The Spread Shot-Wing Offense

For years, we were a basic Delaware Wing T football team. We had great success with it, using the 3 basic series (buck sweep/trap; belly/down and power) and mixing in a good dose of play action and 3 step drop-back passes to keep defenses honest. But four years ago we started a 15 year old freshman at quarterback whom we knew was going to be somebody special as far as throwing the football before he graduated. He broke our area’s 40 year old record for career passing yards midway through his senior year. He was the classic drop-back pocket passer with decent running ability. I realized then that we had a weapon that people would be hard-pressed to stop if we opened up our passing game. However, I was not inclined to give up our base Wing T offense.

After doing some research and talking with coaches who ran a shotgun offense, I developed what we came to call the “Spread Shot-Wing.” It has proven to be a highly effective change-up to our normal Wing T offense. By this past season, when our quarterback was starting his fourth year for us, we went to the “Shot-Wing” about 75% of the time. Now opponents have to not only prepare for the complexity of the Delaware Wing T running game, but they have to be ready to stop a spread shot gun attack at the same time. What has developed is an even more potent Wing T attack because opponents cannot spend all of their preparation time on stopping the Wing T. We are now able to change the tempo, spread the field and force opponents to defend a wide-open passing attack. The KEY is that this Spread Shot-gun offense is simply an extension of the base Wing T Order of Football developed by Tubby Raymond and his staff while at the University of Delaware.

As I pointed out, we did not want to abandon our Delaware Wing T offense. So I needed to find a way to meld our Delaware system into a Spread Shot Gun package. I began by finding a way to keep the integrity of the Wing T system but spreading the field. We took our Wing T tight end and wingback and moved them out. The TE went out about 7-10 yards from the offensive tackle. The wingback (now a flanker) split 12- 15 yards from the flexed TE. The split end away from these two receivers took a normal 12-15 yard split from the tackle. We walked the QB back to a depth of 5 yards. We stepped the fullback over to the TE side and aligned him and the HB behind the offensive guards.

Next, we had to settle on our pass blocking scheme. A lot of coaches looking to throw the ball fail to coordinate the passing game routes with the blocking scheme. We felt that the single most important factor was to protect our quarterback at all costs. What this forced me to do was to simplify our routes. This in turn was beneficial because, as I said, we wanted to continue to run the Delaware Wing T as our base offense. I am a firm believer that in high school you can only be truly successful in two of the three types of offensive attacks: power running game, passing game or option game. We used the power of the 30 series (Delaware terminology) in the Wing T and incorporated it into our Spread Shot Gun running game. Thus... the new name: Spread Shot-Wing T. (See Diagram l.)

Diagram 1. Basic Formation

We put the backs on the toes of the QB whom always needs to be at 5 yards from the center. The other thing we do, which is important, is that we do not huddle. We signal in the play from the sideline and the QB calls the play from his position. This changes the tempo of the game for us and disrupts the defense. When a play ends, the QB will signal which side he wants the strength (TE and flanker) to align. This is to the wide side of the field if we are on or near a hash mark. Everyone jogs to his alignment and waits for the play call from the QB. He’ll motion with his leg to the center that we are set and then the center snaps the ball when he is ready.

PASSING GAME

Our spread shot-gun passing game is simple, yet sophisticated. It all starts with our protection scheme up front. We have learned that without the proper protection, no passing game is going to be successful. Our first rule of thumb is: protect the QB at all costs. This then determines our alignment and how many receivers we can send out. We’d rather send fewer receivers and give our QB time to throw than to have a lot of hot reads and route conversions to complicate things. What we’ve discovered is that just spreading the field usually creates so much heartburn on defensive coordinators’ part that we have one step up on our opponents already. When you have to prepare for two offensive schemes that appear so different, it complicates reads and adjustments on the defense’s part.

