Quad Formation

I was tinkering with a formation the other day that many probably think is pretty gimmicky (which if you read an earlier post means nothing to me).  It is a spread formation which puts stress on the defense horizontally and vertically.  With this formation though, I think you have to have a QB who is a runner (at least an option guy, doesn’t have to be a burner).  You probably going what formation by now.  The formation I am playing around with is a Quads Empty Set. 

Now you have to understand some basics of the offense I am looking at using this formation with.  First off, the QB is an RB with a decent and great head.  In reality he is the featured ball carrier.  Secondly there are no true TE’s/FB’s/H’s within this formation.  Y is the closest thing to a TE, but he is a receiving TE.  The W is more of a scat back than a 3rd or 4th WR.  The A is the TB. 

The base scheme is a shotgun veer offense/zone offense, with a lot of motion.  We will have the triple option, the speed option, inside and outside zone, fly-sweep, counter, and some sort of inside trap (primarily as a counter with the fly).  Passing wise there will be simpler route combinations with high percentage throws (hitches, curls, slants) and to feature the QB’s skill set, mostly will be play-action pass and sprint out. 

My thoughts with this formation is that it allows the offense I just described to do a few things to a defense.  1st it will probably confuse the hell out some high school defenders.  I understand all the DC’s out there are going, “we do not have to change our rules or coverages or assignments,”  But think about it for second from the perspective of the average high school defender, that formation looks different, and different confuses.  So while the safety is supposed to have his eyes on the QB’s eyes, he is probably (at least early on) going to let at least one eye drift to those 4 WR’s to his right.  2nd, the formation is going to put stress on the defense using the basic spread principles of making them cover sideline to sideline.  3rd we are forcing the defense to make some decisions.  Decisions??? Again many are saying right now we bump are LBs over and cover the wide side/Quad side.  Normal spread yes, but when you have a kid at QB who is the primary ball carrier you now have to make some choices.  DO you cover everyone up on the Quads side, protect against the pass/run to formation strength or DO you keep at least 6 in the box, because the QB is a threat as a runner. 

He are some of our base plays run from the Quads set. 

I would assume, that if the defense was running a 4-3, this would probably be their alignment versus the formaiton:

So let’s look at what we could do hear.  My intial thought is lets go to the where we could have them outnumbered.  Since we are an option team, bring either the A or W in motion and run speed option weak.  We will use the zone to rules (see previous post) and read the 1st defender headup to outside of the PST. 

 

You could also run a Fly to the weakside (need speed in my opinion).

A great compliment off the Fly is the QB run in between the tackles either with simply running inside zone or running the inside trap, after faking the fly. 

So you have 4 runs through this formation.  You also have your pass threats.  You have the most obvious 2 in spread.  1st throw to the uncovered (sidenote:  this should be a automatic, you run spread, you have to committ to throwing to any receiver who is ever uncovered).  2nd throw the good ole bubble.  The key to the bubble to me is the throw and the reciever believing he can beat everyone to the edge (because he can, he has the leverage). 

You of course can put any flood combination into this set, you run your verticals.  A smash combination.  But here are two I really like.  1st I want to take advantage of the stack players (Y & X) trying to confuse coverage roles.  The type of pass you have here can be drop back or sprint out.  Remember I like sprint out because I like to keep the QB run threat always in the defense’s head.  Here the X is running a corner, while the Y is running the out.

The other pass combination is this one.  Again trying to take advantage of the stack look as well as high-lowing coverage.  The image may be a little confusing with the stack, the Y is running a 5-yard hitch, the X is running the out.

The other alternative to this formation is dependent upon if (really when) they roll their coverage.  If they roll over to the quads and the corner softens up on the split end side or single wide receiver side you now have a potential matchup in your favor.  Something I stole from Tony Demeo was his flash concept.  Where the single WR, was typically the best and truest WR.  If the corner softened up the QB would then catch and throw now to that wide receiver, ideally getting at least 4 yards.  You could run the quick hitch or even a up-n-down route.  The up-n-down route meaning the WR burst off the LOS for 1 step, then swoops back down catches and gets upfield.  Either way it turns into 1-on-1.

