Quick Pass Offense: Protection
Over the years I struggled with proper pass pro for the quick pass offense. We had used the quick pass since the late 70s but pass pro was always a problem. We tried several different schemes and concepts. With the advent of the FREEZE, however, everything seemed to fit into place.
The first major ingredient for pass pro here is to have the QB deliver the ball on time. On time here means this: First step: seat the ball from the center; Second step: present the ball to the fullback; Third step: plant; Fourth step: step and throw to R’er. There is a rhythm to it. We should never really be sacked when the QB delivers the ball on time.
The ball has to be out of the QBs hand with step #4. He either is throwing it to a R’er or away to me on the sidelines. We do not want him to try on force the ball into coverage. There is no need to . . . unless it is the last play of the game and there are no other alternatives.
You always have a choice. Choose wisely. We never “have to” punt. We “choose to punt” to establish better field position. Waiting too long to throw the ball; forcing a ball into coverage and having it intercepted erases field position and opportunity.
One of the things I really have objected to over the years that has trickled down from the college level is the concept of “making plays.” When you concentrate on having players make plays, the concept of team flies out the window. And what happens to the team effort when the play maker gets hurt and leaves the game?
When the center snaps the ball, when the line blocks to protect the QB, when the receivers run their routes, when the QB delivers the ball on time, when the R’er adjust to the ball while it’s in the air, when the R’er catches the ball in his hands, holds on, and gets as many yards after the catch as possible, that’s Teamwork and Execution, a much better concept than making plays.
So the first step in QK Pass Pro is the QB delivering the ball on time. The next thing we want to have take place if Big on Big on the line. The majority of the time we are in a balanced formation and with a right handed QB, we want the SG to block the first big guy in level one on the LOS; the IOT to block the second big guy on the LOS; same for the WG and OOT on the left side of the formation. The vast majority of the time the defense is in some kind of even defense, usually a 4 man line.
The FB is to step a tad wider than normal for the midline. He is responsible for blocking the first inside LB’er to the right side of the formation, if blitzing. The center, then, is responsible for the first inside LB’er to the weakside of the formation, if he should be blitzing. If neither LB’er would be blitzing, the FB and C are to protect from the inside out. If you are following me here, that means that the first three defenders to either side of the ball are being blocked. That gives the QB the right amount of time to get the ball off on time. There are no provisions to block an outside #4 rusher. If one of those guys is coming (like a corner blitz), it is up to the QB to (1) get the ball off (2) throw it OB (3) beat that rusher on his own but not to take a sack. It is like blocking for an extra point. We will protect the inside with blocking. They can send more rushers to one side than we have blockers, but they cannot block the kick before it gets off with an outside rusher if our timing and execution are right on the inside.
Another note on pass blocking. This is a play action pass. To me that requires play action pass blocking. What that means for us is that the line will fire out and strike the opponent they are to be blocking. By firing out and striking the opponent, we should give a false read of run to the secondary as well as creating some separation between the line and the QB making passing the ball a bit easier. If it is a game of inches, these are some of the inches that count. After they strike the opponent, we want our linemen to recoil off that initial strike, and then strike again as the defender advances; followed by another recoil and final third strike.
I remember in my early years having an offense lineman tell me what I was asking “just couldn’t be done.” Since he was a defensive tackle, I told him to line up and get ready to rush a passer who was behind me in the drill. We snapped the ball, he rushed a bit, I blocked him in the manner I was instructing him, and as he was getting up off the ground, he said he thought he might be able to learn how to do it that way in the future.
We use this type of pass blocking for most of our pass pro. I really do not like this pass blocking you see with these spread offenses. Taking two steps back and absorbing the advance of the defender is not my idea of teaching the kids the aggressiveness needed to be successful at the high school level. In the schools that I taught at over the years, as well as most of you I’m sure, most of the linemen have to play defense as well. Teaching them that passive pass blocking runs counter to the aggressive nature you need to have as a defender. There’s a part of me that really thinks that part of the popularity of this spread offense is the lack of blocking skills being taught high school linemen.
On offense we want our line to get off on the snap as fast as possible and strike the opponent with as much force as he can muster. That gives us as great a chance for success as we can get. We also want our defenders to get off the ball ASAP and strike the opponent initially as well. We can increase our chances of success by teaching the line the same type of initial movement on both sides of the ball.
Blocking in this fashion, coupled with the fact that we are throwing the ball on time and not having to pass the ball deeper than 8-10 yards downfield, gives us a quick pass offense that is highly successful. We are passing the ball to make another first down. That is the way that we advance the ball, keep it out of their hands, and sooner or later, the Goal Line gets in your way and we score.
You win the game by making first downs. You do that by blocking better than the opponent, executing better than the opponent, holding on to the football better than the opponent. There are times you need to complete a 9 yard pass to keep the drive alive. We would use the quick pass offense to do just that.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
SOUTHVIEW COUGARS: STATE CHAMPIONS
Alex's father Rick is in the orange shirt, CoachFree, Tight End Mike Sayed in the blue, and #22 Chris Manera - the first varsity athletes to win a game for Southview HS 30 years ago when we started the program.
Alex Pidcock scores while leading the Sylvania Southview Cougars to the 2008 Ohio Division 2 State Championship.
Thirty years ago I coached Alex's dad, Rick, and a bunch of other hard working Cougars to the first victory, the first winning season, and the first win over arch rival Northview.
It is only fitting that one of the sons lead Southview to the first 15-0 State Championship. Congratulations to the Cougars.
It just goes to show you how far things you start can progress. Who would have thought that it would play out this way?
Thirty years ago I signed on to start the Southview program as the school district decided to split Sylvania High School thereby creating Northview and Southview. The school was not fully completed when it came time for practice to start so we were handing out equipment at a nearby JHS.
When the school split, athletes were given the choice of staying at North or go out to Southview. Essentially, the football players decided to stay while the basketball players went out to South. The basketball team was very good those first couple years winning the league championship.
The football team was very inexperienced. We had but one letterman. He had been a part time split receiver, but we decided to move him to QB. To show you how inexperienced the players were, when we had all the equipment laid out on the floor of the gym for kids to check out, there was one young lineman who came over to me and asked why his pads fit so uncomfortably.
"Is this supposed to fit this way?" he asked.
I took one look and it was all I could do not to break down laughing, damage his self esteem and have him quit before practice even began. He had never played football before. When you split a school, you double the opportunities for kids to participate, and kids that never thought of playing before now turn out, and they have to play. Anyway, this player had his girdle on backwards and his butt pad was protecting what he wanted protected.
So that is where we started, having to teach the boys how to put on their pads properly, and now they are Champions of the State.
Yeah Team.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
More on DW Defense
Received this email from a Coach in NJ who put that Force 5 Double Wing Defense to good use:
I just wanted to follow up with you after our conversation on the phone last Sunday. We played the Parochial 2 finalist yesterday, they are a double wing team. I took your advice and we held them to 140 total yards for the entire game, they scored only once and we beat them 28-7. Thanks for your help, your ideas were inspiring!
I just wanted to follow up with you after our conversation on the phone last Sunday. We played the Parochial 2 finalist yesterday, they are a double wing team. I took your advice and we held them to 140 total yards for the entire game, they scored only once and we beat them 28-7. Thanks for your help, your ideas were inspiring!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
QUICK PASS OFFENSE – 1
QUICK PASS OFFENSE – 1
Back in the 70s I was at a restaurant talking with a coach about his basic pass offense. We scratched out some things on several napkins that I took along with me that became the basis of what we are trying to accomplish with our quick pass O. So think of us sitting down at a table and we are scratching things out on a piece of paper that you can take, modify, and incorporating what you like into what you are doing with your program and scheme.
With the advent of the FREEZE, melding it with the quick pass O came easy. The #1 reason for this part of the offense is to have a basic passing attack no matter what talent we have at QB or Receiver. Unless you are coaching at a large high school with enrollments at 1500 or more, and you have a program that the kids want to be part of, you just are not going to be blessed with passing talent at QB every year.
I have coached at a number of schools with enrollments of 750 or less. Now think about the odds: 325 of those students at that school are girls. Of the 325 boys in school, how many are going to be in the senior class? Less than 80, right? You will be lucky if there are 15 or so that have decided to turn out for football practice. So . . . you now need to take those 15 kids, along with maybe 17 or 18 Juniors and come up with a backfield, receiving corps, LB’ers, and secondary as well as offensive and defensive lines. TALL ORDER. How could anyone outside the staff have any clue about what goes on behind the scenes in putting a competitive team out there for Friday Night Lights.
I remember talking with assistant coach Jeff Campbell on year saying, “You know, the Knights will win again this year. We have the potential to be extremely competitive again (at one time we were 40 & 4 at that school). But no one will ever understand what or how hard the coaching staff is going to have to work to get the team to that level.” I’m you’ve been there – done that as well.
So we need a passing game that is going to advance the ball enough to make another first down and keep the drive alive. Our philosophy is that we can go into the weight room and help kids develop their athletic abilities and thereby competitiveness. Kids who can power clean 225+ can compete better than kids who struggle to power clean 175. That’s a fact. But while he may be able to power clean 230, an athlete might not be a gifted passer.
We felt that a true passer is a bonus and would come along once every 4-5 years or so. The rest of the time we had to have some type of attack that would be effective, not necessarily spectacular.
So what are we after? We wanted a passing attack that would concentrate on completing passes or an 8-10 yard length. We can get receivers open in that area of the defense for a short period of time. The way we accomplish is via a little play action fake and the fact that secondaries are predictable.
First we use the same formations as with other aspects of the offense. We run the midline out of the doubles, doubles wide, power, and pro offensive sets. From all the sets, the base play of the offense is to give the ball to the FB on the first option of the option offense as previously explained in previous posts. So a fake to the fullback is going to FREEZE the LB’s for a step or two and lots of the time get them to step towards the LOS. Add to this the fact that those secondary coaches have preached to their players to “not get beat deep” which leads to those 3 drop step read steps. So, on that napkin we have a defense that right after snap, the LB’ers are biting on the fake, and the secondary (who aligned 8-12 yards deep depending . . . ) is taking at leas 3 read steps.
Now those three read steps are never just three. If you talk to any experienced secondary coach, you know that the read steps are really at least five steps to change direction and break on the ball: alignment, snap, three steps back – then you have to have a plant step that one brakes with, followed by at least one change of direction step. Three steps back, one step to change momentum and another step to change direction and BEGIN to break on the ball.
These “read” steps have always been a source of frustration for me. I do not like to have defenders moving away from the LOS for no particular reason. Each of our defenders in our secondary have a different name. Two of them are always responsible for run support and two are always deep defenders, which are the only two guys that are coached to take ‘read steps.’ When the average high school team is going to run the ball 35 or 40 times a game and pass at most 20 times, I want those guys responsible for contain to do just than: CONTAIN. They cannot do that moving away from the LOS with at least 5 steps. Our defensive philosophy is to limit the offense to less than three yards each play: because 2nd and 8 turns into 3rd and 8 which becomes 4th and 3 or 4 and a punting situation. If those contain defenders line up 3-4 yards deep and take those 5+ read steps, how far are we away from the line as the ball is crossing the LOS?
Any way, we know that 1.5 – 2 seconds after the ball is snapped, there are going to be these windows or big holes in the coverage that we can drop the ball into, and these passes are designed, for the most part, to be completed at a depth of 8-9 yards. You can shot put the ball that far. In fact, we even had a very talented running QB on year that did just that: shot put the ball out there. Some of our QBs have been dubbed spear chucker, javelin thrower, and other ‘affectionate,’ descriptive monikers.
But I want you to know that we have had a number of QBs with little or no passing talent abilities that have led their leagues in TD passes primarily because of this Quick Pass Offense.
So 2 seconds after the ball is snapped, we have LB’ers stepping to three yards or less (and remember, they too will have at least two transitional steps where they will be “marking time” trying to recover and get to their pass responsibility. Next we have a receiver at a depth of 7 yards moving to 10. Then there are secondary defenders that are 12-13 yards deep spread out across the field trying to ‘not get beat deep, but also cover four receivers across the field.
The idea is to get the ball to the receiver beyond the LB’ers and before the secondary can recover. A good pass defense is taught to “get there when the ball gets there.” The only way that they could successful defend against this passing attack is to play some kind of man coverage with some kind of bump or jam at or near the LOS.
The questions is, are they going to do that against an option offense and give up the corner to the QB and Pitch back? I think not. That would be far too big a risk defensively, don’t you think?
At the snap of the ball, we will give everyone a ‘false read’ for pass. We want the front seven to think run for their initial read and the secondary will takes those read steps anyway because they have been preached to about not getting beat deep! So we will have a receiver open at 8 yards, we just need to get him the ball there at the proper time.
Next we will discuss pass protection.
Back in the 70s I was at a restaurant talking with a coach about his basic pass offense. We scratched out some things on several napkins that I took along with me that became the basis of what we are trying to accomplish with our quick pass O. So think of us sitting down at a table and we are scratching things out on a piece of paper that you can take, modify, and incorporating what you like into what you are doing with your program and scheme.
With the advent of the FREEZE, melding it with the quick pass O came easy. The #1 reason for this part of the offense is to have a basic passing attack no matter what talent we have at QB or Receiver. Unless you are coaching at a large high school with enrollments at 1500 or more, and you have a program that the kids want to be part of, you just are not going to be blessed with passing talent at QB every year.