PROTECTION SCHEMES

With two backs in the backfield alongside our QB, this determines the protection because we limit their potential as quick receivers. But, we want our QB to know that he has maximum protection nor does he have complicated reads. Our base blocking rule for the linemen is simple: “Big on Big”. With an even front (4 defensive linemen), our 2 guards and 2 tackles would take on their front 4. The key read is for the center. He has to recognize the first linebacker to the SE side. This is important; for it sets the protection reads for the backs. The halfback then takes the 2nd LB to the split end side. If either of these split end side LB’s blitz, the center and/or HB must pick him up in the blocking scheme. The FB takes the 1st LB to the TE (Flexed End) side. If the 2nd LB to the TE side blitzes, this is the QB’s man. This way, the QB has only 1 “hot” read and it is generally right in his face coming off the edge. He knows that he can hit the flex end as soon as he gets pressure from this edge. This simplifies things for our QB and thus eliminates a lot of practice time teaching him to read “hot” to both sides and hitting the open receiver on a conversion route. All of this stuff is great if you have the time to work on it. But, remember that we also need time to work on our Wing T offense. This makes us “sophisticated without being complicated.” (See Diagram 2)

Diagram 2. Even Front Protection

Diagram 3. Even Front Protection (with a middle LB)

NOTE: If there is a middle LB over the center... that is the first LB to the split end side. Our center must take him (MLB) if he blitzes. The HB must key the OLB lined up over his offensive Tackle as the # 2 LB to that side. (See Diagram 3)

Versus an odd front, the center and split end side guard change assignments. The center is now covered so he blocks “On” and the SE side guard would have the first LB to his SE side. So now the HB would read that SE side DE/OLB for blitz control. The FB would take the 50 LB over the TE side guard and that guard helps with the nose tackle. If the DE/OLB to the Flexed End side blitzes, the QB would read “hot” and throw accordingly. This is just a matter of drilling a few times each day you work on the Shot Wing passing game to get your QB tuned in to reading his blitz. We also simply have the TE start yelling “hot!” to alert the QB. Simple but effective. (See Diagram 4)

Diagram 4. Odd Front Protection.

PASS PATTERNS and ROUTES

We do not want to over burden our receivers with too many routes to learn nor do we want our QB to have complicated reads. We bring our fastest 3 receivers into the game when we go Spread Shot-Wing T to immediately let the defense know that they will be threatened vertically on every snap.

1. Our first pattern is for all 3 wide receivers to run a 12-yard Curl. We want them to push their defender up the field, and when they see the defender’s hips turn, to plant and turn around and face the QB. The HB is the only receiver with a dual role. If his LB blitzes, he has to block. But if his LB drops in coverage, he swings wide to the SE side. The FB stays in on all routes to give our QB that little extra comfort level.

The QB has a pre-snap read of the free safety. Whichever side the F/S shades to, the QB throws to the opposite side. Thus, if the F/S shades to the TE/ WB side, the QB is going to throw to the SE/HB combination. If the OLB drops to help underneath the SE’s Curl route, the HB who swings (because his LB dropped into coverage) will be open for the QB to dump to him. If we go to the TE/WB side because of the F/S shading toward the SE side, the QB can pick either of the two receivers to hit on his Curl route. (See Diagram 5)

Diagram 5. All Curl Pattern

2. Our second pattern is a combination route with the TE and the WB (flanker). The TE runs a 5-yard sideline route and the WB runs a deep Hook. The SE on the backside runs a post. Again, the QB gets a pre-snap read on the free safety. If he is cheated over to the TE side, he knows he has a shot at hitting the SE on the post. If he goes to the combination side, we tell him to catch the ball, take a cross-over step and set (like on a 3 step drop from under center) and if the TE is open in the flat when the QB hits his 3rd step, he fires it to the flat. If the TE is covered by the OLB, the SE hooks inside of the OLB; the QB re-sets his feet and hits the WB hooking inside the OLB. Your QB needs to remember that he has a potential shot at the home run ball with the SE running the deep post over the middle. If the free safety rolls over too far to help with the combination side, the QB can knife the ball into the SE’s hands. Again, the HB can swing if his LB drops in pass defense to help the QB see the SE on the Post. NOTE: You can see the possibility of a HB screen out of this route. (See Diagram 6)