When the tightens, you also have the potential to a fade, or peek back-side on a pass play.  Now of course this all assuming you like your match up with that corner. 

The Quads set could be something that has a lot of potential.  It gives the opponent something unique to look at and prepare, and if you are running something like I discussed it gives some advantages to the offense.

speed-option

Every good spread team typically has the speed option in.  It is a safe run play, that lets your ball carriers/athletes get into space quickly (which is the premise of spread).  The speed option in a double option, meaning that there are two choices the QB can make in the play:  Keep or Pitch.  It is a easy play to install and adjust, as well as make dynamic. 

The easiest way to block the speed option is to use zone principles.  Predominatly inside zone principles.  Meaning that the OL are blocking zones determined by basic rules.  And that within these zones we are trying to create vertical push and double teams up front.  The exception or adjustment we make with the speed option is that the frontside OT or TE (or both) will free release or veer release to the 2nd level.  This leaves the DE or EMLOS unblocked.  This is where the option choice comes into play. 

The QB has to make a presnap read to determine who pitch-man is, the defender the QB plays off of.  Our rule is going to be the 1st defender outside of the tackle.  So in the presnap read the QB has to find him and recognize his alignment.  If the alignment is tight, the pitch is going to be quicker.  The alignment is looser, the pitch is going to be slower or not at all.  The QB’s aiming point is the inside shoulder of the read key.  At the snap of the ball, he is downhill at the read.  The ball is carried with both hands, chest high.  The hand to the pitch side, those fingers should be on the laces.  The QB’s eyes get to the read and stay there as soon as the snap is secured. 

The QB is watching the jersey numbers.  The QB will keep UNLESS the jersey numbers (both) square up and attack him.  At the point we pitch to our pitch-man.  When we pitch the ball we take the hand and force the thumb down flipping the ball heart-to-heart with the pitchman.  ALWAYS FOLLOW THE PITCH.  If you follow the pitch you always are ensure better ball security. 

The next part is the fun part to me.  You can get just about any skill guy into the pitch man position, based on alignment or motion.  Let’s start though simply with the pitch relationship, or rather the spacing between the pitch man and the QB.  We want the pitch relationship to be 1 yard behind and 4-5 yards wide.  No matter the intial alignment at the snap of the ball, whomever is the pitch man has to immediately get into this relationship, with his hands up and ready for the pitch.  The pitch man should always trail the QB in the relationship, do not give up on the pitch.

Most commonly you will see the TB aligned next the QB in shotgun as the pitchman.  Occasionally you will see a man brought into motion from the away-side or back-side presnap, who quickly gets into pitch relationship.  You can even use a man aligned to the call-side via formation, as the pitchman.  If this is how you do it, and easy adjustment or tip for pitch relationship is to simply have that man backpedal at the snap, allowing the QB to get infront, then mainting the relationship. 

The speed option is a great play to take advanatge of your athletes, by getting the ball in space quickly.  It also put stress on the defense by forcing them to play assignment football.  Therefore the speed option meets to major goals of most offensive coaches.

The Hybrid Player

How often do you hear that phrase.  “He is a hybrid.”  “This position needs to be more of a hybrid.”  I feel like every offense and defense today has some sort of hybrid position built into the scheme, at least one.  So really are they hybrids or are they something else.  Do we have more hybrids than we actually true position players. 
I think that a lot of that is part of the infatuation with the spread.  Both offensively and defensively to deal with this scheme you need versatile guys.  Guys who can run, break tackles, catch, block, etc…  I think there is less hiding players.

Because spread offense forces the field to be stretched both vertically and horizontally, you need speed and ability.  Ability to run in space and tackle in space.  Not only with Spread itself, but think about the rebirth of single wing or the WILDCAT.  The guy running that play is the epitome of the hybrid.  It is like having the 5–tool guy in baseball. 

When are we going to start seeing Hybrid big guys.  Or do we already.  Or do we just call those guys really good????

Can you just date it? Do you have to marry it?

