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Lesson 14:
Incorrect Mesh
Probably the most important aspect of the play is the mesh between the quarterback and the sweeper. The timing and footwork becomes critical. If done correctly, the defender that is left as the read player is in a bind, and the defense stretches to the breaking point. If done incorrectly, the read player can defend both sweep and power and the play will go nowhere.
In this first example, the mesh happens too far inside the defender. The defense is not stretched and the read player (the defensive end) is able to fall in and make the play on the quarterback. Because the QB doesn’t bring the mesh to the read player, the decision must happen quickly which increases the likelihood that the QB is guessing rather than reading.
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The Power Read is not a new concept. It has become a staple in offenses that utilize and athletic quarterback to stress the defense in multiple ways. The Power Read gives a play that stretches a defense horizontally and puts a defender in conflict with a decision by the quarterback to pull or keep. It would seem that this play could be utilized by any team running power because the blocking sch...