(Photo via timesfreepress.com)

During the three years Purdue coach Jeff Brohm was at Western Kentucky, the Hilltoppers never dropped outside the top three in the nation in explosive passing plays (plays over 20 yards). When studying their offense, one play that stood out to me as particularly efficient and explosive, was their play action double seam play. On this play, the Hilltoppers went 13 of 17 (76 percent) for 335 yards (19.7-yard average), with three touchdowns and one interception.

The first progression and intent of the play is to throw the tight end on the crossing route off play action. This is usually an easy completion because the backers are often influenced by the play action (especially because they pull the guard.) If that is covered, the Y’s route should influence the safety, which opens up the R on the seam route. If the corner falls off and plays the seam, the QB can work back to the Z on the hitch. The QB can also throw the outside receivers on fade routes if he likes the matchup.

Single high: Brohm usually called this concept when he expected single high coverages. The play is read like four verticals against single high. The major differences between this and your typical four verticals play is that the crosser is shallower, they run it off play action (with a pulling guard usually) and they run hitches outside, which does a better job of occupying the flat defenders in Cover-3.

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The quarterback first looks to his tight end on a crossing route. The play action with the pulling guard makes the backers flow in order to open up space for the cross. Also, the flat defender is usually occupied by the hitch, which opens up the throwing lane even more. (note that the tight end catches the ball at 10-12 yards, not 18-22 like your typical four verts play)

 

 

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Against Cover-1 man, the tight end will use the stair step technique to create separation against man coverage.

 

If the tight end is covered on the cross, the QB’s eyes and the tight end’s route should influence the free safety in order to create space for the slot running down the seam. (note how the flat defender and the corner play the hitch, opening up even more space for the seam)

 

If the corner falls off and is able to play the seam, the quarterback will throw the hitch.

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2-high: Brohm mostly called this play when he was expecting 1-high. Of the 17 times they ran this play, they only called it against a 2 shell three times. Against 2-high, the tight end runs straight up the field to split the safeties, and the slot runs a bender, which makes the spacing somewhat congested. Here is an example of them throwing the tight end up the middle.

 

If the tight end is covered, they will throw the slot on a bender.

 

Blitz: Brohm seems to like to run this play when he expects middle pressure because the tight end attacks the space vacated by the blitzing linebackers.

 

Throw 1-on-1: The QB has the option to throw the fade against press coverage if he has 1-on-1 coverage and likes his matchup outside.

 

Other backfield actions: While Western Kentucky mostly ran this concept with a power fake, pulling the backside guard, the Hilltoppers also had a few plays where they ran the concept with a play action off their zone and Belly G plays.

Here is an example of WKU running the concept off a G-lead play action.

 

Here is an example of WKU running the concept off zone action. When the Hilltoppers don’t pull the guard, the tight end is usually not as open because action doesn’t influence the backers as much, but in this particular example, the tight end gets open by replacing a blitzing backer.

 

NFL: Other teams have been running 4 verts off play action, which is very similar to WKU’s double seam concept. Since WKU runs it with a shallower cross by the tight, that makes it an easier completion, and puts the free safety in more of a bind. I also think having hitches outside forces the flat defenders to widen, which opens up windows to throw the seam routes. Here is a diagram from the Detroit Lions’ playbook.

Here, the Los Angeles Rams run play action 4 verts and pull the guard. The play action with the guard pulling does a great job of influencing the backers to get the tight end open. Despite being open, they didn’t end up completing the pass. Running the tight end shallower like WKU does may have made this an easier throw and catch.

 

Possible developments: I think this is a concept that could easily be adapted to a Baylor style passing game by simply running No. 2 choice, and tagging the Y on a crossing route. Having No. 2 run a choice instead of a seam read would give him the same space, plus extra freedom to sit if he cannot win vertically, and the ability take outside space on a slot fade if it is available, especially against man coverage.

Contact Noah Riley at noahbriley@lclark.edu or find him on Twitter @Noahriley21 Check out more of his work at rileykolstefootball.com/.