A Prayer for Owen Meany {ICK} - This is a thirteen yard 'in' pattern by the right wide receiver. There are multiple directions of movement in the backfield, for maximum confusion for the linebackers. The quarterback drops left, then rolls right to hit the wide receiver at the end of his thirteen yard pattern. Just the thing on third and ten...
Amoebic Shock {RD} - Amoebic Shock is a pass play that is successful against most defenses. The play starts with a snap to the fullback, who runs right, drawing in any defender with a 'Read Running Back' instruction. The targeted receiver in this play is the halfback, who starts off in a slot on the left hand side. If there are less than four man to man players on the defense, there is chance the halfback will not even be covered. The halfback goes straight out, then cuts right, crossing paths with a tight end going the other way. If everything works out, the halfback is open for a fifteen yard gain. {NOTE: This play has been updated and revised to conform with current PMFB league rules. --ICK}
Augsburg {MWH} - "FL Weak Screened Flare" - A fake pass to the halfback works to draw off the weak side pass protection, while the quarterback throws to the countering flanker. The flanker tries to get around the corner and when the defense is fooled by the fake pass, will usually gain ten to fifteen yards.
Bamberg {MWH} - "FL Sideline Cross Fly" - A medium or long sideline quarterback roll out pass that utilizes a crossing pattern with the tight end to get the flanker open, plus a pump fake to the halfback. Call me crazy, but it seems important that a pump fake happens within ten yards of the line of scrimmage. If the flanker is not open, the scanning quarterback will throw elsewhere, or scramble.
Blast-Off Deep {RP} - The wide receiver goes deep and cuts behind another wide receiver just at the end of the play to confuse the defensive backs.
Bonn {MWH} - "FB Strong Screened Flare" - The fullback catches in this sweeping screen to the strong side. The pump fake to the flanker helps as well.
Canticle for Leibowitz {ICK} - This is a simple, but very effective deep drag pattern by the left flanker. The right wide receiver crosses the pattern of the flanker, to hopefully draw off or confuse coverage. The quarterback drops back, fakes a pass to the left wide receiver, then rolls right and hits the flanker twenty-five yards downfield. A good deep pass play to run on first down.
Change up now! {GN} - This is one of my more devious plays. It is a play designed to get thirty or more yards by using the halfback option pass combined with the tricky running pattern of the receivers. The lateral to the halfback is designed to draw the deep fdefenders closer to the line of scrimmage, especially as the halfback gets closer to the line of scrimmage right before throwing the ball. The wide receivers are spread and diagrammed to cross so that they will have the best chance of shrugging off any man to man coverage. I had hoped for this play to be a true option pass since the linemen are in continuous run rush, but alas, it does not happen that way. I don't think this play will translate into PlayMaker Football 2.0 well, but maybe you can tweak it successfully. If so, send me a copy please!
ChickenBone BOMB {JM} - This play was originally devised as a complement to the ChickenBone running attack of the Flunkies. It was created as a game ender when defenses settled into a anti-ChickenBone running mode.
Chucker {RH} - The quarterback simply takes the snap from the center and laterals it back to the halfback. The halfback sprints right, pauses, then lobs the ball to the wide receiver who is running a simple ten yard sprint. The defense is temporarily fooled by the halfback taking the pitch and will pursue; thus pulling them off the wide receiver who can then usually gain fifteen yards. {NOTE: This play has been updated and revised to conform with current PMFB league rules. -- ICK}
Cold Fire {ICK} - This is one of a couple shotgun formations that I like to run my offense out of. It can easily be made AOFL legal by bringing the split left halfback under the left tackle. The two outside right wide receivers run cutoff post patterns, the inside flanker runs a short flag underneath them. The quarterback takes the snap, rolls right, and hits the open flanker about eight to ten yards downfield. This is a great two minute drill play as it is designed to gain big yardage if the flanker is not covered, or he will get shoved out of bounds to stop the clock if he is covered.
Cross Weak {GS} - Cross Weak is an interesting pass play that should give most man to man coverage fits. It depends on speedy, disciplined receivers and mobile, strong linemen. It's a play action pass intended to spring a wide receiver crossing to the weak-side. The play begins with a run fake to the halfback. By the third quarter or so, most teams halfback will be the 'hot' runner, so the fake will be more likely to be bought by the linebackers, who could mess up the timing by chucking the receivers as they cross the center of the field. The fake moves them out of the way. The two wide receivers, initially lined up on the strong-side of the play, run simple sprint patterns across the field. Moving the receivers this far across the field sometimes manages to strip them of coverage. If everything goes right you will have an open pass to the short wide receiver and a ten yard gain in good position to go out of bounds and stop the clock, which is especially useful for late in the game scenarios. {NOTE: This play has been updated and revised to conform with current PMFB league rules. -- ICK}
Dead Zone/hook&ladder {DCA} - This is a nasty little play to pull on someone who does not cover short slant ins, or who will cover the receivers in close man to man with no deep help. The wide receiver runs a five yard slant in. The quarterback throws the ball as soon as he gets the snap and the halfback comes blazing out of the backfield and gets the pitch from the wide receiver as soon as he catches the ball. Even if the wide receiver does not get to pitch the ball, he still has a five yard gain. If there is no deep help, the receiver blocks off his defender and the halfback turns the corner for a touchdown!
