Berkner Ram Football

A look at the History, Development, and Teaching the Midline Option

What Caused the Development of the

Midline?

•Plano High School’s Split 6 Defense

What is the Midline?

• The midline is a triple option veer play that allows for the QB, FB, and Slot Back to carry the ball, depending on what the defense will give you to certain formations.

Origin of the Midline• Offensive staff at Lake Highlands High

School in Richardson ISD.– Head Coach—Mike Zoffuto

– Offensive Coordinator—Kenny Wheaton

– RB Coach—Harry Everett

– TE Coach—Mark Pace

– WR Coach—James Sanders

– OL Coach—Jim Ledford

What was Plano Doing?

They had athletic 3 techniques that grabbed grass, which kept us from moving them

In Turn, it allowed their 7 technique to squat and play both the FB and QB on the inside veer

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Plano’s Split Defense

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Today, Plano Runs a 6-1 Defense

Advantages of the Midline

1. Hits Quickly

2. Runs North and South

3. Reduces chance of lost yardage

4. Easiest of the veer reads for the QB

(Midline, Inside Veer, Outside Veer)

5. Slows the defenses flow

-mainly the FS and the MLB

6. False Keys the defensive front

-split 6 defense

-influence others

7. Eliminates backside pursuit

8. Gets QB in crease quickly

Coaching Points of the

Midline

Quarterback Coaching Points• Slide 90 degree step

w/Lt foot while pushing w/Rt foot

• Step 130 degrees with rt foot-extend ball w/both hands from Jersey #’s

• Eyes on read– 1st man head up to

outside the OG

• NO Mesh–Give or pull based on the read

• Disengage• Accelerate

•Find the Seam off the hip of the Read

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QB Coaching Points

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QB Coaching Points

Fullback Coaching Points• Feet Shoulder width

– 3 or 4 pt stance

• 4 yds & 1 ft deep– Depends upon

quickness of FB

• Play side foot step at crack of the center

• Inside arm up w/thumb down

• Must maintain a soft pocket

• Forward lean and roll shoulders

• Cut off Guard’s block

• FB must keep arms together whether he has the ball or not

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Coaching Points Watching the read and FB Give

Playside Of Formation• Playside Guard

– Always block 1st man inside the read

– Inside foot step• Dip & rip away from

read to the LB

• Playside Tackle– Fan block 1st man

outside the read– Turn out if possible

•Playside Tight End•Fan Block the 2nd man outside the read

• Playside Slot Back–1st man inside

the read

–Clip the hip of the read

–If blocked or disappears inside, continues to the FS

• Playside Split End–Always block

man on

Coaching PointsPlayside of Formation

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Backside of Formation• Center

– 2nd man inside the read

• Backside Guard

– 3rd man inside the read

• Backside Tackle

– 4th man inside the read

• (Fan Back)

• Backside Slot•Pitchman•Has to move fast, no motion•Must watch QB cutup and cutup w/QB to stay in pitch relation

•Backside SE (if formation calls for)•Clear to FS

Coaching PointsBackside of Formation

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Keys to the Midline

1.To work, must try and have 2 players on the MLB• 1 under the read

• 1 over the read

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Specific Keys to Midline2 Players on MLB

2.To make sure the QB carries the ball most of the time-• Run to the TE side

• Run a load scheme with the play side slot

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Midline Option 30/31Liz Formation vSplit 6-Tight 6

Variations of the Midline

•Double Options–20-21 Option

–20-21 Twirl Down

–30-31 Twirl

–530-531

20-21 Option• 20-21 option is a base midline

look which gives the appearance of running the midline. It is a double option play used mainly against 7 man fronts.

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Dble Option 20-21Slot FormationVs 50

Advantages1. Holds LB’s which slows perimeter

support

2. QB does not have a read-it is a pull and pitch play

3. Causes DL to restrict-which eliminates some perimeter support

4. Slot/HB know exactly when and where he’s getting the ball

5. A play that does not require a lot of practice

6. Midline look gives Slot/HB time to get into pitch relationship w/o motion

7. Great play to wide side or short side of the field

8. Excellent play vs stunts from edge (FB & QB)

Disadvantages1. Not a read-therefore you may have

to give the ball sometimes to the FB to keep the defense honest

2. Slot/HB must be lined up one & one off the OT, no matter what the formation

1. Defenses can pick this up if you do not have another play out of this formation

3.Poor play against hard corners or hard SS play

4.Sometimes the pitch turns into a blind pitch-QB is dependent upon the Slot/HB being where he is suppose to be

20-21 Twirl Down•Option play used when the secondary is rotating quickly. It is best when the defense is giving you a 4-3 or 6-1 look.

