Football Practice Planning, Organization & Efficiency
Championships are often forged on the practice field. The quality, efficiency, and focus of your practices directly impact player development, scheme mastery, team cohesion, and ultimately, success on game day. Designing and executing effective practices is a fundamental coaching skill that requires careful planning and organization.
This page brings together American Football Monthly's expert articles dedicated to optimizing Football Practice. Here you'll find valuable insights, proven techniques, and innovative ideas from experienced coaches on how to make the most of your valuable practice time.
Discover strategies and tips covering all aspects of practice management:
Building a successful youth football program starts long before Friday nights. It begins with intentional, well-organized practices that maximize development, keep kids engaged, and create a positive experience for everyone involved.
THE CREATIVE ACT OF COACHING
Artists create at the edges of chaos and order. They take others’ advice as information, not a prescription. They understand that someone else’s path is not their path. And remind us that the only practice that matters is the one we consistently do.
Southwest Minnesota State In-Season Practice Schedules
Cover: Getting the Most Out of Special Team Practices – By Andre Powell, Special Teams Coach, University of Pittsburgh
The Drills Report: Fundamental Defensive End Training
T he defensive line is home to some of the knees and hips should be as close to 90-de- largest, most athletic players in sports, gree angles as possible. This ensures that the particularly at the defensive end position. lineman isn’t overextended, which will result in Focusing on the fundamentals of a defensive lose of power when firing out. Once his stance lineman is crucial to properly develop a force is optimized, we then shift our focus to the to neutralize
Strength Report: Football Specific Conditioning, Part II
E very head coach desires to have traction. While performing speed training, to sprinting because unnecessary tension mechanics can be improved solely by run- team speed; that is, players that in the body will restrict the speed of limb movements. can run fast at every position on the field. Heavy squats are used to increase ning at faster speeds. The knees will lift It is a common understanding that higher and a desirable forefoot strike oc- force output;
Locking Down a Slot Wide Receiver
Learning some techniques and progressions on covering a slot receiver will give you a foundation to improve your one-on-one match up in the slot. There are a variety of drills specifically for man-to-man technique that you can practice. Offensive coordinators are placing a premium on using spread systems. Therefore, the DB’s have to possess the skills to cover all types of players all over the field. Covering in the slot is a different facet of their craft and needs to be emphasi
Off-Season Drill Work for Offensive Linemen
The off-season, specifically the cycles around spring football, January through March and May through August, are absolutely vital to the growth and development of an offensive lineman. It is when they make the most significant gains in upper and lower body strength, speed, conditioning and explosiveness as well as continuing to develop and improve position specific technique. We preach the concept of doing it harder and better than it’s ever been done before. It is a constant strain to imp
State Champions 2015 – The Best of the Best
Gary Rankin – Alcoa High School, TNSpread Offense • 4-3 Defense• Tennessee’s all-time winningest high school coach.• Won 7 state championships in his 10 years at the school.• Averaged 32 points in playoff games last fall, surrendering only 4.5 ppg.• Defeated Christ Presbyterian Academy in 3A state title game, 20-0.Chris Wolfe – Male High School, L
Hal Mumme – The Godfather of the Air Raid Offense
Considered the original architect of the Air Raid Offense, Hal Mumme developed his passing game after studying the playbook of LaVell Edwards, the near-legendary coach of BYU. Mumme first brought the offense to Texas when he was the head coach at Copperas Cove High School. Mumme studied Edwards and built the high school program into a consistent power with the strength of a wide open passing attack. In those days the I-formation was king but Mumme saw possibilities with three and four receive
Leadership Strategies: How to Develop a Steady Stream of ‘Championship Level QBs in Your Program, Part I
There is not much argument in any level of football that to win consistently and compete for championships you need strong quarterback play. So what defines ‘strong quarterback play’ and how do you develop that consistently within an organization? This series of articles will lay out a clear path that can easily be followed in any program given the proper attention. Let’s first discuss what goes into the makings of a great quarterback. From there, you’ll be in a better posi
Drills Report: Special Teams Organization for Competition Drills and Circuits
One of the greatest challenges for coaching special teams at all levels is how to get maximum quality reps in the most efficient manner possible during practice. Teaching multiple skills and techniques to 60+ players takes the combined effort of the entire coaching staff. I rely on all our coaches to help teach our players different aspects of the kicking game. It also takes a great deal of planning and organization so that your time on the field is efficient.One organizational con
Strength Report: Football Specific Conditioning, Part I
Football is an explosive sport requiring power and speed in linear and non-linear sport specific movements. With the average time per play lasting 6 seconds and a 40 second play clock, football is an interval based sport switching from high intensity bursts of about 6 seconds and low intensity active-recovery periods of about 40 seconds. Due to the high intensity nature of each play, one goal of the off-season conditioning program is to train the capacity and efficiency of the short duration,
Creating Turnovers Through Ball Disruption
As a head coach for 11 years, I have also worn the title of the offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator, and even though I am an offensive coordinator by heart, I realize more and more in this profession how important your defense is to your program’s success. As a defensive coordinator, one of the things I like to do after every season is review each game film and try to see what made us successful and what hurt us each game. Defensively, the main things I like to focus on while wa
Effective Strategies for Dealing with Man - Coverage Beaters: Stacks, Bunches and Mesh
ULM’s 3-3-5 defensive scheme is known for its aggressive style of play predicated on five and six-man pressure. To effectively utilize this type of defense, the pass coverage system must be proficient in man-to-man coverage. The ability to play cover 1 and cover 0 allows the defensive line and linebackers a great deal of freedom to find numerous ways to pressure the quarterback and stop the run by outnumbering the offense at or near the line of scrimmage. Of course, no defensive scheme is w
Missouri Protection - Teaching Pass Blocking Fundamentals to Running Backs
Using the right technique, four protection drills will help your running backs protect the quarterback.When we teach protection, there are a variety of drills that I use. I start with the base of the body, which are the feet, and I work my way up to the hands and the upper body. I start with the feet because that is where everything begins. A phrase I use a lot when coaching is get the right “Body Position.” I talk to running backs about blocking the defender with their feet.
Post- Season Priorities - Wrapping up one season and transitioning to the next are critical times for successful programs
When your season ends, do you kick back, relax and get away from the game for a couple months? Of course not. Whether it’s formulating and implementing an off-season strength and conditioning program, ushering in a new group of players and preparing them for the following season or putting together motivational exercises, every successful coach knows that winter presents an opportunity for physical and mental team building.To find out how the best coaches approach the post season
Linebacker Movement Drill Progressions
When developing drill progressions for your position group, it is important to break down the points of emphasis that you want to develop on a daily basis. Since individual period time is so valuable at all positions, it is crucial to stay organized to maximize the efficiency of the drill work you accomplish with your position group. By breaking down a position through film study we are able to create drill progressions that fit our scheme, personnel, and practice scripts to accomplish proper
Conditioning for an Aggressive, Up-Tempo Offensive System
Up-tempo offenses have become more and more popular at all levels of football and whether this is your team’s offensive philosophy or not, chances are that there are several teams like this in your conference or on your schedule that you must prepare for. Before we can begin to discuss the particulars of conditioning for an attacking, fast-paced style of play such as the up-tempo offense, we have to take a look at the dynamics of a typical football game and how we try to alter those dynamic
Every Program Needs a Speed System Like the One at Southeastern Louisiana
For the past 20 years it has become understood that football speed training is beneficial. However, what’s often missing in speed programs is the lack of a technically sound system. According to the definition of the word ‘system’ it’s “a group of related parts that move or work together.” This is the very essence of what makes a speed program viable. Many organizations throughout the country address the issue of speed training but may not be aware they could be missing the most i
A Little Help From Your Friends
The Beatles told us that you can Get By With A Little Help From Your Friends……And nothing could be more true within the world of coaching football. Your Membership in American Football Monthly provides you with a golden opportunity to submit YOUR EXPERIENCE to be shared with your fellow coaches. We want you to consider contributing and helping your peers become better coaches. Do you have ideas you always wanted to share? Do you have t
UNC-Charlotte Offensive Line Blocking Stations
Editor’s Note: UNC-Charlotte former offensive line coach Ed Ratliff wrote this clinic this summer before his sudden passing. Ratliff died of natural causes in early August and was both an experienced and respected coach. Our deepest condolences to his family and friends.We start practice with a blocking station circuit that sets the tone for the day. We play in a fast tempo offense that runs the inside zone, counter play, and power play. We take pride in starting practice fast and wo
A Quick, Simple, High Rep Progression for Defeating Blocks
Repetitions with four different ways to defeat blocks – the rip, punch, slip and cut techniques – will help improve your overall defense.One of the many great things about being at Butler University is being centrally located and having so many terrific football programs very close to use as professional development resources. Let’s be clear, no one is inventing a new defense. However, there are many different schemes, philosophies, fits, terminology, etc. This is where I think a
Why Coach? Being Compassionate, Optimistic, Attentive, Confident and Humanistic are Some of the Qualities a Coach Should Possess
When I was invited to submit an article to AFM, I figured I would simply put some drills together, share some concepts, propose a few diagrams and maybe even talk about the transition of players from high school football to college competition. After all, that’s what we, as coaches, would need for personal or professional development, right? I shared my ideas with colleagues in the office and even surveyed some young coaches who were helping with our sum
RAISING THE BAR - Transforming your Training Facility
Master Strength & Conditioning Coach Troy Jorgensen of Missouri Southern State University has transformed his training facility – with the help of Samson Equipment.Top collegiate programs are well aware of the importance of having facilities that will impress recruits and give their athletes an edge. That’s especially true with strength and conditioning facilities.But what about smaller colleges – those non-FBS schools that generally operate with much smaller
Ways to Turn a Season Around – Four Coaches Have Proven Ways to Help Turn a Season Around After a Struggling Start
Dan Rohn Grand Rapids West Catholic High School (MI) In 2013, Coach Dan Rohn’s Grand Rapids West Catholic team started the season 1-4 – and went on to win the Michigan state championship. In 2012, West Catholic started 1-3 – and reached the state championship game. In Rohn’s first eight seasons, West Catholic won its season opener only three times. It’s all part of the plan. “We gear everything toward being the best football team in
Leadership Strategies: Prima Donna Athletes – Transformational Leadership vs. Servant Leadership
Narcissus, a beautiful youth, glanced into a pool of water. Rejecting the nymph Echo, he fell in love with his own reflection. – Greek mythologyTying Greek mythology to football isn’t really a stretch, given the fact high school coaches are continually faced with one or more players who believe the team is there to serve them and not vice versa. Many coaches label these players as ‘cancers’. Unless, of course, they are clocked in the 40-yard dash under 4.5 or are of behemoth si
Using the Clean and Jerk as Your In-Season Workout
In my weight room the clean and jerk is our lift during the season. It builds explosiveness and has shown to keep athletes healthy. The clean primarily works the hamstrings, lattisumus dorsi, biceps, and trapezius muscles. Players learn with this lift to be explosive because it teaches to produce a large amount of force in a very short period of time. Another benefit of the lift is that it works hips and glutes. They are two very important areas that have to do with power and speed
AFM Subscribers Ask with Shawn Liotta Offensive Coordinator, Clairton High School (PA)
Shawn Liotta is the offensive coordinator at Clairton High School (PA), a team which averaged 59.9 points per game last season. Clairton also averaged 12.8 yards per play and 510 yards in total offense per game, even though the PIAA Mercy Rule was in effect in the second half of 12 of the 16 games his team played. His offense is aptly named the ‘No-Huddle, No Mercy’ offense.Along the way, Clairton’s quarterback, running back and wide receiver each set school records last fall
Shrug Off Predictability with Formation Adjustments, Not Checks – Offensive coaches, now more than ever, are using non-traditional sets to gain an advantage on the defense.
Football has always been a game of numbers, leverage and angles. Offenses are constantly adjusting their formations and schemes to gain the advantage. You normally hear this in regards to the run game but, it applies to the pass game as well. Now more than ever, offensive coaches are using non-traditional sets (i.e., Bunch, Empty, Unbalanced) to gain the numeric or angle advantages on the defense. They also are taking advantage of another situation – predictability.If you are lik
Warhawk Special Team Play – Technique and Drills
Special teams are a major determining factor in the outcome of football games at any level. It is fundamental that you stress not only the importance of special teams to your program but also continually drill them and show them the results that you want. This is our philosophy for special teams play:• We use the KISS principle – Keep It Simple Stupid – which allows you to focus on fundamentals.• Give the illusion that you do a lot of different formations, moti
Texas Legend Phil Danaher
Phil Danaher has been the head coach at Calallen High School (Corpus Christi, Texas) since 1984. He is one of two coaches in the history of Texas high school football that has amassed over 400 wins. Danaher has a chance in 2016 to surpass the all-time leader – G. A. Moore – who won 426 games over a 44-year career. Danaher’s career record is 407-103-4.Danaher’s teams have made the playoffs every year since he arrived at Calallen. Before he took over the program, Calallen had
Leadership Strategies: In Need of a New Direction
Coaching staffs should not expect seniors to lead simply based on their age. So, the ultimate goal of our program became to build better men, to help them to grow individually, and eventually teach them how to lead other young men. The result of our emphasis on leadership has been impressive. In 2014 we had a 13-game winning streak that included a #1 Missouri state ranking, a top 150 national ranking, and a narrow defeat in the Class 5 State Semifinals. Provid
Coach to Coach: To Overcome Early Season Adversity, Become a Champ
Early season adversity is common in football. Whether the adversity is a devastating loss, poor team chemistry, or another issue, a pre-planned process for improvement is necessary. Here are some suggestions for overcoming adversity and becoming a CHAMP. Can DoAdversity is often hard to overcome because individuals and teams stay focused on the problem for too long. A loss or setback always stings, and it should, but moving on and not looking back is essential for improvement.
Pre-Season Conditioning and Speed Training – The Good, The Bad, The Indifferent – Part II
We’ve clearly established that you need to consider using the proper energy system that delivers the greatest return for your training investment. I will not argue the choice you make as stated in part one of this article that you should or shouldn’t condition. That’s your choice. However, if you do condition at all, you need to come up to speed by selecting the right system available for your time spent.Anaerobic conditioning is the ability to perform at a rate faster than c
Tackling Drills Without Pads
What can help develop a player to be a better tackler? One thing a player can do to be a better tackler is to know their surroundings. In knowing their surroundings, I’m talking about the scheme, and not only their fits, but the fits of players on either side of them. One of the biggest things we forget as coaches is to teach our players where their help is. Knowing where their help is allows them to play faster and attack in proper angles. Not knowing where your help is creates a slower, t
Developing Physical Linebacker Play
From my standpoint, the greatest compliment our defensive staff can receive is at the end of the game having the opposing coach say how hard and physical our guys played. Playing hard is something that every coach demands from their team. Playing a physical style necessarily is not. If we do not practice being physical, how can I expect my guys to come out on Saturday and play physical? We try and recruit naturally physical kids, but we all know sometimes it does not work out that way. Over t
Building Character and Commitment Through Community Service
By Dan Kratzer, Former Head Coach South Dakota School of Mines and Technology In season community service is part of every freshman’s commitment to the school. We let them know from the start that part of the responsibility in this world is to not always think of themselves, but to think and do for others. As the majority of our players are either math, science o0r engineering majors, they have a tendency to be somewhat introverted. So, we wanted to do something that
AEMA Report: Challenges Female Equipment Managers Face Working Football
Female equipment managers face many challenges working for the football team. For many decades the world of football has been dominated mostly by men with women playing only minor roles, if any. As we grow as a society and as a sport, women are starting to emerge in football in a variety of roles that once were thought to only be done by males. The world of football equipment has been, in particular, one of the harder positions for females to work. Many coaches and support staff have always b
Your Take: Long Hours, Hard Work – Do You Spend Your Time Doing What Matters Most?
If you are a head football coach, chances are that you are also a husband, father and classroom teacher. Usually guys that are wired to be a head football coach are wired to give their best in everything they do. How in the world do you balance all of the demands that go with those roles? Are you active in your church? I have spent 23 years as a head football coach. The last 19 years were at Mason County High School (KY). I underestimated how much work I would have to do when I became the new
Explosive Drills for Running Backs
Here are three running back drills that will help players’ overall agility and increase their explosiveness. Each one should be practiced daily throughout the season.1. Jump Cut/Spin DrillI love a running back that has the ability to flow into
Coaching HD – Technology to Prepare Your Team in Camp and During the Season
As another season is ready to commence, now is the time to solidify plans and details, and be sure that you are able to work through the grind of the season in the smartest way possible. Utilizing technology to help you and your staff be efficient will pay dividends in both preparation for each week as well as alleviating some of the stress that comes with the long work day that the season brings.In 2010, huge advancements improved the way we are able to work as coaches. The film r
Coaching the Blitzing Linebacker – Learning the proper progressions, techniques, and then drills for a blitzing linebacker will improve his performance on game day.
