Add Some Bunch to Your Playbook

8/14/2019 Add Some Bunch to Your Playbook

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Add Some Bunch to Your Playbook

GridironStrategies.comSteve Heck, WRs Coach, Kutztown University

One of the interesting aspects about college and high school football is the wide spectrum of offensiveattacks emerging at both levels. Ideas, concepts and offensive systems have trickled down from college

football to the high school level thanks to clinics, networking, and publications such as Gridiron

Strategies that cater to coaches at all levels. High school teams are throwing the ball now more thanever. One of the formations that has served us well over the years is the popular bunch formation.

In the simplest term, bunch means aligning three receivers in close proximity to each other. The bunchformation provides several advantages for the offense. First, it quickly deploys multiple receivers into a

given area of the defense. Flooding a zone quickly can cause confusion for the secondary. Second, it

creates mismatches if defenses banjo coverage and switch assignments. Also, by using compressedformations like bunch, the offense expands the field and thus creates additional space for the defense to

cover. Perhaps the most well known advantage of the bunch set is the natural rubs or picks that are

created. However, we have discovered that while the rubs are sometimes effective in goal line situations,coaches have gotten very good at minimizing the effectiveness of rubs and picks.

Being a spread offense, based out of multiple one back sets, we have added several bunch concepts to

our playbook. One of the most popular bunch plays is the toss (See Diagram 1). In this alignment, our

bunch is tighter to the out tackle, allowing the point man in the bunch to block down. We give ourreceivers simple rules for blocking the toss. Our A receiver, who is on the point of the bunch, blocks

down. This may require him to block a defensive end, or an outside linebacker. Our X receiver blocks

the #2 perimeter defender. Usually this is a safety or a linebacker adjusted out. Our Z receiver blocks the#1 perimeter defender. This is usually a cornerback, and this is usually a kick out block, with the back

cutting it inside the block. Teams give us a variety of looks against the bunch, so these simple rules

allow us to handle multiple looks. We also pull the play side guard to pick up any force player running

the alley or an overhang defender that appears late.

Diagram 1: Bunch Toss


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After some initial success with the toss, teams began to fly up hard on the perimeter to defend the play,

forcing us to find an answer with play action. The play action combination off of the toss fake originated

from Coach Andrew Coverdale. We simply used one of his combinations and added the play action

element, calling the play Temple (See Diagram 2).

Diagram 2: 'Temple' (Play Action Toss)

Everything looks the same for the offensive line. We pull the guard to seal the play side edge. The rest

of the line steps opposite the toss fake blocking back. Our tailback fakes the toss and comes off the fakelate to help on the edge. The quarterback gives a hard toss fake, incorporating head and eyes to sell the

fake. Following the toss fake, the QB gets back into a quick three step drop, which times up with the

depth of the routes.

The receivers use play-action tempo for the first few steps of their release to help sell run. It is

important to coach low pad level on the releases of all three receivers. Our X receiver runs a fin route at

10 yards. The fin is simply a lazy comeback. We coach the X to get width immediately upon his release.We want to widen the cornerback with the fin route. The A receiver runs a 12 yard sail route. He

releases with low pad level and play action tempo and bursts into his sail route, flattening his break vs. a

cover 2 safety. Our Z receiver runs an inside seam route. Versus 1 high safety he must cross the safety\'s

face with a post route and pull him to the middle. Versus a middle open look, he runs a deep seam.

The two routes that pop open are the sail and the seam. The fin route successfully widens the corner and

provides a hole to hit the sail. If the safety jumps the sail the seam/post is the throw. We coach the QB towork from the middle of the field out. He looks at the seam/post first, progresses to the sail and ends

with the fin. Rarely do we get to the fin. Our backside route by Y varies depending on the game plan.


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To disguise Temple we have used multiple formations and motion to keep the defense off balance.Diagrams 3 and 4 illustrate how we use compressed 2x2 formations and motions to get into our bunch

set. The use of motions forces the defense to think and react and possibly check to another coverage. Italso creates some confusion for young defensive backs who may not be good at communicating. The

routes do not change, but to the defense, it is a different look.

While Temple has proved to be a valuable tool in getting the ball down the field, our Ohio

combination is a reliable, move the chains as a utility play. Unlike the toss and Temple, the bunch ismoved a bit wider for Ohio (See Diagram 5). Our Z receiver is 5 yards from the offensive tackle.

Diagram 3: Temple' (Tight Orange Right Zoom)


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Diagram 4: 'Temple' (Tight gold X-Ray)

Diagram 5: 'Ohio

One often overlooked aspect of coaching the bunch scheme is the release. It is important to coach thereceivers on release priorities. The A receiver and the X receiver release at the same time. The Z is the

last receiver to release. The A runs a 10-yard curl finding a window and settling down. The X runs a 6-

yard shallow cross and works underneath the linebackers. The shallow route by X draws a lot ofattention from inside linebackers and prevents them from expanding into the curl window. Versus an


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edge blitz, the X looks right away as he releases underneath. The Z, releasing last, runs a 4-yard speedout. The backside receiver, who is our Y, works a deep cross at 10-12 yards.

Ohio is a 5 step drop for the quarterback, who must get a pre-snap coverage read and locate blitzers.

Ohio is a utility play for us because it can attack man and zone schemes and provides a quick outlet

vs. pressure. Against zone coverage we have a curl/flat concept and vs. man coverage we have crossing

routes at varying depths. The only drawback to this combination is the lack of a vertical threat. If you

need a deep shot, the speed out by Z can convert to a wheel. Also, with athletic receivers running

crossing routes, the run after catch can quickly turn into an explosive play.

If you are looking for diversity in your offense, explore some of the possibilities that the bunchformation provides. For an inexperienced quarterback, the bunch set simplifies things and puts

everything right in front of him. Also, instead of having to make complex reads, a young QB can simply

let the play unfold and get the ball to the receiver that comes open. Like everything else, it is importantto remember that balance is important. You must create ways to both pass and run out of the bunch.

Steve Heck is the Wide Receivers Coach at Kutztown University. You can reach him at

[email protected].

WHAT IF?

Q1. What if the defense was in a 3-5-3 rather than a 4-3 or 4-4 defense? Do you need to make any

adjustments in your Bunch Toss play?

Versus the 3-5-3 we would make some modifications to the blocking scheme on the bunch toss. The

point man on the bunch set would still block down but now he will look for the Sam LB. The number 1

WR in the bunch set will block down on the rover linebacker who will likely try to jam the point man in

the bunch. The number 3 WR still releases for the corner and we pull the play side guard around for the

Mike LB.

Q2. What if the CBs and a safety are all playing press coverage on your trips set? Does that affect

their routes for pass plays?

Teams are usually reluctant to play press coverage vs. bunch because it increases the likelihood for rubs

to occur. However, if teams do press, rarely will all three defenders be on the same level. Some teams

will Banjo the coverage to avoid a collision. The most important key we have discovered is coaching

up the point man in the bunch to execute a clean release. We have a preferred order of release in our

bunch pass game and it is important to practice the timing of these releases vs. various coverages.

Q3. What if you face an all-out blitz while running Ohio? What adjustments/reads and blocking

assignments are adjusted?

While Ohio has some natural blitz protection built into the combination, we should strive to keep all

three routes on the move. The point WR would adjust to a Seam/Open concept that gives him the

potential to push his route up the field finding some holes between the hashes at around 12-15 yards. We

also work on hitting the number 1 receiver working inside right away on a shallow route. It is important

to remind the quarterback to keep it simple and see if he has a clearer picture on the back side.
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Add Some Bunch to Your Playbook