The Base Play Expanded

THE FOUNDATION OF THE BASE PLAY CONSISTS OF THE TANDEM OF BLOCKERS AND THE FB. EVERYONE ELSE ON THE OFFENSE CAN, AND DO, APPEAR IN VARIED ALIGNMENTS, BUT THE BASE UNIT REMAINS THE SAME. THE TANDEM CONSISTS OF THE STRONG GUARD, THE INSIDE TACKLE AND THE OUTSIDE TACKLE. WHEN A RIGHT FORMATION IS CALLED THE TANDEM ALIGNS TO THE RIGHT; WHEN A LEFT FORMATION IS CALLED, THE TANDEM FLIP FLOPS TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FORMATION. THE ADVANTAGE IN THIS IS THAT EVERYONE ON THE LOS IS CONSTANTLY WORKING TOGETHER.

THE LINE SPLITS ARE IMPORTANT. GENERALLY SPEAKING, AS THE ABILITY OF YOUR OFFENSIVE LINE INCREASES, SO MAY YOUR LINE SPLITS. WITH AVERAGE LINES A SPLIT OF TWO FEET BETWEEN EACH PLAYER WORKS BEST FOR THE TIMING AND EXECUTION OF THE OFFENSE. TWO FOOT SPLITS ALSO USES THE DEFENSE AS BLOCKERS. CLOSE, TWO FOOT SPLITS CAUSE THE DEFENSE TO TRIP OVER AND BOUNCE INTO EACH OTHER WHILE TRYING TO PURSUE THE BALL CARRIER. WE WILL NARROW DOWN THE LINE SPLITS IN GOAL LINE OR SHORT YARDAGE SITUATIONS VS SHORT YARDAGE DEFENSES THAT ARE MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE ON THE LOS.

THE BASIC ALIGNMENT FOR THE FULLBACK IS FEET AT FIVE YARDS OFF THE BALL POSITIONING HIMSELF DIRECTLY BEHIND THE IOT. HE IS IN A TWO POINT STANCE. AS THE SPEED OF THE QB (IN GETTING THE BALL TO THE FB) AND THE FB INCREASE, THE FB WOULD ALIGN WIDER AND DEEPER. THE FIVE YARD DEPTH AND TWO POINT STANCE ALLOW THE FB TO HIT THE LOS WITH MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF FORCE AND VISION DURING THAT 1.5 SECONDS AFTER THE BALL IS SNAPPED.

THE UNBALANCED LINE WITH THE SHORT SPLIT END PUTS GREAT PRESSURE ON THE DEFENSIVE FRONT. THEY MUST EITHER ADJUST TO THE UNBALANCED OR BE OUT FLANKED.

WITH ADJUSTMENTS ETC., THE DEFENSE MUST PLAY OUT OF POSITION. WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT JUST IS NOT THE SAME AS THEY HAVE SEEN IN THEIR PREVIOUS FOOTBALL EXPERIENCE.

THE BASE PLAY, AS WELL AS OTHERS IN THIS BOOK, WILL BE DRAWN UP AGAINST A WORSE CASE SCENARIO, EIGHT TO NINE MAN FRONT, BASE 6-2 OR 6-3 GAP, GOAL LINE PRESSURE DEFENSE. HOW THE DEFENSE ADJUSTS TO THE FORMATION AT THE PERIMETER IS NOT IMPORTANT WHEN DISCUSSING THE BASE PLAY. THE ONLY WAY WE FEEL THAT THE BASE PLAY CAN BE STOPPED IS TO OVERLOAD THE HEART OF THE DEFENSE WHICH WILL LEAVE A TREMENDOUS OPENING AND OPPORTUNITY IN OTHER AREAS WHICH WE WOULD THEN EXPLOIT.

