I began running the Veer later in my coaching career. I had a QB who was a good fit for the
Veer and we were able to get some big plays for our offense. As I became more familiar with
it, the Veer became one of our bread and butter plays. I had won a lot of games running
trap,counter and power but the Veer gave us another way to get the ball on the perimeter and
make plays. I have always liked to throw the ball. I felt that having a solid passing game gave us
the opportunity to stay in big games against great defenses, specially defenses geared to
stop the run. In order to do this effectively I began to spread the defenses out and make them
accountable for our wide receivers. This eventually led to running the spread formations and using
the shotgun.
I felt the shotgun allowed us to do the things we wanted to do with the passing game. So
we had to find a running game from the shotgun to keep us balanced. So I talked to spread
people and researched what they were doing and put together the Veer from the shotgun
which developed into our top running play. We could use two backs, one back with motion, or
use a feather type technique for pitch responsibility. This book will show the different ways that
the Veer was incorporated into our offense.
THE MESH
Quarterback
1. QB’s heels are at 4 yards, in position to receive snap from the center.
2. On receiving the snap, eyes go directly to read, while stepping downhill with the playside
foot and bring your backside foot over, stepping forward to a balanced position. As
you take your first ste, present the ball as deeply as possible for the back. Place ball in
pocket for ride. So you step, step, second step is the ride with back.
3. If read goes outside or upfield, give ball off and sprint down line as fast as possible, looking
like you still have ball. If read goes inside or squeezes down, pull the ball and sprint to your
pitch key, Get downhill as soon as possible.
4. Never pull the ball from the backs pocket when the ride crosses the QB’s front foot.
5. QB should read the window, reading the end man on the line of scrimmage. This will
take care of many games the defense may play.
6. It is important that the QB presents the ball to the back on first step back as far as he can.
When running from a strong or weak alignment, the QB should step at a 45-degree angle to
get a good mesh with the back. It’s the back’s responsibility to get mesh and the QB’s responsibility
for give/keep read. Also it is important for the QB to have both feet in a straight line with one
another when stepping. The QB’s shoulders should be facing the sideline.
The Back
1. If in strong / weak alignment, the outside foot should split the playside tackle’s inside leg.
2. On snap, take a lateral step with your inside foot, turning your shoulders with the step and
crossing over your outside foot at the back foot of the QB. Pivot on your crossover step and
bring your inside leg downhill as close to the QB as you can get. Form a pocket for the ball on
the ride as you bring your inside leg downhill. Be smooth or under control on the ride. Once
going into the mesh, get eyes on read. You want to hug the double team and run to daylight.
3. If from the I formation, take a drop step and work downhill for mesh with QB.
Running veer option from shotgun, with special blocking for read.
Footwork for Veer
The above diagram shows the Pop Step taken by a covered lineman. On the snap
of the ball the lineman will pop back like he would on pass, anchoring his inside foot and
reacting to the defender over him. He will hit the defender with his hands as he goes on
his path to the linebacker. If a defender goes inside on the dive, the lineman should
widen and find the linebacker and seal him to the inside.
WE WORK THE “MESH DRILL” 10 MINUTES EVERYDAY.
We call this a J-Step. The back will just roll into the mesh.He
raise hands like a pass play. After feet are balanced, step forward with front foot for the “Ride”.
1. Lateral
2. Crossover
Set outside foot in the ground and take best path to the LB.
Stick outside foot in the ground on the pop up.
The diagram shows the steps taken by the running back and quarterback to
get in proper “Mesh” with one another.
1. The back will take a lateral step with inside foot, turning his body to opposite
sideline.
2. The back will cross over with his second step aiming at the foot of the QB. As he
takes this crossover step, he will pivot his body so that his shoulders are on his read.
3. The back’s third step will be downhill at his target and mesh with the QB should be
made. It is the back’s responsibility to get into the proper mesh position.
4. The quarterback will step downhill at a 45 degree angle with his playside foot, presenting the ball to
the back.
5. His backside leg will follow, leaving his shoulder square to the sideline. With his
eyes on his read, he will step forward with his front foot to give a good read ride.
Weak Zorro R 142 Veer– 3 call — QBn read the 3 and pitch of SS
BLOCKING FOR VEER
1. The first defender playside, past the center, from a two technique and wider will
be the read. The playside guard will make a 3 call if there is a defender head up
or on his outside shoulder( 3 technique). If the playside guard is uncovered, he will
make a 5 call. We decided to block an inside shade on the playside guard and
make a 5 call. However, you can still make a 3 call vs. this alignment.
2. If the playside guard makes a 3 call, that tells the line that the playside guard is going
pop step, stepping back with outside foot, showing pass and taking the best release
to the playside linebacker. When the playside guard pop steps and shows pass, the
defender over him will react by going outside of him upfield or releasing inside across
the guards face. We tell our guard to punch the defender and release. The pop step
is important in setting up the read. So, the guard doesn’t want to rush it. If the play
side linebacker would plug, then the guard would immediately block him without pop
stepping.
3. If the playside guard makes a 5 call, he is telling the playside tackle that he will pop step
and release up on the playside linebacker.
4. There should be a double team inside of the read and it’s important that there is
movement there.
5. It is also important that the backside tackle cut off the end man on the line and not allow
him to cross his face.
6. Perimeter blocking can vary from game to game or can remain the same depending
how you want to do it. Changing the perimeter blocking also changes the pitch read
so you need to practice your change-ups. Good perimeter blocking is vital to the
success of this play.
