I have a few really basic questions with regards to tactics that I'm hoping some of you wisened-heads might be able to help out with.

Forgetting what sort of style I want to play and the players which I have on the current roster:

1 - What's the general rule-of-thumb when it comes to offense plays from your own goal to 25yds? Pass long, med, short? run?

2 - Same for the other 3 quarters?

3 - How does it vary according to how many yards left to gain?

4 - How does it vary according to which down it is?

My thoughts would be that on the 1st and 10, you'd try a long pass, then it would scale back all the way down to 3rd and 1 would prob be a running play?? The more downs left the more you'd try to pass???? The less downs or yardage youd try to run???

Without having seen much of this last season I have very little experience to go on.

And like I said at the top, I know a lot will depend on the opponents, my players etc etc but I just wondered if there was a general rule-of-thumb tat could help me with a starting point?

Thanks in advance

jh

The only thing I could tell you is, play to your teams strength, but at the same time, don't be to predictable.

Thanks pitball!
Ah the classic reply that I was expecting!
If the reply is the most accurate one then that suggests there is absolute no pattern in what the real life teams do.
I assumed there was some kind of general pattern - generally throw on first down or always rush at some point or never do something at a certain point.
I do realise a lot depends on this or on that but I just thought there might be some basic rules (maybe the sort of thing a junior team are first taught).

In real life, teams generally run on first down. If they pick up good yardage, it gives them more options on 2nd and 3rd down. If they don't pick up much yardage or lose yardage on 1st down, then 2nd down and long is more than likely going to be a pass play.

Thanks - that's a starting point for me
Assume there's rhyme behind the reason for rushing first.
How about the difference between near own goal line or their goal line?

i usually either run the ball or short pass on my own 0-10 because it helps avoid safeties

on opponents 35-0 i usually use at most a medium pass to try to avoid getting sacked for big losses that would knock me out of FG range

If your QB has to drop back into your own end zone to pass, generally you rush the ball to create some room, otherwise you want your passes to be quick short or long timing patterns where the ball gets out of the QB's hand fast.

At your opponents goal, say 5 yards and in there's not a lot of room. All the defenders are close to the line of scrimmage. If you have a good power back they try to run it. Misconception I feel is big inside the 5, meaning giving the look of a pass and run it or the look of a run and pass it. QB roll outs gives options as well.

Just my take on it.

Thanks guys - much appreciated. It's a starting point for me. Will be interesting to see others points of view too :)