Dresden {MWH} - "FB Middle Fake-out" - Another fake handoff, this time to the halfback, often allows the fullback to pounce to the middle of the defensive backfield and get open for a scanned pass. When he catches the pass, he's hard to stop.
Dual Screen {DMW} - This play was inspired by a thorough thrashing at the hands of Bill Hall's Stockers. They had killed me with one particular devastating screen pass after another a couple of seasons ago. The play is rather simple, but I have not seen any other coach use the concept. The fullback sprints out left behind a three man screen, and the halfback moves out to the right behind a similar three man screen. The quarterback is given a scan instruction and throws a screen to either back. Simplicity itself.
East Brunswick {BH} - This is a bombastic little thing. The play starts with the ball being snapped to the halfback. He in turn pitches it to the quarterback. Meanwhile, the wide receiver pauses for two seconds, then runs his route, A second halfback goes down the field with him to set up a pick. The quarterback drops back, then throws to the wide open wide receiver, who usually gets a fifteen yard gain. The object here is to throw off the man to man coverage. This is accomplished in two ways; one, by having the wide receiver pause, and two, by having the ball snapped to the running back to draw the defensive in oin run coverage. A nasty little pass...
Essen {MWH} - "FB Strong Screened Flare" - While the defense thinks that the halfback has just caught a pass, the fullback runs under his pulling line, pulls down the flare, and jumps into the defensive backfield near the sideline. Again, a difficult pass to stop, especially once the strong fullback has the ball.
EXP {DMW} - This is a gimmick play of the type which we all love to tinker with, but rarely achieve any measure of success with. This one works pretty well especially if you have got two skilled running backs who can handle the pitches.
Fake 5 inside {GN} - No magic here at all! The wide receivers are lined up weak. The inside wide receiver pauses at the line of scrimmage allowing the other two wide receivers to draw zone coverage away from the target pass area. The crossing pattern of the wide receivers is aimed at confusing man coverage. Time for the pass is given by the quarterback faking a handoff to the running back running up the middle.
FB Short Sideline Fly {MWH} - A fun play, since half of the time the fullback is not picked up by man to man coverage. If he is open, it is a big gainer. Thirty yards or more...
FL Post {MWH} - A 'Hail Mary' to the middle of the field, requiring one fast wide receiver and one strong wide receiver {for the pick}. Originally called 'Heil Kohl,' the quarterback throws the ball about sixty yards in the air, for a gain of about forty yards if complete.
Frankfurt-an-derr-Oder {MWH} - "SE2 Sideline, Fake Inside" - A pump fake to the supposedly inward breaking split end draws the defenders to the inside, enabling the split end to break for the sideline away from the defenders converging on his former position. This play requires an extremely fast split end.
Gera {MWH} - "HB-SE Option Pass" - The halfback takes the lateral, but instead of running, dumps the pass to the often open split end in the close flat. A dinky pass, but on completion, good for five to six yards.
Gladbach {MWH} - "HB Sideline Out" - The halfback pretends to run a post pattern, but cuts sharply outside to take the pass. If the defender is weak, the halfback can run over him, and waltz down the field for a touchdown.
Hannover {MWH} - "HB Weak Screened Flare" - Using the grandfather of German formations, this play serves a platter of shock and dismay to a less intelligent defense. The quarterback fakes a pass to the flanker, while the halfback on the other side of the field, under blockers, runs for a big gain. This play is extremely lethal to man coverage as well as zone coverage, and is the German's "Brot-und-Butter" {bread and butter} play, evolved from the early {now illegal} screen flare.
HB Deep {RP} - The halfback goes out of the backfield to the deep left side of the field, hoping no one picks him up.
HB Long Flag Lf. {JGB} - This is a designed rollout, where the quarterback follows a wall of offensive linemen about fifteen to twenty yards deep on the left side of the field. The halfback moves right, then backwards, before starting his twenty to thirty yard flag pattern. The halfback's steps to the right and backward are the key to shaking his coverage. If the halfback is open this play is good for a gain of about thirty to forty yards.