THE GOAL OF THE BASE PLAY IS TO GET THE FB INTO THE OUTSIDE RUNNING LANE OF THE DEFENSE. ALL DEFENSES, BY ALIGNMENT, HAVE CERTAIN RUNNING LANES THAT ARE CREATED AND MUST BE EXPLOITED. THESE LANES ARE EITHER THERE AT THE START OF THE PLAY, OR THEY APPEAR AS THE PLAY DEVELOPS. THE LANE WE ARE AFTER IN THIS CASE EXISTS OUTSIDE THE LB'ER, BETWEEN THE DT AND DE, AND EXTENDS DOWN FIELD BETWEEN THE HB AND SS. THE LANE WIDENS AS YARDAGE IS GAINED AND ALSO AS THE PLAY DEVELOPS. THE LANE OPENS AS THE PLAY DEVELOPS BECAUSE WE HAVE THE THREAT OF THE OPTION PLAY. SOME DEFENDER (USUALLY THE SS) IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PITCH BACK IN THE OPTION PLAY. WHEN PLAY ACTION DEVELOPS, THE SS MUST HONOR FOR AT LEAST A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME THE THREAT OF THE OPTION AND STEP TO COVER THE PITCH BACK. BECAUSE BOTH ENDS RELEASE OFF THE LOS, THE DEEP SECONDARY (WHO ARE USUALLY TAUGHT TO TAKE 3 "READ" STEPS) MUST HONOR FOR AT LEAST A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME THE THREAT OF A DEVELOPING PASS. IN ADDITION, SOMEONE, USUALLY THE DE, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE QB ON THE OPTION. FOR THESE REASONS, THEREFORE, THE RUNNING LANE WIDENS AS SHOWN, AND IN THOSE TWO SECONDS AFTER THE BALL IS SNAPPED THE LOS CHANGES ITS LOOK AS SHOWN.

WHEN THE BALL IS SNAPPED:

1. THE DE, DT, AND M LB'ER MOVE TOWARD THEIR ASSIGNED GAP THAT IS THREATENED. OUR OFFENSIVE LINEMEN FIRE OUT, STRIKE THE OPPONENT, AND DRIVE THESE DEFENDERS DOWN THE LOS AND EXECUTE A CUT OFF BLOCK PREVENTING THEM FROM GETTING BACK TO THE OUTSIDE.

2. THE SECONDARY FOR THE DEFENSE EXECUTES THEIR "READ" STEPS. THESE READ STEPS START OPENING UP THE RUNNING LANE.

3. THE DE COMES ACROSS THE LOS LOOKING TO COVER THE QB FOR THE OPTION. THE WB WHO HAS BEEN IN MOTION, BREAKS DOWN AND SCREENS THE DE TO THE OUTSIDE. THE IMPORTANT TECHNIQUE FOR THE WB IS TO KEEP HIS BODY BETWEEN THE FB AND THE DE. HE USUALLY USES HIS HANDS AND PUSHES THE DE TO THE OUTSIDE AND USES THE MOMENTUM OF THE DE TO ALSO PUSH HIM DEEPER. THIS ACTION OPENS THE DOOR OF THE RUNNING LANE. THE RULE FOR THE WB IS TO SCREEN OUT ANY DEFENDER THAT ALIGNS ON THE OUTSIDE SHOULDER OF THE OOT OR BEYOND. THIS ACTION FREES THE OOT TO BLOCK DOWN THE LOS GIVING HIM A GREAT BLOCKING ANGLE ON THE FIRST MAN TO HIS INSIDE ON OR OFF THE BALL. IF SOMEONE ALIGNS HEAD ON THE OOT, THE OOT WOULD BLOCK HIM AND TAKE HIM THE WAY HE WANTS TO GO AND THE FB WOULD READ THE BLOCK OF THE OOT AND BEND OPPOSITE HIS BLOCK WHILE CROSSING THE LOS. THE FB WOULD THEN LOOK TO HIT THE RUNNING LANE TO THE OUTSIDE, OR HE MAY WANT TO HIT THE RUNNING LANE THAT EXISTS BETWEEN THE HB AND FS.

4. THE SE AND TE RELEASE OFF THE BALL DOWN FIELD. FOR THE 1.5 SECONDS AT THE START OF THE PLAY, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE RELEASING FOR A PASS ROUTE. THIS ACTION FORCES THE SECONDARY DEEPER AND WIDER. AFTER HE HAS DRIVEN THE HB AS DEEP AS POSSIBLE, THE SE BREAKS DOWN ON THE HB WHEN THE DEFENDERS BEGINS TO REACT TO THE RUNNING PLAY THAT IS DEVELOPING. THE SE'S JOB IS TO SCREEN THE DHB OUT OF THE RUNNING LAND BY EXECUTING A GOOD STALK BLOCK. THE TE NOT ONLY DRIVES THE FS AS DEEP AS HE CAN, BUT HE MUST ALSO START MOVING CROSS FIELD TO POSITION HIMSELF BETWEEN THE FS AND THE BALL CARRIER. MANY PEOPLE CALL THE BLOCK OF THE TE A "DOWN FIELD" BLOCK. ACTUALLY IT IS A "CROSS FIELD" BLOCK BECAUSE WE WANT THE TE TO GET ACROSS THE FIELD IN ORDER TO MAKE HIS BLOCK ON THE SECONDARY PERSON CLOSER TO THE BALL CARRIER.

