We are a shotgun, fast pace, no-huddle offense with a zone scheme (and we also will add pistol in as well).

This allows us to take advantage of our athleticism and numbers at the skill positions and uses our supposed weakness smaller, more athletic lineman to our advantage. With our offense, our QB must be able to run the football and be a weapon that the defense must account for. He does not need to be a 1,000 yard rusher; he just needs to keep the defense honest with his feet. Our key play for the QB is our QB Power Read. Our QB Power Read up front is blocked just like a typical power play. Because we are a predominantly zone team at a small school with most of our linemen going both ways, we do cannot invest the time into teaching combo blocks. So we will run this play to the 1-technique. We do that in a number of ways either formation/motion or by using our freeze call at the line of scrimmage to ensure we call it the right direction. The only major difference up front is that we are not going to read the play side defensive end. Here are our basic rules and diagram: PST: Gap away, backer PSG: Gap away, backer C: Gap away, backer BSG: Skip pull for play side back. Coaching Point: do not block play side defensive end (QBs run read). BST: Gap, hinge F/Y: Support X/Z: Support H: Run flat to the sideline, running over the toes of the QB, making a good pocket for QB to place ball. Coaching Point: Run it like you are running jet sweep. QB: Take lateral step and a shuffle towards the run read (play side defensive end). Good, long ride with the H. If defensive end steps out or up field toward the H, pull and replace, attack down hill (diagram 1).

How do you block it against an odd front? This can be run in two different ways, depending on game plan and defensive tendency. First is the same as above, leaving the play side defensive end unblocked. One thing to consider in this case is the play side defensive end spiking into the B gap (diagram 2).

The second way to block it against the odd front is to block the PST on the defensive end. This can protect against the B gap spike and allows the QB to then read the C gap player (either the defensive end or a blitzing LB). This is our preferred way to run it (diagram 3).

It works just as well against the odd stack (diagram 4).

By blocking the PST on the defensive end, it gives the flexibility against all odd front defenses and gives us a chance to run it without having to change or adjust to all the stunts and blitzes that odd front defenses can bring.

By forcing defenses hands, Canales will run a set comprised of 12 personnel that is similar to what Boise State runs on offense. Having one tight end on the ball (Y) and one tight end off the ball (U) (a typical tight/wing alignment) (Diagram 1) gives you the versatility to go either way with your scheme by simply moving or motioning the tight end. It doesnt matter which tight end is the Y, or which is the U, as long as you keep the scheme simple. It makes the defense declare where they are going to drop the deep safety to the original tight end side or if they are going to stay in a two deep structure. According to Canales, many teams will drop that safety to the tight end side declaring their strength. Now, all you need to do is move the U back and your picture is clear. Youre ready to attack the alley.

Case 2: The Read Zone/Bubble Concept What spread offense would be complete without the zone read scheme? We all know that the beauty of the read zone concept is that it essentially combines two dynamic offensive schemes the inside zone and the option. While the inside zone is a quick hitting, cutback play that attacks the tackle box, its the read complement that makes its money with spread teams dissecting odd defenses. According to our survey, its also the go-to-call for high school and college programs when trying to get to the perimeter. Thirty-eight percent of coaches polled believe the read zone concept is the most advantageous way to get to the alley. When you keep the play structure the same, its easy to manipulate defenses by getting into various formations. By definition, the odd front is a balanced front with two inside linebackers, two outside linebackers and two high safeties. Even with one high safety, the odd-stack structure is still balanced. In order to manipulate that balance, weve found that many coaches will often shift, trade or motion into 31 trips sets in order to get odd fronts off-kilter. One of Canales favorite ways to do this is to step the U off the line of scrimmage and motion him across the formation to show a trips set, usually to the field side of the formation. After he does that, hell run the zone

scheme back into the boundary with the read coming back out the other end. Hell have different ways to influence the overhang or alley player, depending on whether he feels that hes a run or pass first defender. We tell our QBs to look to check the alley players horizontal width. If hes inside the safety, we know that hes a run defender because hes closer to the core (tackle box). If hes truly a pass defender, like a curl/flat defender, chances are his alignment is going to be closer to number two. If Canales is getting an indicator that the alley player is inside the safety (with the number two receiver out leveraged) hell run the zone away and wrap the U around to occupy the alley player (Diagram 2).

If Canales is getting the indicator that the alley player is fitting outside the safety, hell run the bubble fake off of the zone (Diagram 3) forcing the alley player to expand, opening up the alley wider for the run game.

According to Canales, its a simple adjustment. Either way, the alley player is caught in a tough predicament. If we run the zone and the defensive end chases, whos the QB player? If that inside linebacker is late on his read, were out the gate with the QB. Hell run-the-ladder as we call it from hash to numbers to sideline. The overhang player will usually get caught between playing the bubble or holding his option responsibility. If teams start to declare or roll their strength to the field side of formations you can always go back and keep the zone play to the boundary theyll be a gap short. Case 3: The Bunch Toss Scheme Over 15% of coaches feel the best way to get to the alley is to attack it downhill with some sort of toss scheme. Ben Coates will use this scheme as the offensive coordinator at Central State University (OH). Coates teaches the benefits of blocking angles, to attack the alley defender in his Gator scheme (Diagram 4). Coates will use the bunch formation, with the number two receiver (usually the Y/tight end) up on the line of scrimmage, to block that force player. The number one receiver gets his hat on the deep safety, while the most inside receiver arc releases to block the corner, as opposed to using the pulling tackle. We dont feel that the tackle on the corner is a good match-up, says Coates. Well just have the tackle pull with his eyes inside for a second level player.

Our research found another variation of the bunch toss or crack scheme is to have number one block the alley player (Diagram 5). Here, the number one receiver will block the next Most Dangerous Man (MDM) on or inside of him thats not the defensive end or EMLOS. The number two receiver will crack the defensive end while the number three receiver will pull or arc block the first defender supporting outside (usually the corner) aiming at the outside armpit. The play side tackle will again block inside/out on any pursuit. Its even possible to get the play side guard out against odd fronts, because chances are he will be uncovered. If the center can handle the nose, youre in good shape.

Case 4: The Counter Boot (Waggle) According to our research the bubble screen concept, yielding a 37.3% coaching approval, was not the most efficient way of affecting that alley player in the pass game. It was the counter boot or waggle series, at 38.9 percent favorability, that was most common among our survey respondents. What is important to note is that weve found the most effective way to run the boot scheme is with standard 11 personnel as the University of Utah does when running the scheme (Diagram 6).

A spread team by structure, Utah has had tremendous success running the speed sweep, particularly to the field side. Here, the QB fakes the inside zone scheme or speed sweep and runs the naked boot opposite. Now, the action is away from the alley player, who has to get his reads quickly before the Y attacks the flat after just taking a quick bump block on the inside shoulder of the defensive end. The number one receiver on the play side runs the deep comeback with a drag and a post back side. Its important that after he disengages from the running back, the QB runs a ten yard circle away from the line of scrimmage to clear the rush of the unblocked defensive end. Its a productive scheme if teams are chasing back side. By the time that alley player diagnoses the play, the Y is behind him and in the flat. Read more: http://xandolabs.com/2011/06/attacking-the-alley-against-odd-frontdefenses/#ixzz1nVz6s8pE