Scheming Your Big Skill Players Open
Sometimes, your best offensive weapon isn’t a slot receiver or a dynamic running back, it’s a "big skill" player, your tight end or H-back. While offensive coaches constantly scheme up ways to get their speed guys open, there’s less conversation about how to maximize touches for a dominant tight end. But if you’ve got a dude at that spot, you better have a plan.
No one did that better in 2023 than Penn State with Tyler Warren, the Mackey Award winner. The Nittany Lions consistently found creative ways to get the ball in Warren’s hands, using him as a matchup nightmare all over the field. In this article, we’re breaking down exactly how they did it, and how you can apply some of these concepts to your own offense.
RPOs
One of the simplest ways to get your big skill player the ball? RPOs. The run threat forces defenders into conflict, making it easier to scheme your guy open. Whether it’s a shoot route to the flat or a seam up the middle, your tight end can slip into open space while the defense hesitates.
Penn State used this to great effect with Tyler Warren, repeatedly putting linebackers and safeties in no-win situations. If they trigger downhill on the run, Warren is open behind them. If they stay back, the run game gains easy yards. It’s a simple, effective way to feed a big athlete who can run and catch.
In this first example, Penn State runs outside zone while working Warren (#44) into the flat on a shoot route from a fullback alignment. The key wrinkle? An unbalanced formation pre-snap, combined with motion to the boundary, which holds the corner and keeps the defense occupied.
The result is exactly what you want, an easy pitch and catch to Warren in space, leading to a solid gain. It’s a simple concept with a smart adjustment, making life easy for the quarterback while putting the defense in conflict.
Oregon was committed to bringing the edge backer and playing the two-man screen with three defenders, which left an easy glance route for Warren. Honestly, it’s hard to tell exactly what coverage the Ducks were trying to play here, but whatever it was, it didn’t work. Warren finds open space, and Penn State takes advantage.
Motion, formation into the boundary (FIB), and an RPO, Penn State hits the trifecta here. They pair outside zone with a Y Shoot, and the execution is clean. This is a classic example of how structure and simplicity can create easy throws to your big skill player.
Play Action
This is a great example of how play action manipulates the defense. Warren initially stalks the overhang defender, selling the idea he’s blocking for quarterback pull. Then, he slips vertical at just the right moment, creating enough separation from the backside safety for an easy completion. It’s a small detail, but that hesitation makes all the difference.
This is a nice variation of “leak”, which is a great concept. If you don’t have this in your playbook, install it. Leak naturally breaks coverage rules, forcing defenders into tough decisions. It’s like Thanos, inevitable.
Split Out
One of the easiest ways to get your big skill player the ball? Just put him in space. Line him up outside, create a mismatch, and let him go to work. Sometimes, the best solutions are the simplest ones.
Here, Penn State splits Warren out wide and lets him go full basketball mode, using his frame to shield the defender on an out route for an easy completion. For what it’s worth, Warren does a great job stemming the defensive back here, setting up the break and maximizing his size advantage. Simple, effective, and tough to defend.
This is a great use of short motion to give Warren a rolling start on a Y-Cross variation. That initial movement helps him build momentum, making it even harder for the defensive back to stay in phase. From there, it’s simple, just let him outrun the coverage for the score. Smart design, easy execution, big results.
We all know what this is, but it works. The design gets Warren wide open for an easy score. (Still cheating.)
I don’t want to talk about it.
FIB
Formations into the boundary (FIB) are still a go-to in the right situations. Many defenses simplify their coverages against FIB looks, making it easier to create mismatches and find open space. If they don’t adjust, you win with leverage.
In this example, Bowling Green plays Quarters against a Trips FIB look. Warren, the flexed tight end, runs a wheel route. The key? The flat defender, who should carry the wheel, gets occupied by the running back on the four-strong concept. That slight hesitation is all it takes, leaving Warren wide open for an easy completion. Smart design, simple execution, big gain.
Here’s a similar concept, this time with Warren motioning into an unbalanced Quads formation into the boundary. Even though one receiver is technically covered, his bubble route still occupies a defender. The result? Once again, no one is left to cover Warren on the wheel, leading to another easy throw. Simple numbers game, Penn State creates conflict, and the defense can't adjust in time.
Same concept, different look. This time, Penn State ditches the four-strong setup and runs it out of a condensed bunch. The tight alignment helps Warren clear quickly and work into space, making it another easy read and throw. Different formation, same result, Warren running free.
Ready to install it yet? You should be.