what makes an aggressive play caller?

I think there's aggressive playcalling and something beyond aggressive that borders on maniacal.

For myself, I want to be aggressive enough that if someone's going to take advantage of my aggressive defensive calls then they'll have to be more aggressive than I am.

How about ALWAYS GOING FOR TWO...aggressive enough?

Some coaches have the mentality that they will take what the offense or defense gives them. They will call plays based on percieved "weaknesses" in the offense or defense.

On the other hand, there are coaches who are going to call their plays no matter what (the doesn't matter what "they" do, only matters what "we" do mentality). IMO, that is "aggressive".

For me on offense i try to be aggressive with the Tempo of the game, getting to the line under 4.5 seconds from the break, quick candence, etc.

Well, when you consider running bucksweep out of orbit motion (or jet or fly sweep out of the same action) agressive, then I think it doesn't take much. Is it just me? or can anyone else stand to listen to two people who really know nothng about the game?

If you read Tiger Ellison's old book on the origin of the Run & Shoot, he talks about the basic concepts of the offense (displaying the ball vs. hiding it, hit 'em where they ain't...)

One of them was "score now vs. score eventually."

I would think the coach that is trying to score now would be an aggressive play caller.

15. The general that hearkens to my counsel and acts
upon it, will conquer: let such a one be retained in command!
The general that hearkens not to my counsel nor acts upon it,
will suffer defeat: let such a one be dismissed!

16. While heeding the profit of my counsel,
avail yourself also of any helpful circumstances
over and beyond the ordinary rules.

17. According as circumstances are favorable,
one should modify one's plans.

18. All warfare is based on deception.

19. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable;
when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we
are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away;
when far away, we must make him believe we are near.

20. Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder,
and crush him.

21. If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him.
If he is in superior strength, evade him.

22. If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to
irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.

23. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest.
If his forces are united, separate them.

24. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where
you are not expected.

25. These military devices, leading to victory,
must not be divulged beforehand.



...this is the Way of true aggression, Grasshopper...

We call our offense in a manner that we feel gives us a chance to put ourselfs in a position to get first downs. For example, on 2nd and 12 we are generally looking for 6 or 7 yeards to get us to a 3rd and medium sitution.

To us, agressive play calling is when we run something that has a higher chance than other things in our offense to put is in a long yardage situation. For example, for us throwing a fade on 1st and 10 is agressive. Why? Because there is a higher chance of being in 2nd and long than if we were to run one of our base plays (zone, iso, hitch, slant, boot). Running a reverse on 2nd and 2 is not agressive because even if we lose a few yards we still feel like we are in a reasonable spot to pick up a first down on the next play.

Again though, this is all just perception as our fans will look at this very differently than we do as a staff.

Is it aggressive if it works, and bad playcalling if it does not?

Case in point, the google ad at the top of the page right now:


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That law firm is selling their consumers on the fact their aggression as a good thing


Much like how a football coach needs to sell his players that his scheme is aggressive/physical/whatever

Being aggressive in playcalling (taking the players out of the equation) means being attack minded. Looking for that score and finding those mismatches. Not being afraid to come back to something that works earlier in a game.

Being willing to disregard down/distance and just attack, attack, attack.

Some offenses lend themself to this philosophy, some do not. Or at least not as well. Just my own personal belief.

I believe our offense does and we like to believe we are aggressive. We preach it and we teach it. How you practice it is half of the battle. Executing it on gameday is the other half but you can't have one without the other.

An aggressive attack attitude is part of the playcalling philosophy.

You have to practice it and demand it.

Good answers! How bout.... the situation being the same.... an aggressive play caller = plays to win ...... a conservative play caller = plays "not" to lose ?

I think Aggressive Playcalling changes meaning with the level that your coaching at. For one, many high school defenses aren't going to hide their coverages very well, most stay in 1 or 2 coverages the entire game. Now, you get into college and you see 5 different coverages, I think your definition of aggressive changes. To me, calling a game that doesn't follow a pattern and keeps the defense guessing is aggressive. 3rd down and 9 and you run a counter tag. That's aggressive to me. 4th and inches, you throw a slant/flat. Thats aggressive.

Also want to note, how many coaches 2nd guess themselves on a call, but afterwards..you see it on film and the play should of been made or pass completed...in other words, you made the right call, your team just didn't execute. I don't think any coach should be down on themselves if they make a call that was the right call, but execution prevented it from happening.

I don't think throwing deep all of time or going for it on 4th down all of the time make you aggressive so much as it makes you predictable. I think aggressive (or efficient, I like that better) playcalling is having your entire playbook being a potential threat from any position on the field. We will throw it or run the option from our one yard line or theirs, to others this might seem aggressive, to us it is what we practice and what we do. I think being unpredictable on any down is more desirable than "aggressive", but I guess the two could be considered the same depending on the point of view. A guy who can line up and pound it down the field and then hit the play action is just as aggressive and effiecent if he has the horses to do it.