HB Option Pass Lf {ICK} - This is an option pass, executed by the halfback, run out of the wishbone formation, thrown to the {hopefully} wide open wide receiver downfield. The left split end clears out the medium/deep left zone and the wide receiver who is lined up as the quarterback, sprints out underneath the cleared zone and heads for the corner. The backfield moves right, then the halfback moves back left and hits the wide receiver about fifteen to twenty yards downfield.
HB Square In {MWH} - Another favorite, if the halfback catches the pass, he is usually in front of the defensive back or linebacker, whom he proceeds to plow over for a big gain.
HB Underbelly Cross {JGB} - This play is keyed on the halfback's cross from the right to the left side behind the line of scrimmage. The pulling right guard leads the blocking, while everyone else runs a decoy pattern. A very effective tight screen.
HM {EDR} - The antithesis of the 'Hail Mary' play. Line everyone up on one side, and throw to the other. It also incoporates a 'hitch and go' pattern. Very effective against loose man coverage and some zones. Tight man coverage can cause a problem for this play.
Ludwigsburg {MWH} - "FL End Around Catch" - The flanker runs under the offensive backfield, while all other eligible receivers plug up the short zones. This scan pass is very effective against zones, and the flanker running under the offensive line throws off man coverage as well.
Meiningen {MWH} - "SE Square Out" - The split end sprints downfield ten yards, then breaks over to the sideline to catch a timed pass. A perfect play for that quick ten yards, and best with a quality split end.
Middle strike GFL {GN} - A classic simple play aimed at getting ten yards. When one receiver won't do, maybe two will? The wide receivers are split and are timed to cross each other's paths to tangle the defense. Two receivers are targeted for the same pass, the theory being that one of them might be in better position to catch the ball. This play was designed for the GFL, because there is no rule requiring an eligible receiver in the backfield.
Nuernburg {MWH} - "HB Muddle Weak Flat" - The fullback takes a quick lateral, fakes a pass to the flanker, and passes to the halfback. The halfback, who has run through the line and confused any man coverage, is often open, especially since the defense will be concentrating on either the fullback or the flanker. A good play for a quick five to eight yards.
Out Taken Away {JM} - Inspired by the University of Delaware. Excellent against 3-4 zone defenses.
Pass7 {GN} - This is a flea-flicker that is designed to get about ten yards or so. The halfback takes the snap and makes a short run away from the side of the field that the pass is directed {hopefully, drawing defenders with him}. Three wide receivers set to the left of the field run directly up the field with the inside wide receiver cutting to the outside as the others run posts {there, a real football term!}. Meanwhile, the halfback laterals to the quarterback who pump fakes once away from the receiver, then passes to the now hooked receiver ten yards deep. This play works well against sloppy zone defenses and most man coverage.
Pass7.bowl {GN} - This play is taken from The Guild’s GFL Global Bowl 5 playbook and was used as a substitute for Pass 7 {what else?!}. Again, the premise is simple with the wide receivers split and crossing before the pass is caught. Two wide receivers pause, the halfback takes the snap and laterals it back to the quarterback, while the other two wide receivers take off to draw off coverage. The two paused wide receivers now start their routes which cross the wide receivers in motion {hopefully ridding themselves of man coverage}, with one receiver splitting from the other to make the catch in the middle of the field. Useful play if the sidelines are being guarded in zone coverage, but the middle is weak.
PB Sideline {RP} - The fullback comes out of the backfield to the sideline, while the wide receiver and the tight end try to clear out the zone.
Potsdam {MWH} - "SE2 Over Mid" - The halfback fleaflicker to the quarterback fools the defense at first, particularly zone coverage. And the patterns of the split end and the flanker usually confuse man coverage as well, allowing the split end to grab a pass over the middle, about eighteen yards deep. If the split end is not open for some reason, one of the other receivers almost certainly is for this scanned pass.
QB->HB->TE* {UB} - The quarterback flips the ball to the halfback, then the halfback rifles the ball out to the tight end. If the fake works, the tight end will be left open for a gain of five to ten yards.
Rage/hb cross to lf {DCA} - This play works for to reasons: First, the halfback crosses the field on a drag pattern. Second, the quarterback rolls out to the left and throws on the run. The three wide receivers all run decoy patterns to confuse zone defenses and remove any stray defenders from the target area. This play is good on second and ten, and third and ten situations.
Road Atlanta {BH} - This was once my bread and butter third and ten play, now replaced by...well, that's why I always lose in the playoffs, huh? {grin} Seriously, in this play the quarterback fakes to the halfback, then passes up the middle. It seems to do a reasonable job of defeating man coverage. And if a zone has no middle coverage...
