Question for Offensive Coordinators

Well, I'll first start by saying that I don't work from the press box anymore. I had for 5 years, and necessity put me on the sideline. I actually find it easier to manage the game on the sideline than upstairs. The disadvantage is that you need 1 or 2 really good pairs of eyes to rely on up top to understand what is happening defensively.

BUT, that being said, here are some tools to use that are absolutely necessary.

1. GAME SHEET: We use a laminated 8 1/2 X 14 sheet, dual sided It has a hole hit-chart broken down by series. It has pass plays broken down by type (3 step, 5 step, playaction, rollout, etc.). Then it has all those plays categorized by situation (openers, goal line, backed-up, short yardage, down-and-distance, etc.) Then it has sections that are specific to certain elements of the game plan. Maybe we know they like to go from a 5-2 to a 5-3 at times, so we'll have 2-3 running plays from several formations we really like against the 5-3, so we'll put that in a section. Maybe we have a specific pass or passes that we want to run against certain coverages. We'll even put a section on there of "misdirection" plays or plays designed to highlight a "playmaker." This is the #1 tool.

2. Depth chart and personnel packaging chart.

3. Tackles chart. We want to record on every play not just down, distance, hash, formation, play, ballcarrier, etc. but even more importantly, we want to know WHO made the tackle. Was it the backside ILB? Was it the DE? This helps us determine WHY a play was stopped. Maybe we need to block it differently...maybe we need to run a complimentary play to hold someone honest.

4. Front chart. This charts the alignments and actions of the front 7 against our base formations. We usually fill one out before the game based on scouting film work and last year's game film against us. Then, it's really just a matter of confirming...is it accurate or have they made adjustments?

That's pretty much it. That's all we use. We find that you can't really over complicate things. The most useful tool is the call sheet because that's the fruits of all your labor from scouting, practice, film work, etc. and it takes most of the guess work out of your job.