No Fullback - No Problem. The Y-Off Series - AFCA Insider

9/18/2019 No Fullback? No Problem.
The Y-Off Series - AFCA Insider
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9/18/2019 No Fullback? No Problem. The Y-Off Series - AFCA Insider
NO FULLBACK? NO
PROBLEM. THE Y-OFF SERIES
As offenses have evolved to using more three and four receiver formations
over the last several years, the fullback position has been declared nearly
extinct. Here at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, we use 11 (one
back, one tight end) and 12 (one back, two tight ends) as our base personnel
groups. In order to run plays that require a fullback, we have combined the
tight end and fullback positions into one. This allows us to be as diverse as
possible within those personnel groups, which makes us harder to prepare
for. From 11 personnel we have the ability to use the tight end as a fullback,
true tight end or receiver to create any 20-personnel, 11-personnel or 10-
personnel formation. As a coordinator, you are limited only by the ability of
your players to learn new concepts and your own creativity. The rst way
that we accomplish this is by backing our tight end off the ball into a wing
position, Y-Off. That is what this article will focus on.
One of our basic philosophies on offense is to run a small core number of

plays from as many different personnel groups, formations and motions as
possible. We can keep things simple for our linemen and running back by
running several different zone blocked run plays and use the tight end as
the adjuster. We teach our players the zone concept itself before we install
any zone plays. By de nition, each lineman is responsible for their playside
gap on zone plays:
Frontside Tight End: Frontside D Gap

Frontside Tackle: Frontside C Gap
Frontside Guard: Frontside B Gap
Center: Frontside A Gap
Backside Guard: Backside A Gap
Backside Tackle: Backside B Gap
Backside Tight End: Backside C Gap
Once our players understand the zone concept itself, we can move onto
speci c plays within the zone concept. “Force” tells our tight end that he is
responsible for the playside force player. The offensive line blocks zone rules.
This play can also be run from 10 personnel (slot is now responsible for the
force player) or 12 personnel. Inside-, mid- or outside-zone footwork/aiming
points can be used in the back eld. If you have an athletic quarterback, you
can read the backside end by adjusting the mesh with the quarterback and
running back (see Read play below).
Next, we install the “Slice” play. To the offensive line, Force and Slice are the
exact same play. Again, this play can be run with inside-, mid- or outside-
zone footwork/aiming points in the back eld. Slice tells the tight end that he
is now responsible for the backside C gap. He will take a six-inch-width step
with his inside foot, while pointing his toe to the sideline, and hug the heel
line of the offensive line to his assignment. It is important that the tight end
shifts his weight in his stance to his outside foot so that he can step with the
inside foot without false stepping. He will attack the C-gap defender with his
inside shoulder (pull left, hit left and vice versa). As a change-up, we will chop
the inside thigh board of the C-gap defender, especially if the defender is
aggressive in squeezing the hole. Slice can be executed from 10 personnel
by motioning a receiver into a wing alignment pre-snap and crossing the
formation at the snap. It is important to note that in order to block below the
waist on this play, the slicer must start within the tackle box and stay within
the tackle box on any pre-snap motion.
“Lock” adjusts the backside blocking of the zone play. From the center to the
frontside, this play is the same as Force or Slice up front. The backside guard
and tackle are now manned up instead of responsible for their playside gap.
Lock tells the tight end that he is responsible for the backside linebacker.
The tight end will use the same square pull technique on this play that a
backside guard would use on Power. He will take a six-inch-width step with
his inside foot while keeping his toes pointed down eld. He will then shuf e
or skip, depending on the coach’s preference and wrap through the rst
open window backside of the center. If the carioca pull (crossing over the
outside foot as the rst step) is preferred, that is ne as well. As he is pulling,
the tight end must track his assignment and attack him down the midline,
giving the back a two-way cut. Just like Slice, Lock can be executed out of 10
personnel by motioning a receiver into a wing alignment pre-snap. To the
quarterback and running back, Lock is no different than the base zone play
in terms of footwork, aiming points and reads.
Just like Lock, “Wham” is normal zone blocking up front from the center to
the frontside. The tight end is to trap the rst down lineman backside of the
center. This adjusts the backside guard’s and tackle’s assignments. The
backside guard will release to the backside linebacker and the backside
tackle is now manned up on the end (same as Lock to him). Since the tight
end is blocking a rst-level defender, his initial footwork is the same as Slice.
He will attack the inside number of his assignment with his inside shoulder
and can chop his inside thigh board as a change-up (as long as he aligns
within the tackle box and stays within the tackle box on any pre-snap
motion). The quarterback and running back will execute base Zone. The only
difference on this play is the back must understand that it is dif cult to cut
back all the way behind the wham block by the tight end.
We prefer to run the “Read” play from the pistol alignment instead of from
an off-set shotgun alignment because the defense doesn’t know pre-snap
which way you are running the play. From the pistol, the play can be run in
either direction and either defensive end can end up being the read key. The
offensive line simply executes their normal zone assignments on Read. The
tight end will begin on his slice path at the snap. His aiming point is now the
outside shoulder of the C gap defender instead of the inside shoulder. He
will bluff the defender and then wrap up eld to the most dangerous threat.
He becomes the lead blocker if the quarterback keeps the ball. It is vital that
the quarterback step off the midline on this play to allow the back to get
downhill. The timing of the mesh is vital to the play as well. We teach our
backs to move as the ball hits the quarterback’s hands on read plays instead
of moving at the snap as he would on zone. This allows the quarterback time
to gather the snap, take the correct footwork and make the correct read.
Running Zone away from the tight end can be very effective. Many coaches
prefer this play in order to run it at the low shade (Nose) instead of to the
three technique (Tackle). This allows for double teams on both interior down
lineman. Assignments up front are still the playside gap. If the tight end has
trouble getting the backside end cutoff, short or return motion pre-snap to
get the tight end into the A or B gap will help him with his angle to get a
cutoff.
Lock to the weak side is no different than Lock to the strong side. From the
center to the front side blocks zone assignments. The backside guard and
tackle are manned up and the tight end is responsible for the backside
9/18/2019
linebacker. When lined up No
onFullback? No Problem. The Y-Off Series - AFCA Insider
the backside of the play, the tight end will
enter through the open A gap (vs. a three technique) or B gap (vs. a shaded
nose or 2i technique).
Read to the weak side means normal zone rules to the offensive line. Since
the tight end is already aligned to the backside, he simply arcs outside the
defensive end (read key) and leads on the most dangerous defender.
A few notes to remember when designing a game plan with Y-Off

