Charlie Stubbs - 101 Playmakers and Special Plays

Playmakers
and Special Plays Charlie Stubbs
2010 Coaches Choice. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of Coaches Choice. ISBN: 978-1-60679-083-0 Library of Congress Control Number: 2009944036 Book layout: Bean Creek Studio Cover design: Brenden Murphy Front and back cover photos: Sports Information Department -University of Alabama Coaches Choice P.O. Box 1828 Monterey, CA 93942 www.coacheschoice.com

To my wife, Sandy -my best friend.

Together we have shared the triumphs and disappointments of a coaching career. I also dedicate this book to my grandchildren: Isaac, Addisyn, Elsa, Bradley, and Lucas... and still counting. Their boundless energy and enthusiasm help keep this old coach forever young, and their unconditional love reminds me that football is just a game.

The completion of this book was made possible through the encouragement and teamwork of a number of people. I wish to thank the following friends in the coaching profession: Robert Anae, Fisher DeBerry, Mike Empey, Scott Grinde, Jeff Horton, Dave Kragthorpe, Noel Mazzone, Danny Pearman, Homer Smith, Dabo Swinney, and Bob Toledo.

All contributed special plays for this project. I especially want to thank my son, Troy Stubbs, for writing the foreword. I am deeply grateful to Jeff Conway, who used his gifts to skillfully draw the plays and assist with the organization of the special plays DVD. My special thanks is also expressed to the staff at Coaches Choice, particularly Dr. Jim Peterson for giving me another opportunity to give something back to the profession. Finally, I would like to acknowledge all of the great coaches and players that I have had the opportunity to work with.

Without you this book would not be possible.

Innovative plays are not a new concept in football. In fact, as a ten-year-old boy in the late 1980's, I was in the midst of great coaches and players, enjoying the game day atmosphere and the thrill of exciting plays on the field. Each Saturday, I held the headset cord for my dad on the sidelines of PAC-10 games. As I shared my own dreams of playing and coaching college football, the players and coaches accepted me as part of the team and were always respectful and encouraging. Once I grew to be a teenager, I became more observant and began to understand that football games were not simply a Saturday event.

I witnessed my father spend countless hours watching film, scripting practices, and formulating game plans. My personal interest level in the details of offensive football began to grow, and my questions were very specific. While a "sideline assistant" for my dad at Oregon State University, I resolved to one day be a college football coach. The path to fulfilling my dream of becoming a college football coach is different than most. After playing for Coach Fisher DeBerry for two years at the United States Air Force Academy, I chose to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Russia for two years. Upon my return, I transferred to the University of Alabama where my father was coaching.

My interests had shifted to business, and by graduation I was married, had a child, and then began a career in investments. Coaching football was an unrealized dream that still lingered in the back of my mind. Watching the game as an avid fan and spectator, I gravitated toward the exciting, game-changing plays that resulted in passionate "water cooler" conversations among co-workers each Monday morning. It was exceptionally clear to me that electrifying, inventive offenses were the most talked about and popular among fans of football. After four years of eagerly watching from afar, with the support of my wife and family, I joined my father at the University of Louisville as a graduate assistant. This opportunity kicked off my career in coaching college football and provided me with the chance to pursue my dream.

Reflecting on my experience as a youth, player, and spectator, I knew I wanted to incorporate creative play in the development of my own offensive philosophy. Today, as a young coach, I am continually seeking knowledge as I expand my library of offensive plays. 101 Playmakers and Special Plays provides an excellent resource for coaches at all levels. No matter what your experience level is as a coach, this book will inspire a creative spark in your preparation and game planning as you develop your individual offensive philosophy. -Troy Stubbs Quarterback/Running Backs Coach University of Arkansas at Monticello

The game of football has changed significantly since Rutgers and Princeton played in the first game on November 6, 1869. The game has evolved to include the use of video equipment and high tech computers for the study and breakdown of each play.

This advanced study of football by coaches looking for an edge brings new and dynamic ideas to the game. With 11 offensive players, the methods of attack are limited only by the width and length of the field and the coach's imagination. As a student of the game, I find the Xs and Os of football fascinating. The easiest way to start a conversation with a football coach is to ask about his best play. All coaches have favorite offensive plays. They all have favorite special plays.

These preferences lead to the distinctive style of coaching that makes football so exciting. As part of the weekly offensive game planning, a coach should design special plays. These explosive plays can jump start the team and therefore need to be innovative and able to exploit a defensive weakness or player. When developing the game plan, it is important to identify the team's playmakers. Playmakers are those athletes who must have the ball in their hands a major portion of the game for the team to be successful. When I first considered writing this book, I believed that a compilation of outstanding, game changing plays would be a great asset to a coach's resources.

The plays included in this book come from my coaching experiences and contributions from fellow coaches. The coaches represented have many years of successful coaching and are outstanding teachers. As you read this book, I believe you will be exposed to numerous thoughts, concepts, and principals for developing a championship team. In addition, I hope this book will be an invaluable reference text for players, coaches, and even the fan or football enthusiast. 101 Playmakers and Special Plays will benefit coaches at all levels as they strive to utilize their playmakers properly and jump start their team with special plays. Included with the book are 101 plays with complete diagrams, descriptions, and assignments for each position player.

Also included is a companion DVD featuring actual game footage of 76 of these special plays being executed at a high level. The DVD will give coaches a visual example of the plays and the playmakers as they compete against various defensive schemes. The video clips span the past three decades. Coaches will notice the evolution of football during that time period. In fact, a few of the clips have been transferred from the original 16 mm film. I really enjoyed making this DVD and collection of plays.

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