High Powered Spread Offense - One-Back Style

Bobby Bentley - Byrnes HS, South Carolina

Philosophy

1. Make opponents defend the entire field.  Sideline to sideline, endzone to endzone, they should never know where you're throwing the ball.  Make them defend the boundary side, Middle of Field and flat, deep 1/3s and all curl regions.  Have a boundary attack and a field attack. 
2. Look to run the ball first.  Do that with illusion.  If you've got 5 in the box, be able to run the ball or its going to be tough.  You should get double teams in there.  Give defense the illusion you will throw every down.
3. Passing efficiency over passing down the field.  QB should be 65%+ pass completion percentage.  Be able to throw for completions rather than bombs.
4. Be able to throw at any time, any place on the field.  Defenses expect you to throw on 3rd & Long, be able to throw on 2nd & 1 or 3rd & 1.
5. Be creative:  with formations - don't just run basic formations, put something in no one has seen before; with running game - run things other teams don't run; get the ball as quickly as possible to your receivers.  Create space with alignments.  If the defense gives you a corner 7 yards off, attack that space. 
6. Control the passing game with protection.  Protect your QB, don't allow sacks.
7. Control the pace of the game with no-huddle; controls stunts, alignments, and forces the defense to prepare for it.  Be able to go in and out of the no-huddle.
8. Take what the defense gives you, be needy but not greedy.  Take what they give you.
9. Players should have a general knowledge of what you want to run.  Don't be afraid to let the QB call plays. 
10. Make the offense FUN!  Players should enjoy practicing offensive football.  If they don't, they won't score 40 points per game.

Byrnes Offense Keys to Success

1. All are important, be able to do them all - not just a few.
2. Have a very effective rushing threat.  Its possible for a team to shut down your passing game if they can match up athletically. 
3. Have an effective 3-step quick passing game.  A quick slant, hitch and quick out. Needs to be a 1.5 second throw.  Almost impossible for a defender to get from DE to the QB in that time, even if you don't block him.  You can have inferior linemen in this offense. 
   
   Inside cutting routes are odd number steps (3, 5, 7), outside cuts are even numbers.  Sharpens up quick passing game.  Forces corners to roll up and press, allowing you to get to the dominant receiver in a 1-on-1 situation.
   
4. Send outside receiver on vertical, inside on quick out, has been very effective.
5. Have a playmaker at QB.  Allows you to have another back in the backfield.  You can be a power offense in a one-back set, RB blocks for QB.  2-back offense in a one-back set.  QB is effective in running ability, may not be fast but is effective in eluding the rush. 
6. Must have a dominant receiver.  One player who can dominate the game.  You don't mind throwing to him every single play if you have to.  Don't have to have 4 good ones, but you need one other good receiver.  The defense can take away your one dominant guy with bracket coverage. 
7. Have the proper mentality to run the offense.  If you're going to pass 50% of the time, you better practice passing 75% of the time.  It is hard to pass the football, and protect.  Running is simple, you have to spend more time teaching the passing game. 
8. Have a very good scout team defensive coach who understands how different teams are going to line up.  They won't show on film vs. 2-back offenses what they'll do against your 1-back offense.  Give your QB a look at blitzes.  Let him see live bullets coming at him during practice, or he'll react differently.  In perimeter, include a OL vs. DL match-up, and let the defense blitz linebackers.  Your QB will get in bad habits without.  Passes need to be off in 2.5 seconds.   See different coverages.  Know who is playing the flats.  Give him change-ups on thursday, looks he did not see on monday, tuesday and wednesday. 
9. Win 1-on-1 situations.  If they're going to go man-up, give the WR 3 shots.  You only need to win 1 of 3, you have 3 downs.  If you're +50, you've got 4 downs.  Play the numbers game in the running game, get your 1 on 1 match-ups and let the back try to win it.  Let him see who can be superman.
10. Do not tolerate missed assignments.  The one-back offense is a momentum offense, if you allow lost yardage plays it becomes difficult to get first downs.  2nd & long you don't see many first downs.  Usually you get in that situation through offensive plays.  They result in negative momentum, drive-killers.  They are self-inflicted wounds.
11. Have an effective, time appropriate check off system.  It doesn't have to be very complex.  Allow the QB to call plays at the line, he learns to do it form January to July.  He learns in the video room.  If the defense aligns to take something away, the QB needs to know not to run it.  Check off using "RED" alert check-off, and the route Number.  "RED 84" and the receivers know what to run.  Train the QB not to check off when you don't want him to. 3rd & 1, windy conditions, time management, know when the run is being effective and you don't need to check off, etc.  Byrnes QB knows he can check off in all situations except QB Sneak call. 

Practice Routines

1. Warm Up
2. SAQ Drills
3. Team Pass (15-20 min)
4. Team Period
   

PRACTICE OFFENSIVE SITUATION