All outstanding football teams have two distinct characteristics in common—a great fighting spirit and a great quarterback. A smart, capable quarterback is the greatest single asset a football team can possess. Success in a football game is determined mainly by the selection of plays. Poor selection of plays will destroy team morale and nullify the finest of teamwork.
Quarterback generalship is simply the application of good common sense. It consists of two parts—knowing what to do and making the team do it. If a team has confidence in its quarterback, it is likely the plays selected will be successful. If a team does not have confidence in its quarterback, it is likely the plays will not be successful. The “right” quarterback inspires confidence. One manner in which the quarterback builds confidence is through the selection of proper plays. I do not mean to imply the “right” quarterback can grab-bag any play and make it work. If he is wrong frequently as the result of his grab-bag selection of plays, his teammates will lose confidence in him.
There are basically three types of quarterbacks. There is the quarterback who makes positive mistakes, due to his total disregard for the basic principles of generalship. He does not know his offense, and has little understanding and knowledge why his plays are not effective. He is unaware of what the defense is doing. Generally he calls plays quickly—any play to get the team out of the huddle. He destroys team morale and spirit. His team generally loses badly. He is not coachable. I cannot build a winner with this type of quarterback, and I consider him highly undesirable.
The quarterback who works to avoid mistakes is a second type of individual. He does what he is told and taught, but from a tactical and mechanical standpoint only. Generally he lacks initiative. He tends to be conservative in his quarterbacking. His errors and mistakes are not the glaring, positive type, as in the first case cited. Although he is not brilliant in his quarterbacking, he is dependable.
The third type of quarterback is the one every coach is seeking. He directs his team to maximum results. He is a student of the game. He is logical in his thinking, and bold in his action when necessary to win the football game. He is confident, which in turn gives his team confidence in him and the offense. He is a winner through preparation, and he will give you winners through his action and leadership. Unfortunately there are few such quarterbacks of this particular type. Consequently you must take what you have and develop what you’ve got. Regardless, however, a good quarterback must be a natural leader, be smart, have initiative and resourcefulness, be unselfish, have a good voice, and good mechanical ability. If your quarterback either lacks the ability to select the proper plays, or does not have the natural ability to inspire your team to do its best on every play, it is not likely you will have a winner.
From time to time I have been blessed with smart quarterbacks—and we have had winners then. I attribute much of this success to my backfield coaches who have spent considerable time with the quarterbacks teaching them the what, when, why and how of offensive football, and a knowledge of defensive football so they can do an intelligent job of field generalship. As I indicated previously, without proper play selection it is almost impossible to win the tough football games.
Of the many factors that go into selecting a play, probably the most important single factor is field position. To aid our quarterback in his play selection, we divide the field into different areas and zones, as illustrated in Figure 116. Each zone is given a name, and there are some very important “musts” concerning each area.
Figure 116
We divide the field into the following areas and zones, with the most important coaching points listed as follows:
In this zone we must move the ball out at least to the 3-yard line so it will be possible to kick from spread formation. Our kicker stands back 13 yards deep when we kick from our spread kick formation.
1. Normally we will kick on third down with five yards or more to go.
2. We must make a first down with three plays.
3. We do not like to punt while in this zone. If we can hold the football until we get past the 25-yard line, we can put the opposition in their three-down zone with a 40-yard kick.
4. Run trap plays.
5. Anticipate a goal line defense occasionally.
We must make a first down so we can continue to control the ball when we reach the Free Wheeling Zone.
1. Easiest part of the field to score from.
2. Go into our game planned offense.
3. It is a guessing game until you make a good gain, then you should be a play ahead of the defense. Once you gain this advantage, keep the pressure on the defense.
1. Try to score with a trick play or a scoring play which you have set up.
2. You may use a play the scouting report indicates should work.
3. Figure on four downs to make the 10 yards.
1. Must “out gut” them.
2. Do not lose ground.
3. Try to get five yards or more on first down.
4. Pass on first down or waste down.
5. Must maintain control of the football.
1. Minimum handling of the football.
2. Score yourself if you have a play per yard.
3. Do not pull linemen.
4. Give the football to the best ball carrier.
5. Must score.
Our quarterback must continuously remind our team of three very important principles affecting our offense, which are as follows:
1. We must not get a penalty.
2. We must not break an offensive signal.
3. We must get our men (blocks).
After your quarterback is thoroughly familiar with the zones and their relationship to each other, then you can do an intelligent job of instructing and teaching him which plays should be run in the various zones. Consequently he will have a better understanding of field position.
When working with our quarterbacks “picking” a defense, we never tell them to attack the opposition’s weakness but merely to run away from their strength. The only time your quarterback really needs to know how to recognize a defense and its strengths and weaknesses is when he is changing plays at the line of scrimmage. Otherwise your quarterback will call specific plays in certain zones or areas according to your scouting report and game plans.
