Here's my take on the strategy of stacking
Marty,
I will not tell you that the DFW does not allow stacking; because it does! Like you, I've played football on various levels as well. I was pretty good at it. But I was good at writing and interpreting rules. I've officiate on the high school level. Believe it or not, when a team does a max blitz, basically that is a form of stacking. The 46 defense is a form of stacking. It's just accomplished in different ways.
I have found that usually when there are issues about stacking, it is because the coach is not skilled or adept in ways of countering a stack. To me, that's football IQ. That is not to say anyone isn't smart or knowledgeable of football but it may point to not knowing enough about a style to counter the stack. You play in a league that allows stacking, just like ours. But with the audibles, you should be able to dictate what the other team does. With the stack, it sets you up in a pretty good way to matriculate down the field through the air! If you have skills passing the ball, trust me, that other team will eventually have to drop back in nickel and dime coverage to stop the pass. Then it opens up the run!
But most of the time, when guys complain about stacking, it's a "macho thing" because I want to run and show the other team I am just as strong as them. Right away, you play into their hand. In the DFW, I do feel that the coaches are very good but the range of skills vary. The best coaches (the champions) have mastered running and passing. I, myself, run probably the most dangerous offense in miniature football. It is a true "West Coast" offense with wide splits. This is run 80-90% of the time. In the Shootout scheme, I think this is the easiest and best method to score. Holes open so easily and teams dare stack. Some will start off stacking but by the second quarter, they are playing dime and quarter coverages! At that point, I would have forced my will and dictated the game. But understand, I can throw the ball very well. Not 10 yards and "Wow!" Throwing 40 and 50 yards on a rope is what we do in the DFW! But not only that, with how I run my schemes, the realistic possibilities of sweeps, zone blockings, and traps REALLY do work. So I DON'T EVER worry about the other team stacking. As a matter fact, I want them to stack because it makes my job that much easier.
I have played guys and have scored 70 points on them because they continue to stack and try to get to the QB. I have no problem on how I matriculate down the field as long as I do it! Usually at the root of this is that guys testosterone gets in the way. We want to show "we are stronger than you" by pushing you even in gap systems. There is no shame in throwing the ball on every down if the defense gives that area up. What are you suppose to do? Still run the ball? He stacks because he knows you can't pass? So, is that the reason? Can you honestly say that your skills at passing are good? Because usually, that is what the problem is.
I wish a team would stack on me. With the QB having the ability to rollout and throw on a rope, scoring can get out of hand. And then eventually, that team will stop stacking on you.
That's just my opinion.
Reg
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