Running Game for the Go-Go Offense

with Brennan Marion,
Sacramento State Head Coach;
UNLV Offensive Coordinator & QB Coach from 2023 to 2024;
University of Texas Pass Game Coordinator & Wide Receivers Coach in 2022;
Pittsburgh (Pitt) Wide Receivers Coach - 2021;
coached the 2021 Biletnikoff Award recipient (top receiver in college football);
University of Hawaii Wide Receivers Coach - 2020;
College of William & Mary Offensive Coordinator & Quarterbacks Coach - 2019;
Howard University Offensive Coordinator & Quarterbacks Coach - 2017 and 2018;
Howard achieved the biggest upset in college football history in 2017 under Coach Marion when they defeated UNLV 43-40 in a game UNLV was 45.5 point favorites;
under Marion in 2018, Howard ranked 15th nationally in total offense, 16th in passing offense, 21st in scoring offense, and 4th in yards per completion;
invited to the 2019 NFL Quarterback Coaching Summit;
invited to the AFCA '35 Under 35' Leadership Institute;
in 2014, led Waynesboro Area HS (PA) to a division title and its first winning season in 22 years just one year after posting a winless record;
in 2013, led St. Patrick-St.Vincent Catholic HS to a playoff appearance following a 1-9 record the year prior to his arrival;
played two seasons at Tulsa and finished his career averaging 28.7 yards per reception (FBS record among players with at least 75 career receptions) and holds the NCAA single season yards-per-catch record (31.9)

"Brennan Marion is the creator of the 'Go-Go Offense,' which he has run to success at every one of his coaching stops. In short, the Go-Go Offense is an up-tempo one, specifically designed to run the ball downhill. It's about tempo and spacing, using multiple formations to get favorable match-ups to run the ball. Its main formation is aligning the QB in the shotgun with two backs on the same side of the QB. Contrary to popular belief, it's a big play offense predicated on chunk plays, which come from teams over-committing to stop the run." - Emory Hunt in The Athletic

Brennan Marion, formerly offensive coordinator at the College of William & Mary (now at UNLV), breaks out into the specifics of the run game in his innovative Go-Go offense. You'll learn about Coach Marion's philosophies for running the wide zone within the Go-Go, as well as the "Right Formation" and its variances against 3- and 4-man fronts.

Wide Zone

A huge part of running an effective Go-Go offense is utilizing the wide zone play. Marion jumps into a series of game clips and walks you through successful and unsuccessful examples of running the wide zone in the Go-Go offense. He breaks down which players the quarterback must read pre- and post-snap in order to determine whether to hand the ball off or keep it. You'll also learn what running backs should look for upon receiving a hand-off as they aim to get vertical up the field.

Coach Marion also includes a segment geared toward how to change primary formations and reads in the red zone in order to be more versatile. This includes the quarterback going under center for a different look.

Right Formation

Once he's done breaking down game film, Marion moves to the whiteboard to diagram the "Right Formation" within his Go-Go offense. He breaks down the terminology they use at William & Mary in addition to the responsibilities of each player on the field. While the initial diagramming is done against a 3-man front, Coach Marion also includes a segment on what to change when the defense uses a 4-man look, allowing your team to be prepared for any situation.

If you're interested in running the Go-Go offense and want an in-depth breakdown on the wide zone, Coach Marion supplies everything you need in this video. The game film and whiteboard breakdowns are top-notch and are sure to help your program.

44 minutes. 2020.