Football analysis and strategy from Chris B. Brown
Alabama’s Lane Kiffin: Master Copycat
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Alabama’s Lane Kiffin: Master Copycat
The hallmark of Joe Gibbs’s Washington teams of the 1980s and 1990s was the Counter Trey or Counter Gap play, which featured the backside guard and backside tackle (two members of the Hogs) pulling to lead the way for John Riggins and Washington’s other powerful backs. The play became synonymous with Gibbs and Washington, and…
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Watching Game Film with Chip Kelly
It’s been fun this season seeing how Chip Kelly’s offense has translated to the NFL — how he’s evolved what he did at Oregon for professional players and multiple quarterbacks, how defenses have responded, and how his Eagles have responded to those responses. At 6-5 the Eagles are both in position to make the playoffs…
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Studying the Raw Materials of Chip Kelly’s Up-Tempo Offense
With Chip Kelly going to the Eagles, there’s been much hand wringing about whether Chip Kelly’s offense will work in the NFL, whether he’ll bring it to Philly verbatim, and so on. I honestly don’t know the definitive answer — I am not sure Chip does — but I’m certainly looking forward to watching. Nevertheless,…
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Combining quick passes and a shovel pass or shovel screen
I recently discussed the evolution in combined or “packaged” plays, which involve combining quick passes, run plays, and screens to best take advantage of what ever evolving defenses throw at offenses. Since describing the concept, I’ve seen an increasing number of NFL teams use it, including the Green Bay Packers and the New York Jets,…
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The simple, wonderful, inexpensive speed option
The speed option may be the best run play in football. The pro guys don’t like it because your quarterback can be hit, but, whether under center or from the shotgun, it’s an exceptionally useful play to have in your arsenal. There are three basic reasons why the play is so effective and useful: Simple:…
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Deconstructing: Oregon’s and Auburn’s offenses as spread revolution
My breakdown of Oregon’s and Auburn’s offenses in anticipation of tonight’s BCS title game is up over at Yahoo!. Check it out. Also, hat tips and thanks to Brophy and the Offensive Breakdown site for some great info (especially to Brophy for the image on the power scheme). Check out great info from both sites…
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Oregon offense installation videos
Brophy has a full collection of Oregon installation videos, i.e. video cutups showing the plays for teaching purposes. Check them all out here.Very useful stuff. And, to pile on unnecessarily (though it’s fun), contrast this statement by Gregg Easterbrook: [In Oregon’s offense, p]ass patterns are minimal, which keeps the quarterback’s mind from melting under the…
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Oregon’s zone read of the defensive tackle
During last night’s Oregon victory over Oregon State, the announcers mentioned that Chip Kelly’s squad will vary their zone read by reading defenders besides the backside defensive end — namely, the defensive tackle or “three technique” player. In the “normal” zone read, the line zone blocks one way while the quarterback reads the backside defender:…
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