It's time for NFL offensive coordinators to adapt and modernize their schemes

[Reality]

It's time to scheme and game plan around what the quarterbacks do best. Many college coordinators have transitioned to a hybrid college-NFL system, and it's time for NFL coordinators to do the same as many of those college coordinators are former NFL coaches and vice-versa.

Players coming out of college have been coached in and played in the hybrid system for 2-4 years and wasting 1-3 years of their NFL career trying to convert each of them to an old school, slowly becoming outdated system, is pointless and foolish.

From a logic standpoint, doesn't it make more sense to improve and fine-tune each player's skills and abilities they showed in college that led to you drafting and/or signing them rather than trying to turn them into something else and *hoping* they can make the transition in 1-3 years?

A perfect example is shotgun-vs-under-center. I greatly prefer the shotgun offense better than under-center offense. We have shown even with Romo that we can run the ball just as well, if not better, from shotgun as we do under center. The advantages gained by the extra 1.0 to 1.5 seconds where the quarterback AND running back can scan the field greatly outweigh any shrinking advantages that 3-5-7 step drops provide.

To me, the 3-5-7 step drops were more effective in the past, and it's something that offensive coordinators are desperately hanging on to because it was "the way" they were taught by their mentors. This has nothing to do with athletic-vs-non-athletic, white-vs-black, etc. quarterbacks. I believe the defensive talent and schemes have improved so much over the last 10+ years, that the advantage that used to be there with the 3-5-7 drops has and will continue to shrink.

The shotgun system provides so many advantages for the quarterback and running back that I am surprised it has not become the standard already. For example, quarterbacks with bad or suspect offensive lines would have time to see rushers who break through and they could dump off the ball more quickly. Running backs would have an extra second or so to square up and block rushers helping to protect their quarterbacks.

So many times we see rookie quarterbacks start their first season and their offensive coordinators put them more in RPO schemes and they have some or even a lot of success. Then in season two, they've tried to turn them into an old school quarterback and their success declines leading to a sophomore slump. Then in year 3 and 4, the team is left to wait to see if the quarterback makes the transition or not. If he doesn't, that's 3-4 years of wasted time.

It's time for NFL offensive coordinators to wake up and adapt.

 

[noshame]

It's time to scheme and game plan around what the quarterbacks do best. Many college coordinators have transitioned to a hybrid college-NFL system, and it's time for NFL coordinators to do the same as many of those college coordinators are former NFL coaches and vice-versa.

Players coming out of college have been coached in and played in the hybrid system for 2-4 years and wasting 1-3 years of their NFL career trying to convert each of them to an old school, slowly becoming outdated system, is pointless and foolish.

From a logic standpoint, doesn't it make more sense to improve and fine-tune each player's skills and abilities they showed in college that led to you drafting and/or signing them rather than trying to turn them into something else and *hoping* they can make the transition in 1-3 years?

A perfect example is shotgun-vs-under-center. I greatly prefer the shotgun offense better than under-center offense. We have shown even with Romo that we can run the ball just as well, if not better, from shotgun as we do under center. The advantages gained by the extra 1.0 to 1.5 seconds where the quarterback AND running back can scan the field greatly outweigh any shrinking advantages that 3-5-7 step drops provide.

To me, the 3-5-7 step drops were more effective in the past, and it's something that offensive coordinators are desperately hanging on to because it was "the way" they were taught by their mentors. This has nothing to do with athletic-vs-non-athletic, white-vs-black, etc. quarterbacks. I believe the defensive talent and schemes have improved so much over the last 10+ years, that the advantage that used to be there with the 3-5-7 drops has and will continue to shrink.

The shotgun system provides so many advantages for the quarterback and running back that I am surprised it has not become the standard already. For example, quarterbacks with bad or suspect offensive lines would have time to see rushers who break through and they could dump off the ball more quickly. Running backs would have an extra second or so to square up and block rushers helping to protect their quarterbacks.

So many times we see rookie quarterbacks start their first season and their offensive coordinators put them more in RPO schemes and they have some or even a lot of success. Then in season two, they've tried to turn them into an old school quarterback and their success declines leading to a sophomore slump. Then in year 3 and 4, the team is left to wait to see if the quarterback makes the transition or not. If he doesn't, that's 3-4 years of wasted time.

It's time for NFL offensive coordinators to wake up and adapt.

