Football 101: Running Lanes

[Clove]

Finally a great thread. Nice job

 

[Temo]

Yeah, it was a joke referencing a previous argument on this board.

K.

 

[BAT]

This makes me think my HS coaching was even more ********.

Our numbers system went from 9-0 going left to right in the formation you specified.

We ran the Run & Shoot, though.

Run & Shoot in HS? Wow, I hope you ran more than you "shot". We played a 5-2 D and LOOOVED it when opposing teams got desperate and went w/3 wides/empty backfield, feasting on QBs is so much tastier.

 

[Primetime42]

Run & Shoot in HS? Wow, I hope you ran more than you "shot". We played a 5-2 D and LOOOVED it when opposing teams got desperate and went w/3 wides/empty backfield, feasting on QBs is so much tastier.

We were an undersized but fast group. We were actually very successful with it when he had a decent O-Line.

And we "shot". Quite a lot.

Funny thing, we played 5-2 defense one year. I was a DB so it didn't matter much to me, but our front 7 guys hated it.

 

[ArmyCowboy]

I think the real question is, what's the difference between a draw and a delay?

A draw and a delay are different plays, they're not the same thing.

In a draw play, the linemen act as if they're pass blocking, to invite the defense up the field. Meanwhile, the QB drops back as if to pass and then hands the ball to the RB, who is in the same position as when he started the play.

Now, in a delay, the offensive linemen start out run blocking. The QB brings the ball back to the RB in a similar manner as in the draw. This allows the running back to get a good look at how the blocking in setting up before he takes the ball.

 

[BAT]

We were an undersized but fast group. We were actually very successful with it when he had a decent O-Line.

And we "shot". Quite a lot.

Funny thing, we played 5-2 defense one year. I was a DB so it didn't matter much to me, but our front 7 guys hated it.

Why would your front 7 hate it? They didn't have to play against it. I played rover my JR and SR year and absolutely loved it. Multiple wides or empty backfields meant I had carte blanche to rush the passer. I had 11 sacks my senior year. It was crazy fun. Killing RBs was fun too.

 

[WG5516]

I definitely didn't know what the running lanes were. If you could tackle the GAPS on defense, I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[casmith07]

Great post. Next up should be X, Y, and Z receivers for those that don't know.

 

[Hostile]

I think the real question is, what's the difference between a draw and a delay?

Nicely played. Good memory.

 

[casmith07]

Nicely played. Good memory.

If I'm not mistaken, a draw uses pass blocking to draw the defenders in to the play, whereas a delay is simply a delayed handoff.

 

[Hostile]

Great post Hos. One thing which I constantly hear or read someone say is, "Why does the offensive coordinator keep attacking the interior running lanes, when an opposing defense is restricting the running back to minimal gains?"

One reason is that the shortest point between two points is a straight line. The interior of any base package defense are the two defensive tackles and middle linebacker (43 defense) or the nose/defensive tackle and two interior linebackers (34 defense).

This is the area (inner triangle) where the vast majority of runs will be shut down. Why? It's designed that way. Runs designed to hit the 2/3 lanes are, in effect, contained within a bottleneck. The running back enters that bottleneck and any blockers' primary assignments (including the fullback and/or tight end motioning into the backfield) are to engage and counter those particular three defensemen.

Early in a game, the defense will win these downs, usually limiting the running back to very short gains. They are usually able to counter them effectively because they're fresh enough and strong enough to clog the bottleneck, but as the game wears on, the advantage shifts to the offense IF the offensive coordinator is able to stick to his gameplan. That advantage is usually highlighted by a couple of big gains by the running back.

It's methodical, but the benefits of continually hitting those inner lanes can pay off big. An asset for the offense trying to run these lanes is a bruising running back who is able to keep pounding at the defense's inner triangle repeatingly--thus wearing them down bit by bit until they cannot fill the holes opened within those running lanes quickly enough. BOOM! Big gain. Perhaps even a HUGE gain up the gut.

According to the offensive strategy which has seeped out of Valley Ranch all offseason, we're going to devote more attention to the run. This is the reason why a running back like Marion Barber will remain a key asset this season and will continually receive a good proportion of the carries. You can do the same with Felix Jones and maybe even moreso with Tashard Choice coming off the bench, but the inner running lanes are handmade for a back like Barber.

There are any number of reasons why to attack inside more than outside. One reason is what you say about shortest distance between two points. Another reason why is because it takes the LBs a split second longer to find the RB and move into contain position. If the RB is running parallel to the LOS they will see the motion sooner because of the pull thus they read it faster.

Yet another reason as well is that you can hit the 2 and 3 holes with more blockers quickly than you can anywhere else. Pull the TE in motion and lead the FB plus the C and OG means 4 blockers potentially in a short space.

Absolutely true on wearing the D down too. 100% correct.

 

[BAT]

I definitely didn't know what the running lanes were. If you could tackle the GAPS on defense, I would greatly appreciate it.

Check out Army's article here.

For example, the gaps are lettered while the DL's position over the OL is numbered (usually odd for 1 gap and even for 2 gap responsibilities). The 3 technique DT is "tilted" (responsible only for the B gap) instead of lined up head on (responsible for gaps A & B, which are either side of the guard). Most 3-4 NT are 0 technique, responsible for both A gaps on either side of the center. Rat will play 0 technique at times too, but is most effective as a 1 technique.

Edited for clarification and correction.

 

[Hostile]

A draw and a delay are different plays, they're not the same thing.

