There are many different types of Coverages in NFL secondaries and each one is predicated on the type of Defensive Package, the type of play-call and the type of Cornerback the Defense has. One of our readers, Allen H. posed the question, “What are the Hip Positions for Cornerbacks while playing Bump and Run, while reading the QB?” Let’s first look at this technique of coverage and then get to Allen’s question.

The Bump and Run defense is just what it sounds like, first the Cornerback Bumps and then Runs. Sounds simple enough but there are certain techniques that are used when employing this method. The basic concept is the Cornerback (CB) plays against the Wide Out as close to the Line of Scrimmage as allowed without being in the Neutral Zone. What’s key here is knowing your opponent. If the CB has respect for the speed of the WR than he might not get too close, with the chance he will run right by him. The CB will establish an inside shade relationship with the receiver he is going to cover. He should be aligned at a 45 degree angle from the WR’s inside shoulder. In “Man to Man” coverage like this, the Cornerback should not be focused on the Offensive Backfield at all. His inside foot should squarely set just inside his shoulders to ensure proper balance. When the ball is snapped, his first move is an explosive “pop” with either one or two hands squarely in the Pectoral area of the WR. The reason for this is to deter or “reroute” the Receiver. The old saying is “if you knock him down, you don’t have to chase him around” and that is the ultimate success for the Corner. It’s very rare at the NFL level but it can happen. Once the initial “bump” occurs, the CB then has 5 yards to continue to try and reroute the WR, after that it’s turn the hips and “Run” and continue to cover the WR wherever he goes.

Bartell is ready to Jam

One key is the Down and Distance and what play the Defense has called. If it’s a running situation the Corners will probably play Zone where they are looking directly into the backfield or if they do play Man Coverage, they will play off the Receiver. The best time to call for Bump and Run coverage is while blitzing. The hope is that the Corners can throw off the timing of the Wide Out or hold them up just enough for the pressure to arrive at the Quarterback.

Let’s look at this quick film. Here Champ Bailey is playing “Bump and Run” on a 3rd and 17 vs the Bengals, Chad OchoCinco. Champ does not bump Chad but rather allows him a free release. He played too close and didn’t deter his route, Chad used his speed to run past Bailey and while quickly trying to recover, Champ fell down and a TD was scored. Also note the Cornerback at the bottom of the Screen. He too is tight on the WR and gets a good jam and detours the Route of the WR.

Now, onto Allen’s question – Looking at the first part, “what are the hip positions”, as stated earlier the hips should be relatively square with the opposing Wide Receiver. He is basically a mirror who is locked in his counterpart. A slight bend in the knee and the weight distribution to maintain balance throughout the initial bump. For the second part “while reading the Quarterback” never happens. In this technique the Corner does not care what is going in the Offensive backfield. They are taught to Bump then open the hips and run with the receiver. The saying “you look when they look” refers to when the Wide Receivers turns his head to find the ball and that’s when the Cornerback does it as well.

Proper technique on the “Bump and Run” is good balance, proper distance from your opponent and understanding what he can do physically and knowing the situation especially the down and distance. Then getting a good “stick” into the chest, detouring him from the route, then turning and running with the WR wherever he goes!

Ron Erhardt and Ray Perkins both worked for the New York Giants and ran a system that is commonly considered “Smash-Mouth Football”. The basic premise and understanding of the system is that teams that are located in the cold North Eastern part of the country will not be able to heavily rely on the passing game due to the weather conditions that may alter the passing attack. This system uses bigger offensive lineman and typically bigger Running Backs who can sustain running between the tackles on a regular basis. The Offensive Tackles and Guards in this system typically “Pull” and “Trap”. What this means is, on a Running play that is designed to run to the right, let’s say in the B Gap or between the Guard and Tackle on the Right Side, the Left Guard will quickly leave his original position and become the lead blocker for the Running Back. This type of Rushing attack usually requires big Offensive Lineman who will be able to handle a large Defensive Tackle head on.

Ron Erhardt

In this offense, terminology is typically spoken in Numbers as opposed to the West Coast offense which is typically spoken in Colors. An example of this would be in a play called “Zero Ride Thirty Six” – Zero would set the formation, Thirty is the Running Back and Six designates what hole along the offensive line that the Back will run through.

