Gun Veer

The Shotgun Veer

Overview: We run the veer from both under center and from the shotgun, both ways have advantages and intricacies that are unique to each way. These notes will detail why and how we run the veer from the shotgun.

Why we run it from the gun.
1. Fits into our overall scheme
2. Gives the QB more time to read the dive key.
3. Provides more depth for the mesh behind the point of attack.
4. Allows FB to keep his shoulders square to the line of scrimmage, allowing the FB to cut to “air” similar to zone.
5. Provides more space to incorporate load blocking schemes on crashing OSLB’s.
6. Provides the opportunity to incorporate jet motion and misdirection into the play with motions.
7. All of the QB’s momentum is forward rather than backwards then forwards compared to when running veer from under center.
8. Due to the depth of the QB the angle provides the QB to attack downhill quicker and easier.
9. Overall the footwork is easier for the QB from the gun, taking fewer repetitions to master.

Quarterbacks footwork and technique:
1. The QB will catch the snap and take about an 8-10 inch step forward and at an angle towards the read key (first man on or outside the play side Tackle). With practice, the QB can step forward as the snap is on its way to him. The QB must bring his EYES to focus on the READ KEY as soon as he gains control of the snap.
2. As the QB is stepping to the read key with his play side foot, the QB will swing his backside foot towards the line of scrimmage so that the QB’s shoulders are facing the play side sideline.
3. As the QB is executing steps #1 and #2, his EYES will be on the read KEY and he will extend the football back at an angle of 45 degrees from his rear hip. This motion will all happen quickly and be fluid in rhythm. There will be a transfer of weight from the foot nearest the back to the foot nearest the line of scrimmage simultaneously as the ball is brought forward during the mesh with the FB.
4. The mesh will begin at the most rearward point of the football that has been extended by the QB and it will continue in the basket of the FB until the ball has reached the navel of the QB. Note, we don’t toe drag on the weight transfer as we do from under center because the weight of the body isn’t “rebounding” from the rear back forward and the steps are reversed because the QB is going forward instead of rearward.
5. The READ begins when the QB gains control of the snap and ends during the mesh. As the QB extends the ball into the belly of the FB his EYES are fixed on the READ KEY. If the READ KEY’S outside shoulder turns to face the QB and the READ KEY closes to the FB on a track to tackle the FB, the QB will pull the football from the FB’s belly and explode off his front foot towards the second phase of the option. If the READ KEY doesn’t close down to tackle the FB, the QB will slip his back hand off the football as he slams the football into the belly of the FB. It is critical to develop this “feel” of the football being meshed and kept or slammed and given, there cannot be any gray area. The FB must NEVER clamp the football until he feels the “SLAM”.
6. GOLDEN RULE for the first READ, “When in doubt, GIVE.”
7. On a keep read, the QB will pull the football back into his breadbasket and he will explode off his front foot as the FB goes by, stepping with his rear foot towards the SECOND READ KEY as the FB clears. The QB’s SECOND READ KEY will be the next man outside the first read key (except on load blocking calls).
8. As the QB goes towards the second read key, he will rock the football with both hands while running towards the second read key. If the QB doesn’t have the laces of the football in his play side hand, he will loosely grip the football in both hands and rotate it to get the laces in the play side hand to be prepared to pitch the football if necessary.
9. Reading the SECOND READ, the QB will run at the key’s outside shoulder, if the KEY crosses the QB’s path and goes to the trailing pitch back, the QB will turn the football up quickly. If the KEY turns his outside shoulder showing the QB his numbers, the QB will close to a safe distance and pitch the football by stepping towards the trailing pitch back with his rear foot and execute a thumbs down “flip/pitch”. When the QB pitches the football, he should if possible allow his momentum to go towards the pitch back, this helps to promote an accurate pitch and also lessens the impact of the READ KEYS tackle on the QB.
10. If the QB/Pitch Back relationship is compromised, the QB must NOT pitch the football.
11. GOLDEN RULE for the second READ, “never pitch unless its safe”.

Offensive Line General Blocking Rules: (Modified by gameplan)
PST: Block first man inside on or off the los.
PSG: Uncovered, Rip/Lid/Smash with Center, Covered, Smash, TNT, combo.
OC: Uncovered, A gap threat, no threat, Smash frontside, Covered Rip/Lid/Smash with Guard(s).
BSG: Uncovered, Rip/Lid/Smash with Center, Covered, combo cutoff (city)with OT, TNT, Rip/Lid with Center.
BST: Uncovered, combo cutoff (city) with OG, Covered, Sift, TNT, Cutoff B gap defender.

Receivers Blocking Rules (Modified by game plan):
Frontside Outside stalk soft CB, runoff vs press CB.
Frontside Inside, arc invert/alley.
Backside inside, city to FS.
Backside outside, vs soft CB stalk cutoff FS, runoff vs press CB.

Here are some notes on the FB's play.

The FB is in a 2 point stance with his feet at least shoulder width apart to slightly wider than his shoulder width, his legs are bent and he is in a low balanced football postion with his hands on his thighs and his elbows out. His toes are pointed straight forward and his feet are not staggered, his toes are even with each other. It should look almost like he is in a three point stance without the hand down. We want him coiled and ready to explode in any direction.

The FB doesn't move until the ball hits the QB's hands, he then accelerates straight forward (this is one of the reasons for his alignment of 1yd behind and 1yd outside the QB) at the guards crack with his inside arm up forming a large pocket. We teach him to never clamp until he feels the QB "slam" the ball into his gut.

The reason we have the back going straight forward into the double/triple team is so that he can press up behind the area of movement and cut to air like the zone play, if the air is the normal veer track then that is what he takes. As a result, I feel we are more productive on give reads than if we were to keep a veer track. We feel that initially taking the angled veer track from gun isn't necessary and would require either a tighter alignment by the back to the QB, which would hinder our cross flow plays or a step by the back to the inside, which would limit his speed into his downhill track.

Also, IMO, being fixed on the veer track allows the LB's to run downhill and attack quicker than if they have to play against a back that will cutback into the A gap.Here are a few diagrams vs different looks on how we block it. Here is diagram of our "load" block on the OSLB and optioning the CB. Its against a 43 2 tech rather than the 1 tech as titled but same difference rule wise.


http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4345503931720287081&hl=en

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1492353705675875032&hl=en