Offset Up H-Back Formation Run Game

This is the second part of a three post series about using the offset up H-back formation in your offense. To see why you should consider the offset up H-back formation please follow this link. For this post I will be covering the inside zone, outside zone, and power run game.

In the main images I will include position assignments for the plays as ways you could block. But I will say that it is up to you and your offensive coaches how you want to block these plays. This won't be a fully comprehensive post but it will give you an idea of plays you can run and also how this formation can fit into your current run game.  

Inside Zone

Below are two pictures of inside zone with and without reading the end man on the line of scrimmage. As mentioned in my previous post even though I have this drawn in the gun, this formation will work with pistol and under center.

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The wham block action in both plays will cause the defensive end to be slower in his reaction because he will be unsure if he is being blocked, read, or if the H-Back is running a route. As you can see, this play will work whether you are a pro-style or spread read option team. Below are some other example of other inside zone plays using the offset up H-Back formation.

The first two plays have RPO's attached and the second two fit more with traditional pro-style offenses running inside zone from under center and the pistol. The versatility of this formation gives the offense a lot of options that put pressures on the defense.

Outside Zone

Outside zone from this formation can be really nice because of the H-Back being able to hide behind the line and act like a lead blocker. Instead of having to pull a second O-lineman, the H-Back can be a puller if you have pin pull as part of your outside zone scheme. The H-Back can push on the tackle or Tight End's back helping to block then popping out at the last second to pick up the backer.

 

As before here are two outside zone plays, one with and without a read.

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For the read play I have the offense reading the Will. You can read the end and have the H-Back lead for you on the Outside Zone. I could put the F to the QB's right and run QB lead with two lead blockers. Here are some other variations of the Outside zone as well. Again because of the flexibility of this formation you can be creative with your blocking schemes.

 

 

I have a play running outside zone away from the H-Back so that you don't get predictable always running to the H-Back side. Also the last play has the H-Back leading up on the Sam, with both guards pulling around. I didn't include it, but Jet Sweep can be blocked the same with the only difference being the F helping lead.

Power

Quite simply put, this is the run play that fits best in the offset up H-Back formation. Because of the proximity to the line, the H-Back can kick out the end before he can react and wrong arm or squeeze. Power away from the H-Back is also a possibility with him following the pulling guard. That is tough on a defense if you can run power both ways. 

For short yardage situations if you're a shotgun spread team this gives you the option of a power run game with the same flexibility for your pass game. 

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To me this may be one of the most difficult plays on an inside backer, especially if you run an RPO. In both examples, the Will is going to be either blocked or read, so he will be slow to react because he will be unsure what the offense is doing with him. 

 

 

In these variations you see I've included a power play with the H-Back following the guard. There's also QB Power with 3 blockers at the point of attack. I didn't include single back power that a lot of spread offenses run from the gun where only the guard pulls up the hole. Could you run that with the H-Back instead of the guard? Sure but then it wouldn't be a true single back power. It is however another play you could put in your playbook which doesn't change much for your offense.

Conclusion

Hopefully this has given you an idea of ways to run your plays using the offset up H-Back formation. Next up we're going to talk about the passing game. That post will be available in the next few days, make sure to check it out.

As always I would appreciate any comment on your thoughts down below. Let me know if you liked what I said or not. I enjoy getting feedback, helps me grow as a coach.

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To Pistol Or Not Do The Pistol Offense

As I have been looking at different offensive systems one there's been one that is increasingly picquing my interest. I have been thinking I need to learn more about the Pistol offense that was started at Nevada.

In the last few years this seems to have become an increasingly popular offensive formation amongst college and high school teams across the country.  Based on what I have read, proponents of this offense say it has an advantage of being the best of the spread and under center offense since the back is aligned right behind the QB. 

I have read that by having the back aligned this way it prevents a defense from knowing what side the run play is going.  In essence the run game is similar to what you would do if you were wanting to run all your plays out of I or single back formations.

The argument I constantly hear is that in the spread the defense knows which way the run play is going.  I disagree in that if the defense cheats to one side it allows for cutback lanes with the inside zone.  Another way to keep a defense honest you can run a counter.

I guess the biggest thing I would like to learn more about is my favorite play out of the spread which is the Zone Read.  To make this play work it seems that you would need to have the back cross in front and then bend the play back into the zone blocking like below.

I don't see as much a chance for cutbacks since the defense could be reacting to the backfield action and work more to their right.   Compare this to the zone run out of the spread with the back aligned to the side as shown below and how it can lead to cutbacks for the running back.  Below are illustrations on what I mean.

