Point mesh

[dtrussel]

Coach Iannucci,

I read your blogpost on mesh techniques.

We are going to point mesh out of hybrid split-back/flexbone formation. In order to reduce the number of reps required on mesh technique for 2 different positions (B-back on the midline for inside veer and midline option, and A-back in the guard/tackle gap for outside veer), we will be going to the point technique.

I don't quite understand your explanation of why point-mesh will not work out of flex. In my opinion, it's not a whole lot different than ride and decide. We will basically just get rid of the ride.

I know ride and decide teaches that the QB must have made his read by the time the ball gets to his front hip. In point mesh, we will almost go ahead and put it on the front hip and that's one of the few differences, especially if you teach gliding (transferring weight into the LOS as you ride).

Also, since we move the fullback to 3.5 to 4 yards from the ball, the dive should hit so quickly that the read becomes easier. Another reason it will hit faster is we will teach the fullback... "the faster your pocket gets to the ball, the better chance you have of getting it". In high school ride and decide, one of the biggest issues is it can be very slow for kids who haven't been doing it for 4 years already. This should increase the speed of the read/dive/perimeter game immensely. The defensive end MUST come down the line quickly in order to have a chance to make the tackle for a minimal gain.

I agree that if you have 1 foot splits and aim at the outside hip of the guard, then the read key will have a chance to read you. However, we will have 3 ft. splits and aim at the crack of the guard.

If I am missing anything, any insight before we start in the spring will be a HUGE help.

[Coach Iannucci]

Never said it wouldn't work - I just gave the plusses and minuses. Most of my point info comes from defensive experience vs. it and talking to Tony DeMeo - who many credit being the first to use a Modified (QUick read) tech in the bone.

If you look at the plusses and minuses - and every technique has them - it comes down to preferences / experience - ability to teach the technique / your complete system.

If I was running both split backs and flexbone (something again I personnally wouldn't do but that's just my opinion.) I probably would look into it as the others take more time to perfect.

If there was only one way to do something - EVERYBODY would be doing it that way. And change is part of growing. (I can remember when I was 28 years old saying I would never let an 17 year old's decision making determine the outcome of the games. Now look at me.!!!)

The only thing I can say is I've coached numerous times against the veer and I've had fair success reading the point method with big splits. (You read as you squeeze) When the splitback people become I-veer people (around the 70's - 80's lead by Holtz) they started having trouble with the same thing because the FB's angle's from behind center puts him further away from the read then split backs that are straight line forward runners. Sometimes - history has always helped me determining what I decide.

Again, I don't know if I'm right as I don't think there is a right - just a strong preference.

The key is to know the weaknesses of your technique and have an answer for it.

[duece]

I taught the point method, and I'll tell you why...less turnovers. R&D was by far more costly in terms of turnovers than point. That being said you lose a little of the "deceptiveness" that R&D has to offer. Also, point mesh took much less teaching time than did R&D. You might need to tighten the dive path down to the inside hip of the guard to make it time a little better, but IMO, turnovers lose you ballgames, and I couldn't afford any of those, so I went with the "less risk" approach of the point method. But, as Coach Iannucci has explained, "there's more than 1 way to skin a cat"!

Duece

[sgunther]

Seems to me; could be wrong-but the point and mesh concept is split back veer. Right or Wrong?

I have seen QB's use this technique with the Wishbone or option with FB behind QB, even when they were trying to do the ride and decide concepts. Their problem was swinging the ball from the center on the exchange. When this occurred their first step was short and parallel in LOS. They couldn't get the first step back far enough to perform a good ride and decide. It became more of a split back veer point and mesh. I would also think on point and mesh, the timing of the QB in relationship to perimeter blocks would be to fast. Such as; loads and arcs or HB's on wall-chase path. Where the HB's are in a blocking relationship for the QB.

The following is the way Emory Bellard taught the ride and decide exchange; It does take daily work and attention to detail.
QB-FB behind the Center (FB's feet at 4 yards from the ball)

One of the biggest problems on the mesh is not getting the first step back far enough, at 4 or 8:00 O'clock for a good ride and decide mesh. This is caused by swinging the ball from the center/QB exchange to the mesh. This is way that Bellard taught the mesh (ride and decide):

Need to visualize this as all one motion

1. On the center/QB exchange-the QB takes the ball like any other type of play-stomachs or seeds the ball first, and now with the aid of the third hand (stomach) turns the ball so its pointed to the mesh. The hands are placed on the ball so that they are in a position for a quick pitch if needed, a soft basketball pitch not a thumbs under split back veer pitch.
2. As the ball is being seeded in the QB stomach and turned-the QB is stepping at 4-8:00 and now Quickly shoots the point of the ball in the fullbacks stomach while looking at the hand-off key.
3. With the QB seeding or stomaching and then turning the ball on the first step, this allows for a clean and lengthy first step away from the LOS and the start of a good mesh.

NOTE: Swinging the ball away from the center exchange to the mesh will not allow for a good first step on the mesh. Swinging the ball on the mesh with the FB causes the first step to be short and parallel with the LOS. When the first step is parallel to LOS, it doesn't allow for a good lengthy mesh with FB.

4. The second step is the ride and decide of the mesh. The difficulty is getting the QB coached to this point.

Steve Gunther

[gschwender]

Used to be R & D and now switching to point because like duece said-less turnovers. Another plus is that using the point will help ensure that the QB keep the ball in the free blocking zone so that my backside OL can cut if on their scoop block they can't get the guy cut off. When we were R&D the ball would be reached back as far as he could go to the b-back and got told by some officials that it was dangerously close to being out of the free blocking zone

[sgunther]

Been coaching in Texas to long! What is the Free Blocking Zone?

In Texas High Schools are not members of the National Federation, they have their own in-state governing board set up like the NCAA. Texas believes the National Federation is to restrictive. So Texas High Schools use NCAA rules.

Any way what is the Free Blocking Zone?

[gschwender]

Free blocking zone is the zone in which players are allowed to clip/block below the waist. The zone is 4yds on both sides of the football and 3yd behind/beyond the LOS. In order to be able to block below the waist/in the back both players must align in the zone before the ball is snapped, be in the zone at the time of the block, and the ball must be in the zone at the time of the block