After personally running over three dozen camps and working with over 100 schools in the last few years as an association, one of the biggest areas coaches require assistance is how to call the offense, and how to utilize your assistant coaches on game day. An intimate understanding of the complete offense is paramount, but all that work and knowledge will be for naught without a detailed understanding of how to call the offense, and how you use your assistant coaches in aiding your team in getting to the end zone. The first installment of this series view the responsibilities of the Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach on game day.
Pre-Game
Before the game starts, the coach conducts a series of drills with his quarterbacks. The most important drill run with your quarterbacks in the pre-game is to have him work his dive read with the fullbacks. The quarterbacks and fullbacks work triple option and midline, both left and right, a number of times per quarterback and fullback.Expect at least five reps each in ten minutes, depending on your number of quarterbacks and fullbacks. Given enough time, work a quick option drill session with your QB’s, FB’s and A-Backs. A 3 on 3 period should also be considered before the team period if time permits.
During the Play/Series
During the play, the offensive coordinator evaluates the play of the quarterback, and determines which player made the tackle. This coach will also watch the quarterbacks dive and pitch reads (#1 and #2). If the coordinator cannot determine who made the tackle, he relies on his assistants, who are assigned an area of responsibility to inform him of the tackler.
After Each Series
When the offense comes off the field after the series, the coordinator has all players sit on the bench, or on chairs if equipment permits. If there are any required schematic adjustments, the coordinator makes those adjustments with the aid of the assistant coaches. He solicits feedback concerning specific techniques regarding a certain play or adjustment before the next series begins. It is vital to communicate with your players every time they come off the field. Never underestimate even the smallest amount of information from your players. For example during a game this season one of our A-Backs notified us of a call the defense was giving when we aligned in a certain personnel grouping. We had become a little too predictable from one certain formation with a specific personnel group. We used this to our advantage the rest of the game to run a few counters with that particular package.
The play caller talks to the quarterback, asking him for feedback on the series. The play of #1 and #2 in the option count is reviewed after every series. Any errors in quarterback play is covered at this time. The coach teaches his quarterback how to fix the errors. There is not enough time to spend it all criticizing the quarterback if he made an error. Current research on the effectiveness of coaching, states that the most effective coaches teach and correct errors in a consistent manner, rather than berate his players for mistakes.
After the first or second series of the game the coordinator should have a firm grasp of how the defense is trying to play against the offense. The game plan should quickly unfold from the use of the Flexbone Association Play Calling System.
At the Half
At the half, the coordinator meets with all assistant coaches before meeting with the players. The coordinator gets feedback from each assistant coach on their position. Defensive tendencies are discussed and adjustments to the game plan are made. The coordinator pays special attention to any deficiencies in the defensive scheme. If there is an area to exploit, the offensive will come out of the half looking to exploit those weaknesses.
Keenan Reynolds Feature Photo: David Zalubowski/AP
Kriss Proctor Photo: Travis Bell/Sideline Carolina
Army/Navy Photo: UPI/Eileen Angelino
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