Lincoln Riley has created an offensive juggernaut as the offensive coordinator and current head coach at the University of Oklahoma. While his concepts may not be original to him, he has created a system that attacks defenses in a way others can learn from. USA Football has followed the success of the Sooner’s offense under Riley’s direction and posted articles, podcasts and tweets highlighting some of their best concepts.

How Lincoln Riley’s Offensive Schemes Have the Sooners Rolling

Lincoln Riley’s Oklahoma offense is extremely unique and creative. Many route combinations he runs are unique to Oklahoma. Riley’s outside-the-box thinking is a big reason why Oklahoma is at the top of college football. This article covers the hesitation slant, the in-and-out mesh, double slant whip and the slant/wheel  

How Oklahoma Utilizes the Counter

The counter scheme is a big part of Riley’s offense.  Creating plays that counter or complement other plays are a big part of the Sooner’s strategy. This article illustrates that with a complement to F-Counter, QB Counter and Counter-Pop Pass.

Bash Counter, Counter RPO and Counter Variations

More variations of the counter scheme are shared in this article, including the popular bash counter and RPO off of the scheme.

Midline Option Off of Outside Zone

A section of this article illustrates how the Sooners create a midline option-type play off of outside zone.

Gimmick Play – RB to QB Speed Option

Having a simple twist off of a base play can present something to the defense that they have not seen before. This article shares a gimmick play that turns into a speed option with the running back optioning the end and the quarterback becoming the pitch man.

Beating Linebacker’s with the Pop Pass

To stop OU’s powerful run game, linebackers must be quick to commit to the run. This opens some quick throws into voids left by filling linebackers. The pop pass is a tool used by the Sooners to exploit the quick linebacker reactions.

The Smash Fade Concept

The smash fade may be an easier throw for the quarterback to make than a traditional fade. This article illustrates the smash fade as well as a “shake” route complement tagged into the play.

The Smash Bootleg

For a team that dominates with the inside run game, quarterback movement passes off of the run can create explosive plays. This article illustrates plays from OU’s play-action boot package, including the smash concept.

The Burst Series

This article identifies a set of plays as “burst series.”  It provides a great complement to slot fade or smash concepts but takes a little more time to develop. It is useful in defeating quarter coverage.

Naked Double Post

Oklahoma’s bootleg utilized the double post and the Sooners went 10-for-15 for 463 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions last season, averaging over 30 yards per play.

Coach & Coordinator Podcast:

Oklahoma Co-OC/OL Coach Bill Bedenbaugh

Bill Bedenbaugh joined Keith Grabowski to discusss building his offensive line units, making adjustments and developing fundamentals.

Popular tweets on @FBDevCoach – Learn from Oklahoma:

Double Slant Whip: 

Learning from Oklahoma:
▪️Double Slant Whip
▪️#2 WR runs a Slant; #1 WR runs a slant return/whip route.
▪️Takes advantage of DB’s that start overplaying that Slant. pic.twitter.com/Y2hp2OgLKr

— FBDevCoach (@FBDevCoach) May 20, 2019

8 Double Slant: 

Learning from Oklahoma:
▪️”8 Double Slant”
▪️”8” is snag in the Air Raid Offense
▪️To the backside Oklahoma has a unique way to run the double slants
▪️#1 runs a 5-yard Slant while #2 runs a flat route that returns into a Slant
▪️Double Slants is a great 2-High beater pic.twitter.com/ZMc5aEtmrc

— FBDevCoach (@FBDevCoach) May 21, 2019

98 Z-Sluggo: 

Learning from Oklahoma:
▪️”98 Z-Sluggo”
▪️98 is Double Smash in the Air Raid
▪️At the top of the screen they tag “Z-Sluggo”
▪️Great Cover 3 beater; #1 WR runs under the curl/flat defender then up the seam. pic.twitter.com/S26e5gsMxx

— FBDevCoach (@FBDevCoach) May 23, 2019

GT Counter Fly RPO: 

Learning from Oklahoma:
▪️GT Counter Fly RPO
▪️QB reads the field, space and numbers, for the swing throw
▪️Tough on man coverage as the DB has to run through traffic, across the field
▪️QB sees grass and that he has so he throws the swing route pic.twitter.com/AnZJcGhWEb

— FBDevCoach (@FBDevCoach) May 24, 2019

Coach Bedenbaugh talked about the importance of teaching sound fundamentals for offensive line focused on utilizing the hips and hands. These techniques are the foundation of USA Football’s Contact System. Learn more and get three free videos here.