Who is This Guy MO?

Breaking Down the Offense in the 5-3-1 Triangle Defense

By Denauld Brown

When breaking down the offensive opponent, I have found it helpful to focus on one variable in the early moments. By doing this you will gain sufficient information on which direction your Defensive Personnel should go after the snap shot is taken. I call it a snap shot, on your path to significance. Breaking down a good offense can logistically be a challenge. It could also be a nightmare, if you dont know what to look for. In my experience, I have learned that the good offensive play callers are the people who seek to attain a balanced run/pass ratio. The really good ones try and attain balance through various other categories like, Hash, Down & Distance, Personnel, etc. The more categories that they achieve balance the harder it will be to sort out their tendencies, making them less predictable. Tendencies are exactly just that; they simply reveal a disposition to do something rather than a desire. As defensive coaches, we are aware of the tendencies; while being sensitive to situations, and playing the percentages. It is difficult to recognize the offense's intent (based on a break-down) when said offense is playing other opponents. Furthermore, their game plan was drafted for that defensive opponent, and not your own. So what can you do to strengthen your break-down and pre-snap game plan? First, you must know the strengths and weaknesses of your own defense; secondly, ask a few questions prior to break down. Go into the Break-down with some upfront, general questions. A General List could include, but not limited to: 1. What player on the offense can beat you? 2. Can we play our base defense and manage their offensive attack? 3. Lastly what scheme outside of our bases should we put in to take of advantage of their weakness or manage their strengths? Breaking the Offense down with MO I feel that the following Offensive Break-Down Method has been efficient in discovering a play callers intent along with gaining knowledge of their tendencies. The Offensive variables can become overwhelming during the break-down phases; I credit this to the multiple, fast paced spread teams, that we face today. With that said, taking a general approach on the path to significance is quite understandable. What if I

told you that you can still take this general approach but target a precise variable that reveals the Offense's intent? Let me introduce you to MO? MO is short for the Middle Of the 5 offensive eligible. MO is the true center of the formation. MO is like the sun in our solar system, or the nucleus in our atom. Everything centers around MO! No matter the opponents offensive history or future, or types of scheme they run, they will be unable mask their offensive intention if you keep your eyes on MO. Why you ask? MO is the only player on offense that can tilt the formation into balanced or un-balanced. MO is distinctive by position, but unique by task; within the total framework of the offense.MO gives you the whole picture. Experience has taught me, that MO will give a great snap shot. However, to achieve success, you still are going to have to do your homework. As defensive coordinator I know, every offense is different. So never take true film study and analysis for granted. MO gives you a clear direction where to start your breakdown, but not the entire breakdown. Every offensive coordinator has a story to tell. Knowing their tendencies is great, but reading their offensive intent is better. MO gives you a better feel for the intention of the other tendencies that you will discover. MO is more useful in more ways than one. Motions, trades, shifts, and different formations, can make a more traditional defense, check and adjust their play call; sometimes happening more times in single play than you might care to happen. Lets look at an example of the possible adjustments:

Using the example above, lets perform a short analysis. The first question you have to ask is this set considered empty? Secondly, how do you adjust to tight end wing? Third, whats your base trips adjustment? Lastly how will you adjust to slot if and when the tailback motions to the backfield? Thats 4 major adjustments you have to think about pre-snap. Thats tough! I have seen Chip Kelly and the Oregon Ducks relentlessly dismantle a defense out of this set in their fast pace. Head Football Coach Al Bagnoli and his 2010 Ivy League Champion Penn Quakers gave me an early lesson on the difficulties of defending this set on the fly having never seen it on film during the previous game week. They are a well-coached football team and he being named a finalist for National Coach of the Year award in 2010 was well deserved. So how can keying on MO help defend this set? I hope I have sparked your critical thinking skills just enough, so that you can come up with some practical solutions. I wont reveal how we line up in the 5-3-1 vs. this set but it doesnt take a new concept like the 5-3-1 to defend it, it just takes some awareness about the true middle of the formation. Here are some other examples of how we us MO as a focal point when line up in the 5-3-1 vs. some selected sets: