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Introducing a Gobbler Country Thought Experiment Series

And now for something a little bit different. A thought experiment that we hope to get some thinking blood flowing to address. Yes, this one will run for a few articles just to see what crops up on the responses and ideas. How “up” are you on football and football theory? Challenge yourself and us. Indulge us, it’s summer and we are really bored..

By John Schneider
JJ goes back to pass back in 2017 for the Carolina Game
John Schneider - SB Nation

Let us say, for whatever the reason, a change in rules, some puckish impulse, or an entirely new thought process about using analytical statistics to dictate (literally) the style of offense that a team uses that the coach chooses to completely abandon the running game, and execute a 100% pass game plan.

You saw that right. No hand-offs... no fudging... therefore no pitches... The challenge is coming up with a game plan that completely does away with the run. The run has not been removed from the game, it’s just that YOU have decided that for this particular game you are not going to run it.

Sure, I know that some of this will sail right by the right ears of many fans. The running game has been structural, fundamental football for its entire history. We are going to dispense with it. WE are going to dare to be different... or something else.

So for this first propositional article, we set the stage with a first quarter start at the 25 yard line after coin toss. (Remember, we are in the future, there is no kickoff anymore... all play starts from the 25 unless you try the 1 play that must get 20 yards, from the 40, as a replacement for the onside kick).

REMEMBER!!!!! NO RUNS!

Poll

What play do you open with?

This poll is closed

  • 23%
    No huddle, quick snap, tight end dig in for 8 yards over the middle.
    (19 votes)
  • 23%
    Huddle up, Start normal.. Shift into an empty set, run a normal route tree from a slot left (wide side) rub route and throw the out pass for 12.
    (19 votes)
  • 27%
    Pump fake to a flare pass in the shallow flat, and hit the deep seam as a surprise stunner.
    (22 votes)
  • 25%
    Run a wheel to your running back on the short side of the formation while rolling in his direction.
    (21 votes)
81 votes total Vote Now

So, three radically different choices that can come out of the same formation. If you like something better pipe up and tell us. This is intended to be something of an experiment. If you give me some good answers in the comments, we can deal with the what’s next.

Next up. You hit the 8 yard dig.

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