The Wing-Bone Power Attack.

A built-in short-yardage and goal-line offense consisting of three basic plays

MANY OFFENSES CAN move the ball from one 20-yard line to the other, but then stall out as the field dimensions shorten up vertically in the red zone (inside the 10-yard line).

To be successful, you have to be able to close out the deal every time you reach the 10-yard line.

If you are having trouble doing this, you would do well to check out the accompanying wing-bone power series. A built-in short-yardage and goal-line offense, it provides the strength of both a power I and, by sliding the fullback over to a veer halfback position, the power of a veer offense.

The three simple basic plays in the wing-bone power series are the Tailback Wham (an inside isolation attack), the Tailback Blast (a basic offtackle power play), and the Tailback Power Sweep that allows the tailback to cut inside or go outside.

The tailback must be a durable runner who can run in close behind the lead power blocking of the fullback and the Z back at the point of attack.

The blocking is designed for a strong or short-yardage running game that will not only provide ball-control but help take time off the clock and force the defense to come up to defend -- making your option and counter series more effective.

However, the real reason that the power attack is so successful is the triad blocking technique shown in Diag. 1. The three offensive linemen at the POA are the key to a successful four-yard running play.

Our designated lineman (DL) is the player at the point of attack.

The lineman to the DL's inside is the post man (PB) and the lineman to his outside is the seal man (S).

The PB posts the defensive man on or off the LOS to help set up the DL's block. He must remember that his gap has priority over his block.

The DL blocks the first defensive player on or off the LOS to his inside, while the S blocks the first man off the LOS (usually a linebacker) to the inside of the hole.

The seal man may also be a pulling guard or a back out of the backfield making an outside seal block, or a seal by the wingback. (Check Diag. 1.)

Remember, the gap always has priority in all blocking rules. The basic rule is: If a defensive man is set to the inside gap, always block him first. The basic rules are gap, on, and nearside LB. If this basic concept is observed, there should be little cause for a breakdown in the blocking schemes.

Triad blocking affords the simplicity of having all three linemen on the same page knowing what to do rather than wondering who to block. It creates a bubble at the point of attack that produces a seam in the immediate area for the running back. We wind up with a natural double-team plus the use of the third blocker, which helps create a mismatch at the POA.

Triad blocking isn't something new, but it still must be taught properly at achieve success with reasonable ease. The triad concept is used as much as possible in the power series. Whenever we have problems with it, we simply resort to the basic 1-2-3 base blocking rule.

The wing-bone power series utilizes a natural double team at the POA. We can pull the QG to the 2 hole (TB Wham), 4 hole (TB Blast), or 6 hole (TB Sweep). Our power rules revolve around the designated lineman (DL), which relates to the hole called.

Everyone must know who the DL is because that is where the ball will go.

Tailback Wham (Diag. 2)

The TB Wham is an excellent inside power play. Its power blocking at the POA can be devastating if carried out correctly. The FB's block is the key. He must be able to take on the inside LB to the playside, even when the LB reads the play and attempts to fill the hole.

The Z back can help out if we are in a balanced formation or we can use motion to bring the Z in from a wing position to help block.

The Tailback Wham is your basic "Isolate" play. The Z back leads through the 4 hole, and reads the trap block of the quick-side guard. This will take him inside or a wider track to make his climb block.

The fullback runs his track over the outside hip of the strong-guard, he must make a good fake and then climb-block on the LB. This creates isolation at the POA.

The QB open-steps at a 45-degree angle, gives a short fake to the fullback and puts the ball in the tailback's pocket as deep as he can to let the tailback read the blocks and find his crease to run to daylight.

The Wham is a good goal-line as well as short-yardage play. It's simple cave-man type football where you have to line up toe-to-toe and show who's strongest.

With the added blocking of the FB and Z back, the play has a much better chance of being successful. This offers a good example of the power of the full-house backfield.

The Wham can also be run effectively with just the FB as our lead blocker.

Tailback Blast (Diag. 3)

The TB Blast is the off-tackle play that all good defenses must possess in order to be successful. The fullback's route is still his standard 2-hole track with a good fake. He then makes his block on the LB assigned to tackle him.

The QB makes his fake to the fullback and gives the tailback the ball a little wider in the off-tackle area (4 hole). The QB must roll to the quickside after giving the ball to the tailback, putting his hands on his hip and carrying out his fake.

TB Power Sweep

The Power Sweep is designed to go inside or outside, depending on how the defense attacks it. The POA in the wing-bone sweep is different than most sweeps, because it is a power sweep. The tailback reads his blocks and can run up inside or dip outside.

The Z back uses his lead block in a sealing fashion off the block of the strongside end.

The fullback still runs his 2-hole route and blocks the inside LB or backside LB who is pursuing the play.

The QB still opens out and hands the ball (does not toss it). This makes this outside play a safer one in bad weather with a wet ball.

We will pull the strongside guard (if he is uncovered) and he will lead the tailback around the corner.

The QB must again carry out the fake of a bootleg with hands on hips.

We want the defense to believe we are running our off-tackle play. It starts out like our Blast play, but then goes outside, with the TB having the option to cut up inside or dip outside, depending upon what the defense is giving us.

Power football is still the manly way of moving the ball. It often comes down to simple brute blocking and hard running.

The wing-bone power series provides an edge with its power blocking rules that normally put more offensive players than defensive players at the POA.

This concept will consistently allow you to get that crucial three or four fancy plays to win football games. Simplicity and execution will work more often.

(From "Coaching Football's Wing Bone Offense".