How to Coach an NFL Offense

Offensive coordinators in the National Football League (NFL) typically rise to their position due to creative play calling. NFL teams need offensive units that can mix pass plays with a punishing run game to keep putting points on the scoreboard. As a coach for an NFL offense, you need to learn how to get the most out of your players.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Clipboard
• Footballs
• List of Plays
• Whistle
• White Board and Markers

1. Get your offensive players on the same page by using play book software programs. These programs allow you to diagram plays each week while providing notes to players on a particular match up. Companies such as K&A Books provide this type of software, which is available through the Football Tool website. See the Resources section below for a link.

2. Highlight each player's responsibilities in the weekly game plan before distribution. You should hand out weekly offensive packages at the beginning of the week. Your offensive assistants can place notes where appropriate on the day following your last game.

3. Gather your offensive players to review tape of next week's opponent. A general film session with the entire offensive unit is helpful in pointing out major weaknesses in the opposing defense. Individual viewing sessions with linemen and skill players help implement the week's game plan. Film sessions should be held continuously throughout the week, because you can never watch enough film on your opponent. Look for tendencies. Analyze what plays and routes they run from particular formations. Do they run screens when they have the WR in motion? All this needs to be figured out before game day.

4. Quiz your quarterbacks weekly to determine their grasp on the offense. Your role as offensive coach is to ensure that every player understands their responsibilities. A common way to test quarterbacks is a written exam midweek where the player has to take an offensive play and provide a correct diagram of each player's task. Let the offense see what they're going to face during the game by having your defense run the defensive schemes of your opponent in one of the practice periods.

5. Begin training camp by going through as much of your playbook as your players can digest. Adjust the game plan each week during the season based on the weaknesses of your opponent and your team's strength. The first 15 offensive plays are usually scripted by the offensive coordinator to test the opponent and see what plays work well and which ones to scrap for the rest of the game.

6. Task your quality control assistants and offensive coaches with tracking each play on game day. Quality control coaches can track penalties by specific players while offensive assistants should note the yardage gained or lost on each play.

7. Allow your offensive reserve players to practice each week. Backup quarterbacks, receivers and running backs need to get repetitions in order to fill in adequately for injured players.

Tips & Warnings

• Compile and hand out a scouting report a day or two before game day so your players can mentally prepare themselves for what's to come.
• Familiarize yourself with the passing tree. The passing tree is a diagram that shows the variety of routes run by receivers, tight ends and running backs. Your offensive skill players should run the passing tree in order during every practice.
• Limit the amount of practices in full pads during the season. The players' bodies will wear down during the games and need the following week to recover as much as possible.

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