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.

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