Jump to content
Y-coach.com - Forum
yurirdgz

Desperate Measures.

Recommended Posts

10-11 year kids- So we are 0-3 in the season and Offense is simply not working, It seems the systems is wrong. I got one guy who is outstanding RB but he is also the best Qb. As suggested from some coaches in this forum I’m using options plays so he could run or pass and also fast direct hand offs to this guy.

So far we have No success in the option, as soon as he gets the ball the D guys at Los are all over him and as no time for passing, he always ends up running, we have been able to score once or twice each game by running, but is not enough since we get completely shot out in passing, so by shutting down this one guy we are lost.

In my mind thoughts of completely changing the system is wondering around, use this guy strictly as Qb so he can pass with less pressure since he would have to be rushed 7 yrd out and using an average guy as Rb for some running. We have a 15 day break in our league so I got time to make the change

I was wondering how many of you have dramatically changed your offense almost going into mid season and if has given you positive results?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Since this is my first season as the head coach of my team and I can only share what we went through.

My best player was in the same mold. Best QB and Running back. The first 4 games I started her at RB and used an average QB who could throw 5 yards with no problem and beyond that it was tough. I went to the option play and just like you described when she got the hand off they were in the back field.

At game 4 we were 0-3. I moved her to QB and used 2nd and 3rd best as running backs. One of them was the former QB. The first game I did this we were actually tied and a bad whistle from the ref killed a long TD. We ended up losing to the 2nd best team in our league by 6.

The next game we won 34-18. Doing this we still had a running game but now a passing game too. Our center was the slowest player but had the best hands. Many times as they rushed the QB faked the hand off and plinked a pass to the center in the empty zone from the rusher. After the catch we was getting 10 to 15 yards and about a 90% completion rate.

Then we had the QB hand off to the old QB (RB) would would roll as if running right and throw the short forward pass back to the QB who had taken off in the other direction uncovered.

It totally confused the defense since we were no longer a one man team. Finished strong our last few games and came within a dropped 2 point conversion of beating the number 1 team in our league that was undefeated.

Good luck.

10-11 year kids- So we are 0-3 in the season and Offense is simply not working, It seems the systems is wrong. I got one guy who is outstanding RB but he is also the best Qb. As suggested from some coaches in this forum I'm using options plays so he could run or pass and also fast direct hand offs to this guy.

So far we have No success in the option, as soon as he gets the ball the D guys at Los are all over him and as no time for passing, he always ends up running, we have been able to score once or twice each game by running, but is not enough since we get completely shot out in passing, so by shutting down this one guy we are lost.

In my mind thoughts of completely changing the system is wondering around, use this guy strictly as Qb so he can pass with less pressure since he would have to be rushed 7 yrd out and using an average guy as Rb for some running. We have a 15 day break in our league so I got time to make the change

I was wondering how many of you have dramatically changed your offense almost going into mid season and if has given you positive results?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

To answer your question--no I have never overhauled our playbook in mid-season, but all 10 seasons I have tweaked it throughout the season (and do to this day). Remember, having a good QB is moot unless you have players that can catch it consistently. We watched a team yesterday whose QB could sling it--but no one could catch it. I just don't get that. They went three and out on the four offensive series I watched.

With that--certainly scrap the plays that are not working, fine-tune the plays that are working, and experiment with things you see during the game. Some of our best plays have come by "accident"...meaning in a game if something went wrong, I could see how that can be morphed into a cognizant play to execute. For us it is ALL about mis-direction...getting the defense to move one way and then hitting them in the opposite direction. Also remember to mix it up. In any game we might run 15 unique run plays--but only 3-4 of those go to our RB. However, don't let being 0-3 ruin your confidence. Sometimes you will simply be outmatched.

To that end... I'll leave you with an easy play that we've had success with the past five seasons. As you can see it is very basic...but needs to be executed correctly. In this example, the RB and MR run parallel to the LOS (with the RB on the outside and MR on the inside). The QB holds the ball out and the MR gets it. The KEY is that when the ball is handed off the RB and MR should both be right in front of the QB. It just takes timing to get down, but it works well against man defense. Hope this helps some!

post-10378-007306300 1289757174_thumb.jp

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
as soon as he gets the ball the D guys at Los are all over him
so by shutting down this one guy we are lost.
You made some interesting statements above. It appears you are depending upon this one guy a lot, so I'm betting the defenses are keying in on him. How often does this guy get the ball on offense compared to your other kids? I'd use him as a decoy more often than not if the defense is keying in on him.

