WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU DONT HAVE A TE: There was a huge argument about TE's in HS football on another board

I frequent. People were saying it was hard to find TE's and FB's now in HS football. The best response I read was "If you have kids who play DE you have TE's, if you have LB's then you have FB's". We are a small school as well and really stress finding kids to play TE. As mentioned make that SO the starter now! If your in a small class I am sure every other team you play has SO/FR out there somewhere. If you have a 3rd tackle, teach him TE. Take a big WR if you have one put him at TE. Take a back up FB and try him. You would be surprised at what some kids will do to get on the field and play, esp. Seniors. We don't always have TE's, but we always make it priority to find one who can block 1st...and then we can worry about catching the ball. He basically has to learn 3 routes (drags, sticks & corners/flag) and then become somewhat acceptable at catching, but his blocking is the priority. With that in mind we will take an OT and make him a TE if we don't have a "true" TE in the program. Since we've started playing "strong" & "quick" side linemen it is easier to find kids to fit those positions @ OT and then that gives us more adaptability to find TE's Use some unbalanced formations and put your young TE on the short side. (TE-G-C-G-T-T--------SE)
Strong Side and Quick Side

Just curious to hear from experienced Wing-T coaches about pros and cons of having a strong side and quick side vs having players learn both. Any advice/input would be much appreciated. Some Pros are :1. Same Guard Trapping/ or Tackle Trapping . 2. Developing Guard or Tackle should be easier. 3. More Reps at the same Assignment (Better Speed Pulling/Trapping Better Down Blocks Better Double Teams). Cons 1. Changing of stances (right to left)maybe personal 2. Could Become more predictable 3. No Benefits to the System (Wing T) if you run buck sweep both guards pull anyway. I personally do not see the benefits when running the Wing T because you lose some advantages you have to teach both guards to pull running bucksweep. Right Handed and Left Handed stance is easier to learn if they stay in the same stance. Basically all said with great coaching it can work ,but not a huge fan of it. This is the only way we do it. By flip-flopping the line, we teach the strong side player the strong side plays and the quick side the quick side the quick side plays, at the point of attack. For instance, we are a slot T team and only really run the belly to the strong side. There are several rules and exceptions to the rules on the play side while the back side is primarily scooping and getting downfield, regardless of whether we are running the belly to the left or right side. The primary advantage is that the strong side OL is getting twice the reps at their assignment and the quick side is getting twice the reps at their assignment. If we are lucky enough to have a kid play for instance strong guard throughout his JH and HS years, He has practiced his particular maneuvers thousands of times. This leads to what I consider the main disadvantage. That when injuries occur, the back up coming in is not necessarily the next best. In other words, our strong guard is a strong only. Does not know the quick side assignments. So we can't put the 2nd team strong guard in for the injured starting quick guard, though he should be superior to the #2 QG, theoretically. Still, this has been an advantage of us comparable almost to having 2 platooning at these positions. I respect the reasons why others don't, but this is what we do. In all honesty, until 2 years ago I NEVER would flip/flop OL by Strong/Quick alignment. We played traditional R/L sides for nearly 10 years and everything was fine. 2 years ago we had a deficiency in OL depth and decided that IF we were going to have success we had to setup the offense around the skills of our OL personnel first. This meant going with a Strong/Quick alignment. We had moved 100% into a Shot-Gun Wing-T offense & based our

run game with Buck Sweep, Trap, Belly, XX & Power. This allowed us to become proficient at what we wanted to do through specialized teaching and experienced a decent amount of success with personnel that otherwise were limited. Last year we continued this concept, but in actuality we had more skill & depth and often rotated different guys into different positions. There were certain kids that only played a certain side, and then others that were able to play both. It allowed us to develop a 6 player rotation through 4 positions of S-OG, S-OT, Q-OG & Q-OT. We had even greater success and hopefully it will continue into this season as we have even more depth than ever because of this philosophy. It is a great way to acclimate younger players into Varsity football as they gain confidence through repetition of certain plays & skills. We played with 3 sophomores on the OL significantly last year. I feel that if you follow the concept of "Players/Formations/Plays" when working with Skill Personnel, then it makes sense to do the same for your OL in my opinion.

