How Wisconsin Blends Smash Mouth Football With the Air Raid

After a week away we are back with Chapter Five of the introduction to the Wisconsin football program’s Dairy Raid Offense series. This week, we will wrap up the run game with a look at the Badgers power/gap scheme.

As we have discussed in previous chapters, it is important to create balance within an offense. Through balance, we can let the defense dictate the most effective way to beat them. Just like the offense as a whole, it’s important to seek the same balance within your rushing attack. The most fundamental aspect of building a balanced rushing attack is using schemes that complement each other.

Wisconsin football can accomplish this by employing different backfield actions within the same blocking scheme. This is seen often in variations of the inside zone scheme. Another effective approach is the horizontal stretch provided by the outside zone. By creating flow for the defense in one direction the ball carrier looks to cut against that flow.

Now lets take the idea of going against the flow to the next level. Now we are moving away from the zone scheme and taking a step back in football history to the power or gap scheme.

Power Defined

The power scheme encompasses blocking schemes that, through down blocks or double teams, create a gap with a pulling offensive lineman. 

A power/gap scheme compliments zone schemes because it creates its own leverage. Both the backfield action and the down block/pull action of the line create flow one direction but setting up the gap in another. This can prove quite effective especially against quick flowing linebackers who like to run downhill reading guards.

Another complementary aspect of the power scheme is the ability to overwhelm the point of attack. With a standard zone scheme, the idea is to get a “hat for a hat” and cut into one of the gaps. With a power scheme, you still work to get a hat for a hat, but with pulls, you can bring players who might not otherwise block effectively for the play side to the gap to clear the way for the ball carrier.

Building a Gap Scheme

All right, so to understand the power scheme, we build from the pull -> out. What is a pull? A Pull is the layman’s term for a block in which the blocker takes himself from one position and runs around another offensive player to another position. 

There are many different types of pulls. A pull can be taking one player from one side of the formation to the other in an effort to gain a numbers advantage. It can also be taking a player on one side of the formation, keeping him on that side, and either widening or climbing to the next level to create new leverage.

The next most important block we’re looking for is the pull check. A pull check is a block on the defender who is covering the player who is pulling. We want to secure this block so we don’t allow the defender covering the puller to scrape down the line. 

After determining the pull and pull, check the rest of our blockers, which are usually a block away from the call. The down blocks create a seal to the backside of the play. More importantly, they also create flow away from the play side gap. With flow going one direction, creating a wall, and the pull going the other, creating a seal, you end up with a blocking scheme that would make Vince Lombardi proud.

Modern football has given us another effective pull check. It can be very tempting for an EDGE defender to chase a pulling linemen (as many defensive schemes teach them to do), but in doing so, they put themselves horribly out of position to defend a QB keep. So, instead of blocking the EDGE, we let him block himself.

Complimenting a Complimentary Scheme

Building upon the basic scheme, there are many complementary variations. A commonly used variation is to add a lead blocker to the play. This can be another lineman, a tight end/fullback—the options are endless. By inserting a lead blocker into a power play, you can overwhelm the point of attack with either speed or power.

Gap scheme plays are also very effective as the basis for package plays because they go against the natural flow of the ball. By forcing the off-ball defenders to play three-dimensionally, you take away their ability to attack. Now, they have to play more passively. 

By creating conflicts of assignment you force defenses to play more generic. Now you are dictating the opposing team’s game plan. The circle of life is complete. When we get into the film, you’ll be able to see these strategies used often by the Wisconsin Badgers football team.

Speaking of the film, now that we have a better understanding of the power scheme and how to execute it let’s take a look at some examples both in the classroom and on the field. Gap schemes have been a staple of football since the beginning. Gap schemes are still essential to the modern spread offense. They are truly complimentary to zone schemes while bringing back a little bit of that old school mentality.

Wisconsin Football Base Passing Concepts in the Dairy Raid Offense

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