After looking at outside run concepts like speed option and stretch lead, today we’re looking at an inside run concept in ChUG. ChUG is an interior run play Jimbo Fisher brought with him when he arrived at A&M in 2018. When ChUG is run in a game, it is a sign Fisher has complete confidence in his center.
Play Concept
ChUG is an acronym for a fold block. A fold block consists of a down block by one offensive lineman while an adjacent lineman pulls around him and blocks the second level, usually a linebacker. The acronym tells you who is down blocking and who is pulling. ChUG stands for ‘Center Under Guard’ so the center is pulling under the guard’s down block. A lineman aligned on the center is a 0-tech or 1-tech, so the guard down blocks the 0/1-tech. The center pulls around the block and takes on a linebacker, that is ChUG.
A&M runs ChUG from 10 and 11 personnel. The running back’s landmark is the playside A-gap. The goal of the fold block is to open a huge hole between the guard’s down block and the center’s block on the playside LB. If it is executed properly, the first defender the RB faces is a safety.
Facing a 4-2 front, the TE blocks the strong end. The RT down blocks on the 3-tech so the RG can go second level and block the BSLB. Left guard down blocks on the 1-tech so center can pull around and block the PSLB. LT fans out the weakside end. Field receiver and inside and outside slot receivers stalk block.
Executing ChUG
A&M is in 11 personnel with three receivers aligned to the field, Jalen Wydermyer at H-back to the boundary, Isaiah Spiller aligned to the right of Zach Calzada. Missouri is in a 4-2-5 alignment with three DBs covering the receivers, one protecting the boundary, and a deep safety in Cover 1.
At the snap, TE Wydermyer blocks the strongside DE and RT Reuben Fatheree blocks down on the 3-tech DT. RG Layden Robinson passes off the 3-tech to Fatheree as he goes second level to block the backside LB. LG Kenyon Green blocks down on the 1-tech NT. LT Jahmir Johnson base steps playside and drives the weakside DE outside. Center Bryce Foster pulls under Kenyon’s down block and goes second level to seal the playside linebacker on the fold block. Spiller takes the handoff from Calzada, takes his three zone steps, then cuts up inside the hole created by Green, Foster, and Johnson. The result: 13 yards and a first down.
A&M is in 10 personnel, twin receivers on both side. Ball in the middle of the field, Spiller aligned behind Calzada in the Pistol. Missouri is again in Cover 1 with CBs on the wide receivers, safeties on the slots, and one deep safety. With no TE backside, Fatheree ignores the SDE and cuts the 3-tech, Robinson climbs and blocks the backside LB. Green downblocks the 1-tech and Johnson base steps playside and drivers the WDE outside, Foster pulls under Green’s down block and knocks playside LB Blaze Aldredge back and seals him outside. Spiller takes the handoff and just runs straight through the hole, untouched. Deep safety Jaylen Carlies makes an attempt to get into position to make a tackle, but Spillers sidesteps him easily. Play result is a 42 yard TD run.
Achane In Action
This is 11 personnel with Wydermyer aligned to the boundary at wing, twin receivers Ainias Smith and Demons Demas to the field, Devon Achane in the Pistol behind Calzada. Wydermyer blocks the SDE and Fatheree blocks down on the 3-tech. Robinson climbs and buries the BSLB, Kenyon Green blocks down on the 1-tech. Johnson lets the WDE bullrush outside and then anchors, sealing him out. Foster again pulls under Green’s down block and is able to seal the PSLB outside. Achane takes the handoff, cuts up inside the hole created by Green and Foster, and takes off downfield. Play result is an 18 yard gain and a first down.
ChUG is a solid interior running play if you have an athletic center who can pull, and A&M has on in Bryce Foster, who made Freshman All-American in 2021. With Foster and Achane both returning, Aggie fans can expect to see the ChUG concept on the field in 2022.
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