Miami Central
13-0

Offense

On the outside looking in, the best part about this game is the number of athletes that each team has. The number of division 1 athletes, the talent and team speed of both the Rockets and the Hawks is incredible. But, there is more to this game than just speed and strength.

After watching a few games of the Miami Central Rockets, I have come to like them more and more. On offense, they are simple by design and depend on their athletes to make plays. Their offensive scheme is not complicated, yet produces results. The Rockets would rather run the ball before putting it in the air. Of the 68 offensive snaps I watched, the Rockets ran the ball 42 times (61%). Their play of choice is almost exclusively zone runs when in the shotgun. When under center, they will stick with the lead play and push teams around upfront. I charted 8 different offensive sets, but 80/doubles (2×2-could invert), trips open (3×1) and Flex under center (2×1 with I formation RBs) are their favorite formations. They played around with the pistol formation, but with average success.

Their starting tailback, Joe Yearby is the truth. Armwood has not seen a back like him this year. He is a true zone tailback with sweet feet and incredible vision. He is at his best when in the shotgun, but runs downhill very well. The offensive line is very athletic and is great for a zone back like Yearby. I really think they are great run blockers but average pass protectors. Often they are beat with defensive line games/stunts and blitzes ran from depth.

The QB, Austin Stock, is serviceable. I don’t think he can put the game on his shoulders and beat Armwood’s defense. He is not very mobile and does not show a good feel for pressure, nor is he very accurate. His passes often float and he stares down his receivers.

Armwood will need to be sure tacklers vs. the Rocket running backs. The defensive line has to stay hydrated and rotated. The size of the Miami Central offensive line could wear on the Armwood defensive line late in the game. The Hawk line backers have to shoot the gaps with speed to stop Yearby before he gets going. Slanting the defensive front and bringing pressure can cause the Rockets a few problems. Other than that, it’s no real secret on how to stop Miami Central’s offense. Fundamentals and aggressiveness is what has to happen for Armwood to contain the Rockets.

Defense

If I had to use one word to describe the Central defense, I would use “Tough”. The defensive line is freaking good, big and athletic. They are really the heart of the D. The defensive line as a whole does a great job disengaging the offensive linemen, using their hands and plays with a good pad level. Rarely are they in the wrong gaps or pushed outside of their lanes. On the other hand, the LBs can be exposed. They are fast and aggressive, but depend on their athleticism instead of fundamentals. From what I have I observed, they don’t read their initial keys, because they are late to react and do not fill the gaps. They can find their way through traffic, but they are moving laterally and not vertically allowing the RB 5 positive yards before an LBs gets to him (if the defensive line doesn’t tackle him first). Because the secondary plays exclusively man to man, their backs are to the ball and don’t see the ball carrier till 15 yards down the field.

Yes, the Central defense is good, but schematically, you can do a few things to hurt them:

1) Armwood will use 2×2 formations and 3×1 formations to occupy the secondary, leaving 2 LBs in the box with no safety if Central lines up with a 5 man front or 1 LB and 1 safety. More than likely, the Rockets will line up with 2 LBs and 1 safety if they go with an even front vs. Armwood’s spread sets. This screams QB draws, QB Leads or sweeps. The Central defensive line often gets hooked and or reached blocked, where there is no safety or LB in the alley to make the tackle.

2) Simple Trap from a flex formation. Again, there will be no tackler in the alley

3) Double move routes from the WRs. The Central secondary is very aggressive, so Armwood can use their aggressiveness against them by getting them to jump short routes and going over their heads.