Two Distinctly Different Styles in Our Featured Game of the Week

Sep 06, 2024 2:24 pm

Coach -

Adjustments are constantly at the forefront of a coach's mind. How can we put our players in the best situation for success? That’s the focus behind the clinic presentations we feature in this Week 2 match-up of Texas and Michigan.

MATCHUP: Texas Longhorns vs. Michigan Wolverines

It’s gearing up to be a wild season, we are going to get an early look at what last year's playoff teams are made of. Looking into some semi recent history these two teams really were beginning to be counted out, and with a fast resurgence both found each other back in prominence last season.

But, that was then and this is now. This is a matchup that is quite possibly here to show us much of what is to come. The SEC vs the Big Ten, a new head coach and a team slated to begin play in a new conference in 3 weeks.

With this one we are going to focus on the offensive side of the ball, looking at schemes and teams that are very different from each other. This is QB’s coach (Sarkisian) vs OL coach (Moore). It is shaping up to look like the spread on one side and two back running schemes on the other.

Texas OC/OL Coach Kyle Flood - Zone Play and RPO Variations

Video: Anyone Outside The Box, Is the Quarterbacks Responsibility

Struggling to get the Inside Zone game rolling can be a result of a variety of reasons. But controlling the box players and surrounding players that can factor into fits is a large way to influence your run game. The implementation of formations and spread concepts but also complimentary RPO schemes that remove those players even if it is simply with QB vision is a way to expand the run game and open lanes.

With these schemes you can also incorporate a variety of blocking techniques to change the looks based on the front your guys are seeing. Expanding the techniques and opening up the looks that your athletes can give to change the reads for second level players can really create complicated scouting reports and poor eyes for the LBs.

Complementary football at the end of the day will control this aspect of the game especially when looking to open up the field. The idea of the spread concepts and zone integrations can be easily adapted and molded with small rule changes.

Michigan HC Sherrone Moore - Investing in a 2 Back Run Game

Video: Why Invest in Two-Back Run Game?

Many will shy away from this as an adjustment, but think about it from the perspective of a changeup rather than a wholesale change. The implementation of these formations creates a package that demands attention and causes expanded practice time for preparation from the opposing defense. At face value they can be intimidating both to install when running an offense without these personnel groupings but the same things apply to the defense.

In a lot of ways the idea of the two back package provides you with versatility in a diverse range of down and distance situations. The idea of this is not limited to an ideology like the I formation or the Wing T either. Put your own spin on it and gain some influence from the ideas that Michigan installs.

Another advantage that it offers is many athletes have never played against these packages or repped time against these till the week of. The nuances and unfamiliarity from the opposing units can offer an ultimate advantage to your team. In addition you can easily slowly develop these packages with minimal rule changes. It allows you to take control of the game and get heavy with these personnel groupings.