The key is how Nebraska uses its offensive line, particularly the center. By changing who pulls, creating numbers advantages into the boundary, and forcing linebackers to adjust their keys, the Cornhuskers are finding new answers to familiar defensive structures.

None of this works without an athletic offensive line capable of executing in space. Nebraska has the personnel to make these concepts work, and the results provide some interesting ideas for coaches looking to add wrinkles to their own gap scheme package.

Let’s take a look at how the Cornhuskers are doing it.

Bucksweep

One of my favorite ways to run bucksweep is into the boundary. With a tight end aligned to the boundary, the offense creates an immediate numbers advantage in compressed space. The tight end and tackle execute their Gap-Down-Backer rules to build a wall on the playside, while the center handles the A-gap down lineman.

The playside guard pulls to kick the first defender who shows, while the backside guard pulls with his eyes inside to account for a second-level defender. When the offensive line executes its assignments, the ball can hit quickly off the edge with multiple blockers leading the way.

The real value of running bucksweep into the boundary goes beyond the run itself. By threatening the defense with a numbers advantage to the short side of the field, Nebraska can force the defense to over-rotate its safeties toward the boundary. That creates an opportunity to attack the field with an RPO, giving the quarterback an easy answer if the defense commits too many resources to stopping the run.

Shoot the Buck

Nebraska builds on the bucksweep concept by motioning the H-back into the backfield before sending him on a shoot screen. The quarterback now has an easy RPO throw built into the play, creating another way to punish a defense that overcommits to the run.

We’ve seen this type of screen paired with zone and counter concepts, but seeing it married to bucksweep is a fun variation. The threat of the screen can freeze backside defenders, while the defense still has to account for the pulling guards and the run hitting toward the boundary.

It’s a simple addition that forces the defense to defend more than just the initial run action. If the defense overplays the sweep, Nebraska has a quick answer. If defenders widen to handle the screen, the offense can keep its numbers advantage in the run game.

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With numbers like those, it’s worth looking at the coach directing the offense and where he learned it.

Before Neal Brown directed an Air Raid offense, he wore a Kentucky uniform and learned it from the men who built it.

Brown arrived at Kentucky in 1998, when Hal Mumme was the head coach and Mike Leach was the offensive coordinator. He was a freshman wide receiver in their offense, sharing the practice field, meeting rooms, and sideline with the coaches who helped bring the Air Raid into the SEC.

Brown played at Kentucky from 1998–2000. His first season was Leach’s last in Lexington before leaving for Oklahoma, giving Brown one season under Mumme and Leach together and two more under Mumme before finishing his playing career at UMass.

His connection continued through Tony Franklin, another assistant on Mumme’s Kentucky staff. Brown joined Troy University as a receivers coach in 2006 and worked under Franklin, the offensive coordinator, for two seasons. When Franklin departed, Brown became Troy’s offensive coordinator in 2008.

Coach Neal Brown played under Mumme and Leach, coached receivers under Franklin, and then took responsibility for calling the Air Raid offense himself.

Brown later became Texas Tech’s offensive coordinator in 2010 under Tommy Tuberville, following Leach’s departure. There, he continued running and developing the Air Raid.

That history gives North Texas’s offense a personal connection to the Air Raid’s formative years. Brown learned its concepts as a receiver, taught them as a position coach, and developed them as a coordinator. When we study the North Texas offense, we are watching how someone raised inside the Air Raid system. It’s a direct evolution over nearly 30 years, and Coach Neal Brown has been along for that ride.

Here is how the pieces fit together.

The Hitch: An Extension of the Run Game

Every offense needs a dependable early-down answer. For North Texas, one is an outside hitch paired with a vertical release from the slot.

No. 1 pushes upfield and runs a three-step hitch. No. 2 threatens vertically, creating separation between the hitch and potential inside help. Against man coverage, his wheel release can carry the defender responsible for him up the sideline; against zone, he is looking to block the safety.

This creates an opportunity for the hitch receiver to face the corner one-on-one in space.

That is why I view the hitch as part of North Texas’s run-game philosophy. The offense gets the ball outside the box and makes a perimeter defender tackle. Breaking that tackle is a bonus; a three-to-five-yard completion already helps keep the offense on schedule.

What a Pro-I team might seek from ISO—a dependable early-down call—North Texas can seek through this simple throw.

The Screen Game

North Texas’s screen package attacks the perimeter in several ways.

Quick screens from bunch formations deliver the ball behind receiver blocks. Bubble screens threaten width immediately. Tunnel screens bring the receiver back inside with offensive linemen releasing out in front. Like the hitch, the screen game functions as an extension of the run game.

The complementary shot is pumping the bubble and hitting post-wheel to the Trips side. The wheel receiver initially presents a stalk block before slipping up the sideline. In the touchdown example, he emerges wide open.

The frequent quick screens from the bunch give defenders a familiar picture to recognize and potentially overplay. North Texas has answers for that reaction. The post wheel attacks downfield, while widening defenders toward the bunch can improve the interior run picture.

Plus One in the Run Game

The Air Raid label should not obscure North Texas’s commitment to running the football. Run game coordinator and tight ends coach Mike Bloesch brings an offensive line background, including his work as Cal’s offensive coordinator and offensive line coach in 2024.

In these examples, the H-back or tight end repeatedly changes the blocking picture. An interior insert can account for a linebacker. Motion across the formation can bring a lead blocker toward the perimeter. Those additions help the offense handle defenders beyond the offensive line’s initial assignments.

An H-back leading through an interior lane can give a play an ISO-like appearance, but zone blocking with an insert remains a zone variation. The line’s assignments determine the underlying scheme.

Quarterback involvement provides another way to affect the numbers. A live read accounts for a defender without blocking him. The selected examples also include quarterback keeps, making the backside action another responsibility for the defense.

The recurring objective is to improve the numbers around the football: bring the tight end across to lead outside, insert the H-back inside, or make a defender account for the quarterback. North Texas spreads the defense while retaining a physical presence at the point of attack.

Hank, 96 All Curl, or Curl-Flat

Known as Hank in West Coast terminology and 96 All Curl in the Air Raid, this concept appears across offensive systems with variations in route depth and quarterback progression. Leach’s 96 package combines outside curls, flat releases, and an interior curl or sit route.

North Texas uses that familiar horizontal stretch. The outside curl and flat release create a conflict for the underneath defender. Expanding toward the flat can expose the curl window; gaining depth underneath the curl can concede the throw outside.

The interior sit route adds another answer. A linebacker who squeezes that receiver reduces his ability to help outside. Expanding can expose the middle.

That makes the sit route an integrated part of the concept. Across the selected examples, UNT completes passes to all three options: the flat, the curl, and the receiver settling over the ball.

Outside-Zone Boot

North Texas complements outside-zone action by bringing the quarterback back in the opposite direction.

On the boot side, the hitch and corner route create a smash-style relationship. A corner staying low can leave space above him, depending on the safety’s position. Gaining depth can give up the hitch.

The backside crossing route supplies another underneath option. The run fake can draw the linebackers’ attention away from the boot, delaying their response as the crosser enters the quarterback’s new throwing area.

Spacing gives the combination its value. The hitch, corner, and crossing route create a triangle of throwing options, each occupying a distinct window.

Split-Zone Bluff Play-Action

The split-zone bluff package reaches the perimeter through a different path.

The H-back slices across the formation, presenting the action of a backside block. He then bypasses the edge defender and releases into the flat.

