Offensive Strategy
Football calls for many different strategies in a game. The
offense decides on a way to play and the defense does too. What
plays are chosen and against what defensive formations are all
part of the offensive and coaching
strategy.
Offensive strategies:
- Running game. This
way a team can control the pace of the game. They can
control the clock. All coaches say This is an example of
what some coaches call ball control offense. Examples
- Passing game. Teams
with good quarterbacks and receivers like to pass. They
more the ball down the field by throwing long or short
passes. The West Coast offense,
Run and Shoot, are styles
currently used by NFL teams.
- Two Minute Offense:
This is when the game is in the last two minutes of
either half. The offense wants to move the ball quickly
down the field. Usually there is no huddle and the plays
are called at the line of scrimmage. Most plays are run
to the side line so the players can get out of bounds to
stop the clock. If they do not get out of bounds they
have to use a timeout.
This stops the clock and they can get organized for the
next play. The two minute offense is used also when a
team get too far behind on the score.
- Play calling. Calling
the right play at the right time can make all the
difference. If the defense is expecting a run and the
offense passes, a big play may result. Many teams rely on
their quarterback to make the right call. A quarterback
may call an audible
if he sees that the defense is at a disadvantage. Here is
a formation with three different plays.
Teams have scouted
their opponents and look for tendencies in the way they play
defense and what they do in certain situations. For example if a
team always blitzes on third and long, then the offensive coaches
would call a screen pass
or draw. Each offensive
segment coach scouts their opponent to look for ways of running a
specific play. The line coach
watches for the way the defensive line rushes. He then plans out
the blocking scheme. The backs
watches the linebackers and secondary to see how they move and
where they defend. He checks if they play man or zone defense.
The receivers coach
watches the backs and how they cover the receivers. All the
coaches then meet as a staff and report their findings to the
offensive coordinator. Then they come up with the game plan for
the opponent.
Scouting plan example
Game plan example