The Passing attacks in this offense are mostly vertical and are set up through Play Action Passes. That means that Quarterback will fake as though it’s a running play to draw up the Linebackers and Safeties then throw the ball to on of the Wide Receivers streaking down the field.

The NFL has changed dramatically since this Offense and other type “Pro Offenses” were established so keep in mind that adaptations have been made and nothing is “cookie cutter”. Each Head Coach adds wrinkles to what he likes to do. In addition, Quarterbacks today are much more accurate, teams also now play in Domes that control the climate and the Rules have been changed in favor of scoring points and the league has now shifted to a pass happy, scoring machine. The Wide Receivers are exceptional athletes that getting bigger and faster seemingly every year.

Ray Perkins

One thing is certain, if your favorite team doesn’t run a variation of the West Coast Offense that Bill Walsh created, or Mike Martz’s spread style passing attack, or the Ernie Zampese-Don Coryell “Air Coryell” timed passing attack, you can be pretty sure they run some form of Erhardt-Perkins, especially if your Head Coach ever worked for Bill Parcells, Bill Belicheck or Bill Cowher!

Feel free to drop in any questions you may have about Offensive systems in the Comments Section! Look forward to hearing from you!

In September of 2009 I spoke with Ed Reed about the finer points of football. In that interview Ed said something that resonated with me. He said (and I’m paraphrasing) that all teams do the same things offensively, they just wear different color jerseys. The longer I thought about this the longer the question kept coming up, how do some teams make it work and others simply can’t. Here is the answer and it’s simple in design and complex in execution.

First and foremost, the NFL is a talent based league. The more and better talented players you have, the better chances you have for winning. Now there are exceptions and some teams and coaches have learned to win by staying within their system and getting production from design. But what about when the design falters? Fans often sit at home and watch Sunday football saying to themselves, “my team stinks” and that maybe true but more than likely they just stink in one area and that effects the whole unit.

Trent Edwards was swarmed way too much in 2009!

What about teams that have a good O-Line, a good QB and great WR but still struggle to win games. I present to you the 2009 Houston Texans. The Texans Defense was definitely not a boon but also not a burden ranking 13th in the NFL for the season, so they were above average. The Texans also have a very good QB in Matt Schaub, a Great WR in Andre Johnson, a Good Tight End in Owen Daniels so why the mediocrity? The problem was a lack of a Running Game. The Texans finished the season ranked 30th in the league in Rushing and once you become one dimensional then NFL Defense’s can start to roll coverages and game-plan to take away your weapons knowing that the other tools in the shed won’t beat you. It would behoof them to take a Running Back early in the draft and create balance on that side of the ball. The rushing attack is a piece you can’t live without.

The Texans need to bolster their Running Game!!

This lack of plays in the playbook now puts a major strain on everyone. The WR’s need to be prepared to have contact when the ball arrives as the DB’s are playing downhill keeping the plays in front of them. The Safties, as shown in this video are keeping their eyes on the QB ready to jump what ever is in front of them. The Running Backs now have to face 8-9 men in the box and running lanes become clogged and soon the offense that has talent to run has been leashed and isn’t as efficient as their potential.

How do you make it all work? Balance! Who was the most balanced offense? The Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints. The Saints finished the season in the Top 10 in both Rushing and Passing. In Rushing they were 6th and Passing they were 4th. They had a QB who they allowed to make all the throws, the WR’s to make big plays and a dynamic run game that could pound it inside and outside. When Defenses played the Saints they had to stay honest. They couldn’t cheat up or they would get beat deep. They couldn’t sit back or the talented Tight Ends and Running Backs would eat them up chunks at a time. They had all the Arrows in their Quiver.

The key to success in the NFL is talent based to be sure, you need the players. Even if you have the players you have to use them to their strengths and work to keep defenses honest. Like Ed Reed said, all the teams do the same things so when they face a team that can’t do things the other teams do, you are at a disadvantage. Tying it all together is the job of the Coaches and the Playcallers, but it starts with the Scouts and Personnel men who need to know what the team needs in order to compete.

Teams are a delicate chain and from one link to the next they all need to do their part, one weak link and the whole structure is destined to fail!

First, let’s look the Diagram of the Cover 2 and the basic responsibilities of the defensive players.