With No. 1 clearing vertically and No. 2 running the corner, the H-back provides the underneath option. The route distribution stretches the coverage at three levels.

A defender driving on the flat can create a window for the corner route behind him, depending on the coverage above. Gaining depth beneath the corner can concede the H-back underneath.

The deception begins with the H-back’s path. The same initial action that brings a blocker across the formation now delivers a receiver into space.

Yankee: Space for the Deep Cross

North Texas also attacks downfield with Yankee: a post paired with a deep crossing route.

There are two details here I do not want you to miss.

The first is the pre-snap motion. Moving the slot receiver across the formation leaves the X receiver isolated and changes the coverage picture. The post threatens the deep coverage while the crosser works underneath, attacking the space between the underneath defenders and the secondary.

The second is the protection. In the pulling-guard examples, North Texas presents power play-action. The backside guard pulls to account for the edge, the running back carries out the fake before helping in protection, and the remaining linemen work away from the puller.

That investment in protection gives the routes time to develop. Watch the crosser’s depth: he needs to clear the underneath coverage while preserving space beneath the post.

Bringing It All Together

Brown’s lineage provides the historical connection. The way North Texas connects its concepts shows how that Air Raid foundation continues to evolve.

The offense executes short, accessible throws and creates opportunities for yards after the catch. In the run game, it brings blockers to the point of attack and makes the defense account for the quarterback. Its screen package includes quick screens, tunnels, bubbles, and downfield shots built from those presentations. Then the defense has to handle the complementary play-action game.

For coaches, the value is practical. These ideas can fit into an existing offense: a dependable quick game, an extra blocker, a screen paired with a shot, or a play-action pass built from a look-alike run. North Texas offers examples of how to connect those pieces into any offense.

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Nebraska has made the screen game an effective extension of its offense this season, using different releases, protections, and formations to get the ball into the hands of its running backs with room to operate. Let’s take a look at three screen concepts that show how Holgorsen uses his offensive line to turn simple plays into explosive opportunities.

“Crack & Slip”

Coaches, if you are looking to install a new red zone play late in the season, this is a great way to get your running back the ball in space near the goal line.

The Cornhuskers align in a stacked twins formation to the field, with two tight ends and the running back aligned into the boundary.

Both twin receivers execute crack blocks. The receiver on the line of scrimmage, facing press man coverage, releases flat inside and cracks the first linebacker in the box. The off-the-line receiver works inside to crack the safety. Against man coverage, these assignments can pull defenders toward the middle of the formation and create an opportunity for the screen to get to the edge.

The right tackle sells the play by showing full-slide gap protection to the inside before releasing flat and sprinting toward the pylon.

The running back completes the deception by initially attacking the defensive end as if he is part of the protection. Rather than continuing upfield, he slips outside into the flat to receive the screen.

Surprisingly, the defender in the best position to disrupt the play is the A-gap nose tackle. If the offense can occupy him long enough, the design gives the running back a chance to get outside and follow the blocks toward the goal line.

This is a simple concept with an easy installation, especially for teams already using full-slide protection. If you trust your receivers to execute their blocks in the red zone, this is a creative way to get your running back the ball in space.

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Here the Lumberjacks throw verticals off of toss action while pulling the backside guard in protection. The linebackers fly out of the picture, giving the QB a clear look downfield. The safety works with #3 vertical, leaving no defender for #2 in their Cover 3 shell. It becomes an easy pitch and catch for a 30-yard touchdown.

The Lumberjacks also ran several QB read plays on the night. Here’s an example of G/T read where the defensive end squeezes and the QB gives the bash. Again, see how the Lumberjacks out leverage the Montana defense at the point of attack.

Here’s an example of plain G/T counter so you can see that the Lumberjacks were pulling out all the stops to dress everything up. I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed this variation before.

On their first 3rd down, 3rd & 9, the Lumberjacks went to a Hook & Ladder style play. We get the hitch and pitch. However, this is the first time I’ve seen a hitch and pitch with the pitch coming from the opposite side of the field.

Later in the game we get a jet sweep throwback for a touchdown to the quarterback. Montana over pursues, and the Lumberjacks take advantage of how aggressive they are on defense.

My favorite play of the night might have been the QB sneak from the 4 yard line. Who does this? Again, the Lumberjacks had a way of catching the Grizzly defense off guard all night, and this is borderline genius.

The Lumberjacks also executed the small things all night like this throw on the slot post/dig that they completed twice in huge situations against the Cover 4 look they got from the Grizzlies.

Here’s another example of them throwing snag with accuracy under pressure. The Lumberjacks were sharp on execution all day. It’s like they knew what lever to pull all game long offensively.

Final Thoughts

Northern Arizona had a clear-cut game plan to attack the aggressive defense by Montana. In the run game we got QB runs and read plays. In the pass game we got well executed basic routes like Snag, Mesh, and slot post. When the time called for it, they had trick plays dialed up and ready to go. They had them ready, and they executed them with confidence and poise.

It showed up in the numbers. 27 first downs, 8-13 on third down, over 300 yards passing and 49 points. The jet sweep throwback worked because Montana over pursued, and the Lumberjacks were ready for it. The result was a huge upset over an established powerhouse in the FCS and a big win for the Lumberjacks.

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What do you even call this?

Dive speed option? I mean what even is this? Well, it’s super fun and creative. And I can see where this could be effective, as the Q player, once the ball is handed off, typically no longer needs to worry about the Q and makes his way to the ball. Problem is, it’s pitched back to the quarterback! Watch the edge player, this is what pure frustration looks like.

Power Read

There’s power read, then there’s power read with this motion. Tear motion to orbit into power read. Utah does a great job of having endless moving parts mixed with athleticism in the backfield. I don’t even love the read here, but somehow it still works out for the Utes because of all the action they show keeping the defense guessing.

Now here’s power read, with two QBs, with a toss read. The defensive end squeezes, they get the other QB, at running back, on the edge and off they go. And I’m sure at some point there will be a pass off of this because Utah is crazy.

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I owe our readers an apology. We talk about counter a lot at The Board Drill, but there is a reason we keep coming back to it: teams are running it, and they are finding more ways to dress it up every season. Counter is no longer just a gap scheme built around a pulling guard and a wrapping H-back. It is a foundation for an entire family of run concepts, misdirection plays, and complementary throws.

Wake Forest put that versatility on display against Stanford on October 3, 2026. The Demon Deacons rolled to a 57-3 victory, piling up 519 yards of total offense, including 197 on the ground.

One of the most interesting parts of the Stanford game is how Wake Forest builds so many answers around the same basic counter principles. In that game alone, 31% of the offensive snaps featured a counter variation. Rather than asking the offensive line to learn a completely new scheme for every situation, Wake uses different formations, ball carriers, and backfield actions to create new problems for the defense.

When I talk about G/H Counter, I am referring to the gap scheme in which the guard pulls to kick out the defensive end while the H-back (or tight end) wraps inside to block the playside linebacker. Those are the building blocks. From there, the possibilities are extensive.

Let’s take a look at how Wake Forest gets creative with one of football’s most dependable run concepts.

G/H Counter

Here is the DNA of the play. This is counter in its simplest form, and it is the foundation for everything that follows.

Why does it work so well? Counter creates an advantage at the point of attack by bringing additional blockers to the intended running lane. The pulling guard handles the edge defender, while the H-back wraps inside to account for the linebacker. The remaining offensive linemen secure their assignments and create space for the ball carrier.

