OFFENSIVE PHILOSOPHY

1
OFFENSIVE PHILOSOPHY

• BALANCE THE ABILITY TO RUN AND THROW THE BALL
  EQUALLY
• MULTIPLE FORMATIONS, PERSONNEL GROUPS, SHIFTING
  AND MOTION.
• ALLOWING THE QB TO PUT YOU IN THE RIGHT PLAY.
• TO PREPARE FOR EVERY SITUATION THAT MAY ARISE

2
TRAINING THE QUARTERBACK

• I. TYPES OF DEFENSE
• A. 7-Man Front 4 Secondary Defenders
• 1. 3 4 Front 3 Down Linemen, 4 Lbers
• 2. 4 3 Front 4 Down Linemen, 3 Lbers
• B 8 Man Front 3 Secondary Players
• 1. 4 4 Fronts 4 Down Linemen, 4 Lbers
• 2. 5 3 Fronts 5 Down Linemen,
  3 Lbers
• C. Nickle Front 5 Secondary Defenders
• 1. 40 Nickle 4 Down Linemen 2
  Lbers
• 2. 30 Nickle 3 Down Linemen 3
  Lbers
• D. Dime Fronts 6 Secondary Defenders
• 1. 40 Dime 4 Down Linemen 1
  Lber
• 2. 30 Dime 3 Down Linemen 2
  Lber

3

• NAMING DEFENDERS
• A. Down Linemen
• 1. 4 Down Linemen 2Ts, 2Es
• 2. 3 Down Linemen Nose, 2Ts
• 3. 5 Down Linemen Nose, 2Ts, 2Es
• B. Linebackers
• 1. 3 Lbers Sam, Mike, Will
• 2. 4 Lbers Sam, Mike, Buck, Will
• 3. 2 Lbers Mike, Will

4
III. READING DEFENSES A. Why read defenses? B.
What QB looks for once he breaks the
huddle 1. Play clock 2. Free
safety 3. Strong safety
4. Front C. How to identify
fronts 1. 50 Defense Lber over OG 2.
60 Defense No playside Lber 3. 70
Defense 3 Man side Lber over OT 4. 80
Defense 4 Man side 5. 90 Defense 3 Man
side Lber stacked over OG or aligned in A Gap
5
M
50
Offensive Guards are uncovered - or have a
LBer over them. Offensive Lineman are covered
and their is no playside LBer. 3 man side
LBer aligned over Offensive Tackle. 4 man side
LBer aligned over Offensive Guard or Tackle. 3
man side, Offensive Guard covered with LBer in
the A gap or stacked behind the OG.
N
E
S
M
60
T
E
S

S
M
70
E
T
M
80
T
E
S
W
90
T
E
IDENTIFYING FRONTS
6

• 6. Stack Defense LB slide towards TE
• 7. Solid Defense Center and both OG
• Bear Defense Lber Secondary aligned over TE and
  a rush defender outside.
• 9. (Plus) Nose shades to the TE or strong
  side.
• - (Minus) Nose shades to the TE or strong side.
• 11. Wide OT uncovered by Down Lineman
• 12. Tight OT and OG covered by Down Linemen

7
Lbers are Slide One Man Towards the Tight
End Offensive Guards and Center are Covered by
Defensive Down Linemen. Defensive lineman
Shading the Center to the Tight End
Side. Defensive lineman Shading the Center to
the Split End Side. Offensive Tackle is not
covered by a Defensive Down Lineman.
M
50 STACK
S
T
T
E
SOLID
T
T
E
W

PLUS
M
E
S
N
S
MINUS
T
T
E
W
WIDE
T
E
W
TIGHT
Offensive Guard and Tackle are Covered by Down
Linemen
T
E
8
3 Down Linemen Common Alignments
4 Down Linemen Common Alignments
B M
M
W E N E S
W E T T E S
50
T60T
B M
M S
W E N E S
W E T T E