Attacking with linebackers and slanting the defensive linemen creates an opportunity to be unique and aggressive. Blitzing linebackers creates opportunities to change the defense into an over or under defense after the snap. When this is done with the 3-3-5 stack alignment, there is flexibility to match offensive numbers or be balanced at all times. What makes a linebacker effective in a swarm and strike defense?Recruiting linebackers to fit your defense takes great atte
We Are The Champions
Earning the state champion title means different things to different coaches.After the Gatorade is dumped, after the trophies are raised, after the last party is over, the coaches of the 300-plus high school state champions have time to reflect on their seasons and what winning the state title meant to them, their players, their schools and their communities.To some, becoming a state champion is the culmination of their coaching career. For others, it’s the continuation of
Leadership Strategies: Developing a Leadership Council
Jerome Learman was a high school coach for 20 years and 13 as a head coach. He received his doctorate in 2005 from Michigan State in Kinesiology. Learman is currently teaching at both Michigan State and Central Michigan University. While coaching, Learman developed a leadership council for juniors and seniors who received leadership training to become captains. American Football Monthly spoke to Coach Learman about his leadership council.After taking over for Craig Bohl, North Dakota S
Turning Up Motivation in the Dog Days of August
If your team is like most teams, you will start August with excitement, enthusiasm, and a drive to get better every single day. Inevitably, your players will tire of doing boring drills against their own teammates, effort will slacken, and practices will get stale. Coaches who can prevent the downturns or nip them in the bud have a great advantage over opponents who stay stuck for longer periods of time. Here are three recommendations for turning up the motivation and effort in the dog days o
Speed Report: The Challenges of Teaching Football Speed
The first step toward teaching football speed is dealing with velocity and angles that change rapidly. Secondly, you must provide a progressive training system that is relative to speed and movement physically, mentally, and technically. The nature of the game provides various challenges to movement speed, angle changes, frequency changes, and rapid acceleration. Your teaching must fit these practicums because, unlike track sprinting, the technical application for football speed is not all li
Letter from AFM – The Best of the Best
A state championship is the culmination of a year-round program that includes an extensive off-season strength and conditioning program as well as a detailed summer training program. We asked the state champion head coaches questions about their 2014 campaign. What were their priorities going into the season? What made last fall memorable? What were the keys to the championship season? Did adversity play a part of the season? And, has your coaching philosophy changed – if at all – over th
Interview with Dr. Jared Wood and Jeff Heath, Dallas Cowboys Safety and Special Teams Starter
This past off-season I had the opportunity to interview Jeff Heath, a safety and special teams starter for the Dallas Cowboys. I love getting to interview guys like Jeff because they weren't superstars coming out of high school or college, and yet they are
FREE FORM - General Practice Plan
With pre-season camps starting soon, it’s important to be as organized as possible. The “General Practice Plan Form” will help you organize your time for every minute of practice. Categories include ‘Prior to Practice’, ‘Team Stretch’, ‘Agilities’, and ‘Practice Periods’ for all positions.
A Complete Summer Conditioning Program
Each program has different goals when it comes to strength and conditioning training during the winter months and then in the summer:Winter • Conditioning is not a focal point.• Time to develop size and strength. • Fine tune mechanics and speed and agility (linear and deceleration).Summer• Learn to carry the new weight.• Develop max strength and peak power.• Prepare the athlete to deal with the extremes of
Gaining Leverage - Using unbalanced sets and formations can give your offense an advantage.
In this high tech game of offensive football, every coach is looking to gain advantages. We have incorporated different unbalanced sets as a part of our offensive scheme. Our players understand what we are trying to accomplish with these sets and, more importantly, they understand the do’s and don’ts in these formations. Ultimately, with these formations, we look to surprise the defense and create a small amount of confusion. We also look to out-leverage the defense and bring more players
Why We Do What We Do - A Look Inside Clemson's Strength and Conditioning Program.
The foundation of any successful collegiate football program is an understanding and commitment by all who work with the student-athletes to shape them into the vision the head coach has for the team. Head Coach Dabo Swinney has a vision of greatness for our program, which in the past four years, has driven us to two ACC Atlantic Division Championships, one conference championship, a 4-year span of 10+-win seasons, three straight bowl wins over ranked opponents, three straight Top 15 finishes
Are You Short on Big Linemen? If so, you should consider playing a stand-up Will End
Are you like most programs that have a shortage of big players with most of those needed on the offensive and defensive line? Then playing a standup Will End may be something that can help your defense. We have used the standup Will End for over 30 years and the results have been well worth it. Physical Attributes - We used to look at our back-up RB or DBs, but then we realized that there is no definition of who can play this position. It has become a position of its
Think Quick! If executed correctly, the quick passing game can be effective, regardless of the down and distance situation.
The University of Idaho’s quick passing game was first developed by Head Coach Dennis Erickson when he coached the Vandals. Now, Paul Petrino has refined the quick passing game after working on it with his brother, Bobby, when both coached at Louisville. Our goals with the quick passing game are to get the ball out of our QB’s hands quickly and produce explosive plays with short passes. This demands a system that is detailed, disciplined, and practiced every day at full s
Coach to Coach: Follow These Four Keys to Become a Better Coach Every Day
As coaches, we often preach to our players, “You will either get better or worse today.” In order to get better every day, players have coaches who have made practice plans for them and provide encouragement, feedback, and inspiration. But if we, as coaches, are going to get better, who and what do we have to help us? The following is an acronym for a process you can use on a daily basis to make sure you are improving in key areas of coaching effectiveness. Follow this plan each day, and
Drills Report: The Run-Up, Escape Drill
The ‘Run-Up, Escape Drill’ teaches our quarterbacks three important fundamentals – ball security, vision downfield, and launching while trying to escape or avoid pressure. The drills we practice are the drills that we witness our players performing as we watch game tape. The Run-Up, Escape Drill is one drill which we see over and over as we watch game film and then rep daily in practice.We can incorporate under center drops (5 or 7-step) or shotgun drops (3 or 5-step) into th
Letter from AFM - Hat's Off to You, Coach
The next time you go into our online archive of back issues at AmericanFootballMonthly.com, scroll all the way down to June 2004 and open up our cover story on John McKissick. At the time we published this profile, McKissick was the all-time winningest coach at any level of football with 510 victories in 52 years as head coach at Summerville High School in South Carolina. In the feature, he shared some of his secrets of success and longevity with our readers. He summed up his belie
Three Simple Things That You Can Do For your Players
By Jim PlaceHead CoachDayton Ponitz High SchoolThink of how much we ask of our players. Sometimes a coach needs to take a step back and look at himself through the eyes of his players. If you do this, ask yourself, “What am I doing for my players?” I am sure all of you can answer the question with a long list of positive experiences, but let me suggest three simple things to add to that list. 1. Write your players a thank you n
Coaching HD: Train the Brain
Over the past year, there has been tremendous growth in the realm of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) applications in football. The idea of training the brain to function in a number of different situations has merits in terms of gaining experience as well as performing in a setting where the dangers of injury are removed. Data on these simulations show that performance on the field is improved. Cognition training provides an additional way for preparing the brain for high spee
AEMA Report – The Second Football Season
By Austin Perryman, Student Equipment ManagerUniversity of Tennessee-ChattanoogaSpring football is altogether one of the most memorable seasonal sports to be involved in as both a high school player and a FCS student manager. I’ve been lucky enough to have been involved as both.Just before my last spring at Lincoln County High School in Fayetteville, TN I hurt my back doing hang-cleans. It wasn’t much at first, but as the spring went along, my back sta
Technology Steps Up – Aided by recent rules changes, tech companies now give coaches valuable new tools to analyze games in real time.
Aided by recent rule changes, tech companies now give coaches valuable new tools to analyze games in real time.For many years, technology has been an integral part of coaching. From the advent of game film to the development of sideline communications to the introduction of today’s sophisticated online video services, those in the technology arena have strived to keep up with the needs of coaches and utilize the latest in high tech innovations.Now, by virtue of an importan
Maximizing Your Defensive Circuit Drills – Turnover, tackling, and block destruction drills can improve your defensive play.
Every year we try to create themes for our team that we can use throughout the year to refocus our players no matter how our team is performing. We are also always looking for ways to maximize reps and be more efficient in practice time. One of the ways we do this is our SU Defensive Circuit (See Diagram).
Maximizing Your Offensive Circuit Drills – Overall blocking can be improved with a progression of drills.
Overall blocking can be improved with a progressions of drills.During the football season time to prepare and practice is very precious. We tend to spend all of our time on “scheming” the opponent and very little on fundamentals. Because of the importance of fundamentals, we have decided to build them into our practice schedule. We call them the “Fundamental 5” or “Fun 5” for short. The first one is blocking by the entire offensive unit.Blocking is the one skill
5 Keys to Boost Your Off-Season Training
It’s an old adage that championships begin with your off-season weight training program.The old adage is that championships are won in the off season. A positive, challenging and competitive off-season program can help be the catalyst that can set a team apart from the pack in the upcoming season. No two strength programs are the same and one cannot claim to be better than the other. However, there are a few key building blocks that can help to lay the foundation for future football
Wisconsin: Developing a Defensive Game Plan
In preparing a defensive game plan, there will be many things to take into consideration as you study your opponent. There will be many questions that you must answer about the opposing offense and your defense in order to put together a solid game plan. Below are several key points and areas that must be considered as you watch the game film and cut-ups. By “Defining” and “Identifying” your opponent’s offense you can begin to formulate your game plan:Define the Offense by:
Coach to Coach: Turning Up the Heat – Eight Suggestions for Creating Your Best Summer Ever
While often a challenge, the elements of summer (extreme heat, players not being in school, having too much free time, not having transportation to activities) provide a great opportunity to create a mentally and physically stronger team. Mental toughness is only built when conditions are difficult, and extreme weather, such as summer heat, creates a great opportunity to build mental toughness. Here are some tips for creating strong minds, bodies, and team chemistry this summer.Set Mo
Drills Report: The Wall Punt Return
The Wall Punt Return is easy to install and can vastly improve your team’s return yardage. We make a commitment to our special teams. Five days a week we hold a special teams period in which all of our coaches are expected to coach one aspect of that specialty. Each special team unit is then broken down by position where each coach can work on developing player fundamentals and techniques needed to be successful on that particular special team.General Rules of the Wall Punt Return:
The Speed Report: Football Speed and Movement Training – Making it Relative to practices and Games
Speed on the football field is every coach’s desire. The good news is that speed and movement can be developed. When I started developing football speed 36 years ago, no one believed it could be taught. How it was developed back then and even today, is still an issue that concerns me. Far too many programs are using inferior fundamental principles and, in most cases, they’re principles that fall short of the mark for maximizing results. Incorporating sound teaching fundamentals
TURNING AROUND A LOSING PROGRAM
By Chad Hanson, Head Coach, Eleva-Strum High School (WI) Chad Hanson is the head coach at Eleva-Strum High School in Wisconsin. Three years ago he was hired to improve the school’s football fortunes. In the previous three years prior to his arrival, the team won a total of five games. * What were the issues with the Eleva-Strum football program before you arrived? What was the culture like? - The situation that I walked into at Eleva-Strum was a unique one. The
FREE FORM - Passing Strategy
With spring practice in full form, it’s time to tweak “Passing Strategy: Down and Distance.” This free form lists passing opportunities in every down and distance situation. Whether it be first and ten at midfield or first and 15 in the red zone, this form details the priorities for your quarterback.
AFM Subscribers Ask with Mike Golden
Mike Golden is the Director of Sports Performance at the University of Massachusetts. He has 18 years of collegiate strength and conditioning experience. Prior to UMass, Golden coached for two seasons at the University of South Florida. He also coached at East Carolina, helping build the Pirates into one of the top programs in Conference USA, winning back to back conference championships under Head Coach Skip Holtz. While at ECU, he also trained first round draft pick Chris Johnson, who recor
Winning the Key Ground with Kickoff Coverage - Each man in kickoff coverage has an assignment ...
Each man in kickoff coverage has an assignment along with a kicker who must be skilled in directional kicking.This is a game of field position and we talk a lot about “Winning the Key Ground.” Below is our philosophy and goals for our kickoff cover unit.Philosophy 1. Cover two-thirds of the field with directional kicks.2. Inside and in front coverage – not lane.3. &nb
Drills for Receivers When You Don’t Have a Lot of Time – Repping fundamental drills with an emphasis on focusing on the proper technique and catching the football will improve the overall play of your wide receivers.
Repping fundamental drills with an emphasis on focusing on the proper technique and catching the football will improve the overall play of your receivers.In spread offenses, the receiver’s play is critical. However, in other style offenses, the receiver gets little attention. These drills are what I use once a week to drill the catching process. It includes hand strengthening exercises incorporated with drills where the receiver will get 46 catches in 20 minutes without using a lot o
The No-Huddle, No-Mercy Offense – A Look Inside the Most Productive Offense in the Nation
During the 2014 season, the Clairton High School offense scored 958 points on their way to a 15-1 record. The Bears would finish with the second highest scoring offense in the history of high school football, shattering virtually every offensive school record as they averaged 59.9 points per game. A balanced offense averaged 12.75 yards per play and totaled 8,162 yards (3,249 passing/ 4,913 rushing).Playing FastIn my first season as the offensive coordinator at Clairton High S
Samson Equipment's Strength and Conditioning Coaches of the Year for 2014
NFL: Garrett Giemont Pittsburgh SteelersBACKGROUND Garrett Giemont’s first job in the NFL was with the Los Angeles Rams in 1978. With over 30 years of experience in the NFL, Giemont was also the strength and conditioning coach for both the Oakland Raiders (1995-2002) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2003-2005). Head Coach Mike Tomlin brought Giemont to Pittsburgh in 2007 and he enters his 9th season with the Steelers this fall. Coach Giemont also worked as the D
Drills Report: Quarterback Drills You Can Use At Any Level
In this Drills Report there will be three different drills for quarterbacks – One Foot Throw, The Levels Drill, and the Quarterback Scramble Drill. Each one is designed to improve a different area of the quarterback’s technique.One Foot Throws Drill (Diagram 1)Object
A Nine-Week Off Season Super-Cycle Strength and Conditioning Program
This article was published in the January edition of American Football Monthly with factual errors. The revised version is posted below. AFM regrets the errors.True developmental training at the collegiate level can be defined as two mandatory, nine-week training phases per year. The remaining time each year could be considered in-season, discretionary or possibly maintenance. The other possibility in the yearly scheme that
LOCKED IN PREPARATION - Mental Conditioning for Football
The 2014 season marked my 10th season as defensive coordinator at Northwestern College. Throughout the ten years we have been blessed to have some great players and have had consistently strong defenses. Over this time, we have always gone into each game week with a list of ten goals. These goals were all measurable outcomes we could strive to achieve in each game. How we measured each goal may vary from year to year but these goals always included winning as our #1 goal. This goal was follo
AEMA Report: Shoulder Pads – To Recondition or Not to Recondition?
Many professionals involved in the administration of athletic programs that involve the use of various types of protective equipment are faced with the dilemma of keeping the equipment in reliable and sanitary condition from season to season. As with most of the other tasks they are assigned, this endeavor is frequently controlled by the constant constraints on today’s sports budgets and the perceived value of these expenses. Few will argue the significance and necessity of esta
DC Leadership Lessons - Detail is critical in making sure a staff knows the expectations of a defensive coordinator.
