EXPECT EXPECTA ATIONS TIONS 1. Be to meetings on on time! If a player is late for a meeting he will be responsible for extra running after practice. If he is late a 2nd all the running backs will run after practice. If you are going to be late clear it with me first, my office door is always open. 2. Bring paper and pencil to every meeting, I expect you to know your assignments. assignments. 3. Be the hardest working group on this team. Don’t let anybody out work work you. If someone sprints 40 yards, you sprint 100. Do everything full speed speed and then some. 4. Be the hardest working group in the MIAA! MIAA! Be the best group in the MIAA! Be the best group group in the country country.. Always Always aspire to be better better than than you are. 5. Expect not to be brought down by one tackler. tackler. Expect to score every time you touch the ball. 6. Ball Security- Expect to hold on tightly to the ball and NEVER let it go. 7. Expect to have pride in what you are doing. Have some pride in your team, in your offensive unit, in your position, and in yourself. 8. Respect is earned, not given. We must earn the respect of our teammates. Respect is earned through hard work. 9. Dominate the competition every time you take the field. Expect to defeat your opponent, but at the same time time do it with class. class. 10. Expect VICTORY every Saturday!!!!!
Running Running Back Back Termi Terminolo nology gy
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Arc Block: A block where a running back takes an arc release to get outside leverage on the defender. He may adapt his course on the run if the defender comes inside. Ball Leverage: An offensive running back carrying the ball with 5 points of pressure Ball Security: Keeping the ball secure at All times. The elbow must be tight to the side. Body Leverage: Position of the body at impact to give maximum driving power. Check down Route: A route that is run by a back AFTER he has checked and has completed his pass protection duties. Chip Block: A block made on play action where the back will give a ½ fast effort (he’ll allow the contain player to get inside of him) but he will punch the contain player inside for 2 counts. Counter: Ball carrier going opposite from flow. Crossover Step: First step is made with foot away from play side Cut Back: Breaking the play back against the flow of the defense Cut Block: A block where the running back will explode through the outside thigh of the defender. He will also execute a rip technique to cut the defender down. He must follow through with this block to keep the defender on the ground. Defensive line technique: The position that a defensive lineman is playing in against our offensive linemen. Dive Jump Technique: This is used when jumping over a pileup of blockers and defenders to gain short yardage. RB must explode toward the L.O.S. at top speed before executing a two footed running broad jump at maximum speed and power. Drive-Squeeze Technique: Lower your inside shoulder and dive between two would be tacklers. This is a good technique to use when we start short yardage. Drop Step: A short step made perpendicular to the L.O.S. Exchange: The process of the quarterback handing the ball to the running back. During this process, the back must keep his eyes up looking at the defense, not at the QB or the ball. Fake: A maneuver to hold the defense. Great emphasis must be placed on all fakes. Fill: A running back will post for the pulling offensive lineman.
Freeze Technique: This is running directly at a defender that’s being set up to be blocked. If you cut too early, he will be able to take a pursuit angle to catch you. Get Off: The process of coming out of your stance. Your get off must be low and hard. Isolation: A play where we will isolate or lead back on the defense’s PS ILB Jab Step: A short step made at 45 degrees toward the opposite direction the running back is going. Step is made with foot away from the play side. Kick Out Block: A block where the back will kick out (or get inside out leverage on the contain player.) Take an inside out approach and anticipate the movement of the defender. Lead: A similar concept of the isolation. The back is a lead blocker. Lead Step: First step is made with the play side foot. Open Field Running: Running directly north and south. Getting closer to the promised land! Open Step: First step is opening parallel to the L.O.S. Step is taken with the play side foot and is pointed toward the sideline. Opportunity Period: A period of practice where the running back has the opportunity to make himself a better player. Pocket: The hand and arm position of an offensive back when receiving a handoff. Relationship: The relationship between the running back and the quarterback on an option play. Spinning out technique: A technique that is used when a defender has stopped your momentum, but failed to wrap you up. When spinning arch back and keep good balance while spinning tightly with a north south spin. Up field: Offensive back running to the opponents goal line, not the sideline Violent Running: Running Violently! Driving back leg through upon contact. This will allow the back to gain extra yards (Y.A.C.) which separates the great RB’s from the good ones. Yards after contact: Yards made after first contact-Something that we will place a lot of emphasis on.
