As Part 3 of Developing an Offensive System nears its release date, I wanted to write about some adjustments in the way we package that have proven to be very beneficial in the past year.  Late last fall, I began to adjust game plan forms in order to make it easier to recall  options in the heat of battle. This spring, six primary "structures" were labeled on the coach's sheet: 

We derived this terminology to make the teaching for all players easier; it also allows the offense to move around star players with no additional learning burden.   The Read/ Navigation tags allow the coach to guide the passer to the easiest lane of completion.   By classifying game sheets, the playbook, and cut ups by route structure, one can be extremely efficient - with  an offense can now teach minimal techniques and assignments, but apply in several different ways to attack a defense.  Most of all, the QB and coach can benefit from the ability to hit all eligible receivers in a pattern.  

To illustrate, we will look at a few clips involving the drag route.

First, the basic DRIVE:

Next, the 9 route in front of DRIVE:

Lastly, using the 9er (Numbers) advantage principle:

Homer Smith taught us all that nothing can become more entangled than patterns, protections, and formations.  To this, we must add read types, as merely having one way to read a pass defense severely limits the ability of an offense to attack.  This system, as it is constructed, meets all those needs, though the number of combinations can seem overwhelming.   By simply grouping structures as a means to help coaches process and assimilate the weapons at their disposal, we are able to keep the offense in manageable pieces, maximizing learning and execution.

Things are hectic, as Part 3 of the iBook Series is days away from being available.  I have gotten a ton of email and messages with questions, and wanted to take the time to address.  I really do try to reply in a timely manner, but sometimes schedules and deadlines prevent me from doing so.  So - here are a few teaching clips that will help answer some questions.  Most of them are directly from our QB Manual...

BURST video:

As you can tell from the clips, these ideas have been in place for a while.  The important thing is that the coaching points and techniques remain the same, despite different play terminology. 


"Scanning into IN routes":

Because of the proliferation of quick crossing routes in this pass offense,  there must naturally be some "counters" to prevent defenders from sitting on these stems.   Also, 3x1 sets tend to get the defense "tilted" to the 3 receiver side.  
 
Here is a quick video describing one of my favorite Scoring Zone patterns, called "BUC", which stands for Backside Under and Cross.  A frontside receiver is called to run a Deep 6 (BUC tells him to alter his technique), and we use the NINER Advantage Principle to guide the passer to the thinnest part of the pass defense.

Part 3 of the iBook series is coming soon!  This part will cover the teaching of the overall offense, and include the running game, screens, and installation in addition to the passing game.  Further, we have an exciting new platform we will be launching from, so stay tuned.  

As I prepare this latest work, I wanted to share with you a short clip that involves an example of how to DICTATE to the defense.  With the preponderance of robber coverage to counter the spread run game, offensive coaches must find ways to take advantage of automatic checks that come with the rules of the defense...

The HIT LISTS that are now available as a separate consulting package feature dozens of ideas like this for each of the major coverage categories.

In my coaching iBook The Need for Change, I call for the need of mutual accountability on the part of coaches towards the players.   Ninety-nine percent coaches are invested in their players emotionally; somehow, this dedication is at times lost in attacking defenses.  An example of what I am talking about can be revealed below with the standard 4 vertical pattern.  While it certainly has answers for multiple coverage possibilities, certain categories simply relegate the pattern to "settling" rather than attacking.  For instance, vs. Man Free, the locked seam is of no use, allowing the Free Safety and extra underneath player to help on the seam read and back, respectively.  Patterns should attack the full depth and width of the field - the elimination of targets by coverage allows the defense to level the playing field. 

Gripes are no good without a solution; below is a teaching video example of what I am talking about.  We strive to give our players the ultimate pattern, regardless of the defense we will see.  Here, the seam read is mated with a variation of the SNAG pattern on the frontside.  Doing so has distinctive advantages:

1.  The coverage is threatened to the fullest
2.  It keeps patterns alive by giving the defense multiple threats that must be respected
3.  It allows the offense to manage its strengths (ie - who is the good seam reader and free him up)

Most of all, it allows the offense to be efficient with its pieces, allowing the offense to work techniques and routes that always keep the offense playing downhill.

