Running the Wedge

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Running the Wedge

• Coach Jack Gregory

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Why Use The Wedge

• The Wedge is a very simple blocking scheme that
  can be built into a highly successful series of
  plays.
• It builds offensive line unity.
• It sets up other plays in the series. When the
  defense sells out on the wedge it opens up other
  plays.
• Lineman become interchangeable.
• It can be a power or deception play. It is
  surprisingly deceptive.
• It can used with with smaller or weaker players
  (MPPs).
• It is demoralizing to the other team.
• It is always an offensive line and team favorite.
• Weaker backs can run in the wedge. The backs
  become interchangeable.

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The Wedge
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The Wedgewith Counter Action
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Base Plays

• Wedge with BB getting the ball.
• WBs can either move up field and block second
  level. QB boots.
• WBs can hinge block to stop penetration. QB
  boots.
• Fake Super action.
• Fake Buck action.
• Counter action (my favorite).
• Jet Sweep Action.

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Complimentary Plays

• QB Keeper.
• BB fakes fumble while WBs hinge block.
• Buck Action with BB leading into hole.
• Super Action with rest of backfield faking super
  power action.
• Counter action with rest of backfield faking
  counter. QB spinner.
• Jet Sweep Action with BB kicking out to backside.

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Complimentary Plays

• Counter Back play
• Fake super action and inside hand off to CB.
• Fake super action with shovel pass to CB
  (incomplete pass). Allows the defense to see QB
  in space with ball. Really draws the perimeter
  defense up field.

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Complimentary Plays

• Wedge Sweep with MB (AB) getting the ball and
  the CB reaching.
• QB Bootleg to either play or weak side with
  near WB reaching or going out for pass.
• Wedge Pass.
• Use Wedge as a play action pass protection scheme
  for quick passing to the perimeter.

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Teaching the Wedge

• Progression Drill
• Formed Wedge on NT. Shows them how the wedge
  looks and moves.
• Formed Wedge Eyes Wide Shut. Centers eyes are
  opened. Teaches them to stay together by feel.
• From LOS (five or seven man line) Get into the
  wedge and freeze.
• From LOS (5/7) Full speed on NT. Work for 5
  then 10 yards and then as far as it will go.
• From LOS (5/7) Full speed on NT Eye Wide Shut.

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Teaching the Wedge

• Knees and Feet Up
• Two blocking bags lined up horizontally on LOS
  with top at the guards outside hip and the
  extending towards tight ends.
• Stress getting the Legs and Knees up for entire
  group to include runner when running full offense.

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Key Points of the Wedge

• Center must fire out on a NT and drive up field.
• If there is no man over the center he aims for
  the endzone. Fires out and then takes a half step
  and lets the rest of the line form and drive him
  up the field. (we dont shift our wedge from odd
  to even fronts Center/PSG).
• The Guards out to the Ends (if you have TEs)
  must step inside (slide inside) and get their
  inside shoulder into the near rib cage and their
  outside hand on the near shoulder pad while the
  inside hand presses on the lower back. It might
  take the tackle and ends two steps to get fit.

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BackField

• Running the wedge takes a bit of getting used to,
  its an art of sorts. It is NOT a dive play it
  requires power, patience and acceleration. We
  start with the Back getting the snap running
  right to the back of the center and actually
  pushing on his back with the ball side shoulder
  with a pretty good shoulder lean. He must STAY IN
  THE WEDGE until it breaks up. That means not
  going around either end or looking for an off
  tackle bubble. Stay in the wedge and keep your
  legs pumping, knees high, and moving forward,
  until it breaks up, then sprint to daylight. Stay
  inside dont run parallel, it either breaks
  right up the gut or at a very slight angle. Often
  the daylight does not appear until 10-15 yards
  downfield, stay in the wedge until you see the
  daylight, stay patient until then, just staying
  low and pushing forward. When feeling pressure,
  both hands over ball.
• We stress to our ball carriers, if they do not
  stay in the wedge, they dont carry the ball.
  Natural inclination is to break it outside or
  look for the hole. In the wedge there is no hole,
  it opens up downfield.

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Other Backs

• If you have a fake, you must carry it out
  convincingly, if not you dont play. We have to
  threaten the perimeter with the fakes to keep the
  ends and linebackers honest as well as the
  defensive backs. We have found that carrying out
  faking actions based on our base defense and
  better misdirection plays doubles our yardage
  gained per play running the wedge. 
• In the past if we ran the wedge on GO (first
  sound) we had the WBs hinge block so they could
  make the EMLOS take a deeper path into the
  backfield instead of pinching. The rule on the
  HINGE is he pivots on his outside foot and gets
  his inside foot up and allows no one to get
  inside they must go around the outside. This
  allows the runner to get upfield in the wedge as
  the perimeter defenders go deep and around the
  hinges.
• Now on GO (first sound) we will fake Buck action
  to split the defense into thirds as we do with
  our Counter action that we run on HIT (Motion).
  By forcing the defense to split into thirds it
  isolates the interior defense which is better
  then hinge blocking.

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Key Points of the Wedge

• As soon as they fit they move up field. It should
  be one instant movement. Slide and up field.
• The ball carrier must get into the pocket of the
  Guard-Center-Guard and get his ball shoulder into
  the centers back and drive and feel. As soon as
  the wedge slows are cracks he must get in a open
  seam (daylight) and get up field (explode up
  field). This is what makes the Wedge a home run
  hitter.
• If the wedge slows or breaks apart all the
  blockers must target a defender and block him.
  Like an explosion of blockers with the runner
  breaking through.

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What Can Stop the Wedge

• Wedge is not forming fast enough or moving to
  slow allowing the perimeter defenders to bring
  down the runner from behind.
• Center (point of the wedge) is not firing off
  causing the wedge to falter and not form. (this
  is key problem and must be recognized quickly).
• Wedge is being submarined or cut by a NT or A gap
  defenders. Wedge must maintain high knees and
  run over, stomp, punish the defense for doing
  this. You must be patient and diligent and let
  the wedge wear out the interior defenders.
• Errant whistle by the officiating staff. You must
  let the officiating know that your running a
  highly deceptive offense built on misdirection
  and to hold their whistle until they know the
  runner is down.

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Be Prepared

• If the wedge slows run wedge sweep or QB bootleg
  as a change up to force the defense to defend the
  entire field.
• Pass the ball with wedge action behind the
  defense as they suck in to stop it.
• You must attack the defense at the perimeter and
  behind when they stack up.

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Trouble Shooting the Wedge

• You must stress the little thing for the wedge to
  be effective.
• Every blocker except the point (Center) must work
  to not engage any defender but instead engage the
  next man inside and seal the wedge while going
  upfield.
• They must lock their inside shoulder to the
  outside ribcage to stop penetration as they form
  and move up field.
• If the wedge stops it is dead. It must move
  forward and when it slows or breaks up it must
  explode up field in a burst.
• The runner must stay small in the wedge and
  explode up field if day light shows.

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Questions?