In today’s game, you’re not always sure what you’re going to get from the defense, and even during the game it may be tough to predict what coverage you’ll get from play to play.
That’s why so many offenses like to build pass concepts with answers for both man and zone, so that the play caller doesn’t have to call a perfect game, he just has to tell the quarterback what to look for on each play.
In this email we’re going to look at one example of this, what those in the Briles system call the “Spin” concept.
Today’s email is taken directly from our latest release: The Veer and Shoot – Unlocking the Most Explosive Offense in History
The “Spin” Concept
Spin is a zone-beater designed to put an overhang defender (field) or Inside Linebacker (boundary) into conflict. The innermost receiver runs what some may recognize as a “stick” route: burst to six yards and then converts route depending on the coverage. Against zone coverage, that receiver—whether a Tight End or slot—sits in open grass. Against man coverage, he reverse pivots out toward the sideline to create separation. On the outside, the receiver sprints to 12-14 yards and then rolls in toward the middle of the field on a “deep in” route.
On the opposite side of the Spin concept, there needs to be a true man-beater. Spin is a concept that can be completed against man coverage but is designed to find open grass in zone coverage, specifically into the boundary. While the playcaller can use any number of man-beating concepts on the backside, Blade is a common one. It has the slot receiver run a fade down the bottom of the numbers while the outside receiver bursts vertical (“3 big, 2 little”) and either sits on a “stop” route against zone or works inside on “fin” against man. The natural rub between the “fade” and the “fin” should give the Quarterback a natural outlet working toward the Spin concept.
In Spin, the Quarterback needs to have an idea of the type of coverage the defense is showing him. Against any type of zone coverage, he wants to work the Spin side and read the high-low on the conflict defender. If that defender—whether it be an Inside Linebacker or overhang—stays short to cover the “spin” route, the ball goes to the “deep in.” If he drops back to cover the “deep in,” the ball needs to hit the “spin” underneath. If both routes are covered and there isn’t a blitz on, then the Quarterback should bring his eyes down to the Running Back running the “sit” route over the ball. This is what most coaches will call a “triangle read.”
If the Quarterback looks out and can identify man coverage, he wants to look at the man-beater of the backside. On Blade, he’s reading the routes from high to low. If that slot can win on the “fade” route, go ahead and launch it out there and let your guy make the play. If the slot can’t get open, Quarterback brings his eyes down and finds the outside receiver running toward the middle of the field on the “fin.”
Go even deeper with the “Spin” concept and much more with our newest release: The Veer and Shoot: Unlocking the Most Explosive Offense in History
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