DISCLAIMER: This article took a few weeks to write, so some of the opinions in here are based before the Tijuana Luchadores S17 Ultimini championship.
This season the Tijuana Luchadores have formed an identity for themselves. They have established the run game in every single game so far this season, and have not had to rely on magical quarterback play to score them some points like they have had to in previous seasons. Whenever a team can just get down and play smash mouth football, and win against any team in the league, they have a good shot at winning it all. Running the ball requires pure strength and quickness off the ball from every single offensive player. The ability to sustain such a brutish style of play is one that many coaches would give up their first born child for. This season, the Luchadores have made a statement to the defenses of the DSFL. That they are better, stronger, faster, and there is nothing that anyone can do to stop them.
First things first, let’s introduce the key players in this Tijuana Offense.
Every offense starts with the quarterback. Jordan McCann III is the leader of the offense, and lead the team to a Ultimini championship in S16. This is the man in charge of reading the defense pre-snap, and managing the game entirely from the field. Some consider McCann’s game managing approach to quarterbacking one of the biggest keys to opening up the offense for a mixture of plays. His conservative gameplay ensures that the offense runs on efficiency right from the snap of the ball. Being able to throw a dime to the receiver on a simple smash concept forces the defense to open up to the entire width of the field. When it comes down specifically to the run game, McCann is in charge of making sure that the defense isn’t showing any looks that might blow up the play call. Also, within the Tijuana system, there is a “kill” play call on every passing down. This allows McCann to quickly audible to a run whenever the defense is showing a favourable look in the box for our backs to get some yards. Lastly, the quarterback has the responsibility to make sure the ball gets to the runningbacks hands every play without error. A team without a quarterback is not a team, so having McCann lead the way already puts Tijuana’s offense in an advantage.
Next, is the star of the show, Ducky Donut. The starting runningback usually gets all of the credit when it comes to a smashmouth offense like Tijuana’s, and in this case, is somewhat deserved. Donut is in his second season, and is currently second in total rushing yards in the league, after finishing second last season also. Ducky Donut is a speed back with lots of physical athletic talent. It is said that he has an unofficial 40 yard dash time of 4.29s , which would be considered one of the fastest in the league. Although he has tremendous speed, he likes to see himself as an in-between the tackles kind’ve runner. He uses his patience in the box to follow his blocks, then use his acceleration and speed to make a cut and break one open. This play style allows for efficient carries, ensuring he gets between 3-7 yards following the flow of the play, and creates some home run carries by wearing out the defense. The speed is killer once the defense is worn out and tired, and regularly proves his durability in the backfield. Donut is my personal favorite to win MVP of the league, and the Ultimini MVP. The offense could not run without an efficient back like him.
Okay, now on to the less recognized heroes of the team. Next up is the backup runningback, Chase Osborn. Like Donut, he also has an unusual talent for speed and acceleration. The team can rely on Osborn as a fill-in for Donut on extended drives, and has almost the same play style mentality. Normally teams would have a primary back, and then a backup with a completely different play style for a “change of pace” back. Tijuana however, is able to run the exact same plays with the same schemes for the backup runningback. Like Donut, Osborn thrives between the tackles, fighting for his 3.3 yards every play. Reaching about 1000 yards rushing as a backup tells you all you need to know about the #2 back in this offense.
Next are the wide receivers. You might be asking yourself why receivers matter when it comes to the run game. There are 11 defenders on the field, and only 9 offensive players who don’t control the ball. The quarterback, and obviously the ball carrier don't block on run plays, so every player counts when it comes to blocking on the offense. First, Bender B. Rodriguez is the offenses “X” receiver. The “X”, normally is the #1 receiver on the weak side of the offense, meaning the receiver closest to the sidelines. As a receiver, he has great hands, and is always in contention with 50/50 balls thrown up. This play style ensures that cornerback have to stick to him like glue and minimize the throwing window. In the run game, however, he is a selfless blocker, willing to take out any defensive back, and even throw a few crack blocks on a linebacker from time to time, using his 6’2 frame. Next, is Jesse Jackson, who prides himself on his ability to create space between him and his defender in man coverage. When the defense is trying to load the box to stop the run, watch for Jackson running a shallow crosser or a quick cutting 10 yard out against 0 man (Blitz with man to man across the board, no deep safeties).
