Installation of The Shotgun Offense

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Installation of The Shotgun Offense
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• By James Vint
• Offensive Coordinator
• Christopher Columbus High School
• Bronx, New York

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Advantages of The Gun

• Defenses Have To Account For the QB As A Runner
• Every Play Becomes An Option Play
• QB Has Easier Pre And Post Snap Reads
• QB Already Has Depth In The Pass Game
• Offense Can Read Rather Than Block A Defender In
  The Run Game
• QB Works Downhill As Opposed To Uphill From Under
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• Linebackers On Their Heels As Gun Is A Pass
  Formation
• In Two Back Gun The D Must Account For 3 Backs
  and 3 Wideouts
• In One Back Gun The D Must Account For Two Backs
  And Four Wides

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Comparing The Gun To Under Center
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• Def Accounts For 4 WR and 1 Back
• Defense Does Not Have To Defend The QB As A
  Runner
• Defense Can Defend The Box With 6 VS 6

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• Defense Must Account For The QB AS The Second
  Back
• Defense Must Account For Four Wideouts
• If D Account For 4 Wides, They Are Left With 6 To
  Defend 7 In The Box

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QB Pre Snap Alignment

• QB Aligns at 4.5 yards from the center
• Feet are slightly staggered with throwing foot
  slightly in front
• Hands are comfortable, with fingers spread
• QB brings the snap through the third hand
• QB Snaps Eyes to Read

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QB Footwork And The Mesh

• If The back is crossing the QB, the QB will take
  a flat step toward the back. We call this SHORT
  STEP, FLAT STEP.
• He reaches the ball deep and feels the bell of
  the back, snapping his eyes to his read.
• He rides the back through while making his read.
  
• Squeeze and Chase, Pull and Replace

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RB Footwork And The Mesh

• The back aligns 1.5 to 2 yards behind the QB,
  straddling the outside leg of the guard.
• If the back is crossing the QB, he will take a
  step opposite the QB, then get downhill.
• He must make a deep pocket, with the top palm up.
  
• The back must feel the QB read, and not snatch at
  the football.

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Read the Backside 5 Technique
The main concept you will get from this manual is
the concept of reading the backside 5 technique.
The QB will read the backside 5 technique. This
allows the backside tackle to work up to the
second and third level. Under center, the
quarterback is not able to read the backside 5
technique, he is working uphill. From the gun,
the QB can read the backside 5 tech and use his
rule.
QBs Rule Squeeze and Chase, pull and replace.
If the 5 technique squeezes the tackles release
and chases the back the quarterback is meshing
with, the QB will pull the football and replace
the 5 technique. This is a way of reminding the
QB to get downhill. If the 5 tech does anything
else, the QB gives the ball and carries out a
downhill run fake to hold the pursuit. We drill
this with our MESH DRILL. The QBs and running
backs work together getting their mesh down,
while the QB reads the 5 tech.. We vary how the
5 technique plays in each situation as we drill
the mesh and read.
Mesh Drill
DE
If the DE squeezes and chases, the QB will pull
the ball and replace the DE. We want the QB to
get downhill.
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If the DE sits at home, or goes upfield, the QB
will give the ball and continue a downhill run
fake.
QB
RB
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Diagram Of The Mesh

• The QB Takes A Flat Step To The Back, then a
  short step. His feet should face the Sideline,
  in a heel toe relationship at the mesh point.

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Same Side Mesh

• If the QB is meshing with the back on the same
  side as the call, his footwork will be similar to
  inside veer. He will take a short step, then get
  up in. We want a short step to the back, then
  the opposite foot working downhill on the Mesh.
• The TB will step to the QB, then downhill. He
  must try to keep his shoulders square.

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Same Side Mesh

• QB works his feet to parallel, similar to inside
  veer footwork.
• TB steps to the QB, keeping his shoulders square.