5. THE REST OF THE LINE EXECUTES A CUT OFF BLOCK ON THE DG, OTHER DT AND W LB'ER.

6. THE FB MOVES STRAIGHT AHEAD TOWARD THE LOS. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE FB TO MOVE STRAIGHT AHEAD TO GET THE HAND OFF FOR SEVERAL REASONS. SINCE THE DT IS ALIGNED OUTSIDE THE PLANE OF THE FB AT THE SNAP OF THE BALL, BY MOVING STRAIGHT AHEAD THE ACTION OF THE FB GETS THE DT TO STEP DOWN THE LOS MAKING FOR AN EASIER BLOCK BY THE OOT. THE 5 YARD DEPTH OF THE FB ALLOWS HIM TO MOVE STRAIGHT AHEAD TO RECEIVE THE HAND OFF, SET THE BLOCK OF THE OOT AND THEN CUT OFF THAT BLOCK TO THE OUTSIDE AND GET INTO THE RUNNING LANE. THE CUT IS NOT A DRAMATIC ONE - MORE LIKE A BEND TO GET INTO THE RUNNING LANE. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE FB TO BE "UNDER CONTROL" WHILE RECEIVING THE HAND OFF AND THEN TO ACCELERATE OFF THE BLOCK OF THE OOT INTO THE RUNNING LANE.

7. THE QB TAKES THE SNAP FROM THE CENTER, SEATS THE BALL, STEPS BACK AT THE CORRECT ANGLE TO MESH WITH AND HAND OFF TO THE FB. AFTER THE HAND OFF IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE QB TO CARRY OUT A GREAT OPTION FAKE. A GOOD FAKE IS WORTH THREE BLOCKS.

8. THE TB CROSS OVER STEPS TO THE SIDELINE AND GETS INTO THE SAME PITCH ROUTE THAT HE EXECUTES ON THE OPTION PLAY. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE TB TO RUN THE EXACT PATH HE WOULD ON THE OPTION. AGAIN, A GOOD FAKE IS WORTH THREE BLOCKS. GOOD OPTION FAKING BY THE QB AND PITCH BACK WILL TAKE THE DE, SS AND HB OUT OF THE PLAY AND/OR PROVIDE BETTER BLOCKING ANGLES FOR OUR PERSONNEL. THESE DEFENDERS NORMALLY HAVE SPECIFIC OPTION RESPONSIBILITIES. THE FEAR OF THE OPTION IS A GREAT TOOL.

WHEN THE DEFENSE KNOWS WE RUN THE OPTION, DEFENDERS WILL BE ALIGNED TO DEFEND THE OPTION AND BE GIVEN CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITIES. SOME DEFENDERS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DIVE BACK, OTHERS FOR THE QB AND PITCH BACK. WHEN OPTION ACTION BEGINS, THEY MUST RESPECT THAT ACTION FOR AT LEAST A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME AS THE PLAY BEGINS. THIS ACTION ENABLES OUR BLOCKERS TO GAIN A BETTER ANGLE AND GETS THEM INTO POSITION WHICH RESULTS IN GREATER SUCCESS. IT IS SIMILAR TO A DEFENSIVE BACK BEING TOLD, "DON'T GET BEAT DEEP!" A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO WE HAD A FS WHO WAS A FINE ATHLETE. OUR DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD COACH AT THE TIME MADE SUCH A DEAL OF "NOT GETTING BEAT DEEP" THAT HE TOOK HIMSELF OUT OF ALMOST EVERY PLAY. DON'T MISUNDERSTAND. HE WAS ALWAYS THERE; HE WAS ALWAYS IN POSITION TO MAKE A PLAY. BUT HE WAS ALWAYS ONE OR TWO STEPS AWAY FROM MAKING THE TACKLE. HE ALWAYS HAD A CORRECT PURSUIT ANGLE, BUT SOMEONE ELSE WOULD ALWAYS MAKE THE TACKLE BEFORE HIM. HE NEVER GOT BEAT DEEP, BUT HE WAS NEVER IN ON MANY OTHER PLAYS.

THE THREAT OF THE OPTION CAN HAVE THE SAME EFFECT ON THE DEFENSE. EVERYONE AT THE CORNER OF THE DEFENSE HAS SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES AGAINST THE OPTION. GREAT FAKING MAKES THE BASE PLAY LOOK LIKE THE OPTION FOR JUST ENOUGH TIME (PERHAPS TWO SECONDS) TO GET THESE PEOPLE AT THE CORNER TO STEP TO THEIR OPTION AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY. THEY EITHER FREEZE OR REACT TO THE PLAY EITHER MAKING THEM EASIER TO BLOCK OR COMPLETELY TAKING THEMSELVES OUT OF THE PLAY ALTOGETHER.

