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Post by here4thekids on Feb 28, 2008 22:08:53 GMT -6
Okay here's the situation.........I am the finalist for a head coaching position at a school which has great potential for success in the near future. The school has athletes in the building (which can be demonstrated by their #2 state ranking in basketball and successful baseball program) but had an extremely bad coaching staff (literally one of the worst I have seen in all my years of coaching). The coaching staff continuously had players out of position and had schemes which look like they were made up in the dirt during the game. Even though they have athletes it doesn't compare to the top 2-3 teams in the conference who continuously have 3-4 D1 players on their teams. So athletically they are a middle of the pack team (more athletes than some, fewer than others and comparable to the rest).
Here's my dilemma: Which offense do I run if I get the job? I am an OC who is known as a spread guy who was able to help take our team to the State Semifinals last year with the spread (this is mainly how I obtained my reputation). The AD and principal know that I am a spread guy and we have talked about me implementing this scheme if I get the job. However at the same time I have experience running the Double Wing at the school I was at before my current school. I feel like I know both systems in and out and would feel comfortable running either. However I don't know what is coming back for next year, and I would much rather know I have a QB before I decide on the spread. In my opinion, you can still win with the spread without a throwing QB, but it's not really worth running unless you have a QB who can threaten the defense with a vertical game. I believe the Double Wing is very effective and can be a greater equalizer of talent. In addition, no body runs it in our conference and there is only 1 Wing T team in our conference (compared to 4-5 spread teams). But again I talked to the administration about the spread and am "known" as a spread guy.
So with that being said should I decide on a scheme before I get in or should I evaluate the personnel first? And if I do decide before I get the job, which scheme should I run; one that I am known for and had my most recent success with or one which not many other teams have run and can be more of threat with fewer athletes?
**And of course I know emphasis would be put on the weight program, fundamentals, speed program, etc. or no system will work. However I am just looking at this dilemma from a systematic standpoint. Thanks!!
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Post by airitout616 on Feb 29, 2008 4:39:24 GMT -6
Run what you believe in, if you don't believe in your system then its not worth coaching it even if you have the personnel i.e. I'm sure CoachCalande wouldn't run the spread if he had 4 or 5 solid WR's and QB that could chuck it and run it I am sure he would stick to his system and then adjust it maybe add a few packages and plays to take advantage of his weapons. But he wouldn't "sell out" and be in the gun and in 4 or 5 wide sets all game. Just run what offense you truly believe in I feel you can adjust, add and subtract things with in any given system to take advantage or off set your talent.
If your a "Double Wing" guy run the Double Wing. If your a "spread" guy run the spread. Then adjust from there.
There was a team in our confrence that has been a Wing-t team forever, there coach is a "old bird" so he sort of stuck in his ways but they had a QB 4 year starter that could run around and chuck it so they stuck with the same system he has ran for years but they added a few spread concepts and got in the gun every once in awhile.
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Post by lochness on Feb 29, 2008 6:39:50 GMT -6
Coach,
Nothing personal (and I mean that SINCERELY), but you really shouldn't be a head coach if you don't have a clear idea of what you want to do on offense and defense. To heck with what anyone else thinks or does. Do what fits YOUR vision.
I also agree that you may be able to run some "spread" concepts with your core DW offense if you make the determination that you have a QB and some skill people. I would imagine that teams would have defensive fits trying to prepare for the DW and a "spread" package all in one week!! You may not want to do anything other than some basic 2x2 (because it translates well from DW, heck you could shift in and out!), but that's still a nice twist. The Counter Trey (GT) spread play is very similar to the stuff you'd run out of the DW, so even some of the blocking translates well.
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Post by dubber on Feb 29, 2008 12:01:43 GMT -6
Do what you believe in.......make sure you know what that is.
To answer your question: I don't think you are going to be required to handout a playbook at your next interview, so I wouldn't say for certain what to run------as far as teh administartion is concerned.
But you need to find out or reaffirm what you believe in, and then SELL SELL SELL it to your kids. In fact, that is the biggest time table affecting your decision. That may be the first question kids ask: "What are we running on offense?"
You need to be ready by that first team meeting to go:
"We are a get after your butt, ground and pound DW team!"
or
"We going to spread em' out and look to score every play"
or whatever.
In terms of your team, you need to have the vision set, and then get everyone on board in pursuing that vision.
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Post by rideanddecide on Feb 29, 2008 16:48:51 GMT -6
Coach,
I'll agree with whatever you choose to go with don't look back and make sure you sell to your kids.
I agree with Lochness that you need to have a vision and go with it, BUT that vision should be based around whether you are going to pass or run not whether you are going to be an I or Spread or Double Wing or Wishbone or ETC...
