Just Wingin' It

Ray Schaefer

The Independent

08/02/2014 11:58 PM

When it’s done properly, it can make football defenses think they’re playing against 21 players instead of 11.

 

This fall, Rowan County coach Ray Graham plans to continue a northeastern Kentucky tradition longtime Russell legend Ivan McGlone started. He’s installing the decades-old Wing-T offense with its misdirection blocking and as many as four running backs and a couple receivers.

 

Graham says there’s no one right way to run it.

 

“You look at 15 different Wing-Ts, you’ll see some similarities,” Graham said. “But everybody’s gonna have their own little flavor on it.”

The website wingt.com says the offense has been around for over 60 years, with its strength in its diversity.

 

“The Wing-t is limitless — its diversity allows us to utilize other offensive schemes within the Wing-T such as the counter trey play, the triple option or the west coast offense for example, and recently the (shotgun) and spread offense concepts as well,” the website says.

 

McGlone used the Wing-T for 38 seasons and compiled an overall 344-173 record at Russell (316-151 over 36 years) and Vinson high schools. He led the Red Devils to the Kentucky Class 3A state championship in 1978 and the 2A state title in 2005 to go with undefeated regular seasons in 1994 and 2004.

 

Link

I'm an old school guy and I love the Wing T. It's a bear to prepare for, but fun to watch from the stands.

 

If you are playing against it and nobody blocks you coming off the line, you better have your head on a swivel, lol.

 

You can watch Russell film from 1982 or 2012 and not tell much difference in what they were doing.

It's a great offense, and one where the same schemes are being used today at the HS and College levels even though they might not actually be "Wing T".

 

I heard these exact words come from Gus Malzahn in the Spring following Auburn's National Championship when Gus was the OC there. He told a room full of 200 people this at the beginning of his talk:

 

"Guys. We are Wing T team that just so happens to be in the shotgun. That's it. But, could you imagine if I had said....'we are going to run the Wing T' at Auburn? At the first sign of struggle, my head would have been on a stick. Hurry up-spread- No huddle just sounds cooler. That's all."

 

Some of the best HS programs across the country are old school Wing T teams. Bellevue, Washington...Lowndes County, GA (the stadium you see on I-75 south out of Valdosta), Cambden County, GA, Tucker HS outside of Atlanta.

 

You heard it here first, but I'm just telling you....these old school offenses (Wing T, Split Back Veer, Wishbone, Single Wing, etc) are/will make a comeback. Football is like fashion. What's new is old and what's old is new again.

It's a great offense, and one where the same schemes are being used today at the HS and College levels even though they might not actually be "Wing T".

 

I heard these exact words come from Gus Malzahn in the Spring following Auburn's National Championship when Gus was the OC there. He told a room full of 200 people this at the beginning of his talk:

 

"Guys. We are Wing T team that just so happens to be in the shotgun. That's it. But, could you imagine if I had said....'we are going to run the Wing T' at Auburn? At the first sign of struggle, my head would have been on a stick. Hurry up-spread- No huddle just sounds cooler. That's all."

 

Some of the best HS programs across the country are old school Wing T teams. Bellevue, Washington...Lowndes County, GA (the stadium you see on I-75 south out of Valdosta), Cambden County, GA, Tucker HS outside of Atlanta.

 

You heard it here first, but I'm just telling you....these old school offenses (Wing T, Split Back Veer, Wishbone, Single Wing, etc) are/will make a comeback. Football is like fashion. What's new is old and what's old is new again.

 

Gus is a old wing t guy. Let me give you another person. Chip Kelly run game is exactly the same as Gus. They clinic together all the time when Chip was at Arkansas and Tulsa.

Gus is a old wing t guy. Let me give you another person. Chip Kelly run game is exactly the same as Gus. They clinic together all the time when Chip was at Arkansas and Tulsa.

 

Chip Kelly? They spread and run, but Kelly was a zone guy in college. Gus runs some zone now, but its relatively new for him.

Chip Kelly? They spread and run, but Kelly was a zone guy in college. Gus runs some zone now, but its relatively new for him.

