Protection Schemes

In our protection schemes, we are simple.  We like to block "Bigs" which is big-on-big as the 1st element of the protection.  We put our big guys on their big guys.  Whichever side the back is set, he has responsibility for the linebacker to that side, and the center has the linebacker away from the back.

One of the exercises we do to emphasize the time factor in protection is placing a cone 7 yards off the line of scrimmage to mark the QB's drop.  We will place a defensive end in his alignment and time how long it takes him to get to the cone.  Usually takes about 1.8 to 1.9 seconds.  When we place simply a bag in front of him and take away his angle of pursuit, the time now changes to about 2.1 seconds.  For most of our passes, we want the ball delivered around 2.8 seconds.

I tell the QB's they need to throw the ball within 2.8 seconds or they will be sacked.  We tell our offensive lineman to give the QB 4 seconds to throw the ball.  If you really think about it, how hard is it for a lineman to block his guy for 1 second?

The protection is a critical part of the attack, but it is not that complicated or difficult.  In our slide protection, we slide the lineman into a gap-protection scheme and the R-Back blocks the 5-technique opposite of the call.

If we want to play-action pass, we give an "Act" call.  Our numbering system puts our odd numbers to the left and even numbers to the right.  If we call "Act 3, the offensive line hears "Act," and automatically slide away from the call.  On the "Act 3" play, the line slides to the right.

The last protection scheme is what we call "Solid."  We take our best offensive blocker and single him up on the defensive end.  He blocks by himself and is locked onto that guy, while the rest of the offensive line slides away from him.  The R-Back takes the linebacker to that side.

We have various other protection schemes for our Roll Out, Sprint Out, and Naked concepts.  I am looking for discussion on these 3 protections in particular.  If you would like to share some of your knowledge, I am eager to talk football.

No Huddle Discussion Part 3

Communication Systems

The no-huddle “language” should be easy enough for the offense to communicate with one another, yet complicated enough to confuse the defense.  Some teams signal from the sidelines, and the QB might verbally repeat the communication, while other teams just signal from the sideline and are silent on the field after the information is signaled in.  The University of Oregon brought forth a new way of communicating by having boards held up on the sidelines, while teams like Auburn use colored flip charts and numbers in a complex way of determining whether to look at the flip chart or the signaler.  Last but not least, players referring to wristbands, which can be communicated verbally or nonverbally.  No one style is better than the other, in fact everyone of these styles are run at the three top levels of football:  High School, college, and the NFL.

In my opinion, whatever type of communication method you chose, there are certain basic information that needs to be communicated to the offense.  Not in any specific order:

·         Personnel

·         Formations

·         Motion (if any)

·         Cadence

·         Tags

·         Protection

During my coaching experience at the high school level, I was always trying to figure out ways to “dummy down” the play call.  When I first started calling plays on Friday nights, I would change out my “X” receiver and have the kid replacing him run the play into the QB.  The problem that I found quickly was, by time that kid got to the huddle, he forgot the play or left something out.  The QB would look to the sideline and raise his hands in the air.  I could sense the frustration…

Researching the no-huddle by going to clinics, reading books, and talking with other coaches, made me realize there were better ways to communicate from the sideline to the players on the field.  Coach Scott Weaver helped me out tremendously with communication, and opened my eyes to new fun ways to get the kids involved in hand/arm signals and naming the plays.  I just want to say thank you for all your help Scott, those long late night phone calls brought us our first league title in 19 years.

No Huddle Discussion Part 2

Coaching The No Huddle

With today's technology, players have the ability to access and study game/practice film anywhere and at any time.  Players and coaches can upload film onto laptops or other devices and study.  Football players are very competitive and highly motivated to be successful which in turn drives the players to learn.  This of course makes teaching the no-huddle process more effective.

How Do We Start?