CROSS FIRE LB BLITZES: how would you account for this blitz: A "cross fire blitz" between the LB the OL are responsible for and a LB that one of the backs is responsible for? Example: B..........W.........S.............$ .....E....T.........T.......E .......T...G...C...G...T...Y.... .................R In this scenario say the RB was responsible to Check Release off of the Will and the Bandit while to the offensive right side the C takes #1 (T), the Guard takes #2 (Sam), Tackle on #3 (E) and Y checks off of the $. How would you account for the Sam blitzing in the A gap to the offensive left and the Will coming to the A/B gap (depending on if they slanted the DT or not) to the offensive right? Would it matter who came first? 1. That stunt is something you see when your a passing team all the time. Ask yourself this what if I run rocket or ice to the right when they do that? Which one are you going to try and defend more: pass or run. If run that stunt is a terrible idea. However, if pass then this how: Three ways: 1. If SLB walks up into the left A gap the guard will call "Down". The left tackle will check call back and now the LG picks up sam. The LT picks up 3 tech and FB picks up End and everyone else is the same and center and guard will switch the WLB blitz. IF YOU WANTED TO STAY WITH BASE PROTECTION: 2. If does not then center will pick up SLB from distance. The fb will see him cross and he will cross as well to pick WLB up on the opposite side. IF YOU DO NOT MIND ADDING A NEW PROTECTION: 3. If you know you see a lot of mickey stunting (LBER twists) then you can use "mingo" call. PSG: a gap PST: b gap C: bs a gap

BSG: b gap FB: playside c gap BST: c gap Y: still check release We have done all three. FINAL NOTE: If you see weakside outside blitzes you can do this 2 ways: IF YOU DO NOT MIND HAVING THE QUARTERBACK CHECKING PROTECTIONS: 1. Have him flop the protection to the opposite side. -now you have the check release to the side of the outside blitz and no need for another adjustment and/or throwing hot. IF YOU DO NOT WANT THE QB DOING THAT: 2. Then say "Max" in the play call and now all inside receivers are check releasing. By rule, we are going to zone it with the linemen and man it with the back. In the example you put up, the C and RG are going to be responsible for the right-hand stack. They will both engage the DT with eyes on the Sam. Whether he comes early or late, we will end up with the RG on the RDT and the C tracking the Sam's stunt into the left A-gap. The C shouldn't even see the Will because his focus is not going to be there. The back has depth, and can track and fit on the Will no matter where/when he shows. So, when it's all said and done, the C will be on the Sam in the left A, R on the Will in right A, and G on DT in right B. Now, having said that, if the Will shows quickly and the DT disappears into B, the C may engage the Will as he is an unblocked threat and the C has no immediate work. If that happens, the back has to make the C correct. The lineman can NEVER be wrong, and it is the responsibility of the back to adjust to the Sam. If this were to happen, the R would initially track to right A with the Will, but then adjust back to the left when his man was picked up by the C. He should be able to see the left A open and color will show there as he swings his eyes back to the B. This is complex to discuss, but much easier to actually implement. It really comes down to feet and eyes for the back
________________________________________________________________________________

In the clinic you mentioned how you prepare for various situations that you can see in a given game and how your practice it in a 15m block during each day. Do you just rotate through the various situations that you could see or do you pay more attention to some of them more than others, particuraly if you are struggling in one of them at the various point of the season?

some situations are hit more than others based like you said #1 what we think we are going to see, and #2 where we need work. We always hit GoalLine and Short Yardage every week (Thursday) "2 minute at the end of practice on Wednesday, ect.

our call sheet being set up with on one side having our base runs/passes (with their corresponding wristband #) and then the other side having all of our special situation plans (with the wristband:

FROM WES ELROD:

