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Synergy is combining multiple elements so that the result is greater than the sum of the the individual elements. The synergy principle applies to packaged plays in offense. In any packaged play, the quarterback is given both presnap and postsnap keys that help him determine which concept to distribute the ball to. The packaged plays concept has been around for a while. It became popular within the spread offense with the advent of the zone read-bubble play. The play packages the inside zone with a perimeter bubble screen, and the defense is forced to defend the entire field.

While this may seem like a great way to operate offense on every play, it takes plenty of repetition in order to create the synergistic effect. In general, it uses formation, a run or pass coupled with different run or pass to place stress on a single defender. When read correctly, the defender can’t be correct. It provides additional benefits in using tempo to attack the defense. The same concept can be used multiple times in a row while giving the appearance that a different play has been called. A prime example of this can be seen in the video below from the 2012 Ole’ Miss offense against Pitt. Ole’ Miss goes 49 yards in five plays using a packaged play with four options. Moving at a high tempo, they use all four options and score in 1:01.

Combining two concepts into one for a more dynamic play5/14/2014

By Coach Keith

Grabowski

Combining two concepts into one for a more dynamic play | ... http://usafootball.com/blogs/fundamentals-and-performance/p...

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The Ole' Miss play is illustrated in the diagram below.

Another example of this play is the stick draw. In this concept, the quarterback has the option to choose the quick passing game stick concept both presnap and postsnap. His presnap decision is to throw to the single receiver side on a hitch. If the linebacker to that side is tucked in the box and the corner is soft, the quarterback can catch the snap and throw the hitch. (diagram)

If the quick game to the boundary isn’t there, then the quarterback is treating the mike linebacker as his key defender. If the mike linebacker expands to the stick route, the quarterback pulls the ball down and runs the draw.

If the mike linebacker sits in the box, then the quarterback throws to the stick. He can progress to the quick out if the next linebacker is sitting on the stick.


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If the mike linebacker sits in the box, then the quarterback throws to the stick. He can progress to the quick out if the next linebacker is sitting on the stick.

Ian Formaz and Mike Ward at Ohio Wesleyan University provide another example of a packaged play that uses this stick type of concept. It can be paired with the inside zone where the running back becomes the ball-carrier. The concept is great for teams preferring to protect their passers and keep them out of taking hits in the run game. Instead of reading the defensive end on the zone read, the mike linebacker is the run key. The idea in this play is to see if he steps up to fit on the run, or if he tries to drop to defend the inside receiver running his route into the void behind the mike linebacker.


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The whole realm of packaged plays can get creative in developing new ways in which plays are packaged Rich Hargitt, head coach at Ashbrook High School in North Carolina, uses several packaged play concepts. His book "Packaging Plays in the Air Raid Offense" will be out late this summer. One concept Hargitt uses is packaging a slow screen with the quick game. This gives the defense some difficult keys to read and allows the offense to get the ball to the area that is least defended.

Hargitt gives a great recommendation in how to go about structuring a packaged play in his book:

“The first thing that must be done when building packages is to decide what cannot be packaged together. For instance, the dropback in game can only be packaged with other dropback concepts or quick passing game concepts. The reason for this is that dropback pass concepts take several seconds to develop, and so they would not be compatible with a run play, because if the quarterback holds the ball for three seconds and then throws a pass, there would be multiple ineligible receivers downfield on the run play. Therefore, some care must be taken to build concepts that naturally go together. Generally, the quick passing game and screens work well because either the ball is thrown behind the line of scrimmage in the case of screens or thrown within a second or two after the snap in the case of the quick passing game. These factors allow these plays to be married easily with the run game or with other screens, whether they be slow or fast screens, as well as other quick passing game concepts.

The creativity that packaging plays allows gives the coach the ability to develop a diversified attack while easing the burden of making the right call every time. This is an area of offense that seems to expand every season. Every offense can benefit from the synergistic effect of packaged plays. Be sure to work out the timing and defender keys for


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well as other quick passing game concepts.

The creativity that packaging plays allows gives the coach the ability to develop a diversified attack while easing the burden of making the right call every time. This is an area of offense that seems to expand every season. Every offense can benefit from the synergistic effect of packaged plays. Be sure to work out the timing and defender keys for your players. Once they have been taught and given the proper amount of repetitions, you will have confidence as a coach to call these plays often.

Keith Grabowski recently completed his 25th year in coaching, serving as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator at his alma mater, Baldwin-Wallace University in Berea, Ohio. He previously was a head coach at the high school level for eight years. Grabowski is a columnist for American Football Monthly and writes his own blog at coachgrabowski.wordpress.com. He's the author of "101+ Pro Style Pistol Offense Plays," available on Apple's iBookstore and operates Coaches Edge Technologies. Follow him on Twitter @CoachKeithGrabowski.


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combining two concepts into one for a more dynamic play | youth football | usa football |...

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