Utilizing Stacks & Bunch Formation

Written by: Scott Spanton Retired Football Coach

As a retired football coach of over 40 years, you accumulate a lot of knowledge and materials when it comes to offensive schemes and concepts via attending clinics, researching, learning from peers, etc… Other than attending Texas High School football games each week, I still get the urge to share my experience I have accumulated over the course of this time. This article will deal with utilizing a few formations to attack one, two, or zero coverages. Many of these are not original ideas but rather tweaks and alterations to passing concepts that have been around for quite some time. In this case, it will focus on stacks and bunch formations.

There are multiple ways to run these concepts by adding formations, motions, etc., but the main focus will be on a few formations to minimize the length of this article.

Diag. 1 - 3 x 1 STACK vs. 2 Hi Safeties

The first concept is from a 3 x 1 Stack formation versus a 2-Hi Safety (Zone) look. You may ask why from a “Stack” formation rather than a conventional 3 x 1 look? The answer is it simply creates another variable (look) in which to execute your concepts from. In addition, in the case you get teams that like to play some type of man under or zero coverage (bringing blitz) it creates natural rubs and confusion on match ups for the defense. I will not go into techniques or routes but rather let the diagrams do most of the explanation. I will briefly discuss the quarterback’s progression along with other coaching points on some “what ifs”. In Diag. 1 the primary read will work off the flat defender (represented with the box around him. The goal of this scheme is to put vertical pressure on the deep Safety while also controlling the flat defender. If the flat defender stays low, then the QB’s eyes go to the deep Safety and works the Bender route to the vertical, based upon the reaction of Safety. If the flat defender drops to middle or helps under the Bender route, this results in throwing the Flat route. Away from the stack, the single side’s job is to provide a quick outlet in case of backside pressure. The RB will stay in to provide a six- man protection scheme. I will not elaborate on the protection other than in this diagram utilizes a big-on-big scheme. The RB (if not on route) will check the LB to his side to threaten from outside. The QB will take a three-step drop on all of these combinations.

Diag. 2 vs. 1 Hi Safety (Zone) look

Diagram 2 illustrates a concept to attack a One Hi Safety look. The QB will read the flat defender. This concept puts pressure on the cornerback as in a thirds coverage now he must make a choice. Do I cover the Curl or stay back on the Wheel? The QB will use a progression read off the flat defender to the CB. If the flat player jumps flat, the QB’s eyes go to the CB. If CB stays back in his deep third, throw the Curl in the open window based upon the LB’s drop. If the CB jumps the Curl, then go to the Wheel. On the backside will also involve a Curl/Flat concept. Usually this will come into play into the boundary if the deep Safety favors the field or there is backside pressure in which now the RB on the Flare is used as the player control off of the LB’s trigger (or blitz). Someone has to honor the Flare depending upon which ILB blitzes, or the Safety location would have to change.

Diag. 3 – 3 x 1 Stack vs. Cover 4

In Diagram 3 the focus is upon beating ¼’s coverage. The QB will now work high to low off the near Safety. He will read Safety and throw opposite of his action. If he covers the Corner route, throw the Post. If he stays on the Post, throw the Corner. If the CB drops under the Corner route look to the Expansion route. C.P.# 1(Coaching point) – It is important for the Expansion route to get width and depth on the release to create a horizontal stretch on the LB getting to him. C.P. #2 – On all of these plays it is important that on the QB’s first step his eyes are down the field to help control the Safeties. On the backside the single side is a blitz or quick throw based upon the backside pressure.

Diag. 4 - vs. 2 Hi Man Under

The advantage of this bunch is to create confusion for the secondary on their match ups in man coverage. It also creates natural rubs on releases. The QB will now use a progression read working from the Slant, Flat to Corner. Based upon the rub and mesh whichever one comes open first. C.P. > The receivers running the Slant and Flat routes must create a good mesh by rubbing hip pads to create that rub or possible collision by the defenders. This concept also provides built in “Hots” in case of blitz. The defense could bring heat off the edge to the Bunch, but the Safety would have to change his depth (a cue) and now you may get a match up of one on one on the Corner route and take a shot. The backside is an outlet for the QB on the RB Flare in case of backside pressure but once again the Safety location would have to change either pre or post snap.

Diag. 5 - Utilizing Motion

Diagram 5 illustrates a couple points by adding motion into the equation. One, it clues in the QB pre-snap if there is a possibility of man (if the defender runs with motion) or zone. C.P.> The only wrinkle would be if the defender running with motion is trailing on the return portion. Again, the timing and location of the motion is important to create the same rubs as from the pre-aligned formation.

