Coach ,

1) Have a plan for and practice 4-minute offense. It can win you a game!

This is one I am resharing an idea from an email I sent in August. I am seeing far too many games being lost because 4-minute isn't executed.

The defense is taking risks for a big reward in this situation, and we need to put ball security at a premium.

How is that done? I believe there are a couple of key components that apply to any offense:

• Your best runs behind your best linemen
• Protect the edges
• Safest passes if necessary

Making them call time-outs can be valuable, and in many cases running the ball makes them do that.

Obviously, first downs win the game.

The biggest aspect is to limit risk while using the clock.

That’s a staff discussion and once it is set it is a meeting and a walk through and team reps to cover this and get everyone on the same page.

I explain my approach to 4-Minute here (click on image for video):

Video: 4 Minute Offense

Don’t forget “No Mas” or if you break into the open don’t score if running out the clock ensures the win because they do not get to possess the ball again.

2) Use Motion to get your best receiver a clean release

Defenses certainly want to find a way to disrupt timing, especially if that mean the ball gets checked down and not to your top receiver.

A strategy that works is to utilize motion. Eric Marty, offensive coordinator for the USFL Michigan Panthers likes to put stress on defense PRE-SNAP. His belief is that motions create two formations on the same play

Coach Marty creates STRESS POINTS for the defense and makes the pass game better. 

Here Coach breaks down his return motion can help free up your dynamic route runner (click on image for video):

Video: Breaking Down Motions

3) Get Tricky

He’s known for his explosive offense, and he’s not shy about using trick plays. Coach Rick Darlington put this play into his arsenal after seeing Gus Malzahn run it while he was at Arkansas, thus the name. Again, sweep action gets the defense moving and both the player aligned at QB and the TE on the crossing route are wide open.  

Coach loves this play against defenses that play man coverage.

Video: Razorback

Hopefully as this email reaches you, you are still playing. If not, it’s time to learn and grow and some of these ideas can certainly be incorporated into what you do.

Always be growing!

Coach Grabowski