No Huddle Shotgun Spread Offense

Midline Trap Option

Submitted by Jim Hanawalt

Midline Trap Option has quickly become a key element of our running game. Because we run so much Counter Trey Blocking (GT) with the backside guard and tackle pulling, controlling B gap penetration on either side of the line is critical to our success in running the GT scheme. The Trap option is a great fit in our scheme because it controls both B gap defenders simultaneously, by reading the backside B gap player and trapping the front side B gap defender.

Overview:

1. Fits into our option based ground attack.

2. Not chipping back on the trap gives us an extra blocker.

3. Controls penetrating B gap defenders.

4. Gives False reads to Defensive Line and LB?s

5. Provides Great Blocking Angles.

6. Hits Quickly

7. Hits downhill North & South with the FB or QB.

8. Footwork is the same as GT Option, just reading one man to the inside.

9. Simple rules work against any front.

For the purpose of TRAP, we define our rules based on the defensive alignment on or near our guards.

COVERED: if there is defender anywhere from the B gap to head up on the guard. This would include 2 techs, 3's, and B gap defenders.

UNCOVERED: If there is no B gap, 3 or 2 tech defender, the guard is uncovered. This includes any A gap shade defender, such as a 2i, 1, 0 tech defender.

Offensive Line Blocking Rules: Trap Left

LT: If guard is covered, turn out on DE. If guard is uncovered, block down on the first LB inside.

LG: If uncovered, double NG to backside LB. If covered, best release to playside LB.

OC: If uncovered, direct release to backside LB. If covered, double team with LG to backside LB.

RG: Pull and TRAP first man past the OC.

RT: If guard is covered , turn out on DE. If guard is uncovered (inside shade of guard or A gap/NG), block down on the first LB inside.

Note for Tackles

The Tackles can use a few different techniques when turning out on the DE. Since we throw the football (pass set) and run sweep (reach), we can incorporate these initial steps into the turnout block to make the DE widen himself and create a large running lane.

- Tackles can kick step out to the DE as if on pass protection and invite the DE up the field, letting the DE beat?the tackle up the field, which is the same as technique as used on draw.

- Tackles can take a reach step against the DE who reads sweep and widens. The tackle will reach step and then allow the DE to beat him outside, then the tackle takes command of the inside position and widens the DE.

QB Footwork

The QB will use his same footwork as our GT Option. The QB will read the B gap defender rather than the DE.

1. QB will catch the snap and seat the ball in the basket as he steps back with his foot nearest the FB on a 45 degree angle. While stepping back, the QB will sink his hips and place his weight on the rear leg. As the QB steps back, he must keep his EYES on the read key.

2. The mesh will begin at the most rearward point of the football that has been extended by the QB and it will continue in the basket of the FB until the ball has reached the navel of the QB. As the QB meshes, he is reading the defender for a give or keep decision. This motion will all happen quickly and be fluid in rhythm. There will be a transfer of weight from the foot nearest the back to the foot nearest the line of scrimmage simultaneously as the ball is brought forward during the mesh with the FB.

3. The READ begins when the QB gains control of the snap and ends during the mesh. As the QB extends the ball into the belly of the FB his EYES are fixed on the READ KEY. Reading the Midline is a little different than the GT or Veer read due to the angle between the QB and the B gap defender. We have an imaginary line drawn from the inside leg of the guard into the backfield. If the B gap defender crosses that line, the QB will pull the football and replace the B gap defender. If the B gap defender doesn't cross the line, the QB will give the FB the ball and then step laterally towards the sideline to avoid the collision from the unblocked B gap defender.

Here is the Midline Trap versus a traditional 44 defense with two 2 technique DT's. The non trapping guard takes the best release to the stacked Linebacker.

Here is the Midline Trap Option against the TNT double eagle look. This play was specifically designed to attack this front. Usually, teams will play this front against teams that pull a lot for three reasons. First, the defense hopes to cause penetration issues on the play side with the DT beating the Tackles down block and jamming up the B gap. Secondly, the same situation applies for the front side Guard against the Nose Guard, the Guard must cut off penetration. Lastly, one of the biggest challenges against teams that pull the back side Guard and Tackle on Counter Trey schemes, is the Center blocking back on the back side DT in the B gap who is taught to penetrate and hug the pulling guard's hip. This can knock the pulling tackle off course if the center is unable to prevent penetration from the DT in the B gap.

The Midline Trap is very effective at defeating the interior of the TNT defense because it takes away the one on one aspect of the defense and uses the aggressiveness of the B gap penetrators against them by reading one B gap defender and trapping the other. The Nose Guard is double teamed up to the Middle Linebacker, who is used to running free in this defense against conventional trap blocking schemes. With the pulling of the Guard, the MLB is influenced into the double team by the Center and backside Guard. This influence further opens the play up should the Quarterback get a keep read.

In keeping with the built in false key aspect of the pulling guard away from the Quarterback keep, we have developed calls that our linemen can use to attack different looks and to influence the play in either direction based on the type of read we are getting.

Swap Call

We use the Swap call on the backside of the play to influence the defender that is going to be trapped and also the Linebacker behind him. This influence pull makes both defenders step out of the hole and creates more running space.

We can also run the Midline Option with conventional Midline and Zone blocking schemes as a change up or to take advantage of fronts that are difficult to trap.

Zulu (Zone) Scheme