 

Gus and Chip do not run a full zone where everyone steps right or left depending on where you are running zone. Since Gus has a wing t background he uses a gap scheme. Where you see more double teams on the 3 and 1 technique vs. a even front.

 

 

Offensive Break Down

 

This should help. Alot of people think they run zone, but they are not running zone. Mind you the QB is still reading the DE, but it's not a a FULL ZONE concept. Again, GUs and Chip may run a full zone, but not much.

Gus and Chip do not run a full zone where everyone steps right or left depending on where you are running zone. Since Gus has a wing t background he uses a gap scheme. Where you see more double teams on the 3 and 1 technique vs. a even front.

 

 

Offensive Break Down

 

This should help. Alot of people think they run zone, but they are not running zone. Mind you the QB is still reading the DE, but it's not a a FULL ZONE concept. Again, GUs and Chip may run a full zone, but not much.

 

One more site

 

The Basics of Auburn's Inside Zone Run - College and Magnolia

Chip Kelly and Gus Malzahn do not run the same offense. Past speed they are not running the same thing. Kelly is much closer to Mazzone at UCLA. Kelly runs both inside and outside zone using a count system. They can "push" the count to change who doesn't get block depending on who they are reading if they are reading someone. Go to fishduck.com for a Ducks breakdown.

 

Gus is a big gap scheme guy. He often only runs them in one direction so power to the right and counter to the left. They do read guys but is different versions of inverted veer or a they read it like a veer or zone read team (play side or backside) though it is not a zone run. Malzahn does run a little zone and ran it more last year than any other year just about. Malzahn was at Tulsa with Herb Hand which is where he really got his zone influence.

 

Harry is right about old school systems coming back. Newer coaches have never played or coached against them so they have a tough time dealing with those offenses. On the degensive side guys are using a lot of the old defenses just with different personal. They ended up doing that so they could adjust their 62, 44, 53 easier to formations.

Chip Kelly and Gus Malzahn do not run the same offense. Past speed they are not running the same thing. Kelly is much closer to Mazzone at UCLA. Kelly runs both inside and outside zone using a count system. They can "push" the count to change who doesn't get block depending on who they are reading if they are reading someone. Go to fishduck.com for a Ducks breakdown.

 

Gus is a big gap scheme guy. He often only runs them in one direction so power to the right and counter to the left. They do read guys but is different versions of inverted veer or a they read it like a veer or zone read team (play side or backside) though it is not a zone run. Malzahn does run a little zone and ran it more last year than any other year just about. Malzahn was at Tulsa with Herb Hand which is where he really got his zone influence.

 

Harry is right about old school systems coming back. Newer coaches have never played or coached against them so they have a tough time dealing with those offenses. On the degensive side guys are using a lot of the old defenses just with different personal. They ended up doing that so they could adjust their 62, 44, 53 easier to formations.

 

Direct quotes from both coaches to me while talking to them. Gus do you and Chip Kelly run the same offense? It looks similar. Gus comment " yes , I took a lot of his power stuff when I was at Tulsa. We clinic with each other."

 

Coach Kelly aside from playing a high tempo, what's the secret of your zone run game. Chips comment after complaining about having to pay for a $6 a beer at the National Convention in Nashville. He chuckled, " I run zone very minimal during a game, watch all the wing t video you can or listen to Gus."

 

A week later he was with the Eagles

Just Wingin' It

Ray Schaefer

The Independent

08/02/2014 11:58 PM

When it’s done properly, it can make football defenses think they’re playing against 21 players instead of 11.

 

This fall, Rowan County coach Ray Graham plans to continue a northeastern Kentucky tradition longtime Russell legend Ivan McGlone started. He’s installing the decades-old Wing-T offense with its misdirection blocking and as many as four running backs and a couple receivers.

 

Graham says there’s no one right way to run it.

 

“You look at 15 different Wing-Ts, you’ll see some similarities,” Graham said. “But everybody’s gonna have their own little flavor on it.”

The website wingt.com says the offense has been around for over 60 years, with its strength in its diversity.

