The Wishbone

[Firebird]

Maybe this will be a good distratction from the endless debates on who is better than who, and I am curious about it anyway.

So I am watching my Harlingen Cardinals pound the mess out of the RGV's number 1 ranked team, Brownsville Rivera last night, and thinking about the fact that this year we have 3 really good RB's. So good, in fact, that we haven't been able to decide who to start. (Really good for the RGV that is. I also don't want this thread to disintegrate into another argument over whether the Valley has any really good talent at all.) Plus we have a big, fast, strong QB who likes to turn upfield and run.

I got to thinking, why don't we get all these guys on the field at once, and at least have a wishbone package we can put in. All thre of them can run, the defense would never know where the ball was going. Usually we run a single back set, occasionally an I formation. Sometimes I hate our coach for being married to the spread. I realize the wishbone is old school and not glamourous BUT!!!!

Since no one runs it anymore, it would be hell to defend, especially if it wasn't your base offense. A lot of coachs have probably never even seen it used. I remember back when I played, one team in the Valley ran a Y-Stack while nearly every one else ran out of a power- I. They were guaranteed a few wins a season just because it was tough to learn to defend such a different offense in the week you had to prepare for them. I don't think the wishbone ought to be your bread and butter, but having it in the bag if you wanted to use it would sure cause headaches for the opposing teams DC. If you faced some teams with weak defensive fronts....look out.

Anyway, I am a little leery of HS coaches who get married to a system. In college you can recruit players for your offense, but in HS you have to work with what you have that year. And it seems to me that even if you like the spread, and you don't have any recievers, but you do have three good backs and a running QB, you should be willing to tailor your system a little bit to play to your strength.

What are ya'lls thoughts on the wishbone. Also, let me know-- are there any 5a schools out their that either run it as the primary O, or at least have the formation in the bag.

[sltnusmc]

Lubbock Monterey has run the wishbone for about 5 or 6 yrs now. They even went 10-0 one season.

[Lakelover]

Clear Lake won Region 3 last year running a spread version of the wishbone. It's all about execution and putting pressure on the defense to make a play on every down, usually with only one guy to make it. A smart QB, a strong FB and outside speed are essential. Turnovers can kill you. It can be shut down, as evidenced by this year's team in pre-district and last year vs. SV in the semis. But you are right in that most teams don't see it much anymore and trying to stop 3-4 very good runners on every play wears you down. If you can't stop it, it can be very explosive. Stop the fullback and force quick QB decisons and it can be slowed to a crawl. It takes a very disciplined, assignment oriented defense to break it like SV did last year.

[jtk1519]

I think Monterey runs a "broken bone" offense, but they do line up in a lot of pure wishbone. I think Mesquite used to run the wishbone, but I'm not sure if they still do.

[bucky58]

San Marcos runs the slot T which is probably 95% run.It's alot of traps sweeps and misdirection.It's an offense based on execution much like the wishbone but really not that similar except for the amount of passing.San Marcos had 501 yds rushing and 40 yards passing last night aganist East Central. Two passes were thrown.

[Warbird]

Abilene runs it for short yardage.

[pack0808]

Spring Westfield, Clear Lake, Odessa Permian this year all run a form of the wishbone and some run a true wishbone at times and i am sure their are several others. Their are also many that run the wing-t aka Garland and Dallas Carter Collins and Pflugerville most of the time etc etc Of course their are a zillion running I running teams left. Longview is one that is very very good at that style of offense.

[jtk1519]

Spring Westfield, Clear Lake, Odessa Permian this year all run a form of the wishbone and some run a true wishbone at times and i am sure their are several others. Their are also many that run the wing-t aka Garland and Dallas Carter Collins and Pflugerville most of the time etc etc Of course their are a zillion running I running teams left. Longview is one that is very very good at that style of offense.

Permian runs the wing-T.

[pack0808]

Well dave campbell said wishbone so go figure. LOL I was just going by their summary and i noticed that this year. They must have had a misprint??

[farmerfan]

The wishbone lies in the hands of the FB posistion, when a team has a great FB with some great TB's. then the wishbone can be very successful, without a great FB, you are relying on a outside running game that is very easy for a defense to defend. Some of the best wishbone teams this state has ever known have come from Lewisville, and it all started with the FB, when you can run the dive, trap and blast with success, it only opens up the option, lead, toss, and counter sweep, we were at our best with a great fullback and I think many other wishbone teams will say the same.

[LGVAg]

Most teams have too much defensive speed for a Wishbone offense to work nowadays.

That said, Mesquite used to run it to perfection, as did Lake Highlands. They are both Shotgun spread teams now, though.

Longview COULD run it, as they have an option/power running oriented attack, but they use the I-Formation to perfection.

The Wishbone offense is so one-dimensional it isn't even funny, though. That's the main reason I think teams stay away from it. Although I always have it or Power I in my playbook for short-yardage situations.

[farmerfan]

Most teams have too much defensive speed for a Wishbone offense to work nowadays.

That said, Mesquite used to run it to perfection, as did Lake Highlands. They are both Shotgun spread teams now, though.

Longview COULD run it, as they have an option/power running oriented attack, but they use the I-Formation to perfection.

The Wishbone offense is so one-dimensional it isn't even funny, though. That's the main reason I think teams stay away from it. Although I always have it or Power I in my playbook for short-yardage situations.

You are right to some degree, as far as the one dimensional part you have a point, however Mesquite was one of the few "bone" teams who could be very successful when throwing out of the bone. It all depends on personel, Lewisville was the most dominating wishbone team in the state from 1990-2001, and many teams would try to stack the box or go to a 3-5-3 defense on us and would get burned everytime, if you have the speed in the backfield to go along with blocking on the o-line, then the bone can still be effected today. I still believe today that one of the best offenses to every grace the playing field in Texas 5A history was the 96 Lewisville Famers, and we ran out ofthe Bone 100% of the time, all it did was produce 4 1000 yard rushers and many state rushing records. Give it time and you will see that with the right personel the wishbone can still be a very powerfull offense.

[LGVAg]

You are right to some degree, as far as the one dimensional part you have a point, however Mesquite was one of the few "bone" teams who could be very successful when throwing out of the bone. It all depends on personel, Lewisville was the most dominating wishbone team in the state from 1990-2001, and many teams would try to stack the box or go to a 3-5-3 defense on us and would get burned everytime, if you have the speed in the backfield to go along with blocking on the o-line, then the bone can still be effected today. I still believe today that one of the best offenses to every grace the playing field in Texas 5A history was the 96 Lewisville Famers, and we ran out ofthe Bone 100% of the time, all it did was produce 4 1000 yard rushers and many state rushing records. Give it time and you will see that with the right personel the wishbone can still be a very powerfull offense.

Oh, no joke, some teams can flex out their Tight Ends into receivers and have a good passing threat. Same with Backs in the flats area...

The offensive line doesn't have to fire off the ball as much, right? I think if they just don't allow penetration, then the backs and deceptiveness of the offense will take care of everything else. Especially if the backfield is explosive and quick. I bet the bone could be the best offensive set if teams could run it to perfection. There just aren't many teams who can do so.