The "Hand Sweep" is nothing more than the old Wing-T “bucksweep”.
For the Hand Sweep, motion is optional, but used to hold the backside defender with fake reverse action.
The H-back blocks the same as power option, and looks to log the DE. With Hand Sweep, the H-back is more man-conscious, looking to kickout the DE if he takes an outside-upfield path. The H-back can be replaced by a tight end with no change (reach block) in assignment.
Split End – who is the bigger, physical wide receiver (Y) cracks first backer in the box. Playside Tackle maintains his power B-gap track Backside Tackle will hinge, like he does in power and counter. Center blocks back, like he does in power and counter. Playside Guard – will pull to block the support defender. If the defense is in man coverage (the Y receiver’s defender chases him inside), the guard will look to log the first backer to clear. If the defense is in zone (the support player just sitting in the flat), the guard will kick the defender outside. Backside Guard - the backside guard will skip pull to pick up the backside linebacker scraping over the top. If this backer tries to run-through the open playside A-gap, the guard will pick him up. If the backside backer shoots the backside B gap, the guard will not pull and just pickup the linebacker.
One of the better methods of defending Wing-T is by matching numbers with a reduction (Under) front, making it difficult to get enough blockers at point of attack. To accommodate for this front, as the playside tackle would have a terrible angle to account for an A-gap defender, the playside guard will make an “IN” call. This communicates that he is staying “in” (not pulling) and adhering to his A-gap track. This now reverts back to how power is blocked, with the exception that the backside guard will now be pulling for playside defensive support player.
Once you’ve taught the power, you’ve also taught the counter (to the playside). All the rules remain the same; PST works a B-gap track, PSG works an A-gap track, Center works backside, and BST hinges.
The only thing that changes with counter is the backside guard and H-back. The guard will change his pulling footwork to accommodate the trap technique on the end. He will exit on a 45 degree angle, rather than the 90 degree open-hip technique used on power option. Since the guard is kicking out the end, the H-back will exchange roles (with power) and seal the first backer inside the box.
The same principles used with power apply with counter. If the DE wrong-arms the kickout, the guard can log, leaving the H-back to loop outside and bounce the run.
After a heavy diet of power (overload of numbers at the point of attack), the homerun threat of counter action can stretch defenses to a breaking point. To help with this horizontal stretch, the slot (#2) running orbit motion will adhere to a simple set of rules. If the ball carrier is aligned in split backs (away from where the orbit motion is coming from), the slot (in motion) will continue on an (power) reverse track to the counter action. If the ball carrier is stacked (pistol), the motion man will reverse out and run an option course with the quarterback. This simple rule helps stress defenses who will game plan against counter/power, by spinning a safety down with the motion. By introducing the reverse path, the playside safety is widened, creating a larger seam for the ball carrier to run through.
One interesting thing to note regarding Malzahn’s approach to offense, is that with this system, they don’t tell the backs where to line up.The backs will align based on the play called (not the formation).A basic formation, such as “Twins Right” will be called (“Twins Right, 91 Counter”), but the H-back and Fullback will align based on the play (i.e. counter = split-backs).
Another wrinkle can be added to run the exact same play out of 1-back; QB Counter.Nothing changes for guys upfront.Since QB counter is usually run out of 1-back, the play-fake speed sweep helps open the run.
Malzahn’s offense is premised on a 2-back run and play-action team that will keep constant pressure on a defense and defensive coaches by;
Running the offense at a 2 minute pace the entire game (physically and mentally wear them down)
Balanced attack
Heavy misdirection in the run and passing game
Stretch the field vertically and horizontally
Throw the book at defenses with specials, fire alarms, and various personnel packages. Plan to go into each game with 7-8 trick plays
Present the option in 3 different ways (zone read, speed option, power g option)
While the 2010 Auburn offense appears to be achieving success through this aggressive ethos, it is the run game utilizing Newton, Dyer, McCalebb, and Fannin that remains at the forefront.
After covering the zone-read with bubble last year and with the Cam Newton destroying defensive fronts this season, it may be time to cover Auburn's gap run schemes (Power,Counter, Hand Sweep). What is interesting about this "spread" is how much nothing has really changed over the years. This series is nothing more than Wing-T from the gun, and you'll find more and more spread teams complimenting their zone runs with these concepts (La Tech, for one).
Gus Malzahn gained notoriety as a high school coach in Arkansas throwing the ball and attacking through tempo and extreme spread sets (see ninja). While joining forces with Rich Rodriguez protege, Herb Hand, the appreciation of the 2-back power run game was realized and perfected. In this post, we'll take a look at how Auburn's inside/outside zone is complimented by gap blocking via "Power", in its many forms.