The play also pairs well with shotgun offenses. The backfield action helps influence the defense, and the pulling action creates a clear picture for the offensive line. It is relatively easy to install, gives the line a repeatable set of rules, and can serve as the foundation for a wide variety of complementary plays.

The real value is not just in the base play. It is in how many different ways an offense can present the same blocking scheme without changing its core identity.

Slot G/H Counter

Wake Forest lines up in an empty squeeze set, a formation that might lead the defense to believe the offense has eliminated the traditional running game. After all, there is no running back sitting in the backfield.

Wrong.

The Demon Deacons use the outside wide receiver as the ball carrier, flipping the ball out to him and running the counter concept from an unconventional alignment.

The timing and path are not perfect here. The receiver takes the ball too wide, which makes it more difficult to get north and south behind the blocking. Still, the idea is worth considering.

If the defense is accustomed to identifying counter through the running back’s alignment and the guard’s pull, why not change the player carrying the ball? This variation gives the offense another way to get the ball to a perimeter athlete while keeping the same basic blocking structure.

It is a reminder that the personnel alignment does not have to dictate who gets the ball on a base run concept.

G/H Counter Shoot

The shoot route has become a familiar part of modern offenses. It gained traction as a complementary answer off zone schemes, but coaches have since incorporated it into nearly every major run concept imaginable.

Wake Forest does the same thing here, taking the H-back who would normally wrap to the playside linebacker and sending him on a shoot route into the flats instead.

This creates a conflict for the defense. If the H-back releases into the flat, someone has to account for him. A defender who widens to cover the route may no longer be in position to fit the run. If the defense stays committed to stopping counter, the quarterback has an immediate outlet throw available.

Of course, sending the H-back into a route takes away a blocker from the original scheme. That is the tradeoff. The offense is exchanging a potential blocker for a pass option and forcing the defense to defend both possibilities.

The goal is not necessarily to throw the ball every time. It is to make the defense respect the route enough that it cannot devote every available defender to stopping the run.

Q G/H Counter

This might be my favorite variation of the base play.

Wake Forest uses jet-sweep motion as a distraction, influencing the defense toward the perimeter while the quarterback keeps the ball and runs G/H Counter.

The offense has no intention of handing the ball to the motion player. The sweep action is there to widen the alley defender and create more room for the quarterback inside.

That is the beauty of pairing counter with eye candy. The defense has to account for the motion player, the quarterback, and the pulling blockers. If the edge defender widens with the sweep action, the quarterback has more room to work inside. If the defense ignores the motion, the offense has another potential answer built into the same presentation.

The blocking scheme does not need to change significantly. The offense simply adds a layer of misdirection that can influence the defenders responsible for fitting the run.

Add the Rail Route

Wake Forest gets creative with its formation here, aligning the running back into the boundary and away from any eligible wide receivers. From that alignment, the Demon Deacons run counter toward the boundary while releasing the running back on a rail route.

This gives the quarterback a pass option that complements the run scheme. If the defense commits to stopping counter, the running back can release into space. If a defender widens to account for the rail route, that defender may be removed from the run fit.

The formation is an important part of the presentation. By placing the running back away from the eligible receivers, Wake creates an unusual picture for the defense and makes the offense account for a potential throw from a less conventional alignment.

This is another example of how a familiar run concept can become more difficult to defend without requiring the offensive line to learn a new blocking scheme.

Q G/R Counter

What happens if the defense starts keying the H-back because it knows he is the player responsible for wrapping on counter?

Wake Forest has an answer.

Instead of sending the H-back through the hole to block the playside linebacker, the running back crosses the quarterback’s face and becomes the lead blocker. The H-back arcs toward the backside, potentially pulling defenders who are reading his movement away from the intended running lane.

The result is a different blocking presentation built around the same general counter principles. The defense may anticipate the H-back wrapping inside, but the offense changes the assignments and uses the running back to account for the interior fit.

For coaches, this is a valuable reminder that the H-back does not always have to be the second puller or wrapper in a counter scheme. By changing who inserts and who arcs, you can create a different picture for the defense while keeping the offensive line’s responsibilities relatively familiar.

Q Super Counter

One of Wake Forest’s favorite answers near the goal line is to combine the best parts of G/H Counter and G/R Counter into one concept.

The guard kicks out the edge defender, the H-back works through the hole, and the running back is added to account for a defender trying to fit off the edge. The offense effectively combines its counter blocking structure with an additional lead blocker to handle the extra defender.

This is an attractive goal-line concept because the offense is adding bodies at the point of attack in an area where space is limited and every block matters. Rather than relying on the ball carrier to make someone miss in a congested box, the offense creates a more favorable numbers situation with its blocking assignments.

The key is that the extra blocker must have a clear responsibility. If the defense brings an additional player into the fit, the offense needs a plan for that defender. Super Counter provides another way to account for the edge while preserving the downhill nature of the play.

For teams that already carry G/H Counter and G/R Counter in their playbooks, this can be a natural extension of the existing scheme rather than an entirely new installation.

Conclusion: One Scheme, Endless Answers

This breakdown does not even cover Wake Forest’s G/Y Counter or its various G/T Counter concepts. That is what makes counter such a valuable foundation for an offense. Once the offensive line understands the core rules, the coaching staff can build a menu of complementary plays without constantly starting from scratch.

The variations shown here give coaches several ways to expand the scheme:

1. Change the ball carrier. Use the quarterback or a perimeter player to create a different look while preserving the core blocking concept.

2. Manipulate the defense. Add jet motion, change the H-back’s path, or use the running back as a lead blocker to influence how defenders fit the run.

3. Build in a pass answer. The shoot and rail routes force defenders to respect the perimeter and give the quarterback options when the defense overcommits to the run.

4. Adjust for the situation. From empty formations to goal-line packages, counter can be adapted to the personnel and the defensive problems you need to solve.

The lesson from Wake Forest is not that every team needs to carry every variation. It is that a well-installed base scheme gives you options. You can change the formation, alter the backfield action, add a route, or change the blocking responsibilities while maintaining familiar principles for the offensive line.

We may talk about counter a lot at The Board Drill, but the film keeps giving us reasons to come back to it. When a defense has to account for the same blocking scheme presented in six or seven different ways, the offense has created a problem that goes well beyond stopping one play.

And that is the point: install one scheme, then make the defense defend the entire family.

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Belly G Toss

Here we see the Bison run Belly G Toss out of 12 personnel against a bear front. They do a great job on the down blocks, especially handling the nose, then the guard gets the kick and the fullback leads the running back to the promised land. This is a great goal line play and can be more effective than power since the puller stays play side and allows for a quicker hit for the run.

Duo

Duo equals double teams, and the Bison get three of them here. Both double teams are executed well, the linemen stay patient, and then they come off for the linebacker when they declare. The tight end also does a great job handling the 9 tech. This is textbook duo and a great job executing by the Bison.

Outside Zone

Outside zone has become the Bison’s bread and butter over the last handful of years. One thing I like that they do is run outside zone to the weak side, which they do here. Front side they do an excellent job, but the back side guard makes the play here by staying square, getting lateral, then working to the play side linebacker.

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For three quarters in College Park, Virginia Tech’s offense looked like a clinic in manipulating defensive structure.

The Hokies were not doing anything revolutionary. The run game was fairly basic, with plenty of familiar gap-scheme concepts. But the passing game was built around a simple idea: make the defense defend space, then find the matchup you want.