.IF you are running the JET and your QB can throw it in the window (the wheel route). This might be a great add for your jet play action passing attack. I like this boot because it affords max protect (lineman) *note...your FB (Y) is your QB protector on the flank. Here is your QB progression................... 1.) Take a peek at the safety.........if he is moving towards sideline to help on wheel - Hit the SE; If you hit the wheel once; next time he will move, and that split the uprights SE will be running free 2.) Throw it in the window.............hit the wheel 3.) Safety valve is your dragging TE downside is that it is a funky set & and you will have to run a couple other things out of the set.................1st time you use it; it will make no diff!!.....................
Rebuilding

Coach: My reaction would be: if your talent level is lower than usual ("rebuilding")--- don't ADD! Delete! Like someone mentioned in their post: if we had Oregon's burners or Alabama's hosses, we could call anything we want and just ran past or over anybody we play! When faced with limited ability, I think you "cut back." You're not going to out-finesse a stronger athletic team! You're not going to out-muscle a stronger team. So what do you do? 1- You execute to an extremely high level. The only way I know to achieve that is to limit your plays and rep/repeat; rep/correct/repeat, etc.... till the level of execution is flawless. Do you have the patience and persistence to stick with it? 2- Play action passes. Get your QB out on the flank. You don't have to have a blazing fast point Guard in basketball to be a "fast break" team. Just find a guy who can run the show and kids who will run. Same with play action passing game. Get him out on the flank where you outnumber the defense and force them into making the wrong decision; i.e., your QB makes the right decision: throw or keep. 3- I like the idea of Rocket or Jet but I like Belly Sweep (2nd man) and Down Sweep (2nd man) even more. 4- Finally... to borrow from Coach Klausing: have a trick ready every week! I've already got 7 "tricks" that we are going to install this fall. It livens up practice; gives the kids something to get excited about and... you never know: it may the spark in a game that gets you that big break you need.
REBUILDING YEAR:

I am in your boat EVERY YEAR!! So I think I am the perfect guy to discuss this with you: 1. Use non-team plays and stay away from team plays. 2. Keep execution curve high with no more than 5 blocking schemes for your line. THE REAL SECRET TO THIS IS: Learning how to overlap these five schemes to be used with different backfield patterns. Thus expanding your playbook without expanding your playbook. 3. Ensure that your players are always in the best situation to make the block in accordance to leverages/double teams/ and OUTSIDE angles. This is done two ways: A: Red/white and blue game calling B: Check with me concepts that your QB can execute. 4. Have answers (when gameplanning) for: A: Mismatches. -Formations B: Can not block them. -Options 5. Something I am still learning: Have a defensive scheme that defeats offensive blocks. Think as an offensive coordinator: what would you rather see a defense that flies up the field and plays gaps or a defense that reacts to your blocking schemes? Thanks to Glen McNew we will be doing this this upcoming year. FINAL NOTE: I am not trying to lecture you coach, just a reminder of something I know you all ready do: 1. If you are principle base coach then you are going to do what you always do because that is who you are and not just because what you hope to gain from it. Our main function (IMO) is to teach character along with football. What a better way to teach it then when it most required to demonstrate it. 2. Success is not wins verse loses, but rather the journey that one takes to achieving a goal. For example, there are coaches who have goal boards on their walls for the offense and/ or defense. On those boards are goals and then above each column is each team they play during the course of the year. The goals on the side are the same, but the teams on top are different. What is my point? Let's say one of your goals is to rush for 350yds and another is to score 28 points in a game. Now the first team you see is the weakest on your schedule you rushed for 365yds and you scored 42pts and win. Wow you have met your goals and did well. However, let's say the next week you are going to see the best team on your schedule and your a 3TD underdog. Now the game ends and you rushed for 305yds and scored 21 points and loss by one TD. NO GOALS MET. Does that mean what you did was not as successful as what you did one week earleir because you did not meet your goals and it did not result in a win? To me the the 2nd performance was more of success then the 1st performance because what we did was verse a tougher team. Some may call this moral victories, I like to call them REINFORCED PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE ACHIEVEMENTS. In other words, I could have 9 weak opponents on my schedule and beat them all go undefeated and everyone goes around and says wow what a great coach that guy is. On the other hand I could have 9 tough opponents and play them all tough and lose all of them by a close score. Which coach help his kids in the pursuit of excellence? I can not answer that for you, only you can answer that for yourself. FINAL FINAL NOTE: Our league is so good that our last place team this year went 0-8 and went into their final game and beat the eventual champ of another league by 40 points. Who is better? The one who won the championship or the one who beat them by 40 points and ended up 1-8? Funny thing football isn't it. That probably why we all love it so much OL on Rocket toss

