DCWT in a SW-saturated league

[DumCoach]

Is it wise to abandon a system just to be different?

As a new first-year HC in 2011, I was optimistic (naïve in retrospect) we would have an edge using the single wing in our 9-10 YO division.  I got early buy-in from my “also new” AC’s to run the SW, and onward we marched into August.  Our one and only pre-season scrimmage was very positive (we had more talent).  Things looked good.

Once games began, it became clear that almost every team we faced used a SW-based offense.  It was also evident our opponents were not first-year SW coaches either.   If this were not enough, EVERYONE scouts each other's teams with video.  While my hope was that I could ride the HC learning curve using the SW as the edge over evenly-matched opponents, it was not to be the case.  We were 1-3 against evenly-matched teams, and my lack of experience was certainly the primary reason.

I did not see any other team use the wing-T in our division.  That said, I want to consider the DCWT for 2012.  I really like the UBSW for this age level of mixed-talent, everybody-plays football, but I also would like to do something a little different from everyone else... while I continue to ride the learning curve.

It is wise to be contrarian in a league dominated by a single system.  That said, DCWT may or may not be the perfect solution.  You shoud be able to complete 3 out of 5 passes total in a game.  If you feel you can do that, go ahead.  The advantage is yours.

You will have the advantage on defense as well.  Find yourself a SW killing defense and you should rock.   They're out there.  I've got three.

[Bob Goodman]

We played no team which presented a "fresh" Cisar look.  One of the teams looked VERY similar, but had a non-crouching, deeper-set backfield, and the OL had wider splits.

We mostly saw strong R and L as I recall.  One team in particular was predominantly strong R, but no team was all strong L.

OK, so there go some ways to be different.  Did anyone use balanced line?  If so, did anyone have the QB (BB) sidesaddle as in U. Tenn. style?  (If so, I doubt anyone had the QB facing the WB instead of back to him.)  I'm (re)developing an offense for youth coaches who "can't decide between single wing and wing T" that uses the sidesaddle QB with fly/jet series and can snap to him or the two deep backs.  40-45 years ago it was popular for teams to switch their QB between under center in an unbalanced wing T formation and a blocking back position to make it UBSW, but why use 2 formations when you can get the effect in one?

If you have a good number of returning players, you might switch which position has a pulling OL, or add pullers on some plays.  If the players pulling come from different positions than teams are used to, that might waste some of their defense's practice time.  Were all of them doing it current Cisar style, i.e. pulling just the OL in the middle of the formation?  I bet they were pulling different positions too.

Did any of them use buck lateral series?  It's not seen much with pre-teens, and not even that often with teens (HS or club), because some plays call for 2 ball exchanges after the snap, and some of children's execution I've seen on highlights of it is crap, but sometimes even crappy execution of it is very deceptive.  If everyone else is into full and half spin for their deception, being the only buck lateral team might be fun.  The buck lateral is to the unbalanced single wing as the buck sweep is to wing T.  Does DumCoach's use buck sweep series?

[cbrm]

Did any of them use buck lateral series?  It's not seen much with pre-teens, and not even that often with teens (HS or club), because some plays call for 2 ball exchanges after the snap, and some of children's execution I've seen on highlights of it is crap, but sometimes even crappy execution of it is very deceptive.  If everyone else is into full and half spin for their deception, being the only buck lateral team might be fun.  The buck lateral is to the unbalanced single wing as the buck sweep is to wing T.  Does DumCoach's use buck sweep series?

Bob,

I talked to one of my coaches to confirm this, but 5 of the 8 teams in our division ran SW, or elements of it.  To answer a few of your questions, pulling was not unorthodox, and we saw very few BB carries.

Everyone: a big thanks for ALL of your input.  It is your willingness to help obvious beginners like me that makes this such a fantastic site.  I really look forward to planning for 2012, and I hope someday I might have something to give back.

[CoachGonzoSINY]

Have been running the SW for 5 years in SI, NY.  I was the first to run it in my league and was mocked and laughed at thru a 5-5 season our first year running it. We got hot in the playoffs and won it all against an undefeated and heavely favored team. Since then there are now 6 teams in our league running it. There will be 3 teams in my age group running it next year including a former asst of mine whom I've helped learn the SW.

I will def be running it.

Bottom line is regardless of what you run you need to commit to and execute to perfection(or as close as possible).
There are many different formations, motions and blocking schemes you can use in SW. You have the same advantages as they do in running the same system. If they have that much better athletes it may not matter what you run. Look at what everybody runs and find something none of them have seen. I would stick with SW and maybe mix in some DCWT(i am doing this as well). But with a year of SW and coaching experience under your belt you should try and build on it. Either way good luck.