Marty Ball
Encyclopedia
Marty Ball is a philosophy
of football
associated with and named after former NFL head coach Marty Schottenheimer
. In simple terms, it means a focus on the running game, with passing used only to further the running game.
Schottenheimer emphasizes offensive attacks that work as follows:
Fans (and critics) refer to this scheme as "Run, Run, Pass, Punt" (R2P2). Schottenheimer is considered to be a conservatively-minded coach with a majority of his focus on defense. The term "Marty Ball" is generally considered a pejorative because, at times, Schottenheimer will steadfastly continue to emphasize this form of offensive attack while attempting to hold on to a thin lead or when playing from behind - often with negative results.
In terms of regular season play in the NFL, Schottenheimer has run Marty Ball very successfully. During his coaching career with the Cleveland Browns
, Kansas City Chiefs
, Washington Redskins
and San Diego Chargers
, Schottenheimer has compiled an impressive 200-126-1 record. His teams have won 8 division titles (Browns: Thrice. Chiefs: Thrice. Chargers: Twice.), made 13 trips to the NFL Playoffs
(Browns: 4 trips. Chiefs: 7 trips. Chargers: Twice.), and have reached the AFC Championship Game
3 times (Browns: Twice. Chiefs: Once.). Unfortunately, he has failed to execute Marty Ball in the postseason, where he has an unimpressive 5-13 record and has never reached the Super Bowl
. NFL coach Herm Edwards said that it "probably detracts [from his legacy] in the minds of some people, but I know it doesn’t in the minds of people who have coached against him."
, Tony Dungy
, and Herm Edwards have also employed similar strategies of running the football and having a strong defense (also known as Smash Mouth football) -- none have adopted the Marty Ball approach. Edwards in particular is likely the closest to using the Marty Ball strategy than any other Schottenheimer protege.
Tony Dungy, in particular, employed a run-first offense during his tenure as coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
from 1996-2001. However, he abandoned his conservative philosophy during his coaching tenure with the Indianapolis Colts
from 2002-2008. Dungy's Colts teams normally passed the ball more on offense due to Peyton Manning
's presence on the team. In addition, Bill Cowher had been known to take more risks (such as making a fourth down conversion) than his mentor during his tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers
, and himself had successful passing offenses with Neil O'Donnell
, Ben Roethlisberger
, and to a lesser extent Tommy Maddox
without abandoning the running game. Unlike Schottenheimer, both Cowher and Dungy have each won a Super Bowl
.
Schottenheimer's final game as a head coach came in the 2006 AFC Divisional Playoff, where his 14-2 Chargers were defeated 24-21 by the New England Patriots
.
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
of football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
associated with and named after former NFL head coach Marty Schottenheimer
Marty Schottenheimer
Martin Edward "Marty" Schottenheimer is the current head coach of the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. Over his career, he has served as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins, and San Diego Chargers. He has the most wins of any NFL coach...
. In simple terms, it means a focus on the running game, with passing used only to further the running game.
Schottenheimer emphasizes offensive attacks that work as follows:
- First down: a rushing play.
- Second down: another rushing play.
- Third down: a pass attempt.
- Fourth down: punt (or field goal, if within range).
Fans (and critics) refer to this scheme as "Run, Run, Pass, Punt" (R2P2). Schottenheimer is considered to be a conservatively-minded coach with a majority of his focus on defense. The term "Marty Ball" is generally considered a pejorative because, at times, Schottenheimer will steadfastly continue to emphasize this form of offensive attack while attempting to hold on to a thin lead or when playing from behind - often with negative results.
In terms of regular season play in the NFL, Schottenheimer has run Marty Ball very successfully. During his coaching career with the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
, Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
and San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Schottenheimer has compiled an impressive 200-126-1 record. His teams have won 8 division titles (Browns: Thrice. Chiefs: Thrice. Chargers: Twice.), made 13 trips to the NFL Playoffs
NFL playoffs
The National Football League playoffs are a single-elimination tournament held at the end of the regular season to determine the NFL champion. Six teams from each of the league's two conferences qualify for the playoffs based on regular season records, and a tie-breaking procedure exists in the...
(Browns: 4 trips. Chiefs: 7 trips. Chargers: Twice.), and have reached the AFC Championship Game
AFC Championship Game
The American Football Conference Championship Game is one of the two final playoff matches of the National Football League, the largest professional American football league in the United States. The game is played on the penultimate Sunday in January and determines the champion of the American...
3 times (Browns: Twice. Chiefs: Once.). Unfortunately, he has failed to execute Marty Ball in the postseason, where he has an unimpressive 5-13 record and has never reached the Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
. NFL coach Herm Edwards said that it "probably detracts [from his legacy] in the minds of some people, but I know it doesn’t in the minds of people who have coached against him."
Other coaches
Although Schottenheimer's assistants have gone on to successful head coaching careers--Bill CowherBill Cowher
William Laird "Bill" Cowher is a former American football coach and player. Cowher resigned after 15 seasons as the Steelers' coach on January 5, 2007, 11 months to the day after winning 2005–06's Super Bowl XL...
, Tony Dungy
Tony Dungy
Anthony Kevin "Tony" Dungy [DUN-jee] is a former professional American football player and coach in the National Football League. Dungy was head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996 to 2001, and head coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 2002 to 2008...
, and Herm Edwards have also employed similar strategies of running the football and having a strong defense (also known as Smash Mouth football) -- none have adopted the Marty Ball approach. Edwards in particular is likely the closest to using the Marty Ball strategy than any other Schottenheimer protege.
Tony Dungy, in particular, employed a run-first offense during his tenure as coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
from 1996-2001. However, he abandoned his conservative philosophy during his coaching tenure with the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
from 2002-2008. Dungy's Colts teams normally passed the ball more on offense due to Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning
Peyton Williams Manning is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League . Manning holds the record for most NFL MVP awards with four. He was drafted by the Colts as the first overall pick in 1998 after a standout college football career with the...
's presence on the team. In addition, Bill Cowher had been known to take more risks (such as making a fourth down conversion) than his mentor during his tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
, and himself had successful passing offenses with Neil O'Donnell
Neil O'Donnell
Neil Kennedy O'Donnell is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League for 14 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals, and Tennessee Titans...
, Ben Roethlisberger
Ben Roethlisberger
Benjamin Todd "Ben" Roethlisberger , nicknamed Big Ben, is an American football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Steelers in the first round in the 2004 NFL Draft...
, and to a lesser extent Tommy Maddox
Tommy Maddox
Thomas "Tommy" Alfred Maddox is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, the XFL and the Arena Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at UCLA.-Early years:At L. D...
without abandoning the running game. Unlike Schottenheimer, both Cowher and Dungy have each won a Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
.
Schottenheimer's final game as a head coach came in the 2006 AFC Divisional Playoff, where his 14-2 Chargers were defeated 24-21 by the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
.