formation(s).
Tight end motion can be used to get desired match-ups, such as running
a play to a shaded nose or three technique, or at a particular defensive
player. It is easy to install tight end motion across the formation, short
motion or return motion, as well as motioning the tight end (or a
receiver) from a slot or outside receiver alignment to a wing alignment at
the snap.
Gap schemes such as Power and Counter, as well as Man schemes such
as Iso or Wrap, can also be run with the Y off the ball. Again, you are only
limited by the ability of your players to execute and your own creativity
when it comes to installing plays.
All of the plays discussed above can be run from 12 personnel by stacking
both tight ends on the same side of the formation (one on the ball and
one off the ball) or from a balanced formation with one tight end on the
ball and the tight end on the opposite side of the formation off the ball.
We believe that every running play in the offense should also have a
minimum of one play-action pass that looks the exact same for at least
the rst three steps of the play. Below are some examples of play actions
off of zone concepts.
Slice play action is a very effective seven-man protection scheme. The

offensive line is responsible for their playside gap (just as on slice). We teach
them to use the exact same technique that they would use on slice for three
hard steps in order to keep their pad level low and not give the play away to
the defense. On contact or after three steps (whichever comes rst), they will
snap their head out and execute normal slide pass protection. The tight end
will use the same technique as slice but will adjust his aiming point to the
midline of the C-gap defender. The quarterback will sell the handoff and
then setup in the playside A gap. The running back will sell the fake and
then help to the frontside of the protection, checking the edge rst and
then cancelling gaps to the inside, picking up the most dangerous defender.
If desired, the back can be put on a check release to give the quarterback a
check-down option. It should be noted that this protection is vulnerable to a
four-man weak side pressure. To counter that, the back can be told to scan
pre-snap to help on the weak side if needed.
Lock play action is another seven-man protection scheme. Assignments for

