Off Tackle Play

Eaglecoach,

I would be coaching this play from the I formation if I didn't face it from every other team in the league. It's one of the best youth football plays I've ever seen.

The most formative team we face runs their off tackle play from the power I. They could run the same play to both side of the formation. They could also run the same play with one of their running backs aligned at the wing. I think the most important attribute they give their offense though is the ability to change their blocking scheme based on what they face on the field. I've joked with these coaches. I say, "All you want is the off tackle" and they respond "You know what is coming but you have to stop it." Based on my admiration of their play, let me tell you what I see on the field.

Power I -

TE - Cut off the DE
RB - Linebacker
FB - looks for leaks as he leads through the hole
RB - Takes handoff on a down hill path

I think you can see that it would be easy to align the first RB mentioned at the wing and his responsibilty will remain the same.

This year I saw something different from these guys. Our DE proved to be too strong for their TE to seal. My players assignment was simple "Kill the QB". He is a strong fellow and he could hold up the outside in run support too. This Power I team had scouted us and they were determined to attack his assignment. They would find out how good he was but that is another story. What I want to inform you of was the change in their attack.

Power I -

TE - Linebacker
RB - Double the DE
FB - Double the DE
RB - Took hand off on a down hill path

The ball carrier met up with the DT at the line of scrimmage but this team also gave their players another option FOR THE SAME POINT OF ATTACK.

Power I -

TE - Doubles the DT
RB - Linebacker
FB - Logs the DE
RB - hand off

The end result this year was that they attacked the opposite side. The important thing to me was what my talented DE was able to show me about the team we face each season. This team I speak of really only has 5 plays (QB sneak, FB counter, off tackle, Sweep, and one play action pass). As most of us know, that is really all they need. What I took special note of from my experience against them last year was the practice time they must give the off tackle play. This is a 10 and 11 year old team. Those kids did not change their blocking assignments on consecutive plays. It was sent in from the sideline.

In short, I think if you are contemplating the I formation for youth football your goal should be similar to theirs. That goal being the dominance of the off tackle area. Your opposition may have the talented DE like I did last year. Your gamble is that they don't have that player on both sides-and we didn't. With patience, they defeated us off tackle to the opposite side of that DE.

The off tackle from the I is a special play. It takes no time to develope. It's a quick hard hitting play. Like most formative plays, I don't think the success of the play lies within the formation. It lies within the execution. I think successful I formation teams give their players OPPORTUNITIES to have success through different ways to execute the same attack.

You will have the defense outnumbered at the flank you just have to have the ability to matchup in the off tackle. There are companion plays to the off tackle play that essentially eliminates the corner and safety from run support. As mentioned by many more experienced youth coaches than I, no youth coach wants to lose at the hands of a sweep. From my experience, most corners are lurking beyond the DE laterally as the secondary force player. If they are not then they are susceptable to an off tackle play action from this formation with a flare to the near RB. Likewise the safety is susceptable to the post route.

Now I know most of the defensive remarks that canl be made by defensive coordinators to these remarks. With the proper coaching and disciplined youth players this scheme can be defeated. The problem with that equation is that the majority of youth coaches you will face do not even know that their defense is outnumbered at the flank UNLESS they have the players with the talent to play dual roles in their defense. Depending on the defense selected, the DE, outside linebacker, safety, and cornerback all have dual assignments. You show me a YOUTH defense that has eight players that can do that and I'll show you the youth league champions.