Strongside ISO play FB rules

Agreed,

Against the 5-3 (or 3-3, whatever you want to call it), Inside Zone blocking "vertical push" is a good way to go. Particularly between the C and PSG. Have them push the NG to the MLB. The PST and TE will most likely be "base" and you will end up with the FB leading on the strong side ILB.

The scheme you are talking about is also effective, but we differentiate by hole number who we are leading on. If we run a "B gap" iso (depending on what your hole numbering or POA identification system is) we are leading on the playside ILB. If we run a "C gap" iso, we are leading on and kicking out the first line-of-scrimmage player at or beyond the hole called. In the case of the 5-3, we'll combo a vertical push between the TE and the PST on the DT and strong side ILB. We will then kick out with the FB.

Either scheme works nicely. With your FB kick out play, you may want to pull the backside G and get that extra lead blocker to the POA.

Lochness,

Your c gap iso has a nice flavor!

Coach Easton

Coach Easton,

Exactly! Essentially, it ends up looking very much like the "Power" play that's been discussed out here.

Coach WINem,

If you can catch the DL in a slant tendancy that will have them slanting AWAY from the TE side, for instance maybe they like to slant hard to the wide side, it becomes even more potent when you place your TE to the short side. Now, the TE will be virtually free to release onto the near ILB without having to combo the DT. With the FB kicking out and the backside G pulling through to "clean up the mess", it should be a nice play.

However, it may be hard to force a team to slant away from your TE particularly if you have tendancy to run that way, so you may want to run 2 TE's and THEN find out where they like to slant to.

To be honest, WE don't see a lot of 3-3 / 5-3 in our league, so I'm not very knowledgable about attacking it. Our rival runs it as an adjustment to their base 50 cover 3 package, so we have a few plays we like to go to. I've never designed an entire gameplan around it, though...so I'm not as knowledgable as others probably are. What we DO like to do is try to find a formation that will force that 3rd LB out of the box. It can be as simple as running 2-backs with a TE and a slot/twins look to the other side. It may be as complicated as going with 1 back and then using some creatively timed motions or having an H-back or flanked FB motion inside and act as a lead blocker. Essentially, we'd rather turn that front into something we're better at blocking / more familliar with if we can do it by formation or motion. BUT you always have to have a plan in place in case they don't adjust the way you hope.

Hopefully this is helpful!!

Coach,

I guess I'm just not sure what you're asking then. I would think the easiest way to recognize the 3-3 stack would be to see the 3 ILB's when you come to the LOS. I know that sounds kind of obvious, but I think it's pretty much just that simple for us. If it's too difficult for your FB to pick up, then have the Center or Guards yell out "stack". Have your QB call an audible if necessary. I would think that if you are looking to "change the play" (in our system, changing the iso defender from ILB to DE would constitute such), this would be the way to go. I would not have the FB "read" the defense and change his blocking path. A RB should absolutely never be responsible for such things, IMO. OL or QB are the best to recognize and call the adjustment.

I think you can design your offense to have the FB block whomever you want. We typically block the playside ILB on Iso. Doesn't matter if it's a 53, 43, 33, 34, 52, 44, 42, or 62. We "part the sea" at the point of attack using inside zone principles and Iso the first LB past the midline. Thta's all there is to it.

Maybe that's just me being too simple, but it has worked for us.

Coach,

Yes he did, although not as frequently as you might think. We would only get a cutback out of him if the initial point of attack was not there and the backside WAS.

Something to think about-

I run the 30 stack and with how our 3 ILBs read RB flow and their fits vs Iso, all teams that ran ISO at us by Center and OG pushing to Mike and FB leading up on the ILB had an extremely hard time. Our left or right (Sam/Will) LBs when reading Iso, get down hill immediately and attack the ball carrier through the inside #of the FB. Mike LB plays over top of him to what is now the Bgap making an extremely tough angle for the Guard to get to him.

What worked better against us was something off-tackle.... like (as you are discussing) Power.

ISO off-tackle to the strong side: TE/OT combo on DE(DT)and ILB, kick-out/lead up on the OLB with FB (and, if you want, pull backside OG for power).

Power weak- (if DE/DT is playing C gap) PSG get to MIKE(fast zone rules) OT release to ILB, FB kick out End and BSG pull and lead on OLB.