Virginia Tech mixed heavy run looks like QB counter with quick misdirection, fake jet sweeps, tight end screens, fades and rail routes. The result was a Maryland defense that constantly had to adjust its eyes and leverage.

The Hokies scored on five of their first six possessions, and much of that success came from creating conflict for defenders without needing a massive menu of plays.

While Virginia Tech’s run game was fairly straightforward, the passing game provided plenty of opportunities to create mismatches in open space.

Let’s start with a pass route that everyone runs.

DASH FLOOD

Before we even get to the routes, let’s talk about the Dash protection and what the tight end is doing.

In the first example, the Hokies align in a 2x2 set and motion the tight end across the formation to the field as a wing. That motion gives him leverage on the defensive end.

The offensive line full slides to the left while the tight end pins the defensive end inside. The quarterback gets a quick look at his backside gift route before rolling to the field.

The protection and the route concept work together here.

Flood concepts are built around out-breaking routes, so pay attention to the receiver splits. The outside receiver is aligned just outside the hash, giving the quarterback plenty of room to work toward the sideline.

The quarterback checks the backside route, gets outside and connects with the out route.

The running back, aligned opposite the flood concept, becomes the #3 receiver and occupies the flat.

The outside receiver then breaks to the sideline at the deeper level, creating the vertical stretch that makes Flood so difficult to defend.

Nothing complicated. Just good spacing and good structure.

Same play, different presentation.

This time, Virginia Tech gives us trips to the field with the tight end aligned outside. He motions inside and pins the defensive end almost immediately off the motion.

That is a great way to catch the defensive end off guard.

The Hokies are using the motion to create leverage before the ball is even snapped. The tight end gets inside position on the defensive end, and the quarterback has an easier path to the edge.

Again, the play itself is nothing exotic.

The presentation is what makes it work.

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The more I watched, the more I liked what the Jackrabbits were doing. They were running midzone toward an unbalanced formation and bringing a tight end across to wham a defender on the weak side. That block helps open the cutback when the defense flows toward the strength.

I’m calling this Midzone Wham. The formation caught my attention, but the way the wham fits the running back’s read is what makes the play worth a closer look.

Start with the unbalanced formation

South Dakota State lines up in a four-strong unbalanced set. The attached tight end is on the line of scrimmage, with a receiver outside him also on the line. That covers the tight end and makes him ineligible. Another receiver is off the line, and the player coming across in motion is a tight end body aligned in the slot.

That alignment gives the defense something to sort out before the snap. The corner and safety have receivers to account for, and the defense has to decide how it will handle the extra strength. It can shift the front, cause the defense to slant toward it, or bring a safety into the box to the unbalanced side. Each response affects where the cutback might open.

In these examples, the midzone action goes toward the unbalanced side. The slot motions weak to “wham” the second defensive lineman a 3 tech, 4, or 4i technique usually. The only change I would make from what South Dakota State is doing, is I would flip my TE to the shortside and align him up as the backside tackle, it’s an easy base block for him and it would keep a safety over top of him if the defense is in man coverage as respecting the eligible WR lined up at tackle. This would make it a true tackle over set, which is O.K. because the TE was ineligible anyway. Having the tackle to the unbalanced side would also add some beef to the midzone side of the play.

Keep the midzone track

The running back’s aiming point is the outside foot of the playside tackle. He presses that track and reads the lane. If C gap closes, he can work back to B gap. If B gap closes, the cut can come farther inside through A gap, including the backside A gap when it opens.

That track matters because it gets the defensive line and linebackers flowing toward the strength which they will have to over play naturally due to the unbalanced formation. The wham player is coming across to help secure the backside cutback lane. The play still has an opportunity to hit on its original track, and South Dakota State does that on the film.

I would be careful about teaching the back to assume this is a cutback every time. He needs to press his aiming point and let the blocks happen. If the lane is there, get downhill. If the defense takes it away, trust the cutback. Selling off tackle is crucial to setting the cutback up.

Identify the wham defender

The backside tackle and the wham player have to be clear on who they are blocking. In the looks shown here, the backside tackle blocks out on the widest defender. The wham player takes the next defender inside him, the second man from the weak-side edge of the defensive front.

That target can look like a three- or five-technique depending on the front. The tackle secures the edge, and the motion player comes across to kick the defender inside it.

Leaving that defender for the wham allows an offensive lineman to work toward the second level. This allows your backside guard to help on one 1 technique allowing your center to climb to the second level. Anytime you can get another O-lineman up to the second level it’s a good run play. Schematically, it’s trap, except we’re using a slot WR in a TE body to do the trapping and we’re starting off showing midzone and trap blocking the backside. Like I said, “A unique running play.”

Across the rest of the line, the starting point is the playside gap. A lineman with a defender in that gap works to reach and take him over. If his gap is clear, he can help the adjacent lineman to his backside before climbing. The attached tight end always accounts for the D gap. When there is no D-gap defender, he can help the tackle with his reach.

Against some of these fronts, that produces two combination blocks with the tight end basing outside, which turns it into Duo blocking.

Give the combination time to work

Like any zone scheme, getting movement on the defensive lineman is key. The offensive lineman can’t get stalemated at the point of attack on their reach blocks, and the defensive lineman locks out, holds his ground, and eventually fights across the face.

Midzone wham creates double teams which should allow the oline to dominate the defensive front. The times this play doesn’t work is when lineman are too quick to get up field and the defensive lineman are able to lock out and fight across the face.

This is where I would spend time with the offensive line. Help the backside reach blocker get control of the defender before leaving him for the second level. A hand on the defender only helps if it gives the next lineman a chance to take over. Work that hip, get movement when you can, and let the combination develop before climbing.

The Purpose of the Wham Block

The wham helps open the cutback, but the combination blocks are what give the back a chance to get through it. The linemen have to give each other enough help to secure the down defenders before climbing, especially when the defense slants and changes the picture. The back still needs to press the outside foot of the playside tackle and trust his read, taking the frontside lane when it’s there or cutting back inside when the defense overplays the action.

What I like most is how the formation and the blocking fit the back’s read. The unbalanced set gives the defense a reason to overplay the strength. Midzone gets it moving that way, and the wham helps create room for the ball to come back inside.

If midzone is already part of your offense, I hope this article helps your studies. There is a lot to like about the cutback South Dakota State creates and the uniqueness of this offensive play.

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Escort Motion

On our first clip we’ll see the Cougars use escort motion to go from empty to bringing their tight end into the box to run quarterback split zone. The concept here is spread out the defense, quickly add a bigger body, then run the quarterback in the plus-one game.

Here we see escort motion again but this time with standard split zone running scheme. The defense doesn’t get near enough defenders into the box quick enough and the Cougars are off to a big gain.

How does BYU protect their run game off escort motion? Well, they start with RPO, and here’s a good one. They run their escort motion and split zone concept, but to the field they run a slant/screen combo. The unique part here is the slant, which starts as a stalk block, then works into the slant windows. The safety comes flying down on the screen and sees the slant get hit for six points.

To build on it again, here’s the shot play off of this action. We get escort motion, max protection and that gives the Cougar QB plenty of time to take the deep shot for a huge completion.

Orbit Motion

The Cougars run with orbit motion, but that won’t be featured below. Many of those runs we see are outside zone off of orbit motion and while they are bad concepts, there’s nothing special to show you. However, we will take some time to look at the passing and screen concepts off of that orbit motion.

On our first example the Cougars bring orbit motion and pair it with a dig wheel concept into the boundary. They read the boundary safety, he spins down in Cover 3 to attack the orbit leaving the dig open in the void behind him.

