On the Coach and Coordinator Podcast, host Keith Grabowski talked to Buffalo offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki about distorting the defense and dealing with +1 boxes.  Today, we break down the four strategies he uses in those scenarios.

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The first thing Kotelnicki focuses on when game planning is how to beat a +1 box. The four ways Kotelnicki believes in for attacking +1 boxes is throwing the ball to beat man coverage, reading a defender in the run game, running away from a defender and making the extra defender fit the run and make the tackle in space. In any formation and personnel group, it is his goal to have answers for handling +1 boxes.

Beating +1 Boxes with the Pass Game

When discussing how to beat a +1 box by throwing the ball, Kotelnicki used the example of the smash-fade concept. Smash-fade allows the offense to deal with +1 boxes and man coverage by having the ability to complete some shot throws to threaten the opponent down the field if the right matchups present themselves. 

In addition to shot throws, short to intermediate or “possession” throws are also key to beating +1 boxes and man coverage. Some specific examples of possession throws are slants or rub concepts.  The uses of possession throws are to gain 7-10 yards, move the chains and keep the offense on schedule. The reality of offensive football is your skill players aren’t all going to be dynamic downfield threats so being able to also beat man coverage with possession throws is key.

Running the QB to Beat +1 Boxes

When planning what RPOs Kotelnicki runs, he first considers whether the QB is a running threat. After that, he decides what RPOs marry with the runs he is carrying in the game plan that week and how those RPOs will result in explosive gains. Explosive gains are emphasized when the QB carries the ball because he wants the reward to match the risk.

Running Outside Zone to Beat +1 Boxes

For dealing with a +1 box, the reason Kotelnicki likes outside zone is because the play can hit anywhere from the front side D-gap to backside D-gap. The horizontal stress on the defense allows the offense to hit the hole wherever the weakness presents itself. Outside zone is better for dealing with a +1 box than inside runs because it puts the running back in position to run away from unblocked defenders to the backside.

Beating +1 Boxes with RB being told who he needs to beat

Once in a while, Kotelnicki believes it is okay to tell the RB there is one unblocked defender he has to beat for the play to be successful. Forcing a defender to make a one-on-one tackle in space can be a high risk-high reward proposition as a missed tackle could result in a long gain while the defender making the tackle could result in a loss of yardage. The key with this philosophy is not relying on it too often. Kotelnicki says expecting the RB to beat the unblocked defender three or four times out of every 20 carries is acceptable.

Using Motion to Distort the Defense

When utilizing “ghost” or “orbit” motion with dynamic athletes, Kotelnicki believes the biggest keys are making sure the offense is balanced in who touches the ball and motioning with a purpose. Teams sometimes fall into the trap of using motion as solely window dressing and forget to give the ball to the player who does the motioning. Another issue teams don’t consider enough is the reason they are motioning and the way the specific motion puts stress on defenders. Every motion should have a purpose.

Beating the Tite Front with Outside Zone

For dealing with the tite front, Kotelnicki likes outside zone. He believes getting the ball on the edge of the defense is the best way of dealing with the 4is that give inside zone fits. Kotelnicki astutely made the point that lighter defenders on the edge who don’t have their hand on the ground may be better to run at because they lack the ability to set a hard edge and force the ball back inside.

Beating the Tite Front with Inside Zone

When running inside zone against the tite front, Kotelnicki believes the ball is likely to spill to the backside C- or D-gap. The responsibility of the play caller is to make sure that the player the ball will spill to on the backside is accounted for, whether it be through blocking him, reading him or motioning.  Backside fold blocks can also be an effective strategy when running inside zone vs. the tite front.

Overall, Kotelnicki has a great plan for distorting defenses and dealing with +1 boxes. Any offensive coordinator would benefit from listening to him speak on using the pass game, RPOs, outside zone, and letting the RB handle the extra defender in space when dealing with +1 boxes.