RULES PERTAINING TO THE RUNNING BACK There are various rules that the running back should be aware of at all times. A successful attempt should be made to understand the following list of rules. Learn and use them to
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your advantage. 1. Illegal Shifting: You must be set for a full second before the ball is snapped. 2. Illegal Use of Hands: It is illegal to hold the man while blocking him. 3. Talking to Officials: Only designated players will talk to officials. 4. Live Balls-Dead Balls: A live ball is a ball in play and a dead ball is not in play. A pass which has not yet touched the ground. 5. Clipping: Running or diving into your opponent’s back. 6. Offside: No one can be in the neutral zone at the snap of the ball. 7. Backward Pass: Is a live ball thrown parallel to or behind the passer. 8. Spearing: The deliberate use of the head and helmet in an attempt to punish an opponent after his momentum has stopped. 9. Tripping: Using the lower legs or foot to obstruct an opponent below the knees. 10. Player Out of Bounds: You cannot return to the field of play once you step out of bounds unless the opponent forced you out of bounds. However, you must return immediately at the nearest point of entry. 11. Possession: The team who last has possession remains in possession if the ball goes out of bounds. 12. Fair Catch: Once a fair catch is signaled for, it cannot be advanced and the man signaling cannot block anyone. 13. In Bounds: One foot must be in bounds when a receiver catches a ball. The in bounds foot must touch before the other touches out of bounds to be a legal catch. 14. Tipped Ball: A forward pass can be tipped forward and caught. 15. Covering Punts: A) The man receiving the punt must be given 2 yards safety cushion to catch the ball. B) Never down the ball unless absolutely necessary. C) Respect the fair catch signal!
Running Back Philosophy Our offense is ball control, attacking defenses with both the run and the pass, and an offense that strives to be balanced in the attack. Running backs are required to block for both run and pass plays, catch the football, and to be an aggressive, attacking style runner.
Bulldog backs need to be talented and dedicated athletes who are always striving for personal improvement and team success. I.
Keys to a Quality Running Back 1. Must be an excellent blocker. 2. Turnovers are unacceptable 3. Be an aggressive runner. Must get Y.A.C. 4. Must be able to catch the ball 5. Must understand defensive strength and weaknesses. 6. Must be able to execute assignments properly at all times. Running Back Objectives 1. To gain yards after first contact. 2. Grade out at 90% or better. 3. Keep the ball secure at all times. 4. Know all assignments 5. Get north and south 6. Be physically and mentally tough 7. Play with great enthusiasm. 8. Master all your techniques.
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III. Stance
Before getting into your stance, scan the whole field, not the holes. Look from the left corner to the right corner and then back to the center and lock on. Before you get into your stance know the front and coverage. Certain plays will require you to know the technique of the defensive lineman. 2 point stance 1. Head up. 2. Chest out. 3. Hands on thighs with thumbs pointed forward. 4. Toes slightly pointed inward. 5. Forward body lean.
3 Point Stance 1. The 3 point stance is like sitting in a chair but then falling forward. 2. The top of the back should be parallel to the ground or at most, a slight downward
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angle to the ground. 3. The butt should be slightly higher than the shoulders. 4. Toes and knees should be pointed straight ahead. 5. Always maintain a heel to toe relationship or less. 6. The down hand is placed just inside the down hand’s shoulder. 7. Use a three finger bridge to help take the weight off of your hand. This will ensure that your weight is distributed evenly. 20% of your weight is placed on your down hand. 8. The free arm should be positioned with the palm up, facing the back’s face with thumb pointed towards L.O.S. and fingers are spread in a relaxed manner. 9. Stare through the quarterback, look through eye brawls as your looking up. The Get Off-Coming Out of the 3 Point Stance 1. As you are coming out of your stance, you want to keep your elbows close to your body otherwise there will be a natural raising tendency of your upper torso which results in the loss of speed and power. 2. When coming out of a stance you want to be low because this is quicker as it helps you get to the hole quicker, and it makes you more powerful so you can break tackles. Handoff exchange 1. Watch the defense on the exchange, not the ball. Look to see where you are going. 2. The wrist of the bottom hand should be placed directly underneath the belly button. This guarantees that your bottom hand is far enough over, but not too far over. 3. The back of the top hand is against the numbers. This forces the elbow up and out of the way for the quarterback to place the ball in the pocket. 4. Put the ball away with the bottom hand. IV.