Rocket Buttonhook {RP} - The wide receiver follows the halfback, and then cuts back towards the middle of the field to confuse the secondary. If it works it is usually good for about eight to ten yards.
Rostock {MWH} - "FL Under Sideline" - The quarterback fakes a handoff to the halfback, then throws to the flanker. The flanker has run under the two other receivers flooding the flat zone, and often runs for four to seven yards before being knocked out of bounds.
Schwaebisch Hall {MWH} - "FL Slant In" - The quarterback drops back, fakes a handoff to the halfback, then throws to the often open flanker. When the flanker is fast, agile and intelligent, this play is almost unbeatable.
Sigmaringen {MWH} - "HB Bomb Strong" - The halfback runs a delayed flag pattern, while the other receivers flood the strong side, hook, and run back to the line of scrimmage, often leaving the halfback wide open, forty yards down the field.
Sindelfingen {MWH} - "FB Bomb Weak" - The fullback runs through a "legal" pick {the halfback and split end are pausing at the spot the fullback turns upfield}, then streaks and catches the timed pass thirty to forty yards downfield.
Slot Three - TE Post {JGB} - This is a basic post pattern with the wide receiver coming from the left side tight end position. This is an excellent play to run when faced with a third and ten and your opponent is weak in coverage over the middle.
Split Wing - Hail Mary {JGB} - This is a longer version of my HB Long Flag Lf. play. In this play the halfback drags across the line of scrimmage about five yards before sprinting straight down the center of the field. The quarterback rolls back, fakes to the wide receiver on the right, then runs left parallel to the halfback, who ends his pattern by running left as well. If this play works it is good for about a fifty yard gain.
Spread - HB Go Lf. {JGB} - This is an unusual play where the wide receiver lines up behind the center and the quarterback lines up in the backfield to the left. The quarterback takes the snap, fakes to the wide receiver on the right, and throws to the halfback who is standing about two yards deep in the left flat. If the halfback catches the ball, this play is usually good for three to six yards.
Stocker slant... {BH} - The name says it all. A slant in pattern that is deceptively simple.
TE Flag Rt. {MWH} - The quarterback sprints right diagonally under the protection of his line, then passes to the tight end, who may not even be covered since there are five receivers in this play. A big gainer if the tight end is not covered and he is strong and fast.
Thunder Sideline {RP} - All the other receivers try to clear out the zone where the tight end finishes his route. This play works well against most zone coverages.
Trips - Bomb Rt. {JGB} - Another unusual formation. This play is tricky and the timing must be perfect for it to work. The halfback takes the snap and rolls back to his right pulling in some of the defenders. The quarterback also drops back and to the right where he takes the pitch from the halfback, then takes two steps back and fires the ball to the wide receiver at the end of his drag pattern. The wide receiver starts in the backfield, runs forward about five yards then makes a cut to the right and drags across the field about fifteen yards deep where he looks for the ball.
Vohsburg-an-der-Donua {MWH} - "FB Screened Flare" - After the quarterback fakes a pass to the halfback who is in the middle, he finds the fullback open under the weakside flat, or looks for another receiver in this scanned pass.
What's that? {BH} - This is a trips right formation with two wide receivers and a halfback split right. The halfback and the wide receiver run crossing patterns and the intended receiver pauses, then runs downfield about ten yards before slanting in over the middle to make the catch. An excellent play on third down and ten to fifteen yards to go.
