Short Yardage - Shotgun Formation

[stinkyboy II]

Seeing this more and more at all levels of football. Teams needing less than a yard for a first down - snap it back 4 yards to the QB - to try and get 1 yard.

 

Last night in the HHS and CCH game both teams are exclusively shot gun formation teams. On several occasions HHS brought in two tons of blockers to escort McCoy for that one or two precious yards.

 

CovCath needed 6 inches at a crucial stage of the game, snapped it back - handed off - and were stopped by a much smaller, much quicker defensive front.

 

Even though your normal offensive set is shotgun - shouldn't teams get up under center on occassion?

[Bird Bath]

Seeing this more and more at all levels of football. Teams needing less than a yard for a first down - snap it back 4 yards to the QB - to try and get 1 yard.

 

Last night in the HHS and CCH game both teams are exclusively shot gun formation teams. On several occasions HHS brought in two tons of blockers to escort McCoy for that one or two precious yards.

 

CovCath needed 6 inches at a crucial stage of the game, snapped it back - handed off - and were stopped by a much smaller, much quicker defensive front.

 

Even though your normal offensive set is shotgun - shouldn't teams get up under center on occassion?

 

Yes, we talked about that quite a bit last night! I like shotgun but in short yardage under the center. Second I would have liked to seen HHS just once snap before making an audible or second play call at the line. More than once I saw the blue boys back on their heels waiting for the reset!

[born2reign]

I worked as an offensive coach for a spread shotgun team a few years back. We had these discussions regularly over the summer. We tried an under center formation for a season. We installed it during two a days and preseason. We used it in our first 3 games and ended up scrapping it. Our kids on the o line and our QB felt more comfortable executing the gun snap and blocking schemes from the two point stance. When we needed short yardage, we would bring in beef in the backfield, which it sounds like Highlands did. It came down to having our kids execute what they felt most confident executing- we did not have too many issues getting short yardage or executing in the red zone that season. We went to the state title game. We won state the next year with the same short yardage philosophy.

Edited November 17, 2012 by born2reign

[BIG BLACK JACK]

I absolutely hate it. Common sense tells me why would you turn a needed one yard gain into a needed six yard gain? Went to several WVU games last year where they would run this from the opponents one yard line. Line you a$$ up there under center, hike the ball and lunge forward! If your G,C,G cannot move the DT's then so be it, but I'm willing to take that chance.

[Hellbird]

I'm old school and always believed a short yardage play should be from behind center. With that said I can also say whatever works then go with it. In the Cooper game last night after every TD and every short yardage play or at least the majority of them, they went with shotgun snap. Every 2 pt conversion was succesful and they were all running plays.

[barrel]

HHS use to go under center in goal line situations. They would snap down from a two pt stance to a three pt stance.

 

I don't think you have to under center but you have to have a plan. We threw screens off of jet action or we used our read game. We've also used bringing in the big boys to just smash it like a single wing team

[Off_Constantly]

I was just talking about this after watching the UC game where they had 4th and very short. They started under center call a time out and line up in shotgun to get stuffed. I enjoy watching the spread being ran but when it comes to 4th and less than a yard logic tells me to pound the ball. In UCs case either pound it for 3 inches or kick for points because the shotgun formation seems to take momentum away from the RB. At least under center the RB is moving forward receiving the hand off rather than taking it at basically a dead stop.

[TS]

Under center if your going to run QB sneak. Any thing other than that it doesn't matter. In fact it is probably quicker because you are directly snapping it to the tailback (QB) without having to hand it off. If you are a gun team and go under center they will know sneak is coming 99% of the time.

[THUNDERBIRDS]

This is why my coaching staff and myself will continue to coach from under center and from shotgun in the FTJFL. Way too many kids have no clue how to even take a snap anymore. Teach them young and let it stick. Not saying its not working for HHS but how awkward do you think it was this year for Pat Towles to be under center at times at UK. Where does Drew Barker start most of his offensive plays from? I havent seen Him play so I am asking the question. It's going to be a problem if he can't do both at the next level.

[katbird]

This is why my coaching staff and myself will continue to coach from under center and from shotgun in the FTJFL. Way too many kids have no clue how to even take a snap anymore. Teach them young and let it stick. Not saying its not working for HHS but how awkward do you think it was this year for Pat Towles to be under center at times at UK. Where does Drew Barker start most of his offensive plays from? I havent seen Him play so I am asking the question. It's going to be a problem if he can't do both at the next level.

 

Shotgun...

[Sweeperboy]

I love the shotgun, dont care what the situation is, really doesnt matter. Another poster said it, bring in the BIGS, get in the Shotgun and execute the play, plain and simple.

FWIW, anyone questioning Dales offense and reasoning should drop back in shotgun and take a deep breath and relax...