4-2 defense vs Flexbone Triple Option

[Rebel Yell]

The following scenario unfolded twice this past season. It was very effective in disrupting the offense. I will give you the alignment and techniques as best I can. It will be up to you to attack the defense. The Front is diagrammed below.

...............................fs.........................
c.............................................................c
............s.........lb...............lb........s
....................5......2i...2i......5
0....................0...0..c...0....0...................0
....................0.........q..........0
................................f

The defense played the triple in the following manor:
both DT's played 2i/2 techs did good job of controlling OG and A gap. Taking away Midline by alignment and play. These two were very good FB players!
5 techs would squeeze hard to the FB
LB's line up inside hip of 5 tech, would scrape hard to FB also----> this effectively took the dive away and forced a pull by the QB.
the outside S/olb, came hard to QB forcing pitch.
the FS would come up to take pitch and was very good at doing so. The FS was an exceptional FB player and did a great job of getting to the pitch man, almost always limiting him to a very short gain if any.

What would you do vs. this front? How would you attack it? At first look of the defense you see some obvious things.

At the end of the week I will provide what actually occurred in this game including how the offense initially attacked the defense, then the adjustments(if any) that were made.

Have fun... I hope this gets some good discussion going.

[midlineqb]

Coach what was the BSLB doing when the veer look went right? Did he scrape to PS, flow PS, or sit? What about the BSOLB on flow away?

[Rebel Yell]

MidlineQB- Backside LB and OLB played full flow away, slow flow with leverage consciousness.

[bkoption]

Coach are we limited formation wise or can we utilize additional formations?

[Rebel Yell]

Bkoption-- you are welcome to attack the defense as you see fit. If you want to change the formation that is ok.

[bkoption]

The Formation is the first thing I would adjust. I would go to a trips with out a TE and an unbalanced with the TE. See how they adjust and go from there.
If they are overplaying the motion I would either utilize a formation with no motion or run some counter / reverses away from motion.

Out of the Basic Flex bone formation 2 WR 2 slots. This is how I would attack them:

1. The midline:
Center - chip the backside DT on the way to the BSLB.
PSG - outside release to the PSLB
PST - Kick out the 5 tech. If my Tackle can not make this block I would be forced to either bring in a TE or go straight to the IV.
PSRB - L block inside of Tackles kick out and most likely the Guard to the Free.
PSWR - Stalk block man on
BSG - get vertical movement on the DT call for help from the center.
BST - Base the BS5 tech
BSRB - orbital motion carry out pitch fake to hold the strong safety.
BSWR - cross field cut off
QB - Read the 2 or 2i (think pull on the 2i but still read it) If it is a pull read replace the read TIGHT. (there may not be a ton of space with the 5 squeezing)
FB - run the midline

2. Inside Veer
C - Take the best angle possible to the play side. C will likely intercept the BSLB
PSG - Base block the 2 or 2i He has a great angle and if he is pinching to stop the midline it should be an easy block.
PST - Inside release to the PSLB If he is pinching inside we should intercept him right away so we have to be ready for a quick collision. If he does scrape outside the G will continue to climb and will pick up the Free.
PSRB - seal block checking PSLB o Free. If the PSLB crashes or is blocked by the G then he will climb to the free. If the PSLB scrapes outside he will seal him.
PSWR - Stalk block man on
BSG and BST - SCOOP backside A and B gap. May call the cut on or off depending on the 2 or 2i most likely it will be off and there will be no cut block.
BSRB - orbital motion pitch path
BSWR - cross field cut off
FB - IV run the path fast and tight
QB - read IV if it is pull your a runner until someone takes you

3. Play action

WR Slat off of an IV action take advantage of the over play from the strong safety (be careful with the Free on his way to take pitch)

PSRB seam off of IV action We want the RB to make it look like he's going to seal inside then take it up the seam. Take advantage of both the Strong safety and the Free flying to the play side,

Unless their's are a whole lot better than mine I feel pretty confident against this defense.

[colee]

1. Midline to the 2I - we block the 2I with the PSG and block the 5 out with the tackle. Fold the playside up on LB and use the motion slot to block the LB. If the 2I pinches, our FB's naturally crossed the face of the 2I and ended up being another blocker. The QB has an automatic pull. So I guess you could call it a QB ISO.
2. Rocket - if the FS goes hard to pitch - go to #3
3. Fake Rocket throw the BS Post.
4. Counter ISO - with the LB's widened a bit - you have excellent blocking angles

[Rebel Yell]

GREAT STUFF KEEP IT GOING..IN A WEEK I WILL SHOW YOU WHAT HAPPENED.

