Powerizing your red zone attack.

How a Power I became a Power Wing and solved a red zone problem

Though the Wing T had always been a good fit for the type of athletes we had at Calvin Christian, two years ago we began thinking of bulking up our options within the red zone - the area inside our opponents' 20-yard line.

We felt that the Wing T had problems running the ball in an area mined with blitzing and stunting and that we needed a formation from which we could run our basic Wing T plays but without pulling our guards from areas vulnerable to blitzing linebackers.

After reviewing several options, our coaching staff settled on the Power I (which we renamed the Power Wing). We chose this formation for the following reasons:

1. At least three of the basic Wing T running plays (fullback trap, halfback counter, and halfback dive) could be run from the Power Wing, using misdirection plays via a fake tailback sweep away from the call. See Diags. 1-3.

2. The addition of a simple, effective power series provided extra red-zone options without having to pull our guards. Witness:

Diag. 4, Tailback Power: A basic off-tackle play featuring a double-team block at the POA and a kick-out block by the blocking back. Note: A third guard may sometimes be substituted for the blocking back.

The QB reverse-pivots, extends the ball, then lets his eyes take his feet to the mesh point. He rides the tailback to his (QB's) front leg, then releases the ball and bootlegs out.

Diag. 5, QB Keeper. An obvious takeoff on the power play, in which everything is done exactly the same, except for two keys:

First, the blocking back must get an inside-out track on the first defender who shows outside his offensive tackle (likely the same player the blocking back kicked out on the power play).

The back must train his eyes on the defender's inside number and try to get the man to step down into the off-tackle hole. Just before making contact, the back should let his head slide across to the outside of the defender and simultaneously swing his hips to the defender's outside (while maintaining his blocking base) - pinning the defender to the inside.

The second key to the play involves the QB's motion. He must extend the ball immediately after reverse-pivoting, then ride the tailback until the ball reaches his (QB's) front leg. He must then withdraw the ball and place it on his hip for three to four hard strides. He can then cradle the ball in the fashion of a running back and sprint toward the corner of the end zone.

Diag. 6, Play-Action Pass: While several play-action patterns lend themselves to this series, we have settled on this flare action because the initial movements of the key receivers are identical to those of the other plays in the series.

Coaching Points:

1 The tight end must simulate his run block for a slow count of three before releasing to an open area eight yards deep (#2) or to the back line of the end zone.

2 The blocking back should take his inside-out route to the first man outside the offensive tackle, break down, then slide off into the flat. He is the primary receiver on this play (#1).

3 The fullback must execute the same block (on the DE) as the blocking back does in the QB keeper.

4 The QB, after completing his ball fake, should immediately bring the ball to throwing position, check first for his blocking (#1), the look for the tight end (#2). It is imperative to continue sprinting toward the sideline while making his checks, in order to put run-pass pressure on the defensive perimeter.

5 The tail back must execute the same effective play fake or he did on the QB keeper, especially remembering to dip his inside shoulder over the ball fake to help freeze the inside linebacker.

This series has added greatly to our efficiency in the red zone. If it fits into your system, it could do the same thing for you.

David M. Luyk, Asst. Football Coach, Calvin Christian High School, Grandville, Michigan