Installation of The Shotgun Offense

1. Installation of The Shotgun Offense F C R W M S C E T T E By James Vint Offensive Coordinator Christopher Columbus High School Bronx, New York

2. Advantages of The Gun • Defenses Have To Account For the QB As A Runner • Every Play Becomes An Option Play • QB Has Easier Pre And Post Snap Reads • QB Already Has Depth In The Pass Game • Offense Can Read Rather Than Block A Defender In The Run Game • QB Works Downhill As Opposed To Uphill From Under C • Linebackers On Their Heels As Gun Is A Pass Formation • In Two Back Gun The D Must Account For 3 Backs and 3 Wideouts • In One Back Gun The D Must Account For Two Backs And Four Wides

3. Comparing The Gun To Under Center F C R W M S C E T T E • Def Accounts For 4 WR and 1 Back • Defense Does Not Have To Defend The QB As A Runner • Defense Can Defend The Box With 6 VS 6 F • Defense Must Account For The QB AS The Second Back • Defense Must Account For Four Wideouts • If D Account For 4 Wides, They Are Left With 6 To Defend 7 In The Box C R W M S C E T T E

4. QB Pre Snap Alignment • QB Aligns at 4.5 yards from the center • Feet are slightly staggered with throwing foot slightly in front • Hands are comfortable, with fingers spread • QB brings the snap through the third hand • QB Snaps Eyes to Read

5. QB Footwork And The Mesh • If The back is crossing the QB, the QB will take a flat step toward the back. We call this SHORT STEP, FLAT STEP. • He reaches the ball deep and feels the bell of the back, snapping his eyes to his read. • He rides the back through while making his read. • “Squeeze and Chase, Pull and Replace”

6. RB Footwork And The Mesh • The back aligns 1.5 to 2 yards behind the QB, straddling the outside leg of the guard. • If the back is crossing the QB, he will take a step opposite the QB, then get downhill. • He must make a deep pocket, with the top palm up. • The back must feel the QB read, and not snatch at the football.

7. Read the Backside 5 Technique The main concept you will get from this manual is the concept of reading the backside 5 technique. The QB will read the backside 5 technique. This allows the backside tackle to work up to the second and third level. Under center, the quarterback is not able to read the backside 5 technique, he is working uphill. From the gun, the QB can read the backside 5 tech and use his rule. QB’s Rule: Squeeze and Chase, pull and replace. If the 5 technique squeezes the tackle’s release and chases the back the quarterback is meshing with, the QB will pull the football and replace the 5 technique. This is a way of reminding the QB to get downhill. If the 5 tech does anything else, the QB gives the ball and carries out a downhill run fake to hold the pursuit. We drill this with our MESH DRILL. The QB’s and running backs work together getting their mesh down, while the QB reads the 5 tech.. We vary how the 5 technique plays in each situation as we drill the mesh and read. Mesh Drill DE If the DE squeezes and chases, the QB will pull the ball and replace the DE. We want the QB to get downhill. C If the DE sits at home, or goes upfield, the QB will give the ball and continue a downhill run fake. QB RB

8. Diagram Of The Mesh • The QB Takes A Flat Step To The Back, then a short step. His feet should face the Sideline, in a heel toe relationship at the mesh point.

9. Same Side Mesh • If the QB is meshing with the back on the same side as the call, his footwork will be similar to inside veer. He will take a short step, then get up in. We want a short step to the back, then the opposite foot working downhill on the Mesh. • The TB will step to the QB, then downhill. He must try to keep his shoulder’s square.

10. Same Side Mesh • QB works his feet to parallel, similar to inside veer footwork. • TB steps to the QB, keeping his shoulders square.

11. Formation Identification Gun Pro (Pittsburgh) R F C W M C E T T E S F C S W M R C E T T E Twins Gun (Minnesota)

12. Formation Identification Ace Gun (Alabama) F C R W M C E T T E S F C S W M R C E T T E Trips Closed (Cleveland)

13. Formation Identification Empty (Gator) F C R M W C E T T E S F C S W M R C E T T E Bunch (Baltimore)

14. Motion Identification • Rip: Left IS Receiver Across The Formation • Liz: Right IS WR Across the Formation • Hump: FB to the TE • Jump: FB away from the TE • Tom: TE to the call • Ted: TE away from the call • Jet: Z across the formation • Zip: Z Into the formation • Zap: Z Away from the formation • Away: TB away from the TE • To: TB to the TE

15. Inside Zone Read From Alabama F C R W M S C • Offensive Line Uses Inside Zone Blocking Techniques • QB Reads Backside 5 Tech • TB and QB Utilize Mesh Footwork E T T E

