Defending split veer

4-2-5. SDE-7, WDE-5, SDT-3, WDT-2i, MLB-10, WLB-30, SOLB- 2x2 off TE or slot, WOLB-4x4 off OT. 3 Deep Coverage.

Good thinking, Lou!



"coach4Christ": If you would like - phone me at 804-716-7038, & I'll send you our Split-Back Veer defensive package! We use the 4-2-5 (AKA: 4-4), and a "homemade special" that somewhat resembles the "Bears 46".



PS: The S-B Veer is particularly potent down near the goal line. We use a "veer technique" I picked up from the late Erk Russell (GREAT "DC" at Georgia, & won National Championships as "HFC" at Georgia Southern). It is in our package.

Try that "DOG" defense I sent. I don't think we ever lost to a Split Back Veer team while using that.



Here is how Notre Dame (under Ara Parseghian) regularly beat up on the VEER (the Houston Cougars originated the Split Back Veer & ran it better than anyone ever did - ND beat them with THIS defense):



Notre Dame's "EVEN MIRROR" defense played man vs both the Wishbone, & the Split Back Veer, & did it WELL! Their secret was the the man responsible for the PITCH did NOT have pass responsibility, & could not be "run off"!



For EXAMPLE: Vs. "Split Back Veer" (or "I-BONE"):



--------------------O----O

Z---------------------Q
---------------Y-O-O-C-O-O-----------X
-------------E--B---T---T---E
-----------------------M
---------------SS------------B
H--------------------F---------------H




H's = inside M/M on Z & X (6 to 7 yds deep).

S/S = man on TE (quick run support if he blocks) 5 1/2 yds deep.

F/S = man on HB on TE side (QB on option in alley to EITHER side) 6-7 yds deep at deepest.

DE's = on LOS at least a yard out. Pitch to QB

LB (C gap) = has no pass responsibility - close down to mesh point & play from Dive to QB

LB on SE side = man on HB = Dive on option - filling INSIDE DE if HB Dived.

DT's = head up on OG (DT on SE side head up). Take Dive

MLB = Toes at heel depth of DT's. Dive (no pass responsibility)

If there are any questions - PHONE (804-740-4479). Sorry I do not have time to adjust it to many formations. It is GOOD vs Bone & Veer!

Lou , I'm interested how you line up to outside veer from double slot (Navy's base flex-bone) Thanks. Nick

Here is what they do: psg and c step ps and combo, pst blocks down to first threat, fullback goes to outside leg of pst,(if de is the best player, he still must tackle the fback), wing does one of the 3 blocking schemes. Versus the 44, the qb hurt us until we change the assignments of the olb and fs just about every play. You now the saying, you always lose on the chalk board to the option and wing t guys. We won 45-42. Go figure. Thanks again.

Here is what we did. We knew going into it that they did not read the B gap player very often and usually left the C gap player our DE unblocked. We made it his responsibility to detroy the mesh. Our DTs and LBs were responsible for the A-B gaps (depending on the call/slant). Our ILBs read near back; if he took 1 step forward they were filling their gap responsibility as fast as they could and tackling anything with the ball. From there our OLBs read opposite back, if he went into pitch our OLB ran to the pitch back 100mph and blew him up reguardless if he had the ball or not. If the run was away from our OLB he was responsible for finding the TE now so we could guard against the "pop" pass.

Since we aligned the OLBs and the Cs at near the same depth (5-6 yards off) we exchanged pitch back responsibilites with the Cs. There were times when they arched to block the force player and he was already by the blocker because they just assumed that it would be the OLB.

We also knew going in that the outside veer to the TE side was going to be a problem so we put in a roll package. From the same alignment as mentioned in your precious post, both our Cs would read playside back. If he was the dive back they would fly up to the pitch back and knock his head off. If he was the pitch back away they would work to the middle deep 1/3, once again looking to locate the TE. Essentially, we would roll our cov3 coverage to the run side with our FS playing playside deep 1/3, our C playing middle 1/3, and our BS OLB playing the other 1/3. Our OLBs were at the same time read near back; if he dove they were running to take the QB's head off.

This seemed to work very well for us. Hope it makes sense. I put it all into powerpoint so we can reference it next year. If you want to take a look at it email me at nate@midwestpioneers.com

Not a bad plan for being an offensive coordinator huh?

Yes as they have been in the state tournament twice in the last 3 years. correction, they read it some times bu probably about 70% to 80% of the time it is a predetermined give or keep to the 2nd stage of the veer. They then option off the pitch support player.

Coach Cella,
We base out of pro-i, but are multiple offense by nature. we run ov out of dbl slot and have had great success. we live off combo blocks in our veer offense. now, i may be misunderstanding you, but we dbl and even triple at the point of attack on all our veers, unless we just make a man call, which is rare. we play in a very competitive region with quality teams. good thing about the veer is, they know we are running it, but everyone is miffed on how to take dive. its amazing. i have learned in the alst 3 years, its much easier said than done. our fb's carry the ball 35-40 times a game.

All great defensive coaches (HS & COLLEGE LEVEL) that had SUCCESS vs. ANY type of option began each game plan by rating the threats (DIVE/KEEP/PITCH). You can take their #1 threat out of the game (that isn't difficult) but must remain SOUND vs the other 2 (& play actions)!

Therefore - if you were playing vs a "Flexbone" team (just for example) you would set your plan differently if the QB is a much bigger threat on the keep than the pitch is (& vice-versa).

That is why there is no set ONE WAY that holds up equally as well vs each aspect of the "Triple"!

Jerry - you are correct. In ANY 4 front (4-3; 4-2-5; etc) if the DT's don't defeat the OG's - the DIVE is going to give you FITS (even if you have a great LB(s)!

Coach Tiger and Oneback,
As usual, thanks for your informative responses. You guys have been in it way longer than I have, so any advice is greatly appreciated. Guys im a fairly young coach, but it amazes me how we have success the way we run the veer. Coach Oneback, I think most teams plan to stop our 1st threat, the fb, but we still have great success. The one thing that helps us is the simple fact that we love "3 YARDS"! 3 yards is not a dead play for us, we love it. We go for it on 4th down as much as anyone I have ever seen. We run iv, ov, midline, love the belly and downhill toss. We have very avg players, but they understand what we are trying to accomplish and play hard. Now e do mess with people because of our formations. Which as you guys know, at the high school level can be difficult to adjust to and learn to defend the veer in one week of practice...Thanks again