Coach Daniels Offensive Philosophy: The Double Wing Offense
Football is, and always will be, a running game. Linemen will determine winners from losers, and physical play will be a
determining factor. This is especially true at the high school level. We run a double wing offense that features a nosplit line and wingbacks that are aligned at a 45-degree angle to the tight ends. The fullback is aligned directly behind
the quarterback within arm's reach. The objective of Double Wing teams is to make you cover 10 gaps. When you
spread your self out to cover those gaps, we get more people to the ball then you have to defend. This gives us a
HUGE advantage at the point of attack. Our base play is the "TOSS". Double Wing creator Don Markham was quote
as saying, "I have ran the TOSS play 30 times in a row one game. If they can't stop the TOSS, the game is over." The
"TOSS" play is simple in it's invention, but overwhelming in it's application. You will be run over. Double Wing teams run
up huge scores against opponents, who either have no idea at what they are facing or too PROUD to realize their own
weaknesses against it
Figure 1-This offense offers a complex package of misdirection plays,
sweeps, and play-action passes. Varying formations slightly to give the
offense a different look and to keep the defense guessing. Each formation
will demonstrate a huge advantage vs. a 4-3 front. Blocking schemes can
Figure 1
Base Set
vary, but usually against an odd front your players should double-team
PlaySide, and against even fronts down block the play side. Figure 2-The
toss play is the bread and butter of the offense, making it virtually impossible to defend the whole package. Ask the
skeptics to count the number of defenders between the defensive tackle
and the defensive end. Including those players the defense has four,
Toss Play From the Double Wing vs. 4-3
possibly five defenders. The offense has seven, plus the ball carrier. The real
power of the toss comes when the backside pullers (offensive guard and
tackle) go with the fullback and quarterback into the hole in unison. When
done correctly, it looks like a mass of bodies resembling a rugby scrum with
bulldozer strength and power. The quarterback open pivots and tosses the
ball to a wingback in short motion.
Figure 3
Other blocking schemes could
Figure 2
double-team the left defensive
tackle, or bring the right wing up to the line of scrimmage and double team
both the left defensive end and the left defensive tackle. Figure 3: Count the
number of defenders in the defensive end area. There are four. The offense has
six, plus the ball carrier. This is a great formation if the defensive end is too
Toss Play From the Kings Formation vs. 4-3
strong for your fullback to kick out. It is much easier to down block him with
the tight end. If the box area is getting a little too jammed, this play is a little more outside in its point of attack.
Figure 4: This formation can bring with it many different blocking schemes,
Figure 4
but try to keep with the standard rule of down blocking even fronts and
double-teaming odd ones. Again, the number of offensive players at the line
outnumbers the defense, six players plus the ball carrier to four defenders.
Figure 5: This play is a personal favorite of mine because of its obvious
power. The toss can also be run to
Figure 5
the right when the defense overToss Play From Air Force Formation vs. 4-3
shifts to the heavy side. Seven
offensive players, plus the ball carrier vs. four or five defenders, This is too Much
for the defense to handle.
The Double Wing offense is compared to a chess game. We get so many pawns in
the way; your queen and rooks cannot be effective. The Toss’s objective is like
coach Vince Lombardi's famous Green Bay Sweep. We want to create a wall by
Toss Play From Unbalanced-I Formation vs. 4-3
the FB sealing the outside, the TE/OT's double team sealing the inside and the
Offside OT/OG/QB wedging through the hole, giving the Wing back an alley to run through. Most times this alley is so
big, "you could drive a truck through it"