Lock,

Reggie posted this up a while ago... there some good info in here:

Can you distinguish different coach's schemes in your league?

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One of the great things about being in a miniature football league is analyzing various teams schemes offensively, defensively, and special teams.

In the DFW, where there is a no-hands barred, stack if you want kind of action, it becomes rather apparent week-to-week that many of the coaches run different schemes.

Some coaches learn under one type of system and apply those concepts in offense and defense and others may learn off another. One of the great coaches in the DFW League, Don Hudson runs a particular scheme where his linemen are on regular TTC bases. He runs double-TE, one back and one receiver sets a lot. Because he does not use athletes of FF.COM, he employs the TEs to chip swoopers (loopers) and then go out for passing.

On defense, he runs a 2-deep zone sometimes using zone blitzes to try to bait you into throwing. Many of those who studied under Don tries to use similar schemes. Some add a little twist but by and large, it is eerily similar.

Then you have DeWone "Parcells" McDaniel who's philosophy is to slow the game up. Use the clock, ball control-type offense. He loves running off right tackle a lot. He uses 3 and 4 receiver sets from time to time but his intentions are to pound the rock. The linemen are closely intertwined. DeWone averages about 17 pts a game.

On defense, he plays a bend-but-don't break defense. A tyrpical 4-3 with pretty physical corners. He plays dime coverage a lot but will from time-to-time, bring the safeties up to threaten against the run. Needless to say, he's the second winningest coaches in league history. Others who have mimicked his stype have had difficult with it.

Then there's Mike Robertson. A 4-time champion who has etched his own mark. Mike tries to run my offense, the spread, but excels in running traps. Everyone thinks the play will not work but with constant practice, this guy has it down to a science. Mike is like a hound-dog in the game. When he knows he has you on the ropes, he will continue to pound you. Mike use a multitude of schemes but most are centered around his ability to run trap plays on you. He is willing to give up 10 yards on a run to set you up for a big play on the next play.

His defensive schemes are copied directly from what I do. Neither him or myself have the strongest teams in the league, so we do a lot of exotic coverages that the other team can not recognize. We leave our corners on islands, knowing 9 of 10 times, they will win the battle against the receiver. Mike's safeties are sometimes in a double zone coverage scheme but for the most part, he plays a base 4-3 or 5-2. The only difference in Mike's defensive scheme and mine is that his middle linebacker is on a rookie base, adding added pressure on run plays and mine is on a lateral, giving me the ability to rush ahead on runs and drop back on passing plays.

I run the spread offense. In past years, we had steroids in the league. Guys were killing me in a head-to-head battle! So I was desperate to compete but I did not want to resort to the limitations of straight ahead run blocking. I was watching a pro game and the analyst was speaking about how one team was stronger than the other (physically) but the weaker team was winning because of technique. Actually it was the Broncos that I was watching. I saw their zone blocking and wondered, "Could this be done in miniature?" That's when I re-shaped my philosophy. All gaps are base length a part. Defenses line players in the gap to no avail. With my athletes, who's hands are able to hit a player and knock the defender off course, we have a field day getting people open!

With such wide spacing and the ability to audible, it becomes a matter of which hole do you want to run in. Defensively, my Cowboys rank among the Top 3 every year. In a style of play that gets 100 plays in, giving up 11.0 pts a game is something I am very proud of.

So I guess my question becomes to you is that how diverse is your league in schemes? Do everyone have different schemes or is it pretty basic as far as being the same? And can you recognize those schemes and feel comfortable about your chances for success?

Sorry for the length. It's just a topic Greg Hardmon (Detroit League) and myself were discussing the other day.

Reginald Rutledge
DFW Dallas Cowboys 2007