Creating the Blueprint to Build a Dominant Run Game
Mar 18, 2024 5:13 pm
Recently, I had Jeff Traylor, Head Coach of UTSA, on the podcast and he talked about how when he was a high school head coach, he realized by studying what he was doing and truly reflecting on it that he had to make the run game a priority eventhough he was a coach who liked to throw it all over the field.
Running the ball became a part of his “Triangle of Toughness” and he felt he was better serving his entire team in all phases of the game.
Today, Coach Kauffman shares some ideas from coaches on putting together a run game that can dominate the line of scrimmage and control the game.
-Coach Grabowski
The Blueprint: Building a Dominant Run Game
Establishing a successful run game is the cornerstone of any potent football offense. It controls the tempo, chews clock, and sets up the passing attack. But crafting a dominant ground game on gameday requires meticulous planning.
Take into account the steps of run game gameplanning, from analyzing the opponent's defense to identifying your team's strengths and weaknesses. And explore various run concepts, blocking schemes, and play-calling strategies, equipping you with the knowledge to unleash your running backs and dominate the trenches within these videos from our various clinics.
Installation
Leading this off is the idea of what you have installed, you cannot plan what you don't have installed or are not going to install at some point. Coach Blake Rolan offensive coordinator at SIU.
Before diving into specific game plans for each opponent, laying the groundwork for your base run game is paramount. This foundation is built upon extensive self-scouting, meticulously analyzing your team's strengths and weaknesses, and studying tendencies of the defenses you'll face throughout the season.
This initial phase is crucial, as it sets the stage for the entire run game playbook. By identifying your team's optimal blocking schemes, pinpointing ideal running back fits for different situations, and establishing core run concepts, you create a versatile and adaptable base that can be tailored to exploit specific defensive vulnerabilities as the season progresses.
This initial investment in building a strong foundation ensures your run game remains a potent weapon, ready to be unleashed against any opponent.
Base Run Planning
The next thought you have as you progress into the season is beginning you plan and Coach Grabowski shares with us his ideas when setting up a Base Run Plan.
A strong base run game serves as the backbone of any effective offensive attack. It establishes the physicality you want to impose, controls the tempo, and creates opportunities for the passing game. But true mastery lies in utilizing this foundation. Recognizing potential fits against specific defenses involves understanding their tendencies and exploiting weaknesses. When they show strange looks, your base becomes the reference point, allowing you to identify adjustments and counter-punches.
Most importantly, within this framework, you identify your best runs – the plays that consistently gain yards and keep the defense guessing. This adaptability, built upon a solid base, allows you to not only weather defensive adjustments but also exploit them, ultimately turning your run game into a dynamic weapon that dictates the flow of the game.
Base Down Runs
With this you cannot come in with a massive plan. You have to understand the run plays that are the larger part of your plan and attack looks that you like. Wittenberg Head Coach Jim Collins gives us insight into this part of the process.
Armed with your established base run game and a deep understanding of potential defensive matchups, you can now craft the strategic layers of your game plan. This involves incorporating wrinkles and unfamiliar formations designed to exploit specific defensive vulnerabilities or create confusion.
These "exotic" plays shouldn't be entirely foreign concepts, but rather items that you have repped previously. By strategically deploying these wrinkles, you not only complicate the defensive coordinator's preparation but also build upon the foundation you've already laid. This layered approach ensures your offense remains unpredictable while maintaining a level of familiarity for your players, ultimately creating a dynamic and adaptable run game that keeps defenses on their heels throughout the season.
Quick Hitters & Misdirection
Looking into the idea of adding these specials they do not always have to be the craziest of options. Bob Bodine shares how they took Wing-T concepts and utilized them to complicate and trick the defense into simplifying what they were doing.
Incorporating elements from lesser-used formations like the Wing-T can be a strategic masterstroke in game planning. Plays with misdirection and unorthodox formations can throw even the most prepared defenses off balance.
Imagine the confusion on a defense accustomed to facing traditional sets when they suddenly encounter a Wing-T formation with its unique blocking schemes and deceptive ball movement. This element of surprise can create significant advantages, forcing the defense to adjust on the fly and potentially exposing exploitable gaps.
As Always,
Compete!
Coach Kauffman
P.S.
Take a deeper dive into the ideas shared by the coaches mentioned. Build your offense up with the presentations from these coaches for 50% off HERE!