One of the things I truly love about having technology constantly at our fingertips is the ability to constantly learn (and teach) football ideas.   I am completing one of several projects related to football; the one with the most over-arching relevance is what I am calling my "Hit Lists":

Used as a game planning, QB teaching, or even professional development tool, these lists cover 5 major coverage categories and provide the user with a "ready reference" on attacking a given defense.  Each coverage will have between 30-40 ideas, and each idea is accompanied by a coaching clip (complete with telestration) highlighting a specific principle.  This is much more detailed than saying "4 verts vs. Cover 3"; the guide takes you into the drop angle of specific defenders and in some cases, give outlines in altering the defense's call to get the desired response.

Projects like this highlight my study of the defenses my coaches will likely see in the upcoming season.  The coach is then equipped with a ready-reference catalog to use during game planning or offseason preparation.   More importantly, it does not lock in a coach's creativity; rather, it serves as means to unlock new ideas.  

Registration can be found HERE.

It will be the first of several slated for this spring; the series will cover many of the topics and material discussed here...AND MORE.

I really hate that the topic of conversation about the Patriots is the ball inflation scandal rather than the relentless assault on defensive structures.  As the game unfolded, I was extremely impressed that EVERY PLAY was designed to dissect the Colts' defense; I am surely looking forward to ways in which they will attack the coverage tendencies of the Seattle secondary.  

While the football fan is focused on eligible linemen and the like, I am concentrated on the manner in which the coverage and front structures of a defense are stretched beyond repair.  In order to do so, the quarterback must be able to attack when the opportunity presents itself.  Because of this, it is integral that the QB MANUAL is more than just a drill book -- IT SHOULD BE A GUIDE TO EXECUTING THE OFFENSE. It should have explanation, diagrams, animated presentations, and video.  Here is a small excerpt from my QB MANUAL:

Not only must the QB be in tune, but the entire coaching staff as well.  That's the reason for developing "HIT LISTS" as a game planning tool.  These "HIT LISTS" go even further than the Attacking Coverage section of my QB manual, because focuses the minds of the coaching staff on formations and matchups, and thought processes, as well as pattern and coverage structures:

The upcoming Webinars will go hand in hand with the subject matter of the two iBooks that are out, and will also serve as a springboard for the next two, which will cover Teaching and Game Planning.

In addition to Parts 3 and 4 of my iBook series (here), we are working on a web clinic series in that will cover several topics throughout the spring.  To answer many questions I have been getting, iBook Part 3 will deal with teaching/ installing, and Part 4 will cover game planning.  In order to augment these works, our clinics will cover parts of the QB Manual, Attacking Coverage Section, and our new "Hit Lists" -an update to the game planning menu under consultant services - which serves as a brainstorming tool when combating the major coverage categories.   

The season may have come to a close, but there is still PLENTY of football to go around!

More information to come...

A couple weeks ago, the #1 ranked 5A team in Missouri squared off with the #1 ranked 6A team in the state.  The 5A team prevailed that night, 35-21.  I am admittedly biased, as the 5A Fort Osage Indians are a client of mine.

I asked their coach, Ryan Schartz, if he'd write a bit on how they have benefited:

Last winter my offensive staff and I knew we had a group of players suited to throw the ball.  Our run and shoot system was by no means broken, but it did limit some of the the things we wanted to be able to do.  After reading Dan's book Re-coded and Reloaded, it dawned on me that this was the system to use.  Installment started in the spring and continued into the summer.  The language that he uses allows players to learn quickly.  Our kids have commented several times that it is much easier to learn than our former system.  His system was an easy transition as it has many run and shoot concepts built in. One of our main objectives was to be able to get our RBs out in to routes out of the backfield.  The Gonzalez system more than allows an offense to use all 5 receivers.  The best part, though is the rhythm passing and progression allows the QB to make his reads quick and decisive. After using parts of it for the first 3 weeks of the season, we have noticed that there is much flexibility in attacking defenses.  This is all coming from at team that traditionally runs the football 80% of the time.  Dan has been terrific!  He is readily available to help explain and give advice.  Although we have not changed much of our run game, his passing system has been a wonderful resource for our program.

Ryan Schartz
Head Coach
Fort Osage High School
Independence, MO