There are two basic defensive alignments, which are even and odd. If there are defensive men playing over our guards, we call this an even defense. If there are no defensive men playing over our offensive guards, we call this an odd defense.
With respect to the secondary, there are two alignments. They are 3-deep and box. If there is a safety man, it is a 3-deep secondary and an 8-man defensive front. If there is no safety man, it is a box defense and there are nine men in close proximity to the line of scrimmage, or a 9-man front.
After the quarterback has determined whether the defense is odd or even, and the secondary is 3-deep or box, he should then look and determine the number of men who are playing outside of his offensive end. By doing this he can determine if the strength of the defense is inside or outside. If there are two or more men outside of his offensive end, as illustrated in Figure 117, the strength of the defense is wide. Consequently the quarterback should run inside plays, away from the strength of the defense. As illustrated in Figure 117, by looking through the inside and outside lanes it is easy to see these defenses are fundamentally the same.
Figure 117
You can definitely run against an 8-man front, as illustrated in Figure 117, because by splitting properly the defense has only two men outside of the offensive ends. Consequently you can run wide. Or the defense must have four men or less inside your end, in which event you can run inside with your basic offensive attack.
The defensive team playing a gap 8 defense, as illustrated in Figure 118, is trying to get penetration by shooting the gaps. The quarterback must recognize what the opposition is attempting to do, and he must eliminate the bad play. Consequently he should work slightly off the line of scrimmage in order to avoid being tackled before he can hand-off. The strength of the defense is inside. Consequently the quarterback must run the corners. The game situation and field position will determine which play the quarterback will call. The quarterback should never throw a counter pass or a back up pass versus the gap 8 defense because all the defenders cannot be blocked. He stands a better chance of scoring if he selects a corner pass. The block or action pass is very good because it helps to eliminate the bad play.
Figure 118
If it is not a 3-deep secondary, then it is a 9-man front. All 9-man fronts are basically the same, as I have illustrated in Figure 119.
The quarterback wants to run at the man who is isolated in the defense, and in most cases it is the defensive man over the offensive center’s area. The attack can go wide, too, but the offensive team must do an intelligent job of splitting in order to draw the defense in tight. If the offensive guards take wide splits and the defensive men move out with them, the defensive man over the center will be isolated and the quarterback can direct his attack toward the middle.
Figure 119
The corner passes versus a 9-man front, with the quarterback exercising his option of running or passing, are excellent because of the pressure exerted on the corner man. If he drops off to cover an area for the pass, the quarterback must run with the football. If he rushes to contain the passer, the short flat is open for a pass.
It is very important to teach your quarterbacks the different defenses, and the strength of each defensive alignment. As I mentioned previously, we teach the quarterbacks to run away from the strength of the various alignments. The quarterback must also be aware of the fact that he does not have to whip the entire defense, but only the weak area in the defense. If a defensive man is isolated or if there is not a defensive man on the line in a particular area, we consider this the weak part of a defensive alignment.
We have a number of meetings with our quarterbacks going over strategy and game situations and drilling them in the principles of quarterbacking and field generalship. It is difficult to expect a quarterback to make the correct decision at a critical time in a game unless he has been drilled to react to such a situation. With this in mind, for years I have used the procedure of having our quarterback coach and the quarterbacks play a game of football on the blackboard.
In order to explain our procedure more clearly, let’s assume it is early September and we are preparing for our opening game with the University of Georgia. We have been drilling our quarterbacks daily on the defenses we expect Georgia to use in various parts of the field. We have been drilling them on how to attack these particular defenses with our offense. With this basic information, we are now ready to work with the quarterbacks at the blackboard playing our football game.
A coach goes to the blackboard and draws a diagram of a football field, along with the defenses we expect Georgia to use on the hash mark, in the middle of the field, on the goal line, and in a short yardage situation. On the board the coach will also list the backfield personnel, so the quarterback will have an opportunity to use his men properly. To digress for a second: the quarterback uses the wrong judgment if he calls for sweeps with a slow backfield, does not employ the best blocker to block, etc. The quarterback must know his offensive personnel thoroughly.
The coach then explains to the quarterbacks, who are observing what he is writing on the blackboard, the condition of the field, wind, and the other tactical factors. It is now time to play the game with a particular quarterback.
The coach will select a quarterback and say, for example, “Georgia kicked-off to us and we returned the ball to the 25-yard line on the right hash mark.” The coach will plot the position on the diagram. The quarterback will then take into consideration the defensive alignment we expect Georgia to employ in this particular section of the field, and the quarterback must call a play accordingly. If he makes what the coach considers a good call, the coach will say, “You made four yards on the play. It is now second and six.” If the quarterback makes a bad call, the coach will say, “You lost three yards on the play,” and he will explain why the call was a poor one. If the quarterback takes too long in calling his play, he receives a five yard penalty. When the quarterback makes a very good call, the coach gives him a long gain or a touchdown.
