AFQ X's and O's

Free football coaching strategies, play diagrams, X’s and O’s for coaches at all levels

Defense



Underneath Coverage Terminology

Rick Scheidt, Defensive Coordinator Fresno City College As a defensive staff at Fresno City College, we designate underneath coverage by using area terms. The area terms apply to all of our pass coverage schemes. Throughout this presentation, I will discuss…

Posted on


The 3 X 1 Shallow Concept

Matt Kalb, Offensive Coordinator Aurora University The Aurora University passing game can be broken down into dropbacks, hitch-naked, pocket play-action, and waggles. The dropback game is then divided into three categories: horizontal stretches, verticals, and shallows. My favorite pattern is…

Posted on


Finding The Big 5 Pass Route / Combinations vs. Your Defensive Scheme

My blog last month discussed defending the Big 5 run plays.  Putting any new defense or scheme up against those 5 run plays to make sure the defense is sound versus the run and trying to eliminate any issues before…

Posted on


Defending the Big 5 Run Plays

When installing or designing defenses, all of us line up our defenses vs. an assorted number of formations. That is, formations specific to our opponent’s offensive tendencies. We do this to make sure our defense is sound vs. the formations…

Posted on


Super Safety

By Mike Sweatman Retired NFL Special Teams Coach   How many Super Bowls have ended with one team taking a “safety” and then executing a “free kick”? We were rewarded in Super Bowl XLVII with multiple exciting special teams’ plays:…

Posted on


The Importance of Off-Season Self-Scouting to Keep Your Defensive System Evolving

By Jeff McDonald, Linebackers Coach Wesleyan University The off-season gives us the opportunity to review the season while in a non sleep- deprived, and/or heavily-caffeinated state where we can think more clearly. By coming up with a self-scout plan, you…



WHEN THEY BLITZ…….

    Here is a very simple and effective play call to make when you have a defense that is blowing up your triple option base play by blitzing the backers into the gaps. The play is called Toss.  …



How Nation Ford High School Uses the Spread No-Huddle Offense to Attack Various Coverages

We are a suburban school in South Carolina in the shadow of Charlotte, NC. We are also a high performing academic school that serves a diverse cross section of students and athletes. Our school began within the last 10 years…

Posted on


ATTACKING COVER 3 WITH FOUR VERTICALS

This play is great when you want to get a big gain vs a cover three shell.  Having four of your best athletes go straight down the field and attack the two corners and FS puts the defense at a…

Posted on


SHORT YARDAGE PLAY vs. BEAR DEFENSE

This play is great for gaining short yardage especially near the goal line. It places the ball in the hands of your best player….QB!  Why take chances handing that ball off with so many defenders in the box? The QB…