What steps do you teach your OL on rocket toss, particularly you flexbone or wing T guys? Do you drop step reach and run? Or what other steps and what do you do as far as rules, I"ve heard "don't block anyone from tackle in, but don't you need to protect the QB as he reverses and tosses? All info appreciated as always.

Coach, we have the Center cut a PS A gap player and the BSG cut a BS A gap player for that very reason you mentioned. Those two really aren't going to impact the play anyway so we want to protect the QB, as you mentioned. I've never seen a DT in the A gap really impact the play itself but this year we had a BSG not do that and our QB got smoked after he pitched it (though he was a hair slow on the pitch). Again, the play was not effected, but its not a shot I want my QB taking We teach them to dip, rip, and run We want it to look like a wall punt return on the sideline.Keep telling the OL to take a 45 degree step as if pulling to get outside. Then continue to dip your inside shoulder as you work toward the second level. I know that some flex guys teach both the OT and OG to pull flat down the line. We have never had any issues with our QB getting hit, all OL reach and run to the second level. Each OL aiming point is the hip of the 1st second level to defender to their outside.

We called it zone away blocking, but that was just something to call it. I only run it to the open or weak side, and out of Red/Blue formation. We have the weakside Guard and weakside Tackle take off at an angle and try to "nip" somebody. If they run into anybodyblock them or at least get in their way. You only need to push the defender a little bit to get him off balance. Remember now, the Rocket Sweep isn't a sweep by traditional explanation. Pulling linemen will not be of any value because the ball is pitched to a Back outside the FBZ. The point of exchange is the difference here. Jet is done at the center point of the ball, any "hand off" sweep is done at the center point. To run a traditional sweep you have to pull linemen or you will not get outside. The starting point makes the difference. Even with Toss Sweep you need linemen in front of it. You can actually make the Rocket Sweep work if 1 lineman (Otackle) makes a semi-attempt at a block. It's a great play. If they get out of the way-it's still a great play. Now, Ends and Backs have to block, I'm not saying NOBODY has to block here. But getting the ball to your fastest player in space with a back or two in front of him? Well, that's a play right there. Add the compliments and you've got a killer system.
PST: Rip outside of the DE and block the ILB. In our "count" system we say rip outside of #1 and block #5. If the DE really starts to widen then lock on him. PSG: Pull and block the ILB (#5). When doing this he has to read the action of the PST. Essentially he is going to turn upfield at the first sign of open grass. If the PST is able to get through the DE without him stretching we might be able to get him around, but what normally happens is the DE stretches so he cuts up inside of him. Footwork: PST: Pull step/Reach step to playside. Rip second step up the field while dipping the BS arm and turning the shoulders to get through. PSG: Pull step and read the block of the PST.

Consistency out of your counter game

Coaches As all of you know we have been running this system going on 7 years now and managed to

