Offensive Football Strategies

Offensive Football Strategies is the most comprehensive and detailed book of its kind, containing the most popular and effective offensive philosophies, systems, formations, and plays over the past 40 years. This extensive collection includes 73 articles written by many of the greatest coaching strategists, including Bob Devaney, Bear Bryant, John McKay, Joe Paterno, Tom Osborne, Marv Levy, Hayden Fry, LaVell Edwards, Steve Spurrier, and many more.

The articles are organized into the following sections:

Developing a System
Attacking the Defense
Building Backfield Excellence
Running the Wing-T
Running From the I
Running the Wishbone
Running the Veer
Running an Option Offense
Establishing a Passing Scheme
Passing From Sets and Formations
Keeping the Defense on Edge
Incorporating Play-Action
Creating Quality Quarterback Play
Protecting the Passer
Gaining Key Yardage
Dominating the Red Zone

Developed in cooperation with the American Football Coaches Association, Offensive Football Strategies is loaded with more than 700 X-and-O diagrams. Whether you are seeking another option for your running or passing attack, or looking for that sure-fire scoring play in the red zone, this book offers a wealth of winning strategies for your game plan.

While the age of some of the articles may seem troubling, it can in fact be a real advantage. Football offenses are so subject to trends and cycles that anything which is not current can be successful because it comes as a surprise. A defensive analogy would be the 5-2 defense -- "America's defense" throughout the 70's and much of the 80's, but almost unknown in some regions today, and thus a valuable surprise weapon.

The same holds true on offense, and the riches this book displays are a real treasure trove -- the triple option (from the wishbone, I formation and split-back veer); the Wing-T; and various pass-oriented spread and one-back systems are all covered by some of the most prominent names in coaching from the last three decades.

This isn't the best place to start for beginning coaches, nor the modern state of the art for cutting-edge types, but for the rest of us it is an excellent place to begin the next stage of our never-ending quest for football knowledge.


Strategic is right   June 2, 2001
 13 out of 14 found this review helpful

I've read quite a few books on the game of football. Not being a coach, I don't think most people would want to pick this up, but for those who love the game itself will find this an indispensible reference. The book is composed of short articles by college coaches which deal with one small apspect of offence or a certain type of attack at a time. Although the college game is much simpler than the NFL, the insights I've picked up by reading this book have completely changed the way I watch football, be it college, CFL, or NFL. When I move to a different location where I can join a high school coaching team, this book will be soon find the pages being worn out. Absolutely excellent!


One of the Most Comprehensive Guides to Offensive Football   April 7, 2000
 14 out of 15 found this review helpful

This book is one of the most comprehensive guides to offense that I have ever encountered. It includes almost 750 diagrammed plays from some of the top names in football including Bob Devaney and Tom Osborne, as well as many other college and high school football coaches. This text would be a valuable addition to any coaches library. It will definitely add variety to any offense and add many new twists and schemes to any offense whether you have an option team or a passing based offense. I think it would be a very wise investment.