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Post by outlawjoseywales on Jul 14, 2008 11:55:32 GMT -6
I've been really blessed, lucky if you will, to not have any really bad life stories in nearly 30 years of coaching. I've never been fired, I've never been run off, and of all things (this is just dumb luck) I've only been part of 2 losing seasons in my entire life. I have been blessed.
I was looking forward to having, what I believe to be my best season ever. I returned 33 of 34 players off a team that only lost 1 game.
Then this summer hit, man did it hit, like a sledgehammer. I've had all my linebacker, all my fullbacks, my starting D1 runningback, starting WB/FS, starting Corner/WR all transfer.
I have 1 kid who has ever even carried the ball in a game left on the team. We are a private school with a high tuition and several left because that, some left for other reasons.
I have a Sr. QB that is good and 1 good WR left. The entire Offensive line is 2 deep and all back, of course linemen don't usually transfer.
What do we do here? I don't even know what kind of offense to run, this has set us back, both physically and emotionally.
OJW
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Post by carson101 on Jul 14, 2008 12:12:21 GMT -6
maybe go to six man football I think you have to have 14 as a team,that is tough luck coach but if god has blessed you before and for so long he will bless you again i'm sure of it.
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Tampa
Sophomore Member
Posts: 211
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Post by Tampa on Jul 14, 2008 12:30:33 GMT -6
Dang Coach! I just emailed you and then saw this post. Is the QB a pure passer or an athletic type that can run some option?
Be thankful for that 2-deep O-line.
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Post by eickst on Jul 14, 2008 12:31:18 GMT -6
I think you should continue to run what you know. Maybe it's a small subset of what you would have run with all of the returners, but don't change everything now. Especially this close to the season.
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Post by groundchuck on Jul 14, 2008 12:33:36 GMT -6
1. Hammer home "Those who stay will be champions."
2. Run what you know best and you feel will work.
3. Pray for some transfers. LOL
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Post by outlawjoseywales on Jul 14, 2008 12:47:07 GMT -6
Thanks guys, appreciate it. I am a believer in "running what you know" but what if I don't know anything Tampa, good to hear from you. You know it'd be easier to take if had been losing alot of games. But with this economy, alot of private school coaches are losing kids. I just got cut off at the knees with this one. Thanks coaches, it feels better just talking about it. OJW
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Post by eickst on Jul 14, 2008 12:49:21 GMT -6
Time to water the lawn you've got instead of wish you had your neighbor's lawn.
Besides, your neighbor is just hiring people to take care of his anyway.
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Post by kcbazooka on Jul 14, 2008 12:51:56 GMT -6
Sorry coach, the scenario you gave should not be titled "devastated". YOu've coached a long time so maybe this has happened to you also - but "devastated" is a word I've used when a fullback was killed in a car accident - or a QB finds out homecoming week he has leukemia.
I'm sure your concerned about the transfers, but no not devastated...
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Post by outlawjoseywales on Jul 14, 2008 13:15:33 GMT -6
Good point coach, I've seen and had tragedies around me. You are right about that.
Maybe: "Aggevated and looking for help" might be better.
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Post by kcbazooka on Jul 14, 2008 13:23:10 GMT -6
I hear ya, Sounds like you do have some awful good things returning. If you are 2 deep at OL can one or two of those guys be plugged in as running backs? Can't replace a Div I RB prospect but maybe could run power and block for your returning QB?
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Post by burtledog on Jul 14, 2008 13:52:36 GMT -6
OJW: You have your head in the right place. I think you will figure the offense out and you will raise your team's character while you are at it. I hope you have some good W's on the board also. Greg
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Post by outlawjoseywales on Jul 14, 2008 14:06:06 GMT -6
KC, we are working on that idea as we speak. Putting a good Guard at fullback isn't much of a change for us, but for that kid-a dream come true.
I've run a lot of different offenses over the years. I've run doublewing some over the years and may go back to it. I don't know right now. If my QB was larger I'd run the wishbone, man I love that old offense, but he is too skinny. He is a very good passer though, and I intend to throw to the 1 receiver that I know can catch.
Anybody got an offense for 9 offensive linemen, 1 WR and a QB?
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Post by tothehouse on Jul 14, 2008 14:27:41 GMT -6
Call it the OL 11 - 1 QB and 10 OLman. Run wedge every play.
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Post by Sparkey on Jul 14, 2008 14:30:04 GMT -6
I would give anything for a 2-deep offensive line that is coming back! Remember ,Job didn't lose his faith! Don't take the transfers personally as the tuition at the private school is probably more than many people can afford.
