Spydr's Official Football 101 Thread

[DSpydr84]

Been debating whether or not to make this for some time now, and since the PS3 died and I've been sick for the past three days, there's no better time than now!

The point of this thread is simple: I want to change the way you watch the game. The concepts and ideas presented in this thread will hopefully give you a new perspective on what's going on between the white lines on a week to week basis.

Everyone knows that football is a mental game, but most people don't realize just how in-depth it can be.

My goal is to post something different every week, hopefully relating to one of the nationally televised games so you can see it in action. If I can get you to watch the game with a fresher perspective, or give you an idea that you've never thought of, then this project will be worthwhile.

As with anything, feel free to comment/suggest/flame anything you see here and keep the conversation going in between posts. This is your internet, too!

The first post will be up shortly.

[Houston]

Teach me how to zoneblitz.

[DSpydr84]

Run Fits, Load Blocks and the "Lead Draw"

You hear coaches talk all the time about the need to stop the run. Even as the NFL moves into a passing league with multiple quarterbacks performing better than ever, the main goal of a defense is still usually spear-headed on shutting down an opponent's running game.

The question is, how?

The simple answer is getting more numbers at the point of attack than the offense has blockers. The more elaborate answer happens every play in a game.



This is a basic I-Formation against a basic Under front. The Under front is the preferred method for defending any run with two-backs in the backfield, and is used by all personnel. The "Bandit" ("B") can either be an outside-linebacker in 3-4 personnel, or a rush defensive end in 4-3 personnel.

Defending the run is all about gap control. In the Under front, it is easy to see which gap belongs to which player because they are either directly in it, or, with the case of the two linebackers, directly over it. As long as the defense has a player assigned to every gap, they should be in position to stop the run.

The problem lies in that nasty, 240 pound bone-crusher seated directly between the quarterback and the running back. Using the fullback as a lead blocker essentially creates an extra gap; one that the defensive front-seven doesn't have enough players to defend.

Any time a fullback is used as a lead blocker in the running game (or any player, for that matter), they are considered a "load block". Some of you may have heard of a "Load Option" before, all that means is the fullback is now a lead blocker instead of a dive runner in the Triple Option.

The defenses job is to fill that extra gap, by having a player fit "over" the load, and having another player fit "under" the load. These two players are usually the two inside linebackers from the Under front.

Let's take a look at this idea using a simple Iso run from the I Form we put up earlier.



This is how the offense would like to block this play. Everyone fan blocks away from the hole, the center and guard double team the nose and work to the backside linebacker, and the fullback leads through and hits the Mike linebacker. The extra gap has given the running back a lane; whichever way the Mike goes, the back goes the other away, and he's into the secondary.

The defenses counter to this is by having both linebackers fill that hole, and having the backside safety come into the box and protect the cut-back lane. It would look something like this.



Here we see both linebackers filling the hole, with the Mike playing "over the load", and the Will playing "under the load". This ensures that the extra gap created by the load blocker is taken care of. But because the Will left his gap to play a front-side gap, the safety has to know he's coming down to replace the Will in the backside B-gap.


How the Lead Draw Works

You see the Dallas Cowboys run this play a lot: Romo takes the snap, looks like he's going to throw for a second, then turns and hands the ball off to the running back who explodes through the line for what seems like 5 yards every time they run it.

What makes this play so successful for them is it slows down the backside players from pursuing the run.

When Romo drops back and looks like he's going to throw, the linebacker and safety must respect a possible quick slant in their area. Because of this, the defense will not have a defender to play "under the load block" until it's too late.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDI1gjoqFx0"]Cowboys Lead Draw - YouTube[/ame]

This is an example of it here. The Texans are using an Under front, but have slid both linebackers over to the open TE side. This in itself opens up a big hole, but because the safety to the top is responsible for run, they shouldn't be too vulnerable.

But notice how Romo moves that safety way out of position. He steps forward, then immediately goes to cover the slant. The Load Block hits the linebacker as expected, but since there's no one to play Under the Load, it's a two-way go for the running back. There's simply nothing Houston's linebacker could do.

This play is a staple of the Cowboy's running game, and I expect to see it a few times in tonight's game.

[NAHSTE]

There is no play in football more beautiful to me than a properly executed lead play out of the I-formation. It is so symmetrical, brutish and precise.

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

Havent read yet but love the premise.

[Hasselbeck]

Thread stuck. Look forward to reading more posts. (Breakdown the spread O plz)

[Aso]

I love the lead draw the Cowboys run. It seems very effective every time it's run. The sprint draw the Eagles run is also deadly. I feel like every team should add these plays to their playbook.

[NAHSTE]

I love the lead draw the Cowboys run. It seems very effective every time it's run. The sprint draw the Eagles run is also deadly. I feel like every team should add these plays to their playbook.

It's been in every team's playbook since 1965.

[Aso]

It's been in every team's playbook since 1965.

The only other teams I've seen run the sprint draw is the Steelers, Colts, and the Chiefs a couple of times. I also have not seen every team run the lead draw at least not consistently.