THE OPTION IS A GREAT PLAY. WE ALL HAVE SEEN THE DEVASTATION IT CAN CAUSE WHEN EXECUTED PROPERLY. IT TAKES A GREAT DEAL OF PRACTICE TIME EVERY DAY TO RUN THE PLAY EFFECTIVELY; A GREAT DEAL MORE TIME TO RUN IT EXPERTLY. BECAUSE OUR OFFENSE DOES NOT HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF PLAYS, PRACTICE TIME IS FREED UP TO WORK ON THE OPTION AND THE FAKING NECESSARY FOR SUCCESS. EVEN THOUGH THE OPTION PLAY MAY ONLY BE CALLED 6 - 7 TIMES A GAME, THOSE TIMES THAT IT IS CALLED WILL RESULT IN BIG GAINS IN CRUCIAL SITUATIONS. RUNNING THE OPTION KEEPS PEOPLE HONEST, IT KEEPS THEM AT HOME, IT LIMITS THEIR AGGRESSIVENESS, ALL OF WHICH ARE EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL. MORE ON THE OPTION LATER.

RUN THE BASE PLAY AT THE "BUBBLE" ON THE LOS CAUSED BY THE POSITION OF THE LB'ER. LB'ERS, ESPECIALLY IN HIGH SCHOOL, LIKE TO FLOW UP AND DOWN THE LOS MAKING TACKLES FROM SIDELINE TO SIDELINE. VERY FEW HIGH SCHOOL LB'ERS RELISH THE THOUGHT OF TRYING TO TACKLE A FULLBACK COMING STRAIGHT AT HIM, WITH A FULL HEAD OF STEAM, BEING LED BY EITHER AN IOT OR OOT. IN MOST OFFENSIVES TODAY, FULLBACKS (AND OTHER RUNNING BACKS) DO NOT RUN THE BALL DIRECTLY AT THE LB'ERS. THEY RUN AT OBLIQUE ANGLES WHICH PROVIDE LB'ERS SHOTS AT THE SIDES OF THE BACK. MORE OFTEN THE FB IS A BLOCKING BACK FOR AN I FORMATION TAILBACK. A GREAT MANY DEFENSIVE SCHEMES TODAY HAVE THE LB'ERS "KEY" THE BACKS OF AN OFFENSE AND NOT THE LINE FIRST. THE LB'ER DIRECTING HIS ATTENTION TO THE BACKFIELD WILL NOT "SEE" THE BLOCK COMING FROM THE IOT. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN KEYING THE BACKFIELD ACTION, THERE WILL BE "EYE CONTACT" BETWEEN THE BALL CARRIER AND THE LB'ER. EVERY GOOD RUNNING BACK KNOWS THAT WHEN RUNNING DIRECTLY AT A LB'ER WITH A BLOCKER LEADING HIM, EYE CONTACT WILL "FREEZE" THE DEFENDER FACILITATING THE BLOCK ALLOWING THE BALL CARRIER TO "RUN TO DAYLIGHT." THIS RUN TO DAYLIGHT IS MADE BY A BEND MORE THAN A CUT. FBS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO "CUT." THEY ARE TO RUN NORTH AND SOUTH. THEY ARE GOAL LINE DIRECTED. THE BASE PLAY IS RUN AT THE HEART OF THE DEFENSE. ON EITHER SIDE OF THE POA THERE WILL BE FIVE DEFENDERS SCRAMBLING TO CATCH UP TO THE PLAY. TIMING AND EXECUTION DICTATE THAT THE FB GET UP FIELD ASAP. CUTS AND CUT BACKS ARE NOT IN ORDER HERE. WHAT IS IN ORDER IS FOR THE FB TO BEND PAST THE BLOCK ON THE LB'ER BY THE TACKLE AND MOVE ON TO THE FS OR HB. MANY TIMES THE FS/HB WILL BE OUT OF POSITION TO MAKE A GOOD TACKLE ON THE FB DUE TO THE OPTION FAKING AND RESPONSIBILITIES. PROPERLY EXECUTED, THE BASE PLAY PUTS THE FB PASSING THE LB'ER AND 4 - 5 YARDS DOWN FIELD IN A ONE-ON-ONE SITUATION WITH THE FS/HB 2 TO 2.5 SECONDS AFTER THE BALL IS SNAPPED WITH EVERYONE ELSE ON THE DEFENSE IN A RUN-DOWN SITUATION. WHILE MOST FBS ARE NOT GOING TO BREAK AWAY AND SCORE, THEY WILL WIN WITH PERSISTENCE AND TENACITY WHICH IS MORE EFFECTIVE IN BREAKING THE HEART AND WILL OF THE DEFENSE. AFTER ONE OR TWO HEAD-ON COLLISIONS WITH THE FB, MOST FS/HBS MOVE TO THE SIDE TO MAKE THE TACKLE AND GET CARRIED FOR A FEW EXTRA YARDS, GET STIFF ARMED, OR SLIDE OFF WHILE THE FB MAKES EXTRA YARDS. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON WITH EVERYONE ON THE DEFENSE TRYING TO CATCH UP TO THE PLAY TO SEE THE FB CARRYING THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE ON HIS BACK WHILE GAINING SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT OR MORE YARDS ON THE PLAY.