The next phase is the orbit swing screen. Fake the run one direction, get the receiver going the other direction, in space, with blockers. Good design, good execution.

Here we get that “rebound” orbit motion with a flood concept in the boundary. Let the motion attract attention and throw the sail behind it.

Here’s the best concept the Cougars have off of their orbit motion. Orbit motion, make it look like the swing screen first. Then show G/T Counter up front. But what they’re really trying to do is throw tunnel. Make the defenders on both sides work out, then throw a screen coming back in. Great design, even better execution, and a huge gain for the Cougars.

Final Thoughts

BYU is on track to be a top team in college football this season, and with their ability to manipulate defenses and run the football the sky could be the limit for the Cougars. Ultimately we’ll see in a few weeks when they play at Notre Dame what they’re made of. But if they can run the ball, motion, and stay creative in play calling, I think they have a shot to make it a game with the Irish.

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ONCE SPORT: A complete video analysis software for any sport.

Once Sport Analyzer is a powerful, yet easy-to-use video analysis software with advanced tagging, 3D telestration, automatic tracking, and live analysis – built for coaches and analysts at all levels.

In Episode 9 of From Field to Fatherhood, Dustin Whitlock and Ryan Grow sit down with Coach Pete Rausch, former head coach, athletic director, Notre Dame football alumnus, and current Offensive Coordinator at Crystal River High School.

Coach Rausch shares lessons learned from more than three decades of marriage, raising children in a coaching household, balancing football and family, coaching his own son, surviving cancer, prioritizing faith, and the invaluable role coaches’ wives play behind the scenes.

From stories about appearing in the movie Rudy to heartfelt conversations about fatherhood, marriage, intentionality, and legacy, this episode is packed with wisdom for coaches, husbands, fathers, and leaders.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to From Field to Fatherhood

01:12 Meet Coach Pete Rausch

01:33 Locker Room Check-In

02:20 Monday Night JV Football Discussion

03:26 Notre Dame Football Talk

04:04 Coach Rausch’s Role in Rudy

05:05 Parenting Win: Raising a Coach’s Son

06:15 Colton’s Engagement and Family Pride

07:27 Why Coaches’ Wives Are Special

08:46 Life as a Coaching Family

11:49 When Your Wife Calls You Out

12:21 Marriage, Friendship & Being Present

13:57 Leaving Football at School

15:11 Quality Time vs Quantity Time

16:40 Habits That Help Him Disconnect

17:03 Faith, Cancer & the Coach’s Bible

18:02 Family Photos and Daily Perspective

19:10 Schedule Your Family Like Practice

20:15 Lessons Learned from a Coach’s Son

22:41 The Importance of Taking Care of Yourself

24:09 Losing 100 Pounds and Prioritizing Health

25:25 Fatherhood Doesn’t Always Look the Same

25:49 Coaching Your Own Child

26:11 Why He Stepped Away to Let His Son Shine

28:31 Unconditional Love as a Parent

31:11 What Angela Does That Nobody Sees

33:27 Why Coaches’ Wives Deserve Their Own Podcast

34:10 The Reality of Life as a Coach’s Wife

35:56 Making Date Nights Matter

36:27 Apologizing to Your Kids

36:47 Hard Conversations as a Father

38:05 Coaching Your Own Son Harder Than Everyone Else

If you’re a football coach, husband, father, or leader striving to be intentional at home while pursuing excellence in your profession, this episode is for you.

Like, Subscribe, and Share with a coach who needs to hear Coach Rausch’s perspective on marriage, family, leadership, and legacy.

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Jet & Zoom Motions

We’ve seen this concept a lot at the FCS level and it’s filtering up, but this is a fun concept. Jet sweep one direction and Q Zone the other. Additionally, a lot of the time a defensive lineman is also read, so this helps in the numbers game as well. The Cougars make the correct read, find the edge, and finish with a touchdown.

Here we get a different variation of jet motion, a return version, with Q power by the Cougars. The running back will kick and the back side guard pulls for the play side linebacker. Great design, lots of moving parts, but simple power football.

Jet motion, power read with a give. They crack with Colorado State in man coverage and almost get a two for one, but they do gain leverage with the corner playing man on the receiver and the receiver going to crack the Nickel/overhang.

Now we see that jet motion paired with split zone. The play side linebacker, and corner in man, fly over the top, vacating where the run is going and leaving no defenders in the second level. The result is the running back walking into the end zone untouched for six.

The next few examples are more “zoom” motion than “jet” motion but the flow is still similar. We get this motion to the field, plus sprint out, combined with snag corner to the field. Between the motion, and moving parts we have defensive backs running into each other, assignments getting crossed and ultimately the snag comes wide open. Easy throw, easy catch, big gain for the Cougars.

Same motion, this time to leverage the defense on an “X under” screen. It looks like a play action deep shot, the secondary is bailing and the receivers are looking to block for the opposite receiver coming underneath. Well designed and catches the Rams bailing into coverage.

One more time with a similar concept into the boundary except this time it feels more like Stick or Dial into the boundary, again they overload the boundary, make the defense sort receivers, find the open one, and get them the ball.

Final Thoughts

The BYU Cougars do a fantastic job year in and year out doing more with less, and it shows here on tape. They use motion to out-leverage opponents at the point of attack, then combine that with creativity off of that motion to catch defenses with counter punches like screen and split zone. The Cougars are always a great team to watch if you want creativity and good football, and the best part is you can usually catch them at night after you’ve watched whomever else you’d like to see that day. In part two of this series we’ll discuss the “escort” and “orbit” motions used by the Cougars.

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ONCE SPORT: A complete video analysis software for any sport.

Once Sport Analyzer is a powerful, yet easy-to-use video analysis software with advanced tagging, 3D telestration, automatic tracking, and live analysis – built for coaches and analysts at all levels.

Youngstown State has about as diverse a QB run game as any team in the country. So far in 2026 Brungard has 60 carries for 291 yards and four touchdowns. He’s also passed for over 1,000 yards and ten touchdowns, six of those coming against Duquesne. When the Penguins get into tight games they lean on Brungard’s legs to get them out of trouble. Against South Dakota State, the Penguins built three passing concepts, RPOs and play action, off those QB runs, and they were creative with it. In this article we’ll break down those three concepts and why you should add them to your arsenal if you run the QB run game a lot in your offense.

Play Action Off Power Read

Youngstown State runs a lot of power read, so the next logical step is to build a play action off this look with the jet motion. Here the Penguins do that combined with four verticals. Where this stresses the defense is the four strong feel with the jet motion plus the running back on the rail. It forces the defense to push coverage and identify verticals quickly and who they’re responsible for, which the Jackrabbits struggle with here. The Tampa “hole” player identifies the tight end running vertical late and can’t get there to make a play. The motion, combined with play action, combines with the threat of YSU’s run game to cause all of these issues on the back end, leaving the tight end with a lot of room to work with. Great design by the Penguins.

This is just a creative variation where the Penguins run a field hitch RPO off their QB counter run scheme. It’s very simple for the quarterback. Read the field overhang, if he works toward you to fit the run, throw the hitch. That’s what happens here and it’s a nice gain for the Penguin offense.

