Wide receivers have a vital role on all run plays and are some of the most important blockers on the field because it takes 11 guys to make a big play. When watching an explosive run play, you will find that the wide receivers are usually busting their tail to make/hold a block so the running back can spring a big run. Russ Grimm, one of the best gap scheme coaches in the NFL, once said that when introducing a run play to his team he first addresses the wide receivers and their assignments because he knows they are important for turning the 10 yards runs into 50 yard runs. By addressing them first, he hopes it is shows them how important their blocks are in the run game. I believe that as a offensive coordinator or a wide receiver position coach, you need to set the tone that run blocking is the first thing that is looked at when it comes to playing time ("No block, No rock"). Alex Gibbs, the "Grandfather" of zone blocking, cuts very talented wide receivers that don't have the desire and will to block on run plays. Having a great desire and attitude to run block will carry over to other aspects of a wide receiver's game. Run blocking by the wide receivers isn't fun, it takes attitude, and it is very important.
Why Safeties?
"We Don't Block F*cking Corners!" ~ Alex Gibbs
There is couple of main reasons why you shouldn't just line up your wide receivers and assign them to just block the corners. First, when a defense selects defensive back personnel, they usually assign the best cover guys to play corner and their best run supporters to play safety. For that reason, you have to account for them when designing run plays. A great run support safety can come up fast and make a tackle for 0 yards or even for a loss. On the other hand a corner when forced to make a tackle, the ball carrier is probably around 4 or 5 yards down field. Second, safeties are normally better tacklers than corners. A running back has a better chance of breaking a tackle against a corner 4 or 5 yards down field in the open field, than he does against a safety filling a hole at the line of scrimmage.
Assignments
Out of pro formations (receiver to each side), the play side receiver will "Push Crack" on the safety to his side unless the blocking scheme accounts for the play side safety (Force Plays). Examples of plays that account for the play side safety are zone schemes with 4 blockers on the play side or gap schemes that have extra blockers at the point of attack. When the receiver doesn't have to block the safety on his side, he will "Stalk Block" the corner. The back side receiver is also always going to "Push Crack" to the safety on his side.
| Pro Formation |
| Twin Formation |
The wide receiver's split should be around 12 Yards from the end man on line the scrimmage. The wide receiver is going to come out of his stance (outside foot back) for 3 steps up field and break to a point 3 yards in front of the safety he is trying to block. If the corner aligned over him tries to cross his face, then he will pick him up (A). If the safety is aligned deep, the wide receiver shouldn't need to make any adjustments. If the safety is rolled down or is aligned in the box, the wide receiver has 2 options in order to block the safety. The first option the wide receiver has is to immediately release for the safety (B). Instead of releasing up field, the wide receiver is going to come out of his stance and break to a point 3 yards in front of the safety he is trying to block. The second option is to cut his split down to 9 yards or even 6 yards from the end man on the line of scrimmage (C). Generally, this adjustment can be game planned based on knowing how the safety is going to align, how quick the safety is and how fast he reads the run.
1:19
At this mark in the video, the offense is running a power play to the split end side of the formation. The receiver to that side appears to have cut his split down to the about 9 yards. The receiver does an excellent job at breaking for a point 3 yards in front of the safety to his side. The safety doesn't come up so the receiver breaks down attacks the safety. Try to imagine the receiver if he blocked the corner. The safety would have been in perfect position to make the play and the running back wouldn't have gotten the extra yardage. 2:03
At this mark in the video, you can see a perfect example of how blocking out of a twin formations works. At the start of the play, you can see a corner rolled down on the tight side and a deep safety over top of the tight end Leaving a deep safety and corner over the twins. The offense runs an IZ to the twins side and the "Push Crack" by the inside receiver and "Stalk Block" by the outside receiver spring the back for a long run.
2:22
At this mark (it is hard to tell because the play is already started); you can see how blocking the safety is more important than the corner. The play is an inside zone play. The receiver comes down and blocks the middle of the field safety and this springs the running back. Watch the video and see the run support of the corner. He comes in at about 8 yards down field and misses the tackle from the side. With out the receiver blocking the safety, the safety would have been in better position (head-on) to make the tackle.
3:41
At this mark in the video, the offense is running an inside zone play to the split end side of the formation. The play side receiver "Push Cracks" the safety to his side and springs the running back. Watch the video and see the run support of the corner. He comes in at about 4 yards down field and misses the tackle from the side.
5:12
At this point in the video, you can see an excellent job at the back side receiver "Push Cracking" to the safety on his side.
7:02
Here both receivers do an excellent job "Push Cracking". Notice the receiver at the bottom of the screen. His safety is rolled down and he releases directly for the safety. This is an excellent adjustment. He gets the Crack on the safety and springs the running back to the outside where it is one on one with the corner. The corner isn't in a good position for run support and the back breaks a big play.
8:16
This is an example of a "Force Play". The blocking scheme accounts for the safety allowing the play side receiver to "Stalk Block" the corner. The back side receiver still "Push Cracks" to the safety on his side.
Conclusion
Wide receivers play an important part in an explosive run game. Their assignment are very vital to overall success of a play. Take a look at your running game and the responsibilities you put on them. If you don't have your receivers blocking the safeties, you should reconsider. Changing the wide receivers assignments on run plays could turn your 4 to 6 yard gains into 20 or even 30 yard gains becasue you are accounting for the better secondary run supporters.
No comments:
Post a Comment