16. Inside Zone Read With Extra Def F C R W M S C • We use motion to block the extra guy, or we can have the BST block the T and read the E. • Best case is to check to QB Iso through the 3 hole. E T T E

17. Base Dive From Alabama F C R W M S C E T T E • Oline uses base dive scheme • Great vs. 1-5 technique playside • TB and QB Utilize Same Side Mesh Footwork • QB Gives, there is no read • Center Cuts Playside One Tech

18. Base Dive Fold From Alabama F C R W M S C E T T E • Center and PSG will Fold vs. aggressive one tech • Guard Blocks Down, Center Steps Around • TB and QB Utilize Mesh Footwork • Creates Angles For A Quick Hitting Play

19. Base Dive Kick From Alabama F C R W M S C E T T E • Center Pulls and Kicks Out 5 Tech • PST Inside Veer Releases To PSLB • TB and QB Utilize Same SideMesh Footwork • Quick Hitting Play to Put the 5 Tech On Ice

20. 46 Counter Read F C R W M S C • Use Base Dive To Set Up Counter Read • Counter Read Allows You To Read the BS End • You can use motion to account for another defender on the read side. E T T E

21. 46 Scissors Read F C W M R C E T T E S • Scissors Action Holds The Backside Flow • Scissors Read Allows You To Read the BS End • Allows You To Have A Lead Blocker For The QB

22. 42 Tackle Trap Read F C R W M S C E T T E • Allows You To Account For The Will LB • Tackle Trap Read Allows You To Read the BS End • Quick Hitting Play In The Center of The Defense

23. 42 Trap Read F C R W M S C E T T E • Again, Allows You To Account For The Will LB • Short Trap is Quicker Than The Tackle Trap • You can move the QB up to 3.5 Yards

24. Adding The Option Game To The Gun • Forces The Defense To Play Assignment Football • Slows Down Blitzing Linebackers • Creates Opportunities For The Big Play • Slows Down Pursuit of Front Seven • Allows You To Account For More Defenders • QB Makes Reads While Working Downhill

25. Option Plays From The Gun • Inside Veer • Outside Veer • Load • Lead • Speed • Belly • Counter • Trap • Slide

26. Inside Veer From The Gun R F C W M S C E T T E • QB Reads 5 Tech For Give Read, OLB or R for Pitch • Great vs. 1-5 technique playside • TB and QB Utilize Same Side Mesh Footwork • Great vs. 8 Man Fronts • O Line Uses Zone Combination Blocks

27. Speed Option From Alabama F C R W M S C E T T E • O-Line Uses Inside Veer Blocking • Great vs. 1-5 technique playside • TB Drop Steps and Gets Into Pitch Relationship • QB Slides and Attacks PS DE • Zone Combination Blocks Get Great Movement

28. OS Veer Option Option From Gun F C R W M S C E T T E • O-Line Uses Outside Veer Blocking • Great vs. Any Defensive Front Minus and Invert • FB Steps to Play and Attacks 5 hole • QB gets downhill and reads 9 tech • Zone Combination Blocks Get Great Movement

29. Load Option From Gun F C R W M S C E T T E • O-Line Uses Outside Veer Blocking • Great vs. Any Defensive Front Minus and Invert • FB Flashes Hands and Works To Alley Player • QB Uses OS Veer FW, Then attacks 9 tech • Zone Combination Blocks Get Great Movement

30. Slide Option • QB Slides To The Playside and Reads The 5 Tech. If the 5 squeezes, the QB attacks the next defender. If the 5 comes upfield, the QB shovels the ball to the Under Back. • Use Veer Blocking • Puts the five in another lose-lose dilemma

31. Spread Gun 15 Slide F C C S W M $ E T T E From The Even look, the ISWR becomes the pitch man. You can also bubble him and use the bubble as the second option. Keep the bubble behind the line as you have lineman going upfield.

32. Gun Slot 15 Slide F C C W M S $ E T T E

33. The Horses Set The horses set is a set we used to get our QB on the perimeter. We ran the horses set with great success. The base play is 18-19 Horses. We complement this play with 12-13 Iso, and all of our read plays. We also run our zone play, and run play action off the horses. The horses set is designed to get angle blocks on our opponents. The Horses Set Motion

34. Zip 18 Horses F C C W M $ E T T E S Zip Motion

35. Ace Gun 13 ISO vs. 30 Stack F N $ C C W M S E T E From an Even set under center, you couldn’t run the Iso without motioning a slot. From the gun, you the defense has to account for two backs in the backfield, and still account for four wides.

36. Getting Your QB In The Run Game Ace Gun 17 Power F $ C C W M S E T T E From an ace set under center, you couldn’t run the power without motioning a slot. From the gun, you the defense has to account for two backs in the backfield, and still account for four wides.

