Untitled - Fast and Furious Football

82 FOOTBALL COACHING STRATEGIES
gains when we don't make a frrst down orget out
of bounds. Rarely wju we take a time-out after
makins a fiIst down unless we have more available
than the situation dictates w€,11need. Wed
rather stop the clock with the eB intentionaly
tluowing the ball into the ground, sac ficing the
down to save the time-out. When ue do this, the
QB calls r he code word .or r his ptal and er erl une
knows to ger sor. Thp QB ca tbr r he ba "
a. soon
as everyone is set and the official marks the ball
as ready for pla)r The line merely steps insjde
while everyone else stays in his stance until the
whisue blows the play dead.
On.the.Field Procedures
Now,let's Iook at a few ofthe procedures we use
and how we execute our 2-minute offense:
1. We identify which of the three tempos we
want or need to employ, and then we ale1t
€veryone on the offensive team that we are
going into that mode of offense. We atso jn_
torn everyone exac y what our goat for the
series may be, whether we need a TD or if
we can setUe for a FG.
2. Beforc the QB takes the field, we rcview that
week's 2-minute plan and confirmwith him
how many time-outs we have ard how nmy
plays we should be abl€ to run in the time
.emaining. We remind him what the Desr
plays should be for that week, and what to
expect liom our opponent. W€ try to start a
2-minute drill \.ith a ptay that's good ver_
sus a wide variety of coverages, which for
us may be a curl route, a screen, or a d.aw.
Whatever play you select, it shodd bc ure
that your players know €xtremely well, ex_
ecute well, and one that has answers ior
whatever look you may get. Success on the
{irst play is criticat not onlyjust for the yardE
gained, but for the psychological boost it
$ves ine @am.
3. Aft€r th€ first play, w€ arc into our 2-minute
offense, and the coach€s continue to call the
plays frorn the sideline. We don,t let oul eB
call his own plays dudng the regutar couse
of the game, and we arent going to expeci
him to do so when the game is on the line.
The QB will immediately look to tbe sidelin€
once the prcvious play is completed.
Because ofthis, there is no real reason for
us to call two plays in the huddle at one time.
The signals are short and quick, usuatly only
one or two movements of a hand, and the
QB stafts relaying the play to the rest of
the ofense as the ball is being spotted and
the oflense is g€tting alJgned for the nexr
play. Routes aie usually communicated to
the receivers frrst, then the protections are
directed for the line and running backs.
In addition, we have found that we can
change the pelsonnel that we have in the
same by having them right up there besid€
us and sending them in as soon as the pre_
vious playends. This has been beneficiat for
us because we can go fuom four WRs to two
RBs and back to five WRs without the de,
fense having time to adjust its personnel.
draws, aDd the FB trap have beel very
efibctive -,Screens, ptays for us the last few y€arc, especially
on second and short down and distances. By calt_
ing these plays during tbe last 2 minutes, we hav€
an excellent chance to at least pick uD the first
do$n. The"e plaJ" atjo kFep ino a"r;n.. otrbalance
and slo\^ down the pass rush
1994 Pro@edinqs Coach Futmer is head coach at rhe Uni\ersitr ofTennessee.