I have coached at a number of schools with enrollments of 750 or less. Now think about the odds: 325 of those students at that school are girls. Of the 325 boys in school, how many are going to be in the senior class? Less than 80, right? You will be lucky if there are 15 or so that have decided to turn out for football practice. So . . . you now need to take those 15 kids, along with maybe 17 or 18 Juniors and come up with a backfield, receiving corps, LB’ers, and secondary as well as offensive and defensive lines. TALL ORDER. How could anyone outside the staff have any clue about what goes on behind the scenes in putting a competitive team out there for Friday Night Lights.
I remember talking with assistant coach Jeff Campbell on year saying, “You know, the Knights will win again this year. We have the potential to be extremely competitive again (at one time we were 40 & 4 at that school). But no one will ever understand what or how hard the coaching staff is going to have to work to get the team to that level.” I’m you’ve been there – done that as well.
So we need a passing game that is going to advance the ball enough to make another first down and keep the drive alive. Our philosophy is that we can go into the weight room and help kids develop their athletic abilities and thereby competitiveness. Kids who can power clean 225+ can compete better than kids who struggle to power clean 175. That’s a fact. But while he may be able to power clean 230, an athlete might not be a gifted passer.
We felt that a true passer is a bonus and would come along once every 4-5 years or so. The rest of the time we had to have some type of attack that would be effective, not necessarily spectacular.
So what are we after? We wanted a passing attack that would concentrate on completing passes or an 8-10 yard length. We can get receivers open in that area of the defense for a short period of time. The way we accomplish is via a little play action fake and the fact that secondaries are predictable.
First we use the same formations as with other aspects of the offense. We run the midline out of the doubles, doubles wide, power, and pro offensive sets. From all the sets, the base play of the offense is to give the ball to the FB on the first option of the option offense as previously explained in previous posts. So a fake to the fullback is going to FREEZE the LB’s for a step or two and lots of the time get them to step towards the LOS. Add to this the fact that those secondary coaches have preached to their players to “not get beat deep” which leads to those 3 drop step read steps. So, on that napkin we have a defense that right after snap, the LB’ers are biting on the fake, and the secondary (who aligned 8-12 yards deep depending . . . ) is taking at leas 3 read steps.
Now those three read steps are never just three. If you talk to any experienced secondary coach, you know that the read steps are really at least five steps to change direction and break on the ball: alignment, snap, three steps back – then you have to have a plant step that one brakes with, followed by at least one change of direction step. Three steps back, one step to change momentum and another step to change direction and BEGIN to break on the ball.
These “read” steps have always been a source of frustration for me. I do not like to have defenders moving away from the LOS for no particular reason. Each of our defenders in our secondary have a different name. Two of them are always responsible for run support and two are always deep defenders, which are the only two guys that are coached to take ‘read steps.’ When the average high school team is going to run the ball 35 or 40 times a game and pass at most 20 times, I want those guys responsible for contain to do just than: CONTAIN. They cannot do that moving away from the LOS with at least 5 steps. Our defensive philosophy is to limit the offense to less than three yards each play: because 2nd and 8 turns into 3rd and 8 which becomes 4th and 3 or 4 and a punting situation. If those contain defenders line up 3-4 yards deep and take those 5+ read steps, how far are we away from the line as the ball is crossing the LOS?
Any way, we know that 1.5 – 2 seconds after the ball is snapped, there are going to be these windows or big holes in the coverage that we can drop the ball into, and these passes are designed, for the most part, to be completed at a depth of 8-9 yards. You can shot put the ball that far. In fact, we even had a very talented running QB on year that did just that: shot put the ball out there. Some of our QBs have been dubbed spear chucker, javelin thrower, and other ‘affectionate,’ descriptive monikers.
But I want you to know that we have had a number of QBs with little or no passing talent abilities that have led their leagues in TD passes primarily because of this Quick Pass Offense.
So 2 seconds after the ball is snapped, we have LB’ers stepping to three yards or less (and remember, they too will have at least two transitional steps where they will be “marking time” trying to recover and get to their pass responsibility. Next we have a receiver at a depth of 7 yards moving to 10. Then there are secondary defenders that are 12-13 yards deep spread out across the field trying to ‘not get beat deep, but also cover four receivers across the field.
The idea is to get the ball to the receiver beyond the LB’ers and before the secondary can recover. A good pass defense is taught to “get there when the ball gets there.” The only way that they could successful defend against this passing attack is to play some kind of man coverage with some kind of bump or jam at or near the LOS.
The questions is, are they going to do that against an option offense and give up the corner to the QB and Pitch back? I think not. That would be far too big a risk defensively, don’t you think?
At the snap of the ball, we will give everyone a ‘false read’ for pass. We want the front seven to think run for their initial read and the secondary will takes those read steps anyway because they have been preached to about not getting beat deep! So we will have a receiver open at 8 yards, we just need to get him the ball there at the proper time.
Next we will discuss pass protection.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Turkey Day Games
Our friend Ray Cosenza at Fitchburg MA is playing their rival tomorrow in the oldest Thanksgiving Day Game on record in America - 125 years they have been at it. Isn't that amazing! If Ray's team wins they are off to the playoffs again. Ray boasts numerous State Championship Rings for MA.
Many of the rest of you are playing a game tomorrow - organized or pick-up. Good Luck to all of you. We have many things to be thankful for.
Blessing to you all.
Be 11!
RF
Many of the rest of you are playing a game tomorrow - organized or pick-up. Good Luck to all of you. We have many things to be thankful for.
Blessing to you all.
Be 11!
RF
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Video Update
Good News!
I have been able to covert a video file on the midline into an uploadable format. So in the next couple days we will have it available so you can see what it is we are talking about more so than the video that is there now.
I just have to get to a good spot to scab some high speed to upload.
Look for it soon.
My nephew did it on his new MACbook PRO. What an awesome piece of equipment. You guys are going to be doing more and more with video in the future . . . I suggest you cough up the $2G to get the right piece of equipment. he use you will get out of it will be far greater than the cost.
Be11!
RF
I have been able to covert a video file on the midline into an uploadable format. So in the next couple days we will have it available so you can see what it is we are talking about more so than the video that is there now.
I just have to get to a good spot to scab some high speed to upload.
Look for it soon.
My nephew did it on his new MACbook PRO. What an awesome piece of equipment. You guys are going to be doing more and more with video in the future . . . I suggest you cough up the $2G to get the right piece of equipment. he use you will get out of it will be far greater than the cost.
Be11!
RF
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Terry Fox Ravens WIN!
Just got this from Martin in B.C.
Hey Freeb,
Just e-mailing to let you know that we won last evening 54-15 in the Provincial Semi-final. Believe it or not we had 4 throwing TD's! They stubbornly stayed in a 9 in the box Defense with NO safety. We scored on a fake Dive TE go, on a bootpass, a blast pass and on a doubles 4 seams. The FB, TB and WB each added a TD. We're now 11-0 and face a team in the Final that we have beaten earlier in the year. Of course it's a whole new season in the playoffs but things are looking very good. Hope your trip is going well.
Hey Freeb,
Just e-mailing to let you know that we won last evening 54-15 in the Provincial Semi-final. Believe it or not we had 4 throwing TD's! They stubbornly stayed in a 9 in the box Defense with NO safety. We scored on a fake Dive TE go, on a bootpass, a blast pass and on a doubles 4 seams. The FB, TB and WB each added a TD. We're now 11-0 and face a team in the Final that we have beaten earlier in the year. Of course it's a whole new season in the playoffs but things are looking very good. Hope your trip is going well.
Vids
I checked the site. The videos I thought were uploaded are not. My mistake. I will try and get some examples of what we are talking about up.
Please understand that I am in Ohio away from the master comopunter and software and in a hospice situation with Jacquie's Mother who is 92 and ready to pass on. I will get things up as time allows.
Call your parents and grandparents, go see them, tell them you love them today.Do not put it off. Tempus Fugit.
Be11!
RF
Please understand that I am in Ohio away from the master comopunter and software and in a hospice situation with Jacquie's Mother who is 92 and ready to pass on. I will get things up as time allows.
Call your parents and grandparents, go see them, tell them you love them today.Do not put it off. Tempus Fugit.
Be11!
RF
RANGER FREEZE: What Ifs?
RANGER FREEZE: What Ifs?
So, what if? There are always what ifs; aren’t there. One of the things we have in the scheme of things is the ‘Gap Call.’ The Gap Call is an offensive line call that alerts the offensive line to “Gap Down” to the center.
Once again, the easiest block in football to execute is to block down and ‘bulldoze’ everything to the middle. The Denver Broncos call this tactic “washing down” the defense to the center of the formation.
If the defense is about to do something ‘different’ – some kind of stunt or twist or whatever they might be up to, the inside tackle first or anyone else on the line for that matter has the ability to call for a Gap Call. It means that everyone on the LOS will drive the inside gap down to the shoulder of the center creating a wall of blockers that the defense will not be able to get through but have to run around giving the runner a chance to gain some yards.
Nothing in football will blow up an offensive play faster than an inside penetrator. It is hard for me to understand, sitting and watching TV on SAT, and see college players not block the inside, especially on a punt. I remember early this fall watching VA TECH of all people screw up and block out on the LOS rather than down which invites an inside penetrator to blow in there and sure enough, block the punt. VT is widely known for its special teams play and blocking punts, right? You just absolutely know that those blockers have been told a hundred thousand million times to block down on a punt, but they needed to be told a hundred thousand million times plus one.
Why would they block out? Why would they go against what they have been told to do? The answer lies in the fact that the defense is doing something they have not seen or prepared for, leading to confusion, resulting in a blown assignment and a blocked punt.
Now our blocking rules are not hard to understand: IN-ON-OUT-OVER; the line is to block the man that’s in the inside gap first; the man on second; the man in the outside gap third and only then proceed to the LB’er closest to you. That’s easy to understand, right? Especially after thousands of repetitions and directions over the years in practice and Frosh, SOPH & JV games.
But you know what? When the defense does something unexpected, the kids will panic and do something off the wall and screw it up. So we had to institute an additional rule: The down defender on the LOS must be blocked first . . . (before you leave and go block a LB’er or Secondary defender).
Our “panic button” is the Gap Call. Everyone blocks down. Creates what I like to call a covey of defenders. We just try and sort of herd them all into a pack at the inside of the formation, and then run on the edge. Block everyone down to the inside and run on the edge. When you herd the defense to the inside like that, one of your linemen can block two or three defenders, i.e., by blocking one defender to the inside, you can create an obstacle that another defender farther away will trip over trying to pursue to the play. He might even fall down, creating another obstacle for another defender who might possibly trip as well or at least have to run around on his pursuit path. Meanwhile, our runner is gain yards out there on the edge.
There are those that say one never really pitches the ball when running the midline-freeze. That would be a BIG mistake. What if, what if the defense packs and stunts the middle from tackle to tackle? The FB and QB will not make any yards on the play. However, if you, the line, or the QB calls out GAP! Then line can wash all that down to the middle at which point the QB is to go to the C-Gap or wider (after the fake to the FB to FREEZE the defense on him) and run or pitch from there. That’s why it is called, triple option. First option is taken away by the blitzers and the defensive alignment. That does not mean we cannot adjust and go to the edge of the formation and option from there. Right?
This is not a common occurrence. But it does happen during the course of the game or season. When it does, we are ready for it; do not have to waste a play and winds up being a big gainer for us because we have practiced for it and we have the adjustment available for us.
Another What If deals with an odd alignment. If the center is covered in some kind of odd alignment with LB’ers over the guards or gaps, our rule is to “veer scheme” block it. That would mean that the called side guard would double team with the C on the NT and drive him back into the feet of the off LB’er. The playside T blocks on the other LB’er and we read the DT.
This is something we do not see very often. When running unbalanced formations, the defense slides over a half to full man. That would mean a gap player or LB’er that the C would deal with. When running the FREEZE from a doubles set or some other spread set, the defense shifts into some kind of 40 look which is covered by the regular blocking rules for the FREEZE. If they stay odd and run a 53 or something like that, They are in trouble with other facets of the offense, like the quick passing game. There is no way they can adequately cover 4 receivers across the field out of a 52-3-or4 look. I have fought that battle and lost. They must adjust – or get stung big time.
We will talk about our quick pass offense and how it fits in with the RANGER FREEZE next time.
Be11
RF
So, what if? There are always what ifs; aren’t there. One of the things we have in the scheme of things is the ‘Gap Call.’ The Gap Call is an offensive line call that alerts the offensive line to “Gap Down” to the center.
Once again, the easiest block in football to execute is to block down and ‘bulldoze’ everything to the middle. The Denver Broncos call this tactic “washing down” the defense to the center of the formation.
If the defense is about to do something ‘different’ – some kind of stunt or twist or whatever they might be up to, the inside tackle first or anyone else on the line for that matter has the ability to call for a Gap Call. It means that everyone on the LOS will drive the inside gap down to the shoulder of the center creating a wall of blockers that the defense will not be able to get through but have to run around giving the runner a chance to gain some yards.
Nothing in football will blow up an offensive play faster than an inside penetrator. It is hard for me to understand, sitting and watching TV on SAT, and see college players not block the inside, especially on a punt. I remember early this fall watching VA TECH of all people screw up and block out on the LOS rather than down which invites an inside penetrator to blow in there and sure enough, block the punt. VT is widely known for its special teams play and blocking punts, right? You just absolutely know that those blockers have been told a hundred thousand million times to block down on a punt, but they needed to be told a hundred thousand million times plus one.