Our last example is a play action off Q draw by the Penguins. Obviously you understand by now how much they run the Q at Youngstown State. And several times earlier this game they ran Q draw and Q draw variations. Now they run a Q draw play action, insert the tight end through the B gap, and throw a seam to him for a touchdown. This is every defensive coach’s nightmare, smash with a vertical that was inserted through the offensive line. Strike up the 7-on-7 debate, I can hear offensive coordinators pointing to this play in the summer already. Can’t wait for that discourse to start anew.

Final Thoughts

Youngstown State does a great job calling their offense at the FCS level. Led by QB Beau Brungard, they attack the defense with plus one QB run game, RPOs, and well designed play action schemes. They’re going to be a great offseason study for many high schools around the country that have athletic QBs they need to build their offenses entirely around. But until then, steal these three plays this week and add them to your arsenal in your QB run, RPO, and play action game.

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ONCE SPORT: A complete video analysis software for any sport.

Once Sport Analyzer is a powerful, yet easy-to-use video analysis software with advanced tagging, 3D telestration, automatic tracking, and live analysis – built for coaches and analysts at all levels.

After a disappointing start at Kansas City, the Broncos bounced back with a big win over the Jacksonville Jaguars last Sunday. Offensively, Bo Nix threw for 288 yards, one touchdown and one interception. A big piece of that belonged to Jaylen Waddle, who had 100 more yards than any other Broncos receiver. The Broncos also had a great game plan to move him around and use tight splits to confuse, or slow down, the Jags defense in coverage. Let’s take a look at seven examples from Sunday’s game.

The first example we’ll look at is the stick concept, and we’ll have a few examples of this. The Jaguars are a pure zone team when they run it, so compressing the two routes together puts stress on the flat defender. If he expands, Nix throws the stick, like he does here. Since the receivers are naturally wider, this becomes the challenge for the hook/curl defender to play near the box but also expand for the stick route here.

The next example we’ll look at was the big “shot play” of the day. The Broncos again use super tight splits with the receivers at the top of the screen, then the inside receiver has the post route and the outside receiver will run the curl route. The Jags are in quarters, and by base quarters rules the safety takes the inside route if it works vertical and the corner takes the outside route working vertical, but in quarters the post from the outside receiver is tough to handle. Even worse, the safety jumps the curl, leaving the corner on the interior post route from the slot. And, to add insult to injury, that’s Jaylen Waddle. Waddle is able to run away from the outside leverage corner and make the big catch near the goal line.

A complete video analysis software for any sport.

Once Sport Analyzer is a powerful, yet easy-to-use video analysis software with advanced tagging, 3D telestration, automatic tracking, and live analysis – built for coaches and analysts at all levels.

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The conversation covers recruiting in the college game, setting boundaries between coaching and family, leadership lessons learned from his wife, building relationships with players, and the importance of being intentional as a husband, father, and coach. Coach Johnson also shares a powerful story about helping a student-athlete overcome adversity and find success through sports and education.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to From Field to Fatherhood

00:55 Introducing Coach Collin Johnson

01:57 Locker Room Check-In: Life with a Toddler and Newborn

03:20 Parenting Wins and Surviving Childhood Sickness

05:15 When Your Wife Calls You Out

05:39 Setting Boundaries with Recruiting and Family Time

07:34 Transitioning from Coach to Dad

10:17 Balance vs. Intentionality

12:07 Recruiting in College Flag Football

13:20 Why Instagram Is Recruiting’s Biggest Tool

14:14 The Growth of Flag Football

15:50 Building Routines and Maximizing Your Time

17:25 The Things People Never See a Coach’s Wife Do

19:10 Leadership Lessons Learned from His Wife

21:54 Strengths and Areas of Growth as a Coach

24:31 Coaching Different Personalities and Athletes

27:41 Brutal Honesty and Setting Expectations

31:21 Do Your Kids See the Same Person Your Players See?

35:31 Football Principles That Make You a Better Father

37:23 Parenting Lessons and Controlling Your Temper

39:29 Building a Program at Webber

40:47 Sideline HQ Sponsor Spotlight

43:58 Why Players Need to See You as a Husband and Father

47:00 A Player Success Story That Changed Everything

49:19 What He Wants Every Player to Learn From Him

50:52 Recruiting Former Players to Webber

52:00 Coach’s Two-Minute Drill

57:17 Retirement Ceremony Question

57:32 Dad First, Coach Second

59:00 Closing Thoughts

If you’re a football coach, husband, father, or leader striving to be intentional at home while pursuing excellence in your career, this episode is for you.

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Alabama led Florida State 43-36 with a little over seven minutes remaining in the game. Florida State’s offense was keeping pace, so what the Tide needed was a definitive drive to seal the game. Alabama proceeded to go on a nine-play, ninety-yard scoring drive that took five minutes off the clock, effectively icing the game for the Tide. How did the Tide do this? Seven runs, eight if you count the scramble, and two called passes. They physically imposed their will on the Noles when it mattered most, and they did so through eleven and twelve personnel runs that FSU couldn’t stop.

1st & 10 | -10 | 7:17

FSU insisted on playing a modified bear front on most of the last drive, with a linebacker and a safety in the box, which isn’t a winning recipe. But here on first down, Alabama brings a tight end in motion and runs toss. FSU gets out-leveraged at the point of attack; the edge fills C gap; the linebacker and safety fill outside, leaving an interior gap for the running back to burst through. Then, for good measure, he hurdles the backside safety for a big gain to kick-start the drive.

1st & 10 | -28 | 6:42

On the following play, Alabama runs split zone, or what I’m going to call split zone, since they’re zoning away from the tight end, and the tight end is working inside, then trying to kick like on a normal split zone with a soldier. The issue for the defense? They run an edge stunt where the edge spikes inside and the 3 tech wraps. Again, gap integrity is the problem. The edge player becomes the C gap player, the looper becomes the edge, and the safety, at linebacker depth, fills, but needs to get inside the kick of the tight end, and doesn’t. If he did, you’d get a two-on-one at the point of attack. The Noles don’t, which usually isn’t an issue if you fill the gap, but the linebacker gets run through, so having two players folding to the ball would’ve been helpful. Instead, it’s a mistackle and a gain of nine. Alabama is winning the battle up front and running through tacklers.

2nd & 1 | -37 | 5:55

On play three, Alabama trades the tight end and wing, then runs outside zone to the field, away from them. With the trade, FSU brings their Jack over to match it, leaving only a safety and corner on the edge outside of the 4i. Typically when we have a soft edge like this we either sky the safety or trap the corner to help combat any run that bounces. However, FSU plays more of a quarters shell, and the receiver cracking the safety draws the corner inside as well, before recognizing it’s outside zone to the field. Even though FSU has two free runners on the opposite edge, it’s not enough to track down the running back without an edge to the field. This is great play design by Alabama, recognizing they could influence where FSU’s Jack would align on tight end plus wing trade.

1st & 10 | -44 | 5:06

On their next play, Alabama comes back with boot, one of their two pass calls on the drive. They show that same outside zone into the boundary and boot their athletic quarterback to the field. FSU brings pressure through the B gap, and their defensive end gets pinned by the tight end, allowing the quarterback a clean path outside, giving him room to work with. It’s hard to tell what the coverage is; my best guess is a fire zone, three under, three deep. Typically when a quarterback breaks the pocket, one linebacker will invert and attack him, but all three linebackers for FSU stay at depth, allowing the quarterback to get the first down. Another smart play call by Alabama here: show the previous run, boot off it, get your guy in space, and if a wide-open throw isn’t there, let him run it. Smart, simple, and safe for the Tide.