Can’t forget about the tight ends either. Earl Sauce is the prototypical Y end that every team wants to start. With a balanced mix of blocking and receiving skills, Sauce is a key piece in developing the run game. Besides all of the starting offensive linemen, Sauce is leading the team in pancakes this season. Being able to take out the defenses defensive end on most run plays is a daunting task, especially if he is tasked with a solo block. However, if you can get a tight end like Sauce at the Y position, you can run sweeps and outside zones with great efficiency.
We can't forget about the fullback on the team, Fuzzy Dotson. Not many runningbacks think of themselves as a blocking first back, but Dotson takes the position to heart. In the other professional league, the NFL, they have all but eliminated the widespread need for a good fullback. Teams like the Patriots and the 49ers are taking fans back to the 1990s with the I Formation , having their fullbacks lead the way. Tijuana is emulating them, as they have Dotson lead blocking on almost every run play. The teams success in the run game starts with the lead blocker, and the Luchadores have found theirs in Dotson.
Last, but especially not least… since this whole article basically revolves around their gameplay, is the offensive linemen. Starting at Left Tackle is Brave Ulysses who is in his 4th season. He looks like he will lead the league in pancakes this season, which is a strong feat for any lineman at the left tackle position. Along with protecting McCanns blindside, Ulysses prides himself in creating holes at the line for his running backs. Next to Ulysses at Left Guard, is Benjamin Gordon. Gordon is the teams primary pulling guard in power runs, and loves to hit guys in open space. Rumour is that he begs coach Hanks for plays involving him pulling from the backside and hitting the hole full speed aiming for a linebacker or defensive back. Next to him is the center, Caden Bright. Every play starts with the exchange from the Center to the Quarterback, so this chemistry is the lifeblood of the offense. Usually tasked with blocking either the nose tackle, or getting to the second level, the center has the most responsibility of the entire offensive line. The Right Guard is usually the teams best run blocker, as he is most often at the point of attack in a run heavy system. Veteran Blake McCargue has been in the spotlight in the DSFL for years and years, and he has lived up to the expectations as the teams Right Guard. Lastly, is Ben Tu’inukuafe at Right Tackle. Ben has a good shot at a career in the pros after his DSFL career, where he has been the teams starting Right Tackle for his third season in a row. Overall, the team is in a great position for an old school balanced offense that can establish the run.
Let’s get into the teams key run plays used this season, and we can see exactly how Tijuana has ran their offense. But before that, we should look at the different blocks used up front on the line.
Drive Block:
This is the most basic block used in football. The lineman takes a step about 6 inches with the same foot as hand in the dirt, engages the defender, and steps hard to drive his man straight back. This is normally used when the defender is in an “On” position relative to the lineman. This is a matchup where the better man comes out on top.
Down Block:
This block is used when the defender is more than a gap away from the lineman, and is towards the center. This block involves a lineman taking a lateral angle towards the defender, and aims to attack the defenders closest armpit, while also getting a hand inside his chest. Down blocks are normally used to fill a gap made by a guard pulling off the line, or if the lineman has no other defenders to block.
Reach Block:
A reach block consists of a lineman taking a hard lateral step towards the defender at the snap of the ball, and targeting the far shoulder to obtain outside leverage. Should the defender keep his body in a position where the lineman cannot obtain this leverage, attacking the armpit and driving the defender laterally is the next best outcome. This is used when the defender needs to seal off a defender away from the point of attack, and is not in a position to drive block.
Double Team:
This block is normally performed on nose tackles, and consists of two lineman (guess what im about to say next…) double teaming a defender. This block regularly occurs when a heavy run stopping defensive tackle or end is located at the planned point of attack. For example, if a 1-technique nose tackle was lined up in the 1 hole, while the play called was a dive up the 2 hole, the center would opt to help the left guard with his block, instead of going to get a linebacker. This creates some massive space for the 2 hole if the double team is successful.