Why would they block out? Why would they go against what they have been told to do? The answer lies in the fact that the defense is doing something they have not seen or prepared for, leading to confusion, resulting in a blown assignment and a blocked punt.
Now our blocking rules are not hard to understand: IN-ON-OUT-OVER; the line is to block the man that’s in the inside gap first; the man on second; the man in the outside gap third and only then proceed to the LB’er closest to you. That’s easy to understand, right? Especially after thousands of repetitions and directions over the years in practice and Frosh, SOPH & JV games.
But you know what? When the defense does something unexpected, the kids will panic and do something off the wall and screw it up. So we had to institute an additional rule: The down defender on the LOS must be blocked first . . . (before you leave and go block a LB’er or Secondary defender).
Our “panic button” is the Gap Call. Everyone blocks down. Creates what I like to call a covey of defenders. We just try and sort of herd them all into a pack at the inside of the formation, and then run on the edge. Block everyone down to the inside and run on the edge. When you herd the defense to the inside like that, one of your linemen can block two or three defenders, i.e., by blocking one defender to the inside, you can create an obstacle that another defender farther away will trip over trying to pursue to the play. He might even fall down, creating another obstacle for another defender who might possibly trip as well or at least have to run around on his pursuit path. Meanwhile, our runner is gain yards out there on the edge.
There are those that say one never really pitches the ball when running the midline-freeze. That would be a BIG mistake. What if, what if the defense packs and stunts the middle from tackle to tackle? The FB and QB will not make any yards on the play. However, if you, the line, or the QB calls out GAP! Then line can wash all that down to the middle at which point the QB is to go to the C-Gap or wider (after the fake to the FB to FREEZE the defense on him) and run or pitch from there. That’s why it is called, triple option. First option is taken away by the blitzers and the defensive alignment. That does not mean we cannot adjust and go to the edge of the formation and option from there. Right?
This is not a common occurrence. But it does happen during the course of the game or season. When it does, we are ready for it; do not have to waste a play and winds up being a big gainer for us because we have practiced for it and we have the adjustment available for us.
Another What If deals with an odd alignment. If the center is covered in some kind of odd alignment with LB’ers over the guards or gaps, our rule is to “veer scheme” block it. That would mean that the called side guard would double team with the C on the NT and drive him back into the feet of the off LB’er. The playside T blocks on the other LB’er and we read the DT.
This is something we do not see very often. When running unbalanced formations, the defense slides over a half to full man. That would mean a gap player or LB’er that the C would deal with. When running the FREEZE from a doubles set or some other spread set, the defense shifts into some kind of 40 look which is covered by the regular blocking rules for the FREEZE. If they stay odd and run a 53 or something like that, They are in trouble with other facets of the offense, like the quick passing game. There is no way they can adequately cover 4 receivers across the field out of a 52-3-or4 look. I have fought that battle and lost. They must adjust – or get stung big time.
We will talk about our quick pass offense and how it fits in with the RANGER FREEZE next time.
Be11
RF
Friday, November 21, 2008
RANGER FREEZE: The Option Read
RANGER FREEZE: The Option Read
There is a large school of coaches, especially younger ones who do not have the option in their scheme for any number of reasons. The biggest of which are it seems: 1. The option is too difficult to teach high schoolers; and 2. It takes up too much practice time to get it to the level of execution necessary to be successful.
Obviously, I do not subscribe to any of that; not because I am an old school throw back or the like, but because the advantages of running the option, or more importantly, the THREAT of the option far outweigh any of the drawbacks.
As we have said earlier in this series, when you run the option, or they THINK that you might run the option, it limits what they are going to do defensively, especially when you have the midline freeze in your scheme. Because we run it out of the Power (goal line, short yardage set) as well as a side open, one back set (with motion), the threat is always there. That means on every play the defense has to account for the Dive Back, the QB, and the Pitch Back on both sides of the ball. That takes care of three defenders on each side of the ball. Now when you have split receivers to both sides of the formation who threaten to go deep with play action pass on any given play, someone has to cover them. Invariably, the defense is in some kind of cover two look with two defenders deep. That FREEZES UP two more defenders making a grand total of EIGHT defenders that are locked into place on the defense at or near the snap of the ball leaving only three other defenders to place along the LOS to cover all remaining gaps and balance out their alignment.
That is why I call it The EQualizer. The scheme limits what they are going to be able to do defensively and puts your players on the field in a position where they can be successful. ESPECIALLY when you are truly able to add in the running of the true triple option because when you run the triple, you do not block up to three defenders of the defense. You get to play 11 on eight. Is that an advantage? Let’s say we are going into a fight. You have 11 players on your side, they have eight. Remember the piece we posted a while back on why BFS schools win? Our 11 guys have spent a year in the BFS Total Strength and Conditioning Program where everything we do is designed to help the players run faster, jump higher, and be more explosive. They have broken 11 or more records a week for an entire year.
Take the experience we had at Estacada initially. Because of a late levy vote in June, they did not have the money for the position so I did not get the call to come see RangerLand till the week before the 4th of July. Jacquie and I had really made up our minds that we were to be stuck another year in Everett because for whatever reason things did not work out right with another round of interviews that spring. I was in the middle of laying down wood flooring at the house when the call came from principal Steve Woods, “Are you still looking for a coaching job?” He had heard that I had interview for the past couple years at districts nearby. “Well, we have decided to stay at Everett another year. It’s late in the game now that it’s July,” I answered. “Why don’t you just come down and let us show you what we got,” he countered.
Well, there was just something about his tone of voice in the rest of the conversation. For close to five years I had been filling out applications and interviewing to find the “right fit” for the next position. You do not get married just because someone asks you, it has to feel right, especially in your gut, right? There was just something in his voice. I told Jacquie I was going to just go down to have a look see.
Well . . . I was hired around the 25th of July. We had less than a month to put together a staff, sell a house, move from out of state and get things started. We were 50+ years old and packing things up again . . . . did I mention my wife is a Saint?
Long story short, I got into town semi-permanently one week before practice started. My first full night in the weightroom saw ONE play try to bench press 225 pounds, AND NOT BE ABLE TO PUT THAT UP! You talk about weak! I could go on here and tell you stories about how weak that team was, but I would bore you to death. Did I mention that the kid that tried 225 was a wide receiver the year before who would wind up as our tailback. No lineman at the beginning of the year could bench press 200 pounds opening day of practice. And we opened with the 6th ranked team in the state.
It had been more than 25 years since I had coached such a weak team. In fact, it had to have been the weakest team ever cause before lifting I had coached in farming communities and those kids were strong because of chores on the farm.
Fast forward: 1. We beat the 6th ranked team in the state first game that year in the last 26 seconds because of the scheme and the fact that the worst program in Oregon was coming to their house and we were able to sneak up on them. 2. We went to work with BFS 5 days a week for a full year and went undefeated the next year – first time in school history.
This is getting far tooo long for a BLOG.
Here’s the deal: BFS develops Warriors for battle. The EQualizer scheme puts them into position where they can perform at their best and max out what talent they have. For example, what is the easiest block to execute in football for an offensive lineman? Most coaches would answer: The Down Block. And what block is the most difficult: The reach block for an offensive right tackle. Think about it; your offensive right tackle probably is not your best. Most coaches want to put their best tackle on the left side following both college and pro examples. But the defense is going to put their best DE and LB’er on their left side because most teams are right handed. So you have an inferior lineman trying to block a superior defender with the toughest block in football for an offensive lineman to execute. How does that make sense? If you watch the games on TV, especially on SAT, they cannot get it done consistently. And they have linemen for 5 years coaching them year round and going only one way. A high school coach gets them at the varsity level for at best, three years. And how many high school programs want to start Sophs on the line. Do you do it because you want to or out of necessity? So at best, you have perhaps two good years for a kid to try and master the hardest block in football against superior defenders. Why do coaches put themselves in this position? Just because it looks good on TV? Just because State U does it?
Think of what they do with offensive linemen at the college level. They go out and recruit genetic freaks: 18 year old kids weighing in at over 300 pounds that can move better than half the high school running backs in the nation. When I was at Everett, Jim Lambright coached at Washington. Jim was an EHS grad. We spent some time there. We were there at winter workouts just before their last National Championship season. I had never seen such BIG guys move so fast in their winter ‘mat drills’ which they did in an old gymnastics area. When have you ever recruited genetic freaks to play for your team? They take this monster of a man, redshirt him for a year and take on the average another two years to teach him how to reach block and pass block at the college level and them play him for two years, maybe. That means that you have an adult, who has been playing football for up to 12 years, who still has trouble executing that reach block. And there are thousands of high school coaches who try to get it done in less than three years. Hard to believe.
So with the EQ, I can take the three best line prospects we had . . . none of whom at the start of practice could bench 200 pounds . . . play them together in a tandem and teach them the easiest block in football to execute – the down block. Remember, we had three weeks before playing the 6th ranked team in the state. What had I gotten myself into?
But we are OK, because the scheme limits the aggressiveness of 8 defenders and we will take our best running back and have him run the ball behind our three best lineman who get to execute the easiest block in football against less aggressive defenders and we are going to use the simpliest play in football, the Dive play, to execute that also hits the fastest. And if the timing is just right, we can give ourselves a chance.
And the Option starts with the Dive play, right? So what’s so hard about the option? What’s so hard about teaching the QB how to read it? First we start with two rules: 1. you are never wrong if you give the ball to the fullback, especially when running the EQ. Think about it: You are giving the ball to your best back; who has a five yard running start at the POA; and you are running behind your best blockers; who are executing the easiest block in football to execute. We ought to be able to gain some yards. Now with the midline Freeze, you do not get that 5 yard running start, but at the POA, you do have 4 offensive guys blocking 2 defenders – that ought to be worth something to your advantage. Rule 2: 75% of the times you read the first option, you give the ball to the FB, especially when you runt he EQ. Think about it, the DE will only do 4 things: he can only go North, South, East, or West. Right? If he goes North, South, or East (if you are running to the right side of the formation), you give the ball to the FB. The only time you pull the ball out is if he goes West and comes at you and the FB. How simple is that? You are never wrong if you give the ball to the FB, and 75% of any read you are going to make is to give the ball to the FB. Doesn’t that simplify things?
And to make things really sure, the longer you have the ball in the belly of the FB, the easier it is to make the read, because that read man is going to have to make a decision: come down to the mesh point (come West) and attack or execution some other defensive move: go to pitch, slow play, stay put, widen, whatever. Isolate a defender, force him to make a decision, do the opposite of what he decides, gain yards. And the best part is: You do not have to block him! He will take himself out of the play. How easy is that? Everyone else is blocked or screened out of the play!
Add to the fact that you can drill the read in practice, you can increase you chances of success. In addition, when you start the teaching progression with your QBs at the lower levels of your program be it 7, 8, 9, 10th grade, whenever you get them under your immediate direction, by the time one of those QBs works his way through the system, he has the ability to make the read when it is his turn to run the show.
Now I know that one of you is going to ask about the drill. What we used over the years was to get two banana hand dummies. You can either use players to do this or I prefer coaches, like myself for one and the JV backfield coach for the other. Lay out a LOS on the field: C,G,T,End slots. One coach is at the “read spot” and the other coach is at the “option” point (see online playbook at www.jvm.com/coachfree for explanation). At the snap, the dummy holders go North, South, East, or West. The QB makes the read. Make the wrong read, get hit by the dummy. Simple. Effective.
Now we start with the EQ when running the true triple option. There are a variety of reasons. The DE or end man on the LOS is easier to isolate. He is farther out, away from the center giving the QB a longer time to make the read. Plus it makes it easier for the blockers to block down.
In either instance (EQ or midline-freeze), the mesh takes place inside the alignment of the read man. So when executed properly, not rushed, the read man sees the ball in the belly of the fullback. So, if he is playing an old “Oklahoma read” defense, he is going to step down to make a play on the fullback. In that case, the QB pulls the ball, bubbles around the collision that will take place between the FB and the read man, and progresses out to the “option-man” of the play.
At the beginning of the game or second half, I would tell the QB that we would want to give the ball to the FB to establish the FB as a runner. This gets the defense to collapse on the FB later in the half, so that when the QB does pull the ball and moves to the perimeter, there will be fewer players there and greater chance of success.
The two hardest reads for the QB: First is the slow play read man. This is used by the DE who just sits on the LOS and doesn’t go NSEW. What do you do? Give the ball to the FB. His path puts him on a line inside the DE; he has a running start; is gathering momentum; and taught to ‘explode the hole.’ At best, a slow play DE might be able to get an arm on the FB, but that is not going to bring our FB down. He is taught to break arm tackles. With the Freeze, you are not going to get a ‘slow play DT’ – if you do, count your lucky stars and add up the yardage because you FB get to run behind a double-double team. The second hard read for the QB is the quick pitch that has to be made when the defense attacks the mesh point as fast as possible. This is just like in life; the faster you have to make a decision, the more likely you are to make a wrong one. When you get a defender that blitzes at the snap and is out to blow up the mesh point, the QB has to pitch the ball much sooner that normal in the backfield and not out on the perimeter. This is out of the ordinary and an inexperienced QB might put the ball on the ground – that’s what drill work is for. You get that dummy and blitz the QB in practice enough. How long is enough? Until, until you get what you want.
