I would like to pick up where I left off on from the my last blog and now talk about adding a draw play to the Sprint Out Protection described previously. I will talk about each position as if we were on the left hash and “selling” sprint out to the right using a 3 x 1 (11 personnel) formation with the TE to the field (right). I never call this play until the front side inside LB is “biting” and fast flowing to the sprint out because we don’t account for him in the blocking scheme on the draw.
WR’s:
They run a pass concept associated with a sprint out concept that will take defenders away from where the RB will be going on the draw (left side in this example). Therefore, the single width WR in the left will run a post route to try and clear out any backside defenders. Having them just run a route I have found sells the sprint out better and, let’s face it, sometimes WRs just aren’t that good at blocking defenders in space.
TE:
He will be lined up to the field and do the exact same thing as if he were running the sprint out protection described in the previous blog.
QB:
This should be run out of the same backfield set as the sprint out pass. The QB must also know to check out of the play and just run a sprint out pass when he gets “2 on the backside edge”. This means that along with a possible wide DE on the backside (left), he may also have an OLB or safety lined up on that same edge and, therefore, we cannot account for one of those defenders. The path he takes when receiving the snap needs to be the same as a sprint out pass making sure the RB will be on his inside as he sprints out. After the hand off, he needs to carry out his sprint out and attempt to hide the ball away on his right side.
RB:
The RB will take his first three steps as if he is getting to the edge but now his steps will be as follows: open, cross over, plant. On that plant step with the right foot he will turn shoulders, change directions, and receive the ball from the QB working flat across the bow of the formation. The alley to hit the ball vertical should be in the left side A or B Gap. A Key coaching point on this play is to get the shoulders slightly turned on the first three steps to really sell that he is trying to get to the front side edge to block. Intentionally looking with his eyes to the front side also helps in the selling of this play on his first three steps as well.
Right OT:
As with the TE, he does the same thing as if it were a sprint out protection.
Left OT:
He will do the same thing as on a regular sprint out but will need to make sure he gets to the inside edge defender and runs him wide and out so he creates more running room for the RB. NOTE: If the backside DE tries to merge down inside, the OT must immediately drive and wash him flat down the line so that when the RB receives the hand-off he sees this and breaks to the outside of this block. This should not happen if there is just one defender outside of this OT but occasionally this will happen because he is trying to chase the sprint out and not worried about contain.
Left OG, Center, and Right OG:
These three players blocks will be determined by the interior defenders. A fold block works best with this draw allowing an OL to get around to the backside ILB (Left Side) and seal him off. I will talk about the three scenarios you will get on the interior:
1.). Even front with the 1 Tech (inside the guard) on the right OG and the 3 Tech (outside the guard) on the left OG:
The fold block vs. this front will occur between the OC and the right OG. These two will take their same initial first steps as a sprint out but the OC will continue driving the 1 Tech down the LOS. The right OG will wrap around the OC and fold up to the backside ILB and seal him off “outside-in”. The left OG will take his initial first steps then do the same thing as the Left OT in this example, driving that 3 Tech out and wide to create a seam for the RB to hit. This should become an A gap play for the RB if executed correctly.
2.). Even front with the 3 Tech on the right OG and the 1 Tech on the left OG:
The fold will now occur between the left OG and the OC. The right OG with the 3 tech will now block the exact same way as if this were a sprint out pass. The OC will now be the “folder” as the left OG should drive and wash his 1 Tech down the LOS. The OC now wraps around the left OG and looks to seal the backside ILB off from the “outside-in”.
3.). Odd front with a “zero” tech (head up on OC):
All three OL do the same thing as the example above (#2). However, there is a greater chance with this front that there may be an extra defender back side that we cannot account for.
NOTES:
-Sometimes if your sprint out pass game is really working, you may not have a backside ILB to block as he will be “biting” and chasing the sprint out just like the front side ILB. In this case, your “folding” OL can get upfield looking for a DB to block.
-Using the 3 x 1, 11 personnel formation in this example has given me the best chance of getting a 1 high safety look on the snap as even front defenses tend to drop a safety to the field when they see sprint out action. This removes a backside defender from the blocking equation as he will initially rotate to the field and away from the draw.
-A key coaching point for the “folding” OL is that he should wrap tight around the down blocking OL so that there isn’t a chance for a “run through” of the ILB he is attempting to get to.
-A Throw Back Screen is another “counter” play to consider when using the sprint out pass as part of your offense and can be used to keep defenses honest.
*If there are any questions regarding the Sprint Out Protection, Sprint Out Draw, or the Throw Back Screen, please do not hesitate to contact me.