US Sports Football: How many different ways can you make the defense cover everyone? And MaxPreps Top 10 High School Football Plays of Week 10

 

• By Ryan Eigenberger
 

---

How many different ways can you make the defense cover everyone? This is a question posed by Brennan Marion, inventor of the aptly named Go-Go Offense, during his recent clinic talk for Lauren’t First and Goal. In a demonstration of stressing the defense, Marion employs a novel offset two back formation combined with base concepts to force defenders into difficult decisions on who to defend.

Marion maintain’s a spread mentality in this 20 personnel formation. Indeed, the principle of his offense is to run the ball downhill while not giving up any pass situations. Again, how many different ways can you make the defense cover everyone? Simple concepts found within spread offenses were used to answer this question. 

Marion begins with the Duo concept (Diagram 2). The basic premise is to create double teams and kick the last man out with the H-Back. 

Based on the alignment, the Running Back has three “doors” he can run through (numbered on the diagram), forcing the defense to be gap sound front to back. If the single WR is to the open side of the QB, an RPO can be attached having the WR and QB read the coverage for a “2 Way:" Speed out against soft coverage or a Fade against press. Similarly, if the two WR’s are to the open side of the QB, various RPO combinations can be attached. He discussed the simple but effective use of the Bubble.

The Inside Zone, a spread staple, was discussed next. Marion’s version creates triple option looks for the defense to defend, as depicted in Diagram 3.

This play is designed for the H-Back instead of the T, requiring the defense to defend both backs. The QB has the option to give, keep, or throw. As with Duo, the RPO variations include a Bubble to the Y WR in Diagram 3 (or any other two receiver RPO combos) or aligning the two backs to the single WR side and running the same “2 Way” read. In these versions, the T could motion, fake a route of his own, or pick up the DE, as needed.

Next, Marion discussed the popular Wide Zone. The block scheme nuances or reads were not discussed but Marion provides great examples of his Wide Zone Waggle. These are found here:

As with the RPO tags, the Waggle could be applied to any of the previous run concepts. It can also be run to the two WR (Diagram 4) or single WR sides (Diagram 5).

The Waggle proved an effective shot play for Marion. It again forces the defense to account for all offensive threats spread across the field. 

2 Back sets in spread offenses prove to be effective at all levels. The defense is forced to defend the extra man in the box while trying to account for the strength of spread teams: the perimeter. Marion offers a novel variation by offsetting both backs to the same side of the QB, creating decisions on who the defense will defend and how. Combine this with existing spread concepts and put freshness into your offense today!

Learn more here:   

US Sports Partner Spotlight: Zulay Kitchen

 Save up to $16 on bestselling Milk Frothers from Zulay

https://tinyurl.com/ZulayKitchenFrother

Zulay is your one-stop shop for High-Quality Kitchen Tools & Utensils! Cook delicious, nutritious food and treats while making the most out of your budget. We’re a small family-owned business and we’ve put together time-saving & money-saving coffee & kitchen gadgets that we use, and wanted to share!

US Sports Radio affiliate partner

http://www.USSportsRadio.net

US Sports Baseball: Three Priceless Philosophies to Motivate Your Baseball Team and Dodgers vs Blue Jays WS Highlights

 

• By Grant Young
 

---

Baseball is often described as a sport that is rooted in failure. Even the best hitters fail to get a hit more often than not, and pitchers inevitably give up hits and runs. In fact, a .300 batting average, which means a player gets a hit 30% of the time, is considered excellent. This emphasis on dealing with failure is unique to baseball and requires players to develop resilience, a short memory, and mental toughness. Learning to cope with failure is a fundamental aspect of excelling in baseball and is a valuable life lesson that the sport imparts to its participants.

And because this isn’t easy to do — especially for youth baseball players, who don’t even have fully developed brains — playing baseball requires a great deal of mental strength. In addition to it being rooted in failure, the game can be mentally challenging due to its slow pace and the need to stay focused for long periods. Players need to be able to handle the pressure of performing in high-stakes situations and bouncing back from failure. 

Additionally, they must be able to stay disciplined and maintain their focus throughout the entirety of the game, even when they are not directly involved in every play. Developing mental toughness is essential for success in baseball, and it can have a significant impact on a player's performance on the field.

And if there’s one person who knows how to develop mental toughness among youth and college baseball players, it’s Bob Morgan. 

