QB Long Trap vs Cover 0

Nice design here by the offense, the defense is in Cover 0 (Man to man and no high safety) and the Middle Backer is responsible for the RB in pass. He disregards the pulling Guard to pick up the RB and the QB long trap breaks for a big gain. #spreadoffense

7v7 4 Verticals - Trio Formation

Some 7 on 7 action from the Mississippi State 2019 Spring Football Game. The offense is running 4 verticals out of a 'Trio' formation. #spreadoffense

Soft Pitch Fly Sweep

The offense shifts to a custom formation that out flanks the defense on the soft pitch fly sweep. Good play to use with tempo and get your playmaker in space. #spreadoffense

QB Read Sweep - Guard and H-Back

Here the QB Read Sweep (or Power Read) includes the H-back and the Guard. #spreadoffense

Play-Action Power - Reduced X split

Play-action power gets the secondary peeking in the backfield while the minus X slips by on the seam near the goal-line. #spreadoffense

Quarters Coverage Beater - Post with Deep Curl

Nice quarters coverage beater with the #1 receiver running a deep post and the #2 running a deep curl to occupy the safety to the field, creating one on one coverage. #spreadoffense

Hoss Y Juke - Empty Formation

Flat Slant RPO with Wide Zone

Coaching Tips - Defending an RPO

Divide Route vs. Split Safeties (2 High)

Football Friday: Florida hits the divide route identifying MOFO vs. split safety coverage. The inline TE releases vertically holding the backside safety. #spreadoffense

3 Ways Green Bay uses Randall Cobb

A lot of talented players in the league are jealous of Randall Cobb.

Not only is he one of the most exciting players in the league at his position, but he’s also been blessed with an elite quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, a talented supporting cast of offensive skill players to take the pressure off, and a creative offensive mind in head coach Mike McCarthy.

Successful teams are made up of talented players, but great teams are made up of talented players and a coaching staff who manages to get the best out of them.

Successful teams are made up of talented players, but great teams are made up of talented players and a staff that knows how to coach and manages to get the best out of them.

In this post we’ll be taking a look at three of the many ways Green Bay uses Randall Cobb, and the reasons behind each play call.

As an outlet - Trap / Quick Flat RPO

This play, what we’ll refer to as the “quick flat screen” is becoming increasingly popular in the league for a couple of reasons.

First of all, the ball comes out of the quarterback’s hand incredibly quick, in many cases quicker than the bubble screen.

Even more than the speed of the throw is the speed with which the receivers can get out in front and block almost immediately.

One thing that can hamper the ability of receivers to be effective blockers out on the edge in their hesitation before the football is thrown, for fear of picking up an offensive pass interference penalty.

Since the receivers know the football is coming out of the quarterback’s hand right now, they can come off the line immediately and get in the face of the nearest defender and start blocking.

Another positive about this play is that the moment Cobb catches the football, he’s already at, or past, the line of scrimmage, whereas there are plenty of times where an aggressive defensive back has knifed in past the receivers and made the stop in the backfield.

Combine the quick flat screen with a normal run play up the middle and now the offense has another way to beat you.

Rodgers reads the alley defender’s movement just after the snap to make his final decision on what to do with the football.

In the backfield - Mesh / Wheel

Putting a guy like Randall Cobb in the backfield accomplishes a lot of things.

For one thing, it makes it a lot tougher to disguise the coverage when an actual receiver is standing in the backfield.

Because the offense is aligned in a 3x1 set, it’s already stretched the coverage to the three-receiver side by alignment, and now instead of a tailback lined up right next to Rodgers, you’ve got an even bigger pass threat, a guy who knows how to get open against different kinds of zone coverages, and someone who isn’t a great matchup for most linebackers in the league to cover.

This is a well-designed play because it gives Rodgers the ability to sniff out the defense, and he has several different options so that he’s pretty safer no matter what the defense throws at him.

The great thing here is that Cobb’s wheel route serves a couple of purposes. Against any kind of edge pressure Cobb should expect the ball coming his way immediately while he’s still in the early stages of his route.

If there’s no extra pressure, Cobb can turn up the sideline and turn up the sideline and finish his route. Depending on the matchup and ability of the defense to squeeze the route to the sideline, Rodgers could take a shot down the field, but if not Cobb can still manage to clear out the coverage to the right side of the field and open up space for the crossing route behind him.

This is a fantastic play design all around, from the formation, to the placement of the personnel, to the way the routes fit together.

Getting him all alone in space - PA Cobb Option

This concept works because of the way all three routes develop at different depths.

To the trips side, the Z receiver starts widening as he gains depth on the wide hitch route. The angle on the route is a little wider than a standard hitch in order to create as much space for Cobb’s route in the slot as possible, and stretch a defender who would be trying to cheat and play both routes at the same time.

To the single receiver side, the dig route is timed to come open late and into the window where the safety may have rotated over to play over the top of Cobb’s option route.