THERE ARE A GREAT MANY OFFENSIVE SCHEMES TODAY THAT NO LONGER HAVE A FB IN THEIR OFFENSE OR A TE. THOSE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT THE FB POSITION IS NOT AN ESSENTIAL PART OF TODAY'S OFFENSIVE GAME PLAN (ESPECIALLY IN HIGH SCHOOL) SHOULD LOOK CLOSELY AT WHAT NOTRE DAME DOES WITH THEIR FB AND WHAT SEATTLE DID OVER THE YEARS WITH JOHN L WILLIAMS. FOR A LONG TIME THE ONLY TRUE CONSISTENT PLAYS THE SEAHAWKS HAD WERE WITH THE FB. ADDITIONALLY, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU SEEN THE RUN-AND-SHOOT OFFENSE DIE INSIDE THE 20 YARD LINE BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE A FB-TE SCHEME FOR SHORT YARDAGE OFFENSE?

WE BELIEVE THAT THERE HAS TO BE ALLOWANCES FOR BOTH. THERE IS A TIME AND PLACE FOR THE ONE-BACK-MOTION OFFENSE, BUT THERE IS ALSO A TIME FOR THE FB-FULL HOUSE-SHORT YARDAGE OFFENSE. OUR OFFENSE HAS IT ALL, BUT IT BEGINS WITH FUNDAMENTALS. THE FUNDAMENTAL PLAY IN FOOTBALL IS THE DIVE. THE SUCCESS OF THE DIVE DEPENDS UPON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE

TANDEM

THE TANDEM IS MADE UP OF THE STRONG GUARD (SG), INSIDE OFFENSIVE TACKLE (IOT), AND THE OUTSIDE OFFENSIVE TACKLE (OOT). IN A RIGHT FORMATION THEY TAKE THEIR POSITION TO THE RIGHT OF THE CENTER, AND IN A LEFT FORMATION THEY TAKE THEIR POSITION TO THE LEFT OF THE CENTER. THEY ARE A UNIT THAT ALWAYS WORKS TOGETHER. THE FB ALIGNS FIVE YARDS OFF THE BALL BEHIND THE IOT. ON MOST FORMATIONS THERE WILL BE A DIVE BACK POSITIONED BEHIND THE IOT. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU COULD POSITION YOUR TAILBACK IN THE DIVE BACK POSITION AND HAVE THE FB OR POSSIBLY A RECEIVER ASSUME WHAT MANY REFER TO AS AN "H-BACK" POSITION IN THE ONE BACK FORMATION. PUTTING YOUR TB IN THE FB POSITION, ADDING ANOTHER RECEIVER, IN MOTION, OFTEN WEAKENS THE DEFENSIVE FRONT SO MUCH THAT GIANT GAINS CAN BE MADE WITH THE BASE PLAY WITH THE TB RUNNING FROM THE FB POSITION.

IT IS NOT OUR PLACE HERE TO BE DISCUSSING ALL THE BLOCKING COMBINATIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE WITH THE TANDEM. THE ONES THAT ARE MOST OFTEN USED AND CARRY THE HIGHEST DEGREE OF SUCCESS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT. REMEMBERING THAT WE FIRST WANT TO RUN THE BASE PLAY AT THE "BUBBLE" ON THE LOS CAUSED BY THE ALIGNMENT OF THE LB'ER, YOU MOST OFTEN GET ONE OF THE FOLLOWING LOOKS FROM THE DEFENSE.