One of my favorite clinic lines out there when I go to these football clinics across the east coast, is the when a coach will throw the line of “Can’t date, you have to marry it,” in reference to some scheme or play.  Just incase there is a confusion here, let me make an example.  The triple option (or really just the option in general) will be referenced in the “have to marry it,” category.  Meaning that if you want to run the triple option, that has to be your focus.  You can’t run it as a play with in your offense, it has to be your offense and every other play, formation, motion, etc…has to be partner or segwayed off it.  The reasoning behind this is that the play requires a tremendous amount of reps for it to be game-ready.  With QB having to be making 1 or 2 reads each time you run it, and there being so many other variables with in the play, you can not just practice it a handful of times a week prior to game-day.  You can’t just install it mid-season as a wrinkle to your gameplan (according to this philsosophy).  This “marry it-don’t date it” theory is used with inside/outside zone, the no-huddle, spread pass game, the wing-T, etc………………………………………

I agree with this thought process…kind of.  At least I am very much on the fence.  On the one hand I whole heartly agree with having to have centerpiece or base play-ish and building everything around that.  Everything not just meaning the rest of the offensive plays, but rather practice structure, game planning, play-calling, personnel packaging, formations, motions, I think you get the picture.  For example the inside zone play (really zone-running in general).  If you were to run the zone scheme, I think (at least on the high school level) you have to marry it–or come pretty darn close, cohabitate with it.  The reason behind that is there are some many intracies with the scheme.  The blocking scheme for starters.  The OL has to be able to not only block their zone, but also understand what their zone is, how it can change, how we are trying to create the double teams, how to deal with blitzers and 2nd level defenders.  That takes a tremendous about of teaching and practicing. You also have the read by the tail-back.  He has to understand who is reading post-handoff.  How is he getting to the LOS, what does he do when he gets there, etc…

And yet, I also feel like you can create some what of a hybrid offense.  At least that is what the big boys are doing.  You watch the guys on Saturday afternoon (not Sunday they all are doing the same thing).  Watch a Texas or Florida or Oklahoma and you will see they are dating a lot!  Now I understand there are some basics within their offenses and everything is focused around that, but they are running zone, option, zone-option, veer, no-huddle, iso, you name I bet it is in the playbook somewhere.  Now the quick retort to that is “Well they have more time with the kids.”  Okay yes, but if you actually look at it, the complexity of the basics is much higher than the high school level, not to mention they are running probably at least 2x the amount than at the high school level. 

I think you can create some hybrid offenses at the high school level.  You just have to a vision and be able to mesh it all together.  I mean, I don’t know if you could run the spread-air-raid with the wing-T and be successful.  But I do think you could throw some things in the blender and it would come out tasting alright.  I think for you to be able to do this, the two number one things a coach has to be able to do or be good at it are 1)master of time management and organization and 2) be able to have a purpose with your play usage. 

Starting with 1.  A coach already has to be strong with time management and organziation for the purpose of practice scheduling (primarily).  But if you were to go down a hybrid road you would have to be a master at it.  Let us all be honest here, we don’t have 11 studs on our side of the ball.  Therefore you have to teach them to hone the skill set necessary for running the offense.  Therefore if you create a blend of offenses or offensive concepts, you have to be able to segment your practice schedule so as that everything is getting the approriate prep time. 

I think though number 2 is maybe a little more important.  This seems like a really basic football 101 thought, but SO MANY coaches still seem to do it.  You have to a purpose with the play usage and calling.  Do not just shake the 8 ball and hope you just called a the right play.  You have to step back and look at the big picture and realize that each play (whether you score or not) is setting up something for later.  Even if that something is just slowing that safety or OLB down for one step, that may be the advantage we are looking for.  Therefore you can just reach in your bag-o-tricks and grab a play.  A lot of you know what I am talking about.   You play that team who you can’t get a great scouting report on because they just seem to run it all, what they like from the weekend games.  If you don’t know what I am talking about, then there is a good chance you are doing it (evaluate yourself and find out). 

