What killed the wishbone/flexbone?

[couch 'em]

There really doesn't seem to be a good place to learn some of the details of football strategy.

I know the wishbone dominated for years until something changed. What was it? Faster D players? A new defensive strategy that neutralized the wishbone? Rule changes?

I always assumed the "flex" in flexbone referred to the TBs going to the wing positions to be more 'flexible', i.e. much easier for them to be good passing targets past the LOS. If the flexbone defeated whatever killed the wishbone, what killed the flexbone?

[jtstang]

I don't know, but video killed the radio star.

[expony18]

damn it that was my joe

[CalallenStang]

There really doesn't seem to be a good place to learn some of the details of football strategy.

I know the wishbone dominated for years until something changed. What was it? Faster D players? A new defensive strategy that neutralized the wishbone? Rule changes?

I always assumed the "flex" in flexbone referred to the TBs going to the wing positions to be more 'flexible', i.e. much easier for them to be good passing targets past the LOS. If the flexbone defeated whatever killed the wishbone, what killed the flexbone?

Believe it or not, Wikipedia's article on the Flexbone is amazingly accurate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flexbone

[abezontar]

damn it that was my joe

same

[lwjr]

There really doesn't seem to be a good place to learn some of the details of football strategy.

I know the wishbone dominated for years until something changed. What was it? Faster D players? A new defensive strategy that neutralized the wishbone? Rule changes?

I always assumed the "flex" in flexbone referred to the TBs going to the wing positions to be more 'flexible', i.e. much easier for them to be good passing targets past the LOS. If the flexbone defeated whatever killed the wishbone, what killed the flexbone?

I don't know the official reason, but maybe the thought was to move the fullback to a TE position to get a jump on blocking therefore clearing more room for QB or Tailback to get around corner. Just my guess. I do miss the option offense.

[SMU 86]

What killed it is the fact that it is not a good offense to have when you have to come from behind.

[expony18]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWtHEmVjVw8

[Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex]

The Forward Pass?

[lwjr]

What killed it is the fact that it is not a good offense to have when you have to come from behind.

True, very true.

[George S. Patton]

What killed it is the fact that it is not a good offense to have when you have to come from behind.

True but if it's got the lead, it's like putting a choke hold on the opponent.

To me watching Lewisville's wishbone offense in the early 1990s was a thing of beauty. In 1994, I saw the Fighting Farmers under the great Ronnie Gage take a drive 16 plays 98 yards and consume 10:30 minutes against Grapevine.

You can have that offense if your defense is pretty stout.

[StallionsModelT]

The Wishbone is a pop gun fairy offense you use when you clearly don't have the personnel to line up and defeat your opponent. You have to have a badass quarterback who doesn't mind taking a lot of hits and is able to consistently make the proper reads and pitches. It is an incredibly high turnover offense and if you can't get at least 6 or 7 yards on the first two downs you are virtually toast. Not to mention stunting and run blitzes can almost eliminate its effectiveness. There is a reason it has been phased out of nearly every level of football. Very few big plays and inability to come from behind.

[jtstang]

damn it that was my joe

You get a D- for turning in your work late.

[George S. Patton]

The Wishbone is a pop gun fairy offense you use when you clearly don't have the personnel to line up and defeat your opponent.

Kind of like the Run N Shoot

[ponydawg]

If the flexbone defeated whatever killed the wishbone, what killed the flexbone?

Rice?