Part II Handling the back to back defense with a 4i

In the first part of this article on handling the back to back defense and the 4i (fig. 1), we discussed the quarterback mechanics and reading his way out. But what happens if the quarterback struggles in the game with this stunt? Speed of the defense versus speed in practice can make even the most adapt quarterback struggle in a given situation. Or, what happens if even though your quarterback is reading well, your best athlete is never touching the ball? Do you go a whole game being sound strategically and executing the triple well while the defense dictates the player who has the ball in his hand?

In our system we would never allow these two situations to happen. First and foremost, we are never going to continually put the quarterback in a situation where he has been struggling. In the same realm, you can say that we have supplemental plays to offset this stunt. However, I have always believed that if you are a triple team – you are a triple team! If one stunt can get you out of running the basis of your offense then your offense isn’t the soundest. Along with this, how do you know when the defense is going to call the stunt? Are you going to make play calling a guessing game?

Secondly, we are never going to allow the defense to dictate to us. That means play wise or personnel wise. How do we accomplish this? Simple! All our plays are actual packages. Every package for the triple has a different pre-practiced answer to the defense shown in fig.1. (For quarterback recognition we refer to this as a “fifty.” That means #3 outside and a playside linebacker inside the handoff key) In the first article we referred to our 41-49 package (all our triple packages are 40’s) where we read ourselves out. In this article, we will refer to 44-46 our “load” package and 42-28 our “arc” package that have different answers built into them to handle this fifty look / stunt. In each of these we will block one aspect of he defense and change / simplify the quarterback read while keeping at least two of the three options alive. Additionally, we will explore some tags we run in order to enhance and dictate what we want!

44-46 (fig.2)

Fig.2

In our load option vs. a 50, we are going to block #2 with our tackle (he will drop step and aim outside hip. Do not position – this is a physical log) The halfback will lateral step, wait for the tackle to pass then load the backer. (If #2 is coming down he will go outside the tackle’s hook to seal the wide scrape linebacker.) The quarterback will read #1 (the handoff key) and sprint around the load option support. If the load widens he will tuck. If, as he looks to tuck, the safety fills inside with the halfback he will leverage pitch.

This scheme has essentially eliminated the back to back reads for the quarterback. He now knows he has time to come off the mesh and get to his pitch key.

Although essentially a quarterback fullback play, this keeps all three of the options alive while taking the back to back away from the quarterback.

(I know this resembles the midline tuck play to many people but there are a couple of differences. First the proximity of the FB mesh allows the handoff key to get to the FB and the play to continue to the perimeter. The midline tends to be a give because of the distance to the key. Secondly, we are trying to log #2 – not make it a tuck play. Finally, being a gap wider a physical nose cannot push the center into the mesh.)

42-48 (fig.3)

Fig. 3

In our arc scheme instruct our tackle to make a call vs. any 4i that tells the quarterback and fullback the give aspect of the option is dead. The fullback will now aim wider and wrap for the scraping backer. (In essence, he and the tackle will exchange assignments.) The quarterback will skip out and pitch off #2 (we have him skip because it puts him on the top of a crash pitch key – keeping the ball from being batted down; and it allows him to clear the fullbacks path.)
We have now taken the back to back out of the read and made it a quarterback / halfback play

Keeping the fullback in the game

Many defensive coaches will tell you that once they play a 4i the fullback is dead. They also teach this concept to the defense, letting them run to the other options. A good option coach will not allow that to happen (unless, of course, you don’t want your fullback to carry the ball!) We accomplish this with two tags that become automatic gives.

Check Donate (fig.4)

fig.4

(When you donate – you GIVE)

Used with 42-48, whenever we add “check donate” to the call, the tackle will change his call vs. a 4i (everything else stays the same except the tackle will only split 2’ regardless.) On the tackles call the quarterback will give the ball off with the fullback bending around the tackle’s block and making a “soft shoulder cut” under a scraping linebacker.
Used sporadically (4-8 times per game vs. a 4i defense) this can create a number of long runs as we are not an outside veer team but have slipped it in without the HB sealing down as a key.

Check Kebbler (Fig. 5)

Fig. 5

(The Kebbler Elves made chocolate chip cookies – we are chipping the handoff key with our guard!)

