Cover the Whole Field

[Gophergrandpa]

Everything Minnesota football coach PJ Fleck said on September 27th

Everything Minnesota football coach PJ Fleck said on September 27th

247sports.com

Here is a post-game interview. PJ has a lot of respect for the Purdue offense because it makes a defense “cover the whole field.” PJ paid the Ohio State offense the same compliment: makes you cover the whole field.

Here is a modest proposal: create Gopher offensive game plans that make defenses “cover the whole field.” Put some decision/making stress of defenses. There are lots of ways to do it. It is no fun watching an offense that almost always does exactly what the defense anticipates. PJ in the interview talks about getting back to simplicity. Simplicity can be good (minimizes mistakes, etc.), and often is necessary to help a team get its bearings back. But the absence of complexity over a long period can provide an assist to opposing defenses. It is OK to try to confuse a defense.

 

[fmlizard]

Mike Sanford would be a legend of Arena Football coaching, where everything must happen in a space the size of a basketball court.