Air raid offense
The Air Raid Offense refers to an offensive scheme popularized by such coaches as Mike Leach, Hal Mumme, Sonny Dykes, and Tony Franklin during their tenures at Valdosta State, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Louisiana Tech, and now Washington State.
The system is designed out of a shotgun formation with four wide receivers and one running back. The formations are a variation of the run and shoot offense with two outside receivers and two inside slot receivers. The offense also utilizes trips formations featuring three wide receivers on one side of the field and a lone single receiver on the other side.
History
The offense largely mixed the timing of the short passes utilized in such systems as the west coast offense with the QB (and coach) reading the defense prior to the snap and audibling to the correct play much like the run and shoot offense. Hal Mumme was the head coach at both Valdosta State and Kentucky and largely introduced the offense nationally while Mike Leach served as his offensive coordinator. Mike Leach then served one year as offensive coordinator at Oklahoma before serving as head coach at Texas Tech through 2009.
The Air Raid System
The scheme itself is extremely pass heavy, in part because the quarterback is asked to audible in and out of plays depending on how the defense is aligned. Much like the west coast offense, the Air Raid uses short passes as an extension of or even replacement for the running game. Instead of running the ball and maybe getting just 3 yards, the Air Raid uses a short pass in the hopes that the receiver (or running back) can then turn that into 7 or 8 yards instead.
The audible system is extremely important to the Air Raid offense and Mike Leach gave his quarterbacks almost unheard of control in changing the plays he called at the line of scrimmage. As such, as many as 90 percent of the run plays would be called at the line of scrimmage when the situation presented itself as an advantage. During the course of a season, the quarterbacks would throw the ball as much as 70 to 75 percent of the offensive plays called.
One important aspect is the split of the offensive linemen. Normally they are bunched together but in the Air Raid offense, they are often split apart about a half to a full yard from another. While this allows easier blitz lanes, it forces the defensive ends and defensive tackles to have to run further to reach the quarterback for a sack. The quick, short passes are then able to offset any Blitz that may come.
The Key Plays
The three biggest plays in the offensive scheme are what is known as the Shallow Cross, the Receiver Screen, and the Mesh series. The Shallow Cross was originally invented by Mike Shanahan, a coach who learned the west coast offense from George Seifert while with the San Francisco 49ers.
The Shallow Cross often involves the quarterback taking a quick three step drop and watches one of the inside receivers cross a yard or two behind the defensive linemen. The opposite inside receiver will often run a square in route with an option to button hook if there's an open area. The Mike Shanahan variations were a bit more complex and involved the opposite inside receiver running a corner post pattern. One of the biggest benefits of the Shallow Cross as a play is that it involves a speedy receiver who can get open across the field if being covered by a linebacker while forcing the field behind the linebackers to open up for the opposite inside receiver. If the safeties cover the second inside receiver, that then opens the deep field for the two outside receivers. This has become a staple of teams such as the New England Patriots in the National Football League.
The Wide Receiver Screen Pass involves the quarterback taking a quick one step drop and throwing to the receiver, who will catch the ball, then following the blockers ahead of him to get downfield. This play has started to become a staple in the National Football League.
The final key play is what is called the Mesh series. It involves the two inside receivers "meshing" as they run their routes. Both inside receivers will run a shallow cross and force the defenders covering them to bump into the other or sidestep their teammate. This allows for one of the inside receivers to get separation while continuing their shallow crossing route. The biggest advantage of this play series is that one of the linebackers will often have to stop their coverage, allowing that inside receiver to then become open in an area that is uncovered.
Play Names
- Y Cross: Entails the Y/Slot Receiver (in 2 RB Sets) or an Inside Receiver (in 3-4 WR Sets) to run a crossing pattern over the middle of the field. This generally involves forcing the defense to put an outside linebacker or middle linebacker to defend the slot receiver who is often times much faster and able to get separation through their speed, making for an easy pass from the quarterback.
