There is always great conversation in the off-season, as coaches are trying to build a better mousetrap. For clients of this system, the free and unlimited updates to what is new come fast and furious at this time of year. Here is a little glimpse of how trends can be looked, in combination with video libraries and other sources...
Luckily, in the era of technology that we live in, we have almost unlimited resources, and the amount of information compiled clearly makes life easier. As always, there are trends that can be found statistically, which usually can be matched with the dominant teams of that time. So, here is a table of information gathered that spans the last 10 seasons of FBS offensive stats:
Luckily, in the era of technology that we live in, we have almost unlimited resources, and the amount of information compiled clearly makes life easier. As always, there are trends that can be found statistically, which usually can be matched with the dominant teams of that time. So, here is a table of information gathered that spans the last 10 seasons of FBS offensive stats:
In addition to the numbers, one can also pull from old video and personal notes from the time and see some definite trends in the style of play.
What we saw in the time between 2008 and 2012 was the advent of RPO/ Screen/ Quick game as major propellants of college football offenses. For most of football history, a 62% mark in completion percentage used to be considered magnificent; the fact that 45 teams in FBS in 2012 completed 62% for the season is testament to the stress being applied to pass defenses. In the past 5 seasons, those completion percentage numbers have gone down; however, it is clear that the depth of proficient passing teams is increasing.
While completion percentage has gone down (due in no small part to the effort of defensive coaches to adjust to quick game and RPOs), yards per attempt are up: 37 FBS teams averaged 8 yards per attempt in 2017, compared to 25 ten seasons ago. Further, 43 teams averaged over 275 yards passing per game, as opposed to just 28 teams in 2008. Moreover, and even more telling, is that a whopping 42 teams in 2017 averaged 13 yards a completion, compared to 28 five seasons ago, and 25 teams five seasons before that. Teams are also throwing more touchdown passes than ever before - 43 teams threw for at least 25 TDs last fall.
Reports of the demise of the passing game have been greatly exaggerated. Which leads one to examine causes behind the fact that year after year - despite defenses becoming bigger, faster, and more complex - it is the offense that continues to improve. What are things that the best teams do that feature the next evolution of pass offense?
While completion percentage has gone down (due in no small part to the effort of defensive coaches to adjust to quick game and RPOs), yards per attempt are up: 37 FBS teams averaged 8 yards per attempt in 2017, compared to 25 ten seasons ago. Further, 43 teams averaged over 275 yards passing per game, as opposed to just 28 teams in 2008. Moreover, and even more telling, is that a whopping 42 teams in 2017 averaged 13 yards a completion, compared to 28 five seasons ago, and 25 teams five seasons before that. Teams are also throwing more touchdown passes than ever before - 43 teams threw for at least 25 TDs last fall.
Reports of the demise of the passing game have been greatly exaggerated. Which leads one to examine causes behind the fact that year after year - despite defenses becoming bigger, faster, and more complex - it is the offense that continues to improve. What are things that the best teams do that feature the next evolution of pass offense?
Creating More Explosive Plays
I feel that the best offenses are able to blend quick rhythm dropback elements with the ability to maximize explosive touches of key players; tempo certainly has something to with this, but so does the structure of the passing game, as does the ability of a system to generate more of itself. At the college level, this is obviously a matter of recruiting to a great extent, but at the high school level, this is a matter of developing players at younger levels.
One way to accelerate the process is by featuring common elements; take, for example, the seam-wheel combination from a 5 man protection:
One way to accelerate the process is by featuring common elements; take, for example, the seam-wheel combination from a 5 man protection:
And now the same pattern structure using play action elements found in almost every spread offense these days:
Moreover, what has been shown is that these explosive plays can be developed with a much higher degree of efficiency as "shot" plays of the past. Below, we show an example of a double move that can be executed at any level. What's more - the checks that defenses must make to remain sound allow these big plays to be there for the offense. With the need to deploy safeties to both help bracket receivers and provide support in the run game (and thus come to variations of quarters), there are also high percentage explosives that are staples, even at lower levels, such as the "Shake" route:
Better Utility From the Seam Read
Anyone who has read my work knows the importance of the seam read in the pass offense. Of late, the key has been isolating the seam read in order to keep the integrity of the route (and read for that matter). I've written extensively on the subject here. In an effort to counter standard 2x2 and 3x1 adjustments by the defense (such as "match" coverage), different integrations were looked at, such as versions of the following:
Superior Play Packaging
When I say "superior, " I speak in terms of combining play aspects, as well as the ability to use in different strategic situations. The two examples above both use the COWBOY advantage principle, our code for "Combo or 1 on 1" - an idea going back to the Man/ Zone combinations in John Mackovic's offense.
The use of double move routes has expanded in the past ten years - the total evolution has gone from something used to "pick on" a susceptible defender to a means to attack an entire defense. As defenses become better pattern readers, their responses become more predictable, especially in strategic situations like the scoring zone:
The use of double move routes has expanded in the past ten years - the total evolution has gone from something used to "pick on" a susceptible defender to a means to attack an entire defense. As defenses become better pattern readers, their responses become more predictable, especially in strategic situations like the scoring zone:
Directing the QB
Being able to direct the QB with Navigation Tags (more explanation here) will always be a key subject for me. One critical piece of information I gleaned from playing for John Mackovic was that it was necessary to having different ways for the QB to have his eyes directed into a pass patterns; in other words, there had to be multiple reading principles involved. While some are just now coming to that realization, these facts have been proven over decades, and a focal point of this offensive approach. What we have done here is make these principles not only learnable and practicable, but allowing for retention as well, as they are an ingrained part of every day practice.
Because of the consistency with which Advantage Principles (not to be confused with Navigation Tags) are taught, a higher degree of execution can be extracted. The nuance of these principles should be closely examined; for example, our "9er" tag isn't simply based on a 1 high/2 high definition:
Because of the consistency with which Advantage Principles (not to be confused with Navigation Tags) are taught, a higher degree of execution can be extracted. The nuance of these principles should be closely examined; for example, our "9er" tag isn't simply based on a 1 high/2 high definition:
#ThirdDownThursday 2 of 2. Vs Blitz: hard to pressure and cover and disguise and combat varying tempos. 9er Advantage Principle pic.twitter.com/x7ayiC1Eqf
— Dan Gonzalez (@Dan_Gonzalez16) May 4, 2017
With our Maverick (Movement Adjustment Vertical or Regular Concept) principle, we can take advantage of sophisticated defensive calls by forcing late declarations and communication. Here, there is the added benefit of Empty with a 6 man protection. Additional ideas like this remain at the forefront of my research. If the dominance of teams like the New England Patriots have taught us anything (read here), it is that one cannot simply "take what the defense gives" - at high levels of competition, those teams are consistently at the bottom of the standings
Here- motion to empty forces late communication issues; offense can still 6 man protect. #MotionMonday pic.twitter.com/DJt77xXIXq
— Dan Gonzalez (@Dan_Gonzalez16) January 8, 2018
The goal of continuous improvement is key, and having an agile system, capable of flexing not only to personnel, but to the fluid conditions of game day as well. The thorough study of football and its trends has let our clients be years ahead of their competition, so that by the time a new wave of features is seen across the broader football landscape, a methodology has already been built into this system, as well a means to install and practice.
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