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.