Used with 41-49, whenever we add a “check kebbler” to the call, the tackle will call “kebbler” vs. a 4i. This tells the fullback and the quarterback it is a give and the fullback should square up as soon as getting the ball. The tackle will loop as called but go right to the near / middle safety. The guard will step lateral so as to gain width and catch the slant with his near shoulder, blunting his move as he continues to the safety. The blunting action should stunt the 4i enough to allow the FB to pass. (Note: we do not cut down our split in Kebbler)


Run Midline triple vs. the defense (fig. 6)

The midline triple is, in essence, the same play as 41-49 (see first article) except for the fullback mesh is further removed from the read. This does two things. First, there is a greater chance that the fullback may get the ball. (The path of the defensive tackle must change for the two meshes!) Secondly, the back to back is easier to read due to the time it takes to reach the quarterback.

An additional element of this play is the position of the force player relative to the pitch. To be successful with back to back reads you must get force to the pitch immediately, otherwise the halfback has a great advantage in the footrace to the perimeter. The use of twirl and no motion will put the secondary in a softer position vs. the pitch.

Some additional notes on the 4i and the back to back reads:

• Reading a 4i consistently will add wear and tear to your fullback. The proximity of the 4i and the force he comes down with, unimpeded due to a loop scheme, will take its toll. One thing I didn’t like when I use to visit Army was this aspect of their offense. It seemed like every week another fullback was out with a nick or a concussion. By keeping the fullback alive they were killing him.
• Putting in these calls for a specific game may be okay but having them always in your repertoire is better. You will perform them better. There will be less doubt in the team about them (especially the quarterback) And you’ll have answers when the defense tries to surprise you!
• If your quarterback is constantly getting battered by a crash pitch key or not recognizing the back to back, the first thing you need to do is look at your teaching methodolgy. This includes your teaching progression, system for recognition, mechanic taught, practice methods, and vocabulary used. Secondly ask him what he is seeing. It will give you great insight into why you are having this problem. Too often we blame the kid and his ability. Triple option is a coach's offense and as a result a teacher's offense.

You can see that my philosophy is to not let the defense dictate to you, whether that be
In what play you run, In the quarterback read mechanism, or in who handles the ball.

The second partof that philosophy is to be a quarterback friendly offense. We tell him we will never ask him to do something he can't do or doesn't understand and we will never ask him to take a beating for the team! He's gotta know you have his back!!!

I hope you find this article useful. Any questions can be addressed to 3backoption@gmail.com

I hope to get 2 or 3 articles up during the holidays

Merry Christmas to ALL!!

LEVERAGE PITCHING

I was watching the Navy game versus Army the other day and I noticed a number of “leverage pitches” by the the Navy quarterback, so I thought I’d write a short article on the subject since it is often ignored and misunderstood when teaching an option quarterback to attack the perimeter. It is definitely a technique (or concept) that can add numerous explosive plays to an option offense as seen by Shaun White’s first run from scrimmage. To the naked eye many of these pitches seemed like the quarterback was pitching off the wrong man.

So what is “leverage pitching?”

I first came upon the term back in the early 80’s during a routine conversation with a good friend of mine and option guru, Tony DeMeo. At that time, I was just making a gradual transition from the wing-t to becoming a full fledged triple option coach. Naturally, I was more concerned with the basics than some advanced concept that, in order to be implemented you needed a thorough visual understanding of the application of these concepts. (You really needed to see and understand when a pitch could and couldn’t be made with leverage pitching ven though you might be pitching contrary to basic option rules. It was not a concept that could be taken from paper to the field and taught rote by a system of rules which was where I was a the time.)

Later in the late 80’s and early 90’s I spent every spring at West Point and probably studied over a 1000 game tapes of three back option football. One thing that kept popping up was “leverage pitching.” (If Tony hadn’t talk to me about it, I would have thought that most of these situations were a product of getting lucky on a bad pitch decision!) So we started teaching this concept on the run.

“Leverage pitching” is simply pitching the ball in a situation where the quarterback technically does not reach the pitch key, HOWEVER, the pitch man has such great leverage on the pitch key that it is impossible for the pitch key to chase him down.

Leverage pitching is a product of the Flexbone / spread offense; where the use of motion allows the pitch to be flat down the line rather than back into the backfield, characteristic of the I / wishbone offenses of old. If you do not pitch the ball down the line and wide then do not read on because the depth of the pitch will allow the pitch key to chase it down. (Our pitch relationship is 6 yards wider and only 2 yards deeper then the QB. Our pitch is almost literally down the line of scrimmage. We've even been called for a few illegal foward passes. I got this from Delaware and listening to Bobby Sutton preach that the motion back can never outrun the quarterback, so sprint as wide and as fast as you can.)