A double team on the playside 3 technique tackle would also be of help when calling a run off-tackle on the same side.
Chipping to a Linebacker:
This block first starts with a hard jab towards the near armpit/shoulder/arm of the adjacent defender, and then making a drive towards the linebacker. The aim of the chip is to get the defensive lineman off balance while also getting to the second level.
Pull:
Guards worldwide can all agree on one thing. Pulling is fucking awesome and is the best part of your day. Pulling consists of a guard completely demolishing a wimpy little shit knob so hard he wishes he could retire tomorrow and work a desk job for minimum wage instead of playing professional football for millions of dollars a year, he would. This block is cooler than Gardner fucking Minshew and he’s really fuckin cool. So yeah. Great block.
All of those blocks are important to know when looking at how a run play is blocked. The game ultimately comes down to moving people into positions they don’t want to be in. A physical game of tug-of-war and chess combined.
Lets look at the plays used most by Tijuana this season on their way to their millionth straight playoff berth.
I Formation consists of having a fullback about 3 yards behind the quarterback under center, and the tailback 7 yards behind the quarterback. This formation allows the use of a lead blocker in the form of a fullback very easily, and was predominantly used in the 1990’s. The I Formation still exists today, with some teams utilizing it as a goal line formation, or a short yardage situation. The New England Patriots recently used this formation commonly on their way to Super Bowl 53, as they regularly relied on their run game to chew up the clock.
The 32 Dive is a common play call when needing a few yards up the middle. The call to the “2” hole, which is the playside A gap, usually calls for the center to double team at the point of the attack. Most gap blocking plays utilize a double team on the down lineman at the point of attack, and it is crucial to not allow the nose tackle to allow any kind of penetration into the backfield. The fullback is “iso”ing the middle linebacker, creating a running lane slightly towards the right side of the field. This happens to be Fuzzy Dotson’s favorite playcall, as he gets to charge through the hole at full speed to attack the defenses quarterback.
The 36 Power call relies on creating a gap off tackle, likely to the strong side of the formation. A one-back power has been used commonly recently in spread offenses, utilizing the same concepts of the traditional power run. In this play, the fullback has to identify the end man on the line of scrimmage, and “kick out” towards the sideline. The backside guard makes a pull and is the lead blocker on this play, looking for the first jersey he can see towards the inside of the running lane. Again, this play utilizes a double team at the point of attack, isolating the defensive tackle from making a play. Most smart teams will also down block with the center to make sure that the gap left by the pulling guard isn’t taken advantage of and blown up. This play is a staple of the Tijuana offense, and relies on your team being stronger than their team. Counters are often run off of this play, in hopes that the defense bites on the Power.
Next is the Splitback Pro series. The Splitback formation was most common in the 1980s, and was a staple in most west coast offenses, such as San Fransisco with Joe Montana. This formation can really accent a great receiving back, as the route tree is much more open when behind the B gap, instead of directly behind the center. Runs out of this formation are versatile due to the fullback being across from the halfback.
Professional football is a copy-cat sport. When something works, other teams will follow suit and use what works. Tijuana took a play from Vince Lombardi for their run based offense. Jim Taylor and Paul Hornung made careers off of this specific play. Starting with a crack-back block from the Wide Receiver, the offense looks to overload the “alley”. With both guards (and sometimes a tackle) pulling towards the playside, the playside guard looks to block outwards , while the backside guard and fullback look inside-out when finding an open field block to make. This is a quick hitting pitch to the edge of the defense and forces defensive backs to stay alert and focused on the run game, and not just completely selling out in the pass game. It is said around the locker room that this play is Benjamin Gordon’s favorite play call, as it has roots to old school smashmouth football, and also calls for him to pull playside.
