Football Fundamentals: Play Action Pass Protection
As a philosophy, I
think an optimal offense needs to be able to threaten to run from every pass
look (draw, screen, etc) and pass from every run look. This doesn’t just mean
be able to do both from any formation, but be able to give an initial look
while attacking with the other. Play action is a fundamental piece to almost
every offense, even the most pass heavy, but particularly the more run heavy.
However, it’s not enough to simply call play action, it is essential that the correct
protection is paired with the run action look given the situation. Likewise,
the correct type of fake should be employed
by the QB.
Editors Note
This is terminology that I’ve used before, developed
from a West Coast Offense scheme. I’ve looked through many schemes and
playbooks, and the one thing you’ll notice is that there is very little
similarity in nomenclature between systems. Some will even have the same nomenclature
but have it mean different things (for instance, in one system, a bootleg is QB
releasing strong, Waggle rolling weak, but that’s not what will be described
below). A lot of teams utilize a numbering and lettering system that gives a
protection scheme and a backfield route scheme. Some teams will simply have a
couple different types of play action for each type of run, maybe with a strong
and weak PA and a release scheme for the backs. Etc. So this is by no means
universal, because it’s football and we like to make things difficult.
It's important to see how these protections can be utilized in a variety of personnel groups and formations as well. Essentially any of these protections can be utilized from shotgun. Likewise, the FB can be an H-back or another TE in many cases. On top of that, FB can move to the slot any many of the protection schemes can be run without him; similarly, the TE can be split out and many of the schemes with the TE in a route can be run the exact same way.
It's important to see how these protections can be utilized in a variety of personnel groups and formations as well. Essentially any of these protections can be utilized from shotgun. Likewise, the FB can be an H-back or another TE in many cases. On top of that, FB can move to the slot any many of the protection schemes can be run without him; similarly, the TE can be split out and many of the schemes with the TE in a route can be run the exact same way.
Lastly, for our purposes, playside is toward the run
fake, backside is away from the run fake.
QB Fake
Most likely the fake will occur between the second
and third steps of a QB’s drop. It is important that the QB get the ball out in
front of the RB to sell the fake. Push the ball straight out and pull it
directly back; do not over ride the fake, especially with one hand.
Hard Fake
A hard fake is intended to be a great fake to the
point of getting the RB tackled. The QB should follow his front hand with his
eyes as his arms swing with the back. Through the fake the QB should keep the
ball tucked and keep the ball out of the LB’s sights.
Standard Fake
A standard fake is intended to move the defense, it’s
a good fake. The QB should extend the ball so the defense can see it and
disconnect from the mesh point at the last possible second.
Weak Fake
This is your token fake that is intended only to
freeze the defense. The QB simply shows the ball but it does not affect the
timing of the route structures and should allow the QB to get the ball out of
his hands before the defense can recover. The RB is primarily responsible for
carrying out the fake.
High Level
Bootleg: Generic
term. QB will roll away from action and have a lead blocker (a bootlegger
sneaks away).
Naked Bootleg: Generic term. QB will roll away from
action without a lead blocker.
Keep: Generic term. Roll
toward run action.
Play Action
Protections
These are different types of
protections that can be employed. They involve different blocking schemes from
the OL, as well as different possibility for TEs and RBs to go on routes.
Straight Drops
Burn: Slide Protection. TE release in route.
Burn | |
---|---|
Position | Assignment |
PST | Slide Rules: On, Inside, First Backside LB |
PSG | Slide Rules: On, Inside, First Backside LB |
OC | Slide Rules: On, Inside, First Backside LB |
BSG | Fan #1 on LOS |
BST | Fan #2 on LOS |
TE | Route - Free Release |
QB | Drop back |
FB | Block EMOL call side |
TB | Block 1st LB call side |
Torch: BOB (Big-on-Big; Back-on-Backer) Man
Protection. TE release in route.
Torch | |
---|---|
Position | Assignment |
PST | BOB Rules: On, Outside |
PSG | BOB Rules: Combo On, Inside to LB |
OC | BOB Rules: Combo On, Inside to LB |
BSG | BOB Rules: Combo On, Inside to LB |
BST | BOB Rules: Combo On, Inside to LB |
TE | Route - Free Release |
QB | Drop back |
FB | Block 1st LB call side |
TB | Block 2nd LB call side |
Fire: Slide
Protection. FB and TE release.