As a defensive coordinator, you are the head coach of the defense. That’s the way I approach it every day. Before fall camp and spring ball, I discuss my expectations for each coach and their position group. As the leader of those coaches, I want to make sure we are on the same page. My Expectations -A. No egos. We should all be trying to achieve the same thing.We should all be in this for the kids. If you are in it for any other reason such as money, not
Zoned In - Inside zone drills for covered and uncovered linemen
To get the most out of our O-linemen we use an effective drill called the Board Drill, which is part of our every day drills. We buy into it and start each day on the boards to develop great departure angles, contact, and follow through.The inside zone is the area blocking scheme where the covered lineman blocks on and the uncovered lineman blocks the playside gap often resulting in combinations. The O-linemen must read the near foot of the first DL. Movement is the key. The
Rawlings Football 2014 College and High School Coaches of the Year
Urban MeyerOhio StateIt was supposed to be a relatively straightforward formula. Any team with designs on winning a national championship should flex its muscles early in the season, stay relatively healthy, especially at the skill positions, and play its football in the Southeastern Conference. Somehow, Urban Meyer and the Ohio State Buckeyes did not come close to following that formula, yet the team pulled off
Coach to Coach: The Mindset of Excellence
At the end of the 2013 season, I remember watching 15-0 North Dakota State win their third straight FCS title. An ESPN reporter got to Head Coach Craig Bohl in the end zone for the post-game interview. At the end of the interview I heard coach Bohl say, “We pursue perfection and along the way we touch excellence”. It takes an incredible attitude to push for something so unattainable that it can never be reached and the
Drills Report: Four Running Back Drills for Good Footwork and Instinctive Moves
Running backs need to have great footwork. They also need to be able to make moves as second nature. These are not the only things that we practice. But it is very important to make sure that the running backs get plenty of work on these. With our spread offense, the running backs need to be instinctive. Being able to make moves without thinking is critically important. We work on drills that will help us during game situations. There are four drills that we work on every day
Strength Report: Indiana’s Off-Season Training Philosophy
College football seasons are becoming longer and more physical than ever before. With many college football teams seasons lasting from 14 to 20 weeks, it is critical to use the off-season training weeks as a time to rebuild and retrain in a proper way. In order to start the year off with a proper foundation for the upcoming year, off season training programs can last anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks consecutively, depending on a number of factors - spring practice start dates
MY FOOTBALL JOURNEY: 2014
By Wojciech “Coach Voyt” Andrzejczak This past year has been a blessing in terms of my growth as a coach. For the first time in 10 years, I’ve gave up my New Year’s party to watch Bowl Games. So instead of partying with friends I was enjoying Johnny Manziel’s magic in Atlanta on last New Year’s Eve. In February, I coached at a football camp in Prague in the Czech Republic. Summer gave me the opportunity to teach flag football at Camp Saginaw in the town of Oxford,
Helmet Maintenance 101
For football coaches, athletic trainers, and athletic equipment managers, player safety is the number one priority for their athletes. One of the best ways to support that endeavor is to have a certified athletic equipment manager on staff. Established in 1973, the athletic equipment managers association (AEMA) added certification for members in 1991. The certification program represents a level of competence, professionalism, and accountability to organizations, coaches and athletes. With th
From the Coach’s Bookshelf: Linebacker Lessons
Coach Lou Tepper brings more than 45 years of experience as a college football coach to Complete Linebacking. In this excerpt, Coach Tepper details the many intangibles a linebacker must possess to maximize his success.Linebackers are the glue of a defensive unit, physically and emotionally. Physically, they fill the open seams between defensive linemen inside and patrol the perimeter in conjunction with the secondary. In zone coverage lineback
Simulating Game Action with 3 Linebacker Drills
We run a 3-4 based scheme, so we need to have quite a few different linebacker drills ready when fall camp starts. To make sure we can cover all of the skills that our players need for the season, I start with a chart. This chart changes slightly from year to year as I adjust what skills and techniques I feel our players need to have. I also add new drills that I see or take out drills I want to get rid of. Ultimately, I don’t want to have so many drills that I don’t hav
Special Teams Winning Edge (Part II)
In the December issue, we discussed the head coach setting the tone for special teams play, the importance of other assistant coaches being involved in areas of special teams, setting goals, and strategy for the punt unit, kickoff unit, kickoff return unit and punt return unit. In this article, we’ll discuss practice efficiency and key points to consider when game planning for your next opponent. Spring Practice Plans Each spring, we evaluate our performance from th
Running for Sparty: Michigan State Running Back Essentials, Fundamentals and Abilities
I have been fortunate to be a part of the successes and championships at Michigan State and truly believe that they are a result of a tremendous team effort of our coaches and administrators.We have been blessed with talent at the running back position over our years here but we also believe that we do a good job of developing these young men. This article outlines what we believe it takes to play RB at a high level – the essentials. These are what the individual, to some degree,
Planning Ahead: What are the keys to game planning for an offensive coordinator?
What does an offensive coordinator go through as he prepares for his next opponent? What are the keys to having the most efficient game plan? AFM spoke to three offensive coordinators about the topic – Keith Grabowski, former offensive coordinator at Baldwin Wallace University, football consultant Dan Gonzalez, a former high school and college offensive coordinator, and Nick Restifo, the offensive coordinator at St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland.What is the process for
Imagery: Practice Without Practice
We’ve all daydreamed. As a kid, I often drifted away to the football field, wearing a black jersey with the white number 40. I was running for touchdowns on the biggest stage. Defenders were diving at my feet as I sliced and diced my way to the end zone.The defender was diving for air behind me. I could be anyone in my mind. I would make the moves in my mind as I imagined myself becoming Gayle Sayers in that white number 40. In my mind I imagined myself em
Maximize Practice Time with Special Team Drills
We pride ourselves on having a special team’s identity. It’s consists of pressure, field position, and points. These identities help create tempo and energy throughout practice and games. Our philosophy consists of: Pressure:• We make every effort in every way to apply pressure to our opponent. Field Position:• We either want to flip or win field position whenever possible. Points:• With every special teams unit, we e
FREE FORM - Coaches Evaluation Form
With the season now completed, it’s a perfect opportunity to evaluate the coaching staff with the Coaches Evaluation Form. Categories include Personal and Professional Attributes, Administrative Procedural Abilities, Knowledge and Practice of Medical-Legal Aspects, Theory and Techniques of Coaching, Personnel Management, and Public Relations Skills.
Character is the Key
By Jim Place, Retired High School Coach Each year you have 10 scheduled games. Every team will set their goal at going 10-0 but the reality is that very few teams have the physical talent to reach this goal. The reality is that each team has a four game swing based upon their talent. For a given team based upon their talent the best record may be 7-3 and their worst 4-6, other teams 2-8 to 5-5 or 9-1 to 6-4. This is the range of record
Managing Your Program: Evaluating Staff - Creating an Environment For Success
As the season ends, equipment is collected, banquets are planned, and goals are set with the returning players. It’s important to not lose sight of one very important component in your program – the coaching staff. The team’s success is very closely tied to the coaches who create the environment that nurtures that success, yet often, the staff is the last component attended to in the transition from one season to the next. Years ago, former Navy Commander and aut
Helmet Maintenance 101 -
By Michael Valentine, Equipment Manager, Northern Illinois University and Melisande Resendiz, Assistant Equipment Manager, Northwestern UniversityFor football coaches, athletic trainers, and athletic equipment managers, player safety is the number one priority for their athletes. One of the best ways to support that endeavor is to have a certified athletic equipment manager on staff. Established in 1973, the athletic equipment managers association (AEMA) added certification for mem
Special Teams Winning Edge (Part I)
I am a believer in our special teams philosophy because we have seen great success in every major category at two different universities – North Greenville University and Gardner-Webb – at two different levels of college football.My first few years as a special teams coordinator was trial by fire. But what I did learn is that you have to completely embrace the role because all great programs are sound and explosive in the kicking game and you have a chance to create a cul
Defensive Backs Techniques, Fundamentals, Tips and Drills (Part I)
The defensive back position today is perhaps the most physically demanding of any player. He must be able to tackle much bigger running backs and run with wide receivers that have world class speed and the height of a basketball player. Athleticism, hard work, determination and intelligence must be added to God-given talent and instinct in order to play effectively in the secondary. Here are some tips for defensive backs at all levels that you can share with your athletes.Tips For DBs
Wild Bunch - Stress out defenses with the Bunch Passing Game
We have had success with our ‘Bunch’ passing game. There are four major advantages of using the bunch pass:• It allows you to get wide receivers open based on scheme, not one-on-one matchups.• The bunch game will loosen up man coverage schemes.• It makes the defense spend practice time trying to defend it.• It creates advantages in the run game by spreading the defense out.There are four basic bunch plays that we use
Cashing In - Use some of these creative fundraising techniques to bring extra dollars to your program and motivate players.
Virtually every high school program in America relies on fundraising activities for at least some of their football budget. Whether it’s to purchase necessities such as uniforms or program enhancements such as camps or dinners, fundraising can go a long way toward making “wish-list” items a reality.Fundraising activities also tend to unite players behind a common cause and bring together members of the community in support of the team. Courtesy of AFM readers, here are seven
Building Blocks
Whether you’re starting a new program from scratch, taking over a losing program, or trying to develop your program into a consistent winner, these proven techniques from state champion coaches can be your blueprint for success.When Dave Redding accepted the head coaching position at Mansfield High School in Mansfield, Massachusetts in 1988, he knew changes had to be made. “Mansfield had not won a league championship since 1976,” said Redding. “We focused on the off-season stre
Coach to Coach: Energy Regulation - The Pressure and the Phenom
The best quarterback on the team is a sophomore. He’s 6’2” and built like a tree. His whole life has been filled with off season camps and QB gurus. He has all the physical attributes a coach could wish for. Everybody on the team has great expectations for this phenom. Anything less than a championship by the time he’s a junior or senior will be a great disappointment. It’s game time, and he knows everyone’s watching. He can feel the pressure. His stomach doesn’t feel so good. H
Drills Report: Running and Tackling Drills - A Twist for TNT Drills
Similar to other teams, we spend time each week working on tackling and turnover (TNT) drills. In the past, we typically felt satisfied at the conclusion of each TNT drill as our defense seemed to grasp the fundamentals of tackling and forcing turnovers. However, when we reached game day and even team practice scenarios, our drills did not seem to translate to the field. Often, we missed tackles (especially in open-field situations) and our players suddenly lacked focus when it came to
Safety First: Be Safe In Your Weight Room (Part I)
Safety is a critical element at every high school and college weight room. AFM spoke with three strength and conditioning coaches about weight room safety procedures including Jim Kielbaso, the Director of Total Performance Training Centers (MI), Jim McGuire, the Assistant Director of Strength and Conditioning at Merrimack College, and Dan Leary, assistant coach and strength and conditioning coach at Seaside High School (OR).How do you instruct your athletes on safe lifting procedures
Speed Report: Running Ahead of Speed - Stimulus for Training Incentives (Part II)
In our last article on running ahead of speed, we focused on in season concepts that aide the transition of off season development. In part two, here are suggestions and methods that can help stimulate your athlete to strive for higher production. Working year-around can sometimes be mundane, which will disrupt the concentrated and continuous focus needed. Their sense of purpose is significant for sustaining collective desire for reaching objective goals and benchmarks. Speed train
Letter from AFM: 2014 - Was Something Missing?
Except for the NFL and college playoffs, the 2014 season is complete. Looking back, in high school, college and the NFL this season we saw great individual and team efforts, stunning upsets, dominant victories, miracle comebacks and record-setting performances. Everything we’ve come to expect from the game in the modern era.But something was missing this year compared to the recent past. That’s the relentless and overwhelmingly negative media coverage of the dangers of football
Fueling Champions
Sophisticated nutritional and recovery practices and new NCAA food guidelines help Florida State’s Katy Meassick keep Seminole athletes fully fueled and ready for competition.To build a championship program in the ultra-competitive FBS, every aspect of athletes’ training, on and off the field, must be carefully addressed. That includes making sure that proper nutritional and workout recovery practices are being followed. At Florida State, that job falls to Sports Registered Die
Erasing A Decade of Disappointment: The Transformation of the Mustangs
A lot of coaches like talking Xs and Os, which is the easy part of coaching. The scheming and game planning is the chess match we all signed up for and love to do. However, as head coaches, we take on a little more than just the scheme these days. When you get your shot to be a head coach, for most of us, we don’t inherit a program that wins and is used to winning. Rather, it is usually a challenging program, one that has not won or doesn’t do so consistently. This p
Shotgun Snapping in a Run-First Offense - Teaching proper techniques and practicing as many reps as possible will improve the performance of your shotgun snapper.
Shotgun and pistol snapping have become more commonplace in today’s game. It is also common for some high school and college teams to operate out of the shotgun for the majority of their offensive snaps. We are a run heavy team (75 %/25 %) and we operate out of the shotgun nearly 100% of the time. A few years ago, I researched as much as I could about the shotgun snap. I read from multiple sources and emailed, called, and met with various coaches. I wanted to understa
Zone Defense on the Goal Line - To be efficient in this zone defense, give each player a specific responsibility.
As the passing game has evolved over the last few decades, defenses have been challenged in a variety of ways. Defensive coaches have had to try to find ways to maintain some competitive balance in both the red zone and the big red zone. In the 1970’s it was rare to find teams playing zone defense in the red zone. The standard coverage was man-to-man with corners playing on the line of scrimmage with inside leverage. The most common pass in this scenario became the quick fade to the corner
Options Galore - To be successful running a multiple option offense from the gun and pistol, every player must identify the read key and the option key.
Option football has changed over the years. My experience with the option has included under center wishbone as a high school coach in the mid ‘80s, followed by under center flex-bone as a college coach in the late ‘90s, and flex-bone shotgun in the 2000s. After becoming the head coach at Augustana College in 2011, I wanted to return to option football but with a more updated approach. So, in 2012, we began running a unique, multiple option system from the shotgun and pistol th
Lasting Legacy - At 70, Corky Rogers is still going strong as a member of the exclusive 400 win club.
It was a misty, cool, December night in Florida. Things looked bleak for coach Corky Rogers and his Bolles School team from Jacksonville. The Bulldogs were trailing a powerhouse Santa Fe team 17-6 with less than a minute to play in a semifinal playoff game. Santa Fe was loaded with future NFL players. “We were just getting it taken to us,” Rogers said. “We were trying everything you could try, because nothing was working.”In that final minute, Rogers made an adjustment and
Five on the Line - The 5-man defensive front is making a comeback – especially against traditional run-first offenses.
Before the advent of today’s high-powered spread offenses, it was common for defenses to employ a 5-man front with a nose guard, two tackles and two ends. While many teams have gone away from 5-man fronts, AFM found a surprising number of 2013 state champions that use the front either exclusively or part time.Here, coaches from four championship programs share their insight and strategies for making the 5-man front effective, especially against the run. They are Matt Crossman, de
Coach to Coach: The Mental Fundamentals - Attention Control and Concentration
One Play at a Time It takes consistent practice in order to concentrate and focus on the proper things. Our defense in high school had a motto on every break of the huddle. The Mike linebacker would call the defense and yell “HIT!” and everyone would follow with “HARD!” HIT.....HARD! It seems so simple but that was over 25 years ago and it still gets me fired up. It served as a great verbal trigger to focus on the next play and it describes what we were about
Safety First: Keeping Equipment Clean - In-Season
Football season is long and hard on equipment. It is the equipment managers’ job to maintain that equipment so that it can last all season. This includes repairing and cleaning the equipment on a regular basis. The number one goal of cleaning football equipment is killing the microbes that pose the biggest threat to athletes including MRSA, Staph, Meningitis, Strep, Athletes foot, HIV, Herpes, Hepatitis, mold and mildew. These microbes can keep a player out of play for days, weeks, months,
Strength Report: How to Use Weighted Sleds for Explosive Acceleration
There are numerous products designed to increase speed, but one of the most effective, versatile and easiest to use is the weighted sled. The research on resisted sled sprinting has changed over the years, creating a lot of confusion for coaches. Fortunately, recent information has shown that proper use of these sleds can have a positive effect on an athlete’s ability to accelerate – the most important aspect of football speed. Which Way to Push Because the abili
Speed Report: Running Ahead of Speed - Making it Doable and Challenging During the Season
Making it Doable and Challenging During the SeasonThis is part I of a four-part series entitled, “Running Ahead of Speed.” The objective is to help you build a truly consistent results-oriented football speed and movement program. Like any endeavor that’s year -to-year, it must rely on certain required elements in order to truly maximize training success.We’re all busy, and this can often determine what is done and how it’s done. Just running isn’t speed work. Ru
Limits on Live Tackling in Practice – Good or Bad for the Game?
National player safety concerns prompted in great part by the National Football League’s (NFL) response to player lawsuits and scientific research data that is calling into question the safety of the game has led to numerous efforts to implement changes that will hopefully make the game safer on all levels of play. The California Assembly by a vote of 50-22 has approved AB 2127 a bill that will prohibit high school and middle school football teams of school districts, charter school
The American Equipment Managers Association
The purpose of the Athletic Equipment Managers Association (AEMA) is, as a national organization, to promote, advance, and improve the equipment managers’ profession in all of its many phases. Members of the AEMA will now be working with American Football Monthly to help educate and inform AFM subscribers about how to better address equipment-related issues.What is the background of the AEMA? In 1974, 25 equipment managers became the first members of the organization at
Five Keys to Defending the Wing-T With Your 4-3 Defense – To stop the Wing-T, use three different fronts, key on the guards and limit your blitzes.
