2023 Spring Game - 1st Half Passing Game
- By s.lattimer
- Insider's Board
- 2 Replies
2023 Nebraska Offense - Spring Game Edition
Alright, the public finally got a chance to see Nebraska in an actual football in the spring game for the first time in a long time, at least in terms of a live, actual game type environment. I got bored and found a condensed version of the 1st half of the spring game and tried my best to figure out what the offense was actually doing.
If you read any of my 2019 Baylor Breakdowns under Rhule, there are a lot of similarities. I’d venture to say the offenses are incredibly similar, which I think is a good thing. You’ve got Satterfield and McGuire who were all under Rhule at Baylor, so it shouldn’t be shocking. But I’m glad that is the direction they will most likely be going.
As always, a disclaimer, I may be wrong on some of this, and likely am on several aspects, especially the passing game, but it’s hard as hell to try and figure out what they’re doing without an All-22. So take that with a grade of slaw. Also, I use terminology that is familiar to me. In no way shape or form is it what they call it, or probably anywhere close. But overall, I’m pretty confident in identifying core concepts of what they did in the first half.
General Thoughts
Before I get into this, I’m just talking about schematics, and very little on execution, which if you’ve got questions, certainly ask. Overall thoughts…they ran a lot of schemes from a run game aspect. From a gap aspect, Duo, Power, Counter, Draw, Belly G, Wedge. From a zone aspect - Inside Zone and Outside Zone. Plus you have your pass protections and 2 screens. All in the first half. A total of 63 plays between the 1s & 2s. They also utilized a wide variety of formations, unbalanced sets, and motion. If they were looking to give the fighting Pee Pantsers a lot to scout. They accomplished that IMO.
Passing Game: Part 1 - Play Action Pass (PAP)
I really like what they do on their PAP game. It’s a lot of heavy run action, max or 6 man protections, easy reads for the QB and create explosive plays downfield. Most notably is their Spear concept which is a great 3 level flood concept. They also ran a few concepts, which I think are just variations of the Spear, but I separated them into just 3 level floods because the #1 receiver was running a post instead of the traditional “V” route like on the Spear.
The reason I like the spear concept so much is its versatility, as it can be run from literally any formation and the variations you can use to negate what a defense is doing to take it away is really good. Clip one is the spear. You can see (barely) the angle of the route by #1. He’s the homerun ball, then the intermediate route by #2, getting under the homerun, and then you have a checkdown under the intermediate.
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Next two clips are both PAP shots, very similar to the spear concept, but #1 is running more of a post, clearing for the intermediate with a checkdown under the intermediate. Creating that 3 level concept to 1 side. Easy read for the QB. No full field read.
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This clip could be spear - but I can’t tell what #1 exactly does.
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This last clip is a max protect shot. Rhule and Co did a lot of this at Baylor. 2 Man routes, maybe they’re choice routes, I don’t know, but you’re just isolating 1:1 vs the corners.
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Passing Game: Part 2: Screens
I love some good designed screens, especially slow screens. It's a good way to take advantage of a fast flow defense and help the OL out. In the first half Nebraska ran two types of screens. One slow screen to the TB, and one fast screen to a WR.
First, the slow screen. I like the action as they use a drive concept to pull attention away from where the slow screen is going. Timing isn’t great, but they’ve got guys out and blocking.
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Second is the fast/tunnel screen. They use some window dressing in the motion to empty, typically will get some checks from a defense and rip the ball out with the OL setting the sidewalk.
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Passing Game: Part 3: Dropback
This section was by far the hardest to do as you can't see all the routes develop and their landmarks. So there is a lot of guesswork, but I saw a lot of similarities here compared to what Baylor did. Mainly with what I call the Hi/Lo game and my personal favorite 4 verts.
To me, the hallmark of 4 verts is having 2 receivers attack 2 yards outside the hash. What the two outside receivers do doesn't have a big impact on the concept. Sometimes a #1 drags, or hitches up, or speed outs. It really doesn't matter, as the read progression IMO is seam to seam. Also, to me, 4 verts is also very sound vs blitz looks. Easy to get the ball out and not take hits.
First looking at 4 verts. They use some variations to this, but to me, 4 verts is the best pass play out there. Create vertical threats, give windows to throw, use a seam read to take advantage of coverage. Pretty sure the first big pass play to Nate Boerkicher was verts.
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Next set of clips is what I consider to be a Hi/Lo concept. This is what I thought was most similar to what they did at Baylor. To give you an idea on how often they used this. IN 2019 @ Baylor they threw the ball on dropback 310 times, and 103 those were of the Hi/Lo variety.
Sadly, this is one of the better looks you’ll get out of it. Typically #2 is running an outbreaking route and #1 is running a skinny glance/drift or may run a takeoff. 2nd clip Nash gets a hand on it.
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Last clip pairs a snag concept to the front side and the Hi/Lo Glance to the backside on this 2 pt attempt. Front side snag = a flat, a corner, and a pint down route. You can probably see the Hi/Lo best here on the bottom of the screen.
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That’s a wrap. They ran a few more things, and I haven’t watched the 2nd half yet. I know they handed it off on the Jet Action, but I’m guessing there wasn’t much more in the 2nd half scheme wise. Hope you enjoyed it. I did a big breakdown on the 2019 Baylor Offense. I'll post it at some point. I still get the sense the offense will look like Baylor, given, I have no idea what Temple ran.