Whoops Mid.2 {RKP} - This is a shorter variant of the Whoops Mid.3, where you need only five yards. With both halfbacks moving right, the reads take the linebackers and the cornerbacks to their left. If there is no blitz, the pump fake 'freezes' the defense just long enough for the wide receiver to clear for the catch. This is an intentionally very quick play, as the wide receiver is usually covered immediately after the catch. {NOTE: This play has been updated and revised to conform with current PMFB league rules. --ICK}
Whoops Mid.3 {RKP} - This play typifies how I like to run my offense. I used the same formation as Serendipity, but with a twist. The quarterback is the deep back, rather than the diversionary halfback. This pass was designed to mess up any 'read' plays in two ways: First, the halfback gets the ball, but then quickly flips it back to the quarterback, who pump fakes to the #1 receiver, then throws a timed pass to the wide receiver who does a quick slant over the middle. Second, the run blocks on the right side of the line mess up any 'Read Linemen' instructions, and along with the halfback crossing draws off any linemen or linebackers with the 'Read Running Back' instruction. The outside wide receiver draws off any extra defensive back coverage, especially man to man coverage, and the pump fake to him completes the job of locking at least some of the defenders to him. Many defenses will have a hole created just about where the pass is caught because the linebackers are responding to the halfback and the blocking scheme, while the deeper defensive backs have not come up for support. This is evident in the depth of the wide receivers pattern, which is about eights yards downfield over the middle. {NOTE: This play has been updated and revised to conform with current PMFB league rules. --ICK}
Whoops Sideline Lf.2 {RKP} - This is the two minute drill play from the Whoops series. Like the other Whoops passes, the run blocking causes the defenders with the 'Read Linemen' instruction to follow the blocking scheme just long enough to allow the play to set up. The pump fake causes the defense to react to the halfback short, while the inside wide receiver pulls some coverage away from the intended receiver. The outside wide receivers fake response is timed with the pump fake, which causes a reaction by the defenders covering them. The sideline feature of this play allows several things: First, if the ball needs to be thrown away, the wide receiver still has a shot at catching it. Second, bad throws are near the sideline, so if there is an interception, it is covered quickly or the defender goes out of bounds. Third, during the late stagess of the half, the wide receiver is placed near enough to the sideline so that he can get out of bounds to stop the clock. {NOTE: This play has been updated and revised to conform with current PMFB league rules. --ICK}
Wolfsburg {MWH} - "HB Muddle Strong Mid" - The quarterback fakes to the tight end, then laterals to the fullback, who proceeds to pass to the halfback. The defense is usually fooled by this double trickery, and the halfback gets open for a gain of five to ten yards.
WR Goaline Out {ICK} - This is one of only two plays that survive from the original GFL Season1 Champion Eagles. It is a fairly simple, yet effective goaline play.
WR Long Drag Lf. {JGB} - This is similar to my Trips - Bomb Rt. play, but it is designed to go for many more yards and is more dangerous to run. The halfback takes the snap, turns around and hands off to the quarterback, who then rolls back and to the left. The wide receiver runs a crossing pattern about twenty-five yards deep. This play is usually good for about twenty-five to thirty yards.
WR Long Goaline Out {ICK} - This is the only other surviving play from the original GFL Season1 Champion Eagles. This is a goaline flood play, with five receivers going out. The quarterback, {if he has a good intelligence rating}, will be able to pick his receiver and throw to him for the touchdown.
WR Long Lf. {JGB} - This is a long slant out to the wide receiver, run from the flanker position. The key is the fake to the halfback, who hopefully is the 'hot' back. The quarterback fakes to the halfback, and then rifles the ball to the wide receiver sprinting out to the left.
WR Rt. {JGB} - This play can be run in many different variations, out of many different formations and with many different potential receivers. The point of this play is twofold: First, it usually picks up between five to ten yards and therefore is a fairly reliable play on third down for a third and five situation. Second, the receiver almost always gets knocked out of bounds. The key is the quarterback's fake to the left after he gets the ball from the halfback, after his fake he rifles the ball to the receiver on his right near the sideline. Perfectly timed, this play can keep a late game drive alive.
WR Slant In Rt {ICK} - This is a plain vanilla wide receiver slant in to the right side with a run fake and backfield movement to the left side of the field.
XX Liberty 1 HB PL {EP} - This is an halfback fly pattern designed to go many yards against teams that are weak against the pass. Liberty does well against pass defenses that are in man to man coverage with less than four defensive backs {one linebacker may be in man to man} covering eligible receivers. It also works against pass defenses that have five defensive backs in man to man, if the defensive backs assigned to the halfback is playing close to the line of scrimmage, or has less than a one-hundred speed rating. It will work against zone coverage, but beware of defenses that have a defensive back very deep in zone coverage. The ball is in the air for a long time and the defensive back in a deep zone can make it to the ball for an interception. The concept of Liberty is four-fold: One, try to freeze the linebackers by having the fullback take the snap from center. Two, lateral to the quarterback, who in turn runs to the side to further hold the linebackers. Three, have the outside left flanker cut across the pass route of the halfback to try and confuse the defensive backs, or even make them collide. Four, throw the ball further than the 'get open' instruction on the halfback, so the halfback can run under the pass. If the halfback is covered by a slow defensive back or a linebacker, Liberty will go for thirty yards and possibly a touchdown. If the play is thrown into a deep zone, plan on a few interceptions. Your quarterback may get sacked against an outside pass rush by a linebacker or defensive back, but defensive linemen generally will not get to the quarterback. Liberty should be called between your twenty {sacks will be nasty if you call it any closer to your end zone, and fumbles can be devastating} and the opponents twenty yard line {remember, it's a thirty yard pass play}. {NOTE: This play has been updated and revised to conform with current PMFB league rules. --ICK}
