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Is it possible for your team to play sound defense if you employ an Air Raid/run & shoot offense?

Goulds Cane

Goulds Cane

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Calling all coaches!!!!

I know nothing about offensive systems. In high school, I played rush end in a 5-2 defensive scheme, then in college I played weakside linebacker in a 4-3. Looking back on it now, I really didn't learn anything about the game of football as a player. I literally just did what my coaches told me (shout out coach Cooney & coach Clements.)

I'm a REALLY big fan of the air raid offense. I love what Colt Brennan & Timmy Chang did in college. I like June Jones & Mike Leach as coaches & love everyone from their coaching trees. I'm a huge fan of Lane Kiffin as our next coach in hopes he brings Jeff Lebby with him.

My only concern is this. Every team that runs an air raid offense has CACA defense. Scores like 62-55 & 70-41 are normal. The **** looks like a college basketball game. Is it possible to play lockdown defense when you employ this offensive scheme? I know "lockdown defense" doesn't really exist anymore due to the rule changes, but play as good defense as possible.
 
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I like a lot of Air Raid principles and how a lot of good offenses have adopted bits and pieces of it. That being said, against a PURE Air Raid, your defense won't practice against a power running game. Also since you’ll stop the clock often with incompletions and TDs, the game is extended, and your defensive statistics will suck.
 
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I got destroyed by the board when I presented this theory to the board.
 
One thing people seem to forget is everytime you score, the other team gets the ball. Your defense will tire out if the other team is able to convert 1st downs…AT ALL.
 
Bama is borderline what you're asking at times, just a modernized version of it. Same with OU, their defense just always sucks because they get the wrong DC. OSU, same thing. All new offense, but some of the same ideas.

The problem with defending these modern day offenses, they can kill you either way. On the ground or through the air. You stack up on defense to stop the run, they'll kill you through the air. Same is true in reverse.

The old air raid teams just had a high octane passing game. They didn't have the athletes these true elite teams do. If you could stop their passing attack, play straight up, and with you base up front, game over.
 
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Most of the air raid teams have garbage a$s defensive talent. That's one of these reasons they play garbage a$s defense.

Only thing that ever affected my defense is whether the offense stayed in front of the chains and gave us good field position or not. (and turnovers) The more you put us on the field, and the more you give us bad field position, the more likely it is that our opponent is eventually going to score.

Either your defense makes it hard for the opponent to score, or it doesn't. You can play sound defense regardless of what scheme the offense runs.

I believe the days of shutdown defenses are over, because the game is tailored for offense. But you can still have a pulse on defense. Don't be Swiss cheese.

I will say this though, even the best defensive minds struggle these days. The offensive concepts, and offensive talent, are too hard to keep out of the end zone for four quarters. Even Saban gets his *** handed to him occasionally.
 
Coach Macho said:
Most of the air raid teams have garbage a$s defensive talent. That's one of these reasons they play garbage a$s defense.

Only thing that ever affected my defense is whether the offense stayed in front of the chains and gave us good field position or not. (and turnovers) The more you put us on the field, and the more you give us bad field position, the more likely it is that our opponent is eventually going to score.

Either your defense makes it hard for the opponent to score, or it doesn't. You can play sound defense regardless of what scheme the offense runs.

I believe the days of shutdown defenses are over, because the game is tailored for offense. But you can still have a pulse on defense. Don't be Swiss cheese.

I will say this though, even the best defensive minds struggle these days. The offensive concepts, and offensive talent, are too hard to keep out of the end zone for four quarters. Even Saban gets his *** handed to him occasionally.
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What Macho just described was on full display for us in 2018 when our offense couldn't string together consecutive first downs and Feagles couldn't flip the field. Seemed like our D was always on the field and always defending a short field to boot.

Would you rather have an offense that chews up 3 minutes and puts 7 points on the board or chews up 3 minutes, moves the ball < 20 yards and punts?
 
A lot of the issues you see with Air Raid teams has to do with tempo and getting behind the sticks. If you’re scoring quickly you’re giving the opposition an extra possession or two. Plus, you’re giving your defense less time to rest and adjust. Tempo = more plays run which can lead to your defense being on the field More. Throwing the ball is more dangerous than running the ball so with air raid your more likely to experience turnovers which can put your defense in bad spots. Plus if your off rhythm and you have multiple quick 3-0 outs it can kill your defense. At least if your running the ball and going 3-0 you’re still providing rest time, with air raid, it can be a change of possession with less than 30 seconds taken off the clock.

Something that always stuck with me is the mantra of “get the defense off the field” with air raid it’s just difficult to control time of possession and “protect” your D
 
BostonCanes47 said:
A lot of the issues you see with Air Raid teams has to do with tempo and getting behind the sticks. If you’re scoring quickly you’re giving the opposition an extra possession or two. Plus, you’re giving your defense less time to rest and adjust. Tempo = more plays run which can lead to your defense being on the field More. Throwing the ball is more dangerous than running the ball so with air raid your more likely to experience turnovers which can put your defense in bad spots. Plus if your off rhythm and you have multiple quick 3-0 outs it can kill your defense. At least if your running the ball and going 3-0 you’re still providing rest time, with air raid, it can be a change of possession with less than 30 seconds taken off the clock.

Something that always stuck with me is the mantra of “get the defense off the field” with air raid it’s just difficult to control time of possession and “protect” your D
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Correct.
That's why I say you just have to have a pulse on defense. You don't have to be "shut down", that's not even realistic playing next to an air raid offense... but don't just let teams march up and down the field on you. Make them work for it.

We have/had this problem at Deerfield...
Offense wants to be tempo/air raid, but the young QB isn't making efficient throws, we get holding calls, incomplete passes, etc...
And if that **** snowballs, we're behind the chains and the defense is right back on the field with terrible field position. Then add in turnovers or even worse a pick-6...
That's how we give up only 14 points on defense and still end up losing the game.

The air raid **** is fun when the QB is good and you're staying in front of the chains. When it's not, that **** is disastrous.
If the opponent's offense is any good, your defense can only keep them out of the end zone for so long.
 
Coach Macho said:
Most of the air raid teams have garbage a$s defensive talent. That's one of these reasons they play garbage a$s defense.

Only thing that ever affected my defense is whether the offense stayed in front of the chains and gave us good field position or not. (and turnovers) The more you put us on the field, and the more you give us bad field position, the more likely it is that our opponent is eventually going to score.

Either your defense makes it hard for the opponent to score, or it doesn't. You can play sound defense regardless of what scheme the offense runs.

I believe the days of shutdown defenses are over, because the game is tailored for offense. But you can still have a pulse on defense. Don't be Swiss cheese.

I will say this though, even the best defensive minds struggle these days. The offensive concepts, and offensive talent, are too hard to keep out of the end zone for four quarters. Even Saban gets his *** handed to him occasionally.
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You had me at lemon pepper wings….. oh wait….
 
Coach Macho said:
Most of the air raid teams have garbage a$s defensive talent. That's one of these reasons they play garbage a$s defense.

Only thing that ever affected my defense is whether the offense stayed in front of the chains and gave us good field position or not. (and turnovers) The more you put us on the field, and the more you give us bad field position, the more likely it is that our opponent is eventually going to score.

Either your defense makes it hard for the opponent to score, or it doesn't. You can play sound defense regardless of what scheme the offense runs.

I believe the days of shutdown defenses are over, because the game is tailored for offense. But you can still have a pulse on defense. Don't be Swiss cheese.

I will say this though, even the best defensive minds struggle these days. The offensive concepts, and offensive talent, are too hard to keep out of the end zone for four quarters. Even Saban gets his *** handed to him occasionally.
Click to expand...
“Hold my mojito”
 
Also, let’s be real. Most teams incorporate Air Raid concepts in their passing games. Miami does for sure. Contrary to popular belief, you can run an Air Raid offense without throwing every down. Hal Mumme did and Mike Leach does but as more and more of their disciples get coaching jobs, the more they move away from throwing the ball 60 times a game. Teams that can run the ball consistently, even in the Air Raid, still have the ability to eat up clock if they have to. Naturally, if your offense is operating at a fast pace, even if they’re successful, you’re still subjecting your defense to more opponent possessions. Naturally if your opponent gets more possessions, the more likely they are to gain yards and points. It’s why metrics like total defense aren’t as important anymore. Regardless of what type of offense you play, if you’re going 3 and out and giving the opponent good field position, your defense is going to suffer. With the rule changes and the way the game is played today, trying to win low scoring games while grinding out the clock is a losing proposition.
 
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You gotta be able to do both in my opinion. Air raid concepts with a pulse on the ground. And obviously a solid defense. The best teams are able to do all. Ugay baga and taint can do all three to an extent.
 
Spread
Fast paced uptempo
Air Raid
Pistol
Run n Shoot

It’s all the same unless you can consistently identify mismatches for your players VS the defense
 
If you run a full air raid type offense, your defense is going to be on the field a lot. As some said above, your either scoring fast or sitting on the bench fast.

So if you’ll notice through the years with teams that run air raid they just put defense on the back burner. They pour most all of their recruiting into offense.

Your not going to get great defensive recruits that know they are going to be put in the worst positions all game by being on the field all day and getting worn out and exposed.

and thats pretty much it

You just can’t walk into a star defensive recruits house and seriously recruit him. He knows, his family knows, his coaches know that it’s definitely far from the best fit. So you go to the guys that aren’t going to be top studs so your already under recruiting talent level on defense.

So on your board where most teams start at the top with 5 stars and go down from there like any normal team would do. You already behind the line so in reality your starting with 3 stars and going down. Dosent mean you can’t land 4 and 5 star recruits. Just means that the 4 and 5 star recruits you may get on defense absolutely have been fans of your program since birth, want to be close to home or have been looked over by programs that want strong defense And dont see that recruit as valuable as his star rating. There’s other reasons but you get the point.

Basically, the air raid mentality is..

I need talent on offense , explosive fast exciting talent On defense I need bodies, because they are just going to get worn out, dosent matter if we put up 60pts, 30 pts, or 0. Cus they gonna be out there all day.
 
Coach Macho said:
Correct.
That's why I say you just have to have a pulse on defense. You don't have to be "shut down", that's not even realistic playing next to an air raid offense... but don't just let teams march up and down the field on you. Make them work for it.

We have/had this problem at Deerfield...
Offense wants to be tempo/air raid, but the young QB isn't making efficient throws, we get holding calls, incomplete passes, etc...
And if that **** snowballs, we're behind the chains and the defense is right back on the field with terrible field position. Then add in turnovers or even worse a pick-6...
That's how we give up only 14 points on defense and still end up losing the game.

The air raid **** is fun when the QB is good and you're staying in front of the chains. When it's not, that **** is disastrous.
If the opponent's offense is any good, your defense can only keep them out of the end zone for so long.
Click to expand...
What you described sounds like a living nightmare.

Bend don't break is the best case scenario, but if you're beind the chains consistently with air raid tempo you have no chance on defense.
 
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