Good Wing-T football coaches are tough to beat. They know their offense, formation, and series. They will know what the role of each player on your defense is, and which defenders they want to put in conflict.As a defensive coordinator, you start in a hole to begin with. Wing-T coaches always seem to have the answer, no matter what solution you come up with.So why do some defensive coordinators want to be the opposing offensive coordinator’s best friend? They gameplan
Drills to Develop A Game-Ready Quarterback – Drills that simulate game conditions can help get your QB ready for any situation he'll face on the field.
The quarterback position has long been described as another coach on the field. The qualities of a good quarterback must be fine-tuned from his playing ability to his leadership ability. These qualities must be identified, explained, practiced and developed to their fullest to create a successful and winning quarterback.There must be drills developed and executed that cover every situation that will arise for a quarterback in a football game. But before we ever get to the game, pra
A Complete In-Season Training Program
Our mission as a strength and conditioning department is to develop strong minds within strong bodies and prepare each athlete for the rigors and demands of college athletics. We have three goals we use to summarize the mission:1. Reduce the occurrence of injury2. Improve athletic performance3. Optimize team successWith our football program, I view the in-season as our most important training stage of the entire year. This is the time when the
The Art of the Interception – Proper positioning and anticipation are two prerequisites for making an interception.
Just about every coach at every level will tell you that turnovers are critical. Interceptions, especially, alter the momentum and often change the outcome of a game. What can be done to help your defense cause an interception? What type of preparation is needed so that your defense is ready to anticipate a potential interception?AFM spoke to five defensive coaches whose teams were among the leaders in interceptions last fall. They included four defensive coordinators: Josh Homolka
Starting Fresh – What are the priorities for five new first-year head coaches?
Steve Sarkisian’s first team meeting as head coach of the Southern California Trojans lasted an hour. There was no planned speech, only bullet-pointed priorities on what he expected from his players and what they could expect from their new coach. He strived to make his introduction as real as possible.“I don’t think you should come into that first meeting (with a new team) believing that you’re going to win over all the players,” said Sarkisian, who, after five successfu
Managing Your Program: Building a Team – Objectives for Camp
Unity/Chemistry - Establishing chemistry is a big goal for every team in camp. Hopefully, the ground work was established in the off season. No matter how the off season went, camp and the new season have a new dynamic in how the team will interact and work together. It is a time for leadership of the team to really take root. This is an area that can be coached, managed and developed. A good head coach and his staff will see some of the issues that must be worked on during camp so
Drills Report: Kickoff Return – The Alley Drill
Anyone who has coached special teams at any level will usually list three problem areas that can sometimes make it difficult to excel in the kicking game. One is personnel. It is a constant challenge to balance utilizing your roster to the max yet also getting the best players on your team involved in the kicking game. Another is how much time is allotted to special teams practice. If you are in high school or college, your practice time is often limited. Unless you have a head coach who real
Coach to Coach: The Mental Fundamentals – Motor Programming
The ball is in the air. It’s a perfect spiral flying straight into a pair of hands. He drops it! It’s like his hands exploded from the speed of the ball. The coach yells “catch the ball, you gotta make that catch” or something similar, as if the player didn’t want to catch the ball in the first place. Why waste your breath on stating the obvious? What kind of receiver doesn’t want to make the catch? Chances are, the reason he missed the catch is because he hasn’t done
The Kettlebell Alternative
Ten years ago I made a decision that would change the course of my training practice and instruction forever. On the recommendation of a mentor of mine, I took a considerable leap of faith, jumped on a plane to St. Paul, MN, and with virtually no experience whatsoever, dove into a kettlebell certification weekend that nearly killed me. It was the RKC (Russian Kettlebell Certification) by Dragon Door and I had no earthly understanding what I was getting into. It was like a football training ca
Speed Assistance and Resistance - Good or Bad for Football?
Since speed and movement and movement control are the most sought-after athletic qualities, coaches and trainers are always looking for ways to help athletes improve in these areas. Let’s look at the topic of loading and assisting and try to sort out the good from the not so good. Coaches constantly ask me about load speed work and assisted speed work. For football, it’s a controversial subject. First, coaches place too much value on it and, in most cases, use it improperly. Of
Getting Everyone on the Same Page: Coach Ralph Munger Talks About Building Confidence
By Jared Wood, Sports Psychology Consultant
Carmel High School’s Game Week Preparation Model
By John Hebert, Assistant Coach, Carmel High School (IN) The Carmel defensive system currently in place has many influences. Through external benchmarking visits, (2005-Colerain High School in Cincinnati; 2008- Air Force Academy; 2010- Naval Academy; and 2012 Grand Valley State) we have become committed to a one ga
Pressure Defenses, Part II: Having the proper angle for each player is crucial in pursuing a ball carrier in space.
Last month’s issue included our defensive alignment and strategy as well as our different fronts and coverages. This month, we feature three different defensive pursuit drills.A crucial period of practice for us is our pursuit drill time. The focus is on getting aligned, proper communication, correct angles, and great effort. This drill sets the tempo for the rest of practice. Going hard every time and sprinting to the football is a point of pride for all of our players.
Flex Fronts: Stop offenses by using a different front on every play.
As I watched Clemson and Auburn play in BCS games last January, I wondered how many high school coaches will be going to the spring coaching clinics put on by these schools. More importantly, what are defensive coaches going to do to stop these types of offense? Tight ends are becoming a huge part of offenses. While there are some teams that don’t ever use one, other teams use three on one play. We have to be able to line up against all of these formations.In Florida, we see a di
Play Keep-Away: Each time your team punts, the goal is to kick it 40 yards and out of bounds.
It’s that time of year when coaches are in clinic research, upgrading playbooks and pushing the weight room as hard as possible. One area that is overlooked in a lot of playbooks is special teams evaluation. In most cases, special teams is the difference between two evenly-matched teams. Often overlooked and under-practiced, special teams play effects the overall efficiency of your program.In high school, we all face that very special player in the kicking game that can score any
Complete Package: Becoming a complete wide receiver includes becoming a better downfield blocker.
Blocking is critical to becoming a complete wide receiver. Blocking as a receiver is about effort, position, and leverage. A complete receiver always puts as much effort into blocking as he does into catching passes. It is great if you have what it takes to run clean routes to get open and catch the football, but what if the play that’s being called is a running play? Will you do your part to ensure the play is a success and that a teammate has a great opportunity to score? Or, will you jus
Big D: Defensive Line Philosophy and Daily Drills for an Aggressive Front
One key to a strong defense is that each position group develops the fundamental skills required to consistently execute their individual assignments. Here is our defensive line philosophy and an outline of the daily drills we utilize to help our players compete at a high level. Defensive Line PhilosophyWe pride ourselves on being a fast, aggressive front that plays with exceptional fundamentals and discipline. We prepare, practice, and compete with tremendous energy and
AFM’s Annual State Champions Roundup
State Champ Coaches’ Profile Average Age = 48 Average Years as a Head Coach = 13 (22% have 20 or more years experience) 80% are coaches and teachersWhat are some of the reasons for your success? (multiple answers)100% said Coaching Staff98% said Players72% said Parents Support69% said Strength and Conditioning57% sai
Coach to Coach: The Mental Fundamentals: Goal Setting
Building Perspective The first game is just around the corner, so we call a team meeting to assess our direction for the season and set some goals. When I ask the kids what their goals are for the season they seem to reply with the same answer every year, “win league, win state and beat our rivals.” Winning seems to be the theme for every goal. Even the coaches I’ve worked with base all of their goals around winning. It reminds me of that famous Lombardi quote
Prevention of Exertional Heat-Related Illnesses
The key to prevention is balancing all the factors that influence body temperature so that the body temperature stays within a safe range. Here’s how:Monitor weather conditions and adjust practices accordingly. Table 11.1 shows the specific air temperature and humidity percentages that can be hazardous. Keep in mind, however that football exertional heat-related deaths have occurred at temperatures as low as 82 degrees with a relative humidity index at only 40 percent. If heat and h
Icing on the Cake
Every year, when we survey head coaches of state championship teams, we learn something new about the coaches and teams that won state titles the previous season.This year, for example, we found out that the vast majority of teams use a no-huddle, hurry up offense at least some of the time and 31% use it all of the time. That’s amazing when you consider that only a handful of teams were running no-huddle only five years ago when we ran a cover story that asked, “Should You Ditc
FREE FORM - Offensive Game Plan
With summer practices here, it is time to put together a detailed Offensive Game Plan Form. This form includes all down and distance situations, red zone and goal line plans, and special situations. It’s a must for every offensive coach.
Coaching American Football Overseas
By John Trana, American Football Coach in Russia and Croatia American football’s popularity is growing quickly all around the world. It is opening up new avenues for players and coaches to continue their football careers. There are over 700 teams in Europe alone playing American football. The quality of football can vary drastically with the top teams playing at a low college level. As the NFL continues to expand overseas, so will the popularity of American foo
Your Take: Expanding Your Coaching Network
We all have a stack of business cards, or an inbox full of messages from other coaches throughout our network. When was the last time you reached out to one of those coaches to discuss a concept or to share a scheme? Have you applied or inquired about a job at a school where you did not know anyone on the current staff? Is there a chance that one of those contacts in your file has a connection to use?The concept of increasing value and depth to your network is one that should not b
Pressure Packed – Game-like drills will help your quarterback make good decisions.
In today’s offensive game plans, most teams have a spread attack that works out of the shotgun set. Teams run 60-65 plays per game with the quarterback in a drop back technique for most of the passing plays. Out of the number of passing plays called, at least 12-15 plays – on an average – force the quarterback out of the pocket or to retreat back into the middle of the pocket. This means at least one fourth of your pass plays have a QB making a decision to either run or pass while
Situational Analysis – Having a specific gameplan for each offensive situation enhances your chances of success.
We teach our players to develop a thorough understanding of situational offense: its importance, its relevance, and the consequences of not recognizing and reacting to the many situations that exist and ultimately define our game. Here are eight main situations and how we develop our players’ understanding of them. During the beginning of fall camp, as well as in the opening of spring practice, we implement a well-planned-out installation that will be the foundation of our offens
Put the Block On – Block circuit drills and one-on-one punt rush drills can increase your chances of blocking a punt.
Blocking punts takes not only personal belief and courage, but training and a good scheme to get the right player free to the punter. We teach the techniques necessary to properly block punts. We also practice different drills to train players to use those techniques plus a few scheme adjustments to try to get players free to the punter. I always tell the players that I want volunteers, not mercenaries. Mercenaries are people you hire to do a job; volunteers do it because they love it. Pu
Teaching the Inside and Outside Zone Using 3-Person Groups
O-Linemen need to determine their defender’s alignment so they know if they are a covered or uncovered lineman.This topic is about teaching the inside and outside zone using 3-person groups during your individual periods.Before getting into the actual drills, a few things must be understood. The two plays are based on the teaching that in any inside or outside zone play, there are “covered” and “uncovered” linemen. Covered linemen are those that have a d
Summer Priorities – What should be your priorities heading into the summer months?
The summer months bring about a number of challenges for every football coach. Staying in contact with players and parents without school every day can be difficult. Similarly, coordinating staff meetings and giving players and coaches the needed time off before the grind of a new season begins can also be taxing.What should be your priorities heading into summer? What are the most effective ways to communicate with players and coaches? How important are strength and conditioning p
Managing Your Program: Creating the Installation Schedule for Fall Camp
Recently, the three-day installation has become a popular topic. It seems the challenge is to see how fast you can install your offense, and the process is repeated with deeper levels of understanding being developed in each repetition of the installation. This is something Dana Holgersen made popular at West Virginia. While I have implemented the three-day initial install, I extended the total install out to seven days with a layered approach. Each subsequent day adds layers to the initial i
Coach to Coach: The Mental Fundamentals
The yellow flag is thrown and the coach’s voice is rising. It’s obviously a bad call. Everyone can smell the home cooking. “That score would have put us on top and now it’s called back. The ref has literally taken points away from us.” The coach is livid and walking the tightrope to ejection. The lack of composure is reflected in the players when the clock dwindles and the cheap shots fly. This game will be lost in more ways than one.Building mental toughness starts with
Drills Report: The Wall Return Drill
One of the most exciting plays in football is when a punt returner is able to sprint around the edge and make use of the “wall” on an outside return. At Illinois, we rely on a drill installed on day one of our fall practices for our punt return team.An important phase of the return is having initial landmarks for the wall blockers (Diagram 1). When the ball is on a hash and a wall return is called to the wide side of the field, the wall blockers use the far hash as a landmark.
Football and Networking: What Are the Priorities?
What do you hope to get out of the clinics and conventions you attend this off-season? Most coaches will say they are hoping to gain “one thing”. They may spend a full day or a whole weekend listening to speakers to find one minor improvement on a drill or the slightest variation to their favorite play. Clinics and conventions are great for that, but don’t ignore the networking opportunities they also present. To get the absolute most of any football professional development event you a
FREE FORM - Running Back Drill and Technique Checklist
Drills and coaching techniques are a part of every spring practice. The Running Back Drill and Technique Checklist is a form that is helpful to every coach. It includes ball protection techniques, body control and agility drills, and timing, blocking and passing drills.
SERVE and PROTECT
Legendary New England Coach John Papas teams up with Xenith to provide future collegiate athletes with added protection, better fit and strong performance.If you’ve coached at the high school and collegiate levels for over 35 years, chances are you’ve developed strong opinions about football equipment. You know which products are best for your players from performance and safety standpoints and you know which companies are best to work with. Coach John Papas has seen
Your Take: Win The Offseason: Organization Matters
Organization isn’t the sexiest topic to talk about, but if you’re serious about improving as a coach, it takes more than how-to videos and watching game tape. Reviewing your notes and processes can help save time and energy, while also allowing you to tackle your goals of molding your athletes into better players and people.Being disorganized can mean the difference between winning and losing. Even the smartest coaches need to be reminded of old plays and schemes that could hel
BE SPECIAL By committing to better special team practice organization, your units will create more explosive plays.
Special teams are an important part of any football game. They are the first play of every game, and many times the last and decisive play in a game. During every special teams play, one of these situations occurs – a large field position exchange, a change of possession, or a scoring opportunity. Frequently, two of these situations take place on the same special teams play. By their very nature, special teams plays are “special” and have a big impact on the outcome of the game.
UPSET SPECIAL Give your underdog team a shot with these strategies.
Nearly every coach has entered a game week knowing that the only people picking his team to win are on his staff or inside his own locker room.These situations can be an opportunity to galvanize a team by instilling an us-against-them world mentality; freeing the underdogs to play loose and pulling off an upset.No one knows that more than George O’Leary, the head coach at the University of Central Florida. The Knights pulled off the biggest upset in BCS history by beat
Athletic Body Control The Movement Training Correlation to Football Speed
Before we move to the details of movement training, let’s clarify what is football speed – the velocity and control by which variable movement patterns are executed efficiently without velocity loss. Most of the time it’s far easier said than done. My term for this activity is “Transition Speed.”The second area to clarify is Athletic Body Control (ABC). The term “Athletic” means athletes and the exercises practiced by them in a sport that requires physical skill or st
Cougar Defensive Line Drills part II
Last month, our defensive line drills included the use of agility bags and a variety of cage drills. This issue includes the use of post mount sleds, hoops, two-man pop ups and tite bags. We practice a number of these drills daily, which we believe improves both the agility and quickness of our D-linemen.#1. Post Mount Sleds
Maximizing Spring Agility Drills
If every athlete used the spring to improve their speed and strength, summer conditioning would be really simple. Everyone would be faster and stronger than before, and with a couple of weeks of basic conditioning, you’d be ready for football practice. Unfortunately, things never seem to turn out that way, so you need to have an effective plan in place.It’s important to analyze the metabolic requirements of football and design conditioning routines that train the proper e
ESTABLISHING A QUICK-PACED OFFENSE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Aside from scoring, the ability to control the clock and the tempo of a football game is the primary objective of any offense. For years, the pattern was to pound the ball slowly and chew up the clock to control a game and defeat an opponent. Yet, with
Recognition and Competition: Motivating Players in the Off-Season
There is no magic formula for motivating players and yet it is considered a crucial part of any team’s success. Athletes are unique in their psychological needs for external motivation and even those needs change as each athlete matures. To complicate matters further, each year a team’s motivational needs change based on previous successes and a host of other varia
Managing your Program - Self Evaluation With Film
Spring football begins soon around the country. While the format and limitations vary from state-to-state, there should still be a focus for both the players and coaches. The spring is a time where the sense of urgency is not as important as during the season. There either isn’t a game at the end of this period, or if there is, it’s at the end of several weeks of preparation. With that removed as a prime focus, development of a foundation for the fall is of utmost importance. Using film a
Rowan University's Special Teams Philosophy and Punt Team Techniques
We think our approach to special teams is very sound. We utilize all players, both starters and reserves, on special teams and use players from both sides of the ball. Also, we will reward certain players for outstanding play by allowing them to participate on special teams.We identify every player’s strengths and incorporate them into special teams. We cannot afford to spend an inordinate amount of time teaching skills that players have already mastered. We keep the schemes rela
U-TURN How Southern Virginia University went from 3-8 to 8-2.