Good write-up however I'm not convinced it's always the OC that's at fault a lot of these young guys decide they want to prove their pocket passers and not just running quarterbacks Donovan McNabb leaps to mind and we know how that turned out

 

[Sarek]

If your a system HC then you need to draft system type players. I think there is always going to be system type coaches around.

 

[Reality]

Good write-up however I'm not convinced it's always the OC that's at fault a lot of these young guys decide they want to prove their pocket passers and not just running quarterbacks Donovan McNabb leaps to mind and we know how that turned out

I don't think many quarterbacks who had success in college come into the NFL thinking, "I know I just played 2-4 years in college and was great in that system, so now, I want to change it up and see if I can be great in another system." They know their second contract is the real money maker and risking that over something they may or may not be as good at as the system they used in college is not something most would do.

The ones like McNabb who wanted to be a pocket passer were from 15+ years ago when that's all NFL offenses ran, so of course he wanted to make that transition. That's my point. In the last 10 years, you've seen more teams run RPO and other college systems for their young quarterbacks and now, most quarterbacks coming out of college would absolutely love to run something in the NFL similar to what they've learned, practiced and played the last 2-4 years.

 

[Verdict]

I fully agree with this and will go on to say that it also applies to other areas of play in the NFL too. Years ago everyone ran the ball. QBs weren't asked to pass that much and defenses were built to stop the run (see Roy Williams). Teams began to throw the ball out of necessity and they shredded those defenders who couldn't defend the pass.

Now, teams are all trying to pass and defenses are geared to stop the pass first. That is in part why we were so successful in running the ball in 2014. We should run the **** out of the ball in2016 and take advantage of that.

 

[Reality]

If your a system HC then you need to draft system type players. I think there is always going to be system type coaches around.

True, but at the same time, if a really good player drops in your lap, you would be foolish to draft him and then change him completely hoping he will be as good or better in the new system when you know he will likely be quite good in the system he's already familiar with.

 

[Sarek]

True, but at the same time, if a really good player drops in your lap, you would be foolish to draft him and then change him completely hoping he will be as good or better in the new system when you know he will likely be quite good in the system he's already familiar with.

Coaches do need to be flexible, but some have preferences, just as i don't like small QB's.

 

[Aven8]

Tom Brady has won 4 SB's in the shotgun.

 

[Craig]

Tom Brady has won 4 SB's in the shotgun.

Without a big time workhorse back. The Patriots running game is largely a short passing game. Dallas just invested big in running backs, they should be looking at a lot of I formations. The league is definitely moving towards the Pats model though with fewer and fewer huge carry backs and more and more passing game.

 

[Alexander]

Tom Brady has won 4 SB's in the shotgun.

You do it one of two ways.

You tweak the route concepts like the Patriots do or you put the QB in play as a threat like Shula did with Newton.

The durability aspect of the QB themselves makes a difference in that decision.

 

[Alexander]

Without a big time workhorse back. The Patriots running game is largely a short passing game. Dallas just invested big in running backs, they should be looking at a lot of I formations. The league is definitely moving towards the Pats model though with fewer and fewer huge carry backs and more and more passing game.

It depends. Some teams like the Chiefs are going with a spread concept. The Eagles are headed there. The 49ers are there. That requires an athletic QB who can also be accurate with shorter passes. The Panthers are more like what Shanahan pulled off with Griffin for a year until his durability gave way.

 

[AzorAhai]

I've been there for a long time. If a coach doesn't build his scheme around the players he has, he shouldn't be the coach. The Patriots are the obvious example. The type of offense they ran with Moss was completely different than what they run now. Same results though, a very good, consistent team.

Now what I don't want a coach to do is the gimmicky college stuff. Like running a Georgia Tech scheme where its almost completely built around QB option plays. Or a Baylor style where the QBs don't have to even read the field. The players in the NFL are too good for that. Do what puts your player in the best position to win their matchups.

 

[JackOfNoTrades]

while I agree with the premise, I find it interesting the pro level would need to adjust to sync with the college level, which pretty much amounts to the NFL minor league. Sounds backwards but yes, QBs and offenses in college are geared to win now and maintain coaching jobs, not prepare players for the big leagues.

 

[Alexander]

while I agree with the premise, I find it interesting the pro level would need to adjust to sync with the college level, which pretty much amounts to the NFL minor league. Sounds backwards but yes, QBs and offenses in college are geared to win now and maintain coaching jobs, not prepare players for the big leagues.

