Air raid offense
Encyclopedia
The Air Raid Offense refers to an offensive scheme popularized by such coaches as Mike Leach, Hal Mumme
, Sonny Dykes
, and Tony Franklin
during their tenures at Valdosta State
, Kentucky
, Oklahoma
, Texas Tech
, and now Washington State
.
The system is designed out of a shotgun
formation with four wide receivers and one running back. The formations are a variation of the run and shoot offense
with two outside receivers and two inside slot receivers. The offense also utilizes trips formation
s featuring three wide receivers on one side of the field and a lone single receiver on the other side.
with the QB (and coach) reading the defense prior to the snap and audibling to the correct play much like the run and shoot offense
. Hal Mumme was the head coach at both Valdosta State and Kentucky and largely introduced the offense nationally while Mike Leach served as his offensive coordinator
. Mike Leach then served one year as offensive coordinator
at Oklahoma
before serving as head coach at Texas Tech
through 2009.
, the Air Raid uses short passes as an extension of or even replacement for the running game. Instead of running the ball and maybe getting just 3 yards, the Air Raid uses a short pass in the hopes that the receiver (or running back) can then turn that into 7 or 8 yards instead.
The audible system is extremely important to the Air Raid offense and Mike Leach gave his quarterbacks almost unheard of control in changing the plays he called at the line of scrimmage. As such, as many as 90 percent of the run plays would be called at the line of scrimmage when the situation presented itself as an advantage. During the course of a season, the quarterbacks would throw the ball as much as 70 to 75 percent of the offensive plays called.
One important aspect is the split of the offensive linemen. Normally they are bunched together but in the Air Raid offense, they are often split apart about a half to a full yard from another. While this allows easier blitz lanes, it forces the defensive ends and defensive tackles to have to run further to reach the quarterback for a sack
. The quick, short passes are then able to offset any Blitz
that may come.
, a coach who learned the west coast offense
from Bill Walsh while with the San Francisco 49ers
.
The Shallow Cross often involves the quarterback taking a quick three step drop and watches one of the inside receivers cross a yard or two behind the defensive linemen. The opposite inside receiver will often run a square in route with an option to button hook if there's an open area. The Mike Shanahan
variations were a bit more complex and involved the opposite inside receiver running a corner post pattern. One of the biggest benefits of the Shallow Cross as a play is that it involves a speedy receiver who can get open across the field if being covered by a linebacker while forcing the field behind the linebackers to open up for the opposite inside receiver. If the safeties cover the second inside receiver, that then opens the deep field for the two outside receivers. This has become a staple of teams such as the New England Patriots
in the National Football League
.
The Wide Receiver Screen Pass
involves the quarterback taking a quick one step drop and throwing to the receiver, who will catch the ball, then following the blockers ahead of him to get downfield. This play has started to become a staple in the National Football League
.
The final key play is what is called the Mesh series. It involves the two inside receivers "meshing" as they run their routes. Both inside receivers will run a shallow cross and force the defenders covering them to bump into the other or sidestep their teammate. This allows for one of the inside receivers to get separation while continuing their shallow crossing route. The biggest advantage of this play series is that one of the linebackers will often have to stop their coverage, allowing that inside receiver to then become open in an area that is uncovered.
, Josh Heupel
, Kliff Kingsbury
, and Graham Harrell
because it allows them to put up what media members call "video game numbers" or very high passing statistics. The system is credited for allowing a quarterback to step in and routinely throw for over 4,500 yards and 30 or more touchdowns due in part to its simplicity and the high number of pass attempts.
It has also made stars of wide receivers such as Wes Welker
, who has used his abilities learned as an inside receiver with the Air Raid to catch 100 or more passes a season with the New England Patriots
, Michael Crabtree
who was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers
and who put up 625 yards receiving in 11 starts as a rookie
, and Danny Amendola
who had similar success as an inside receiver and is currently with the St. Louis Rams
.
. On the other hand, it relies on quick decision making and incredible accuracy in the short (0 to 10 yards) and intermediate (10-15 yards) range. While it doesn't ask much of wide receivers in terms of running routes, it demands that the wide receivers have lateral agility and the strength to break tackles after making the catch.
Another negative is that the Air Raid relies on short passes out of the shotgun formation and yards after the catch. So while it creates gaudy numbers for quarterbacks in the scheme, it also hinders their potential ability to be seen as having qualities needed to be a quarterback at the National Football League
level.
