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Thoughts on the Run & Shoot

Here are a few thoughts on running the Run & Shoot offense (In no particular order):

  • You can't dabble in it.  The run and shoot is a powerful offense that can move the ball and score but it takes a lot of practice to run it right.  You can't do it well and do it half-way.

  • The run and shoot is an offense that you will tend to win big or lose big with.  Run well it scores a lot of points.  Run poorly it bogs down in a hurry and doesn't use much clock so you could be facing a lot of quick 3 & out situations.  The defense won't get much rest in that case.

  • Your receivers don't have to be blazing fast (though that certainly helps) but they do have to be smart and disciplined.  The run and shoot depends upon making reads at the line of scrimmage and as the play develops.  The quarterback and the receivers ALL have to have their eyes open and brains active.  A blown read by either QB or WR can result in an incomplete pass if you're lucky.

  • Despite my last comment at least some speed is necessary otherwise teams will just play man to man and lock up your receivers.  If you don't have any speed on the outside your job becomes that much harder.

  • Don't forget the run part of run and shoot.  It's not just a pass-pass-pass offense even though that is how it is sometimes regarded.  Originally it was designed to get the QB moving around and with run/pass options.  In addition to the dive, sweep, trap, draw game with the running back don't be afraid to let your QB roll and bootleg and run the ball if he is an athlete.  When I coached QBs with the Los Angeles Heat our starting QB was a terrific runner and some of our best plays happened when he got outside the pocket, saw some daylight, pulled the ball down and took off with it.

More to come....