More than One Way to Skin a 😼 - Top FCS Playoff Offenses
Nov 22, 2022 8:51 pm
Coach ,
The beauty of this game is that there are so many ways to accomplish the goal of winning a championship, and that is evident at every level.
To highlight this concept we take a look at the FCS playoff bracket, and the different types of offenses that have put teams in it.
The Balanced Spread Attack
#13 Fordham has the #1 Total Offense in the country at any level and show diversity in how they can move the ball with both the run and the pass (#1 612.1 #1 Pass 421.4 #23 rush 190.7) which puts a lot of points on the board (#2 Scoring 50.2)
Inside Zone is a staple in their offense because of how it attacks the defense. Head Coach Joe Conlin explains that here (click on image for video):
Against today’s defenses, having a scheme that you like against pressure is important, and Fordham believes in the inside zone as a way to attack the blitz. Coach Conlin explains how they use it with game video here (click on image for video):
Stay simple and put people in conflict. Simple means creating a clear yes/no for the QB as WR Coach Art Asselta explains here (click on image for video):
This RPO makes for a nice tempo play as well. Coach Asselta illustrates the play on game fim here.
Power Running Spread Attack
#3 Montana State (#3 Scoring 45.0ppg, #3 TTL 509.8ypg, #2 rush 325.7ypg) relies more on its run game from spread sets.
Offensive Line Coach and Run Game Coordinator Brian Armstrong uses Power Read as a way of getting the ball on the perimeter. With their motions, it fits their personnel and the motions marry well with IZ, giving consistency for OL. It creates a “same as” with their A-Gap Power
They are able to get the ball outside in space without having to set an edge.
Coach Armstrong explains it here:
Any play that is effective becomes more effective with simple adjustments. Coach Armstrong illustrates some of those here on game film (click on image for video):
Black & Blue with Big Bodied Weapons
#4 North Dakota State( #18 scoring 34.8ppg, 398.9 ypg, #4 Rush 261.7 ypg) is going to have a black-and-blue attack looking to out physical opponents, especially with the use of fullbacks and tight ends.
Coach Roehl built their strategy on a key analytic that he traced back to the early 2000’s at NDSU. The number is 50. If their rushes and completions total 50 their winning percentage is 98%+. That’s a strong correlation!
Coach Roehl said, “We talk about a softening process of the defense. Just being able to pound the rock and get, four, five, six then those runs will turn into ten, 12, 20.“
Coach Roehl is a former NDSU/Seattle Seahawks fullback so he knows exactly how to train the position.
In this video, he gives an introduction to how they utilize the fullback in their offense.
Here’s a game example of the fullback on a kick out block with the emphasis on planting the foot for power:
The tight ends also play a big part in both the running and the passing game. Here Coach Roehl goes through some drills he utilizes to his tight ends to hit a moving target.
Video: Hitting a Moving Target
Both fullbacks and tight ends can become weapons in the passing game. In this example Coach Roehl illustrates a power pass with both the TE and FB in the route. As he notes, San Francisco 49er’s Trey Lance, NDSU alum, is the quarterback on this play.
Video: 21 Personnel Play Action
Coach Roehl’s approach of being detailed and having specific drills to work every scenario his players will face allows him to utilize what amounts to less contact given the parameters that teams must work within today to make player safety a priority, but it’s proven to be very effective in today’s game.
The Modern Option Offense
Davidson (#1 Rush 350.6 yards per game, #18 scoring 34.8) is going to use a modern option running attack to move the chains and put the ball in the end zone, and they are exceptional at it.
Head coach Scott Abell and the Davidson Wildcats have been crushing the Pioneer league, earning their first conference title and playoff berth in 52 seasons in 2020. Coach Abell comes at you aggressively, using a balanced attack of the pass and run plays, an offense that ranked 1st in rushing with 350.6 yards per game.
Coach Abell has his quarterback in the shotgun, giving him better vision pre-snap, already giving the offense the advantage. He needs his team to be great at their primary concepts, and dynamic in their secondary concepts.
Coach Abell shows you a few formations his team uses, giving them the advantage in the triple-option game. Coach Abell notes, “You don’t have to practice 500 formations in practice, a 3x1 is a 3x1 formation.”
Here is his simple coaching with PHENOMENAL RESULTS (click on image for video):
Video: Creating a Dynamic Gun Option
Here’s his base triple-option lined up against an odd front. Given on the first read, the running back split the safeties coming up to fill the QB run, breaking away for a 60 yard score. (click on image for video):
Video: Building Base Triple Run Game With Shotgun
A variety of offensive attacks will be showcased in the FCS playoffs highlighting that there are plenty of ways to get it done on offense.
Of course, whether you have a balanced spread offense or a ground-and-pound attack, learning the details is the key to coaching up any offense, and these are some great coaches to learn from.
Always be growing!
Coach Grabowski
P.S.
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