Avoiding Shotgun Tendencies With Multiple "Handoffs"

Want to get more mileage out of a blocking scheme without changing anything for your Offensive Line AND avoid tendencies? Use multiple handoff styles!

We’ve all heard the saying, “One play, many ways,” but that often gets taken for being able to run the same play out of multiple formations or behind a motion for eye candy. Another way to run the same play many ways is to have multiple backfield actions. There are a few benefits that come to the top of my mind when thinking about adding in more run actions to the backfield:

• Less tendencies - When the point of attack isn’t necessarily opposite of the Halfback in the Gun, the defense has to respect the entirety of the formation/blocking surface in regards to the run game

• Eye candy - Even the most disciplined linebackers forsake a guard read on occasion (at least) to try and get a sneak peek at who the ballcarrier is

• OL consistency - While defenses might react differently based on backfield actions, it doesn’t change tracks or responsibilities for the OL.

I’ve already put together some more detailed articles on a few of these techniques with some film embedded in them, and those can be found here:

• TOP (Spinner)

• SAME-SIDE (1)

• SAME-SIDE (2)

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for September 12th’s in-season Q&A! Paid subscribers can submit questions for me to answer (link at bottom of the article). Some things we will go over as of right now:

• Best 11/12/13P formations for Wide Zone vs. 3-3 Stack

• QB Tips vs. coverage disguises

• Gameplan tips vs. an aggressive 4-2-5

Take a look at your schedule as we get into region play, and submit those questions!