MESH TECHNIQUES - 4. HOP METHOD

This is a common technique in nowadays under-center Veer teams on the college level. It is easier to teach than the Ride and Decide Method because less parts are moving during the procedure. It helps reading the stunts and estimating the movement of the defense. This is because of the principle of relative velocity. Estimating a cars speed from the sidewalk is easier than judging it from your car moving in the opposite direction.

The Quarterback steps with his playside foot (right foot if going to the right) to 5 o'clock and brings his backside leg (left leg) almost simultaniously parallel to the B-Backs path, creating a hopping motion on this step. He has to bring both feet into the ground as quick as possible, keeping his legs bent and keeping the shoulder level low. With the hopping action, Quarterbacks tend to raise up more and this has to be limited. Because there is no pushoff, the depth will be closer to the line of scrimmage than on the Ride and Decide Method. It is really important that the feet are parallel to the path of the B-Back, otherwise fumbles will occur. The ball will be pushed back with the extended front arm (left arm) similar to the Ride and Decide Method, tucking his chin to the front shoulder (left shoulder) and getting his eyes on the Divekey. His feet will be flatfooted and he will start the ride off this stance. The weight transfer starts toward the front foot (left foot) and the decision has to be made at the front hip, not reaching out. The read is shorter than on the Ride and Decide Method because of the flatfooted stance and tough on certain stunts. After the ride, the Quarterback has to start from a stationary position and needs to get off fast. If the Quarterback is not athletic enough the backside can chase down the Quarterback from behind.

Coach Tony DeMeo has used a different technique for his Gun Triple Option. Basically the Fullback is utilized as an additional blocker in pull reads and cuts the Divekey. Currently the technique is not common with Flexbone Offenses but a lot of phrases he uses apply to it perfectly. More on that in a separate article.

MESH TECHNIQUES - 3. POINT METHOD

"Better a wrong read than a long read." Tony DeMeo

The Point Method or "No-Mesh Mesh" Method has its proponents in the Split Back Veer, but also has a growing "fanbase" in other Veer Offenses. Its origin is at Carson-Newman College. It is not as deceptive as the Ride and Decide Method and this hurts the Play Action Passing game too. Its advantage is that their is no ride between the Quarterback and the B-Back, so the chance of a fumble is limited. And limiting turnovers is key to all offensive success as we know. A big advantage is also the time of teaching the technique needs and that it cancels hangups in the mesh because of a long read.

As with the Ride and Decide Method, the Quarterback will transfer his weight to his backside foot (left foot if played to the right) and push off that foot gaining depth into the mesh. The toes of the playside foot (right foot) should point at 2 o'clock and the weight transfers from the backside leg (left leg) to the playside leg (right leg) while the backside leg (left leg) follows. The toes of the backside (left leg) should now point at 1 o'clock and you should come to balance. This brings the Quarterback into the line of scrimmage and assures that the Quarterback is not bellying of the mesh or getting into the backfield and running sideways. The arms will be extended immediately presenting the ball for the B-Back, pointing the ball at the Divekey and the trunk and torso will face the Divekey. His eyes will follow the arms and he will focus on the far shoulder of the Divekey. The Quarterback needs to be in a position where he is able to attack the defense. The ball is pointed directly at the Divekey with arms extended, so that the B-Back is able to run over the ball. The weight in this stance is balanced on the balls of his feet during his read  and his pad level should stay the same from the snap to the mesh. If the Divekeys far shoulder takes the B-Back and crosses the ball, the Quarterback will pull the ball. If the Divekeys far shoulder stays on the upfield side of the ball, the B-Back will take the ball. Against stacked fronts and stunting defenses, the Quarterback needs to perform an area read, where he reads the area of the collission point with the B-Back. If no one attacks this area and he gets a clear read, the B-Back will run over the Football and take it. If a Defender attacks this area and the Quarterback gets a cloudy read, he will pull the ball. It is important that the Quarterback gives the ball unless someone is able to tackle the B-Back and this has to be his mindset. The B-Back will run over the ball and if it is there, it is his and he will take it. Also if the B-Back touches the Football, the ball has to be given to him. If a wrong read occurs and the Quarterback pulled the ball, he has to follow the B-Back. This gives him a chance to make something out of nothing. If the Quarterback gets a fuzzy read and the Playside Tackle takes the pinching Divekey the Quarterback has to give the ball. When the read is made the weight shifts back to the rear leg (right leg) in order to get out of the mesh quick and aggressively downhill. He will snap the ball back into his chest before contact is made with the B-Back if the ball is being pulled. The Quarterback aims to the hash marks, then the numbers and towards the sideline. If the Quarterback has problems getting off the mesh quickly, he can perform an escape step with his rear foot (right foot) behind the mesh and get downfield with the second step. The ball stays at heart level to be able to perform a heart to heart pitch and getting the ball out quick if the defense stunts.

