Scoring in the Red Zone is essential to all offenses. Teams that are in the Spread can have problems when they get inside the 20.
I divide the Red Zone into 3 Sections 20-13, 13-5, 5-0. In my experience that is when the defense makes changes, at the 13 and then again at the 5.
#1 High 20-13
Think normally, think Smash and Snag concepts in the passing game and stay normal in the run game.
Smash for us is
#1 WR has an IN
#2 WR has an IN
#3 WR has a CORNER
3 man Snag have worked great for us... pretty standard
#1 WR has the SNAG
#2 WR has the CORNER
#3 WR has the BUBBLE
We had success with 2 new variations this of Red Zone offense due to our use of an H-Back this past season!
#2 From the 13 -5
We run a lot of Inside Zone slice and Run Pass Options. We used this to our advantage, especially because for us a number of the teams we play play man coverage in the Red Zone. Here are two clips of us using a play-action shot in the Red Zone! We would motion a back into the backfield and fake Inside Zone Slice with a wheel concept.
#3 Inside the 5
Our Best Play this year inside the 5 was getting a H-back and TE in the game with the ability to run Inside Zone Slice Downhill at teams. But most teams will put 9 in the box and go press man on the outside so our QB could throw fade to either side
Have a game plan for the Red Zone in the Spread.
Don't be afraid to have a heavy package inside the 5, H-backs, double tights or Single Wing.
Need Ideas for the Red Zone? The link below is my Coach Tube Class on it. Steal these 2 plays to install for your playoff run or for next year!
I want to update my original article I wrote on our install process. You can read it here.
This update all started with this question on twitter from Coach Grabowski.
Installing your DEFENSE - which do you use? If you would share an overview that would be great.
— Coach Keith Grabowski 🏈 Let's talk ball (@CoachKGrabowski) June 5, 2018
And the majority of what I said there hasn't changed.
We still do the rotation so it is really a 9 day install.
1A, 2A, 3A
1B, 2B, 3B
1C, 2C, 3C
Our Breakdown is simple.
The 1st series includes: Zone (Outside / Inside) , 4 Verts, 3 Verts, Hitches, Slants & Rocket Screen
The 2nd series includes: Power (Read), dart, Spacing, Snag, Curls, Smash, Middle Screen
The 3rd series includes: Counter, Draw, Flood, Stick, GL concepts, RB Screens
So let's talk breakdown of the 1st series deeper.
So when we think Inside Zone - we know we want to run these variations
With motion
To the TE
Away from the TE
H-back
Bluff
RPO (pre & post snap)
So when we break down our 3 days we spread this out over each one.
And we do the same thing for each concept that day before designing the install.
Outside Zone
No motion
With motion
Pistol
RPO
4 Verts
Out
Shallow & delay
Hitches - Juke series
I know the install can be done faster and shorter. But this, to me, gives you the chance to build the playbook for that season, get great variation and be precise with what you install.
I thank everyone who has purchased my Coach Tube Class, you can still get 20% off from this blog!
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Two questions, I have been asked a lot via email or via DM's on Twitter is how do I do advance game planning in the off-season and what data do I pull from last season's film.
Two areas of data, I want you to focus on from last season.
1. Go research the amount of times on Possession & 10 that you got 4 yards and find out did you score. Possession & 10 is the first play of the drive. Data shows that in D1 Football teams that gain 4 yards or more on P&10 score 77% of the time. I did my data from last season and it was 79% of the time.
That led me to do 2 things a) start the play calls that got us 4 or more and b) emphasis the importance of P&10 to my kids on offense and defense. More important than 3rd down.
2. Go back and chart your Red Zone areas (20-15) (14-8) (8-3) (3-GL). What plays worked and didn't. You have to figure out a game plan for these areas.
Dear Spread Coaches, it is ok to practice and have a 2 TE, 3 H-back Goal Line Package!
If you fix these two areas and research and improve them from last year, I guarantee it will lead you to more points!
Now on to Game Planning in the Off-Season...
On each opponent you play each next that is the same as last season. You and every coach on your offensive staff should fill out a hindsight sheet.
