Adapting the Offensive
Attack to Your Quarterback
G entlemen, it is a pleasure and honor
to share with you some of our
thoughts on our offensive system and how
we adapt it to our quarterback.
Regardless of who our quarterback is
we plan to be a multiple-formation team,
with emphasis on throwing the football.
We carry as many as 25 formations into
every game. By utilizing motion and shifting
it is our thought to present problems to the
defensive team so that they are forced to
spend a major part of their preparation in
trying to line up properly. We also believe
multiple formations and motion stabilizes
secondary coverages and blitz packages
and allows us, in some ways, to dictate to
the defense.
Emphasis on Throwing
We believe in throwing the football, and
this emphasis is evident in our recruiting
quarterbacks, We are looking for a quarter-
back with intelligence who has a lively arm.
We can’t coach velocity and arm strength.
We are also looking for an athlete with
quickness that can make something hap-
pen when things break down. Size is not
one of our major concerns. Quickness is
Jack Bicknell more important to us than speed.
Our present quarterback is at the most
Head Coach 5-10. He is intelligent and extremely quick.
He can throw the football. Why does a
Boston College quarterback have to be tall? Even a 6-1
quarterback can’t look over an onrushing
Chestnut Hill, Mass. defensive lineman being blocked by a 6-5
offensive lineman. You have to be athletic
enough to move six inches right or left to
look in the cracks.
Scatter Principle
Our concept is to present a multiple set
concept even when we end up in a basic I-
Rt or I-Lt alignment. One way we do this is
our scatter principle. What is it? Scatter is a
series of specified position alignments
intended to confuse the defense as to final
formation identification.
A. Rules: Y-align on the line of scrim-
mage opposite the final formation align-
ment or align to your final formation posi-
tion and on the “set” command execute
your trace maneuver.
B-Align in a wing or either side of ball.
A-Align as a halfback, I fullback, or tail-
back.
Z-Rt, Lt align to your final formation
direction off the ball with a width adjust-
ment (Basic rule when X, Z are opposite by
final formation alignment).
• AFCA Summer Manual — 2002 •
Twins: Align in tight flanker alignment
position off the ball opposite your final for-
mation (Basic rule when X-Z are on the
same side of the final formation).
X: Rt, Lt align in a slot or tight flanker
opposite your final position.
Twins-Align to your final formation direc-
tion off the ball with a width adjustment.
Z-X-Always off the ball (we cannot cover
up the tight end).
Y and B assume a three-point stance.
A-assume the stance of the position.
Movement-the X or Z receiver assigned
to move across the formation will simulate
motion by beginning his movement when
the quarterback places his hands under the
center. The remaining players will move to
their final formation positions on the quar-
terback’s “set” command.
Diagram 1
Pre-Scatter Concept
The theory behind the scatter principle
is to disguise final formation alignments,
in order for scatter to be effective the pre-
scatter alignment positions must be
effectively utilized. Run/pass selections
must force the defense to honor pre-scat-
ter formations.
Other Terms
Flip: Term telling Y to align opposite his
final formation position and on “set” com-
mand flip to his designated position. Two
tight ends can also execute the flip maneu-
ver. Two tight ends would align on the
same side in a flip maneuver.
Jump: Term referring to a one tight end
maneuver in which the tight ends align
opposite, with Y aligning to his final forma-
tion position, the X tight end aligns opposite
Y. On “set” the Y tight end will execute a
trace maneuver, and X tight end will flip to
the final formation.
Scramble (The opposite of Scatter):
Align in a base formation and on “set” move
to a double strength or trips formation.
Confuse the Opponent
The key to the multiple formation con-
cept is to confuse your opponent, not your
 a mistake. We run this play off of virtually
Jack Bicknell at a Glance
any formation and use it in almost any nor-
Experience: Assistant Coach, Boston College (1968-75); Head mal or short-yardage situation.
Coach, University of Maine, 1976-80 (18-35-1); Head Coach, For sake of discussion we call “naked”
Boston College, 1981-90 (59-55-1) off our sweep. Of particular importance is
our back tackle and guard pull and seal
Career Head Coaching Record: 77-90-2 exactly as they do on sweep.
The quarterback bootlegs all by himself,
Bowl Game Record: 2-2 checks for the split end deep, gets on the
corner and either runs or dumps the ball off
AFCA Regional Coach of the Year Awards: 1982 & 1983 to the dragging tight end.
This has been a dominating play in all of
Notes: Jack Bicknellled the Eagles to four bowl games during his tenure. He was the our 11 games and we use it extensively in
first head coach in Boston College history to lead the Eagles to four bowl appearances. our bowl game. Teams had seen it and had
Bicknell was also the first to lead BC to three straight Bowl games from 1982-84, includ- worked on it and it still worked.
ing the school’s first New Year’s Day Bowl in 42 years, a 45-28 victory over Houston in
Diagram 2
the Cotton Bowl. His quarterback that season was 1984 Heisman Trophy winner Doug
Flutie.
Bicknell coached in a number of all star games during his career. In 1985, he was cho-
sen as the head coach of the East squads in both the Hula Bowl and Japan Bowl. He
has also served as head coach of the East team in the 1990 East-West Shrine game.

own team. In order to insure lack of confu-
sion and to be sure we are within the 25
second clock, we signal the formation and
send in the play. The quarterback has the
formation in mind by the time the play
arrives.
Once we have mastered in our minds
the formation and motion concepts, we
then look carefully at what our quarter-
back can do. The basic offense stays the
same but the emphasis changes from
quarterback to quarterback. We would
look the same but there would be signifi-
cant differences depending on who our
quarterback is.
We are basically an I team with the nor-
mal complement of I plays. We get
extremely multiple with our passing game.
We plan to throw the ball to help set up the
run. We want offensive balance but won’t
be pigheaded if it isn’t there. We aren’t
good enough to get in one formation and
knock people off the line of scrimmage.
Also, we believe we can recruit people to
throw and catch the football because size
is not a prerequisite.
One very important concept that has
helped us this year is our “Naked” concept.
This plan illustrates how we adapt our
attack to our quick, little quarterback.
Our offensive line coach, Mike Maser,
loves this play because his line can’t make
With a quarterback who can run, naked,
quarterback draw, hard sprint and option
are important in our attack.
With a non-running quarterback, more
emphasis is on drop-back, shot-gun, and
play-action pass.
I honestly don’t think you can win at our
level unless your quarterback can escape
or take the 18 side step to bide time versus
a good pass rush.
I sincerely hope that some of these
ideas can help you as you plan your
offense. If I were coaching any level, I
would use the same concepts.

Avoid Teaching
Blind-Side Blocking
Below The Waist
Even though blind-side and peel-back blocks are legal near or behind the neutral zone in
certain instances, the AFCA Ethics Committee reminds the membership that teaching play-
ers to block below the waist in those instances is ethically improper and should be avoided
because of the high possibility of serious injury.

The Football Code states: “Teaching or condoning intentional roughing, including blind-side
blocking an opponent below the waist anywhere on the field, is indefensible.”

• AFCA Summer Manual — 2002 •