TO OPEN THE INSIDE RUNNING LANE VS A GAP CONTROL DEFENSE, THE FOLLOWING BLOCKING SCHEME IS OFTEN USED:

IN THIS FIRST CASE, THE IOT CALLS FOR A FOLD BLOCK BY THE OOT AND HIMSELF. THE RULE IS TO ALWAYS BLOCK THE DOWN MAN ON THE LOS FIRST. THE IOT, THEREFORE, GOES FIRST AND THE OOT STEPS AROUND THE IOT'S BLOCK TO MOVE AND BLOCK THE LB'ER. THIS "STEP-AROUND" TECHNIQUE IS IMPORTANT. THE OOT (AND OTHER LINEMEN) NEED TO PERFECT THIS MOVEMENT AS THEY WILL BE USING IT REPEATEDLY THROUGHOUT THE SEASON. FROM HIS STANCE THE OOT TAKES A SMALL POSITION STEP WITH HIS INSIDE FOOT. THIS IS AROUND BUT NO MORE THAT A 6" STEP AT ABOUT A 25 DEGREE ANGLE TO HIS LEFT. HIS SECOND STEP MADE WITH HIS RIGHT FOOT WOULD BE A NORMAL SIZED STEP LANDING IN A 45 DEGREE POSITION FROM HIS INITIAL STANCE. ON HIS THIRD STEP HE SHOULD BE "SQUARING UP" IN THE HOLE AT THE LB'ER. AT ALL TIMES HE SHOULD WORK TO KEEP HIS SHOULDERS PARALLEL TO THE LOS. PARALLEL SHOULDERS NOT ONLY FACILITATE GOOD BLOCKING POSITION, BUT THEY ALSO ALLOW THE EYES OF THE BLOCKER TO ALWAYS BE LOOKING AT WHAT HE IS GOING TO BLOCK. YOU CANNOT BLOCK WHAT YOU CANNOT SEE. THIS TECHNIQUE KEEPS YOUR HEAD UP. YOU CAN SEE WHERE YOU ARE GOING. YOU HAVE YOUR SHOULDERS SQUARE, AND IF ALL ELSE FAILS, YOU CAN AT LEAST BE SQUARED-UP IN THE HOLE AND IN THE WAY OF THE LB'ER MAKING THE TACKLE AND THE FB CAN MOVE THE WHOLE PILE FORWARD FOR A GAIN.

THE IOT EXECUTES A FAN BLOCK ON THE DEFENSIVE MAN ON THE LOS. HIS FIRST STEP IS A SHORT 6" 45 DEGREE STEP ACROSS THE LOS INTO THE DEFENSIVE LINEMAN, FOR BEST RESULTS THE AIMING POINT OF THE BLOCK SHOULD BE THE HIP OF THE DEFENDER. THE IOT HAS THE ANGLE AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO STRIKE THE HIP OF THE DEFENDER.

STRIKING THE HIP ACCOMPLISHES TWO VERY BIG REQUIREMENTS FOR THE OFFENSE. FIRST, BY STRIKING THE HIP THE DEFENDER NOW IS IN A RUN AROUND SITUATION. HE MUST RUN AROUND THE BLOCK OF OUR OFFENSIVE LINEMAN TO GET TO THE BALL CARRIER THAT IS CARRYING THE BALL TO THE INSIDE. SECONDLY, THE HIP IS A VERY VULNERABLE TARGET AREA. IT IS DIFFICULT TO DEFEND THE HIP AREA. ONCE STRUCK IN THE HIP AREA THE DEFENDER IS EASILY KNOCKED OFF-COURSE AND OFF THE LOS.

THE SG EXECUTES A DOWN BLOCK ON THE DEFENDER IN HIS GAP. THIS DOWN BLOCK IS THE SAME BLOCK WITH THE SAME ADVANTAGES AS THE FAN BLOCK OF THE IOT JUST DISCUSSED.

WITH AVERAGE EXECUTION BY THE TANDEM THERE IS AN AREA ON THE LOS THAT IS 9 - 12 FEET OR MORE WIDE ON THE LOS THAT THE HAS TO FILL AND COVER. THIS WIDE AREA ALSO HAS THE OOT AS A LEAD BLOCKER IN IT THAT THE LB'ER MUST DEFEAT AND MAKE THE TACKLE ON THE FB WHO IS HITTING THE HOLE WITH MAXIMUM VELOCITY. WHEN RUN RIGHT AT THE LB'ER IN THIS FASHION, HE HAS A TENDENCY TO BECOME A "CATCHER" OF THE PLAY RATHER THAN AN ATTACKER. IT IS THE JOB OF THE FB TO READ THE BLOCK OF THE OOT, BEND INTO THE OPEN AREA, AND RUN TO DAYLIGHT. PROPERLY EXECUTED, THE BASE PLAY WILL GAIN LARGE AMOUNTS OF YARDAGE, CONTROL THE BALL, EAT UP THE CLOCK, MAKE A LOT OF FIRST DOWNS THAT EVENTUALLY LEAD TO TOUCHDOWNS.

