Offense of the future or just unfair?


Above: The Piedmont High School football team lines up against St. Mary’s in Piedmont, CA October 3, 2008. (Max Morse for The New York Times)

Here’s a very interesting from a story that ran in The New York Times last week (yes, I read the NY Times. I also read the Wall Street Journal).

The A-11 offense is a trip. It was created by a group of coaches in Piedmont who wanted to compete with the big boy schools. I read the story and I laughed because the offense bypasses so many loopholes.

Check out how it works (From The New York Times):

By placing one of the quarterbacks at least seven yards behind the line of scrimmage, and no one under center to receive the snap, the A-11 qualifies as a scrimmage kick formation — the alignments used for punts and extra points.

Thus interior linemen are granted an exception from having to wear jersey numbers 50 through 79. (The exception was intended to allow a team’s deep snapper not to have to switch to a lineman’s jersey if he was a back or an end.)

Any player wearing jersey numbers 1 through 49 and 80 through 99 is potentially eligible to receive a pass.

Piedmont’s basic A-11 formation calls for a center flanked by two guards, who are essentially tight ends. Two quarterbacks, or a quarterback and a running back, line up behind the center, with three receivers split to each side.

Under football rules, seven players must begin each play on the line of scrimmage and only five are permitted to run downfield to receive a pass — the two players at the end of the line and three situated behind the line.

The difficult task for a team defending against the A-11 is to quickly and accurately figure out who those five eligible receivers are.

Prior to each Piedmont play, only the center initially goes to the line of scrimmage. The two “guards” and the split receivers each stand one and a half yards off the line.

Then, just before the ball is snapped, Piedmont shifts into formation for the signaled play.

With this simple movement, the possibilities for eligible receivers become dizzying.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Piedmont High and Saddleback Valley Christian in Orange County are believed to be the only schools in the state to run the A-11 offense. Schools in at least five states are banned from using the formation. In North Carolina, the first attempt to run the A-11 will result in a 15-yard unsporting penalty and the second in disqualification of the head coach.

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….Star Picks….Super star status dwidling

Star-News preps writer Keith Lair and I will be going head-to-head throughout the season, and I will update our records each Monday on the “Star Picks” thread.

Melendez: Last week: 12-4; Overall: 74-33
Lair: Last week: 14-2; Overall: 84-23

Notes: I’m starting to worry a little and for good reason. Keith gets to check out one football game per week and that’s a stretch. I “cover” football just about all week yet he’s up 10 games on me. I didn’t do too bad last week. My wrong picks were: St. Francis (lost to Bishop Amat); Gabrielino (lost to Arroyo); La Salle (lost to Verbum Dei); and Rio Hondo Prep (lost to Chadwick). Lair’s two losses were Alhambra (lost to Schurr) and La Salle.

This week: Plenty of good action going on this week. Muir at Arcadia has a lot of intrigue. I’m not sure that playoff indications are on the line, but the end result of this game could map out the rest of the Pacific League. South El Monte at Rosemead will be a Mission Valley League showdown. Bell Gardens at San Gabriel could be the game that decides the Almont League title and St. Francis at Crespi is basically another St. Francis-Bishop Amat game. Kind of.

Friday’s Games with Predictions
Muir at Arcadia, 7 p.m. — Melendez (Muir)
South El Monte at Rosemead, 7 p.m. — Melendez (Rosemead)
Duarte vs. Azusa at Citrus, 7 p.m. — Melendez (Duarte)
Bell Gardens at San Gabriel, 7 p.m. — Melendez (San Gabriel)
San Marino at La Canada, 7 p.m. — Melendez (San Marino)
Monrovia at South Pasadena, 7 p.m. — Melendez (Monrovia)
St. Francis at Crespi, 7:30 p.m. — Melendez (St. Francis)
Montebello at Alhambra, 7 p.m. — Melendez (Alhambra)
Burroughs at Pasadena, 7 p.m. — Melendez (Burroughs)
Gabrielino at Mountain View, 7 p.m. — Melendez (Gabrielino)
Keppel at Schurr, 7 p.m. — Melendez (Schurr)
Marshall at Maranatha, 7 p.m. — Melendez (Maranatha)
Pasadena Poly at Rio Hondo Prep, 7:30 p.m. — Melendez (Rio Hondo Prep)
Flintridge Prep at Viewpoint, 7 p.m. — Melendez (Flintridge Prep)

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….The Straw Poll….

