This is an invite to talk DOUBLE TIGHT DOUBLE WING.  I am not talking about multi-wing or multi-wing gun approach. I am not talking about direct snap Pop Warner offense stuff. I am talking about the Basic Markham style two tightend, two wing, qb under center, double team and pull through, toss and lead, record setting offense.

Every now and again an assistant will ask me about multiple formations, shifting and some window dressing.  I don't shoot it down, but respond "yeah, that's neat" -but I cant get myself to break away from what I think is ALREADY THE BEST thing out there, the true double wing, ten gap attack.  Sure, we will bring a tackle over, put a wing on and even off set the fullback. rarely however do we flank or split anyone out and remove them as a blocking threat inside.  We have run some single wing stuff.  Its just not what we do regularly.

When I think about scoring more points, its not about giving different looks. Its about blocking better, running with more authority (making folks miss, hitting holes harder, breaking tackles and fumbling less!) and improved pass protection and passing efficiency.  IN most cases, when we look at film, theres a missed cut block or a poorly sustained block by a wing or pulling guard that leads to lbers making plays and stopping us. There are fumbles, poor fakes or lousy attempts at cut blocks.  I don't think adding formations is going to make that stuff go away, instead, Id rather spend more time fixing those things. That's just me.

This offense is really good for average kids. I should know, its all I have ever had.  I have been coaching high school football since 2007 and have not seen a division II athlete in our backfield yet. Not one of our wings has ever started or played in a division III game.  We are talking average.  But whats interesting is the PRODUCTIVITY these very average kids have had in our offense.  I had three different backs rush for 200 yards in a game in my two seasons at Boothbay.  We had a team of just 17 players, 9 of whom were freshmen, rush for 602 yards and 9tds!  I had two different backs do it in my two seasons at Old Town. IN Old Town, we averaged 34 ppg in back to back seasons.  WE produced the schools all time leading scorer (23 tds in 9 games), a pair of 1000 yard rushers and the states leading rusher (1400 yards in 8 games, second team all conference?)  - IN my two seasons at East, we have out scored and outgained previous teams and produced a pair of 900 yard backs and a 1000 yard back.  The 900 yard back (960 in 7 games) will be a senior this year.  WE also produced a tandem fullback position that rushed for 1100 yards this season.

This offense is not at all qb dependent.  IN 08, after 5 games my starting qb was knocked out for the season.  We won out with our second team qb. We averaged 30 points a game plus down the stretch including scoring 52 against a playoff team and upsetting one of the top teams in the state.  In 09, we had 3 different qbs play and scored 25ppg with our 17 kids including a 70 point game.  In 2010, at Old Town, we had two different qbs play and had the first winning season there in 16 years.  We had a 5 game stretch where we averaged 41 ppgs.  IN 2011 we actually had a season where our starting qb played in every game.  In 2012 our first team qb was lost for the season with mono, we had two other guys play qb during the season.  In 2013, our top qb broke his arm playing defense and his backup led us to a 5 win season and the schools top point production since joining this league.  You need a game manager here!

The offensive line for the double wing will do well if they are tough and athletic. We have made due with some bigger slower kids who are new to the weight room.  WE had several linemen in the last couple of seasons who have never played football and often have at least one soph or more in the starting lineup.  Our smallest linemen were 155 lb tackle at Boothbay next to a 135 lb guard.  We had a frosh at center.  Our other tackle was a soph.  Our other guard was 165.  WE could still drive the ball because of double teams, traps and pulls and cut blocks. None of those kids lifted weights.  I think in most years we have at least one if not more player that starts on our team that would be lucky to get playing time on other offensive lines (who have to play in  more space).... I could be wrong, that's what I see as an advantage to this style of attack for our kids.

Many say "we don't have two tightends, even one" - well, we have used skinny freshmen, young sophs, weak seniors...you name it, we have put that type of kid at tightend and made it work.  We haven't won states but Id imagine that when we get some strong seniors at the te position things will go quite well for our offense.  I expect to have a pair of juniors and one senior at tightend this year. All three have been in the wt room at least SOME this off season as compared to last years pair.  Phil Bravo, arguably the best true double wing coach on the planet has said "our tes aren't very good" (this is way back in the 90s) when referring to the type of player that plays there.  IF it can go with average or below average or even weak players....it will go much better with a kid whos prepared himself for the season!

The playbook doesn't need to be huge.

A couple of outside plays

sweep and bootleg and maybe reverse

Some off tackle plays

powers, counters

a few inside plays

traps, wedges and blasts

play action passing
vertical flood
sideline flood

and you have what you need to score points. 

What it does take is an eye for detail. You need to call plays well. you need coaches to communicate good solid information on what they see. you need kids to do their jobs (ie we suffered badly when playing a tightend who gave us horrific weak cut blocks in the past) and kids who use good technique with double teams and kickouts.  Timing is important, its a timing based offense with its quick motion and faking.  yOu cant get too cute or your timing will suffer and your time for fundamental and development of tough kids will be reduced.

to me, hill sprints and scrimmage and weight room all tie into the type of kid we want in our offense.

many double wingers play an attacking style defense with their double wing, trying to be different or trying to dictate....others will play bend but don't break....whatever your style of defense is, you can make it partner up with this offense.

Something else you need....a "set"....you have to be willing to take some shots on fourth down. you have to be willing to go for two on two point conversions and you need to take a few cracks at onsides kicks. Im speaking from the point of playing as an underdog here.  I think the double wing remains "the underdogs offense" due to the basic idea of 2.5 ypp , four cracks to get 10 yards.

As far as dominant double wing teams....the thing they have in common is a combination of speed and toughness. IF you have some track stars in your backfield and some shot putters up front...good things are gonna happen for you. If you can play defense (and lets face it, youre gonna need some ability to play good solid defense) and coach the offense for precision in execution, ball and clock control, then finding your way into the playoffs should be within reach.  If you cant play defense, poor tackling , poor pursuit and lousy coverage....keep the offense simple and spend more time on defense.  You will need to then really shorten the game too.

I know we shocked some teams last year. With as many as 7 sophs starting for us at different points of the season we did some good things.  Our hudl highlights are there for the viewing as well as the cutups from my old town team (bottom of my posts in the signature) - I look forward to the development of our soph qb his already a head taller and much stronger than he was this past season. I look forward to having two wings in the 175-195 lb range. I might even see my soph wing creep over 200 lbs the way hes eating, I look forward to that!!!! I have never had a 200 lb wingback in this attack.  Our fullback, the 165lber, has already grown over 175 now...and hes going to be at least a 1200 lb club kid rather than 1000 lb club as he was this year.  Theres a chance that every offensive lineman we have will be in the 1000 lb club (they were 800 lb club guys last year).... we are a tad slow for the guard spots but should pick up a step at our tackle spots this year.  We wont be quite as quick at the te spots but will be physically stronger than we were (weight room wise)...we seem to have a stable of young wings, are thin at fullback and qb...but we will cross train there.  We may well again have the single wing as our third team qb....we will see. some of that depends on the development of a frosh whos in the wt room every day and if a jr te can continue to come back from an elbow injury.

Anyhow, lets talk double wing...