Diag. 6 – Man Beater From 2 x 2 Stack

The mesh concept is a great man beater regardless of if versus a one, two or zero high Safety look. It is important that the point man on each side of the stack cut their split down to 6-8 yards from their offensive tackle to their respective side. This is to allow for better timing on the mesh along with quicker read for the QB. The receiver in front of the stack to the side of the RB (protection call) side will set the depth of the mesh at 6-7 yards. It is crucial to get a free release and avoid getting re-routed as crossing the field. The opposite side front receiver will be the mesh setter. It is imperative that in going underneath the depth receiver to rub shoulder pads with each other when crossing. The same rule applies as always and that is if it is man to man to continue running across the field. C.P.> After the mesh point the crossing receiver’s must stay flat on their path as to not allow (or minimize) the undercut of the route by the defender running with them. The QB progression involves reading the mesh and throwing it to the first receiver to come open after the mesh. If neither one is open, then the QB’s eyes will go to the Deep In (DIG) route then down to the check release over the ball run by the RB out of the backfield. If versus a one high man under look if the mesh is not open the QB can locate the middle Safety and if he is not getting depth and or squatting on the Dig, he could go over the top to the Post route.

Diag. 7 – Change up off the Mesh concept.

After running the mesh concept a few times and knowing that the defense is manning up a good change up to the Mesh is the Return route concept. This is also a great inside the (+5-10) yard line play when a lot of teams will go man to man.

C.P.> Once the two receivers reach the outside of the Tackle box they will pivot (opening towards the QB) and then return out to the sideline staying on their landmark and not floating up the field. The QB progression now works to the protection call side working low to high to check down.

Diag. 8 - 2 x 2 Stack 2 High Safety Beater

An added wrinkle to this play is tagging or building it in the RB on a Pipe route splitting the two deep Safeties. The QB progression is off the deep Safety to the RB side. If the Safety stays on his hash or over the top of the Bender (Corner) route, the QB will throw the Pipe. If the QB sees the CB drop deep to help under the Bender, he will work back down to the Flat. C.P.> If both inside linebackers blitz the RB will now serve as a “Hot” outlet and snap his eyes around quickly looking for the ball.

Diag. 9 – 2 x 2 Stack vs. a 1 High Safety

This concept is the same as Diag. 2. The QB progression is the same.

Diag. 10 – Gimmick Play off the Quads Bunch

“Skip Pass” (or whatever special name it is tagged with)

In concluding this article, I thought I would throw in a good gimmick play that has been 100% effective whenever we used it. It involves deceiving the defense by throwing a lateral in the form of a “skip” pass off the grass (turf) to the player in the back of the bunch. There are a few ways to do this but in this case no motion will be used.

C.P.> If the QB is in the gun, then he needs to cheat up slightly to allow for the ball to be thrown backwards on a lateral. If under Center, it will be built in with the depth of the receiver in the back of the bunch. After receiving the snap, the QB will purposely throw a ball that skips off the ground on its way to the receiver in the back of the bunch. It is important in practicing this to get the ball at least half the distance before the ball contacts the ground. Upon

the catch the receiver will walk backwards and slap the ball in disgust as if to sell that it was a bad pass and the ball will be dead. It is also important (personnel) to have three players that are good at holding their blocks to allow this play to work.

C.P.> Of course, as a Coach it is important to inform the officials before the game of the gimmick for them to not blow the play dead win the ball hits the ground. The receiver who fields the ball will count 1001, 1002 and then turn and locate the Post route run by the backside single receiver. The QB will after he releases the ball drift to the outside then runs a Wheel route out the backside. The receiver with the ball will locate the backside CB and if he runs with the Post, throw the Wheel. If the CB stays home, then he throws the Post. In setting up this play it is important when running similar backside concepts to determine whether the backside CB follows the backside receiver. Lets finish with ther worst scenarios. The skip pass, if the receiver misses fields the ball then we want him to fall on the ball and not try to make a bad situation worse

The other is if nothing is open and the receiver fields the ball cleanly, to get up the field and get what positive yardage he can. This play typically is good after a sudden change usually on the (+) side of the field or inside the opponent’s 40-yard line.

I hope that this article brings to light how these concepts can be useful within the framework of some of your schemes or at least provide food for thought on how to put pressure on the defense in defending the entire field. I enjoy sharing any information with anyone when it comes to talking ball. My email is sspanton1960@gmail.com if you ever want talk ball. Thank you again for all y’all do on a daily basis in changing and affecting young people’s lives in a positive way. It is an honor to be associated with one of the greatest organizations not only in Texas but the entire nation. Good luck to all the teams across the state of Texas and will look forward to our weekly “date night” with my wife witnessing “Friday Night Lights”.

Read the entire October 2024 Issue of Texas Coach here: https://issuu.com/thscacoaches/docs/oct24upload?fr=xKAE9_zU1NQ