Double Wing Football

[Poli]

I have coached double wing football in the past (Coronado Islanders, 2002). It wasn't something I looked forward to at first. The head coach even warned me that some parents wouldn't like it. Heck, I didn't like it. I preferred bunch concepts and flooding receivers to one side of the field. Shortly after learning the offense and what it can do, I changed my mind.

Double wing football is simple, ugly, and effective. Properly ran, it can demoralize an opponent. I was surprised at the effectiveness of the offense, and I'll run the same offense the next time I coach (most likely next year).

I've been mulling over running another dynasty since I last took over the Tennessee Vols as a walk on quarterback. I sometimes wish I had incorporated the double wing instead of the power I. This is my chance to see if I can make it work.

I'll be taking over a Sol 8 team, based in Missouri. I'll be St. Louis, let's call us the the St. Louis University Cardinals (for simplicity sake, and perhaps more fan interest ). I'll limit our recruiting to 100 miles outside of St. Louis, with exception to the state of Missouri. This limit will stay in effect until, say, I have a winning season, in which I'll be allowed to increase that limit to an amount to be determined then. Additionally, I'll most likely recruit any player out of North County High School in Bonne Terre, MO., my home town.

In my style of double wing football, the quarterback doesn't do much. He either hands off, tosses the ball and lead blocks, or (on the rare chance) throws the ball off a bootleg action. He never runs the ball. Since this will be my system, I refuse to award scholarships at the present time to players of this caliber.

I will not run any option plays. My style calls for a certain set of plays, the toss, the sweep, the dive, and the counter off the toss. I believe in the double wing because it lets the kids play football. Instead of thinking about what to do, they're enabled to just play with simple rules. The option would hinder that concept, so we've thrown it out.

Limited fullback work. The fullback carries on a dive play every so often. We'll set it up to where he can carry the ball.

Rotation of the carries. This is where I'll have to make the most adjustments. I'll initially start off with something like a 45/45/10 (RB/WB/FB) type setup, and have substitution fairly high for the backs. I want to keep them fresh for the game. I may adjust the substitution based on quantity and quality of backs.

I'll likely only recruit a receiver every other year. I wouldn't count on it, but it could possibly happen. There's no room in a true double wing offense for a "receiver". Tight ends are a different story.

Emphasis on run blocking linemen. If a player's best attribute is his pass blocking, I won't recruit him. If run blocking is his worst, I won't recruit him. We need maulers.

Run calls on 3rd down most of the time. It might be a little cheezy, but this is what we do in real life. If we suck at throwing, why throw in an obvious passing down?

I will entertain offers for players who want to be "recruited" by me. This means I'll "make" you one of the players I have successfully recruited. Those wanting to be involved will be assigned, in order, to the first recruit available. That means you won't be able to choose your position. Sorry, but I'll need FOFC linemen.

That's about all I can think of at the moment. Suggestions and comments are welcome.

EDIT: Playoffs instead of bowl games. Sorry about that.

[Poli]

More information on double wing football can be found at www.coachwyatt.com or by asking me.

[Poli]

The College Years


2003 St. Louis Schedule

Rival: Joplin
Stadium Capacity: 41,600
Season Tickets Sold: 10,800

Week Opponent Result Attendance Weather Television
1 at Marshall
2 CONNECTICUT
3 at (45) Colorado State
4 at Kansas
$$6 SPRINGFIELD
$$7 CAPE GIRARDEAU
$$8 at Independence
$$9 KANSAS CITY
$$11 at St. Joseph
$$12 JEFFERSON CITY
$$13 at Joplin

Home Games in ALL CAPS
$$-Conference Games, ##-League Championship Games, **-Post-Season Games

[Poli]

A look over my current roster shows that I have way too many receivers. I convert two of the better ones to corner. One will start there and the other is the primary nickelback. I don't see many other positions where I can need bodies, so I'll stand pat.

Additionally, while we'll try and run to our strong side (left side) more often, we'll definitely try and keep defenses honest by running to the right side as well. 60% of our runs will be center to the left end, while the other 40% go the other way.

[Poli]

On the recruiting trail before taking the team to Marshall, and I find a kicker out of North County. I'm surprised to find he idolizes my school! It also turns out one of my running backs is from North County as well. Go figure.

We stay in state this week, and it's likely we'll try and stay in state this year. The biggest issue thus far is that most of the linemen in state are weak at run blocking.

[Poli]

Marshall whips us 38-10, but it wasn't as bad as it looked. Our defense couldn't stop them at all, but bad weather really did us in. We were tied at 7 through most of the 2nd quarter, but a turnover really killed us. We went for it on 4th down a little too much for my liking as well.

[Poli]

Before the UCONN game, I find out the kicker from North County is already visiting. I also go outside the state of Missouri and into Illinois. I find three players in the town of Springfield, and I go after them.