W76T
W75
B M
W M
W E T E S
E T T E S
57T
T67T
B M
W70W Solid
M
W E N E S
W E T T E S
T65-
W
B M
M
56T
W E N E S
E T T E S
T89T
B M
M S
W E N E S
W E T T E
W75-
W78T
B M S
W M
W70W OVER
W E N E
E T T E S
57W
W B M
M S
W70W UNDER
E N E S
W E T T E
50 OVER
M
W M
W E N E S R
50 BEAR
E T T E S
50 UNDER
SS M
W M
W70W Under Solid
W70W SOLID BEAR FIST
E T T E S
W E N E S R
9
CENTERS CALLS
ODD- CENTER IS COVERED BY A
DOWN LINEMAN EVEN- CENTER IS COVER BY A
LBER CLEAR- THERE IS NO DEFENDER
COVERING THE CENTER SOLID- THE CENTER AND BOTH
GUARDS ARE COVERED BY DOWN LINEMEN.
10
D. How to Identify Coverage 1. 3 Deep
Zone-Sky,Cloud (Defines Flat Coverage) a.
Cover 3 Strong side 3 Deep Zone 1.
Cover 3 Sky Strong side 3 Deep 2.
Cover 3 Cloud Corner Flat Defender b.
Cover 6 Weakside 3 Deep-Fox Ws Flat Coverage
1. Fox WS Flat Defender
2. Cloud Corner Flat Defender 2. 2
Deep Zone a. Cover 2 2 Deep Weakside
Zone b. Cover 3 2 Deep Strongside
Zone 3. ¼, ¼, ¼, ¼, Zone a.
Cover 4 Weakside 1/4, 1/4, 1/4, 1/4. b.
Cover 7 Strongside ¼, ¼, ½ c. Cover 4
Cloud ¼, ¼, ½.
11
3 DEEP COVERAGES 3 SKY
WS
C
C
SS
STRONG FLAT
WEAK FLAT
M
S
W
12
WEAK SIDE 3 DEEP COVERAGE 6 CLOUD
WS
SS
C
C
M
W
STRONG FLAT
S
WEAK FLAT
13
2 DEEP COVERAGE
WS
SS
STRONG FLAT
C
C
WEAK FLAT
M
W
S
14
STRONG SIDE 2 DEEP COVERAGE
C
WS
STRONG FLAT
C
SS
S
WEAK FLAT
M
W
15
WEAK SIDE ¼ COVERAGE
WS
SS
C
C
STRONG FLAT
WEAK FLAT
M
W
S
16
STRONG SIDE 1/4 DEEP COVERAGE
C
WS
C
SS
S
WEAK FLAT
M
STRONG FLAT
W
17

• Man Free
• a. Cover 1 Strong side Man Free
• 1. Assume 5 Man Pressure Strong side
• 2. 1 Man Hole Strong Man Coverage Lber
• Free. 4 Man Rush.
• 3. 1 Man Robber Strong Man Coverage SS
• Free. 4 Man Rush.
• b. Cover 8 Weak side Man Free
• 1. Assume 8 Man Pressure Weak side
• 2. 8 Man Hole Weak side Lber Free
• 3. 8 Man Thief Weak side Man
  Coverage WS
• Free
• Pressure Man
• Cover 0 Lber Pressure
• 1. Assume 6 Man Pressure
• 2. Man Hole Lber Free

18

• b. Cover 9 Secondary Blitz.
• Assume 6 man Pressure.
• Zone Pressures
• a. Z P 4 Man Pressure
• 1. End Drop
• 2. Tackle Cop
• b. Hand 5 Man Pressure

19
MAN FREE COVERAGES COVER 1
WS
C
C
SS
M
W
S
20
WEAK SIDE MAN FREE COVERAGE COVER 8
SS
C
C
WS
M
S
W
21
MAN FREE COVERAGES COVER 1 HOLE
WS
C
C
SS
M
W
S
22
PRESSURE MAN COVER COVER 0
WS
SS
C
C
M
S
W
23
PRESSURE MAN SECONDARY BLITZ COVER 9
WS
C
C
W
M
SS
S
24
ZONE PRESSURE 4 MAN RUSH
WS
SS
C
C
M
W
STRONG FLAT
WEAK FLAT
S
E
25
ZONE PRESSURE 3HAND 5 MAN RUSH
WS
SS
C
C
M
W
STRONG FLAT
WEAK FLAT
S
E
26

• FORMATIONS AND HOW THEY AFFECT
• DEFENSES
• A. Middle of the field open or closed
• B. Two Back Formations
• 1. Rt/Lt (7 or 8 man Box)
• 2. Slot Formations (7 or 8 man Box)
• 3. Open Slot Formations
• a. Create 6 Man Box
• C. One Back Formations
• 1. One Back Formations
• a. 2 TEs, One Back (7 or 8 man Box)
• b. Must Defend 8 Gaps (Softens Force)
• 2. Dbl 3 WRs, 1 TE, 1 Back
• a. 6 Man Box