rush for over 17,000yds in that tenure. When you have that much success moving the ball you start to see different things from the defense and like all scheming, some of it works and some of it does not. Well the one thing that I guarantee that you will see is some sort of reaction to your motion. I have always been one to state that despite the reaction find a way to still keep on doing what you do no matter what they do. At the same time it is also important to not overlook a gift being handed to you by the defense. Lets talk play calling for a moment: The natural reaction to motion reaction is to hit with counters back away. Pretty simple concept to understand, but here is what the defense is exactly thinking when you execute this very concept: I WOULD RATHER MAKE THEM BEAT US WITH PLAYS THAT ARE HIT AND MISS THEN ONES THAT ARE CONSISTENT AND KEEPS MY DEFENSE ON THE FIELD. True or False? True: How many times have you read on this board about how guys love certain counter plays, but the downside is they do not always hit big and sometimes they do not hit at all. What their really saying is: I CAN NOT MAKE A LIVING OUT OF THIS AND HANG MY HAT ON IT. So what I wanted to do was discuss this very point with you. Here are some questions: 1. How does one make a living out of the counter game? 2. How can I make it consistent so that it keeps moving the chains and if by chance hits big in the process? ANSWER: 1. Twirl scheme 2. 3x1 formations with motion away. TWIRL SCHEME Easy or Hard? Easy: Just take all of your consistent plays and now add twirl motion to them. What consistent plays? 1. Base 2. Bama 3. Miami 4. Trap etc. 3x1 FORMATIONS W/ MOTION AWAY: Easy or Hard? Easy: By having both wings align to the same side might seem tipping your hat to the defense, but entertain me for a moment if you will. All week long the defensive coordinator has been teaching his kids to react to this motion and like good soldiers they react to it all week long verses their scout team and kick a** reinforcing the behavior of reacting to the motion is a good thing, forget that it is a great thing. Forget that it is an AWESOME thing!!! So now comes game day and the defense is all prepared for your motion and here comes the first play and you serve them up what they hope to see and BOOM! The reaction to the motion works and the kid gets up and chest bumps other players and the D-coord is fist pumping on the other sideline telling the kid good job forget that great job, hell forget that AWESOME job!!! and now here comes a 3x1 formation and everyone is yelling it is going to the 3 side and something happens that confuses them all: One of the Wings goes in motion away from the 3. What happens now is something that is quite intriguing. The defense reacts to the motion they see all week and was just reinforced by the play you served up to them a moment ago and now you go opposite of the motion on a belly and it goes for 10yds because everyone reacted to the motion. LBERS shifted/Safeties ran downhill and placed themselves in a bad place for a consistent hitter that your kids can execute in their sleep. Then BANG you hit is again and again. What does the defense do now? -Tell the kids he had been teaching all week to react to the motion not to react to the motion? -Tell secondary to react but the LBERS not to shift?

-Tell LBERS to shift but the secondary not to react? -HOW ABOUT DO NOTHING? Who is dictating now? and Oh by the way be prepared for reacting secondary and no LBER shift and the other way around

As a little background here is generally what I have been thinking: When having a shift called it would be communicated in the huddle as "Shift Name" to "End Formation". So if I wanted to trade the TE from a Red "Over" set to regular Blue set it would just be called as this: "Trade" to Blue and there we go. Now, these are the shifts I have come up with. Not that all of them are going to be used obviously, but I'm just getting ideas right now. Trade: TE moves Shift: TE & LHB move Stem: TE & RHB move Jump: TE & Both HB's Move: Both HB's move Slide: TE & SE move Change: TE & FB move Switch: FB move Scramble: All skill players move Essentially my thought is to have the players moving line up opposite of where they will need to be in the end formation. So, if I wanted to move from 100 to 900 by moving my TE & Both HB's. I would call "Jump" to 900. And we would go from: ....T...G...C...G...T...TE..................SE ................................H ....H........F to this ...TE...T...G...C...G...T...................SE ..H ....................F.........H... Ok, now to my question. How is it possible to change where the players are coming from? This is mainly directed towards moving my FB. I would like to be able to move him in and out of the empty spot, home spot (behind the QB), and a plus/minus spot. I'm really struggling with how to communicate it. I know I could simply call one formation to another formation, but I would like to stay with the principal of "shift called" to "end formation". Just as an example, I would like to be able to call something like this (this is an example of the TE and the FB both moving). ......T...G...C...G...T...Y................X ...H...........................H....F to this. ......Y...T...G...C...G...T.................X ...H............................H.... .....................F *and the opposite too (FB from the home position to the empty position) But to also do things like this. Starting here, ......Y...T...G...C...G...T...............X ...H............................H. ................F and going to this:

......T...G...C...G...T...Y................X ...H...........................H.. ..........................F **And the opposite too. The FB going from the Plus/Minus spot to the home spot.

How Many Ways?