POWER G
The tenets of Auburn’s run game are simple; they want to appear multiple by changing formations, ball carriers, and backfield action, while keeping scheme and technique simple for the offensive line. By reducing the workload and specifity for the offensive line, it allows them to operate efficiently at a high-tempo.
One of the first plays Malzahn installs is Power. The play is rather simple and for the offensive line, the footwork and technique can remain consistent with their zone skill sets. The vital elements of this off-tackle play revolve around the playside tackle, the H-back, and the backside guard.
The H-back looks to make his first step to the midline of the defensive end (or EMOL), who he will kick/dig out of the C gap. He obviously wants to leverage this player quickly by striking the chest and pin the inside shoulder of the defender. This player doesn’t always align in the backfield. Malzahn will often bring a slot receiver or tight end into the formation late with motion.
The playside tackle will step down hard inside and follow a B-gap track. He is looking to work his track to the 2nd inside linebacker in the box. If it is an (base) odd front, the tackle will work toward the backside inside linebacker. If it is a stacked front, he will work to the MLB. If confronted with a 3 technique playside (defensive linemen in B gap), the tackle will look to make this DT an A gap player, washing him into the playside guard’s track (thereby creating a double-team). This method allows the tackle to have a better angle attacking the backside linebacker.
The backside guard on power will skip (or shuffle) pull by first taking a quick retreat step with his backside foot, then horizontally extend his playside foot (some would even teach the skip pull by placing the backside foot behind the playside foot for a quicker release), allowing him to keep his shoulders square to the LOS and prevent him from opening his hips away. The guard is looking to pull through B-gap (right off the hip of the playside guard), so this will be a short path, and work to the first linebacker inside the box.
As mentioned, the playside guard will step down and work an A-gap track and wash any shade head-up to shade of the center. The center will always block back on a nose / backside shade / backside 3 tech, aiming high to ensure the defender does not cross his face.
The backside tackle will hinge, by stepping hard inside to prevent backside B-gap penetration, retreat, and look to just get a hand on the shoulder of the backside end.
The running back will align 7 yards deep (just like he would in zone), with his inside foot on the outside foot of the playside guard. After meshing with the quarterback, he will hug the double team, right off the hip of the playside guard, attacking B-gap.
The slot receiver (or #2) will orbit (“Utah”) motion and get even with tailback. On the snap, he will reverse field and establish a pitch relationship with QB. Often times, this orbit motion will be extended across the formation to control the backside safety.
An effective way for defenses to combat power-heavy offenses (as I write about here in 2005) is to overload their overload, bringing strong side pressure into C gap ala a "MARS" stunt or "NCAA (fire zone) blitz". This usually has an end long-sticking into B-gap and a linebacker blitzing into C-gap (or visa versa). When anticipating outside pressure or a end crashing inside, the PST has the ability to make a "MOMO" call, which essentially means, "(I have a) Man On and a Man Outside". This alerts the entire offensive line to slow down on their releases and allow the line to stunt, so they can pickup the exchanges. With a "MOMO" call, it will alert everyone to be man-concious on their blocks; the PST will delay his track release, waiting on the end to crash into B-gap (where he will wash him inside). That alert helps the H-back recognize that the end will not be on the edge once the ball is snapped, and won't be the defender needing to be kicked out. The center will delay his backside block on the shade, anticipating the playside defensive tackle to cross his face, and likewise, wash him on his gap-track.
QB POWER
When you have an exceptional runner at quarterback (like Cam Newton) Power can be run with him as the ball carrier and/or a running back can be substituted as the ‘quarterback’ (ala Wildcat). The QB power is usually complimented with perimeter stressors like speed sweep / reverse.
POWER OPTION
While great anywhere on the field, the Power Option is Auburn’s go-to play in the red zone. It is becomes the fail safe answer to fundamentally sound defenses that look to spill the load block (H-back) with the wrong-arm. Since it becomes near impossible to kick out a C-gap defender who is cutting inside a blocker, with Power Option this defender will be logged (pinned inside) and the area of attack will be moved to the perimeter. The H-back will log the end and the backside guard will work around the log and pick up the scraping MLB (first backer in the box).
The only nuance of Power Option for the line (everything remains exactly the same), is the technique used by the backside guard. Because the H-back will not be kicking out the end, the guard will have a longer path to work to the backers. To account for this, Malzahn will have the guard use the ‘old-school’ shoulder throw with playside foot pivot as the first step. Opening the hips of the guard for this extended pull track (outside C gap) helps neutralize any penetration and gets the linemen to the destination faster.
