"Putting Out the Fire (Zone)" - Gunter Brewer (Part II)

Another way OSU looks to attack the fire zone is with their quick passing game.
(for a detailed view of the staple of OSU’s passing attack, the four verticals package, check out Chris Brown’s blog)
SCAT out of 3 x 1
The scat concept out of 3 x 1 is a great way of exposing the horizontal stretch of a 3 underneath zone coverage. It is an evolution of Y Stick, and further evolved itself to the current spacing concept.

Just like the spacing concept detailed before, the inside receivers are looking to put the middle hole defender in conflict. They work to get in between the MLB and the PSL B at 6 yards and sit down.

The Z (playside outside receiver) runs the clearing fade (FOR / Force Outside Release) to draw greater a void underneath. The shoot by the F converts to a wheel if seeing press man coverage.

The added benefit of 3 x 1 is the bubble route run by the H. This not only provides a release outlet, but also stretches the SCIF player to defend the sideline to the hash.

Regardless of the coverage, this concept is adaptable and can stress the defense regardless of the assignment. The X & Y run a “sneak” (stick) route at a depth of 6 yards to 2-on-1 attack the MLB.

• Vs zone – split the difference between defenders
• Vs man – push in hard and bounce back out

If the linebacker crosses the receiver's face, he should look for the ball. If the receiver gets walled (from an inside stem), he will sit and bounce back out (working off of MLB)

This provides a failsafe plan of attack for the quarterback. All he has to determine is if it is MOFC or MOFO coverage and then immediately attack the appropriate defender.

• Vs 1 high – look weak (key the flat defender)
• Vs 2 high – look strong (key the flat defender)
• Vs man – Sneak/Wheel

It is important to see the seams / voids created with so much defensive movement of players replacing one another.

“You have to get them, before they get you”

Attacking the Linebackers

Against the zone blitz, the inside receiver should look for the dropper (weight not on the hands), and anticipate his drop. The rationale on spotting the dropper, is because in 3x1 the MLB is the target. He will have to expand to #3 away from the hole to match #3’s route dispersion.

When the playside linebacker is in man coverage, he will not be sitting or dropping to the seam, he will be expanding to chase the back on flare (leaving a large void in the area he is leaving). The WR to the chasing linebacker must look for the ball in his first 3 steps. To take advantage of this big-play potential, it is important to identify the coverage presnap via shifts, motions, and altering the tempo.

If the linebacker drops, the receiver will go underneath, work the hole inside, and off the drop of the MLB.

If the linebacker “sits”, the WR must decide the over/under position to best work (find the hole).

If the linebacker walls or prevents an inside release (typically if the defense is aggressively trying to stop follows, meshes, etc) the WR should use a bounce technique and work back outside.

The following is an example of the evolution of the (double stick) scat concept (and how it helped evolve spacing)

Shown here by BYU and NC State, featuring a young Philip Rivers

Does this Y Stick concept from Norm Chow's 1995 playbook look familiar?

It should

Y Stick vs the Fire Zone
This is a great concept to work against the leverage of hole and seam players. This also works against both 1-high (MOFC) and 2-high (MOFO) coverages equally well. Where spacing featured 3 sticks, Scats featured 2 sticks, now Y Stick features just the TE sticking based on the MLB.

1 high defense

With the backside 2 receiver combo, the inside receiver route essentially becomes the shoot route being run on the TE side. Rather than elongate the throw by immediately pressing the sideline, the receiver vertically presses 6 yards and then keys the corner on whether he should sit (if corner sits / flat) or continue expanding to the flat (if corner retreats).

2 high defense

An illustration of the stick concept vs 2-high defense against Texas Tech (actually the very play that the opening picture was taken from)

This play / pictorial best illustrates identifying the 'hot' key of a man-linebacker. Watch the 8 technique SLB racing to chase the shooting F out of the backfield. The SLB isn't dropping, he is quickly widening flat. Recognizing this, the Y quickly turns his shoulder in anticipation of receiving this quick throw.

Once the QB identified man-coverage, he locks onto his Y and is going to deliver the ball away to the shoulder away from the MLB on his hitch step.