Look this may all be real elementary, and plenty of you are already running some type of hybrid offense.  And, I would agree with many of you, that most offenses today are hybrid from top to bottom.  But next time you are at clinic and you hear that line tossed out, think about it.  Why can’t we marry more than one…offenses not wives.

33 Strategies of War; Do Not Fight the Last War

Greene in this chapter discusses not settling or leaning on past successes or methods to successes.  He refers to it has guerilla war on your own mind “allowing no static lines of defense.”  The first story that Greene uses is Napoleon versus the Prussians.  Where the Prussian army, particularly Friedrich Ludwig, prince of Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen, demonstrates this point.  Green tells the story of Hohenlohe, who comes from a military background.  His philosophy of war was the use of organization, discipline, and strategy, and this would be the key to defeating Napoleon.  They decided to use a strategy which had worked for Prussians for decades.  Long story short Napoleon had figured out what they Prussian army was doing, and using a new method of marching (French soldiers carrying their packs of supplies allowing them to move faster) and ended catching Hohenlohe earlier than desired, forcing the fight to take place.  At this particular battle the Prussian army attacked the French in glorious, perfect, straight line formation (like they had always) whereas the French hid in strategic location (behind walls and etc…) and just picked the Prussians apart.  The Prussians fell apart.  The point Greene is making is the Prussians were behind the French in military strategy, and the bigger picture is that you cannot rest on the successes of old, you have to keep pushing you self and looking at what you do with a realistic perspective. 

Greene’s second story comes from a story of a samurai named Miyamoto Musashi  (BY the way this story was great, I had never heard this and I want to read the book I am assuming it came from The Book of Five Rings).  The story is of Musashi fighting three different opponents I duels (with swords).  In each duel, Musashi comes out being successful, because of his understanding his opponent and presenting them with a challenge in combat, based upon their weakness.  He adapted his style to his opponent and situations, as Greene points out.  Greene states, “Strategy is not a question of learning a series of moves or ideas to follow like a recipe; victory has no magic formula.  Ideas are merely nutrients for the soil:  they lie in your brain as possibilities, so that in the heat of the moment they can inspire a direction, an appropriate and creative response>”  Greene’s point is simply do not collect a bunch of ideas and read a bunch books and expect them to all of sudden allow you to become successful.  You have to be able to use these in the heat of battle, in a manner that best fits the circumstance. 

Greene goes into his keys to warfare centers on the approach that we are not attuned to our circumstances.  That we are not unsuccessful because we do not know enough, but because we do not know how to use what we know at the right time.  A great point the Greene also makes here is that it is of utmost importance to develop the skill to think in the moment. 

Greene goes on to discuss a process on how to wage war with the mind by first creating the analogy of the river.  That your mind is like a river, and the faster it flows the better.  Whereas if it stops, problems develop.  To avoid this Greene discuss the following points:

1.       “Reexamine all your cherished beliefs and principles”

a.       “Be brutal with the past, with tradition, with the old ways of doing things.”

b.      When a new situation arrives, look it at as if you have never done so before.

2.       “Erase the memory of the last war”

a.       “Attention to detail of the present is by far the best way to crowd out the past and forget the last war.”

3.       “Keeps the mind moving?”

4.       “Absorb the spirit of the times”

a.       “Just when people feel they know you, you will change.”

5.       “Reverse course.”

a.       Do the opposite of what you normally would, break your norm.

Greene makes the point to think of you mind as an army, specifically a guerilla army.  Because a guerilla army is the epitome of mobility and speed.  Do not become static. 

 

Coaches can use this concept every week in their game planning and really their yearly planning.  Think about it, we have to always forget the last war, the last game.  No matter the outcome or success/failures of that game, we have to erase the memory of that last war and keep our minds moving.  We have to always be looking at what we are doing.  Every aspect of it.  We cannot settle or assume that what worked last time is going to work this time.  For example if we were a strong power/counter team for the past two seasons, blocking it the same way, with the same formations, the same motions, we have to think about it and at least review what teams have done against us.  If we think teams are not going to adjust than we are FOOLS!!! AND they should fire us. 