Coaches How many ways? -Do I need to run the ball to the: Center/Tackle/Outside -Do I need to throw the ball against: 1 deep safety/2 deep safety/ No deep safety. To me the answer is simple: 1 way is all that is needed. So, then why do most coaches have

more than one? Lets imagine what it would be like to just run: Center: Trap Tackle: Belly Outside: Buck 1 deep: Curl-flat 2 deep: China 0 deep: Flood w/post To most this is not a lot of offense, but Now add 1 play action to: Buck: Waggle Belly: Belly Keep pass Now add 1 trick play: Buck: Counter Criss cross Now add 1 screen pass: Buck: Waggle screen Now when one sees from a distance that this is quite a bit of an offense after all. PROS execution curve goes way up check with me system could be easily implemented ensuring always in the right play create good game plans each week with formations/shifts/motions that will allow you to keep these things intacted. everything on the play chart will be called and used in the game Everything on your game chart will be practiced Reduces practice time needed and the number of Reps in order to execute a play well. Allows you to utilize multiple blocking schemes to keep plays intact. Create an easy NO HUDDLE Allows more time to work on the pass during practice. CONS: Boring Some would say easy to defend. Vanilla Scheme

FINAL THOUGHT Here is one thing I want to leave with you: This alone is a great concept, but what if you could really make it even better? How about picking the one way for each run or pass based on: Personnel talents from year to year. Now what you have an offense that stays within the philosophy of the coach, but also matches the talents of his players year to year. That is close to exactly what I do. Buck series - trap(and gut), sweep, waggle, waggle vertical, criss-cross. Belly series - belly, counter, belly sweep, belly keep pass. We also run power. We run sprint out with three routes - out, curl, chair. We can also go trips and run flood. We run quick game with slant and fade. We have a dropback game with 4 verticals (cover 3), smash (cover 2), cop (corner over post-cover 4), and mesh (cover 0 and 1). And slow screen - blitz.

Re: Rocket Toss Sweep

Reply #9 Today at 9:47am

I never get tired of talking about the Rocket sweep. We like to use two different ways to run Counter Trey/Gap, depending on what I want to do and the personnel. I always run Rocket out of Red or Blue, but you can run it out of a number of formations. I like running to the open side (Split-End side). Out of the Rocket motion, we run Fullback Belly often. This is our 3rd progression off of Rocket. So, we have the Belly X-block and the H-back running through the hole to block the LB in classic Wing-T style for Belly. The weakside Guard pulls and kicks, the weakside Tackle pulls and walls. Also coach, consider that I've changed my "winged T" H-back for a more traditonal one-back style small T.E. "H-back". For me, the H-back is not a winged-T "H-Back" but a blocker and pass catcher. But, a traditional Hback winged-T guy would work there too. Just depends on what you want to do. #1 Give to the H-back with the Fullback filling. The QB reverses out and fakes Rocket and Belly and then gives the ball to the H-back running the Counter GT (if you like to call it that). It is a simple, almost natural movement for the QB on the reverse out. He can then carry out his option fake if you want to just drop back like pass. This play is something that I've used to reward a good H-back who works hard, blocks and catches passes. He's not going to break it big, but makes lots of tough yard running off tackle with the counter. #2 Give to the FB, with the H-back filling for the pulling Tackle. This is more 1 Back footwork, but if you have a really fast Fullback and a slow H-back, this works too. The FB jab steps toward the belly, and counter steps back. The QB reverses out and then hands back to the FB, the Guard pulls and kicks, the Tackle pulls and Walls. note: Sometimes, I replace my H-back with my fastest kid and he runs the same play as #1. Although it ends up looking more like a reverse because this kid doesn't want to hit the offtackle hole, this play has scored lots of TD's for us. The FB fills and the H-back (fast kid) runs the same path. With the change to a more dynamic runner, this play has homerun possibilites with very little expense. It's harder to get this type player to stay behind the blocking, but it also usually doesn't matter. As long as the pulling Guard hits the EMOLOS pretty square, the reverse can work.
Back in '05, I had a FB run the wrong way on my Rocket Toss and ended up lead blocking for the Rocket Sweep. He got out there somehow and managed to block an Inside Backer. While this was at practice I was just about to start yelling at the kid when I said, "wait a minute, I like this." I proceded to offset my FB on Rocket Sweep and make it a Lead Rocket." What I didnt' know at the time, this was already a play and commonly talked about on Jetsweep.com. Well so much for inventing something. Anyway, that meant I needed to have a counter play that let the FB be offset and not "completely" tip the play to the defense. In fact, since I also ran Offset I-formation plays, this wasn't a big deal. But to me it was. I found that the defenses are so worried about the Rocket motion, they don't seem to notice where the FB is aligned.

