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The Wing T Shotgun Offense

by: Greg Wallace March 2005

We have over the last three years taken our traditional zone and wing-t running game and adapted it to the shotgun formation. We have had very athletic quarterbacks that have allowed us to show off their running abilities as well as their passing skills in the shotgun set. We firmly believe that the QB can best be featured as a runner from the shotgun formation. It truly enables the QB to be a two-way threat. Our base offense is a one back set with a slot receiver and three wide outs, or a tight end and two wipeouts. Utilizing these same sets only now out of the shotgun has allowed us to keep our package very similar (See Diagrams 1 and 2).

Diagram 1.

Diagram 2.

I will go over our base plays from our base set, then show you the same play from the shotgun. The first play is the basic wing t sweep. We run the traditional double guard pull where we will either log the defensive end and pull around, or we will kick the defense end out and turn up with the trail guard. We can run the base sweep with either the R or the F running the ball (See Diagrams 3A and 3B).

Diagram 3A.

Diagram 3B.

Then the same plays from the shotgun (See Diagrams 4A and 4B).

Diagram 4A.

Diagram 4B.

The other wrinkle to this play that works extremely well from the gun is the QB keep and fake to the RB. This has been a great addition to our playbook, with the QB averaging over 5 yards per carry (See Diagram 5).

Diagram 5. Diagram 6A.


The sweep reverse is a great addition to the playbook as a trick play or part of the regular offense. We like the reverse coming off the keep by the QB as it allows the RB to now be the lead blocker on the play (See Diagram 6A). Of course, you can do it the other way and have the QB as your lead blocker (See Diagram 6B).

Diagram 6B.

Diagram 7A.

This leads us to the play action pass of the sweep, or the waggle pass. The waggle pass gives you a great opportunity to hit the long ball, or work the flat or curl area. We peek at the deep ball and then go directly to the flat or the hole route (See Diagram 7A), We can work the waggle out of the shotgun in two basic ways (See Diagrams 7B and 7C).

Diagram 7B.

Diagram 7C.

We will also run the base sweep with an empty backfield and motion either of our slot receivers back and run the same basic plays. The idea of an empty backfield initially has the defense spread and thinking pass. The ability to run the power sweep can catch defenses a little off balanced (See Diagram 8).

Diagram 8.

Diagram 9.

This same basic play can be run by the QB with or without a slot man faking a sweep (See Diagram 9).

The next play that we have taken from our wing t offense and put into the gun is our power off tackle play with the slot receiver as the runner in Diagram 10, and as the blocker in Diagram 11. We like each of these looks, as they give something different for the defense to think about (See Diagrams 10 and 11).

Diagram 10.

Diagram 11.

Each of these plays gives us very good play action passes. The first is with our basic over and under route, and the other is a corner route versus cover 2 (See Diagrams 12 and 13).

Diagram 12.

Diagram 13.

Our basic inside run from the shotgun is more of a draw look, but it gives us a chance to still pull like we do in the wing t plays. We want to try and attack the 1 technique as the angles are better, but it doesnt hurt the other way either (See Diagram 14). The nice thing about this play is that now you can run the fake to the RB, and have the QB keep it with the guard leading up through the hole (see Diagram 15).

Diagram 14.
The play action off this basic play is very good as well as giving you strong protection with the QB being in the traditional pocket. This is our traditional curl route where the QB will read the strong inside linebacker to determine whether to hit the hook or the curl (see Diagram 16).

Diagram 15.

These are just a couple of our basic plays that we have adapted from our basic offense and made them very good running plays from the shotgun. The other key component is that you are now utilizing one of your best athletes running the Diagram 16. football: your QB. We also feel strongly that as opposed to running the waggles and boots from under center and sometimes getting jammed inside, now our QB is back off the ball and sees the rush from the very start.

About the Author Greg Wallace Greg Wallace recently completed his 17th year as head football coach at Grinnell College. In addition to being head coach, Wallace also coaches the offensive line. Beginning his coaching career in 1970, Wallace has coached at Odessa (MO) High School, Sherwood (MO) High School, Indiana State, and Centre College. During his tenure at Grinnell, his 1998 squad went 10-0 en route to the Midwest Conference Championship. You can reach him at wallaceg@grinnell.edu.

