Goaline/Redzone help

[mgcst5]

Hey guys. I am currently putting the finishing touches on a custom playbook that I am really excited about. I am not talking about just adding a bunch of formations together, I actually crafted a scheme based on my football influences and what I would want to accomplish if I was an actual football coach, if the playbook needs to be labeled it is a triple option based running attack with an Air-Raid based passing game that I have set up allowing me to call almost all the plays in the playbook on the fly. PM me if you are at all interested.

Now to my problem. After several test games with my basic formations I have one weakness and that is in the redzone/at the goaline. Across 7 games with my current setup I am only converting a little over half of my redzone attempts (This is including field goals... touchdowns have been hard to come by) I attribute this mostly to the fact that I don't really have a short yardage and red zone package. I was looking for feedback from the community as to what there favorite goaline/redzone plays or formations are. I am not looking for just a set of money plays to score every-time but this is the last set of finishing touches I need to put on my scheme. Do not be afraid to think outside the box for recommendations and do not account personnel into the equation because I am just looking for idea.

Thank you for any and all help.

[jello1717]

Re: Goaline/Redzone help

My CPB is a spread option PB w/ 4 pistols and about 22 SG formations. I only have 1 under center formation and it's the power-I formation with no WRs which I use as my goal line formation. I don't use it often (and never outside the 1 yard line) and it might not fit your scheme.

What I usually do is just run my normal offense when I'm in the redzone/near the goal line. I might come out in 12 personnel inside the 5 or I might be in 11 or 10 personnel. Then I just do what I always do which is to count the box. If I have as many blockers as they do, I'll run it (normally if it's an option I'll run it if they have +1 in the box, but I don't allow options inside the 10 yard line as a house rule). If they're stacking the box, then I'll pass it.

My redzone offense is usually pretty darn good without having to change up my packages just because I'm in the redzone. Don't be afraid to pass it if they stack the box (and since it sounds like you're half air raid I doubt that you're afraid to pass the ball).

[mgcst5]

Re: Goaline/Redzone help

My CPB is a spread option PB w/ 4 pistols and about 22 SG formations. I only have 1 under center formation and it's the power-I formation with no WRs which I use as my goal line formation. I don't use it often (and never outside the 1 yard line) and it might not fit your scheme.

What I usually do is just run my normal offense when I'm in the redzone/near the goal line. I might come out in 12 personnel inside the 5 or I might be in 11 or 10 personnel. Then I just do what I always do which is to count the box. If I have as many blockers as they do, I'll run it (normally if it's an option I'll run it if they have +1 in the box, but I don't allow options inside the 10 yard line as a house rule). If they're stacking the box, then I'll pass it.

My redzone offense is usually pretty darn good without having to change up my packages just because I'm in the redzone. Don't be afraid to pass it if they stack the box (and since it sounds like you're half air raid I doubt that you're afraid to pass the ball).

Certainly appreciate the feedback! I Count the box every play and audible based on what I read. What I have discovered (not that it was an unknown but its what has caused me the most issues) is that my passing system is not well suited for these situations. The field is too short and the defenders are all closer together. The most success I had was with slants but I threw a costly pick 6 in my most recent game and want to add a little variety. I have experimented with the Power I (using my own Jumbo package... basically what Harbaugh/Roman do with extra lineman as fullbacks) I think that this will be added to my playbook for inches situations but if I am between the 3-15 I still will have a hard time punching it in. Do you have any pistol or shotgun formation recommendations, specifically ones that are 12, 13, 21, 22, personnel?

[ZN30]

Re: Goaline/Redzone help

Certainly appreciate the feedback! I Count the box every play and audible based on what I read. What I have discovered (not that it was an unknown but its what has caused me the most issues) is that my passing system is not well suited for these situations. The field is too short and the defenders are all closer together. The most success I had was with slants but I threw a costly pick 6 in my most recent game and want to add a little variety. I have experimented with the Power I (using my own Jumbo package... basically what Harbaugh/Roman do with extra lineman as fullbacks) I think that this will be added to my playbook for inches situations but if I am between the 3-15 I still will have a hard time punching it in. Do you have any pistol or shotgun formation recommendations, specifically ones that are 12, 13, 21, 22, personnel?

I tend to have the same issues with my Power Spread playbook. Often it seems easier to score from 20 yards out than it does from 2 yards out.

