[MECHANICS] [SHORT WING] - Still having trouble figuring out key/switches

[sirhoagy]

2nd year working short wing.  Having trouble figuring out my key in a "diamond" formation to my side. 

Closest to me is off the line, as the is guy next to him.  Guy in FRONT of him is the one on the line (in-between him and the other guy who is off the line) and the fourth is behind the two who are already off the line.

This formation has been used by several teams in scrimmages and 1st week, and it's even harder for me to keep track when all four are to my side and they start to switch up when running routes.
I'm not sure who to watch and quite frankly, it has been chaotic. 

Any sage advice from the shorties on how to figure out key/figure out switches/stay with switches?

[TxBJ]

As far as initial keys, check the TASO mechanics manuals (edit:  Sorry, I thought I was in the Texas forum).  For a 5-official crew, you have the player closest to you and the player in the back (B has the other two).  For a 7-official crew, you have the player in the back (S/F has the widest player, B has the other two).

As far as switching, it really isn't different that switching on any other formation.  Work it out with your crew so you are all on the same page regarding when to switch or go to zone.

[Legacy Zebra]

This formation is actually one of the examples in the CCA mechanics manual on page 73. Technically the shirt wing has the back receiver, the deep wing has the outside receiver, and the B has the “point” man and inside receiver.

That being said, the back receiver doesn’t really need to be keyed. He can’t foul or be fouled before one of his teammates. And most of the time, the other two guys off the line aren’t a threat either. So really, we just need to see the point man at the snap and then it’s straight to zone. Let them declare where they’re going and then I should be obvious who has whom. The B will take inside, the deep wing will take whoever goes vertical, and you take the one who stays close. The biggest thing is if you see this on film, pregame it with your crew. Make sure everybody is on the same page with how you’re going to treat it.

[bossman72]

Make it simple.  Let them declare.

One will go deep sideline, one will go deep middle, one will cross and one will stay shallow sideline.  Deep wing takes deep sideline, BJ takes deep middle, you take shallow sideline, and you and the BJ both keep an eye on the shallow cross.  If you have 3 deep routes (Post, hash, and sideline), then the BJ will take the 2 deep middle and you focus on the shallow one.

Stay with the shallow ones and focus your attention on ones that are defended closely.  Try to get a look at all receivers out of their break if they have a break about 10 yards or less from the LOS.  That's usually when the defender grabs him.

Watch film with your crew and talk with your deep officials about who is looking at which player and when.  Discuss during the game too.  "Who did you take on that?"