I was scanning Facebook for a few and came across this from Jon Gruden/Sportskeeda Pro Football/ProFootballTalk:

Jon Gruden is concerned about the direction of modern quarterback development and argued that many quarterbacks are entering the professional level without enough experience recognizing defenses, identifying coverages and communicating adjustments at the line of scrimmage. 

Gruden criticized offenses built heavily around clapping for the snap, rapid tempo, RPOs and predetermined bubble screens:

"I’m worried about the game to be honest with you. A lot of people think the game is evolving. I think the game is dissolving."

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Are we developing high school QBs correctly in Kentucky?  What about the rest of America/College Football?  Anyone? @ChiefSmoke?

We just sent a box to Coach Gruden and I sure don't want to make him mad! ?

I would also admit my answer now could change in less than 24 hours. I change my mind alot. 

But...fascinating that this has come up because I had a similar conversation with my AD just this afternoon after our 7 on 7.  He said that what we do on offense fits our QB & personnel well, but that we are not a traditional passing game team. I told him, in 34 years, I have really only had two QBs that were the prototypical straight drop back guys.  We have never had a heavy emphasis on a drop back NFL style passing game. We put in one straight dropback concept a couple decades back. We still carry it. We put it together with input from Andrew Coverdale and Mike Holcomb... as good as it gets when it comes to the passing game. 

Offenses are evolving to fit what HS & college QBs can execute well. There are very few pure, straight drop back QBs, and truthfully those guys have always been rare. But, in the past, there was more of an effort to make everyone a drop back passer. 

Even in 1982, at Mercer County HS(Coach French was NOT a "passing" coach)  where we were struggling, I was the QB, we did 5 step drop under center. That type of pass pro from under center is tough on a HS offensive line. And, we really didn't have alot of speed to run those routes at a depth that made it effective. BUT, we did it. And, had a little success with it.  I would add though, and this fits my initial statement about offenses evolving, we had a lot of success with 2 very simple play action passes. 

In The Why Is Everything: A Story of Football, Rivalry & Revoluton by Michael Silver, Mike McDaniel is praised for adjusting his schemes to his talent. They said he was a genius. Guys...that is what HS Football Coaches do!  The more we see coaching at the collegiate & NFL level move toward a HS model, there will be more variation in offenses because of the variety in skill sets on different football teams.  I have even told Trosper who is trying to climb the collegiate football coaching ladder.... DO & THINK like a HS Football Coach, but NEVER say you got this from HS football. 

Also, to justify so many jobs at the collegiate and professional level, schemes and plays have become incredibly complex. Cutting edge right now is to move back towards more simplicity... which has been our approach for 34 years. 

In that regard, football will continue to evolve, or at least cycle for a period of time to simpler and less complex.

Now, in SUPPORT of Coach Gruden's point, football IQ is NOT what it use to be. Playing outside with your friends and watching it on TV contributed more to knowledge and understanding the game than all the video football games.... which do help to a certain extent. But, playing QB in the street against a pass rush that is going to plant you on the concrete is more like Friday night than having a sandwich and holding your controller in the basement.

Also....more guys are developing the strength and skills to physically make throws that only a small number of QBs could make just 10 years ago. Those guys would benefit from more of the intellectual piece and learning coverages. 

There is a little bit of a rivalry in football when it comes to the passing game. Old school NFL hates the Air Raid guys. Says they don't teach the game. Air Raid guys say the old school NFL guys make the game more complicated than it needs to be. On this rivalry, I generally side with the Air Raid perspective. 

Is the game going to dissolve? Not from passing game issues. 

The guys with arm talent are going to need to learn the old school NFL system to climb that ladder. 

Coaches trying to survive & succeed at all 3 levels are going to seek what works best for their personnel. I will admit, that is not always as easy as it sounds. I have struggled with that at Anderson. I THINK we are much closer to matching our offensive scheme with who we are. 

Us old guys tend to think the sky is falling and that the old days were the best. I am guilty of the same, often. I mean, who do you think was the guy on the field today in black shoes with white shoestrings and getting in a Power I for a 7 on 7? ?

@theguru hope this addresses what you were looking for. I enjoyed answering the question after a long but good day of coaching football! ?

 

 

1 hour ago, ChiefSmoke said:

@theguru hope this addresses what you were looking for. I enjoyed answering the question after a long but good day of coaching football! ?

For sure, one of the best answers I have ever received on a topic, good job!

Is it August yet?