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Formation Identification
Gun Pro (Pittsburgh)
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Twins Gun (Minnesota)
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Formation Identification
Ace Gun (Alabama)
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Trips Closed (Cleveland)
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Formation Identification
Empty (Gator)
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Bunch (Baltimore)
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Motion Identification

• Rip Left IS Receiver Across The Formation
• Liz Right IS WR Across the Formation
• Hump FB to the TE
• Jump FB away from the TE
• Tom TE to the call
• Ted TE away from the call
• Jet Z across the formation
• Zip Z Into the formation
• Zap Z Away from the formation
• Away TB away from the TE
• To TB to the TE

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Inside Zone Read From Alabama
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• Offensive Line Uses Inside Zone Blocking
  Techniques
• QB Reads Backside 5 Tech
• TB and QB Utilize Mesh Footwork

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Inside Zone Read With Extra Def
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• We use motion to block the extra guy, or we can
  have the BST block the T and read the E.
• Best case is to check to QB Iso through the 3
  hole.

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Base Dive From Alabama
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• Oline uses base dive scheme
• Great vs. 1-5 technique playside
• TB and QB Utilize Same Side Mesh Footwork
• QB Gives, there is no read
• Center Cuts Playside One Tech

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Base Dive Fold From Alabama
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• Center and PSG will Fold vs. aggressive one tech
• Guard Blocks Down, Center Steps Around
• TB and QB Utilize Mesh Footwork
• Creates Angles For A Quick Hitting Play

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Base Dive Kick From Alabama
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• Center Pulls and Kicks Out 5 Tech
• PST Inside Veer Releases To PSLB
• TB and QB Utilize Same SideMesh Footwork
• Quick Hitting Play to Put the 5 Tech On Ice

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46 Counter Read
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• Use Base Dive To Set Up Counter Read
• Counter Read Allows You To Read the BS End
• You can use motion to account for another
  defender on the read side.

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46 Scissors Read
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• Scissors Action Holds The Backside Flow
• Scissors Read Allows You To Read the BS End
• Allows You To Have A Lead Blocker For The QB

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42 Tackle Trap Read
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• Allows You To Account For The Will LB
• Tackle Trap Read Allows You To Read the BS End
• Quick Hitting Play In The Center of The Defense

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42 Trap Read
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• Again, Allows You To Account For The Will LB
• Short Trap is Quicker Than The Tackle Trap
• You can move the QB up to 3.5 Yards

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Adding The Option Game To The Gun

• Forces The Defense To Play Assignment Football
• Slows Down Blitzing Linebackers
• Creates Opportunities For The Big Play
• Slows Down Pursuit of Front Seven
• Allows You To Account For More Defenders
• QB Makes Reads While Working Downhill

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Option Plays From The Gun

• Inside Veer
• Outside Veer
• Load
• Lead
• Speed
• Belly
• Counter
• Trap
• Slide

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Inside Veer From The Gun
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• QB Reads 5 Tech For Give Read, OLB or R for Pitch
• Great vs. 1-5 technique playside
• TB and QB Utilize Same Side Mesh Footwork
• Great vs. 8 Man Fronts
• O Line Uses Zone Combination Blocks

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Speed Option From Alabama
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• O-Line Uses Inside Veer Blocking
• Great vs. 1-5 technique playside
• TB Drop Steps and Gets Into Pitch Relationship
• QB Slides and Attacks PS DE
• Zone Combination Blocks Get Great Movement

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OS Veer Option Option From Gun
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• O-Line Uses Outside Veer Blocking
• Great vs. Any Defensive Front Minus and Invert
• FB Steps to Play and Attacks 5 hole
• QB gets downhill and reads 9 tech
• Zone Combination Blocks Get Great Movement

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Load Option From Gun
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• O-Line Uses Outside Veer Blocking
• Great vs. Any Defensive Front Minus and Invert
• FB Flashes Hands and Works To Alley Player
• QB Uses OS Veer FW, Then attacks 9 tech
• Zone Combination Blocks Get Great Movement

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Slide Option

• QB Slides To The Playside and Reads The 5 Tech.
  If the 5 squeezes, the QB attacks the next
  defender. If the 5 comes upfield, the QB shovels
  the ball to the Under Back.
• Use Veer Blocking
• Puts the five in another lose-lose dilemma