It's not what the coaches know that counts, but rather what the players have learned

You must start with teaching and/or installing a communication system.  We as coaches have to invest time with our players to teach terminology in order to communicate the information to the offense from the coaching staff.  Remember, the no-huddle communication is the ability to tell our offense what we want them to do without huddling or allowing the defense to understand our communication on any given play.

After speaking with a friend of mine, Coach Scott Weaver (Gilbert HS in Arizona), he truly opened my eyes to what was involved in the development of the no-huddle and the spread type offense we were running.  He provided me with so much information and told me ways to establish the communication process which players could better adapt to and memorize.

Coach Weaver told me to lay out the foundation and allow the players to be involved in the development of the no-huddle communication.  I found that allowing the players to be involved with hand and arm signals allowed them to adapt and memorize the process better.  For example, if all runs are named after States, the players would come up with which State's to be used and the hand/arm signals.

When installing the no-huddle communication system, you want to start with the "Big Picture."  Tell the players/coaches why this type of communication system is used and followup with teaching sessions  that break down the communication into separate categories.  TEST your players and coaches!!  Regular testing makes the players accountable for learning the system and should be done during the spring and summer.  During the season, you may want to administer tests weekly, prior to game day, in order to see if the players know their responsibilities on the field or sideline.

Once offensive players have learned the no-huddle communication system, coaches can now devote more time to schemes and skills.  Coaches must be ready to improvise, overcome, and adapt to any situations that can occur.

Remember:  "It's not what the coaches know that counts, but rather what the players have learned."

Gotta Be In Shape!!  

No-huddle teams play fast and should practice fast.  No-huddle teams must be highly conditioned so that they can operate at a high tempo for an entire game.  When our coaching staff visited the University of Oregon, Coach Jim Radcliffe advised that there was no reason to make football players, who run the no-huddle offense, run 3 or 4 mile runs.  He explained that working the team in short bursts multiple times through conditioning proved better.  Hustle should be stressed at all times in all practices, even in the weight room.  Conditioning is stressed from spring practice through the summer.  We must be able to practice fast and play fast on both sides of the ball.

No Huddle Discussion Part 1

Why Run  the No Huddle

There are many benefits to running no-huddle attack in today's football.  One of the benefits is that a team has the opportunity to run more plays during a game, due to them using less time between plays.  Instead of huddling after every play, teams will line up in a formation and either snap the ball or freeze the defense to catch them off guard.  With that said, defenses have less time to substitute players or to line up, which may and can lead to either mismatches or a blown coverage.

Statistics show that a team that holds the ball for 30 minutes in a 60 minute game, and use each second of the play clock, would be expected to run 45 plays per game (College Level).  The no-huddle offense eliminates approximately 10 seconds per play due to not returning to a huddle, getting the play call, and then proceeding back to the line of scrimmage.  Eliminating these 10 seconds, a no-huddle offense is able to run approximately 60 plays, which is 33 percent more offensive plays per game than a team that huddles after every play.

Now I know your thinking, "Huddles allow our offense time to catch a breather.  In my opinion, after studying the no-huddle offense for several years through clinics, books, and discussion boards, I believe that huddling after plays is essentially unproductive and provides little benefit to an offense.  Those additional 10 seconds can often benefit the opposing defense more than the offense.  Defenses have an opportunity to make substitutions, give different looks, rest, and prepare themselves for the next play.

No-huddle offenses are to generate more plays per game, however they also do not hold the ball as long as offenses that huddle.  In the NCAA, the top 10 no-huddle offenses on average held the ball for less than 30 minutes per game.  In 2010 Oregon's top-ranked offense (#1 in the Nation) held the ball for just 28:09 per game and was ranked 106 out of 120 Division 1.

No-huddle teams generally require their defenses to play for longer stretches of time because the no-huddle system increases the number of plays per game.  This results in defenses surrendering more total yards and give up more points.

