COMPARED TO THE other teams in our conference, our squad is generally undersized year in and year out. To counter this, our coaching staff needed to develop an offensive scheme that would help neutralize the size difference.

For the last dozen years or so, we’ve used a 1-back offensive system that’s been effective. But over the last 3 seasons, we’ve made a conscious effort to incorporate the quarterback as a regular ball carrier in our offensive philosophy. This added dimension to our offensive attack has proven tremendously successful and keeps opposing defenses on their heels.

Simple to implement and easy to teach, we use three basic blocking schemes — zone blocking, counter action and the sweep series — and run 9 plays from this attack. The nicest part of this scheme is that it doesn’t change a thing for the offensive linemen, just the backfield actions that are utilized.

Zone Series
The zone series in this offensive attack includes running an inside-zone option, outside-zone option, outside-zone keep and the speed option.

DIAGRAM 1: Zone Triple-Option Play.
In this play, the QB reads the backside defensive end and makes a decision to either give it to the RB, make the pitch or keep the ball and run it himself.

DIAGRAM 2: Outside-Zone, Double-Option Play. We like to run this play at the 1-technique if at all possible. The QB reads the block of the play-side offensive tackle. If the defensive end stretches the play, the QB turns, runs upfield and gets as many yards as possible. If the QB gets to the corner, he’ll read the outside defender and decide whether to make the pitch. The slot back checks the play-side linebacker and goes to the next level if possible.


DIAGRAM 3: Outside-Zone Play (RB Keep). On a RB carry, the play-side slot receiver makes sure the inside LB is secured before he moves up toward the safety. The QB follows the RB and reads his block.


DIAGRAM 4: Zone-Series Speed Option. In the speed option, the key to making this play work is reading the reactions and movements of the play-side DE.


Counter Series

The Counter Series involves using the RB as the key player in the counter-action. This series consists of four plays featuring the QB draw, QB cross-trap, QB counter keep and the QB lead.



DIAGRAM 5: Counter Series (QB Draw Vs. Cover-2). This play is effective against a Cover-2 team that keeps only 1 or 2 LBs in the box. The RB swings to the play side and serves as a decoy to lure the outside LB and secondary defenders.

The QB takes a quick drop step and follows the pulling offensive guard into the hole.

DIAGRAM 6: Counter Series (QB Cross-Trap). The blocking for this play is the same as it is for QB draw. The RB crosses in front of the QB, makes it look as if we’re running the inside-zone play and then occupies the  backside LB.


The QB sells a great handoff to the RB, and follows the OG into the hole.

DIAGRAM 7: Counter Series (QB Counter Keep). This is a great play to run off of our normal counter-action to a RB. Run from the shotgun, this is a pure power play with the QB running upfield through the holes created by the counter blocking.


DIAGRAM 8: Counter Series (QB Isolation Play). This is another great isolation play from the shotgun formation to free up your QB. The offensive line blocking is the same as it is for the QB draw and QB cross-trap plays.
The RB isolation blocks the play-side LB and the OG looks outside.


QB Sweep

DIAGRAM 9: QB Sweep From Shotgun.  This is an effective QB sweep run off the same action as a sweep to our RB. Everyone blocks down and the OGs pull to the play side. It’s very important for the backside offensive tackle to pull past the ball and pick up any inside penetration, then look to take out the backside LB who’s pursuing on the play.