No Huddle Shotgun Spread Offense

Submitted by Jim Hanawalt

The Fullback Position:

The FB is in a 2 point stance with his feet at least shoulder width apart to slightly wider than his shoulder width, his legs are bent and he is in a low balanced football position with his hands on his thighs and his elbows out. His toes are pointed straight forward and he is not staggered, his toes are even with each other. It should look almost like he is in a three point stance without the hand down. We want him coiled and ready to explode in any direction.

The FB doesn't move until the ball hits the QB's hands, he then accelerates straight forward stepping with his foot closest to the Quarterback first (this is one of the reasons for his alignment of 1yd behind and 1yd outside the QB) at the guards crack with his inside arm up forming a large pocket. We teach him to never clamp until he feels the QB "slam" the ball into his gut. This is the procedure for all plays where the Fullback meshes with the Quarterback.

The reason we have the dive going straight forward into the double/triple team is so that he can press up behind the area of movement and cut to air like the zone play, if the air is the normal veer track then that is what he takes. As a result, I feel we are more productive on give reads than if we were to keep a standard veer track as if we were under center. We feel that initially taking the angled veer track from gun isn't necessary and would require either a tighter alignment by the back to the QB, which would hinder our cross flow plays or a step by the back to the inside, which would limit his speed into his downhill track.

Also, being fixed on the old veer track allows the Linebackers to run downhill at an angle to intersect the Fullback and attack quicker than if they have to play against a back that can and will cutback into the A gap.

The Running Back Position:

The RB position is responsible to always be in position to receive the pitch by the QB. He must be in a position 5 yards behind the QB and 3 yards outside the QB, running at the same speed and in the same direction as the QB while maintaining his eye contact with the QB. The RB must be ready for the pitch at any time. When the RB is on the same side as the direction of the play, he will use a ?cowboy? technique and backpedal slightly to the inside of his alignment and be in position to receive the pitch. When the RB is on the opposite side of the play direction, he will use a ?early? technique and go into motion ½ second before the snap of the football. This ?early? release timing will vary by alignment and the speed of the RB.

Offensive Line General Blocking Rules: (Modified by gameplan)

PST: Block first man inside on or off the los. This will result in a combo block with the PSG if there is a down defender in the B gap or head up on the PSG.

PSG: Uncovered, double or triple team NG with Center, Covered, double or triple team DT with OC and/or OT. Versus a TNT look, double team with PST.

OC: Uncovered, A gap threat, no threat, double or triple team DT on the play side, Covered, double/triple team NG with guard(s). Versus TNT look, cutoff the NG

BSG: Uncovered, double or triple team NG with Center, Covered, combo or cutoff (city)with BST. Versus a TNT look, combo.

BST: Uncovered, combo or cutoff (city) with OG, Covered, Sift. Versus a TNT look, combo B gap defender.

Here is a diagram of the Veer being run towards the bubble. We prefer to run this play towards the 1 tech NG, which allows us to get maximum movement on both combo blocks up to the backside linebacker. The key is the front side tackle being able to rip release cleanly and getting square into the Linebackers chest. Should the play side linebacker flow outside to take the quarterback, the play side slot will seal block him.

Here is a diagram of the play being run towards the 3 tech. Although we prefer to run it towards the 1 tech NG, it is still a very good play towards the 3 tech. The key is great movement on the 3 tech by the play side guard and tackle; we must get movement and push the 3 tech back into the linebacker.

Trade Call: On a Trade call, the RB will motion into the backfield and ?trade? assignments with the FB, therefore, the RB will become the Dive Back and the FB will become the pitch back. We use this as a motion tendency breaker to attack the backside of a rotating defense.

Switch Call: On a Switch call, the RB will ?switch? assignments with the receiver and become a blocker. By game plan, his blocking assignment will be determined and assigned but as a base he will seal inside on the Inside Linebacker and climb to the safety against MOFC and he will seam release and block the safety against MOFO. The WR will motion into position to become the pitch back. This is our way of getting superior numbers by unbalancing the formation.

Interior Blocking Adjustments

Based on what we are seeing, we can adjust our blocking schemes accordingly to account for different defensive looks and problem areas.

Outside Call: Against an odd front team that has the DE wash our Tackle down hard and is keeping our tackle from getting to the linebacker, we will use this call. It is a call made by the tackle telling the guard that he is going to outside release to the linebacker. This tells the play side guard to fire out and base block the linebacker, it also tells the center and backside guard to combo reach the nose guard up to the backside linebacker.

Perimeter Blocking on the Options

As a general rule, we will always have our wide receivers stalk cornerbacks that give cushion and run off press corners playing tight man to man. With our play side slot, we will have the slot seam release and stalk the hash safety when the middle of the field is open (MOFO). When the middle of the field is closed (MOFC), we will have the slot seal the inside linebacker and climb to the middle safety if the linebacker isn?t there to block.

When we are running the option to a trips side, the non pitch back will use this rule. The pitch back on the trips side will backpedal (COWBOY) into pitch relationship.

Perimeter Blocking Adjustments

Per game plan, we can make easy blocking adjustments on the option.

Load Block: This is where the play side slot will seal block the edge defender, usually an OSLB or walked up safety. We will then option the next man outside of him for pitch/keep.

Crack Block: This is where we will have the play side wide receiver crack block the first man to his inside; we will then option the CB for pitch/keep. Usually we will do this against cover 2 or 4 looks.

Switch Block: This is where we will have the WR Crack block inside on the safety and have the play side slot arc block the corner back.

Fan Call: Our fan blocking adjustment is used against odd front teams who are playing the option well by having the DE take dive, the OSLB takes QB and the secondary is taking pitch. Effectively, this adjustment turns the veer into a wider version of the midline option. Its design is to turnout on the OSLB that is stepping down to take the QB and take advantage of the hole vacated by the DE when he steps down to take the FB. The secondary is flowing outside to take pitch so this can be a huge gaining play.

Double Fold Blocking the Veer

This is an adjustment that is used when we are getting give reads to the Fullback but the 3 technique is penetrating and causing issues and the front side Linebacker is running downhill into the B gap. On this play the front side Guard will widen the 3 technique and the front side tackle will fold behind him up to the front side Linebacker. The backside Guard widens the Nose and the backside Guard folds behind him for the Backside Linebacker. Ideally, the Fullback will run right between them and be one on one with the Free Safety. This play will AUTOMATICALLY cutback into the A gap IF a give read occurs.