LOOK and LISTEN

I have always struggled with how to practice No-huddle...Use signals or Codes that the defense starts to learn and cheat (bad defense,bad!). Last week I started to channel my inner ADD. What if I called a code and some signals at the same time? So I would sugar huddle the Offense and tell them "DOUBLES...Listen to me" BREAK.  I would yell our code for ALL HITCH and signal ALL GO. Then WRs run ALL GO...perfect.
"DOUBLES...Look at me" BREAK. I would yell our code for Y Stick and signal Y Cross.
Then the WRs run Y Cross...bingo.

The WRs have picked it up and now the defense can't cheat!

I helped out our young WR group for TRIPS formation...the question always being what does #3 do now, coach?
"TRIPS...ONE and TWO listen to ME, THREE Look at me"
I yell the concept for #1 and #2 WRs and signal #3.

I have started to expand it a bit today and had another assistant stand next to me. We would sugar huddle and I would make the call
"Listen to Me"
"Look at Me"
"Listen to Coach"
"Look at Coach"

Now the next challenge, how to indicate who/what is live and what is dummy during a game!

NEW POSTS are coming

Sorry for the delay.

We plan to post "play of the week"

As we approach a less stressful week, We will get some articles in swing!

Look for great stuff after August 24th...which is an opponent (and friend) that reads this blog!
We don't want to tip our hat!

Name this motion or shift

We are adding the the DIAMOND FORMATION this year...I'm looking for names for motions and shifts...First would be when one fullback stacks on the other...

ACTION VERBS are top choices...

My favorite run play-Counter

Since I started watching football in the mid 80s I became enamored with the counter series that was made famous by "the Hogs" in Washington.  I fell in love with with it because it was a violent play, it was simple in its execution, and it always seems to go for positive yardage.

When I started coaching high school football Da Coach Mo showed me how to run it out of the spread sets and the rest as they say is history.  It is no secret that all the teams I have coached or am currently coaching run this play and do so with a fair amount of success.

I thought I would place a couple of diagrams for you, the reader to view at your leisure when you are determining if you would like to add this play to your offensive arsenal.

 Here is an example of how we would run the counter series against the 30 stack defense.
The center and the RG would double the zero tech to the backside stack backer
The RT would down block to the Mike LBER
The LG would kick out DE
The LT wraps up to the the stack lber over the RT

Obviously this all changes if they opposing team is slanting and or blitzing gaps.
The coaching point on the counter series is everyone has a gap on the frontside and the guard kicks out the first defender off the backside of the tackle

The RB takes a jab step and crosses QBs face running inside the kick out of the guard
The qb holds ball out for the RB and carries out the fake on the backside of the play
The backside slot runs a bubble to influence the defender over them.

 The rules on the counter against a 4-1 box
In this scenario the LT and LG combo to the Mike backer
The center blocks back on the nearest adjacent defender
The RG Kicks Out and the RT wraps up to the olber
The action in the backfield is the same as the above example
Remember the front side of the play is gap responsibility and the RB needs to follow the path of the wrapping offensive tackle.

The rules for running the counter are the same as the 4-1 box except the wrapping tackle wraps up to the frontside backer.

Important coaching point on the counter series
The frontside has a gap not a man
If someone is in your gap you have to take them on the frontside
The guard is always kicking out the first person that shows outside of the playside tackle

In order to run this play successfully, you will have to spend a fair amount of time on working on combo blocks and then working to the 2nd level defender.  If you take the time to teach it and work it on a regular and consistent basis you will see the positive effects I have throughout the years.

If you would like to how we run throughout the seasons please click this link to watch my team run it.

Chicago Force Replay

If you would like to see how to implement it into your no huddle check out my manual on Amazon.com. 

Favorite Formation

Check out the poll and vote!

Combo Plays

There is nothing like having to make the right choice on 3^rd down and 5 of a crucial drive late in the game, or 2^nd down and long or even 1^st down when the defense is being unpredictable. Spread offensive coaches still follow the same bible of play calling since the birth of the offense.  5 in the box = run, 7 in the box = throw. 6 in the box = well it depends on a lot of factors (Football Math). Defenses have evolved to keep 6 men in the box to keep offense guessing of their next move.

Spread coaches have moved on to the next phase of play calling to stay ahead of the curve.  Combing plays! There are three types, a) Run and Pass attached, b) Quick Pass and Draw, and c) Pass and Screen. 

You can also read about this at smartfootball.com.  

Combining Plays Search

I will discuss how we combo each category of play on our staff. The most common play which is in category b is the stick-draw.

We read the backer who has curl/flat to the side of the stick. If he opens to stick it’s 5 in the box run draw, if he blitzes or stays at home we throw the stick.

We will read the same strong side backer, by running the ball away from him by calling stretch weak with the snag concept attached to it. 

If he does not flow with the ball we give the ball to the back, because of numbers, if he does and he vacates the snag area it allows us to read the triangle on the pass.

The last combo is running a pass and a screen attached. One of our favorite pass plays is the Y-Cross concept, we will run that and attached backside TB screen to it.

If the Mike LB drops to take away the crosser the QB flips his body and throws the screen.

No play caller is perfect, but by combining plays we are giving the QB tools to be able to get out of and into a play that suits the current defensive structure, by applying pressure to players that defenses ask to do two things at one time.

We are currently changing our film over to Hudl, once this is complete, I will add clips to illustrate the combo plays.

New Guest Author/Contributor

I am happy to welcome Coach Terrance Banks to Spread Football!

