1.

Limit the number of plays you run

I know this is elementary, but self-scout yourself and see how many
actual run plays and pass plays you ran. If you ran 7 different run
plays/schemes, how many did you run less than 5% of the time? Out of those
7 run schemes, what were your 4-5 most successful? Where the other 2-3
plays that were not successful practiced as much as the ones that were
successful? One year we ran 3 concepts. They were inside/outside zone and
counter. We tried running inverted veer, but we were not very good at it for
some reason. We also tried running midline from the gun, again we were not
very good at it. We cut those 2 plays out halfway through the season
because we were not getting enough out of them. We hung our hat on
inside/outside zone and counter because those plays were successful for us.
This allowed us to rep those schemes more in practice and we became better
at them as the season went on. I know most people cant believe you can run
only 3 run plays, but we made it to the quarterfinals running 3 run plays!!
Also, do the same with your passing game. Find the routes/concepts
that you do best. If you are not being successful throwing ball, find out why?
Is it because of protection? QBs ability? WRs abilities? Concepts too
complicated? Too many concepts? Our passing game has been paired down
to 3 screens, 3 quicks, 3 roll outs, 2 drop back concepts. We run the ball 75%
of the time, so we only have so much practice time to rep our passing game.
We average about 65 plays a game, so that means we are throwing it about
15 times a game. The last couple of years we have not taking enough shots
down the field, we must do a better job of this. You must self-scout yourself
and find out what you do best!
Finally, I cant take credit for this one. I read an article on Noel Mazzone
and he takes 24 plays into his game plan. He reps those 24 plays all week
and for the most part that is what he is going to run in the game. I took this
approach this year and felt better prepared about what I was going to call in
the game. It also helps the players, because there are no surprises as to
what we are going to run in the game. I think it makes it easier to build in
motion calls into certain formations, so you dont have to signal the motion
or call it out in the huddle. The players no in this formation, I have this
motion this week.
2. Use multiple personnel groupings
Using multiple personnel groupings does several things. It allows you
to get more players on the field, mommas and daddies like this. The players
dont have to learn a lot of rules or concepts, you can SIMPLIFY what they
have to do and learn. Opposing teams can be fooled into thinking you have a
complex offense with multiple personnel groupings and formations. But, all

we are really doing is giving them different looks with the same plays. I like
giving defensive coordinators a lot of formations to prepare for, they must
use practice time to line up correctly against them. Hopefully, this will keep
them from getting actual reps against the plays we run.
You must be able to change these groupings without hurting yourself.
What we have done is name our groupings and the players know which
grouping there in. Some players, because they are our playmakers, are in
most groupings. Others might only get on the field in one grouping. We used
a total of 8 groupings this past year and got a lot of players on the field. We
practice getting personnel groupings on and off the field during practice.
When we changed groupings in practice, the players coming on the field
verbalized the grouping and we also had them give a signal coming on the
field in case the crowd was loud.
For example:
Two of our most used personnel groupings were:
1. Hawk = 1 RB 1 H-Back 1 TE 2 WR
2. Eagle = 1 RB 1 TE 3 WR
Personnel Hawk Formation Georgia
X

O O [] O O Y
H
F
Q

Personnel Eagle Formation Georgia

X

O O [] O O Y
H
F

3. Simplify your verbiage