7. Widen your splits if the read is on you. Widen out and take maximum splits.
If the 3 technique goes outside of the playside guard, give the ball to the back who should be hugging
the double team. If the 3 goes inside, pull and run option. If DE widens out and the playside
tackle can’t reach him, turn it up inside and get yards.
If DE goes outside or stays outside, give to back hugging double. If DE crosses the
playside tackles face, pull and replace downhill full speed.
**There are some option coaches who check to 5 rather then run the Veer at the 3. I like to run
to the 3 technique. I found it to be very productive.
Zorro R 143 Veer– 5 Call — Qb Read DE and pitch off C.
Dual R Ze 5 142 Veer
42 / 43 VEER CONT.
Feather release for option
10 Personnel
10 Personnel
10 Personnel
Strong Trio R 142 Veer 3 Call
Trio R Ze 5 142 Veer 5 Call
Weak Trio R Ze 4 (Flash) 143 Veer 5 Call
42 / 43 VEER CONT.
11 PERSONNEL
Heels at 4 yards, step downhill at 45, placing the ball in the back pocket for mesh. Eyes on read, if he
is outside give, if inside, pull and run option. Get downhill as soon as possible.
Toes at 7 yards, if strong/weak, run J-step with lateral step with inside foot, taking second step to QB’s
foot, pivoting and working downhill, and give big pocket. Eyes on read and hug the double team.
If Arc release, rip inside arm up inside, work to safety. Attack outside shoulder, secure and climb. IF
playside – man on, outside number. If single side, block force. If 2 receiver side – man on – outside
#’s backside – cross field cut-off. If playside #2, block safety outside #’s. playside single receiver- block
force. If playside outside receiver, block man on, attack outside #’s.
5 Call– PSG uncovered, Pop Step release to PS LB.
3 Call– Base reach man on you.
Make 3 call if man is on or outside shade. Pop Step release to PS LB. Make 5 call if uncovered,
work double team combo with the center. Must get movement with no penetration.
PSG covered – work double team combo with the backside guard.
PSG uncovered – Work double team combo with the PSG.
If 3 Call – double team combo with center.
If 5 Call – stretch base to second level to cutoff LB.
Cut off C gap, don’t allow any penetration to the playside.
ZEBRA R ZE 6 142 VEER 3 CALL
**We have also ran a “Slam” call vs. this front, where we will double combo the 3 and make a
5 call reading THE DE and pitching off the Sam.
Motion to 6, feather to be in 5 X 1 pitch relationship with QB.
T N E
E
W M
S
C
C
FS SS
E N T E
W M S
C C
FS SS
E T N E
W M
S
C C
FS SS
42 / 43 VEER CONT.
11 PERSONNEL
21 PERSONNEL
5 CALL
12 PERSONNEL
WEST R SLOT Z 4 143 VEER 5 CALL
QUEEN R Z 4 143 VEER
DUECE R X 5 142 VEER 5 CALL
T N E
E W M
S
C C
FS
SS
E N T E
W M S
C C
FS SS
42 / 43 VEER UNDER CENTER
ZORRO R 43 VEER
21 PERSONNEL
21 PERSONNEL
The Veer under center and the gun are basically the same scheme with the exception of
line blocking and the use of the Pop Step with the gun. I’ve visited with people who have
blocked them both the same. I chose to use the Pop Step to help time the mesh up and
make the read easier for the QB. If the line blocking is done correctly the QB’s read is simple
which allows fewer mistakes and greater confidence if has the ability to make the right decision.
ZORRO R 42 VEER
I’m not going to spend a lot of time going over the veer with the QB under center. Many
programs have been running the veer this way for years. The line blocking uses the true veer
blocking scheme. Release inside and read the 5 technique. The perimeter is the same but the
point of attack on the dive part is different from the gun. I prefer the veer from the gun
because it allows the QB a downhill read and I believe this is easier for the QB.
E T N E
W M S
C
C
FS
SS
E T N E
W M S
C C
FS SS
Play Action Passes off Veer Action
Strong Zorro R 142 Face20 Rocket Personnel
This play-action pass is one of the best run action routes we have. It looks just like the
veer. However, the QB will pop up off a fake ride with the back and read it inside out. The veer
was my top running play in the shotgun so defenses would react in a hurry to the action and this
would open the double slant. The inside receiver or #2 receiver would run a one step
slant off the inside shoulder off the inside linebacker. If the linebacker disappeared, he would look for
the ball in the open window. The #1 receiver would run a 3 step (outside foot back), flat
slant inside looking for an open window. The back on the option action would continue to run
full speed to the flat. He is hot vs. the blitz. QB will then read inside slant, outside slant, to back.
Trio R 142 Face 10 Personnel
** You can run this out of any formation you want. With or without motion. This is a great Red
Zone pass.
T N E
E W M S
C
C
FS
SS
E N T E
W M S
C
C
FS
SS
Play Action Pass of Veer Action (continued)
Strong Zorro R 142 Choice 20 Rocket Personnel
Trio R 142 Panther 10 Personnel
*** Bootleg action off the Veer. Same play action pass route. Keeping reads simple and we
can rep the route enough that our players know the adjustments to make. You can run the
“Panther” route off this action as well. We try to keep our protection as simple as possible so
that it will be similar to our drop back pass protection. The only difference is we want the linemen
to keep a low hat and be aggressive instead of dropping back. We want to make it look like a run.