William & Mary Offensive Series

with Brennan Marion,
College of William & Mary Offensive Coordinator & Quarterbacks Coach;
former Howard University Offensive Coordinator & Quarterbacks Coach;
Howard achieved the biggest upset in college football history in 2017 under Coach Marion when they defeated UNLV 43-40 in a game UNLV was 45.5 point favorites;
under Marion in 2018, Howard ranked 15th nationally in total offense, 16th in passing offense, 21st in scoring offense, and 4th in yards per completion;
invited to the 2019 NFL Quarterback Coaching Summit;
invited to the AFCA '35 Under 35' Leadership Institute;
in 2014, led Waynesboro Area HS (PA) to a division title and its first winning season in 22 years just one year after posting a winless record;
in 2013, led St. Patrick-St.Vincent Catholic HS to a playoff appearance following a 1-9 record the year prior to his arrival;
played two seasons at Tulsa and finished his career averaging 28.7 yards per reception (FBS record among players with at least 75 career receptions)

"Brennan Marion is the creator of the 'Go-Go Offense,' which he has run to success at every one of his coaching stops. In short, the Go-Go Offense is an uptempo one, specifically designed to run the ball downhill. It's about tempo and spacing, using multiple formations to get favorable match-ups to run the ball. Its main formation is aligning the QB in the shotgun with two backs on the same side of the QB. Contrary to popular belief, it's a big play offense predicated on chunk plays, which come from teams over-committing to stop the run." - Emory Hunt in The Athletic

The Go-Go offense has attracted the attention of football gurus around the country because of how Brennan Marion has used it to quickly turn around the programs he's coached during his budding career. In this video, Coach Marion teaches the fundamentals necessary to build the Go-Go offense as well as the coaching methods he has used in concert with the Go-Go in order to lead his teams to offensive success.

Go-Go Philosophy

Marion begins with an explanation of what the Go-Go offense is and how it has evolved through the years. He then goes into detail explaining the culture that he and his fellow coaches at William & Mary have worked to establish that helps each student-athlete develop not only as football players and athletes, but as a team. You'll get several excellent tips for team building, such as accountability partners, and hear Coach Marion give an overview of how a game week is designed to ensure players are ready to perform their best come game day.

Setting Up the Go-Go + Marion's Journey

Next, you'll observe the basic structure of the run and pass schemes that make up the Go-Go offense. Marion explains the advantages of the Go-Go and goes into detail about incorporating an option run scheme in the offense, which makes preparation very difficult for the opposing team. As an added bonus, Coach Marion gives pointers on transitioning from being a player to being a coach, as well as what it takes to be successful as a coordinator.

If you're interested in implementing the Go-Go offense, this video contains necessary program development insights and base concepts. Coach Marion shares excellent ideas on what it takes to build a championship offense!

48 minutes. 2020.

with Brennan Marion,
College of William & Mary Offensive Coordinator & Quarterbacks Coach;
former Howard University Offensive Coordinator & Quarterbacks Coach;
Howard achieved the biggest upset in college football history in 2017 under Coach Marion when they defeated UNLV 43-40 in a game UNLV was 45.5 point favorites;
under Marion in 2018, Howard ranked 15th nationally in total offense, 16th in passing offense, 21st in scoring offense, and 4th in yards per completion;
invited to the 2019 NFL Quarterback Coaching Summit;
invited to the AFCA '35 Under 35' Leadership Institute;
in 2014, led Waynesboro Area HS (PA) to a division title and its first winning season in 22 years just one year after posting a winless record;
in 2013, led St. Patrick-St.Vincent Catholic HS to a playoff appearance following a 1-9 record the year prior to his arrival;
played two seasons at Tulsa and finished his career averaging 28.7 yards per reception (FBS record among players with at least 75 career receptions)

"Brennan Marion is the creator of the 'Go-Go Offense,' which he has run to success at every one of his coaching stops. In short, the Go-Go Offense is an uptempo one, specifically designed to run the ball downhill. It's about tempo and spacing, using multiple formations to get favorable match-ups to run the ball. Its main formation is aligning the QB in the shotgun with two backs on the same side of the QB. Contrary to popular belief, it's a big play offense predicated on chunk plays, which come from teams over-committing to stop the run." - Emory Hunt in The Athletic

Brennan Marion, offensive coordinator at the College of William & Mary, breaks out into the specifics of the run game in his innovative Go-Go offense. You'll learn about Coach Marion's philosophies for running the wide zone within the Go-Go, as well as the "Right Formation" and its variances against 3- and 4-man fronts.

