What would it be like to have the perfect high school offense? Would it be a combination of the pro set, spread offense, one-back, veer option, double wing, and wing-T or another offense guaranteed to score a lot of points. In this issue of GS, Mark Jackson, the offensive coordinator at Sikeston High School (MO), describes just that – his plan for the perfect high school offense.
  

  According to Jackson, “The perfect high school offense is a combination of all these different offenses.” The priorities of an offense for Coach Jackson are an offense that enables Sikeston to run the football, forces the defense to defend the field both horizontally and vertically, includes the ability to complete high percentage passes, allows the team to have balance and puts players in space. In addition, it adapts to the talents of the players, controls tempo and consistently puts points on the scoreboard.
   

Coach Jackson includes a total of 12 different plays that Sikeston runs primarily from the spread formation, taking advantage of his athletes’ skills. It seems to be working. From a 5-5 team in 2008, the Sikeston Bulldogs finished 13-1 last fall, losing in the state semifinals. This year, through late October, Sikeston is undefeated. More impressively, this year’s team is averaging 47.9 points per game and 9.3 yards per play.
    Two additional offensive clinics are featured in this issue: ‘Quarterback Play In the Spread No-Huddle Offense’ and ‘Variations on Four Verticals.’ Eddie Minor, the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Leavenworth High School (KS), wrote the former article and it includes six different quarterback drills, one of which is the ‘Pistol Pete’ drill. Based on a favorite basketball drill of legendary basketball player Pete Maravich, the quarterbacks hold the football between their legs with one hand on the front and the other hand behind their legs holding the ball from the back. The quarterbacks then switch hand placement quickly and the front hand becomes the back hand without letting the ball touch the ground.

    Also in this issue you’ll find defensive line clinics, competitive drills for special teams, and an article on MRSA, a dangerous staph bacteria that is infecting athletes at the high school, college, and professional levels. Plus, a feature on specialized strength training exercises.

    We hope you enjoy this issue of GS.
 
            Respectfully,

            Rex Lardner
            Managing Editor