Wing T football in the 4A/4AA division
I remember we all had this discussion awhile back. After last year's state championships, I still have my reservations about the wing T/Flex bone offense. I do not believe it will win a state championship. I remember the great Douglas Byrd teams of the 90's that went to 4 straight 4A title games. Lost all 4 because they got down early, and had no way of coming back late in the game when it mattered. New Bern was able to end Independence's run of titles because they had a stellar defense, punishing ground game, AND an adequate enough aerial attack to stop the Patriots from loading the box.
Is a matter of not having the talent to throw some short to intermediate routes/screens?
No one from the East will win 4AA if you can't throw the ball.
RE: Wing T football in the 4A/4AA division
Definitely think a wing-t type team can win the entire thing.
Comes down to what is supporting that core offensive structure though. You are correct that even the very good wing-t programs if they get down early can have trouble getting back into the game. That touches on two areas though. I think wing-t teams need to able to compliment their offensive approach with a much better than average defense. That along with the clock-game offensively keeps them in games. The next thing is that I think that within the wing-t structure I think a bit more could potentially be done from the passing and screen perspective. But the reality is that if you add lets say 1 RB, 1 TE and 1 WR type screen along with strong play action off of each of your running plays you are still left with an important element that has zero to do with the actual plays. And that is, when do you call these plays! If you are calling play-action on 2nd and long and 3rd and long then you are going to have issues. It's tough for some wing-t teams that traditionally do very well running the ball per carry to go into a 2nd and 3 situation and go play-action with a play that is not per attempt as successful. That's tough, but the reality is that if it isn't being done, then it hurts you as the game progresses.
Teams that have a good defense and can run the ball out of the wing-t well and then are unpredictable with regards to down/distance and the use of their screen and passing game from opening snap to the end of the game. IMHO, that's a team that can win it all.
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RE: Wing T football in the 4A/4AA division
We all ready seen a really good wing-t team get bet really bad. Think of the WFR and Butler champship game.
RE: Wing T football in the 4A/4AA division
Heyman - you are correct that WFR was a very good football team. For that matter, they are one of the better football programs over the past five to eight years in this area. But, in saying what you've said, you are implying that the WFR team we saw, as good as they were especially here in the local area, was the perfect team to represent the idea put forth in the opening post.
I saw that team a good bit and while they were outstanding running the ball and also played solid defense...very good defense, their Achilles heel was their passing game in concert with their overall offense and how the dynamic of that played out during a game and throughout the season. The same thing was seen a year or two earlier when they played a high-quality Jack Britt team at the newly opened Heritage HS in the late rounds of the playoffs.
Let me reiterate that I personally think that WFR is hands-down one of the top programs in our area - really enjoy watching them. Part of that is that it's clear they are extremely well coached in the technical aspects of the game on both sides of the ball. But all of that said, against highly athletic teams with balanced offensive attacks, solid defenses, and good coaching, they weren't able to get the win. Now, that could be said for a lot of teams in the same situation, but again, because you brought WFR up and because of how good they were, the points I've brought up I think are appropriate in how we look at that team.
Just don't think they are the example that you put there and say, 'Well, there you go, they are a good wing-t team and they got blown out. So, can't happen'. Yes, good wing-t team, but I think they could have been even better, which would have been more incredible than they already were during that season.
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RE: Wing T football in the 4A/4AA division
RC, Britt, Garner, SC, New Bern, Indy, Mallard Creek, and Butler will smash the wing T offense. Yes you can win with the wing T but you can not win the State Championship. It is well known.
RE: Wing T football in the 4A/4AA division
If a Wing T team wins a state championship they need to combine it with the Shotgun Wing T. Big problem with a Wing T team that has trouble throwing it allows 9 people in the box. With Shotgun Wing T your formations would not allow this and a quick passing game would be easy to install. Bottom line every offense isolates a 1 techinique and traps a 3 technique other than that it's philosophy.
RE: Wing T football in the 4A/4AA division
Would not be affective. You can not run out of that formation, the play would develope too slow, you have to spread the field to win it all.
RE: Wing T football in the 4A/4AA division
The times I have seen WFR in the East final against Britt (at Heritage) and the final against Butler turnovers played a big part in them getting behind early - were they good enough to beat either with the Wing T?...not after getting behind...Their biggest shortcoming has been the lack of a passing game in the big games...Butler was a great team that final year and Britt was really good, but they were in the game against Britt up until Half time (Britt 20-7 and drove to the inside the 5 on the 1st possesion of the 3rd) but Britt was too much...
RE: Wing T football in the 4A/4AA division
Shotgun Wing T does spread the field and it develops just as quick. You can go 3x1, 2x1, trips, and whatever other spread formation of the week. Look up Modesto Christian on you tube.
RE: Wing T football in the 4A/4AA division
A well coached defense can shut down a wing T easily. The better teams in the West will flat out crush it because they do not fear a passing game. Georgia Tech's version of the flex bone is affective due to great blocking schemes, and you just can't load the box on them. They have an adequate enough passing game where you have to respect it, and keep your safeties out of the box. Receivers must not be too shabby in that system considering their past 2 receivers were first round draft picks.
In this day and age, it will not win big school football championships.
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