Developing an Offensive Game Plan

by Brian Billick

Provides a basic overview of the steps involved in setting up and implementing an offensive game plan. Covers how to focus your package into a weekly game plan and practice format. Also covers how much offense to use, base offense, third down, pre-red zone, red zone, and much more.

Genres: Football, Sports

102 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Eric M Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a long time student of the game with the hope that some day it'd pay off if I got into coaching, and I've been given an opportunity as a volunteer assistant for a high school program. This breakdown on gameplanning was very pragmatic, which fits my style of learning, so definitely something that I'll put to use in my current role, and maybe even something that will propel me forward. That's why I gave it five stars.

There were a few major takeaways for me:

- Of course the main theme of figuring out how much offense you need, broken down by:
* down & distance (with enough special emphasis on 3rd down to warrant it's own chapter)
* red zone
* pre-red zone
* backed up
* 1st down and more or less than 10
* blitz situations
* two minute offense
* four minute offense
* last three plays

It should be noted, in all of these situations, that a point of emphasis on the four major factors that effect the outcome of a game:

* turnovers
* explosive plays
* 1st down efficiency
* red zone efficiency

Once you've identified how much offense you need for each game situation, which is achieved in this book by applying a 25-30% overage, and taking into account where some plays in the offense might overlap and be usable in more than one situation, you can then allot your practice time in proportion to your needs.

There's also a really good chapter on scripting openers, all the benefits are expanded on.

I also liked the charts he put up in the coaches' room. He has a game plan chart that shows what's going into the game plan broken down similar to a call sheet, but on a much bigger chart that the entire coaching staff can reference. In addition to that chart was the practice script chart. It showed what was being repped or installed, in sequence, during practice.

If there's one thing I'd like to see coach Billick add if he decides to make a 4th edition, is a chapter on 4th downs, or expand the 3rd down chapter to include at least a section that breaks down how teams have changed their approach to 4th down to reflect a more aggressive play style than in years past, including that formative time frame when coach Billick was working with Bill Walsh.

[Ernie Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

If your a football coach, at any level especially a play caller this book is for you! Amazing content, Coach Billick is great source to learn from

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful. A great organizational tool.

[Steven]

Author does a good job with a difficult subject without using pigeon holed terminology.