In a draw play, the linemen act as if they're pass blocking, to invite the defense up the field. Meanwhile, the QB drops back as if to pass and then hands the ball to the RB, who is in the same position as when he started the play.

Now, in a delay, the offensive linemen start out run blocking. The QB brings the ball back to the RB in a similar manner as in the draw. This allows the running back to get a good look at how the blocking in setting up before he takes the ball.

They are the same thing. No difference between a Draw Play and a Delayed Handoff.

I once asked Nors, who considered himself an expert on all things football, if Tony Dorsett was better at Draws or Delays. He considered this 1970's trivia, showing how little he actually did know.

I think what you are thinking of here is that a Draw is the opposite of a Play Action Pass. But a Draw and Delay are the exact same play.

 

[Kilyin]

Exactly. The intention of a draw or a delay is simply to make the defense think you're going to pass and hopefully have them overpursue themselves out of the play.

 

[Hostile]

Exactly. The intention of a draw or a delay is simply to make the defense think you're going to pass and hopefully have them overpursue themselves out of the play.

Bingo.

Back when I was playing college ball the local announcer used to call it a "delayed draw." That infuriated one of my fellow players and we all used to laugh at how pissed it made him.

 

[couchscout]

They are the same thing. No difference between a Draw Play and a Delayed Handoff.

I once asked Nors, who considered himself an expert on all things football, if Tony Dorsett was better at Draws or Delays. He considered this 1970's trivia, showing how little he actually did know.

I think what you are thinking of here is that a Draw is the opposite of a Play Action Pass. But a Draw and Delay are the exact same play.

I'm sorry Hos, but you are absolutely wrong on this. I coach football, and the difference he described between a delay and a draw is correct. A draw uses pass blocking effectively "drawing" the defense upfield and getting the runningback the ball in a situation where he has less defenders in front of him as usually the DEs are already past him. A delay uses normal run blocking, but the running back doesnt start with a full head of steam towards the OL as usual, he does a little delay for about a second and then moves, giving him more time to read the holes.

 

[Hostile]

I'm sorry Hos, but you are absolutely wrong on this. I coach football, and the difference he described between a delay and a draw is correct. A draw uses pass blocking effectively "drawing" the defense upfield and getting the runningback the ball in a situation where he has less defenders in front of him as usually the DEs are already past him. A delay uses normal run blocking, but the running back doesnt start with a full head of steam towards the OL as usual, he does a little delay for about a second and then moves, giving him more time to read the holes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draw_play

http://www.answers.com/topic/draw-play-1

A draw is a type of American football play. The draw appears to be a passing play, but is actually a running play; in this way, it can be considered the opposite of the play action pass. The idea behind a draw play is to attack aggressive, pass-rushing defenses by "drawing" them upfield, leaving more open space to run the ball. Draw plays are often run out of the shotgun formation, but can also be run when the quarterback is under center. These types of draw plays are sometimes referred to as delayed handoffs.


I coached too, at the college level for a year. I know who you are and that you have way more experience than me, but I'll stand on what I've said and what these websites are showing.

 

[Sarge]

I like pure football threads and earlier today some friends and I were talking about how there aren't enough of them. So I decided this could be fun.

Some of you may not know that in football parlance there are numbered running lanes. So I thought this might be helpful to describe them. If it isn't, I apologize.

There are 10 running lanes designated by the numbers 0 to 9. Odd numbered lanes are to the left of the Center. Even numbered lanes are to the right of the Center.

There are two running lanes on each side of the Center designated by the smaller numbers. Running lanes 2 and 3 are called the "trap lanes" meaning special trap blocking opens those lanes. Running lanes 0 and 1 are called "sneak lanes" meaning those are lanes for QB sneaks.

If a RB hits the hole on either side of the Center he is hitting the 2 or 3 hole even if it is not a trap. The lanes are still called the "trap lanes" regardless of the type of blocking ahead of the RB.

The gap between 7 and 9 on the left is if the TE pulls or lines up on the left side to make it "strong" or a 2 TE set with both TEs wide of the OTs.

Here's a snapshot of how the Running Lanes look along the LOS.

WR...9...7...LT...5...LG...3...1...C...0...2...RG...4...RT...6...TE...8...WR

Hopefully this makes some sense to you and you enjoy knowing the information.

Do you have any updates on Jessica Simpson?

 

[couchscout]

A draw is a type of American football play. The draw appears to be a passing play, but is actually a running play; in this way, it can be considered the opposite of the play action pass. The idea behind a draw play is to attack aggressive, pass-rushing defenses by "drawing" them upfield, leaving more open space to run the ball. Draw plays are often run out of the shotgun formation, but can also be run when the quarterback is under center. These types of draw plays are sometimes referred to as delayed handoffs.

I coached too, at the college level for a year.

So you find an article that says they are reffered to as delayed handoffs as your defense? I coach football, still today, and specifically I coach the OL, go search for some of my other posts if you want, I've talked about it in depth before. I've coached at 7 different places for 9 different coaches and EVERY SINGLE ONE of them had both draw runs, and delay runs in his playbook. There is a difference.

 

[Hostile]

So you find an article that says they are reffered to as delayed handoffs as your defense? I coach football, still today, and specifically I coach the OL, go search for some of my other posts if you want, I've talked about it in depth before. I've coached at 7 different places for 9 different coaches and EVERY SINGLE ONE of them had both draw runs, and delay runs in his playbook. There is a difference.

Please see my edited reply.