The Air Raid Offense

[Dr Death]

A lot of you know me and my lifelong affiliation w/ the Run & Shoot. Sadly, NCAA 11 only has a few true R&S plays which is quite disappointing for me. However, I turned my attention to the Air Raid and am now a huge fan of Oklahoma State's offense in this game.

I've long been a Mike Leach fan but never had the chance to learn and study his offense, though I have read many an article on it and him. Someone recently posted an in-depth write up on the Air Raid but damned if I can locate it.

I love this scheme in NCAA 11 and routinely complete passes to 9, 10 or 11 different receivers every game. FB's? Yep. TE's? Yep. HB's? Yep. And lots of WR's. I started a dynasty w/ New Mexico State and plan on this offense helping me get this school to the top. Lost my first game at Minnesota, 28-31 when I failed to secure an on-side kick in the final :30 seconds.

Anyway... love the Air Raid and would really love it if more people who know this scheme can chime in and let us know how closely EA got it in the game. Discussion of the Air Raid is welcome too. I'd love to see this thread rival The Run & Shoot Offense thread.

[woodsonj]

Im a fan of the Air Raid offense. Planning on using it with FSU on my online Dynasty. I like using the no huddle with the Air Raid as well. Very hard to defend.

[CrossTown]

Well, from what I know, the Air Raid can be considered "similar" to the Shoot in terms of simplicity. After pouring through the Run and Shoot thread I've gathered that there are only really a few a plays. A thin playbook that becomes complex by giving receivers and quarterback to adjust as needed.

The Air Raid works in a similar manner. It is dedicated to crossing patterns, specifically a shallow crossing patterns right on the heels of the defensive line (pre-snap) and his opposite receiver running a crossing pattern at about ten yards, with the freedom sit in a zone if needed, or continue the pattern, based on the defense. The cross is usually given to the H or Y receiver, with X and Z running posts, streaks, or corner patterns.

I've read somewhere that that specific series of routes is called the shallow series. There is also a mesh series which I think is more or less for man coverage.

[woodsonj]

Great article on Air Raid ran by Hal Mumme.

http://newmexicostate.scout.com/2/336250.html

[A ONE MAN R ME]

I read that article and all I have to say is TIM COUCH, TIMOTHY FREAKING COUCH

[Coach Bindel]

EA got fairly close to simulating the Air Raid on the game. I am a High School football coach, and we run the Air Raid (via Tony Franklin), and I can see the similarities. When I play the game, I only use about 5-6 passing concepts (plays) but use them out of many formations.

Quick Passes: Based on getting the ball out of the QBs hands quickly (all Quick passes should have slants on the backside - sometimes EA has the outside WR on the backside run a Slant Return....I usually hot route to a straight slant)

Stick - This is my favorite play in real life and on the game. Playside Outside WR (PSOW) runs a Go. PSIW runs a 5 yard hitch (aka Stick). The back runs an "Arrow" to the flat. Both backside WRs run slants.

Progession is Presnap, Stick, Arrow - QB checks for grass presnap...can he hit the Go or backside slants? No, then think Stick to Arrow. If the hole player (usually OLB) widens with the back, throw the stick. If the hole player covers the stick, throw the arrow. Great play on 3rd and 4.

If you run "Stick" from trips, the progression is the same except the back is not involved in the route. Instead, the #2 WR runs an out route (attacking the flat like the back would) and the #3 WR still runs the Stick. EA also put Stick Switch in the game (which is a great play), where #2 runs the Stick, and #3 runs a bubble (again, attacking the flat). I REALLY like this trips play.

Y-Corner - only other quick that I run on the game. PSOW runs a 3 step slant. PSIW runs a 10 yard corner. Back runs a swing. Again, both backside WRs run slants.

Progression is Presnap, slant, corner, swing. QB checks for grass for the slants. No? Slant (check OLB) to corner (should be open vs man) to swing (will throw this if zone and corner sinks).

Those are the only quicks I run.

Drop Back Passes: More pass pro is involved. Will have to have blitz beaters because the routes take longer.

Shallow - My favorite dropback. There are A TON of variations of this play on the game. It's a concept. Any WR on one side will run a 'shallow' route (like a 1 yard crossing route). From the other side, a WR will run a Dig route (10 yard cross). The other two WRs (one on each side) will run some sort of clear routes (Post and Go). It's hard to be specific with what WRs is running what route because either WR can run the shallow from one side, and either WR can run the Dig from the other. The Back runs a "shoot" (basically a route to the flat to the side where the "shallow" came from).

The Progression for the QB is this: SAY IT OVER AND OVER:

Hot, Shallow, Dig, Shoot
Hot, Shallow, Dig, Shoot
Hot, Shallow, Dig, Shoot
Hot, Shallow, Dig, Shoot

First off, you have the two WRs running deep, which if you get press man-to-man, you could hit them deep. But this route is not meant to be thrown to them.