The first thing that you should notice is a Cover 2 is played out of the 4-3 formation. 4 Down lineman and 3 Linebackers. As you can see, the Free and Strong Safety have the responsibility of Covering the deep halves of the field, hence the name Cover 2. The other very important factor is the play of the Linebackers. In the original Cover 2 the Middle Linebacker didn’t drop that deep. In the Tampa 2, the deep middle of the field is the responsibility of the Middle Linebacker, so it is vital for this defense to have a versatile Middle backer. He must have the speed to cover the deep middle portion, the fluidity to flip his hips and run along with the stoutness that is needed in run support. In addition, the two Outside Linebackers need to be able the cover the remaining section that has now been vacated by the Middle Linebacker.

The Cornerbacks basically stay within a 10-15 yard vicinity of the line of scrimmage. They must be active in run support and mostly cover the Flat, the area at the line of scrimmage outside of the Tackles. Once the Wide Receiver leaves the Cornerback’s coverage area he is then covered by the Safety. This defense is extremely good at taking away the Deep Passing game as it often gives the QB no good window to throw into. An overthrow as well as an under thrown ball is trouble.

The way to attack the Cover 2 is in the seam. The area between the LB and Safety. If the offense has a fast, good pass catching TE or a talented WR in the Slot, that could be a vital weapon against the Cover 2.

For the Defense in the Cover 2, pressure from the front 4 is vital. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their glory day, had Warren Sapp and Simeon Rice who were both unblockable at times. That rush, coupled with the versatility of a Derrick Brooks, gave Tony Dungy and later Jon Gruden many options for attacking the offense. The Tampa 2 is basically a Cover 2 with improvements to the weaknesses of the original Cover 2. The emphasis on gang tackling, swarming to the ball, staying in your zone, pressure from the front 4 and hard hitting Safeties who could cover in the passing game and lay a licking on a Running Back in the run game.

The Tampa 2 was an innovation in the game that made Offensive Coordinators work harder to figure out how to attack such a balanced Defense. The key to the scheme however was found in it’s players. The system requires great athletes, pass rushers and pure tacklers at every position…or the Super Bowl 37 Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers!!

The name “Football” found its origins from Soccer then Rugby. Soccer received it’s name from the name “AsSOCiation Football”. A bit later, Rugby was formed which was a derivative of Soccer, which is still known around the world as “Football”. American Football as we know it started in the late 1800’s when Universities – Princeton, Yale, Rutgers and Colombia had formed an Intercollegiate Football League (IFL) that was 20 vs 20 and resembled more like Rugby than modern day football. They added Goal Post’s and teams were allowed to Kick for points after the ball “Touched Down” behind the opponents goal line. The then Yale Coach, Walter Camp, changed the rules of the IFL and created what we know today as modern football. He changed teams to 11 vs 11, added “the Neutral Zone” or line of scrimmage, made the field a set size at 110 yards and added a set number of downs to 3. Later the rules would change to add a down and 10 yards to the playing field, making both End Zones 10 yards and the playing field 100 yards. Since Kicking was still a major part of the game it kept the name Football. Now onto the modern day rules of Football and the Kicking game!

The Kickoff
To begin each half, the beginning of the game and beginning of the 3rd Quarter one team will “Kickoff”. This is decided by who wins the initial coin toss. The team that wins the coin toss has 3 options. They can either receive the ball, defer the ball or select which side they want to defend. After they make their selection the other team has the option of the remaining two. On a very windy day for instance, the team that wins the coin toss might wish to pick which way the other team will have go.
All the members of the Kicking team must stay behind the ball when it is kicked, if they run ahead early it is offsides and the ball is re-kicked. Once the ball travels 10 yards on a Kickoff it is a “Live Ball”, meaning that it does not need to be touched by the receiving team to be recovered by the kicking team. If the ball does not travel 10 yards than the kicking team can not recover possession unless it is touched by a member of the receiving team. Here is where the rules get a bit tricky. The ball may not be advanced by the kicking team unless a member of the receiving team has “possession” of the ball, not simply touched but actual possession. A punt may not be used on a Kickoff.

Other Kickoff rules include penalties for kicking out of bounds. If the Kicking team has kicked it out of bounds the ball is spotted at the 40. If the Kicking team kicks the ball out of bounds on an “Onside Kick” then are penalized 5 yards and have to re-kick. From the NFL Rule Book

“If the kicking team either illegally kicks off out of bounds or is guilty of a short free kick on two or more consecutive onside kicks, receivers may take possession of the ball at the dead ball spot, out-of-bounds spot, or spot of illegal touch.”

