I once had the privilege of spending two days with Coach when he was at Texas Tech. It was football season and I'm not sure why he let me 'embed' for two days but he was excited when he found out I was a History major, had a law degree, and had also coached high school football for several years. It was the most intriguing, exhausting, exhilarating two days I can remember. Not sure I'd necessarily want him as my head coach if I were a big football powerhouse (like Clemson or Ohio State) but I'm jealous of the players, fans and donors where he's been the HC. Rest in peace.
I don't know if Mike Leach ever met and had a discussion, on any subject, with John Madden. If not, it's a pity and if it did, we're all the poorer for not having attended. Maybe it's happening now.
Nice article! Leach really did break the mold in so many ways.
Do you think that this is the end of the true/traditional air raid at the FBS level? There are certainly high schools and small colleges that run it like Leach, but pretty much every member of his coaching tree at the FBS level on the offensive side of the ball seems to have evolved towards implementing RPOs/play action/diverse run games but keeping the focus on simplicity and the install methods. Seems like the actual original air raid could still work pretty well, just seems to lack champions at the FBS level.
The other way is easier and also easier to use while incorporating high level talents.
This should probably be its own article (or book) some day, but consider how many of his former players become coaches. What's that suggest? I would say it suggests he tended to draw in smart players with talent ceilings who translated to coaching but not necessarily succeeding at the pro level.
If they want to win at the higher levels where the smarts of your players are reduced by the thinning of the pool to include higher level physical talent, then they'd tend to simplify the Air Raid and also to potentially keep the decision-making in their own hands.
So Leach teaches the QB how to break down a defense and gives him experience in doing so, than the QB keeps doing THAT rather than necessarily teaching someone else how to do it.
Everyone loves these set piece/shot plays because it's easier than progression passing. If you're an authoritarian-minded head coach that likes to be in control, its' also attractive.
But it's weaker, and the stronger will re-emerge someday, somewhere.
I once had the privilege of spending two days with Coach when he was at Texas Tech. It was football season and I'm not sure why he let me 'embed' for two days but he was excited when he found out I was a History major, had a law degree, and had also coached high school football for several years. It was the most intriguing, exhausting, exhilarating two days I can remember. Not sure I'd necessarily want him as my head coach if I were a big football powerhouse (like Clemson or Ohio State) but I'm jealous of the players, fans and donors where he's been the HC. Rest in peace.
I don't know if Mike Leach ever met and had a discussion, on any subject, with John Madden. If not, it's a pity and if it did, we're all the poorer for not having attended. Maybe it's happening now.
Nice article! Leach really did break the mold in so many ways.
Do you think that this is the end of the true/traditional air raid at the FBS level? There are certainly high schools and small colleges that run it like Leach, but pretty much every member of his coaching tree at the FBS level on the offensive side of the ball seems to have evolved towards implementing RPOs/play action/diverse run games but keeping the focus on simplicity and the install methods. Seems like the actual original air raid could still work pretty well, just seems to lack champions at the FBS level.
The other way is easier and also easier to use while incorporating high level talents.
This should probably be its own article (or book) some day, but consider how many of his former players become coaches. What's that suggest? I would say it suggests he tended to draw in smart players with talent ceilings who translated to coaching but not necessarily succeeding at the pro level.
If they want to win at the higher levels where the smarts of your players are reduced by the thinning of the pool to include higher level physical talent, then they'd tend to simplify the Air Raid and also to potentially keep the decision-making in their own hands.
So Leach teaches the QB how to break down a defense and gives him experience in doing so, than the QB keeps doing THAT rather than necessarily teaching someone else how to do it.
Everyone loves these set piece/shot plays because it's easier than progression passing. If you're an authoritarian-minded head coach that likes to be in control, its' also attractive.
But it's weaker, and the stronger will re-emerge someday, somewhere.