GOLDEN RULES OF
OFFENSE
Most Coaches have a set of "Golden Rules" when it
comes to what a "good" offense should or should not do. The fact is there is no
unified list. Which is better, a ball control offense? Control the ball with the
short passing game or the power running game? Is defense more crucial then
offense. While it may be true that "if they don't score, they can't beat you,"
it is conversely true that if you don't score, you can't win either. So balance
is the answer then? Well, not if your ineptness is balanced. Surprise? While the
element of surprise is always cherished, a team would surely find minimal
success if it ran the ball on a majority of third and tens, and passed deep down
field on every third and one. A well coached team is one that reflects the head
coach's philosophies and tendencies during game situations. If a head coach
believes strongly that his defense should "carry" his team, then care to guess
where the majority of his "special" athletes are assigned starting positions?
The coach thereby scripts that his defense will be the strong point of his team.
The amount of success his team has validates or devaluates his reasoning among
his employers. I stress Ten Golden Rules a good offense should practice.
1. Force the defense to defend the entire field. NEVER allow a defense to crowd
the line of scrimmage, stacking eight or ten men "in the box" because you are
predictable in calling the run. NEVER allow the defense to flood the zones with
extra defenders because you pass eight downs out of ten. The offense should
attack ALL areas of the field and force the defenders to "stay at home" thus
allowing the offensive coaches to create the basic two-on-one mismatches that
lead to success for the offense.
2. Establish the Running Game: Force the defense to respect the running game,
taking the teeth out of the pass rush, and you open up the passing attack.
3. Create a Mismatch at the point of attack: Design and run plays to outnumber
the defense at the point of attack. Traps, Power Plays, Isolations, Leads,
Options, Pick Passes, and a host of other plays can be used to create a
situation where numerical or size mismatches can be exploited.
4. Minimize Mistakes: Turnovers and penalties are avoidable through sound
practices and preparation. Few things in the game of football are as
demoralizing as giving up a score while your offense is on the field. This
momentum shift often changes the course of a game.
5. Physically Dominate the Defense: Being strong and physical on offense is not
as important as it is on defense - it is MORE important. A dominant offense can
break the other team down physically and mentally and control the ball AND the
game.
6. Script the opening plays. The number of plays predetermined is not
important, only that there is a set offensive game plan in place. These plays
are usually a combination of the plays a particular offense has had success with
and ones that are expected to produce results against a specific opponent. Using
a script can also keep a team from getting "rattled" if the opening moments do
not go as planned.
7. Improve the Offensive Line: The Offensive line is the heart of a good
offense. Without a sound offensive line all other aspects of the offense
collapse. An offensive lineman needs a combination of size, speed, strength,
and, most importantly, intelligence. Regardless of how good the line play is,
there is always room for improvement, and strengthening the offensive line play
during the course of the season is key for post season success.
8. Take Chances: No guts, no glory! All teams find themselves behind at times,
and in need of a quick score. It is necessary to practice the quick strike if a
team wants to be capable of scoring quickly when the need is present. Throwing
the Play Action Pass on first down 30-40% of the time is a good start (at least
during the running of the script).
9. Be Disciplined. Know what it takes to be successful and prepare beforehand.
Know specific responsibilities and duties and be sure to carry them
out--especially when things are not going well, as this is when it is most
important. Very rarely does an undisciplined, unconfident team have what it
takes to overcome adverse conditions in an hostile environment. Players learn
the necessary traits to overcome adversity in practice. Disciple can be
rehearsed through substitution drills and special teams drills. Confidence can
be gained through rigorous scrimmages and positive reinforcement.
10. Be Prepared. Staff and players should prepare for a specific opponent with a
specific game plan. The coaching staff needs to scout the next opponent via
proxy, video tape, or in person. Preparation for the next game begins at the
final whistle of the previous one. There is no such animal as "game
preparation." Game preparation is merely a reflection of the week's practice
preparation.
Basically, as I see it, a good offense is capable of both running and passing
the football. The key is balance. I believe a good team should run the ball 60
plus percent of the time, yet gain 60 plus percent of its yardage via the
passing game. This is possible only if the passing attack is aggressive in
throwing the ball down field. When the ball is put in the air, three things can
happen, and two of them are bad. Completions therefore must outweigh
incompletions and interceptions. The goal of each and every offensive pass play
should be at the minimum a first down. In other words, I do not support a short
passing, ball control offense featuring 3 or 4 yard passes. The defense should
be stretched and forced to defend the entire field at all times. This can only
be accomplished if the offense is a perpetual threat all over the field. The
running game should attack between the tackles with quick hitting plays designed
to minimize defensive pursuit. In general, a good offense should seek to run the
ball against a pass defense, and pass the ball against a run defense. This is an
important concept designed to limit the linebackers' and defensive backs'
effectiveness. When the run sets up the pass, and the pass sets up the run, and
the defense is kept on its heels and spread out defending the entire field, an
offense should be able to move the football. I do not support the philosophy of
"taking what the defense gives you," rather I believe in taking what I want. My
offense will not wildly fluctuate each week to fit my opponent's defense.
Instead, my offense will only slightly modify each week in an effort to expose
weaknesses in the opposing defense. Only by maintaining both the running and
passing games can either be expected to individually carry a team if need be in
a particular situation.
Submitted by: Coach Hutchison
