Coach ,

Congratulations to SUNY Cortland and Head Coach Curt Fitzpatrick on their 2023 D3 National Championship. Cortland won in a thriller over defending National Champion North Central 38-37 this past Friday.

We were fortunate to have Coach Fitzpatrick speak at the 2023 Lauren’s First and Goal Clinic. At which he gave an overview of their offense then went into detail about their vertical passing game. Coach Fitzpatrick also joined me to discuss evolving an offense on Coach and Coordinator at the NYSHSFCA Clinic.

Being Multiple, Adaptable, Adjustable

At SUNY Cortland, the offensive philosophy revolves around the concept of being multiple, which means the team aims to excel in more than one style of play. This approach allows the team to be versatile, adjusting its offensive strategy based on the specific demands of each game.

The importance of adaptability and adjustability in offense cannot be overstated. The ability to alter offensive strategies based on changing circumstances, such as player roster changes, weather conditions, or opponent tactics, is crucial for sustained success. Cortland's offensive philosophy emphasizes creating a system and terminology that can seamlessly adapt from year to year. 

This ensures that the offense can evolve and look different each season while maintaining its effectiveness. Furthermore, the adaptability and adjustability of the offensive structure, communication, and play calls are essential for putting players in the best position to succeed, especially during times of stress or crisis like a starter going down..

The vertical passing game is an integral part of Cortland's offensive philosophy. Stressing the defense both horizontally and vertically is a key objective of the team's offensive strategy. By making the defense defend sideline to sideline and utilizing speed at the wide receiver position, Cortland aims to attack vertically when the opportunity arises. 

The team's commitment to stressing the defense in multiple dimensions is evident in its approach to offensive plays, utilizing throw options in the running game and creating schemes that force the defense to defend both the box and the perimeter simultaneously.

In the context of the passing game, Cortland's offensive philosophy emphasizes letting the defense decide where the ball goes. This approach requires the offense to react to the defensive coverage and rotation, allowing the quarterback to target receivers based on the defense's positioning. 

By avoiding the reliance on a single favorite receiver and instead letting the defense dictate the passing targets, Cortland aims to maintain a balanced and versatile passing attack. This adaptive approach aligns with the team's overall offensive philosophy of being multiple and adaptable, ensuring that the offense can exploit defensive weaknesses effectively.

Coach Fitzpatrick details their philosophy in this video:

Video: Offensive Overview

Three Verticals Passing 

For the Red Dragons, three verticals is a big part of their attack. Three verticals is a call in which they lock the outside receivers in a go rout and the H(slot) runs the middle read and the Y runs a shallow cross. The RB is told to protect and release away from the cross. The route builds a triangle for the QB to read. Head Coach Curt Fitzpatrick explains it here:

Video: 3 Verticals

It’s been interesting to watch how D3 continues to evolve, especially at the top. This is the first time in a long time that we didnt see purple in that game. Mount Union, Wisconsin-White Water, and Mary Hardin Baylor, who all wear purple, have been at least one of the competitors in the Stagg Bowl since 1999 when Pacific Lutheran defeated Rowan. 

Congratulations to Coach Fitzpatrick and the Red Dragons again on an historic season.

Always be growing!

Coach Grabowski