27
3. Spread 4 WRs, 1 Back a. 5 Man Box
MFO b. 6 Man Box MFC
D. Three Back Formations 1. Balance
Formation 2. Make Defense Balance E.
No Back Formations 1. Displace Lber or
Pressure
28

• UNDERSTANDING HOW FRONTS AND
• COVERAGES ARE COORDINATED
• A. Coverages
• 1. Rotation A Secondary Defender with
• underneath coverage. Strong side or
  Weak
• side rotation.
• 2. Rush/Coverage Ratios 4-4-3
• a. Number of defenders in the rush
• b. Number of underneath defenders in
• coverage
• c. Number of deep defenders
• 3. Flat Defender
• a. QB should know flat defender both
• strong and weak by reading coverage.
• 4. Anticipate pressure by reading coverage _at_
  front.

29
5. Identify if Front and Coverage are
coordinated a. Weakside Zone Coverage
Overshifted Front b. Strongside coverage
Undershifted Front c. Balance front, drop
off Lbers determined
by coverages.

• Fronts
• 1. Balanced Fronts
• a. 50 (3/4) Personnel 7 Man Front
• b. 60 (4/3) Personnel 7 Man Front
• c. 70 (4/3) Personnel 7 Man Front
• d. 80 (4/4) Personnel 8 Man Front

30
2. Over shifted Defenses a. 3/4
Personnel Nose over shifts to TE
side b. 4/3 Personnel Mike Lber
over shifted to TE side c.
4/4 Personnel Line over shifted to TE
side 3. Under shifted Defenses
a. 3/4 Personnel Nose aligns to Split
End side b. 4/3 Personnel Mike
Lber aligns to Split End
side c. 4/4 Personnel Line over shifted
to Split End side
31
15
WS
10
C
C
5
SS
S
M
W
T
T
E
E
Y
X
Z
R
H
32
15
SS
WS
10
C
C
5
W
M
T
T
E
S
E
X
Y
R
H
33
15
10
C
C
SS
WS
5
M
T
E
T
W
S
E
X
Y
R
H
34
15
SS
WS
10
C
C
5
B
M
E
N
W
E
S
X
Y
R
H
35

• HOW TO UNDERSTAND WHERE TO RUN THE FOOTBALL
• A. Numbering the Defense
• B. Two Back Running Rules
  
  1. TE Side -Never run the ball to a 5
  Man Side
• 2 . SE Side Must run ball to
  Split so defense wont overload TE
  Side
• C. Two Back Split End Rule
• 1. 3 or less SE Run SE, 3 ½ or more Run
  To TE D. Reduction rule SE
• 1. 70, 90, 2 Man side Run SE, Run TE vs.
  all other looks