No-huddle offenses enjoy advantages which are driven in part by opportunities created by the offense, and in part based on the added pressure a no-huddle offense places on opposing defenses.  Playing against a no-huddle offense creates anxiety and defenses are more likely to become confused or suffer from fatigue, increasing the likelihood of missed assignments or blown coverage.

One of the main reasons to sue the no-huddle offense is to reduce the defense's ability to call their own plays.  Defenses are accustomed to playing at a certain pace against teams that huddle.  The communication used by most defenses rely on the break in action while the offense is in its huddle.

Practicing against a no-huddle condition within a week's worth of practice time is challenging for most opponents.  The no-huddle is an extra component that defenses must prepare for which takes time.  Defenses will try to counter a no-huddle offense by simplifying their coverage and game plan, which plays right into the hands of a no-huddle offense.  No-huddle offenses tend to dictate the pace of the game which in turn dictates how an opposing defense can react.  Defensive substitutions are limited and defenses are less likely to blitz.

Inside/Outside Zone Count System

A few years ago, our high school sent our football coaching staff to the University of Oregon to learn more about the No Huddle Spread Offense.

When we sat down with the O-line coaching staff, they talked about how they use the Count System in order to identify who's blocking who.  So here is what I learned while attending the clinic.

When running any type of zone play, the Count System tells the offensive line who they are suppose to block while the covered/uncovered principal tells them how they are suppose to block (footwork & hand placement).  When using the Count System it ensures the offensive line will block five to six play side defenders, while the Quarterback or insert player is responsible for one defender.  The Center must recognize and identify which defender is #0.  Must have a Center who is somewhat smart (must be able to count, LOL!!) and is a good leader, since he is setting the blocking schemes.

How Does It Work Coach?

The Center must identify and block the "Point" man (the defender assigned as the A-Gap defender to the play side, which we number 0).  The O-line will block five (5) play side defenders.  Now if we incorporate a formation with a Tight-End, he will be responsible for the #3 defender outside of the Center's man.  If the defense aligns in a six (6) man box, the Quarterback is responsible for the 6th man.  Quarterback must make the defender respect him as a runner.  Understand that we will double team the 1st line defender to our assigned number and must get VERTICAL Movement!!

Covered

• Outside Shade
• Head Up
• Inside Shade

Uncovered

• No D-Lineman covering you up

Man

• Two (2) adjacent lineman covered

Vertical Movement

• 2nd Step is a lead step straight ahead
• Take care of the 1st level 1st
• Getting vertical movement on double teams
• Stay on your aiming point

Blocking Rules:

• Center - Identify and block #0
• Guards - Block play side #1 and backside #1
• Tackles - Block play side #2 and backside #2
• Tight-End - Block play side #3, while QB is responsible for backside

So here's how it looks:

NOTE:

The Inside Zone is a HOLE to CUTBACK play.  DO NOT BOUNCE OUTSIDE!!


Examples

Outside Zone Explanation

• Blocking rules are the same as Inside Zone
• Difference is the aiming point of the Offensive Lineman
• Play Side O-Line takes a kick-step to the outside and Karaoke crossover step to get up field
• Backside opens on the play side foot and loses ground (Don't allow penetration)
• Rip & Run technique, try to get the outside shoulder of defender
• If we haven't reached the defender by the 3rd step, run them as far as you can

NOTE:

The Outside Zone is not a CUTBACK play, it's a CUT-UP play!!

Coach Grabowski

Yup... I bought Coach Grabowski's book on iTunes!!  AMAZING STUFF!!  You need to have an iPad or Mac in order to view the book, which at first I thought was going to be a pain, however it's grown on me. This is a must buy for those who run or wanna run the Pistol Offense.

Great job Coach G. can't wait for what's next.

R4 System

I highly recommend reading this book!  The day I received it in the mail, I couldn't put it down.  As a coach it opened my eyes and made me realize, there are other ways to communicate with your QB's.

This system helps guide your QB's in their decision making process, pre-snap to post-snap.

Rhythm, Read, Rush, and Release!!