Hard to give advice without seeing your offense in action, however, I think JohnP is on the right track with misdirection and fundamentals. Do you have other players besides your key guy that can run, catch, pull flags, fake, etc.?

I'm wondering if the plays are the problem or the execution. One thing that helped us tremendously is teaching the kids what a fake really looked like. We'd spend a good 10 min in practice having them go through receiving a fake handoff, rolling the shoulder and continuing to run as if they had the ball instead of looking back to watch the play. That simple fundamental can open up your offense.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My best player was in the same mold. Best QB and Running back. The first 4 games I started her at RB and used an average QB who could throw 5 yards with no problem and beyond that it was tough. I went to the option play and just like you described when she got the hand off they were in the back field.

We are talking about the same problem, one guy doing the running and also the throwing, it’s a good thing you solved your case. I don’t know about other leagues but the options in our case is not giving much to us and I have seen it executed by just one team and only one play in the whole game, I think this is a good example that league ruling changes the playing style.

I´m changing my offense around some starting as tomorrow at practice. What I haven’t decided yet is to move my Hb to Qb and set in another guy at the running job, problem is I got probably just one guy to do the job but he is a new guys and he doesn’t know the system. The other options is to let the actual QB (my daughter) do the passing, she´s been doing the hand off and she is really good at it, she is also my best thrower in practice but in game something happens that passing transforms from good to awful, that´s the main reason I went for the option since my Hb doesn’t panic on the game.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

For us it is ALL about mis-direction...getting the defense to move one way and then hitting them in the opposite direction. Also remember to mix it up. In any game we might run 15 unique run plays--but only 3-4 of those go to our RB. However, don't let being 0-3 ruin your confidence. Sometimes you will simply be outmatched.

Last year misdirection plays worked like a charm but this year is a different story, sounds funny doesn’t it. I think the main reason of this effects is that last year we faced nine teams being half of them rookies like myself and my guys, so they went for the misdirection plays.

This year we are facing 7 teams all from tackle football clubs, they are very welled trained and aggressive teams, that don’t bite on this type of plays, the fast direct hand offs is what actually has worked the best.

Last year rookie teams got so badly beaten by this guys that they didn’t come back for this season, so we are kind of the last and the Mohicans.

You are right about the outmatched thing, I got one or two good athletes on my team but these guys choose their top athletes out of their big tackle rooster & put them on flag playing field, I got 11, 10, 9 year old kids and even a 7 year old playing against all 11 years old super athletes.

So as you can see there are several reasons we are 0-3, frustration for me is that I wasn’t expecting being the last in line, the good thing is that we haven’t been blanked outsored like my fellow mate rookies did last year.

So after three days after being beaten in 2 games, I´m a little more combed down and put it in perspective, is not just my system and playbook that are not ok, there are several factors, and now I think is not so bad looking and the circumstances.

You made some interesting statements above. It appears you are depending upon this one guy a lot, so I'm betting the defenses are keying in on him. How often does this guy get the ball on offense compared to your other kids? I'd use him as a decoy more often than not if the defense is keying in on him.

Yeah I depend on him a lot since he does the running and the passing, I do have a pair of good catching guys the problem is he is not passing on the option since they get on top of him from the LOS, ruling says that as soon as the Qb gets the ball to another player D guys can cross the LOS, Now if Qb keeps the ball, no hand off and no play action LOS guys cannot rush, just the 7 yard out guys.

I do have EA and some other stuff but as I told Jhonp2 they are not biting on this stuff and the rest of my guys are not so fast.

Now I see I have to split functions of QB and Hb to different guys.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

This is also the problem we were seeing. Our old QB was my grand daughter and in practice she looked halfway decent. In a game she would loft it up for grabs and had way too many picks. Fortunately she can run too so it worked out moving her.

The girl who became the QB is by far one of the fastest girls in our league and plays more like a boy than girl.

Again that short pass from either the QB or the RB run pass option has worked for us.

