How PRIDE Stops Coaches From Running the Flexbone Triple Option Offense
December 12, 2024
The Flexbone Triple Option offense is a unique system that requires humility, discipline, and meticulous planning. The Seven Deadly Sins—especially pride—can undermine a coach’s ability to implement this offense effectively. Here’s a detailed examination of how each sin disrupts success:
1. Pride
Resistance to Adaptation: A prideful coach may believe their initial strategy is flawless, refusing to adjust against defensive schemes designed to counter the Flexbone. This offense thrives on adapting to defensive alignments, so stubbornly sticking to ineffective strategies can cripple performance.
Ignoring Feedback: Excessive pride can prevent a coach from listening to data. The Flexbone demands precision and collective understanding, and dismissing feedback stifles growth and refinement.
Overestimating Abilities: Pride can lead a coach to overestimate their own or their players’ skills, skipping essential preparation or overcomplicating play calls. The Flexbone’s precision and timing require relentless preparation, and overconfidence can lead to disastrous execution.
2. Lust
Distraction and Lack of Focus: Lust, in the form of personal distractions or external pursuits, can derail a coach’s focus. The Flexbone requires meticulous preparation and practice. A distracted coach might overlook crucial aspects of their built- in game plan, leading to poor execution and missed opportunities.
Chasing Flashy Success: Lust for the approval of fans or media might tempt a coach to emphasize big plays or highlight-reel moments over the discipline and consistency the offense demands. This short-term thinking can undermine long-term success.
3. Gluttony
Overcomplication of the Playbook: A gluttonous desire to add “more” to the offense—more plays, formations, or variations—can overwhelm players. The Flexbone thrives on simplicity and mastery. Adding too much complexity can create confusion and dilute execution, making the offense far less effective.
Overloading Players: Gluttony can manifest as overburdening players with unnecessary drills or tasks, reducing their ability to focus on the core principles of timing, reads, and execution.
4. Greed
Focus on Personal Recognition: Greed can cause a coach to prioritize their own accolades or record over team development. For instance, they might reveal advanced plays prematurely to “steal” a win instead of focusing on teaching fundamentals. This shortsighted approach risks long-term player development and team cohesion.
Overemphasis on Wins Over Process: A greedy coach might prioritize immediate victories rather than building the foundational skills necessary to sustain success with the Flexbone.
5. Sloth
Lack of Effort in Internal Preparation: The Flexbone demands tireless attention to detail. A slothful coach may neglect his own team’s film study, fail to create consistent practice plans, or avoid the tedious work of refining player technique. Without diligent preparation, the intricate timing and reads required by the offense will fall apart.
Minimal Player Development: Sloth can result in insufficient focus on player growth, leaving athletes unprepared for the physical and mental demands of the Flexbone.
6. Wrath
Damaging Team Dynamics: An angry or volatile coach can erode trust among players and staff. The Flexbone depends on teamwork and trust, especially in the quarterback’s reads and the coordination between blockers and runners. Wrath disrupts communication and morale, leading to poor execution on the field.
Undermining Conviction: Wrathful outbursts can discourage players, making them hesitant in executing the precise reads and decisions required by the offense.
7. Envy
Imitation Without Understanding: A coach envious of another team’s success with the Flexbone might try to copy their system without understanding its philosophy or the specific adjustments required for their players. This superficial imitation often leads to frustration and failure, as the offense’s depth and adaptability require deep comprehension and proper application.
Distraction from Your Team’s Strengths: Envy can cause a coach to ignore their own team’s unique strengths, focusing instead on replicating someone else’s success. This misalignment undermines player performance and team cohesion.
Conclusion
The Flexbone Triple Option offense demands humility, focus, discipline, and teamwork. Success hinges on a coach’s ability to avoid these sins and embody their opposites: adaptability, collaboration, simplicity, diligence, patience, and gratitude. Coaches who approach the offense with humility and dedication can unlock its full potential, transforming their teams and maximizing their players’ abilities.