On February 9th 2009, I agreed to become the head football coach at Southern Virginia University. At the time, the SVU football program faced several obstacles both on and off the field. They included a low team grade point average, discipline problems, and recruitment and retention problems. In addition, they had embraced a mediocre mentality from a losing record.When I accepted the head coaching job, SVU had only had one winning season in school history and had averaged just two
The Business of Coaching - Joe Moglia is a prime example of how success in business and coaching go hand-in-hand.
If you pay attention to the great coaching stories in college football, then you already know about Joe Moglia.You may recognize him as the former CEO of financial services company TD Ameritrade, where he oversaw the firm’s meteoric growth during his seven years at the helm. Or, you may know him as the current head coach at Coastal Carolina, where, in his first season in 2012, he led the Chanticleers to eight wins en route to being named the Big South Coach of the Year. He follow
Cougar Defensive Line Drills
We believe that constant drill work for our defensive line makes them better players. We have a variety of drills for our D-line that feature four different agility bag drills including two in a hole, a lateral run drill, and a cut drill. There are also four different cage drills that we practice on a regular basis – get offs, fast feet, the lateral shuffle, and the L-step. In part II next month, we will include drills such as post mount sleds, pop up bags, and tite up bags. # 1.&n
The Coach’s Role on the Athletic Health Care Team
As a coach, you are likely to be involved in each portion of the athletic health care relay – prevention, recognition and first aid care, assessment and treatment, and rehabilitation.Your roles are defined by • Certain rules of the legal system and rules of your school administration, • Expectations of parents, and • Interactions with other athletic health care &
Running Back-Specific Training: From the Weight Room to the Field
The idea of sport-specific training has gained great popularity over the years. Inevitably, every coach wants to ensure that he/she is attaining maximal transfer with the strength training programming that is being practiced among the athletes in the weightroom. There is some truth to this thought and approach. First, the all-too-familiar SAID Principle (Specific-Adaptations-to-Imposed-Demands), has been proven time and time again in both research and training. This principle states that trai
SPECIFICITY TRAINING The Key Factor for Optimizing Football Speed
Football speed training is too often confused between what should be correctly conceived versus what is incorrectly believed. This is relevant to you if you have a desire to make changes that will benefit the quality of each player’s speed capability. Change that will maximize results drastically. The majority of football coaches use training applications that are not processing their athletes’ football speed by the rule of specificity. That is, specific applications that offer pure value
Thoughts from an HSPD Veteran
Craig Jacoby, who is the site manager for the Rockland, New York, HSPD camp, has over a decade of experience with the program and has seen first-hand how it has benefitted hundreds of high school athletes. We asked him about the camp experience for athletes and the value of the DVD to coaches.AFM: How do HSPD athletes respond to the college-level drills at HSPD camps? Jacoby: In my experience, the players who attend HSPD are getting a training experience that can’t be d
Practice Priorities - All high school coaches benefit from the practice plan developed for the NFL High School Player Development program presented by the National Guard
What are your priorities when designing an early-season practice plan? Do you try to build a collection of proven drills that safely and efficiently teach fundamentals while challenging your players? Do you incorporate teaching techniques that you may have learned from a top college coach at a clinic session? Do you have printed materials and video that every member of your staff can use to gain a thorough understanding of your drills and how to conduct them?If you’re a coach at
AFM Subscribers Ask with Joe Willis (Part I) Head Coach, Cedar Park High School (TX)
Joe Willis is the head coach of 2012 State Champion Cedar Park High School (TX). A defensive specialist, Coach Willis uses multiple looks in his 3-4 defense to slow down an up-tempo offense. Cedar Park calls their defense like they call their offense – marrying the front and coverage calls together and using disguises pre-snap on every play. They use a combination of slants, stunts, and blitzes to help defend the no-huddle offense. Coach Willis answers your questions.How do y
Developing a Defensive Foundation
Having specific goals and a defensive strategy are critical to success.Developing a dominant defensive begins with players believing in your foundation. That foundation is “Organized Chaos.” It is a mindset that you will strive to be the best defense at any level in the nation. Your players need to understand who they are off the field and who you want them to be on the field. At your first defensive meeting, set the standard by which you want them to play. Teach them about what wi
Defensive Back Attack Force
Three different techniques – Shoot the Hip, Glove, and Catch-Hit – can help your defensive backs attack the football.A DB has three things he can do when breaking on the ball – intercept the pass, knock the pass down, or make the tackle. We teach defensive backs three different ways of attacking the football when a wide receiver is being thrown the ball – “shoot the hip”, “glove”, and “catch-hit.” Each of these techniques can be taught whether your DBs backpedal, cr
Systematic Innovation: The No-Huddle, Power Pistol Offense
For Head Coach Robbie Owens of Grand Junction High School (CO), the system’s the thing. He believes offensive innovation is important, but without a system that is simple, adjustable and easy to install and teach, the value of innovation can be diminished.Owens’ system has proved itself over multiple seasons of high-octane offense. By combining the pistol formation with a punishing running attack and an up-tempo, no-huddle pace, Owens’ Grand Junction teams have produced proli
Samson Equipment’s Strength and Conditioning Coaches of the Year
NFL: Luke Richesson Denver BroncosBackground - Luke Richesson began his coaching career at his alma mater, the University of Kansas, in 1997 after a four-year career playing safety for the Jayhawks. After one season as a strength and conditioning intern, he spent the next season at the University of Wyoming and the following two at Arizona State University as a graduate assistant before becoming the performance team direc
Coach to Coach: Thanks for the Memories
In 2010, I wrote my first article for American Football Monthly. In that article I told the story of how Hall of Fame Coach George Allen returned to coaching at the age of 72 to coach my college football team at Long Beach State University. The experience of writing that article and the positive response that I received from coaches around the country far exceeded any expectations I may have had about the joy of writing and sharing my ideas. What was supposed to be one article has turne
Safety First: Good Nutrition – Part of Your Health and Safety Plan
Practicing proper nutrition is one way to help athletes recover from workouts and prevent injuries.Eating right is an essential part of a comprehensive athletic training regimen. It’s widely recognized that the “fuel” that is consumed by athletes prior to and following training is a critical element in allowing them to perform at their highest level and recover effectively from punishing workouts. Proper nutrition is also a player safety issue, as athletes who eat right, hydrate
Strength Report – The Art of Strength and Conditioning Coaching: Beyond the Sets and Reps (Part II)
A program’s success is equally impacted by a coach’s ability to manage, motivate and lead athletes by training methodology. This philosophy, which has served as the foundation of my coaching career, aligns with wisdom shared as by a legendary strength and conditioning coach:“It is usually not whether the program works or not, but whether the player works or not, that determines success.”- Buddy Morris(College and NFL strength and conditioning coach now at the Universit
Speed Report: Can You Improve Your Quarterback’s Speed?
My goal each month is to deliver information useful for all aspects of football. This month, Cree Morris, a long time quarterback training specialist, discusses the topic of improving a quarterback’s speed. What is the difference between football speed and football quarterback speed? Better technical applications produce more efficient movement, which creates effective speed. That is usually the requirement it takes for the QB to avoid a sack or make a play. I will give some spec
M. B. S.
At Wagner College we encourage our guys to think of football as a total body experience. We teach 3 components of the athlete; The “MIND”, The “BODY and
A Wide Receiver’s Philosophy
Individual – Self-Confidence You, as an individual, must accept the responsibilities for your mental preparation, self-discipline and execution of each play. You also must have great pride, attitude and character and a burning desire to
Shining Stars
Top NFL and college players honed their football skills and grew as individuals through the NFL High School Player Development program presented by the National Guard.When high school football players attend the free camps conducted by the NFL’s High School Player Development program presented by the National Guard, they improve their football skills and also learn valuable life lessons in character development sessions. All participating athletes gain from their HSPD experie
Managing Your Program: Measuring Practice Success and Developing Good Habits
With spring football around the corner, coaches are looking to develop or test out some new ideas obtained during the clinic season, identify how personnel will fit into the system and figure out what adjustments will be necessary for the upcoming season. These are legitimate concerns, and spring practice will allow a coaching staff to address them.Spring is also a time to establish the habits that will make the team successful in the fall. Getting the most out of practice by impro
Out in the Open - Live tackling drills can improve your team’s open field tackling.
As today’s game stretches laterally to encompass the entire width of the field, the ability to open-field tackle is at a premium. One of the most difficult skills to acquire as a defensive player is the art of open-field tackling. Even elite athletes need to improve and sharpen their skill sets.How do you enhance those abilities and replicate them at game speed? The answer is simple – live tackling, offensive skill vs. defensive skill. At the University at Albany, Head Coach Bo
Option Football - Few Plays, Many Ways, Part I
Option football has been around for many decades. The vast majority of today’s collegiate and high school programs use some form of option in their offensive scheme.Why run the option? Football is a “numbers game” where the offense tries to outnumber the defense at the point of attack. While there are more than a few ways to accomplish this goal, we believe that the option is by far the easiest and most effective way to ensure that your offense outnumbers the defense on every
Why Cover 4? How this alignment can be effective against both the run and the pass.
A Cover 4 alignment allows the secondary to adjust to various formations and personnel groupings and helps stop the run while also defending the pass. We have found that Cover 4, with certain adjustments, is the most effective defense in today’s world of high-powered offenses. The coverage adjustments that I have made allow the secondary to be more aggressive against the run. Personnel will always dictate the use of any adjustments based on how much your athletes can typically handle
Rawlings Football College and High School Coaches of the Year
It was a summer evening in the mid-1980’s. Volunteer workouts were revving up for the Salem University football team. Salem Quarterbacks Coach Terry Bowden pointed at his quarterback’s cleats and laughed. “His football shoes were covered in cow manure and hay,” Bowden recalled with a chuckle.Thirty years later, that quarterback with the stinky shoes is a national champion and Rawlings Football Coach of the Year, Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher.“Althou
Coach to Coach: An Efficient and Effective Play Calling System
Last year at this time, I wrote an article on the use of tempo as a weapon. I stated then that tempo was being used by many successful teams and that extremely fast-paced offenses were going to be a standard of football for years to come. Today, the use of the fast-paced, no- huddle offense is becoming more the norm than the exception.Webster’s Dictionary defines the word tempo as the “rate of motion or activity”. In today’s football terminology, the word tempo refers to how qu
Drills Report: Pursuing Perfect Ball Security
While blocking and tackling are commonly seen as the two key building blocks of any football program, the most important fundamental of offensive football is ball security. Without possession of the ball, the offensive unit is not on the field. While that may seem like a simplistic and obvious statement, the importance of securing the football is at times an overlooked fundamental in today’s game. Ball security in its basic form is preventing and eliminating fumbles by ball carriers.
Going Camping
Sending your players to the free football camps offered by the NFL High School Player Development program presented by the National Guard is a win-win for you and them.Football camps for high school athletes are big business. Dozens of for-profit camps, costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars to attend, are offered to high school students who want to hone their skills over a period of days or weeks. But only one football camp program offers proven instruction methods a
DEVELOPING THE COMPLETE ATHLETE
Mike Gentry, the Associate Athletic Director for Athletic Performance at Virginia Tech and Dr. Tony Caterisano, a Professor of Health and Exercise Science, have written a comprehensive guide for the strength and conditioning development of the complete football player. This 436-page book details how a coach can build overall power and stamina in athletes as well as develop self-discipline in maximizing athletic potential.What exactly makes one player more athletic than another? Is it s
Confuse the Quarterback, Part II – Disguise your blitzes to stop the run and still defend the pass.
I never liked allowing a good zone read option quarterback to come to the line of scrimmage knowing how our secondary coverage was going to be aligned. I also thought it was important to give the offensive line and the blocking back a variety of pressure calls that were accompanied by some type of movement at the snap of the ball. Our goal was to use these calls to stop the run without significantly compromising the ability to defend the pass. The following calls are some of the different
Drills Report: Complete Special Teams Drills
Kickoff, kick return, punt return, field goal, and field goal block teams all need specific drills.Special teams is the most overlooked facet of the game. Drastic improvements can be made if you are willing to put the time into improving your kicking game. There are plenty of drills out there and you may already use some of them that are not mentioned here. The most important thing is that you set aside time for practice and film study.Kickoff Drills We teac
Safety First: Deadly Opponent
MRSA can be your team’s most dangerous adversary unless you take steps to prevent it.In the last decade, a new and threatening disease has emerged in football programs everywhere – MRSA. What is MRSA, why are football settings especially vulnerable, and what can you do to minimize the threat to your athletes?MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a strain of staph bacteria that does not respond to conventional antibiotics. The infection usually firs
Strength Report: Develop Complete Athletes – Liberty Universitys Unique Strength Program
Building true strength and power on the football field has less to do with fine tuning minor details and more to do with building more horsepower in the “engine” of an athlete. From there, details can be modified to turn the advanced athlete into an elite athlete. The process of creating more horsepower in the athlete is more methodical than most think and we use methods that are not practiced on a large scale. Last year, we had over 82 football players clean at least 300 pound
Letter from AFM
This year, the Rose Bowl celebrated its 100th anniversary, which means that, for 100 years, college football fans have been treated to the excitement and spectacle of the annual parade of bowl games. Classic matchups, historic venues and fantastic finishes are the rule when teams go “bowling”. Next season, with 38 bowls on the schedule, more teams than ever will get to experience the thrill of participating in bowl week activities and competing in a bowl game. There’s one asp
Second Chances in Football
There is one thing for certain in football – someone is going to make a mistake.Fumbles. Picks. Holding calls. Missed tackles. Dropped passes. They are all part of the game. Ultimately, though you can make all the calls, signals and shifts you want but the kids are the ones executing and mistakes are going to happen.As a coach, one thing that you need to be prepared for is how you are going to handle that mistake. Are you going to lose your cool? Fly off the handle? Berate a
Building a Successful Football Program From the Ground Up
The prospect of building a football program is an exciting challenge for any head coach of any experience level. There is no all-encompassing manual instructing a coach how to build a program. No one can wave a magic wand and turn a program into a success over night. The construction project will take time. It could take one season or several seasons to see significant progress. Building a football program is much like building a house - you must start from the ground up and build a solid fou
Fantastic Finish
The National Lineman Challenge was the first event of its kind ever conducted.The NFL High School Player Development program presented by the National Guard capped off another successful year with two thrilling events.Throughout the late spring and early summer, the focus of the NFL High School Player Development program presented by the National Guard is the nearly 200 multi-day camps that are conducted coast to coast and managed by local coaches. High school football players i
Managing Your Program: Giving Players a Focus for the Off-Season
For most programs, January is the start of the off-season.The gains made in the next six months are critical and must happen in order to have success in the fall. Keeping players focused and moving toward their goals and the team’s goals sometimes is a challenge when the season is so far off. Having a system to provide feedback and recognize the accomplishments of players as they develop themselves helps motivate and create excitement while working through the winter months.Follo
Self Analysis: Self-Scout Your Offense for a More Effective Game Plan.