Ball Security 1. Cover the front tip of the ball-always maintain two fingers over the tip. 2. Bury the back tip of the ball into the armpit. 3. Cover the outside part of the ball with the forearm. 4. Squeeze the ball against the body with the forearm-lock the elbow. 5. Always be holding on to the ball in practice ( i.e. when your standing behind the offense, every time you come back for a drill squeeze the ball as hard as you can.) V.
Running with the ball 1. When running with the football carry the ball across your chest so you don’t expose the back tip. VI.
2. Set your defenders and then split them. 3. Ignite your team by breaking tackles and fighting for extra yardage. Never go down for less than 3 tacklers. 4. Running in place and using too many moves only allows the defense time to pursue and tackle you. 5. After taking a handoff or pitch it is important to get your shoulders and hips square to the L.O.S. so you are able to break in any direction. 6. Keep the ball in the same hand because fumbles happen when backs switch the ball from one hand to the other. Learn to hold on to the ball with one hand. 7. Cut or break off a block as tightly as possible as this ensures north & south running. It also diminishes the chances of defenders pursuing you. 8. Open up your strides as you go through the holes because you will gain greater distance in the same amount of time. The defensive front will also have a tougher time pursuing you. 9. A good running back is able to utilize his speed and power to become his own blocker if there is no daylight to run through. 10.As you feel contact, explode the back leg through. The back leg will break tackles. We want you to run violently! Faking We sometimes only need the LB to take a false step to make a play successful. Six inches (a false step) can be the difference between a loss on the play and a touchdown. 1. Most importantly, we must make the run play exactly the same as the run pass play. We are not going to exaggerate the fake, make it look realistic! 2. An excellent fake will account for three or four men while a good block will account for one or two. 3. Faking is one of the “little things” that make the difference. Have pride and care about everything that you do. 4. Form your pocket like you do when taking a hand off, and then the hand of the up arm folds underneath the elbow of the bottom arm. The bottom hand is folded underneath the other elbows as the hands are pressed against the rib gage and the arms are pressed against the stomach. As a result of the folding action, both hands are hiding underneath both elbows. Such a fake enables a fake to create as much hand and arm surface over the pocket as possible which helps to hide the fact of whether or not the ball is in the pocket. We will use this type of fake when you are faking runs that require you to be square to the L.O.S. VII.
5. We will use a different fake when running plays that require you to run parallel to the L.O.S. On these plays, you will clamp the outside arm to the rib cage similar to how you carry the ball. The inside arm is pumping violently and your inside shoulder is low as well to simulate a running play. 6. You must keep your head up and eyes open as if you were looking for daylight. You never carry the ball with your head down so why would you do it on a fake. 7. You must accelerate at top speed just as you would if you were carrying the ball. Hunching over the faking action is a dead give away that you are faking the carry.
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Blocking You must realize that blocking is payback time! Get the attitude that you want to knock him out of the game. Your blocking ability as a running back plays a very big part in our attack. For us to consistently move the football we must be able to block when we are not carrying the ball. VII.
You will not be a complete football player, nor in most cases a starter, unless you are a good blocker. The most important ingredient is that you MUST want to make your block in every play. If you don’t have enough pride you will never be an adequate blocker. It makes very little difference how you get the job done, but what will be discussed in your playbook, meetings and during practice are the best ways to accomplish your goal. Our goal is perfection. Fundamentals Common to All Blocks 1. Pre-snap look: Always take a pre-snap look to locate your blocking assignment prior to the snap. On your first step get your eyes on your man immediately. Vision is the most important aspect of blocking. You must locate the man and keep your eyes on him as he is not going to stand in one spot. Concentrate on your target.
