Over the last five years, football offenses have gone through a full-blown transformation. What used to be predictable 21-personnel under center has now morphed into a chess match of RPOs, exotic motions, and formations that look like they belong in a video game.

The game isn’t just changing—it’s evolving. And it’s not just happening at the college or pro level. Some innovations are trickling down from the NFL, while others are bubbling up from high school sidelines.

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Trickling Down: NFL Trends Hit Friday Nights

One clear example of top-down influence is the Rise of the RPO. The NFL was slow to adopt it at first, but once teams like the Eagles and Chiefs started torching defenses with Run-Pass Options, it became a mainstream concept. Now, you can’t watch a Friday night game without seeing QBs ride the mesh and read a linebacker.

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Trickling Up: High School Gets Weird

On the other hand, exotic formations and unbalanced sets often start at the grassroots level. High school coaches, less bound by tradition, aren’t afraid to put a lineman at receiver or motion three players across the formation just to get you out of alignment. These ideas—when successful—get copied at the college level and beyond.

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🧠 The Chess Match: Coverage Rules vs Blitz Creativity

Defenses aren’t taking this lying down. Coordinators are drawing up zone match principles, simulated pressures, and disguising coverages pre-snap like never before. Some teams are showing two-high shells and rotating post-snap to trap routes or insert safeties into the box late.

It’s a game of leverage, and offensive staffs are spending their entire off-season looking for new ways to gain it. That means studying tape, breaking tendencies, and stealing ideas from anywhere they can get them—including TikTok.

Yet, in a strange twist, the game is going back into the phone booth. More and more teams are emphasizing physicality again. Tight ends are back. Pin-and-pull schemes are back. Trap is back. So while the eye candy is real, the punch-in-the-mouth mindset is returning.

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Don’t Forget About Special Teams

New kickoff return rules, squib innovations, and fake punts drawn up like offensive plays—special teams are evolving too. With field position more important than ever and rules constantly changing, smart teams are making special teams a weapon, not just a change of possession.

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✍️ Separate Yourself with Note-Taking

Here’s the truth: no matter how football evolves, the need for real learning and retention never changes. On our team, no one walks into a meeting without a notebook. No cell phones. No excuses. Pen to paper.

Why? Because when it’s your turn to hit the whiteboard and draw up a concept—offense, defense, or special teams—you don’t get to pull up your notes app. You either know it, or you don’t.

Most high school and even college players—unless they’re quarterbacks—aren’t comfortable doing this. And that’s the opportunity. You want to stand out? Be the one who studies like a coach.

📓 Check out the Film Study Guide, Play Sketch Pad, and Mentality Series at GetToTheFootball.com to build your football IQ the right way.

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🧠 This season will bring new wrinkles. New tricks. New trends.

Will you be ready? Or will you be chasing? The choice is yours.