1st & 10 | 46 | 4:30

On their next play, the Tide run Counter. The right tackle here for Alabama could be teach tape as he solos a 4i all the way down to where the center was. The left tackle also overtakes the backside 4i, allowing the center to quickly combo from the block back to the backside linebacker, who’s a safety, leaving no one to climb back over top, which makes the math hard for the defense here. They get a nice kick from the guard, the tight end wraps beautifully on the play-side linebacker, leaving only the play-side safety who, for some reason, fits outside the linebacker, leaving a gap the size of the state of Alabama for the running back to sprint through. When you teach Counter versus the tight front, this might be a good clip to show your players.

1st & 10 | 33 | 3:46

Alabama comes back to toss into the boundary. This time FSU is in a four-down front and slants to the field, trapping the boundary corner. The trap by the corner proves to be fruitful, and the Noles get a tackle for loss. Alabama again schemed up a man for a man, but the receiver gets surprised by the trap coverage, and the cornerback gets through for the tackle.

2nd & 9 | 32 | 3:03

Alabama continues to trade the tight ends and mix up formations, this time creating a Trey set into the boundary and running a same-side zone look to the field. Alabama gets a man for a man in the box, but FSU brings a nickel pressure that prevents a larger gain on the play.

3rd & 7 | 30 | 2:58

Alabama will come out and run mesh here, but this throw is only meant for one player, and is basically a screen. Ryan Williams is going to run from the boundary to the field and actually work back behind the line of scrimmage. The other receivers running the “mesher” and the “big slot” actually look to block defenders downfield. FSU is in a Cover 0 with a rat concept, we used to call this thief; it’s basically man to man, with a rat in the middle of the field and a five-man pressure on. FSU brings a safety off the edge, and he’s untouched, but comes from a good amount of depth, and the Bama QB shows a lot of poise here, fading away to get just enough time to throw this ball. This is the most important play of the drive and the only third down Alabama has to convert. I fully think this is a called screen, and it’s a heck of a call. I doubt Ryan Grubb would ever read our articles, but if he does, I’d like to know if I’m correct.

1st & 10 | 20 | 2:21

On the final play of the drive, the Tide align in a 12 personnel nub set into the boundary. They’ll run my favorite play to a nub into the boundary, pin and pull. FSU aligns in a mugged look, which is almost a dream come true for pin and pull. Alabama down blocks the 5 tech and 2i tech, pulls the tackle and center, kicks the edge, wraps for the next interior defender at linebacker depth, and they’re off to the races. Listen, pin and pull is tough to defend against, and even harder into the boundary. FSU loads the field side and leaves a 2i and 5 tech backside along with two safeties, and that’s not going to cut it against this scheme into the boundary.

Final Thoughts

When it came down to a final drive to effectively win this game, Alabama went to the ground game, with only ten yards of the ninety yards they gained coming off one executed pass. The rest of the drive consisted of downhill runs out of twelve personnel, daring FSU to load the box and match them with heavier personnel, which they never did. Say what you want about Alabama allowing FSU to stay in this game, but I believe it’s drives like this that help define your team for the rest of the season. Because the next time they need a drive like this to win a game, they’ll feel supremely confident that they can impose their will on a defense, because they’ve done it before.

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What initially caught my attention was their quarterback run game. During the 2025 season, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Pete Sterbick used concepts such as Power Read and QB Jet Power Read, often pairing them with A-gap power blocking to make the quarterback a featured part of the rushing attack.

But as I began studying Montana State’s offense in 2026, I noticed a change.

The Bobcats have not removed the quarterback from the running game, but Sterbick appears to have condensed Jet Power Read and Power Read into one simpler play: Midzone Read.

I am a huge fan of the change.

Midzone Read combines two elements that, in my opinion, make a running play extremely difficult to stop.

The first is the natural cutback lane. Through repetition in practice, the running back can be trained to press his aiming point and hit the cutback until the read becomes instinctive.

The second is option football. If a defense does not spend enough time practicing its option responsibilities or if you are facing an overly aggressive defensive coordinator, you can use that aggression against them. The quarterback read forces the backside defender to remain disciplined. If he crashes on the running back, the quarterback pulls the ball for a huge gain.

At first glance, Midzone Read does not look particularly complicated or explosive. The offensive line uses straightforward zone rules, the running back presses the C gap, and the quarterback accounts for the backside defender.

But that simplicity is exactly what makes the play effective.

The Basic Structure

Montana State will typically run Midzone toward the tight-end surface.

The tight end is responsible for the D gap. If a defender is aligned as the last man on the line of scrimmage, the tight end base-blocks him. If the D gap is unoccupied, he can work to the widest linebacker. The tight end is taking the end man on the line of scrimmage where he wants to go. Which is a much easier block than a reach on a 9 technique on outside zone. To me, this is why midzone is better than widezone, your not relying on your TE to make a tough reach block on a defensive end that is trained to read your reach step off the snap.

The offensive line follows a simple rule:

Reach your playside gap. If your gap is open, help backside on a combination block and climb to the linebacker. Nothing crosses your face on the backside.

These rules allow the offense to handle different defensive fronts without constantly changing assignments. If the defense runs twist games with the C and D gap. The TE blocks the D gap and the tackle blocks the C gap. These should eliminate some confusion for the lineman on the twist pickup if they simply stay true to their gap rules.

Press the C Gap, Hit the Cutback

The running back’s aiming point is the outside foot of the playside tackle.

That landmark puts him on an initial C-gap track and forces the defensive front and linebackers to flow laterally.

This is where Midzone differs from Inside Zone. The wider track places more horizontal stress on the defense, but the back is not simply trying to reach the sideline. Montana State is using the threat of an outside run to create an opportunity to get vertical.

The back’s progression is:

1. Press the C gap.

2. Cut through the playside B gap if the defense stretches.

3. Bend into the A gap if the interior opens completely.

The natural B-gap cutback is my favorite part of the play.

As the offensive line reaches toward their playside gaps, the linebackers begin flowing with what looks like Outside Zone. If the C gap closes, the running back can plant and get vertical underneath that movement.

The back must remain patient. If he cuts inside too early, the linebackers never have to respect the C-gap threat. By pressing the outside foot of the tackle, he helps create the cutback lane for himself.

Threaten the C gap, stretch the Dline and linebackers and hit the B gap when the defense overplays the zone action and the Offensive lineman drives their block past the hole.

If the defense stretches even farther, the back can bend the run through the A gap. Although the entry point changes, every option develops from the same initial track.

Reading the Backside End

While the running back works the front side, the quarterback reads the backside end.

If the end respects the quarterback, the ball goes to the running back and the defender has effectively removed himself from the play. If he closes aggressively toward the handoff, the quarterback pulls the ball and replaces him off the backside.

This is where Midzone Read differs from Montana State’s earlier Power Read package.

On QB Power Read and QB Jet Power Read, the quarterback could become the primary interior runner behind A-gap power blocking. Which made your QB run up the middle, which isn’t ideal. On Midzone Read, the running back is the primary ball carrier. The quarterback’s job is to prevent the backside defender from chasing the play freely.

Sterbick has not eliminated the quarterback-run threat. He has found a way to use that threat without requiring the quarterback to absorb as many designed carries between the tackles.

Changing the Presentation

Montana State can dress up Midzone Read without changing its foundation.

Jet motion can widen a linebacker or influence the read defender. An H-back or wing can provide another blocker at the point of attack. Montana State can also run the concept from different formations while keeping the same aiming point and blocking rules.

• The tight end owns the D gap.

