O
n behalf of West Virginia Wesleyan defender’s hands down, move feet. Man off
Ke e p t h e “ D ”
College, I would like to thank the
Summer Manual committee and the AFCA
on T h e ir
for the opportunity to contribute to the 2003
Summer Manual. West Virginia Wesleyan
is a proud charter member of the West
He e ls : Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference,
which participates at the NCAA Division II
B o bc a t P la y
level. This past season, the Bobcats fin-
ished as the WVIAC champions with a 6-1
conference record. Many factors con-
A c ti on A tt ac k tributed to our team’s success from our
players’ extraordinary effort and a group of
outstanding assistant coaches; Paul Price
(defensive coordinator), Ron Boyd (offen-
sive line), Andy Upton (wide receivers),
Adam Martiny (defensive line), and John
Fey (secondary).
During my 20 years as a head coach I
have always strived to have a balanced offen-
sive attack. This year, our offense finished
22nd in the nation, averaging 417 yards per
game (4,588 total). We were 15th nationally,
rushing for 221 yards a game (2,431 total) and
averaged 196 yards a game passing. Play-
action yardage accounted for 45 percent or
our passing attack production.
Benefits of Play-Action
1. Gives the offense an effective pass
play off of their own strong run action or run
tendencies.
2. High yardage production on each
completion.
3. Most play action passes open up
cleanly making an easier throw for the
quarterback.
4. Gives the defensive personnel incon-
sistent reads that will make them guess
and will take away their attack mentality
and aggressiveness.
5. Will help open up the running game
against a defense designed to stop the run.
6. Can incorporate different positions
(wide receivers, tight ends and running-
backs); spread the wealth and keep every-
one involved.
7. Players without burning speed can be
effective.
Fundamentals Necessary for
Effective Play Action
Offensive Line
1. Be consistent on selling run to the
defensive line and linebackers with drive
block mechanics firing out hard with an
aggressive first step. Man on, stay low,
maintaining blocking surface keeping the
(linebacker), first step aggressive to draw
linebacker up take second step for balance
being prepared for blitz or hard fill then
ready to help other offensive linemen.
Coaching Point: Make sure your men
up front understand the rule for illegal line-
man downfield. If uncovered we want our
offensive linemen to sell linebacker by
going no more than 1-2 yards, if covered
block aggressively maintaining blocking
surface, if you move the defender down-
field after 3-4 yards stay down!
Backfield
1. Simulate the run action (Iso, Power,
Dive etc.) at the same quickness of an
actual run play.
2. Maintain a good mesh point with the
quarterback so the fake does not occur on
air but in the pocket of the runningback.
3. Make pocket with arms as usual
rolling over top with shoulders and upper
arm at mesh point with quarterback to hide
your pocket.
4. Sell run into the line of scrimmage
keeping shoulders down to be able to hide
your pocket as long as possible making the
defenders think you have the football.
Quarterbacks
1. Use two hand fakes whenever possi-
ble, never fake on air. Make sure quarter-
back uses quick steps to get to mesh point
with runningback.
2. Look runningback into the line of
scrimmage with your eyes to help sell the
play. Depending on play design, some
looks can be longer than others.
3. Have the quarterback hide the full-
back in the “V” of his crotch in a vertical
position so the defenders cannot see the
ends of the ball.
Your most effective play-action passes
will come from the run actions that your
offense is most successful with, at West
Virginia Wesleyan they are (Iso, Power,
Dive and Counter-Tre).
Diagram 1 shows our Iso Pass from an
I-Pro formation. This is a pass that we have
had a lot of success over the years using on
the first play of the game or on a first and 10
situation when the Iso run play is used most
frequently. If we notice a real active free safe-
ty on run support we will use this to try and
get behind him. It is a big yard gainer or
touchdown. And if incomplete, it will help
keep that free safety more honest and slow
run support when he sees the Iso action.
 Diagram 1
Assignments
Quarterback: Open opposite at six
o’clock, work depth to tailback. Two-handed
Iso fake placing ball in “V” of crotch to hide
from defense, use off hand to extend out
towards the tailback as separation develops.
Slightly hesitate and freeze eyes on tailback
then take a gather step and make read:
1. Read free safety, if he is reacting and
attacking the run throw post to Z.
2. If free safety sits in third, look for X on
the deep out. Good safe throw.
Fullback: Attack and block area outside
of the front side tackle (C gap).
Tailback: Use Iso steps and make fake
with quarterback attacking into the line of
scrimmage. Be ready to block after selling
fake!
Flanker (Z): Run eight-yard post, cut,
get behind free safety and look for ball. Be
ready to run to it. You are primary receiver.
Split End (X): Run 18- to 15-yard out.
Look for ball.
Tight End: Aggressive inside lead step
protecting the quarterback’s backside.
Front Side Tackle: Aggressive inside
lead step (B Gap).
Front Side Guard: Sell Iso block (dou-
ble team with center) versus an odd front,
block man on.
Center: Aggressive front side lead step
(double with guard vs. odd front), check for
A gap blitz.
Backside guard: Aggressive inside
lead step.
Backside tackle: Aggressive inside
lead step.
Diagram 2 shows our power or off tackle
play-action pass. On this play, the tight end
Diagram 2
is our primary receiver but with both the Z
and X wide receivers easily incorporated.
Assignments
Quarterback: Open at (5-7); use quick
steps to get proper mesh with the tailback.
Use two hand fake placing ball in “V” of
crotch and a quick off hand action following
tailback. Use a quicker look with your eyes
and start boot action. Use guards block to
break contain and find the tight end on his
route.
Coaching Points: Don’t throw over line-
backers, find tight end in open voids, throw on
run attacking line of scrimmage, run for posi-
tive yardage if tight end is not open.)
