Building a championship football team

In making our blocking rules or assignments for all of the players versus all different defensive alignments, there are several factors to take into consideration. The rules must be simple, and secondly, they must be brief. We have used several different kinds of rules, such as, “Inside gap, over, linebacker,” and others. This was a good method, but it amounted to quite a bit of memory work for the players because the majority of the blocks were all different and the players were required to learn a number of different sequences. Trying to adhere to the theory, “the simpler, the better,” we started numbering the defensive men as illustrated in Figure 102a versus the 5-4 defensive alignment; 102b versus the wide tackle 6; 102c versus the gap 8 defense; and Figure 102d versus the Eagle defense.

We start counting with the man over the center and number him zero, and from there go both left and right numbering every man within two yards of the line of scrimmage, as illustrated in Figures 102a-b-c-d. We also number the men in the secondary. We do this by merely continuing with our numbering beyond the end lineman in the direction the ball is going to go, as illustrated in Figure 103a versus the Oklahoma 5-4 defense, and Figure 103b versus the wide tackle 6-2 defensive alignment.

Application of Our Blocking Rules

By numbering the defensive men it is simple when making out the blocking rules to assign each man a number, and the offensive man merely learns which numbered man he will block. There will be certain plays in which a particular position must have one or two options. As an example, a rule might read, “#3 unless outside, then, #2.”

The following are examples of blocking rules by numbers:

Regular Block—straight ahead

Trap Block—

Counter Block—

By using this particular method it is also very easy to incorporate the backs into the blocking scheme. When using the back to the side the ball is going, in order to have a backfield man block a particular defensive player, we merely add two zeroes to the number which has been assigned to the defender, and the back gets this man. As an illustration, if we want our halfback to block the #3 defensive man, the halfback’s block is 300; and the #4 man, the block would be called 400. Several complete illustrations would be as follows:

300 Block—

400 Block—

Under Block—

Over Block—

ATTACKING THE DEFENSIVE ALIGNMENT

Probably like many other football teams, we have too much offense. However, in order to do an intelligent job of planning our attack versus the numerous defensive alignments, one must have sufficient offense since not all plays are good against all defenses.

Regardless of one’s offense, the first approach is to establish a good sound middle attack that is based on the trap, fullback hand-off, and a pass off of the same action. Unless a team can force the defense to respect the inside power and force the defensive linebackers and guards to stay “at home,” it is almost an impossibility to perfect the outside attack. After we establish the inside attack, then we want to run far enough inside the defensive end to cut down his quick containment. The next step then is to perfect the wide attack and the corner passes, in order to have a well-rounded offense. Bootleg passes, reverses, and an occasional trick play are also needed in order to keep the defense “honest,” and to make the above-mentioned plays more effective.

GOING WIDE

It is an offensive must for a team to be able to go wide and to get the long gainer. Occasionally all of us get a good gainer from the inside attack, but most long gainers are from passes or some form of wide attack.

Previously we operated on the assumption if we could gain four yards on each play we would score with a sustained drive. Statistics will prove a team will generally stop itself by some error, or the defense will stop the offense, before the attack can make four consecutive first downs or gain 50 yards, a majority of the time. Consequently a team must perfect its wide game.

There are several ways of going wide, but regardless of the manner attempted, the defensive end or corner man must be eliminated either by blocking him, optioning him, or throwing the football over his area.

The Run-Pass Option

When trying to get wide against a corner man, the run or pass option is one of the best methods to employ. Figure 104 illustrates the on-guard blocking #1, on-tackle #2, and the fullback blocking the #3 man. The near halfback and the on-end will run their pass routes. The #4 man is not blocked, and the passer is going to option from him. As soon as the passer has possession of the ball, he watches the #4 man. If he comes up to tackle the passer, the latter throws to the open receiver. If the #4 man drops back to play pass defense, the passer is instructed to turn upfield and run with the football. If our passer feels he can gain at least four yards on the play, we want him to run with it most of the time. The play is much better against a team that uses a 9-man front than against an 8-man front alignment.

The Quarterback Option

There are several kinds of option plays, but the one designed to get wide is the two-way option, in which the quarterback either keeps or pitches to the far halfback, depending upon the reaction of the defensive man from whom he is optioning.

The blocking rules on the quarterback option play are very simple, as illustrated in Figure 105. The offensive guard and tackle to the on-side block their numbers, respectively. The on-end will block to his inside, N/T (No One There) halfback, and the fullback will block the #4 man with a junction block. The quarterback must watch his man all the time in order for the play to turn the corner successfully. He must option the #3 man and not permit the latter to option the quarterback.

The Three-Way Option

The other option play, illustrated in Figure 106, is the three-way option with the quarterback playing the #4 defender. This option is in the same series with the outside belly play. The quarterback has the option of (1) giving the ball to the fullback, who will hit off-tackle, (2) keeping the ball himself, after faking the fullback off-tackle, or (3) faking the off-tackle play and optioning off of the #4 man by pitching back to the far back running wide, after the defender plays the quarterback. The on-guard blocks #1, on-tackle #2, on-end #5. The fullback is responsible for making #3 tackle him, and the quarterback must watch #4 man.

Changing Offensive Blocking Assignments at the Line

Since there are numerous defensive alignments and we cannot always anticipate where our opponents will line up, and due to the inherent limitations of the number rule blocking system, we use a change-off for our blockers. As an example, Figure 107 illustrates a defensive alignment where the offensive tackle could not block his man (#2) on a play going wide. Therefore, the offensive tackle merely calls, “Tiger,” or any other code name, and this alerts the end that he and the tackle are exchanging blocking assignments (Figure 107).

Figure 108 illustrates an exchange of blocking assignments between the tackle and guard, as the code, “Eagle,” has been called by the tackle. Ordinarily the guard’s block is #1 and the tackle’s block is #2, but as Figure 108 illustrates, it would be difficult for the guard to sustain his block on a play going wide. Therefore, “Eagle,” or any other appropriate code word, changes the blocking assignments between the guard and tackle. On certain occasions the center and guard can exchange assignments, too, by using a code call.

CONCLUSION

My objective has been to present each phase of our offensive running game, which can be utilized against the various defensive alignments. Our offensive passing game will be discussed in Chapter 8. My philosophy is to keep the offense simple, be sound in our coaching, and never settle for anything less than perfection in its execution!