In my opinion though this isn’t even the half of it.  You have to constantly evaluate yourself and your players.  You may not have the players to run the power/counter all year or this year.   Now obviously there is more to it than just a play or scheme.  It is the entire program that you cannot be just satisfied with.  The same drills, the same practice structure, morale boosters, etc… I heard a radio broadcaster make the comment one day when he was talking about a professional football franchise, that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.  I think this fits perfectly right here.  We have to as coaches constantly being looking at what is happening without programs and be WILLING to make changes. 

Now I know the counter to this.  “If ain’t broke…blah blah blah blah…”  But think about that for a second.  NO program has been successful with doing everything exactly the same every season.  You may get away with it for a season or two, but over the long, sustained success is not going to be there.  I also understand that you don’t need to change just to change.  Don’t make things up because they looked good when the Gators ran it or it was a sweet play in Madden.  Every choice or change you make has to fit into your program.  You can’t arbitrarily make changes.   Think and explore what you are doing.  Constantly self examine and be sure that everything you do is, it is benefiting the program. 

 

QUARTERBACK READ IT ALL!!

I know there are plenty of football coaches out there who do this, and plenty of football coaches who have thought about doing this, and plenty of football coaches who will think this is NUTS!  But it is definitely an element of an offense who runs any version of the dive-option, where the QB is reading an defensive end to get a give-pull read.  To me if you can give the QB a give-pull read on any run play (and obviously you have a quarterback who can run) than you are potentially creating a deadly combination. 

What exactly do I mean for those that are unclear.  ON a normal dive style option (zone read, triple, veer, midline, etc…) the QB gets the snap, goes through some type of footwork, gets into a mesh, ALL WHILE READING some defensive lineman (usually an end).  IF the defensive end squats or comes straight up field, quarterback can never read the front numbers, then he give the ball to the running back.  IF the defensive end squeezes down the line of scrimmage then the quarterback pulls and goes into the second of the option whether it is his run off the edge or a pitch-phase.   

Now when coaches call this play they call it as their option.  Often we are not getting the MOST advantageous run for the dive man, usually do to the blocking scheme.  Why not though add this read on to any other run that you have in your playbook. 

(SIDEBAR  quickly.  Now I need to take a timeout for a second, and let you know that as I talk about this, my vision is all shotgun plays.  I am not saying it is impossible to run under center, but I think it would be much much tougher.)

Take the basic concept from the zone read play.  Where the quarterback is reading the backside defensive end to determine whether to hand the ball of on a zone play to the front side, or whether to pull the ball and run himself to the edge.  To me the read is very simple, give unless you see the read-man’s numbers coming to the dive man.  The play is below. 

Now lets look at an EXAMPLE.  Lets say in your package you run a counter trey (back-side guard pulls and kicks the end man on the line of scrimmage out and the back-side tackle pulls rolling the call hole, the running back receives the handoff, and follows the tackle).  Now let’s add the QB reading the defensive end, just like he is doing on the zone read play.   Like this play here…

Quarterback is looking at the same read, defensive end.  If the defensive end sits or the QB never actually see his numbers turn, then give the ball and the play is just counter.  BUT if the QB sees the numbers turn and the end gets into the hip of the pulling tackle, then he pulls and gets to the edge trying to circle the defense.   I think you are putting a tremendous amount of stress on the defense and what they are trying to do.  You are taking them out of their base package (more than likely) and forcing them to play assignment football EVERY SINGLE PLAY!!!

I don’t see what you cannot do this on every run play.  Whether it be ISO, Lead, Counter, Power, Inside Trap, Stretch, Jet…  I really like the idea of off the Jet!  If you don’t want it to be an automatic call, which I don’t see why you wouldn’t, then just create a tag for your play call.  “Read” probably works just fine, where you are now telling the QB to read the end man for the give-pull. 

