Offense Adjustments Week 1 - Tempo, Misdirection, QB Presence
Aug 23, 2022 3:36 pm
Coach ,
Early season we want to be sure we take advantage of all we have available. Bill Walsh pointed it the importance of that in this quote:
“Here’s a good question to write on a post-it note and put on your desk: “What assets do we have right now that we’re not taking advantage of?” Virgil”
Yesterday I kicked off our In-season Adjustment Series with 3 ideas for the Defense. Today we flip to the other side of the ball and focus on simple adjustments to get your offense rolling in the early season.
Finding those areas that only take some small adjustments to improve but create big advantages can prove to give you the winning edge in the early season.
Today the focus is on a procedure that any type of offense can use, developing QB movement in the pocket, and creating misdirection with schemes you already have installed is the focus
#1) Use the fastest Tempo even if you do not huddle
Tempo is a weapon! It’s not reserved for no-huddle teams. Any team can put together a package of tempo tools to use to attack a defense at opportune times.
Having the ability to quickly repeat a play, have a set play for certain situations like short yardage or goal line, or even take a shot off of uptempo may be what you need to move the chains and score points in a more efficient manner.
It starts with a plan for these plays. State Champion OC Danny Shaecter explains how he thinks about personnel, situation, and down and distance for planning these plays (click on video):
Video: Planning for One Word Plays
Quick Game concepts fit well into a One Word procedure because of their simplicity. It’s something that multiple-time state champion MRA in Mississippi utilizes at a very efficient 76% completion rate. Coach John Weaver explains the terminology they use to set this up (click on image for video):
Now, if you choose to add these procedures, do not forget to define it well and have measurables. Keith Barefield, who ran the fastest offense in the country in 2019 explains what that means here:
#2) Have a QB Escape Plan
In the early season, timing may not be precise early causing “coverage sacks,” or protection can be a work-in-progress. With those two thoughts in mind, having and practice escapes with the quarterback can provide your offense with the ability to move the chains even when there are breakdowns in timing or protection.
Jake Peetz, Offensive Assistant for the LA Rams practices the escape often. Here is a simple pocket presence drill you can do every day (click on image for video):
Video: Pocket Presence Game Film
Texas coaching legend Todd Dodge has trained many championship quarterbacks, and teaching them to keep their eyes downfield while moving is a key aspect of their skill set.
#3) Use of Misdirection is an Advantage
Misdirection provides huge benefits to an offense and it can easily be added to what you have installed already. Whether it’s jet/fly motion or orbit motion, utilizing misdirection can really slow a defense, separate it and create seams, and open big play opportunity.
Mark Speckman, the Godfather of the Fly Offense has made a career on misdirection. He sees it as having benefits at every level of play. Here he shows an example from NFL film (click on image for video):
Here’s an example of how deception is used to separate the defense (click on image for video):
Video: Sweep One Way and Toss the Other
The camp install accomplishes much in preparing your team for the season. Then making small adjustments to scheme attachments (not scheme changes) like deception, or focusing on skill development, or even adjusting procedures begins to refine your offense into what maximizes the abilities of your players.
Always be growing!
Coach Grabowski
P.S. Any resources we share in this series have a temporary discount if you want to dig deeper into the concepts. Find these clinics here.