ShortSideOption
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Haven't gotten through the spring game for a write-up yet, but we did show a new wrinkle in the spring game that I really like and wanted to show. It's tougher for the high school teams that don't have elite RB/QB combos, but P5 teams have guys that can do this.
First, let me go where this comes from. Teams like Wisconsin and Iowa (even Nebraska) rely heavily on their 'power' scheme in the run game. I tried to find a clip with the same formation, so forgive that it isn't Nebraska, but you can see here this is a 'Power RPO'. RPO means run/pass/option which means the QB is reading the one guy and if he comes towards the line of scrimmage, he throws the ball. The other thing to notice that will make it different from what Nebraska did, is the entire playside offensive line blocks down (to the left on screen) while in 'Power' you always have a backside puller to bring another blocker.
On this you have #20 for Michigan that the QB is reading, if he flies to the LOS like he did, the QB pulls the ball and throws the slant. The only safety is to the top of the field, and you rely on your WR to beat the corner inside on the slant.
Now on to Nebraska. The 'Power' scheme that also has RPO versions off of it has been repped by defenses for decades. We started seeing this with Joe Burrow and LSU who ran it to perfection, but what happens if we just have everyone block down, no backside pulling guard, and we just don't block the corner? Essentially it turns into the QB reading run or pass, and the RB reading inside or outside. Our first play, Martinez is reading not the corner, but the guy that is at the very top (second most outside for the defense) who is Myles Farmer. We are in trips, and the two inside receivers block down (just like on play against Michigan before) so he follows them down, leaving a clear area to throw the ball.
So that's what it looks like when it's thrown. But the fun part is when we hand the ball off. Martinez reads Farmer this time for heading back to take away the slant, so he hands it off, but our RB has reads too. He reads the ILB to see if he folds over outside, or stays inside, if he stays inside our RB puts a foot in the ground and takes off outside who will then be one on one in space with a cornerback or safety depending on coverage. Many times it's a corner as the safety is deeper depending on coverage, so in instances like Josh Mitchell or other corners that are smaller, it's a real advantage. On this play, Hannah and Snodgrass both stay inside (their reads tell them that for the most part, kind of, just won't get into that), so Ervin bounces it outside to be one on one with a DB.
Now, it's Myles Farmer that he's one on one with, so not as great as when it's a corner, but still a play that we can scheme against weaker tackling corners/safeties. And I would love to be a fly on the wall for the conversation between the defense and offense, as no doubt Farmer said he tagged off and made the tackle with Ervin saying "you didn't touch me nor were you close enough to tackle me."
Now, this is slightly different, but shows the concept with a national title team. Everyone blocks down, no puller, but they have two "glance" routes instead of one. Mostly due to the larger splits, which can be schemed into what we are doing.
So really it's pretty obvious, with the addition of what LSU did in 2019, a National Title is a realistic expectation.
First, let me go where this comes from. Teams like Wisconsin and Iowa (even Nebraska) rely heavily on their 'power' scheme in the run game. I tried to find a clip with the same formation, so forgive that it isn't Nebraska, but you can see here this is a 'Power RPO'. RPO means run/pass/option which means the QB is reading the one guy and if he comes towards the line of scrimmage, he throws the ball. The other thing to notice that will make it different from what Nebraska did, is the entire playside offensive line blocks down (to the left on screen) while in 'Power' you always have a backside puller to bring another blocker.
On this you have #20 for Michigan that the QB is reading, if he flies to the LOS like he did, the QB pulls the ball and throws the slant. The only safety is to the top of the field, and you rely on your WR to beat the corner inside on the slant.
Now on to Nebraska. The 'Power' scheme that also has RPO versions off of it has been repped by defenses for decades. We started seeing this with Joe Burrow and LSU who ran it to perfection, but what happens if we just have everyone block down, no backside pulling guard, and we just don't block the corner? Essentially it turns into the QB reading run or pass, and the RB reading inside or outside. Our first play, Martinez is reading not the corner, but the guy that is at the very top (second most outside for the defense) who is Myles Farmer. We are in trips, and the two inside receivers block down (just like on play against Michigan before) so he follows them down, leaving a clear area to throw the ball.
So that's what it looks like when it's thrown. But the fun part is when we hand the ball off. Martinez reads Farmer this time for heading back to take away the slant, so he hands it off, but our RB has reads too. He reads the ILB to see if he folds over outside, or stays inside, if he stays inside our RB puts a foot in the ground and takes off outside who will then be one on one in space with a cornerback or safety depending on coverage. Many times it's a corner as the safety is deeper depending on coverage, so in instances like Josh Mitchell or other corners that are smaller, it's a real advantage. On this play, Hannah and Snodgrass both stay inside (their reads tell them that for the most part, kind of, just won't get into that), so Ervin bounces it outside to be one on one with a DB.
Now, it's Myles Farmer that he's one on one with, so not as great as when it's a corner, but still a play that we can scheme against weaker tackling corners/safeties. And I would love to be a fly on the wall for the conversation between the defense and offense, as no doubt Farmer said he tagged off and made the tackle with Ervin saying "you didn't touch me nor were you close enough to tackle me."
Now, this is slightly different, but shows the concept with a national title team. Everyone blocks down, no puller, but they have two "glance" routes instead of one. Mostly due to the larger splits, which can be schemed into what we are doing.
So really it's pretty obvious, with the addition of what LSU did in 2019, a National Title is a realistic expectation.
