Play Action Game with a BANG!
This play action/pre-snap concept will accelerate your offense and springboard your running AND passing attack. I present to you... the Bang 8 concept.
The Bang 8 post route is an exceptional route for play action. This route is called Bang 8 because, typically, the post is known as the 8th route on the route tree. “Bang” strictly means it is run a bit shorter so that timing works out and because the QB has to literally “bang” the ball to the receiver. This cannot be a 2 or a 3 ball, this ball has to be PUT ON the receiver. It is also the job of the receiver to “win” the route, as it should be every single play. This concept is different than all of the other concepts we have covered thus far because this concept only features one route that MUST be in the concept. What route is that? You guessed it! The Bang 8 post.
True Play Action Shot Style
There are a few different ways to run this concept. One is a true, downfield, shot play. The other is run as more of an RPO concept than anything. We will cover the shot-style play first, as it is more applicable to high school than the RPO concept. I studied the play-action version of the Bang Concept from Coach Jay Wilkinson during his time at Broken Arrow High School (follow him @jaywilkinson on Twitter). He explains this concept as a fantastic concept to run against quarters coverage but also explains it can be run against Cover 2 or Cover 1. The concept itself is presented like this:
This look appears to be some sort of quarters coverage where the opposite defender (the CB in this case) is creeping down to be a part of the run fit. The Z sprints off of the line. If the SS is found flat-footed or takes a single step down, the Bang 8 will be wide open. Coach Wilkinson details that this ball should be thrown on the opposite divide at about 35 yards. Landmarks on the field are extremely important for the connection to work. Since the opposite secondary defender is attacking to defend the run, the opposite divide is the safest play for this ball to go. In a cover 3 look, the pre-snap would look like this:
A look like this is what makes the second route in this concept so vital. After the play fake, the QB should find the FS. If the FS took a step down to defend the run, the Bang 8 could be there, but it may not be if the opposite side CB bailed to defend their deep 1/3. After the QB makes the read and finds that the FS and CB are in a good defensive position, they can move on to the speed dig. Since the Bang 8 pushes the FS up and out, the dig should be open just behind the LBs. If you are a heavy run team and need something to spice up your passing attack, this is one great way to do it. A simple two route concept that allows your QB to make an easy read and get the ball out to another playmaker!
The Bang 8 At a Glance
The Bang 8 can also be used as a pre-snap read for the QB. Clemson did a fantastic job at using the Bang 8 with Trevor Lawrence. The play itself looks a little something like this:
The pre-snap read becomes the single-high safety. Once the QB recognizes that the defense is MOFC (Middle of the field closed), the QB has the option to throw the post. If the defense begins rolling down late, this gives the QB up until the second the ball is snapped to either throw the post or hand the ball off. If you have an elite X receiver, as is the case with Clemson most of the time, you can also run the play like this:
Instead of the QB reading the defense as single high, this also gives the QB an option based on the free safety’s leverage. If the FS is over the two receiver side, then the QB will throw to the X. If the FS is over the X, now the QB has an opportunity to throw to the Y. The bubble by the Z will open up the post behind the OLB. In Cover 1, the OLB should shoot to the bubble and in Cover 3 the OLB should cover the flats. The bubble is strictly a dummy route. If you are interested in this study of Clemson’s Bang 8, you can find a more in-depth analysis here.
As always, I hope you all are learning a ton during clinic season. If you want to talk ball or just chat, you can follow me on Twitter @SethyyShots. Keep up the great work!
Best,
Coach Davis