MESH TECHNIQUES - 2. RIDE AND DECIDE METHOD

The Ride and Decide technique is the oldest one but probably still the most used one. It developed with the Wishbone offense. It is a proven technique within different offensive formations and combines a long read duration for the decision making of the Quarterback and decent deception. It works against different defensive techniques because the Quarterback can control the time of the read with the length of his step. Against a pinching Divekey the step can be shorter, against a slowplaying Divekey the step can be longer, making the Divekey to commit for the B-Back or the Quarterback. This helps with ball security and the reads of the Quarterback. The techniques takes time to teach and because of the ride ball security problems can occur. Also it is tougher for the B-Back to judge if he is getting the ball or not.

The Quarterback will push off his backside foot (left foot if going to the right), gaining depth and step with his playside foot (right foot) at 5 o'clock. The weight is actually transferred to the backside foot (left foot) before the snap. If the Quarterback steps and does not push back, his shoulder level will raise and he will lean back, so make sure that the weight is transferred presnap. This happens especially with tall Quarterbacks. He pushes the ball with his backside hand (left hand) to his rear hip (right hip), keeping both hands on the ball and the front arm (left hand) fully extended. His chin tucks to his front shoulder (left shoulder) and his eyes are on the Divekey immediately. As the B-Back gets into the Mesh, the Quarterback starts riding, keeping his front arm (left hand) extended and stepping with his backside foot (left foot) parallel to the line of scrimmage while transferring his weight from the rear leg (right leg) into the step. The decision to give or pull the ball is made at the front hip (left hip). The Quarterback continues pushing off his front foot (left foot) and stepping with his rear foot (right foot) behind the B-Back. This keeps the Quarterback moving and not having to restart his motion after the read. It helps reducing backside defenders chasing down the Quarterback from behind. Because it is not working into the line of scrimmage Quarterbacks tend to belly off the mesh after disconnecting with the B-Back.

MESH TECHNIQUES - 1. OVERVIEW

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Bert Lance

The mesh point is the hookup between the Quarterback and the B-Back during the dive phase of the Veer. It either results in a Give where the Quarterback hands off the ball to the B-Back (if the Divekey does not assign on the B-Back) or in a Pull where the Quarterback pulls the ball out of the mesh and continues to read the Pitchkey (if the Divekey assigns on the B-Back). Of course there is another result - THE FUMBLE - and this is why you have to be sound on any Mesh technique that you are using.

A lot of different mesh techniques have been developed through history of the Veer. Like almost everything in football, all of them are sound if you are using the right techniques, teaching methods and if you are practicing it over and over again.

Lets have a look at the different techniques:

The Ride and Decide Method

The Point Method

The Hop Method

VEER CONCEPT

"We don't have a playbook. I found that if you have playbooks, they end up on eBay and everywhere else.” Paul Johnson

The main portion of the Flexbone Offense is its Veer concept. For those new to this topic, we look up the knowledge bible - Wikipedia - again.

"The Veer is an option running play often associated with option offenses in American football, made famous at the collegiate level by Bill Yeoman's Houston Cougars. It is currently run primarily on the high school level, with some usage at the collegiate and the professional level where the Veer's blocking scheme has been modified as part of the Zone Blocking system. The Veer is an effective ball control offense that can help minimize mismatches in a game for a team. However, it can lead to turnovers with pitches and handoff option reads."

Wow! There's a lot of information in this article we need to think about. 

Early in my coaching carreer (it started 2000), I was lucky enough to be part of a coaching clinic featuring Bill Yeoman and getting a hand on his Veer T Offense book. One may argue that this might have been a big influence on me, and that I may have become a Spread Option offense guy if this didn't happen to me. In some way you are right, the systematic approach has caught me instantly. 