A couple of other notes: You have to have Goldilocks patience when running the option. The timing has to be “just right” for best results. Remember, we want the defense to make a decision and then play off that. If we rush into it, the defense does not have the time to make their decision and our rush to gain some yards could mess things up. The other Equalizing thing about the option is that because 8 defenders are tied up with option and pass responsibilities at the snap, 75% or more of the defense’s normal blitz package is out the window further equalizing things for your side of the LOS. The defense is on its heels, easier targets, moving sideways or back, placing you kids into the best chance for success.
So that’s the “Executive Insider” information on how we deal with the option. Over time, we do not really spend any more time with the option in drills than we do with say the sweep or the counter play. Same number of reps. It’s just another play in the offense. It’s just part of what we do.
“At Estacada, The Home of the Rangers, Winning isn’t Everything . . . It’s just part of what we do.” So is the Option. Running the Option, Equalizes things.
Be11!
RF
There is a large school of coaches, especially younger ones who do not have the option in their scheme for any number of reasons. The biggest of which are it seems: 1. The option is too difficult to teach high schoolers; and 2. It takes up too much practice time to get it to the level of execution necessary to be successful.
Obviously, I do not subscribe to any of that; not because I am an old school throw back or the like, but because the advantages of running the option, or more importantly, the THREAT of the option far outweigh any of the drawbacks.
As we have said earlier in this series, when you run the option, or they THINK that you might run the option, it limits what they are going to do defensively, especially when you have the midline freeze in your scheme. Because we run it out of the Power (goal line, short yardage set) as well as a side open, one back set (with motion), the threat is always there. That means on every play the defense has to account for the Dive Back, the QB, and the Pitch Back on both sides of the ball. That takes care of three defenders on each side of the ball. Now when you have split receivers to both sides of the formation who threaten to go deep with play action pass on any given play, someone has to cover them. Invariably, the defense is in some kind of cover two look with two defenders deep. That FREEZES UP two more defenders making a grand total of EIGHT defenders that are locked into place on the defense at or near the snap of the ball leaving only three other defenders to place along the LOS to cover all remaining gaps and balance out their alignment.
That is why I call it The EQualizer. The scheme limits what they are going to be able to do defensively and puts your players on the field in a position where they can be successful. ESPECIALLY when you are truly able to add in the running of the true triple option because when you run the triple, you do not block up to three defenders of the defense. You get to play 11 on eight. Is that an advantage? Let’s say we are going into a fight. You have 11 players on your side, they have eight. Remember the piece we posted a while back on why BFS schools win? Our 11 guys have spent a year in the BFS Total Strength and Conditioning Program where everything we do is designed to help the players run faster, jump higher, and be more explosive. They have broken 11 or more records a week for an entire year.
Take the experience we had at Estacada initially. Because of a late levy vote in June, they did not have the money for the position so I did not get the call to come see RangerLand till the week before the 4th of July. Jacquie and I had really made up our minds that we were to be stuck another year in Everett because for whatever reason things did not work out right with another round of interviews that spring. I was in the middle of laying down wood flooring at the house when the call came from principal Steve Woods, “Are you still looking for a coaching job?” He had heard that I had interview for the past couple years at districts nearby. “Well, we have decided to stay at Everett another year. It’s late in the game now that it’s July,” I answered. “Why don’t you just come down and let us show you what we got,” he countered.
Well, there was just something about his tone of voice in the rest of the conversation. For close to five years I had been filling out applications and interviewing to find the “right fit” for the next position. You do not get married just because someone asks you, it has to feel right, especially in your gut, right? There was just something in his voice. I told Jacquie I was going to just go down to have a look see.
Well . . . I was hired around the 25th of July. We had less than a month to put together a staff, sell a house, move from out of state and get things started. We were 50+ years old and packing things up again . . . . did I mention my wife is a Saint?
Long story short, I got into town semi-permanently one week before practice started. My first full night in the weightroom saw ONE play try to bench press 225 pounds, AND NOT BE ABLE TO PUT THAT UP! You talk about weak! I could go on here and tell you stories about how weak that team was, but I would bore you to death. Did I mention that the kid that tried 225 was a wide receiver the year before who would wind up as our tailback. No lineman at the beginning of the year could bench press 200 pounds opening day of practice. And we opened with the 6th ranked team in the state.
It had been more than 25 years since I had coached such a weak team. In fact, it had to have been the weakest team ever cause before lifting I had coached in farming communities and those kids were strong because of chores on the farm.
Fast forward: 1. We beat the 6th ranked team in the state first game that year in the last 26 seconds because of the scheme and the fact that the worst program in Oregon was coming to their house and we were able to sneak up on them. 2. We went to work with BFS 5 days a week for a full year and went undefeated the next year – first time in school history.
This is getting far tooo long for a BLOG.
Here’s the deal: BFS develops Warriors for battle. The EQualizer scheme puts them into position where they can perform at their best and max out what talent they have. For example, what is the easiest block to execute in football for an offensive lineman? Most coaches would answer: The Down Block. And what block is the most difficult: The reach block for an offensive right tackle. Think about it; your offensive right tackle probably is not your best. Most coaches want to put their best tackle on the left side following both college and pro examples. But the defense is going to put their best DE and LB’er on their left side because most teams are right handed. So you have an inferior lineman trying to block a superior defender with the toughest block in football for an offensive lineman to execute. How does that make sense? If you watch the games on TV, especially on SAT, they cannot get it done consistently. And they have linemen for 5 years coaching them year round and going only one way. A high school coach gets them at the varsity level for at best, three years. And how many high school programs want to start Sophs on the line. Do you do it because you want to or out of necessity? So at best, you have perhaps two good years for a kid to try and master the hardest block in football against superior defenders. Why do coaches put themselves in this position? Just because it looks good on TV? Just because State U does it?
Think of what they do with offensive linemen at the college level. They go out and recruit genetic freaks: 18 year old kids weighing in at over 300 pounds that can move better than half the high school running backs in the nation. When I was at Everett, Jim Lambright coached at Washington. Jim was an EHS grad. We spent some time there. We were there at winter workouts just before their last National Championship season. I had never seen such BIG guys move so fast in their winter ‘mat drills’ which they did in an old gymnastics area. When have you ever recruited genetic freaks to play for your team? They take this monster of a man, redshirt him for a year and take on the average another two years to teach him how to reach block and pass block at the college level and them play him for two years, maybe. That means that you have an adult, who has been playing football for up to 12 years, who still has trouble executing that reach block. And there are thousands of high school coaches who try to get it done in less than three years. Hard to believe.
So with the EQ, I can take the three best line prospects we had . . . none of whom at the start of practice could bench 200 pounds . . . play them together in a tandem and teach them the easiest block in football to execute – the down block. Remember, we had three weeks before playing the 6th ranked team in the state. What had I gotten myself into?
But we are OK, because the scheme limits the aggressiveness of 8 defenders and we will take our best running back and have him run the ball behind our three best lineman who get to execute the easiest block in football against less aggressive defenders and we are going to use the simpliest play in football, the Dive play, to execute that also hits the fastest. And if the timing is just right, we can give ourselves a chance.
And the Option starts with the Dive play, right? So what’s so hard about the option? What’s so hard about teaching the QB how to read it? First we start with two rules: 1. you are never wrong if you give the ball to the fullback, especially when running the EQ. Think about it: You are giving the ball to your best back; who has a five yard running start at the POA; and you are running behind your best blockers; who are executing the easiest block in football to execute. We ought to be able to gain some yards. Now with the midline Freeze, you do not get that 5 yard running start, but at the POA, you do have 4 offensive guys blocking 2 defenders – that ought to be worth something to your advantage. Rule 2: 75% of the times you read the first option, you give the ball to the FB, especially when you runt he EQ. Think about it, the DE will only do 4 things: he can only go North, South, East, or West. Right? If he goes North, South, or East (if you are running to the right side of the formation), you give the ball to the FB. The only time you pull the ball out is if he goes West and comes at you and the FB. How simple is that? You are never wrong if you give the ball to the FB, and 75% of any read you are going to make is to give the ball to the FB. Doesn’t that simplify things?
And to make things really sure, the longer you have the ball in the belly of the FB, the easier it is to make the read, because that read man is going to have to make a decision: come down to the mesh point (come West) and attack or execution some other defensive move: go to pitch, slow play, stay put, widen, whatever. Isolate a defender, force him to make a decision, do the opposite of what he decides, gain yards. And the best part is: You do not have to block him! He will take himself out of the play. How easy is that? Everyone else is blocked or screened out of the play!
Add to the fact that you can drill the read in practice, you can increase you chances of success. In addition, when you start the teaching progression with your QBs at the lower levels of your program be it 7, 8, 9, 10th grade, whenever you get them under your immediate direction, by the time one of those QBs works his way through the system, he has the ability to make the read when it is his turn to run the show.
Now I know that one of you is going to ask about the drill. What we used over the years was to get two banana hand dummies. You can either use players to do this or I prefer coaches, like myself for one and the JV backfield coach for the other. Lay out a LOS on the field: C,G,T,End slots. One coach is at the “read spot” and the other coach is at the “option” point (see online playbook at www.jvm.com/coachfree for explanation). At the snap, the dummy holders go North, South, East, or West. The QB makes the read. Make the wrong read, get hit by the dummy. Simple. Effective.
Now we start with the EQ when running the true triple option. There are a variety of reasons. The DE or end man on the LOS is easier to isolate. He is farther out, away from the center giving the QB a longer time to make the read. Plus it makes it easier for the blockers to block down.
In either instance (EQ or midline-freeze), the mesh takes place inside the alignment of the read man. So when executed properly, not rushed, the read man sees the ball in the belly of the fullback. So, if he is playing an old “Oklahoma read” defense, he is going to step down to make a play on the fullback. In that case, the QB pulls the ball, bubbles around the collision that will take place between the FB and the read man, and progresses out to the “option-man” of the play.
At the beginning of the game or second half, I would tell the QB that we would want to give the ball to the FB to establish the FB as a runner. This gets the defense to collapse on the FB later in the half, so that when the QB does pull the ball and moves to the perimeter, there will be fewer players there and greater chance of success.
The two hardest reads for the QB: First is the slow play read man. This is used by the DE who just sits on the LOS and doesn’t go NSEW. What do you do? Give the ball to the FB. His path puts him on a line inside the DE; he has a running start; is gathering momentum; and taught to ‘explode the hole.’ At best, a slow play DE might be able to get an arm on the FB, but that is not going to bring our FB down. He is taught to break arm tackles. With the Freeze, you are not going to get a ‘slow play DT’ – if you do, count your lucky stars and add up the yardage because you FB get to run behind a double-double team. The second hard read for the QB is the quick pitch that has to be made when the defense attacks the mesh point as fast as possible. This is just like in life; the faster you have to make a decision, the more likely you are to make a wrong one. When you get a defender that blitzes at the snap and is out to blow up the mesh point, the QB has to pitch the ball much sooner that normal in the backfield and not out on the perimeter. This is out of the ordinary and an inexperienced QB might put the ball on the ground – that’s what drill work is for. You get that dummy and blitz the QB in practice enough. How long is enough? Until, until you get what you want.
A couple of other notes: You have to have Goldilocks patience when running the option. The timing has to be “just right” for best results. Remember, we want the defense to make a decision and then play off that. If we rush into it, the defense does not have the time to make their decision and our rush to gain some yards could mess things up. The other Equalizing thing about the option is that because 8 defenders are tied up with option and pass responsibilities at the snap, 75% or more of the defense’s normal blitz package is out the window further equalizing things for your side of the LOS. The defense is on its heels, easier targets, moving sideways or back, placing you kids into the best chance for success.
So that’s the “Executive Insider” information on how we deal with the option. Over time, we do not really spend any more time with the option in drills than we do with say the sweep or the counter play. Same number of reps. It’s just another play in the offense. It’s just part of what we do.
“At Estacada, The Home of the Rangers, Winning isn’t Everything . . . It’s just part of what we do.” So is the Option. Running the Option, Equalizes things.
Be11!
RF
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Rebound Rules: The Art of Success 2.0
That's the title of Rick Pitino's new book. I read most of it on the plane to Ohio today. It is really good. Filled with lots of info on how he does it.
One of the the topics he talks about is the PHD Attitude. In his former book, also good, Success is a Choice, he said that he looks for people with a PHD Attitude: Poor Hungry & Driven. Here in the new book he talks about his players, many of whom are headed to the NBA did not like all his references to poor. So in the new book he has changed it to Passion.
You have to have Passion for what you are doing or else you will wind up going through the motions. And that does not get the job done.
Personally, for the high school coach, especially one who is trying to 'Turn it Around' I like Poor better. Poor because they are not rich in victories or Championships. That makes them Hungry for more. And because they are so hungry, they are passionate to get the job done. So passionate is part of it right?
But once again, it goes back to Attitude. And Attitude is a Choice. It's a choice we make everyday.
Charlie "Tremendous" Jones, says the only difference between where you are now, and where you will be 10 years from now, are the people you meet (and associate with), the books that you read, and I would add the Dreams that you Dream.
This is a good book for coaches to read.
What about those kids you have in school that do not like to read . . . have never read a book from cover to cover? BFS CEO and founder Greg Shepard put together stories collected from doing thousands of clinics over a 30 year time period into a story: Dream The Biggest Dream. It is a story about a coach, a team and a season. It is a great story - a page turner. Kids who have never read a book in their life, read this book in less than three days; and then bring it back to you and ask, "You got any more books like this? I want to read them."
You can order the book from BFS at http://www.bfsonline.com/products.asp?search=dream&submit=GO
My recommendation is that you get the book and give it to a returning senior leader to read. After he has read it, sign it in the back and date it. Then have him give it to a classmate who would in turn read, sign and pass it down the line. It's a great motivational story and can start a fire in the heart and soul of the team.
