Training O Linemen in the Spread Offense

BASIC PHILOSPHY
• Use a STRONG side and a QUICK side
• Rarely use a TE, that way the Tackle always knows what technique he will get

Use three levels of alignments

1 CROWD the ball: used for quick get offs and the downhill run game
2 BACK: used for PULLING
3 WAY BACK: used for PASS PRO
 Training O Linemen in the Spread Offense

PASS PROTECTION coaching points

• Never get parallel with your feet. This translates to more power and balance.

• Slight bend at the waist

• Curl your big toes, this creates a natural arch in foot which is stronger and results in a power base.

• Tackles: beat your defender to the rush spot

• Eyes on the CHEST of the pass rusher

• Maintain your inside POST FOOT. This helps defeat the double move or spin to the inside
EXTRAS
• Can’t run Inside Zone Vs 30 Stack? Block Outside Zone and tell RB to run Inside Zone path

• Run Slip Screen when the defense is all fired up…First play of the game or sudden change
 F

B B A $

• NO MIKE LB then DIVIDE call tells the GUARDS to go to the ILBS

• CENTER goes to the SAFETY
 F $

B M B

• MIKE LB then MIDDLE call tells the GUARDS to go to the SAFETIES

• CENTER goes to the SAFETY
 Using the C4 system to SELF CORRECT not SELF IMPLODE

KEY coaching points

• When throwing the football there is only ONE way to do it, but a THOUSAND ways to teach it

• QB says “I have a CANNON”

COACH responds “A CANNON is NOT an accurate WEAPON”

• You get POWER from the BODY and ACCURANCY from the ARM

• You should have a slight bend THEN upward lift before the throw

• YOU MOVE, not the ball, to get to the L position (ELIMINATE push the ball back from your
language)

• This is a SHORT review of the C4 system…buy the DVDs for complete material.
 Using the R4 system to teach coverage

KEY coaching points

• QUIT WASTING LANGUAGE that YOU know but the QB doesn’t, USE common easy language.
• R4 creates RAPID COGNITION

DEFENSIVE BASICS
1. Eliminate the VERTICAL THREAT
2. Gain a MAN ADVANTAGE
3. PRESSURE the QB

MAINSTREAN ANSWERS
1. Use Mirrored Routes
2. Two different coverage beaters
Both are great ideas however, Both FORFEIT one side of the field!

This is a SHORT review of the R4 system…buy the DVDs for complete material.
 Using the R4 system to teach coverage

Replace terms MOFC and MOFO with CAPS

The Field can be divide into 5 tubes

CAP CAP CAP CAP CAP

CUSHION COLLISON CROSSVER COLLISON CUSHION

 Using the R4 system to teach coverage

TUBES can change in relation to the ball.

CAP CAP CAP CAP CAP

CUSHION CROSSOVER COLLISON COLLISON CUSHION

 ELIMINATE VERTICAL THREAT

HARD DECK: The area 7-10 yards from the LOS where the WR can defeat the coverage.
The HARD DECK defines if the TUBE has a CAP

CAP CAP CAP CAP CAP

HARD DECK

CUSHION COLLISON CROSSVER COLLISON CUSHION

 ELIMINATE VERTICAL THREAT

There are only five coverage to CAP the TUBES

CAP CAP CAP CAP CAP

HARD DECK

CUSHION COLLISON CROSSVER COLLISON CUSHION

 ELIMINATE VERTICAL THREAT
COVER O
• NO CAPS
• WEAKNESS = DEEP

HARD DECK
 ELIMINATE VERTICAL THREAT
COVER 1
• 1 CAP
• WEAKNESS = AWAY from the CAP

CAP

HARD DECK
 ELIMINATE VERTICAL THREAT

COVER 2
• 2 CAPS
• WEAKNESS = MIDDLE and STRONG SIDE
CAP CAP

HARD DECK
 ELIMINATE VERTICAL THREAT
COVER 3
• 3 CAPS
• WEAKNESS = MIDDLE TUBES

CAP CAP CAP

HARD DECK
 ELIMINATE VERTICAL THREAT
COVER 4
• 4 CAPS
• WEAKNESS = FLATS

CAP CAP CAP CAP

HARD DECK
 MAN ADVANTAGE
The defense outnumbers the Formation by 1 defender
• PREVENT QUICK or HOT THROWS
• FORCE QB to GO QUICKER into his READS
• PROVIDE SOUND ALIGNMENT for the RUSH
 MAN ADVANTAGE
The defense outnumbers the Formation by 1 defender