36
RT / LT FORMATIONS
37
15
WS
10
C
C
5
SS
S
M
W
T
T
E
E
Y
X
Z
R
H
38
15
SS
WS
10
C
C
5
W
M
T
T
E
S
E
X
Y
R
H
39
15
10
C
C
SS
WS
5
M
T
E
T
E
W
S
X
Y
R
H
40
15
WS
SS
10
C
C
5
M
W
S
T
T
E
E
X
Y
R
H
41
15
WS
10
C
SS
C
5
W
M
E
S
T
T
E
X
Y
z
R
H
42
RAZAR / LARY FORMATION
43
15
SS
WS
10
C
C
5
W
M
S
T
T
E
E
X
Z
Y
R
H
44
15
10
C
SS
C
WS
5
M
T
E
T
W
E
S
X
Z
Y
R
H
45
15
WS
10
C
C
5
SS
S
M
W
T
T
E
E
X
Z
Y
R
H
46
15
10
WS
C
C
5
S
M
T
T
E
E
W
SS
X
Z
Y
R
H
47
E. One Back Rules 3 WRs, 1 TE, 1 RB 1.
TE side a. Never run to 4 Man side
2. Split End side a. Count the number
in the box 1. MFO 6 Man Box
Run 2. MFC 7 Man Box Throw
b. One Back Split End Rule Allows you
to run the correct side with
the 7 defenders in the
box F. 4 WRs One Back Rules 1.
Count the box a. MFO 5 Man Box
Run b. MFC 6 Man Box Throw
48
DEUCE FORMATION
49
15
C
WS
C
SS
10
5
M
W
S
T
T
E
E
Y
H
Z
X
R
50
15
WS
10
C
C
5
SS
S
M
W
T
T
E
E
Y
H
X
Z
R
51
DOUBLE FORMATION
52
15
WS
10
C
C
5
W
M
T
T
E
S
SS
E
Z
X
Y
H
R
53
15
10
C
WS
C
5
W
M
T
T
E
S
SS
E
Z
X
Y
H
R
54
15
10
WS
SS
C
C
5
M
S
W
T
E
T
E
Z
X
Y
H
R
55
15
WS
SS
10
C
C
5
S
M
W
E
T
E
T
Z
X
Y
H
R
56
SPREAD FORMATION
57
15
WS
10
C
C
SS
5
W
M
N
T
T
E
E
Z
X
Y
H
R
58
15
10
C
SS
C
WS
5
M
T
E
T
E
S
W
Z
X
Y
H
R
59
15
WS
SS
10
C
C
5
S
W
M
T
T
E
E
Z
X
Y
H
R
60
15
C
WS
C
SS
10
5
W
S
M
T
T
E
E
Z
X
Y
H
R
61
G. 3 Back Rules 1. MFO 7 Man front 3 or
less 2. MFC 8 Man front A gap
62
15
C
WS
C
SS
10
5
M
W
S
T
T
E
E
Z
X
Y
H
R
63
15
WS
10
C
C
SS
5
M
W
N
T
T
E
E
Z
X
Y
H
R
64
HOW TO UNDERSTAND WHERE TO THROW THE FOOTBALL

• A. Know how to read coverage pre-snap look.
  (PSL)
• 1. Know position of weak safety
• a. Hash
• b. Depth

65
2. Identify flat defenders a. Read
defenders not receivers 3. Recognize man
coverage a. Depth of Secondary
b. Defenders looking at receivers not QB
c. Alignment of safeties and corners d.
Body language of Lbers 4. Identify
easiest throw a. Anticipate hots and
choose where to go with the ball. b.
Know where and when you are one on one
c. Take the first open receiver 5.
Field Zones a. Zone 1 No cover zone
100 completion 1. Screens
2. Swings 3. Crab
route
66

• Zone 2 Short Game 60 completion
• 1. Quick game 3 Step
• 2. 8 10 yards 5 Step Game
• 3. Check Down Routes 7 Step Play Action
• c. Zone 3 Intermediate Zone 50 completion
• 1. QB must be conscious of the drop of the
  Lbers
• 2. Must be able to throw over Lber or through
  lanes with touch and good velocity.
• 3. Play action to control Lbers

67
d. Zone 4 Deep Zone 30 completion 1.
Vital to stretch the defense 2. Look for
mismatches for home run 1 Big Play per half
3. Controls or influence Safety 4.
9 Route out run a corner 6.
Understanding Launch points and passing lanes
68
Defining Field Zones
In order to be efficient in throwing the
football, a Quarterback must understand the
concept of field zones and the related concepts
of rush plus coverage. As shown below we have
defined four vertical field zones Based on the
spot of the ball, these zones extend from an area
of 5-6 yards behind the L.O.S. (Line of
Scrimmage) to a depth of 55-60 yards beyond the
L.O.S. or into the end zone. In addition, the
vertical zones have been sub-divided into 11
horizontal coverage zones with five short zones,
3 intermediate and 3 deep zones. The ability of
the defense to cover or defend these zones is
directly related to their rush-coverage ratio.
DEEP OUTSIDE
DEEP MIDDLE
DEEP OUTSIDE
35
3 0
3 0
30
25
Zone 4 - Deep Zone
22
2 0
2 0
20
INTERMEDIATE OUTSIDE
INTERMEDIATE MIDDLE
INTERMEDIATE OUTSIDE
15
Zone 3 - Intermediate Zone
12
1 0
1 0
Left Hook
Right Hook
Right Flat
Left Flat
Hole
10
5
Zone 2 - Short Zone
LOS
Quick Screen
Quick Screen
Screen
Wide Swing
Screen
Wide Swing
Zone 1 - Behind the L.O.S. (No Cover Zone)
69
QUARTERBACK TEST 1