The next play in the splitback pro series is the 36 counter. Just like the 36 Power, this play can be called to either side of the formation, usually accenting each other, but for simplicity sake, ive drawn up all of the plays to the right. What im saying is this play could just as easily be called to the 5 hole on the left side, trying to catch the defense reading the wrong way. The counter is almost the exact opposite of Power, in a sense that the pulling guard is now the kick out blocker for the unblocked end man on the line of scrimmage playside, and the fullback is now the lead blocker through the hole. The quarterback will open his hips up to the backside of the formation, essentially making a 270 degree turn just to handoff the ball to the runningback. The runningback, will usually have a counter step as well, taking a hard initial step towards the backside of the play, before making his way towards the called gap. This interaction between the quarterback and the runningback is made in hopes that the defense will get caught cheating towards the backside of the play, opening up a bigger hole for the runningback.
A GT counter is almost the exact same , except you will have both the backside tackle and guard pulling towards the 6 hole, while the fullback protects the backside of the play, an area that is vacated by the pulling tackle.
The next commonly used formation by the Tijuana offense is the singleback ace formation. This formation uses 12 personnel, meaning 1 runningback and 2 TE’s. This is a balanced offensive formation, where there technically is no strong side or weak side, although some teams will take into account where they are between the hash marks to designate a strong side and weak side, or even based on where the “Y” tight end is, and the “U” tight end is. This formation also can be much more pass friendly than the previous ones, due to having 4 receivers right at the line of scrimmage, and in position for extra pass protection if needed.
The 32 draw basically uses the opposite of play action. The lineman, especially the tackles, will drop back in pass protection, and the quarterback will make a 3 step drop back before handing the ball off to the runningback. What this does is forces the defense to respect the pass first. Wide Receivers will run a 5-10 yard “Go” route before looking for a defensive back to block. This play, if executed directly, will force the middle linebacker to read the play and have a 1 on 1 shot at the runningback.
The outside zone play uses completely different blocking rules than a gap blocking scheme. In any zone run, inside or outside, there really is no designated hole for the lineman to create. Each of the offensive lineman on this play will take a hard 45 degree angle towards the playside, so long as they are not covered up by a defensive lineman. The runningback will read the play outside-in , meaning they will first look to the outside gap of the line and see if he can continue running towards the sideline. There can be an entire article just written on outside and inside zone runs, but ill keep it quick. This play relies on the center to act as the “pivot” in the offensive line, as he will usually be required to perform a reach block to the playside defensive tackle. Looking for help from the right guard, the center can also hand the block off and get to the second level, creating a massive amount of space for a cutback lane for the runningback if executed correctly. This is where Tijuana’s center Caden Bright earns his money. Having a center who is able to hit these blocks makes running zone runs a hell of a lot easier, especially when you have a runningback with vision to see those holes and exploit the defense.
The last formation that Tijuana commonly uses is the Singleback Twins. This formation has both TE’s on the strong side of the formation, looking to overload one side of the field.
The pitch out of Singleback Twins is probably one of the most efficient uses of this formation besides passing. The two tight ends are able to double team at the point of attack and have the “Y” tight end get up to the second level, while pulling the backside or playside guard. Pulling the playside guard in this example is designed to be more of a quick hitting pitch, moving bodies over to the alley more quickly than pulling a backside guard. The difference between this and the Power Sweep is in the ability to get to the second level from the offensive line, and the quickness at which this play is run. The runningback is not forced to follow his lead blockers like in the Power Sweep, but instead can cut upfield almost immediately after turning the corner. If the defensive safety and strongside linebacker are not on their toes, this play can quickly turn into a 10 yard gain. Running pitches towards a team’s star pass rushing defensive end can neutralize him in the passing game, as he will be forced to respect the run and make sure that he can position himself in a way that forces the ball carrier to cut inside. Many times, Tijuana has used this play in order to set up long passes to the teams best receiving tight end, Earl Sauce. His brutality in blocking the Defensive End will often open up opportunities in the passing game, usually in the flats.
And so there you have it, the most commonly used runs that Tijuana used this season on their way to another championship title. With new General Managers coming to town, it will be exciting to see whether the identity of the team will change, or if the new coaches will try something new next season. It will all depend on how the team decides to draft to replace some star players moving up to the NSFL this season.
