All22 Analysis - Coverages & Concepts

Triangle Stretch concept
There are countless ways to create a triangle stretch, so there is no specific route combination. The idea is to combine a horizontal stretch with a vertical stretch, and provide the QB with a triangle read in a specific area of the field. Running it from a bunched formation gives it a man coverage busting element to the route combination.

The Corner (yellow) and the Curl (orange) create a vertical stretch. The Curl and the Out (red) create a horizontal stretch.
Progression for this specific route combination: Corner - Out - Curl

Blue is vertically stretched as he is wary of the Corner route and has his hips turned upfield. Orange is horizontally stretched as he is wary of the Curl. This opens a window for the Out route to be targeted.

vs Cover3

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The Snag (yellow) and the Curl (red) create the vertical stretch. The Curl and the Flat (orange) create the horizontal stretch.
Progression: Flat - Curl - Snag


Blue is vertically stretched. Orange is horizontally stretched.

vs Tampa2

Smash Divide
- Triangle stretch: horizontal stretched deep zone defender + vertically stretched underneath zone defender
- Effective against: Cover 2 Zone, Tampa 2, Cover 1
- Progression: Divide - Corner - Curl; 7 step timing

The Corner (red) and the Curl (orange) provide the vertical stretch on the sideline zone defender (Smash concept).
The Divide route (yellow) and the Corner (red) provide the horizontal stretch on the safety.
The Divide route makes a 'MoFC vs MoFO' read and adjusts accordingly. Versus Cover 2 (middle of field open), it hits the seam between the two safeties. Versus a cover1 safety (below), it flashes across the face of the safety to draw attention.


The Divide route reads 'Middle of Field Closed', and will flash across the face of the cover1 safety. The safety follows the Divide route, opening up the Corner route.

Spot Concept
- Triangle stretch: vertically stretched sideline zone defender + horizontally stretched underneath zone defender
- Effective against: Man coverage when run out of a bunch formation; zone coverage
- Progression: Flat - Corner - Curl (the progressions will vary depending on the playbook)

This is a Smash (vertical stretch) + a Curl-Flat (horizontal stretch) concept combined together. The Curl route can be replaced with a Snag to create more of a pick/rub action versus man coverage.


Orange is horizontally stretched, blocking the passing lane to the Curl. Blue is vertically stretched, sagging to defend the Corner (with a safety over the top). Correct throw is to the Flat.


vs Tampa2

Mesh concept
- Man coverage buster. When read is 'zone coverage', both drags can stop and sit down in a soft spot to create a 2v1 horizontal stretch on a hook zone defender
- Effective against: Cover 2 Man, Cover 1; can be adjusted to beat zone coverage: Tampa2, Cover 3
- Progression: There is no specific route combination to run the Mesh concept. Two Drag routes (short crossers), or two intermediate crossing routes can work.

When the two routes meet, the route that comes underneath is usually the primary read of the concept. Read #2 on a play using the Mesh concept is usually some other route on the play, not the other route in the Mesh concept. Both routes can crisscross, or run nearby each other, to set a pick on the defender(s) following in man coverage.


The route that is run at a deeper depth sets a partial pick to create separation for the underneath Drag



The routes come from opposite sides of the formation so that the WRs have speed to maximize run after catch.

Pick/Rub routes

Pick plays can be used to create separation with man coverage defenders. There are countless ways to execute a pick. Route combinations will vary. A 'Bunch' formation can set a natural pick and is commonly used to help bust man coverage.
- Man coverage buster
- Effective against: Cover 1, Cover 2 Man, Cover 0
- Progression: varies

The pick needs to occur within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage to avoid offensive pass interference.



vs Cover 0

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vs Cover 1

Double Moves

Precision route running can gain separation against a defender singled up in man coverage. Double moves are used to get the defender leaning the wrong way before the second cut in the route is made to get separation. Many different types of double move routes: slant/go (Sluggo), post/corner, curl/out (Pivot), hitch/go, etc.

Effective against: Man coverage

Triple move: Slant-Corner-Post route
Jab step to the Slant gets the defender leaning forward.


Cut to the Corner gets the CB to turn hips upfield.


Post

Waggle concept

The concept is in the QB rollout with blocker(s) in front. The blocker(s) can be a pulling OLman, RB, or TE. Route combinations vary.


The RB executes a playfake and will become a blocker to support the QB rollout.


The RB throws a block as the QB rolls out to the strong side of the formation. On this particular play, there is a High-Low read on the sideline zone defender.

vs Cover3

Bootleg Concept

The concept is in the QB rollout with no blockers in front. Route combinations vary.

Effective against:
- Zone coverage; all defenders looking at offensive backfield and susceptible to playaction
- a defense having trouble stopping the run


RBs and OLine sell playaction to strong side of the formation as WR routes flow in the opposite direction.


QB naked rollout (bootleg). On this play, Low-High (High-Low) read on Hook/Curl zone defenders.



Bootleg flows in opposite direction of playaction.

Designed Throw

There are no specific route combinations for this concept. It is a concept where there are few (if any) progressions, and minimal defensive reads. An example is a screen pass to the RB where the entire offense will block for the RB, and the QB has one very obvious primary read.

- Effective against: Varies on the design of the play. Can be designed to bust man or zone.


The primary WR stays low (low hat) as if to run block, attempting to sell the run. Fake QB Sweep right.

Packaged Plays (Run Pass Option)

The concept of a packaged play allows the QB to make a post snap read of the defense and select the best option for the play. The options can be to handoff, pass, or run.

There are many ways to design a packaged play, but most designs will have a zone-read play (HB dive/QB keeper) combined with a quick 'pop pass'. The quick pass is because the OLine always blocks as if it's a RB handoff, and waiting too long to throw a pass will result in an ineligible receiver downfield penalty.

The OLine will zone step laterally to prevent from firing up field too quickly (ineligible WR), and always blocks as if there is a RB handoff. The run portion of a packaged play can be designed to be an inside or outside zone run.


QB reads the key defender who is removed from the box - giving a 5v5 blocking matchup in the box. The QB's keys will vary depending on the play design.


3v3 for the WR screen option. The decision is the RB handoff.



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Later in the same game: Identical play


Key defender stays in the box and there are 6 defenders versus 5 blockers for the HB dive with the LDE coming in from a wide angle, taking away the QB keeper. The WR screen has a 3v2 advantage for the offense. The decision is to target the WR screen.



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Later in the same game: Identical play


3v3 for the WR screen. 6v5 blockers in the box, but the DE crashes hard on the HB dive. The decision is the QB keep.

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