Defending the Best Offensive Minds - Mike Leach Head Football Coach Washigton State
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Transcript of Defending the Best Offensive Minds - Mike Leach Head Football Coach Washigton State
Theoretical Football
“Theoretical football is the notion that American football is an exceedingly complex sport that requires a branch of learning. Its goal is to accentuate the cerebral, academic, and quantifiable
aspects of American football.” - Denauld William Brown
Contact Twitter: @theofootball Email: [email protected]
Defending The Best Offensive Minds
Topic: Mike Leach 1997
By Denauld William Brown
This is a continued series on how to read and defend offensive formations pre-snap. We will discuss the pre-snap formation
assessment of then offensive coordinator of the University of Kentucky Mike Leach.
We will give an in-depth look at some of the formational intent that defines this master architect.
NEXT TOPIC: Doug Nussmeier
Offensive Coordinator
University of Alabama
X
Split back formations are a
consistent topic in these
formation assessments.
Formations with split back
sets are universal in nature.
A post snap free release of
the backs gives you a feel
that the offense wants to get
all 5 eligible receivers into
the route to increase there
chances of a successful
thrown by the quarterback,
and catch by the receiver.
This particular Mike Leach
formation from 1997 hints
to the evolutionary way he
would later extend his
formations with the offensive
line at Texas Tech.
Formations have personality
and this one is no different.
The expectation of the “Y” to
motion is almost reasonable
given the proximity and
positioning of the “Y” and
“Z” in a semi-cluster. This
formation is poised in the
passing game for multiple
crossers. The roots of this
formation stem from a west
coast Bill Walsh playbook.
The flipping of the Z & Y
seems to be a variation
specific to this particular
play caller. The ultimate
question that needs to be
asked is if there are any
advantages in the running
game in this formation?
Some formations are better
than others when it comes to
the passing and running
games. The challenge of
evaluating a single formation
is knowing that each
formation is part of a
greater call sequence of
plays during an actual
football contest. We take on
this challenge to dig deeper
into the mind of the master
play callers.
Pro
Number of running backs: 2
Number of receivers: 3
Number of Tight ends: 0
Formation Type: Female
Formation demeanor: Pass
X
The Pythagorean Theorem
approach to the Mike Leach
offense is evolutionary. He
has found a way to increase
time for the quarterback by
creating distance between
the defensive line and the
quarterback. This is a very
smart way of buying time
rather than adding
protection. Offensive passing
schemes are time savers
while the defensive line is
poised to moderate that time
by controlling and
penetrating the pocket from
outside in. With a free
release of the running back
in the passing game this 2x2
formation can present
maximum stress to a defense
when pressure on the
quarterback is of no
consequence. There needs to
be an innovative way to
consistently defeat the
offense play by play
schematically. This is a
challenge that Bill Walsh
presented in his 1958
graduate school thesis.
“Defensive knowledge of the
coach becomes quite obvious
when his team takes the field
against an opponent that
employs a flank (spread) type
formation. His charges will be
at a definite tactical
disadvantage if not
completely prepared. Only
with superior man power will
they have a fighting chance.”
Mike Leach is a master play
caller. It seems his influence is
drawn from the likes of
Mouse Davis, Bill Walsh and
obviously Hal Mumme. But he
put his own remarkable spin
on such a simple looking
formation.
Pro
Number of running backs: 1
Number of receivers: 4
Number of Tight ends: 0
Formation Type: Female
Formation demeanor: Pass