The Punt
Another form of kick is a Punt. A punt is the opportunity for the team with possession of the ball to kick the ball to the other team and gain field position but lose possession of the ball. A Punt is not a live ball and therefor can not be recovered by the kicking team unless it is touched by a member of the receiving team. In addition, a Punt may be angled out of bounds at no penalty. The ball is spotted where it went out. The great punters like Ray Guy and Shane Lechler have a made a career out of punting the ball out of bounds deep inside of the opposition territory. Punting out of bounds inside the 10 is known as the “Coffin Corner”.

Safety Kick
The third form of Kick is the “Free Kick” or “Safety Kick”. A Free Kick occurs when the Defense has forced a “Safety”. When the QB of the offense is tackled inside his own Endzone the team with possession must “Free Kick” the ball to the team that forced the Safety. The Defending team is awarded the ball and 2 points for this. A Free Kick must be either Punted, Drop Kicked or kicked off the ground without the use of a tee. A Safety Kick is also considered a Dead Ball and is not returnable by the team that has kicked it.

Neither a punt, free kick or kickoff can be used to score, even if a series of penalties places the team close enough to kick the ball through the uprights. A Field Goal is only allowed to occur during a play from scrimmage, which leads us into the final form of a kick.

The Field Goal
On any down and distance the team with possession of the ball has the opportunity to kick the ball through the uprights for 3 points. The kicking team may not use a tee but may use a holder. A Field Goal is returnable by the defense in the event that the kick is short, it must be caught however and once it hits the ground it’s a dead ball. When a Field Goal is blocked, it is returnable by the Blocking team but can not be advanced by the kicking team once it is recovered. A Field Goal attempt is a change of possession for the kicking team unless the ball is in complete possession of the blocking team and then fumbled. If a Field Goal is missed, the ball then belongs to the other team at the spot where it was kicked from. If a Field Goal is attempted and missed inside the 20 yard line than the defending team receives possession at the 20 yard line.

One thing is for certain, the kicking game is a very important part of the game today.

The first thing that we have to note is that when speaking of protection we are talking exclusively about Pass Protection. When Offensive lineman run block, they aren’t protecting they are firing off the ball and trying to open up running lanes. They love to play downhill and get physical with their defensive counter part. Instead, we are going to focus on the differences and responsibilities of each position, what the Tackles do in relation to the Guards and what each member of the O’ lines main responsibility is. It is commonly known that the Left Tackle is the best athlete with the best footwork on the Offensive Line. His duties are to protect the “Blind Side” of a right handed QB. NFL defenses are structured to create pressure away from the Tight End, or the Weak Side, due to the fact that there is typically one less blocker on that side of the line. The Weak Side of the play is the offenses left side, hence the Left Tackle.

I asked Roman to touch on some of these topics to give us clarity from a players perspective and here are some of the things that he shared.

When looking at the positions on the line, the Left Tackle is the most athletic. He has to deal with the guy who is the designated pass rusher for the defense. His biggest attribute will be footwork and athletic ability. The Left Guard is the best puller, especially on power plays & screens. In pass protection he has to deal with the guy who is the best interior pass rusher for the defense (Pat Williams & Tommy Kelly for example). His biggest attribute will be footwork, athletic ability & strength. The Left Guard will be the second best athlete on the line. The Right Tackle & Right Guard are the best pure run blockers. A successful running game must start with a good Center & Right Guard.

When looking at the O-line regarding Pass Protection, the Guard and the Center are responsible for the depth of the pocket and the tackles are responsible for the Width. The idea for the O-Line is to create a Pocket for the QB that isn’t too narrow or collapsed. The QB doesn’t like to have to move or reset his feet, nor does he want to have guys obscure his passing lanes.

If you look at what the defense is trying to do, best case scenario is they can create pressure with only their front four down lineman. In a 3-4 defense, they disguise who the 4th rusher will be and that is the job of the QB to identify who the Mike Linebacker is. In many cases the Defense will rush 5 and then you have 5 O-Lineman vs 5 D-Lineman. When the Offensive Line has a man who is too much to handle with just one blocker, they will “Slide Protect”. Slide Protection is like a Zone Defense in Basketball. When the player comes into a certain Gap he has an O-Lineman who is responsible for him with assistance from the guy next to him.

