Starting out as a young coach, the wing-T was the first system I learned and taught. Though I progressed into other systems, I have always relied on the concepts and principles of the wing-T as tools in the offensive systems that I have created.

The read game is popular now, and we use it to put the defense in conflict. We also look to misdirection plays that separate the defense by forcing them to play sound and responsibly in the box and on both perimeters.

Having a talented receiver we can put in motion allows us to utilize him in our pin-and-pull scheme. This creates a threat to the frontside of the play. Our gap schemes – power and counter – give us angles and create a plus-one advantage within the box. Our naked package also is a unique way of operating from the pistol in terms of quarterback ball-handling, which provides deception and holds defenders to help us keep the backside honest.

The combination of these components allow us to turn any defense into a six-man box against seven blockers.

The name of the motion we use is “Orbit.” The receiver is aiming to replace the original alignment of the tailback. The quarterback wants to time the motion so that the orbit motion can be in a position to put all three backs – quarterback, wide receiver and running back – in a straight line. Then on the snap, all three disperse in different directions.

The effect of this misdirection and split flow is to force safeties to stay out of the box while slowing the pursuit from the linebackers. 

In diagram below, the safety has not moved from his original alignment as he must respect the outside flow of the orbit motion on a sweep path. The frontside linebacker is out of position to fill on the A gap power, which is coming straight downhill at his original alignment, and the backside linebacker is slow into his run fit as well.

The pin-and-pull sweep can be blocked with a fake inside, although we typically use the tailback as an extra blocker going to the perimeter.

 

Inside, the power scheme creates angles and puts an extra blocker at the point of attack by having the backside guard pull. This inside play attacks to the sweep side. The inside linebacker is in conflict in that he cannot flow hard on a sweep or he will not be in a position to stop the power.

 

On the naked side of the play, we can come back with an inside run with counter. The guard will kick out the end, and the fullback will pull through for the linebacker. This play is effective against the backside linebacker, who is flowing hard to stop power or the sweep going away from him.

 

As a constraint play to the sweep and against defenders staying home to play power, the quarterback is given a run or pass option by allowing the guard to make a decision on whether he will trap the end – and open an inside running lane for the quarterback – or seal the end, allowing the quarterback to get on the perimeter with a naked pass. 

 

Breaking this play out of the wing-T formation allows us to keep the defense spread in initial alignment to attack with other segments of the offense. Taking away the defense’s full flow keys keeps the defense spread out and gives the offense an advantage either on the perimeters or in the box.

Keith Grabowski has been a football coach for 26 years, currently serving as an offensive assistant and technology coordinator at Oberlin College in Ohio. He previously was a head coach at the high school level for eight years and the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Baldwin Wallace University. Grabowski serves as an advisor for several sports technology companies. He is a columnist for American Football Monthly and writes his own blog at thecoachesedge.com/blog. He's the author of "101+ Pro Style Pistol Offense Plays" and five other books available on thecoachedge.com and operates Coaches Edge Technologies. Follow him on Twitter @CoachKGrabowski.