Play list

I'll get things started here... Last period I was looking over a game plan play sheet (week 8 game)- we had 20 running plays and 20 passing plays. In that game we probably ran 11 or 12 of the running plays (5 of those plays we ran several times)- we only threw 5 passes...

It gives me something to think about- how many plays are we practicing that we never really run? I know we spend a lot more time on the ones we use a lot, but I always think we do too much.

double wing run plays...

10/11 gut
40/41 truck (tackle trap)
40/41 trap
40/41 counter trap
42/43 trap
42/43 counter trap
42/43 ice (fb lead play)
44/45 dog (g scheme)
34/25 power
36/27 power
32/23 blast
38/29 sweep
38/29 sprint sweep (like jet/rocket)
18/19 boot
238 reverse/329 reverse
325 counter xx/234 counter xx
40/41 wedge on sound or with xx action
34 smash/25 smash (like power, playside g block)

passes

boot pass (two variations maybe)
power pass (two variations maybe)
counter keep pass
5 step (maybe 3 plays)
reverse pass
half back sweep pass

_

Offensively, I hate playcalling when your opponent's defense is already a step ahead of you.

One team in the 4A Div. 1 championship ran up the middle, threw a short route to the flats or a deep bomb. They were blew out 59-0.

I would carry plays that you know you are going to run and that have worked for you all season. I also would carry a couple of gimmick plays to throw the defense off balance and then add in new plays that you haven't shown all year such as screens, sprint/smoke draw, etc.

Here's another thing? What packages do you bring for your defense such as stunts, combination, twists/ etc?

Huey... as an HC, do you ever think that your DC's playsheet might be too long, not good enough, predicatble...

I'm trying to figure out playcalling from the defensive side of the ball because my goal is to become a DC and coach the D-Line.

Our head coach had previously researched this subject with his staff at one of previous college coaching stops. They came up with this breakdown, which we adapted to the shorter high school game. Maybe someone will find this useful.

Estimated Number of Plays Run Per Down in an High School Football Game

Teams Average 60-to-65 Total Offensive Plays per Game

First Downs: ……………………………………27 plays
1. Ideal Objective: Get to 2nd & Medium
· Anticipate 15 to 20 run calls designed to gain 4+ yards on 1st down
2. Gambling: Should throw 25% to 33% of time on 1st down, which is 5-to-10 first down passing calls
· Need 4 or 5 play-action passes
· Need 4 or 5 “quick game” 3-step drop passes
· Never take a “sack” nor throw an interception; throw ball away and take a “no loss, no gain.”
· Consider a 1st down “home run” shot, especially after a dramatic “sudden change,” i.e.
a. The recovering of an opponent turnover or
b. A special teams’ play (great return or block of opponent’s punt or kick)
Second Downs: ……………………………………. 19 plays
1. 2nd & Short (2 yards or less needed):…. 4 plays
· Ideal Objective: Convert to 1st down
· Gambling: Consider 1 well-timed “home run” shot on 2nd & Short. Base decision on personnel, weather, score, field position, time remaining, and the game’s “momentum.”
2. 2nd & Medium (3-to-6 yards needed): … 7-8 plays
· If 4-6 yards is gained on 1st down (leaving us at 2nd & 6 yards or less), the 2nd down call will be designed to gain 4 or 5 yards in order to arrive at 3rd & Short.
· Ideal Objective: Get to 3rd & Short
· Gambling: Consider 2 “play-action” pass calls on 2nd & Medium to take advantage of defenders not respecting the pass, either by alignment or by reaction.
3. 2nd & Long (7 yards or more needed): … 7-8 plays
· Ideal Objective: Get to 3rd & Short
· Conservative Objective: Get to 3rd & Medium
· Gambling: Usually not a situation in which to gamble in order to convert to 1st down and risk losing significant yardage and arriving at 3rd & Extra Long
Third Downs: ……………………………………… 18 plays
1. 3rd & Short (2 yards or less needed): …. 5 plays
2. 3rd & Medium (3-to-6 yards needed): …. 6 plays
· Conservative Objective: Consider getting to 4th & Short, based on field position, time remaining, score, etc.
3. 3rd & Long (7-to-10 yards needed): …. 5 plays
· Ideal Objective: Convert to 1st Down
a. Need 1 draw play
b. Need 1 screen pass
c. Need 2 or 3 downfield dropback passes
· Conservative Objective: Get to 4th & Short, based on field position, time remaining, score, etc.
4. 3rd and Extra Long (11 or more yards needed):… 2-3 plays
· Usually results from a penalty or a sack, so either an offensive mistake or a defensive success created this situation. Be careful not to compound the offense’s mistake or further reward the defense’s success by risking too much to remedy the situation.
· Ideal Objective: Convert to 1st down
a. Need 2 downfield “drop back” passes
b. Those passes designed for 3rd & Long may also suffice.
· Conservative Objective: Based on score, time remaining, field position, etc., consider playing for field position with a conservative call in order to manage both risk and field position.

Thanks, Coach. Seeing this document really put some things into perspective, such as including too many 3rd-and-Long-type passes in the week's script.

Thaks coach that is some great info.

It would be great if some people would include their play sheets.