Gameplan

Welcome back to The Call Sheet!

Today, we’re taking a break from our foundations of football series. The primary purpose of this newsletter will be to share a glimpse of what Monday newsletters will look like during the season. Also, I’ll share an offer for the high school coaches subscribed to The Call Sheet. TLDR:

• Cover 1 Robber

  • Preview of Mondays in the Fall

  • Promo for High School Coaches

• Quick Game

If you’re new, you can catch up on previous posts here.

Cover 1 Robber

Preview of Mondays in the Fall

As I mentioned when I started this newsletter, I intend to break down plays or schemes we’ll see on Saturdays. Every Monday post will contain an analysis of big plays, unique and creative plays, or overall schemes that teams execute en route to winning a game.

“So, what does that look like in practice?”

Today’s newsletter will answer that question as we look at one of my favorite offensive plays from 2017.

Let’s set the stage. On September 9, 2017, #5 Oklahoma traveled to Columbus to take on #2 Ohio State. Most of you likely remember Baker Mayfield planting an OU flag at midfield after Oklahoma won 31-16, but the most memorable part of this game for me was a 9-yard run in the 2nd quarter.

Before we look at the play I’m referencing, I want to quickly share a drawing of what a regular speed option would have looked like in the formation that Oklahoma lined up in.

Traditionally, speed options consist of the quarterback attacking the edge of the defense with the option to pitch the ball to a running back or receiver, thus leading to a potentially more significant gain.

Take a look at Lincoln Riley’s creativity:

On 1st & 10, with 4:15 left in the half, Oklahoma had 12 personnel on the field and lined up in a 3×1, 11 personnel formation. Backup quarterback Kyler Murray (#1 in white) took the shotgun snap and handed the ball off to Trey Sermon (#4 in white), but what initially looked like an inside zone quickly turned into what I would call an inverted speed option. As Sermon attacked #33 on the edge of the defense, he pitched the ball back to Murray, who gained 9 yards untouched.

What I love about this play is the expectation subversion. Ohio State’s defensive players commit to their run fits for what they expect to be an inside zone, but they’re caught off guard when Sermon takes the option to pitch the ball back to Murray. Riley’s play design created extra space.

Although it was just a 9-yard gain, the sideline angle clearly shows the big-play potential. But the endzone angle reveals this play could have gone for 6!

When showing this clip to another former coach, we agreed that the running back could have handled this better. First and foremost, we felt that Sermon was looking to pitch the ball far too early. If he attacked #33 for another step or two, Sermon would still have the option to pitch the ball to Murray, likely for an even bigger play, or he could have faked the pitch and sprung himself free to be one-on-one with the safety (#4 in red).

With all that being said, we reckon that Lincoln Riley told Sermon in practice that he was not allowed to fake the pitch. Based on how quickly he turns to look at Murray, we assume a fake pitch was attempted in practice, and Sermon was chewed out. Clearly, he’s just worried about accuracy.

Since that game, I can’t remember another time where I’ve seen an inverted speed option. I hope that changes this fall because that play design would give some defensive coordinators nightmares.

Promo for High School Coaches

High school football coaches hold a special place in my heart. My high school head coach was the first to recognize my potential to coach as I showed a knack for identifying tendencies while watching film. Thanks to him, I was lucky to be a part of four straight championship game appearances. For a small Catholic school playing in the highest division in the state, that’s no easy feat. We never suited up more than 40 players for varsity games, but we maintained high consistency through a culture of belief, discipline, and growth. But that started with the head coach.

So, with my high school head coach in mind, I sought an opportunity to help develop the coaches subscribed to The Call Sheet. Culture in Sports is offering a Leadership & Culture course for coaches. Beginning on June 23, 2024, you have an excellent opportunity to learn, grow, and gain additional tools to be a more effective leader in sports. What would have cost $499.99 is now completely free if you use the code RAJ at checkout. Sign up here before it’s too late.

Quick Game

Kyler Murray highlights from his Heisman Trophy season - YouTube

Kenny Dillingham pranks his ASU players about getting free copies of CFB 25 - Twitter