defending the best offensive minds - georgia offensive coordinator mike bobo
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Defending The Best Offensive Minds Topic: Mike Bobo Offensive Coordinator University of GeorgiaBy Denauld William BrownThis is a continued series on how to read and defend offensive formations pre-snap. We will discuss the pre-snap formations run by University of Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo. We will study the first of a few formations is the first two series of the SEC Championship. We will also give an in-depth look at some of the formational intent that defines this master architect. NEXT TOPIC: Urban Meyer Head Football Coach Ohio State UniversityTRANSCRIPT
Theoretical Football
“Theoretical football is the notion that American football is an exceedingly complex sport that requires a branch of learning. Its goal is to accentuate the cerebral, academic, and quantifiable
aspects of American football.” - Denauld William Brown
Contact Twitter: @theofootball Email: [email protected]
Defending The Best Offensive Minds
Topic: Mike Bobo
Offensive Coordinator University of Georgia
By Denauld William Brown
This is a continued series on how to read and defend offensive formations pre-snap. We will discuss the pre-snap formations run by
University of Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo. We will study the first of a few formations is the first two series of the SEC
Championship. We will also give an in-depth look at some of the formational intent that defines this master architect.
NEXT TOPIC: Urban Meyer
Head Football Coach
Ohio State University
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Great play callers have a
signature. A signature is
something that is unique to
the play caller and it is often
hidden in plain sight. That
signature is also the reason
for a play callers success over
a long period of time.
Georgia is a very good
offense. Mark Richt is one of
the best offensive coaches in
the college game. His
influence on Mike Bobo’s play
calling is noticeable in his
formation sequences in this
SEC championship game vs.
Alabama. There are three
fundamental things missing
from these series of
formations. First, you see
absolutely no motion. Slot
formations are also missing.
Lastly you seldom see 3x1
Formations. In most cases it
would seem that not having a
these 3 variables would be a
detriment but Mike Bobo
seems to use very subtle yet
small variations as part of a
larger sequence of
formations. Field position
seems to be accounted for in
his formation which will be
explained further. Because of
the use of so many 2x2 sets
there is a greater relationship
between the offset back to
both #2 receivers. In this case
the “Y” and the “F.” After
many years of study,
formations themselves have
“tendencies”,independent of
the play caller, especially
when the hash is a major part
of the college football game.
The formations that Mike
Bobo uses are precise and
clean. You will see slight
variations of #2, or in this
case, the “F” receiver outside,
on, or inside the hash. This
will help identify the
signature of this master
architect.
Pro
Number of running backs: 1
Number of receivers: 3
Number of Tight ends: 1
Formation Type: Male
Formation demeanor: Run
1
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This is the second formation of
a 3 play series. There is only
one slight change that was
made in this formation
compared to the previous.
Notice how the offset back is
on the other side of the
quarterback. Many offensive
coordinators plan there
formations sequences in the
weeks game plan preparation
prior to the contest. Georgia
has a long term plan that
seems to span across the entire
season. A question to ask
about this Georgia offense is
how can this offense be this
good with very few variations
in there formations? This type
of plan has to be well thought
out over a very long period of
time to truly have an effect. As
you look at this formation a
few things stand out. Firstly, the
“F” or the #2 receiver in on the
line of scrimmage. Why is that
so important? In the passing
game it gives the “F” a direct
vertical path to the safety. In
the run game, a successful
cutback run play, places the
“F” in position to block the
nearest inside defender
pursuing the ball carrier from
inside out. Typically their is a
natural relationship between
an offset back, in any one back
formation, and the #2
receivers, in this case both the
“F” and the “Y.” The “R” is
who we call “MO.” “MO” is the
“M”iddle “Of” the 5 eligible
players. MO has a natural
attraction to the “Y” and, in this
case, an inherent need to repel
from the “F” especially in the
run game. The fundamental
question is why would this be
true for all one back type
formations? Well the answer
can be found in why many
offensive coordinators have
gone to running one back
formations out of pistol?
Pro
Number of running backs: 1
Number of receivers: 3
Number of Tight ends: 1
Formation Type: Male
Formation demeanor: Run
2
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Now notice the slight
variation to this formation
from the previous. What is the
difference? Now the “F” or
#2 receiver is off of the line
of scrimmage. Mike Bobo
employs slight variations as
part of a greater call
sequence. Georgia is a such a
good offense they need only
to vary their formations when
trying to control the situation
of the game. If you watch the
SEC championship game on
Youtube while reading this
you will notice that Georgia
was off schedule a few times
with a penalty and miscue
early on. You will see how
those variations are a direct
result of trying to stay on
schedule especially when it
comes to the back and the
near #2 receiver. As a point it
is very important to
understand that formations
design and tactical football is
rooted in the formations
themselves. Offensive
coordinators declare their true
intent and philosophy based
on formation structure and
field placement not plays. On
the front line of any battle
your tactical advantage can
be tied to the variety of
weapons you use but more
importantly how you use
them? Mike Bobo is master at
using these weapons.
Balanced 2x2 sets give you
subtle multiplicity in the
passing game a blatant
multiplicity in the running
game by placing all
defenders at the point of
attack! Offsetting “MO” or #3
in any one back formation
can lead to heavy tendencies
and predictability by an
offense. Mike Bobo does a
wonderful job of keeping
these tendencies hidden
behind slight variations.
Pro
Number of running backs: 1
Number of receivers: 3
Number of Tight ends: 1
Formation Type: Female
Formation demeanor: Pass
3
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This is the first play of
the second series and
Mike Bobo starts off in a
Pro 3x1 formation. This
play actually resulted in
a false start. However
the question that needs
to be asked in why start
this series in a 3x1
formation?
Pro
Number of running backs: 1
Number of receivers: 3
Number of Tight ends: 1
Formation Type: Female
Formation demeanor: Pass
4
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What do you notice about
what Mike Bobo has done
with this formation?
Because of the previous
penalty play there is a
immediate need to get back
on schedule. The first thing
Mike Bobo did was placing
the quarterback under
center. Secondly, putting the
“R” back behind the center
in the middle of the
formation tells you that a
run play is highly probably.
The question that needs to
be asked is if the “F” or #2
receiver was off the ball,
would the chances of a run
play still be high?
Pro
Number of running backs: 1
Number of receivers: 3
Number of Tight ends: 1
Formation Type: Male
Formation demeanor: Run
5
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Now it gets interesting! The
previous 4 2x2 formations
placed all the extended
eligible offensive players on
the offensive right side of the
formation or the defenses
left. What do you notice
about the depth of the back?
He is slightly deeper than in
any previous play call. This
play was infact a screen play
to the defenses right so it
makes sense why the back
would be deeper. Patterned
based formations and play
calls lead to confusion on
defense if you are not aware
of two mitigating factors.
First, you have to be aware
of the average number of
plays an offense wants to
run based on pervious
contest? Secondly, how many
plays did they average in
each drive? Why are these
questions so important to ask
while game planning against
a master architect like Mike
Bobo or any other master
play caller that we have
featured in these series of
writings? If you know the
formations you will now the
play callers intent. If you
know the order of hi
formations you will know the
play caller himself.
Pro
Number of running backs: 1
Number of receivers: 3
Number of Tight ends: 1
Formation Type: Male
Formation demeanor: Run
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