fairly interesting read
Key quote: "People hear Air Raid and they think five wide receivers, no tight ends, 60 pass attempts and 50 points a game. To Harrell, the Air Raid is something else. It is working to death a small number of plays, with shorter playcalls, perfecting those plays and out-executing—not out-scheming—the opponent. Option-based coaches, like former Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson, operate under similar mentalities, but with a different focus: rushing the football. Leach does it through the air."
The short passing game is used to spread the field and rack up 1st downs, and it gives WRs and TEs major leeway to adjust as they see fit per what the D is doing. Eventually, either Ds decide to allow the short passing game to continue to control the clock and move the chains (which is what any run-based offense attempts to do), or it adjusts to stop the short passing game, which leads to open receivers going deep or to large holes for RBs or both.
If the QB lacks the passing touch, or the ability to read the pass coverage quickly and correctly, or the arm strength and accuracy to complete passes to either sideline, the Air Raid offense is limited at the start.
2nd key quote: "Helton is completely allowing Harrell to run the offense. The head coach will focus, instead of Xs and Os, on the fundamentals that doomed the Trojans last season. His eyes in practice will be on preventing and forcing turnovers, as well as discipline. Pac-12 officials patrolled the sideline of each of USC’s 15 spring practices, a first for Helton, he says. He’s instituted stricter punishments for flags, forcing a player to perform up-downs after committing a foul. Any personal foul sends the entire team into up-downs."
Lack of discipline ruins even very good teams. If a team has developed the bad habit of penalties, then you better get serious about ending the problem. Helton has tried something. I really like what he's done. We'll see how well it pays off this season.
Key quote: "People hear Air Raid and they think five wide receivers, no tight ends, 60 pass attempts and 50 points a game. To Harrell, the Air Raid is something else. It is working to death a small number of plays, with shorter playcalls, perfecting those plays and out-executing—not out-scheming—the opponent. Option-based coaches, like former Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson, operate under similar mentalities, but with a different focus: rushing the football. Leach does it through the air."
The short passing game is used to spread the field and rack up 1st downs, and it gives WRs and TEs major leeway to adjust as they see fit per what the D is doing. Eventually, either Ds decide to allow the short passing game to continue to control the clock and move the chains (which is what any run-based offense attempts to do), or it adjusts to stop the short passing game, which leads to open receivers going deep or to large holes for RBs or both.
If the QB lacks the passing touch, or the ability to read the pass coverage quickly and correctly, or the arm strength and accuracy to complete passes to either sideline, the Air Raid offense is limited at the start.
2nd key quote: "Helton is completely allowing Harrell to run the offense. The head coach will focus, instead of Xs and Os, on the fundamentals that doomed the Trojans last season. His eyes in practice will be on preventing and forcing turnovers, as well as discipline. Pac-12 officials patrolled the sideline of each of USC’s 15 spring practices, a first for Helton, he says. He’s instituted stricter punishments for flags, forcing a player to perform up-downs after committing a foul. Any personal foul sends the entire team into up-downs."
Lack of discipline ruins even very good teams. If a team has developed the bad habit of penalties, then you better get serious about ending the problem. Helton has tried something. I really like what he's done. We'll see how well it pays off this season.
