

I wanted to make a post about what kind of offense Dirk Koetter brings with him to Tampa. What it is, how it works, its strengths and weaknesses, and how Jameis Winston and other players fit into Koetter's scheme. I want to just cover the basics, but I highly suggest reading this more in-depth 2011 Koetter interview with X&O Labs of which I will be basing this post on (after you read mine!). I also encourage reading this year-old post from our friends at Falcoholic. If this post ends up popular I can try and go more in-depth in a sequel article.

The backbone concept of Koetter's passing offense is called 4 Verticals. It attacks a defense vertically by stretching it horizontally, specifically the safeties. It is schematically an aggressive and relatively explosive passing system.

While some offenses are designed to move the chains at a 6-8 yard clip, 4 Verts is designed to eat up chunk yardage of 15 or more at a time, albeit at a less consistent rate. It's designed to have an answer for every look a defense can show: single-high safety, double high (cover 2), cover 3, and even cover 4 (quarters). For example, if a defense is in cover 2 each safety essentially gets split by two receivers, or as Koetter describes it, "two on one on the half-field safety." In other words, it stresses a safety horizontally and forces a choice on who to cover - the ball goes to whoever he doesn't, making them responsible for covering sideline to sideline in deep coverage. From here, the concept is tweaked in a multitude of ways giving the QB an answer for any coverage he sees, including stretching defenses horizontally in the intermediate and short areas of the field. It also consistently forces safeties to stay deep which can open up running lanes.

In some 4 Verts, the outside "hash" receivers will either run "go" routes or comebacks depending on how tight the coverage is from the cornerback, but Koetter prefers comebacks as a staple. Big receivers like Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson will be able to use their size to shield smaller corners from the ball as they break back towards Jameis for easy yardage.

The inherent weakness of this concept, and where the Bucs will run into trouble, is pass protection. The OL must protect the QB with only 5 or 6 man protections. You simply can't have enough players on the field to run 7-8 man protections and still get 4 receivers in the formation. The X & Z landmarks, or where they make their comeback cut is usually around 15 yards, but with a weaker OL it can be shortened to 10-12 yards. Often the only help the OL gets is from the running back chipping a DE before leaking out of the formation as a potential receiver. Because of this the RB is a very important part of this offense as shown below (please excuse my cave drawings):

The RBs in this system must be able to pass block consistently. You'll also notice the inside receivers can alter their routes based on the defense, sometimes referred to as benders. It can be a post route or a dig (crossing route), often with the goal of getting behind the linebackers, usually the mike, and in front of the safeties. The coverage that gives 4 Verts the most problems is quarters, since it basically mans up the defenders and receivers. Koetter states he prefers other sets against quarters but there are options, since it usually leaves the Z & X receivers one on one on the outside. In addition, the RB can line up in the slot and create a mismatch on the mike backer. The Z & X would run comebacks, the slot receivers would run verts, essentially clearing out space underneath for the RB for big gains.

In addition, the receivers on either side can switch or scissor their routes to create mismatches, putting the X or Z on a linebacker if the defenders don't switch their assignments properly. Another wrinkle is trips, like below:

Again, the principle is attacking and reading the safety. Jameis needs to improve his eye manipulation to get safeties off of their spot, opening up lanes (he did do a good job of this against Oregon). If the FS shades the Z receiver the QB will throw it to the H receiver who will cross the face of the nickel corner or sam backer, behind the mike and up hashes, splitting the safeties & running wide open down the middle of the field. Because of this, the H receiver needs to be savvy and understand coverage and be able to recognize if it's a single high or cover 2 look post nap and adjust on the fly. Reportedly, in OTA's Vincent Jackson stated he was working some inside and I believe this is why. As a veteran Koetter trusts him to read the defense correctly and know where to be. Back to the cave drawing, if the safety plays it well the QB can just drop it quickly in front of the safety for a 15 yard gain. If the safety gains depth the QB takes advantage of the single coverage on the outside and drops it in hole between the defenders to the Z, ideally a sideline over the shoulder throw where only his guy can get it.

We all know the Offensive line isn't where it needs to be. Reportedly Koetter ran more curl/flat combo routes and shortened the landmarks when he was with the Falcons due to their poor pass protection, a staple of Jimbo Fisher's FSU offense. I would expect some of the same for the Bucs, especially early. Jameis is a rookie, but much of Koetter's playbook will also be thrown out because the OL simply won't give Jameis enough time to execute any of it, especially the deeper concepts. We all also know Jameis is aggressive, and I believe this offense can fit him perfectly; with a quality OL in front of him a veteran Jameis could be surgical. But early he will take chances he shouldn't. Some of them will be wow plays and some will be turnovers. Look for the offense to open up and blossom as the season goes on and Winston gets more comfortable, becoming more efficient and more explosive.