What goes on this sheet?
1. What plays worked well? Both Run & Pass
2. What plays DID NOT work and Why? Both Run & Pass
3. What did they do to work us?
4. What did they do that we didn't expect?
5. What do we need to add for next year? Both Run & Pass?
Next, pick 6 formations and go through based on the look you got and write down 2 runs and 2 passes you should have or did use that would or did work. For example, if in 10 personnel trips and zone both ways, along with stick and flood worked, right it down. If you should have run power read weak instead, write it down.
You are coming up with a base package for next year AND you can find out what plays you are running that need more attention or less attention. For example if you installed 3 man snag but it doesn't show up in the game plan nor what worked well, maybe it's time to scale back. Likewise if you spent limited time on counter and it shows up a lot, maybe more time is needed on this concept.
Book Update
#4
I have an autographed copy and finally decided to read it! Man, why did I wait so long! When at BYU, Coach Mendenhall focused on the process of being different, what could they do well that fit them!
How they recruited players, special teams, what coaches were in charge of what, duty to the mission.
Two takeaways that I have started to use. #1 Player led special teams, he has a special team coordinator but he has a special team captain for each unit. That captain is responsible for grading film, conducting a meeting, helping the SPC decide who belongs on the unit. The SPC becomes the facilitator.
#2 Delegation of processes to help the team. Not only does he have an OC, DC and STC, Director of Football Operations but a Locker Room Coordinator, Field Coordinator, Recruiting Coordinator, Academic Coordinator, Strength & Conditioning Coordinator. I gave all my coaches a duty, told them my non-negotiables and let them do the rest! Delegate authority! It creates BUY-IN!
#5
Wasn't on my to do list UNTIL Coach Maddox released it. Take your game planning and understanding of pass concepts to the next level. If you are not a member of the r4footballsystems, BUT want to do more in the R4 process, this book is for you.
This book teaches you secondary progressions off of your primary ones and how to change 1 route to help turn a cover 3 beater into a cover 2 beater, etc.... #6
Life lessons are important for growth and the head. Using his boat as a metaphor Richard Bode helps you reflect and learn how to live your best life! Before you can win a state championship or score 50 points there is a process. You have to start with baby steps such as installation of plays and the teaching of concepts.
Next article will be coming shortly with spring football ending, also my next coachtube class is being designed as we speak!
As always......
I thank everyone who has purchased my Coach Tube Class, you can still get 20% off from this blog!
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Back in March 2016, 2 years ago. John wrote about Coach Joe Osovet and The BOLT Offense. Then he was still the HC of Nassau JUCO in NY, that was before he was the hottest name in college and now a member of the Tennessee Vol coaching staff. For the past three seasons, I have been using elements of his offense and RPO's in my own offense. That article is one of our most viewed article as coaches and UT fans alike all want to know about the Bolt Offense. Here is a preview from the Coaches Choice videos if you wanted more information after reading our previous article.
Attached HERE are clinic notes and diagrams on his favorite formations and a few of his RPO's and Secondary Manipulations from a online clinic he did back on twitter. Coach Osovet does a great job with various inside zone and counter trey plays that we have come to love in the spread. I advise you to go follow him @CoachOsovet on Twitter. Secondly, I have been asked to share what practices from the books I have read that I am applying right now to help my team and myself as a coach. #1 - I take 30 minutes every day, early in the morning when settled at work at my office. To clean off my desk, I do so while listening to music it helps me to focus, remove clutter and see if there was anything on my desk that needs completion that I may have missed. #2 - My WR coach and myself have been work with WR's on getting better at blocking! We haven't focused on catching or route running... just blocking, deliberate practice trying to make or weakness our strength . Our state allows a coach to work with 4 kids at a time with a ball in the off-season. But we haven't pulled one out. We rotate working with WR's on blocking. These two items alone, I think are helping me as a coach and my team. I am getting a lot more done and I think we will see an improvement in blocking come this Spring! I think everyone who has purchased my Coach Tube Class, you can still get 20% off from this blog!
