10 Things I Passionately Believe About Offensive Football

Today we’re going to talk a little about what I really believe in the offensive side of this wonderful sport.

And I want to know: Do you agree or disagree with any of these? Or maybe you’ve got one that you think is more important? Respond nad let me know.

So, without further ado… Let’s get started!

1. Start with terminology

It’s important to start with a foundational verbiage that allows you to move personnel around with motions, shifts, and alignments within the formation.

It all needs to be connected by rules and word associations, so that any addition to the playbook or the game plan seems like a natural extension of what’s already there instead of a bunch of unrelated jargon.

2. Inside and outside zone fix a lot of problems

Inside and outside zone are the cheapest schemes you can invest in, which coincidentally allow you to be extremely multiple with all the variations you can add to them.

Keep in mind that when I say “cheap”, I’m talking about the amount of things you have the ability to build onto these plays. At the same time, most of the assignments stay the same for the guys up front.

Zone schemes are a very powerful weapon in your arsenal, since you know that the defense can line up with just about anything, and you’ll at least be OK, even if it’s not a perfect look.

3. Change of strength motion is a killer

Change of strength motions and shifts are tough to defend, but also a fantastic way to play games with the alignment of defensive personnel.

If you know how the defense will align their best players, you can dictate where those guys will line up, and thus dictate the match ups you want.

For example, if you’ve got to play a team with an elite defensive lineman, and you know he lines up to the strong side of the formation, you’ve got an easy way to run away from him whenever you want.

All you have to do is line up with your tight end or H-back to one side, wait for the defense to get set, and then move the tight end to the opposite side of the formation.

Now, the defense could try to move personnel in response, but that’s part of the game.

We’ll talk more about this in a second.

4. Going full speed isn’t effective all the time

Constant tempo isn’t as important as the ability to change up and go from 0-60 at any moment.

It’s not 2007 anymore, and going fast all the time doesn’t throw defenses off nearly as much.

Every defensive coordinator in America has seen a high-speed offense multiple times a year over the past decade or so, and so have the players.

Coach Keith Fagan gave a great clinic where he talked about defensive “acclimatization”, or the ability of a defense to get accustomed to the environment you’re putting them in over a certain period of time.

We can debate about what the optimal time is, but the bottom line is you have to have a change up in your toolbox, otherwise the defense just gets used to it.

5. Attack the boundary unmercifully

This includes the run and pass game.

You should force the defense to take this away from you.

You’re almost always +1 to the boundary and when offenses don’t have a consistent plan of attack in this area they’re making the defense’s life easier.

Yes it’s true you’ve got more space to the field, but that’s also a much further throw, and if you’ve got a younger QB that’s one thing he may struggle with.

6. Use multiple personnel groups

Stay multiple with your specialized personnel groups (jumbo, etc) and create new formations with those guys.

I’ve talked about this before but it bears repeating, especially if a defense is going to try to match personnel.

If they’re not going to match personnel, that’s an even better reason to be multiple, because now they’re going to let you stay on the field with a huge advantage on what they’re trying to do.

I realize this may be easier said than done at smaller schools, so your mileage may vary. Still, try to find creative ways to get new players on the field and give your opponent something they have to study and prepare for.

7. Tell your QB what to do with the ball

Don’t be afraid to pre-determine option runs and certain vertical passes, especially to the short side where there’s a larger margin for error.

If you’re multiple with formations and can create good pictures and easy matchups for the QB, it makes both of your jobs even easier.

It doesn’t mean you have to hold their hand on every single play, but don’t be afraid to tell him where to go every once in a while.

There are some plays that you draw up and put in for a very specific reason against a very specific look you expect to see. Don’t leave that open to interpretation. Let him know where the ball is supposed to go.

Speaking of formations…

8. Formations > Plays

Unique formations are not a gimmick.

That is communist propaganda from defensive coordinators who want you to play in one formation in a box.

Force them to spend 30 minutes on set recognition in practice and less time fitting the run.

This fits into the inside/outside zone point from earlier. If you can run zone well from a couple of different backfield structures, you can be extremely multiple with the way you line up, and still be sound, while forcing defenses to run around and figure each one of them out.

Don’t leave money on the table.

9. Use an H-Back

H-back / Y-Off formations are twice as difficult to defend because of the extra threat of the H-back crossing the formation to block or release in a route.

Not to mention all the potential motions and shifts.

(Split zone action is one of the best play-pass looks there is)

If you’re talking about “cheap” motions to install, just moving the H-Back from one side of the tackle box to the other can cause a lot of thinking on defense.

Speaking of play-passes…

10. Make sure each run has a pass attached

You don’t need an RPO attached to every run, but you do need some kind of pass threat off each run action.

This sounds simple but you’d be surprised how many guys don’t audit their scheme.

For example, do you run a lot of two-back power? It’s a great play, but if you don’t have a similar-looking play-pass with that backfield action, you’re leaving money on the table.

… These are just a few things that came to mind, but I have more.

Let me know what you think and reply if you agree or disagree with anything that I said in the comments below.

I’m also interested to know what your top beliefs are on the offensive side of the ball.

Want More?

If you liked this article, you will DEFINITELY LOVE the book 101 Red Zone Plays.

Click HERE and learn more

Recommended articles: