Inverted Veer- Combo'ing two of the best plays into one

Trying to communicate while invereted

One of the hottest plays that spread teams are currently running is the INVERTED VEER, or Power read.  Spread teams from around the country have spent time developing and implementing two of the most successful plays in the history of football:  the POWER and the VEER.  The idea of the Invereted veer is so put the "5 tech" in conflict.  Does he choose to run with the RB, or does he stay home on the QB?  

Below is the same play run against the four most popular defenses across the country.  The blocking rules do not change for the O-Linemen no matter the front.  This simplifies things, and allows the play to hit faster and more aggressively.  

v. Under (4-3)

v. Over (4-3)

v. Stack (3-3)

v. Odd (3-4)

The great thing about the IV, is that the O-linemen have angles.  Each O-lineman is able to come down on an angle, and get on their assignment.  For teams that run Power, the blocking does not change, which is also a huge advantage for the O-line.  

*** Key part= Speed at the RB ***  The RB has got to be able to take off, turn the corner, and be a threat to break each run.

When reading the 5, the QB has the option to keep the ball and run with.  Like the old Veer, if the 5 turns his shoulders, that is an easy read for the QB.  A great example is below.  

Here is a great look from the end zone.  Notice how the 5 gets upfield, turns shoulders.  It is an easy read for the QB. 

When the 5 stays tight, squeezes down, it is an automatice give.  

At all levels, simple = more efficient.  This play is a combination of two simple concepts put into one.  Coming up:  Formations with Inverted Veer, compliment plays with Inververted Veer, and how to defend Inverted Veer.  

The new college football

Growing up in the 1980s and 1990s, I was surrounded by coaches, programs, and people who viewed football as more about the "Jack and Joe's" than the "X's and O's."  They prided themselves on creating winning football players, but often would look the other way when student athletes made mistakes in and outside of the classroom.  In addition to this, I grew up that football players were stereotypically just big ol' meatheads.  This "stereo type" often bothered me, knowing the amount of knowledge and learning that it takes to understand the game of football as a player.  I also found it ironic, as my high school QB was one of the brighter students in our class (and currently a successful lawyer), and is just one example of the many of bright football players.
 

Recently I viewed Coach David Shaw's TEDx talk about Stanford football.  Coach Shaw was asked to speak, and might be the first coach, at a TED talk.  For those of you who are unaware of TED talks, they are a non-profit program looking to help spread positive ideas to make the world a better place.  Coach Shaw provides a great TED talk, and discusses aspects of football, program development, and student-athlete development.  

Check it out for yourself below:

The talk asks "Can football change the world?"  

Coach Shaw goes on to highlight how Stanford, under Coach Jim Harbaugh and Coach Shaw, Stanford has been able to go from 1-11 in 2006, contemplating dropping the program down a level,  to multiple winning seasons, culminating in three consecutive BCS bowl games, and winning the Rose Bowl (2012) and Orange Bowl (2010).  

I wanted to highlight some main points of the talk, as I truly believe this is the New College Football.  

#1  Extremely ccompetitive people-  Coach Shaw points out how those who excel in academics are competitive people.  It was an important thing for Stanford to find student athletes that have a drive to excel in academics and athletics.  Those who want to be the "Best Biologist" or "Best Engineer" while also trying to be the "Best down field Tight End" in the country.  The world is changed on a daily basis by people who are willing to compete, no matter the setting or environment they are in. Coach Shaw is looking for players who "Complete like crazy in the classroom, and compete like crazy in football."    

#2  High expectations-  Student athletes will rise to the expectations of their coaches and school.  If a school doesn't expect their student athletes to attend class, or give them an useless major, then the athlete becomes just an athlete.  But if the school, coaching staff, and program commit to high expectations in academics and athletics, then the student athlete will also commit to the high expectations.  

#3  Create your culture-  "We were going to be audacious.  We are going to compete with anyone, any where, any time.  We are going to build a bully."  Enough said.  

#4  Sustain the success-  Once you have been able to create your culture, high expectations, and competitiveness, success will exist.  The key part is to continue to find people who understand competitiveness, expectations, and buy into the culture.  

MOST IMPORTANTLY-  Coach Shaw believes that Stanford football can change the world (and the NCAA).  He believes that the influence that his program has, will change how other programs are run.  Stanford has proved that you can recruit players who will invest in the school, academics, and athletics, and can be successful.  Schools such as:
StanfordNorthwestern
Notre Dame   Vanderbilt

are the new wave of college football.  These schools have so much in common, recruiting student athletes that want to get the most out of their college experience educationally and athletically, and the results are showing on the field, and changing the world of college football.  