3723 Words
This season the Tijuana Luchadores have formed an identity for themselves. They have established the run game in every single game so far this season, and have not had to rely on magical quarterback play to score them some points like they have had to in previous seasons. Whenever a team can just get down and play smash mouth football, and win against any team in the league, they have a good shot at winning it all. Running the ball requires pure strength and quickness off the ball from every single offensive player. The ability to sustain such a brutish style of play is one that many coaches would give up their first born child for. This season, the Luchadores have made a statement to the defenses of the DSFL. That they are better, stronger, faster, and there is nothing that anyone can do to stop them.
First things first, let’s introduce the key players in this Tijuana Offense.
Every offense starts with the quarterback. Jordan McCann III is the leader of the offense, and lead the team to a Ultimini championship in S16. This is the man in charge of reading the defense pre-snap, and managing the game entirely from the field. Some consider McCann’s game managing approach to quarterbacking one of the biggest keys to opening up the offense for a mixture of plays. His conservative gameplay ensures that the offense runs on efficiency right from the snap of the ball. Being able to throw a dime to the receiver on a simple smash concept forces the defense to open up to the entire width of the field. When it comes down specifically to the run game, McCann is in charge of making sure that the defense isn’t showing any looks that might blow up the play call. Also, within the Tijuana system, there is a “kill” play call on every passing down. This allows McCann to quickly audible to a run whenever the defense is showing a favourable look in the box for our backs to get some yards. Lastly, the quarterback has the responsibility to make sure the ball gets to the runningbacks hands every play without error. A team without a quarterback is not a team, so having McCann lead the way already puts Tijuana’s offense in an advantage.
Next, is the star of the show, Ducky Donut. The starting runningback usually gets all of the credit when it comes to a smashmouth offense like Tijuana’s, and in this case, is somewhat deserved. Donut is in his second season, and is currently second in total rushing yards in the league, after finishing second last season also. Ducky Donut is a speed back with lots of physical athletic talent. It is said that he has an unofficial 40 yard dash time of 4.29s , which would be considered one of the fastest in the league. Although he has tremendous speed, he likes to see himself as an in-between the tackles kind’ve runner. He uses his patience in the box to follow his blocks, then use his acceleration and speed to make a cut and break one open. This play style allows for efficient carries, ensuring he gets between 3-7 yards following the flow of the play, and creates some home run carries by wearing out the defense. The speed is killer once the defense is worn out and tired, and regularly proves his durability in the backfield. Donut is my personal favorite to win MVP of the league, and the Ultimini MVP. The offense could not run without an efficient back like him.
Okay, now on to the less recognized heroes of the team. Next up is the backup runningback, Chase Osborn. Like Donut, he also has an unusual talent for speed and acceleration. The team can rely on Osborn as a fill-in for Donut on extended drives, and has almost the same play style mentality. Normally teams would have a primary back, and then a backup with a completely different play style for a “change of pace” back. Tijuana however, is able to run the exact same plays with the same schemes for the backup runningback. Like Donut, Osborn thrives between the tackles, fighting for his 3.3 yards every play. Reaching about 1000 yards rushing as a backup tells you all you need to know about the #2 back in this offense.
Next are the wide receivers. You might be asking yourself why receivers matter when it comes to the run game. There are 11 defenders on the field, and only 9 offensive players who don’t control the ball. The quarterback, and obviously the ball carrier don't block on run plays, so every player counts when it comes to blocking on the offense. First, Bender B. Rodriguez is the offenses “X” receiver. The “X”, normally is the #1 receiver on the weak side of the offense, meaning the receiver closest to the sidelines. As a receiver, he has great hands, and is always in contention with 50/50 balls thrown up. This play style ensures that cornerback have to stick to him like glue and minimize the throwing window. In the run game, however, he is a selfless blocker, willing to take out any defensive back, and even throw a few crack blocks on a linebacker from time to time, using his 6’2 frame. Next, is Jesse Jackson, who prides himself on his ability to create space between him and his defender in man coverage. When the defense is trying to load the box to stop the run, watch for Jackson running a shallow crosser or a quick cutting 10 yard out against 0 man (Blitz with man to man across the board, no deep safeties).