• The line reaches its playside gaps.

• The running back presses the outside foot of the tackle.

• The quarterback accounts for the backside end.

That allows Montana State to appear multiple without installing several unrelated running plays. In the clip, you notice the TE and H back to the same side of the formation. This picks up an extra blocker.

A Run to Stay Ahead of the Chains

Midzone Read may not produce an explosive gain on every snap, but it does not need to.

What stood out on film was how consistently Montana State gained positive yardage. The Bobcats repeatedly picked up three to five yards and stayed in manageable down-and-distance situations.

That makes Midzone Read useful on first down and in short-yardage situations.

Why I Like the Change

Montana State’s Midzone Read combines everything I want from a foundational running play.

The blocking rules are simple. The running back has a clearly defined aiming point. The quarterback accounts for a backside defender without requiring another blocker, and the offense can run the concept from multiple formations.

Most importantly, the play uses the defense’s pursuit against itself.

Sterbick has simplified Montana State’s quarterback run game without abandoning what made it dangerous. The quarterback remains a threat, but the offense no longer needs to rely on him as the featured ball carrier. Midzone Read may not look like much at first, but it provides simple rules, multiple answers and consistent positive yardage.

That’s why I am becoming a huge fan of Midzone Read and I think we’ve only scratched the surface on how prevalent this running play will become in the not so distant future.

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Bringing Four

We all know Pitt and Narduzzi are known for their pressures, but they also created pressure through simple defensive line stunts all night. One of those stunts we’ll call a “ton” stunt, where the two interior defensive linemen set a pick for each other. I’m keeping it simple here, knowing that the pick setter isn’t a defensive lineman, but starts in a similar position.

The beauty of this stunt is that Pitt doesn’t even execute it perfectly, but it doesn’t matter. The pick never truly gets set, the wrap isn’t great, but the picker does a great job swiping back across the guard to get the sack. In many cases on this stunt, and all stunts, the player who sets the pick makes the play if he just works vertical after setting that pick.

Here’s one more example. Sorry for the weird angle, but apparently ESPN had to pull cameramen because their lightning policy for their personnel extends further than the policy on whether the game can be played or not. Anyways, here we see the “ton” stunt again, but from a shade and a five tech, again call it what you want but it’s an interior pick stunt. Number eleven sets the pick, the center decides to pass him off, but like I said earlier, the guard who’s picked doesn’t take him, which happens more often than you’d think, and after setting the pick he gets vertical and almost makes the sack.

Simulated Pressure

Everyone has different names for simulated pressure paths, so I’ll just say this is a double A gap simulated pressure, dropping the defensive tackles into coverage with a modified Cover 4 look. The immediacy of double A gap pressures is always tough for the offense to handle, and if it weren’t for Barnett’s legs, this is a sack.

Bringing Five

Five man pressure with Deuce Coverage has become popular over the last handful of years. Pitt has also added it to their fire zone family.

Here the Panthers defense brings one of those Deuce Pressures, double edge with the Nickel and Will, while also adding a “pop” stunt inside, which UCF struggled with all night. The pick is set, the wrap comes clean, and Barnett has to make another throw with a defender close enough to touch him. The result is another incomplete pass. There’s certainly a window here, but the Panthers sped up the decision and got a favorable result instead.

Here’s another Deuce Pressure, this time with a “six up” mugged alignment, then the linebackers drop and the corner comes. Again we get that two under four deep look, but Pitt disguises it presnap with that four across the sticks umbrella look, insert FSU joke here.

Bringing Six

Narduzzi never fails to bring new and exciting hot pressures from year to year, and I love this path, but more importantly the way they teach vision break is ungodly. First we have a “starcat” inspired path bringing the corner and nickel off the edges, then that’s combined with that interior “pop” stunt we keep referring to. The result off the full slide protection is two defenders free off the edge. UCF slips the running back underneath them and hits him in stride, making it feel like a victory. However, the vision break safety, taking the deep third, plays patient, doesn’t gain depth when he’s not threatened, and when the ball is dumped off in the flat he triggers downhill and makes a nice tackle for a minimal gain on third and six, forcing a punt. This is how hot pressures are intended to work on third down. Force the offense into a quick decision, then rally to the ball and make tackles short of the sticks.

This one is a unique hot pressure on the front and back end. First we get a coffeehouse rush, I didn’t name it, from the front six. Then on the back end we get an inverted two under, three deep hot, or eyes coverage. On paper neither of these is outrageous, but it’s another example of the Pitt defense changing the picture for the quarterback and forcing them into favorable decisions. Barnett throws the stick route here and Pitt puts UCF in a third and six situation. Ultimately they seal the game two plays later on fourth down with a sack.

Final Thoughts

Pitt continues to be a very good defense in 2026, and they lost several key players, including a standout linebacker to the draft along with two corners and safeties, and another linebacker transfer to Texas. They do this through disguise within their system. In theory they run a handful of things: press quarters, Cover 2, Deuce Pressures, and hot pressures. Yes, they do a few other things, but a large majority of their snaps involve those four things. However, as you can see above, Pitt dresses them up by using defensive line stunts with or without pressure added, they change the picture on the back end with the safeties and corners, and they make it a moving target. As we all know, a moving target is much tougher to hit. And it’s not shocking that these principles show up in many defenses on Saturdays and Sundays, especially in Minnesota.

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This episode is filled with powerful perspectives on resilience, gratitude, fatherhood, leadership, and what truly matters when life throws adversity your way.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to From Field to Fatherhood

01:30 Introducing Coach Scott Paravicini

03:14 Locker Room Check-In

04:17 Coach P’s Cancer Journey

05:42 Nearing the Finish Line of Chemotherapy

07:17 Kindergarten, Fatherhood & Proud Dad Moments

09:08 When Your Wife Calls You Out

10:39 Marrying Your Biggest Critic and Biggest Fan

11:08 How Dustin and Scott Became Friends

13:23 Transitioning from Coach to Husband and Father

13:39 Coaching Football While Battling Cancer

15:05 Refusing to Let Cancer Define Him

17:18 Leading Through Adversity

18:00 The Importance of Brotherhood and Support

19:56 Managing a Football Program During Chemotherapy

22:49 How Players and Coaches Have Supported Him

24:01 What Intentionality Looks Like at Home

26:33 Football During Non-Livable Hours

26:58 Balance vs. Intentionality

28:18 Transitioning from Football to Family

29:49 Building a Family-Centered Football Program

If you’re a football coach, husband, father, or leader striving to win both on the field and at home, this episode is for you.

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RPOs

Glance

Both ASU and TAMU wanted to throw glance, TAMU from gap scheme and ASU from zone scheme.

Here Texas A&M reads the play side safety, which is tough but doable. He fits on the counter, so the quarterback pulls it and delivers the glance route for a first down. It is a different read style, but that can also throw the defense off since players are used to the running back usually being the read.

Arizona State throws glance from 10 personnel trips set. The defense is in Cover 1, so the read is simplified. Eyes on the Will, and if he fits, throw the glance, which your receiver should be able to beat the corner on inside. It does not have to be perfect. Just win inside.

Y Pop

Arizona State did throw one interesting wrinkle that the Aggies did not, so it is worth highlighting here. The Sun Devils line up in 11 personnel and motion the tight end into the wing position. They run Dart, read the Will, and deliver a well timed Y Pop to the tight end as he clears the second level. It is a nice touch by the Sun Devils at the perfect time, with the Aggies playing overaggressive in the run game.

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