Diagram 6. Hook/Flat Combination

3. Our third pass pattern out of our Spread Shot-Wing package is very familiar to our players because it is one of our favorite patterns. We use the same routes as we do on our Wing T Waggle route. The SE runs a 12-yard sideline cut; the TE drags across the formation at 12-14 yards and the WB (flanker) runs a Post. Once again, the QB gets a pre-snap read from the free safety’s alignment. He can hit the SE for the easy completion or give the TE a chance to work against the LB’s as he drags. If the F/S is out of position, we will always take a potential shot at the post. The HB’s route changes now that the SE to his side is running a route into the boundary. Now if his LB drops, the HB runs a tight circle route to control the Inside LB to his side. The QB has an “over-under” read on that LB with the TE dragging behind him and the HB curling in front of him. (See Diagram 7)

Diagram 7. Drag/Post/Circle

4. Our final drop-back pattern is the one the players enjoy the most. It is 4 vertical routes! With the speed that we put on the field, we have hit some big passes on this simple pattern. We simply out-run the defensive backs down the field. The TE needs to stay on the nearest hash mark as he drives up the field. The two wide receivers must stay on the numbers as they go vertical. The HB will come a little late since he must check for his LB blitz first. But this little bit of a delay often makes him wide open up the hash opposite the TE. This happens because the free safety sees the TE coming first up the middle and tends to slide towards him. This leaves a big hole for the HB behind the LB’s to the other side. A TE (flexed) with great speed really threatens the middle of their secondary. Coach the wide
receivers to push up and out as they move down the field. (See Diagram 8)

Diagram 8. All Vertical

PLAY ACTION PATTERNS

The most successful patterns we run from our Spread Shot-Wing T package are our play-action patterns. They are both bootleg action and we use the patterns from our drop-back package so there is no extra learning on the receivers’ part.

We fake off-tackle to the TE/WB flank and then bootleg back to the SE side. With this backfield action, we use the Drag/Post/ Sideline combination. The QB fakes to the HB, pulls it and rolls to the SE side. He takes a quick look at the SE on his Sideline cut and if he’s open, he drills it to him. If not, he continues to roll and looks for the TE crossing. If he can set his feet, he can also check to see if the F/S has vacated center field. If so, he has the wingback open on the deep post. The FB checks off the edge for a blitz from the outside LB and the HB crossing the formation on the fake to him is looking for an inside LB blitz. The backside guard pulls and looks off the SE side flank for penetration. The center, guard and tackle to the play-side use their drop-back protection rules: “Big on big”. (See Diagram 9)

Diagram 9. SE Side Boot-Leg Diagram 10. Tight End Side Boot-Leg

Our final play-action pass is a bootleg back to the TE/WB flank. We incorporate the Hook/Flat Combination pattern with this play-action. The QB rides the FB across the formation, pulls it and rolls towards the TE flank. The TE runs his 5-yard sideline cut and if he is open, the QB drills the ball to him. If not, the WB will come open inside and behind the OLB. The QB sets his feet and fires a strike to the wingback. Once again, if the F/S drifts out of center field, the QB can hit the SE on his backside Post. The HB checks OLB blitz and the FB after faking checks inside LB blitz from the backside. The center, guard and tackle to the play side use their drop back rules for protection. The backside guard pulls and leads the QB to the flank. (see Diagram 10)

We also have the ability to call “Go!” and send the 3 receivers vertical anytime we want to add the word “Go” call to the bootleg play-action.

---

Related Videos

American Football Monthly now offers a full line of coaching videos. So, if you enjoyed this clinic article, here are a few videos that you may find interesting: FV 01333E The Spread Formation (Nunez and Johnson) FV 00876B Wing T Practice Drills: QB’s and RB’s (Creehan) FV 00426 Wing T Sweep (Creehan) To find these videos and many others, view our online catalog at www.AFMVideos.com.

About the author
Lew Johnston

Coach Lew Johnston took over the Western Branch program in 1985 and has led the Bruins to four district championships including the last three seasons (2001, 2002, 2003). Additionally, Western Branch won an Eastern Regional Championship under Johnston and had a 32 game winning streak (2001-2004). A 1971 graduate of William and Mary, Johnston played for both Marv Levy and Lou Holtz.You can reach him at johnslz@cps.k12.va.us