The execution of this is simple. If the quarterback thinks that the pitchman cannot be caught by the pitch key, he pitches it. This takes place as long as there is no immediate support outside the pitch key (i.e. cover 3 strong safety or rolled up corner in cover 2) as this constricts the running lane and allows for a shorter alley the pitch key has to run.

The easy way to understand this is through a number of examples:

• Army-Navy game: There were numerous times the quarterback did not get to the pitch key, yet had big games. In most of those situations the MLB or playside inside LBer, depending on the defense would scrape over the top and insert himself between the pitch key and the quarterback, technically outnumbering the offense. However, because the pitch key was FLATFOOTED and close enough to the quarterback, the pitch was made and a big result occurred. Technically, Navy pitched off the wrong man but with “leverage pitching” the ball is out and on the perimeter.
• Georgia – Georgia Tech game: Counter speed option away from trips. The pitch key stepped inside and got hung up with the tackle. The guard could not get the log who kept stringing it out. Technically the quarterback should have tucked up but upon seeing the pitch key hung up inside, he makes a successful “leverage pitch”
• Georgia – Miami game. (I believe that was the game.) Tech runs triple to the stack. They get a give read with the lber “hanging” to tackle the fullback after it is given. Since it is not an echo stunt the correct read should be a give read for limited yardage. However, Tech pulls and pitches because the pitchman has leverage on the pitch key. Big gain.

(For us this read is a “never wrong.” If he gives and the fullback hugs inside you get 5 yards / if he pulls and pitches – you get big play.)

• Vs. any slow play pitch key: The pitch key feathers the QB in order to bide time for the support. There is a time in the sequence where the pitchman will out leverage the pitch key. If the quarterback isn’t by the pitch key he should pitch, rather than being stretched to the sideline for no gain.
• Vs. any load block: Take a tightend load with the halfback sealing inside vs. a 50. As the quarterback attempts to out run the tightend’s block to get outside, he realizes that the stretch is too great. However, when he looks in the seam, he realizes the pitch key has folded (not a stunt) inside with the halfback and is waiting to fill inside or out. PITCH IT. The pitchman outflanks the pitch key.

You can see the advantage of the leverage pitch. What is even more important is how you teach it. First and foremost, we teach our Quarterback he is always right as long as the pitch key does not tackle the pitch. Simple. That’s his job. Period!

Secondly, although we talk about leverage pitching and we’ll walk him through and run him through some situations in order to understand the concept, it is only through numerous “live” reps that he’ll get a feel for it. Point it out on film and on the field when the opportunity occurs but never force it. Over time he’ll get it. Over twenty years of teaching the option, I’ve realized that “leverage pitching” is not a technique, not a concept, but a “feel” acquired over time and reps that can separate and average quarterback from a great one and a three yard offense from an explosive one.

We have always felt that big plays come in the perimeter. We will get our fullback yards no matter what but if you get the ball on the perimeter, "circling the defense" your offense becomes EXPLOSIVE!

Hope you enjoyed!

Looking forward to your replies.
My next article will be Part II of the back to back reads – “Blocking the stunt in order to keep your options alive.”

Attacking the "Back to Back" keys with the triple - part I

Sorry for the delay in getting up a new article as I was a little under the weather.

Over the years, the two most prominent comments I hear from defensive coaches are “If you insist on running the option we’re going to hit the quarterback in the mouth every play till he says ‘uncle!” (commonly referred to as “back to back” reads.) and “a 4i totally eliminates the fullback from the triple.” Very simplistic approaches to defense indeed but I still get numerous emails from novice and veteran coaches alike that have a problem with this format of defense. So let’s take a look at some answers when both these problems are present. (see fig.1)

First and foremost, when we built our offense system we built in the answers to these problems so that they can get reps every day, give our quarterback confidence that the answers are there and he does not have to “read his way out” when he is having trouble doing it, and we can execute answers within our system and not be surprise by a defensive front popping up on us each and every week.



We do not, all of a sudden, say “This week we need to put an answer for back to back in.” We do not grab back every week and expect our quarterback to execute the “plays of the week.”
Since our system is based on concepts built within packages, we will handle the 4i and the “back to back” with the following concepts, all taught from the first week and instilled within the system:
1. 42 – 48: Our base triple.

