Coach, I am a coach of a girl’s flag football team. Our school district picked it up as a varsity sport and is 7 on 7. Do you have a podcast or advice for me on a running game? I don't have a QB that I am confident with over 5-10 yard passes and those passes are not that strong, with only average accuracy. I don't really have great receivers. What I do have is some soccer and track girls with speed. I want to put a running game together and run 80% of the time. Can you help me?
Great questions. I coached a girls’ flag football team for three years. We often dealt with significant challenges at QB.
First, you’re right that an Option attack is a great alternative to a passing attack when the accuracy or arm strength of your QB is lacking. The problem with abandoning the pass, though, is that the defense cheats up closer to the line of scrimmage and plays laterally, rather than vertically. So what you end up with is Cornerbacks on the line and Safeties only 5 yards deep, making it very hard to turn the corner.
So, you cannot fully abandon the pass. Even if you can only throw 10 yards downfield, at least the Cornerbacks will have to honor that possibility, which will prevent them from cheating up to the line and committing only to run support.
Option running is all about adjustments at the line to find weaknesses in the defense. Simply put, the kids on the field need to react to what they see. As such, you need to give your QB enough authority to change the play call to match the opportunity presented by the defense. This means not only calling “Power Option” and coaching the QB to read the DL and keep or pitch accordingly. What it REALLY means is giving your QB the chance to audible out of pass and into run, or vice versa, based on the alignment and pre-snap read of the defense.
My first girls’ team won their league championship largely on the play of several Offensive superstars and a very aggressive defense. My final three years were disappointing for a number of reasons, but most detrimental was our lack of a traditional drop-back passing QB. As a play caller, not giving up some control was perhaps my biggest missed opportunity.
There are three things you’ll need to do:
1. Design a small playbook (6-9 plays) in few formations (1-2 max) that allows you a wide possibility in run and pass.
2. Game plan these plays against anticipated defensive alignments so you can identify the “keys”
3. Teach your players how to spot weakness and how to change offensive calls at the line to exploit weakness. Literally, you’re giving the “keys” to the Offense and telling them to drive.
PODCASTS THAT MAY HELP
Option Attack: Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaN8NWCoOoA
Option Attack: Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv5kNKbDX70
Also, check out this video I built on The Pick Play, which might help you get people open on short passing and make it an easier throw on the QB:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlmmpF-MoWQ
Good luck, and keep us posted on your progress on our Facebook page or in the comments box below.
First, you’re right that an Option attack is a great alternative to a passing attack when the accuracy or arm strength of your QB is lacking. The problem with abandoning the pass, though, is that the defense cheats up closer to the line of scrimmage and plays laterally, rather than vertically. So what you end up with is Cornerbacks on the line and Safeties only 5 yards deep, making it very hard to turn the corner.
So, you cannot fully abandon the pass. Even if you can only throw 10 yards downfield, at least the Cornerbacks will have to honor that possibility, which will prevent them from cheating up to the line and committing only to run support.
Option running is all about adjustments at the line to find weaknesses in the defense. Simply put, the kids on the field need to react to what they see. As such, you need to give your QB enough authority to change the play call to match the opportunity presented by the defense. This means not only calling “Power Option” and coaching the QB to read the DL and keep or pitch accordingly. What it REALLY means is giving your QB the chance to audible out of pass and into run, or vice versa, based on the alignment and pre-snap read of the defense.
My first girls’ team won their league championship largely on the play of several Offensive superstars and a very aggressive defense. My final three years were disappointing for a number of reasons, but most detrimental was our lack of a traditional drop-back passing QB. As a play caller, not giving up some control was perhaps my biggest missed opportunity.
There are three things you’ll need to do:
1. Design a small playbook (6-9 plays) in few formations (1-2 max) that allows you a wide possibility in run and pass.
2. Game plan these plays against anticipated defensive alignments so you can identify the “keys”
3. Teach your players how to spot weakness and how to change offensive calls at the line to exploit weakness. Literally, you’re giving the “keys” to the Offense and telling them to drive.
PODCASTS THAT MAY HELP
Option Attack: Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaN8NWCoOoA
Option Attack: Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv5kNKbDX70
Also, check out this video I built on The Pick Play, which might help you get people open on short passing and make it an easier throw on the QB:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlmmpF-MoWQ
Good luck, and keep us posted on your progress on our Facebook page or in the comments box below.
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