A-11 Offense

A Remarkable new offense still in the stages of formation I'm sure, but it brings to the table some qualities that are truly revolutionary . . .

Founded solely by the Piedmont Football coaching staff in California, this new offense is interesting alone in its description.

This is a scrimmage kick formation and the Piedmont base set . . . 2 direct snap QB's if you will (or it just as easily could be a QB and TB type), 3 wide receivers split to each side (THATS RIGHT 6 WIDE!), and 3 quasi-linemen (again in theory and I'll explain myself shortly). The reason I say quasi is because there are NO non eligible receivers on the field. Everyone is wearing eligible jerseys 1-49 or 80-99, and the 3 "linemen" are really a center with tight ends on either side of him.

This REALLY spreads the field, certainly to the point that I want to see their protection schemes. But aside from that it really does force you to defend all 11 players on the field. "How is that possible? All 11 players can't just go down field to catch a pass can they?" Your right . . . they CAN'T. HOWEVER, the best part of the offense is . . . you as a Defensive player have NO idea who is going out for a pass on any given play.

"Is that all they do is pass?" No, and again I have no idea what ALL they run, but they do run out of the A-11. particularly from what I have seen on tape, option plays and obviously QB sneaks. But the offense is very easily opened up, I have, for example SEEN them run a speed option from the 2 backs in the backfield and the pitch man after having received the pitch throw it down field for a Touchdown. Which leads a restless soul myself to really THINK "was that an option pass? Was it designed all the way to be a pass? Can it really get this complicated?" etc etc.

The "A-11" offense actually stands for "all 11 offensive players potentially eligible" . . . think of it as lining up in a fake punt every play. Naturally it is a fiasco for referees, but that's their job. Plus imagine what its like for the defense. I won't profess to know too much about the actual schemes involved or even the serious points which the offense chooses to exploit (aside from the obvious spreading the field to its limit and the confusion factors involved) but I CAN list a few interesting points that become evident upon learning the formation.

- You have no idea who is going out for a pass on any given play and that's VERY scary, just think of the world's most complex tackle eligible pass play . . . except their are 5 tackles and they all run and catch like wide receivers.

- Motion in this offense can be the difference between a gain on offense and a touchdown altogether. Motion and formation shifting or changing can also very much so DICTATE where the Defense lines up, because if you fail to respect where someone is lined up in this offense it can seriously hurt you.

- Like in all spread offenses, the free plays abound and the Defense can OFTEN call the plays for you; nobody in the box means run it up the gut NOW, the uncovered man gets the ball NOW. It's a thing of beauty really.

- I love the throwback to the old single wing double QB idea. Some modern football fans may have seen this concept when Arkansas ran its wildcat package (even though I think D-Mac got all the snaps). This means that you REALLY shouldn't even know who is going to get the snap . . . as well, you don't know the guy who DOESN'T get the snap is going to do. This setup seems perfect for setting up the speed option as well. Also as I mentioned earlier this allows for the old single wing back faking and misdirection that is in my opinion is so essential to running the football. All this aside I really didn't see too much true dual QB line up on the film though.

- Tell me what the alternate formations are in THIS offense!!! In modern conventional football a formation that often goes to the way side is a 4 wide look to the right side. This in itself is a crazy addition or package to an already good passing offense . . . what kind of crazy off balance formations can you have in this system? Imagine something like 5 or 6 wide to a side maybe? I'm not sure but I would have to imagine that as much as the A-11 in CONCEPT is a shock to the system already, it must lend itself some amazing tweaks and variations to an already insane system.

- A fundamentally sound system and a ball club that executes is awfully hard to beat if you have NEVER SEEN THIS OFFENSE IN YOUR LIFE. Which will be the case most often for those who will pick up on the offense and use it either as a package or as their base system.

So do I think that this is the NEXT BIG THING? No . . . I think that this is primarily a grass roots movement right now, and its going to be tough to get it moving without serious support at the College level (at the very least) and some MORE big time high schools. This very well could end up as an equilizer offense only, which by nature are destined to relative obscurity in the mainstream offensive picture. HOWEVER if this proves to be anything like the spread offense (and don't get me wrong it has plenty of components of the spread) which was at first PROFESSED to be an equilizer offense but TURNED OUT to be a TALENT AMPLIFIER as shown by countless top programs across the country, then perhaps A-11 will become the next offensive fad . . . in time of course.

(The following information can be accredited to the following blog http://a11offense.blogspot.com/2007/11/what-is-a-11-offense.html . . . which was actually made by the creators of the offense at Piedmont High School described herein)