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Spread Gun 15 Slide
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From The Even look, the ISWR becomes the pitch
man. You can also bubble him and use the bubble
as the second option. Keep the bubble behind the
line as you have lineman going upfield.
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Gun Slot 15 Slide
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The Horses Set
The horses set is a set we used to get our QB on
the perimeter. We ran the horses set with great
success. The base play is 18-19 Horses. We
complement this play with 12-13 Iso, and all of
our read plays. We also run our zone play, and
run play action off the horses. The horses set
is designed to get angle blocks on our opponents.
The Horses Set
Motion
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Zip 18 Horses
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Zip Motion
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Ace Gun 13 ISO vs. 30 Stack
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From an Even set under center, you couldnt run
the Iso without motioning a slot. From the gun,
you the defense has to account for two backs in
the backfield, and still account for four wides.
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Getting Your QB In The Run Game
Ace Gun 17 Power
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From an ace set under center, you couldnt run
the power without motioning a slot. From the
gun, you the defense has to account for two backs
in the backfield, and still account for four
wides.
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QB Mechanics in the Pass Game

• QB Calls The Play Twice In The Huddle
• Formation, Motion, Protection, Play
• QB Makes A Half Field Read Based On His Pre-Snap
  Checks
• QB Begins Cadence
• Hot Color Means Changing The Protection Or Routes
• Cold Color, Play and Protection Are Being Run As
  Called

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QB Pre Snap Reads Continued

• QB Looks Right and Looks Left
• He Reads Depth of Corners and Number of Safeties
• Receivers Will Signal Technique
• QB Checks Inverts and Blitz Combos
• QB Checks Off If Needed
• QB Raises Hands and Center Looks Up

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Identifying Coverages

• Cover 0 True Man
• Cover 1 Man with FS Free
• Cover 2 Two Deep Safeties
• Cover 3 Three Deep Zones
• Cover 4 Quarters, Four Deep Zones
• Cover 5 Quarter/Quarter/Half
• Spy Defender will Spy QB (Usually with running
  QB)
• Robber Defender assigned to Rob or Take and
  area of the Pass Game Away

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Identifying Cover 0
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• Corners Align Inside As They Have No Help
• Free Safety Moves Over TE (Check Sam Blitz
• Rover Lined Up Over IS WR
• Beat 0 With Crossing Routes

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Identifying Cover 0
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• Corners Align Inside As They Have No Help
• Pre Snap Sam Walks Up To Blitz
• Free Safety Moves To Cover ISWR
• Beat 0 With Crossing Routes

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Identifying Cover 1
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• Corners Align Head Up to OS as they have safety
  help
• FS Stays in Middle, May Favor Field
• ISWR are covered
• TE May be covered by SLB
• Can Be 0 with FS on RB
• If Mike and Will Blitz, Play Cover 0 Routes

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Identifying Cover 2

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• Corners Align Press to 5 Yards
• Safeties Play Outside The OTs, Can Be On The
  Hash
• OLBs Play IS of ISWR, Triangle Technique
• The Safety Will Tell You If The Coverage IS Two,
  Four, or A Cloud Three.

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Identifying Cover 3
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• One Middle Safety, Usually at 12-15
• Corners Play OS Alignment at 7 to 9 yards.
• Usually and Invert One Side Of the Field, or a
  4-4 Type Look
• Tough To Play Cover 2 From a 3 Shell, But
  Defenses use a 3 shell to disguise cover 4.
• Also Looks Like Cover 1. If is leveraging TE,
  expect cover one.

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Identifying Cover 4

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• Two Safeties, Inside the hashes.
• Corners in off technique, near safety depth
• Usually No Invert versus cover 4
• Expect limited blitzes versus cover 4.
• Can Roll Into Cover 3 Strong Or Weak
• Defenses Run Cover 4 to get the safeties into the
  run game.

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Defeating Pressure

• Change Your QB Drop Zone
• Use a 3-Step Drop
• Use a 5-Step Drop
• Use a 7-Step Drop
• Use A Sprint Out Pass
• Use The Dash Series
• Use Screens and Draws
• Learn To Throw Hot

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Route Combinations and Coverage Adjustments
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• Cali Combo Is A Five Step Curl Flat
• Front Side 1 Runs Curl, Number 2 Runs Flat,
  Number 3 Runs Slice
• Backside is a Scat Combo
• QB Reads 2 Defender
• 5 Step Combo
• QB Makes A Pre Snap Read To Go Front Side Or
  Backside

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Cali Combo vs. Cover 2
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• Curl Adjusts to a 12 Yard Stop
• Frontside Runs 12 Yard Outside Release to Press
  the Corner and Get the Over The Top
• Flat Can Be Adjusted To An Arc
• Backside is a Scat Combo
• QB Reads 2 Defender
• 5 Step Combo
• QB Makes A Pre Snap Read To Go Front Side Or
  Backside

