In American football, a smashmouth offense is an offensive system that relies on a strong running game, where most of the plays run by the offense are handoffs to the fullback or tailback. It is a more traditional style of offense that often results in a higher time of possession by running the ball heavily. So-called "smash-mouth football" is often run out of the I-formation, wishbone formation, or pro set, with tight ends and receivers used as blockers. Though the offense is run-oriented, pass opportunities can develop as defenses play close to the line. Play-action can be very effective for a run-oriented team.
"Three Yards and a Cloud of Dust" This term describes run-heavy offenses such as those used by coach Woody Hayes of Ohio State University in the 1950s and 1960s. A grind-it-out ball control offense, it relies on time of possession utilizing a high percentage of inside running plays off of handoffs by the quarterback to advance the ball down the field. Hayes relied primarily on the fullback off-tackle play. A quarterback under Hayes would often throw fewer than 10 passes a game. Hayes is credited as saying "Three things can happen when you pass the ball, and two of them are bad".
Run to Daylight
The central two plays in this philosophy are off-tackle run and the so-called Packers sweep. In both plays, the offensive line would work to seal off a running lane for the back to use, and the running back would aim for this corridor rather than a specific pre-snap hole. In the off-tackle run, the quarterback would hand off (often to the fullback) who started running to the position between the tight end and tackle, but would aim for the best hole that developed. In the sweep, the two guards would pull to form the outside wall of the running lane, while the center and run side tackle would form the inside wall of the lane. The fullback would lead the path through the lane for the half back, who received a pitch from the quarterback.
College teams that used the Smashmouth offense Nebraska Cornhuskers Stanford Cardinal Fresno State Bulldogs Wisconsin Badgers Arkansas Razorbacks Alabama Crimson Tide Ohio State Buckeyes Michigan Wolverines
NFL teams that used the Smashmouth offense Start End Team Head coach Offensive coordinator 1959 1967 Green Bay Packers Vince Lombardi 1969 1970 Washington Redskins Vince Lombardi 1977 1980 Dallas Cowboys Tom Landry Dan Reeves 1981 1992 Denver Broncos Dan Reeves Rod Dowhower, Mike Shanahan, Chan Gailey, and George Henshaw 1982 1992 Chicago Bears Mike Ditka Ed Hughes and Greg Landry 1986 1991 Minnesota Vikings Jerry Burns Bob Schnelker and Tom Moore 1993 1996 New York Giants Dan Reeves George Henshaw 1997 2003 Atlanta Falcons Dan Reeves George Sefcik and Pete Mangurian 1997 1999 New Orleans Saints Mike Ditka Danny Abramowicz 2005 2006 Jacksonville Jaguars Jack Del Rio Carl Smith 2008 2011 Miami Dolphins Tony Sparano Dan Henning and Brian Daboll 2009 2014 New York Jets Rex Ryan Brian Schottenheimer Tony Sparano and Marty Mornhinweg 2015 2016 Buffalo Bills Rex Ryan Greg Roman and Anthony Lynn 2016 2017 Tennessee Titans Mike Mularkey Terry Robiskie 2016 2019 Dallas Cowboys Jason Garrett Scott Linehan 2019 2025 Baltimore Ravens John Harbaugh Greg Roman 2019 present San Francisco 49ers Kyle Shanahan -
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