I'm back

Ladies and Gentlemen....

I have decided to pick up the blogging again, and I am back. I had to step away for a while because I have done the following over the past year: Welcomed a new baby boy, gone through 2nd masters, supported wife through 2nd masters, bought a new house and moved, and a variety of other professional and personal accomplishments. So in the following week, I will be adding new blogs to Hit'em Hard!

I will be taking some time away from writing the blog to focus on family and off season responsibilities.  When I get some more free time, I will get back to work.  Until then....

Playoffs? Talking about playoffs.....

It is that time of year again!  The best time of year, the money maker time.... PLAYOFFS!!!!!


That is right Coach Mora, we are talking about playoffs.  As the playoffs approach, teams are cumulating a season of hard work, dedication, and a little bit of luck.  Players and coaches have put in hours upon hours of work in the weightroom, off-season, 7-on-7s and doubles for this time of year.  Playoffs, what the game is all about.  Playoffs give teams a chance to prove that they are one of the best in their respected state, and it can never be taken away.  But what about the team that just qualifies for the playoffs?

Many teams across the country are happy to be in the playoffs.  Satisfied that they overcame adversity and injuries to qualify for the playoffs and provide pride for their team, school and community.  There is an amount of pride in that, but instead of feeling satisfied, challenge your team to rise above their ability in the playoffs.

The Stones got it, don't be satisfied!

If your team is satisfied with making it to the playoffs, challenge your team to meet and exceed their expectations.  Last year at this time, I wrote about how "PLAYERS BECOME PLAYMAKERS IN THE PLAYOFFS."  I strongly believe that as coaches, we can put our players, no matter their ability, in a spot to become that playmaker.  With that ability, you can help build up your players confidence to be that playmaker.  Teach them how to recognize a certain team's offense/defense, and know the other team's tendencies.  Provide the player with everything that you have, and in turn they will give the team everything they have.  By you modeling and showing that you are not satisfied, the players will pick up on this and mirror the same attitude.    

One of the key to the playoffs is keeping your team focused on the task at hand.  Players, specifically Seniors, will become distracted with the media, their friends/family, and that creeping thought in the back of their head that this playoff game could be their last game of their career.  Communicate with your players that all of these things going on are realistic, but the only thing that matters is the next play their in the game.  Focus on that one play.  Know the down and distance, and understand your own responsibility.  This focus will allow your players to calm any anxiety or anxiousness they feel before the big game.

Be proud of being in the playoffs, but don't be satisfied with just getting there.  Good luck to all the playoff qualifying teams around the country, working towards that goal of a state championship!

SHOUT OUT

www.cheifpigskin.com has got some great stuff coming up, including the webumentaries.  Give it a look!

Passing concepts (Air Raid) out of Quads

Welcome back to Hit'em hard!  Sorry that I have been away, we have been in the thick of the season, and the team has been responding well.  Two weeks away from the playoffs!


Back to business, continuing on the Quads, Quads, Quads, Quads (that is 4 times) passing game.  The best thing about the Quads is you can still run many simple passing concepts, specifically Air Raid concepts.  


Concept #1: Bubble
One of the most popular is the Bubble, or Loop, concept.  The Bubble concept can be run to the third (H) or 4th receiver (A), depending on where the defense aligns themselves.  This is a simple "check with me" at the line.  Which ever man is the uncovered receiver, the ball is going to go to.  

The QB would audible to the A receiver to run the bubble route.

Above is an example of a simple audible that can be done at any level.  The QB can see that the A receiver is uncovered, so he can check the route to him.

H Receiver is the open man

In the second example, now the H receiver is uncovered, so the QB can check the route to him.  Blocking remains man-on-man, getting in the defender's way and allowing the ball carrier to be in space.  


Once teams start falling in on the bubble route, bubble-slants or bubble and go become wide open.  Receivers are taught to make their routes look like there blocking assignments, and then run past the defenders.  

The Bubble Slant game puts a lot of pressure on the defenders to stay in their passing zones and not jump the bubble.

Using the bubble concept can also open up the passing game for the big play.  When defenders start jumping the bubble, and rallying up to it, the Bubble Go concept allows the offense to stretch the defense vertically.  

The most likely man to be open is the Z receiver.  He has been blocking the corner all day on the bubble, and is taught to run at him, and slip by him, making the corner miss and leaving a wide open receiver for the TD.


