So Your Offense Sucks, Now What?

Are you in the bottom half of offenses in PML? Do you struggle to get touchdowns, field goals, or even first downs? Well here is a couple simple tips to avoid committing such blunders as going run, run, incomplete pass, or incomplete pass, incomplete pass, incomplete pass, or even getting shutout like several teams this season.

1. Run the Dang Ball
Establishing and sticking with the run game in football is crucial for a competent offense for several reasons. First and foremost, a strong running game can control the tempo of the game and keep the opposing defense on their toes. It forces the defense to allocate resources to stop the run, opening up opportunities for passing plays and creating favorable matchups. Additionally, a consistent running attack can wear down the opposing defense over the course of a game, leading to bigger gains in the later quarters. It also helps protect the quarterback by keeping the defense honest and preventing them from aggressively rushing the passer on every down. Overall, a well-established run game provides balance, unpredictability, and a foundation for a successful offensive strategy, making it an essential component of any competent offense in football. Don’t go away from it even if it hasn’t been working.

2. Higher Completion Percentage = Better Offense
High-percentage pass attempts, such as screens and checkdowns, play a pivotal role in building a successful football offense. While deep shots downfield can be thrilling and game-changing, they are inherently riskier due to the longer distance and increased chance of turnovers. Short and medium-range passes, on the other hand, serve as the foundation of an effective offensive strategy. Screens and checkdowns offer several key advantages. They can help move the chains, maintain offensive momentum, and create opportunities for yards after the catch. These plays also provide the quarterback with safe, reliable options that mitigate the impact of a strong opposing pass rush. By keeping the defense honest and forcing them to defend the entire field, high-percentage passes open up opportunities for the occasional deep shot, making a well-rounded offense that combines both short and long-range passing a formidable and dynamic force on the football field. Consistently having 2nd and less than 10 will help improve your offense.

3. There’s Less Room in the Red Zone
When your offense enters the red zone in football, the dynamics of the game change significantly. The field becomes compressed, and the boundaries create a spatial constraint that limits the room for your plays. Additionally, the defense is acutely aware of the limited real estate and tends to press up, making it even more challenging to execute plays effectively. To improve your offense in the red zone, you must be mindful of these constraints. It’s essential to call plays that take full advantage of the limited space available, as this not only minimizes the chances of turnovers but also increases the probability of finding the end zone. Precision in execution, clever route combinations, and well-timed play calls that exploit defensive weaknesses in this confined area can lead to a more successful red zone offense, making it a pivotal aspect of a winning football team’s strategy.

4. Avert Expectations
Averting expectations is essential to a good offense in football for several crucial reasons. In order to keep the defense off balance, an effective offense must be able to run and pass plays out of all formations. By doing so, they create uncertainty for the opposing team, making it challenging to predict their next move. This unpredictability not only prevents the defense from stacking up against a specific type of play but also allows the offense to exploit defensive weaknesses as they emerge. Moreover, a well-rounded offensive strategy includes plays that build on the success of previous ones. This means that as the offense establishes a particular play’s effectiveness, they can use it as a foundation to set up more complex and unexpected plays. By continually evolving and adapting their tactics, a football offense can keep the opposing defense guessing and ultimately gain the upper hand in the game. Run the ball out of typical passing sets, pass the ball out of typical running sets, and identify what the defense is expecting and go away from it.

5. Don’t Be A Dummy
In football and especially PML, a successful offense hinges on players making smart decisions and effectively executing plays. It’s crucial to not “be a dummy,” meaning that you must use common sense and football IQ to read the game, react to the defense, and make well-informed choices. While occasionally deviating from expectations can catch the opposing team off guard and yield positive results and make you feel like a genius, overcomplicating things or taking unconventional risks too often can lead to costly mistakes and backfire as we often see with real life teams getting “too cute”. A balanced approach that combines creativity with a solid foundation of fundamental football knowledge is the key to a successful offense. It’s all about finding that sweet spot where unpredictability keeps the defense on their toes while maintaining a strong, disciplined core to ensure consistency and effectiveness on the field.