The concept here is that we are a veer / arc scheme whenever possible with the exception being a fifty. We are reading the handoff key (#1) and pitching off the next man. (#2) Built into the concept is the fact that we will not read a 4i, instead we will block the 4i, wrap the FB and turn it into a double option keeping the QB and pitch alive.
2. 41 – 49: Our loop / arc whenever possible scheme. (the exception will be a fifty front or certain 4-3 configurations)

We will again be reading the handoff key (#1) and pitching off the next man out. (#2) In this concept we never block the 4i and will read our way out. Thus all three of the options are alive.


3. 44 – 46: This is our load scheme

We are reading the handoff key (#1) and pitching off support. #2 is going to be blocked (except in a reduced front where he is the handoff key) In this scheme we are basically becoming a QB / FB play although the pitch is alive on the perimeter.


4. 42 – 48 Charity:

In this scheme the 4i is blocked as in any 42-48 (see above) except it is a predetermined give with the FB wrapping around the 4i and making a “soft shoulder” cut under the linebacker who should be, by sound defensive theory, scraping over the top. This keeps the FB alive with the 4i. (It should be noted that in this scheme our tackle only splits 2’ to facilitate the FB’s path.)


For the sake of space we are going to divide the article into two parts. In this one we will deal exclusively with reading out way out. (41-49) In the second article we will deal with the other three ways to block ourselves out.

Reading Back to Back: (41-49) (fig.2)

Over the years I’ve really become more and more favorable to this scheme and, being a triple option team, we will always start off this way: “reading ourselves out.” I know most people frown on this as a method that causes fumbles and insecure quarterbacks. However, I have not had those problems and have linked our success to three reasons:

1. Mechanics of the mesh and off the mesh.
2. Teaching spatial focus through the mesh
3. Practice organization including reps with this scheme every day regardless of what e “expect” to see.
4. Confidence by the quarterback brought on by pre-snap reads and clues, repetition and knowing we have answers if he cannot accomplish the feat asked of him.

(I cannot emphasize the confidence factor in the quarterback, by teaching all of the above factors and knowing he has another way out – alternate blocking scheme, the quarterback can attack this read with confidence.)


A. Mechanics off the mesh


It is important that the proper mechanics be practiced without the complexity of the read. This simplifies the learning process as he only has to concentrate on footwork necessary to protect himself and the ball without worrying about reading. We do that in a section of practice called “handoffs.” Every offensive day the quarterback will practice all our meshes and where applicable there will be two gives and two pulls. On the first of each segment, he will sprint off the mesh as if there is a soft key. On the second he will use the mechanics listed below for a crash or “back to back” reads. This segment allows for perfect execution of the technique without having to worry about the read.


The mechanics are simple but must be practiced. Versus a crash we want the quarterback to retrace his first two steps, pulling him away from the pitch key and creating better separation (pitch relationship) with the receiving back. (see fig. 3 below) Basically, as the quarterback sees the flash of the crash (see spatial focus below) he will “retrace” his first two steps, snapping the ball to his chest in good position and placing himself in a seated position. The pitch will come out as soon as the second step is in the ground.






It is important to note here that what you say to the quarterback about his job with the pitch key is critical. It is not the quarterback’s job to get hit by the pitch key; it is his job to “absorb” the pitch key. We define absorb to mean that the pitch key does not make the tackle on the pitch. PERIOD, nothing else! If done properly the quarterback should never be touched by crashing end.

(It is important that you explain this and the situation to the refs PRIOR to every game. The rule states that, after he pitches the ball, he is not there for target practice. Only if hit while pitching or upon releasing the ball is it legal.

About 7 years ago we played Madison High School, whose coach made the statement that we’d be lucky to have a quarterback by the end of the game. Needless to say, despite crashing every down with an all-area player, they never hit the quarterback once. Late in the game, frustrated, the player continued on his course, was flagged for 3 unsportsmanlike penalties, and finally ejected from the game.)


B. Spatial Focus


This is perhaps the most important aspect of teaching the quarterback the back to back read. To easily understand the difference of spatial focus to fine focus, picture yourself driving to work this morning. Although you were focused on the car in front of you, you were also aware of the car to your left or right and everything else you could put into your peripheral vision. Spatial focus is simply seeing through the handoff key to the pitch key. Although detail both of the handoff key and, to a greater degree, the pitch key is lost, the quarterback can still differentiate gross motor movements.