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Dble Option 20-21 Twirl DownSlot FormationVs 4-3

Advantages1. Holds LB’s which slows perimeter

support

2. QB does not have a read-it is a pull and pitch play

3. Causes DL to restrict-which eliminates some perimeter support

4. Slot/HB knows exactly when and where he is getting the ball

5. Midline look gives Slot/HB time to get into pitch relationship

6. Great play to wide side or short side of field

7. Excellent play v. stunts from the edge (FB & QB)

8. Softens the secondary-causes them to begin to rotate

Disadvantages1. Not a read play-therefore you may

have to give the ball sometimes to the FB to keep the defense honest

2. Slot/HB must be lined up 1 & 1 off the tackle no matter what the formation-Def could pick this up if you do not have other plays out of this formation

3.Sometimes this pitch turns into a blind pitch—QB is dependent upon the Slot/HB being where he is suppose to be

4.Requires timing in order for the play to work to perfection

30-31 Twirl• 30-31 Twirl is a midline read

play used mainly against 8 man fronts. The play is ran best when the defense gives you a 3 technique and plays man or cover 3 in the secondary

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Specific Keys to MidlineLoad Scheme with Slot

Advantages1. Softens secondary support

2. Still a read play that forces someone to take the FB

3. Cuts off all backside trails

4. It gives away which defender has pitch-therefore telling the playside Slot/HB who he blocks

5.Great play to wide or short side of the field

6.Excellent play against edge stunts

7.Keeps FS from being an alley player so quickly, which sometimes allows a block by the OT

Disadvantages1.QB must be a quick

thinker- He must read first, then

be ready to pitch

- The edge player is unblocked

2. Slot/HB must be lined up 1 & 1 off the tackle, no matter what the formation

- Def could pick this up if you do not have other plays out of this formation

3. Sometimes the pitch turns into a blind pitch

- QB is dependent upon Slot/HB being where he is suppose to be

4. Requires timing for the play to work to perfection

530-531•Is an influence midline read play used against 7 man fronts

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Advantages1.QB/FB play with no

intention to pitch

2.Quick Hitting

3.Great against 7 man front

4.Can be used to wide or short side of field

5. Allows you to use the playside Slot/HB as a decoy

- You do not have to force the Slot/HB to block the MLB

- If he did, he would most likely end up going all the way to the FS

6. Makes the LB’s think it is a base play-which keeps them from scrapping

Disadvantages1. Mesh charges can cause

turnovers

2. Cannot be run anytime on the field- Inside the 10 or 3rd and short-

turnovers

3. Not good against 8 man fronts

Complimentary Plays• 32-33 Inside Veer triple

option

• 38-39 Double Option

• 30-31 Hot—Play action pass

• 32-33 Throwback-play action pass

32-33

• Inside veer triple option play, excellent to run when you have 2 players inside the OG

Coaching Points1. Read 1st man head up to

outside the Tackle

2. FB Path is inside leg of Guard

3. QB Pivots @4:00-takes adjustment step with his backside foot

4. Lineman Veer Block

38-39• A double option play to the perimeter excellent to run when you are expecting the defense to blitz from the interior or pinch—excellent in short yardage

Coaching Points1. There is no read—just a pitch key-

2. QB Opens opposite which allows the FB to clear

- We want it to look similar to the FB belly

3. FB Cleans up the edge, checks for scrapping LB, to the FS

4. OL Zone-NO PENETRATION!!!!! Cut splits

5. Slot Playside-combo off the edge withTE to LB, Backside-pitchman

30-31 Hot•Is a play action pass designed to give a midline look and get the secondary support to trigger

Coaching Points1. Slot Playside-must show arc-attack the

outside shoulder of the defender-as soon as he turns his hips-dip back inside and get your head on a swivel

2. QB/FB Mesh just like normal midline

3. OL Same as normal midline-except PS/OG-base, FB has LB

4. SE 6 yard sideline stop route

32-33 Throwback• Throwback gives the appearance of an option play, but in actuality is a pass play designed to combat an aggressive secondary

Coaching Points1. QB Fake the inside veer, give quick

look to corner-if he covers flat, throw seam, if he covers seam, throw flat

2. OL Base Front

3. FB “B” gap responsibility

4. BS/Slot Can load end, or arc if OT blocking end

5. Can use word “Switch” to change individual throwing to or confuse secondary