Stretch-power-pass

Stretch-Power-Pass

John Snell Offensive Coordinator Baldwin-Wallace College Berea, Ohio

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n behalf of the Baldwin-Wallace College offensive staff, we are extremely honored to be presenting some of our ideas to you. Over the years, we have found the AFCA Summer Manual to be a great resource and have been able to incorporate and effectively utilize some of the concepts that different coaches have shared. It is our hope that you can take away something from what we are doing with our Stretch-Power-Pass combination. We decided in 1994 that we were going to commit to the inside and outside zone run game. Even though several programs have moved away from using the outside zone run play, it has continued to be our base running play and essentially, one of our top two running plays. We felt that in order for the outside zone play to continue to be effective, we must continue to build off it. How do we build off of the outside zone play? The possibilities are: 1. Run your outside zone with the outside zone blocking scheme, but use different backfield action (bounce play). 2. Use different schemes to block the outside zone play. 3. Have play-action passes off of it. 4. Use different formations and motions to run the outside zone. 5. Run a different running play, but give it an initial outside zone look. 6. Have some “check-with-me” plays (quarterback has the ability to check into one of two plays at the line of scrimmage), to go along with the outside zone. If the outside zone is not the best choice, then the check-with-me allows us to go to another play depending on the defense. 7. Off-set the play with the inside zone. But, we found that we kept running into the “what-if-they-do-this” syndrome, and we felt compelled to take it a step further than just a two-play check-with-me. So, we then came up with the three-play checkwith-me package and felt that it gave us the best chance for success. We wanted to put together a package of plays that initially looked the same, but were ideally three different plays. The three plays may look the same based on backfield action and/or blocking scheme. We wanted this package of plays to all look initially like the outside zone running play. In this three-play package, the quarterback has the option of calling three plays instead of just two. In this particular three-play package, the quarterback has the choice of calling the outside zone, the power off-tackle, or what we refer

• AFCA Summer Manual — 2000 •

to as the stretch pass. In order to keep this three-play, check-with-me package simple for the quarterback, we tried to structure it so he only had to focus on one area or one defender to determine what to call. What We Look For The first thing the quarterback will check is the coverage. The secondary alignment will tell the quarterback whether we will check to one of the run plays or to the stretch pass. If the quarterback sees some form of three-deep scheme, then in most cases, we will check to the pass. The depth of the corner and the width of the flat defender are the two areas that we focus on. This is a simple read for the quarterback and if for some reason he doesn’t like how it looks for the pass, then he can always go to the run. If he wants the run play, then to keep it simple, we have the quarterback check the alignment of just one defender. We do not want the quarterback to have too many things to look at, so if it is possible we try to make it simple and keep his checks focused on just one defender. Against Three Deep As previously mentioned, in our threeplay package, if the quarterback comes to the line of scrimmage and has some form of a three-deep coverage, then we will most likely be checking to our stretch pass. The stretch pass will give the defense the impression that we are running the outside zone run play because of our play-action fake and blocking technique. Without question, we feel the key to selling the running play is the backfield action and frontside lineman. The quarterback will give his outside zone run play fake by extending his arms with the ball and he should have his eyes on the flat defender. After the fake, the backs will block off of the frontside edge. The quarterback is pressing the corner with full sprint out action and as soon as the flanker breaks on the out, the quarterback should release the ball. We want to put the flat defender in a bind by giving him the run play look and either have him hold his position or step up to play run. Our flanker is driving off at the corner to give a run play look, but breaking off his pattern at eight yards and working outside, away from the flat defender. Up front, we are giving the run look with our outside zone blocking scheme, but we are not trying to come off the first level defender to get to the second

level. If the flat defender should read pass, expand to the flat and get underneath the flanker’s out pattern, then the quarterback’s next option would be to go to the tight end. We coach our tight end to push up the field vertically to about eight yards and work out towards the flat defender in a three-deep scheme. If both patterns are covered, then the quarterback can continue pressing the corner. Most of our success has been throwing to the flanker.

Diagram 1

This pass has had our highest percentage of completion for the past three years. If we are having success running the outside zone, then the stretch pass is an excellent change-up and very difficult for the flat defender to read. If they start to defend the stretch pass, then we have softened them up and it is easy for us to go back to just running the outside zone running play. Against Two Deep If we should get any form of two-deep coverage, then we feel it is best that we run the ball. Before we decide which running play we will check to, the quarterback has another step in this process. With twodeep, the quarterback has two things to look at and two running plays to choose from. After the quarterback has determined that it is some form of two-deep, we coach him to then look at the defensive end to the play side. We want to determine if we have a wide rusher or an inside alignment on the tight end.

Diagram 2B

Against Wide Defensive End If we get the wide rusher, then the quarterback is taught to check to the power run play in our three-play package. Again, initially this may look like the outside zone play because both backs are working frontside, but with a tighter aiming point and the tight end is working out to the wide defensive end. We do not have the tight end come down inside on the power because we want him to give the defensive end the idea that we are running the outside zone. If we were running the outside zone versus a wide defensive end, the tight end would work out for the defensive end. The defensive end is put in a position to defend the outside zone and the power. They initially look the same to him, based on what the tight end is doing. By exchanging the fullback and tight end responsibilities, we are putting a bigger body on the defensive end and giving the outside zone look. The fullback attacks the frontside linebacker and we still have the backside guard pull for the middle linebacker. The frontside guard and tackle will double team the defensive tackle. We really try to get movement with the double team before we would even consider coming off for the backside linebacker.

Diagram 3

may exchange the fullback’s and flanker’s responsibilities. We may have the flanker work inside to block the safety and the fullback block the corner. The tight end is helping the tackle to overtake the defensive end and then trying to get off to the next level. The quarterback will finish the play with sprint out action to give it the stretch pass look. This three-play package gives us the flexibility of running the best play vs. the defense that we are getting. If we can avoid the defense that is prone to stopping certain things, then we are putting ourselves in the best possible position to have success. Again, ideally we want the stretch pass and the power to initially look like the outside zone, so we have all three plays look similar.

Diagram 4

In conclusion, we want to thank the AFCAfor giving us this opportunity to share some of our ideas. We are very honored to be a part of this outstanding organization and proud to be in the greatest profession on earth. If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact us at (440) 8262069. Have a great season in 2000.

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Diagram 2A Against Inside Alignment If we get the two-deep coverage and the defensive end is aligned inside on the tight end, then we will check to our outside zone play in our three-play package. We give the runningback an aiming point of two yards outside the tight end and the fullback is assigned the support. We will have the flanker block the corner, but we

• AFCA Summer Manual — 2000 •

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