37. QB Mechanics in the Pass Game • QB Calls The Play Twice In The Huddle • Formation, Motion, Protection, Play • QB Makes A Half Field Read Based On His Pre-Snap Checks • QB Begins Cadence • Hot Color Means Changing The Protection Or Routes • Cold Color, Play and Protection Are Being Run As Called

38. QB Pre Snap Reads Continued • QB Looks Right and Looks Left • He Reads Depth of Corners and Number of Safeties • Receivers Will Signal Technique • QB Checks Inverts and Blitz Combos • QB Checks Off If Needed • QB Raises Hands and Center Looks Up

39. Identifying Coverages • Cover 0: True Man • Cover 1: Man with FS Free • Cover 2: Two Deep Safeties • Cover 3: Three Deep Zones • Cover 4: Quarters, Four Deep Zones • Cover 5: Quarter/Quarter/Half • Spy: Defender will Spy QB (Usually with running QB) • Robber: Defender assigned to Rob or Take and area of the Pass Game Away

40. Identifying Cover 0 F C W M C R E T T E S • Corners Align Inside As They Have No Help • Free Safety Moves Over TE (Check Sam Blitz • Rover Lined Up Over IS WR • Beat 0 With Crossing Routes

41. Identifying Cover 0 F C C W M R S E T T E • Corners Align Inside As They Have No Help • Pre Snap Sam Walks Up To Blitz • Free Safety Moves To Cover ISWR • Beat 0 With Crossing Routes

42. Identifying Cover 1 F C C W M R S E T T E • Corners Align Head Up to OS as they have safety help • FS Stays in Middle, May Favor Field • ISWR are covered • TE May be covered by SLB • Can Be 0 with FS on RB • If Mike and Will Blitz, Play Cover 0 Routes

43. Identifying Cover 2 $ F C W M S E C T T E • Corners Align Press to 5 Yards • Safeties Play Outside The OT’s, Can Be On The Hash • OLB’s Play IS of ISWR, Triangle Technique • The Safety Will Tell You If The Coverage IS Two, Four, or A Cloud Three.

44. Identifying Cover 3 F C C W M $ E T T E S • One Middle Safety, Usually at 12-15 • Corners Play OS Alignment at 7 to 9 yards. • Usually and Invert One Side Of the Field, or a 4-4 Type Look • Tough To Play Cover 2 From a 3 Shell, But Defenses use a 3 shell to disguise cover 4. • Also Looks Like Cover 1. If $ is leveraging TE, expect cover one.

45. Identifying Cover 4 C F $ C W M E T T E S • Two Safeties, Inside the hashes. • Corners in off technique, near safety depth • Usually No Invert versus cover 4 • Expect limited blitzes versus cover 4. • Can Roll Into Cover 3 Strong Or Weak • Defenses Run Cover 4 to get the safeties into the run game.

46. Defeating Pressure • Change Your QB Drop Zone • Use a 3-Step Drop • Use a 5-Step Drop • Use a 7-Step Drop • Use A Sprint Out Pass • Use The Dash Series • Use Screens and Draws • Learn To Throw Hot

47. Route Combinations and Coverage Adjustments F C W M $ C E T T E S • Cali Combo Is A Five Step Curl Flat • Front Side #1 Runs Curl, Number 2 Runs Flat, Number 3 Runs Slice • Backside is a Scat Combo • QB Reads #2 Defender • 5 Step Combo • QB Makes A Pre Snap Read To Go Front Side Or Backside

48. Cali Combo vs. Cover 2 F $ C W M C E T T E S • Curl Adjusts to a 12 Yard Stop • Frontside Runs 12 Yard Outside Release to Press the Corner and Get the $ Over The Top • Flat Can Be Adjusted To An Arc • Backside is a Scat Combo • QB Reads #2 Defender • 5 Step Combo • QB Makes A Pre Snap Read To Go Front Side Or Backside

49. Crossing Combo (Chicago) F C $ W M C E T T E S • Chicago is a 5 Step Combo With A Shallow Cross and 2 or 3 Verticals • Frontside Runs Vertical/Stop Read, Makes Decision at 12 Yards • #2 On Both Sides Runs Seam • Backside WR Runs Shallow Cross • 5 Step Drop • QB Reads Technique Of Safety For Coverage Key • QB Looks At Safety and Reads Backside Hook/Curl Defender

50. Middle Cross Hi Low On Mike (X’s) F C W M $ C E T T E S • Hi Low Combo On The Mike Linebacker • #2 Frontside Runs 5 Yards Vertical and Deepens to 12 as he crosses to the opposite hash • #2 Backside Runs 3 Yards Vertical and Deepens to 7 as he crosses to the opposite hash • 5 Step Combo • Versus Off Coverage, Throw Stops • Back Must Check Then Release Late