The game has changed a great deal over the past decade. It used to be that offensive coordinators could create down and distance charts and run plays off of them with a pretty reliable sense of what would work. However, as the spread, no-huddle era has exploded onto the scene, it has transformed how coaches must approach the game.Our approach is to use statistics, specifically our offense’s own statistics, to formulate a game plan. The majority of our game planning time is spent
Confuse the Quarterback (Part I)
To stop the zone read, it is critical to present a number of different coverages to the opposing quarterback including a two-deep safety look.The zone read spread offense has had a major impact on all levels of football in recent years. Defensive coordinators have had to make adjustments to their base defensive calls in order to defend the basic running plays, play assignment football against the option, and defend the pass. Many years ago at a coaching clinic I heard a coach say that
Get Your O-Line In The Zone
Teaching the Square Drag, Square Drag and Skip, and the Brace and Skip Technique in Zone Blocking – Some Do’s and Don’tsTwo key elements in proper zone blocking technique are keeping the shoulders square and using lateral steps to close in on the defender. In coaching the offensive line at the collegiate level for the past 23 years, I have learned that we have to adapt our teaching methods and techniques to our players. Rarely do we come across a player who has size, strength, at
AFM Subscribers Ask with Joe Daniel Defensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach Prince George High School (VA) - Part II
Joe Daniel has more than ten years experience coaching on the high school and college level. In 2009, Daniel began building a website which includes more than 300 articles on defensive coaching – www.Football-Defense.com Daniel is also the host of The Football Coaching Podcast and has written several eBooks, including Coaching Football’s 4-2-5 Defense, Installing the 4-3 Over Defensive Front, and Dominating Football Defense with the Zone Blitz. A frequent contributor to
Coach to Coach: Preparing Your Athletes to Succeed at the 4-Year Level
It’s been said that it’s the Willies and the Joes not the Xs and Os that make college football teams and programs great. There is no doubt that a surplus of talent usually translates to wins on Saturday. Every 4-year college coach in the nation is trying to identify high school and junior college athletes who can successfully transition into great college football players. Identifying talent, however, is only part of the equation that determines success. Every year there are extremely tal
Strength Report: Wyoming’s Winter Player Development Program
Much like a football game has four quarters, the Wyoming football player development program is broken down into four distinct phases. Winter training, spring football, summer training and the competitive season make up our yearly training calendar. The Wyoming player development program has a structured plan during each of these phases and is built around landmarks found in the student-athletes academic calendar and competition dates. Each phase has very specific goals and intended outcomes.
The Birth Of The Football Chalk Talk?
Legendary Notre Dame Coach Knute Rockne was a skilled orator and teacher, in and out of the locker roomby Jim Lefebvre
Passing Improvement By Colloquial Folklore
This passing “expert” never played a down at the quarterback position on any
Game Planning Your Coaching Career (Part II)
The Third Quarter After the first half (introduction and growth phase) and making adjustments at half-time, the third quarter becomes the maturity phase of the coaching career. This does not mean that, as coaches, we do not continue to grow or learn. It means that we become more stabilized in our “giftings” as a coach. I admire the confidence of the FBS assistant who maintains a positive attitude that he will land a job in a better environment, after
Trojan Training Table
USC Director of Sports Nutrition Becci Twombley uses cutting-edge nutrition and recovery practices to help Trojan athletes “Fuel On”.Just as strength and conditioning programs have become increasingly sophisticated as coaches strive to provide each athlete with the most effective training regimen, highly-developed custom nutritional programs are becoming the norm in collegiate athletics. It’s widely recognized that the “fuel” that is consumed by athletes prio
Coaching Rewards
The NFL High School Player Development program presented by the National Guard lets coaches give back to the game and reap special coaching rewards.For high school football coaches, the rewards of coaching can take many forms. There are celebrations after big wins, championship trophies, accolades from peers.But most coaches realize that the biggest and best rewards of coaching football are those that come from helping young athletes succeed –
AFM Subscribers Ask with Joe Daniel Defensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach, Prince George High School (VA) – Part I
Joe Daniel has more than ten years experience coaching on the high school and college level. In 2009, Daniel began building a website which includes more than 300 articles on defensive coaching – www.Football-Defense.com Daniel is also the host of The Football Coaching Podcast and has written several eBooks, including Coaching Football’s 4-2-5 Defense, Installing the 4-3 Over Defensive Front, and Dominating Football Defense with the Zone Blitz. A frequent contributor to b
Circuit Drills Emphasize Repetition, Range of Motion and Reaction to Improve Your Special Teams Play.
Our staff at Central Washington University understands the importance and value of the kicking game in each contest. We treat each special team’s preparation with the same enthusiasm, intensity, and creativity as our offense and defense. To do it right, we must train our special teams players in the same way. Preparing players for their special team roles, however, presents some unique challenges. Consider the following:1. Getting Enough RepetitionsAlmost all of our playe
Drills to Perfect Your Pursuit of the Screen Pass.
Relentless hustle and pursuit, along with proper angles and leverage, are keys to successfully defending the screen. We stress the importance of 11 players giving maximum effort running to the football every play. Accountability and repetition are keys to be successful in this point of emphasis. All 11 players are graded every game or scrimmage play to be held accountable. Our coaches confront and demand hustle and pursuit in practice repetitions.We invest time prior to our individ
Rolling Thunder - Be efficient in the 'compressed' Red Zone.
No matter what your base offense is, you will find it necessary to make adjustments in what I call the compressed red zone; that is, from the three in. Adapting your base personnel, formations, and plays can be costly in terms of time and confusing to your players, who try to relate schemes and techniques used in the open field to this unique situation. Adopting a “Thunder Offense” can give you a personnel, formation, and play package that is specific to the compressed red zone. When your
Multiple Looks from a 3-4 Defense to Slow Down an Up-Tempo Offense
When we played Lake Travis High School four years ago, Chad Morris – now the offensive coordinator at Clemson – was the head coach. That year we had a short week of preparation for his up-tempo, no-huddle offense.After a relatively good start in the first quarter, our defense broke down after a turnover in the second quarter. Their fast-paced offense began to take its toll on our defense as we struggled to line-up before the snap, became confused with the offensive packages the
Two Minute Crunch Time: 'Go-To' Plays and a Clock-Killing Strategy
With the increased use of the up-tempo offense at all levels of the game, some teams seem as though they’re running a two-minute drill the entire game. No huddles, keeping the defense off balance, quick scores. But a true two-minute offense, of course, has the added pressure of clock management. When you must have a score with limited time left, it’s critical that your offense remains calm under this pressure – advancing on every play, stopping the clock whenever possib
Safety First: Is your Weight Room a Safe Room?
Don’t overlook the importance of having a comprehensive safety program in your strength and conditioning facility.Stafon Johnson had two successful seasons as a running back for USC in 2007 and 2008 and was primed for a big senior year in 2009 and possibly a shot at the NFL. That all changed on September 8th when the 275-pound barbell he was bench pressing fell on his neck, crushing his larynx and severing his vocal chords. Lucky to survive, he recovered and had a sh
Coach to Coach: Enjoy the Ride
It had been a long time since I’d been on a college sideline as a coach. After 10 years of being a high school head coach, I was excited to be back and I was relieved to see the clock tick to zeros in a 45-13 season opening win. The entire coaching staff and every player had put tremendous effort into preparing for our opener and the final score reflected a great night for us all. As I walked off the field, I couldn’t help but notice the smiling fans, the players chatting with friends and
Drills Report: The Reach Doug Down Drill
I believe that the most important element of our football team is our offensive line. This is not to demean the other positions, but it is what I believe and preach to our players. If the defense gives up 50, then we must score 51. We will not score 51 points if we do not get it done up front. That means a hat on a hat at all times. We know that we will not always have the most gifted skill guys on the field and our quarterbacks might not always make the best decisions, but we can never be me
Strength Report: In-Season Training Considerations
One of the most common questions that a strength and conditioning coach will be asked is “what is your program”? The answer to this question could be extremely complex if you were to take all of the components of a coach’s program – volume, rest, time, conditioning protocols, speed work, agility drills, quickness training, reps, sets, progressions, strength development, power development, periodization models, etc. As you can see, this would be a long article! Instead, the short versi
Speed Report: Combining In-Season Conditioning with In-Season Speed Training
Combining the two – in-season conditioning and speed training – is a subject that often comes up for discussion when I’m doing clinics and workshops across the country at various high schools and colleges. We always discuss the physiological energy mechanisms and how they function when we train. The same question seems to arise each time: What’s the best way to condition during the season?The answer is usually not well-received. My reply is that we need to understand how the ga
Game Planning Your Coaching Career (Part I)
(This article is written to discuss career planning in the coaching profession and this is by no means the only way to pattern your pathway. The experience of one coach, while addressing many issues, does not include all scenarios. However, the organization of the material is well-known to all coaches as it is structured just as all of us would game plan against an unfamiliar opponent. It is hoped that this discussion would have us in the coaching profession talk about
Managing your Program - “Flipped” Coaching
In a clinic talk in 2012, Urban Meyer spoke of how he wants the Buckeyes to be taught and coached through “direct teaching.” He made a point of using the technology and tools available to teach rather than just present to players. Meyer said, “The greatest teaching tools available in the history of this sport are now available to you. The days of saying, ‘I don’t use that’ are not acceptable at the Ohio State University. We’re going to be on the cutting edge of every teaching to
D-Back Run Stoppers Both the Key Read Drill and Block Escape Circuit Drill will improve defensive backs’ recognition of the run.
Stopping the run is one of the main priorities of any defense. In order to accomplish this goal, the defensive secondary must be active against running plays. It is important that all members of the secondary are equipped with the skills to recognize the run and then be able to execute techniques to disengage blocks. Your secondary can sharpen their eye discipline, footwork and hand placement/combat skills by recognizing the intentions of the End Man on the Line of Scrimmage (EMOL)
D-Line Rules vs. Outside Zone and Zone Read
Following the playside and backside rules is critical to stopping the outside zone and zone read.We try to keep our D-line rules and principles the same with outside zone and zone read as well as other plays and concepts. When we speak about outside zone, we break into halves, especially what side the offense is on in pre-and post-snap. We use strength and if the quarterback is under center or in the gun to determine the run strength of this particular play. Otherwise, we may use the t
Fine-Tuning: Adapting the Spread Offense to Your Personnel
Heading into the 2008 season, the pieces were all in place. Oklahoma had a talented and veteran offensive line featuring multiple NFL prospects, an experienced quarterback in Sam Bradford and a versatile playmaker at tight end in Jermaine Gresham. It was on the Oklahoma coaching staff to tailor its offensive scheme to its personnel. And the best way to capitalize on this wealth of talent was to run more plays.Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson (now head coach at Indiana) h
Safety First: Protection Program
Organizations are teaming up to provide athletes with better concussion detection and treatment options.When Mike Lamb played for the USC Trojans in the early 1980s, football was a different game. Unlike today’s safety-conscious environment, the emphasis in that era was on playing through injuries as a sign of toughness and commitment to the team. “Even if you were a little dazed and confused because of a violent hit to the head, the coaches expected you to get rig
Drills Report: Defensive Backs: Footwork, Block Protection, Tackling, and Ball Skills
Our focus on drill work for defensive backs has played a role in our success and paid dividends in the fall. At Villanova, our base defensive front is a 3-3 stack. With five defensive backs on the field in varying roles, we focus our teaching on a select number of skills to best prepare the entire group within our time constraints. Our goal is to spend at least five minutes each practice developing four specific skill categories: footwork, block protection, tackling, and ball skills.F
Strength Report: In-Season Training: Improve Performance, reduce Injuries
The in-season training program is critical to the success of our athletes. Programs should be designed to enhance and not just maintain their level of physical preparation. Lowering expectations during the in-season to maintain rather than improve strength will eventually lead to a decrease in performance and increase the risk of injury.To maximize the strength, health, mobility, and overall fitness of your athletes, is manage the distribution of the volume and loading. Within this
Coaching Rewards
The NFL High School Player Development program presented by the National Guard gives coaches the satisfaction that comes from giving back to the game.What are the rewards of coaching? Some coaches might say that wins and championships are at the top of the list. After all, winning has been the traditional yardstick for measuring coaching success, and few moments can compare to raising a trophy or donning a championship ring.Most coaches,
Tips for Rural Schools: Gridiron Success
By Kevin Swift, Head Coach Gold Coast High School (OR) In the summer of 1997, my family and I left the urban football world of Southern California for the rural football world of the Southern Oregon coast. My coa
CONCUSSIONS IN YOUTH FOOTBALL – ARE WE THINKING CLEARLY?
By Rey Hernandez Former Head Coach, LaJolla High School (CA) The current legislative proposals seeking to limit full contact in high school practices raise some tort liability issues that to date have not made it into the national concussion saf
AFM Subs Ask With Curtis Tsuruda Strength and Conditioning Coach • East St. John High School (LA)
Coach Curtis Tsuruda, has over 30 years of experience as a strength and conditioning coach. He has worked at Tulane, LSU, Hawaii, and Mississippi State and is currently the strength and conditioning coach at East St. John High School in Reserve, Louisiana. He was featured in AFM Subscribers Ask in May and now responds to more of your questions.What methods do you use to train young high school athletes to successfully rack the bar on the power clean? How many days do you fe
Three Pillars of Defensive Prep
Three important items in game planning include practicing proper tackling, studying your opponent’s big plays and those your defense has given up, and focusing on turnovers.We are always looking for a defensive edge on game day. However, with the unpredictability that game day brings, it is very difficult to predict or prepare for every scenario that might present itself. That is why it is important to use Monday through Friday to put the odds of victory as much as possible in our fa
Developmental Tackling, Part I – Effectively using the shimmy technique can help ensure the safety of all defensive players.
Without question, teaching safe tackling skills and drills is one of the most demanding tasks every coach in the country must master. In my 54 years of coaching varsity football, nothing gave me more concern than the idea of a collision with a player’s head down, chin on chest, and the resulting straight line spinal column hit with the top of the helmet. That is almost always the primary cause of paraplegic injury. That is why so much emphasis is placed on converting the speed run of pursui
On Top of the World – AFM’s Annual State Champions Survey and Profiles
State champion coaches share their secrets to winning it all. The results may surprise you.Most high school coaches would agree that their ultimate goal is winning their state championship. Taking home the trophy after the punishing regular season and pressure-filled playoffs is the pinnacle for the 300+ teams that annually achieve that goal.But do coaches agree on the best methods to use to reach that mountaintop? What offensive, defensive and special teams strategies give
Speed Report – Dynamic Relaxation – The Misunderstood Nugget for Speed and Quickness
When we think of the word relaxation it doesn’t suggest a very aggressive picture in our mind. Whenever I mention the term “Dynamic Relaxation” to coaches, they’re momentarily puzzled. They are searching their thoughts for where this picture fits football, a sport that delivers aggressive action every play.Football movement is not naturally linked to relaxation when the game is all about contact. Having a consistent forceful mindset week to week is what every coach desires.
Coach to Coach – Upset Alert: 5 Ways to Plan Against Superior Opponents.
On October 6th 2007, the Stanford Cardinals arrived at the LA Coliseum for a football game against the University of Southern California Trojans. USC was riding a 35-game home winning streak and was one of the more dominant football teams and programs in the modern era. The Cardinal, who were coming off a 1-11 2006 campaign, were being led to the expected slaughter by first- year coach Jim Harbaugh, who would be starting a backup quarterback with a total of three passes on his resume.
Safety First – Pre-Season Safety Checklist
With the 2013 season around the corner, it’s time for coaches to review all safety-related issues and ensure that proper procedures and protocols are in place before fall practice begins. . “Every team and athlete should have sports safety as a top priority,” says Larry Cooper, chair of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Secondary School Committee and head athletic trainer at Penn Trafford (PA) High School. “It’s vital for coaches, athletic trainers, parents and the
A Complete Strength and Conditioning Program for Offensive Linemen PART Two
The strength program is designed as a four-day split. The base spilt is Monday-Tuesday-Thursday-Friday. Other day combinations can be used as well. Recovery must be factored in and tailored to the split chosen. For example, a condensed split does not allow great recovery between workouts during the week. This requires volume to be reduced in workouts one and two to allow for recovery by workouts three and four. However, since three days of recovery exist with this approach, the lat
The Use of Technology in Modern Football (and Life) Is A Matter of Perspective
In the old days, coaches basically drew up plays on a chalkboard. Weightlifting consisted of lifting hay bales on summer vacations and s[ports nutrition was whatever happened to be available to eat and drink. Things change, and when it comes to technology, things have changed drastically. The days of Sid Gillman clipping football footage from film reels that played in movie theatres while he worked as an usher in the 1930's to coaches watching grainy footage of a player taken with a 16mm home
RE-STARTING A COACHING CAREER
I had the good fortune of leading one of the most successful public school programs in the state of Virginia for 22 years. At Western Branch High School in Chesapeake, winning became synonymous with Bruins football. From 1997 to the 2006 season when I retired, our winning percentage was over .800. We won numerous District titles and had three undefeated regular seasons. It
Starting from the Bottom – A guide to the season’s hottest cleats.