2. Stance: You must assume a good stance. A stance that will allow you to take a proper approach and block being used. 3. Approach: Each block has an initial approach and you must concentrate on this angle of departure. Once the ball is snapped and you man moves to play his responsibilities, your approach must adjust with his movement. 4. Bend the knees: Bend at the knees, not at the waist. Get in a hitting position by lowering your center of gravity (hips). 5. Contact: Be a hitter. Keep your head up and eyes on target and hit on the rise. Use your open hands to punch up through the defender. Wait until you get on his toes before punching. Keep your feet moving as you make contact. 6. Base: You must have a solid base as you make contact, and as you are finishing your block. Keep your feet about shoulder with the part. 7. Finish: Finish your block by running through the man. In order to maintain contact you must keep your knees bent, head up, back at proper angle and feet moving until the whistle blows. 8. Pride: To be a good blocker you must take pride in the little details of the fundamentals involved. Pass Blocking 1. Take an inside out route to the defender.
2. Attack him before he penetrates into the backfield, this will also cause him to start over with his pass rush. 3. Never lose him to the inside unless by design, cut as a last resort. Cut Block Advantages: 1. Gets the blocker to the defender fast within maximum blocking thrust and power. It keeps the block away from the launch point with less possibility of interference with the passer. 2. It denies the defender penetration forcing him to make a more lateral move to avoid the block. 3. It keeps the defenders hands down preventing any interference with the pass play as he tries to fend off the low blocking action of the cut down block. 4. It is beneficial for a back who is taking on a bigger defensive player. This keeps defenders from using their size.
Procedure: 1. The blocker must not attempt to throw the block until he’s “stepping on the toes” of the defender. This prevents a loss of contact and lunging out at the defender. 2. The blocker must secure a tight fit on the defender to enable maximum blocking surface. A tight fit is achieved by concentrating on driving the inside shoulder up and through the defender’s outside thigh. 3. The blocker must rip the block north and south otherwise the defender will play through the head and make the play as the blocker loses both contact and power. 4. Cutting a defender down is of little use if he is able to get up and pursue to the ball carrier. The blocker must roll into the defender in an attempt to maintain contact as long as possible. The rolling action is initiated by whipping the outside elbow back into the defender immediately after the contact of the cut down block. If the defender by attempts to jump over the blocker after the block is thrown, the blocker must follow through ripping, or lifting straight up through the defender’s crotch as the defender is jumping over or straddling the blocker underneath him.
Kick Out Block This is a running drive block on the end man of the L.O.S Keep head and eyes up. Have a good bend at the knees. Lower the hips, widen the base and work up the defensive man’s frame. Always make the defender fight through your body to make the tackle; make him a chaser. You must hit with power and drive him out. Stay square on your feet. Keep head up and feet driving.
OFFENSIVE BACKFIELD PASS REMINDERS As a back moves to the L.O.S. after a pass play is called in the huddle, there should be a progression thought in mind as to your assignment. Your assignment, protection
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responsibilities, release of your route and the intricacies of your route must be understood prior to each pass play. Alignment 1. Don’t tip off the defender as to what you might be doing. 2. Be in a good position for blitz pick up. 3. Down and distance adjustments. 4. Know the route that you have to run. Protection 1. Know the defensive front. 2. Know who you are responsible for. 3. Know his tendencies and alignments. 4. Always assume that your man is coming. 5. Always maintain proper leverage on the defender that you need the block. Release 1. Know where the route designates you to release. 2. Be aware of possible adjustments you may make. 3. Avoid contact with the offensive line. 4. Know how quickly you are needed in the pattern. Route 1. Know what you are trying to accomplish with your route. 2. Know if you are a primary or secondary receiver. 3. Know when you are to adjust your route. 4. Know the depth and width of your route.
Pass Routes 1. Arrow: Aim to a depth of 6 yards on the sidelines 2. Curl: Drive to 6 yards and turn inside away from the defender. 3. Flat: Drive to 5 yards and break out 4. Option: 6 yard route with the option to go either in or out. 5. Hi: Drive to 5 yards and break inside. 5. Ho: Drive to 5 yards and break outside. 6. Circle: Aim to outside man on L.O.S. and break back under linebackers. 7. Seam: Get vertical up the seam 8. Wheel: Show arrow route and then continue up the sidelines. 9. Wide: Stretch horizontal without turning to the L.O.S. before the ball is thrown.