In the end, the most important thing is creating a pocket, giving the QB throwing lanes and ensuring to pick up the appropriate blitzing defender.

We hope this gives you some insight so the next time you’re watching your favorite team play, you have a better understanding of how the game is played…inside the trenches!

First up we have the “Power Back” – backs that weight 225 pounds or more…Brandon Jacobs for example. These are backs that run well between the tackles and use their size and speed combinations to run people over. When they get into the secondary they make Cornerbacks afraid as they know that they are going to be punished by a man who is bigger and stronger than him. In yesterday’s football, the teams that were in cold, nasty, conditions used to use big backs in what was known as smashmouth football. The reason for this is that in bad conditions it is much harder to throw the ball, so teams had to gameplan a way to be efficient on offense without jepardizing production. Teams like the Washington Redskins used John Riggins and the Cleveland Browns had Jim Brown to pound away and march downfield in long drives that ate up clock and wore out defenses.

In the nasty weather of the Northeast, Jim Brown was very valuable!

In today’s NFL, “Bruiser” backs need to be paired with another back, usually a speed back where terms like “Thunder & Lightning” come into play. By doing this, it gives the offense more versatility and keeps the defense from gameplanning on just one guy. The other reason this is important is the injury factor. In this league you can’t simply keep pounding one man into the teeth of the defense and expect him not to get injuried. The players today are too fast, too strong and too talented and injuries are unavoidable.  The “Bruiser” back is also definitely needed in around the goal line where power and size is a huge boon. The ability to lower your shoulder and pick up a tough 3 yards is very important.

The next back we will look at is the “Scat” back. “Scat” is short for “scatter” which is a word used for quickness and shiftyness.  This style of running back is usually a smaller, quicker back who uses ellusiveness to avoid tacklers. The Scat back can and will occasionally run between the tackles but for the most part is run off the edges. Meaning sweeps and toss plays that the back can “get out into space”.

Smaller backs like MJD have to prove they are able to take the pounding before being a fulltime back!

That simply put means the open field where his “shake and bake” is maximized. The “Scat” back is typically a great reciever out of the back field as well. Most often you will see teams using a “3rd Down back” who comes in only on 3rd Down. Most often in the NFL, the 3rd Down is a passing down and therefor a 3rd Down back is one that can catch the football but also stay in and block if the defense is blitzing!

When you combine all of these attributes together you have a “Complete back”. Running backs like Walter Peyton, Terrell Davis, LaDanian Tomlinson and many others, were all complete backs. They could run between the tackles, run off the edge,  catch like a WR, and block blitzing defenders. These type of Backs make a huge difference in the offense because they are so valuable to what a coach can call as a playcaller. In San Francisco during their glory years, Roger Craig was a huge weapon. He rushed for over 1000 yards and had over 1000 yards receiving, in the same season! That was a weapon that made opposing defensive have to spend extra hours gameplanning to stop him. Pair that with a great QB, the greatest WR and a solid TE…and yeah, you win a lot of SuperBowls!

All great running backs, whether big or small, short or tall, fast or quick, all have the same similiarities that make them good.  Often times in the NFL you see running backs that don’t have the patience to let the hole develop. They are “running up the backs of the O-Line”. They need to give the O-Line a second a two to create a running lane and then use a burst of quickness to get through that opening. I reached out to Jamal Anderson, formerly of the Atlanta Falcons who back in the 1990’s was one of the best Power Backs in the NFL. 

Jamal says Vision is the key to greatness!

I asked him what was more important, patience or being quick through the hole? He said… ” Patience. The great ones have vision, and those that don’t wont get it by teaching. Vision # 1, Patience # 2.”

So as you can see, the most important attribute that can’t be tought is Vision. When a running back has all the tools – Vision, Patience, Burst, Catching ability, Blocking ability, Power, Speed and Ellusiveness…you have a complete back and one that gives the offense a huge advantage. Running the ball is the most efficient way to wear down an opponent, control the time of possession battle and elemenate costly turnovers. In an NFL that is now geared more toward passing attacks and scoring points keep in mind the importance of running the football…the more things change, the more they stay the same!

The history of the Zone Blitz begins with Dick Lebeau, the longtime defensive coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers who has been credited with creating the Zone Blitz scheme. The overall premise of the Zone Blitz is a switch in roles for defensive players – coverage guys rush the passer and Lineman who usually rush the passer drop into coverage.

