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Berkner Ram Football

A look at the History, Development,


and Teaching the Midline Option
What Caused the
Development of the
Midline?
• Plano High School’s
Split 6 Defense
What is the Midline?
• The midline is a triple option
veer play that allows for the
QB, FB, and Slot Back to carry
the ball, depending on what
the defense will give you to
certain formations.
Origin of the Midline
• Offensive staff at Lake Highlands High
School in Richardson ISD.
– Head Coach—Mike Zoffuto
– Offensive Coordinator—Kenny Wheaton
– RB Coach—Harry Everett
– TE Coach—Mark Pace
– WR Coach—James Sanders
– OL Coach—Jim Ledford
What was Plano Doing?
They had athletic 3 techniques that
grabbed grass, which kept us
from moving them
In Turn, it allowed their 7 technique
to squat and play both the FB and
QB on the inside veer
Plano’s Split Defense

S
C C
B B
R E T N E B
Today, Plano Runs a 6-1 Defense

S S

C B C
R E T N E B
Advantages of the Midline
1. Hits Quickly
2. Runs North and South
3. Reduces chance of lost yardage
4. Easiest of the veer reads for the
QB
(Midline, Inside Veer, Outside
Veer)
1. Slows the defenses flow
-mainly the FS and the MLB
3. False Keys the defensive front
-split 6 defense
-influence others
6. Eliminates backside pursuit
7. Gets QB in crease quickly
Coaching
Points of the
Midline
Quarterback Coaching Points
• Slide 90 degree step
w/Lt foot while
pushing w/Rt foot
• Step 130 degrees
with rt foot-extend
ball w/both hands
from Jersey #’s
• Eyes on read
– 1st man head up to
outside the OG
• NO Mesh
–Give or pull
based on the
read
• Disengage
• Accelerate

•Find the Seam off the hip of


the Read
QB Coaching Points

S
C
C
B B
R
E N T E B
QB Coaching Points

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C C
B B
B
R E T N E
Fullback Coaching Points
• Feet Shoulder width
– 3 or 4 pt stance
• 4 yds & 1 ft deep
– Depends upon
quickness of FB
• Play side foot step at
crack of the center
• Inside arm up
w/thumb down
• Must maintain a soft pocket
• Forward lean and roll shoulders

• Cut off Guard’s block


• FB must keep arms together whether
he has the ball or not
Coaching Points
Watching the read and FB Give

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C C
B B
B
R E T N E
Playside Of Formation
• Playside Guard
– Always block 1st man
inside the read
– Inside foot step
• Dip & rip away from
read to the LB
• Playside Tackle
•Playside Tight End – Fan block 1st man
•Fan Block the 2nd outside the read
man outside the read – Turn out if possible
• Playside Slot
Back
– 1st man inside
the read
– Clip the hip of
the read
– If blocked or • Playside Split
disappears End
inside, continues – Always block
to the FS man on
Coaching Points
Playside of Formation

S
C C

B B B

E N T E R
Backside of Formation
• Center
– 2nd man inside the
read
• Backside Guard
– 3rd man inside the
read
• Backside Tackle
– 4th man inside the
read
• (Fan Back)
• Backside Slot
•Pitchman
•Has to move fast, no motion
•Must watch QB cutup and
cutup w/QB to stay in pitch
relation
•Backside SE (if formation calls for)
•Clear to FS
Coaching Points
Backside of Formation

S
C C
B B
B
E N T E R
Keys to the Midline
1.To work, must try and
have 2 players on the
MLB
• 1 under the read
• 1 over the read
Specific Keys to Midline
2 Players on MLB

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C C
B B
B
R E T N E
1.To make sure the QB
carries the ball most
of the time-
• Run to the TE side
• Run a load scheme
with the play side slot
Midline Option 30/31
Liz Formation v
Split 6-Tight 6
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C C
B B
B
R E T N E
Variations of the Midline
• Double Options
–20-21 Option
–20-21 Twirl Down
–30-31 Twirl
–530-531
20-21 Option
• 20-21 option is a base midline
look which gives the
appearance of running the
midline. It is a double option
play used mainly against 7
man fronts.
Dble Option 20-21
Slot Formation
Vs 50

R S

C B B C
E T N T E
Advantages
1. Holds LB’s which slows perimeter
support
2. QB does not have a read-it is a pull
and pitch play
3. Causes DL to restrict-which
eliminates some perimeter support
4. Slot/HB know exactly when and
where he’s getting the ball
1. A play that does not require a lot
of practice
2. Midline look gives Slot/HB time to
get into pitch relationship w/o
motion
3. Great play to wide side or short
side of the field
4. Excellent play vs stunts from
edge (FB & QB)
Disadvantages
1. Not a read-therefore you may have
to give the ball sometimes to the FB
to keep the defense honest
2. Slot/HB must be lined up one & one
off the OT, no matter what the
formation
• Defenses can pick this up if you do not
have another play out of this formation
1.Poor play against hard
corners or hard SS play
2.Sometimes the pitch turns
into a blind pitch-QB is
dependent upon the
Slot/HB being where he is
suppose to be
20-21 Twirl Down
• Option play used when
the secondary is rotating
quickly. It is best when
the defense is giving you
a 4-3 or 6-1 look.
Dble Option 20-21 Twirl Down
Slot Formation
Vs 4-3

