Chapter 4 - Seven Laws Of Generalship

In all of our research, over a period of several years, the finest article we have ever read on generalship was written by Frank Carideo. The purpose of Mr. Carideo's article was to outline the process by which a quarterback was trained at Notre Dame, under Knute Rockne. This course of quarterbacking was as exacting in many respects as any collegiate course.

Rockne had seven cardinal principles of quarterbacking that were preached over and over again. They are as follows:

First Law

1. A Quarterback must maintain a cocky air at all times.

a. You want your Quarterback to show other teams that he knows what he is going to do next there isn't a bit of doubt in his mind about what he is going to do on the next play.

b. You want his facial expressions to indicate to your team and your opponents' team that he not only knows what he is going to do next, but that he is going to do it successfully, for all that they can do to stop him.

c. Be sure he understands that this is just an air. It is a role he is playing. It isn't himself that you want to be cocky; it is the Quarterback. You don't want your boys to be too cocky. There is a limit, and he must know it. He might offend the members of his own team. His job is to irritate the members of the other team, not his own. You want that cocky air at all times—and on the practice field is one of the times.

Second Law

2. You want a Quarterback with a clear, staccato voice. You want a voice that is forceful and decisive. You want it to be heard and to be understood when it is heard. You want it to be recognized by your own team as the command of one who is about to lead his army somewhere to a definite ob
jective. You want it to be recognized by the enemy as the voice of one who is going to reach that objective with his army, no matter what might be done by anyone to stop it.

Third Law

3. This third law is a variation of the first. You want your Quarterback to know what he is going to do next and to do it. You don't want him to show at any time, at any time whatever, that he is in doubt about his next move. And, you don't want him to show that he is worried or communicate any such feeling to his team. Stress this point though we are beaten and at times badly we will never become demoralized.

Fourth Law

4. The fourth law of generalship is a vital one: Observation, at all times, of the defensive alignment of the opposition. Have him observe at all times and ask himself the question: Who made the tackle? Also those that were not in on the tackles. Try to observe any glaring weakness in the defensive line or in the secondary. Especially on passes. Illustration on a charging half back and shooting line backer.

Fifth Law

5. Choice of plays. Remember what plays have been going successfully and, of equal importance, those that have failed to gain ground. If plays gain ground they should be used until the defense shifts about to meet them. Then it will be time to resort to other plays. There is no law against returning to the successful plays later on if conditions warrant.

Sixth Law

6. The sixth law comes into the field of generalship and strategy. At all times the Quarterback must keep his plays in sequence order. Some plays are to be used as checks, others as feelers. At times it may be necessary to sacrifice a play to make those that are to follow successful. This, of course, necessitates a quarterback's looking a long way ahead.

Seventh Law

7. The seventh and last law is one of precaution. Whenever in doubt, your Quarterback should do one of two things. The most natural is to kick. The other is to call time out and ask the linemen for information regarding the alignment and characteristics of the defensive linemen. More often you will punt when in doubt. Punting is almost always the safe procedure.

After your Quarterback is familiar with these seven laws of generalship, you should discuss (in general) the value of each play after putting them in sequence.

Remember there is no rule, which says that a play, no matter how often it has been used, or how familiar it may be to the opposition, cannot be utilized against that opposition if circumstances warrant.
 
Don't be alarmed if in your hardest games you use fewer plays. Sometimes in a hard first half you may use five or six plays and in the second half the same plays, but with window dressing.

Each quarterback should know the offensive characteristics of his own players. The use of plays depends in great measure on what the defense is doing.

Division of playing field into strategy zones are:

1. Danger zone from your own goal line to your 20-yard line. This is the danger zone.
   
   
2. Transitional running and kicking zone from 20 to 40-yard line.
   
   
3. Transitional running and passing zone from 40 to opponents' 40-yard line.
   
   
4. Trick play zone opponents' 40 to 20-yard line.
   
   
5. Zone of intense resistance from opponents' 20-yard line to opponents' goal line.
   

When facing stout defensive teams always kick no later than third down. If meeting a strong offense, hang on to the ball as long as possible, and kick on fourth down. Chances of having kick blocked by all-offensive team are less than that of all-defense.

In the transitional running and kicking zone, your Quarterback may use long passes when behind. Stay away from flat passes.

In the transitional running and passing zone, your Quarterback should mix both running and passing plays to get the offense moving.

Trick play zone

Remember, keep using plays that are gaining and only when stopped, resort to something else. Possibly a trick play. Keep moving fast in here—hurry plays along. The general theory in back of this is that once you have a team on the run, keep it on the run. Do not give it time to get set and straightened out. A team may be tired, it may be disheartened, it may be startled, it may not know what is the matter with it. Therefore, it wouldn't be good tactics to plod along and let it find out.

Always look for the defense to fight the hardest in the zone of intense resistance. Both Quarterback and coach should let their men know.

Reserve Quarterback must stay close to coach during game. Be able to answer questions.

Coaching cues

The first play is the one for the longest gain. It is one calculated to gain more than four yards. Have your Quarterback aim your strongest play at the weakest part of the opposing team on first down, always!

On the second down, have your Quarterback work away from that point, so he always has that weak point to return to for further experiment.

These plays, of course, would be running plays. If more than 5 yards have been gained, continue to use running plays. If not, he may pass, unless deep in his own territory. If for any suitable reason he uses the pass, make sure it's a long one.

Summary

ockne's seven laws of generalship emphasize that winning football is thinking football. On offense or defense, the effective team is always the thinking team.

Are You Ready To Move Onto The Next Lesson? Click Here….