The Cycle...

[coachhez]

So many people, especially coaches, talk about how the game of football is often cylical, in scheme. My question and thought is are we on the verge of going back to the beginning (or has it already happen). What I mean is for the past 15+ years the spread style offense and the pass game itself have become the bread & butter of many offense. It is the sexy offense especially at the College and NFL levels. Are we getting ready to see the return of more single/double wing style offense, the power-I's, heavy run, the rebirth of the fullback...
I understand that many teams incorporate these concepts, but as defense continue to get faster and often lighter to counter the offensive schemes, will the new thing be to pound, pound, pound against the hybrid style linebackers who are half safeties/half LB's. What you think?

[CoachJoe]

I hope we don't get all the way back to that flying-V... people died out there. You'll find it all in Jerry Campbell's history of football from Ancient China to 1865.

I think it has to be cyclical. You don't want to do what everyone else is doing. So you come up with a brilliant idea. Everyone else starts running it, its not unique anymore. Now you look for something else. And there are only so many ways you can put 11 guys on the field and spread the ball around to 6 of them. Or in the case of the A-11... 11 of them. So yes, eventually the I-Formation will come back around, but its going to be a while. First, defensive coordinators have to stop drawing up all of their playbooks against Pro Sets with I-backfields.