By using this game, a quarterback can learn to call plays by anticipating defenses in areas all over the football field. He also learns to use his personnel properly. We have found this game at the blackboard has helped our quarterbacks tremendously.
While one quarterback is playing the game, the other quarterbacks are listening. If the boy at the board fails to make a first down, he must punt, and the coach appoints another quarterback to take over. After each play the coach will plot the position of the ball on the diagram, and the players learn to know which defenses to expect. We have found, with other things being equal, the quarterback who has the mental ability to sustain the ball for a long drive and a touchdown will usually be your best quarterback.
We also spend quite a bit of time going over situations. The coach will cite a specific situation, and then say, “What would you do in this situation?” The situations are usually the clutch ones, and should the quarterback select the wrong answer in the game it is likely to lose the contest. Even though you drill the quarterbacks there is no fool-proof method of making certain they will always make the right decision. The following example will illustrate my point.
Early in September during our 1959 season, our backfield coach, Phil Cutchin, was going over situations with our quarterbacks and said, “We are playing the University of Houston (our second game). We are ahead by six points. There are five minutes remaining to play. We are on our own 18-yard line. It is a first-and-10 situation, and Houston is playing a 5-4 defense. What would you do?” One quarterback said quickly, “Coach, I would throw a corner pass into the sideline.” Phil answered, “Yes, and they would intercept the pass, return it for a touchdown, kick the extra point, and we would lose the game, 7-6.” The quarterback saw his mistake and said he was glad we had gone over this particular situation.
Three weeks later the same quarterback was faced with almost the identical situation, except that we were ahead by three points. The other factors were the same as previously cited. What did the quarterback do? He threw the corner pass into the sideline, and Houston intercepted it. Fortunately Houston did not score! The point I am trying to make is your quarterbacks will still make mistakes even after you have worked with them.
In order for a quarterback to be outstanding, he must be cognizant of certain pertinent information relating to his offense, the opposition’s defense, tactical and strategical information, and the principles of quarterbacking and field generalship.
The following information is of value and significance to the quarterback:
1. Know your teammates thoroughly, including your best ball carrier, your best blocker, best pass receiver, best faker, etc.
2. Know all of your plays and everyone’s blocking assignments.
3. Know where every receiver is on every pass pattern.
4. Know your best play and pass against every defense.
5. Know and understand how each play fits into a series.
6. Know and remember the plays that are working—keep running them.
7. Know the reasons for the proper line splits.
8. Know the plays the players have the most confidence in.
9. Know the best plays for special situations—draw, screen, etc.
10. Know how to stop the clock.
1. What defense are they playing?
2. Who is making the tackles?
3. Are they stunting their defenses?
4. What type of pass coverage do they use?
5. Do the linebackers run through?
6. Are the ends crashing?
7. Who is tackling the passer?
8. Who is the best defensive man?
9. Which man can we isolate?
10. How quickly does the secondary revolve?
1. Time left to play is a big factor.
2. Time outs left.
3. Weather and field condition.
4. Know which down it is at all times.
5. Field position.
6. What yard line the ball is on.
7. Which zone the ball is in.
The following game strategy information is of value and significance to the quarterback:
1. Always know score, time to play, yards to go and down.
2. Know your field zones, and avoid giving the ball to the opposition in the 4-down zone.
3. You are playing for a victory, but remember a tie is better than a defeat.
4. Know your own personnel and each man’s capabilities.
5. Know all there is to know about your opponents by studying scouting reports and movies.
6. Know your offense, including the blocking assignments.
7. Be able to recognize any defensive alignment.
8. Understand the importance of field position.
9. Know when not to pass.
10. Know when to kick.
11. Use the wind intelligently.
12. Know when not to try for a score.
1. When in doubt.
2. Normally for every touchdown lead you have, you should kick a down earlier.
3. Kick early with a strong wind or against a weak offense. From 40 to 40-yard line, kick straight away and high. Inside 40-yard line kick out of bounds.
4. When score is even, or you are ahead, always make safe kick to 3-down zone.
5. Kick early on a wet field; let the opponents handle the ball.
1. When the opponent expects a pass.
2. When you have two downs to make six yards or less.
3. In your own territory, just before half-time.
4. When backed up and you are ahead.
1. On long yardage, throw short passes or to third man out. Draws, screens.
2. On first down, play passes.
3. On waste downs, play passes, long passes, and screens.
4. When time is short, throw near sideline.
5. When in doubt, throw optional passes.
1. Play conservatively and kick early.
2. No difficult ball handling.
3. Avoid bad places on field, also wide plays and cut backs.
4. Do not be afraid to pass.
5. Doubt the wisdom of a quick kick.
1. Just before half time, behind your own 40-yard line.
2. When you are running clock out.
3. When you are preparing to give a safety.
4. When you have one down to make first down—go for first down.
1. When you have mental edge on opponent following a block kick, a recovered fumble, or an intercepted pass in the opponent’s territory.