• NAME THE IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS
• OF EACH OF THE FOLLOWING FRONTS.
• A. 50 FRONT
• B. 60 FRONT
• C. 80 FRONT
• D. 90 FRONT
• E. 70 FRONT
• F. 50 STACK

70

• WHAT DO THE FOLLOWING TERMS MEAN IN REGARD TO
  DEFENSIVE FRONTS?
• A. WIDE
• B. TIGHT
• C. LOOSE
• D. BEAR
• E. SOLID

71
QUARTERBACK TEST 1
F. CLEAR G. ODD H. EVEN I. BOSS J. BOW
K. 40 NICKEL L. 30 NICKEL
72

• DESCRIBE THE FOLLOWING COVERAGES AND GIVE THEIR
  RUSH COVERAGE RATIOS.
• A. COVER 3 SKY
• B. COVER 6 CLOUD
• C. COVER 2 HAND
• D. COVER 4 STAR
• E. COVER 7

73
QUARTERBACK TEST 1

• F. COVER 1 HOLE
• G. COVER 0
• H. COVER 9 WEAK
• I. COVER 3
• HOW DO THE FOLLOWING FORMATIONS
• STRESS A DEFENSE?
• A. DEUCE
• B. SPREAD
• C. DOUBLE
• D. RAZAR/LARRY
• E. BONE

74
SLIDE SHOW
75
DBL LT SCAT LT 346 SHORT
76
15
WS
10
SS
C
C
5
M
S
W
T
E
T
E
Z
X
Y
H
R
77
1. WHAT IS THE FRONT AND COVERAGE ?
78
15
10
C
WS
C
5
W
M
T
T
E
S
SS
E
Z
X
Y
H
R
79
1. WHAT DO YOU NEED TO BE ALERT FOR ?
80
15
10
C
C
WS
SS
5
M
T
N
S
E
E
T
Z
X
Y
H
R
81
ARE YOU PROTECTED ?

• WHO IS YOUR HOT RECEIVER?

82
15
WS
10
SS
C
C
5
W
M
T
E
N
T
E
Z
X
Y
H
R
83
WHO IS THE S.A. ?
84
15
10
C
WS
SS
C
5
M
S
W
T
E
T
E
Z
X
Y
H
R
85
WHO IS THE FLAT DEFENDER TO THE FIELD?
86
15
WS
SS
10
C
C
5
N
W
M
T
E
T
E
Z
X
Y
H
R
87
1. WHO IS YOUR READ? 2. WHAT MUST YOU BE
READY TO DO ?
88
15
WS
10
SS
C
C
5
W
M
T
E
N
T
E
Z
X
Y
H
R
89
ARE YOU PROTECTED ?
90
15
10
WS
SS
C
C
5
M
W
T
E
T
E
S
Z
X
Y
H
R
91
WHAT IS THE COVERAGE?
92
15
WS
10
C
C
5
W
M
T
T
E
S
SS
E
Z
X
Y
H
R
93
WHAT MUST YOU DO ?
94
15
WS
SS
10
C
C
N
5
M
S

W
E
N
E
Z
X
Y
H
R
95
WHAT MUST YOU DO WHEN YOU SEE THIS DEFENSE ?
96
15
10
C
WS
C
SS
5
M
S
W
N
E
N
E
Z
X
Y
H
R
97
WHATS THE COVERAGE ?ARE YOU HOT OR ARE YOU
THROWING S.A. ?
98
15
WS
10
C
C
SS
5
B
M
W
N
E
E
S
Z
X
Y
H
R
99
MIDDLE FIELD OPEN OR CLOSED ?WHO IS YOU READ ?
100
15
WS
10
C
C
SS
5
M
S
W
N
E
N
E
Z
X
Y
H
R
101
WHATS THE COVERAGE ?

• IS THIS A S.A. ?

102
15
WS
SS
10
C
C
5
N
W
M
T
E
T
E
Z
X
Y
H
R
103
WHO ARE YOU HOT OF OFF ?HOW MANY MEN IN THE BOX
?
104
15
WS
SS
10
C
C
5
M
W
T
E
T
E
S
Z
X
Y
H
R
105
MIDDLE FIELD OPEN OR CLOSED ? WHERE SHOULD THE
BALL GO ?
106
15
WS
10
C
SS
C
5
B
M
W
E
S
N
E
X
Y
z
R
H