PART 2: Basic Run and Shoot Formations and Concepts.


Let's take a look at basic run and shoot formations:

..X......LT.LG.C.RG.RT........Z
.......W.........Q.......Y
...
...................S

The basic double slot. Please note I've now labled the receivers so that as we go over the plays you can understand what the assignments or routes would be.
X= far left receiver
W= left slot
Y= right slot
Z= far right receiver
S= Running back although staying true to Run N Shoot terminology they call their running back the SUPER back


Same formation in Shotgun:


..X......LT.LG.C.RG.RT........Z
.......W....................Y
...
...................Q.S

and Trips:

X.....LT.LG.C.RG.RT..........Z
...........................W...Y
............Q.S


For brevity and clarity, I will diagram formations and motion to the right, however readers should note play and formation can be flipped and run from the LEFT.

In NCAA2k5 the following formations will allow us to get these looks:

Flexbone
Flexbone Slot
Ace Spread
Shotgun Spread
Shotgun Normal
Shotgun Trips


Basic Concepts of the Run and Shoot:

There are several important concepts that a coach most understand in order to employ the Run and Shoot.

1. Throw to Uncovered Receivers
2. If there are 5 or less in the box---RUN THE FOOTBALL
3. Use Motion and Formation to force the defense to react

Thankfully and for the first time in a long time NCAA has given us the tools to capitalize on all of these concepts.

Throwing To Uncovered Receivers

Since the infancy of this offense back at Middletown High School a basic concept that applies even more today than it did then is throwing to uncovered receivers. The computer is not dumb enough to leave a WR (X and Z) uncovered at the beginning of a play. However slot receivers (W and Y) are often left uncovered.

Modern spread formation coaches have help to define the concept and give it more clarity. When you have an uncovered receiver that can gain 4 or more yards and down and distance are in your favor, than go ahead and throw it to him.


Let's take a look at the uncovered concept. First from a balance formation:

.......FS...................SS
.....
CB.............LB....LB....NB...........CB
............ LE.DT.DT.RE
X...........LT.LG.C.RG.RT...............Z
.......W.....................Y
..................Q.S


In the above example the defense aligned in a nickle formation and has lefts its two LB's too far inside and the fs too deep to effectively cover the W receiver, in this case he would be open and uncovered. For a run and shoot team now would be a perfect time to call an audible to a play that will that advantage of an obvious defensive weakness.

In past versions of NCAA, Shotgun Normal Arrow was a great play to take advantage of the above defense, W running a virtual bubble route was easy to throw to. In 2k5, the defense has a tendency to FLY to cover the outside edge routes like the arrow W would run it exposes itself to
another weakness that I attack by using a route called SLIDE which I will talk about in DETAIL in a future post because it can be very effective route even if defense does cover all of your receivers.


Let's take a look at uncovered from a trips formation:


..............FS.........
................................SS
CB.................LB......LB.............CB
..........LB..LE.NT.RE..LB
X...........LT.LG.C.RG.RT...............Z
.................................W....Y
..................Q.S



The defense aligns in a more agressive 3-4 front, while the outside lb close enough to cover W...the SS depth is such that Y is the receiver that is left open and uncovered. Again Run and Shooters will want to audible to plays that will take advantage of this weakness. My prefered play for this scenario is Shotgun Trips Slot Screen. I try to hit the Y as quickly as possible and like wise when he catches I usually duck outside and sprint for the sideline to try to pick up and easy 4 or 5 yards.


By forcing defense to cover down on ALL of your receivers you will gain a significant advantage with your running game and it will make it much easier to attack a defense.


If There Are 5 IN The Box: RUN THE FOOTBALL


Remember this is the RUN and shoot, the running game has always been an extremely important element of the offense.

But what exactly is the box?

The box is defined as the area between the offensive tackles.


.......FS...................SS
.....
CB.....DB..*<.....LB....>*......DB...........CB
...........*< LE.DT.DT.RE.>*
X...........LT.LG.C.RG.RT...............Z
.......W.........................Y
..................Q.S


I've used the *< and >* to denoted the area of the box. In this case the total number of players (LE,DT,DT.RE, LB) is 5.

Now would be a great time to call a draw or to qb choice. Any running play that attacks the box while still leaving extra defenders outside covering receivers. I'd be hesitant to call for example a Goaline HB ISO because 1) it breaks the spirit of the run and shoot's philosphy of creating horizontal and vertical stretch on the defense and 2) audibling to this play could bring more defenders into the box by virtue of its tight formation eliminating the numerical advantage of the offense.


Using Formation and Motion To Force The Defense To React:

By using the concepts of hitting the uncovered receiver and running when there are 5 in the box Run and Shooters are forcing the defenses to adjust to them. We can further make the defense's life miserable by motioning and using obvious strength formations to attack the defense and force it to reveal the schemes its using.

Starting with a balance formation


.......FS...................SS
.....
CB.....DB.........LB.......DB...........CB
............ LE.DT.DT.RE
X...........LT.LG.C.RG.RT...............Z
.......W........................Y
..................Q.S



The Run and Shoot can motion W to the right creating strength to the right:

Before the snap with > motion with the defense reacting
.......FS...................SS
........DB>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>DB
CB................LB.........DB...............CB
............ LE.DT.DT.RE
X...........LT.LG.C.RG.RT....................Z
.......W>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>W....Y
..................Q.S

Before the snap AFTER motion with the defense adjusted:


.......FS...................SS
...............................DB
CB................LB................DB........CB
............ LE.DT.DT.RE
X...........LT.LG.C.RG.RT...............Z
..................................W....Y
..................Q.S


The reaction by the defenese now put it at a disadvantage to X's side and Run and Shooters have a major tool to take advantage of this called the Choice Route. Also we can run to X's side using QB choice or Weaskside Off Tackle, both from the Shotgun Spread playbooks. If the defense does not react then the offense has numerical superiority to the right and should attack this area using the uncoverd principles, many of the routes we will discuss and a healthy dose of speed option.


The reaction of the defense also gives a clue as to the play the defense is using. While it requires that you definately study the defenses you can be pretty sure that if the defense doesn't follow motion its playing some type of Zone defense. If it does follow motion its likely to be using a man coverage and/or blitzing.

By keying on the reacitons of the defense to motion and to formation it can defniately make it obvious how you want to attack and maybe more importantly the time that you have to attack.

If you have a hard time reading defenses and you don't want to delve into that level of the game, don't worry the routes that the run and shooters use do not require that you have to read the entire defense instead like many pass offense it is only reading one or two defenders. For the most part when I employ this concept I am reading one defender and then looking for open defenders. I'll explain that as we get into the routes.