So, we started running various counters trying to figure out which one worked the best. What I came up with was running Tackle Trap to the Offset Fullback (he's set offset to the weakside) in the Red or Blue formation. That meant that the QB reversed out to fake Rocket and then handed the ball to the FB, who had counter stepped before taking the ball. We then started having the Fullback simply turn his shoulders without turning his legs or stepping and THAT did it. Perfect timing. Some QB liked the inside handoff better, some like the outside handoff better. I didn't care as long as it got there safely. The Tackle would pull and Kick the 1st player past the stongside Guard. (away side, back side etc). Now, the H-back has to fill for the pulling Tackle, but with the Guard there and the Rocket going and the QB countering out, it was never a problem. I've never had anybody get in the way from the defense. This became the only Trap I've used for years. I replaced Guard Trap with a straight Dive play to the FB. So the Rocket package for me is: Rocket, Rocket Lead, Rocket Crack, Belly, Tackle Trap, Counter Gap, Rocket Keep Pass, Rocket Bootleg pass (A waggle

In rocket, our kids are taught to not block anyone on the LOS that is backside a 3 tech on the PSG. Our kids get on their "train tracks" at 45 degrees and get to second level. No way a 2 tech or less makes this play, so we dont bother blocking them at all. TE or T has #1 (the MOLE-end man on line of scrimm). Our calls that we tag at the end of the call tells who to pull: G, T, TAG, YG, YT, KG. Y is your standard FB, K is a set back. TAG means T and G pull. Feb 18, 2012, 6:33pm, ucbears90 wrote:
What about everyone else? How did you teach PSG and PST. Rules and Steps?

Being a wing-t team we have a wing to the playside so our simple rules are: PSG-pull block alley PST-Block 1st man outside B gab. PSW- Block second man outside B gap. Backside we tell them to "zone it up" basically step playside and rip through the DL to make sure they don't kill the QB. I teach our tackle a zone step heel/toe and outside your shoulder bring the backside leg. If we see a real wide or fast DE I tell him to just pull to the outside shoulder of the DE. Re: jet sweep theory?
Reply #17 on Feb 20, 2012, 4:23pm

See if your opponents in the 3-3 stack go to 2 deep look or 3 deep look vs trips open. We had a team that went 2 deep dropped the weakside end to the hash and left the open side for us to jet out of gun, needless to say, we killed them with it. You could do it from under center in the same look.
FROM PAST EXPERIENCE, YOUR MOST HELPFUL COACHING POINTS ON BUCKSWEEP:

Ours is that we don't have backside tackle block anyone first level and send him on a touchdown block. I know not revolutionary, but this has really given us big plays when we really started coaching it hard.

