Despite the ever increasing reliance on the passing game, coaches know they must still be able to run the ball in order to be a championship type team. The spread formation has never been more popular than and therefore running the ball effectively in that offense is critical. In the CoachTube video below Coach Corey Fipps the current Missouri Southern State Offensive Coordinator explains how his teams attack the perimeter with speed from multiple formations out of the Spread.
The lesson contains the details of the Stretch Play from multiple formations. The lesson is from a course entitled The Air Raid Offense: Run and Screen Game
The video has sound so please make sure your sound is turned on.
A description of the Stretch Play is found below the video.
In his Air Raid Offense Coach Fipps usually has his offensive line splits at 3-5 ft, which he feels gives his quarterback better passing lanes and gets the defensive end away from the quarterback. However, this creates problems in his run game. Therefore, when running their Stretch Play he as his center make a call and the linemen reduce their splits to 2-3 ft. Obviously this can be schemed for so he stresses to use smaller splits on other plays where it does not matter so as to be less predictable.
The offensive line teaching points are to open up, get your toes towards the sideline, be a runner, try to circle hips and get people pinned. Their responsibilities remain the same in the stretch despite the formation.
The play side receivers responsibilities are to get a head up to the outside, keep their feet moving and give themselves a two-way go. Their responsibilities remain unchanged when the Stretch is run from different formations.
The back not getting the ball is asked to make sure the tackle has secured the edge and then get to the next level and look inside out.
The QB and H back will make adjustments depending on the formation.
In the 2×1 split back the backs line up 4 ft to the side of the QB with their heels even with the toes of the QB. The QB will simply extend the ball to the H back and read the backside.
In the 2×1 Pistol the QB will pitch the ball back the the H allowing him to get to the perimeter even quicker.
They also like to use the 2×2 Move Strectch. Here the H splits out wide and comes in motion and the QB tosses the ball forward to the H back. This of course becomes a forward pass and thus reduces the risk of a fumble.
Coach utilizes both diagrams and game footage to effectively illustrate these plays.