Please explain this to me.

[MSUDawg25]

I've heard it a million times over the last few years:

"The way to beat (blank team)'s uptempo offense is to keep them on the bench. Run the football to keep them off the field."

This makes no sense. You make a long drive to score a TD. Then the opposing team makes a quick drive for a TD. Then you have a long drive. Then they have a short one. It's still the same score. I understand the idea of uptempo teams limiting defensive subs to tire out a defense. Are offensive players that much more conditioned than defensive players? Aren't you tiring out your offensive linemen by purposely lengthening offensive drives?

It seems to me, you either have to have guys that are athletic enough to hang with the uptempos or that are disruptive enough to make them go 3 and out.

 

[DerHntr]

Two things you are missing from the reasoning for it (not saying I agree):

1. Slow drives keeps the other team from getting into a rhythm.

2. Slow drives keep the other fast paced team from gaining major momentum. If you go slow and don't score, the at least they don't go up 14 points quickly in the first quarter after two drives.

 

[messageboardsuperhero]

Hurry-up offenses are predicated on rhythm- if the offense can't generate rhythm, it's tough to move the ball.

 

[natchezdawg]

I think the idea is to give them as few snaps as possible.

and don't make it a track meet. If you can't play at least some defense, it's a moot point anyway.

 

[NewTweederEndzoneDance]

If you want to see this in action, just go rewatch the Broncos - Chargers game from a couple of weeks ago. The Chargers killed the Broncos normal momentum, kept Peyton on the sideline and kept their defense fresh. Worked like a charm.

 

[57stratdawg]

Protects your D too

 

[thatsbaseball]

Well actually this strategy is for the teams that don`t have those "guys" you`re talking about. It`s one the best ways to take a bunch of two star players and beat a bunch of 4 and 5 star players. If we ever beat a top twenty team we probably will have to do it in this manner,

 

[MSUDawg25]

I get what you are saying, but things like "rhythm" and "momentum" are non-concrete ideas that some coaches will tell you are baloney. Doesn't it still come down to players' conditioning and playing disciplined football?

 

[thatsbaseball]

Please supply a quote where a coach says "momentum" is baloney. Every coach I`ve ever known of wanted old "Mo" on their side.

 

[o_Hot Rock]

Yes, those two points are part of it but also a tired defense misses tackles.

1) It takes more energy to fight through a block and chase the ball carrier than it does to run block. It's even worse for pass blocking vs pass rushing.

2) If a RB or WR gets winded, most teams have several ready for that purpose. Depth along the D-line is much harder to come by.

I understand your question, even if you can keep your defense fresher with the slow down long drives, they still have to stop them more often than you score. You have to be effective and score in that offense. Slow down methodical offenses can get derailed without discipline. One penalty can derail a drive.

Here's the thing you may be missing. The later in the game it gets, those tired legs on defense get more and more likely to miss a tackle and those multiple RB's can stay fresh and score easier while your defense is still fresh and still playing at higher level. At least, that's my theory, take it for what's it worth. Either way, you still have to score more often than the other guy but the team playing slow down offense has a better chance if it stays close.

 

[MSUDawg25]

A friend of a friend of a friend who is Nick Saban** told me this:

These uptempo offenses require a more athletic, smaller O-line that can go the distance in these quick drives. If the opposing (bigger)D-line can't make them go 3 and out, they are in trouble. He said if enough teams go with this uptempo offense, SEC teams will recruit D-line players to adjust to it and everything will reset.

 

[o_Hot Rock]

A friend of a friend of a friend who is Nick Saban** told me this:

These uptempo offenses require a more athletic, smaller O-line that can go the distance in these quick drives. If the opposing (bigger)D-line can't make them go 3 and out, they are in trouble. He said if enough teams go with this uptempo offense, SEC teams will recruit D-line players to adjust to it and everything will reset.

If that happens, then the power running game would be the offense of choice. So, you saying we have a chance!

 

[MSUDawg25]

Please supply a quote where a coach says "momentum" is baloney. Every coach I`ve ever known of wanted old "Mo" on their side.

Obviously, I can't do that, but I think most coaches will tell you that it comes down to better athletes that are more disciplined and knowledgeable in their assignments.

Rhythm is established in practice and momentum is a fan/broadcaster made idea.

 

[DerHntr]

A friend of a friend of a friend who is Nick Saban** told me this:

These uptempo offenses require a more athletic, smaller O-line that can go the distance in these quick drives. If the opposing (bigger)D-line can't make them go 3 and out, they are in trouble. He said if enough teams go with this uptempo offense, SEC teams will recruit D-line players to adjust to it and everything will reset.

"If" they can make them go 3 and out is the key. If they don't then those bigger d lineman will be worn the 17 out unless their own offense keeps them off the field.

 

[MSUDawg25]

Agreed. The bigger guys that are made for old-school offenses should have the advantage for a few plays, then they are at a disadvantage. That's why you see uptempo offenses put their foot on the gas when they convert a first down or two.

My point still remains, though. The type of offense you run shouldn't change against an uptempo offense if your defensive strategy is solid. Adjust on defense, if you must, but do what you do best on offense.

 

[DerHntr]

Agreed. The bigger guys that are made for old-school offenses should have the advantage for a few plays, then they are at a disadvantage. That's why you see uptempo offenses put their foot on the gas when they convert a first down or two.

My point still remains, though. The type of offense you run shouldn't change against an uptempo offense if your defensive strategy is solid.

The only issue is that the uptempo is supposed to put the defense in tough situations that lead to those first downs. Just the lack of changing out personnel is difficult on most teams.

In the end, you are right of course. If you absolutely trust your D to stop them, then just run your typical O and win.

 

[o_Hot Rock]

Obviously, I can't do that, but I think most coaches will tell you that it comes down to better athletes that are more disciplined and knowledgeable in their assignments. Rhythm is established in practice and momentum is a fan/broadcaster made idea.

Fan/broadcaster made idea doesn't make it wrong. You can't take emotion out of people or a football team. There will always be shifts in momentum as long as people have adrenaline flowing through their veins.

Coaches prepare to stop momentum by having a game plan that is successful and the athletes to do it. One of those plans is that makes their rhythm oriented passing game sit on a bench for twenty or thirty minutes to get cold and keep your fat linemen that were recruited to stop all types of offensive attacks fresh.

 

[o_Hot Rock]

Agreed. The bigger guys that are made for old-school offenses should have the advantage for a few plays, then they are at a disadvantage. That's why you see uptempo offenses put their foot on the gas when they convert a first down or two.

My point still remains, though. The type of offense you run shouldn't change against an uptempo offense if your defensive strategy is solid. Adjust on defense, if you must, but do what you do best on offense.

This is where I completely agree with you. You must do what you do best on offense. You can make some adjustments but you have to keep your identity.

 

[esplanade91]

Only works if you have the ability to score if/when you want to and can stop them when you want to. I'm fine with teams scoring 60 TD's in 10 minutes like Baylor but they're going to lose a game or two when they can't hold onto the ball for 5+ minutes in the 4th against Oklahoma State.

Above everything I think it does to a QB what having a long delay does to a pitcher (or having to rekick does to a kicker).

Every QB Florida had on their roster in 2010 was better than Relf and what we had going, but we never let them have the ball. When they got it they looked like garbage.

 

[rabiddawg]

The way to screw up a tempo offense is lots and lots of "fake" injuries. Drives the coaches nuts because it breaks their pace up