Login
FacebookTwitterSoundCloud
 
Inside The PylonInside The Pylon
Inside The Pylon
Know Football, Love Football
  • NFL
  • CFB
  • Glossary
  • Listen/Watch
    • Podcasts
      • Breaking the Plane
      • Pylon U
    • Videos
  • About
    • About
    • Our Writers
    • Join ITP
  • NFL
  • CFB
  • Glossary
  • Podcasts
  • Video
  • About

The TCU Offense: Packaged Screens and Pistol Play-Action

September 2, 2015Leave a commentMinnesota Golden Gophers, NCAA Offense, TCU Horned FrogsBy Mark Schofield

It has been nearly eight months since the last NCAA FBS game was played – the Championship matchup between the Oregon Ducks and Ohio State Buckeyes. But football is back, baby. Mark Schofield dissects the TCU offense, focusing on two schemes from their high octane offense: Pistol Play-action and the Packed Screen concept.

On Thursday night, quarterback Trevone Boykin and the TCU Horned Frogs take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the season opener for both teams. This game is a rematch from an early season tilt in 2014 won by TCU 30-7. If head coach Gary Patterson and his squad want to secure a berth in the College Football Playoff this season, they will need to open with a victory. Their offensive system is a fast, up-tempo spread style that puts pressure on the defense both vertically and horizontally, and two concepts from that scheme were on display last fall.

Pistol Play-action

Many spread teams utilize a play-action concept with the quarterback and running back simulating a zone run, and TCU’s offense is no exception. The Horned Frogs use this design to attack a defense both horizontally, and vertically. TCU has 20 personnel in the game, with Boykin in the pistol with an offset i-formation in the backfield, and a 2X1 alignment on the outside and slot formation to the left. Minnesota has its base 4-3 defense in the game, showing Cover 4, with the outside linebacker to the wide side of the field splitting the difference between the #2 receiver and the left tackle:

TCUPlay1Still1

Here is the offensive play-art on this play. After the snap Boykin fakes the outside zone to his tailback, and both running backs stay in the backfield for pass protection. This becomes a three receiver route, with the single receiver to the short-side of the field running a skinny post route:TCUPlay1Still2

Boykin takes the snap and carries out the run-fake, and a poor one at that with neither running back carrying out the simulated run, but no matter:

[jwplayer file=”http://cdn.insidethepylon.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/TCUPlay1Video.mp4″ image=”http://cdn.insidethepylon.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/TCUPlay1Still2.jpg”]

What is interesting here is despite the poor run-fake – and the fact that TCU threw the ball 46 times that Saturday against only 27 runs – the run simulation still holds the two play-side linebackers near the line of scrimmage, expanding the throwing window for Boykin to find his receiver on the post pattern:TCUPlay1Still3

Minnesota’s linebackers will be tested again by this scheme Saturday. How they respond to the pressures created by the TCU offensive design will go a long way to determining the outcome.

The Packaged Screen Game

Another concept that teams in the NFL and the NCAA are using on offense is the packaged scheme design. This gives a quarterback and his offense a number of different options on a given play, including runs, inside seam routes, deeper vertical routes and built-in screens. TCU ran a number of these plays against Minnesota last season. On this first play Boykin is alone in the backfield with 10 personnel in the game in a 2X3 alignment, trips to the right. Minnesota has its 4-2-5 nickel defense on the field showing Cover 4 in the secondary:

TCUPlay2Still1

This play has two elements built in, one to the weak-side and one to the strong, or read-side. On the weak-side, the two receivers will run matching hitch patterns, while on the read-side, the three trips receivers set up the tunnel screen. This includes the center and right guard delaying for a bit before pulling in front of the potential screen play:

TCUPlay2Still2

Depending on pre-snap reads and coverage cues, Boykin can either throw to one of the hitch routes on the weak-side, or let the tunnel screen develop and throw the ball to the receiver on the read-side of the play. That is what happens here:

[jwplayer file=”http://cdn.insidethepylon.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/TCUPlay2Video.mp4″ image=”http://cdn.insidethepylon.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/TCUPlay2Still2.jpg”]

As designed, the two weak-side receivers run hitch routes, while the C and RG delay for a bit. This allows for the timing to develop on both sides of the play. If the linemen leave too early, any throw to the weak-side comes with a penalty for an ineligible receiver downfield. But here, Boykin checks his weak-side reads and comes back to the other side, to throw the screen. The play goes for eight yards, setting the Horned Frogs up with a very manageable 3rd and 2.

