ADJUSTING YOUR OFFENSE during a game takes tact, knowledge, preparation and being able to think on your feet.
Too often coaches panic too early in a game and try to fix problems instead of sticking with the game plan. Before trying to adjust, determine the exact problem and be certain you must run the play giving you problems. Many times, if you simply don’t run the specific play that isn’t working, you will be in fine shape. Of course, if you are an option team and you can’t run the option, then you are in big trouble. Once you realize the problem and understand it’s not a simple fix, then it’s time to make adjustments.
The first step for in-game adjustments is to determine why your team is not executing this play or series effectively. To determine the problem, assign a coach to watch the line blocking and assign another to watch the backfield action. You are better served assigning more coaches to watch more aspects of your offensive game — more eyes always are better.
When observing the play, coaches need to look for the three most common reasons a play does not work properly:
1. A player(s) missed assignment.
2. There is better opponent personnel on the field than what you have.
3. It’s simply a poor play to run against the specific defense.
From there, you have a six-step process to make this play work for your team.
1. Attempt again to execute the play properly.
2. Run the same play but with a different formation.
3. Adjust the blocking scheme.
4. Take advantage of a defensive player technique or scheme by attacking his weakness.
5. Fake this play and run a different play from the same offensive look.
6. Discard this play and move on.
To help this process, have several proper forms available to you during the game. Examples of some good forms to have at your fingertips are:
Formation and blocking scheme matrix for your running offense and your passing offense — to make sound adjustments to blocking schemes.
Run distribution chart and pass distribution chart — to identify the precise area of the field to attack.
Protection adjustment chart and master pass route chart — to help you decide quickly how to adjust the blocking on pass plays or to tell a receiver his new pass route.
Expected defensive fronts and technique form — to help you precisely attack a specific defensive technique or scheme.
Having these forms available to you saves a great deal of time because it allows you to make adjustments quickly. You don’t have to waste time and effort trying to figure out how to adjust to an opponent based just on memory. As a side note, all of these useful forms are in my book, “Football Forms for the Winning Coach.”