R S

B B B
C C
E T N E
Advantages
1. Holds LB’s which slows perimeter
support
2. QB does not have a read-it is a pull
and pitch play
3. Causes DL to restrict-which
eliminates some perimeter support
4. Slot/HB knows exactly when and
where he is getting the ball
1. Midline look gives Slot/HB time to
get into pitch relationship
2. Great play to wide side or short
side of field
3. Excellent play v. stunts from the
edge (FB & QB)
4. Softens the secondary-causes
them to begin to rotate
Disadvantages
1. Not a read play-therefore you may
have to give the ball sometimes to
the FB to keep the defense honest
2. Slot/HB must be lined up 1 & 1 off
the tackle no matter what the
formation-Def could pick this up if
you do not have other plays out of
this formation
1.Sometimes this pitch turns
into a blind pitch—QB is
dependent upon the
Slot/HB being where he is
suppose to be
2.Requires timing in order for
the play to work to
perfection
30-31 Twirl
• 30-31 Twirl is a midline read
play used mainly against 8 man
fronts. The play is ran best
when the defense gives you a 3
technique and plays man or
cover 3 in the secondary
Specific Keys to Midline
Load Scheme with Slot

S
C
C B B
S R
E N T E
Advantages
1. Softens secondary support
2. Still a read play that forces
someone to take the FB
3. Cuts off all backside trails
4. It gives away which defender has
pitch-therefore telling the
playside Slot/HB who he blocks
1.Great play to wide or short
side of the field
2.Excellent play against edge
stunts
3.Keeps FS from being an
alley player so quickly,
which sometimes allows a
block by the OT
Disadvantages
1.QB must be a quick
thinker
- He must read first, then
be ready to pitch
- The edge player is
unblocked
1. Slot/HB must be lined up 1 & 1 off the
tackle, no matter what the formation
- Def could pick this up if you do not have
other plays out of this formation
2. Sometimes the pitch turns into a blind
pitch
- QB is dependent upon Slot/HB being where
he is suppose to be
4. Requires timing for the play to work to
perfection
530-531
•Is an influence
midline read play
used against 7
man fronts
530-531

S R
C C
B B
B E T N E
Advantages
1.QB/FB play with no
intention to pitch
2.Quick Hitting
3.Great against 7 man front
4.Can be used to wide or
short side of field
1. Allows you to use the playside
Slot/HB as a decoy
- You do not have to force the
Slot/HB to block the MLB
- If he did, he would most likely end
up going all the way to the FS
6. Makes the LB’s think it is a base
play-which keeps them from
scrapping
Disadvantages
1. Mesh charges can cause
turnovers
2. Cannot be run anytime on the
field
- Inside the 10 or 3rd and short-
turnovers
3. Not good against 8 man fronts
Complimentary Plays
• 32-33 Inside Veer triple
option
• 38-39 Double Option
• 30-31 Hot—Play action pass
• 32-33 Throwback-play action
pass
32-33
• Inside veer triple
option play, excellent
to run when you have
2 players inside the
OG
Coaching Points
• Read 1st man head up to outside
the Tackle
• FB Path is inside leg of Guard
• QB Pivots @4:00-takes
adjustment step with his
backside foot
• Lineman Veer Block
38-39
• A double option play to the
perimeter excellent to run
when you are expecting the
defense to blitz from the
interior or pinch—excellent
in short yardage
Coaching Points
1. There is no read—just a pitch key-
2. QB Opens opposite which allows the FB to
clear
- We want it to look similar to the FB belly
3. FB Cleans up the edge, checks for
scrapping LB, to the FS
4. OL Zone-NO PENETRATION!!!!! Cut splits
5. Slot Playside-combo off the edge withTE to
LB, Backside-pitchman
30-31 Hot
• Is a play action pass
designed to give a
midline look and get
the secondary
support to trigger
Coaching Points
1. Slot Playside-must show arc-attack the
outside shoulder of the defender-
as soon as he turns his hips-dip
back inside and get your head on
a swivel
2. QB/FB Mesh just like normal midline
3. OL Same as normal midline-except
PS/OG-base, FB has LB
4. SE 6 yard sideline stop route
32-33 Throwback
• Throwback gives the
appearance of an option
play, but in actuality is a
pass play designed to
combat an aggressive
secondary
Coaching Points
1. QB Fake the inside veer, give quick
look to corner-if he covers flat,
throw seam, if he covers seam,
throw flat
2. OL Base Front
3. FB “B” gap responsibility
4. BS/Slot Can load end, or arc if OT
blocking end
5. Can use word “Switch” to change individual
throwing to or confuse secondary

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