St. X Friday was stopped on goal line twice. X was operating out of shotgun formation. I heard some people lamenting QB should be under center rather than hiking ball back 3 or 4 yards. Do you think it’s better to be under center or does it really matter since more than one way to skin a cat?

Considering there are plenty of teams on all levels who operate solely out of the gun, I'm not sure I'm going to give a ton of legs to that argument.

Good Question 94! To me, it comes down to: do you think your offensive line is better than the front 7 of the defense you are currently playing? If you do, there is no reason to go shotgun and just overload one side and run it down their throat for a few yards. If you do not, then I like the shotgun with multiple options (hand off, roll out, roll out toss, pass from pocket, shuttle pass). Just my opinion.

Considering there are plenty of teams on all levels who operate solely out of the gun, I'm not sure I'm going to give a ton of legs to that argument.

 

Depends upon the situation and other team. Desales was quicker off the ball than X and it showed. Running misdirection and spread shotgun fell right into their strength.

 

Boyle runs out of the gun but when they see that kind of matchup they go to a full house backfield and power it straight.

 

You have to have a versatility in the attack at different places on the field.

I’ll have to say I was pretty surprised X didn’t just get under center and pound away at the goal line those two times. I hate when teams, on any level, go shotgun on the goal line.

Good Question 94! To me, it comes down to: do you think your offensive line is better than the front 7 of the defense you are currently playing? If you do, there is no reason to go shotgun and just overload one side and run it down their throat for a few yards. If you do not, then I like the shotgun with multiple options (hand off, roll out, roll out toss, pass from pocket, shuttle pass). Just my opinion.

 

Good points!

I’ll have to say I was pretty surprised X didn’t just get under center and pound away at the goal line those two times. I hate when teams, on any level, go shotgun on the goal line.

 

Back when I played under Glaser we ran the wishbone on goal line and it was very effective.

Back when I played under Glaser we ran the wishbone on goal line and it was very effective.

 

If it’s 1st and Goal from the one and you have a tailback as big as Moretti and can’t get in on four tries, there are major problems. Hell, don’t even hand it off, you should be able to get in on a sneak.

If it’s 1st and Goal from the one and you have a tailback as big as Moretti and can’t get in on four tries, there are major problems. Hell, don’t even hand it off, you should be able to get in on a sneak.

 

I would have liked to see Logan Davis get a couple carries. He’s as hard a runner i’ve seen and good short yardage back. He’s a Junior and I see him starting next year.

For me, whether an offense is under center or in the shotgun isn’t that big of a deal. It depends on what you do out of it. I didn’t see the game so I’m not sure what plays were called, but in the run game zone read is highly effective out of the gun. Defenses are going to key on the RB which should allow the QB to pull the ball and score probably untouched. A team can still run power out of the gun too. Roll outs and naked bootlegs are effective in both gun and under center.

 

Both formations are good, just have to know what your team does well and play to their strengths when the field gets smaller.

 

I would be willing to bet those two goal series and the pass play before are half are things Coach Wallace is kicking himself about. He’s a top coach and learning just like his players, and he’ll get them rolling.

I would be willing to bet those two goal series and the pass play before are half are things Coach Wallace is kicking himself about. He’s a top coach and learning just like his players, and he’ll get them rolling.

 

No doubt Coach Wallace will get it corrected.

Whether you are in the shotgun, pistol, or under center is pretty much irrelevant if all you are going to do is hand the ball off. The back still has to cover the same amount ground to get to the end zone.....the only difference is where he gets the ball. The only time it really matters is if you want to QB sneak, which obviously isn't possible if you're not under center. That reason, along with spiking the ball to stop the clock, is why all teams need at least a few under center looks in their offense.

Regardless of the formation, I generally don't like a deep hand-off for the simple reason you can lose too much yardage....same thing with a run to the outside.

Regardless of the formation, I generally don't like a deep hand-off for the simple reason you can lose too much yardage....same thing with a run to the outside.

 

I like an outside run, inside the 5 yard line, on first down. Defenses are trying like crazy to get inside penetration, so a sweep outside could be perfect.

I like an outside run, inside the 5 yard line, on first down. Defenses are trying like crazy to get inside penetration, so a sweep outside could be perfect.

 

I think a team that does not have the capacity in their offense to go under center is not a well-rounded offense. Likewise, a team that ONLY goes under center is not a well-rounded offense either. There is a time and a place for both. I like under-center most of the time for short-yardage and goalline to maintain the threat of the QB sneak. This threat of the QB sneak makes the previously-mentioned sweep an even better play. Also, I believe the play-action passing game is more effective and convincing from under center than from Gun in short-yardage and goalline.

 

Look at a team like Trinity. They have the capacity in their system to operate from under center as well and shotgun and pistol.