Hot - eyes on the WR running the dig. When the ball is snapped, if the OLB/defender covering him blitzes, THROW IT 'HOT' RIGHT NOW. If not.....

Shallow - your eyes should be right in place for the shallow. As your looking at the shallow, if that MLB drives on the shallow and covers it, just smile because....

Dig - it's wide open. Find the hole and fire the ball in there. However, the LBs might be dropping deep, and the dig is covered...

Shoot - find the back. He's on the side where the shallow came from. dump it off to him and let him run.


You can run the 'Shallow' concept out of Trips (with the Shallow and Dig coming from the same side) but I don't like it as much - it's not as effective.

Four Verticals - This play isn't a "Hail Mary" type play. It's actually (hopefully) more of a quick hitting type play. You've got four WRs runnings Go's and the back running a check down (I usually Hot Route the back to run an in or out route instead of a check down).

Progression: 2x2 - Pick a side. You are going to read the safeties.

If there are two high safeties (i.e, running cover 2) then you are going to read from Outside-In. You'll hit the outside WR if he's beaten the corner. If not, its the Inside WR. You'll have to lead him away from the safety and fire the ball into him. If their both covered, find the back.

The same holds true if it's man-to-man coverage. First off, it looks like two high safeties. Read outside-in. Outside WR covererd? The inside WR vs. man it actually better. I've found that many times the Inside WRs will "win inside" vs. man on go routes, so really lead him towards the middle of the field and fire that ball in there.

If there is one-high safety (i.e., they are rolling to cover 3). then you are going to hit one of the two inside WRs. I like to throw away from the safety that's rolling down, and you'll see that once that inside WR clears the open, he's wide open. You DON'T want to lead him to the middle of the field, because there's a safety patrolling that area. Four Verticals KILLS cover 3. If you are getting a lot of 3, you can get them out of it really fast.

In Trips, you basically going to have the same reads. Vs. Two high Safeties you'll read outside-in on the trips side (Vs man, #3 runs a bender across the field that's great vs. man - however, you have to fire it in there and watch out for that backside safety).

In trips, vs one high safety, you still read those two inside WRs. I really like #2 up the seam out of trips, but the bender (#3) is open also).

Smash - Great Cover 2 Beater, but will work vs. Cover 3. Also, the progression is simple. First off, you have mirrored routes on both sides. #1 WR runs a 5 yard hitch. #2 runs a 10 yard corner. The back runs a check down.

Progression - Pick a side with the most grass (i.e. fewest defenders). Progression is High, Low, Check down. High - if the corner route open? Take a peak at the cornerback to see what he's doing. If he squats with #1 WR, it is open. You might have to lead the WR to the sideline and away from the safety. Low - if the cornerback sinks, it's some kind of cover 3, so the OLB/SS will be the flat player. You'll have to fire that ball in there so it doesn't get picked, but it's usually open. I've also Hot Routed the #1 WR's route to an out route, and I actually like it alot. But you only want to do that if you are going to throw to the wide side of the field. Into the boundary, the hitch is fine. Checkdown - If the high and low are covered, find the back. Again, you can hot route his route to an in or out if you don't like the way he runs a checkdown.

Trips - Progression is the same, but you'll only have one side to throw to - High, Low, Checkdown.

MESH - This is a staple of the Air Raid. Two WRs run "the mesh" - it's almost like a double shallow route - and will keep running vs. man, or settle vs. zone. EA did a great job with this. The #1 WR on the RB side will run a corner, and the back will run a swing. The backside WR should run an out route, but EA makes him run a GO (one of the few things they got wrong with the air raid).

Progression - Corner, Swing, Playside Mesh, Backside Mesh - it's one of those you'll have to memorize.

Corner - read is similar to the Smash, but don't stay on it very long. If it's not there, go to...

Swing - The back out of the backfield. You'll know if he's open RIGHT NOW. In man, he usually is. In zone, usually not. Don't be afraid to throw it to him... if he's covered,

Playside Mesh - The mesher coming to the backside side. Again, if he's covered man-to-man, he'll keep running. In zone, he'll settle....

Backside Mesh - Usually vs man, one of the two meshers is open - they basically set a pick for each other and create a natural rub.

Mesh is one of those plays that you'll need to practice, but once you get it down, you'll love it. If you're O-Line will pass protect, it's virtually impossible to stop.


I hope this helps. These pass plays, in addition to the screens and run game, really make the Air Raid a great offense to run this year on the game. One of the great things about it is that it's the same plays from different formations. I love going AGGRESSIVE no huddle, staying in the same formation, and running down the list of plays. You can put a lot of points up quick. Feel free to comment/critique.

~Coach Bindel

[A ONE MAN R ME]

Great post coach. You really know your stuff. I think im def. going to have to give the Air Raid a shot today after work!

[Palo20]

Great Write Up Coach.

Do more!