Fire | |
---|---|
Position | Assignment |
PST | Slide Rules: On, Inside, First Backside LB |
PSG | Slide Rules: On, Inside, First Backside LB |
OC | Slide Rules: On, Inside, First Backside LB |
BSG | Slide Rules: On, Inside, First Backside LB |
BST | Slide Rules: On, Inside, First Backside LB |
TE | Route - Free Release |
QB | Drop back |
FB | Route - Free Release |
TB | Block Playside Gap |
Act: Front (OL,
TE, FB) block as designed run without going downfield. RB in route.
Act | |
---|---|
Position | Assignment |
PST | Block playcall. Don't go downfield. |
PSG | Block playcall. Don't go downfield. |
OC | Block playcall. Don't go downfield. |
BSG | Block playcall. Don't go downfield. |
BST | Block playcall. Don't go downfield. |
TE | Block playcall. Don't go downfield. |
QB | Drop back |
FB | Block inside zone. |
TB | Fake inside zone. Route. |
Barnyard: OL blocks playcall. RB sells fake. TEs/FB
release in routes.
Roll Away -
Bootleg
Similarity: OL
blocks play. RB sells play, FB/Backside TE blocks backside EMOL
to allow QB to break pocket and can then release in route, frontside TE in
route.
I'll show a second play to show how the same protection call works for two different plays
Similarity | |
---|---|
Position | Assignment |
PST | Block playcall. Do not go downfield. |
PSG | Block playcall. Do not go downfield. |
OC | Block playcall. Do not go downfield. |
BSG | Block playcall. Do not go downfield. |
BST | Block playcall. Do not go downfield. |
TE | Route |
QB | Boot Away |
FB | Block EMOL, release |
TB | Fake play call. Check #4. Route. |
Waggle: FB/Playside
TE and backside TE release in route. Playside OG pulls to to lead for QB, backside
OT scoops EMOL (if OT can't scoop you may want to make a G call (see below) and
fold so the OG can scoop the EMOL, to be communicated at the LOS)
Waggle | |
---|---|
Position | Assignment |
PST | On, outside on LOS |
PSG | Pull to TE area. Personal protector for QB |
OC | Block playside A-gap, fill for pulling OG |
BSG | On, inside. |
BST | On, outside on LOS |
TE | Block playcall. Do not go downfield. |
QB | Boot Away |
FB | Block backside B gap. Leak. |
TB | Fake play call. Route. |
Identical: Playside OG pulls to lead for QB,
backside TE pins EMOL then releases. Rest of OL in slide protection. FB/Playside
TE release in route.
Identical | |
---|---|
Position | Assignment |
PST | On, outside on LOS |
PSG | Pull to TE area. Personal protector for QB |
OC | Block playside A-gap, fill for pulling OG |
BSG | Block gap playside. |
BST | Block gap playside. |
TE | Block EMOL, release. |
QB | Boot Away |
FB | Block backside B gap. Leak. |
TB | Fake play call. Route. |
Jump: Backside
OG pulls to lead block. Block play from rest of OL. RB/FB run play. TE in route.
Jump | |
---|---|
Position | Assignment |
PST | Block Playcall |
PSG | Block Playcall |
OC | Block Playcall |
BSG | Pull to TE area and seal. Personal protector for QB |
BST | Route - Free Release, cover for Pulling OG |
TE | Block and release. |
QB | Boot Away |
FB | Block Playcall |
TB | Run Playcall |
Roll Toward – Keep
Exactly: Front
(OL, TE, FB) blocks play as designed. RB in Route.
Exactly | |
---|---|
Position | Assignment |
PST | Block playcall. Do not go downfield. |
PSG | Block playcall. Do not go downfield. |
OC | Block playcall. Do not go downfield. |
BSG | Block playcall. Do not go downfield. |
BST | Block playcall. Do not go downfield. |
TE | Block playcall. Do not go downfield. |
QB | Keep Toward |
FB | Block playcall. Do not go downfield. |
TB | Fake play call. Route. |
Jump Keep: Frontside OG pulls to lead block. Block
play from rest of OL. RB/FB run play. TE in route.