Wide Zone

A huge part of running an effective Go-Go offense is utilizing the wide zone play. Marion jumps into a series of game clips and walks you through successful and unsuccessful examples of running the wide zone in the Go-Go offense. He breaks down which players the quarterback must read pre- and post-snap in order to determine whether to hand the ball off or keep it. You'll also learn what running backs should look for upon receiving a hand-off as they aim to get vertical up the field.

Coach Marion also includes a segment geared toward how to change primary formations and reads in the red zone in order to be more versatile. This includes the quarterback going under center for a different look.

Right Formation

Once he's done breaking down game film, Marion moves to the whiteboard to diagram the "Right Formation" within his Go-Go offense. He breaks down the terminology they use at William & Mary in addition to the responsibilities of each player on the field. While the initial diagramming is done against a 3-man front, Coach Marion also includes a segment on what to change when the defense uses a 4-man look, allowing your team to be prepared for any situation.

If you're interested in running the Go-Go offense and want an in-depth breakdown on the wide zone, Coach Marion supplies everything you need in this video. The game film and whiteboard breakdowns are top-notch and are sure to help your program.

44 minutes. 2020.

with Brennan Marion,
College of William & Mary Offensive Coordinator & Quarterbacks Coach;
former Howard University Offensive Coordinator & Quarterbacks Coach;
Howard achieved the biggest upset in college football history in 2017 under Coach Marion when they defeated UNLV 43-40 in a game UNLV was 45.5 point favorites;
under Marion in 2018, Howard ranked 15th nationally in total offense, 16th in passing offense, 21st in scoring offense, and 4th in yards per completion;
invited to the 2019 NFL Quarterback Coaching Summit;
invited to the AFCA '35 Under 35' Leadership Institute;
in 2014, led Waynesboro Area HS (PA) to a division title and its first winning season in 22 years just one year after posting a winless record;
in 2013, led St. Patrick-St.Vincent Catholic HS to a playoff appearance following a 1-9 record the year prior to his arrival;
played two seasons at Tulsa and finished his career averaging 28.7 yards per reception (FBS record among players with at least 75 career receptions)

"Brennan Marion is the creator of the 'Go-Go Offense,' which he has run to success at every one of his coaching stops. In short, the Go-Go Offense is an uptempo one, specifically designed to run the ball downhill. It's about tempo and spacing, using multiple formations to get favorable match-ups to run the ball. Its main formation is aligning the QB in the shotgun with two backs on the same side of the QB. Contrary to popular belief, it's a big play offense predicated on chunk plays, which come from teams over-committing to stop the run." - Emory Hunt in The Athletic

The mesh wheel concept is vital to the success of Brennan Marion's Go-Go offense, and this video will give you an extensive look into how Marion uses it to keep defenses on their heels. Additionally, you'll learn the four tenets of the Go-Go that players must take to heart in regards to the offense and overall program, as well as drills for practice and QB traits to focus on when selecting or recruiting a quarterback.

Mesh Wheel Concept

The mesh wheel concept can be run from multiple formations, though Coach Marion prefers to run it in the traditional Go-Go look with two running backs in the backfield in order to provide the familiar run action look. You will get a breakdown that includes game film on passing out of the Go-Go, with focus on which players to read on the defense and how to react to different coverages. After several examples are shown, Marion moves to the whiteboard to further break down the mesh wheel concept and how to manipulate the defense.

4 Tenets of the Go-Go

The four main tenets of the Go-Go offense are:

• Tempo
• Together
• Toughness
• Technique

In order to build the culture that Coach Marion wants in his players, he discusses what to do during the spring and summer months to drive home major points of emphases that will contribute to the win column in the fall. These tactics include reaching players on a spiritual, mental, social, and emotional level outside of the traditional physical training associated with football.

Run Mesh Drills & QB Traits

Next, Marion includes run mesh drills that your team can utilize at practice. The great part about these drills are they incorporate run and pass reps all in one package, meaning teams with few players and little practice time can use them for maximum benefit.

