Using Automotion to your advantage!

[IRISHFBFAN1]

I can remember posting a couple of years ago how much I really loved using automotion with my play calling. Many people responded that they didn’t like it because they either felt they didn’t have control over the play, or many thought that it was to easy to read. In other words, they felt it was to easy to identify. Tackling the first issue of not having control is a very simple one. On Passes you may take the automotion off by hot routing your WR to another route concept. On runs, not much you can do but some have tried to let the play clock run down to one second on certain auto runs taking away the motion. I don’t like using either because I like automotion plays with my play calling.

The second problem listed above where many have said it is easy to identify has changed considerably over the past couple of years regarding automotion. There are just to many runs and passes that feature automotion that it is impossible to know whether or not one is using automotion plays or not. If you don’t believe me take a look at the SB Bunch set in the STANFORD Playbook and you will see exactly what I mean.

Automotion Runs such as H Zone, Power O, H Toss are now accompanied by PA Passes that look exactly the same as the runs! As if this were not enough even Counter plays with the associated PA Waggles can also be a headache for defenders.

My answer to those who say they can identify the automotion plays is, if I have you thinking then you are not reacting. Thats exactly what an offensive play caller wants when developing schemes either with or without the use of automotion.

I am going to show you some very easy tips to help you while implimenting automotion runs and passes into your play calling scheme but first, Why use Automotion?

Automotion plays can be very useful in your scheme. First of all with the Passing game the motion allows one to get a presnap read of whether you are facing man or zone. This is vital post snap, and if you are using a pass play with a combination of man beaters to one side and zone beaters to the other, you will waste no time directing your attention to the correct side to begin your proper read progression.

Another advantage of automotion passes is the fact that this routes can be unbumpable. We live in a world of man coverage bump and run with excessive heat. Having routes that are unbumpable are a must in any players gameplan for an effective passing game.

The run game is a little different. True, we don’t have as much control but thats not a bad thing. Having automotion runs that attack multiple areas of the line of scrimmage and all looking the same including counters that all have automotion can be very very effective vs your opponents. This in itself tackles the first problem that many people used to have or may still have as far as idenitfying automotion plays. EA has done a good job with NCAA 11 as far as implementing multiple runs that all look alike that attack differnt areas of the LOS using automotion, and PA Passes to boot (no pun intended). You can no longer identify whether or not an individual is using auto plays, there are just to many.

Now, I would like to share with you some tips that I utilize when using automotion plays with my offense. I always run them during a game whether it be run or pass, every game. Pass plays such as Drive, Mesh, Z Spot etc.. are all plays that look the same that produce different results for different reasons. Those reasons are associated with what the defense is trying to employ on you.

If you follow these simple tips, and if you are not worried about whether or not the defense can read whether you are in a an auto play or not, then you can add a very effective and much needed concept to your offensive attack. Auotmotion is your friend and these plays are too good to pass up.

Irishfbfan1’s Tips to using Automotion:

1. Click on the player doing the automotion so that the defense thinks you are manually doing the motion yourself.
2. Manually use motion either as part of your scheme with a specific play or using as a decoy. This manual use of motion will correspond with tip number 1 making it virtually impossible for the defense to know which is which, auto or not.
3. Develop a scheme that uses 3-4 automotion plays with regular plays using both the manual and the use of automotion making sure that all the plays look the same.

If you use these 3 simple but effective tips you will be able to enjoy the productivity that automotion can bring to your offense. You are kind of using the philosophy of what defensive players like to try to do when developing a defensive scheme using pressure, and that is making everything look the same, and by doing this your concern with whether or not the defense knows if you are using automotion plays or not will soon go away. Remember 2 things, if the defense is thinking they are not reacting.
Secondly, automotion is your friend, and it has a very valuable place in your offense and can be a very imprtant role to effective scheming.

irishfbfan1

http://www.ncaastrategy.com/
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[AJB]

nice write up irish. i've found myself using automotion plays more this year. i really like the unbumpable routes you can get using it. out of singleback ace i like using z spot, flanker drive, and wr quick as a little mini scheme. another nice automotion i like is when you have the automotion of the guy coming into the backfield out of sb bunch. if your opponent is bringing a gap heat to stop the run it blocks it nicely.

edit: i didn't realize that this was in the ncaa section so i hope all the plays i just described exist in ncaa lol.

[deloz]

What frustrates some about automotion is the inability to cancel it in run plays.

Man of the People

Originally Posted by CRYME TYM3

I..Ralph Johnson..am the greatest DB in San Jose St. history!!!

[IRISHFBFAN1]

Originally Posted by deloz

What frustrates some about automotion is the inability to cancel it in run plays.

I understand where you are coming from but if you have several plays with the same motion attacking various holes with differnt backfield flow, and you use motion on your non auto plays making them look like auto plays there is NO way in hell a player can tell what you are running.


Take a look at the Stanford Singleback Bunch set with all the auto runs and passes, could be something very nice and difficult to defend.

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http://www.thegamerslab.com/communit...-tid-bits.html