Football Game Strategies

If you ask a dozen football coaches what their favorite game strategy is, you may get a dozen different answers. Football is an intricate sport with several ways to win. The cerebral aspect is as important as the physical side. Coaches often make in-game adjustments based on what their opponent does. The different coaching philosophies help keep football interesting.

  1. Running Attack

    • Some football coaches think that passing the ball is a foreign phrase. In other words, they prefer running as the main option, and sometimes as the second and third option as well. A running attack favors teams with a big offensive line that opens holes for runners. Those coaches love to pound the ball downfield gaining 4 or 5 yards each play, while letting the clock run. The theory is that the other team can’t score if they don’t have the ball. It also helps to have an explosive feature back that can make opposing defenders miss with shifty moves on the way to breaking long runs. Running formations include the I-formation, Wing-T and wishbone. The Wild Cat, also called the Wild Hog, has become popular with NFL coaches in recent years. Similar to the Wing-T, the formation enables the center to hike the ball to any member of the backfield. The can freeze and confuse a defense.

    Passing First

    • Other offensive coaches, however, prefer throwing the ball as opposed to running. Those coaches line up four or five wide receivers in trying to stretch the field with quick or long passes. It can lead to high-scoring games and exciting plays for the fans to watch. Teams need speedy wide receivers, who are often the fastest players on the team. They have good hands and can run the 40-yard dash, a key measuring device for speed, in 4.5 seconds or less. Teams also need a strong-armed quarterback to get the ball to the receivers. Passing formations include the spread offense and the West Coast Offense. (CE: reference)

    Defending the Run

    • Many defenses begin with a 4-3 formation, meaning there are four defensive linemen on the line of scrimmage with three linebackers behind them. The four defensive backs--two cornerbacks, a strong safety and a free safety--defend the pass. Teams that want to stop the run, simply move up a safety to have eight players near the line of scrimmage. Occasionally, another defensive back gets moved to the line of scrimmage to build a bigger wall in hopes of stopping the run.

    Stopping the Pass

    • In trying to prevent teams from passing, the opposite occurs. Coaches take away a linebacker to utilize a fifth defensive back, which is usually a third cornerback. The scheme is called the Nickel Defense. In a Dime Defense, a coach takes away a second linebacker to add a fourth defensive back. Coaches will play this formation when the opposing team lines up with five receivers because the only chance of a running play is if the quarterback keeps the ball.