Currently, the veer is used in many different formations. You see it under center as a traditional split-back, I-formation or wishbone offense but it got popular within the spread (shotgun) and pistol offenses recently. The basic idea behind it is probably used more often then ever before.

Wikipedia bullseyes it in saying that it is an effective ball control offense that can help minimize mismatches. This is basically the reason why the Veer exists and why it has its proponents in the NCAA D1 service academies. We will discuss the little thing stated at the end in future articles, just so far, ball security is the most important thing in every offense, the Flexbone and the Veer are no exception.

"The Veer option is generally regarded as a "triple option". It is designed as a four-back attack with one player taking a dive course, one taking a pitch course and another being a lead blocker on the perimeter of the offensive formation. The QB makes reads on defensive players and then distributes the ball according to the defensive reaction to the offense. A typical play proceeds as follows (we will assume that this is an "inside veer" going to the right side out of the split-back formation): the quarterback takes the snap. He then does what is called "opening up": the quarterback goes from his two point stance, facing forward, and takes (in this situation) his opposite side, left foot and pivots ninety degrees on his right foot, extending the ball toward the sideline he is facing. The split-back halfback on the right side, who in this situation is the "dive back", goes forward into the line to where the quarterback is and meets in an area called the "mesh point". This is where the idea of the Veer begins to take shape: the offensive line has left one man unblocked here, most likely a defensive tackle (although it can be a linebacker)."

Translated to the Flexbone terminology:

"... A typical play proceeds as follows (we will assume that this is an inside veer going to the right side out of the Flexbone Ace formation) the quarterbacks takes the snap. ... (a future article will cover the footwork of the quarterback) ... The B-Back, who is the dive back, goes forward into the line to where the quarterback is and meets in an area called the mesh point. ..."

Wikipedia continues:

"This man is being Read by the QB. The defender is being forced to choose between tackling the dive back or the quarterback. The dive back explodes forward, puts his arms around the ball that is being extended, but does not take it. The quarterback, in his open stance, is reading the man being veered to determine whether he will "pull" the ball from the dive back, or let the dive back take the ball and go through the hole. This is where the name of the offense, the veer, comes from. This is just one part of the four-part option. If the quarterback keeps the ball, he attempts to cut up the field with the opposite side halfback, who has been running right towards the dive back's original position. He is the pitch man."

For the Flexbone:

"... If the quarterback keeps the ball, he attempts to cut up the field with the backside A-Back, who has been running right towards the dive backs original position. He is the pitch man."

And the last part:

"He attempts to maintain proper pitch relation to the quarterback, technically a few yards outside the quarterback and moving laterally so that the quarterback may pitch the ball as he goes down the field. This entire action does not take longer than a few seconds. The fourth player in the split-veer would be a wide receiver or tight end. His job, depending on the formation, would be to block the force player who is responsible for the flat to the side they are attacking. The offense relies on the quarterback making the proper reads, and reacting to the read (if he decides to keep the ball), turning up the field and gaining yardage. The dive back must remember to not take the football from the quarterback, rather the quarterback must give it to him. The pitch man must know to maintain proper spacing from the quarterback to ensure that the quarterback can make an effective pitch that can ensure more yardage."

Again, different terminology:

"... The fourth player in the Flexbone Veer would be the playside A-Back. ..."

Not a lot of changeups from the original article as you see. The explanation contains a couple of intriguing phrases that have to be discussed and specified.

First, the footwork for the Quarterback will fill lots of future articles because there are different philosophies out there.

Also the term "mesh point" is a story on its own, we will learn that there exists a "no-mesh mesh". Weird, huh?

Unfortunately the Dive Key, the defensive lineman left unblocked, can do more than just choose who to tackle. This would be too easy for us.

In the last part we need to be way more specific than telling our players to be just a couple yards outisde and that the action just takes a couple seconds.