Jump Keep | |
---|---|
Position | Assignment |
PST | Block Playcall |
PSG | Block Playcall |
OC | Block Playcall |
BSG | Pull to TE area and seal. Personal protector for QB |
BST | Route - Free Release, cover for Pulling OG |
TE | Block and release. |
QB | Keep Toward |
FB | Block Playcall |
TB | Run Playcall |
Roll Keep: OL/TE
blocks play. RB lead block on edge. FB leaks. (Roll would have the RB lead
block and no PA, FB still leaks; Smoke is a sprint out FB/TE lead blocks, RB
blocks backside)
Roll Keep | |
---|---|
Position | Assignment |
PST | Block Playcall |
PSG | Block Playcall |
OC | Block Playcall |
BSG | Block Playcall |
BST | Block Playcall |
TE | Block Playcall |
QB | Keep Toward |
FB | Release in Route |
TB | Sell run. Block Playcall |
Add-Ons
Stay: Added
before any roll out. Indicates to the QB that he won’t intend to break the
pocket and will set at the Ghost TE alignment.
G: Add
to any play action protection roll out to have the roll-side OG take EMOL,
typically used when the rest of the OL sells away from QB roll.
Links
Smart Football - Pulling OGs on PA
Another Common System
For awareness, I'll briefly explain a couple other systems.
Numbering System
This utilizes letter and numbering three digit system. In this system, the nominal play is for the TE to go into a route, but other route combinations can be added on after the numbering.
For example:
123 Stay; 1 = Sets the protection (pivot is in first gap); 23 = sets the backfield motion; Stay = TE blocks.
P46 FB; P = Sets the protection to look like power); 46 = sets backfield motion; FB = FB in route (so is TE as there is no stay call).
In these systems, like most systems, standard drop backs utilize a two digit system.
Act System
The act system is essentially the same as it's described above. You say "Act" and then the run it's designed to look like, then you can use add on words to designate other assignments.
For example:
Act 46 Power; Act = Play action; 46 = Run scheme it's designed to look like; Power sets the blockers
Act 45 Naked; Act = Play Action; 45 = Where the run scheme goes (No play call here indicates it's a zone scheme); Naked = TE and FB will run routes and QB will have no lead blocker;
Act 47 Counter Boot; Act = Play Action; 47 = Run Scheme; Counter = Sets blocking like Counter; Boot = Boot away, FB lead (in this case, the playside OG can't lead because of blocking scheme, but if it was 47 Boot, it would indicate 47 zone run with playside OG pulling to lead for QB).
There are other systems out there, nothing is ever consistent throughout football, but just so you are aware of some different ways it is done.
Links
Smart Football - Pulling OGs on PA
Another Common System
For awareness, I'll briefly explain a couple other systems.
Numbering System
This utilizes letter and numbering three digit system. In this system, the nominal play is for the TE to go into a route, but other route combinations can be added on after the numbering.
For example:
123 Stay; 1 = Sets the protection (pivot is in first gap); 23 = sets the backfield motion; Stay = TE blocks.
P46 FB; P = Sets the protection to look like power); 46 = sets backfield motion; FB = FB in route (so is TE as there is no stay call).
In these systems, like most systems, standard drop backs utilize a two digit system.
Act System
The act system is essentially the same as it's described above. You say "Act" and then the run it's designed to look like, then you can use add on words to designate other assignments.
For example:
Act 46 Power; Act = Play action; 46 = Run scheme it's designed to look like; Power sets the blockers
Act 45 Naked; Act = Play Action; 45 = Where the run scheme goes (No play call here indicates it's a zone scheme); Naked = TE and FB will run routes and QB will have no lead blocker;
Act 47 Counter Boot; Act = Play Action; 47 = Run Scheme; Counter = Sets blocking like Counter; Boot = Boot away, FB lead (in this case, the playside OG can't lead because of blocking scheme, but if it was 47 Boot, it would indicate 47 zone run with playside OG pulling to lead for QB).
There are other systems out there, nothing is ever consistent throughout football, but just so you are aware of some different ways it is done.
My god you are detailed! My head is spinning from trying to digest all this information. Great stuff! Keep doing what you are doing. Are you on twitter?
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteTwitter: @SpaceCoyoteBDS