1st Batch of A-11 Video (Thanks to Coach Huey)!

start a new thread on it

LONGtiger--
Not frmo texas, but since this topic has been addressed several times already, i think I can give the correct answer.

Under NCAA rules, the "scrimmage kick" formation numerical exception can only be used only if it is "obvious a kick may be attempted". That clause is not in the Federation rules, and the only thing necessary is that the QB is 7+ yards behind the LOS.

For the LAST time ... this was approved by the athletic governing body of California. While it may or may not be approved in other states and it has yet to be deemed illegal in California (or may never be deemed as such) It has been used in multiple games this past season. If we cannot move past this point of contention then I say we simply delete the whole mess.

I recommend the discussion go more to things that I (and other coaches who will listen to this idea) have concerns with the scheme:
1) protection issues... specifically when a potential "hot" is covered yet is out of the box enough to limit his role in pass protection
2) how to shift into and out of various formations to present challenges and to mask potential weaknesses in protection/blocking/routes or exploiting a potential weakness in defensive alignment/assignment/personnel matchup
3) what would one look for in determining a shift? and, how is this all sent in from the sideline during the pre-snap so that the best possible play is called or to avoid a bad play (no-huddle / check-with-me stuff)

with the diagram that was drawn up earlier asking about the "4-1 cover 2 look" i had questions about protection to the single receiver side -- both inside players were covered yet had limited spacing to help in protection yet the defense could send 3 to that side at the snap with no "hot" outlet for QB.
THESE are what is being asked and what should be discussed ... not:
1) whether you like it or not
2) whether it would be legal in your state
3) whether or not it goes against anything within the game
4) whether or not someone is here to sell something or buy something

We need to move forward with schematic discussion of it or we need to move on without it forever.

As a defensive coach, I view this offense as a total nightmare. It takes you out of what you like to do. We will often see gimmick formation a couple times a game and what we usually do is take away their main play out of it and sit back for the rest and make them snap the ball again. We played a team this year that was all "gimmick" like the A11 and it was horrible. We won the game, but they scored a lot more than they would have had they been a straight I team.

P.S. Please don't take offense to the term "gimmick." I use it out of ignorance. hahahah.

To Coach Huey, et al:

Great conceptual and schematic questions and I will try and answer best I can. Coach Huey's questions:

1) Protection issues... specifically when a potential "hot" is covered yet is out of the box enough to limit his role in pass protection...

Answer:

With our QB usually at 7 yds. depth, it is asking a lot of DE's to not only rush the QB many times per game at that depth but to effectively play the screen, draw, lead, option and wedge too. So, since we move the pocket a lot and also do quick passing game - the Defense usually does not have hard evidence that when a certain WR is "covered" and thereby Ineligible on that particular play, that we are or are not going to drop back pass or roll out, etc. To be as succint as possible, dependent upon the play, the "covered" WR's either: Decoy negative hitch or bubble, Hunt or Crack the DE's when we Roll Out to their side.


2 & 3) How to shift into and out of various formations to present challenges and to mask potential weaknesses in protection/blocking/routes or exploiting a potential weakness in defensive alignment/assignment/personnel matchup

Answer:

Imagine if you will, when Piedmont presents its offense to the defense before each play, all of the players are NEAR but not on the L.O.S. because there will never be a rule as to how quickly an offensive team must Align on the ball, etc. Only a rule as to how much time can elapse before delay of game will be called. So...if the coaches Spy an overload coverage by the Defense, and/or a certain Defensive look when we are in Trips Eligible to one side, let's say, then we make a play call by number on Wristband and off we go.

For example: As stated in earlier posts, most of our formations add up to the number 7 cause you must have at least 7 men on L.O.S. when the ball is snapped. Working from left to right, we divide the Field into 1/3's, Red Box, White Box and Blue Box.

And, if we want to try and take advantage of a personnel matchup in our favor to our left side and want a Trips look instead of our normal Base as listed in earlier posts, the Call would go like this for example:

"133 - Stagger 293 Split" and would look like this after our last second shift onto the L.O.S.


X........................................U...C...Y...............E............B.............Z
...............A..............R...................2..............................................
...............................................1...................................................

Note: "133" means: 1 man on the L.O.S. in Red Box, 3 men on L.O.S. in White Box, and 3 men on the L.O.S. in Blue Box.

Now, Piedmont has Trips to the Left, while still blocking 4 with Pass Pro by U/C/Y and 2, and the defense must account for All three players in the Blue Box (E/B/Z) because of Quick Screen, Tunnel Screen, etc.

Obviously, on other formations and/or play calls, we can shift down an Eligible or Ineligible player to provide frontside or backside Pass Pro or Run Blocking. And, can also Screen or Flood to the Eligible Player who has been shifted down off the L.O.S.

One example of that would look like this:

X........................................U...C...Y...............E............B.............Z
...................A..................R...........2..............................................
...............................................1...................................................


Hope this helps.

Kurt

We saw 3 -2 fronts with the Nose flexed off and the 4-1 front I drew up too about half and half, there are strengths and weaknesses to both.

Our 4 man, 5 man and once in a while when we see something "open" our 3 man Pass Pro is pre-set in our call. Slide Left or Right, with the offset Back picking up the DE, etc.

On some of our Pass Pro we do have the shifted down WR and/or staggered Back able to Check - then Release if open.

Because of the spread alignment and shifting opportunities, only a couple of times this past season did we see teams bring 5 against us. It is a good thing to do vs. A-11 once in a while, but seriously risky to live off of - in my opinion. One blown assignment about who is or is not Eligible makes for an easy score.

Texas Tech: Yes, we have looked at what they do and will do more of that kind of stuff in the passing game.

Kurt

The past few posts by the Piedmont A-11 coaches have been very functional posts - actual X and O's with terms and comments as opposed to theory and rhetoric. I suggest the A-11 discussion continue on these lines in the run or pass forum so the info shared can become even more specific. New innovation genius coaches or rule breaking (Texas only! ) bandits out to bring down traditional football ... I think we've exhausted that discussion. My thanks to the Piedmont coaches for getting their video posted and now giving concrete answers to everyone's questions.

To CaRookie:

Great suggestion about "Scattering" our personnel.

Will do in 2008 and thank you.

KB

If that happens, then it makes it much easier to RUN the ball.

As you know, Football is the ultimate Chess Match.

Thanks,

KB

When we Run the ball it usually is:

Draw, Lead, Wedge, Option or Zone Option, dependent upon the front...

KB