Screen Passes

Screen Passes

A screen pass is a pass placed into one of two categories, a linemen pulling screen and a no linemen pulling screen. According to Dan Gonzalez, a no linemen screen is, “No linemen pulling: bubble, crack screen, hitch screen” (Gonzalez 34). Usually these screens are ran with the running back. Otherwise, the linemen screens consist of wide receiver screens, running back screens, dual screens, dump screens, and a backside screen (Gonzalez 34). All of these are mostly used with a running back with the exception of the wide receiver screen. The offensive coordinator has two options for whichever screen he decides to run. He can either run it to the weak side or to the strong side. The weak side is the side of the field which has the least amount of players, which means you will have less people blocking for your receiver but will have less defenders that can make a play on the ball. Moreover, on the strong side you have more players blocking for you as there are also more defenders that can make a play on the ball. As a result, the offensive coordinator must decide wisely when to run it to the weak side or to the strong side to give his offense the best chance at having an efficient play call.

(R: Receiver, T: Tackle, G: Guard, C: Center, TE: Tight End, RB: Running Back, QB: Quarterback) Here the screen is ran with the running back and we have the offensive line pulling to help block for the running back on the weak side.

Which way do you think a screen pass would be more efficient to, the weak side or the strong side? Why?

Gonzalez, Dan. Concept Passing: Teaching the Modern Passing Game. Monterrey, California: Coaches Choice, 2009. Print.

Pocket Passes vs. Action Passes

Pocket Passes versus Action Passes

            The quarterback has two main types of passes, a standard pocket pass and a play action pass. The pocket pass is a straight drop back pass with no play fake. Pocket passes come in multiple series like the 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90 series. These are called by the quarterback or the offensive coordinator as the author explains, “Pocket passes are called using two digit numbers between 50 and 99. The first digit represent the protection and the second digit represents the route package” (32 Gonzalez). In a 50 series pocket pass, the tailback and the full back have the responsibility to pick up the blitz when it comes. This gives their quarterback more time to execute the pass. However, if there is no blitz they both have a check release. If the defense is running a 4-3 scheme the uncovered lineman is to pick up the linebacker if he was to pressure the quarterback. In the 60 series, the running back to the right of the quarterback has a free release to his route while the left running back will have a running back. The 70 series has a protection back and a running back that has a check release. While in the 80 series, both backs have a free release unless the quarterback notices an incoming blitz and decides to make an adjustment to help the protection around him. The offensive line will also slide to the weak-side to help protect the quarterback. The last series, the 90 series, uses a seven-man protection scheme with one running back. All of these series are used for the same objective, to buy time for the quarterback so that he can deliver a pass from the pocket to any of his receiver’s.

(T: Tackle, G: Guard, C: Center, TE: Tight End, R: Receiver, QB: Quarterback, RB: Running back) This formation can lead to a standard pocket pass for the quarterback.

            The play action pass is used to distract the defensive unit and help the receivers get open due to the distraction that the quarterback will create to attract the defensive backs. Play action passes consists of movements that lead to the pass (33 Gonzalez). There are two main play action plays, boot action and a run action pass. The boot play action is a fake counter run away from where the quarterback will scramble to and he will use a moving pocket concept with a personal protector to help buy him time so he can deliver his pass. A run action pass is when the quarterback fakes a handoff to the running back as if it was a running play but he holds on to the ball to complete the pass. All play action passes are designated to create a distraction for the defense so it can open up space with the receivers and making it an easier and more efficient pass. 

(R: Receiver, T: Tackle, G: Guard, C: Center, RB: Running back, QB: Quarterback) In a play action, the running back is used as a distraction for the defensive in a fake hand-off to try and bring the safeties and linebackers up towards the line of scrimmage to help open up the field for the receivers.

What type of pass do you think would be easier to read and execute by the quarterback? Why?

Gonzalez, Dan. Concept Passing: Teaching the Modern Passing Game. Monterrey, California: Coaches Choice, 2009. Print.

           

Formations

Formations

As a football coach, you have many formations to choose from. Some of these formations help you execute your plays more effectively but they also make your play choice more predictable towards the defensive unit. While other formations can disguise your play choice, this will not provide as much support for your play. Dan Gonzalez states, “Multiple formations can also allow an offense to take advantage of its best players because of the presence of a tight end (or multiple tight ends) can make the front and run support more predictable, thus making the pass coverage more predictable” (20 Gonzalez). This means that by coming out in a double tight end formation, the defensive unit will come out in a run scheme defense due to the extra protection that you have now added for the run. By doing this formation, the defense can show man-to-man coverage on your receivers which allows your receivers to make big plays down the field. 

(T: Tackle, G: Guard, C: Center, TE: Tight End, R: Receiver, QB: Quarterback, FB: Fullback, RB: Running back) This formation is a run-heavy formation due to all the protection added so that the running back has his way cleared out for a more successful run. 

If you decide to spread out your offense, the defense unit has to become prepared for both the run and the pass because you are not more inclined to the one based on your formation. Therefore, the defense has to be concerned over every option (20 Gonzalez). In addition, if the defense comes out in the wrong scheme the offense will take advantage of this by calling an audible to a play that will give them a good chance at a big play. Thus, the defense has to make sure they come in a scheme that will give them a good chance to stop either option.

(T: Tackle, G: Guard, C: Center, TE: Tight End, R: Receiver, QB: Quarterback, RB: Running back) This formation is much more diverse because the play could either be a pass or run, which makes it harder for the defensive coordinator to guess what the offensive will be running.

What formation do you think would bring more overall success to a standard football team like Kentridge? Why?

Gonzalez, Dan. Concept Passing: Teaching the Modern Passing Game. Monterrey, California: Coaches Choice, 2009. Print.