Can’t forget about the tight ends either. Earl Sauce is the prototypical Y end that every team wants to start. With a balanced mix of blocking and receiving skills, Sauce is a key piece in developing the run game. Besides all of the starting offensive linemen, Sauce is leading the team in pancakes this season. Being able to take out the defenses defensive end on most run plays is a daunting task, especially if he is tasked with a solo block. However, if you can get a tight end like Sauce at the Y position, you can run sweeps and outside zones with great efficiency.
We can't forget about the fullback on the team, Fuzzy Dotson. Not many runningbacks think of themselves as a blocking first back, but Dotson takes the position to heart. In the other professional league, the NFL, they have all but eliminated the widespread need for a good fullback. Teams like the Patriots and the 49ers are taking fans back to the 1990s with the I Formation , having their fullbacks lead the way. Tijuana is emulating them, as they have Dotson lead blocking on almost every run play. The teams success in the run game starts with the lead blocker, and the Luchadores have found theirs in Dotson.
Last, but especially not least… since this whole article basically revolves around their gameplay, is the offensive linemen. Starting at Left Tackle is Brave Ulysses who is in his 4th season. He looks like he will lead the league in pancakes this season, which is a strong feat for any lineman at the left tackle position. Along with protecting McCanns blindside, Ulysses prides himself in creating holes at the line for his running backs. Next to Ulysses at Left Guard, is Benjamin Gordon. Gordon is the teams primary pulling guard in power runs, and loves to hit guys in open space. Rumour is that he begs coach Hanks for plays involving him pulling from the backside and hitting the hole full speed aiming for a linebacker or defensive back. Next to him is the center, Caden Bright. Every play starts with the exchange from the Center to the Quarterback, so this chemistry is the lifeblood of the offense. Usually tasked with blocking either the nose tackle, or getting to the second level, the center has the most responsibility of the entire offensive line. The Right Guard is usually the teams best run blocker, as he is most often at the point of attack in a run heavy system. Veteran Blake McCargue has been in the spotlight in the DSFL for years and years, and he has lived up to the expectations as the teams Right Guard. Lastly, is Ben Tu’inukuafe at Right Tackle. Ben has a good shot at a career in the pros after his DSFL career, where he has been the teams starting Right Tackle for his third season in a row. Overall, the team is in a great position for an old school balanced offense that can establish the run.
Let’s get into the teams key run plays used this season, and we can see exactly how Tijuana has ran their offense. But before that, we should look at the different blocks used up front on the line.
Drive Block:
This is the most basic block used in football. The lineman takes a step about 6 inches with the same foot as hand in the dirt, engages the defender, and steps hard to drive his man straight back. This is normally used when the defender is in an “On” position relative to the lineman. This is a matchup where the better man comes out on top.
Down Block:
This block is used when the defender is more than a gap away from the lineman, and is towards the center. This block involves a lineman taking a lateral angle towards the defender, and aims to attack the defenders closest armpit, while also getting a hand inside his chest. Down blocks are normally used to fill a gap made by a guard pulling off the line, or if the lineman has no other defenders to block.
Reach Block:
A reach block consists of a lineman taking a hard lateral step towards the defender at the snap of the ball, and targeting the far shoulder to obtain outside leverage. Should the defender keep his body in a position where the lineman cannot obtain this leverage, attacking the armpit and driving the defender laterally is the next best outcome. This is used when the defender needs to seal off a defender away from the point of attack, and is not in a position to drive block.
Double Team:
This block is normally performed on nose tackles, and consists of two lineman (guess what im about to say next…) double teaming a defender. This block regularly occurs when a heavy run stopping defensive tackle or end is located at the planned point of attack. For example, if a 1-technique nose tackle was lined up in the 1 hole, while the play called was a dive up the 2 hole, the center would opt to help the left guard with his block, instead of going to get a linebacker. This creates some massive space for the 2 hole if the double team is successful.