Make sure you have signed up for our mailing list below. I will have another newsletter come out before I go on Spring Break Vacation 1st week of April.
No matter how your season finished last year, you need to get better. Here are some things that I have been doing this off-season that I think can be helpful for you...
#1 I hope you are creating cutups on all your plays from last season.
You must review your plays from last year and watch film and decide on if certain plays need improvement.
#2 Clinic Up
I subscribed to theartofcoachingfootball.com clinics. They have some excellent clinics you should watch. Scott Frost & Hugh Freeze are two good ones.
YouTube clinics. If you haven't subscribe to Mike Rowe's YouTube page for ideas.
I will be back in a week with a form and questions that my staff answers about every opponent in the off-season to help us with next year.
We are creating a mailing list to keep you informed with website updates and to show you All-22 cutups and new YouTube videos of quick content. Join Below!
Finally sideline replay! I’m excited to announce our second sponsor!
I will be trying the system out during our spring workouts and my private training sessions. We will be utilizing the system during Summer Workouts too. And can’t wait to use on Friday Nights in the Fall.
This is the time of year where we as coaches get a chance to find out ways to grow in our profession. It's the clinic trail! Here are some things to get you going…
FIRST, I did a podcast with Ron Mckie, Episode #7.
You should check out his website RON McKIE FOOTBALL! Coach McKie has THREE weekly podcasts you can listen to as well. I just completed my first CoachTube Course.
The price is $9.99. But for all our readers I have a 20% discount code: highspeedspread What is your favorite thing you have learned so far this clinic season? Please share! WHERE?
Below in the comments
Join the Twitter Conversation and tag us @tbanks1906 @dacoachmohuddle @shotgunfball
If you love to go for 2 points conversions, this is the course for you! I am of the contrary view that “Why just kick it for one point?” when you can go for two? This is been one of my seasonal challenge the last couple years. An added entertainment for my JV duties, I research different offenses. One year I will lined up for 2 point conversions in the infamous lonesome polecat. This past year, my 2 point conversions were out of the single wing formation. And finally, I actually went under center DOUBLE TIGHT I FORMATION. When Coach Mike Rowe introduced his newest course, “Gaining an Advantage with 2-Point Concepts” , I jumped at the chance to check it out.
The Why? Here a few… You gotta purchase the course to get them all!
It is a lot of fun for the kids
Allows us to to practice Trick Plays with no consequences
I love to go for 2 because in my reasoning, you only have to have 50% productivity. Of course, Coach Rowe’s boasts a 80% conversion rate. And he doesn’t use these plays for strictly 2 point conversions, Coach Rowe will “use these concepts on short yardage too”.
Coach Rowe uses NINE concepts to confuse the defense.
Southside
Bobber
Pirate
Hook
Hammer
Fish
Whale
Crab
Shark
And he has the PHILLY SPECIAL! He calls it PIRATE (nod to Mike Leach? ....ARRGGH).
My favorite of all the concepts must be the HAMMER CONCEPT.... SPEED STING PLAY.
I will say again how much I love the Coach Tube layout. You can easily pause a course then pick up close to where you left off. No scrolling the time bar or remembering the time!
Other Coach Tube Features
Stream from any devices.... I even tried it on my iPhone it works
Lifetime access
100% money back guarantee
Past Coach Tube courses I have taken from Coach Rowe include:
KISS, also known as Keep It Simple Stupid is a FOUR letter Acronym that likes to keep everything simple. This can also apply to Coach Singleton’s newest course, which is the rule of FOUR. This is not the first course that I’ve "taken" from Coach Singleton and as is the case with his other courses, I was not disappointed. He does a great job explaining every play and has film clips for most plays. I will say that I love the layout of the Coach Tube. The clinic is divided into chapters for easy review.
I love how Coach Tube adds a PDF of the slides too. I would post them all...but I'm sure Coach Singleton would not be happy! (so just buy it.)
I am a terminology junkie and love to learn how other teams call their plays, motions, and shifts. Here is a slide showing an example of motions.
Coach Singleton has an attention to detail when coaching the plays.
Buy this course! A steal at $14.99 compared to other for $$$$$.
