your opinion based on my personell

tcamp,

THE MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER ON ANY FOOTBALL TEAM, IS WHITHOUT A DOUBT, THE QB BAR NONE!!!
BEFORE I WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT TO RUN, I WOULD WORRY MORE ABOUT GETTING A QB THAT YOU CAN DEVELOP QUICKLY AND MAKE YOUR CHOICE OF WHAT TO RUN AROUND HIS ABILITIES. IF YOU ARE FORCED INTO A CHOICE BY HIS ABILITIES BEING LIMITED TO MAKING GOOD CLEAN HANDOFFS, AND THROWING AN OCCASIONAL PASS, BUILD A RUNNING GAME. IF HE CAN THROW THE BALL, TEACH HIM A SIMPLIFIED READ SYSTEM OF WHO TO THROW IT TO, REALLY WORK ON YOUR PASS PRO SCHEMES AND LET HIM CHUNK IT. AS TIME GOES ALONG, AND PROVIDED HE IS A WORKER AND HAS SOME BRAINS, HIS OTHER SKILLS CAN BE DEVELOPED TO THE POINT THAT HE WILL GET YOU BY UNTIL SUCH TIME YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH HIM, OR PRAY THAT AN EXPERIENCED QB TRANSFERS IN TO YOUR PROGRAM. THE COACHES OUT THERE WHO THINK THAT YOUR QB ISN'T THE CATALYST THAT MAKES IT ALL GO, EITHER DON'T HAVE MUCH EXPERIENCE OR THEY ARE DELUDING THEMSELVES. YOU CAN HAVE THE GREATEST RB UNDER THE SUN, BUT IF YOU HAVE A QB WHO CAN'T GET HIM THE BALL EITHER BY HANDING IT OFF SMOOTHLY OR PITCHING IT CLEANLY, WHAT GOOD IS HE? JUST MY OPINION.

Coach Easton

Hey Zulu,

After running the triple for a whole lot of years, would have to respectfully disagree with you on thinking that just anyone can become a triple option QB (such as the example above of the athletic RB) In my experience it takes a VERY ACCOMPLISHED QUARTERBACK TO RUN THE TRIPLE. When you figure he is moving on every play to hand the ball off, to pitch it, to keep it and turn it up flawlessly ( to learn how to just pitch properly is an art that doesn't come easy) and then add to that how astutely he must practice his passing talents in order to hit completions after running the option 95% of the night when he is called upon 10-12 times to throw it. It is nowhere near as difficult to be a drop back passer as it is to be an accomplished triple option QB. I say this with 41 years of experience coaching quarterbacks.

Coach Easton

Zulu,

I understand fully, nothing being done here other than two coaches trying to help another. You have offered your sugggestions, I have offered mine. Thats the beauty of the board, we can all share in good faith without it becoming personal. Lots of different ways to arrive at a successful conclusion. I. for one, appreciate your input.

Coach Easton

Coach Cella, Tiger one and Zulu, thanks for the input,

Run some power sets with both in back. Now that's a I formation!

Triple is hard to put install. Try midline and double first, then to triple.
No QB? make sure every class has one next year. Look for hard bark SOB for this year!

Look at Wing-T for screens to TE. maybe even double wing formation, great for misdirection!

Two TEs! wow most teams struggle to find one!

Tigerone- You say it easier in your experience to coach up a passer than an option QB. I do not argue with you on that point. My question is why? What are some of the other thoughts on the board. I know many people start developing QBs at a young age, and to a QB throwing is much more fun than running option all day.

Tigerone-

I agree with your point about the passign QB does not have to be the total package. So long as his pass pro does not break down and he can sit back there and throw. If you get a guy like Vince Young at Texas you can do whatever you want. Yes the QB's main job is to win. I hav told you about the D1 type kid I had in 2002. He could do everything. He was 4.6 stood 6-2 and went clos to 200#. He could accurately pass a ball 65 yards. I kid you not. He was a transfer from a larger school who had a falling out with his coaches over there. He had to sit our first two games b/c of state violations. (I'll come back to that later.) Now with him we ran gun, spread, and alot of option. But at times it really seems he was playing for himself, not those around him. HE was a playmaker for sure, but he never won a game for me. The kid who started in his place the first two games...he won even though he was a much lesser athlete. He was a pure option QB. He was so tough (he played LB too). The better athlete wanted nothing to do with getting hit. (not that anyone does but you know what I mean). He chose not to come out this season stating to my face "there is not enough talent on this team to support ME". So we cut ties. He is still in our school playing hoops averaging a triple double every night. The young man you saw on film for us is a 10th grader who is tough. Maybe the toughest kid on the team. We'll be alright with him at QB een though he is not blazing fast. He works hard in the wt room and throws a few days a week even though he is a varsity (state bound) wrestler!

So far the offseason is going "ok". WE have about 15 of 30 kids lift 3x and a few very dedicated juniors who run 2x a week doing speed and plyos work. They also happen to be my two best OL/DL guys. We are getting stronger and bigger. That little #53 who played G/NG...he finished the season at 160. He now goes 180 and he squats 500# parallel, cleans 250# and benches 300+. He is an animal. We put in two major initiatives this off season. The first one is called C.L.E.A.T. which stands for Conditioning, Lifting, Extras, Academics, and Team. In a nut shell players earn points for lifting, playing other sports, making the honor roll etc. We will use those points and reward those guys when the season starts.