Fine focus is the narrowing of scope to a fine detail within a scene. On the drive this morning it would have been to focus in on the license plate number of the car in front of you. Once you do that your peripheral vision becomes narrow. In the case of reading the handoff key, fine focus would be zeroing in on the helmet stripe or the far shoulder. This prevents the quarterback from reading to back.

In order to accomplish this, your methodology of teaching the quarterback must be in terms that align themselves with gross muscle movements. Our thought process for the quarterback is “I will give the ball to the fullback every time unless the handoff key makes a direct path in front of the fullback’s crease.” Nothing more. No helmet strips. No shoulder turn. No far shoulder read. (for those that think this is too general and aligns with misreads, I invite them to talk to teams that have played mine or seen my game footage at clinics. Even with the notorious “up move” our quarterbacks read at a high level.)

With the back to back look we teach the quarterback to react to the flash (gross muscle movement / out of focus but none the less seen) of the pitch key coming down the line while reading the handoff key; not after it. The reaction to this “flash” should trigger the quarterback to perform the mechanics mentioned above, abort the ride, and pitch the football.

I don’t mean to be critical of other methods but if you read the helmet stripe, shoulder turn or far shoulder you have to refocus on the pitch key once the pull decision is made. In essence you have to read twice. If you do that it takes an added split second, just the time for the pitch key to get a shot at the quarterback. I really hope that if you use a fine focus key you think about it. You will always have trouble in any combination reads: back to back or stacked.

C. Practice organization
After we initially teach the quarterback the mechanics of the mesh and the initial handoff key looks and we cover the pitch technique versus the various reads, we always include a pitch key in our reads. We never just have the handoff key. In essence we force our quarterbacks to spatially focus in everything he does. We do this in three phases of the practice schedule.

1. Mesh drill

This is where we just have the quarterback’s and fullbacks. Most teams do this with just the coach as the handoff read. We however always include the pitch key but using the rotating quarterback and placing the rotating fullback in a stationary “relative” pitch position. We get multiple reps and spend 5 minutes on this every offensive day. (2 ½ on back to back; 2 ½ on stack) I simply single the read (extra QB) behind my back on what read I what.

2. Ride and decide.

This is exactly as above except we add the c, g, t and interior defensive players. Even though the halfbacks are working on blocking or receiving, we use a pitch key by incorporating the rotating quarterback and he rotating fullback as the pitch man (stationary) thus getting carryover even on defense. (they get pretty good at gining the same looks!) This is a 7 min segment 3 ½ to the right and 3 ½ to the left with no huddle to get maximum reps.

3. Team ½ line

Everything is scripted and all echo and back to back stunts are included regardless of the defense we are seeing that week. If you are to “read your way out” the quarterback must be exposed to these stunts; full speed and as a surprise. We’ve had more then one QB get knocked on his butt by stepping into a crash end in this segment of practice. Usually it only takes that one time to get the message across to the quarterback. Additionally, in the previous two drills, as much as we try, without full contact on the quarterback he can never learn to read it properly. Over my years of running the triple I can safely say that the biggest problem in dealing with the crash off the mesh is not the recognition of it but the game speed it occurs with.


D. Development of quarterback confidence.


In order for the option quarterback to develop confidence he must be given a good set of pre- snap clues. We teach the quarterback to look for the following:

1. Position of support player: You will rarely get back to back in a reduced flank without the appearance of a support player outside. It is simply defensive suicide if the pitch is made.
2. Subtle changes in defensive alignment. A crash read must be close enough to crash and reach the quarterback. With the advent of the rocket, this is usually a tighter alignment than normal.
3. Change in stance. A parallel stance player will usually stagger into a racehorse stance.

All of the aforementioned pre-snap reads can be enhanced through sound film study.

Additionally, our quarterbacks know that if they are having difficulties, whether because of the speed of the stunt or the quarterback having a bad day, they know we have ways to block the stunt (or at least half of it) and simplify the situation for him. You will be surprised that by just knowing in the back of his mind we can save him; the quarterback will make a great effort to read it properly. Simply stated, he knows that we’re not going to let him fail regardless of what we initially ask him to do.

In part ii of this article we will explore the three other ways we block ourselves out of this stunt when reading it becomes a problem.



Have a great Thanksgiving