As a coach dialing up new schemes and organizing practice routines for the upcoming season, you may not have had time to see what’s in store for this year’s selection of football cleats. When an athlete comes to you with questions on cleats, this guide will help you steer him in the right direction.Over the past few years, players big and small have been leaning toward cleats that are lighter and faster. The game – now more than ever - relies on speed. A transformation of new
Develop Your Dynamic Identity
Every experienced coach knows that teams tend to develop a particular identity during the course of the season. Some coaches argue that the best teams are the ones that have the flashiest, most dominating identities – teams like the Oregon Ducks, known for its high-octane offense, or the Baltimore Ravens, known for its suffocating defense. Other coaches counter that the best teams are often the ones that possess less exciting identities, those summarized with phrases like “balanced” or
Summer Speed Work – This 8-week speed conditioning program will have your athletes primed and ready for August camp.
If your program is like most, you have an extensive pre-season strength training program designed to ensure your players will be in their strongest physical condition when your camp practices start in August. They’ll certainly be strong, but will they be fast? Will they have had the necessary training to execute the fast-paced offenses that so many teams employ today?To achieve a balance between strength and speed, consider implementing a structured speed conditioning program to
Wide Open – Coaches share strategies for winning in summer 7-on-7 competitions.
The explosion in popularity of off-season 7-on-7 passing competitions has helped coaches put a better product on the field in the fall, mainly through player development. But don’t discount the value of putting your playmakers in competitive, late-game situations.“Ideally, I want each of our games to be 21-14 on the final possession, with us trying to score or prevent the tying touchdown,” said Bryan Gray, head coach at East Hall High School (GA) and a big believer in t
Speed Report - Football Speed Information: Good News or Old News?
I have been writing AFM’s Speed Report for 6½ years and have traveled the country for 30 years engaging with coaches who want to learn “thorough and complete football speed training”. Not second-hand information that isn’t football speed specific. More specifically, lineal track techniques. Coaches should understand that these particular techniques don’t provide movement skills needed for football speed and/or transition speed that’s required to play fast and stay in control.
Safety First – Beat the Heat
August camps are coming soon and that means the hottest weather of the year. It is important for coaches – at all levels – to ensure their players are properly hydrated at all times. Perhaps the best advice for football coaches at the beginning of August practices is to take it slow and allow players to gradually get acclimated to the heat. “Heat acclimatization is the number one controlling factor that can help prevent heat illness,” said Brendan McDermott, an associate pr
Strength Report – A Complete Strength and Conditioning Report for Offensive Linemen, Part I
It is my belief that all strength and conditioning programs grow from a very specific set of needs and circumstances that differ from team to team. Every situation is different, so a program influenced by principles rather than copied verbatim is needed.From years spent playing offensive line then beginning my coaching career coaching it and finally working as a football strength coach for the past 25 years, I have gained perspective into the needs of offensive linemen. The princip
Organization of Weekly and Gameday Duties with a Short Staff
By Hunter Sims, Offensive Coordinator Howard Payne University With a limited staff, it is critical to have detailed responsibilities on the day after the game, during the week, and on gameday. As a Division III college, we deal with being under-staffed year in and year out. We need to be completely organized in order to maximize our workload throughout the week. Offensively, we are allotted three full-time coaches. If we’re lucky,
AFM Subscribers Ask -with Curtis Tsuruda Strength and Conditioning Coach, East St. John High School (LA)
Curtis Tsuruda has over 30 years of experience as a strength and conditioning coach. He has worked at Tulane, LSU, Hawaii and Mississippi State. Tsuruda is currently the strength and conditioning coach at East St. John High School in Reserve, Louisiana. He holds the distinction of being a Master Strength and Conditioning Coach, the highest honor in his profession and was selected in 2010 as Samson Equipment’s National High School Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year. He answers your
Running the Triple Option in the Pistol
Using the triple option with the pistol offense is a natural fit and can improve both your running and passing game.Like Army and Navy, we have been a traditional triple option team and have experienced success because our offense gave us a way to compete against superior talent. While we have had a potent rushing attack, when teams put nine or ten players in the box we didn’t have an answer. Last season, we decided to experiment and add the pistol to our offense. Adding the pistol t
Understanding Coverages and How to Attack Them
Each defensive coverage has strengths and weaknesses and ways to attack it.You can help your quarterbacks get through problem areas by teaching them how to identify coverages. Whether it is the pre-snap read, reading on the move, or route adjustments, the quarterback’s performance is based upon his knowledge of how to identify and react to coverages.When teaching the quarterback to identify coverages, we start with the pre-snap read, which will identify the secondary’s a
Emphasizing Ball Security – Mastering the five points of contact will help keep your runners from fumbling
Mastering the five points of contact will help keep your runners from fumbling dropping the ball.When teaching ball carriers about ball security, we talk about the five points of contact. The first point relates to our nickname which is the Eagles, so I use the term “Eagle Claw” for the point of the football. The second point of contact is the forearm and the third is the bicep. Both are used to secure the outside part of the ball to the middle of the body which leads to the fourth
Making the Grade – Spring evaluation is essential for maximizing each player’s contribution to the team
Spring evaluation is essential for maximizing each player’s contribution to the team.While coaches understand that player evaluation is a year-round necessity, spring is a particularly important time for returning player evaluations as your team heads into the summer pre-season lull. It’s the perfect time to size up the strengths and weaknesses of each athlete and set personal and team goals. What is the best way to evaluate a returning player? American Football Monthly asked seven
Safety First – Getting On The Same Page
If you’ve spent time this off-season reviewing the latest safety rules and guidelines, working with medical professionals and athletic trainers to institute procedures for dealing with injuries, checking out the latest in innovative safety equipment and making plans to ensure proper hydration and heat stroke prevention in early season practices, then congratulations! You’ve taken the first steps to make player safety a priority for your program.Now, looking ahead to next season
Drills Report – Advanced Wide Receiver Drills, Part I
I am always looking for effective drills that my receivers can use to make them better. I think it’s important to think through drills before you use them and make sure they reinforce the technique utilized in a game and the technique utilized within your offense. Your players will be able to tell you how certain drills reinforce situations that come up in a game. That’s when you know you are using the correct drills.I always try to get as much out of a drill as I can. When we
Strength Report – 10 Common Errors in Football Strength & Conditioning
The profession of strength and conditioning coaching was formally established in the United States 35 years ago with the formation of the National Strength & Conditioning Association. The aim of the NSCA was to merge science and practice to legitimize our roles and to separate us from other fitness-related “experts.” After all this time, one would expect an evolution in the quality of programming and coaching but it isn’t evident in the practices of many strength and conditioning co
Letter from AFM – Breaking Barriers
Breaking BarriersA member of my extended family plays in a spring football league. Not casual, pick-up, touch football, but the real thing. Full equipment, full contact, real stadiums, NFL rules, professional refs, teams in cities across America. Like a lot of spring pro leagues before it, this league tries to take advantage of football’s popularity by giving fans a quality, on-the-field product to fill the void between the Super Bowl and the start of the fall football season.
As a Coach, How Do You Want to be Remembered?
by Derek Schlieve, Head Football Coach Mayville State University Football is time consuming. It can become all-consuming if you let it. High School football takes a lot of time. College Football requires even more time. I cannot even begin to imagine what the time commitment is like at the professional level. Every now and then, you read a story about how much time coaches put in and what they are missing out on and it makes a person think twic
FREE FORM - General Practice Plan Breakdown
With spring practice in full session, this form details elements of a complete practice. A list of priorities prior to the start of practice is listed as well as activities divided into 10- and 15-minute increments. Player responsibilities for field set-up and pick-up are also included.
Camp Season
- The NFL High School Player Development program presented by the National Guard conducts free camps for high school players that combine football skills teaching with character development lessons.Summer is right around the corner, and that means that it will soon be time for football camps for high school athletes to begin. Camps have become a popular way for high school players to get meaningful instruction and work on their fundamentals in the months leading
Managing Your Program – Spring Practice: Make it About the Details and Development
As we head into spring practice, now is the time to set a focus that will carry the team into strong summer preparations and camp, eventually leading up to the 2013 season. For many areas in the country, a spring game against an opponent is not part of the equation. This is a time that will end in an inter-squad game, or for some, no game or scrimmage at all. This is true at the NCAA Division III level, where we cannot even put on pads. However, this is still a great time to make progress and
Developing an Efficient Kickoff Team – Following a detailed teaching progression for your kickoff team will maximize their potential.
There are many factors that contribute to a successful season on special teams. The most important factor is the strong support and focus of the head coach to ensure that players and coaches are committed to this phase of the game. We always begin our practices with special teams and then break to offense and defense. That goes for installation meetings, film review and practice. We start with 20 minutes of special teams and end practice with a field goal or punt. The importance of special te
Tackling Drills Without Full Contact – Tackling progressions for both the head-up and profile tackle can be taught to emphasize safety.
Concussions continue to dominate our discussions about football injuries. Coaches have to find ways to teach the solid fundamentals of tackling, yet protect their players from preventable injuries.We have to contend with a small squad (usually less than 50 players) and often we have undersized players. Traditional tackling techniques are not just enough for us. We have to give our smaller players a chance to tackle without “ramming their head” into a ball carrier. Over the year
Inside Linebacker Reads in the 3-4 Defense – The 3-4 defense gives the inside linebackers a read on the uncovered guard through to the fullback.
The 3-4 defense gives the inside linebackers a read on the uncovered guard through to the fullback.The 3-4 defense, or Okie front is very flexible and multiple, which is needed against today’s spread offensive attacks. The 3-4 defense has the ability to blitz any of the four linebackers, and, in the 3-4 secondary, a team can play multiple coverages, from zone to man.This old school Okie defensive front has a built-in advantage for the inside linebackers.The adva
Chemistry Class – Team-Building is an important tool for developing cohesion among players.
There is no exact blueprint for team-building, no scientific formula for team chemistry. But it’s easy to spot the teams that have it and the teams that don’t. Enthusiastic, focused sidelines and camaraderie that oozes off the bus are signs of a team with good chemistry. Finger-pointing, listless practices and team cliques are signs of a program in need of a boost of team-building. But how do you alter your team’s chemistry? How do you create a sense of unity when your roster turns over
Safety First – Culture Shift: Changing the culture of football to reduce violent injuries.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell recently addressed the Harvard School of Public Health and talked about the league’s number one priority – ensuring the safety of the players. But, beyond that, he talked about “changing the culture of the game in a way that reduces the injury risk to the maximum extent possible – especially the risk of head injury.” Goodell went on to say that “the culture of change for player safety is our biggest challenge.”There is more concern today
Strength Report – Creating an Edge in the Off-Season
Football players are getting faster. The process of increasing speed is two-fold. You must perform sprints as you would on game day, but you also have to increase lower-body strength and power. If you are looking for an edge this off-season, or just trying to add a new dynamic to the predictable programming, maybe it is time to revisit what you are doing in the weight room and during your conditioning sessions. Many programs across the country base their strength
Tools for Success
The NFL High School Player Development program presented by the National Guard worked with Al Golden and the University of Miami to produce the 2013 practice plan and DVD – benefitting every high school program in America.When it comes to supporting the nation’s high school football coaches, no program can match the NFL High School Player Development program presented by the National Guard. Not only does HSPD provide coaches with the opportunity to give bac
The Double Gun System A Unique Combination of the Double Wing and Shotgun Formations
By Jay Stolfi • Youth CoachIntroduction
Trick Plays: the “Trojan Horse” of Football
By Bruce Reynolds • Retired High School CoachSteven Covey’s principle, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing,” certainly applies to football. Too many coaches try to put in too many ‘new’ things for the big game. That is a big mistake. Concentrate on what you and your team know how to do best. Stay within your system and basic philosophy of offense and defense. Go with what you’re practiced a thous
Defending the Zone Read –Defenses can be successful against the zone read if they understand the rules and their gap responsibilities.
Defending the zone read is similar to defending the triple option that attacks the play side of the defense. We have specific rules for defending the dive (RB), the QB and the pitch. For the dive, we designate the first defender outside the offensive tackle to squeeze and tackle the first threat. The quarterback is designated for the area #2, the curl defender, which is usually the scraping linebacker.We always emphasize that our area #1, the curl/flat defender is responsible for t
Maximizing Special Teams Practice Time – Circuit drills for both kickoffs and punt units can help improve special teams play.
Anyone who has coached special teams knows that there never seems to be enough time to teach the proper techniques as well as implement your systems. Even at a school like Norwich, we end up trying to get more done, in less time.A strategy we’ve used, which has benefitted us greatly, is to set up a circuit of drills for each individual special teams unit and have all of our players rotate through this circuit. This allows us to get a lot of quality, technique-specific work done,
Samson Equipment’s Strength and Conditioning Coaches of the Year for 2012
NFL: Chris CarlisleSeattle SeahawksBackground – Chris Carlisle began his coaching career at Dodge High School (NE) in 1985. After continuing to coach on the high school level and then as an assistant at the University of Arkansas, Carlisle joined the staff at Tennessee in 1998 under John Stucky. He then became USC’s head strength and conditioning coach in 2001 when Pete Carroll called Stucky and asked for a recommendation.
The Rise of the Monarchs – The fastest rising program in college football is just getting started.
Between 1940 and 2009, Old Dominion University did not play a single football game. Zero. The program that had been discontinued after the ’40 season was not reinstated until a 2005 vote established the framework for a new Monarchs team that would begin play in the ’09 season. Basically starting from scratch, the program would face the monumental challenge of building a team where one didn’t exist.Today, the Monarchs are headed to the Football Bowl Subdivision this fall, in only
Drills Report – The Run-Up Escape Drill
The Run-Up Escape Drill which teaches our QBs three important fundamentals – ball security, downfield vision and launching the ball while trying to escape or avoid pressure. The drills we practice are the drills that we witness our players performing as we watch game tape The Run-Up Escape Drill is one drill which we see over and over as we view our game film. We can incorporate under-center drops (5-step/7-step) or gun drops (3-step/5-quick) into the drill. We start by pla
Safety First – Contact In Practice – Is It Worth It?
Football is changing. With the game under great scrutiny from a player safety perspective, those in and out of football are questioning long-held practices that may put players at greater risk of injury.One of those is full contact in practice. The old belief that contact drills and hitting are necessary in practice is giving way to a more restrained approach that limits or even eliminates contact in the interest of player safety. Rockhurst High School (MO) Head Coach To
USING THE iPAD AS A COACHING TOOL
Whether on the field or off, the IPad can be a major part in helping your players improve and communicate the weekly gameplan. Our student-athletes are so used to technology, it is the way they are taught in classroom and it was what they use outside the classroom. Give your student-athlete an IPad and they immediately feel comfortable as they swipe through pages or watch video. After receiving an IPad for my birthday last offseason I started searching for wa
AFM Subscribers Ask with Mike Cieri Special Teams Coordinator, Montclair State University
Mike Cieri recently completed his 41st year as a football coach, the last 12 as Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive Line Coach at Montclair State University. He also coached at Boonton High Since 2003, his special teams have scored eight touchdowns on kickoff and punt returns and blocked 58 kicks – on punts, extra points, and field goal attempts – scoring a total of 72 points in the process. Cieri has also authored the book, 101 Winning Special Team Drills and produced a five-s
Defending the Power Game with the Stack Defense – The stack defense allows players to be aggressive and limit adjustments against either a spread or a power offense.
One of the primary benefits of the stack defense is its ability to line up against any style of offense and be very effective. With the emergence of the spread offense, the stack gives defenses a great opportunity to not only match up with the spread but also attack it. While this is a great benefit, the primary strength of the stack defense is its ability to stop the run. Throughout the course of a season, we will defend shotgun-spread offenses mainly running out of 10 and 11 personnel as we
Variables 101 – Knowing how to analyze over 100 offensive variables gives your defense a statistical edge.
Knowing how to analyze over 100 offensive variables gives your defense a statistical edge.Every defensive coordinator has his own style and process in preparing a game plan for the next opponent. Part of this process is detailing the statistical side of probability on the opponent’s play selection. Ideally, each defensive call has the probability of being successful, helps create one-on-one favorable match-ups and allows the players to execute the proper techniques in stopping the of
AFM’s National and Regional High School Coaches of the Year
Gary Joseph Katy High School Joseph led the Tigers to one of the most dominating seasons in Texas football history. A last-minute playoff loss ended the Katy Tigers’ 2011 season. It marked the second straight season the Tigers had been close, but were unable to finish. Head coach Gary Joseph was determined not to let that happen in 2012. “We had been competitive, but hadn’t finished. This year, we were going to become a more physical football team that w
AFM’s College Coaches of the Year for 2012
AFM’s FBS Coach of the YearBrian Kelly Notre DameAfter decades of frustration, Kelly led the Fighting Irish back to national prominence.It was not a pleasant environment, but Brian Kelly had been there before. He knew what to say.In 2001, Kelly led Grand Valley State to an undefeated season and its first appearance in the Division II championship game. It was also Kelly’s first national championship game as a head coach, and it would end in heartbreak.