Hal Mumme
Hal Clay Mumme is an American college football coach. He is currently the head coach at McMurry University.- Playing career :...
, Sonny Dykes
Sonny Dykes
Sonny Dykes is an American football coach and former college baseball player. He is currently the head football coach at the Louisiana Tech University, a position he has held since 2010. Dykes has served as offensive coordinator under Mike Stoops, Mike Leach and Hal Mumme...
, and Tony Franklin
Tony Franklin (coach)
Tony Franklin is an American college football coach, currently serving as the offensive coordinator for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs of Western Athletic Conference....
during their tenures at Valdosta State
Valdosta State University
Valdosta State University, also referred to as VSU, or Valdosta State, is an American public university and is one of the two regional universities in the University System of Georgia. Valdosta State is located on a campus at the heart of the city of Valdosta...
, Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
, Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
, Texas Tech
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
, and now Washington State
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
.
The system is designed out of a shotgun
Shotgun
A shotgun is a firearm that is usually designed to be fired from the shoulder, which uses the energy of a fixed shell to fire a number of small spherical pellets called shot, or a solid projectile called a slug...
formation with four wide receivers and one running back. The formations are a variation of the run and shoot offense
Run and shoot offense
The run and shoot offense is an offensive system for American football which emphasizes receiver motion and on-the-fly adjustments of receivers' routes in response to different defenses...
with two outside receivers and two inside slot receivers. The offense also utilizes trips formation
Trips formation
A trips formation is an offensive football formation, initially used by Joe Gibbs, in which three receivers line up on the same side of the field. The side is usually specified by the quarterback calling "Trips right" or "Trips left" when he calls the play in the huddle.There are multiple...
s featuring three wide receivers on one side of the field and a lone single receiver on the other side.
History
The offense largely mixed the timing of the short passes utilized in such systems as the west coast offenseWest Coast offense
In American football, "West Coast Offense" refers to two similar but distinct offensive-strategic-systems of play: the "Air Coryell" system; or more commonly the pass play system popularized by Bill Walsh...
with the QB (and coach) reading the defense prior to the snap and audibling to the correct play much like the run and shoot offense
Run and shoot offense
The run and shoot offense is an offensive system for American football which emphasizes receiver motion and on-the-fly adjustments of receivers' routes in response to different defenses...
. Hal Mumme was the head coach at both Valdosta State and Kentucky and largely introduced the offense nationally while Mike Leach served as his offensive coordinator
Offensive coordinator
An offensive coordinator is a member of the coaching staff of a gridiron football team who is in charge of the offense. Generally, along with his defensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
. Mike Leach then served one year as offensive coordinator
Offensive coordinator
An offensive coordinator is a member of the coaching staff of a gridiron football team who is in charge of the offense. Generally, along with his defensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
at Oklahoma
Oklahoma Sooners football
The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
before serving as head coach at Texas Tech
Texas Tech Red Raiders football
Texas Tech Red Raiders football program is a college football team that represents Texas Tech University . The team competes, as a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
through 2009.
The Air Raid System
The scheme itself is extremely pass heavy, in part because the quarterback is asked to audible in and out of plays depending on how the defense is aligned. Much like the west coast offenseWest Coast offense
In American football, "West Coast Offense" refers to two similar but distinct offensive-strategic-systems of play: the "Air Coryell" system; or more commonly the pass play system popularized by Bill Walsh...
, the Air Raid uses short passes as an extension of or even replacement for the running game. Instead of running the ball and maybe getting just 3 yards, the Air Raid uses a short pass in the hopes that the receiver (or running back) can then turn that into 7 or 8 yards instead.
The audible system is extremely important to the Air Raid offense and Mike Leach gave his quarterbacks almost unheard of control in changing the plays he called at the line of scrimmage. As such, as many as 90 percent of the run plays would be called at the line of scrimmage when the situation presented itself as an advantage. During the course of a season, the quarterbacks would throw the ball as much as 70 to 75 percent of the offensive plays called.
One important aspect is the split of the offensive linemen. Normally they are bunched together but in the Air Raid offense, they are often split apart about a half to a full yard from another. While this allows easier blitz lanes, it forces the defensive ends and defensive tackles to have to run further to reach the quarterback for a sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
. The quick, short passes are then able to offset any Blitz
Blitz (American football)
In American football or Canadian football, a blitz or red dog is when players on or behind the line of scrimmage during a play, are sent across the scrimmage line to the offensive side to try to tackle the quarterback or disrupt his pass attempt...
that may come.