The play fake times up the drop for Rodgers so that he can release the football as soon as the Z receiver starts breaking to the outside.

Now we come to the option route itself with Cobb. Coaches talk all the time about how to create space for their best players, and this play is set up to do just that.

It’s a common practice to set up a playmaker in the middle of the field with lots of space to either side of him, as well as breaking on the routes at different depths, so that it’s even harder for defenders to play multiple routes.

Once Cobb gets to his assigned depth at ten yards, he’ll most likely be matched up against a single defender, in which case he just finds the best angle and works away from him to get open.

If for some reason he’s covered by the time he makes his break, Rodgers can find the dig route coming open at 15 yards, or even dump off to the back on the checkdown.

Conclusion

These are all great examples of creativity on offense, but having the ability to move guys like Cobb around, and making a consistent effort to get him the football is more important than any one single scheme.

Players win games, and more often than not, coaches lose them, but having a coherent, consistent system with answers for what the defense will throw at you will leave you in great shape in any situation your team finds itself in.

About the Author

As a writer who spent a period of time coaching high school and college football, Alex Kirby loves talking the X's and O's of the game, and prides himself on his ability to simplify the important details of the action without dumbing down his analysis. Many books, including his "Every Play Revealed" series, contain information that you simply can't find anywhere else. Alex can be found on Twitter at: @AlexJKirby

Spread Offense Membership Portal Opens - Certification On The Horizon

Hey Folks! It's a start of a new era here at SpreadOffense.com, we have launched the final piece of our online properties focused on the spread offense in football.

Since we opened our doors in late 2007, this was what I had in mind for all those coaches and players out there that were passionate like I am about learning and evolving with the spread offense at any level.

I invite you to become a member of our Exclusive Coaches and Players Membership Portal, which will be the online platform for learning, development, and education for our 2012 Spread Offense Certification Program for Coaches and Players.

Our main site, www.SpreadOffense.com will continue to offer the same quality (free) content, but our hope is that those of you who are serious about taking your education, preparation, and knowledge of the spread offense to the next level will join our new membership portal.

We are lining up as we speak quality coaches from all levels to be a part of the certification program and membership portal. We will continue to grow this new portal until we create the ultimate library of videos, articles, diagrams, podcasts, webinars, practice planners, install manuals, playbooks, etc... All focused on the spread offense in football.

Stay tuned... and in the meantime, be one of the early pioneers who will begin absorbing the knowledge required to become a Certified Spread Offense Coach or Player. Membership will provide you the required materials at a discounted rate in order to prepare for our 2012 certification programs.

Keep spreadin 'em!

--Mark

http://Members.SpreadOffense.com

Intro To The Spread Offense Video - Part II

Hey Folks!

I wanted to share our most recent video release, our continuation of the Introduction To The Spread Offense (Part 2 of a 3 part series).





Here's the video on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yfvh_m2dHu4

We'll have one more 'Intro' video (Part III), focusing on the offensive line, in particular their line splits and stance from Tackle to Tackle, and then some other landmark positioning teaching with the skill guys.

After that, we'll be ready to get after it as the foundation will have been laid for most coaches at any level.

Thanks again for all the great feedback, and make sure to sign up for our newsletter if you haven't already, as well as our Facebook and Twitter pages, which we post to daily.

Keep spreadin' em!

-- Mark

www.SpreadOffense.com

Spread Offense Video Series Preview

Hi Folks,

It's an exciting day here at SpreadOffense.com, we finished the editing on our 'preview' video for our upcoming original content video series on the spread offense.

Here's the video:



Since we opened our doors in late 2007, the main website, our .tv video portal, and this blog have continued to grow, and that is because of you, our loyal audience... thank you.

Feel free to drop us a line as to what you would like to see in our video series, we plan to start 'In the beginning...' like the bible reads... and take this thing all the way to the inner depths of the spread offense, leaving no coach at any level behind. Oh.. and keep sending us any live spread offense game or practice video content you'd like us to use for live examples, etc...

We also have this 'preview' video posted on You Tube, see it here and 'spread it around' to all of your football coaching friends and players.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg0NfgIKiTA

Keep spreading 'em!

--Mark

www.SpreadOffense.com

Wildcat Power

Hey folks! Here's a great video of the classic Arkansas wildcat/wildhog set run by Gus Malzahn (Offensive Coordinator) and David Lee (QB Coach) in 2007. You'll see Darren McFadden and Felix Jones (both having solid careers in the NFL) as the single wing quarterbacks in this video running 'Power' off of jet sweep action.




Wildcat 2007 power @ Courtesy of Brophy's Football Blog

If you're starting to plan your 2011 season offensive sets and you have a few stud runners who have what it takes to accept a shot gun snap, think about adding the wildcat into your arsenal.

It's a great way to get your QB off the field for a few plays to discuss some things and can be a great change of pace for your offense.

Keep spreading 'em!

--Mark

www.SpreadOffense.com