History of the "Air Raid"

[inudesu]

http://smartfootball.com/offense/the...yond#more-3576

Some X's and O's to get you through the summer.

[DJ_JB]

Thanks for the link!

I've never read the history of the system.

[LATechBanjo]

Very cool article

[GermDawg]

Explains a lot about Franklin's persona/attitude...

[Dawgpix]

This quote in this story is for Maddawg:

"I’m not sure what the lesson of Franklin’s career has been, other than, if nothing else, never underestimate The System."

[Dawg06]

A couple more...

http://brophyfootball.blogspot.com/2...e-defense.html

http://brophyfootball.blogspot.com/2...is-in-air.html

[LookingForResults]

It's notable that all of the original Air Raid disciples have ended-up at either non-BCS schools or BCS schools that are never (Washington St.), or only occasionally (W. Virginia), a conference leader. The System is a concept that helps to level the playing field against superior talent, but its inherent weaknesses limit its upside and that is why its implementation is asymmetrically distributed - most widely used in high school, then less prominent college programs, then higher profile college programs, and least at the elite college and professional level. Even at the less prominent college level it quickly loses effectiveness depending on the ability and willingness of the HC/OC to modify the Air Raid to keep it "fresh" and to adjust to current personnel.

Although I believe that Tech still has room to grow under the Air Raid system, I continue to assert that Franklin's not-so-sideline business of marketing the System to high schools creates an unavoidable resistance to change and innovation that is required at the college level. The generally lower quality of coaching and the lower level of talent at the high school level does not demand regular modifications of the System in order for it to remain relevant and productive. Slow evolution is adequate at the high school level and does not create disgruntled purchasers of what might otherwise be a regularly updated System.

[inudesu]

I think Franklin has adapted as much as any of the other Air Raid guys. He used Dasher at MTSU in a much different way than anyone has ever used Tim Couch or Kliff Kingsbury. We used a Pistol formation to try and take advantage of a more North/South runner in Creer. Didn't he throw in an H-back look against Boise a couple of years ago? I think I read (and I could be wrong about this) that we're using some of the innovative run/deep pass/screen option package plays that OSU and WVU have been experimenting with.

I know Dykes used a TE some at Arizona because he happened to inherit Gronkowski - so our Head Coach at the very least has been known to modify the System to "adjust to current personnel" in the past.

As for not running the Air Raid at the top levels of college football - I think that's a chicken and egg issue. If you can recruit like Alabama, USC, or Texas then you can win doing whatever you want. Those schools would all win a lot of games running our offense (just like they'd all win a lot of games running the Wishbone, the Power I, or anything else).

It'll be interesting to see how A&M does over the next few years in the SEC. It isn't like they were going to come in and dominate no matter what, but they're certainly going to have more talent than late 90s Kentucky ever did.

[hookdown]

Very good NY Times article from 2005 on Leach that was mentioned. You can see where Dykes developed his time management style.


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/04/ma...pagewanted=all

[techman05]

I still cannot believe so many people doubt the system. It works!! However, can you name 1 team that used the system that also played defense????? You only win games in big spots if you do both. Sure you can put up 35+ per game, but you allow 42, so...............

[LookingForResults]

I still cannot believe so many people doubt the system. It works!! However, can you name 1 team that used the system that also played defense????? You only win games in big spots if you do both. Sure you can put up 35+ per game, but you allow 42, so...............

It doesn't work if part of what it does is overworks the defense.

[LookingForResults]

I think Franklin has adapted as much as any of the other Air Raid guys. He used Dasher at MTSU in a much different way than anyone has ever used Tim Couch or Kliff Kingsbury. We used a Pistol formation to try and take advantage of a more North/South runner in Creer. Didn't he throw in an H-back look against Boise a couple of years ago? I think I read (and I could be wrong about this) that we're using some of the innovative run/deep pass/screen option package plays that OSU and WVU have been experimenting with.

I know Dykes used a TE some at Arizona because he happened to inherit Gronkowski - so our Head Coach at the very least has been known to modify the System to "adjust to current personnel" in the past.

As for not running the Air Raid at the top levels of college football - I think that's a chicken and egg issue. If you can recruit like Alabama, USC, or Texas then you can win doing whatever you want. Those schools would all win a lot of games running our offense (just like they'd all win a lot of games running the Wishbone, the Power I, or anything else).

It'll be interesting to see how A&M does over the next few years in the SEC. It isn't like they were going to come in and dominate no matter what, but they're certainly going to have more talent than late 90s Kentucky ever did.

Sure, top talent can make a lot of things work, but against other top talent the Air Raid will almost always come in second to some variation of a pro set.

[boxerdog]

I would contend that both Oregon and Auburn have shown variations of the same scheme in recent years.

[inudesu]

I would contend that both Oregon and Auburn have shown variations of the same scheme in recent years.

I think you'd be wrong to contend that. They run hurry-up spread offenses, but not the same system that we run.

[LookingForResults]

I would contend that both Oregon and Auburn have shown variations of the same scheme in recent years.

Well, they have certainly primarily run a spread, whether that qualifies as a variation of the Air Raid scheme is a different topic (I believe most would say there are clear differences). Outside of those two, I can't quickly recall any power conference perennial leaders that primarily run a spread, and certainly not the Air Raid scheme.