Michigan Football: Coach’s Corner — Terminology

Posted at 6:00am — 5/3/2008

Michigan Football: Coach’s Corner — Terminology

Since the “Empty” article came out, we have been getting many e-mail questions about the terminology.

There are web pages that have some of this, but the problem is terminology varies from program to program.

At clinics coaches will have to answer multiple questions on terminology to make sure, every one is on same page.

The term “Hot Read” refers to the receiver or the play the offense wants to use against specific defensive look, or package. Always remember, it is impossible for the defense to defend the entire field, or every play. When you take something away, you have to give something else up.

Therefore, when I blitz a Middle Linebacker, I open up the middle of the field, or when a do a loop stunt, bring Defensive End in 4-3 through the B gap and Defensive Tackle looping around to play contain, I again open up middle of the field. The Quarterback who properly reads that blitz or stunt can get the ball to the proper player to take advantage of that area of weakness.

If I blitz an Outside Linebacker or nickel responsible for under coverage, that means either the safety has play man on slot, or you have to roll the secondary to the blitzing side. Either way you open up an area for the offense to take advantage.

You can watch as Quarterback is starting calling signals at line of scrimmage and even point to specific defenders. They are making sure Wide Receivers are seeing same things the Quarterback is seeing. A master at checking and hitting hot read watch former Michigan Quarterback Tom Brady, he is just outstanding at this.

Some of the routes mentioned were circle routes and crossing routes. These are slot receiver routes that are the most used in empty and spread in general. Backs out of backfield can use circle routes as well. The inside slots simply run a small circle and try to find spot between the hashes and Linebackers. This is effective against Middle Linebacker blitzes.

Crossing routes is where inside receivers both run drags and cross between the hashes. Almost acting again like a legal pick. This is very effective against man or Outside Linebacker blitzes where you have a mismatch of Outside Linebackers trying to play in space against superior slot athletes.

If anything written ever makes more questions then we answer, just drop us a line with specifically what you would like me to clarify especially regarding terminology and routes, and that kind of stuff. We are trying to make this more informative for you then actually confusing you more. So please feel free to contact us.

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Written by GBMWolverine Staff

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