Alright, the public finally got a chance to see Nebraska in an actual football in the spring game for the first time in a long time, at least in terms of a live, actual game type environment. I got bored and found a condensed version of the 1st half of the spring game and tried my best to figure out what the offense was actually doing.
If you read any of my 2019 Baylor Breakdowns under Rhule, there are a lot of similarities. I’d venture to say the offenses are incredibly similar, which I think is a good thing. You’ve got Satterfield and McGuire who were all under Rhule at Baylor, so it shouldn’t be shocking. But I’m glad that is the direction they will most likely be going.
As always, a disclaimer, I may be wrong on some of this, and likely am on several aspects, especially the passing game, but it’s hard as hell to try and figure out what they’re doing without an All-22. So take that with a grade of slaw. Also, I use terminology that is familiar to me. In no way shape or form is it what they call it, or probably anywhere close. But overall, I’m pretty confident in identifying core concepts of what they did in the first half.
General Thoughts
Before I get into this, I’m just talking about schematics, and very little on execution, which if you’ve got questions, certainly ask. Overall thoughts…they ran a lot of schemes from a run game aspect. From a gap aspect, Duo, Power, Counter, Draw, Belly G, Wedge. From a zone aspect - Inside Zone and Outside Zone. Plus you have your pass protections and 2 screens. All in the first half. A total of 63 plays between the 1s & 2s. They also utilized a wide variety of formations, unbalanced sets, and motion. If they were looking to give the fighting Pee Pantsers a lot to scout. They accomplished that IMO.
Passing Game: Part 1 - Play Action Pass (PAP)
I really like what they do on their PAP game. It’s a lot of heavy run action, max or 6 man protections, easy reads for the QB and create explosive plays downfield. Most notably is their Spear concept which is a great 3 level flood concept. They also ran a few concepts, which I think are just variations of the Spear, but I separated them into just 3 level floods because the #1 receiver was running a post instead of the traditional “V” route like on the Spear.
The reason I like the spear concept so much is its versatility, as it can be run from literally any formation and the variations you can use to negate what a defense is doing to take it away is really good. Clip one is the spear. You can see (barely) the angle of the route by #1. He’s the homerun ball, then the intermediate route by #2, getting under the homerun, and then you have a checkdown under the intermediate.
Login to view embedded media
Next two clips are both PAP shots, very similar to the spear concept, but #1 is running more of a post, clearing for the intermediate with a checkdown under the intermediate. Creating that 3 level concept to 1 side. Easy read for the QB. No full field read.
Login to view embedded media
This clip could be spear - but I can’t tell what #1 exactly does.
Login to view embedded media
This last clip is a max protect shot. Rhule and Co did a lot of this at Baylor. 2 Man routes, maybe they’re choice routes, I don’t know, but you’re just isolating 1:1 vs the corners.
Login to view embedded media
Passing Game: Part 2: Screens
I love some good designed screens, especially slow screens. It's a good way to take advantage of a fast flow defense and help the OL out. In the first half Nebraska ran two types of screens. One slow screen to the TB, and one fast screen to a WR.
First, the slow screen. I like the action as they use a drive concept to pull attention away from where the slow screen is going. Timing isn’t great, but they’ve got guys out and blocking.
Login to view embedded media
Second is the fast/tunnel screen. They use some window dressing in the motion to empty, typically will get some checks from a defense and rip the ball out with the OL setting the sidewalk.
Login to view embedded media
Passing Game: Part 3: Dropback
This section was by far the hardest to do as you can't see all the routes develop and their landmarks. So there is a lot of guesswork, but I saw a lot of similarities here compared to what Baylor did. Mainly with what I call the Hi/Lo game and my personal favorite 4 verts.
To me, the hallmark of 4 verts is having 2 receivers attack 2 yards outside the hash. What the two outside receivers do doesn't have a big impact on the concept. Sometimes a #1 drags, or hitches up, or speed outs. It really doesn't matter, as the read progression IMO is seam to seam. Also, to me, 4 verts is also very sound vs blitz looks. Easy to get the ball out and not take hits.
First looking at 4 verts. They use some variations to this, but to me, 4 verts is the best pass play out there. Create vertical threats, give windows to throw, use a seam read to take advantage of coverage. Pretty sure the first big pass play to Nate Boerkicher was verts.
Login to view embedded media
Login to view embedded media
Login to view embedded media
Next set of clips is what I consider to be a Hi/Lo concept. This is what I thought was most similar to what they did at Baylor. To give you an idea on how often they used this. IN 2019 @ Baylor they threw the ball on dropback 310 times, and 103 those were of the Hi/Lo variety.
Sadly, this is one of the better looks you’ll get out of it. Typically #2 is running an outbreaking route and #1 is running a skinny glance/drift or may run a takeoff. 2nd clip Nash gets a hand on it.
Login to view embedded media
Login to view embedded media
Last clip pairs a snag concept to the front side and the Hi/Lo Glance to the backside on this 2 pt attempt. Front side snag = a flat, a corner, and a pint down route. You can probably see the Hi/Lo best here on the bottom of the screen.
Login to view embedded media
That’s a wrap. They ran a few more things, and I haven’t watched the 2nd half yet. I know they handed it off on the Jet Action, but I’m guessing there wasn’t much more in the 2nd half scheme wise. Hope you enjoyed it. I did a big breakdown on the 2019 Baylor Offense. I'll post it at some point. I still get the sense the offense will look like Baylor, given, I have no idea what Temple ran.