Now is there a flaw in this concept?  I could see the argument for it.  Many football coaches would say that you are asking too much from the QB.  Or that you are becoming a finesses style team. (I would love to hear others’ opinions too)  I would strongly disagree.  Let’s start with the pressure on the QB.  To me that is a bad excuse for not working with your guy enough. Making decisions slow us down on the field.  We want reactions…if __________ happens, then I do ____________.  To reach that point you have to rep, rep, rep.  One of my favorite clinic lines speaks to this = “You can’t date the ____________, you have to marry it!” 

I also think the believe of being finesse versus smashmouth is mentality thing.  It is how you perceive yourself, your offense, your players, your program.   You can be a downhill, go-get’em offense, while having a read element built in.  You just have to preach and ingrain, physical football play. 

I see a flaw in the fact you may have to adjsut your footwork on these plays slightly, to put your QB and RB in the right mesh situation.  But that is any fix again through reps. 

When it comes down to it, if you are putting your best athlete at QB (like many teams are these days) and you teach him the concept, you have a simple concept which creates potential big plays, places stress on the defense, all while running what you like to run and call.

Who to read on the Speed Option

For as long as I have been in football the Option as never been something that I have been a fan of the option at all.  But that all changed about 12 months.  Maybe I jumped on the band wagon or fell in love with the sexy new thing, but option football has been my focus over the past 6 months (since the end of the season at least).  I really, really, have been drawn to the Demeo triple option, but with the incorporation of my zone blocking principles, as well as some the Dan Mullen stuff as well.  But of course the title of this post is not why I like the triple but rather who to read on the speed.  Speed is a piece of the triple scheme and I have run into some conflict in who I want to read on the speed and since I have seen it some many ways I figured the best way to work it out was to talk about it. 

Now I know there are a lot of ways to run speed option and a majority of the decisions made are dependent upon the formation your place your offense in.  But out of a basic “spread” style set (with no TE’s), like the image below, this was my thought initially.

I am reading the defensive end to the playside, where the playside offensive tackle is veer releasing to get on to the playside outside linebacker.  Now  I have thought about blocking the defensive end, and optioning off of the outside linebacker or the box/contain player.  I have also thought about optioning off of the safety and blocking everyone in the box.  The other thought was to just option off of the first different color. 

If we chose to option off of the defensive end, then we would not be changing the blocking scheme (like in the triple).  Which keeps everything simpler for the big guys upfront and as well as for the QB on his reads.   Yet upon closer review I think that it may not allow certain progressions to occur.  Such as the linebackers getting blocked and or allowing the rest of the defense to be in a more advantageous situation, meaning to early a pitch may not allow the pitchman to circle the defense. 

So my next thought was to option off of the outside backer/contain player.  He I think the tackle has a little better setup for blocking the defensive end.  And we allow the QB/RB to get into a better position to circle the defense, but here we run to problems with dealing with the alley player, and in many of the situations where the defensive end that is a better athlete then that tackle, we potentially are in a match-up problem on a regular basis.

So my next step in the process was to option off of the safety/alley player.   The tackle will block the defensive end, we will take a tight end, wide out, or full back and block the outside backer, and allow the QB to get as far upfield as he can pitch of the alley player.  This presented the concern then with unaccounted line backer or at least one who seeps through the blocking, or the corner getting away from a stalk block. 

Which brought me to the last thought, which was to just pitch off of the first different color jersey.  We will block all we can with the scheme, but the QB is attacking the edge now and his mindset is to circle the defense.  The first different color jersey we see, we pitch.  The only problem I have found with this is that it takes an element of control out of the play.  I also think you are potentially, while unintentionally, putting added pressure on the QB. 

SO where did this leave me.  Well for me, I honestly liked where I started…optioning off of the defensive end.  I felt through the use of formations we could handle the outside backers as well as the safety.  Not to mention we won’t be changing anything for the offensive line.  AND if we are having a really hard time we can bring a wideout to crack the OLB or we can bring a second back to lead on the OLB (like a load option).