Pull right block right... (Pulling right use right shoulder/Pulling left use left shoulder) Backside guard... eyeball the backer for run through while pulling, dip shoulder and grab grass as you turn up through the hole. For the ball carrier: Get me four, then more. Translation: this is a 4 yard play. Get four yards. It is usually there. When you start looking for the homerun, many times it turns into a loss or small gain. Find the seam for 4 yards or make one, then go get more. Our biggest thing that we do is REPS! The guards have to get the rhythm of the play and the back has to get a feel for how to run it. I could only image how many times a player in our program would run bucksweep between freshman and senior year. This year I told the team that they should be able to run Sweep at their 20th high school reunion. Coaches I am going to give you one from Glen McNew that he says is a HUGE KEY to this play: Have an "ALERT" adjustment and call for when the defense places someone outside the WB. We refer to this as a HOT 2. ALERT ADJUSTMENT: 1.This let's the frontside guard know that he is not going to bell step and instead he is going to take a trap path and kick out the HOT 2. 2. This also let's the ball carrier know that this play is not going to go outside and will be a tight cut. Another great coaching point. On the front side guards path... I feel this coaching point is very important. A lot of teams run buck with a trap path by the guard all the time. There is a reason for the "Bell" step by the PSG. First, it allows the guard to avoid all the garbage at the LOS (i.e. penetration). Second, it times up the contact of the PSG and the force player and the cut by the back perfectly. We will run Sweep Drill a lot. It will be one of the first things I do with the line in pre-season camp and I will do it with the line everyday during camp. The backs will do the 4 corner 90 degree cut in camp but not so much in season. The backs never practice blocking enough IMO but they should be working on a good down block several times a week.In season we will run Sweep drill almost everyday including the day before a game. I like to run at as a high intensity, high speed drill against shields. ( I do not like stand up bags.) I will run it 5 times each way and I will get after the players ass to do it full tilt, full speed. I want to see bodies on the ground. I will run it live against a certain defense or stunt we might see. (Slant, Blitz, Hard Force) The key is to have the scout team do their part. I tell the scout where the block is coming from so there are no blind side hits. Have the scout squat low and "hold the bag like player!" I cheat up the shield holders on the line in the neutral zone or closer if needed. Here is another thing I do that helps. IMO the backs never get after it like I want so I will but a good kid that never steps on the field but tries real hard and wants to help the team at DE during the drill and tell to get off the ball. It is the Wingbacks job to block him. There is no where to hide and that back better get after it or everyone will see. NO PEACE TREATIES!!! No hit the bag and stop and go through the motions. Block to the whistle. MORE COACHING POINTS FOR BUCK SWEEP: Put a starting LB at the force position. They are tougher and give better looks for the guard.

Have a shield holder outside the force player to represent the corner. Have the BST haul ass on the touchdown block. This is tough so I will sub a back up tackle after 3 times in a row. Same goes for SE or BSTE have a shield holder at the FS position and have them haul ass for the cutoff block. If you guys are like our teams you will have an army of useless "WRs" Line up two and have one run the cutoff block and one run a called route. Have the QB hand the ball off and a coach with a second ball hand off to the QB off his fake where he runs waggle and throws the called route by coach. I haven't done it in awhile but during the drill when the team was getting winded I would yell "Run the Sweep!" and the offense would respond to "To Win!" It helped set the mind set. Couple of our coaching points: Ball Carrier should get on the hip of the backside guard and let him guide you through the hole. (This helps both the BSG and Ball Carrier stay on track) Ball carrier needs to return from where he started. We set a cone about 15 yards downfield from where the halfback lines up. As he cuts back off the touchdown block he needs to sprint away through the cone to finish the drill. We tell our Halfback and Quick Tackle that they should race to the point of the touchdown block. The tackle should always win because he has less steps. If he doesn't win he is loafing. BSG needs to find the hip of the wingback to finish the wall. QB and FB should have shoulder pads clicking together on fakes. (Results in broken noses with no pads!!! But good fakes) Great analogy for all pulling linemen and fullback kickout blocks: We tell the pullers/ko to imagine they are a car and we are going to ram into a tree. If you drill the tree straight on the tree is going to win and we have a stalemate. If you drill that tree with your right headlight (shoulder) the momentum of impact will swing you inside the hole (left of tree). Same thing goes for left headlight. We hammer our back Guards and ball carries not to over run the hole...squeeze and skim the Wing back's block. I tell our ball carrier it's like being a new driver....if you turn the wheel too late when turning, you have to make a slow, rounded turn to make it. If you overrun the hole, you have to do the same thing. Re: Rocket Toss Sweep I did see Coach Alexander at Grand Rapids. I really liked his rocket to an off-set back using quick motion. Such as.... WR..............T..G..C..G..T..TE ..............W..........Q............... ....................H.....F Instead of the long rocket motion, "H" would start his motion right before the snap. Gets him where he needs to be , without giving the defense time to adjust. The "F" could also use the same motion (just a split second earlier) and now you have the lead blocker.