IN THE NEXT SITUATION WE NOTE THAT THE LB'ER IS ALIGNED ONE WHOLE WIDER THAN IN THE FIRST CASE. REMEMBERING THAT WE MUST BLOCK THE DOWN MAN ON THE LOS FIRST, BOTH THE SG AND THE IOT BLOCK THE DOWN MAN TO THEIR INSIDE GAP. THE OOT IN THIS CASE ALSO MUST BLOCK THE LB'ER IN THE INSIDE GAP WHILE THE WB IN MOTION WILL SHIELD BLOCK THE DEFENDER WHO IS ALIGNED IN THE BASTARD SPLIT. KEEP IN MIND THAT THESE DEFENDERS WHO ARE ALIGNED AT THE END OF THE LOS WILL HAVE OPTION RESPONSIBILITIES, AND THE OPTION FAKE WILL KEEP THEM HOME TO SOME DEGREE.

THERE ARE OTHER GAP SITUATIONS THAT ARISE, BUT THE BASIC RULES APPLY IN ALL SITUATIONS FOR THE TANDEM. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU MIGHT HAVE DEFENDERS ALIGNED IN EVERY GAP ON THE LOS. IN THAT CASE A "GAP" CALL WOULD BE IN ORDER. A GAP CALL MEANS THAT EVERY OFFENSIVE MAN ON THE LOS IS TO BLOCK THE INSIDE GAP AND DRIVE HIS MAN DOWN THE LOS. THE MOTION WB IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEFENDER ON OR OUTSIDE THE OOT. IN THE SITUATION SHOWN, WHICH IS THE BASE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SE, THE SE ALSO BLOCKS DOWN THE LOS AND SEALS OFF THE LB'ER. THERE ARE NOT TOO MANY TIMES THAT YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THIS ALIGNMENT BECAUSE IT SO WEAKENS THE DEFENSE IN OTHER AREAS. IN ADDITION, A SIMPLE AUTOMATIC BY THE QB TO EITHER AN OPTION OR A QUICK PASS WOULD KEEP THE DEFENSE OUT OF THIS GAP EIGHT TYPE ALIGNMENT. THE POINT IS THAT ANYTIME WE ARE FACED WITH A GAPPED OUT SITUATION ON THE LOS, THE SIMPLE SOLUTION IS TO BLOCK DOWN THE LOS AND ROLL BACK THE DEFENDERS. THE BACK WHO BREAKS A TACKLE AT THE LOS WILL HAVE A BIG GAINER AHEAD OF HIM.

THE OTHER PRIMARY CONCEPT FOR DEFENSIVE SCHEMES INVOLVES A MAN-ON PHILOSOPHY. THIS IS USUALLY SEEN WHEN THE DEFENSIVE FRONT IS MANNED WITH SEVEN PEOPLE AS OPPOSED WITH EIGHT DEFENDERS IN THE GAP SCHEME. WITH MAN-ON WE CONFRONT PRIMARILY TWO SITUATIONS.

THE "NORMAL 4-3" ALIGNMENT ALLOWS THREE BASIC BLOCKS BY THE TANDEM. FIRST IS JUST OLD FASHIONED ONE-ON-ONE BLOCKING. JUST BLOCK THE MAN OVER YOU. THERE IS MORE TO IT THAN THAT HOWEVER. MOST MAN-ON SCHEMES INVOLVE SLANTING BY THE DEFENSIVE LINE WITH SCRAPE LB'ERS COVERING OPPOSITE THE SLANT. KNOWING THIS WE ADJUST THE PLAY IN THE FOLLOWING FASHION. THE FB IS ALIGNED BEHIND THE IOT AND "READS" HIS BLOCK. EVERYONE ELSE ON THE LOS FIGHTS TO CUT HIS MAN OFF (STEP WITH YOUR PLAYSIDE FOOT, DRIVE YOUR HEAD ACROSS THE DEFENDER, KEEP YOUR FEET MOVING AND MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH THE DEFENDER DOWNFIELD). THE MAN ALIGNED OVER THE IOT WILL NORMALLY WANT TO SLANT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. THE IOT DRIVES OFF THE BALL UNDER CONTROL, STRIKES THE OPPONENT AND TAKES THE DEFENSIVE MAN THE WAY HE WANTS TO GO. SIMILAR TO THE MARTIAL ARTS, THE IOT JUST HELPS THE DEFENDER MOVE ALONG THE LOS TO THE AREA HE WANTS TO GO. THE FB READS THIS BLOCK AND BENDS OPPOSITE JUST ENOUGH TO BREEZE THROUGH THE HOLE CREATED ON THE LOS BY THE VACATING DEFENSIVE LINEMAN. OF COURSE, THERE IS A LB'ER WHO IS ASSIGNED TO SCRAPE INTO THE AREA VACATED BY THE DEFENSIVE TACKLE. KEEP IN MIND THAT THE LB'ER IS ALIGNED THREE OR MORE YARDS OFF THE LOS. HE MUST READ HIS KEY, MOVE LATERALLY TO HIS ASSIGNED POSITION, DEFEAT THE BLOCKER WHO IS ASSIGNED TO HIM AND MAKE THE TACKLE. IF HE MAKES THE TACKLE, IT WILL BE AFTER A GOOD GAIN BY THE FB.