In the end though, the beauty of this is you can make a quick change potentially during a game week with the read.  I think it is an easy tweek…maybe…

33 Strategies of War: Chapter 1, Declare War on Your Enemies

Greene begins this chapter with the story or rather a story about Xenophon.  This story described the events of Xenophon’s military beginnings  as he led the Greeks away from the Persians in the Spring of 401 B.C.  In a moment of near desperation for the army, Xenophon has an epiphany about the fate of the Greek army.  They could not stand around and complain and moan.  Rather, as Xenophon realized, the problem for the army to get home was their own mindsets, and therefore the solution was to change that.  There needed to be purpose in their fight, a just cause.  Xenophon decided that the army should outright declare war on the Persians without any warning of it, that the army has to become swift and merciless, with only one thing on their mind = getting home.   Xenophon got the Greeks home with this plan. 

Greene goes on to explain that point of this story is to realiz that “life is battle and struggle,” and that it is how you face these conflicts that your fate is decided.  “Your obstacle is yourself,”  when there is something you can not reach.    A great line from this interpretation was “The more clearly you recognize who you do NOT want to be, then, the clearer your sense of identity and purpose will be.”  You need to find an enemy.  It does not have to be a person or really even something tangible, but just something you are not. 

The second story Greene uses in this chapter is about Margaret Thatcher and her climb to power within British politics.  Greene chronicles (quickly) her gaining of power through going against the norms.  Her alienation of herself in a sense allowed to gain strength and the respect or her peers and constituents.  What Greene points out is that along her path to Prime Minster she targets and enemy at each step, which allowed her to define her image.  “Do not crowd the center, where everyone else is; there is no room to fight in a crowd,”  is a fantastic line.  Do not just fall in line or follow the norms, but rather break out and be yourself and do what you have to do to reach your goals.  Greene also calls the “center” compromise, which he says is dangerous.  Greene notes the importance of getting along with people, but when you always do this, you are seeking a path of least resistance, and eventually forget who you are. 

Coaching Football  Realtion:  “Do not be lured by the need to be liked; better to be respected, even feared.”  I think the line speaks for itself, and has great meanign and purpose, especially as coaches.  You can’t make everyone happy, and if you try, you will drown yourself in those attempts.  With players, parents, staff members, and who ever is involved, the good of the team has to come above everything else and to reach that goal, you are going to step on toes and hurt feelings, and have A LOT of people probably not like you.   But if they respect your decisions and choices, then your decisions and choices will be executed.

Greene finishes the chapter with his keys to warfare, and here discusses the concept of enemy.  He says the first thing you need to do is see all the possible enemies you may have and include those who are “working against you, thwarting you, even in subtle ways.”   He goes on to address how to find those against you and that you just have to look, because there are always signs, and usually these signs are not what you may think of as signs that someone is an enemy.  Greene says test those you may suspect as enemies and you will be surprised at the results.  He uses four stories to make is point involving Mao, David and King Saul, Harry Cohn (a produced) and Hernan Cortes. 

Greene points out that danger is everywhere, and often found in destructive relationships.  The only way you can get passed these negatives are to face them.  And in fact you will grow from these confrontations and be more prepared the next time a similar situation arises.  Do not internalize it!!  An enemy is often a compliment, “it means you are important enough to be a target.” 

Coaches ought to always have an “enemy” in their back pocket because as Greene points out a good leader can use that to rally his troops.  IF you can get your players to feel as if they are “hated” or have a some one or ones acting against them, they will fight much stronger than usual. 

Greene ends the chapter with what he calls “reversal” which is his way of bringing everything to a close, while also making things be little more realistic and not so cold and aggressive.  He makes the point you have to keep you enemy identifying under control and not be paranoid of everyone.  You also cannot alienated yourself from everyone and no when to back off from your enemies so that you save face.

Books to Read

This is list of books that I am interested in reading, and plan to at some point.  I am hoping I will get to them soon than later.  I am going to try and keep this list running for the life of the blog and scratch off the ones I get done.  If anyone has read these or have any thoughts please share them with me. 

