running the wedge by jack gregory

8/8/2019 Running the Wedge by Jack Gregory

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Running the Wedge

Coach Jack Gregory


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Why Use The Wedge

The Wedge is a very simple blocking scheme that can bebuilt into a highly successful series of plays.

It builds offensive line unity.

It sets up other plays in the series. When the defense sellsout on the wedge it opens up other plays.

Lineman become interchangeable.

It can be a power or deception play. It is surprisinglydeceptive.

It can used with with smaller or weaker players (MPPs).

It is demoralizing to the other team. It is always an offensive line and team favorite.

Weaker backs can run in the wedge. The backs becomeinterchangeable.


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The Wedge


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The Wedge

with Counter Action


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Base Plays

Wedge with BB getting the ball.

WBs can either move up field and block second level.

QB boots. WBs can hinge block to stop penetration. QB boots.

Fake Super action.

Fake Buck action.

Counter action (my favorite).

Jet Sweep Action.


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Complimentary Plays QB Keeper.

BB fakes fumble while WBs hinge block.

Buck Action with BB leading into hole.

Super Action with rest of backfield fakingsuper power action.

Counter action with rest of backfield fakingcounter. QB spinner.

Jet Sweep Action with BB kicking out tobackside.


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Complimentary Plays CounterBack play

Fake super action and inside hand off to CB.

Fake super action with shovel pass to CB

(incomplete pass). Allows the defense to see

QB in space with ball. Really draws the

perimeter defense up field.


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Complimentary Plays Wedge Sweep with MB (AB) getting the

ball and the CB reaching.

QBBootleg to either play or weak sidewith near WB reaching or going out forpass.

Wedge Pass. Use Wedge as a play action pass protection

scheme for quick passing to the perimeter.


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Teaching the Wedge Progression Drill

Formed Wedge on NT. Shows them how the wedge

looks and moves. Formed Wedge Eyes Wide Shut. Centers eyes are

opened. Teaches them to stay together by feel.

From LOS (five or seven man line) Get into thewedge and freeze.

From LOS (5/7) Full speed on NT. Work for 5 then10 yards and then as far as it will go.

From LOS (5/7) Full speed on NT Eye Wide Shut.


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Teaching the Wedge Knees and Feet Up

Two blocking bags lined up horizontally on

LOS with top at the guards outside hip and the

extending towards tight ends.

Stress getting the Legs and Knees up for entire

group to include runner when running fulloffense.


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Key Points of the Wedge

Center must fire out on a NT and drive up field. If there is no man over the center he aims for the

endzone. Fires out and then takes a half step andlets the rest of the line form and drive him up the

field. (we dont shift our wedge from odd to evenfronts Center/PSG).

The Guards out to the Ends (if you have TEs)must step inside (slide inside) and get their inside

shoulder into the near rib cage and their outsidehand on the near shoulder pad while the insidehand presses on the lower back. It might take thetackle and ends two steps to get fit.


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BackField

Running the wedge takes a bit of getting used to, its an art of sorts. It is NOTa dive play; it requires power, patience and acceleration. We start with theBack getting the snap running right to the back of the center and actuallypushing on his back with the ball side shoulder with a pretty good shoulder

lean. He must STAY IN THE WEDGE until it breaks up. That means notgoing around either end or looking for an off tackle bubble. Stay in the wedgeand keep your legs pumping, knees high, and moving forward, until it breaksup, then sprint to daylight. Stay inside; dont run parallel, it either breaks rightup the gut or at a very slight angle. Often the daylight does not appear until 10-15 yards downfield, stay in the wedge until you see the daylight, stay patientuntil then, just staying low and pushing forward. When feeling pressure, both

hands over ball.

We stress to our ball carriers, if they do not stay in the wedge, they dont carrythe ball. Natural inclination is to break it outside or look for the hole. In thewedge there is no hole, it opens up downfield.


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OtherB

acks If you have a fake, you must carry it out convincingly, if not you dont play.

We have to threaten the perimeter with the fakes to keep the ends andlinebackers honest as well as the defensive backs. We have found that carryingout faking actions based on our base defense and better misdirection plays

doubles our yardage gained per play running the wedge. In the past if we ran the wedge on GO (first sound) we had the WBs hinge

block so they could make the EMLOS take a deeper path into the backfieldinstead of pinching. The rule on the HINGE is he pivots on his outside footand gets his inside foot up and allows no one to get inside they must go aroundthe outside. This allows the runner to get upfield in the wedge as the perimeterdefenders go deep and around the hinges.

Now on GO (first sound) we will fake Buck action to split the defense intothirds as we do with our Counter action that we run on HIT (Motion). Byforcing the defense to split into thirds it isolates the interior defense which isbetter then hinge blocking.


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Key Points of the Wedge

As soon as they fit they move up field. It shouldbe one instant movement. Slide and up field.

The ball carrier must get into the pocket of theGuard-Center-Guard and get his ball shoulder into

the centers back and drive and feel. As soon asthe wedge slows are cracks he must get in a openseam (daylight) and get up field (explode upfield). This is what makes the Wedge a home run

hitter. If the wedge slows or breaks apart all the blockersmust target a defender and block him. Like anexplosion of blockers with the runner breakingthrough.


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What Can Stop the Wedge Wedge is not forming fast enough or moving to slow allowing the

perimeter defenders to bring down the runner from behind.

Center (point of the wedge) is not firing off causing the wedge to falter

and not form. (this is key problem and must be recognized quickly).

Wedge is being submarined or cut by a NT or A gap defenders.

Wedge must maintain high knees and run over, stomp, punish the

defense for doing this. You must be patient and diligent and let the

wedge wear out the interior defenders.

Errant whistle by the officiating staff. You must let the officiatingknow that your running a highly deceptive offense built on

misdirection and to hold their whistle until they know the runner is

down.


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Be Prepared

If the wedge slows run wedge sweep or QB

bootleg as a change up to force the defense

to defend the entire field.

Pass the ball with wedge action behind the

defense as they suck in to stop it.

You must attack the defense at theperimeter and behind when they stack up.


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Trouble Shooting the Wedge You must stress the little thing for the wedge to be

effective.

Every blocker except the point (Center) must work to notengage any defender but instead engage the next maninside and seal the wedge while going upfield.

They must lock their inside shoulder to the outside ribcageto stop penetration as they form and move up field.

If the wedge stops it is dead. It must move forward andwhen it slows or breaks up it must explode up field in aburst.

The runner must stay small in the wedge and explode upfield if day light shows.


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Questions?

running the wedge by jack gregory

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