Need Convincing - Midline from Gun

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Originally posted by: option'em
Fellas, I need some convincing here.

We have been a flexbone team that runs Midline, Triple, Speed, and Lead. However, I'm thinking of becoming a gun option team next year for a multitude of reasons not the least of which is personnel.

Midline was our best play last year and I need to be convinced that I can still run it from the gun. I would like specifics on things like:

1. How far to cheat the QB up or to move him up while receiving the snap.
2. Fullback depth and path.
3. *Most-importantly - I'm having trouble convincing myself that you can run this from the gun and still read a 2/3 technique. We were able to read 2's last year from under center. I just can't picture how it can work unless you take ridiculous splits between your center and guard.

How have you folks run it and made it work effectively? This is something I'm really struggling with. I'm hesitant to move to gun anyway after being a rigid flexbone buy. The thought of not being able to run my favorite play is killing me!

Thanks in advance.

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Coach we run midline from gun. I will try and answer your questions, but I do not know if it can be the focal point of your offense. We ran it an average of 3 times per game. ISV is out best play from gun, midline would be a nice change up for us.

1. Our base QB alignment is 4 yds, on midline the most we move him up is 1 foot pre snap.
2. The FB's back tack last year was at the center's backside foot. I am changing this for next year. In PE I have moved the track to the backside gurad's inside foot. We are going to run right at the combo block on the backside and let the FB cut right or left off of that Double team, like running ISV in the Demeo system. I would reccommend Coach Demeo's videos on the gun very good. So far in PE it looks really good so far. FB's alignment in 5 yds.

Had a hard time running it to a 2 tech last year, I think this new track will wor better. Struggled if we tried running it against a 180lb super quick DT. No problems against big/slower DT's. When it hits, it hits big! One problem is this, on regualr midline if it gest blown up you always hope that you got 1 or 2 yds. In the gun you lose 1 or 2 when it get blown up bad.

I played in flexbone system in college and my first 2 coaching jobs were in it. I git a head caoch job and ran I option and some gun spread. This year moved completley to the gun spread. The best thing I have ever done. Kids love it! We are very little and slow compared to our competition. The gun spread equalized for us even more than the option. The kids love the system. We moved the ball all over the field. Went from averagin 70 yds a game and 3 points to 290 yds a game and 24 points a game. I think the gun makes really easy reads for your QB and gets him going down hill very quick.

You can still be a run firts system, but if you throw uncovered and bubble until they press you, your running game becomes incredible!!

I love talking about the gun option, fire away with anymore questions.

Could you give me all the other blocking assignments of all the other players in the Mid-line from the gun.
Thanks

Well, we have tried it with larger splits. Some of the Texas Tech Idea. It allows a TE/ Flanker/ Slot/ Wing/ FB type to slide in behind the outside backer and hang out for passes over the top , or in the middle. Oh Yes, this then brings the CRACK BACK into play. A real decleater on the option/sweep. Bring an orbit/ bubble motion from the backside, option with FB and you can run triple option. It works for us. We use multiple formations, multiple splits, shotgun spread option/ with a flair of the wing T . Ironic....

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Originally posted by: majorharris
Could you give me all the other blocking assignments of all the other players in the Mid-line from the gun.
Thanks

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Frontside we block gun midlien just liek we would from underneath, go with what you know. Backside we we secure playside gap and stress vertical push on oour combos. WR block first threat.

We ran gun midline quite a bit this year and it works well.

Coach Nicholson,
We had that same concern initally that it would be hesitatant. But after talking to Coach DeMeo the point that we were missing was that the dive back is running downhill on the playside A gap. He slides over only if the A Gap gets filled. The slide is in opposition to where the A gap was filled from. For example a Noseguard goes into the A gap then the Back will slide to where the Nose came from. The Diveback keeps his shoulders square the whole time and it is very quick. His new book has a dvd in it and it makes a real impression to see rather than try and visual it from discussions and the book.
toby
tom brandow