Fullback: Fill for pulling guard, block
first man that shows that side of the center.
Tailback: Use power steps going off tack-
le. Make good mesh with quarterback rolling
over top of the quarterback’s ball fake, keep
shoulders down and block defensive end.
Flanker (Z): Vertical outside release
fade route (possible post tag).
Split End (X): Vertical outside release
fade route (possible post/corner tag).
Tight end: Inside release run route (7-
15); look for ball in open voids.
Front Side Tackle: Aggressive inside
lead step.
Front Side Guard: Pull and sickle, block
defensive end through the outside thigh.
Center: Aggressive front side lead step.
Back Side Guard:Aggressive front side
lead step.
Back Side Tackle: Aggressive front
side lead step.
Diagrams 3 and 4 show play-action pass-
es to the tight end and wide receivers off of
fullback dive action. In going to the tight end
we want to hit the tight end in the vertical
seam just as he is clearing the front side
linebacker. The slant routes to the wide
receivers have been effective particularly
against two deep cornerbacks with limited
underneath support.
Diagram 3
Assignments
Quarterback: Open (5-7), quick two-
hand mesh with fullback, keep two hands
on ball and get quick delivery. Hit the tight
end just as he clears the linebacker.
Fullback: Take dive steps attacking into
the line of scrimmage selling the run. Roll
over top of quarterback’s fake.
Tailback: Block defensive end that lined
up over the tight end, get his hands down.
Can be from offset alignment or I Pro.
Wide Receivers: Gain inside position
on cornerbacks showing stalk block to sell
the run.
Offensive Line: Aggressive front side
lead steps.
Coaching Point: Uncovered backside
guard or tackle is responsible for edge
rusher).
Diagram 4
Assignments
Quarterback: Open (5-7), quick two-
hand mesh with fullback, keep two hands
on ball and get quick delivery. Hit wide
receiver on slant route. Check front-side
wide receiver then backside if needed.
Fullback: Take dive steps attacking line
of scrimmage selling the run. Rollover top
of the quarterback’s fake.
Tailback: Attack and block area outside
of tackle (offset alignment).
Wide Receivers: Both run slant routes
Tight End/Offensive Line: Aggressive
inside lead steps, get hands down!
Diagram 5 shows a very successful play
action pass for us off of our tailback counter-
tre run action. This is a progressive read for
our quarterback looking at our flanker (Z) first
on the fade and then reading the underneath
coverage looking to the fullback in the flat and
then the tight end up the seam.
Diagram 5
Assignments
Quarterback: Opens at (5-7), fake dive
to fullback, gain depth and fake the
counter-tre to the tailback. Boot off fake
read route progression in this order: 1.
flanker (Z) on fade, 2. Fullback in flat, 3.
tight end up the seam.
Fullback: Make dive fake, get out run
arrow route (5-6 yards) in flat.
Tailback: Make counter-tre steps and
sell fake into the line of scrimmage draw
attention!
Flanker (Z): Use a slow release selling
stalk block then accelerate by cornerback
on fade route.
Split End (X): Clear cornerback with
outside release (fade).
Tight End: Control outside lead step
blocking defensive end, encouraging him
inside, release up seam when fullback clears.
Look over outside shoulder for the ball.
Offensive Line: Use same counter-tre
blocking scheme with the guard and tackle
pulling.
Again, on behalf of the West Virginia
Wesleyan football program I would like to
thank the AFCA for the opportunity to con-
tribute to the 2003 AFCA Summer Manual.
I hope that some of you will find use
with what we do here and our play
action. Everyone on the offense must
sell the play to make it be most effective!
Please feel free to contact our staff or
me if we can be of assistance in any
way.

AFCA Guidelines
Regarding Probation
(Note: These guidelines have been prepared III. The coach who leaves an institution in
in conjunction with Article Nine of the AFCA Code good standing and moves to another institu-
of Ethics. It is meant to clarify the actions that are tion which has “major” probation problems
taken by the AFCA when a member’s institution not brought about by the new head coach:
is on NCAA or NAIA probation). The first two restrictions listed in Section I will
apply to the head coach, since any success his
I. The coach that creates a “major” proba- present team enjoys will be due in part because
tion problem at his present institution: of advantages gained by breaking NCAA regula-
The coach must abide by the following ruling tions before his arrival.
until the major probation is lifted: The head coach can take part in the following:
1. His institution is not eligible to be voted on in 1. The coach is eligible to serve on the panel
the USA Today/ESPN weekly football poll. that does the voting on the USA Today/ESPN
2. The coach is not eligible for AFCA Coach of weekly football poll.
the Year honors, and his name will not appear on 2. The coach can serve on AFCA committees,
such ballots. speak at the AFCA national convention and con-
3. The coach is not eligible to serve on the tribute to AFCA publications.
panel that does the voting for the USA 3. The coach can take part in all-star games.
Today/ESPN weekly football poll.
4. The coach cannot serve on any AFCA com- IV. AFCA probation is not affected by
mittee, speak at the AFCA national convention or delayed probation.
contribute to any AFCA publication. If an institution cannot take part in televised
5. The coach cannot take part in any all-star games, but gets its television penalties delayed a
games. year because of a previous television commit-
ment, there will not be a delay from the AFCA. It
II. The coach that creates a “major” proba- is our feeling that a coach would be punished
tion problem at his present institution and instead. Therefore, the AFCA will have the televi-
moves to another institution which is clear of sion penalty go along with the probation period.
that status:
The restrictions listed in Section I will follow the Failure to adhere to these standards shall
coach to his new institution, with one exception. be grounds for probation, suspension or
His new institution is eligible to be voted on in the expulsion from this organization.
USA Today/ESPN weekly football poll.