- Y Sail: Involves the Y/Slot Receiver (in 2 RB Sets) or an Inside Receiver (in 3-4 WR Sets) to run what is called a Sail, generally running north and cutting sharply at an angle away from the middle of the field towards the sideline. This forces the defense to either put an outside linebacker against the receiver or a safety, allowing for the middle of the field to open up for another receiver or allowing for the speed of the receiver to beat the defender towards the sideline.
- Mesh: Involves the 2 inside receivers to run shallow crosses and force the linebackers to avoid hitting their teammate to continue covering them. Often allows a teammate to get separation when their defender is forced to stop or gets picked by their own teammate. Another play that can allow a quick, easy throw from the quarterback.
- Shakes: Involves the outside receivers starting out their route by running inside as if running a slant and go (sluggo) route but at the end of their route, they cut sharply at an angle towards the sideline much like the Y Sail play. The speed and sharpness of their cut outside allows for the receiver to get separation from their defender.
- Screens: A staple of this offense in part due to the sheer variety that coaches like Mike Leach and Hal Mumme employ. Inside WRs can run bubble screens where they run parallel to the line of scrimmage and let the outside WR block. Outside WRs can run inside and allow the inside WRs to block. HBs can run flat screens and let the inside and outside WRs block.
- 6 or All Verticals: Exactly what it says. All the wide receivers run vertical routes trying to stretch the defense and utilize their speed to get by their defender. Mike Leach mentioned in his book that he added a wrinkle, allowing for the quarterback to throw towards the receiver's shoulder closest to the sideline (back shoulder throw) and allow for the receiver to essentially turn the play into a button hook route by stopping short and coming back to the ball. Since the defender is going so fast vertically, he has to stop and takes longer to get back to the ball compared to the receiver.
- Shallow Series: The Y/Slot receiver runs a shallow crossing route underneath where the middle linebacker is. The other inside receiver runs a deeper route where he cuts sharply and runs parallel to the line of scrimmage in front of the deeper safety. Depending on whom the linebacker covers (the crosser or the square in receiver), the quarterback has 2 options to throw to and both should be wide open as a result.
The Players
The Air Raid system has made stars out of quarterbacks such as Tim Couch, Josh Heupel, Kliff Kingsbury, and Graham Harrell because it allows them to put up what media members call "video game numbers" or very high passing statistics. The system is credited for allowing a quarterback to step in and routinely throw for over 4,500 yards and 30 or more touchdowns due in part to its simplicity and the high number of pass attempts.
It has also made stars of wide receivers such as Wes Welker, who has used his abilities learned as an inside receiver with the Air Raid to catch 100 or more passes a season with the New England Patriots, Michael Crabtree who was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers and who put up 625 yards receiving in 11 starts as a rookie, and Danny Amendola who had similar success as an inside receiver and is currently with the St. Louis Rams.
The Coaches
- Art Briles - RB Coach at Texas Tech from 2000-2002. HC at Houston 2003-2007 and Baylor 2008-Present.
- Sonny Dykes - WR Coach at Kentucky in 1999 and Texas Tech 2000-2006. OC/QB at Arizona 2007-2009. HC at Louisiana Tech 2010-Present.
- Tony Franklin - RB Coach at Kentucky 1997-1999. OC/WR Coach at Kentucky in 2000. OC at Troy in 2006, Middle Tennessee in 2009, and Louisiana Tech 2010-Present.
- Chris Hatcher - QB/WR Coach at Kentucky in 1999. HC at Valdosta State 2000-2006, Georgia Southern 2007-2009, and Murray State 2010-Present.
- Dana Holgorsen - QB/WR Coach at Valdosta State 1993-1995. WR Coach at Texas Tech 2000-2006. OC at Texas Tech 2007. OC/QB at Houston 2008-2009 and Oklahoma State in 2010. HC at West Virginia 2011-Present.
- Mike Leach - OC at Valdosta State 1992-1996, Kentucky 1997-1998, and Oklahoma in 1999. HC at Texas Tech 2000-2008. HC at Washington State in 2012.
- Clay McGuire - OL Coach at Washington State 2012. Played under Mike Leach at Texas Tech.