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Post by sneakyben on Jul 14, 2008 14:52:48 GMT -6
Anybody got an offense for 9 offensive linemen, 1 WR and a QB? forums.delphiforums.com/SingleWing/There are some people there I think can help you out... Wedge wedge wedge playaction pass touchdown ad infinitum
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Tampa
Sophomore Member
Posts: 211
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Post by Tampa on Jul 14, 2008 14:54:18 GMT -6
Double tight (use extra O-line for TE) 1 back, 2 wide. Go both gun and under center. Motion top WR around to create mismatches and trips. Max protection with simple routes. Run Trap & G with some play action. Find good punter.
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Post by outlawjoseywales on Jul 14, 2008 17:57:55 GMT -6
That really funny there tampa, nice try but my punter left too
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Post by dubber on Jul 14, 2008 18:09:12 GMT -6
Outside of the Q and the WR, what else is in cupboard skills-wise?
BTW, you are half-way home with a 2-deep OL
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Post by eickst on Jul 14, 2008 18:11:58 GMT -6
I saw something on here recently that was a 10 OL and QB under shotgun with two 5 man wedges, one to each side centered on the tackle instead of the center. QB simply ran to the side that was called.
It would have to be more of a pistol than a shotgun and your QB had better be quick.
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Post by outlawjoseywales on Jul 14, 2008 18:51:10 GMT -6
Dubber, that's the real problem, I have no one that has even carried the ball but a couple of times in mop up duty. We don't have a JV, and I thought I was doing good by being 3 deep at FB. I will have to say that I did lose one of my fullbacks to a concussion issue that he had before he joined my team. The rest flew the coop. I talked to one kid today, a real fine Offensive Guard/Defensive End, he told me he had never touched the ball in a game. He maybe fast enough to play in the backfield. But man, I need somebody to transfer TO my school. But advertising in the paper that I need runningback is probably a violation with the FHSAA, you think?
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Post by coachnichols on Jul 14, 2008 19:38:54 GMT -6
1. Hammer home "Those who stay will be champions." 2. Run what you know best and you feel will work. 3. Pray for some transfers. LOL I'll second this. I wouldn't change anything other than increasing your determination to improve what you have. There's nothing you can do about the kids who left. Coach the ones you have and keep doing what you do/know. Sorry to hear about this unfortunate situation. Sucks man. I wish you luck in the coming weeks!!!
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Post by dubber on Jul 14, 2008 20:02:44 GMT -6
Entire cities have been laid waste to with a good QB, one good rec., and a good OL..........
You may have to get creative......as in, Mississippi Valley State University creative:
X--------O-O-X-O-O--------Y ---------------------------F--H --------------Q-------------Z
and
X--------O-O-X-O-O-----------------------------------Y ---------------------------F---------Z---------H --------------Q------------
and
X--------O-O-X-O-O--------Y ----------------------------H --------------Q-------------F -----------------------------Z
and
X--------O-O-X-O-O--------Y ---------------------------F--H------------Z --------------Q-------------
Play the numbers game:
1. Throw quick screens to QUADS if less than three defenders
2. Get X one-on-one
3. QB draw/dive (if options one and two are outnumbered, because there should only be 5 in the box versus your stud OL)
THAT is crazy, but, uh, so is your situation.
Hey, put a kid who is a double amputee out there as the numner rec., and the FIELD corner will cover him.
In a less crazy suggestion, you may want to start throwing the ball a little more in general.....
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Post by cltblkhscoach on Jul 15, 2008 1:13:06 GMT -6
Like most have said, I would kill to have the O-Line 2 deep and returning, but I've been on a staff that was in this situation before. If your one kid that can carry the ball can catch, you can work with a little something.
I'd go to a spread attack, isolate your one receiver sometimes, but move him around a lot, put him in the backfield and throw to him from there, put him in motion to free him up, put him in the slot against some LB's to get him away from their best cover guys, just play games to free him up.
And then, once you develop maybe one or two guys to just catch the ball against single coverage, you've got enough that can get you by, along with your QB who sounds athletic enough to run some option with the one kid that has carried the ball a little, or with your WR with some motion thrown in.
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Post by raiderpirates on Jul 15, 2008 2:13:01 GMT -6
Unbalanced line or jumbo sets. Some of the best T and OL in football played TE in HS and their first year of college. Combine the ace and two tight fronts with some 3 wr stuff. Think of the spread as a way to run also, and use max protect and quicks both to high degrees. Consider increasing the screen game, one career carry, might be someone to get his share of catches as a form of long hand off.
Smash 'em!