The Zone Blitz is a combination of two football terms that are blended into one common phrase. Typically, the Defensive Lineman drops into a “Zone” where he is responsible to cover an area and anyone that comes into his area he is responsible for. The QB is not typically used to this action by a lineman and it can do two things 1. Force him to throw the ball into the area that is now covered that he wasn’t planning on being covered  or 2. Confusing him long enough that he holds onto the ball and allows the other defenders to come in and get a sack.

The other portion of the “Zone Blitz” is the blitz part. While the lineman are dropping into a Zone, a Linebacker, Cornerback or Safety will blitz the QB running as fast as he can to get a sack. The combination of all the Defensive players moving around into areas where they normally aren’t creates confusion and leads to good things for the defense.

Let’s look at a 3-4 Defense example of a Zone Blitz…

As you can see, the Defense End slides out and is responsible for covering the “Flat” area out on the right side and the Left Defensive End drops straight back into coverage where the Linebackers usually are. In this example all 4 Linebackers are attacking the QB trying to create enormous pressure. The key to this playcall will be in it’s disguise. If the the QB is tipped off to the blitz, he will call an audible to a play designed to exploit its weakness.

Let’s take a look at a 4-3 Zone Blitz…

Looking at this diagram you can see that this is a bit more complicated blitz as the Strong Safety is also rushing the passer. The Defensive End once again drops back from the line into coverage, this time covering the Linebacker’s position while the Linebacker drops back covering the Free Safety position and the Free Safety rotates over covering for the Strong Safety who is attacking the QB. All of this motion and movement is intended to confuse the QB just enough that he doesn’t know what to do either throwing it in a place that he shouldn’t or holding it too long which creates a sack.

We have spoken about the two main benefits of the Zone Blitz but it also has it’s downfalls. If the pass rushers fail to get to the QB then the defense is left vunerable due to the lack of coverage skills in the secondary. A large Defensive Lineman rarely has the speed and skills to cover much faster Running Backs and Wide Receivers. In addition, the Zone Blitz is typically only useful on passing plays, so if the QB is tipped off to what the defense is doing, he may call an audible and switch to a run play and catch the Defense out of position.

The limitations to the Zone Blitz are endless as there are unlimited formations and schemes which a Defensive Coordinator can come up with. It is used to create confusion for the offense and when used properly it is a good weapon to have. Originally created by Dick LeBeau of the Pittsburgh Steelers now nearly every team has adopted it and is now a standard playcall in NFL defensive playbooks.

If you have any questions please feel free to ask!

The West Coast Offense was mastered by a true football genius!

The basic premise of the passing game in the West Coast offense is that the system uses short slanting pass routes that uses Running Backs and Tight Ends as receivers. A QB with mobility was originally preferred with the belief that the smaller, receiving backs may not be as well suited for pass blocking as opposed to the big “smashmouth” backs like John Riggins for example. Times have since changed and now great athletes come in all shapes and sizes with their own unique skill sets. The West Coast system under Mike Shanahan and the Denver Broncos for example utilized different offensive sets (single back, double tight end, 5 wide, I formation, etc..) that often saw potential pass blockers run out for passing routes. A mobile QB for Shanahan’s system was also important as the coach liked to run a lot of bootlegs and roll-outs where mobility and accuracy on the run were needed. Each coach had their own little wrinkle and tweaked the system according to their personnel. Generally speaking, the West Coast Offense tends to prefer bigger receivers who run well after the catch. This offense typically predicates on the short and mid range passing attack and tries to create match-up problems for the defense. Wide Outs typically run more vertically than horizontally (but they definitely do both) so the short slants and quick routes mean big plays come after the catch.

The West Coast offense has been traditionally known as a “Pass first” offense, where discipline is of the utmost importance. It uses timing routes where the QB throws to a certain area on the field counting on his receiver to be in that area. When the QB and WR have a miscommunication it can leave fans saying “Who was that throw to?”

Wide Receivers aren’t the only passing threat in this style offense. Typically RB’s and Tight Ends play a huge role in the passing game. Looking back at the great 49er teams and you’ll see Roger Craig and Dwight Clark playing a big role in the passing attack. In fact, Roger Craig had a 1000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season. The Niners rarely went out of a “Pro Formation” meaning they used 2 WR’s, 1 TE, 1 FB and 1 RB – however all these players went out on passing patterns. This is where the match-up problems for the defense come in. When the offense can force a LB to have to cover a RB on a passing play it is usually an advantage for the offense.

