Simple 4 Minute Football Offensive Shift
Before I begin to type this blog about 4 minute football, let me be clear. My roots run deeply in spread offenses. Some in college and some in the NFL, but I have been a part of spread offenses more than anything else. Having said that, spread offenses are not great in 4 minute situations.
Yes, it’s easy to just say, “We just run our stuff. We don’t change up just because it’s fourth and 2 to win the game.” It sounds fine right up until you realize the defense has thrown all of the rules of sound football out the window.
They understand the importance of stopping you. They don’t care if you pick up the first down with a two yard gain or a 40 yard touchdown. That’s what 4 minute football is. It’s an all or nothing situation. This is situational football that often allows the defense to play unorthodox and even unsound looks for that one play.
Many A Spread Offense Has Failed In A 4 Minute Situation Becasue They Mistakenly Thought The Defense Had To Play Sound Football
Good offensive coaches work on situational football. It could be a 2 minute drill. Maybe it’s red zone or coming out, or as in this case finding some way to get a first down in a 4 minute situation. Working to keep the chains moving one more time and win the football game.
Here at FirstDown PlayBook we have seen two teams run this same simple shift in a short yardage and/or 4 minute situation over the past few weeks. The University of Virginia and UCLA are the two teams I am referring to. What they employed was so simple that it could be used in high school football and even. with your Pop Warner offense.
Are You Getting Your Best Player The Ball In Different Ways?
The shift is so simple for the offense that it can be explained in this one paragraph. The shotgun quarterback and the running back both shifted to the right or left two steps. Then the ball was direct snapped to the running back. How could this be so simple for the offense and a change up for the defense?
Watch this short video to find out how situational football does not have to be complex.
