X&O Labs Article #2 - Feb 26, 2018 MAKING COMPLEX SIMPLE: Adapting RPO’s for All Levels Case Two – Power by Paul Hefty 9th Grade Assistant Coach State College High School, PA Instructor in Kinesiology @ Penn State University INTRODUCTION: If you want to be a physical down-hill run offense while incorporating new RPO concepts, one back power is your answer. It is a great way to also transition from a 2 back and/or under center offense to 1 back spread. The challenge is to adapt traditional power while using an Hback along with 2nd level RPO concepts in a simple and sound manner. First, power blocking uses classic angle blocking with a lead blocker at the point of attack and a kick out block on the edge. By applying power to 1 back spread, you can become a very physical inside run team. I was fortunate to learn and work under Jim Scott @ Aurora University where his teams were consistently one of the most physical D3 teams in the nation (first Chicagoland D3 program to make the national playoffs). Once again, you can use this same power scheme for multiple plays. “Evolved Simplicity” = use only 1 blocking scheme for OLine (Power) – Run or Pass Second, power is flexible in that it can adjust and fit to the strength’s (talents) of personnel from year to year, week to week and game to game. You can run this toward the Hback (strong) or away (weakside) while using very simple and natural teaching techniques for all positions (common sense football). Third, use a scaffolding or chunking teaching progression. Scaffolding or chunking of teaching is a process of introducing information in a way where each future concept builds upon or simply expands the previous concept. Step 1 – Simple 1. Teach using 2x2 and progress to 3x1 alignment 2. Condense QB reads by using same techniques for both run and pass 3. OLine uses a minimum number of blocking schemes Step 2 – Flexible 1. Use simple personnel terminology while each position has a natural twin 2. Power RPO attacks all fronts and coverages (1 scheme for multiple plays) 3. Power has ability to make QB a runner, thrower or dual threat (play to strengths) Step 3 – Scaffolding 1. OLine uses only Power blocking rule for every type of play 2. Pre and Post-snap defensive recognition process that is used with all no huddle plays. This TRI-O process is used with both the OC (coaches) and QB (players) = all on the same page 3. Limited communication to simplify processing for players (think and play FAST) WHAT – WHY - HOW STEP 1 - SIMPLE: We start by installing and teaching everything from “Duo” a balanced 2x2 Hback set. This helps with learning our offensive principle #1 = NUMBERS. Both the OC (from the sideline) and QB can easily see if the defense is balanced or overloaded by using a three step, defensive recognition process of pointing @ 1 or 2 high safeties + hanging backers (Mr0’s) and last the mike backer. But, we like to install and teach our core 3x1 Hback set with Power. When we go 3x1 or “Trio”, our Hback is the only player to adjust (aligns now toward directional call) and it allows us to use the Hback as a receiver in our weakside power scheme or “Will Power” as we call it. Again, the Hbacks alignment can be adjusted pre-snap (using similar formation calls that again, only the Hback adjusts to). This is done with an offensive concept (blocking scheme) in mind, which allows the Hback to have the best leverage for each play. Applying offensive principle #2 = BLOCKING ANGLES. Both the OC and the QB want to call plays to put the OLine and Hback in the best possible blocking scheme based on blocking angles. 3x1 Power also achieves a double whammy to the defense by applying offensive principle #3 = SPEED IN SPACE or FIELD while at the same time giving the offense the ability to use the Hback as a physical kick out blocker or a receiver threat to the field. *Diagram 1: notice 3x1 alignment with Hback in a position to be both a blocker and a receiver Next, everything you do in your offensive design must focus on keeping OLine rules, techniques and adjustments @ a minimum! Power has been our core inside run RPO over the past 5 years because angle blocking creates simple man blocking assignments, allowing the lineman to be physical from start to finish. Once again, the beauty of RPO’s is that it allows everyone to be involved (balance + fun football right from the start). We start by teaching power against a 43 (even) front, then a 42 and last to 34&33 (odd) fronts. Lineman first identify if covered or uncovered by a defensive lineman. We use a “big to back” rule with power, meaning if covered you are big on big (base) and if uncovered block back. *Diagram 2: notice split power RPO – attacking all areas of the defense (opportunity for all) Last, and most important is the need to condense and/or simplify your QB’s read progression. With power we read 2nd level defenders (backers) in our RPO system. Like our split zone-veer (where we read 1st level defenders = defensive end), we use the same read progression (read key defenders depth and hips). With power we teach a simple mantra, “backer sits = back gets” and “backer fills – drill” (pass). By pre-snap reading the defenders depth (are they a run box threat) and then post-snap reading the defenders hips (hips square to LOS and within a yard of LOS during mesh to be a run box threat), we can easily teach consistent decision making for our QB’s to be successful. Minimize the techniques to Maximize the execution ADAPTION: We learned from year one of teaching 1 back power, that 9th graders struggle getting a good blocking fit if we teach upfield steps off the ball. Since 1 back power (from a timing standpoint) is similar to a draw, we teach our lineman to slide with their first step toward the defender they need to fit up with while focusing on hand placement (tight reach – near hand in sternum). This allows our backside OTackle to execute a slide and “lock” block on the defensive end with every power play (simple and sound). Second, we adjusted traditional off-tackle power (C gap) to a “gut” power play which attacks the A&B gaps. The backside pulling guard uses a drop-skip and square technique to lead block on the Mike backer by reading the natural running lane like a fullback either through the A or B gap. We use a simple partner drill with cones to work on developing the proper technique of the power pull (Thanks to Doug Arnold – retired 9th grade Head Football Coach of 35 years & OLine ball coach @ State College High). *partner work on strike progression Work on proper drop-skip & square technique while eyeballing Backer (eat up whole body) Goals – to work pulling technique while feeling pressure of a moving-real defender CH – direct Backers Rotate – 3 quality reps each way *Use Cones (diagram) to get depth on pull t It is important the Back and QB do not rush the mesh. We use a “slow to fast” mantra to teach the back to take 3 steps slowly before sticking his foot in the ground and attacking LOS, following the guards lead. Third, we adjusted our strongside OTackle (next to Hback) to use a “Down” blocking technique on the 3- tech defensive tackle, turning their shoulders down the LOS and driving the defensive lineman down versus combo blocking him to the backside backer. This allows our strongside OTackle to be aggressive and decisive right from the start = physical down-hill power play. The Hback always looks to dig out (get helmet inside and kick out) the defensive end while our QB reads the strong backer (SAM or hanging backer) for the Run-Pass option. These different techniques allowed us to keep the integrity of the power concept while adapting to the needs of a 9th grader football mindset. Last, the coach-OC can also communicate (signal) to the QB to “Alert” him of a potential RPO backer blitz (Will or Sam). This tells QB to think pass first (versus run to pass), taking advantage of an open throwing lane (hot Pop-lookie route). Again, this helps both the QB and coach to be on the same page. STEP 2 - FLEXIBLE: Again, the beauty with one back power is that you have the ability to run it both strong (near Hback) and weak (away from Hback) while using the same RPO route combo (Pop) regardless of the direction. Next, this system and concept fits both a running oriented QB and a passing oriented QB by using the same blocking scheme with the OLine while simply making the QB the ball-carrier. You can add a suffix cue to your power call which indicates that the back fakes and blocks away while the QB now becomes the ball-carrier. The OLine only has to know that this will create a counter look for the defense (particularly the backers) and thus, slow the backers read and fill. This can only help your OLine to make great fits on the front when using QB power. *Diagram 3: notice QB becomes ball-carrier with Back faking away and blocking Will backer blitz ADAPTAION: We started out running power both strong and weak while always reading the Will backer, with great success (Will Power today).