Coach Morgan is the former head baseball coach at Indiana University, where he directed Indiana’s baseball program for 22 seasons. Morgan led his teams during his career to a 1,070-586-6 (.646) record, making him one of 30 NCAA Division I baseball coaches in history with 1,000 career victories. In addition to serving as IU’s head coach, Morgan also worked as a professional pitcher for the Detroit Tigers. 

Coach Morgan knows that getting athletes to consistently play to the best of their abilities is one of the fundamental goals of baseball coaches at all competitive levels. That’s why his ‘Motivate Your Team With These Philosophies’ course points out 3 different types of motivation, details how individuals can set and attain their goals, and also reviews the 7 principles that are essential to success in life. 

Don’t Let Fear Control You

The first lesson Coach Morgan wants to instill in each of his players is about motivation. He defines motivation as, “Things that make us do the things we do. Fuel that enhances people’s performance. Stimulation that puts people in action.”

He notes that people show up to the baseball field for endless different reasons. But the most important point is that they showed up to the field for some reason, regardless of what that is. That’s a person’s motivation. 

From there, Coach Morgan notes how fear is the biggest and most common motivation for all people, not just baseball players. He then claims that the word FEAR is actually an acronym: False Evidence Appears Real. His point with this is that because everybody deals with fear in one fashion or another in some facet of their lives, it’s up to people to harness that fear and turn it into a motivator rather than let it consume them and cause self-doubt.  

“Fear is like fire,” Coach Morgan says. “If you control it, you can heat a house with it, and you can cook with it. If you don’t control, you can burn a house down.” 

To control and learn to use that fear as motivation, a player must recognize it and see it for what it is. 

Attitude

Coach Morgan notes that the easiest thing in the world to do is be negative. But if someone has a good attitude and works hard, they are going to be successful in life, no matter what they pursue. 

This is an especially important approach in baseball because, as we’ve mentioned before, baseball is so rooted in failure that keeping a positive attitude can be exceedingly difficult a lot of the time. Especially when a player is in the midst of a slump or can’t seem to throw a strike to save their lives, employing a negative mindset can quickly become the default. 

In addition to this, improving and developing in baseball comes down to being okay with doing minute, seemingly trivial actions daily. Players who get bored of this begin to go through the motions, which is when their progress stagnates. But players who are optimistic about getting to do what they love, and eager to improve themselves are the ones who are going to put the best effort forth — and therefore get the most out of that effort when the game begins. 

Care About Winning

“It’s amazing what a group can accomplish when nobody cares about who gets the credit,” Coach Morgan says. 

When Coach Morgan talks about caring to win, that doesn’t mean the attitude should be winning at all costs, and every time there’s a loss it should be viewed as a complete failure. There are going to be losses in baseball, and there are important lessons and takeaways that can be gleaned from those losses. But his point is that all players should be striving to win first and foremost, regardless of their results or impact. 

And it isn’t enough to just show up to the field and want to win. There has to be attention to detail with the entire process of what it takes to win (communicating on the field, throwing strikes, putting the ball into play with two strikes, etc.) that winning is the outcome of all that hard work rather than something players and teams are just blindly striving for. 

The Rock Almighty Devotional: Repent! Exchange Your Thoughts For God's

 

Maui coastline, Hawaii. Photo by Charles F. Stanley.

Daily Devotion

God’s Call to Repentance

When we repent, God responds with compassion, forgiveness, and acceptance.

From Intouch MInistries

October 27, 2025

Luke 15:11-24

In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the younger brother asked for his inheritance early so he might live as he chose. Once the father gave it to him, the young man made many unwise choices. What happened next illustrates the principles of godly repentance.

After squandering all of his money, the wayward son found work feeding pigs. One day he came to his senses and recognized his terrible plight. His repentance began with an awareness of his wrong choices and the fact that his situation was due to them.

Knowing that his difficulties came from unrighteous behavior, the prodigal grieved over his mistakes and acknowledged his sin (Luke 15:18). He declared he was no longer worthy to be considered his father’s son. His repentance was made complete when he turned away from his old ways and returned to his father. The Lord likewise calls us to repent and return to Him.

What a welcome the wayward young man received! Upon seeing his son, the father was filled with compassion and ran to embrace him. Forgiveness and acceptance were extended—blessings that God also freely offers to whoever asks Him.

The prodigal son did not clean himself up before returning home. He simply left his old life, turned toward home, and trusted in his father’s mercy. And so can we.

