The Wing T Shotgun Offense

We have over the last three years taken our traditional zone and wing-t running game and adapted it to the shotgun formation. We have had very athletic quarterbacks that have allowed us to show off their running abilities as well as their passing skills in the shotgun set. We firmly believe that the QB can best be featured as a runner from the shotgun formation. It truly enables the QB to be a two-way threat.

Our base offense is a one back set with a slot receiver and three wide outs, or a tight end and two wipeouts. Utilizing these same sets only now out of the shotgun has allowed us to keep our package very similar (See Diagrams 1 and 2).

Diagram 1.

Diagram 2.

I will go over our base plays from our base set, then show you the same play from the shotgun. The first play is the basic wing t sweep. We run the traditional double guard pull where we will either log the defensive end and pull around, or we will kick the defense end out and turn up with the trail guard. We can run the base sweep with either the R or the F running the ball (See Diagrams 3A and 3B).

Diagram 3A.

Diagram 3B.

Then the same plays from the shotgun (See Diagrams 4A and 4B).

Diagram 4A.

Diagram 4B.

The other wrinkle to this play that works extremely well from the gun is the QB keep and fake to the RB. This has been a great addition to our playbook, with the QB averaging over 5 yards per carry (See Diagram 5).

Diagram 5.

Diagram 6A.

The sweep reverse is a great addition to the playbook as a trick play or part of the regular offense. We like the reverse coming off the keep by the QB as it allows the RB to now be the lead blocker on the play (See Diagram 6A).

Of course, you can do it the other way and have the QB as your lead blocker (See Diagram 6B).

Diagram 6B.

Diagram 7A.

This leads us to the play action pass of the sweep, or the waggle pass. The waggle pass gives you a great opportunity to hit the long ball, or work the flat or curl area. We peek at the deep ball and then go directly to the flat or the hole route (See Diagram 7A),

We can work the waggle out of the shotgun in two basic ways (See Diagrams 7B and 7C).

Diagram 7B.

Diagram 7C.

We will also run the base sweep with an empty backfield and motion either of our slot receivers back and run the same basic plays. The idea of an empty backfield initially has the defense spread and thinking pass. The ability to run the power sweep can catch defenses a little off balanced (See Diagram 8).

Diagram 8.

Diagram 9.

This same basic play can be run by the QB with or without a slot man faking a sweep (See Diagram 9).

The next play that we have taken from our wing t offense and put into the gun is our power off tackle play with the slot receiver as the runner in Diagram 10, and as the blocker in Diagram 11. We like each of these looks, as they give something different for the defense to think about (See Diagrams 10 and 11).

Diagram 10.

Diagram 11.

Each of these plays gives us very good play action passes. The first is with our basic over and under route, and the other is a corner route versus cover 2 (See Diagrams 12 and 13).

Diagram 12.

Diagram 13.

Our basic inside run from the shotgun is more of a draw look, but it gives us a chance to still pull like we do in the wing t plays. We want to try and attack the 1 technique as the angles are better, but it doesn’t hurt the other way either (See Diagram 14).

The nice thing about this play is that now you can run the fake to the RB, and have the QB keep it with the guard leading up through the hole (see Diagram 15).

Diagram 14.

Diagram 15.

The play action off this basic play is very good as well as giving you strong protection with the QB being in the traditional pocket. This is our traditional curl route where the QB will read the strong inside linebacker to determine whether to hit the hook or the curl (see Diagram 16).

Diagram 16.

These are just a couple of our basic plays that we have adapted from our basic offense and made them very good running plays from the shotgun. The other key component is that you are now utilizing one of your best athletes running the football: your QB. We also feel strongly that as opposed to running the waggles and boots from under center and sometimes getting jammed inside, now our QB is back off the ball and sees the rush from the very start.

About the Author Greg Wallace Greg Wallace recently completed his 17th year as head football coach at Grinnell College. In addition to being head coach, Wallace also coaches the offensive line. Beginning his coaching career in 1970, Wallace has coached at Odessa (MO) High School, Sherwood (MO) High School, Indiana State, and Centre College. During his tenure at Grinnell, his 1998 squad went 10-0 en route to the Midwest Conference Championship. You can reach him at wallaceg@grinnell.edu.