Back is able to hit the hole playside

Defense cheats, is washed down the line opening up a cutback lane for the back

The zone run from under center you will see the same chance for a cutback.  The difference is that the QB isn't reading the end on whether to pull the ball or not.  This makes me wonder if because you might not get as good a cutback with the zone read in the Pistol that the veer has become more prevalent among teams that want to run option.

Other questions have come up as I have looked at this offense when it comes to the run game.  With a counter you can read the end and if he chases the tackle then pull the ball.  Is that still something that can be done out of the Pistol or because it might take longer to develop something that is negated in that play.  What about with the QB counter?

One of the best things is that I am in Portland and so today I will be stopping by Portland State and speaking with their offensive staff.  But I would love to hear from other coaches on the strengths, weaknesses, and experiences with this offense.  Should I look more into doing the Pistol or not for my future as a coach.

Update:  I wasn't able to meet with them today, the pro day got moved up.  But I will probably be meeting with them next week.

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Smart Football: Evolution of the Spread

Smart Football a blog written by Chris Brown is considered by many to be a pretty dang good expert on football and different schemes.  In his latest blog entry he posted 3 different videos and talked about the evolution of the spread from 2000 to now.

The first video is from the 1999 season.  I was out of the country that year so I missed out on that football season.

Next two videos are from Oregon and Chip Kelly.  Chris feels that Kelly and Malzahn at Auburn are the next to be the big time innovators of the spread.

How is that for irony, after Tony Franklin's run at Auburn now Malzahn is loved.  Makes you kind of wonder if it wasn't the head coach that was holding back that offense there.

As you watch the clips notice that there is more that Oregon does compared to Clemson in terms of personnel and plays.  But it is only part of the natural process of offenses.

Check out Smart Football to see some of his thoughts on the video that you can see.

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A very simple explanation of the zone runs, and the difference between inside zone and outside zone

There is a blog out there run by Chris Brown which does a good job analyzing and explaining different plays, formations and offenses run in football today. One of his most recent entries is in regards to running inside and outside zone. Many fans don't completely understand the difference between them and instead of me having to explain it all I will let him explain to you. He regularly writes for Rivals.com and also the 5th down blog at the New York Times. His website is www.smartfootball.com

A very simple explanation of the zone runs, and the difference between inside zone and outside zone

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Bubble Screen

The bubble screen in my opinion is a great complimentary play if you are running zone. It forces the backside defense to remain honest and so when running the ball in zone this will allow for the possibility of more yards. Especially since the defense might be a half second delayed in reacting to either run or pass. A half second in football is the difference between a 5 yard gain and a 10 yard gain. I am embedding a couple videos that allow you to see what I mean when running zone out of the spread.

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Oregon Offense

So I really enjoy watching Oregon's offense. I was talking with Frank Henderson and he said one offensive staff he would want to go visit with is Oregon. We think the offense is fun to watch and fun to play in. I am linking some highlights someone put up on YouTube. Oregon's offense is a prime example of how to run zone out of the spread. You know it's coming you just can't stop it. The video quality isn't super great but you can still get an idea of running the zone.

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Running Inside Zone Part 1

I wanted to diagram out our inside zone play. I have drawn it up being run to the right but the same rules will apply if running to the left.

The rules I will go over are when you run at either an odd front or an even front. First drawing is against an odd front, second is against an even front.

Against an odd man front the key is the Nose Guard(N). Center (C) and Backside Guard (BG) double team N to the Backer. If Nose slants to his right BG takes Nose and Center goes to Backer. If Nose slants to his left Center takes Nose and BG takes the Backer. If Nose plays straight up then your O-Line has to stay with the double team until the backer commits. Your RB aims for the Playside Guard's(PG) butt; If he sees the Nose slanting to his left then RB cuts back towards the BG. If Nose has slanted to his right RB hits the hole behind the PG.

Against Even Front the key is the DT in the 1 Technique. If the 1 tech slants hard to his left the BG should just push the DT down the line. If he plays head up the BG needs to reach the DT and block him. Same rule applies to the RB running this play. if he sees the 1 tech in the hole cut back is open. If 1 tech isn't there then take the hole behind the PG.

It is important to emphasize to your O-Line that they must stay with the double as long as possible until the backers commit. Doing so and your team will have a lot of success.

This is what makes the inside zone such a hard play to defend. The O-line isn't really wrong, the Running Backs make the O-Line always right.

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