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Crossing Combo (Chicago)
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• Chicago is a 5 Step Combo With A Shallow Cross
  and 2 or 3 Verticals
• Frontside Runs Vertical/Stop Read, Makes Decision
  at 12 Yards
• 2 On Both Sides Runs Seam
• Backside WR Runs Shallow Cross
• 5 Step Drop
• QB Reads Technique Of Safety For Coverage Key
• QB Looks At Safety and Reads Backside Hook/Curl
  Defender

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Middle Cross Hi Low On Mike (Xs)
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• Hi Low Combo On The Mike Linebacker
• 2 Frontside Runs 5 Yards Vertical and Deepens to
  12 as he crosses to the opposite hash
• 2 Backside Runs 3 Yards Vertical and Deepens to
  7 as he crosses to the opposite hash
• 5 Step Combo
• Versus Off Coverage, Throw Stops
• Back Must Check Then Release Late

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Rocket Double Screen
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• QB Will Catch, Pivot, and Throw
• Call Side Runs Rocket, Backside Runs Swing
• TE Cracks Mike
• Backside WR Cracks 2
• Backside RB Runs Swing
• Frontside Back Dives Into Line Towards DE
• Frontside WR Rocker Steps Forward and comes back
  through the ball
• Tackles Have the Sidewalk
• Guards Have the All
• Center Has Inside Alley

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Alabama Rip Blue 5 Cali Right
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• Alabama is the formation
• Rip is the motion
• Blue 5 is the protection
• Back Away from TE runs Swing
• Backside is a Scat Combo
• QB Reads 2 or flat Defender
• 5 Step Combo
• QB Makes A Pre Snap Read To Go Front Side Or
  Backside
• If the runs with the motion or inverts with the
  F, throw backside

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Tennessee 3 Step Complement To Cali Combo
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• Three Step Drop Changes The QB Drop Zone
• Similar To Cali Combo, but routes are adjusted
  for shorter drop
• Playside 1 runs a slant
• Number 2 runs a flat route
• 3 Still Runs A Slice
• QB Reads 2 or flat Defender
• QB Throws on his third step
• QB Makes A Pre Snap Read To Go Front Side Or
  Backside
• If the runs with the motion or inverts with the
  F, throw backside

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Pass Protection Schemes

• 3 Step Protections are a gap punch protection
• We aggressively pass protect to keep the hands
  down
• We use a low hat to pass set
• We protect the inside first and throw hot off
  blitzers

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Five Step (BOB) Blue Protection

• We use Big-On-Big Techniques in our five step
  game.
• We block down guys first, then up guys.
• We pass set and punch, dropping our outside foot.
• O-Line Must Keep Shoulders Parallel to LOS
• Throw hot off blitzers
• We call our Blue protection with a number so
  everyone knows the number of protectors

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Blue Protection

• Blue 5 is a base 5 man protection.
• Blue 6 Keeps One Back
• Blue 7 Keeps In Two Backs
• Stay tells the TE to Stay
• Blue 9 Is A Max Protect
• All backs and TEs are in routes and are not
  staying to protect.
• We must block down guys first.
• Vs. Even fronts, we account for 4 down guys and
  Mike or Will.
• Vs. Odd fronts we account for the three or five
  down guys. If there are 3 down, we get the 2
  ISLBs.

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5 Man Protection
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• This is a base 5 man protection.
• We block the man on our outside shoulder
• Uncovered has double read
• QB would check Mac to throw hot off Mike Blitz
• TE is hot off Mike
• QB throws to Flat Route if Sam comes

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Blue 6 Protection
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• This keeps a back in to block
• The back has the Will unless he gets a nasty call
• Nasty puts the back on the EMOL
• If the blitzes, we go nasty and throw hot
• With motion, QB would look frontside with no
  defensive adjustment
• The word STAY alerts the TE he will stay in to
  Block.
• MAX keeps both backs in.

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This Is A Basic Overview Of The Gun Offense There
is Much More You Can Add

• James Vint
• Offensive Coordinator
• Christopher Columbus High School
• Bronx, New York
• CoachVint_at_aol.com