The Spread Shot-Wing Offense


A variation of the Delaware Wing T can provide instant offense by: Lew Johnston December 2004

For years, we were a basic Delaware Wing T football team. We had great success with it, using the 3 basic series (buck sweep/trap; belly/down and power) and mixing in a good dose of play action and 3 step dropback passes to keep defenses honest. But four years ago we started a 15 year old freshman at quarterback whom we knew was going to be somebody special as far as throwing the football before he graduated. He broke our areas 40 year old record for career passing yards midway through his senior year. He was the classic drop-back pocket passer with decent running ability. I realized then that we had a weapon that people would be hard-pressed to stop if we opened up our passing game. However, I was not inclined to give up our base Wing T offense. After doing some research and talking with coaches who ran a shotgun offense, I developed what we came to call the Spread Shot-Wing. It has proven to be a highly effective change-up to our normal Wing T offense. By this past season, when our quarterback was starting his fourth year for us, we went to the Shot-Wing about 75% of the time. Now opponents have to not only prepare for the complexity of the Delaware Wing T running game, but they have to be ready to stop a spread shot gun attack at the same time. What has developed is an even more potent Wing T attack because opponents cannot spend all of their preparation time on stopping the Wing T. We are now able to change the tempo, spread the field and force opponents to defend a wide-open passing attack. The KEY is that this Spread Shot-gun offense is simply an extension of the base Wing T Order of Football developed by Tubby Raymond and his staff while at the University of Delaware. As I pointed out, we did not want to abandon our Delaware Wing T offense. So I needed to find a way to meld our Delaware system into a Spread Shot Gun package. I began by finding a way to keep the integrity of the Wing T system but spreading the field. We took our Wing T tight end and wingback and moved them out. The TE went out about 7-10 yards from the offensive tackle. The wingback (now a flanker) split 12- 15 yards from the flexed TE. The split end away from these two receivers took a normal 12-15 yard split from the tackle. We walked the QB back to a depth of 5 yards. We stepped the fullback over to the TE side and aligned him and the HB behind the offensive guards. Next, we had to settle on our pass blocking scheme. A lot of coaches looking to throw the ball fail to coordinate the passing game routes with the blocking scheme. We felt that the single most important factor was to protect our quarterback at all costs. What this forced me to do was to simplify our routes. This in turn was beneficial because, as I said, we wanted to continue to run the Delaware Wing T as our base offense. I am a firm believer that in high school you can only be truly successful in two of the three types of offensive attacks: power running game, passing game or option game. We used the power of the 30 series (Delaware terminology) in the Wing T and incorporated it into our Spread Shot Gun running game. Thus... the new name: Spread Shot-Wing T. (See Diagram l.) We put the backs on the toes of the QB whom always needs to be at 5 yards from the center. The other thing we do, which is important, is that we do not huddle. We signal in the play from the sideline and the QB calls the play from his position. This changes the tempo of the game for us and disrupts the defense. When a play ends, the QB will signal which side he wants the strength (TE and flanker) to align. This is to the wide side of the field if we are on or near a hash mark. Everyone jogs to his alignment and waits for the play call from the QB. Hell motion with his leg to the center that we are set and then the center snaps the ball when he is ready. PASSING GAME Our spread shot-gun passing game is simple, yet sophisticated. It all starts with our protection scheme up front. We have learned that without the proper protection, no passing game is going to be Diagram 1. Basic Formation successful. Our first rule of thumb is: protect the QB at all costs. This then determines our alignment and how many receivers we can send out. Wed rather send fewer receivers and give our QB time to throw than to have a lot of hot reads and route conversions to complicate things. What weve discovered is that just spreading the field usually creates so much heartburn on defensive coordinators part that we have one step up on our opponents already. When you have to prepare for two offensive schemes that appear so different, it complicates reads and adjustments

