Newton’s Jacobsen develops new football playbook

Innovation and inspiration have no bounds.

Notre Dame football great Knute Rockne was inspired by true precision and timing of a chorus line in adding a shift of the Irish four backs.

While Collin Jacobsen does not see himself as another Rockne, the 17-year-old Newton High senior has a love of football. He loves to watch traditional veer option football.

“I was bored one day and just typed in a general Internet search about football offenses. I came up with the A11 offense information. I read it,” Jacobsen said. “I read a lot about different subjects, especially when I’m bored. The A11 football offense peaked my interest.”

Jacobsen’s boredom, innovative thinking and inspiration took off in September 2013. With many hours of work, Jacobson and A11 Offense co-creator Steve Humphries launched Jacobsen’s A11 Offense Veer Concepts playbook on March 9. It was sent out to 4,000 coaches across the United States.

Jacobsen, who has cerebral palsy, lived his dream of playing high school football in the fall. After working hard on the Newton High scout teams for three years, his work paid off his senior season, earning him a starting defensive line spot.

Cerebral palsy did not deter Jacobsen from playing his favorite sport. He said he worked hard in the weight room, but knew there were things he couldn’t do because of limited mobility on his left side.

It doesn’t deter him from doing anything he wants to do. He proved it again with the Veer Concepts playbook.

“Collin is an exceptional young man. Coaches may question why they should look at a playbook designed by a high school student. I tell them because Collin has a fully vetted playbook with a devastating offense,” Humphries said.

“We came up with the A11 offense in 2007 at Piedmont High School (Calif.). It was an offensive system based on unique formations using every player on the field as a potential scoring threat,” Humphries said. “It has been modified a bit because of the closing of some loopholes in rules, but it is still an effective offense.

“When Collin contacted me and told me about his idea of the veer offense, we were interested. No one had come up with a veer strategy to go with the A11 offense. I told him if he wanted to pursue it, we’d work with him.”

Humphries was the offensive coordinator at Piedmont High with head coach Kurt Bryan. After two winning seasons with the A11 offense, confusion reigned among opposing teams from all players on the offensive side of the ball could be eligible for a forward pass. In 2009, the National Federation of State High School Associations closed the loophole allowing the linemen-free formations featured in the A11.

Humphries said he and Bryan modified the A11 season to comply with the rule changes. The A11 offense is being used by high school, college and NFL teams.

“I sent emails to coaches seeking their input regarding option concepts to utilize in the A11 offense. I was surprised to learn that there was nothing,” Jacobsen said. “I decided to create a unique offense which utilizes all 11 players to their full potential as receivers, blockers, and ball carriers.

“It encompasses high-speed shifting, and simple blocking assignments to put the defense into conflict. This offense not only forces them to prepare for option concepts but for the versatility of A11 formations as well.”

Jacobsen said he has always loved watching traditional option football. He is always ready to talk football with anyone.

“I’m drawing up plays on wipe boards and paper all the time. I just finally put it all together,” Jacobsen said. “Getting the playbook published was not the ultimate goal of mine. It was about seeing a project through to the end.”

Jacobsen admitted as a football player his attitude has been “go get it.” He said it was the same with this project. Once Humphries said no one had ever come up with a veer offensive package for the A11 offense formations, Jacobsen was on his way.

Jacobsen said he emailed coaches known for running option football in their programs to gather information on the veer. He said he read books and discussed football with Newton head coach Ed Ergenbright and assistant coach Andy Swedenhjelm.

“This was the biggest learning experience for me this year. I was learning new things, not just football,” he said. “I learned about marketing, advertising, graphic design, structuring things with Power Point and how to do an interview. I learned life skills which will help me down the line.”

Jacobsen is headed to Drake University to major in law, politics and society. He said it is a liberal arts major. Oh, yes, he will be helping with the Drake Bulldogs’ football program. Jacobsen said he will be filming and doing data analyses.

Humphries said Jacobsen worked hard to prepare a really exceptional offensive package of the veer option football. He said the veer has always been a tough offense to defend and paired with the unique formations the A11 offense offers, Jacobsen’s scheme is even tougher.

“We heard from a coach from Alabama, who is a longtime veer offensive coach, who said Collin’s playbook was exceptional,” Humphries said. “Defenses have to be assignment sound against the veer and it’s hard to prepare — defensively — for a veer offense. Collin’s scheme gives even traditional veer coaches a new twist.”

Humphries has 20 years of football coaching experience at different levels. He was the varsity assistant coach at Piedmont High School, helping to create the A11 offense. Humphries is out of full-time coaching, but is fully involved with A11 Offense Concepts, helping publish new playbooks such as Jacobsen’s to go with the A11 offense.

Much like an editor for a novel, Humphries helped Jacobsen refine his play diagrams. Jacobsen said Humphries pulled together the playbook into a polished look. He said Humphries does web design and put the playbook online for free downloads for coaches and fans.

“I worked on each formation. You have to work out each player’s assignment on each play plus any changes which can be made for each play depending on the defense. My offense has an answer to be successful no matter what defense is thrown at it,” Jacobsen said. “Answers are built into the scheme to counter defenses.”

Jacobsen said he has been talking to coaches and teaching them the Veer Concepts plays. He said he has had strong positive feedback from coaches.

“Also, people has complimented me on being able to take a project, pull it all together and send it off to be published,” Jacobsen said. “I know now I am able to stick with a task and see it through to a successful conclusion. There were some bumps along the way, but I pushed through to get the job done.”

Jacobsen got the job done indeed. Humphries said hundreds of coaches have already downloaded Veer Concepts since it’s introduction on March 9.

Jacobsen’s Veer Concepts playbook can be seen and downloaded at a11offense.com.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com