ANSWER: bring ROUTE ACROSS the MIDLINE

 MAN ADVANTAGE
The defense outnumbers the Formation by 1 defender

ANSWER: USE PLAY ACTION to INFLUENCE DEFENDER

 MAN ADVANTAGE
The defense outnumbers the Formation by 1 defender

ANSWER: LOOK OFF to INFLUENCE DEFENDER

 PRESSURE the QB
To delay and disrupt until the QB is sacked
• CUSHION
• COLLISON
• CAP
 PRESSURE the QB
To delay and disrupt until the QB is sacked
• CUSHION
• COLLISON
• CAP
ANSWER: CLOCK QB must have ball out in under .4 seconds
QB can buy 1 more second of time by escaping a defender
 RHYTHM ROUTES

**NOT DEPTH of ROUTE but the BREAK of the ROUTE**

• FIRST OPTION in PROGRESSION

• ROUTES THROWN off the LAST STEP of DROP

• BREAKS in 1.8 SECONDS

• 1 STEM/ 5-7 STEP BREAK ROUTE

• OFFENSIVE BLITZ

• TWO RHYTHM ROUTES MAKE a READ

 VERTICAL RHYTHM ROUTES

CROSS

POST FADE
SEAM CORNER
 SNAP ROUTES
THEY CAP IT, YOU SNAP IT

SPEED SPEED
DIG STOP OUT FALLOUT
SPOT
Build in TWO RHYTHMS that beat TWO different coverages
FUTURE Hallways can be CAPPED from underneath COVERAGE

B
B
 Additional Information

• Against 1 high safety RUN 4 Vertical

• Against 2 high safeties RUN 3 Vertical

• If you don’t release the RB into a route, control the LBs with a PLAY ACTION FAKE

• Review game film and you would be surprised how many times the RHYTHM route is
OPEN
RHYTHM: CORNER
READ: DRAG
RUSH: FLARE
 QB Fundamentals

STANDARDS
1. T.C.B. = Take Care of the Ball
2. STAND and DELIVER
1. QB should have front hand pressure when the ball is in LOAD phase.
2. QB should maintain proper balance
3. Take good sacks
1. HIDDEN YARDAGE

Coach Mullen prefers the ice cream cone position and basketball pitch for Option.

90% of QB teaching should be when teaching READS and PASS CONCEPTS

 HIDDEN YARDAGE

GOOD GOOD

QB
BAD BAD
 QB Fundamentals

Three parts of the body to develop

WRIST, ARM, and HIPS

WRIST
SPINNER DRILL- Hold elbow and flip wrist

ARM
Any drill that eliminates the bottom half of bottom.
Always start with the ball on the ground, this trains the QB to feel for laces

HIPS
Wrong foot drill – work on “POP” of the hips

**FOCUS on the DRILLS, no small talk at this time

 QB Fundamentals

SHOULDER EMPHASIS

Six inch step and release

Increase the distance while still only taking a six inch step. Change the “club face” by
raising the lead shoulder
 QB Fundamentals

1,2,3 Drill
QB performs drop back then:
1. GATHER UP: load the ball and balance your feet
2. COACH counts THOUSAND ONE, THOUSAND TWO
3. COACH gets to THOUSAND THREE, GO!

QB escapes, steps over bags, THEN throws on the RUN.

