Chapter 16 - Successful Quarterbacking

All football authorities agree that of all the factors that make for success in games, the proper selection of plays is by far the most important. Poor choosing of plays will nullify the finest of team work and will eventually break down the highest morale. On the other hand, even a mediocre eleven will rise to unsuspected heights when directed by a brilliant quarterback.

How score affects the choice of plays

1. Don't save your passing game until you are behind—it will not work then.
   
   
2. When three or less points behind, you may want a field goal.
   
   
3. When ahead, use your passing game sparingly, as one may be intercepted for a touchdown.
   
   
4. If ahead in last minutes of the game, play all kicks absolutely safe.
   
   
5. In the same situation, tackle dangerous pass receivers, if necessary, to prevent completion of a pass. The penalty can not beat you, but a completed pass might.

Generalship prevents tie

In the progress of a game between two teams evenly matched in every respect, there is usually not a great deal to choose from. The contest would probably end in a tie if it were not for some factor that allows one team to show superiority over the other. That factor is generalship and it results from a proper "course of education" by the coach over a period of time.

What constitutes generalship?

Generalship consists of two things:

1. Knowing what to do.
   
   
2. Making the team do it.

The second is far more important than the first. No matter how right a quarterback may be in his judgment, if his team does not believe in him—the play will fail.

Six items the quarterback must always know:

1.  Always know the down.
   
   
2. Always know the yards to be gained.
   
   
3. Always know your position on the field.
   
   
4. Always know the time.
   
   
5. Always know the score.
   
   
6. Always know the rules.

Breaking rules

Break any rule in order to win. Rules are not to hamper the quarterbacks, but to assist them. If necessary to break one, go ahead, and no one will question the success you might achieve. But a word of caution is in order—the rules of generalship are not often broken with safety, so you must take care that you are not the sufferer.

Simplicity

The formula for offensive success is simplicity. If you can keep your attack as simple as possible, you will reduce your margin of error. Taking chances on fancy plays only increases your mistakes.

Audibles

The first rule in planning a system of audibles is to make them simple. Your players will become accustomed to any system if it is simple. Besides, there is practically no danger of your opponents picking them up regardless of how simple the system may be. I believe the color system is extremely simple and yet efficient.

Coach thinking for quarterback

Any coach who forms the habit of doing the thinking for his quarterback in practice is making a very serious mistake. The coach will find that his quarterback is lost when he gets into the game.

Encouragement

From my own experience, I have worked harder for those coaches who have encouraged now and then than for those who rarely said anything.

Encouragement is like penicillin to the quarterback. The right amount is good, too much is bad. It depends wholly on the quarterback. Some players thrive on it, others' heads swell. However, when a player does something good, the coach should let him know he saw the action. No player should be constantly criticized, and no player should be constantly encouraged.

Count

Call at least 70 per cent of your plays on first count. This will prevent the defense from doing a great deal of changing.

Quarterback removed from game

As soon as the quarterback comes out of the game, he should come immediately to the head coach. The two of them should openly discuss information from the press phones so that the quarterback can re-enter the game with additional guidance. Do not allow a substituted quarterback to walk to the bench without first reporting to the head coach.

Fourth down

There is absolutely no excuse for the execution of a ridiculous play on the fourth down.

Calling the play

Most coaches will agree that a poor play properly called has more chance for success than a good play poorly called.

Quarterback's decisions

Inform the quarterback that his decisions are correct as long as he has a sound reason for his choice. This indicates the field general is thinking.

Caution

The game might as well be lost by 50 points as a single point, if the one-point defeat is due to being too cautious.

Seventy-five per cent

Always remember that if you play at only 75 per cent of your capacity 75 per cent becomes your capacity.

Common error in passing games

One last caution—the pass was never intended as a short cut to victory, but as a sound football play to be carefully blended in conjunction with the remainder of the offense.

Learning
Always remember that learning is specific. Your quarterback and your players must learn what they do.

Confidence

The quarterback's confidence, as the quarterback's lack of confidence, is as infectious as the measles.
 
Surprise

Ten plays are better than 50. One unexpected play is better than ten obvious ones. The expected play is always a weak play, and the unexpected play is usually successful. However, a quarterback must not get the impression that he should select plays with the idea of fooling the opponents. It is not by the radical violation of rule that surprise is obtained, but by careful building with sound methods of play for a situation where a departure from such tactics will bring the surprise. In other words, you must set the trap before you spring it.

Note to coach

Inform your quarterback not to be afraid of outside criticism and he will be far more effective. He is responsible only to you.

Poise

The quarterback must remain cool under fire and he must think. The destiny of his team is entirely in his hands. He should never refuse advice from his teammates, but neither should he be dominated by them. The quarterback must never become panic stricken and throw sound strategy to the wind.

Conduct of the quarterback

The team should always see the quarterback ready, alert, cheerful, and confident. By the way he carries himself, he can communicate to the team the type of game he wishes them to play. If he moves briskly and calls his signals in a snappy manner, the team will immediately follow this lead. If he is hesitant and cautious, the team will respond likewise. The carriage of the quarterback as the team approaches the goal line is important. He should, by leading and example, inspire determination and confidence.

Habits
Bad habits formed in practice will show up in a game. The same may be said of good habits.
 
Red tape

With the exception of a few "don'ts" it is not logical to handicap the quarterback with a lot of rules and red tape. He is supposed to be resourceful and to possess initiative. If he is inhibited by the coach, he is also crushing the poise and self-confidence of the team.

Classify plays

All plays fall into classification. If the quarterback is to become a brilliant field general, he must organize and classify them in his mind so he will know where and how each should be used.

Three crimes in quarterbacking

According to our way of thinking, there are three crimes in football and quarterbacking. They are:

1. The number one crime in football is fumbling.
   
   
2. The number two crime in football is talking in the huddle.
   
   
3. The number three crime in football is taking for granted.

System

The basic thought in schooling the quarterback is to have a system that is easy to learn—one that does not require a genius to master. Believing that, the last summary is a brief one.

Summary

There are five beginning laws that every quarterback should start his generalship with. They are as follows:

Law Number One

You must know, when you are in doubt, to punt.

Law Number Two

You must know when NOT to use the forward pass.

Law Number Three

You must remember what plays have been gaining and what plays that have not been gaming.

Law Number Four

You must know who makes the tackles.

Law Number Five

You must know when to play safe. You must know when to play fast. You must know when to play slow.

With the above five beginning laws of generalship as a foundation, the quarterback is off on the right foot. The remainder, he will learn through experience.

Defenses

Every defense has a weakness. If the weakness does not exist where you expect it—then where did the strength come from? Attack the area that has been weakened.

It is essential that every quarterback must first know how defenses are conceived, before he can thoroughly understand how to attack the weakness of any alignment.