Bible in One Year: Luke 14-16

New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

For Permission to Quote Information visit www.Lockman.org

College Football On US Sports Radio

CFB On US Sports Radio

Colorado Buffaloes vs. Utah Utes Full Game Highlights

Now streaming

https://bit.ly/USSportsRadioNow

http://www.USSportsRadio.net

High Intensity Health On US Sports Radio Sunday 10/26/25

Low Zinc = Low Testosterone  The Science Explained

Now Streaming

Presented on US Sports by Myoxcience

US Sports Partner Spotlight Yosuda Fitness

 Use code:YOSUDA to get plus 10% off. Enjoy Up To 40% Off & Free Delivery. Shop Now

https://tinyurl.com/Yosuda40Off

In the name of “you’re the sun dame”, YOSUDA brand was created in April of 2018. Though we have the word “dame” in its name, our products are not just for women, but for all those who love to keep fit. YOSUDA keeps sticking to the principle of “family fitness and healthy life”. Besides, owning advanced equipment and technology, we attach great importance to ensure the quality of products in the case of continuous improvement of its aesthetics and strive to create a trustworthy fitness brand.

US Sports Radio affiliate partner
http://www.USSportsRadio.net

The Rock Almighty Mythopoeic Grace

 

In September of 1931 J.R.R. Tolkien, Hugo Dyson, and C.S. Lewis took part in a late-night conversation at Oxford University. This was not only a pivotal moment in Lewis's life (helping to convince him of the validity of Christianity), but also a well-chronicled moment for mythopoeic grace. Two of the great literary figures of the twentieth century struggled for, and found, common ground that night—through the concept of myth.

I will not attempt to delve into 'myth' as Tolkien and Lewis understood it; Alister McGrath does that very well in the third chapter of his book The Intellectual World of C.S. Lewis. I will simply suggest that divine truth (absolute reality) exceeds the ability of human logic to contain it; that includes theology (teaching and preaching)—and certainly politics and philosophy. Like the parables of Jesus, myth has the ability to reach beyond logic and reason (important though those things are).

It is often said that grace comes through faith, and that faith is the conviction of things unseen. It could be argued, then, that grace is the result of faith in something our modern culture would consider a myth (the unseen world). Inherent in modern semantics is the notion that all myths are patently false. But the Christian (of the Tolkien/Lewis/MacDonald variety) rejects the assumption of falsity, while gladly embracing the mythic nature of his faith.

Why does this matter? Because the vast majority of Christian thought and teaching has been sorely lacking in any mythic sensibility for a very long time. I would argue that most theology has a tendency to overcompensate for its mythical-sounding claims by overemphasizing an academic approach (as if that might help the modernists to forget about the baby born of a virgin, or the dead man rising from the grave). This exclusive bent toward cold, hard, Christian "reason," I think, is what Tolkien and Lewis wished to balance through their work in giving the world new, modern, Christian myths.

Rather than constructing rigid systems of theology that restricted possibilities, Tolkien and Lewis constructed mythical worlds of beauty and encouraged their readers to use their imaginations. Nearly any Christian will agree that the Bible tells a story, but it is far more difficult to find Christians who view the overarching biblical narrative as primary. Tolkien and Lewis were convinced of its primacy; for them, individual doctrines (important though they are) were of a lesser significance.

A mythopoeic mindset is required to imagine the Kingdom of God. This fallen realm we call Earth runs according to the law of sin and death, but it takes faith in an unseen realm to imagine something like the law of the Spirit. It's nothing short of magical when a person chooses to absorb the painful damage and forgive an offender, rather than rally the mob and attempt to 'crucify' him. Likewise, when my struggle is for individual people rather than for things, it feels as if I am taking part in the working backward of some curse. We can easily imagine run-of-the-mill human grace, but a grace that covers the real sin of real people... that's mythopoeic grace!

I've grown tired of seeing the Bible cracked open by men who look more like weary headmasters or smooth politicians. I'd rather see the 'true myth' opened by someone with a spark of wonder in their eye, like a child curled up with a fairy tale. If the biblical narrative of an infinite God is true, all the more reason to approach it with a mythopoeic mind. The danger lies not nearly so much in imagining the wrong things (the narrative remains to guide us), but in our sense of wonder shriveling up altogether if we don't nurture it. The 'true myth' tantalizes, as all good myths do—and sometimes reading a story is a lot like getting to know a real person.

Justin Patton is an instructor at Murray State University because audio professors don't need doctorates. In his attempt to sneak timeless truth into a story for his children, he found a powerful means of re-imagining his own faith. He now strives to replace his remaining addictions with Jesus. His books and blogs can be found on Amazon https://amzn.to/48HBNsl and WordPress https://justinpatton.wordpress.com/.