The Key Plays
The three biggest plays in the offensive scheme are what is known as the Shallow Cross, the Receiver Screen, and the Mesh series. The Shallow Cross was originally invented by Mike ShanahanMike Shanahan
Michael Edward "Mike" Shanahan is the 28th and current head coach of the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. Shanahan also holds the title of Vice President of Football Operations with the Redskins, giving him full control over player personnel with the team. Shanahan previously...
, a coach who learned the west coast offense
West Coast offense
In American football, "West Coast Offense" refers to two similar but distinct offensive-strategic-systems of play: the "Air Coryell" system; or more commonly the pass play system popularized by Bill Walsh...
from Bill Walsh while with the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
.
The Shallow Cross often involves the quarterback taking a quick three step drop and watches one of the inside receivers cross a yard or two behind the defensive linemen. The opposite inside receiver will often run a square in route with an option to button hook if there's an open area. The Mike Shanahan
Mike Shanahan
Michael Edward "Mike" Shanahan is the 28th and current head coach of the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. Shanahan also holds the title of Vice President of Football Operations with the Redskins, giving him full control over player personnel with the team. Shanahan previously...
variations were a bit more complex and involved the opposite inside receiver running a corner post pattern. One of the biggest benefits of the Shallow Cross as a play is that it involves a speedy receiver who can get open across the field if being covered by a linebacker while forcing the field behind the linebackers to open up for the opposite inside receiver. If the safeties cover the second inside receiver, that then opens the deep field for the two outside receivers. This has become a staple of teams such as the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
The Wide Receiver Screen Pass
Screen pass
A screen pass is a type of play in American football. During a screen pass, a number of things happen concurrently in order to fool the defense into thinking a long pass is being thrown, when in fact the pass is merely a short one, just beyond the defensive linemen. Screens are usually deployed...
involves the quarterback taking a quick one step drop and throwing to the receiver, who will catch the ball, then following the blockers ahead of him to get downfield. This play has started to become a staple in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
The final key play is what is called the Mesh series. It involves the two inside receivers "meshing" as they run their routes. Both inside receivers will run a shallow cross and force the defenders covering them to bump into the other or sidestep their teammate. This allows for one of the inside receivers to get separation while continuing their shallow crossing route. The biggest advantage of this play series is that one of the linebackers will often have to stop their coverage, allowing that inside receiver to then become open in an area that is uncovered.
The Players
The Air Raid system has made stars out of quarterbacks such as Tim CouchTim Couch
Timothy Scott "Tim" Couch is a former American football quarterback. He played college football at the University of Kentucky...
, Josh Heupel
Josh Heupel
Josh Heupel, , is the current co-offensive coordinator at the University of Oklahoma. He was the quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners football team in 1999-2000, and led Oklahoma to the 2000 national championship.-Personal:...
, Kliff Kingsbury
Kliff Kingsbury
Klifford "Kliff" Kingsbury is an American Football Coach, serving as the current co-offensive coordinator for the University of Houston Cougar football team. Prior to his current role, Kingsbury was a Quarterback in the NFL and NFL Europe, winning a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots in a...
, and Graham Harrell
Graham Harrell
Graham Harrell is an American football quarterback. He was signed by the Green Bay Packers and is currently on their scout team. He played college football at Texas Tech.-Early years:...
because it allows them to put up what media members call "video game numbers" or very high passing statistics. The system is credited for allowing a quarterback to step in and routinely throw for over 4,500 yards and 30 or more touchdowns due in part to its simplicity and the high number of pass attempts.
It has also made stars of wide receivers such as Wes Welker
Wes Welker
-San Diego Chargers :Welker, who was not drafted during the 2004 NFL Draft, signed as an undrafted free agent with the San Diego Chargers. Welker made the Chargers out of training camp, but was released after the first game of the season.-2004 season:...
, who has used his abilities learned as an inside receiver with the Air Raid to catch 100 or more passes a season with the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
, Michael Crabtree
Michael Crabtree
Michael Alex Crabtree is an American football wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the 49ers with the 10th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football for Texas Tech, where he received recognition as one of the nation's...
who was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
and who put up 625 yards receiving in 11 starts as a rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
, and Danny Amendola
Danny Amendola
Daniel Amendola is an American football wide receiver for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
who had similar success as an inside receiver and is currently with the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
.