Wikipedia has more to offer:

"When an offensive system is devised for a team, the coach must take into account his players, so the veer can be applied to several situations. It can be used for undersized players so that double teams and angles can be used to block defenders. It can be used to isolate defenders and create predictable responses to the offenses actions. If a team is very disciplined it can take advantage of an undisciplined defense that can not execute their responsibilities precisely on each snap of the game. The veer relies on precision, execution, and smarts, rather than an advantage in athleticism, to score points. The ability of the QB to identify weakness in defensive alignment is paramount, as the veer can take quick advantage of a defensive misalignment. The veer also can be used with great effect when the offensive line is a strength of the team. Over time, the ability to pass out of the Veer has also been utilized depending on the quarterback's ability to "bounce" into a moving pocket to make short range passes. The most effective methods of passing out of the Veer also places emphasis on the interior linemen's ability to "sell" the defense on a run block scheme. Short yardage or goal line offensive situations are ideal for a Veer option pass play. The receivers that are the best options for a pass play out of the Veer are the first running back through the line who runs a "go" route isolating the frozen safety; the slot receiver who can release quickly from a block to run a skinny "go" route behind the cornerback or a tight end that can release out of his interior block and find an open seam underneath the lone safety. A third component to the Veer that comes with some passing success is the ability to run trick or gadget plays to take advantage of over anxious defensive backs and over pursuing linebackers. Once the ability to pass out of the Veer has proven successful, the countering of the Veer becomes more conventional and the safeties and cornerbacks must respect the pass first before attacking the line of scrimmage."

Key messages can be found in here. It works with undersized players, the team has to be disciplined, it relies on precision, execution and smarts and not on an advantage in athleticism.


RESSOURCES:
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veer

FLEXBONE HISTORY

“History is written by the victors.” Winston Churchill

History helps us to get a perspective of the past, learn from it and understand present problems. Knowing history and its effects is an integral part of being successful. By eliminating the same mistakes and not stepping in the same trap over and over again allows us to make bigger strides. Don't get me wrong, making mistakes is not a bad thing. Learning things the hard way is the best teacher in my opinion (remember touching the hot oven as a kid) and this process of understanding a subject is important in our development and in dealing with future problems. But you have scratched your head often enough by making one mistake a second time. We don't want to catch ourselves doing that, huh?

So lets see what history and Wikipedia tells us about the Flexbone.

"Air Force Academy Head Coach Fisher DeBerry was once quoted as saying "we need to be more flexible in the Bone." Hence, the term "Flexbone" was born. The design of the formation itself, however, was not created by Fisher DeBerry. The flexbone is a literal carbon copy of the Double Slot formation that Glenn "Tiger" Ellison had created over two decades before the flexbone was born. Incidentally, the option-style running game in the flexbone is based entirely around the Cowboy and Gangster series' of Ellison's Run-and-Shoot playbook."

It may be interesting if you are new to the Flexbone that it was not Fisher DeBerry or Paul Johnson who have invented the formation. Of course the Flexbone as an entire offensive system has flourished under these two masterminds.

Besides of many other great coaches who have helped develop this offense a couple of coaches have to be pointed out because they ran the Flexbone on the highest level.

Fisher DeBerry - Air Force

Paul Johnson - Hawaii, Georgia Southern, Navy, Georgia Tech

Erk Russel - Georgia Southern

Jeff Monken - Hawaii, Navy, Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern, Army

Ken Niumatalolo - Hawaii, Navy


RESSOURCES:
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flexbone_formation

FLEXBONE DEFINITION

“Dictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Hard work is the price we must pay for success. I think you can accomplish anything if you're willing to pay the price.” Vince Lombardi

 

The bible of human knowledge - Wikipedia - states:

"The flexbone formation is an offensive formation in American football that uses a quarterback, five offensive linemen, three running backs, and varying numbers of tight ends and wide receivers." 

So far so good. One may argue that the basic Flexbone formations - called ACE - involves 2 Wide Receivers and no Tight Ends and that all the other used formations of the Flexbone shell are derivates of it. Unbalanced and offbalanced formations may be part of the Flexbone offense, so are trips, double tight and all other kinds of formations that come to your mind.


Wikipedia continues:

"The flexbone formation is a predominant running formation derived from the wishbone formation and it features a quarterback under center with a fullback lined up directly behind the quarterback. There are two smaller running backs called slotbacks aligned behind the line of scrimmage on each side of the offensive line. The slotbacks are sometimes incorrectly referred to as wingbacks. But, in order to be a wingback, there must be a guard, tackle and tight end all on one side of the center on the line of scrimmage and then the wingback off the line of scrimmage." 

Calling the Flexbone formation a predominant running formation is a reach but may be right for the majority of teams that run the Flexbone. The main advantage of the Flexbone over the Wishbone is, that it merges the strenghts of the good ol' Wishbone 3-Back-Set with the more recently 4-Wide-Set approach.

RESSOURCES:
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flexbone_formation