on the defenses part. PROTECTION SCHEMES With two backs in the backfield alongside our QB, this determines the protection because we limit their potential as quick receivers. But, we want our QB to know that he has maximum protection nor does he have complicated reads. Our base blocking rule for the linemen is simple: Big on Big. With an even front (4 defensive linemen), our 2 guards and 2 tackles would take on their front 4. The key read is for the center. He has to recognize the first linebacker to the SE side. This is important; for it sets the protection reads for the backs. The halfback then takes the 2nd LB to the split end side. If either of these split end side LBs blitz, the center and/or HB must pick him up in the blocking scheme. The FB takes the 1st LB to the TE (Flexed End) side. If the 2nd LB to the TE side blitzes, this is the QBs man. This way, the QB has only 1 hot read and it is generally right in his face coming off the edge. He knows that he can hit the flex end as soon as he gets pressure from this edge. This simplifies things for our QB and thus eliminates a lot of practice time teaching him to read hot to both sides and hitting the open receiver on a conversion route. All of this stuff is great if you have the time to work on it. But, remember that we also need time to work on our Wing T offense. This makes us sophisticated without being complicated. (See Diagram 2)

Diagram 2. Even Front Protection

Diagram 3. Even Front Protection (with a middle LB)

NOTE: If there is a middle LB over the center... that is the first LB to the split end side. Our center must take him (MLB) if he blitzes. The HB must key the OLB lined up over his offensive Tackle as the # 2 LB to that side. (See Diagram 3) Versus an odd front, the center and split end side guard change assignments. The center is now covered so he blocks On and the SE side guard would have the first LB to his SE side. So now the HB would read that SE side DE/OLB for blitz control. The FB would take the 50 LB over the TE side guard and that guard helps with the nose tackle. If the DE/OLB to the Flexed End side blitzes, the QB would read hot and throw accordingly. This is just a matter of drilling a few times each day you work on the Shot Wing passing game to get your QB tuned in to reading his blitz. We also simply have the TE start yelling hot! to alert the QB. Simple but effective. (See Diagram 4) PASS PATTERNS and ROUTES We do not want to over burden our receivers with too many routes to learn nor do we want our QB to have complicated reads. We bring our fastest 3 receivers into the game when we go Spread Shot-Wing T to immediately let the defense know that they will be threatened vertically on every snap. 1. Our first pattern is for all 3 wide receivers to run a 12-yard Curl. We want them to push their defender up the field, and when they see the defenders hips turn, to plant and turn around and face the QB. The HB is the only receiver with a dual role. If his LB blitzes, he has to block. But if his LB drops in coverage, he swings wide to the SE side. The FB stays in on all routes to give our QB that little extra

Diagram 4. Odd Front Protection.

comfort level. The QB has a pre-snap read of the free safety. Whichever side the F/S shades to, the QB throws to the opposite side. Thus, if the F/S shades to the TE/ WB side, the QB is going to throw to the SE/HB combination. If the OLB drops to help underneath the SEs Curl route, the HB who swings (because his LB dropped into coverage) will be open for the QB to dump to him. If we go to the TE/WB side because of the F/S shading toward the SE side, the QB can pick either of the two receivers to hit on his Curl route. (See Diagram 5) 2. Our second pattern is a combination route with the TE and the WB (flanker). The TE runs a 5-yard sideline route and the WB runs a deep Hook. The SE on the backside runs a post. Again, the QB gets a pre-snap read on the free safety. If he is cheated over to the TE side, he knows he has a shot at hitting the SE on the post. If he goes to the combination side, we tell him to catch the ball, take a cross-over step and set (like on a 3 step drop from under center) and if the TE is open in the flat when the QB hits his 3rd step, he fires it to the flat. If the TE is covered by the OLB, the SE hooks inside of the OLB; the QB re-sets his feet and hits the WB hooking inside the OLB. Your QB needs to remember that he has a potential shot at the home run ball with the SE running the deep post over the middle. If the free safety rolls over too far to help with the combination side, the QB can knife the ball into the SEs hands. swing if in defense to help Diagram 5. All Curl Pattern Again, the HB can the Post.his LB dropscanpassthe possibility ofthe QB see the SE on NOTE: You see a HB screen out of this route. (See Diagram 6) 3. Our third pass pattern out of our Spread Shot-Wing package is very familiar to our players because it is one of our favorite patterns. We use the same routes as we do on our Wing T Waggle route. The SE runs a 12-yard sideline cut; the TE drags across the formation at 12-14 yards and the WB (flanker) runs a Post. Once again, the QB gets a pre-snap read from the free safetys alignment. He can hit the SE for the easy completion or give the TE a chance to work against the LBs as he drags. If the F/S is out of position, we will always take a potential shot at the post. The HBs route changes now that the SE to his side is running a route into the boundary. Now if his LB drops, the HB runs a tight circle route to control the Inside LB to his side. The QB has an over-under read on that LB with the TE dragging behind him and the HB curling in front of him. (See Diagram 7)