[turney]

VEER
Sent the PST and PSHB to the PSLB. If he fill then the PST has him and I have the PSHB on the FS. If he scrapes then I have the PST chasing the FS. Base combo the 2I with the PSG and C. Base the Corner with my WR. Read the DE, pitch off the PSS and off we go. This is going to force the FS to run the alley (our ultimate objective) to open the Play Action Pass.

Speed Option
Double the 5 with the PST and PSHB to the PSLB. This is a 2 on 2 combo. Use the fb for a veer fake and he is around the double team and blocking the FS. Pitch off the S and off we go.

Kind of brief because of time but thats it in a nut shell.

[bobbyd]

I would tighten the guards to 1 and half and widen the t to 5 and give the fb the ball. This defense looks like rutgers defense against Navy.

[kc361]

PRIMARY RUNS in this game plan

Base Dive
C, PSG combo the 2i to the BSLB
PST turns out on the 5
PSHB leads into the B-gap for the PSLB
Backfield action is ISV with an automatic give to RB

Inside Veer
C, PSG combo the 2i to the BSLB
PST releases inside to PSLB up to FS
PSHB releases outside DE to PSLB up to FS
dive key = DE
pitch key = SS

These two plays will complement each other well against this defense for several reasons.
(1) Almost eliminates the DTs (with a double team)
(2) Attacks the PSLBs responsibilities (B-gap v the base dive and C-gap v the ISV) with same backfield action
(3) The game becomes a RB and QB game, which is where we put our best players, anyway.

Possible defensive adjusment
(1) Put DTs head up the Gs and make them 2-gap players
(2) Put DEs head up the Ts and LBs stacked and play games

Possible offensive answers
(1) Midline with a loop release by PSG
(2) Quick Trap with an influence pull by PSG
(3) OSV with PST/PSHB combo on DE/PSLB...should be a give read
(4) Midline triple with veer release by PSG, combo by PST/PSHB on DE/PSLB, pitch key is SS

COMPLEMENTARY RUNS
(1) Counter Option (gap scheme with pulling BSG)
(2) HB Counter (man scheme with pulling BST)

PRIMARY PASSES
(1) ISV P/A with HB up the seam (make the FS pay for getting into the alley too quickly)
(2) ISV P/A with PSWR on post and/or post corner (pick on the CB in virtual 1-on-1 coverage)
(3) ISV P/A with PSWR and/or BSWR on quick slant (underneath coverage should be exposed for committing 100% to the run)

kc

[midline2]

There are some great ideas on here as how to defeat this defense. One suggestion I would have would be as the game wore on, and you were continually getting PSLB scraping to C Gap as soon as he sees the PSOT ISV release, would be to have your Tackle begin to ISV release but then turn back and block the DE. I hope this makes sense on what I am explaining, its easier seen than explained. Navy does this later in games and it always busts for big yards because that PSLB scraps over top of it every time.

[kc361]

midline2,

yes. you can even have the PST veer release through the inside shoulder of the DE on ISV. now, he'll have a real tough time be able to read which play is coming at him (base dive v ISV).

kc

[coachveer]

Any time we get dbl 2i we made add a single TE into the game out of a balanced look- Going try and force a 3 tech. If not we may hammer Inside Veer back to the TE side. We would midline/IV "load check w/ me to the TE side.

We would also go unblanced with both SE on the same side. This gives us an extra hat on the FS in the alley

Midline-
Would try and either LOOP midline or Loop trap. Fold the bksd Center and G. (Gotta test)
IV-
Out of balanced 3 back sets.
1-Load Crack-
Plsd Slot-Load IL
SE crack on SS
QB pitch off of Corner.

Counter ISO.
They are giving it to us...can we take it.

Pass-
-Waggle, Waggle, Waggle. If the safety is going to run the alley that can't defend Waggle.
-Any tripps combo routes.
-8 Man protection and try and throw Post/Wheel off of OV PAP.

[veerman]

If the FS is a great athlete you must slow him down to have any success with the veer. He was probably too good to run the seam past him, so I would try and hit him with a veer BS post to the WR. This should at least make him look back and slow him up a little. To slow down the DE I would run counter option or reverses to the WR off of veer.
Some other ideas run load option, or a G option where QB reverse spins and the PS G and FB lead on the option. I also like a quick trap with G influencing the DT. Just some ideas.
This is a great idea!!!! Learning a lot of new ideas.