Steve Marriuci discusses Bill Walsh and how the West Coast Offense as evolved.

As for the running game, some teams that run the West Coast Offense also employed the vaunted Zone Blocking Scheme. This scheme is intended so that the offensive line works in unison off the snap to get the defense flowing in one direction. The key is for the entire line to move together and they need mobility to slide down the line of scrimmage. Since mobility is key, usually the linemen are smaller and more agile. The running back is then responsible for finding the proper lane then making one cut and then head down hill. While the line is moving in one direction, the backside (away from the direction of the flow) of the offensive line “cuts” (meaning bring to the ground) the defensive linemen thus opening an opportunity if the original running lane is clogged. One of the many geniuses of this system is that often times the offensive line would get to the “second level”, meaning a Center or Guard on a Linebacker or Safety. If the Running Back hits the hole at the proper time he only has on or two guys left to beat which can mean big plays. It is a running system that proved a one cut style runner who could hit the hole hard could do well. If the Running Back has great vision and ellusive abilities he can become elite. In this highlight we show how the O-Line moves in unison in one direction and Terrell Davis finds the open hole, puts a foot in the ground, squares his shoulders and heads downhill. Notice how #69 (Mark Schlereth) of the Broncos gets to the second level putting a block on linebacker #52 (Pepper Johnson) leaving only a defensive back left to make the tackle. After making that one lone defender miss Davis goes the rest of the way untouched! Zone Blocking at it’s finest!

The West Coast Offense mastered by Bill Walsh uses a combination of formations and pass catchers to create match-up problems for the defense. The WR’s and QB’s need to be on the same page or the system won’t work. Running Backs and Tight Ends are very involved in the passing attack and the Offensive line typically works in unison in the running game. When done properly, as the San Francisco 49er’s did in the 1980’s, it is almost impossible to stop!

Bill Walsh’s “Coaching Tree” has had a major influence on many teams in the NFL and his legacy will always carry on!

First of all, why don’t they have the Combine participants in football attire? At least shoulder pads and a helmet. When will we ever see a guy in Spandex with no shirt on trucking down field on Special Teams? Never, but I digress.

What is considered a good 40 time for each position? Let’s look at the chart!

The Guide to Millions!

Can the 40 effect draft position? Absolutely!

In February, typically after the Super Bowl up until April, the football world is flooded with Scouting Reports on players entering the upcoming draft. Using Chris Johnson as my example, let’s take a look at what some were saying before the Combine…

Chris Johnson – “Overall: Chris Johnson may be a 3-5th round pick to a team that is struggling on special teams and needs a little tweek on their running game.” from FFJungle.com

Johnson ran a 4.24 at the Combine and vaulted up the draft boards and was selected by Tennessee in the 1st Round. What’s odd is that everyone knew Johnson was fast, he was labeled a 3rd Down Back, or a scat back that was exceptionally fast but scouts said he lacked the bulk and size to be a 3 down back. His scouting reports all say – SPEED but point out he was undersized. After he posted a 4.24 the coaches didn’t care what the scouting reports said!

Do players stay fast? Yep!

In 2005 Fabian Washington used his natural athletic ability to burn a 4.25 at the Combine and of course that got Al Davis’ attention and the Oakland Raiders drafted Fabian in the 1st Round. I recently asked Fabian, now with the Baltimore Ravens, if he were to run a 40 today, 4 years into the league, what he would run. I was curious if the really fast guys maintain their speed or does it diminish as they get bigger, stronger and older? Well Fabian hasn’t gotten much bigger and he hasn’t gotten any slower either, he can flat out run. He was a former track stud who was a District Champion in the 100 meters in high school down in Bradenton, FL.

“4.29 – 4.33” he replied. Yeah, he is still fast.

Size is overlooked when you’re fast!

In this most recent draft the Denver Broncos traded away a future 1st round pick to select Cornerback Alphonso Smith out of Wake Forrest. Smith ran a decent 4.52 and is 5’ 9” which prompted scouts like Scott Wright to say “their isn’t too much not to like about this guy other than his lack of prototypical height…would get selected much earlier if he were 2 or 3 inches taller”. Smith is a pure ball hawk who is the all time ACC leader in interceptions but doesn’t have the “tangibles” to measure up. The funny thing is, Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones was 5-9 and I never read anything about his height. Why? Well Pacman ran a 4.31!

