Mike Yurcich

1. Compliment play A instead of installing another play. Find multiple compliments to your base plays,
before you move on. For example, split zone – find the compliment to it with a motion, a shift, etc
before moving forward. Compliments can include play-action, screens, etc all off the base action.

2. Make each position coach give their first position meeting in front of the staff. Might be awkward at
first, but allows other coaches to coach you on what you can improve on as an assistant.

3. Run Through: Never did it before I came to Oklahoma State. Jogging through plays – no deep balls (20
yard max) – every call we have in our script. Allows to fix issues before we go through team period. Each
kid will learn differently so this is just as important to our team as film/individual meetings.

4. Easiest ways to start tempo in your offense is by using opposite and ditto calls. For example: Using the
2x1 split back gun set, motion the 1 back to make trips and run inside zone with a bubble. Get 5 yards
and then call the ditto call. You might see the linebacker fly out and the inside zone gashes them for 5.
Easy way to establish tempo in your offense day 1. Same thing with opposite, etc.

5. Ball security—We do a turnover circuit at the end of every practice. Doesn’t matter how long practice
is, we will do this every day. QBs/Centers work under-center and gun. TE’s/RB’s/WR’s work a 3-stage
circuit. Create one that works for your program, but make sure your guys are focused and give effort.

6. Working with QB’s –multiple QB’s make their reads through route combination. Allows for more
teaching and corrections for all the QB’s instead of just the guy making the throw

7. Sideline Organization – Fluid and fast, have guys that are able to communicate effectively. When
players come off the field I want them organized and go through the script we just called and find
mistakes. Coaches and players have to have trust – if you don’t know say you don’t know – then the
adjustments can happen. Very beneficial to mock through the experience in scrimmages in order to
work kinks out.

Play-Action:

-Compliment base stuff, don’t add things to add

Base Run play is split flow zone so our base compliment to that is play-action off of the same action.

Base alignment: Y is 2 yards from hash, X -2 from #’s, Z -2 from #’s

2 Back look with H-Back behind guard, 3 yards deep.

Base Play-Action Concept:

X (Backside receiver): Vertical Stop route, Receiver runs 10-12 and retraces steps back to football.

Z: Same route concept as X

Y: Pop Route – Calls it a pop route and the Y will clear the linebacker and bend it under the safety.
Versus Man, “Wrap Post”

Vs. man/press quarters: Lift through the defender

Vs. Cloud X/Z: Convert routes to fade

QB’s read a yes or no on the backside route – If no overhang or over-extended versus 2 receiver side,
the call is yes and QB will work the single receiver route first. If no or “maybe”, QB will work the 2-
receiver side.

Protection: Turnback protection, H-Back has EMLOS just like on split flow zone.

If Will is pressed on LOS, T will give up action for protection.

1 Adjustment for Quarters: Z will run a post

Other Play-Action Concepts: Y-Cross and Bubble-Y Cross

Bubble Y Cross -

X Receiver runs the bubble or now screen

F attacks the corner selling the now/bubble and runs a vertical route up the sideline (coaching point:
touch the far hip of the defender to sell the block)

Y Cross
Z Post-Curl

Inside Zone Play Action – Naked Stay (QB Half Roll away from 2 receiver side)

QB fakes naked, half roll.

-Y receiver runs a post corner (5 yards up, 3 yards to post, back to corner). Make the safety play over the
top before break to corner.

-Z runs a post (cover 3 changes to fade).

-X runs a deep curl

Slant/Stick:

Slant: 1 Receiver – 3 Hard Steps (5 yards depth) = Hitch

Vs. Man it becomes slant, outside release-fire feet-rip underneath

Slant 2 Receivers – Inside receiver 1 step slant vs zone

Outside receiver, hitch vs zone / vs man slant (outside release)

2x2 Formation: Stick Combo: #1 Receiver: Outside release fade, #2 receiver Stick, TB runs swing.
Backside receivers run Slant combo.

Alpha/Bravo/Charlie

Use the same concepts, but dress them differently. One example was QB Draw

Alpha: 3x1 Formation – Motion back for bubble, read the mike linebacker for throw or draw read.

Bravo: 2x2 Formation – Motion back for stick concept, read mike linebacker for throw or draw read.

Charlie: 2x1 Formation – Motion near back for stick concept, read mike linebacker for throw or lead
draw read
All of these are the same concept for the offensive line with back motion, but the play result can be
different each time. 1 word play calls to go fast and up tempo.

Shallow Cross Concept

#1 Receivers (X/Z) run “bench” routes as a yes or no for quarterback. If yes, throw the bench route. POR
(Preferred Outside Release) from the outside receivers. Converts to fade if man and post versus press
quarters.

#2 Receiver (Opposite of call): 12 yard dig route, Best release

#2 Receiver (to Call): Shallow cross route – example Y-Shallow designates the Y is the shallow crosser

Running back shoot route to the flat opposite of the shallow route

QB reads: Yes or No to the outside receivers

If no, QB reads shallow-dig-shoot