Do you have to throw to win????

I'd say...

You don't have to throw to win...
But you do have to be real good, to not need to throw.

tough question--I agree with airraider in that I have would say that in H.S on AVG, the teams that run the ball well win more than they lose. Usually this is because they are simply more physical, and impose their superior physicality on offense AND on defense. I also would say that I have noticed that those teams I am describing run into trouble deep in the playoffs when they line up against someone who isn't just going to be pushed around physically.

This topic was well hashed out in depth in several threads here, that actually got pretty heated. If you search "ground pounder" or something like that you will probably find the thread.

DAVE--how many state championships have they won in that 10+ year span?

wouldn't this depend on how good the defense is you're going against?

wouldn't this depend on how they are stopping your run game?

wouldn't this depend on what has happened to your offense within said game? (injury, etc.)

wouldn't this depend on the time remaining in the game? yardage needed for a score? timeouts available?

wouldn't this depend on SEVERAL factors?

I'm with Huey...

And more so... isn't it really about the defense anyway...

What does it mean, "do you have to throw?"

If you can't complete them... no way do you HAVE to throw...
If you can run... you don't have to throw...
If you can't run... that says so much more about their defense, than it does your offense...
If everyone else is throwing... does it really behoove you to throw also?

Its all about the defense.

im confused how your team went to the state finals 2 years ago when last year was the first year there was a state championship, and it really isnt because a committe decides on a team from Norcal and one from Socal to play. There isnt an actual state playoff system

Do you have to throw to win? No. If you are that much better than the other team then no you don't need to pass.

Now like others have already said to compete for a title in most states at most levels of play you are going to have to at some point in the playoffs throw the ball effectively to win. Effectively does not neccesarily mean every down but when you do throw you gotta make'm pay.

There was just a playoff game in the area the other night where one team just loaded up the box with 11 defenders within 4 yard of the LOS every down b/c the other coach couldn't or at least wouldn't throw the ball. You gotta be pretty damn good to run the ball vs 11 in the box.

Can't agree more. We have thrown the ball 67 times this year in 10 games. 10-0. Not that we dont want to but just haven't had to throw it alot this year. Played a team in the playoffs last year that put 10 in the box. Both our td's that night were on pass plays. I think if you get into the mind set that you wont throw the ball then you are in trouble. Big difference between not having to throw and just flat out not throwing.

first, let's remind ourselves that "throw to win" doesn't mean 40 passes in a game. "throwing to win" may simply mean ONE time you need to be able to complete a pass in a big situation.

for many teams, being able to "throw" means calling a pass play when the defense has given you every reason to throw the ball. for example, if team A brings out their "super duper run stopping front" and you are repeatedly hindered running against that front with any type of consistency, you are faced with a decision: do we call a pass here to take advantage of their alignment/assignment against our run game? if you can complete this pass then the defense may use "super duper run stopping front" quite as often -- allowing you to run your "normal" offense (i.e. run the ball with more consistency). however, if you can't threaten them enough to stop them from using said front, you could be in trouble if you can't consistently make good sound yardage against it. does this mean you have to throw the ball 40 times? no, it simply means that you are scratching where it itches and threatening the defense that if they become so one-sided in stopping your run game you have what it takes to hurt them (and, often it is a big play). so, you being able to throw it 5 times that game allows you to win. it was, indirectly, a win because you were able to "throw the ball."

sometimes, a team can throw all the "super duper" fronts at you they want, but you have the ability to consistenly gash them without a pass (perhaps you are just better up front, perhaps you had success with another run scheme to counter their front). however, their may come a time where you will be forced to decide: will throwing in a play-action here or some other pass be better for us when they are playing this type of defense against us? if you are successful at completing high percentage of these, or making them go for big yards then you may not need them much more as you have now 'altered' the defensive front/assignments as they are aware of you ability to "throw" the ball (i.e. hurt them bad if they are not completely alignment/assignment sound every down).

Thats a neat perspective Coach Huey, and hindsight being "really good", we probably "had to throw" at some point, for some reason, in a lot of the games we were successful in and probably would have won a lot more, if we "could have thrown", when needed. Didn't always practice it enough = my fault

while correct, it is not any type of "guarantee" that you can outnumber them or win the 1-on-1's consistently to move the ball enough to put points on the board.

there may come a time in a game where the defense is simply saying "we will stop a run play at all costs" ... either by front/stunt/personnel matchup. it will be at this moment when you - though still having an equal number of blockers vs their defenders - that you are simply 'hard rock mining' ... i.e. playing your a$$ off just for a 2-3 yard gain each time. if only you could "hurt 'em" once or twice and maybe that safety ain't so tough vs the run, etc.... if you can throw the ball (once, twice, whatever) then perhaps it becomes easier to run the ball. now, that safety is making contact 5 yds downfield instead of at or near the LOS. perhaps the DC is going to other fronts/stunts more often to keep from giving up that big play (your pass .. be it play-action, sprint, screen, or dropback).

i call it being smart. do this to be able to do that more effeciently (i.e. throw when they are daring you so that you can run it more consistently).

will you ALWAYS have to be able to do this? of course not. if plan A is never taken away (plan A being your ability to run the ball consistently and effeciently to move chains and score points) then there is never a need to HAVE to use plan B (throw it).

As alluded to before, you may not have to throw in an individual game, but you will need to at some point in the season. Eventually, you'll find a team that is talented enough or well-coached enough or both to take away the run. You must have an answer in the passing game when this happens.

You have to move the ball to win. It doesn't matter how you do it.

pretty much what i was alluding to in my earlier post. there may come a time in a close game that you will need another answer besides "hammer 'em with our normal stuff" ... may only take a time or 2 where you hurt 'em big with the counter to what they are doing .. i.e. some type of pass (or, it could be another run or gimmick you have rarely run)... regardless, to win the games against the great teams, you need to have the ability to go to "plan b" should the need arise.