The verbiage used in this presentation has been created using some actual
terms and position symbols used in the Utah system. Other terms and/or
symbols are those which have been compiled by research of other high
school programs who run a spread oriented offense.
Solo Solo
Trey Trio
Thunder Thunder
Trick Trigger
Formations
Empty Bunch
Ace Doubles
Pro I Twins I
= Motion
= Pitch or Pass
E J
X Y
H Z
• Test – motion across until the plane of the center is broken and then back again
to starting position, used to detect coverage
• Right/Left – motion for back to leave back field either right or left
Motion will be tagged at the end of the play preceded by the personnel symbol of the
player who will be going into motion. The player will maintain his route after motion.
(ex. Solo 9827 Z across)
Route Determination
When calling routes for pass plays a number tree will be used. The number
tree consists of (10) different numbers which represent a given route. When a
pass play is called, it will be in a form of (3) to (5) numbers. All numbers will
be read from left to right and be designated to each eligible non-back field
receiver. If a route is desired for a back field receiver it will be tagged at the
end of the route sequence, which he will carryout to the side which he is
positioned. If back is not in the back field then he will receive a number in
sequence depending on his position in the formation.
(ex. Solo 6556 F Flare) ( ex. Empty R 92298)
Call routes will be used to place routes which are not included in the number
tree into a pass pattern. These routes will be tagged at the beginning of the
numbers sequence and the number sequence will contain (1) less number. If
two receivers are to run call routes then both tags will be called before the
numbers sequence. If two are to run the same route then the symbols of each
will be called together and then the route will be named.
(ex. Solo Z shallow 579)
(ex. Empty Z shallow H Choice 868)
(ex. Empty Z H Shallow 878)
8 Fade/Go
9 Post
6 Post-Corner
7 Dig
4 Deep Out
5 Curl
2 Speed Out
3 Hitch
1 Slant 0 Oblique
Examples of Call Routes
• Fade
• Zip
• Out and Up
• Stick
• China
• Bubble
• Shallow
• Come Back
• Wheel
• Pivot
Keys and Reads in the Short and
Intermediate Passing Game
E T T E E T T E
M
B B
B B
E T N T E E T E
B M B B M B
E T T E E T E
B B B B
E T E E T E B
• Throw Hot
• Throw Uncovered
Coverage Schemes and How to
Recognize them
Types of Coverage
• Cover 1 – 1 Deep with Man Under. Drop, bring, or spy with extra defender
• Cover 2 – 2 Deep with Man or Zone Under. Weak zone if bring more than 4
• Cover 3 – 3 Deep with Zone Under. Weak zone if bring more than 4
• Cover 4 – 4 Deep with Zone Under. Weak zone if bring more than 3
Cover 0
B B
C S C
F
E T T E S
Cover 1
B B
C S S C
E T T E
Cover 2 Man Under
F F
B
C S S C
E T T E
Cover 2 Zone Under
F F
B
C S S C
E T T E
Cover 3
F
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Cover 4
F F
C C
B
S S
E T T E
How to Take Advantage of Different Coverages
1. Cov 0- Pick Routes, Slant and Wheel, Back out of Back Field
The running game is one of the strongest points of any Spread offense.
The principal behind the Spread is to spread the field both vertically and
horizontally. Buy doing this you force the defense to also spread out their
personnel which causes their players to have to defend more space.
Having to occupy and control added space helps to equalize talent levels.
Over the next few pages I will go over the basic run plays in the Utah
offense. I will break each play down and show blocking assignments
against basic fronts.
Basic Running Plays
• Zone
• Zone Read (Option)
• F Trap
• QB Trap
• Counter
• Counter Read (Option)
• Shovel Option
• Speed Option
Zone / Zone Read
B B
E T T E
B M B
B
E T E E T T E
B B B B
B
E T E B E T E
F Trap
B B
E T T E
B B
E T T E
B M B B
E T E E T T E
Counter / Counter Read
B B
E T T E
B M B B
E T E E T T E
Shovel (Crazy) Option
B B
E T T E
B B
E T T E
E T T E
W B S
E T T E
Big On Big
W B S
Big On Big
E T T E
W B S
E T T E
Roll or Sprint Protection
W B S
E T T E
Quick Protection
E T T E
W B
E T T E
Run Plays
From Various Formation
Solo Triple Option R (Zone L Read)
F Option Reads
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Trey Triple Option R
F Option Reads
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Ace H Back Triple Option R
F Option Reads
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Trio Triple Option R
F Option Reads
C C
S B B
S
E T T E
Trio Triple Option R Z Back
F Option Reads
C C
B B
S
S
E T T E
Over Wing-Slot H Back Triple
Option R
F Option Reads
C
S B B
S
C
E T T E
Thunder Shovel Option Right
F Back
F
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Solo Z Right QB Gut
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Trigger QB Trap R
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Trio Blast Left Z Back
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Trio Power Left Z Back
C C
B B
S
S
E T T E
Trio Speed Option Rev Right
Z Back
F
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Trio QB Counter R
C C
S B B
S
E T T E
Twins I Counter Right Z Across
C C
S B B
S
E T T E
Bunch Toss Right
C S B B C
S
E T T E
Bunch Counter Left
C S B B C
S
E T T E
Thunder Speed Option Right
F Back
F
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Thunder Speed Rev Left F Back
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Twins I Power R QB R Motion
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Pass Plays
From Various Formation
Thunder Z Shallow 9798
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Thunder Z Shallow 5665
C
C B B
S S
E T T E
Solo 7565 F Release
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Trey Roll Left 5554
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Trips X Y Shallow 95 F Curl Left
Motion
F
C
C
S B B
S
E T T E
Trick Y Shallow F Pivot 898
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Thunder 57555
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Trio Split Screen F left Motion
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Trio Tight X Shallow 595 F Curl Left
Motion
F
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Ace Zone Left 8588
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Trio 9295 F Release
C C
S B B
S
E T T E
Empty Z F Pivot 979
C C
B B
S
S
E T T E
Thunder F Z Pivot 798
F
C
C
S B B
S
E T T E
Thunder F Pivot 1598
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Solo 7565
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Trey 8559
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Trick 84555
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Trick 85588
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Trick F Bubble H Choice 558
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Trick F Bubble H Shallow 578
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Trio Zone L Fake 5827
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Trio Zone L Fake Hitch Screen R
C C
S B B
S
E T T E
Bunch Toss R Fake Hitch Screen L
C S B B C
S
E T T E
Bunch Zone R Fake Y Hitch and
Go 562
F
C B B S C
S
E T T E
Trio Zone R Fake Hitch Screen Left
and Lateral H Back
F
C C
S B B
S
E T T E
Trio 7255 H Test
C C
S B B
S
E T T E
Trio 7255 F Flat H Test
C C
S B B
S
E T T E
Twins I Power Pass QB R Motion
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Trey Y Shallow 597 F Curl
Right Motion
F
C
C
B B S
S
E T T E
Trigger 55528
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Trigger Y Choice 8588
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Trio Zone L Fake Bubble R
C C
S B B
S
E T T E
Solo Zone L Fake 8888
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Solo 8558
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Empty 95559
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Trey X Choice 888 F Curl
Right Motion
F
C B B C
S S
E T T E
Trigger 24598 F In
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Trigger F Shallow 7598 F In
C C
B B
S S
E T T E
Trips Hitch Screen QB Throw Back
Right F Left Motion
F
C C
B B S
S
E T T E
Doubles Sprint Rev Right Pass
C
C
S B B S
E T T E