Keep the Chains ⛓️ Moving Regardless of Conditions

Nov 08, 2022 3:01 pm

Coach ,

There will be times when the wind is blowing hard, the rain is coming in sideways or there’s a mix of rain, snow, and sleet that makes the passing game more challenging.

That’s when you must be able to run the ball regardless of the numbers in the box

#1) Get the receivers involved in the run game

Whether they get the ball on a hand-off or not, utilizing receiver motion and the run game have the effect of slowing down run fits in the box. The defense needs to be conscious of the ball getting to the perimeter, so safeties or outside linebackers who are quick to fit on downhill runs without jet or orbit motion, now need to respect the receiver getting a handoff before they fit.

This is a handy tool on a night when you need yards in the run game. Harvard running backs coach Saj Thakkar explains their use of motion with their inside zone run game and variations here (click on image for video):

Video: Inside Zone

#2) Utilize big bodies

Rice Coach Jim Jackson likes to use the tight ends often, and one concept they use to protect the edge is Zone “extra” which allows them to block the 4th defender. He explains the concept in this video (click on image for video):

Video: Zone Extra

Here is an example of Zone extra. Coach Jackson points out how the shift has the effect of making the linebacker think which slows him down (click on image for video):

Video: Zone Extra Video Example

#3) Add a hat with the QB run game

You can use the read game, and that’s certainly an effective way to add a hat, of course, like any option play, that could expose the quarterback to unprotected hits at or after the mesh point, so getting a hat-on-a-hat may be more desirable.

When it comes to QB Run game, year-in-and-year-out, Ferris State is one of the best in the country at any level. In this concept, OL Coach Sam Parker explains how their block QB Power is slightly different from the typical power scheme (click on image for video):

Video: A/B Gap Power

Some coaches like to call the strategies outlined here “Imposing your will.” Sometimes the conditions dictate this approach. Finding the components that work best with your personnel and with what you have spent your time repping up until this point are keys to making these adjustments successful on game day.

Always be growing!

Coach Grabowski

P.S. Here’s the best teams “imposing their will” on the ground in 2022. Click the link for their courses:

FBS

#2 Army West Point 302.5 yards per game

#3 Ole Miss 267.4 ypg

#8 UCF 239.9 ypg

#10 Arkansas 233.3 ypg

#12 Oklahoma 219.8 ypg

#13 TCU 219.7 ypg

#14 North Texas 218.6 ypg

#16 Minnesota 211.9 ypg