Best of Redzone Philosophy, Strategy, and Tactics

On today’s episode we hear philosophy strategy and tactics from some of the best at putting the ball in the end zone once they reach the 20 yard line. We focus on an area of the field where you have to come away with points.

Steve Fairchild was a 5 year NFL Offensive Coordinator servicing the Buffalo Bills, St Louis Rams and San Diego Chargers. He spent 18 years in the collegiate game spending 4 years as a Head Coach at Colorado State.

Steve Fairchild: Identifying and understanding the red zone. Thoughts on howto approach the high red zone to ensure points

John Bond, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Northern Iowa. In 2017, the Panthers led the FCS in red zone offense. Coach Bond also wrote a book, “Developing a Championship Quarterback.” Over his 33 year career Bond made stops at SW Missouri, Utep, Delta State Illinois Stat Army, Norther Illinois, Georgia Tech, Georgia State UMass, and Tennessee Martin.

@CoachJohnBond

John Bond: 3 Keys to excelling in the Red zone: Running the ball, running nakeds and 3 step drops. How to breakup red zone practice time during the wee.

Brad Spencer is the offensive coordinator at North Central College who plays for the Division 3 National Championship tonight in the Stagg Bowl. North Central Has become an offensive power house at the Division III level this. Spencer's offense was ranked No. 1 in third down and red zone efficiency, top three in completion percentage and top 10 in total offense and scoring.

Brad Spencer: Figuring out where the defense changes as you approach the red zone and goal line. Finding the set of plays your players like to run and settling on plays you’re comfortable with. Additionally, how much of your offense stays the same from outside of the redzone.

Joe Osovet joined the Tennessee coaching staff in 2018 following a successful tenure as one of the top head coaches in the junior college ranks. Osovet has coached 11 NFL players and developed 47 Division I players as a JUCO head coach.

Joe Osovet: How coach finds success in the red zone by staying consistent but at the same time being variable. The importance of disguising plays by using different formations. Also, finding out how teams adjust to different formations within the red zone and attacking their weakness. Additionally, using different personnel to mess with opposing coordinators in the red zone.

Fairchild: The importance of sticking to the run game in the red zone and how to handle the extra defender in the box.

Fairchild: Specific route concepts that coach likes to use in the red zone.

We were fortunate to run down former Minnesota Vikings and three time Rose Bowl champion Jim Hueber. Ask anyone who has played for, coached with or had to line up across from one of his offensive lines and you will hear a common theme…”toughness”. Yes coach Hueber has had the fortune to coach a lot of good football players over his forty some years but as you will hear in this podcast, the toughness aspect and the ability to go get that one yard in a goal line situation is something that is sold first and foremost by the offensive line coach.

Jim Hueber: How to use toughness at the goaline and which plays coach typically uses down at the goal line. Also, how current spread teams can adjust to heavy situations where they have to run. Additionally, benefits of going under center as opposed to in the gun.