While Fabian Washington’s tangibles helped him earn millions more by going in the first, Alphonso Smith’s hindered him and cost him money even though he is one of the most productive Cornerbacks in college history. I am willing to bet if Smith runs a sub 4.5 he goes in the 1st Round and makes that much more money.

How much more money?

Let’s compare two Cornerbacks from the same team and how they were paid. Draft position dictates how much guys make. These figures from the Sun-Sentinel.com: Vontae Davis vs Sean Smith -

1st Rd – Cornerback – Vontae Davis -5-year contract

500,000 – Signing Bonus (Divided into every year of the contract 100,000 per year).
4,045,000 – Option bonus (Bonus spread over the last 4 years of the contract starting in 2,010, 1,011,250 per year)
310,000 – Base Salary
815,000 – Roster Bonus
—————————————————————————–
1,225,000 (Roster Bonus + Base Salary + Pro Rated Signing Bonus)
Vontae Davis – 2010

395,000 – Base Salary (Guaranteed)
100,000 Pro-Ration from Signing Bonus
1,011,250 (Pro-Rated Option Bunus)
——————————————————————————-
1,506,250 Cap number

Vontae Davis – 2011
676,250 – Base Salary (Guaranteed)
100,000 (Pro-rated from signing bonus)
1,011,250 (Pro-rated option bonus)
——————————————————————————
1,787,500 Cap number

Vontae Davis – 2012
957,500 – Base Salary
1,011,250 (Pro-rated option bonus)
100,000 (Pro-rated from signing bonus)
—————————————————————————–
2,068,750 Cap number

Vontae Davis – 2013
786,250 Base salary
1,011,250 (Pro-rated option bonus)
1,897,500 Cap number

_____________________________________________________________________________

2nd Rd selection CB Sean Smith – 4 year contract

945,000 Signing Bonus (Prorated over 4 years 236,250)

Smith also has a 421,000 reporting bonus that is a not likely to be earned incentive, this does not count against the cap until the players earns it. These bonus are tied to certain team and individual incentives. In Sean’s case he can earn it if:

-Participates in more than 35% of the defensive plays.
-3 or more TD’s on interceptions or leads the team in interceptions.
-5 or more fumble recoveries or leads the team in fumble recoveries.
-11 or more interceptions or leads the team in interceptions.

Smith can also earn the bonus if the team improves in certain statistical categories.
-Net yards defensively.
-Net yards per pass.
-Total defensive.

2009
310,000 – Base salary
236,250 – Pro Rated signing Bonus
—————————————————
546,250 Cap number

Sean Smith 2,010
395,000 – Base Salary
236,250 – Prorated signing Bonus
————————————————–
631,250 Cap number

Sean Smith 2,011
480,000 – Base salary
236,250 – Prorated signing bonus
————————————————–
716,250 Cap number

Sean Smith 2,012
565,000 – Base salary
236,250 – Prorated signing Bonus
————————————————-
801,250 Cap number

If Smith has not earned the 421,000 reporting bonus by his 3rd season he’ll get this bonus in the 4th year of the deal even if he’s cut.
Cap total in 2,012 will go up if you add reporting bonus to 1,222,250.

So in short…a little more than double, and if Vontae was in the Top 10 forget it, those guys make big bank!

It’s clear that being a 1st Round pick pays better and there is no better way to get into the 1st Round than to put up a great number on the stopwatch in April at the NFL Combine.

Does speed make you a good player?

While speed in the NFL is important as the league is full of wondeful athletes, the answer is, absolutely not! Some of the greatest players ever had terrible 40 times. Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, Lynn Swann and Terrell Davis are all players who were considered “slow” coming out of college. Jerry Rice ran in the 4.6 to 4.71 range. Emmitt Smith ran the 40 in 4.7 seconds and that same year Blair Thomas from Penn State ran a 4.4. The Jets went with Thomas with the 2nd overall pick in the draft and Emmitt went 17th to Dallas, how’d that work out.

What’s the Skinny on the 40, put the game tape on and see if you can find a football player and use the Combine as a measuring stick to reinforce what you should already know, who is good and who isn’t…the numbers on a stopwatch shouldn’t matter.