Creating explosive plays

Taking advantage of aggressive safety play is one of the best ways to create explosive plays. Pattern match rules used by defenses in 2 high looks allow the offense these opportunities. 

In the film clip below, Michigan State uses a dig route by the tight end to trigger the safety down. The outside receiver runs a skinny post route, designed to get behind a safety in a 2 high look. Connor Cook correctly recognizes the coverage and makes a perfect throw. 

http://youtu.be/q56wtezwOqg

WTBMC #5: Back Shoulder Fade

Against press man coverage, a back shoulder fade route can take advantage of a defender's trail technique. The defender can not adjust to the under-thrown ball, as he is not looking at the quarterback. This play requires a good amount of practice time, but can be run at all levels of the game (NFL, College, High school).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcBJMyXDGKY

WTBMC #4: Out and Go

The Steelers used a double move against a version of man coverage on third and short. The double move is an out and go route from a bunch alignment. The defense will typically trigger on any routes at the sticks on third down, this makes a double move a great call. The link to the video is below.

http://youtu.be/rda-p0sU1BY

WTBMC #3: Jailbreak Screen

The Steelers used a jailbreak screen against a man look from the Cleveland Browns. There are a couple of subtle differences in this play from most jailbreak screens. The ball is thrown to the slot receiver instead of the outside receiver. The slot will sell the bubble in his first few steps. This fake will put the defender in a trail position for the jailbreak screen. A releasing offensive lineman will also block this defender. The video can be seen by clicking the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gg8ubsF2Zvo

Ways to Beat Man Coverage #2

This play is great for short yardage. The inside receiver in a trips set will "return" motion to running a flat route. The two outside receivers will run slant routes at varying depths to pick the man on the flat route.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBWpvrI6M38

Ways to beat man coverage "WTBMC"

"WTBMC" will be a series of film clips on how to beat man coverage. The first clip in the series is of the Patriots against the Broncos in 2014. The Patriots run a pick-wheel route to the running back out of the backfield. Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9AMbDbjmqw&feature=youtu.be

Play of the Day: Detroit Lions' "Chair" Route

I saw this play during the Lions-Cowboys playoff game during the 2014 season. This play takes advantage of a lose man coverage. The play is shown below:

The route combination benefits from max protection. The quarterback will need an extra few seconds for the chair route to develop. The outside receiver will run a skinny post route. This route will draw the attention of the single high safety, especially when it is run by Calvin Johnson. The chair route is run by the slot. The next figure was taken right after the slot made his out cut:

 The large cushion given by the man guarding the slot allows the slot to cross his face. This is what makes the play successful. If the slot was guarded in a press look, he would have little to no space to cross the defender’s face. This “chair” technique can be a good adjustment for a team that runs a lot of wheel-post combinations that see off coverage on the slot. Defenses like to play off coverage against a wheel, as it gives them a better chance of not letting the wheel get behind them.

The next figure shows the slot making his double move, crossing the defender’s face.

The final figure shows where the ball was caught.

If you run a lot of wheel-post, this adjustment can take advantage of what the defense thinks is a conservative coverage. Never settle, always look for a way to attack!