[Sportsbuck]

(Breakdown the spread O plz)

Might want to be more specific there, spread offense encompasses a variety of different systems.

[Hasselbeck]

Might want to be more specific there, spread offense encompasses a variety of different systems.

I'd be happy with any of those varieties.

[Houston]

Cowboys killing The Bucs now with this play.

[DSpydr84]

Thread stuck. Look forward to reading more posts. (Breakdown the spread O plz)

I'll do something like this probably during the week. With so many games on TV now, I'm gonna go as long as I can talking about something that will pertain to the live game. It was pretty cool (for me, at least) to watch the game yesterday and see Dallas torch the Bucs with the lead draw after just explaining how it works.

Which brings me to my next point: The next write-up will be up shortly!

And thanks for the sticky.

[DSpydr84]

Pattern-Match Coverages and the Trips Formation

With all the multiple formations used by offenses in today's game, sometimes as a defense it can be hard to keep track of who's lining up where or how the offense has you outnumbered on a particular play.

One thing that is pretty constant, though, is the use of a trips formation.

Most NFL teams will use a 3x1 formation (3 wide receivers on one side; 1 on the other) or an empty set close to 40% of the time. Almost half of the game comes from these sets, in some way or another. Sometimes it's 2 WRs and a TE, other times it's 3 WRs, but offenses generally like to use trips in almost all passing situations, late in games, and sprinkled throughout a contest.

The question is, why? Why does a team quietly use a trips formation for almost half of their offensive plays?

Well, there's two reasons, and they both work the same. One idea says that from trips, you get predictable coverages by the defense. It's usually man-to-man or Cover 3 in that situation.

The other reason is you can't run pattern-match coverages against a trips formation. This is what offenses really like.


Quarters Coverage

Despite what Madden has led you to believe, there's actually three ways to defend most passing plays: There's zone coverage, man coverage, and pattern-match coverage. The first two are self-explanatory. The last one is a little more tricky.

The idea of a pattern-match coverage is all the defensive players will read certain receivers on the offense as they take off. Depending on what they do, the defenders job will change. Some players will have multiple rules; others will have very little.

One example of a pattern-match coverage is called "quarters coverage". It looks like this:



Here you can see that players don't have zones: they have rules. Everything they do is dependent on what the offensive players do.

Let's take the safety for example. The safety's job is to read the #2 receiver, which in this case is the tight end (the second receiver in from the sideline).

If the tight end goes to the flat, the safety will rob #1 and double-team him with the corner. If the tight end goes underneath the formation right away (a drag), the safety will drop to the middle 1/3. If the tight end runs vertically up the field to about 8-10 yards, the safety will play him man-to-man. If the tight end run blocks, the safety will come up in run support.

The two flat defenders (the two outside linebackers in the previous example) are responsible for the first man to the flat. However, they're going to rob #1 initially to take away a quick slant or curl. It is important for these players to carry #2 through the zone. This means if a player comes into their flat zone, they must stay with them if they were to go on a wheel route and abandon their flat zone.

The #3 control player will collision anybody that crosses his path, and own the mid-line. Any checkdowns in the middle will belong to him.

So how does it all work? Let's use some examples:



This is Quarters vs a Dig concept. Using each players' individual rule, you can see that we end up with everything covered and both outside players getting double teamed. The Free drops to the middle 1/3 when the TE goes underneath and doubles the post; the Rover robs #1 on the other side. Both flat defenders pick up the crossers, and the Mike gets the checkdown.

Let's try another play:



Here against a flood concept, just by following the rules we've described and matching the patterns, we can virtually take away everything the offense wants to do. The Free plays the tight end man-to-man since he ran down the field, the flat defender plays underneath the out for a moment prior to covering the flat, Mike controls the middle and chases the tight end, and the backside can double team.


How to Beat It

The Chargers love using Quarters coverage, as do a lot of teams in the NFL. It is an extremely strong coverage against most passing plays, and great against the run (because the safeties can key the run first).

However, it isn't unbeatable.

You saw in the previous flood example that even though most routes were covered, there was a one-on-one down the field to the split receiver. If you have a mis-match, you can hit it.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LENRX-24mIM"]Denarius Moore finger tip catch - YouTube[/ame]

And that's exactly what happens here. Denarius Moore simply runs right by the corner, and the safety is occupied with the tight end because he has to respect him vertically. The result is a big play down the field.

Another play that teams will use (which I expect tonight from Baltimore) is a deep post off of play action, with the tight end occupying the safety. With some speed on the edge (which the Ravens have in Torrey Smith), all the receiver has to do is get inside position on the corner and he's gone.

Don't be surprised to see Baltimore run this a few times tonight. A play-action to Ray Rice and a deep pass down the middle to their speedster is a high-percentage play against a quarters coverage and a great way to hit the score board early.

[Rayman]

The only other teams I've seen run the sprint draw is the Steelers, Colts, and the Chiefs a couple of times. I also have not seen every team run the lead draw at least not consistently.

That play was a staple of the 90's teams. It's always been a part of Norv's offense, and by extension, Garrett's.

Romo is also excellent at selling the pass on it. I'm not sure there's anyone who does it better.