CAUTION: If you start to read it before you hand it over to the team, Be prepared to stay up all night - you just can't put it down.
Be11!
RF
One of the the topics he talks about is the PHD Attitude. In his former book, also good, Success is a Choice, he said that he looks for people with a PHD Attitude: Poor Hungry & Driven. Here in the new book he talks about his players, many of whom are headed to the NBA did not like all his references to poor. So in the new book he has changed it to Passion.
You have to have Passion for what you are doing or else you will wind up going through the motions. And that does not get the job done.
Personally, for the high school coach, especially one who is trying to 'Turn it Around' I like Poor better. Poor because they are not rich in victories or Championships. That makes them Hungry for more. And because they are so hungry, they are passionate to get the job done. So passionate is part of it right?
But once again, it goes back to Attitude. And Attitude is a Choice. It's a choice we make everyday.
Charlie "Tremendous" Jones, says the only difference between where you are now, and where you will be 10 years from now, are the people you meet (and associate with), the books that you read, and I would add the Dreams that you Dream.
This is a good book for coaches to read.
What about those kids you have in school that do not like to read . . . have never read a book from cover to cover? BFS CEO and founder Greg Shepard put together stories collected from doing thousands of clinics over a 30 year time period into a story: Dream The Biggest Dream. It is a story about a coach, a team and a season. It is a great story - a page turner. Kids who have never read a book in their life, read this book in less than three days; and then bring it back to you and ask, "You got any more books like this? I want to read them."
You can order the book from BFS at http://www.bfsonline.com/products.asp?search=dream&submit=GO
My recommendation is that you get the book and give it to a returning senior leader to read. After he has read it, sign it in the back and date it. Then have him give it to a classmate who would in turn read, sign and pass it down the line. It's a great motivational story and can start a fire in the heart and soul of the team.
CAUTION: If you start to read it before you hand it over to the team, Be prepared to stay up all night - you just can't put it down.
Be11!
RF
The Be An 11! Quote of the Day 11.20.2008
Catch the Fever Be An 11! BELIEVER!
If you’ve done everything you can to be the best you can, you’ve set the stage.
If you shortchanged yourself anywhere along the way, you’re not going to
Achieve greatness. And you’ve left yourself vulnerable to a lifetime of regret
For squandering your potential.
Rick Pitino
Question of the Day?
How Vulnerable are you?
Catch the Fever Be An 11! BELIEVER!
If you’ve done everything you can to be the best you can, you’ve set the stage.
If you shortchanged yourself anywhere along the way, you’re not going to
Achieve greatness. And you’ve left yourself vulnerable to a lifetime of regret
For squandering your potential.
Rick Pitino
Question of the Day?
How Vulnerable are you?
At BFS we talk about the ELEVEN things that go into being an ELEVEN Athlete - on a scale from one to ten, why not choose to Be An 11!. We stress that it is a synergistic system, the sum being greater than any of its parts. Leave something out, and you do not get where you want to go.
I think that is what Pitino is saying here as well. You have to commit to doing it all if you are going to 'make it.' One thing that I have found out over the years is that , yes, you have to commit to doing it all . . . but . . . along the way, you will discover that you do not have to do it all. It's just that you do not know what part of ALL you have to do. That you will discover along the journey.
And it all begins with Attitude, Expectation, and Commitment.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Ranger Freeze: Option #1 FB
The first option in this triple option sequence is the give to the Fullback. In the example above, if the defense plays as aligned, look at the advantage that the play has. In the middle there, the offense has a 4 on 2 advantage, especially to the called (right) side when both the SG and the WB double up on the playside LB'er.The fullback gets the ball, splits the defense and is off to the races. Remember, the defense is in a horizontal stretch across the field. There are only 2 secondary defenders that can make a move on the FB and one of them is scheduled to get blocked, or at least screened by the SE. If they continue to play this scheme, they are in trouble.
They have to adjust and move some players into the middle or we can run at will up the middle. Rarely will they continue to gain large amount play after play.
So . . . the most common thing we would see is a defender placed in one A gap and then a LB'er in the other A gap with a defensive lineman in the B gap or playing a 3 tech on the SG. We would then run at the open A gap. In fact, this is what we would do: in the huddle the QB would say, "Doubles, Ranger, check with me on two." The huddle breaks and we align on the LOS. The QB reads the defense and calls audible to run to the open A Gap. He reads the DT in the 3 tech. and either gives to the FB when the tackle plays wide, or pulls the ball if the tackle closes.
The defender in the other A gap is doubled by the C and WG . . . the idea of their block is to drive it back into the feet of the LB'er away from the called side so much so that the LB'er cannot get to the play.
In fact, we do this a lot. One of the things that we would actually do is to run the play with the idea that we would create a 'covey' of defenders on their side of the LOS, bouncing into each other, getting their feet caught up with each other all of which prevent them from getting to the POA in time to make a difference.
When yo look at the movie at www.maxcast.com/EQualizer you see often their LB'ers are not blocked by anyone but because of the blocks in front of them . . . they cannot get there.
RF
Quote of the Week:
11.17.08
Not very many people understand what consistency is all about.
11.17.08
Not very many people understand what consistency is all about.
Consistency in sports goes to every area.
It doesn't just manifest itself on the field.
It's in the preparation, the practice, the classroom.
You must be consistent in your preparation,
Your conditioning, your strategy, your motivation.
If you're not consistent on the field,
It's because you're not consistent in those areas.
Bill Parcells
Bill Parcells
Question of the Week?
How consistent are you in Your Preparation?
Happy New Week Everyone!
We started up Happy New Week in our Be 11 Class with the idea of making resulutions (Goals) for the week. It spun off the idea of making New Year's Resolutions. People, once a year, make resolutions that most of the time in less than a month, fail to keep.
The idea behind Happy New Week is that we make resolutions for the week that we keep which gives us a feeling of success and accomplishment.
The ineviatable happened: this week the Estacada Rangers travel to Merlin, OR, to play the North Valley Knights in a 3rd round playoff game. It almost happend when I was still coaching. Should be a good game. I saw the Knights play last weekend when I went to Southern OR to conduct a certification clinic at Prospect High School last SAT.
It was interesting to see players from the past . . . who are now 40 years old, married with adult children of their own. Interestingly, the head coach at NVHS played fullback on the 1984 team, and the LB'er coach for EHS played LB'er for the Rangers in 1997. I wish them well. Playoffs are exciting.
I will not be able to see the game as I will be in Ohio.
Here's the update from B.C. Martin's team won another palyoff game, are now 10-0 by the convincing margin of 63-16. That's a bunch of points for a playoff game. We wish him well as he advances toward the Provincial Championship. They have a BIG game this week against a rival. When they met earlier this season, the Ravens broke a 40+ win streak for the other team.
We are in Idaho for a couple days, conducting a NSE Dreams Project and seeing son JJ on his 33 birthday. Be sure to check out the NSE Project over at: http://agelocfree.blogspot.com/ We have literally stumbled across a once in a lifetime opportunity to get positioned in front of a technological revolution which will be introduced worldwide in JAN but is being jump started in the US now. Sit down with your spouse an check out the link. Want to know more check out the other links.
Be11!
RF
Friday, November 14, 2008
Good Morning America; It's Friday! Game Day!!
Friday is my Favorite Day!!!
The playoff excitement is gearing up across the land as teams strive to get farther down the path to the Championship.
It is a beautiful day for the playoffs here in the Northwest.
The Rangers are hosting a second round playoff game here in Estacada. Should be interesting.
I will not be able to go as I have a Certification Clinic in Southern Oregon in the AM and out here states are bigger than many back east and it is a 6-7 hour drive. That means I would leave a midnight, drive all night to be able to get started in the AM. Over the Hill guys like me do not do things like that anymore.
Interestingly . . . I will go to the North Valley Knights game tonight since it is on the way. I coached the Knights to a State Championship in 1984. The Head Coach of the team now played Fullback on that team - 24 years ago . . .
Here's the story: we were rolling along with one loss to a non conference, larger class team upsetting people along the way because no one thought with a new coach and the graduating class, could the team get it together for another run in 84. Everyone was saying you may be doing well now, BUT wait till you have to go to Henley and play there. You have never been homered like you can get homered in Henley (and they were the favorites to win it all).
Long story short, yes, we did get homered . . . but late in the game with time running out, we ran a "747" pass and scored, barely according to the official to tie the game and Todd Williman, the FB, went on to the field to kick the extra point to put the Knights ahead, in first place, League Champions, and top seed for the playoffs. The snap, the hold, it's up, it's GOOD! The fans and team go wild. Massive dogpile on the field. The lights are not too good there. Right after the goal posts it gets really dark in a hurry. The ball disappeared into the darkness and was never recovered. Legend has it that it is still sailing over the school in the distance.
Maybe not.
But we never did find the ball.
This is what you are in the business of . . . creating lifetime memories for the kids you coach. They will never forget. . . . and neither will you.
I have another story to tell . . . but no time for it this AM.
Final FreebNote: If the Rangers and Knights both win tonight . . . they would play each other next week in a third round game. Wouldn't that be interesting?
I would love to go to that game . . . but I will be in Ohio on business.
Be11!
RF
Friday is my Favorite Day!!!
The playoff excitement is gearing up across the land as teams strive to get farther down the path to the Championship.
It is a beautiful day for the playoffs here in the Northwest.
The Rangers are hosting a second round playoff game here in Estacada. Should be interesting.
I will not be able to go as I have a Certification Clinic in Southern Oregon in the AM and out here states are bigger than many back east and it is a 6-7 hour drive. That means I would leave a midnight, drive all night to be able to get started in the AM. Over the Hill guys like me do not do things like that anymore.
Interestingly . . . I will go to the North Valley Knights game tonight since it is on the way. I coached the Knights to a State Championship in 1984. The Head Coach of the team now played Fullback on that team - 24 years ago . . .
Here's the story: we were rolling along with one loss to a non conference, larger class team upsetting people along the way because no one thought with a new coach and the graduating class, could the team get it together for another run in 84. Everyone was saying you may be doing well now, BUT wait till you have to go to Henley and play there. You have never been homered like you can get homered in Henley (and they were the favorites to win it all).
Long story short, yes, we did get homered . . . but late in the game with time running out, we ran a "747" pass and scored, barely according to the official to tie the game and Todd Williman, the FB, went on to the field to kick the extra point to put the Knights ahead, in first place, League Champions, and top seed for the playoffs. The snap, the hold, it's up, it's GOOD! The fans and team go wild. Massive dogpile on the field. The lights are not too good there. Right after the goal posts it gets really dark in a hurry. The ball disappeared into the darkness and was never recovered. Legend has it that it is still sailing over the school in the distance.
Maybe not.
But we never did find the ball.
This is what you are in the business of . . . creating lifetime memories for the kids you coach. They will never forget. . . . and neither will you.
I have another story to tell . . . but no time for it this AM.
Final FreebNote: If the Rangers and Knights both win tonight . . . they would play each other next week in a third round game. Wouldn't that be interesting?
I would love to go to that game . . . but I will be in Ohio on business.
Be11!
RF
RE: The CREED
Here is the CREED that the football players formulated for their season that came out of that Breakaway Camp:
AS Rangers WE:
Fame and glory will not distract us. We keep our eye single to the glory of the Championship Dream. Our Pride shines throughout the whole town. Make our opponents remember : They played the Rangers! KSA! KSA!! KSA!!!
They came up with this on their own. Coaches had no input . . . other than I did have to correct some English errors.
We made lockers posters for their team and school locker doors; had a 'signing ceremony' emphasising the important of giving your word; posted a large sized copy after everyone signed in the locker for all to see every day; made wallet sized copies to carry around (I still have mine); and we would stand together and "Read the CREED" as the last thing we would do before going out on the game field.
Be11!
RF
BORN TO WIN
AS Rangers WE:
- Always remember why we are here;
- Give all we have on the field;
- Play every play like it's our last play ever;
- Come ready to persevere;
- Fight through adversity;
- Stand strong as a team against all challenges;
- Arrive ready to work;
- Play our guts out and leave absolutely no doubt.
Fame and glory will not distract us. We keep our eye single to the glory of the Championship Dream. Our Pride shines throughout the whole town. Make our opponents remember : They played the Rangers! KSA! KSA!! KSA!!!
They came up with this on their own. Coaches had no input . . . other than I did have to correct some English errors.
We made lockers posters for their team and school locker doors; had a 'signing ceremony' emphasising the important of giving your word; posted a large sized copy after everyone signed in the locker for all to see every day; made wallet sized copies to carry around (I still have mine); and we would stand together and "Read the CREED" as the last thing we would do before going out on the game field.
Be11!
RF
Thursday, November 13, 2008
On Goal Setting
The Estacada girls volleyball team went to the State Finals six times in ten years, and finished second every time. “They said” – whoever they are – that the team was ‘snakebit’ – ever hear that one? Can’t win the BIG One, all those things that people talk about when you just cannot seam to get over that last hurdle.
As a coach, I had tried to get the team into the weightroom thinking that what would go on there would make a difference. Unbeknownst to the players, some of their boy friends went into the office and secretly enrolled them into our Be An 11! Class the semester after finishing second once again. The boys thought the had the talent and that class would make the difference.
From JAN to JUNE 5 of the six starters would lift everyday at 6:06 AM before school. They continued through the summer, sweating through the summer program. The team as a whole increased their vertical jumps an average 5-6 inches during that time. That makes a difference in your play at the net!
