A-11 Offense: Fad or Future

saturdaysoundof...
saturdaysoundof... (Interview with the coaches who created the A-11)
A video from Rivals which includes game film on Piedmont High, the first ever team at any level to use the "A-11 offense". Basically, any 11 players on the field are legitimate receivers and the formations use 2 QBs. This is legal in the high school league that Piedmont is in, but the legality in the NCAA or NFL is questionable.

[@Voc60]

The A-11 was a good idea and it really pushed the rules to the limits. I think one of the big reasons why it was not accepted by the “powers that be” was that it was so hard to referee and may have required them eventually putting a ref in the booth. For a high school game I can’t see them doing that.

[@jordanengstrom2269]

Why would it matter? Was it banned?

[@royalgk]

The whole reason they devised this offense was because they are a small school that had no chance against other schools with more kids and bigger guys. They used their brain to get competitive, which I think is awesome.

[@Bluesteve32]

Not only is it illegal in the NFL, but it is not legal in NCAA. Also it is illegal in NFHS next season because the rules committee closed the loophole in the rules. A legal formation must have 5 men 50-79 and 7 men total on the line of scrimmage. You are eligible only by number and position (1-49, 80-99 are eligible, 50-79 are not) and only ends and back would be eligible with proper numbers. The exception was a scrimmage kick formation which allowed other numbers and that is what A 11 did

[@therikkishow]

I completely agree. They are following the rules by lining up 7 on the line. If they are going to make this illegal, then they need to make the spread illegal and force teams to bunch everyone on the line.

[@Voc60]

@addell33 I personally think that a large part of football is about being tough. However, I also think that in high school football you are dealt a hand. There are times that you have to adapt what you are doing to take advantage of the talents your team has. I am not saying that the A-11 is the answer or even the Renegade O, I am just saying you have to be flexible enough to use the gifts your kids have. IMHO

[@macocwbyz72]

LOOks like its here at least for a while. New pro league is starting with this offense. It is exciting and you better be ready on defense. It will basically eliminate the big 300+ pound linemen. There will basically be no intentional grounding either, a qb could dump it off to anyone. Got to give these coaches credit for being innovative and basically out-smarting the defenses in coming up with this.

[@2redaces]

There was no need to ban it. It was a gimmick, and defenses eventually catch up to gimmicks. A local high school in my hometown used this offense this past year. The result was an 0-9 season. The gimmick means nothing if you don't have the horses to run it well. Talent trumps scheme every time.

[@kaycheops]

QB must have ability to quick release or run the ball,or you just waiting for being tackled. i think its suitable for T-Tebow

[@zimmy108]

You need the players to run this. Every highlight for this offense the defense was in position to make a play just didnt. You def will see this more and more but just like every other "special" offenses, good defenses and coordinators will come up with schemes to shut it down.

[@SEB060391]

Thank you for agreeing with me, your one of the first.

[@zxcv1234vcxz]

The ban is a cowardly act pushed by big teams afraid of losing to smaller teams with a good coach.

[@yerocrabelcap]

this offense was easy to breakdown. we (las Lomas Knights) beat Piedmont in the NCS semi finals, and it wasnt a close game. Its numbers game, any smart/well coached team can easily cover this, and seeing how the jump from high school football and to college is totally different i do not think this offense would prosper, but this offense could kill in some trick plays.

[@MGBell512]

In the ESPN article they say this school doesn't have one player over 225. Thats why they dont run a convientional offense

[@solbrains]

This is the offense of the FUTURE....you will see this in the NFL in no time....

[@bobbobson76]

I can not see this offense in the NFL or any major college program that is serious about winning. This offense is an amped up version of Tiger Ellison's spread offense, which has never worked in the NFL because the offense can not simply protect the quarterback.

[@drwood40]

i would love to see these guys play the top teams in California like De la Salle, LB poly or even play in a tough league like trinity...then they can talk

[@HandballNinja]

Why cant people recognize genius? For decades people have had this preconceived notion that football has to be played in some nitty-gritty 4 yards and a cloud of dust style. If your talent is in your speed, creativity, and versatility why not have an offense like the A-11 that emphasizes that? I dont understand why this is outlawed. Besides most people would love to see a high flying style of play where you see the underdog win with clever options, trick plays, and dynamic athletes.

[@Bluesteve32]

It was not banned per say, just the loophole that the offense took advantage of was closed. My question to you and others in your camp, Why have numers by position in the first place? If this were to continue, we might as well let anyone have any number. Besides, you can't use this, by rule, in the NCAA or NFL. It used to be thchnically legal to run those "wet ball' or "wrong ball" plays, but the NFHS rules committee has banned those plays too along with the "fumblerooski."

[@AznInvazn189]

this formation would only work at the high school level. upper level defenses have more dicipline and are quicker so they would be able to stop it with the time it takes for some of the plays to develop

[@SEB060391]

and u can stop the options with blitz with ur DB's its all a guessing game and if ur athiletes can match theres is pretty much wat it breaks down to but that is a really good point. i honestly didnt think about that

[@yoboy82]

The a-11 is a great new spin to football. I start MLB in college now as a 17yr old, and its my 1st yr of football. We play spread offenses, so this wouldnt really be different. 5 wide, 6wide, 7wide, let them do whatever they have to to score. Just makes playing defense that much funner. This doesnt ruin football, just rules out more fatties, like the spread is doing now.

[@SEB060391]

this offence is obviosly diffrent but just like everyother offence u must have the right persinal for it im guessing that they dont have anyone over 250 pounds thats why they have 3 linemen but i would rather run the wedge then this its all about speed in this offence and it is way to easy defend against 4 down linemen 1 linebacker and rest DBs pretty much a nickel but stand ur ends up and make ur d tackels go straight up and if there linemen set up for a screen then grab ankels

[@Smuggler1234]

The A-11 shouldn't be legal. It's only legal because special rules were put in place decades ago for punt formations. It's a just a loophole in the rules.

[@jlmiller57]

The guy who snaps the ball can't go out for a pass. So I think this would be better served if it was called the A-10 or something similar

[@him311cky]

Not my opinion, but almost every big high school football state bans this style of offense when the teams that use it become successful, except california, which is about to ban it soon.

[@ROMEROTXG]

crazy

[@The25thViolence]

thats call it the super spread, thats a better name

[@kessel12]

You'll never see it in the NFL because the formation is not legal in the NFL.

[@him311cky]

As of today the A-11 is officially banned by all high school programs.

[@asleknd]

that makes no sense. wouldnt work in any level past high school

[@zxcv1234vcxz]

If it's legal and they only have small players with speed instead of bulk, why not do it? Why should anyone hold it against the coach or team for being inventive and giving a small school a chance to win? Of course, the same morons who don't like this style of offence are probably soooo proud of the US beating the Soviets in 1980, essentially doing the same thing.

[@nateglock]

Our rivals used something similar to this against us this year, except they only took the RT and put him out to a WR spot. The coaching staff had to be completely idiotic. The RT we immediately knew was ineligible, so we crashed our corners and sam (strong side) backer into the formation and dropped them for a 7 yard loss. They didn't try this stupid shit not once more in the game.

[@me9rob]

dumb gimmick offense, and it's not as though Piedmont high has had any real success

[@geneseofootball]

Complete joke of an offense.