Mocs Offensive Coordinator Jeff Durden Describes Art of Play Calling

Chattanooga-(WDEF) In today’s no-huddle, hurry-up offenses in college football, teams are running 70, 80, even a 100 plays in a game.
Imagine calling all of those plays.
That’s the job of Mocs offensive coordinator Jeff Durden, who gives us some insight on what it takes to call plays.
Jeff Durden’s play sheet is really not as complicated as it looks. He has 25 plays or concepts on one side, and situation calls on the back side like third downs and two point conversions.
Said Durden:”I don’t really have a computer generated game plan. It’s a combination of what you’re good at. Your guys are good at and the other teams strengths. If you have 25 plays and what I mean by that is formatted. So we’re trying to make the same plays look different and different plays look the same.”
Sometimes the play call is not different because it is the same play.
Reporter:”Do you ever say that? Well hey they didn’t stop it, let’s run it again. Do you ever do that sometimes?”
Said Durden:”That would be coach Huesman. (laughter) Those are the plays he calls and says run that one again.”
Said head coach Russ Huesman after VMI game:”Did you notice we ran that toss sweep six times in-a-row. I just kept telling Durden run it again Jeff. He said run it. We get eight, and I said run it again.”
Durden says it takes team work to make the play calls work.
Said Durden:”I’m lucky. I get to watch the point of attack. I’ve got Coach Spence. He watches the back end. He can kind of fill me in on how they’re playing in the secondary. And then the back-side linebacker in today’s football is a big deal, so I’ve got one of my line coaches is watching that pretty good.”
Studying your opponents players and tendencies factors into play calls as well.
Durden:”We have a watch on Sunday nights. Kind of getting a feel for the opponent. We’ll find out hey, do you think C.J. (Board) can beat this guy. No question. Levin. That guy has got to take on (offensive lineman) Corey Levin on the power play. Let’s pick on him, so that’s certainly a big part of it.”