Each year, right before 2-A-Days would begin in AUG, we would take as many of the class to a FCA/Be11 Breakaway 3-Day Camp. We did this because there are no FCA Camps in the Pacific Northwest for kids to go to and it was a great ‘fit’ with Be An 11 principles. We would wrap it all around whitewater rafting on the one of the country’s “Wild and Scenic River” of southern Oregon, The Rogue. (You can see a video of the Camp activities and what we talk about here unfold at www.maxcast.com/EQualizer. It is a thirty minute video or so – be sure to see the BFS “Wall Challenge.”)
One highlight of the camp was the goal setting session. Come to find out that the volleyballers had never set the State Championship as their goal in all those years. The coach did not want the girls to be disappointed if they did not make it to the top, so the goal had always been to ‘get to state and do as well as we can there.’
After going through the goal setting segment, the girls on their own decided that the State Championship would be the goal this year.
Another this to come out of the camp was “The Creed.” The teams represented were asked to write a Team Creed, a statement of who they were and what they were about.
A side note here, the way I like to introduce the Creed lesson is with a movie clip from Gladiator. Remember at the end of the movie after the underdog Gladiator turns the upside down and wins and is confronted by Caesar? Gladiator says, “I am Maximus Desimus Meridius . . . . . . and I will have my revenge in this life or the next.” That is what he was about. That was his motivation. That was his Destiny. The question becomes, what was the Destiny of the Estacada Volleyball Team? What were they about?
Here is what they wrote and then signed off on during a Creed signing ceremony. They made copies of it for their lockers, laminated wallet sized ones for their purse, and posted a large one in the locker room for everyone to see before they went out for practice or a game. They took it to all their matches. In fact, the last thing they would do before leaving the locker room for the court, they would “Read the Creed” and then go compete.
We want something we’ve never had, so we’re prepared to do something we’ve never done. We will reach success by our hard work and determination. No fear, no laziness, no excuses. I will not give up; I will get up, and make a difference. Circumstances during the day won’t effect how I play. I will stay loyal to my team, no matter what the cost, no matter what the temptation. We are a team we will work together as one to reach our absolute full potential. We will remember always that together we achieve more. We accomplish more when we don’t care who gets the credit. We will play to win, not to not lose. Even when our bodies are physically tired we’ve got heart and our hearts will never get tired. We are a family with an amazing bond, under no circumstances or stressors will our bond be broken. We are sisters of the game!
Since they had a lot of players, good players, back from a second place team, they started the year ranked #1 and kept that ranking for 2/3 of the year going undefeated. Then they went to a tourney on the coast and lost one match in tournament play. People searched for what was going wrong. The girls are stale, listless, they’re tired. It must be the lifting early in the day, trying to keep up with their studies, school activities, not enough sleep – we have to cut out that lifting.
The coach emailed me that it has to stop. I said you’re the coach. It’s your team. If that is the decision, so be it.
The girls, however, had to be heard from. Upon getting the news, the team got together, went to the coach and said it was not the lifting at the early hour. Furthermore, they would continue to come in early and lift. “Because it there’s more going on there than just lifting.” It’s a bonding experience fostering teamwork. And it was part of their preparation – their Creed.
What happened? Below is a picture I took late in the season, the moment the girls beat the arch rivals for first place seeding and a rare Conference Championship that was usually lost to that rival.
The girls went to state still ranked #1 and won it all.
Often, the biggest obstacle we have to get over is the self. We often get in our own way and do things that hold us back – like not setting the goal – and keeping our eyes single to the glory of the Championship Dream. The major reason for failure in life is giving up what we want most for what we want at the moment. The Goal. The Creed. They help us maintain our focus and give us the strength, the motivation to surmount the obstacles, to jump over the hurdles that are there to test our mettle.
As a coach, I had tried to get the team into the weightroom thinking that what would go on there would make a difference. Unbeknownst to the players, some of their boy friends went into the office and secretly enrolled them into our Be An 11! Class the semester after finishing second once again. The boys thought the had the talent and that class would make the difference.
From JAN to JUNE 5 of the six starters would lift everyday at 6:06 AM before school. They continued through the summer, sweating through the summer program. The team as a whole increased their vertical jumps an average 5-6 inches during that time. That makes a difference in your play at the net!
Each year, right before 2-A-Days would begin in AUG, we would take as many of the class to a FCA/Be11 Breakaway 3-Day Camp. We did this because there are no FCA Camps in the Pacific Northwest for kids to go to and it was a great ‘fit’ with Be An 11 principles. We would wrap it all around whitewater rafting on the one of the country’s “Wild and Scenic River” of southern Oregon, The Rogue. (You can see a video of the Camp activities and what we talk about here unfold at www.maxcast.com/EQualizer. It is a thirty minute video or so – be sure to see the BFS “Wall Challenge.”)
One highlight of the camp was the goal setting session. Come to find out that the volleyballers had never set the State Championship as their goal in all those years. The coach did not want the girls to be disappointed if they did not make it to the top, so the goal had always been to ‘get to state and do as well as we can there.’
After going through the goal setting segment, the girls on their own decided that the State Championship would be the goal this year.
Another this to come out of the camp was “The Creed.” The teams represented were asked to write a Team Creed, a statement of who they were and what they were about.
A side note here, the way I like to introduce the Creed lesson is with a movie clip from Gladiator. Remember at the end of the movie after the underdog Gladiator turns the upside down and wins and is confronted by Caesar? Gladiator says, “I am Maximus Desimus Meridius . . . . . . and I will have my revenge in this life or the next.” That is what he was about. That was his motivation. That was his Destiny. The question becomes, what was the Destiny of the Estacada Volleyball Team? What were they about?
Here is what they wrote and then signed off on during a Creed signing ceremony. They made copies of it for their lockers, laminated wallet sized ones for their purse, and posted a large one in the locker room for everyone to see before they went out for practice or a game. They took it to all their matches. In fact, the last thing they would do before leaving the locker room for the court, they would “Read the Creed” and then go compete.
We want something we’ve never had, so we’re prepared to do something we’ve never done. We will reach success by our hard work and determination. No fear, no laziness, no excuses. I will not give up; I will get up, and make a difference. Circumstances during the day won’t effect how I play. I will stay loyal to my team, no matter what the cost, no matter what the temptation. We are a team we will work together as one to reach our absolute full potential. We will remember always that together we achieve more. We accomplish more when we don’t care who gets the credit. We will play to win, not to not lose. Even when our bodies are physically tired we’ve got heart and our hearts will never get tired. We are a family with an amazing bond, under no circumstances or stressors will our bond be broken. We are sisters of the game!
Since they had a lot of players, good players, back from a second place team, they started the year ranked #1 and kept that ranking for 2/3 of the year going undefeated. Then they went to a tourney on the coast and lost one match in tournament play. People searched for what was going wrong. The girls are stale, listless, they’re tired. It must be the lifting early in the day, trying to keep up with their studies, school activities, not enough sleep – we have to cut out that lifting.
The coach emailed me that it has to stop. I said you’re the coach. It’s your team. If that is the decision, so be it.
The girls, however, had to be heard from. Upon getting the news, the team got together, went to the coach and said it was not the lifting at the early hour. Furthermore, they would continue to come in early and lift. “Because it there’s more going on there than just lifting.” It’s a bonding experience fostering teamwork. And it was part of their preparation – their Creed.
What happened? Below is a picture I took late in the season, the moment the girls beat the arch rivals for first place seeding and a rare Conference Championship that was usually lost to that rival.
The girls went to state still ranked #1 and won it all.
Often, the biggest obstacle we have to get over is the self. We often get in our own way and do things that hold us back – like not setting the goal – and keeping our eyes single to the glory of the Championship Dream. The major reason for failure in life is giving up what we want most for what we want at the moment. The Goal. The Creed. They help us maintain our focus and give us the strength, the motivation to surmount the obstacles, to jump over the hurdles that are there to test our mettle.
EndNote: The team they beat that year, a young team, went on a mission of their own and vowed to come back and win. Our Coach saw great talent graduated but got a younger group ready who stormed back to the state finals, but fell short to that other team on a mission. BUT the team got it all together, practiced up, many continued lifting after the example set by “The Sisters of the Game” and came back to win it again the following year. State Champions two our of three years after finishing second all those years.
Goal setting is the single most important force in human motivation. You can do great things when you have a Goal, a Plan, and a Purpose.
In All that You Do, Be An 11!
Goal setting is the single most important force in human motivation. You can do great things when you have a Goal, a Plan, and a Purpose.
In All that You Do, Be An 11!
CoachFree
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
RANGER FREEZE OPTION
OK: Here we are at the RANGER FREEZE Option part of the EQualizer Offense.
A little bit of history here: We really like the Blast 34 play on short yardage. It is THE BEST SHORT YARDAGE PLAY in football. For those people who have trouble with getting the first down, or scoring inside the 5 yard line, take note of this play previous discussed on this BLOG. For 20 years people knew that we were going to run the play. We had coaches even call time out, go out on the field and tell their defense what we were going to run, and where, and as one of my assistant coaches, Jeff Campbell, would say . . . “It just doesn’t matter.” This play produced more first downs, and then if you get more first downs . . . the goal line eventually gets in your way and you score, therefore, this play produced more TDs than any other play in the offense. And that covers a football coaching career that dates back to the Gibsonburg Golden Bears running what was then called 36 Drive in 1958. FUNdaMENTAL Football does not change.
So! We wanted something more to run out of the Power Formation (the formation that we run Blast 34 from) back to the weakside. And while attending a coaching clinic, one of those college coaches, for a ‘change up’ for him, put up our unbalanced power formation and talked about the midline out of it. And the rest, as they say, is history.
(You may view cut-ups at www.maxcast.coom/EQualizer and read details about the plays at www.jvm.com/coachfree.)
As you know, we are a fullback oriented offense. In Fact, as I have studied things over the years about what we were doing, I came to the realization that the base play, Dive 34, along with the other progressions already discussed, is really an “OFFSET MIDLINE” scheme which made introducing the RANGER FREEZE scheme easier.
Now referring to “Simple Complexity” previously posted. The power formation looks like this:
This is a Goal Line/Short Yardage ‘Power’ Formation . . . which you would think requires a Goal Line Defense. When you view the “Best Short Yardage Play” at www.maxcast.com/EQualizer, you’ll see that the defense has all 11 guys up on the LOS and, “It just doesn’t matter.” We scored 3 or 4 TDs in that game just on Dive 34 alone which was half our point total for the evening.
The base rules for blocking the Freeze for us are therefore:
Front Side Guard: block A Gap to LB'er
Center: Power scoop with the Back Side Guard blocking first down lineman to back side LB'er.
Back Side Guard: Power scoop with the Center.
IOT and OOT: Block first man to your outside on or off the ball.
Fullback: Mesh with the QB running straight ahead and bend to daylight, accelerate, score.
QB: Mesh with FB reading the man over the guard or in the B gap. Use veer rules for give or keep. If keep, move to the B-C gap, accelerate through the LOS into the outside running lane. If B-C gap is closed, pitch.
SE: Drive off he ball to level 3 and block defender there.
Flanker: Position yourself for pitch. Maintain good pitch relationship with the QB.
TE: Block B Gap to LB'er.
Now, a more wide open formation is Doubles Wide which looks like this:
This being a more wide open formation, requires a different defense giving their DC more of a challenge. BUT the beauty of the RANGER FREEZE, is that the blocking rules are still the same, IN BOTH FORMATIONS! The guards and tackles still block out, the WB still has LB’er or Pitch; the TB still has LB’er or Pitch; the QBs steps are the same, the FB runs the same path; ETC. Simple for us to execute; Hard for them to defend.
Isn’t that GREAT?
More on all this next time.
Be 11!
RF
A little bit of history here: We really like the Blast 34 play on short yardage. It is THE BEST SHORT YARDAGE PLAY in football. For those people who have trouble with getting the first down, or scoring inside the 5 yard line, take note of this play previous discussed on this BLOG. For 20 years people knew that we were going to run the play. We had coaches even call time out, go out on the field and tell their defense what we were going to run, and where, and as one of my assistant coaches, Jeff Campbell, would say . . . “It just doesn’t matter.” This play produced more first downs, and then if you get more first downs . . . the goal line eventually gets in your way and you score, therefore, this play produced more TDs than any other play in the offense. And that covers a football coaching career that dates back to the Gibsonburg Golden Bears running what was then called 36 Drive in 1958. FUNdaMENTAL Football does not change.
So! We wanted something more to run out of the Power Formation (the formation that we run Blast 34 from) back to the weakside. And while attending a coaching clinic, one of those college coaches, for a ‘change up’ for him, put up our unbalanced power formation and talked about the midline out of it. And the rest, as they say, is history.
(You may view cut-ups at www.maxcast.coom/EQualizer and read details about the plays at www.jvm.com/coachfree.)
As you know, we are a fullback oriented offense. In Fact, as I have studied things over the years about what we were doing, I came to the realization that the base play, Dive 34, along with the other progressions already discussed, is really an “OFFSET MIDLINE” scheme which made introducing the RANGER FREEZE scheme easier.
