, Trubisky consistently controls and manipulates the safeties, a trait that translates very well to NFL success.
With Trubisky, I have two main concerns:
With the exception of Y Cross and Middle Read, he hasn't had many full field reads. Many of the other throws he made were of the quick screen/RPO variety. This inexperience can be abated with practice reps and plenty of pre-season action.
Will he have the coaching staff and supporting cast to help him grow? He must be taught how to navigate more complicated passing structures.
Overall, I am on board with the Bears going after Trubisky. He displays the traits that are essential for success at the position on a regular basis.
Stay tuned for two follow up articles that should be finished in the next few weeks:
1. How North Carolina game planned two big plays in the passing game against Pitt's Cover 4 scheme.
2. How a Trubisky interception was his coach's fault, and not his.
Check out my new books on Amazon:
Click Here to learn about Quarterback Development: How Four NFL Teams Coached Their Quarterbacks to have Successful 2016 Seasons Click Here to learn about The Melting Pot: How to Acclimate Old NFL Concepts into your High School or CollegeOffense
Here are a few more clips of Trubisky that show other important traits. The ability to throw with pressure in his face is constant throughout his game tape. He also has plenty of mobility to occasionally run a power read or RPO/QB run read.
I have been working on a new book the past couple months that would summarize a few of the interesting schemes from the 2016 NFL season. “Quarterback Development” takes a look at the X&O’s behind four NFL offenses that had successful 2016 seasons. The book focuses on the play designs each team used, with over 50 diagrams included that show plays against multiple coverages and blitzes. The book explains how each play gives the quarterback an answer for what the defense presents.
Whether it is the Cowboys use of play action, the Titans creativity to defeat modern pattern match zone checks, the Falcons maximizing the use of an option route, or the Patriots' game plan specific double moves, this book will give the reader a fresh look at successful NFL offensive schemes.
The Chapter on the Patriots will look into two double moves off of the same play. One was used in the playoffs, and one in the Super Bowl. Each of these double moves peaked my interest, as they are not commonly seen.
A few pages are dedicated to their game plan in the Super Bowl as well. The image below shows a 3 man backside combination they used 14 times in the Super Bowl.
I do have a book already out. "The Melting Pot" is about converting unique NFL passing concepts into a high school or college system. Click Here to learn more about it.
Many teams use wheel routes with their running backs out of the backfield. Coaches like the match up that it creates, a speedy back on a slower interior linebacker who is used to filling gaps in the running game.
The video below shows a specific version of the play that I want to discus. The play can be found in the week 1 match up between the Patriots and Cardinals in 2016, 3rd quarter with 5:46 on the clock (check the play out on NFL GamePass, my video quality isn't the greatest).
The Cardinals run a version of the mesh concept with a wheel route out of the backfield acting as the primary read. Palmer forces the throw to David Johnson, even though the Patriots do a great job of defending the wheel route. The coverage technique from Hightower (#54) is text-book.
With the exception of the mesh concept, many running back wheel routes would be best served with an option to run an inside breaking angle route. This play was chosen as an example because of the defensive technique, rather than the route combination surrounding the wheel. In mesh, the drag coming from the other side of the field would interfere with the angle route by the running back. In this case, Carson Palmer should have moved on in his progression and hit the underneath drag route.
The screenshot below shows an alternative version that is included in The Melting Pot. Click Here to read more about the book.
The next image shows where the running back would make his cut, using speed to get up the sideline or breaking the route off to get inside. You can see the leverage that David Johnson has inside of Hightower. Hightower has his hips turned to run vertically with the wheel. In this case, an angle route would break wide open. This option route has an automatic tendency breaker built in, and does not require the coordinator to guess at the leverage the running back will have after the ball is snapped.
In many cases, a coach can combine multiple plays into a single play by using an option route. This takes the guessing away, and gives the offense the last adjustment on the chalkboard.
My latest book, "Quarterback Development", takes a look at some of the more unique pass concepts used in the 2016 NFL season, including option routes used by the Patriots and Falcons. Click Here to get your copy today!
I have been working on a new book the past couple months
that would summarize a few of the interesting schemes from the
2016 NFL season. “Quarterback Development” takes a look at the X&O’s behind
four NFL offenses that had successful 2016 seasons. The book focuses on the
play designs each team used, with over 50 diagrams included that show plays
against multiple coverages and blitzes. The book explains how each play gives
the quarterback an answer for what the defense presents.
Whether it is the Cowboys use of play action, the Titans
creativity to defeat modern pattern match zone checks, the Falcons maximizing
the use of an option route, or the Patriots' game plan specific double moves,
this book will give the reader a fresh look at successful NFL offensive
schemes.
The Chapter on the Patriots will look into two double moves
off of the same play. One was used in the playoffs, and one in the Super Bowl.