I took my playbook and tweaked it with things from this forum and then tweaked it again based on the players. It is hard during the season to start from scratch.

When we do the option it may not be what you think.

RB lines up behind center and takes the snap and hands off to the QB who then can run with it or has the option to throw it depending on the defense. After the RB takes the snap and hands off they then can run out for a pass.

It's not like they are running together in a sweep and do a pitch or anything. My girls are between 8 to 11 so only a few can really catch the ball well.

My best player was in the same mold. Best QB and Running back. The first 4 games I started her at RB and used an average QB who could throw 5 yards with no problem and beyond that it was tough. I went to the option play and just like you described when she got the hand off they were in the back field.

We are talking about the same problem, one guy doing the running and also the throwing, it's a good thing you solved your case. I don't know about other leagues but the options in our case is not giving much to us and I have seen it executed by just one team and only one play in the whole game, I think this is a good example that league ruling changes the playing style.

I´m changing my offense around some starting as tomorrow at practice. What I haven't decided yet is to move my Hb to Qb and set in another guy at the running job, problem is I got probably just one guy to do the job but he is a new guys and he doesn't know the system. The other options is to let the actual QB (my daughter) do the passing, she´s been doing the hand off and she is really good at it, she is also my best thrower in practice but in game something happens that passing transforms from good to awful, that´s the main reason I went for the option since my Hb doesn't panic on the game.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Try using my play called the "Big Cat" it available in my playbook that I have uploaded. We get a touchdown 80% of time with that play. If you use that play make sure the RB appears as he/she is going to pass the ball prior to running with it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

10-11 year kids- So we are 0-3 in the season and Offense is simply not working, It seems the systems is wrong. I got one guy who is outstanding RB but he is also the best Qb. As suggested from some coaches in this forum I’m using options plays so he could run or pass and also fast direct hand offs to this guy.

Every football team needs a functional QB. I'm using those words carefully because the QB doesn't have to be lights out your best player. But it's more like a puzzle where you fit the pieces together. Your best player may be a great QB but you might also have a good QB who is an average athlete. If they are similar why not let the average athlete be QB and allow the top athlete to be RB or receiver? But the bottom line is the QB position has to have a capable player, define that as you want.

So far we have No success in the option, as soon as he gets the ball the D guys at Los are all over him and as no time for passing, he always ends up running, we have been able to score once or twice each game by running, but is not enough since we get completely shot out in passing, so by shutting down this one guy we are lost.

That option play you describe can be shut down by a defense who knows its coming. Therefore use it only against a non-aggressive defense or sparingly as a trick play.

In my mind thoughts of completely changing the system is wondering around, use this guy strictly as Qb so he can pass with less pressure since he would have to be rushed 7 yrd out and using an average guy as Rb for some running. We have a 15 day break in our league so I got time to make the change

I was wondering how many of you have dramatically changed your offense almost going into mid season and if has given you positive results?

As stated above you need a functional QB. If your offense is not working change it as much as you need to in order for it to work. If that means a dramatic change, then yes do it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

To that end... I'll leave you with an easy play that we've had success with the past five seasons. As you can see it is very basic...but needs to be executed correctly. .

I wanted to highlight what JohnP said. This is so important. Plays do not need to be overly fancy. More important is execution. Find some base plays and practice the heck out of them. Practice and make perfect the intricate parts and the plays will be successful.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

To that end... I'll leave you with an easy play that we've had success with the past five seasons. As you can see it is very basic...but needs to be executed correctly. .

I wanted to highlight what JohnP said. This is so important. Plays do not need to be overly fancy. More important is execution. Find some base plays and practice the heck out of them. Practice and make perfect the intricate parts and the plays will be successful.

That's just it. When you find a play that has marginal success--beat the heck out of it. On the simply play I uploaded, every single player has an important role. To fine tune that basic play:

1. Timing, timing, timing. Your RB might be faster than your MR. Position the players so that they will cross in front of the QB at the same time running full-speed (i.e. RB is out wider). It takes us about 20-25 times at practice (just doing it over and over) to get the proper alignment down--and now the MR and RB know to count x steps from the C so they ALWAYS cross in front of the QB at the same second going full-speed.

