We used 2 of the 3 Advantage Principles, and have installed the following possibilities backside:
- Rule
- Switch
- Drag
- Slide (we are calling "half" - as a 5 yard in is half of the basic 10 yard in
- Beam/ Box (backside streak reads and switched streak reads)
Over the course of summer 7 on 7, we'd hit all 4 different advantage routes for scores (Flag, Seam, Post, and Hook), as well as Wheel, Drag, and Switch routes. Even more astounding is the availability of the THIRD FIX -- the principle that allows us to attack the full width and depth of a pass defense. When a group of 8- and 9- year olds can digest this, it is hard to give credence to claims by a few who think the system presented is "too advanced for high school players."
Moreover, I keep getting notes like the one below, from one of my clients in Ohio:
Matt Duffy
Head football Coach
Willoughby South High School
Likewise, high school teams that have switched to the system have reported a great ease in installation, and have added their feedback to improve the overall system in general. Because of the frontside tree (seen by some as too cumbersome), we are able to make adjustments that bring not only flexibility, but minimize learning burden as well.
In this post, we'll look at some very inexpensive (from the offense's standpoint, in this way of teaching) adjustments to the "Big 3" patterns in this offense: Stick, Verticals, and Drive.
We first examine STICK:
Though this pattern isn’t technically a member of the vertical game, I included it in this article to give an example of how to attack a specific response by a defense. The changeup above specifically attacks a pass defense’s attempt to cover up the 3x1 Four Vertical pattern, with M and F riding the #3 and the S walling off the #2 receiver:
This method of re-distributing rules on the backside also greatly aided the DRIVE pattern; the utilization of a THIRD FIX of the passer’s eyes frequently finds a receiver the defense cannot account for.
Getting the ball to a drag route in a vacated flat area is a primary goal of the DRIVE pattern. Once again, we are able to attack defensive responses without increased learning burden, and without changing the picture for the QB: