Q & A
Q: Jerry Williams wrote:
Coach Weidner...I implemented the D.W. last year with my 8th grade team. I have a kid that is huge for his age and he likes to hit and has good hands. I played him at fullback last year. The problem is that he has average speed at best.He gets a few tough yards on wedge but never breaks out and he's a little slow getting to the D.E. on power. I tried cheating him over a bit.Tight end has been a weak spot for us on both sides. We've basically plugged in the best of our worst there because we have no choice. Should I forgo the size at fullback for a better blocking and receiving tight end? We have a kid that's pretty tough to put at fullback but he's a lot smaller. I would appreciate your opinion.Thanks...Jerry Williams
A: Jerry,To me the fullback’s size is irrelevant. It comes down to who gets the job done? If the big boy is only there because he is a big boy then I would look to try him out at another position. If he is a good fullback for you then I’d suggest having him offset. We had the fullback sniffing the A-Gap this season with a lot of success, it puts him closer to the end on the kick out (two steps into the line of scrimmage opposite foot first, putting his play side shoulder into the near side hip of the end). It also puts him in good position on counter and trap. So perhaps consider the offset fullback if he just needs a step or two. It is my opinion that tight end is a place you can hide a kid or put an undersized kid who doesn’t mind shining shoes. The question for me now becomes what are you going to do with the other kid if the big boy works out? Hope this helps! Coach Weidnercoachweidner@columbus.rr.com
Q: Heath Plant wrote:
I am a lifting novice so I was wondering what exactly is a 5x5 progression
A: The 5x5 progression is simply 5 sets of 5 repetitions with basic strength movements--Squat, Bench, and Row (Romanian Deadlift, Lat Pull, and Press may be added as well). This workout is done 3 times per week. The weights remain the same throughout all 5 sets for every seperate exercise. The weights are started at a comfortable weight (EZ 5x5 completion) and increased every workout by 5 lb for every complete 5x5. This gives a novice about 8 weeks of steady weight increase to go along with large strength increase. Unlike percentages, it is a self regulating workout--meaning if you aren't strong enough (don't complete 5x5), the weight goes down 20lb for the next workout. Then it resumes steadily increasing. After 8 weeks or so, you should take a week off from training, and then resume a couple of weeks at higher repetitions (3 sets of 12 reps). Then it is back to the 5x5 workout. After a couple of cycles of the "novice 5x5", you can take it to the "regular 5x5". This workout increases only on Mon/Fri (vs M/W/F), and the Wed workout is 85% of the Mon weight. These 5x5 models use PROGRESSION--meaning weight it steadily increased. This is unlike the "Cluster F***" model where the weight jumps around according to multiple rep scheme and changing percentage. Nobody has any idea what they are doing in these cluster workouts that most folks do and coaches prescribe. Again, this is very much unlike the 5x5 workout--where you know exactly what you are doing (more than last time).
Hope this helped,Robert McAdamsPS> I will most likely write a full book with Olympic Lift teaching and 5x5 progression as a sole focus in the next 4-5 months due to interest from my DWS presentations. So keep an eye out on my website--I'll put your email in my bulk mailing file to keep you updated.
Q: Scott McNutt wrote:
Hi Coach Rob,
I ran the Single Wing this past season with the expected results:
my undersized, undermanned and less athletic team was somehow able
to pull out a 4-4 season. This qualified us for division play-offs.
And we managed to win the Division Championship with a score of 13-7
against a team that beat us 27-6 during the regular season.
I've read many Single Wing books: Charlie Caldwell, Ken Keuffel,
Jim Ahern, John T. Reed, Dave Cisar, etc. I'm no expert, but I've
done at least some of my homework. ;-)
Anyway, I've read several of your books and I'm now reading,
"The Double Wing Football Offense." Since I'll be coaching a
fairly athletic but relatively small (physically) team this year
I thought the Double Wing would be a great match. But I'm getting
cold feet:
In your book, "The Gap-Man Pressure Football Defense,"
you mention abandoning the Double Wing in favor of the Single Wing.You state (pp. 18):
I was thankful for this change-up because I took over the offense and implemented a direct snap, sing wing offense.
and we consistently moved the ball with that scheme without big linemen or dominant backs -- evidenced by our lack of productivity with the double wing.
A: Coach McNutt,
I'm a big double wing supporter. I love that offense much more than the single wing. I wrote those statements in "that book, at that time" when facing a horrible situation... 1) We weren't coaching the kids well enough in the double wing (all 2 of us), 2) the teams we played were double wing-hardened schools (seen for prior 3 years), and 3) we were all freshmen. We didn't win with the single wing either... The closest game we played was with the stack I mainly that year--DW formation. I like the Single Wing and Wing-T offenses a lot, but the Double Wing is my love. The reasons to implement DW offense are as follows:-easy to block (simpler than Wing-T/ much simpler than SW)-simple to implement blocking scheme--no 1-way or 1-sided linemen (like SW / Wing-T)-easy to handle ball (less risky maneuvers with ball than SW)-blocking scheme/formation facilitate out-manning defense consistently-can run mainly "team" and be very effective (great for small school, small staff)-offense is balanced--no flipping or keying formation-focus of offense is short yardage plays and efficiency--causes defensive frustration-short yardage efficiency causes offensive confidence-constant double-teams cause line confidence in movement/trapping-short yardage efficiency causes consistent 3rd and 4th down conversions-defensive frustration/panic causes big plays in the air and on the ground-DW passing is not "pass accuracy/skill" + "catching/skill"-DW passing is "they're not there to cover us"
-DW traits/focus are toughness, simplicity, fundamentals, and discipline (great traits)-DW offense is not "skill-oriented"--it is an "any man" offense-DW offense is not "speed-oriented"--it is a "non-athlete" offense-DW offense is not "size-oriented"--it is a "small guy" offenseI hope I have helped you have confidence in this great offense. Let me know if you need anything else + get both books if you don't have them both--lots of good stuff in perimeter book besides just perimeter plays.Robert McAdams