- Eric Morris - Inside WR Coach at Washington State 2012. Played under Mike Leach at Texas Tech.
- Mark Mangino - OL Coach at Oklahoma in 1999. OC at Oklahoma 2000-2001. HC at Kansas 2002-2009.
- Hal Mumme - HC at Valdosta State 1992-1996, Kentucky 1997-2000, SE Louisiana 2003-2004, New Mexico State 2005-2008, and McMurry 2009-Present.
- Ruffin McNeil - LB Coach at Texas Tech 2000-2006, DC at Texas Tech 2007-2009, and HC at East Carolina 2010-Present.
- Kevin Sumlin - WR Coach at Purdue 1998-2000, OC at Texas A&M 2001-2002 and Oklahoma 2006-2007, HC at Houston 2008-2011 and Texas A&M in 2012.
- Kliff Kingsbury - OC/QB for Houston 2010-2011. OC at Texas A&M in 2012.
Teams that have Utilized the Air Raid Offense
- 1992 Valdosta State University: QB Chris Hatcher 264/400 for 2,548 yards. RB Dominique Ross 153 for 734 yards.
- 1993 Valdosta State University: QB Chris Hatcher 335/471 for 3,651 yards. RB Dominique Ross 167 for 1,030 yards. WR Calvin Walker 82 for 944 yards
- 1994 Valdosta State University: QB Chris Hatcher 367/508 for 4,076 yards. RB Dominique Ross 256 for 1,473 yards. WR Robert Williams 86 for 1,187 yards.
- 1995 Valdosta State University: QB Lance Funderburk 356/544 for 3,706 yards. RB David Glisson 147 for 837 yards.
- 1996 Valdosta State University: QB Lance Funderburk 342/532 for 4,226 yards. RB Vontrell Mitchell 186 for 1,355 yards. WR Rodney Brown 61 for 1,148 yards.
- 1997 University of Kentucky: QB Tim Couch 363/547 for 3,884 yards with 37 TD vs 19 INT. RB Anthony White 129 for 723 yards with 4 TD.
- 1998 University of Kentucky: QB Tim Couch 400/553 for 4,275 yards with 36 TD vs 15 INT. RB Derek Homer 137 for 716 yards with 7 TD. WR Craig Yeast 85 for 1,311 yards with 14 TD.
- 1999 University of Kentucky: QB Dusty Bonner 303/465 for 3,266 yards with 26 TD vs 13 INT. WR James Whalen 90 for 1,019 yards with 10 TD.
- 1999 University of Oklahoma: QB Josh Heupel 310/500 for 3,460 yards with 30 TD vs 15 INT.
- 1999 Valdosta State University:
- 2000 University of Kentucky: QB Jared Lorenzen 321/559 for 3,687 yards with 19 TD vs 21 INT.
- 2000 University of Oklahoma: QB Josh Heupel 305/472 for 3,606 yards with 20 TD vs 15 INT. RB Quentin Griffin 189 for 783 yards with 16 TD.
- 2000 Texas Tech University: QB Kliff Kingsbury 361/584 for 3,412 yards with 21 TD vs 17 INT.
- 2000 Valdosta State University
- 2001 Texas Tech University: QB Kliff Kingsbury 364/528 for 3,502 yards with 25 TD vs 9 INT. RB Ricky Williams 142 for 726 yards with 14 TD.
- 2001 Valdosta State University
- 2002 Texas Tech University: QB Kliff Kingsbury 479/712 for 5,017 yards with 45 TD vs 13 INT. RB Taurean Henderson 153 for 793 yards with 7 TD. WR Wes Welker 86 for 1,054 yards with 7 TD.
- 2003 Southeastern Louisiana University: QB Martin Hankins 353/592 for 3,537 yards with 30 TD vs 19 INT. RB Ray Perkins 155 for 706 yards with 6 TD.
- 2003 Texas Tech University: QB B.J. Symons 470/719 for 5,833 yards with 52 TD vs 22 INT. RB Taurean Henderson 124 for 736 yards with 10 TD. WR Wes Welker 97 for 1,099 yards with 9 TD.