Now referring to “Simple Complexity” previously posted. The power formation looks like this:
This is a Goal Line/Short Yardage ‘Power’ Formation . . . which you would think requires a Goal Line Defense. When you view the “Best Short Yardage Play” at www.maxcast.com/EQualizer, you’ll see that the defense has all 11 guys up on the LOS and, “It just doesn’t matter.” We scored 3 or 4 TDs in that game just on Dive 34 alone which was half our point total for the evening.The base rules for blocking the Freeze for us are therefore:
Front Side Guard: block A Gap to LB'er
Center: Power scoop with the Back Side Guard blocking first down lineman to back side LB'er.
Back Side Guard: Power scoop with the Center.
IOT and OOT: Block first man to your outside on or off the ball.
Fullback: Mesh with the QB running straight ahead and bend to daylight, accelerate, score.
QB: Mesh with FB reading the man over the guard or in the B gap. Use veer rules for give or keep. If keep, move to the B-C gap, accelerate through the LOS into the outside running lane. If B-C gap is closed, pitch.
SE: Drive off he ball to level 3 and block defender there.
Flanker: Position yourself for pitch. Maintain good pitch relationship with the QB.
TE: Block B Gap to LB'er.
Now, a more wide open formation is Doubles Wide which looks like this:
This being a more wide open formation, requires a different defense giving their DC more of a challenge. BUT the beauty of the RANGER FREEZE, is that the blocking rules are still the same, IN BOTH FORMATIONS! The guards and tackles still block out, the WB still has LB’er or Pitch; the TB still has LB’er or Pitch; the QBs steps are the same, the FB runs the same path; ETC. Simple for us to execute; Hard for them to defend.Isn’t that GREAT?
More on all this next time.
Be 11!
RF
BFS
BFS does not have a BLOG at present. We used to have a message board, but that was discontinued . . . for reasons we will not get into.
So, let's do this. If you have questions that relate to BFS, you can post them up here and I will do my best to answer. If I do not have the answer, I will find who does and post it up in return.
For Example: I got this from one of our BFS coaches yesterday:
Is it ok to mix up the days that I do the cores? For example, I want to do a leg day and then an upper body day instead of a little of both each day. . . . or should I stay doing the cores on the regular schedule that BFS recommends?
Before I post up my answer, What do you think?
In addition, we have really good news from BFS. Starting in JAN, we will be launching the 3rd and final part (part one is the Practical Clinic; part two is successful completion of the BFS Certification Test [which also goes online in JAN]) of BFS Certification, our BFS Online Learning Center. We have been working on this for close to three years and are very excited about the Launch. So starting in JAN a BFS Certified Coach will have access to the center which means that coach will have access to all BFS instructional powerpoints, videos and an ever increasing amount of safety and liability updates and information as it becomes available.
Now That is exciting!
I will be doing a Certification Clinic this weekend in Oregon and will be test driving things along with coaches in KY who were certified last week, and coaches in MT who will be certified coming up in DEC.
You can keep track of BFS Clinics on the calendar: http://www.bfsonline.com/home/home.asp
the calendar link is on the left.
RF
So, let's do this. If you have questions that relate to BFS, you can post them up here and I will do my best to answer. If I do not have the answer, I will find who does and post it up in return.
For Example: I got this from one of our BFS coaches yesterday:
Is it ok to mix up the days that I do the cores? For example, I want to do a leg day and then an upper body day instead of a little of both each day. . . . or should I stay doing the cores on the regular schedule that BFS recommends?
Before I post up my answer, What do you think?
In addition, we have really good news from BFS. Starting in JAN, we will be launching the 3rd and final part (part one is the Practical Clinic; part two is successful completion of the BFS Certification Test [which also goes online in JAN]) of BFS Certification, our BFS Online Learning Center. We have been working on this for close to three years and are very excited about the Launch. So starting in JAN a BFS Certified Coach will have access to the center which means that coach will have access to all BFS instructional powerpoints, videos and an ever increasing amount of safety and liability updates and information as it becomes available.
Now That is exciting!
I will be doing a Certification Clinic this weekend in Oregon and will be test driving things along with coaches in KY who were certified last week, and coaches in MT who will be certified coming up in DEC.
You can keep track of BFS Clinics on the calendar: http://www.bfsonline.com/home/home.asp
the calendar link is on the left.
RF
Got this in the mail yesterday . . . Congrats to this coach and staff on a great job!
Perhaps it would have been even better if they would have asked about defending the Double Wing - we have never lost to a DW team and people have used it to get by them to the next level.
We have a posts on that: http://footballfaxuals.blogspot.com/2008/10/re-stop-double-wing.html Another DW Stopper!
I just wanted to drop you a line and thank you for your offense. We knew we had some decent players coming up through our system at Mt. Union High School in southcentral Pa.. The HC liked the idea of running the unbalanced, so he gave me permission to run the system.
We were outrushed in our first game only because we had 60% of out skill players win two state titles in baseball right up to the first day of practice. We couldn't get them to come in during July or August to learn the system and therefore we were about three weeks behind schedule.
But from that point forward, we literally ran teams into the ground. The offense averaged over 300 yards per game for the season and we had a couple games over 400. Everyone just loved what we were doing and the opposing coaches wanted to know what was the system we implimented. We never told anyone.
We lost our 2nd round playoff game to the second seed. We were victim # 19 out of the last 20. They ran the Double Wing and pretty much shut us down.
Again thanks for the website! It turned a 3-7 team into a 7-3 winning team. Hopefully next year we will be better prepared to start the season.
Perhaps it would have been even better if they would have asked about defending the Double Wing - we have never lost to a DW team and people have used it to get by them to the next level.
We have a posts on that: http://footballfaxuals.blogspot.com/2008/10/re-stop-double-wing.html Another DW Stopper!
There are others if you look through previous posts.
Coach,I just wanted to drop you a line and thank you for your offense. We knew we had some decent players coming up through our system at Mt. Union High School in southcentral Pa.. The HC liked the idea of running the unbalanced, so he gave me permission to run the system.
We were outrushed in our first game only because we had 60% of out skill players win two state titles in baseball right up to the first day of practice. We couldn't get them to come in during July or August to learn the system and therefore we were about three weeks behind schedule.
But from that point forward, we literally ran teams into the ground. The offense averaged over 300 yards per game for the season and we had a couple games over 400. Everyone just loved what we were doing and the opposing coaches wanted to know what was the system we implimented. We never told anyone.
We lost our 2nd round playoff game to the second seed. We were victim # 19 out of the last 20. They ran the Double Wing and pretty much shut us down.
Again thanks for the website! It turned a 3-7 team into a 7-3 winning team. Hopefully next year we will be better prepared to start the season.
Monday, November 10, 2008
EQ in the Pros!
Did you see the EQ formation on TV tonight early in the first half? SF lined up right, but they blocked it wrong. Coach MM would have problems with blocking schemes . . . not used to that.
RF
RF
EQuote of the Day: 11.11.08
-Thank a Vet today-
It is absurd to believe that soldiers
It is absurd to believe that soldiers
who cannot be made to wear the proper uniform
can be induced to move forward in battle.
can be induced to move forward in battle.
Officers who fail to perform their duty
by correcting small violations
by correcting small violations
and in enforcing proper conduct
are incapable of leading.
General George S. Patton Jr
General George S. Patton Jr
Question of the Day?
Could the same be said for Coaches?
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Midline Freeze
The next coaching clinic post will begin a series on the Ranger Midline Freeze Option. When we added this series in, offensive production went up a bunch - like double up. That's pretty good considering we had a good thing going already.
When I talk at the coaching clinics (not so much any more - invites to speak went way down when I went to work for BFS), I would talk about "Simple Complexity." The Freeze blocking assignments were the same whether we were in the Power Set or in Doubles Wide or Trips. See the online playbook at www.jvm.com/coachfree.
While our offense would execute the same blocking rules for the Freeze, the defense had to defend on one play a goal line offensive set and perhaps on the next play, have to defend a wide open spread set.
In addition, we also married the Freeze play action with our Quick Pass Offense which had greatly elevated our passing efficiency.
We are BIG on the FREEZE. You will like it.
Be11!
RF
When I talk at the coaching clinics (not so much any more - invites to speak went way down when I went to work for BFS), I would talk about "Simple Complexity." The Freeze blocking assignments were the same whether we were in the Power Set or in Doubles Wide or Trips. See the online playbook at www.jvm.com/coachfree.
While our offense would execute the same blocking rules for the Freeze, the defense had to defend on one play a goal line offensive set and perhaps on the next play, have to defend a wide open spread set.
In addition, we also married the Freeze play action with our Quick Pass Offense which had greatly elevated our passing efficiency.
We are BIG on the FREEZE. You will like it.
Be11!
RF
Saturday, November 8, 2008
What If?
Many of you know that BFS partnered with NSE Enterprises on our Nutritional Program because they have the number one selling vitamin and mineral supplement worldwide. It is the same regime that is in place at the Olympic Training center in Colorado Springs for the past four Olympics. In addition, they have a Biophotonic Scanner that can measure, non-invasively, the level of antioxidants in your body.
For athletes, higher antioxidant levels enables players to perform at a higher level longer and recover from workouts sooner. Would that not give you an advantage? We like to think that if we are doing what we nutritionally should on our side of the line of scrimmage and our opponents are trying to play the game of their lives on Doritos and Mountain Dew, we have the BFS Nutritional Edge . . . especially at the end of the second and fourth quarters.
In fact, clinical studies report that trained athletes have higher VO2 maxes with NSE Nutritionals. Would being able to process oxygen 10%+ better than the opponent be an advantage?
Anyway, For years NuSkin has made lots of money in the skin care industry and they have just introduced a new regime that trumps anything anyone else has with their ageLoc technology. It is truly remarkable.
The deal is that NSE is the Gold Standard of the MLM industry and they pay very well. We have built a BFS team with the Nutritionals. We have people in the group that are making $5K+ a month now that will double that number with these new products.
The point is that their patented Galvanic Spa with ageloc technology is the next curling iron - the next thing to show up on bathroom counters across America. The rollout has begun. The units are flying off the shelves. Company execs figure they will pay our $1.2M in commisions and bonuses on three day sales at the North American Convention two weeks ago.
I put this here because there's going to be lots of money made with this rollout. And I know how lots of coaching families could use some extra income. Would another $5K help the family budget next month? The system sells itself. Perform a half face facial, have them look in the mirror - they have to have one. It takes 10 years off their face in 10 minutes, and with ageLoc technology, they have discovered a way to halt the aging process.
Jacquie and I just got back from my 45 Reunion and Homecoming . . . she looked 20 years younger than any woman there. This really works. This picture is of a woman who has been involved in the trials for ageLoc. Click on the pic to see it full size:
The program is in place. There will be hundreds of millions of dollars paid out over the next 3 years. I want some of that. You can get some too.
For athletes, higher antioxidant levels enables players to perform at a higher level longer and recover from workouts sooner. Would that not give you an advantage? We like to think that if we are doing what we nutritionally should on our side of the line of scrimmage and our opponents are trying to play the game of their lives on Doritos and Mountain Dew, we have the BFS Nutritional Edge . . . especially at the end of the second and fourth quarters.
In fact, clinical studies report that trained athletes have higher VO2 maxes with NSE Nutritionals. Would being able to process oxygen 10%+ better than the opponent be an advantage?
Anyway, For years NuSkin has made lots of money in the skin care industry and they have just introduced a new regime that trumps anything anyone else has with their ageLoc technology. It is truly remarkable.
The deal is that NSE is the Gold Standard of the MLM industry and they pay very well. We have built a BFS team with the Nutritionals. We have people in the group that are making $5K+ a month now that will double that number with these new products.
The point is that their patented Galvanic Spa with ageloc technology is the next curling iron - the next thing to show up on bathroom counters across America. The rollout has begun. The units are flying off the shelves. Company execs figure they will pay our $1.2M in commisions and bonuses on three day sales at the North American Convention two weeks ago.
I put this here because there's going to be lots of money made with this rollout. And I know how lots of coaching families could use some extra income. Would another $5K help the family budget next month? The system sells itself. Perform a half face facial, have them look in the mirror - they have to have one. It takes 10 years off their face in 10 minutes, and with ageLoc technology, they have discovered a way to halt the aging process.
Jacquie and I just got back from my 45 Reunion and Homecoming . . . she looked 20 years younger than any woman there. This really works. This picture is of a woman who has been involved in the trials for ageLoc. Click on the pic to see it full size:
The program is in place. There will be hundreds of millions of dollars paid out over the next 3 years. I want some of that. You can get some too.They have a $50K BIZ in a Box program that comes with a 90% guarantee and we will train you and your spouse into the business. Our group went from nowhere to the highest level of compensation they offer in 14 months. The best thing about the business is that once your organization is built (usually over 3-5 years) the money keeps on coming in because it is residual. Those people, wanting to Loc their Look in, will keep on purchasing those Gels year after year.
Watch the video, go to the website, study the company, give me a call to get started. We have a plan in place where everyone can get started with little or no out of pocket expenses that sets the NSE Ruby Plan in motion with can produce $5K+ income in less than two months. You have the ability to make as much money here as you want. Literally. Every month they have a training session where people who have made millions doing this provide training for anyone who wants to join up - and the training is free!
I could go on, but you can get the picture by now:
If this video does not play for you - go to http://agelocfree.blogspot.com/ it will play there . . . do not know what the problem is, trying to fix it.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Good Day America; It's Friday! Game Day!! Friday is my Favorite Day!!!
We are at the airport on our way back to OR from Northern Idaho where we made a pitch to satisfy the folks at NBC Camps. They are in need of a strength component for their camps since basketball programs, especially at the college level are now lifting.
Things were awesome and I think you can look for us to have a role there in the future.