 

“The Wing-t is limitless — its diversity allows us to utilize other offensive schemes within the Wing-T such as the counter trey play, the triple option or the west coast offense for example, and recently the (shotgun) and spread offense concepts as well,” the website says.

 

McGlone used the Wing-T for 38 seasons and compiled an overall 344-173 record at Russell (316-151 over 36 years) and Vinson high schools. He led the Red Devils to the Kentucky Class 3A state championship in 1978 and the 2A state title in 2005 to go with undefeated regular seasons in 1994 and 2004.

 

Link

 

Great thread Ram, I believe that you know just how much that I love the running game. I like just about any running offense but the Wishbone, Veer and Wing T are my favorites. When ran correctly with good (doesn't have to be great) talent. All of those three can look and are practically unstoppable when "clicking". The option from each, the qb making the right decision - can run mis direction, trap and/or just straight power. Then, when the defenses make adjustments, coming up on the run - that is when to go play action pass and throw deep, burn the opposition. I also like the ol' 3 yds. and a cloud of dust Woody Hayes Power I.

I am just old school, Have a Good Defense + Excellent Special teams / kicking game to play field position + Control with the Ground game _ when throwing go play action and throw it deep = Win.

Today, coaches are running the "spread option" "Wildcat" -- All of these different name / offense's are basically nothing but the Wishbone, Veer/Split Veer inverted and put a sexy name on it so the kids will like it.

Remember the old school Single Wing ? Look at these "so called new - innovative" systems and tell me what you got ....The old single wing, wishbone with a fancy name.

Remember the old school Single Wing ? Look at these "so called new - innovative" systems and tell me what you got ....The old single wing, wishbone with a fancy name.

You are going to get Harry Doyle going now. Tebow at Florida was what? Single wing. Just have to make it sound better by giving it a new name.

Great thread Ram, I believe that you know just how much that I love the running game. I like just about any running offense but the Wishbone, Veer and Wing T are my favorites. When ran correctly with good (doesn't have to be great) talent. All of those three can look and are practically unstoppable when "clicking". The option from each, the qb making the right decision - can run mis direction, trap and/or just straight power. Then, when the defenses make adjustments, coming up on the run - that is when to go play action pass and throw deep, burn the opposition. I also like the ol' 3 yds. and a cloud of dust Woody Hayes Power I.

I am just old school, Have a Good Defense + Excellent Special teams / kicking game to play field position + Control with the Ground game _ when throwing go play action and throw it deep = Win.

Today, coaches are running the "spread option" "Wildcat" -- All of these different name / offense's are basically nothing but the Wishbone, Veer/Split Veer inverted and put a sexy name on it so the kids will like it.

Remember the old school Single Wing ? Look at these "so called new - innovative" systems and tell me what you got ....The old single wing, wishbone with a fancy name.

 

MY Man!!!!!!!!

 

The bold is the truth if it's ever been spoken.

I get a kick out of hearing all of the 'Read Option' stuff, then listening to these old school Triple/Belly Option guys & they go, "Umm...last I checked, we all READ people". Mind you, as most of us know...the spread zone read option vs. the old school triple/belly option are all reading people; it's just a matter of who they are reading. Both have a give/pull & in the case of ole' Chip....has a pitch off of it (did a ton of it out of his 2 back gun sets back when they had Dixon. I'm sure they have in the last couple years, but I really remember them doing it with Dixon).

 

Certain names are just sexier, and it's ALLLLLLLLL smoke and mirrors.

 

For the record, most know I'm an old school fan....but, when Texas Tech/Washington State/Hawai'i are on....I watch them more intently than I do our service academies, GA Tech and GA Southern...but, they all lose out to my Irish of course. Mike Leach fan here...probably my favorite coach in the game.

I think some Trinity players are still looking around the field in Winchester trying to figure out which Clark County kid had the ball, circa 1991 or 92.

 

That Clark County team did the best job I've ever seen of running misdirection with multiple ball carriers.

 

The Cardinals were state 4A champs that year. One of Kentucky's better teams in several decades.

1991 :thumb: