Berkner Midline Presentation

Berkner Ram Football

A look at the History, Development, and Teaching the Midline Option

What Caused the Development of the Midline? • Plano High School’s Split 6 Defense

What is the Midline? • The midline is a triple option veer play that allows for the QB, FB, and Slot Back to carry the ball, depending on what the defense will give you to certain formations.

Origin of the Midline • Offensive staff at Lake Highlands High School in Richardson ISD. – Head Coach—Mike Zoffuto – Offensive Coordinator—Kenny Wheaton – RB Coach—Harry Everett – TE Coach—Mark Pace – WR Coach—James Sanders – OL Coach—Jim Ledford

What was Plano Doing? They had athletic 3 techniques that grabbed grass, which kept us from moving them In Turn, it allowed their 7 technique to squat and play both the FB and QB on the inside veer

Plano’s Split Defense

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Today, Plano Runs a 6-1 Defense

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Advantages of the Midline 1. Hits Quickly 2. Runs North and South 3. Reduces chance of lost yardage 4. Easiest of the veer reads for the QB (Midline, Inside Veer, Outside Veer)

1. Slows the defenses flow -mainly the FS and the MLB 3. False Keys the defensive front -split 6 defense -influence others 6. Eliminates backside pursuit 7. Gets QB in crease quickly

Coaching Points of the Midline

Quarterback Coaching Points • Slide 90 degree step w/Lt foot while pushing w/Rt foot • Step 130 degrees with rt foot-extend ball w/both hands from Jersey #’s • Eyes on read – 1st man head up to outside the OG

• NO Mesh –Give or pull based on the read

• Disengage • Accelerate •Find the Seam off the hip of the Read

QB Coaching Points

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QB Coaching Points

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Fullback Coaching Points • Feet Shoulder width – 3 or 4 pt stance

• 4 yds & 1 ft deep – Depends upon quickness of FB

• Play side foot step at crack of the center • Inside arm up w/thumb down

• Must maintain a soft pocket • Forward lean and roll shoulders

• Cut off Guard’s block • FB must keep arms together whether he has the ball or not

Coaching Points Watching the read and FB Give

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Playside Of Formation • Playside Guard – Always block 1st man inside the read – Inside foot step • Dip & rip away from read to the LB

• Playside Tackle •Playside Tight End

•Fan Block the 2nd man outside the read

– Fan block 1st man outside the read – Turn out if possible

• Playside Slot Back – 1st man inside the read – Clip the hip of the read • Playside Split – If blocked or End disappears inside, continues – Always block man on to the FS

Coaching Points Playside of Formation

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Backside of Formation • Center – 2nd man inside the read • Backside Guard – 3rd man inside the read • Backside Tackle – 4th man inside the read • (Fan Back)

• Backside Slot •Pitchman •Has to move fast, no motion •Must watch QB cutup and cutup w/QB to stay in pitch relation •Backside SE (if formation calls for) •Clear to FS

Coaching Points Backside of Formation

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Keys to the Midline 1.To work, must try and have 2 players on the MLB • 1 under the read • 1 over the read

Specific Keys to Midline 2 Players on MLB

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1.To make sure the QB carries the ball most of the time• Run to the TE side • Run a load scheme with the play side slot

Midline Option 30/31 Liz Formation v Split 6-Tight 6

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Variations of the Midline

• Double Options –20-21 Option –20-21 Twirl Down –30-31 Twirl –530-531

20-21 Option • 20-21 option is a base midline look which gives the appearance of running the midline. It is a double option play used mainly against 7 man fronts.

Dble Option 20-21 Slot Formation Vs 50

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Advantages 1. Holds LB’s which slows perimeter support 2. QB does not have a read-it is a pull and pitch play 3. Causes DL to restrict-which eliminates some perimeter support 4. Slot/HB know exactly when and where he’s getting the ball

1. A play that does not require a lot of practice 2. Midline look gives Slot/HB time to get into pitch relationship w/o motion 3. Great play to wide side or short side of the field 4. Excellent play vs stunts from edge (FB & QB)

Disadvantages 1. Not a read-therefore you may have to give the ball sometimes to the FB to keep the defense honest 2. Slot/HB must be lined up one & one off the OT, no matter what the formation • Defenses can pick this up if you do not have another play out of this formation

1.Poor play against hard corners or hard SS play 2.Sometimes the pitch turns into a blind pitch-QB is dependent upon the Slot/HB being where he is suppose to be

20-21 Twirl Down

• Option play used when the secondary is rotating quickly. It is best when the defense is giving you a 4-3 or 6-1 look.

Dble Option 20-21 Twirl Down Slot Formation Vs 4-3

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Advantages 1. Holds LB’s which slows perimeter support 2. QB does not have a read-it is a pull and pitch play 3. Causes DL to restrict-which eliminates some perimeter support 4. Slot/HB knows exactly when and where he is getting the ball

1. Midline look gives Slot/HB time to get into pitch relationship 2. Great play to wide side or short side of field 3. Excellent play v. stunts from the edge (FB & QB) 4. Softens the secondary-causes them to begin to rotate

Disadvantages 1. Not a read play-therefore you may have to give the ball sometimes to the FB to keep the defense honest 2. Slot/HB must be lined up 1 & 1 off the tackle no matter what the formation-Def could pick this up if you do not have other plays out of this formation

1.Sometimes this pitch turns into a blind pitch—QB is dependent upon the Slot/HB being where he is suppose to be 2.Requires timing in order for the play to work to perfection

30-31 Twirl • 30-31 Twirl is a midline read play used mainly against 8 man fronts. The play is ran best when the defense gives you a 3 technique and plays man or cover 3 in the secondary

Specific Keys to Midline Load Scheme with Slot

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Advantages 1. Softens secondary support 2. Still a read play that forces someone to take the FB 3. Cuts off all backside trails 4. It gives away which defender has pitch-therefore telling the playside Slot/HB who he blocks

1.Great play to wide or short side of the field 2.Excellent play against edge stunts 3.Keeps FS from being an alley player so quickly, which sometimes allows a block by the OT

Disadvantages 1.QB must be a quick thinker - He must read first, then be ready to pitch - The edge player is unblocked

1. Slot/HB must be lined up 1 & 1 off the tackle, no matter what the formation - Def could pick this up if you do not have other plays out of this formation

2. Sometimes the pitch turns into a blind pitch - QB is dependent upon Slot/HB being where he is suppose to be

4. Requires timing for the play to work to perfection

530-531

•Is an influence midline read play used against 7 man fronts

530-531

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Advantages 1.QB/FB play with no intention to pitch 2.Quick Hitting 3.Great against 7 man front 4.Can be used to wide or short side of field

1. Allows you to use the playside Slot/HB as a decoy - You do not have to force the Slot/HB to block the MLB - If he did, he would most likely end up going all the way to the FS

6. Makes the LB’s think it is a base play-which keeps them from scrapping

Disadvantages 1. Mesh charges can cause turnovers 2. Cannot be run anytime on the field - Inside the 10 or 3rd and shortturnovers

3. Not good against 8 man fronts

Complimentary Plays • 32-33 • 38-39 • 30-31 • 32-33

Inside Veer triple option Double Option Hot—Play action pass Throwback-play action pass

32-33 • Inside veer triple option play, excellent to run when you have 2 players inside the OG

Coaching Points • Read

1st man head up to outside the Tackle • FB Path is inside leg of Guard • QB Pivots @4:00-takes adjustment step with his backside foot • Lineman Veer Block

38-39 • A double option play to the perimeter excellent to run when you are expecting the defense to blitz from the interior or pinch—excellent in short yardage

Coaching Points 1. There is no read—just a pitch key2. QB Opens opposite which allows the FB to clear -

We want it to look similar to the FB belly

3. FB 4. OL 5. Slot

Cleans up the edge, checks for scrapping LB, to the FS Zone-NO PENETRATION!!!!! Cut splits Playside-combo off the edge withTE to LB, Backside-pitchman

30-31 Hot • Is a play action pass designed to give a midline look and get the secondary support to trigger

Coaching Points 1. Slot

2. QB/FB 3. OL 4. SE

Playside-must show arc-attack the outside shoulder of the defenderas soon as he turns his hips-dip back inside and get your head on a swivel Mesh just like normal midline Same as normal midline-except PS/OG-base, FB has LB 6 yard sideline stop route

32-33 Throwback • Throwback gives the appearance of an option play, but in actuality is a pass play designed to combat an aggressive secondary

Coaching Points 1. QB

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Fake the inside veer, give quick look to corner-if he covers flat, throw seam, if he covers seam, throw flat OL Base Front FB “B” gap responsibility BS/Slot Can load end, or arc if OT blocking end Can use word “Switch” to change individual throwing to or confuse secondary