Each of these double moves peaked my interest, as they are not commonly seen.
A few pages are dedicated to their game plan in the Super
Bowl as well. The image below shows a 3 man backside combination they used 14
times in the Super Bowl.
I do have a book already out. "The Melting Pot" is about converting unique NFL
passing concepts into a high school or college system. Click
Here to learn more about it.
With draft season gearing up, I decided to start looking at the crop of quarterbacks in this year's class. I wanted to start with Patrick Mahomes first for a few reasons:
1. I love watching Texas Tech's offense. While still staying true to the classic air raid principles, Kliff Kingsbury further emphasizes getting the ball into his playmaker's hands in advantageous situations. Whether it be a one on one in the open field, or getting a receiver behind the defense.
2. Mahomes has rare arm talent. He makes throws that few other QB's in this year's class can make
Texas Tech featured a few concepts that work in conjunction with each other. The next video shows one of their base plays out of the trips formation, the stick concept:
Mahomes has a quick release on quick game concepts. His accuracy is also important for YAC plays like this. pic.twitter.com/KZJ1KN9TJg
Tech calls this play a few times a game, and surely defenses practice it when preparing to play them. This next play is meant to take advantage of a defense keying in on the stick concept. Out of a trips formation, Tech calls the "Levels" concept. They adjust the #3 receiver to run a quick sluggo. The defender on the #3 receiver will trigger on any inside break, allowing the receiver to get outside leverage with the defender leaning forward.
This ends up being a great call against Baylor's Cover zero. The play is diagrammed below, preceding the video clip.
Bad footwork, but Mahomes drops an absolute dime. Good coverage recognition (wide and tight) pic.twitter.com/Wh4UTzK9vL
Baylor came into the game with the intention of taking away the outside throws, especially to the boundary. This next video shows Baylor calling cover 2-trap into the boundary on a third and short, with great success.
Great coverage call from Baylor on third and short. Tech loves speed outs into the boundary, so run 2-trap to that side. pic.twitter.com/CmHLlcg1sy
Texas Tech takes advantage of Baylor's game plan. Tech attacks the middle of the field, specifically taking advantage of the boundary safety's aggressiveness. The first example shows Tech running "smash split". The diagram shows the "split" route having an option. In this case, the route converts to a post route to split the safeties. The boundary safety is occupied with the smash concept, leaving a giant window for the split route (A detailed breakdown of how Tech teaches this play can be found if you click HERE).
The second example is a "sting" route from the boundary slot receiver. The safety takes the bait, and leaves the middle of the field wide open. The backside combination to the boundary occupies the other safety. With Baylor playing quarters coverage to the boundary, the safety drives on the dig route. This is a neat backside combination that flows nicely into the quarterback's vision if the sting route is taken away. (Kudos to the TV broadcast for the great view of these plays!)
Great "sting" route from Texas Tech here. Great call against a split safety coverage pic.twitter.com/5oysKI6Xlg
To put a bow on this game, Tech's offense had a good game plan and executed at a high level.
Mahomes will be an interesting project for whoever drafts him. They will need to take the good with the bad, and try and break some of his bad habits with his feet. He would be best served to sit a year or so to acclimate to the NFL.
Amazon lowered the price on my book. CLICK HERE to get your copy. It is a great offseason resource for any coach or fan of the game!
Since this play seemed to interest the fine folks on
twitter, I shall elaborate:
This play is taken from page 41 of my book. Click here to see what it is all about. The play is a
version of four verticals with a few twists:
1: The importance of using two TE’s. This encourages the
defense to roll a safety down to help defend the extra gaps created in the run
game.
2: The option route from the X receiver. This will give the
quarterback a quick option against the blitz. The wheel-snag combination will
place the flat defender in a bind, and can be especially lethal against a fire
zone blitz.
The pass protection component of this play must be carefully
considered. Using a 5 man protection with a long developing concept can often
spell “S-A-C-K” in many coordinators heads.
There are two ways I would go about accounting for this:
1: Using a man protection scheme, and call out the Mike (defender
on #3) as the 5th rusher.
2: Half man, half slide. Have the left side of the line in
man, and the Center, RG and RT slide to their right gap.
Either of these pass protections will leave the Will
unaccounted for (or a third rusher to the left of the center). This third
rusher will be accounted for by the option route of the X receiver. When this
player blitzes, they will vacate the area that the snag route will settle in. If
the corner comes down on the snag, the wheel will have outside leverage on any
defender trying to find him.
The rest of the play centers around 4 verticals, and can be
adjusted to fit how you teach it. Having #3 curl over the ball at 10 yards, or
bend horizontally at 10 yards on a crossing route are both good adjustments
against two high safety looks.
My book has many other plays like this diagrammed and broken
down. I wanted to give a glimpse of my thought process when I see a play on film.
Get your copy here!
