Experimental Offense

I saw Northwestern play about 5 times on ESPN 1 and 2 and ABC. When I first saw them run their plays, I was thinking to myself, 'How can this crap work,' when they ran about 90% of their formations from the shotgun. Next thing you know, Damien Anderson ran for about 200 yards while their QB had about 250 yards of total offense against Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan State, etc. Their main formation was the four-wide with the running back in the backfield. They had basically run plays: speed option, inside zone run, tackle trap, and QB keeper and bootleg. As the defense concentrates on the run (which screws them up because everyone thinks the shotgun as a pass offense/ formation), this opens up the passing game as they had receivers open in the short and mid areas. This was where I got my ideas to run this set for my last two games. I added the extra back because I was dealing with 10-12 years olds who could run the ball but couldn't catch a cold in Alaska in January. With the 'Crossbuck' Plays I mentioned earlier, I easily thought the kids who would get the ball, when, and etc. And they bought it. It took a while but since the defense haven't seen this type of offense, it worked. If I were to coach HS, I would give this offense a shot since it's so different it might work on that level as well. Of course, you have to preach execution, technique, and fundamentals (as you would in the Wing-T, Double Wing, I, etc.), but it could be done. Also, there's a web site that helps out alot on this type of offense: "Chris Brown's No Huddle Spread Offense." It is on the BC Warior site, as well as Toby's Football site.