Bearkat Offense:
Expand and Attack
Jim Ferguson
Offensive Coordinator
Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, Texas
I t is indeed an honor to submit this article
to the AFCA Summer Manual .
Throughout my career, I have been
blessed throughout my career to work with
some outstanding coaches. Ron Randle-
man’s present staff is no exception. We
have a great chemistry on our staff and
share ideas on a regular basis. The con-
cepts discussed in this forum are an aggre-
gation of shared strategies and techniques
from various sources. I wish to thank every-
one who has contributed to my develop-
ment as a coach.
Defensive coordinators present chal-
lenges from a multiple array of packages.
Stemming the front; jinking linebackers and
secondary up and back, in and out to cre-
ate confusion; pressure from stunts, dogs,
full blitzes to zone blitzes all attempt to dis-
rupt the continuity and flow of offense. We
see more pressure/attack styles of defense
today than ever before.
Even though we consider ourselves a
passing offense, we realize that we would
have to run the ball effectively to be a con-
tender in the Southland Football League.
As a one back team, to be able to run the
ball against eight man fronts, we originally
thought we needed to utilize either two tight
ends or two back formations. Defenses
adjusted accordingly, and we still had to
run the ball in situations where we were
outnumbered and outflanked. We decided
to fight fire with fire. Our thought process
was to expand the field with multiple for-
mations to expand the defense to create
running lanes and personnel mismatches.
The first formation we presented was
quads, our four wide receiver set. We were
able to split out our tight end who is a unique
individual. At, 6-6, 260 pounds, 4.72 40 yard
dash, he possessed the skills to play in
space. This luxury allowed us to move back
and forth from traditional tight end sets to
four-wide sets without tipping our hand prior
to deployment. While eight-man front teams
were unaffected, seven-man front teams
had to decide to sub a nickel back or let a
linebacker play in space against our tight
end. The defense also has to decide how
they want to place their safeties.
Two Safety Coverages
Since we throw the ball very effectively,
most teams utilized a two-high safety con-
figuration that allowed them to play three
on two in coverage. However, they realized
this weakened the front’s ability to play the
run. They cannot effectively play three on
• AFCA Summer Manual — 2002 •
two and keep six in the box. Predictably,
they tried to cheat the outside linebacker’s
in towards the box and still be able to drop
into coverage (Diagram 1).
Diagram 1
We present this as a weakness to be
exploited by the quarterback. If the outside
linebackers are not playing honest, he
should attack immediately. We use several
methods to achieve what we consider to be
quick, easy yardage. The first method is to
run the bubble screen to the inside receiv-
er. We seldom make this a huddle call. We
want the quarterback to check to this type
of play when the opportunity presents itself.
Depending on the huddle call, the play may
be an audible in the traditional sense, or it
may be a sight adjust between the
receivers on that side with the quarterback
using hand signals (Diagram 2).
Diagram 2
Coaching Points
1. The inside receiver must have favor-
able leverage on the outside linebacker. If
he does not, this will not be an efficient
play. (gain of four yards or more).
2. The inside receiver should run as fast
as he can straight away from the quarter-
back. He should be looking over the inside
shoulder. We do not want him to lose any
ground and make this a lateral throw. We
want him to get outside the numbers and
up the sideline. We strive for the inside
receiver to get 8-10 outside of his original
alignment when he catches the ball. In
order to do this he must be sprinting in an
effort to maintain leverage.
3. The outside receiver must block the
first threat. We place the burden of success
for this play on the shoulders of the block-
ing receiver. He must have the complete
trust of the receiver if the bubble is going to
expand quickly. He must eliminate the big
hit on the play.
4. If the quarterback is under the center,
we want the offensive line to use an
aggressive zone block to the playside (our
three-step pass protection scheme). The
tackle is responsible for getting the hands
of the defensive end down so we can make
the throw. If the quarterback is in the shot-
gun formation, we may or may not alert the
offensive linemen. We feel that we can get
the ball off without interference from the
defensive end because of the change in
angle of the throw.
5. The quarterback should attempt to
get the ball out of his hands as soon as
possible. He should make a throw directly
to the receiver. Do not attempt to lead the
receiver. The quarterback’s aiming point is
to the hands of the receiver at the height of
his numbers.
This play enjoys a two year average of
6.79 yards per catch with an 87 percent
completion ratio. When the play is not suc-
cessful, it is usually because the quarter-
back is trying to get an easy play when the
defense is playing honest with the inside
receiver. We practice these throws from
under center and in the shotgun every day
during one of our special team periods. We
only rep this play in scrimmage situations.
Single Safety Coverages
When confronted with defenses utilizing
a single safety, we feel the need to extend
the defense in a vertical manner. One of
our primary weapons of choice is to attack
the defense with the four vertical passing
game. Last year we completed 45.5 per-
cent of our attempts down field with an
average of 34.7 yards per catch. We do not
consider ourselves a long ball team.
However, we realize the necessity to take
our shots down field to loosen the defense.
In 33 attempts on the year, we completed
15 strikes with the four vertical game which
resulted in seven touchdowns.
The teaching progression begins with
the receivers running their appropriate
landmarks. We attempt to isolate the single
safety with a high horizontal stretch with
the inside receivers running down the
seams of the three deep zones (Diagram
3).
1. The inside receivers should be dis-
persed two yards outside the hash marks.
We give them a priority release, meaning
they can release inside or outside of the
Diagram 3
defender playing them. Obviously they
would prefer to release inside. The key is
clear the underneath coverage as soon as
possible.
2. The outside receivers should release
to the outside and run to their landmarks
which is two yards outside the bottom of
the numbers. We emphasize the outside
receivers must give the quarterback a five-
yard margin of error to their outside. We
call this the quarterback’s grass. They
should enter the quarterback’s grass only
to catch the football; never to get open.
When faced with hard corner coverage the
receiver should attempt to stack the
defender. If the receiver can get the
defender on his back, he allows the quar-
terback to throw over the outside shoulder,
throw to the hands or even slightly to his
inside. If the wide receiver cannot stack the
defender then the throw must be over the
outside shoulder or slightly behind and out-
side ( the under throw).
3. The quarterback must be aware of the
linebacker and the runningback is respon-
sible for in the protection scheme. During
the first two steps of his drop he will know if
the runningback is engaged in protection or
is releasing to his route. On the third step of
the five step drop, the quarterback directs
his eyes to the single safety. The move-
ment of the safety will determine the side
the quarterback will throw to. The quarter-
back will use his eyes to move the safety if
he remains in the middle of the field. We
stress that the ball be place in the receiv-
er’s hands in the 18 to 22 yard range down
field. Throws over 25 yards usually results
in a lower percentage pass. He must be
prepared to make his throw when the
inside receivers clear the underneath cov-
erage. If the defense seeks to involve the
cornerbacks help on the inside receiver,
then the throw should be to the outside
receiver. We maintain that a higher per-
centage throw will occur if he hits the out-
side receiver in the 35 to 40 yard range
down field.
4. The outlet throw is to the runningback
• AFCA Summer Manual — 2002 •
on an option route. If his protection duties
allows him to release, he must be a viable
receiver for the quarterback. We never
complain when the quarterback checks
down to the back. We completed two pass-
es to the back for gains of 15 and 28 yards.
Variations
When faced with a single high safety
that has exceptional range, we may twist
release the receivers to one side. This fre-
quently will place the inside receivers on
different planes and creates an oblique
stretch on the safety which strains the safe-
ty further. Versus man-to-man coverage,
this technique allows the receiver second in
the release progression to rub or bounce
his coverage off. The read will remain the
same or can start outside in for the quar-
terback (Diagram 4).
Diagram 4
Another variation to combat man-to-
man coverage with an exceptional safety is
to stop the outside receivers at 12 yards.
This allows the inside receivers to widen
their landmarks creating a larger stretch on
the safety. This stratagem is also effective
against zone coverage where the corner-
backs are attempting to make plays on the
inside receivers (Diagram 5).
Diagram 5
Once we extended the defense, our run
production increased from 3.5 yds/rush to
4.3 yds/rush. Our run game consists of the
inside zone, outside zone, draw, speed and
load options. In shotgun formation, we uti-
lize the inside zone scheme with a read
concept by the quarterback. This gives us
the best chance of having an explosive
play without the risks inherent with the
option scheme. We can effectively control
the defensive end, allowing us to get a
body on a body. The defense no longer has
a number advantage on the line of scrim-
mage without employing some form of blitz
(Diagram 6).
Diagram 6
Coaching Points
1. We utilize full zone blocking with our
linemen.
2. The quarterback must be alert for out-
side pressure from the secondary and the
blocking leverage by inside receivers. If the
inside receivers have to make a difficult
block due to poor leverage, then the
Bubble should be a good play.
3. The receivers to both sides are con-
sidered point of attack blockers.
4. The runningback is responsible for
the mesh. He must run over the toes of the
quarterback while he reads the block of the
playside defensive tackle.
5. The quarterback catches the ball and
executes a mesh with the runningback
while reading the response of the offside
defensive end. He should extend the ball
and ride from back foot to front foot. If the
defensive end is taking a path to tackle the
runningback, the quarterback pulls the ball
and races around the defensive end.
Again, on behalf of the Sam Houston
State University players and coaching staff, I
want to thank the AFCA for the opportunity to
give a little back to the game of football. We
are truly blessed to be able to participate in
such a fantastic profession. I hope this article
will be of some benefit to you.