And NFL coaches are in the same "win now and maintain". They are not into taking risks, like adopting a schematic style that they don't know much about.

Most coaches are, or have learned, old school concepts and that probably gels with the decision makers like GMs and owners who are even older and more stubborn. How many times have you seen QBs being downgraded because of being labelled a "spread" QB.

It takes a certain level of comfort and stability to do that, most head coaches don't have that kind of time to re-invent the wheel, nor do owners have that kind of patience.

 

[Reality]

while I agree with the premise, I find it interesting the pro level would need to adjust to sync with the college level, which pretty much amounts to the NFL minor league. Sounds backwards but yes, QBs and offenses in college are geared to win now and maintain coaching jobs, not prepare players for the big leagues.

That line of thinking made perfect sense years ago in the NFL. In college, coaches had their players for 2-4 years at most, so it made and continues to make sense to put in simpler schemes that work best and provide the high chance for success in the shortest time frame.

In the past, the better players would end up on an NFL team for at least 5-8 years in most cases if not more, and teams had quality depth so they had the luxury of coaching and transitioning players over a longer period when that process did not go quickly. Now, with the salary cap, improved free agent system (for players), teams not only need to find out if the player can play in the NFL in the first 3 years, more and more teams need those players to actually play in the first 3 years and be successful.

More and more players in the top 5 rounds are finding their way into games in the first year or two on offense and defense, not just special teams. Again, from a logical standpoint, it just makes sense to have young players ready to step in and not just hold the place for a returning player in their first 1-2 seasons, but to step in and improve a position as well.

 

[Reality]

And NFL coaches are in the same "win now and maintain". They are not into taking risks, like adopting a schematic style that they don't know much about.

It takes a certain level of comfort and stability to do that, most head coaches don't have that kind of time to re-invent the wheel, nor do owners have that kind of patience.

Which is why a lot of these old school coaches may find themselves out of NFL jobs in the near future, as we start seeing more college coaches, even some who were former NFL coaches, but went back to college and adapted their schemes, replace them.

 

[BHendri5]

NO, they do not need to adopt what the colleges are doing. The colleges need to stop running these simple read option and zone read offenses. they are noting more than a high school system. Those QBs coming from those systems take to long to learn how to read defenses unless they have a very good QB coach a seasoned vet in front of them. I disagree with this theory. You want your QB to run as little as possible. As far as under the center man come on, you get better running from your RB than him standing beside the QB from the shot gun. Passing from the shotgun I agree but handing off no way , not even close.
The NFL is a step up and it does not need to dumb down to accommodate athletes.

 

[BHendri5]

The old school coaches are old that is why they will find themselves out of a job, they need to go sit down anyway

 

[Alexander]

Which is why a lot of these old school coaches may find themselves out of NFL jobs in the near future, as we start seeing more college coaches, even some who were former NFL coaches, but went back to college and adapted their schemes, replace them.

Not so fast. Chip Kelly got run off quickly. It will take time. It is not coming until you see one coach do it. Outsiders are not always welcome in the NFL.

More than likely you will see some of the old school coaches in the league now that are willing to incorporate the concepts get those chances first. Shula's son is a good example. He will probably get a shot if the Panthers continue to do well. This is a league full of good old boy concepts.

 

[Alexander]

NO, they do not need to adopt what the colleges are doing. The colleges need to stop running these simple read option and zone read offenses. they are noting more than a high school system. Those QBs coming from those systems take to long to learn how to read defenses unless they have a very good QB coach a seasoned vet in front of them. I disagree with this theory. You want your QB to run as little as possible. As far as under the center man come on, you get better running from your RB than him standing beside the QB from the shot gun. Passing from the shotgun I agree but handing off no way , not even close.
The NFL is a step up and it does not need to dumb down to accommodate athletes.

If I am a college coach, I only have four years to win games.

I am not wasting that time on reshaping a QB to do things he has never done in high school.

The NFL might be a "step up" but you will be waiting for that one QB to come out prepared for a long time. That is why there is such a dearth of good QBs in this league because most of the time they are taking a misfit and trying to make them fit into the square peg.

QBs are a sizeable investment, but I think that needs to change. Looking for the 10 year franchise QB is getting tougher and tougher.

But the college game is not about making itself a better feeder system to the NFL. If the league wants to resist the changes in the sport, they need to get on the ball and get a functional minor league going. That is the only way the young kids are going to have the opportunity to develop into what teams apparently still want.