Coach ,

The Air Raid has been a much talked about offense over the several seasons as has been the RPO. With many coaches in the Leech and Mumme tree at the highest levels, and the popularity of Coach Mumme’s Air Raid Certification, the offense has grown in popularity.

You don't have to make a full conversion to the Air Raid to see the benefits of the concepts that make up the system.  

These concepts work for specific purposes and are designed to be answered against certain defenses.  

Here’s a run down of the first three the core routes and how you can utilize these to move the ball within your system regardless of how you may identify it.

# 1 Mesh

The Concept:

• Two receivers running parallel to each other across the middle of the field. The key idea behind mesh is to create a rub for the underneath shallow cross receiver. This will force the defender covering the underneath receiver to run over the top. 
• Receiver that runs the high shallow cross sets the depth of the mesh, 5-6 yards.. The receiver that runs the low shallow cross sets the mesh as he is responsible for making the high shallow cross receiver right
• Multiple variations of what the other receivers are doing

Purpose:

• man-beater that creates rubs and picks as players run across the field. 
• effective against zone by having receivers throttle down in open space.

Best Against: 

Man coverage...teams seeing more one high man to stop their RPO have installed the Mesh as an answer.

Versatility:

Typically utilized from 2x2 concepts. Can be done from spread and condensed sets.

Degree of Difficulty to Install:

In general coaches feel that this play requires a lot of time to practice, however, Dana Holgerson shared how they found a way to be effective with the play without the huge investment of time.

He shares that in this video:

Here is the Mountain West Offensive Coordinator of the Year Matt Mumme talking through the Mesh concept:

#2 Y-Corner

The Y Corner/The Snag concept is popular at all levels. Out of trips formations, it creates a triangle read for the quarterback. It puts the flat defender in conflict and can work against any coverage.

The Concept:

• A 5-6 yard snag route from the #1 receiver
• This route needs to sit as soon as the conflict (flat) defender crosses their face. He is replacing that defender.
• If the snag route encounters man coverage, they will pivot out of the break and back towards the sideline
• A Corner from the #2 receiver
• An arrow at 2-3 yards from the #3 receiver or running back out of the backfield

Purpose:

Create horizontal stretch/in-out on level 2 while also stressing the corner with high-low.

Best Against:

Cover Two defense because the QB will have a high/low read of the CB; if he sinks back he can throw it to the inside receiver in the flat; if the cornerback drops he will throw it to the corner route behind the cornerback (triangle read)

Versatilty:

This concept has versatility in any kind of formation that can get three receivers to a side and can have single or 2x2 concepts on the backside. Situationally it works will in the red zone and open field and provides conversion opportunities on third and medium.

Degree of Difficulty to Install:  

This route doesn’t require much as far as adjustments so it is relatively simple in being able to teach the assignments to any receiver. 

Here is a clip of the Y Corner from Oregon:

#3 Sail

Flooding a zone provides huge advantages for an offense. The Kansas City Chiefs have been one of the best at it. This versatile concept which is a staple of the Air Raid can be seen in many offenses.

The concept:

• A receiver deep
• A receiver at the intermediate level (12-15 yards)
• A receiver in the flats

Purpose:

Flood the defensive zones with three receivers that stretch the defense and put the flat defender in a high-low conflict.

Best Against: 

Zone coverage, especially teams who do not show adjustments to floods

Versatility:

Very versatile and fits into 2x2 and 3x1 and even 1x3 concepts. Can also be utilized in drop back play action, sprintout and as a boot/naked concept.

Degree of Difficulty to Install:

The vertical route is usually used to clear out the deep defender and give the quarterback a clean high-low read on the flat defender. 

Here is Coach George Coltharp, an Air Raid disciple explaining the Y-Sail concept. (George is such a believer in the Air Raid that he has the Mesh play diagram tattooed on his forearm. That’s conviction!):

Part two will be coming tomorrow. Get up on your whiteboard and draw up your favorite formations and brainstorm how you can use these concepts.

Always be growing!

Coach Grabowski