Like many I have awaiting some specific, up-to-date information about what we should expect to see from Flip’s offense this season. We finally got a nugget from Terry’s Talkin’ this week:
1. They have been throwing a lot of swing passes to receivers in motion, which appears to be a significant part of DeFilippo’s offense. That also might help the backs catch more passes.
Using this quote I went back to the lab to look for pass concepts that integrated WR/RB motion at the snap of the ball. Before diving into the play I want to ensure that everyone is clear that we are looking at motion as the ball is snapped, not motion-and-reset.
Motion (both “slo-mo” and “jet”) as the ball is snapped is used for a variety of reasons. It can create angles to run inside-breaking-routes like a shallow cross, it can reduce the distance a WR needs to cover if his route will take him across the field, it can help the WR release “clean” at the LOS by helping him avoid jams and collisions within the 5 yard “hands on” zone, it gives the WR a small “spring” as he works to full speed in his route, it creates great angle for “cracks” on LB’s, etc.
The play we are about to look at is very similar conceptually to Shanahan’s PA “Flood” concepts we saw last year, so parts will look familiar. The two components of the play that caught my eye was the creative use of WR motion to “flood” the field away from the play action and the use of a “swap” by bringing the underneath route from across the formation.
Let’s look at the play and break down some film…
-The offense is in 2nd and 10 so both run and pass are on the table.
-The offense is in a “trey” alignment, with twin WR’s and a TE to the “field” (wide-side) and a single WR to the “boundary” (short-side)–> Ignore my typo of “formation” in the pic!!!!!!
-The offense will run an OVS, or Outside Vertical Stretch (Just a fancy way of saying a “flood” concept). The OVS concept is VERY flexible in that it can be run from almost any formation, and the routes can come from a variety of personnel (WR/TE/RB/FB/H-back).
-The OVS works particularly well off play action (PA). The most popular variant of the OVS is probably the famous Airraid “Y-Sail”; if you’ve watched any Ohio State football over the previous three seasons you’ll recognize the play as Urban LOVES the concept.
The Routes…
-An OVS will generally contain the following three routes:
1. A clear-out or 9 route from the #1 receiver to the playside. His job is to clear out the CB to create space for the intermediate and short route coming that way.
In this case the clear-out is ran as an “option route”, meaning the coverage shell, as well as the CB and S’s alignment/technique will determine the route. If the defense runs a Cover 2/Cover 4 shell or the WR is “capped”(the defender is overtop him), he will covert the route to a deep comeback at 18ish yards. If the defense shows a single safety shell (Cover 1/3) and the WR can clear the DB he will run a 9 or go route.
2. In this example the intermediate route will come from the TE, who will run an intermediate cross from the LOS across the formation. His route should be run at a depth of 10-12 yards to create proper vertical spacing for the flat route that will come underneath him. Route spacing is VITAL to most pass concepts as condensed route spacing will allow one defender to effectively guard two offensive players.
3. This is the creative part of the play. Generally, the flat route in a standard flood will come from a TE/RB/FB/H-back that is aligned to the play side. To say it another way the flat will come from a player who is ALREADY aligned to side of the field the play is run to (the right side in this case).
Because there is no TE/FB/H-Back to run the flat route, the offense elects to run the route with a WR from the opposite side of the formation the “swap”. Based on his wide split the WR has no chance of getting across the formation from his present alignment above the numbers.
WR motion will shorten the distance he must cover to get the flat, give him a running start on the route, force the defense to rotate on the fly, and provide backfield “cross flow” in which the RB and O-Line move in one direction that may slow run/pass direction keys, with the WR moving opposite. In addition it will be difficult for the playside flat defender/man responsible for the motioned WR to get “eyes on” him through the motion.
*Note* I use the term “swap boot” whenever I refer to a play that flips the flat route from the playside to the backside, although I’m sure others use it differently.
-Note the second “option” route at the bottom of the screen. The WR will read the deep S’s here. If the middle of the field is closed (MOFC) run across the deep S’s face to move his vision; if the middle of the field is open (Cover 2/4/6) run a post that splits the deep S’s in two. This route is RARELY thrown but is important because it creates a perceived vertical threat the deep S’s must honor.
Reads and Triangles….
-I’ve marked the QB’s progression above. Generally the clear out is read as a “peak” read, meaning that it will not be thrown unless something drastic like a CB slipping happens.
-Against zone the primary “read” on the play is a “hi-lo” of the flat defender. If the defender sinks to cushion the cross, throw the flat; if he breaks on the flat, throw the cross. Make him wrong whichever way he goes.
Against man you’re relying more on poor eye discipline from the defense caused by the PA, slowing them from getting to their man. You can also create personnel match ups that favor the offense (in this play the motion forces a LB to defend a WR on a pass route).
-Notice that the progression create a triangle, indicating a potential hi-lo/horizontal stretch of the defense.
Eye Discipline….
-Eye discipline is the most important factor to making a correct run/pass read. Every defender is giving a “key” that will indicate run/pass. In this case the interior defenders are likely reading the Guard/Center/RB triangle to take them to the ball. The Guard/Center/RB are all “telling” the defenders OZ left.
-Outside defenders like CB’s and S’s will read the EMLOS (End Man on Line of Scrimmage) using a “hi-hat, lo-hat” rule. If the defender sees the EMLOS player’s helmet rise he is likely pass blocking. If the defender sees the EMLOS player’s helmet lower he is likely run blocking.
-Notice in the gif that every “key” the defense is showing is designed to take the offense away from the ball except for the TE. The SAM does a good job of recognizing the TE’s release and reading pass on the play.
-The FS does a good job of not letting the PA take him away from the play, even for a step, putting him in position to keep the play from busting for even bigger yardage (the FS is keying the EMLOS as well). All it takes is a lean in the wrong direction to take a FS out of position to play the deep ball.
No Flat Defender…
-Image says it all…
-It’s impossible to say for sure who is responsible for the WR here as the assignment appears to be “bumped” once he releases under the O-line. It’s either the MIKE or WILL, but without knowing the backside run fits and whether a defender had QB boot contain (at this point in the season Carr has already broken a few 20+ runs off the QB keep from IZ) there is no way to say for certain.
-Creative way of throwing to receivers in motion at the snap within the framework of an OVS concept.