Here you go, MuddyWaters, all because I’m a man of the people…This question comes from one of your very own. I thought it was a good topic so I decided to give it its own thread.

EVERYONE is invited to take this STRAW POLL:

With the rash of injuries as of late being reported from different high schools, I am interested to know what impact this has had for ALL of our kids. So here is what I am asking from each of you:

1. Please list the name of the local school and number of players from your team that have had a major knee injury this football season. (Please no player’s names for the moment. A “major knee injury” is anything where a player is unable to play for 6 weeks or more. I may consult an Ortho Sports Med guy for a better definition in the future).

2. Second, list whether the team plays on grass or artificial turf.

3. If you know the player was injured on grass or turf that would also be helpful.

Miguel, you may want to consider making a sticky thread of this post so this list can be updates as the season goes on. Anyone else have any thoughts or information we should be asking? Thank you in advance for everyone who replays.

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…Saturday Morning Quarterback Postgame: Freddy, I wear a size large; Bishop Amat too much for St. Francis; San Marino remains unbeaten; Monrovia in driver’s seat; Maranatha rallies in OT and Arcadia, Muir impressive…

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BISHOP AMAT-ST. FRANCIS VIDEO

Well, Robledo wins the bet. During the fourth quarter he texted me to give him the score. After I told him Bishop Amat was winning 21-10 he asked, “I hope you look good in blue.”

Sometime next week, I’ll wear a Bishop Amat hat to work and we’ll post the photo on both blogs. That’s what I get for thinking St. Francis would win.

But in all honesty, the Golden Knights had a chance but they committed some key mistakes that helped Bishop Amat keep some drives alive.

The Lancers wasted no time to start the second half that practically spelled the end of a magical run for St. Francis on Friday night.

Lancers QB Jerry McClanahan connected on a 56-yard touchdown pass to Jay Anderson with 8:21 left in the third quarter as Bishop Amat pulled away from the host Golden Knights en route to a 28-13 victory in front of a standing-room only crowd in a showdown that pitted the two best teams in the San Gabriel Valley.

McClanahan led Bishop Amat (5-1), completing 11 of 16 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns, including a 19-yard score to Joshua Tierney with 5:08 left in the half. That score gave the Lancers the lead for good as they headed into halftime with 14-10 advantage.

Neither team got off to the best of starts.

St. Francis (5-1) quarterback Justin Sciarra’s first pass was incomplete and his second pass was intercepted by Adam Barrera to put the ball at the Golden Knights’ 29.

Anderson carried the ball on the first play for Bishop Amat, but was met at the line of scrimmage and tackled for a 5-yard loss by Dietrich Riley.

McClanahan fumbled, but the Lancers recovered and were forced to punt on fourth-and-13 at St. Francis’ 32.

Sciarra completed 6 of 16 passes for 192 yards with one touchdown and an interception.
He connected on an 80-yard touchdown pass to Malik Speed with 7:47 left in the first quarter. But it was the second and third effort by Speed that accounted for the score, as he averted two ankle tackles.

The Lancers scored on Anderson’s 12-yard run with 10:43 left in the second quarter.

Bishop Amat needed 10 plays and marched 95 yards; a key offsides call on third-and-5 at the Lancers’ 10 kept the drive alive.

David Sternau converted a 32-yard field goal with 8:25 left in the half to give St. Francis the lead again, 10-7.

Sternau kicked a 20-yard field goal with 9:56 left in the fourth quarter to make it 21-13, but that’s as close as the Golden Knights would get.

“I thought our guys played hard,” Golden Knights coach Jim Bonds said. “That’s a good Bishop Amat team.

“Coach Hagerty has done an outstanding job getting that program to where it once was. We had our hands full. We got up on them early with some trickery, but they just had some big plays and we weren’t able to stop them.”
Riley was slowed after the first quarter. He had nine carries for 35 yards and caught two passes, including a 48-yard reception.

Speed caught three passes for 121 yards.

Bishop Amat could have pulled away in the first half but two shoestring tackles stopped Anderson and Gaisie.

UCLA-bound Isiah Bowens returned for the first time since sitting out because of injuries.
Bowens, a senior, had two key sacks that knocked the wind out of St. Francis’ sail with 4:14 left in the fourth quarter.