(Very little thinking required here - just react to the immediate key)

The TE makes a great catch outside his body, which affords him more room and momentum to turn upfield away from the MLB. Now it is the Y versus the Safety.

The receiver runs over the safety, the chase ensues, and makes a bad-angled corner miss.....and its SHOWTIME in the endzone!

More on Y Stick

"Putting Out the Fire (Zone)" - Gunter Brewer (Part I)

Here are notes and thoughts from OSU Offensive Coordinator, Gunter Brewer, on beating fire zones. Brewer offers his perspective of embracing this aggressive 5 man pressure and looks to exploit the voids and liabilities of 3 deep / 3 under coverage.

one bad ass offensive mind

In this first installment, we'll look at how Brewer uses his permiter run game to attack edge blitzers and SCIF players.

standard strong-side fire zone

standard weak-side fire zone

examples of fire zone blitzes

Fire zones typically occur based on a recognizable pattern. This may be predicated on personnel, offensive formations, and who you are (as an offense).

OSU's 3 ways to take advantage of the fire zone

(with perimeter runs)
INTO the fire zone (teeth)

• Full zone boss scheme
• Zone option scheme

AWAY from TE zone (backside)

• TE full zone stretch
• TE or nub lead zone stretch
• TE inside zone

AWAY from fire zone (A gap)

• TE 1 back power O
• TE or nub 2 back power O

To be successful in withstanding these often surprising, overload attacks, you have to know it inside and out. You do this with film study. Develop a plan for any and all situations that your opponent will run a fire zone (when, how, why , & where).

Narrow it down based on stages of the game. Most defenses have a signature on when they will run these. Look for an MO based on;

• down and distance
• areas of the field
• personnel groupings
• 4 minute offense
• start of series / half
• sudden change, etc

Timing is everything when beating the fire zone
The key element that all offenses have is the snap count. Get the defense to show their hand by controlling the pace of the game. It is critical to alter your tempo and snap count to disrupt disguise, timing, and overall execution of the fire zone.

Brewere recommneds using the “early” or “late” concept. Snap the ball fast or late, to keep the defense out of rhythm. Alter the tempo by going on first sound, on normal cadence, using freeze, double-freeze, using a long count, having the quarterback double-kick during the cadence, and/or use hurry-up.

“If they’re not showing you (their intentions), you’re not doing enough NASCAR.

[which means] You have slowed the tempo down so much, they have got you figured out. They’re holding their water”

Additional coaching points in handling the blitz;

• The outside receiver has man-on and looks to gain inside leverage.
• #2 to the call (inside receiver) has high safety (if safety comes to blitz, don’t block him – take his replacement), we want to pitch.
• The QB secures snap, steps with playsidde foot and immediately attacks the D gap player to pitch key.
• Playside Tackle & playside TE stretch step and work to Playside LB.
• Playside Guard & Center zone step and work to backside LB.
• The backside receiver has deep cutoff.

The basic plan of attack is using speed option to the open end and Zone option to TE side

Nothing really changes in execution when you run it open or closed, because you’re still pitching off the 4th defender (1st guy outside the box).

With the fire zone, Brewer also mentions that it is important to cue the Defensive End (either from coaches in the box or the players on the field) . Whether it is high school, junior high, or pros, if he’s rushing, he’s in the ground (and coming) in a scissors stance. Watch for the one who is getting square and getting light in his hands, this will indicate that the end is dropping away from the overload, which will determine which direction you will attack (based on your philosophy of going into or away from the blitz).

The following are examples of using these perimeter runs to attack the zone blitz.

Attacking the closed end / nub to the boundary;

As the pitch key widens, the TE simply displaces the playside linebacker, rather than looking to reach him, creating a seam for the QB to continue to vertically press.

Attacking the open end

This is a good illustration of the two blitzing threats to the open side. The LB & S creep at the snap. The LB gets caught in the wash, providing the QB with a distinct pitch read on the Safety.

The safety continues to widen for pitch, opening a wide running lane in the seam.

Persistent perimeter blocking by the receivers shows how explosive these plays can become when dealing with retreating deep 1/3rd defenders and a SCIF player put in extreme horizontal conflict.

Coming soon, "Putting Out the Fire (zone) with Stick/Scat"