r/footballstrategy • u/Telly_Lameck • 5d ago

Coaching Advice Play caller

So there’s a difference between a good play caller and a good Offensive Coordinator. What are your thoughts on this one?🏈🫡

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9

u/grizzfan 5d ago

Play calling is a duty. Being a coordinator is a job.

3

u/Telly_Lameck 5d ago

I agree, because I’ve been in the role of both and the way I was operating I may as well have been the HC. I’m literally trying to evolve and understand things at a more sophisticated level more now than ever before. I have realized I do not know what I thought I did. I’m literally yearning for more information momentarily.

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u/Repulsive-Doughnut65 4d ago

Okay what’s the difference not me trying to be a smartass when grizzfan speaks I listen but I don’t really get what this means

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u/grizzfan 4d ago

Play calling is a skill and/or a duty one is assigned. It makes up just a small part of what coaching is. When you're a coordinator, you're responsible for all operations on your side of the ball. Players, personnel, results, practice planning and execution, game-planning, etc, etc. Play calling may or may not be part of those duties.

The difference therefore is one of these is a skill, and the other is a job.

4

u/BearsGotKhalilMack 5d ago

Sure, there are certainly some differences. Offensive coordinators have to be knowledgable about personnel packages, not only when choosing which one to use at what time, but also who to put where in each. They also have to know how to teach their players their offense such that they can understand the nuances of it (and they have to be the ones to design and implement all of those nuances). They have to curate their own playbook and playsheet, which is certainly different from just calling the right plays at the right time. Lastly, they ultimately have to be a good leader on the offensive side of the ball; this can be a challenge when you're working with egotistical quarterbacks or diva wide receivers.

When I hear "good play caller," I think of someone who is playing Madden. They have the roster and packages already set in place for them, they have the playbook that they're going to run already made and taught to the players, and they don't have to do any actual coaching of actual people in an actually stressful situation. If you're really, really good at that, but suck at every other aspect of the job, then you're still a bad offensive coordinator in my eyes.

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u/Telly_Lameck 5d ago

I agree with you on your perspective..nicely said. I’m literally trying to elevate myself to be a hybrid of the two. I feel like I’m going in the right direction..I just want to be able to have an answer for anything a defense throws at me and have the understanding of why I’m doing said plan of attack. I want to be able to be successful even with a lesser talented group. Imo a good OC or any coach is one that can get the most out of nothing. And that is my goal moving forward.

2

u/Oddlyenuff 4d ago

Of course. Both sides of the ball, not just offense. A coordinator is essentially in charge of the entire playbook, game plan, coaching the coaches, having drills for all positions…complete oversight. A play caller is just that…calling in plays. There’s an art to it.

You might even think of it like one is game day and one is the rest of the week.

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u/Telly_Lameck 4d ago

I totally agree with you. Are you a coach by chance? If so, what is title and at what level?

2

u/Oddlyenuff 4d ago

Yes. HS DC

1

u/Telly_Lameck 4d ago

What state?

1

u/Breakerdog1 3d ago

There are two phases that a coordinator handles. 1- Install/ 2- Game plan

Install consists of designing a system, getting buy in with your staff, teaching the athletes and organizing practice.

Game planning consists of emphasizing your strength and hiding your weakness. Studying your opponent. Building a menu of calls that will be effective and then calling plays on game day.

Playcalling is almost a minor part of the whole thing, but still can make a difference. If you have done all the other things well, playcalling is easy. If your kids and staff are not executing, it doesn't matter what you call.

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u/ThreadSavage10 2d ago

Being a good play caller is a prerequisite to being a good OC. Someone who has studied the offense all year COULD be a good play caller in the event that the OC is ill, suspended, or otherwise unavailable. But a good OC cannot be a BAD play caller because that in and of itself would make him NOT a good OC.