Coach Marion rounds out the video by explaining what traits to look for in quarterbacks in order to run the Go-Go offense, as well as how he coaches quarterbacks by giving them a "target" to hit every day and treating them like a fellow coach.

This video will give you an essential piece of the passing game for the Go-Go offense. Coach Marion's breakdowns go into great detail in order to help you find what you need to succeed.

61 minutes. 2020.

with EJ Barthel,
College of William & Mary Recruiting Coordinator & Running Backs Coach;
former Howard University Running Backs Coach;
under Barthel in 2018, Howard led the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in rushing with 192.8 yards per game

In order to run the ball well, mastering the inside zone is paramount for your offensive approach. Additionally, your running backs must possess great vision in order to get the most out of each play.

William & Mary running backs coach, EJ Barthel, takes you through his approach to the inside zone in this video. Coach Barthel includes pre- and post-snap reads, film room breakdowns, and drills that you can adopt to turn your backs into game breaking players.

Aiming Point, Reads, and Film Room

Barthel begins by discussing the aiming point for his running backs in the inside zone. He wants his players to capture the midline, which allows the back to be in position to attack all three areas of the field. Additionally, players must press the aiming point until the last second to get opposing linebackers committed.

Next, you'll discover what Coach Barthel instructs his runners to look for pre- and post-snap. His pre-snap reads include the Fast, Stack, and Slow reads based on where the linebacker aligns. Post-snap reads include Fast Fast Flow, Fast Slow Flow, and Slow Flow. After defining what each read means, Barthel goes in-depth in the film room to provide you specific examples of these reads being utilized in games.

Running Back Drills and Philosophies

Coach Barthel showcases 11 drills that are great for training your running backs to make correct reads while also conditioning them physically to capitalize on making correct reads. Drills included are:

• Aiming Point Path
• Read & React
• Jump Cut Vertical
• Obstacle Drill
• Bag Drill
• Serpentine Drill
• Jump Cut Drill
• Palm Up Drill
• Combo Drill
• 4-Corner Cut Drill
• Bad Ball Drill

In the midst of these drills, Barthel dives into William & Mary's running back philosophy and also throws in some tips for improving ball security while carrying the pigskin.

Your running back could have all the talent in the world, but if they never make the correct read, then their potential will always be suppressed. This video from Coach Barthel will ensure you and your backs know what reads to make while running the inside zone.

43 minutes. 2020.

with Mike London Jr.,
College of William & Mary Wide Receivers Coach;
former Howard University Wide Receivers Coach;
in 2018, helped Howard rank 4th nationally in yards per catch and 16th in passing offense

Mike London Jr. grew up around football and has experienced success at the high school and collegiate levels so far during his coaching career. He coached 21 high school student-athletes who went on to compete at the Division I level, in addition to helping Howard University rank fourth nationally in yards per catch (17.27) and 16th in passing offense (278 yards per game) in 2018.

Now, London brings his expertise on receiver play to you. In this video, you'll get techniques that will take your receivers to the next level, as well as the routes and adjustments your offense needs to move the ball consistently.

Crucial Elements of Receiver Play

Coach London starts with an overview of some of the most important factors of wide receiver play. He demonstrates how he teaches stance and start against both press and off-coverage looks. You'll get several drills that reinforce the footwork, posture, and catching technique required to be an outstanding receiver. Additionally, London provides insight as to how he teaches his receivers to complete their route breaks to put themselves into position to make a great catch.

Routes Against a Variety of Coverages

Next, you will learn several of the routes that are used in conjunction with William & Mary's pass game concepts. Several common routes such as the hitch, slant, quick out, deep out, comeback, post, and fade are covered. Conversions to routes that are used against certain coverages are also detailed by Coach London. Finally, you'll see practice film of each route against cover 2, 3, and 4, as well as press man, and off-man coverages.

This is a great addition to any football coach's library. Coach London gives a detailed overview of route running and wide receiver play.

64 minutes. 2020.

with Matt Johns,
College of William & Mary Wide Receivers/Tight Ends Coach;
was a four-year letterwinner at the University of Virginia as a player;
finished his career ranked 11th on the program's career passing list and sixth in passing touchdowns

An underrated component of any team's passing game is its ability to block and run effective routes. You won't have much luck moving the ball if you can't create space on the field!

