Hey you better watch my BACKSIDE!

Today I want to talk about my use of a BACKSIDE RECEIVER and how he can be the weapon, the go to guy and the thorn in the side of the DC and Free Safety. But, before I do that let me outline how we use him and how you can adapt it to your Offense.
I only deal in two coverage’s, with my X receiver, and those are cover 1 or 2.Let me explain:
In cover 1. We know that he is playing man on man; the rule of thumb here is how can he beat him?
In cover 2. We know that its zone, where can we find the seam and catch the ball.

“Before you start”, I know what about double coverage or an OLB underneath the corner on top and the Safety looking for the pick. Or Zero Technique, Cloud, Rain or what ever” my Grand Ma is watching him”…blah. Blah. Blah… coaches if they double cover, then somebody else is free, use you’re receiving RB throw and flood the other side! Bait the middle and open up the sideline seam … there is a million things to do! Your X is still a weapon, he is consuming 2 or 3 / 7ths of the Pass Defense, usually their best men. I recently saw the Oakland Raiders Vs the Patriots at home (Sept-6-2005) the Pats did this to Randy Moss who did catch a TD and a beauty at that, but the Raiders keep going to him all night long, hey I know its RANDY! (And he will catch something, the rule is you got to give somewhere on the Defense but give them what you want not what they take.) But, Portis was clean and free as was the TE, the adjust was simple if they throw to Randy, the other guys make sure at least someone is on them or near, because they are going to be 2nd and 3rd Option on the pass. Why not reverse it, or better yet make them give it up?

Now we know how to reverse it… let me explain how we make them give it up.
These are the ways:
But first set the Defense up.
Run, pass or screen on the same look of the roll, the play action or flood to the strong side, you can run trips or fill it with motion to that side or any number of things. Do this a few times and be patient. Two things will happen.

• The Defense will adjust; they have to, especially if you are successful on the 3rd down conversion. How? A number of ways, change the coverage, lock down the OLB to the QB read, mix the coverage and play real hard bump outside in Technique by the DE.


• They will still double up the backside which means someone is still free and you can play this all game long and the backside flat and curl zone are free as well as reverses and RB screens. The defense has to give you something, use it!


• Roll your Qb to opposite side of the X, do this on play action or if your Qb can run a 3 step outside roll attack or waggle it, this is great if you option.


• Then give this route to your X. (see diagram)

We run and train our backside receivers to think for themselves 90% of the time, we teach them their options on the Bump, Man, Zone and what the Defense is doing to them. We give them rules which to follow and they work these out with the QB´s and then we play the Game.
This route and these simple rules apply.

Vs Man:

1. If he plays you at the Bump, if he is inside fade, if he is outside Slant. If this disrupts our game plan we simply stack him behind and run these two options or rub the first receiver on the bump and get him free with a RB swing to that side. (GREAT IN THE MYERS SHOTGUN)

1. If he plays you real soft comeback or slap him across the face, the 10/12 and in or 6/8 and in


2. Beat him where he isn’t, how? Test his speed and how he covers the Post and Corner.


3. Slide slowly to the Qb after your route is finished and the ball is not in the air.

Zone:

1. Find the seam between the defenders and sit in it and throw a hand when free. (Throw a hand is raising the arm up to “tell the QB” “hey I am here,” Coach Jack Pardee used this to great strides in the 70´s with his run and shoot and it still applies today)


2. Read the Safety first and adjust to him, remember the Corner has to get there and then react.


3. Tell us, “Gee communicate” so we can send and bait the Defenders to bite down the other receiver.

These rules are simple, and with practice they become second nature, also the VARIABLE EFFECT---“my baby” excuse me… comes into play. If you see the route diagram a DC or smart player can’t figure out what he is going to do, so even if you play us in game the ability of change is to great for you to second guess. So you spend your Defensive Capital, i.e. Players defending this one man; this happened to us all season long so our other receivers picked up the slack and loved it.

I know this is long winded but its my Blog so Nah! Plus because of my Toilet seat article, they are selling toilet seats on my site!

Thank you for your time
CRL