Defending the Air Raid and Spread with Drop 8 coverage concepts

Defending the Air Raid

Mike Leach, Mike Gundy, Phil Longo, Lincoln Riley, Dana Holgorsen, Zach Kittley and Hal Mumme are a few coaches that implement the air raid offensive system. It is an offensive system that relies primarily on the short passing game with various pass concepts implemented.  The air raid offense is a great passing offense that has had success over the years. But teams are starting to adjust and coping with the offense.  As teams become more familiar with it they have become accustomed to some of the plays and realized how to handle the reads and progressions. 

This article looks at how 4 teams defended the air raid, Kentucky, Iowa State, SD State, Utah and Duke using 3 man rush principles

Below is an overview of some of the things you are starting to see more of vs Air Raid Teams:

1. Teams are starting to only rush 3 men and play coverage. Don't blitz!

2. Play zone coverage , take away the seems and deep crossing routes and rally to the short passes check downs.  Don't let them throw the ball over your head, especially to the middle of the field. Play a middle of the field defender, but also play a lb in the short middle hook zone along with  your 3 man rush. Take away the shallow cross, mesh and 4 verts with the bender off the mike concepts. 

3. Dare them to run the football with soft boxes. Most air raid coaches won't have the discipline to run the football against these light boxes. That was evident in the 2 games I analyzed below. 

4. Tampa 2 and 2 hole are 2 coverages I would utilize. Having a hole player disrupts some of the middle of the field concepts(dover, shallow to name a few). I also feel it’s imperative to play inside leverage and force the ball outside in 2 man. Another tough coverage is 2 man while only sending 3 rushers. These are a few defenses that can cause some issues.  

5. Mix in some pressures and show pressure trying to make the back stay in. You can do this with man or fire zones. Getting the back to stay in is imperative with how some of their progressions and reads are utilized. This causes some issues in their concepts when you force the Rb to stay in.