Playoffs begin in Oregon tonight. The RANGERS have a bye for the first round - I think they should let more in and have everyone play . . . but.
My son's team will be playing an undefeated team tonight who has had an easier schedule. We will see if playing all those tougher teams has granted enough experience to make up the difference.
Good Luck with your games this weekend and keep your teams in the playoff hunt.
Keep you eyes focused on the glory of the Championship Dream.
Be 11!
RF
We are at the airport on our way back to OR from Northern Idaho where we made a pitch to satisfy the folks at NBC Camps. They are in need of a strength component for their camps since basketball programs, especially at the college level are now lifting.
Things were awesome and I think you can look for us to have a role there in the future.
Playoffs begin in Oregon tonight. The RANGERS have a bye for the first round - I think they should let more in and have everyone play . . . but.
My son's team will be playing an undefeated team tonight who has had an easier schedule. We will see if playing all those tougher teams has granted enough experience to make up the difference.
Good Luck with your games this weekend and keep your teams in the playoff hunt.
Keep you eyes focused on the glory of the Championship Dream.
Be 11!
RF
WHAT???
I got this email in response to the post on the head shaving article I posted:
Since the tragedy at Columbine, high school administrators have been forced to adopt a “zero tolerance” policy towards harassment. This is the law. Promoting head shaving among a football team, regardless of the cause, can be considered a form of harassment. I say this because it’s likely that an athlete who decides not to shave their head will be treated differently in some manner – and all it takes is one angry parent to bring this matter to court. As such, administrators and coaches cannot endorse head shaving as they could risk losing their jobs and costing the school financial hardship with legal expenses because, again, zero tolerance is the law.
Further, consider that after a head shaving occurs, all the players for safety reasons must have their helmets refitted. If a football player suffers a serious head injury after having their head shaved, especially if there is no documentation that a refitting was performed, this could be the deciding factor in a lawsuit. There are many great ways to show support of a cause but, from a legal standpoint, supporting a cause with head shaving is not worth the risks.
Before I post up my response . . . what do YOU have to say?
Be11!
RF
Since the tragedy at Columbine, high school administrators have been forced to adopt a “zero tolerance” policy towards harassment. This is the law. Promoting head shaving among a football team, regardless of the cause, can be considered a form of harassment. I say this because it’s likely that an athlete who decides not to shave their head will be treated differently in some manner – and all it takes is one angry parent to bring this matter to court. As such, administrators and coaches cannot endorse head shaving as they could risk losing their jobs and costing the school financial hardship with legal expenses because, again, zero tolerance is the law.
Further, consider that after a head shaving occurs, all the players for safety reasons must have their helmets refitted. If a football player suffers a serious head injury after having their head shaved, especially if there is no documentation that a refitting was performed, this could be the deciding factor in a lawsuit. There are many great ways to show support of a cause but, from a legal standpoint, supporting a cause with head shaving is not worth the risks.
Before I post up my response . . . what do YOU have to say?
Be11!
RF
Re: EQuote of the Day: 11.07.08
I got the following email from Coach Carter in NJ who sometimes writes out his thoughts for the quote of the day as it is intended to for the athletes . . . and shares his thoughts back with me. We have had some interactions.
Thought I would share with you his thoughts and my reply for today:
Thought I would share with you his thoughts and my reply for today:
Re: EQuote of the Day: 11.07.08
The policy of being too cautious is the greatest risk of all.
Jawaharlal Nehru
Question of the Day?
Does your team play to Win, or not to lose?
As Ad I watch a lot of games for a lot of sports. I see very few athletes willing to take the risk of going all out to win. So many play not to lose. It's unfortunate that losing is looked upon as negative. Many lessons can be learned from giving it one's all and failing.
Right you are!
My three sons, when learning how to walk, would go around with this BIG bruise in the middle of their forehead, their brains knew where they wanted to go, but the body could not keep up. They would crash and they did not know enough to put out their hands to break the fall.
BUT THEY KEPT AT IT TILL THEY GOT BETTER! They learned from their mistakes and eventually the bruising of losing went away. They actually became skilled at getting from here to there and back again.
Just think how many things we all have learned, even became skilled at, that first resulted in failure.
But we got back up on the horse and eventually became a skilled rider.
If I would have quit with my failure with Gail (the crush I had on her was brutal) who answered, "Me!? Got out with You? HA!!!!" DEVASTATING.
But I eventually learned from it . . . and the bruising went away. And I became just skilled enough to somehow stumble through things to marry the girl of my dreams.
This is a story I sometimes tell at our Be An 11 Seminars.
It brings down the house.
Be11!
RF
The policy of being too cautious is the greatest risk of all.
Jawaharlal Nehru
Question of the Day?
Does your team play to Win, or not to lose?
As Ad I watch a lot of games for a lot of sports. I see very few athletes willing to take the risk of going all out to win. So many play not to lose. It's unfortunate that losing is looked upon as negative. Many lessons can be learned from giving it one's all and failing.
Right you are!
My three sons, when learning how to walk, would go around with this BIG bruise in the middle of their forehead, their brains knew where they wanted to go, but the body could not keep up. They would crash and they did not know enough to put out their hands to break the fall.
BUT THEY KEPT AT IT TILL THEY GOT BETTER! They learned from their mistakes and eventually the bruising of losing went away. They actually became skilled at getting from here to there and back again.
Just think how many things we all have learned, even became skilled at, that first resulted in failure.
But we got back up on the horse and eventually became a skilled rider.
If I would have quit with my failure with Gail (the crush I had on her was brutal) who answered, "Me!? Got out with You? HA!!!!" DEVASTATING.
But I eventually learned from it . . . and the bruising went away. And I became just skilled enough to somehow stumble through things to marry the girl of my dreams.
This is a story I sometimes tell at our Be An 11 Seminars.
It brings down the house.
Be11!
RF
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
When your players are feeling sorry for themselves have them read this . . .
Tulsa teammates inspired by Holloway's battle with cancer
By Pat Forde, ESPN.com
Tulsa teammates inspired by Holloway's battle with cancer
By Pat Forde, ESPN.com
The single best moment of this college football season slipped by almost entirely unnoticed. It was a throwaway Tulsa touchdown against Central Florida on Sunday, Oct. 26. Courtney Tennial's 2-yard run with 1 minute and 45 seconds left was the final score in a 49-19 Golden Hurricane rout, a play unremarkable to the vast majority of the nation.
Wilson Holloway has inspired his teammates to shave their heads to "celebrate his toughness."It was quite remarkable to the Tulsa left tackle who laid a block on the play. "When we scored," Holloway said, "that was a big smile."
Beneath the redshirt freshman's shoulder pads, a small circular pad covered the chemotherapy port on his upper chest, not far from his immense heart. That's where doctors have been pouring poison into his body in an effort to kill the cancer that was discovered this past spring, went away in the summer and has now returned.
Too many needle sticks from the summer-long rounds of chemo already had collapsed the veins in Holloway's forearms. Sometime after the Hodgkin's lymphoma was discovered a second time, doctors installed the port in Holloway's chest. The second round of chemo would be rougher.
But the intense nausea and fatigue that accompany the cancer-fighting toxins wouldn't keep him out of uniform against UCF. Missing two weeks of practice before that game wouldn't keep him out of uniform. An uncertain future certainly wouldn't keep him out of uniform.
Nothing would.
When Holloway feels up to it, he's in uniform and practices with his teammates. When he doesn't, he still attends practice and class. Nothing has been able to prevent him from enjoying the company of his teammates and the joys of college life.
"His spirit and faith are just amazing," Tulsa offensive line coach Herb Hand said. "He's been an inspiration to us."
Now, in an effort to return the inspirational favor, the Golden Hurricane offensive line gathered on Tuesday at 8 p.m. Central time to shave their heads and, in Hand's words, "to celebrate his toughness." From Hand to his graduate assistant, student assistant and every lineman on the roster, they're going bald. Even star quarterback David Johnson is an honorary offensive lineman and had his head shaved, too.
The Hurricane players will match Holloway's hairless dome -- even if they know they'll never match his strength and courage.
That news came out during a recent postpractice prayer among the linemen. Holloway was there, bare head bowed, eyes closed, when he heard, "Pray for our health and our hair. There's going to be a lot of ugly linemen."
Beneath the redshirt freshman's shoulder pads, a small circular pad covered the chemotherapy port on his upper chest, not far from his immense heart. That's where doctors have been pouring poison into his body in an effort to kill the cancer that was discovered this past spring, went away in the summer and has now returned.
Too many needle sticks from the summer-long rounds of chemo already had collapsed the veins in Holloway's forearms. Sometime after the Hodgkin's lymphoma was discovered a second time, doctors installed the port in Holloway's chest. The second round of chemo would be rougher.
But the intense nausea and fatigue that accompany the cancer-fighting toxins wouldn't keep him out of uniform against UCF. Missing two weeks of practice before that game wouldn't keep him out of uniform. An uncertain future certainly wouldn't keep him out of uniform.
Nothing would.
When Holloway feels up to it, he's in uniform and practices with his teammates. When he doesn't, he still attends practice and class. Nothing has been able to prevent him from enjoying the company of his teammates and the joys of college life.
"His spirit and faith are just amazing," Tulsa offensive line coach Herb Hand said. "He's been an inspiration to us."
Now, in an effort to return the inspirational favor, the Golden Hurricane offensive line gathered on Tuesday at 8 p.m. Central time to shave their heads and, in Hand's words, "to celebrate his toughness." From Hand to his graduate assistant, student assistant and every lineman on the roster, they're going bald. Even star quarterback David Johnson is an honorary offensive lineman and had his head shaved, too.
The Hurricane players will match Holloway's hairless dome -- even if they know they'll never match his strength and courage.
That news came out during a recent postpractice prayer among the linemen. Holloway was there, bare head bowed, eyes closed, when he heard, "Pray for our health and our hair. There's going to be a lot of ugly linemen."
Co-offensive coordinator Herb Hand (left) is shaving Tyler Holmes' hair, while Holloway and others watch.
Said Holloway: "I was grinning during that line."
That's the thing with this kid. No matter how his body has betrayed him, they say the grin never leaves his face.
During conditioning this past winter, Holloway was lagging behind and feeling sluggish.
That was puzzling to Hand and the other Tulsa staffers because the redshirt from Oklahoma Christian High School in Edmond had arrived with the kind of attitude that coaches dream about. He was 6 feet, 6 inches and 255 pounds' worth of yes-sir and no-sir and consistent effort from a football family -- older brother Trey was the starting center at Vanderbilt during the Jay Cutler era.
Finally, Holloway told them one day that he was having trouble catching his breath. A subsequent evaluation discovered a softball-sized mass in the middle of his chest. A tumor.
When Hand called the player's parents, Willis and Penelope, to discuss the news, he had a harder time than they did.
"I'm just a mess," Hand recalled. "I was thinking, 'Would I have the strength his parents have? Would I have that much faith?' I hope my son would have the same unbelievable spirit Wilson has."
Holloway began a six-month chemotherapy regimen that alternated off and on in two-week cycles. The doctors said he could work out with the team when he felt up to it, so he did. Holloway's mom even named the enemy: Timmy the Tumor.
"We're going to kill Timmy," she said.
On Aug. 22, Holloway had his last round of chemo. The tumor had been killed. On Aug. 30, he played in Tulsa's season-opening rout of UAB.
Holloway also played in each of Tulsa's first five games as a backup tackle. During a follow-up examination before the Hurricane's Oct. 11 game against SMU, doctors detected a swollen lymph node and did a biopsy. The cancer had returned.
The results initially were relayed by phone to Tulsa trainer Dave Polanski. He shared them with Hand, and the two of them took Holloway into an office after practice to break the news.
"That was a tough thing," Hand said.
Holloway's response: "OK. I'm going to beat it."
I try not to let people know I'm tired. I don't like for people to be down. I'm upbeat and smiling all the time.
-- Tulsa's Wilson Holloway
The next day, Holloway learned that he'd been nominated for the 2008 FedEx Orange Bowl/Football Writers Association of America Courage Award, which is given annually to an inspirational player or coach in college football. Naturally, he told his mom that having to beat cancer a second time would only increase his chances of winning the thing.
"He's never complained about it," Hand said. "He comes from a family of great faith, and they're believing God will heal him."
Holloway's new chemo regimen is three days in a row, then three weeks off, then five days in a row. Holloway will spend up to eight hours at a time getting treatment, but he'll also show up at practice that same afternoon.
"I try not to let people know I'm tired," Holloway said. "I don't like for people to be down. I'm upbeat and smiling all the time."
He also has found a kindred spirit in special-teams coordinator Bill Blankenship, who overcame Hodgkin's during his youth.
"He's been through the same thing," Holloway said. "He's sat in the [chemo] chair.
"I don't take things for granted anymore. Just being able to practice. There's days I wish I could go out and do the drills everyone hates to do."
Even though Holloway hadn't practiced for a couple of weeks, doctors did clear him to dress for the UCF game, a nationally broadcast contest on ESPN. When the Hurricane got the ball back late with a commanding lead, Hand phoned down from the press box to his backup left tackle.
"Do you want to go in?" Hand asked.
"You know I do," Holloway responded.
Tulsa called three running plays, culminating with Tennial's touchdown. Best moment of the year in college football.
"I've learned to stick things out, to keep facing the grind," Holloway said. "There's light on the other side."
Pat Forde is a senior writer for ESPN.com. He can be reached at ESPN4D@aol.com.
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