For example, we are switching to the option for next year because we learned that we don't have the right athletes on a consistent basis to run the I AND be competitive in the playoffs doing it. Our core beliefs are the same (run the ball, ball security, be physical, own the clock, etc...) but we will be doing it in a different way.
Point is, consider your most basic philosophy of what an offense should do, and pick the scheme that will help you reach that vision.
On the other hand...if it's a basketball school I'd strongly consider the spread.
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Post by spos21ram on Feb 29, 2008 16:54:11 GMT -6
I agree with pretty much all the posts but I will say I would go with thre spread in your situation. Not only cause your a "spread guy" but those athletes that are at your school that don't play football will more likely be interested in that offense. Much more appealing than the double wing.
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Post by here4thekids on Feb 29, 2008 17:39:40 GMT -6
Thanks guys for all of the input, all of the points are great as the provide insight from your point of view. I know alot of coaches say normally in your interview, the administration won't ask you or care about your system. However, in my interview they did (for about 10 mintues) and luckily my manual covers my offensive philosophy/system. They already knew what I run, they like it as it is the offense of choice at this time (and I have been successful with it), and I sold it to them. However, after I got home I started to second-guess myself and think about well what if I don't have this or that? I agree with what you said beardc that I should focus on my offensive philosophy and not so much schematic philosophy which we have a tendency to do (great point). I do know that if I get the job I have to be 100% confident about our scheme and sell, sell, sell. I guess I am just paranoid that I will say YES, let's go with this and then when I see the kids' athletic ability/size I correlate that with a better scheme to use with that personnel. Spos you made a good point about it being a basketball school and how that may provide more WR types. This is something that is very important to take into consideration. Lastly, Calande you talked about mixing the concepts. I have toyed with that in years past but find it hard to mix the philosophies since they are so different. Have you come in contact with a school that has been able to successfully mix the two (a true DW scheme and a true spread scheme). I know one school in California has mixed the single wing with the double wing effectively but I have not seen a true spread mixture.
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Post by morris on Feb 29, 2008 19:54:14 GMT -6
You have a way to get soem film ro information on the guy from OH? where in OH is he coaching?
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Post by sweep26 on Feb 29, 2008 21:56:06 GMT -6
There are an awfully lot of factors to consider before you determine precisely what kind of a system that you are going to run; i.e., your team's strengths & weaknesses (physically and mentally), your squad size (how many, if any, will have to go both ways), your available practice time (both on the field and in the classroom), the number of, and committment of, your coaching staff and their capabilities. etc.
In making this decision, I think that you also have to factor in how your strengths and weaknesses compare to the other people on your schedule. Then play to your strengths and circumvent your weaknessess.
When asked what your are going to run on offense -- "the things that we have the best opportunity to be successful at."
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Post by here4thekids on Mar 1, 2008 13:19:04 GMT -6
Sweep26, I agree that there are many factors that you need to consider before you decide on a scheme however I also am adamant that you need to have your schemes ready when you get the job. So how do you balance the factors (and not knowing them because you haven't met the kids) with the need to have your scheme ready to go (especially when you have had success and know 2 various schemes, even though I lean closer to the spread these days).
Calande, I researched the school that you mentioned, Dublin Jerome, and this is what I found. It seems that it was a new school built in 2004 who has the record of17-24 in its 4 years (2007: 7-3, 2006: 2-8, 2005: 6-5, and 2004: 2-8). It seems as though they had 3,356 of offense (2,432 yards of rushing with 924 yards passing) and averaged 20 points per game this past year. Offensively, it seems as though they have never had a WR with more than 15 pass receptions, 300 yards receiving or 3 TDs for a season. Also, they have never had a QB with more than 55 completions, 5 TDs, or 900 yards passing in a season. The stats make me wonder how much emphasis is put on the spread concepts and if their system is a modified single wing that passes a little more than other single wing teams. What are the dynamics of this team? Do they have any 3-step, sprint, screen, 5 step/7step schemes or are most of their passing schemes play-action (primarily based off their run game)? Obviously they are not balanced more of a run-based team but how do they identify themselves (I think I heard the HC saying something about them being a SW team)? Looking at the record I have noticed that they have had up and down season, do you know how long they have had this philosophy? And lastly what particular schemes (running and passing) do they implement? Thanks Calande for the info.
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Post by here4thekids on Mar 1, 2008 14:02:47 GMT -6
Morris, the HC's name is Mark Hundley and he coaches at Dublin Jerome in Dublin, Ohio. He spoke at a clinic where he discusses his offense recently. You can email him at coachhundley@jeromefootball.com if you are interested in the video. I think it costs $20.
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