The split end will attack the slot receiver’s (who is becoming the pitch man) cover defender and the pitch key will be the flat defender. This is a fantastic play inside the 10 yard line, as most defenses will be in some sort of man coverage.
"There are 119 Division 1A teams playing college football.
There are 110 pussies playing free safety.
I'm not worried about safeties."
In this post, we are going to examine the offensive attack of Herb Hand of Tulsa (formerly of West Virginia). The Tulsa offense has been at the top of every offensive category for the past few years, due largely to the intense pressure both Hand and (Gus) Malzahn systematically put on a defense. This post will illustrate the many facets of their running attack and the pressure it induces on a defense, particularly safeties and run-force players.
"The first thing we look at is formations and how our formations affect the opposing defense......The last thing we look for is match-ups and how we can create favorable match-ups in our passing game through formations, motions, shifts, play actions, screens, etc." - excerpt from, thespreadoffense.com
The offense, itself, is actually quite simple. The Oline only has to distinguish between two types of defenses (odd or even) and any subset of that classification (base or stack). This helps maintain simplicity in blocking assignments and run keys. The offensive line is further aided by the no-huddle, unrelenting tempo of the offense, which usually forces defenses to play more conservative base looks.
If there are four down linemen;
If there is no true MLB (2 ILBs) - it is an a base even front
If there is a MLB - it is an even stack front
If there are three down linemen;
If there is no true MLB (2 ILBs) - it is an a base odd front
If there is a MLB - it is an odd stack front
This classification of fronts intuitively aides in coverage recognition;
Any base even front = 8 man box. which puts you in a 1-high defense
Any even stack front = 7 man box, which puts you in a 2-high defense
Any odd stack front = 8 man box. which puts you in a 1-high defense
Any base odd front = 7 man box, which puts you in a 2-high defense
The base run game is premised on inside and outside zone, with an ample saturation of some type of option threat and misdirection.
Breaking defenses with Inside Zone (with four theats)
Hand also shares the confidence of Gunter Brewer of attacking fire zones with the inside zone run. In fact, when running zone away from the blitz, it creates an even clearer picture for the back and an easier assignment for the Oline. The Oline just need to keep the slanting defensive linemen running (horizontally), which opens a clear vertical seam for the back. The Oline just has to run their defender off. With both read keys running, the back has an instant decision to press the gap and "bang it" vertically. If 1st read is running and 2nd read is running (as pictured), they back just bends it back once he presses the heels of the Oline.
Here the playside safety will not be accounted for (in the blocking scheme). With only 6 in the box, the call is to grind it into the teeth of the defense with inside zone. This will put 7 blockers on 6 defenders.
On run-action inside, he should be looking to fit to the A gap.
As he makes his approach off of run-read, he continues to out-leverage himself on the runner.
By the time he realizes the mistake, the back has already burst through the seam and is on his way to score.
Hand's philosophy of not respecting safeties is premised on getting the running back to the safeties. From there, 1 of 3 things will happen;
the back will either make him miss
the back will run him over
the safety is going to tackle the back
If it is inevitable that the safety will make the tackle, the runing back has to punish his ass for making the tackle.
See the exact same thing happen below (with the run fits of the safeties). As you'll notice on all these pictures, on inside zone, the H will always run a bubble route away from the zone. As you'll see, it helps create a wider gap (and threat) to backside support.
Also notice the walked out backer on #2 constrict the cutback lane.
As his shoulders turn into the run, see the bubble/QB keep seam available when the OLB commits to the inside cutback.
On inside zone again, watch as the displaced safety/backer to cover down on #2 gets removed from any cutback support. First, by alignment.
Second, by respecting the horizontal stretch of #2 on a bubble.
Next, after the give, the quarterback heads straight for him on an option path. This forces the defender to have to give up the bubble, now re orientate himself to an immediate threatening quarterback run.....
Only to watch the runner cutback in the seam he has created.
Here the dive and quarterback are accounted for, but the force player is STILL wrong, and Tulsa breaks the coverage (and run support). The read key (yellow) and pitch key (red) are highlighted to illustrate the players put in conflict.
As the read key commits to the dive/zone, the quarterback pulls it and immediately attacks the pitch key.
With the pitch key abandoning the bubble H, he now plays assignment football against the option and force a pitch for a quarterback who has no back in pitch relationship. He's right, right?
WRONG! Quarterback sets and throws the bubble to the H on the perimeter.
Gain of 10 yards
For more examples of Tulsa's horizontal stretch of defenses, check out;