Concept #2: Mesh
With most spread quad teams, Air Raid concepts can still apply.  Probably the second most common Air Raid concept is MESH.  Mesh defined is two receivers coming across the field and crossing each other.  The idea is to hit the receiver once he has crossed the far hash, leaving him in open space to run with the ball.  For the examples, I have tagged double posts and an arrow route to create chaos and put the safeties in jeopardy with their coverage.  

QB will be looking for H or X receivers as they cross the field

The Mesh route is extremely effective because the QB still has a check down (Y), can hit the homerun (A or Z) and can get the ball to his receivers in space (X or H).  This is especially true if the H receiver is open and the backside corner runs with the X receiver.    


Concept #3: Flood
The last passing concept out of Quads is the Flood route.  The major advantage of the Flood route is that the QB will be able to rollout, with the A receiver blocking the edge and then releasing into the flat.  That block by the receiver allows that QB to get outside the pocket with ease.  

The Flood route is extremely effective because it give the QB a deep threat and a 3 level read, with an option to run.  Most coordinators will teach the QB to read deep to short on the reads.  The first option is the deep man (Z receiver).  Moving down the progression, ending in a dump off to the A receiver.  If all are covered up, the QB still has the option to tuck the ball and run, with 4 blockers (the receivers) leading the way.  


This concludes my discussion of Quads.  With an athletic QB, simple adjustments, Quads can be put into your playbook and used regularly to have an effective, explosive offense.    Any of the plays above can be run through the different Quads formations I have discussed earlier. 


SHOUT-OUT

Gotta give some love the www.chiefpigskin.com  They are doing webumentaries from high schools across the country.  One of them, ironically, is the team that we play on Friday, the Wauconda Bulldogs.  Here is a write up in the local paper about the webumentary:  http://football.dailyherald.com/story/?id=428672


Good luck to all those teams heading into the playoffs!!  


Coming up next........... post season preparation.

Quads- QB Running Game

Continuing on the discussion over Quads, is the QB running game out of Quads.  Many people feel that Quads makes an offense one dimensional.  Absolutely not!  With some creativity, many running plays can be used out of quads, including the QB run game.

Quads in real life, on Friday Night!

While discussing the spread quad game, I will use the common spread tags of letters for players.  Listed below are the description:

X- Split End

Y- TE/Slot

Z- Flanker

H- FB/TE/H-Back

A- Running back

Q- Quarterback

The athletic QB continues to become more popular throughout the high school and college divisions.  When a team has that QB that is able to run the ball, and take a physical pounding, but still put the ball on the money, it can wreak havic on a defense.  

QB Sweep

The most basic QB running play out of Quads is the QB sweep.  This play is usually run to the field, allowing the QB to find his running lane and attack it.

This play, when you have the athletic QB, is lethal.  Getting your best athlete into space, with crack blocks and angles gets an offensive coordinator excited!

Get him the ball, and in space!

QB Trap

Reasons to love the QB trap:

It's a trap!

1.  Angles, Angles, Angles-  Everyone has an angle!
2.  Attack aggressive DEs
3.  Simple rules for your o-line
4.  One more thing for the defense to defend out of the spread
5.  Has the ability to be a homerun on every play

Strong trap- Trapping to the Quads

Weak side trap- Trapping away from the quads

The key to these plays is to have the QB take a small jab step away from the hole.  This allows the guard to clear and trap, while the LB's hesitate.  With the LB's being hesitant, the O-Line can get to their blocks with better angles.

Bonus:  Running Game with Motion

Because I have been encompassed with my season, in which we are currently 2-1, I have been slacking off on Hit'em hard.  Today I am adding in a bonus, QB running game with motion out of quads.  Say that ten times fast!

Using a lead blocker out of quads is simple.  Look at your base formation out of quads below:

There are three different positions, A, H, or Y that can be used as lead blockers.  As a coach, you can really mix it up if your personnel is capable of being a lead blocker.  Today we are going to focus on using a lead blocker for the ISO play.

QB Iso
Iso is one of the simplest, yet most effective plays.  It is based off of "isolating" one LB with a lead blocker.  Below are two examples of running iso out of quads, with different lead blockers.

Strong Iso

Using the H as the lead blocker

Weak Iso

Changing it up, using the A as a lead blocker

There is a the base running plays out of the Quads look using your QB.  It is important that when using the Quads to include running your QB if he is athletic at all.  It is another weapon to cause headaches for the defenses.

MAKE SURE YOU CHECK OUT www.chiefpigskin.com  for some unbelievable stuff.  They currently are filming multiple high schools from across the country and their documentaries.  Check it out!