OVER BAGS

THROWS on RUN
 OFFENSIVE PHILOSPHY
1. FAST
2. HARD
3. SMART

TEMPOS
O line always get set and ready to go NOW.
“EYES” – snap the ball with @ 5 seconds left on clock
“NORMAL” – snap the ball with @ 20 seconds left on the clock
“TEMPO” – snap the ball after the ball is put in play

When using the FAST TEMPO

1. Personnel stays the same
2. QUICK FORMATION SIGNAL
3. Don’t get cute with the call
1. RUN ZONE (no pulling)
2. THROW 3 step PASS
 INSIDE ZONE with BUBBLE #2

S S

C
C
B A 2

E N T E
 INSIDE ZONE with BUBBLE #1

S S

C
C
B A 2

E N T E
 OUTSIDE ZONE with BUBBLE #3

S S

C
C
B A 2

E N T E

Can read LB or DT to the BUBBLE SIDE

 OUTSIDE ZONE with BUBBLE #3

S S

C
C
B A 2

E N T E

READ FRONT SIDE DE with blocking scheme change

Q: GAP EXCHANGE DEFENSE?
A: READ the STACK

A B
BOTH OUT = GIVE
E T N E
BOTH IN = KEEP

SPLIT = GIVE
 OFFENSIVE PHILOSPHY

Make the Defense DEFEND the ENITRE WIDTH of the field

WIN by

1. T.C.B.
2. Down Success (1st and 3rd)
1. On 1st down get 4 yards.
2. On 3rd down get a 1st down.
3. REDZONE TDs
4. EXPLOSIVE PLAYS
1. RUNS over 10 yards
2. PASS over 20 yards
Q: WANT QB to RUN?
A: BACKSIDE TACKLE BLOCK SCHEME

HARD INSIDE STEP with EYES on LB

LB fills GAP OT FITS

A B
N E
Q: WANT QB to RUN?
A: BACKSIDE TACKLE BLOCK SCHEME

HARD INSIDE STEP with EYES on LB

LB goes out, step and ANCHOR the DE

A B
N E
 ZONE CHECKS

CHECK READ

BAZOOKA = BACKSIDE STACK

BULLET = BACKSIDE LB ONLY
BONE = NOSE
WACKO = FRONTSIDE DE

POST/PRESNAP PITCH BACK effected by number of backs in the backfield

ONE BACK = WR is both

TWO BACK = WR is PRESNAP and RB is POSTSNAP. Check FLAT DEFENDER.
 OFFENSIVE GAME PLANNING
PLAY SHEET
BROWN = PLAY ACTION
GREEN = MONEY PLAYS (Screens, Sprint Out, 3 step) Any play that would get the QB started with HIGH
PERCENTAGE
BLUE = 5 STEP
These depend upon what the QB can do
Amount can range between 5-10 a game

3 TYPE of READS (Try and carry 5 of each)

1. FLAT : PSLB and FLAT DEFENDER
2. TRIANGLE : PSLB and BSLB
3. FREE SAFETY : STRONG SAFETY and FREE SAFETY

When teaching the QB…P.C.P.

Protection : Do I have to throw hot
Coverage
Pattern : Who is getting the ball

*Numerical Advantage? 3X1…roll to 3 OR throw to 1

*Coverage Alert

**CHANGE your SNAP INDICATOR. Clap hands, low wave. Lift foot. etc
 50 protection
• Center identifies who the QB is responsible for…
• NO Route conversion
• Always throw into the blitz

B A
E N T E
 60 protection
RB progression
1. POINT
2. OUTSIDE
3. WEAK (can cross face of QB or “Travel” aka shift)

B A
E N T E

WEAK POINT OUT

 MAN
BEATER

SLANT 2) SIT: 6 yards

1) BALL: 5 yards DEEP and 1
VS yard inside
DEEP over
Cov. 2 HASH
HITCH the BALL
VS
Cov. 3

3) FLATS: gain width

• First LETTER tells single WR what route, the word tells the WHOLE concept
• H = HITCH S= SLANT O = OUT
 2) STICK: 1 yard
1) SPOT: find
below coverage
space
between LBs

3) SWING: gain width NOW

TO FIELD: look for ball after 5 yards
TO BOUNDARY: look for ball after 3 yards
 VS MAN
X or Z at the end of the concept name tells WRs to switch routes

2) SIT: 6 yards
DEEP and 1
yard inside
1) BALL: 5 yards
HASH
DEEP over
the BALL

3) SWING: gain width NOW

TO FIELD: look for ball after 5 yards
TO BOUNDARY: look for ball after 3 yards
 VS
VS
Cov. 3
Cov. 2
VS VS
Cov. 2 Cov. 2

VS
Cov. 3
 VS
VS VS
Cov. 2 VS
Cov. 2 Cov. 4
Cov. 3

VS
Cov. 3