Teams that have Utilized the Air Raid Offense
- 1997 University of KentuckyUniversity of KentuckyThe University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
- 1998 University of KentuckyUniversity of KentuckyThe University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
- 1999 University of KentuckyUniversity of KentuckyThe University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
- 2000 University of KentuckyUniversity of KentuckyThe University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
- 2000 Purdue UniversityPurdue UniversityPurdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
- 2000 Valdosta State UniversityValdosta State UniversityValdosta State University, also referred to as VSU, or Valdosta State, is an American public university and is one of the two regional universities in the University System of Georgia. Valdosta State is located on a campus at the heart of the city of Valdosta...
- 2001 University of KentuckyUniversity of KentuckyThe University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
- 2001 Valdosta State UniversityValdosta State UniversityValdosta State University, also referred to as VSU, or Valdosta State, is an American public university and is one of the two regional universities in the University System of Georgia. Valdosta State is located on a campus at the heart of the city of Valdosta...
- 2003 Southeastern Louisiana UniversitySoutheastern Louisiana UniversitySoutheastern Louisiana University is a state-funded public university in Hammond, Louisiana, United States. It was founded in 1925 by Linus A. Sims, the principal of Hammond High School, as Hammond Junior College, located in a wing of the high school building. Sims succeeded in getting the campus...
- 2004 Southeastern Louisiana UniversitySoutheastern Louisiana UniversitySoutheastern Louisiana University is a state-funded public university in Hammond, Louisiana, United States. It was founded in 1925 by Linus A. Sims, the principal of Hammond High School, as Hammond Junior College, located in a wing of the high school building. Sims succeeded in getting the campus...
- 2005 New Mexico State UniversityNew Mexico State UniversityNew Mexico State University at Las Cruces , is a major land-grant university in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States...
- 2005 Texas Tech UniversityTexas Tech UniversityTexas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
- 2006 Baylor UniversityBaylor UniversityBaylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
- 2006 New Mexico State UniversityNew Mexico State UniversityNew Mexico State University at Las Cruces , is a major land-grant university in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States...
- 2006 Texas Tech UniversityTexas Tech UniversityTexas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
- 2007 New Mexico State UniversityNew Mexico State UniversityNew Mexico State University at Las Cruces , is a major land-grant university in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States...
- 2007 Texas Tech UniversityTexas Tech UniversityTexas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
- 2007 University of ArizonaUniversity of ArizonaThe University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
- 2008 New Mexico State UniversityNew Mexico State UniversityNew Mexico State University at Las Cruces , is a major land-grant university in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States...
- 2008 Stephen F. Austin University
- 2009 Texas Tech UniversityTexas Tech UniversityTexas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
- 2010 East Carolina UniversityEast Carolina UniversityEast Carolina University is a public, coeducational, engaged doctoral/research university located in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. Named East Carolina University by statute and commonly known as ECU or East Carolina, the university is the largest institution of higher learning in...
- 2010 University of HoustonUniversity of HoustonThe University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
- 2010 Oklahoma State University
- 2010 Texas Tech UniversityTexas Tech UniversityTexas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
- 2011 Texas Tech UniversityTexas Tech UniversityTexas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
- 2011 West Virginia UniversityWest Virginia UniversityWest Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
The Negatives
Many in the media tend to chide the quarterbacks coming out of the Air Raid offense as merely system quarterbacks with average or below average arm strength. Similar accusations made to quarterbacks coming from the run and shoot offenseRun and shoot offense
The run and shoot offense is an offensive system for American football which emphasizes receiver motion and on-the-fly adjustments of receivers' routes in response to different defenses...
. On the other hand, it relies on quick decision making and incredible accuracy in the short (0 to 10 yards) and intermediate (10-15 yards) range. While it doesn't ask much of wide receivers in terms of running routes, it demands that the wide receivers have lateral agility and the strength to break tackles after making the catch.
Another negative is that the Air Raid relies on short passes out of the shotgun formation and yards after the catch. So while it creates gaudy numbers for quarterbacks in the scheme, it also hinders their potential ability to be seen as having qualities needed to be a quarterback at the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
level.
Other Links
- Highlights of the Air Raid offense from Texas Tech's 2007 season
- Highlights of the Mesh Route performed by Texas Tech and New Mexico State
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UvYAAwlhCoThe Shallow Cross Route as performed by Brigham YoungBrigham YoungBrigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
in a game]