2. The RB (who doesn't get the ball) tucks and acts like he has the ball once he crosses the QB.

3. The receivers run their routes hard! They turn back to the QB and raise their hands up after four steps (which is before the hand-off) and then continue their route screaming the QBs name. The idea here is to make the defender think it is a pass play, glance at the QB, and then go back to worrying about the WR.

4. The QB steps back to throw and using his peripheal vision sticks the ball out at the last second for the hand off.

5. After QB hands off, he rolls out to his LEFT acting like he is tucking the ball to throw.

This is a very simply play, and as you can see some of these "little things" might not directly affect the play--but I always tell the kids there will be one or more players completely confused by what we are doing with their subtle moves. Our goal on every single play is to cause "mass confusion" on the defense's part.

The entire idea is to simply take one play--perfect it--and then begin working on the next play.

Finally--ensure that EVERY position plays a key role in EVERY play. Instead of kids who don't have the ball simply running around--I've always found giving them a purpose that will enhance the overall execution of the play makes all the difference in the world.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was watching a documentary on John Wooden, one of the top coaches of all time in any sport. One thing that stood out to me was that players from different decades all said the practices were the same each and every year. A player from the 60's would start talking about how practice began and they'd cut to a player from the 70's and he'd finish the sentences for him. Week after week they would practice the same drills over and over until it was like muscle memory. It wasn't that they did anything fancy, it was that they were so good at the plays they ran.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have made some big adjustments based on my appreciation of the 3 first games and of course considering your comments, hopefully these adjustments will become improvements in round #4 next weekend.

1) I dropped all option pass plays out of the playbook since these where giving us nothing because of the pressure, we were doing no passing out of it.

2) I´m keeping the same Qb/Hb alignment, my Hb is also my best QB but I didn’t want to make the move since I would have to teach a new guy a HB.

3) I´m always keeping the Hb on the backfield (singleback formation) hopefully to keep D expecting the run and not to rush my Qb (my daughter) since she is a mess with pressure, on pass plays Hb goes on rout always on delay (after backdrop).

4) I changed center end around like Orange suggested on his video.

5) I´m switching to a 3-2 D since there is more passing going on than expected.

6) Last but probably most important, I´m not allowed inside the field but it doesn’t mean the playbook shouldn’t be, so I’m sending in with Qb small laminated cards with the play for everybody to look at, execution on O has been below expected so hopefully this will clean plays up a little. No other team is doing this so this so as well as the center end around they will raise discussion.

Thanks for the play suggestions you guys sent me, I will use them further on as time allows me. I keep you posted. Thanks

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Just to wrap up this post I want to fill in on the last three games.

Season is over & after starting 0-3 we ended up 3-3, unfortunately this wasn’t enough for playoff which we barely missed on a tie breaker (game # 3).

Some adjustments did become improvements, specially the idea of sending the printed play inside the field with Qb did clean up play execution, I don´t like this very much since we were the only ones doing it, other teams just call out the play to Qb or even signal de next play.

The other really good thing was D, we started with a 2-1-2 which simply didn’t work, there was too much passing going on so we moved to a 2-3 Zone which worked better. On last game I decided to try a quarter D & it was our best game on D, we won 20-6 two of the Td´s came from interceptions. Regardless of the D we were the best team stopping the run; we received 0 Td´s by ground.

What didn’t work? - I was hoping to lower Qb rush rate by throwing out Shotgun formation and keeping always my singleback formation, this didn’t helped at all since we were rushed all the time & and gained no big yardage by air during the entire season, not a single Td by air (only good thing is that Hb served as an escape options a couple of times).

It´s a shame our league ruling is so conservative, I called out the modified center EA one time on each of the three last games and all 3 times it was called illegal by the refs, I didn’t want to make a big deal out on the field so I didn’t mind their calling, I´m taking video to league authorities on January and talk sense into them so I can freely use that handoff on further occasions.

What is next? - On February will be heading to a nearby city to play in a new league. I will keep same playbook & and players & hopefully will be by then a better and improved team with better O execution. I´m considering adding rollout option to lower pressure on my Qb or even stepping down my actual Qb and sending in another one, major problem is that QB is my daughter & she won’t leave the staring role without a fight, tough decision.

Thanks to all you coaches, merry Christmas and happy New Year.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...

×
×
  • Create New...