Category Archives: Offensive Plays

Disguising the I Formation Iso Play: Fullback Swipe

It’s important, that we as coaches, recognize ways to earn little victories in order to help our players be successful by aiding them in their opportunity to win match-ups. It’s a myth that the fullback in the I formation must be a bruiser (along with the idea that the tight end must be a man among boys). With small enhancements to the I formation, an undersized/under powered fullback can still be effective. The Swipe action on the the I formation iso play helps put the fullback in a position to be successful.

So what is the I formation Iso Swipe concept? I call it the “swipe” because…

Continue Reading This Post »

Vikings Play Action Pass Concept

This Vikings play action pass is a sign of good coaching. When I watch other offenses, one thing I always look for is the quality of a solid play action pass concept. Play action passes are much more than a run fake. They should take full advantage of defensive keys in order to get the best coached defenses to fall for the fake. Otherwise, play action passes will work well against poor defenses, but not necessarily against great ones.

Goal of the Play Action Pass

The goal of this play action pass by the Vikings isn’t so much on the patterns run or the fake. While those elements are important,…

Continue Reading This Post »

Running the Option to Keep Defenses Gap Sound and Stable

As a coach, I don’t like non-gap sound defenses. By that, I mean defenses that send two guys to the same gap. One’s that over-shift the safeties to one side. I like them from the stand point that we can get big plays on them. I don’t like them because typically it creates confusion after the initial time or too. Some defenses choose to be a little less strict on their gaps when they identify a tendency or when they think a pass is coming. It’s at these points that having a little bit of an option running game can get big plays for the offense, or in the least,…

Continue Reading This Post »

Why Offensive Line Coaches Need to Understand Defensive Run Fits

I’ve touched on the topic of offensive line coaches understanding defensive run fits in the past. But it is absolutely critical that offensive line coaches spend time with their defensive coordinator in order to understand how defenses defend plays. Then, the coach needs to take this information to the next step and equip their plays to be better prepared for well coached teams. I’ll use a simple example, weakside iso versus a 4-3 over cover 4 front, to show the importance of understanding defensive run fits.

Offensive Line Coaches Understanding Run Fits: “The Play Looks Wide Open Coach!”

Or… “It’ll be there all day!” Then it’s not. We’ve been there…

Continue Reading This Post »

FishDuck.com: Power-O in the Spread Offense

I know I’ve been slow here during the season, and I apologize (well, I’m focused on our team, so not so much!). I did want to give you guys a post I never mentioned here that is over on FishDuck.com. Power-O in the Spread Offense discusses the famous play we all know I love so much being utilized in the spread. It includes some clips and plenty of new innovations to help make Power-O work from shotgun sets.

It also discusses how to deal with defensive ends who spill the guard to stop the QB dive and linebackers that aggressively flow outside to stop the sweep.

…

Continue Reading This Post »