Vince Lombardi famously said football comes down to blocking and tackling. But he never said what else the sport needed to have.
The young playoff quarterbacks, Robert Griffin, Colin Kaepernick, and Russell Wilson have taken the league by storm. Each has their unique skill set and story but they and their offenses share a common thread. A peek at the new-look offense of the NFL.
The schemes have been as equally unique to the NFL. Schemes as common as apples and oranges in a supermarket in the NCAA. But until recently, the schemes ran in college and in the NFL were figuratively so. All three teams use a bevy of formations, reads, and run-action.
San Francisco and Washington heavily use “diamond” formations with a back behind and the quarterback and one or two to the side. Use of the pistol gives offenses an easier run/pass option and allows quarterbacks to run the zone read, reading the end man on the line and deciding whether to keep or give the ball.
San Francisco tormented Green Bay to the tune of over 320 yards on the ground in their playoff victory. Kaepernick had well over half of that. Clay Matthews looked like he was playing Pop Warner. Heck, Bruce Matthews would have looked better at linebacker.
Washington’s offense became one of the most potent in the league for the second half of the year. Any doubts Redskins’ fans had of the Baylor QB have been erased more than the whiteboards of opposing defensive coordinators. Of course, questions now exist with the health of RGIII’s knee but it’s a testament to the scheme of the zone read when he can rattle off nine yards on a busted knee like he did against Seattle.
The Seahawks used the least amount of variation of the three but still offered enough wrinkles of the zone read, essentially Bill Yeoman’s veer offense, to keep defenses on its toes. Some gave Wilson the same chance to succeed at the pro level as Jersey Shore ever being thought-provoking television. He threw for over 3,000 yards, rushed for another 489, and totaled 30 touchdowns. No fist-pumping required.
Each of their success is undoubtedly in part because of their talent. And it’s as much because of their arms as their legs. Kaepernick didn’t just run the ball down Green Bay’s throat. Having a late Thanksgiving, he carved up the Packers’ secondary with one precision pass after another. A “dime” to Vernon Davis here, a 56-yard touchdown run there, and a trip to the NFC Championship game. But it’s the scheme that is based on what the defense reacts to, making it so difficult to defend.
And that is exactly what will give it staying power. This is not a fad in the way the Wildcat was (though it’s worth pointing out that was less of an invention and more of a resurrection of the Single Wing offense). Sure, defenses will have an entire offseason to try and gameplan against it. But how can you stop a system that is designed to change on the fly? One that isn’t locked into a playcall once the ball is snapped.
Green Bay knew of the 49ers’ attack and had plenty of time to prepare for it. Dom Capers’ head is still spinning. Offenses are only going to continue to tweak their system and add extra wrinkles. The offense is the carrot. The defense is running on the treadmill. Always close but never catching up.
Now factor in one of the masterminds of it at college, Chip Kelly, joining the ranks of the NFL. It’s unclear what adjustments he’ll make at the next level but having one of the most innovative minds in football will not make life easier for defenses.
Football ideology is changing. Unsurprisingly so, the game has never stayed the same for any length of time. The rulebook is being modified. It’s not about asking how long these new elements will work. It’s how long it will take for you to accept that they do.
Get ready for a heavy dose of misdirection and option offenses.
With a little blocking and tackling.
Photo Credits: Getty Images