Defense, run packages of linemen in, you're looking at a big nickle and lots of one and two LB sets. Six man lines on short yardage, etc. Maybe the 4-2-5 others discuss for pass sets, paired with that eagle look where the SAM is in essence an extra DE.
The ability to work package and specialty sets for who you have could allow you to break the practice down into higher tempo stuff with the quicks and screens being so important also. Other teams will have so many keys to try and address as well, scouting the new will be a nightmare for them.
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crl
Junior Member
Pick me , pick me... I want to be on the RNC location scout team.
Posts: 476
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Post by crl on Jul 15, 2008 2:38:02 GMT -6
Wow! One good QB and so-so running back and one good receiver and a very deep O-line.
I attended a clinic some time ago to listen to one coach, he basically said in his div 1 college nobody really wanted to go too. Recruiting was tough, the best players went to four other colleges in his state alone, and he was raided by the neighboring states other two colleges plus a couple in California.Yet through this diversity he ran a very successful program. Coach Yeoman´s Houston Veer is what I would recommended, take your receiver and make his your tight end or your slot in motion to run the pitch to, the RB for the Dive and the Qb as your other running back, you can run the split or the single back with the motion. Easy to learn, easy to install and when it works very hard to stop. I can well say that many Coaches here on this Forum will agree. Best of Luck CRL
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Post by raiderpirates on Jul 15, 2008 2:47:03 GMT -6
Our TE was like that last year, they cut the age threshold another year so we lost the ultimate weapon. My preference is to get him closer to the form so he has room to work both directions instead of one.
True, more people can cover him, but he can stack people much easier so he has more ways to run routes. He can also rub the route onto others on crossing the formation. Wing him and he can motion or run even quicker.
But, with those extra OL I'd still put some extras in there at the TE spot. We did that much of the time with our depth at the position so one TE could be free to catch and the other stayed in to block.
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kr7263
Sophomore Member
Posts: 228
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Post by kr7263 on Jul 15, 2008 5:43:25 GMT -6
As the great gunny Sergeant Highway said "improvise, adapt and overcome" and as Zig Ziglar says "its not an alarm clock it an opportunity clock." This is a great life lesson for this group of kids. Bring the team together and lay it on the line. Challenge the TEAM to step up. Challenge the LEADERS to lead. This is not a problem this is an opportunity. Ask the kids what they think they can do - you may be surprised at their innovations / ideas. Use this as a team building experience. As you probably already know - obstacles can destroy or create.
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Post by bluecrazy on Jul 15, 2008 6:11:24 GMT -6
Wow, and i was upset because my Q.B. transfered.
I guess loosing one kid is much better than half the team.
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dvw29
Freshmen Member
Posts: 36
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Post by dvw29 on Jul 15, 2008 20:58:35 GMT -6
Veer- you need a QB, FB and TE... You could get creative with the TE (flex him out some) or go with a twins set (2 back, 3 WR) to run your veer/midline/speed & load option stuff. Split back or I would be fine and maybe both. OR if you are more of a spread guy.... I'd run counter/dart/zone read and veer /midline out of shotgun spread then have a bootleg off of that back action to set up the better WR on different routes in different formations. In that scheme I'd take the most athletic and agile OL with the best hands and have him be my TE in spread... do things with him as well... and coach up the other players I had left. Others have said similar things and I agree (screens, etc.) as well.
Sometimes our best coaching jobs are when we have situations like this occur. Good luck and don't be afraid of being creative to be successful. As long as the kids know it and can do it, that's all that matters.
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Post by talexander on Jul 17, 2008 4:52:04 GMT -6
If only I had two deep OL. . .. . . .
Keep doing what you do. . . it could be worse-I have about 8 seniors total on our team and we put in a new Offense AND defense this year (recently took over). We already had a one year "no camp" ban (previous coach) and then. . .. California caught on fire. We have been in the gym for two out of our 7 weeks we are allowed to have no pad skills sessions. My 8-1 frosh team decides to "hold out" because they are just so good they will win without picking up a weight.
A coach from last year's staff (not hired NOR endorsed by me) gets arrested for sleeping with a 15 year old girl--of course all that matters is that he was on our schools staff not that I didn't hire or want him. (He also told that frosh group that they didn't have to show up to unmandatory sessions)
Recently held a camp for my youth teams, but AD double booked our stadium, so I lost out to . . . SOCCER. Our youth team was greeted with un mowed grass and an over watered field. My AD also scheduled (without my approval)our first game against a team that is fielding their best team ever, but was already winning section titles. . .they also get to start practice two weeks before and have 2 games prior to this. Oh yeah, they are also 10 minutes away from us, so its great for recruiting.
Whew. . . I am crazy for staying, aren't I?
My line is about 6 deep
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