“I thought they played really good,” Bishop Amat coach Steve Hagerty said. “Their quarterback and (Riley) were really good.

“For us to kind of take them out a little bit and make them one-dimensional and force them to throw the ball at the end, I thought, that was key to the game.”


Above: Bishop Amat’s Josh Tierney catches a 19-yard touchdown pass from QB Jerry McClanahan in the second quarter to give the Lancers a 14-10 lead

Friday’s Results with my thoughts

Bishop Amat 28, St. Francis 13 — The game was close to start but the Lancers pulled away in the second half and proved just how good they really are. Jay Anderson was impressive as was Deshawn Gaisie and Isaiah Bowens. Dietrich Riley and Justin Sciarra were kept in check by a stout defensive unit.

Monrovia 13, Temple City 7 — This game turned out to be closer than I thought.

Arcadia 24, Pasadena 13 — No way the Bulldogs would have pulled the upset. The Apaches are more disciplined. Oh, and they have this guy named Todd Golper.

Muir 47, Burbank 7 — Coach Kenny Howard said he wanted to make a statement and the Mustangs may have finally done that tonight. Muir needed to win big time to erase doubts.

San Marino 31, South Pasadena 7 — It’s highly likely the Titans won’t be challenged until they face Monrovia in the final game of the season, which could very well be the game that decides the Rio Hondo League title.

Arroyo 16, Gabrielino 13 — Arroyo earned its first win of the season. Gabrielino held a brief lead but in the end couldn’t hang on. Never sure which team will ever show up.

Schurr 38, Alhambra 24 — How did I know this would happen?

San Gabriel 35, Keppel 0 — What a yawner.

Verbum Dei 28, La Salle 7 — The Lancers offense continues to struggle. La Salle has had a few games to adjust and get its offense together.

La Canada 33, Blair 0 — I know Gary Parks doesn’t want to think of it this way, but it’s a rebuilding year over on Marengo.

Maranatha 34, Kilpatrick 28, OT — I hope Joel Murphy has a good insurance plan. The Minutemen keep making too close for Murphy’s liking.

Marshall at Calvary Chapel Downey, 7:30 p.m. — waiting

Bosco Tech at Serra, 7 p.m.
— waiting

Rio Hondo Prep at Chadwick, 3:30 p.m. — waiting

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Taking a closer look at Bishop Amat

Bishop Amat is ranked No. 1 by the Tribune. The Lancers hung close to Inland Empire power Los Osos before losing, 24-20, to open the season.

Bishop Amat then shocked many when they overcame a 24-0 deficit on the road and rallied in the third quarter to stun Orange Lutheran, one of the top teams in the state.

The Lancers are led by quarterback Jerry McClanahan who gets plenty of protection from a *stout* offensive line. (Note: I had towering line but that was my bad, blogger dude. Freddy gets the assist on that correction, too).

The defensive unit is anchored by UCLA-bound linebacker Isaiah Bowens, who is expected to make his return Friday, and UCLA-bound cornerback senior Sheldon Price.

Others can be a big factor, too. Seniors Brent Seals and Jesse Prieto are strong linebackers along with Jonathan Maffie, who also is a senior. Deshawn Gaisie will get a load of carries at running back.

The Lancers defense have shown several different fronts and coverages and have the ability to blitz and also play man coverage. They can rush five and play zone, too.

Bishop Amat boasts an all-star coaching staff and at the center of the defensive schemes is former USC standout Daylon McCutcheon, the defensive coordinator.

Steve Hagerty, a 1980 Bishop Amat alumni, is in his first year as coach of the Lancers and boasts an impressive resume.

Hagerty won three consecutive CIF-SS championships from 1997-99 in his first head coaching gig at Paraclete, and later won two more as an assistant at J.W. North and Citrus Hill before returning to Bishop Amat.

Bishop Amat has played powerhouses Los Osos and Orange Lutheran, handily beat West Covina (4-1) and Damien (1-4), and edged Diamond Ranch (1-4).

The Lancers have played far more superior teams than St. Francis has, making Bishop Amat’s schedule stronger compared to the Golden Knights’.

“It’s not going to be easy,” Bonds said. “It’s by far the toughest game we’ve played.”

It’s going to get tougher for St. Francis the following week. The Golden Knights will then face another Serra League powerhouse in Crespi, who is 4-1 in the season and also play in the PAC-5 Division.

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