Coverage question

This is freshman level. Not that we don't see some good football teams, but after watching game film on this team they stay in cover 3 all day.

I want to get a big win, we just came off a 7-6 overtime loss to our rival in our first game of the year.

Althought I do not like to throw if we have a ground game going, our 4verticals & short slant passing game worked real well against their 3-5 cover 3.

Thanks for the reply coach Mountjoy!

In two scrimmages (albeit at the 8th grade level), we found that despite playing Cover 3 the opposing corner often bit hard on the hitch when running the smash to that side!

Tiger

I'm with you. I love 5 verticals. We tell our QB to "find the knee brace" when he sees man coverage. We will often check to 4 or 5 verticals depending on formation against man and we just tell the QB to find the best knee brace

FIND THE KNEE BRACE!

Cover 3 is an outdated coverage that are exploited by spread teams running 2X2, 3X1, and even 3X2.

Jerry, you are the master of the Empty Gun offense! 3X2 vs. cover 3=huge disadvantage for the defense.

If they SHOW a Cover 3, and PLAY a Cover 3 - then as the great Sid Gillman used to say: "THE STAGE IS SET"!

Coach Easton and all other coaches with info,

This may not be the place for this question, but here goes nothing...I have been reading through post on this forum and I would like to learn more about the 3X2 offense. I have run a few plays out of the formation, but my offense is not based on it. I am thinking of implementing it in the offseason because we have a good, mobile strong armed quarterback and some young receivers that I think could benefit from it. Please give any information that you feel is of use in this matter. My email is dmitch7@hotmail.com or we can speak by phone, which ever is most feasible. Thanks coaches.

Coach Mitch

Coach Easton,

In our current offensive terminology we can place our offense into a lot of different formations with very few words. However, as an offense with a strong running philosophy we have numerous pass routes that are both numbered or tagged with a word. (Example: an 8 route is also a TD route; 7 route is also a corner/flag). (Example 57 Y choice, the X runs a 5 route, Z runs a 7 route, Y runs a choice route)

How do you tell 5 WR's to run five different routes? IN our system there are too many routes not numbered and would make a play call wordy.

Do you run combination routes or individual routes?
What if you want to tag a route for a weakness seen in film or game play?

To call you empty set play, what kind of system of calls do you use?
Do you call a pre determined package, a set formation with route #'s, wrist bands, etc?

Being a young coach I would want to "KISS" it. (Keep it simple stupid) I remember when I played in high school, what a simple bootleg call would be in my current offense, sounded like the national anthem. I would hope to stay away from too many terms.

TX BAILEY,

Good questions all!!! Young or old, coaches should always strive, in my opinion, to use the KISS method.

In my system, we employ a combination of things that you mention. For example, the only spread we use almost 100% of the time is the 3 x 2. Our designation for this formation is the number 10. The trips side is designated in the huddle by simply saying 10 RIP OR TEN LIZ (RIGHT OR LEFT). I coach the QB's and receivers to MEMORIZE THE CALLED ROUTES FOR ANY PARTICULAR PATTERN. This greatly reduces the verbage. example: If I want a deep vertical stretch by all 5 receivers, the simple call in the huddle by the qb is "10 rip, all up" followed by the snap count. THe wide receivers then break and sprint to their pre snap alignments. QB repeats, followed by a "READY! BREAK!" AND THE REST OF THE HUDDLE BREAKS AND GOES TO THEIR PRE SNAP ALIGNMENT. The receivers know that an ALL UP is two boundary release go routes by the #1's (widest receivers) a straight go by the #2 receivers on both sides, and an 18 yd post by the # 3 receiver trips side. On the high school level I always layered the trips side receivers, for the most part so as to make the reads very easy for the QB. We teach that the QB read from top to bottom, inside out or outside in depending on the pattern for the medium depth routes, and then read his last check( short receiver)down.

I base my entire 3 x 2 package on 4 passing game concepts: 1. vertical stretches 2. smash 3. mesh
4. flood and all patterns are built around 10 or so routes (verticals, outcuts, slants, quick slants, curls, stops, comebacks, posts, post corners, whips.) These are all out of our 50 series route package and are numbered 50 through 60. If I want a route tagged I just have the QB say for example on the ALL UP, 10 RIP, ALL UP, B STOP. That tells the team that we are going to run an all up with the B receiver (#3 on the trips side) running a 7 yd stop route instead of his usual 18 yd post that he normally runs on that ALL UP call. I use a very simple alpha designation system for my receivers with X and Y being on the line at whatever split is called for, A is # 2 receiver on the trips side and B is the # 3 receiver trips side. The backside # 2 is designated our C receiver. All receivers are off the line with the exception of X and Y who are on as mentioned. QB is back in the empty at 7-8 yds


.......................Y........................T..G..C..G..T..............................X..................................................
....................................C........................................B........A............................................................
........................................................QB..........................................................................................

I utilize a lot of shifts and motion!

Have I answered your questions?

Coach Easton-TIGER ONE