the offensive line are the same as lock. Techniques are taught the same as
the Slice play action with three hard steps showing Lock. The only
adjustments that need to be made are for the backside guard and tackle.
Since they are manned up, they must adjust their aiming point to the
midline. Also, the tight end is responsible for any backside edge pressure if
they clear their base assignment (the backside linebacker). The back eld
action for this play is the same as Slice play action and the back can be on a
check release if preferred. The same four-man weak side pressure issue can
be taken care of with the scan technique of the back discussed above.
9/18/2019
Assignments for Zone playNo Fullback? No Problem. The Y-Off Series - AFCA Insider
action away from the tight end are the same as
for the Zone play. The offensive line and tight end are responsible for their
playside gap and will sell the running play for three hard steps. Back eld
action is also the same with the same possible adjustments by the running
back (check release or scan backside).
Many coaches prefer to get four vertical threats in the route immediately. To
accomplish this, the tight end can be put on a free release and a six-man
protection can be used. If you are a team that uses turn protection (half-
man/half-slide) as one of your dropback protections, it can also be used in
play action. Techniques are adjusted just as they would be for the play
actions mentioned above. The back’s assignment mirrors the tight end’s
assignment on Lock play action. He must be taught to recognize four-man
pressures from either side pre-snap and adjust accordingly.
The threat of a Boot or Naked can make your running game much more
effective. Even if your quarterback is not a very good athlete, these are still
essential elements to an offense. It is important that the boot looks the exact
same as the Zone play for as long as possible. If the tight end is aligned to
the play fake (away from where the quarterback is rolling to), he will execute
slice technique at the snap. Just like on Read, he will adjust his aiming point
to the outside shoulder of the defender. If the C-gap defender works up eld,
based off the athleticism of your quarterback, he may have to stay in to
protect him. Regardless, the tight end cannot be in a hurry to get out in the
route. Once your quarterback breaks contain, he has the option to run or
pass.
On Boot with the tight end aligned away from the play fake (to where the
quarterback is rolling to), he will execute his cutoff technique for at least
three steps, preferably ve steps. An important coaching point is for the
tight end to get his hat to the playside number of his assignment to force
the defender to react. If he is impatient about getting into his route, the
defender will have a chance to react to the play too quickly. Again, the tight
end must be taught that his No. 1 priority is protection and if the defender
does sniff the play out, he has to stay in and protect.
While many coaches consider the fullback position obsolete, we feel that in
order to be as diverse as possible on offense, it is essential. By aligning the
tight end off the ball, we can still threaten the defense with four vertical
threats while also keeping the threat of runs and play actions that require a
fullback.
____________________________________
Justin Iske was on the staff at Southwestern Oklahoma State University from
January 2015 until December 2017. In his two years at SWOSU as the
Offensive Line Coach and Co-Offensive Coordinator, Iske coached 10
offensive players who received all-conference recognition and helped lead
the Bulldogs to a bowl game appearance. Prior to arriving in Weatherford,
he was the offensive line coach at Fort Hays State University for four seasons.
Other stops in Iske’s career include: Northwestern Oklahoma State
University, Fort Scott Community College, Arizona Western College,
Southwest Minnesota State University, Northern State University, Midland
Lutheran College and the University of Nebraska-Omaha. The 2017 season
marked Coach Iske’s 22nd year coaching college football.
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9/18/2019 No Fullback? No Problem.

The Y-Off Series - AFCA Insider

One of our basic philosophies on offense is to run a small core number of

Frontside Tight End: Frontside D Gap

A few notes to remember when designing a game plan with Y-Off

Slice play action is a very effective seven-man protection scheme. The

Lock play action is another seven-man protection scheme. Assignments for

FULLBACK (HTTP://INSIDER.AFCA.COM/TAG/FULLBACK/) OFFENSE (HTTP://INSIDER.AFCA.COM/TAG/OFFENSE/)

TECHNICAL MANUAL (HTTP://INSIDER.AFCA.COM/TAG/TECHNICAL-MANUAL/)

Tweets by @WeAreAFCA (https://twitter.com/WeAreAFCA)

AFCA WOULD LIKE TO THANK ITS CORPORATE

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