A double team on the playside 3 technique tackle would also be of help when calling a run off-tackle on the same side.
Chipping to a Linebacker:
This block first starts with a hard jab towards the near armpit/shoulder/arm of the adjacent defender, and then making a drive towards the linebacker. The aim of the chip is to get the defensive lineman off balance while also getting to the second level.
Pull:
Guards worldwide can all agree on one thing. Pulling is fucking awesome and is the best part of your day. Pulling consists of a guard completely demolishing a wimpy little shit knob so hard he wishes he could retire tomorrow and work a desk job for minimum wage instead of playing professional football for millions of dollars a year, he would. This block is cooler than Gardner fucking Minshew and he’s really fuckin cool. So yeah. Great block.
All of those blocks are important to know when looking at how a run play is blocked. The game ultimately comes down to moving people into positions they don’t want to be in. A physical game of tug-of-war and chess combined.
Lets look at the plays used most by Tijuana this season on their way to their millionth straight playoff berth.
I Formation consists of having a fullback about 3 yards behind the quarterback under center, and the tailback 7 yards behind the quarterback. This formation allows the use of a lead blocker in the form of a fullback very easily, and was predominantly used in the 1990’s. The I Formation still exists today, with some teams utilizing it as a goal line formation, or a short yardage situation. The New England Patriots recently used this formation commonly on their way to Super Bowl 53, as they regularly relied on their run game to chew up the clock.
The 32 Dive is a common play call when needing a few yards up the middle. The call to the “2” hole, which is the playside A gap, usually calls for the center to double team at the point of the attack. Most gap blocking plays utilize a double team on the down lineman at the point of attack, and it is crucial to not allow the nose tackle to allow any kind of penetration into the backfield. The fullback is “iso”ing the middle linebacker, creating a running lane slightly towards the right side of the field. This happens to be Fuzzy Dotson’s favorite playcall, as he gets to charge through the hole at full speed to attack the defenses quarterback.
The 36 Power call relies on creating a gap off tackle, likely to the strong side of the formation. A one-back power has been used commonly recently in spread offenses, utilizing the same concepts of the traditional power run. In this play, the fullback has to identify the end man on the line of scrimmage, and “kick out” towards the sideline. The backside guard makes a pull and is the lead blocker on this play, looking for the first jersey he can see towards the inside of the running lane. Again, this play utilizes a double team at the point of attack, isolating the defensive tackle from making a play. Most smart teams will also down block with the center to make sure that the gap left by the pulling guard isn’t taken advantage of and blown up. This play is a staple of the Tijuana offense, and relies on your team being stronger than their team. Counters are often run off of this play, in hopes that the defense bites on the Power.
Next is the Splitback Pro series. The Splitback formation was most common in the 1980s, and was a staple in most west coast offenses, such as San Fransisco with Joe Montana. This formation can really accent a great receiving back, as the route tree is much more open when behind the B gap, instead of directly behind the center. Runs out of this formation are versatile due to the fullback being across from the halfback.
Professional football is a copy-cat sport. When something works, other teams will follow suit and use what works. Tijuana took a play from Vince Lombardi for their run based offense. Jim Taylor and Paul Hornung made careers off of this specific play. Starting with a crack-back block from the Wide Receiver, the offense looks to overload the “alley”. With both guards (and sometimes a tackle) pulling towards the playside, the playside guard looks to block outwards , while the backside guard and fullback look inside-out when finding an open field block to make. This is a quick hitting pitch to the edge of the defense and forces defensive backs to stay alert and focused on the run game, and not just completely selling out in the pass game. It is said around the locker room that this play is Benjamin Gordon’s favorite play call, as it has roots to old school smashmouth football, and also calls for him to pull playside.