- 2004 Southeastern Louisiana University: QB Martin Hankins 357/540 for 4,240 yards with 35 TD vs 12 INT. RB Ray Perkins 179 for 1,148 yards with 9 TD. WR Felton Huggins 84 for 1,313 yards with 13 TD.
- 2004 Texas Tech University: QB Sonny Cumbie 421/642 for 4,742 yards with 32 TD vs 18 INT. RB Taurean Henderson 162 for 840 yards with 16 TD. WR Jarrett Hicks 76 for 1,177 yards with 13 TD. WR Trey Haverty 77 for 1,019 yards with 6 TD.
- 2005 New Mexico State University: RB Justine Buries 187 for 779 yards with 5 TD.
- 2005 Texas Tech University: QB Cody Hodges 353/531 for 4,238 yards with 31 TD vs 12 INT. RB Taurean Henderson 148 for 872 yards with 17 TD. WR Joel Filani 65 for 1,048 yards with 8 TD.
- 2006 Baylor University: QB Shawn Bell 241/383 for 2,582 yards with 19 TD vs 10 INT.
- 2006 New Mexico State University: QB Chase Holbrook 396/566 for 4,619 yards with 34 TD vs 9 INT. WR Chris Williams 92 for 1,425 yards with 12 TD.
- 2006 Texas Tech University: QB Graham Harrell 412/617 for 4,555 yards with 38 TD vs 11 INT. RB Shannon Woods 152 for 926 yards with 10 TD. WR Joel Filani 91 for 1,300 yards with 13 TD.
- 2007 University of Arizona: QB Willie Tuitama 327/524 for 3,683 yards with 28 TD vs 12 INT. RB Nic Grigsby 161 for 704 yards with 2 TD. WR Michael Thomas 83 for 1,038 yards with 11 TD.
- 2007 New Mexico State University: QB Chase Holbrook 381/543 for 3,866 yards with 26 TD vs 18 INT.
- 2007 Texas Tech University: QB Graham Harrell 512/713 for 5,705 yards with 48 TD vs 14 INT. WR Michael Crabtree 134 for 1,962 yards with 22 TD. WR Danny Amendola 109 for 1,245 yards with 6 TD.
- 2008 University of Houston: QB Case Keenum 397/589 for 5,020 yards with 44 TD vs 11 INT. RB Bryce Beall 198 for 1,247 yards with 13 TD. WR Tyron Carrier 80 for 1,026 yards with 9 TD.
- 2008 New Mexico State University: QB Chase Holbrook 309/457 for 3,361 yards with 25 TD vs 14 INT. WR Chris Williams 86 for 1,271 yards with 9 TD.
- 2008 Stephen F. Austin University: QB Jeremy Moses 352/598 for 4,026 yards with 41 TD vs 20 INT. WR Dominique Edison 67 for 1,016 yards with 8 TD.
- 2008 Texas Tech University: QB Graham Harrell 442/646 for 5,111 yards with 45 TD vs 9 INT. RB Baron Batch 113 for 758 yards with 7 TD. RB Shannon Woods 141 for 716 yards with 12 TD. WR Michael Crabtree 97 for 1,165 yards with 19 TD.
- 2009 University of Houston: QB Case Keenum 492/700 for 5,671 yards with 44 TD vs 15 INT. WR James Cleveland 104 for 1,214 yards with 14 TD. WR Tyron Carrier 91 for 1,029 yards with 7 TD. WR Patrick Edwards 85 for 1,021 yards with 9 TD.
- 2009 McMurry University: QB Jake Mullin 256/393 for 2.749 yards with 25 TD vs 9 INT. WR Marcus Franklin 61 for 907 yards with 8 TD.
- 2009 Stephen F. Austin University: QB Jeremy Moses 385/566 for 4,124 yards with 40 TD vs 21 INT. RB Vincent Pervis 153 for 919 yards with 2 TD. WR Duane Brooks 118 for 1,076 yards with 6 TD.
- 2009 Texas Tech University: QB Taylor Potts 309/470 for 3,440 yards with 22 TD vs 13 INT. RB Baron Batch 168 for 884 yards with 14 TD.