If you're outside the 3 yard line, I find that most defenses play their base set against me, so I usually run a dive out of an 11 or 20 shotgun formation. If I'm within 3 yards, the defense plays their goalline D, which will blow up most of my read/triple option plays. Sometimes I'll run the same dives from the 11 or 20 shotgun formations, but if I go under center, it will be 23, 22, or 12 personnel. A HB blast, FB Dive or ocassional PA roll will often get me into the end zone.

[mgcst5]

Re: Goaline/Redzone help

I tend to have the same issues with my Power Spread playbook. Often it seems easier to score from 20 yards out than it does from 2 yards out.

If you're outside the 3 yard line, I find that most defenses play their base set against me, so I usually run a dive out of an 11 or 20 shotgun formation. If I'm within 3 yards, the defense plays their goalline D, which will blow up most of my read/triple option plays. Sometimes I'll run the same dives from the 11 or 20 shotgun formations, but if I go under center, it will be 23, 22, or 12 personnel. A HB blast, FB Dive or ocassional PA roll will often get me into the end zone.

THIS is typically what I encounter. Since my team is also option base the goaline D dominates me. I like the Idea of the power I as the short set. Maybe I will tinker with some of the shotgun formations for that no mans land between 3-5 yards out.

[mjavon]

Re: Goaline/Redzone help

Isn't there a Wishbone "Tight" type formation. This could give you a power running formation while retaining your triple option rushing attack identity. I don't typically run this kind of offense but I'm sure there has to be some good short yardage plays in there.

I run a spread offense and in short-yardage/goal line situations I almost always come out in a Shotgun set with two backs and two tight ends running the triple option. I have my audibles set up so I can change the play from running it to the left to the right OR a short pass from the same formation depending on how the D lines up.

[lihety]

Re: Goaline/Redzone help

shotgun spread inside zone from the 5-10 once inside the five i always use an off tackle play from strong i because they are bunched up and i can hit the outside for the td

[PDuncanOSU]

Re: Goaline/Redzone help

I run a pistol/shotgun only playbook with 0 under-center formations. I use the Pistol - Jumbo set for goaline situations inside the 5. I can normally run it in with the Power play simply outnumbering them to the strong side. If they are overloading where I want to run though, I will audible to HB Counter to run it the other direction, or throw it to my WR matched up 1-on-1 with the Slant-Flat play.
If I'm between the 5 and 10 yard-lines I'll go to 12 personnel still in shotgun/pistol sets and can run my base plays out of these sets and personnel. I'm able to do this because I've set up my playbook to run the same base plays/concepts out of 10, 11 and 12 personnel.

[rkwittem]

Re: Goaline/Redzone help

I don't have a set identity but my most successful offenses have been spread power option teams built around the inside zone run and the various wrinkles you can build off of it.
I have a core playbook with about 30 plays I delete and replace based on my opponent's tendencies and weaknesses. It is almost all Gun or Pistol. I primarily use 11 personnel but my TE is never split out wide. I like them in-line as an extra blocker. My go-to inside the 5 plays are wing formations (in shotgun) like dive and iso. When it comes to passing, I like flat routes with a backdoor component, like a slant or in/dig route behind them if the D sells out on the flats.


With that said, I grew up with option football and it's still my favorite offense to watch. The trick to scoring on goaline is beating the defense at the point of attack and you can do this in several ways.
1. Stretch them horizontally (spread them out)
2. Overpower them at the point of attack
3. Out-flank them with misdirection


I've had great success with the option near the goalline but the timing window is very short- you will need to practice.
#1 is not very likely with a flexbone-based offense unless you've edited it to make it more spread
#2 is easy, just hammer the defense with FB dives and traps. Stuff that will go right at the DTs
#3 is the most difficult and the highest risk. Depending on alignment and player ability, WB Toss can work wonders. Speed sweep, speed option and the WB misdirection have all worked for me but the alignment has to be right. I mostly try to identify what the blocking assignments are. If there is an unblocked defender to the play side, I'll flip the play. Symmetrical formations are your friend. If you run an unbalanced formation and flip, the defense will figure out what you're trying to do.

[Spartan Warrior]

Re: Goaline/Redzone help

I like the Diamond Formation (Pistol with two backs flanking the QB) in the red zone. Especially if you run triple option, there are a lot of good option plays in there.

The Shotgun Wing formations (where the TE lines up behind the guard) also work well for short yardage running. If you're exclusively going to use it in the red zone you could sub in a sixth offensive lineman in place of the TE for some extra girth.

And finally, even as a spread team I've always liked to have a power formation or two in reserve for when I need it. Sometimes when it's fourth and one I just have to go two tight ends and fullback and pound the rock.