[Poli]

A nice 27-17 win. RB1, Sheperd, seems to carry the ball a little more than I'd like. I'll have to move some percentage points to RB2, and perhaps increase the substitution.

I also didn't like the amount we threw the ball or that we went for it on 4th and 8 at one point. I'll have to adjust that as well.

[Poli]

Nothing new to report on the recruiting trail, as we hone in our our targets.

[Poli]

CSU rips our defense to shreds behind 7 TD passes. We lose, 56-0.

[Poli]

Nothing new again on the recruiting trail. We send out lots of junk mail asking for bodies.

[Poli]

We defeat Kansas handily, 34-6. Four different players scored TDs, and two running backs went for over 100 yards each.

[Poli]

Over the next two weeks we recruit heavily, and branch out into other recruits. The feeling is that if we haven't reached these kids yet, they're likely not thinking about us anyway.

The kicker is still visiting, and even he hasn't signed with us yet.

[Poli]

A nice 38-13 win over Springfield. Hopefully, this will bring in a few recruits.

[Poli]

One of the kids from Springfield turns us down for Northwestern. Too bad, he was a running back.

The good news is a corner is visiting.

[Poli]

The great news this week is that we thrashed Cape 41-10 on TV5. With that our first recruit, indoorsoccersim signed. He's a center from Seneca, MO. The #2 center overall. We got really lucky here.

The floodgates open up. Nearly all the recruits are at the very least visiting.

[Poli]

A 49-7 win over Independence makes us 5-2. However, St. Joseph and KC are undefeated in conference play as well.

Four players sign with St. Louis.

[MacroGuru]

Pick Me! Pick Me!

5'10" 190 lb FS

[Poli]

Originally Posted by indoorsoccersim

Pick Me! Pick Me!

5'10" 190 lb FS

Not quite.

indoorsoccersim
Center
Seneca, MO
6'4" 265
National rank 73
By position 2
All state Missouri

The very good news is you'll start as a freshman.

[Poli]

TV5 again, this time against KC. We get scared early on, but win 33-21.

[Poli]

During the off week, another player signs with us.

[Poli]

We're on TV5 again. This time, we're ranked #41. We beat St. Joseph 28-10, despite being down 7-10 at the half.

3 more players sign with St. Louis.

[Poli]

The #39 ranked St. Louis U. Cardinals beat Jeff City on TV5, 24-6. The victory seals the conference championship and sends the Cardinals into the playoffs.

One more player signs with St. Louis.

[Poli]

#31 St. Louis defeats Joplin to finish the regular season, 38-28.

Another player signs with St. Louis, leaving us with one scholarship left.

[Poli]

I wanted to post stats and all, but it came out really sloppy.

We ranked 2nd as a team in rushes, 1st in rushing yards with 2,994 yards. Our starting running backs each had over 1,000 yards rushing. Our beleaguered quarterback even had 7 touchdown passes.

[Poli]

Our run will come to an end today. Our first opponent in the playoffs is #11 Maryland.

During the weeks upcoming to this game, we signed our last recruit.

[Poli]

We lose, 44-7. I'm just glad it wasn't worse. Heck, we even scored.

I'll give you guys some time to decide if you want to join in. Tomorrow afternoon I'll resume activities.

[nfg22]

you can make me a player if you would like...I am following along since I was so engulfed with the walk on dynasty

[Ragone]

Make me a player too.. i'd prefer skill posistion.. but whatever works


also you should recruit from east st louis.. you gotta know all those guys can run fast

[Poli]

Originally Posted by Ragone

Make me a player too.. i'd prefer skill posistion.. but whatever works


also you should recruit from east st louis.. you gotta know all those guys can run fast

Fortunately East STL falls in the 100 mile radius.

[fantastic flying froggies]

What ??? You start a new TCY dynasty and no-one told me about it ???

You know I'll be reading...

[General Mike]

I would like to be a player as well, if possible.

[Poli]

Originally Posted by fantastic flying froggies

What ??? You start a new TCY dynasty and no-one told me about it ???

You know I'll be reading...

Perfect, I'll add you in as well.

[Poli]

Originally Posted by nfg22

you can make me a player if you would like...I am following along since I was so engulfed with the walk on dynasty

nfg22
Guard
Warsaw, MO
6'4" 277
National rank 314
By position 4

[Poli]

Originally Posted by Ragone

Make me a player too.. i'd prefer skill posistion.. but whatever works


also you should recruit from east st louis.. you gotta know all those guys can run fast

Ragone
Cornerback
5'11" 172
Canton, MO
National Rank: 827
By position: 70
All State Missouri

28 carries, 124 yards. 46 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 12 interceptions. All in 9 games.

