[AgentOrange]

How many schools/coaches still line up under center as their primary formations?

Why have majority of high school coaches gone to shotgun? I know most people will say “the game has changed” but is shotgun always the answer? 

Johnson Central- Wishbone-Belly
Belfry- Flexbone- Triple Option
Scott County-Wing T- Buck Sweep

[Bull got out!]

To me with the under-center offense, if you have the lineman to pull the offense off with good backs, it's almost impossible to stop. What I don't like is when teams play that type of offense and they don't have the athletes to overpower the defense. 

The shotgun to me seems to have more options for plays if you have the right play caller and athletes to keep the defense off balance. 

I am not a fan of the belly or under center as my primary offense. I do respect it though. Teams like you mentioned had some teams that anyone with eyes knew they wasn't going to be stopped and most likely would be a championship type team if they stayed healthy. What I do like about going under center is in some situations in a game. Under center is a nice option. 

I will add, some teams run a shotgun offense and they look terrible. I'll leave it at that. So just because you run the offense doesn't mean you are good at either one.

[lcgrad2002]

I would add that most teams that do operate under shotgun do have a package for being under center, or atleast they should for certain situations. In my opinion, it’s because college teams no longer are focused on turning and handing to a running back with a fullback blocking but getting the ball to playmakers in open space and high schools facilitate that by developing their players to be those types of players that have the skill sets.

[runthepill]

A team that is primarily under center and is productive gives teams fits. This is because teams don’t see a lot of it due to everyone being in shotgun

[Old School Hound]

Johnson Central has run that belly offense to perfection. But like Bull said, they have had the hosses to pull it off. That's the key. You have to have the type of athletes that complement the offense that you are running. I'm like Bull, I don't like Wing T or belly as a primary offense. Shotgun allows for more options, as far as playcalling. If you always run from under center and you get behind a couple or scores late, you are really hamstrung with your inability to throw the football.

[ArmChairHC]

In the same regard, there are a lot of teams in this day and age that go out of the gun almost exclusively and still run the ball b gap to b gap 80% of their offensive possessions.

[plantmanky]

How many defenses anymore run with a true nose guard? I think that is one of the biggest reasons you see less under center.

[ArmChairHC]

^^^this. Even in the 3-4 schemes these days, the nose gets moved around a lot and your LBs move around so much it’s almost like everything is a 40 front anymore. I’m not sure if the game evolved offensively and it forced defenses to have more perimeter defenders, or if it’s the other way around. It’s an interesting thought though. Teams that go under center 90% of the time though are either really damn good…or struggle mightily to do much offensively. Very little room for error and MUST convert in the red zone.

[plantmanky]

^^^this. Even in the 3-4 schemes these days, the nose gets moved around a lot and your LBs move around so much it’s almost like everything is a 40 front anymore. I’m not sure if the game evolved offensively and it forced defenses to have more perimeter defenders, or if it’s the other way around. It’s an interesting thought though. Teams that go under center 90% of the time though are either really damn good…or struggle mightily to do much offensively. Very little room for error and MUST convert in the red zone.

Cant get beat on a trap block, if there is no one to trap, lol.

[ArmChairHC]

Hahaha

[Corbin]

I don't know why more teams don't go under center in short yardage or goal line situations. I've never understood the idea of having someone run 7 yards to get 6 inches when you could just bunch everyone up and fall ahead.

Johnson Central does run it to perfection. One thing I noticed a few years ago when they beat Corbin out in the playoffs and last year while watching the JC/Corbin game online was that their QB tends to show the play. I would imagine it's two different QB's based on the time difference so is it something Matney and Peck taught? If so, how has no other coaching staff ever picked up on that? When the QB is under center, his knee was nearly on the ground and it'd go to the second back on a counter of off tackle. When he was in more of a traditional under center stance, it would go to the upback/fullback. They showed this nearly 100% of the time.

[bucslover68]

Belfry doesn't really line up under center that much anymore. They are mostly shotgun or pistol, but still run the veer.

[truebluefan89]

To me with the under-center offense, if you have the lineman to pull the offense off with good backs, it's almost impossible to stop. What I don't like is when teams play that type of offense and they don't have the athletes to overpower the defense. 
———————
I will add, some teams run a shotgun offense and they look terrible. I'll leave it at that.

Great points 
under center only works if you have the horses to stay on the blocks and a back that can take and dish out the pounding. Belfry has had great success with this over the years.

On the other hand you see some teams go full out spread offense and can’t throw a 15 yard pass?!?!?
We have all seen those teams, I have to wonder what those coaches are thinking, and when they realize they have crippled their offense?


The key in true success is finding a balance to work with what you have.
The shotgun gives more opportunities and loosens up the defense by default.

But even with a great line you need to be able to throw one every now and then.

In contrast, a great passing team needs to be able to go full house backfield when it’s 4th and 1 and the game is on the line.

The ability to make those adjustments is what separates average teams from great ones.

[AgentOrange]

What schools are still predominantly using the under center attack currently?

[Statebound19]

How many defenses anymore run with a true nose guard?  I think that is one of the biggest reasons you see less under center.

Totally agree.

[ArmChairHC]

I do as well. Even with an odd front, most teams move their NG around a lot from B gap to B gap. Mix stunts with the mlbs and you are essentially back to an even front. These days Bags are typically quicker and smaller and move around shooting gaps rather than taking up space in the middle.

[jetpilot]

https://youtu.be/6nD4ojSN9AY?si=I3Uj8vNOWbkaqLmh

[jetpilot]

Love under center
Watch Pikeville go under center when Beechwood takes the lead.
Brutal and beautiful and coaching genius

[jetpilot]

Start at 12:00

[Khalisimo]

Start at 12:00

who called the plays that season
generous call around 12:52 too LOL

[jetpilot]

Don't know who called the plays but no generosity needed in a bloodbath lol
I actually thought he was down a half a yard shy of the goal line but they weren't going to be stopped.

[Big Five-0-]

Great team , great play calling and on a mission in that game. Hopefully the Panther faithful will see something similar or maybe greater in a season or two.

[Old School Hound]

Wish the Bengals would go under center more.