Operation Sports:

NCAA Football 06 Coaching Tips: Offense, Part Two

By Shawn Drotar, Managing Editor, OperationSports.com

Strategy reigns supreme in football, and as EA SPORTS™ is fond of saying, "if it's in the game, it's in the game." In Electronic Arts' NCAA® Football 06, skillfully using your playbook can be just as important as skillfully using your Xbox® controller.

In this column, we take another, different look at offense. Instead of discussing general coaching plans, we look at specific running plays that can help you lead your team to victory.

Running Plays
The first thing to think about when calling a run is deciding which side to run to—the "strong" side or the "weak" side. When a tight end lines up next to the left or right tackle as a blocker, that side essentially has three linemen beside the center as opposed to the normal two. Therefore, the side the tight end lines up on is called the "strong" side, and presents a more powerful blocking front for the running back to follow. Next, a coach must decide to use a single back, or have a second back (or even third) serve as a blocker. Once these things have been decided and the appropriate formation called, it's time to select a play.

Slams, Blasts and Dives
These plays are designed to gain short yardage. The running back runs directly through a gap in the line with no delay. While large gains are unlikely, these plays work very well when the team needs less than three yards. And if the team has a powerful runner, so much the better.

Mind the gap!

Reads, Tosses, and Sweeps
These running plays are designed to go to the outside of the line. Read plays call for the back to head to the outside and then make a decision to continue in that direction or cut back inside at the runner's discretion. Tosses work well if the back needs to get outside quickly. The quarterback takes the snap and immediately tosses it to the moving running back in the hopes of catching the defense off-guard. Sweeps work in a similar fashion, except they're slower to develop and bring more blocking outside for the running back. The back takes the handoff and runs to the outside, but the line is also moving. If the blocking holds up, sweeps can be taken around the corner and up the field for huge gains.

Draws and Counters
These plays rely on a bit of trickery to succeed. While a draw is run up the middle like a slam or dive, the handoff is not immediate. The quarterback drops back as if to pass, and then hands the ball to the running back. If the defense dropped back to defend the pass, the runner could be staring at a gaping hole in the line and can gobble up the yards. Counter plays can be difficult to run, but if successful, can confuse a defense and lead to big gains. The running back takes the handoff and looks as if he will run to one side, but immediately cuts back the other way. This can catch linebackers unawares, and leave space for the back to scamper downfield.

A successful counter play.

Option Plays
As the signature college football play, the option is one of the most exciting, flexible, unpredictable, and dangerous plays available. The quarterback takes the snap and rolls out to one side of the field, with the running back trailing him. The quarterback can then cut up the field and run or pitch the ball to the trailing runner at any time. Alternatively, in a triple option, the quarterback can hand the ball to a fullback up the middle or use the fullback's dive as a ruse. While the option can potentially gain huge yards and be extremely difficult to defend (especially with a fast quarterback), there's a risk of fumbling every play. Pitches can be risky, and not choosing to pitch may put your quarterback at risk for a huge hit and potential injury. The option play is a formidable weapon in any team's arsenal, but it takes a lot of practice to use it safely.

In NCAA Football 06, the running game can dominate—if used judiciously. Carrying the rock may not be as glamorous as the long bomb, but it controls the pace and flow of the game, and tends to wear the defense down more. It can be difficult and frustrating, but it's worth it. Spend your time practicing your plays, timing your pitches, and learning how to read your blockers, and you'll be well on your way to controlling the ground and chewing up the yards.

Comments about this article?