[Poli]

Originally Posted by fantastic flying froggies

What ??? You start a new TCY dynasty and no-one told me about it ???

You know I'll be reading...

Triple F
Kicker
Bonne Terre, MO
6'2" 184
National Rank N/A
By position 94

15 field goals in 9 games as a senior. I hear this guy runs a mean double wing offense. I may switch you to quarterback.

[Poli]

Originally Posted by General Mike

I would like to be a player as well, if possible.

General Mike
Running back
6'0" 176
Greenville, IL
National Rank N/A
Position Rank N/A

9 games, 230 carries, 1343 yards, 11 TDs. 29 receptions, 449 yards, 3 TDs.

Not ranked, but General Mike will most likely contribute to our rushing attack in the near future.

[fantastic flying froggies]

What ? A darn kicker ?

Well, at least, I come from the Good Earth, MO...

[Poli]

Our other recruits include a pair of nationally ranked DTs (918, 934) and TEs (965, 971), as well as a DE (953).

We fill out the recruiting season with another DT, C, FB, T, MLB, and S.

It looks like our defense will most likely be better, but it would have been nice to add a nationally ranked linebacker, inside or outside. The good news is I can basically ignore DT and C next season in my recruiting.

[Poli]

Originally Posted by fantastic flying froggies

What ? A darn kicker ?

Well, at least, I come from the Good Earth, MO...

That's my hometown. The coach there is awesome, and he put in a good word for you. If you can take the kicking job, I'll probably keep you there. If not, I would expect a move to QB.

[fantastic flying froggies]

I know it's your home town, that's why I was happy 'bout it.

Either position 's fine by me, it really doesn't matter...

[Poli]

Center Bubba Blackwell earned 1st team All American honors this past season. Do not fear, indoor, as Bubba also made the All Senior team as well. He'll be moving on to the NFL.

The following were selected as 1st team All Conference:

RB Gary Shepherd
FB Wesley Hutchinson
TE Philip Graham
C Bubba Blackwell
G Rickey Keith
T Trent Middleton
T Seth Lee
DE Julio Gibb

The following were selected as 2nd team All Conference:

K Tommy Lyon
ILB Max Glover
CB Corey Pauley
CB Brock Tongue
S Rusty Miller

The following were selected as Academic All Conference:

TE Kevin Chrysler
C DJ Burroughs
T Seth Lee
K Tommy Lyon
ILB Max Glover
CB Corey Pauley
S Jamie Austin

[JeeberD]

I'll play for ya, AE!

[Poli]

JeeberD, you'll play OT for me. I wish I had more information that this, but I just processed the offseason.

JeeberD
Offensive Tackle
6'5" 275
Kearney, MO

[fantastic flying froggies]

If I recall correctly, you can at least get the state and national rankings in one of the player screens.

[Poli]

I was trying to be nice. He wasn't ranked.

Anyone else interested will be placed in next season's recruiting class.

[Poli]

Two scouts retired, and a number of others were asked not to return. I also let go of my coordinators. Hopefully, I've brought in coaches that are more consistent with my style.

[Lokugh]

I'll play. Red Oak High School, one of our rivals when I was in school, used to run the Double Wing, when they weren't running the Single Wing Veer. Be nice to be on the other side for a change< g >.

[Poli]

The final whistle blows at the end of summer camp, and the players shuffle off to their dorms. They return in the morning to find the following FOFC members on the depth chart:

#35 RB General Mike is the #3 back, and is up to 189 lbs. It's clear he has an incredible amount of endurance. He's also fairly good at avoiding fumbles and at running and receiving on 3rd down. He may not be an all star, but it's clear he has potential.

#59 C Indoorsoccersim is the starting center. He didn't put on weight, which may be an issue later in the season. He has the potential to be an All American.

#69 G Nfg22 is the starting right guard. He put on some weight; he's up to 284. Nfg22 will certainly be serviceable at St. Louis U.

#73 T JeeberD is the #4 tackle. Jeeb sucks at pass blocking, but why would I care about that? His run blocking has potential, but isn't quite there yet. I'd like to redshirt him, but it's likely I'll need him at some point. I have only 5 OTs at the moment.

#19 K Fantastic Flying Froggies (aka Triple F) is up to 192 lbs. He anticipated being moved to quarterback, but a quick look there in camp sent him back to Coach Pismehoff and the kicking units. Triple F will likely redshirt this season and try to take the kicking duties next season.

Finally, we have Ragone. He chimed in at the right time, landing a DB job.

#36 CB Ragone is a starting corner, #2 on the depth chart. He has great endurance and has great ability to intercept the football. Hopefully, he'll grow into the rest of the defensive aspects of the game.

[SirFozzie]

Put me in coach. (ie, RECRUIT ME!) )