Offensive Philosophies

I don't know if these are philosophies or just goals of running an offense; however they are what I stand by throughout the season.

Now before I go on I'd like to ensure my viewers (all 2 of you) that discussion of actual schematic football both offensive, defensive, and special teams is to come on this blog. I am choosing to go over the installation, and organization process first because I believe that is what truly wins you games. Everyone knows how to block the power play, and inside zone. The key is who can install it, teach it, and rep it the best (of course with good athletes).

-Back to Philosophies- I think the key to having philosophies or goals is to revisit them weekly to ensure you are keeping on track with them. It is is easy to write a long winded philosophy sheet during the clinic season only to loose track of it come season.

With that being said these are 12 things I stick by throughout the season that I think make me a better playcaller, teacher, and coach.

1. Win - No exceptions, Anyway Necessary. Have no ego - running an offense that doesn't put your players in a position to win is a waste of your time.

2. Have A System - Don't grab bag, invent, or create during the season (as best as possible). Only refine, rep, and perfect. Have a dedicated and detailed installation plan.

3. Don't Get Board Of Details and Reps - It is our job as coaches to tirelessly rep the details of our position groups, don't tire of this, and don't allow your position groups to tire of the details. We as coaches must constantly think of new ways to teach the critical aspects of the game to avoid redundancy.

4. Put The Majority Of Learning In The Hands Of Few - My girlfriend assures me that this statement doesn't make sense. What it means is that our system is built and maintained for easy adjustments by certain players to give the look of multiplicity while maintaining simplicity. Tags and variations only affect the players absolutely necessary while maintaining norm upfront.

5. Simple Yet Multiple - #4 leads to #5. We want to be a multiple team employing a lot of shifts, motions, unbalanced lines, and formations while maintaining a between scheme and formation for continuity.

6. Practice Situationaly - All our group, 7 on 7, and team periods have a situational emphasis. Either down and distance or critical situation. This has helped avoid uncertainty of players on game night and has lead to more efficient practice time.

7. Think Players Not Plays - Get the ball in the hands of the players that can move it. Have categories on your call sheet with specific plays designed for your playmakers.

8. Force The Defense To Defend The field Horizontally and Vertically - This is not just done by spreading the field with formation (although that is the first step). Once you have them spread you must keep them spread by incorporating what Chris Brown calls constraint plays. These plays force the defense to maintain sound alignments to your formations and when they don't these plays are designed to capitalize. For us we use Bubble/smoke screen to the wide receiver/slot, draw, and play action to constrain the defense.

9. Be Willing And Capable Of Making In Game Adjustments - When all else is equal the team that makes the best adjustments will win the game.

10. Don't Allow The Defensive Line To Get In Rhythm - Do this by mixing the snap count, cutting the defensive line early and often, varying the QB's launch point (Drop Back, Sprint Out, Play Action) and Changing the QB's Passing Clock (Quick, Drop Back, Sprint Out), as well as incorporating the Screen and Draw game.

11. Have A Language - Force Coaches and Players to speak the same language. Do this by having specific terms/"Buzz words".

12. Practice As If It Were Game Day - Have personnel substitutions come from the sideline, force tempo to the line of scrimmage, and build a finish to every indy, group, and team period you do.

These are just things I try to ensure get done with my team. I stole all of it from better coaches then my self. To give credit alot was taken from Shawn Watson, Tony Franklin, Bill Williams, Chris Brown, and Bill Walsh

* Would love to hear your philosophies in hopes of adding to mine.