The other one which has raised a few eyebrows is the "80% RULE". Players MUST make 80% of all off season workouts or they will run for each one they miss below that 80%. Between now and football there are 100 workouts. They must make 80 of those (which means they can miss 20). Lets say you make 79 workouts...you will run one "fun drill". Then everything is even. "sweat Equity" I call it. If you & I go to a movie, I pay $10 and you pay $2 that is not fair. I have always had a few kids who work hard who resent those who do not. Now we will all pay the price. Period. I am not budging on this one. If I lose a few guys b/c they don't want to work, "que sera, sera." It shocked a few kids b/c it has never been put that way before. I even figured the 80% for the kids to take family vacaction in the summer, and compete in winter and spring sports. I told them where there is a will there is a way. If you want to win you will do this. If winning is not important to you...I guess you won't...but then maybe you should go to the games and sit in the stands. I'll take the asskickers with me! So far MOST of the kids are stepping up to the plate. I would rather lift than run extra workouts in 95 degree heat in August!

Once after a practice where I realyl rode him I asked him if he was ever told he did anything wrong by his old coaches. He said "no" they pretty much let him do whatever he wanted (I figure they knew he would leave the team if his ego was shook by actually coaching him). That really surprised me that he said that. In hoops last year we had a really good coach, former college assistant who knoew how to handle this kid. But there was blow up one time in the lockeroom b/c the coach told him he needed to pass more b/c lots of guys had open shots...defense was sagging to him. The player responded by saying "why, they won't make them anyway, what's the difference if I shoot or if they shoot?" In his (slight) defense he was right, and he did average 10 assists a game too. But his attitude was holding him back. He wants the stats so he looks better to college recruiters I guess. Just like in football he wanted the stats, he could not run the option b/c he would never pitch it, he wanted to make the play even though our TB was was schools all-time leading rusher (3 year starter 2,793 yards).

First of all you have to know where I am coming from. WE have had terrible attendance in the wt room. My experience in HS was that everyone from top player to lowliest 9th grader lifted 3x a week year round period. It was tradition and it was expected. The school where I am coaching now...no work ethic. There are some individuals who work hard. But as a team I would say our work ethic is a "C-". And that is being nice. I have also had a couple of good kids transfer out of out program because they were tired of being the "only one" lifting. So now I am putting it all on the line. For example our QB lifts and runs and plays 3 sports. But most of his line does nothing. I know he gets frustrated getting hammered all the time b/c those lazy bums won't put in the work. Some of the kids who do have a work ethic are sick of those who do not and begged me to do something about it.

I told the kids if you don't like it don't go out. I have drawn the line in the dirt, and it is their job to step up to it. I would rather have 25 committed kdis than 30 with 5 who are only there for something to do after school. I told them they will pay for the 2005 season in sweat, either in the wt room, or by running extra in the August heat. They will not be issued gear until all thier running is done. Honestly I would be prepared to resign if they pulled the rug out from under me. I told my assistants to be prepared for lower numbers. Now if you really want to play football you will do the lifting, the running, or some combo of the two.

I made it so it would not be impossible for the kids. We have alot of 3 sport athletes. It has been worked out so if say you are a wrestler and play baseball lift 2x/week all through you winter and spring season. During the time between sports go back to 3x/week. Over the summer they will need to go back to 3x/week. It breaks down that if they do that they can still take a week off in the summer for family vacation. I do not think I am asking too much. I mean if you think about it 80% in the classroom is a "C".

The kids complained immediately (some did). And the principal asked me "what's this 80% rule, the some of the kids are a little upset?" I explained it to him as I have here, and he said okay. I am not using it to gauge playing time or even as a criteria for making the team. They have choices. If they want to play they will do this. Let's say a starter has to run 79 fun drills for not lifting, once his "sweat equity" he will work his way back in. By the way a fun drill (for us) is when players line up on the goal line sprint to the 10, rip off 10 updowns, then spring to the 20 rip off 10 updowns, sprint to the 30 etc for 100 yards. So given the choice I would lift the wieghts.

I hope this long drawn out dissertation did not bore you and gave you the info you needed.

Chuck, boy do we have awfully similar situations. Our work ethic is a D and that's being generous. We have a QB who is a 3-sport athlete, and he has no line. However, we do have five linemen working their tails off this year. We'll have between 25-30 kids this year. The other kids in the school don't play, b/c they know the commitment required. We will work out five days/week in the summer. The kids know that I harass them when they don't show. After two straight seasons of 16 and 21 players, I've drawn the conclusion that this year is a make-it-or-break-it year. It's the turning point and I tell the kids-- "If you want something you've never had, you have to be willing to do something you've never done." Chuck, we'll talk more in the future.

Govertical that is why Aquin has been so tough the last few years now. Craig was running the hoops program, and Kramer was the baseball coach so you know they were lifting year round. I am trying to get my old school hoops coach to get them time before or after practice to train. He believes it will goof up thier shot. 2A football in Illinois is tough ball too. You are not going to get the Champaign without the complete package if you know what I mean. I relate it to a race: In a 100 meter dash you would not want to give your opponents a head start b/c they would beat you. So why give your opponents in football a head start by not training until June?

Lou what do you do on O and D? It sounds like we are pretty similar, perhaps we can share some ideas?

I wish all my thought would coem to me at one time! What we are going to do is put stickers on the helmets based on how many points the player earned though the CLEAT points deal I shared ealier. There will be kids with alot of stickers, and there will those without them!