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There Are Many Different Ways To Build A Successful Offensive System: An Update on the A-11 Offense

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There Are Many Different Ways To Build A Successful Offensive System:

                                        An Update on the A-11 Offense

By Kurt Bryan, Head Coach, Piedmont High School (CA) and
      Steve Humphries, Offensive Coordinator

 

“Dead, kaput, deceased, expired, perished, buried and departed,” were just a few adjectives some people used to describe the fate of the A-11 Offense - after the NHFS rules committee changed their definition of a Scrimmage Kick Formation in February 2009 – in an attempt to kill the A-11. Some folks were happy about it and some were sad about the revision. Change is fluid.

But, after our Piedmont football team defeated an opponent during the 2009 season, in which we employed our modified A-11, the opposing head coach commented about his own team’s best defensive player (a defensive lineman). “The hardest part about game planning for the A-11 was figuring out where to put him. The A-11 basically rendered him ineffective the entire game. He wasn’t a factor at all.”

The successful transition of the A-11 into traditional football jersey-numbering rules enables any team, at any level, to mix up their looks and use A-11 packages to supplement their current offense. For example, spread option teams can shift into unique A-11 formations, and motion or shift into any of their 2 x 2 or 1 x 3 pass route combinations. Every NCAA and NFL team can also legally get into an A-11 set on fourth downs and use the  “eleven eligible numbered players on the field at the same time" personnel group to an advantage vs. the defense.

At Piedmont, the A-11 fits the strength of the personnel when matched up against several of our opponent’s assets. It also helps to offset their advantages over us in some areas, especially size. Piedmont’s enrollment is about 800 students, public and coed. The CIF Division III playoff classification we compete in takes eligible playoff teams of an enrollment of between 701 and 1,400 students. In the previous three years (2004-2006) before the A-11 was introduced, Piedmont’s overall record was a combined (13-17-1). Comparatively, in the three seasons (2007-09) since using the A-11 at Piedmont, the overall team record is (21-12).

Biggest Changes for the 2009 Season: The full-blown A-11in 2007 and 2008 enabled teams nationwide to experiment with exciting concepts and opposing defensive coordinators had a chance to stamp new schemes onto the gridiron. Major changes occurred on the field for the teams using the A-11 or defending against it.

1. Quarterback Under Center: The only time Piedmont aligned in a SKF in 2009 was for a FG/PAT; therefore, our QB could take the snap from under center or we could have our QB and RB align at any depth in the backfield. This modification allowed us to use some traditional concepts within the A-11 (like the speed option), and keep the “threat” of a quick pass or bubble screen to a WR or Anchor throughout the game.

2.Anchors:  By design, A-11 replaces both of the traditional offensive tackles with a duo of sleeker and more athletic game breaker type athletes, often spreading them wide beyond the hash marks, one to each side. Even though ‘Anchors’ wear jersey numbers (# 50-79) they are not linemen-type players, respectively. Anchors can do everything a normal receiver can do, except catch a forward pass. Anchors can block, take a pitch, handoff, negative bubble screen or quick pass behind the LOS, receive a lateral after a catch by another player, and run with or throw the ball. During 2009, our Anchors executed all of these actions listed and more. Taking full advantage of an ineligible player's capabilities is a hallmark of A-11 Football, and separates it from traditional football schemes, which use ineligible players for blocking purposes almost all the time.

Contrary to what some people think, the A-11 is a solid rushing offense. It creates wide running lanes because the defense is completely spread out. Utmost space between the players is an equalizer. Here are some facts from our 2009 season:

  • During the 2009 season our starting varsity quarterback threw 18 touchdown passes and had two interceptions for an overall QB rating of 145%.

 

  • We ran the football 48% of the time during the 2009 season as compared with 49.5% in 2008.
  • We averaged 31.6 points per game for the 2009 season compared to 30 points per game in 2008.

 

  • NCAA and NFL offensive players can cut-block defenders. As the A-11 begins moving up to the highest levels of competition, being able to “cut-block the legs from underneath the defenders” will make the A-11 devastating and help neutralize size advantages. It’s often easier for a RB or O-Lineman to cut-block an oncoming DE or LB in order to keep the defense honest rather than mandate that the offensive player must always take on a second or third level defender up high. Defenders worry about getting cut-blocked. It will be similar to the effects of the cut-blocking used by option teams such as Army, Navy, Air Force, and Georgia Tech.
  • Piedmont’s three years in the A-11 have averaged seven wins a season with making the playoffs each season.

 

  • Our average home game attendance before the A-11 was 800 fans per game. Since using the A-11, our average home game attendance is more than 2,000 fans per game

 

There are many different offensive systems available to help your team win more games. For Piedmont, and the other teams willing to try something new, the A-11 offers many possibilities and may be a good fit. As the game of football becomes faster, more dynamic and further spread out across the field of play, there is a respectful contingent of folks believing the game will revert back to a more condensed and Smash Mouth style of play.

With great respect to the many contributors to the game and to every player and coach that have come before us, we value the contributions they’ve made to football. Blocking and tackling will always be the most important elements of the game. Furthermore, creating different formations and exciting ways to advance the football via the run or the pass will always evolve to fit the advanced skills of the modern athlete. That’s excellent news for the players, the coaches, football fans, as the game continues to evolve. Football has always adapted and it will continue to do so. And, the rules will also adjust accordingly.

 

About the Authors

Piedmont Head Coach Kurt Bryan has been a high school and collegiate football coach for 24 years. He has earned Coach of the Year honors three times and has been the head football coach at Piedmont for 8 seasons. During that period Piedmont has had six playoff appearances and one undefeated league title. To contact Coach Bryan: kurt@a11offense.com.

Steve Humphries just completed his sixth season as Piedmont’s Offensive Coordinator and is the co-architect and founder of the A-11 offense.  To contact Coach Humphries: steve@a11offense.com.






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