The next play in the splitback pro series is the 36 counter. Just like the 36 Power, this play can be called to either side of the formation, usually accenting each other, but for simplicity sake, ive drawn up all of the plays to the right. What im saying is this play could just as easily be called to the 5 hole on the left side, trying to catch the defense reading the wrong way. The counter is almost the exact opposite of Power, in a sense that the pulling guard is now the kick out blocker for the unblocked end man on the line of scrimmage playside, and the fullback is now the lead blocker through the hole. The quarterback will open his hips up to the backside of the formation, essentially making a 270 degree turn just to handoff the ball to the runningback. The runningback, will usually have a counter step as well, taking a hard initial step towards the backside of the play, before making his way towards the called gap. This interaction between the quarterback and the runningback is made in hopes that the defense will get caught cheating towards the backside of the play, opening up a bigger hole for the runningback.
A GT counter is almost the exact same , except you will have both the backside tackle and guard pulling towards the 6 hole, while the fullback protects the backside of the play, an area that is vacated by the pulling tackle.
The next commonly used formation by the Tijuana offense is the singleback ace formation. This formation uses 12 personnel, meaning 1 runningback and 2 TE’s. This is a balanced offensive formation, where there technically is no strong side or weak side, although some teams will take into account where they are between the hash marks to designate a strong side and weak side, or even based on where the “Y” tight end is, and the “U” tight end is. This formation also can be much more pass friendly than the previous ones, due to having 4 receivers right at the line of scrimmage, and in position for extra pass protection if needed.
The 32 draw basically uses the opposite of play action. The lineman, especially the tackles, will drop back in pass protection, and the quarterback will make a 3 step drop back before handing the ball off to the runningback. What this does is forces the defense to respect the pass first. Wide Receivers will run a 5-10 yard “Go” route before looking for a defensive back to block. This play, if executed directly, will force the middle linebacker to read the play and have a 1 on 1 shot at the runningback.
The outside zone play uses completely different blocking rules than a gap blocking scheme. In any zone run, inside or outside, there really is no designated hole for the lineman to create. Each of the offensive lineman on this play will take a hard 45 degree angle towards the playside, so long as they are not covered up by a defensive lineman. The runningback will read the play outside-in , meaning they will first look to the outside gap of the line and see if he can continue running towards the sideline. There can be an entire article just written on outside and inside zone runs, but ill keep it quick. This play relies on the center to act as the “pivot” in the offensive line, as he will usually be required to perform a reach block to the playside defensive tackle. Looking for help from the right guard, the center can also hand the block off and get to the second level, creating a massive amount of space for a cutback lane for the runningback if executed correctly. This is where Tijuana’s center Caden Bright earns his money. Having a center who is able to hit these blocks makes running zone runs a hell of a lot easier, especially when you have a runningback with vision to see those holes and exploit the defense.
The last formation that Tijuana commonly uses is the Singleback Twins. This formation has both TE’s on the strong side of the formation, looking to overload one side of the field.
The pitch out of Singleback Twins is probably one of the most efficient uses of this formation besides passing. The two tight ends are able to double team at the point of attack and have the “Y” tight end get up to the second level, while pulling the backside or playside guard. Pulling the playside guard in this example is designed to be more of a quick hitting pitch, moving bodies over to the alley more quickly than pulling a backside guard. The difference between this and the Power Sweep is in the ability to get to the second level from the offensive line, and the quickness at which this play is run. The runningback is not forced to follow his lead blockers like in the Power Sweep, but instead can cut upfield almost immediately after turning the corner. If the defensive safety and strongside linebacker are not on their toes, this play can quickly turn into a 10 yard gain. Running pitches towards a team’s star pass rushing defensive end can neutralize him in the passing game, as he will be forced to respect the run and make sure that he can position himself in a way that forces the ball carrier to cut inside. Many times, Tijuana has used this play in order to set up long passes to the teams best receiving tight end, Earl Sauce. His brutality in blocking the Defensive End will often open up opportunities in the passing game, usually in the flats.
And so there you have it, the most commonly used runs that Tijuana used this season on their way to another championship title. With new General Managers coming to town, it will be exciting to see whether the identity of the team will change, or if the new coaches will try something new next season. It will all depend on how the team decides to draft to replace some star players moving up to the NSFL this season.
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