This video featuring, College of William & Mary's Receivers/Tight Ends Coach Matt Johns, dives into drills and skills that will make your pass catchers better at blocking and getting open down the field.

Stalk Blocking

Coach Johns provides a demonstration using practice and game footage of how stalk blocking is taught at William & Mary. He demonstrates the approach, posture, initial strike, and finish that are necessary to be an excellent blocker as a receiver or tight end. Johns also includes several drills that teach and reinforce the fundamentals of stalk blocking.

You'll learn how to coach your receivers to finish their blocks and avoid penalties, how to counter what defenders do to defeat stalk blocks, and get the Four Cone Mirror drill that ties all the elements of the stalk block together.

Pass Game Concepts and Individual Routes

Coach Johns continues by getting into some of the route concepts, releases, and individual routes used by the William & Mary coaching staff. You'll see several "conversion" concepts that allow receivers to adjust their routes based on what coverage they see. Johns diagrams each concept and gives key coaching points relative to how each read is taught, in addition to showing game footage of each concept to illustrate coaching points. Finally, Johns explains how he teaches receivers to release and get into their routes against a variety of defensive looks.

Tight end and receiver play is an art. This video featuring Coach Johns contains the stalk blocking and route running techniques your receivers will need to elevate their game to the next level!

58 minutes. 2020.

with Gordon Sammis,
College of William & Mary Offensive Line Coach;
former Lafayette College Offensive Line Coach;
under his leadership, Lafayette ranked first in the Patriot League in fewest sacks allowed and fewest tackles for a loss allowed

Prior to joining the College of William & Mary coaching staff, Gordon Sammis helped Lafayette College rank first in the Patriot League in fewest sacks allowed and fewest tackles for a loss allowed as Lafayette's offensive line coach.

In this video, you'll learn the system, schemes, and techniques that Sammis has used to build cohesive and effective offensive lines.

Protection Schemes

Coach Sammis kicks things off by giving an overview of the most important factors in pass protection. He then explains how each protection can be adjusted to utilize either five, six, or seven players in conjunction. You'll come to understand how each protection is taught by concept first, through separating each scheme into either a base, slide, or turn protection.

Sammis also includes how to adjust formations to include more blockers as well as how to use formations to disguise protections in order to avoid being schemed by the blitz.

Base, Slide, and Turn

You'll get great detail on how Coach Sammis teaches the three main dropback protections used at William & Mary. Using game footage to illustrate coaching points, Sammis goes into detail with each protection against both four down and five down fronts. He also demonstrates how each protection can be adjusted to account for dominant pass rushers and blitzes.

Protection is the foundation of an effective passing attack, and with this video from Coach Sammis, your offense will be well on its way to lighting up the scoreboard!

86 minutes. 2020.

with Mike London,
College of William & Mary Head Coach;
former Howard University Head Coach;
2017 AFCA Regional Coach of the Year;
2017 FCS Eddie Robinson Award finalist;
2011 ACC Coach of the Year (University of Virginia);
2008 FCS National Champions (University of Richmond);
2008 AFCA FCS National Coach of the Year

Mike London has been coaching football for 30 years and has accumulated a wealth of knowledge regarding what it takes to build a great team culture. You'll learn all about London's methods for developing players to be great on and off the field in this video, as well as how to get your coaching staff to foster a positive environment within your program.

Establishing Great Culture

Coach London's presentation starts with an excellent overview on the importance of football, and in particular, establishing a championship culture. London gives specific examples of how establishing a positive culture contributes to not only the success of the team, but to the growth and development of the athletes that participate in the program.

You'll also learn how to establish positive relationships with your players and how Coach London and his staff identify student-athletes that will fit into their program's culture.

Cultivating Leadership

London continues by giving examples of how important leadership is in a football program amongst the players. He gives several unique perspectives on how to cultivate leadership qualities in your student-athletes that will last a lifetime. Additionally, Coach London stresses the importance of creating leadership opportunities for everyone on your team, and not just the players that are natural leaders.

This video from Coach London is a worthy addition to any football coach's library. You will inherit thoughts and ideas on an essential subject that often doesn't get talked about enough when X's and O's steal the spotlight.

46 minutes. 2020.