AFCA Districts
District 1
Division I-A: Sun Belt Conference, Central Florida
Division I-AA: Atlantic 10 Conference, Ivy League,
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Hofstra
Division II, Division III: New York, Vermont, New
Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island
and Connecticut.
District 2
Division I-A: Big East Conference, Navy,
Connecticut
Division I-AA: Patriot League, Northeast
Conference
Division II, Division III: Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
Delaware and West Virginia
District 3
Division I-A: Atlantic Coast Conference
Division I-AA: Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference,
Southern Conference, Charleston Southern, Liberty
and Elon
Division II, Division III: Maryland, Virginia, North
Carolina, South Carolina, and District of Columbia
District 4
Division I-A: Southeastern Conference
Division I-AA: Ohio Valley Conference, Southwestern
Athletic Conference, Samford, Western Kentucky,
Division II, Division III: Kentucky, Tennessee,
Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia Louisiana and Florida
District 6
Division I-A: Big 12 Conference
Division I-AA: None
Division II, Division III: Minnesota, Wisconsin,
North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska
District 7
Division I-A: Conference USA, Mid-American
Conference
Division I-AA: Southland Conference
Division II, Division III: Arkansas, Texas,
Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri
District 8
Division I-A: Western Athletic Conference,
Mountain West Conference
Division I-AA: Big Sky Conference, Southern Utah
Division II, Division III: Colorado, New Mexico,
Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, Idaho and
Montana
District 9
Division I-A: Pacific 10 Conference
Division I-AA: Cal Poly-SLO, St. Mary’s
Division II, Division III: Washington, Oregon,
California, Hawaii, Alaska

District 5
Division I-A: Big Ten Conference, Notre Dame
Division I-AA: Pioneer Football League, Gateway
Conference
Division II, Division III: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and
Michigan

• AFCA Summer Manual — 2002 •