Diagram 6. Hook/Flat Combination

Diagram 7. Drag/Post/Circle

4. Our final drop-back pattern is the one the players enjoy the most. It is 4 vertical routes! With the speed that we put on the field, we have hit some big passes on this simple pattern. We simply out-run the defensive backs down the field. The TE needs to stay on the nearest hash mark as he drives up the field. The two wide receivers must stay on the numbers as they go vertical. The HB will come a little late since he must check for his LB blitz first. But this little bit of a delay often makes him wide open up the hash opposite the TE. This happens because the free safety sees the TE coming first up the middle and tends to slide towards him. This leaves a big hole for the HB behind the LBs to the other side. A TE (flexed) with great speed really threatens the middle of their secondary. Coach the wide receivers to push up and out as they move down the field. (See Diagram 8) PLAY ACTION PATTERNS The most successful patterns we run from our Spread Shot-Wing T package are our play-action patterns. They are both bootleg action and we use the patterns from our drop-back package so there is no extra learning on the receivers part. We fake off-tackle to the TE/WB flank and then bootleg back to the SE side. With this backfield action, we use the Drag/Post/ Sideline combination. The QB fakes to the HB, pulls it and rolls to the SE side. He takes a quick look at the SE on his Sideline cut and if hes open, he drills it to him. If not, he continues to roll and looks for the TE crossing. If he can set his feet, he can also check to see if the F/S has vacated center field. If so, he has the wingback open on the deep post. The FB checks off the edge for a blitz from the outside LB and the HB crossing the formation on the fake to him is looking for an inside LB blitz. The backside guard pulls and looks off the SE Diagram 8. All Vertical side flank for penetration. The center, guard and tackle to the playside use their drop-back protection rules: Big on big. (See Diagram 9) Our final play-action pass is a bootleg back to the TE/WB flank. We incorporate the Hook/Flat Combination pattern with this play-action. The QB rides the FB across the formation, pulls it and rolls towards the TE flank. The TE runs his 5-yard sideline cut and if he is open, the QB drills the ball to him. If not, the WB will come open inside and behind the OLB. The QB sets his feet and fires a strike to the wingback. Once again, if the F/S drifts out of center field, the QB can hit the SE on his backside Post. The HB checks OLB blitz and the FB after faking checks inside LB blitz from the backside. The center, guard and tackle to the play side use their drop back rules for protection. The backside guard pulls and leads the QB to the flank. (see Diagram 10) We also have the ability to call Go! and send the 3 receivers vertical anytime we want to add the word Go call to the bootleg play-action.

Diagram 9. SE Side Boot-Leg

Diagram 10. Tight End Side Boot-Leg

About the author


Lew Johnston Coach Lew Johnston took over the Western Branch program in 1985 and has led the Bruins to four district championships including the last three seasons (2001, 2002, 2003). Additionally, Western Branch won an Eastern Regional Championship under Johnston and had a 32 game winning streak (2001-2004). A 1971 graduate of William and Mary, Johnston played for both Marv Levy and Lou Holtz.You can reach him at johnslz@cps.k12.va.us

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