2. Just before half-time in the opponent’s territory.
3. On waste down in opponent’s territory.
When To Run Your Best Ball Carrier Behind Best Blockers:
1. When you must have a first down.
2. In four down zone going in for a score.
3. Clutch down in danger zone, coming out.
4. Save your best ball carrier in the free wheeling zone.
5. Do not use him first play after a long run.
1. Fake and give.
2. Some kind of an optional play.
3. Best ball carrier behind best blocker.
4. Waste man effectively.
5. When trying to save time, tell ball carrier to go out of bounds.
1. Waste man effectively.
2. Best ball carrier behind strongest blockers.
3. First down inside three—run ball yourself. No ball handling.
4. Make sure that on fourth down you will have the ball in the middle of the field where you can try any type of a scoring play.
1. Safe, long gainers.
2. Fake-give, or optionals are normally effective.
1. When you are behind.
2. Inside the opponent’s 15-yard line.
3. When you have the wind to your back.
1. When you are trying to kill time.
2. Just before the half in your own territory and you are ahead.
3. Fourth quarter, if more than one touchdown ahead.
4. When the wind is against you.
1. Try for long gainer.
2. Use sideline intelligently.
3. Use wind intelligently.
4. Use best ball carrier as decoy.
5. Utilize various formations.
6. Try long gainer on first down and second down and go for first down on third down.
7. Call trick plays that have been set up earlier.
8. Try to keep ball in middle of field.
1. Poor field position calls for conservative plays.
2. When you are ahead and the game is drawing to a close, play slowly, conservatively, and very deliberately.
3. When you are behind and the game is drawing to a close, play faster, be more reckless, and get the ball out of bounds to stop the clock.
4. When you are in scoring territory, you must score. Any yardage gained without scoring is of slight value only.
5. Any yardage you make deep in your own territory which does not serve to get the team into the free wheeling zone is of slight value.
6. If you are ahead by 11 points and there is not more than five minutes remaining to play and there is a strong wind against you, it is smart to take a safety instead of trying to punt out from inside your 10-yard line.
7. Time works with you when you are ahead; against you when your team is behind in score.
8. Figure what the defense would normally expect in any given situation, and then do the opposite.
9. If a play fails, you must know why.
1. You must have genuine confidence in yourself and your ability.
2. You must have the confidence and respect of your team.
3. You must have personality and leadership; then exercise it.
4. You must know the ability of your own personnel.
5. Play the percentages for ultimate team victory. Consequently you must study scouting reports and have a clear picture of the game plan. You must be able to recognize defenses immediately, and be able to direct your attack away from the strength of the defense. You should think with the defensive signal caller by putting yourself in his place. Remember it is a guessing game until you make a gain. After a gain you should be one play ahead of the defense.
6. Eliminate bad plays as they will defeat us. Any play that does not gain is a bad play. Only a fumble or a penalty can stop our offense if you eliminate the bad plays.
7. Run more offensive plays by getting out of the huddle quickly.
8. After a penalty or a time out, have your play called and the team ready to play at the line of scrimmage. Do not follow this procedure when trying to run out the clock.
9. Try to score in one play after a break in an effort to demoralize the defense. Should you follow this procedure several times and not be successful, discontinue it; otherwise, you will demoralize your own team.
10. Never try to score just before the half from deep in your own territory. Run out the clock and get a fresh start the second half.
11. When you are behind, never try to score in one play. Play the game as if it were a tie contest; otherwise, you can be out of the game before you realize it.
12. Normally we like to pass on first down and on a waste down. On short yardage, throw play passes. On long yardage, throw in front of the deep men.
13. First down is your important call. If you make five yards or more, you have the advantage. If you fail to make four yards, the defense has the advantage.
14. On clutch downs and short yardage, run fake gives because the defense must go to the first fake under such circumstances.
15. Remind your line to tighten up on the goal line, and do not call plays that require linemen to pull as the defense may break through and throw us for a loss.
16. Do not pull a play out of the hat. If you are in doubt, run an option run-pass.
17. We will rehearse weekly every situation possible, such as saving time, killing time, giving up a safety, side line offense, etc., so that you will automatically make the right decisions in the game.
It is virtually impossible for a quarterback to know and do everything correctly. However, a coach must work with his quarterback, and the individual must spend many additional hours studying and preparing himself so he will be able to handle any situation that arises. It is an absolute must for your quarterback to be well prepared if you expect to have a successful football team. If you are rebuilding a football team, it is very important for you to pick your quarterback first, find out what he can do well, and then build your offense around him.