Preparing For Goal Line Offense & Defense
One of the hardest things about the game of football is that it requires preparing for situations. The average fan might think that coaches just call the same plays, defenses and special teams schemes throughout a game. Nothing could be further from the truth. Preparing for your goal line offense and your goal line defense is a good example.
Good coaches plan and coach situational football and all football is situational football. Calling the same plays in the red zone that you are out in the field? It’s a matter of time until it is going to bite you. Playing base defense consistently when the offense crosses your 25 yardline? Dialing up a pressure or two is going to go along way to insuring success.
More On FirstDown PlayBook: Quick Game Passes With Explosive Options
The goal line run we are highlighting today might seem as foreign to some of you as the single wing offense. However; if you watch enough football on Sundays you will definitely see it in the NFL. Teams will still march 23 personnel onto the field with three tight ends and two running backs. There may even be an extra offensive lineman playing one of the tight end spots.
Defenses will adjust accordingly with a 6-2 or 5-3 goal line front. Their personnel will have plenty of beef with five or six players with their hand in the dirt. Executing and defending goal line runs and passes is once again, situational football. However; it is something you rarely see anymore in college or high school football.
Click On The Goal Line Play Below To See How We Coach It
Why? Many offensive coordinators choose to just stay with their normal 21 or 11 personnel and run what they run. Preparing differently for this part of the field just gives them one more thing they must spend practice time on. There is merit in this argument but make no mistake, it has vulnerabilities.
Are You Coaching Line Splits & Levels Enough?
Ask any seasoned defensive coach and they will tell you those short edges are an invitation for a free hitter on the ball carrier and a turnover opportunity. They may also mention that if their goal line defense can make the offense throw the ball on the 2 yard line, they have won half the battle. So as you can see, like many situations in football the goal line offense and how to defend it can be about who has the chalk last.
Re-Drawing The Same Play Or Defense Twice Is Bad Coaching
To wrap this up, there is still a place for this style of goal line offense. Offensive coordinators and good offensive line coaches will strategically plan not only who to block but who will not be blocked. The red triangles in the diagram show this with detail. Want more on this? Click the play drawing below.