Terrance Banks is currently Wide Receivers/Passing Game Coordinator at Duluth High School, under Corey Jarvis, where he coached WR Myles Campbell, who was the 2011 Gwinnett County Specialist Player of the Year. He previously coached at Berkmar High School, where he coached All-State Receiver Justyn Shackleford , currently playing at Tulane University and on the Lakeside High School staff in 2008 as assistant head coach/offensive coordinator after serving as the assistant Head Coach co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach in 2006.

          During the past five seasons, Terrance Banks has produced five all-county football players, and one all state player. These players include a wide receiver at Berkmar High who is number one in career yards in a season in Gwinnett County history, a cornerback and linebacker from Lakeside High School in 2008, to go along with the only freshmen to make the DeKalb County all-county team in 2007 at wide receiver.

          In addition to his time at Berkmar, Banks also served as Assistant Head Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator at Lakeside High School in 2006; Varsity OLB Coach/JV Head Coach at Dunwoody High School 2004-2005.

Coach Bank's first article will be posted this evening! Combing Plays!

Next Article

First week in July is moratorium time for football in Indiana...So I will have some time for an article or two...

The question is what to write about???

Coach Martin's Favorite Concept

The last few years going to clinics, I always make it a point to ask questions. My two favorites are

Q: What is your favorite concept?

Q: What do you call on 3^rd and 10?

During the Notre Dame Coach’s chalk talk, when the opportunity came for me to ask a question. I asked Coach Martin “What is your favorite concept?” He got a sly grin, paused then started drawing a boundary throw…As he drew the concept, it looked familiar to me. The concept is known as Grand Valley State “W Read”. 

The beauty of this concept is that combines many of Coach Martin’s philosophies.

• Can be run from multiple formations
   
• TE to the boundary
   
• Empty
   
• Empty with a TE

The base of this concept is the crossing wheel action. The main difference is it is not your classic POST by #1 and OUT and UP #2. 

 

BASIC "INGREDIENTS"

1 part WHEEL CONCEPT

1 part Run and Shoot SWITCH CONCEPT

      A dash of Coach Martin                                                                                                                                           

Basic QB tip

“Don’t throw TO the WR…Throw ball AWAY from defenders”

VS 1 HIGH SAFETY

The #1 (outside) WR runs directly to the hash to a depth of 18 yards. This route allows the WR to get to open grass sooner and it is not a typical route that a CB may have to defend.

The #2 (inside) WR runs to a depth of 5 yards to the outside edge of the numbers…

EDITOR’S NOTE: I prefer telling WRs Outside and Inside of NUMBERS, NOT TOP or BOTTOM of the NUMBERS. In the past, when I told a rookie WR “get on the top of the numbers”, he would be DIRECTLY on the numbers…in the middle of them!

The inside WR breaks up and stays on the edge of the numbers.

VS 2 HIGH SAFETIES

The #1 (outside) WR get to 10 yards (or over LB) then run the route between a DIG and a POST.

The #2 (inside) WR begins the same wheel type route; the only difference is if he can’t beat the CB then SIT IT DOWN.

VS 2 HIGH SAFETIES plus a LB walling and dropping deep

Now the concept becomes similar to the run and Shoot SWITCH concept

The #1 (outside) WR settles at 8 yards without getting too wide

The #2 (inside) WR settles at 12 yards

I look forward to seeing Notre Dame running this concept against the big boys this year. I also plan to run this concept in some form this season. Cross your fingers that I will get some quality clips this year!


Special Thanks to

O-ZONE SPREAD OFFENSE CONSULTING ON HUDL

for access to game film.







Coach Kohler Clinic Notes

Missouri's Coach Yost

I'm always entertained and enlightened when I get the chance to see Coach Dave Yost.

His basis for offensive planning is "Attack the defense with what they don't like."

He spoke briefly about the principles of the Missouri offense

1) FOUR VERTICALS: This is one of the best ways to get the defense into 2 safeties. Some years it is better than others, but always want to have the threat of it.

2) NO HUDDLE: Keep the defense out of their comfort zone.

3) TEMPO: Change it up, to keep the defense from finding a rhythm.

4) BUBBLE SCREEN: Make the defense defense the FORMATION. Around 90% of the run game has a BUBBLE or NOW built in.

5) SLANT PATTERN: The best route that allows for run and catch up the field. They love to throw it against the blitz, The WR has the chance to catch a short route and turn it into a big gain.

6) SCREENS: The type of screen varies from year to year. Make sure to throw screens to your play-makers!

7) EMPTY: 3x2, 4x1, 5x0... There is no defense designed for EMPTY. Do not use EMPTY for dropback concepts. Use EMPTY for QUICK GAME, SCREENS, and QB RUNS.

8) FORMATION to the BOUNDARY: Defenses don't like to defend strength to the boundary, the MIKE linebacker hates going to the "weak-side". It creates a lot of space for the single WR to the field.

9) UNBALANCED LINE: The last defenders to adjust are the D LINEMEN. They are creatures of habit that like to line up in the same technique. It also affects the Linebacker's gap responsibility.

10) FORMATION ADJUSTMENTS (1 different each week): Bunch or Motion. Use it just for "window dressing". Most defenses' check for BUNCH is a secondary check...Line up in Bunch then RUN the BALL or screen away from the bunch.

11) QB RUN: The type of run depends upon the QB...When the QB can a be a primary ball carrier then the offense is more effective.

12) OPTION FOOTBALL: Speed option has been the best answer for same side RB run.