- 2010 East Carolina University: QB Dominique Davis 393/609 for 3,967 yards with 37 TD vs 16 INT. RB Jonathan Williams 154 for 811 yards with 10 TD. WR Dwayne Harris 101 for 1,123 yards with 10 TD. WR Lance Lewis 89 for 1,126 yards with 14 TD.
- 2010 University of Houston: QB David Piland 201/345 for 2,641 yards with 24 TD vs 14 INT. RB Bryce Beall 163 for 850 yards with 12 TD. WR Patrick Edwards 71 for 1,103 yards with 13 TD.
- 2010 Jackson State University: QB Casey Therriault 255/437 for 3,436 yards with 31 TD vs 8 INT.
- 2010 McMurry University: QB Jake Mullin 202/330 for 2,859 yards with 35 TD vs 2 INT. WR R.J. Long 60 for 1,131 yards with 15 TD.
- 2010 Oklahoma State University: QB Brandon Weeden 342/511 for 4,277 yards with 34 TD vs 13 INT. RB Kendall Hunter 271 for 1,502 yards with 16 TD. WR Justin Blackmon 111 for 1,782 yards with 20 TD.
- 2010 Stephen F. Austin University: QB Jeremy Moses 336/550 for 3,998 yards with 34 TD vs 7 INT. WR Cordell Robinson 61 for 1,011 yards with 16 TD.
- 2010 Texas Tech University: QB Taylor Potts 369/551 for 3,726 yards with 35 TD vs 10 INT. RB Baron Batch 177 for 802 yards with 5 TD. WR Lyle Leong 74 for 926 yards with 19 TD.
- 2011 Baylor: QB Robert Griffin III
- 2011 Arizona: QB Nick Foles
- 2011 Oklahoma State: QB Brandon Weeden
- 2011 Oklahoma: QB Landry Jones
- 2011 East Carolina University: QB Dominique Davis 334/494 for 3,225 yards with 25 TD vs 19 INT.
- 2011 University of Houston: QB Case Keenum 428/603 for 5,631 yards with 48 TD vs 5 INT. RB Charles Sims 110 for 821 yards with 9 TD. RB Michael Hayes 138 for 727 yards with 11 TD. WR Patrick Edwards 89 for 1,752 yards with 20 TD. WR Justin Johnson 87 for 1,229 yards with 12 TD.
- 2011 Jackson State University: QB Casey Therriault 271/452 for 3,791 yards with 27 TD vs 15 INT.
- 2011 McMurry University: QB Jake Mullin 292/457 for 3,371 yards with 29 TD vs 15 INT. RB Justin Johnson 162 for 771 yards with 8 TD.
- 2011 Texas Tech University: QB Seth Doege 398/581 for 4,004 yards with 28 TD vs 10 INT.
- 2011 West Virginia University: QB Geno Smith 346/526 for 4,385 yards with 31 TD vs 7 INT. RB Dustin Garrison 136 for 742 yards with 6 TD. WR Stedman Bailey 72 for 1,279 yards with 12 TD. WR Tavon Austin 101 for 1,186 yards with 8 TD.
- 2012 East Carolina University
- 2012 University of Houston
- 2012 McMurry University
- 2012 Texas A&M University
- 2012 Washington State University
- 2012 West Virginia University
The Negatives
Many in the media tend to chide the quarterbacks coming out of the Air Raid offense as merely system quarterbacks with average or below average arm strength. Similar accusations made to quarterbacks coming from the run and shoot offense. On the other hand, it relies on quick decision making and incredible accuracy in the short (0 to 10 yards) and intermediate (10-15 yards) range. While it doesn't ask much of wide receivers in terms of running routes, it demands that the wide receivers have lateral agility and the strength to break tackles after making the catch.
Another negative is that the Air Raid relies on short passes out of the shotgun formation and yards after the catch. So while it creates gaudy numbers for quarterbacks in the scheme, it also hinders their potential ability to be seen as having qualities needed to be a quarterback at the National Football League level.