This offensive style can attack a defense vertically as well. On this play, TCU faces a 3rd and 3 and empties the backfield in a 3X2 alignment. Minnesota responds with its 4-2-5 defense showing Cover 1, with all 11 defenders at or near the line of scrimmage:

TCUPlay3Still1

The Horned Frogs again run a tunnel screen to the read-side of the play, toward the trips formation. But on the weak-side they run a switch-vertical route, with the outside receiver coming across the middle on a slant while the slot receiver runs the wheel route:

TCUPlay3Still2

At the snap, the Golden Gophers blitz both linebackers and play Cover 0 in the secondary. Boykin quickly checks the tunnel side of the field but comes quickly to the weak-side to try and exploit the man coverage on the vertical wheel route:

[jwplayer file=”http://cdn.insidethepylon.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/TCUPlay3Video.mp4″ image=”http://cdn.insidethepylon.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/TCUPlay3Still2.jpg”]

Unfortunately for Boykin, the other team is playing defense as well. That is cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun who plays this route well and pulls down the interception. He and the rest of Minnesota’s secondary will need to play well and challenge the TCU passing attack, including talented receiver Josh Doctson.

TCU does a number of creative things offensively that are designed to stretch a defense vertically and horizontally, pull defenders out of position and create favorable matchups at all levels of the field. The concepts identified here are just a few of the ways that the Horned Frogs try and achieve those goals. How the Minnesota defense responds to these challenges is a key component of this early-season tilt.

Follow Mark on Twitter @MarkSchofield.

Mark Schofield has always loved football. He breaks down film, scouts prospects, and explains the passing game for Inside the Pylon.

All Footage Courtesy of Fox Sports and the Big 12 Conference

Briean Boddy-CalhounJosh DoctsonMinnesota Golden GophersNCAA Film StudyTCU Horned FrogsTrevone Boykin
Share this post
FacebookTwitterGoogle+
About the author

Mark Schofield

Mark is a reformed lawyer who is excited to work on something more important than two insurance companies fighting over money: Football. He graduated from Wesleyan University where he was a four-year letter winner as a quarterback and situational wide receiver. He lives in Maryland with his wife and two children.

Related posts
Different Song, Same Key: Jalen Hurts, Lincoln Riley, and the 2019 Oklahoma Offense
February 27, 2019
2019 NFL Draft Prospect Preview: James Gardner
August 27, 2018
Scott Frost and Quads: How Nebraska Will Win With Overloaded Formations
August 22, 2018
Predicting Chip Kelly’s Run Game at UCLA: Part 2
August 14, 2018
College Football’s Best 2018 Offensive Lines: Georgia Bulldogs
August 9, 2018
Player to Watch: Keelan Doss
August 7, 2018
Leave Comment

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

clear formSubmit

Search
Recent Posts
  • Dan Hatman’s 2019 NFL Scout Movement Tracker (updated)
    November 1, 2019
  • Welcome to the Show, Drew Lock
    December 12, 2019
  • Ravens 2019 Offense: Witnessing Greatness
    December 8, 2019
  • Colin Kaepernick: A Worthy Gamble
    November 22, 2019
  • Chark Attack: The NFL’s Most Improved Player?
    November 15, 2019
  • How Do You Not Punt and Score 19 Points?
    October 26, 2019
Recent Articles
  • Welcome to the Show, Drew Lock
  • Ravens 2019 Offense: Witnessing Greatness
  • Colin Kaepernick: A Worthy Gamble
  • Chark Attack: The NFL’s Most Improved Player?
About ITP
About
Advertise
Contact Us
Media Inquiries
Press Room
Write for ITP
Buy 17 Drives