THE BEND TECHNIQUE OF THE FB IS VERY IMPORTANT ON THIS PLAY AND HE MUST KEEP IN MIND THE CONCEPT OF BENDING AND NOT CUTTING. IF HE MAKES A BIG CUT ON THE LOS HE WILL SIMPLY RUN INTO THE PATH OF ANOTHER DEFENDER. THERE IS A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY THAT DEVELOPS ON THE LOS DUE TO THE SLANT OF THE DEFENSE AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DEFENDERS. THE FB MUST FOCUS ON THE BLOCK OF THE IOT FROM THE BEGINNING. ALWAYS FOCUS ON THE POA. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE QB TO GET THE BALL TO THE FB. THE FB, THEREFORE, "FEELS" THE HANDOFF FROM THE QB WHILE CONCENTRATING ON THE BLOCKING THAT IS GOING ON IN FRONT OF HIM AT THE POA. GENERALLY SPEAKING, IF THE DT SLANTS OUT AND IS TAKEN FURTHER OUT BY THE BLOCK AND SCREENING OF THE IOT, THE SEAM TO RUN AT IS TO THE INSIDE AND THAT IS WHERE THE FB SHOULD BEND. IF THE DT SLANTS OUT, THEN IT IS THE JOB OF THE LB'ER TO FILL TO THE INSIDE. THE SG IS RESPONSIBLE FOR BLOCKING THE LB'ER. OFTEN THE MOMENTUM OF THE LB'ER AND THE BLOCK OF THE SG WILL TAKE THE BLOCK TO THE OUTSIDE AND THE FB MUST BEND AROUND THE BLOCK OF THE SG. SOMETIMES, HOWEVER, THE LB'ER DOES NOT STEP TO THE GAP AND THE BEND OF THE FB WILL TAKE HIM TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE BLOCK OF THE SG.

ONCE THE BEND IS EXECUTED, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE FB TO RUN NORTH AND SOUTH BECAUSE THERE ARE DEFENDERS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE LOS THAT ARE PURSUING ON TO THE FB AND WANT TO CONVERGE ON HIM. THE RUNNING LANE THAT OPENS UP IS DIRECTLY AHEAD BETWEEN THE FS AND HB. THE SOONER THE FB GETS INTO THAT LANE THE MORE YARDS HE WILL GAIN.

MAN-ON SITUATIONS ALLOWS US MANY BLOCKING COMBINATIONS FOR THE TANDEM (CROSS OR X BLOCKS, G BLOCKS, COMBO BLOCKS). DURING PRACTICE TIME THE LINE WILL WORK TO PERFECT THESE VARIOUS BLOCKS. THE REASON FOR HAVING VARIOUS BLOCKING COMBINATIONS IS TO MAKE IT EASIER TO BLOCK THEIR TOUGHEST MAN AT THE POA. BY MAKING BLOCKING CALLS ON THE LOS AT THE POA, THOSE EXECUTING THE BLOCKS WILL BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT BLOCKING COMBINATION WILL WORK THE BEST WHICH PUTS OUT LINEMEN IN THE BEST POSSIBLE SITUATION FOR SUCCESS.

ONE OF THE GREAT ADVANTAGES WE HAVE IS THAT THE TANDEM WORKS TOGETHER ALL YEAR LONG ON THESE VARIOUS BLOCKING SCHEMES. IN REALITY THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY DEFENSIVE LOOKS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO SEE THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE SEASON. THE DEFENSE MAY THINK THEY ARE PRESENTING US WITH A "NEW LOOK" THAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN BEFORE, BUT IN REALITY, AT THE POA THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY THINGS YOU CAN DO. THROUGH PRACTICE AND PREPARATION ON THE PRACTICE FIELD, WE HAVE A PACKAGE THAT BEST SUITS THE SKILLS OF THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE IT HAPPEN ON THE LOS. WE CAN MAKE THE TANDEM'S JOB EASIER WITH VARIOUS FORMATIONS WHICH WILL DISCUSSED LATER.

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by Roger A. Freeborn
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