Keith Grabowski starts the 2018 Coach and Coordinator podcast “College Leaders” series with guest Craig Yeast. As the offensive coordinator at Franklin College (Ind.), the Grizzlies have finished the past two seasons ranked top five nationally among Division III schools across multiple offensive categories, guided by his version of the Air Raid offense. Grabowski and Yeast discuss the Grizzlies’ success and where his offensive mentality comes from, as well as some of Yeast’s favorite offensive play calls from 2018, including his Counter RPO. Yeast offers advice for those looking to install the Air Raid as well as his recommendations on where to begin.

Show Notes:

:00 National Conference

01:35 Craig Yeast bio

02:40 Former coaches’ impact on Yeast’s philosophy

04:30 Selling the fun to the players

05:05 Easy to learn

05:45 There’s always opportunity

06:00 Topping the offensive charts

07:45 Keys to efficient completion rating

08:35 Consistency

08:55 Ball control and overall understanding

10:35 Man or zone beater

13:30 The process of installing a new system (Air Raid)

13:52 Must have or develop a QB

14:05 Focus on throw and catch

14:22 Must commit to the Air Raid

14:35 Must have well-coached linemen

15:30 Teach everybody the scheme

15:50 Defense must be prepared

16:16 Franklin’s physicality

16:40 Must be a team commitment

17:30 Installing Air Raid at a high school program for the first time

20:37 Find and focus on 10 plays

21:41 Focus on the little things

22:27 Importance of practice

23:27 Practice is everything

24:18 Coaching staff clinic

25:00 Everybody is on the same page from the top down

27:30 The regularity gives the advantage

28:14 Counter trey

31:44 Facing multiple fronts

32:37 If they adjusted, we adjusted

34:40 Philosophy and style for the bubble

35:23 Move motion

35:55 Leap motion

36:34 Zip motion

 

2018 College Leaders Profile:

Coach: Craig Yeast

Position: Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (third season)

School: Franklin College (NCAA Division III)

2018 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Co-Champions

Offense: Spread/Air Raid Influence

By the Numbers 2018 (regular season national rankings among NCAA Division III schools):

#1: Total Offense – 588.3 yards per game

#2: Third Down Conversion Percentage – .554

#5: Passing Offense – 333.2 yards per game

#15: Scoring Offense – 43.2 points per game

#20: Completion Percentage – 65 percent

More about coach:

Craig Yeast concluded his collegiate career with the most receptions (208) in SEC history and still ranks as the all-time leading receiver at the University of Kentucky, playing for Air Raid gurus Hal Mumme, Mike Leach and Tony Franklin. After a nine-year professional career, Yeast began coaching at Lexington (Ky.) Bryan Station High School and then moved to NCAA Division III Tiffin University (Ohio) where he served as wide receivers coach from 2012 to 2014. Yeast returned to the high school to become head coach at Fremont Ross (Ohio) High School in 2015 prior to arriving at Franklin.

Yeast has solidified the Grizzlies’ offense as one of the highest performing in Division III since coming to Franklin. In 2017, Franklin’s offense finished top five in Division III in total offense (1st - 564.5 YPG), passing offense (1st – 407.1 YPG) and scoring offense (4th – 48.6 PPG). During his inaugural campaign as play caller, the 2016 Grizzly offense led the HCAC in yards per game (486.8), total passing yards (4,015), total offense (4,868 yards) and scoring (39.4 points per game). Nationally, Franklin’s offense finished in top 25 nationally amongst Division III programs in passing offense (1st – 401.5 YPG), total offense (17th – 486.5 YPG) and scoring offense (23rd – 39.4 PPG).

 

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