The Greatest Salesman in the World  by Og Mandino

The Magic of Thinking Big  by David Schwartz

Psycho-cybernetics  by Maxwell Maltz

The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent

Think and Grow Rich  by Napoleon Hill

On War  by Carl von Clausewitz

Grant and Lee:  A Study in Personality & Generalship by J.F.C. Fuller

Breaking the Slump by Jimmy Roberts

33 Strategies of War-Preface

I just started reading Robert Greene’s 33 Strategies of Warand have had a bit of hard time putting down, but I also want to try and reflect on what he is writing about.  What Greene is exploring is how ones life is constant and ever-present conflict and there certain ways to win these conflicts, just as is in a war.  What I am going to try and do is A) comprehend everything Greene is getting across, and B) reflect on these thoughts.

In the preface, Greene begins by exploring a concern with  our society and the struggle that we have placed ourselves in.  He notes that our society preaches the values of justice, democracy, and fairness.  YET the problem is our lives are not like that, we have to deal with conflicts all the time and we not prepared to deal with those conflicts.  Greene notes that these conflicts are very layered within our lives.  We have conflicts with our opponents or competitors and we have conflicts with people who are supposedly on our side.   Greene says that for us to deal with theseconflicts we have to be use realisitc  and rationale skills, or what he calls strategy.  Greene goes into an explanation of what strategy means in dealing with conflict, and explains that a great way to explore the development of strategy is to examine those (primarily military leaders) in history who have used to gain success.  Greene cautions the reader by immediately acknowledging that this strategy is not to aggressively attack your opponent but to follow the “greatest strategist of them all…Sun-tzu.”  Sun-tzu pursuesbloodless success, preying on the psychological weaknesses and out maneuvering him.  Greene states “The strategic ideal in war–being supremely rational and emotionally balanced, striving to win with minimum bloodshed and loss of resources–has infinite application and relevance to our daily battles.”  This to me is the point of the entire book. 

Greene acknowledges that there are “six fundamental ideals”  to follow to achieve a “strategic warrior” lifestyle. 

1. “Look at things as they are, not as your emotions color them.” =  Be realistic and control your emotions.
2. “Judge people by their actions.” = Observe what others do, because actions speak louder than words.
3. “Depend on your own arms.” = By arms he is implying your mind, not an accumulation of stuff.
4. “Worship Athena, not Ares.” = Use her view on war, pragmatic and rationale, rather than his which is violence and aggression
5. “Elevate yourself above the battlefield.” = Look at the big picture, not the single snapshot
6. “Spiritualize your warfare.” = You have to deal with the internal conflict, and seek the use and development of your skills.

Greene finishes is preface with a brief explanation of how the book will be laid out, identifying each chapter is his attempt analyzing particular problems and how to deal with those.  He finished with the recognition that so often we in our lives will read books like this and explore information like his, yet fail to apply the new knowledge.  He says that strategy has be a “approach to life itself.” 

Like I said at the top, it is sucking me in fast.  I love the ideas and direction that Green is heading.  One of my favorite things about how Greene lays the book out has nothing to with the basic text, but the supportive anecdotes and quotes from writers, generals, and philosopher that he places in red in the margins of the pages.  It is a great way to add perspective and provide a secondary perspective to the topic. 

Greene is made me think tremendously in how I have dealt with issues in life and primarily with coachingsince that is partially what I picked this book up.  The one thing that kept jumping out at me had to do with his 5th fundamental “Elevate yourself above the battlefield.”  My first reaction was to play-calling.  Using this concept you have to look at the whole game and work through your decision making on plays called and not just look one play ahead, yet rather look as best you can at how the entire game is going to unravel.  Then I stopped myself and realized I was not quite grasping the point I felt.  To me the application of this is with an entire program not just a single game or competitor.  You have to look at the entire program and what is needed for the success of the program.  That success not just being wins on Fridays, but rather the development of boys into young men, and preparing them for life and the war they will be facing daily.

I know it can all come across very cliche-ish and cheesy, but its the truth.  Look at the successful programs out there and see what they preach, and think about what your ultimate goal is in coaching football.  I think Greene’s book is fantastic so far (I actually have gone passed the preface but I got to get you guys to come back and find out about the next chapter).   I recommend even after the first couple chapters that every coach, who really is in it for the kids, ought to get hold of this book!!!