Managing Your Program – Avoid a Quarterback Controversy – An Objective System for Grading Your Quarterbacks
In the spring and fall of 2010, we had a heated battle for the starting quarterback position. Our three-year starter was graduating and we had three freshmen battling to be in the number one spot at the beginning of their sophomore year. That year I used three criteria to help me objectively distinguish the starter from the back-ups. After doing that, I realized I could develop the criteria further to not only slot each quarterback in a position, but also give the posit
Coach to Coach – Four Strategies in Preparing Your Quarterback for Success
At the start of the 2012 season, there were a lot of questions from coaches, players, fans and the local sportswriters regarding the state of our quarterback position. We had graduated a MVP quarterback in 2011 and the heir apparent was an undersized junior without any varsity experience. The questions regarding the position were legitimate and I knew that in order for our team to make another championship run, it was imperative that we continue to have great play at the quarterback position.
Drills Report – Blastoff! Using the Blaster to Create Physicality in Your WR Corps
As a former wide receiver, one of the hardest things for me as a player was to catch the ball when a big hit was coming. Now, as a coach, I have noticed that my players also struggle with securing the catch when being hit, or having to fight through contact. Wanting to be able to practice for this difficult situation, I was forced to examine the drills we do in practice. Most of our drills are traditional “ball” drills that focus on the different aspects of the catch, as well as the tuck
Safety First – Training for Safety
Vince Lombardi once said, “Football is not a contact sport. Football is a collision sport. Dancing is a contact sport.” This, coupled with the fact that every year, athletes at all levels are getting bigger, stronger, and faster, means that there is a very real threat to see a dramatic increase in football injuries. These run the gamut from minor injuries with no time lost to more severe injuries that could be season or career ending.Keeping a football te
Strength Report – A Year Round Strength and Conditioning Program, Part II
Last month’s Strength Report included a training program for the post-season, the off-season and the spring season. As part of a year round program, this article will include a strength and conditioning program for both the pre-season as well as an in-season schedule.PRE-SEASONThis is the phase that is probably the most important part of all the training phases we use. During this time, we must build a conditioning foundation that will allow our athletes to make it through p
Speed Report – Elite Training Facilities and Apparatus: Are They the Answer for Football Speed & Movement?
By Dale Baskett • Football Speed SpecialistMike Johnson • Sports Science ConsultantWe looked at sprint assisted and resisted aids in a past article. In this article I’ll discuss a few of the other popular training aids and whether or not they are a good resource for enhancing speed and movement in your program. Since speed and movement can be enhanced through training, entrepreneurs and manufacturers are attempting to make it easier for coaches and trainers to g
Student of the Game: Using Academic Resources To Enhance Your Program
Volume 3: The 10,000 Hour Rule, Athlete-Controlled Feedback and Inside-Out Circuits by Jack Byrne, Defensive Coordinator, Windham High School (NH)
PUSHING THROUGH THE MENTAL BARRIER
Bill Mountjoy, Retired high School and College Coach Often there is a very fine line between a winning and losing effort. More often than not, this is due to the athletes’ mental conc
Giving Back
Two Regional Directors of the NFL High School Player Development program presented by the National Guard discuss how coaches everywhere can give back to the game.Most successful coaches recognize that they are fortunate to have made a career out of football. That’s what motivates so many to give something back to the game by participating in activities that can make a difference – using football to be a positive influence with youth in their communities.Hundreds of coach
From the Coaches Bookshelf - Dream Chaser – 4th and Goal by Monte Burke
For some, coaching football is simply in their blood. In his new book, 4th & Goal, author Monte Burke tells the amazing story of Joe Moglia, who left coaching to pursue what would become a monumentally successful career in financial services. Moglia has since returned to the sidelines and fulfilled his life-long dream of becoming a college head coach. Here is an excerpt.Now sixty-two, Joe Moglia is standing on the sidelines of a football field in Nebraska, wearing a headset and a w
One Team – Two Offenses
By Jeff Hancock • Offensive Coordinator • Siena Heights Universityand Jason Mensing • Head Coach, Whitehall High School (MI)Two years ago the Board of Trustees voted to start football at Siena Heights University and we were fortunate enough to be a part of the very first staff. Among the overwhelming number of things that go into starting a new program was this question because of our limited senior leadership – how were we going to recruit enough players
Thunder Storm – Trine University’s tackling and turnover circuit covers all the essentials of effective defense.
There is little doubt that great tackling and creating turnovers are the two most important things a defense can do to help its team win. We have employed a tackle and turnover circuit that we believe not only teaches our players to tackle with great technique, but also teaches an understanding of how to create turnovers when given the opportunity. As a result, we have been at or very near the top of the turnover margin statistics for our conference over the past few years. We led all of Divi
Legendary Leader – John Gagliardi retires after 64 years, 489 wins and countless changed lives.
Amos Alonzo Stagg coached college football for 57 years in the first half of the 20th century, winning a then-record 314 games. Bobby Bowden tallied 377 wins in his 44-year coaching career at Samford, West Virginia and Florida State. Eddie Robinson coached Grambling for 55 years and won 408 games.John Gagliardi bettered them all. In a coaching career that spanned 60 seasons at the helm of Division III St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, and four prior sea
Coach to Coach – Want to Use a Faster Tempo as a Weapon? Be Creative in Deciding How
NCAA bowl games started on December 15th and finished on January 7th, and, like many of you, I watched almost every game. Of all the current football trends on display, there was one that seemed to present itself in almost every game - the no-huddle, up-tempo offense. Spread offenses have been a football standard for many seasons. However, the pace at which teams are executing their schemes is becoming more and more of a key factor in their offensive philosophy and identity.In today’
Safety First – Stronger Necks = Fewer Injuries
Neck testing and training methods for football are critical ways to reduce injuries.Even though research studies have shown that increases in neck strength decrease the chance of a head injury, there is no national standard for neck testing in collision sports. At the University of Memphis, we developed an innovative program to test, monitor, and strengthen the neck that has decreased our concussions and missed playing time 50% in one year. This past season at Columbia
Strength Report – A Year Round Strength and Conditioning Program, Part I
As strength coaches, it is our job to maximize the performance of our athletes and to minimize their risk of injury. Proper programming and organization go a long way in ensuring our athletes are prepared for each season. Periodization, in its simplest terms, refers to the organization of training phases to maximize performance for the competitive season. The year is broken down into different cycles. The cycle traditionally goes:Off-Season, Spring Season, Pre-Season, In-Season, Post
Student of the Game: Using Academic Resources to Enhance Your Program Part II The Guidance Hypothesis and Overtime Wednesday
By Jack Byrne • Defensive Coordinator • Windham High School (NH)The purpose of this series of articles is to provide ideas for improving various aspects of your football program using ac
LINEBACKER TACKLING DRILLS AND TECHNIQUES
One of our defensive coaching guidelines is that we will get what we demand or allow. If we do not emphasize what we think is important to our defense or if we do not hold our players accountable for what our expectations are, then we are held responsible for the lack of production on the field. This definitely applies to tackling. We demand to be 90% efficient in all tackling opportunities and we do not want to allow poor practice habits or a lack of emphasis on the right things to adversely
Building Blocks – The day your 2012 season ends, your 2013 pre-season begins. Now is the time to build the foundation for your team’s future success.
In today’s ultra-competitive football environment, there’s no such thing as a true off season. The coach who leaves the game behind after the last items of equipment are stored for the winter is the coach who falls behind his peers.Between post-season evaluations of players and coaches, planning and implementing special activities and training programs and working with seniors who want to play at the next level, coaches’ plates are full. To successfully navigate the challenge
Top of the Line
Bishop Gorman High School built one of the country’s top strength and conditioning facilities – with the help of Samson Equipment.When Tony Sanchez assumed head coaching responsibilities at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas in 2009, he produced immediate results – a 15-0 record that included a state championship and a national ranking in his first season. The only thing missing at Bishop Gorman was a strength and conditioning program that would allow the Gaels to maintain th
Quality Control – Planning Your Off-Season
The equipment has been shipped out for reconditioning, awards banquets are complete, and you’ve gotten over that awkward feeling in the week or two following the season where from 3pm-6pm you felt like you should be doing something else. Now is a great time to do some quality control and analysis work before you head into the clinic season. Coaches who are successful year-in and year-out are great organizers. Planning precedes organizing. In order to plan effectively you must per
10 Ways To Maximize Press Man Coverage
There are a number of ways your players can reach their potential as cornerbacks in press man coverage. After playing in college, nearly a decade in the NFL, and coaching at both the college and professional level for 28 years, I have learned a number of things that should be helpful in improving your players’ press man techniques. Here are some tips and coaching points to share with your cornerbacks:1. Attitude – The corner must be ready, relaxed, and supremely confident wh
Secure the Future by Playing it Safe
By the time you read this article, your 2012 football season will most likely be over. I hope that it was a success for you and your team. Some of you are enjoying the holiday season with the satisfaction of winning a championship while others are already charting a course of action that will result in more success in 2013. Regardless of how the 2012 season finished, the winter months will provide all of us the opportunity for some much needed rest and a time to reflect on a
Sometimes the Best Strategies do Not Win Games
If you read American Football Monthly and Gridiron Strategies you can't help but be impressed by all the articles dealing with different offensive and defensive strategies. It is impossible to not be left with the impression that the strategy employed by the football coach is the key to
Subscribers Ask - With Tony Sanchez Head Coach • Bishop Gorman (NV)
Coach Tony Sanchez took over as Bishop Gorman’s Head Coach in March of 2009. The results over three seasons have been spectacular. The Gaels have won three straight state championships with records of 15-0, 13-2, and 16-1. Last fall, Bishop Gorman played three ranked top 25 teams – Chaparral (AZ), Armwood (FL) and Servite (CA). Their only loss was to Armwood, 20-17.Sanchez believes in playing the best teams he can schedule each year. “It was tough to lose the game to Armwood
The Speed Report - Combination Movement Skill Drills FOR THE SECONDARY
What do I mean by combination movement skill drills? Combining position speed skill movements that you might do as one activity only – such as backpedaling – into two or three types of movement changes in the same drill. You will wind up incorporating several skills needed into a non-stop high-intensity and kinetic learning experience.Obviously, an athlete in the secondary must be adept at multi-movement skills, which are why they are practiced so frequently. My idea of doing t
Yoga and Football – Keeping Your Players on the Field
By Tim Tobin, Linebackers and Run Coordinator, Tusculum College andStella Tobin, Advanced Yoga and Pilates Instructor, Personal Trainer and Nutrition Consultant Teams spend around 15 minutes or more during practice, and pre-game doing warm ups. By using Yoga, you can have your players ready in a shorter amount of time, saving both your time and energy. Yoga can help in many ways to make weak areas stronger, tight areas more flexible, correct imbalances, help devel
Student of the Game: Using Academic Resources to Enhance Your Program: Part I The Tactical Games Approach and Open Field Tackling
The purpose of this series of articles is to provide ideas for improving various aspects of your football program using academic resources and studies. If you are anything like me, you are the type of coach that wants a reason and a purpose behind everything you do for your program. Anecdotal evidence can be useful, but is often unreliable and even harmful (if you don’t believe me, think about what would happen if we took everything from an internet forum, Wikipedia, or a TV infomercial as
KICKOFF BLOCK DESTRUCTION PROGRESSION
Learning the proper fundamentals and techniques of kickoff coverage helps put your defense in a favorable position.In spite of the 2012 rule changes regarding special teams play, the kickoff remains one of the most pivotal plays in football. Most everyone who holds this view has a different reason. At Cornell, we feel that the kickoff’s importance lies in determining the drive start for our defense which, over time, is a direct indicator of defensive success and in setting the emotio
Preparing Your Punt Teams
Getting your punting and pressure/return special team units prepared to meet the challenges they’ll face on game day can be the difference between a win and a loss.Successful coaching requires attention to detail. This is never truer than in special teams, especially in preparing your punt and punt pressure/return units. Punts and punt returns hold opportunities for positive, momentum-changing outcomes but they also have the potential for disaster. Of all the plays in football, the p
The Pirate Returns - Mike Leach brings his high-powered but surprisingly simple passing offense to Washington State
Mike Leach is complex. Contrary to popular belief, his coaching philosophy is not. Dating back to his early days as an innovative offensive coordinator at Iowa Wesleyan and Valdosta State, Leach has always experimented with unique plays and unusual ideas. Yet, two decades later, his first offense at Washington State has just 14 pass plays.
Drills Report Bonus - Improving Your Offensive Production
In our offense that we call the “truck and chuck”, we borrow academy-style option principles, implement them from a normal five-yard depth in the shotgun, and then throw as much play-action as we can into it. Like any offense, there are countless ways to practice and prepare our players to execute our style of play. However, when we think about drills and teaching methods for our offense, we stick to a few basic principles:#1 Big/Little/Big - Give the players the big picture (the
Drills Report Virginia Tech Running Back Drills
We have an unbelievable tradition of running back play at Virginia Tech. Our running backs understand the number of great players that have come before them. Since 1980, we have had over 30 running backs sign NFL contracts. That includes David Wilson, a first round draft choice this year and Ryan Williams, a second round draft choice last year.We use four core drills to work on footwork, pass protection, pass catching and overall toughness. Footwork/ball security will be drilled ev
Coach to Coach Dealing with Discipline
I was having dinner on a Saturday night with my family when the doorbell rang. Upon opening the door, I was a little shocked to see a former player that I had not seen in almost ten years standing in front of me. Having past members of my teams stop by to say hello is not an uncommon occurrence but this was different. This young man, who was a part of my first varsity team at Foothill High School, had the distinctive “honor” of being the first player that I had ever dismissed from m
STAYING SHARP Nine In-Season Training Tips
Failure to properly work out during the season will lead to weaker players, more injuries and more losses as the season wears on. Weightroom training during the season confuses many players and coaches. There are so many demands on time and the body that any mistakes made can cause a chain reaction of failures from the weightroom to the field.The old theory of not training at all during the football season is completely out of date.After about 14 days, you can begin to l
12 Coaching Points for Motivation: Trust, Respect, Caring, Honesty
The way we motivate our players is as important to what we do as our technical and strategic knowledge of football. There are many motivational concepts, philosophies, and even gimmicks. True motivation is built around trust, respect, caring, and honesty. I remember, as a young teacher, getting an evaluation form from a principal who asked what my techniques and strategies were for motivating my students. My reply was simple, “I talk to them.” I come across many gimmicky techni
Get More Out of Your Film By Having Better Film
In today’s coaching world, film is a major tool for success. Yet, sometimes we get film that just isn’t up to par. When you get opponents’ film, you are left at the mercy of their filmer. Often it’s a young manager, injured player, young coach, or possibly a volunteer. Your own filmer can sometimes be very green with the camera, have tripod issues or even miss entire plays. People can forget equipment, and then you’re stranded without film. We’ve all had it h
FREE FORM - Weekly Practice Plan
With August camp now in full swing, it’s critical to have a detailed weekly practice plan. This form is just that – a day-by-day listing of what’s scheduled for each practice, including specific plans for the offense, defense and special teams.
Wide Receiver Play Base Fundamentals vs. Press Coverage
The proper technique for hand releases and quick feet are critical for the wide receiver in defeating press coverage.We spend a good amount of time in practice working on individual skills. One of our focuses in practice is releases vs. a hard corner. We work on many different releases, with a goal for our players to develop a repertoire. We spend a great deal of time breaking down each individual skill so it will become a habit for them.We break the skill of releases down i
Managing Your Managers
Most coaches have a good handle on their responsibilities and those of their players. In many programs, these responsibilities are very detailed and almost always put in writing.But often overlooked are the roles and responsibilities of team managers. That’s unfortunate, since having solid, detail-oriented team managers can be a blessing to a coaching staff – giving them more time to focus on helping their players be successful on the field.In my coaching career, I p
Strategies to Overcome a Poor Start
Football season is finally here.By the time you read this column, your team might have already played several games. Hopefully, the start of your season has been successful and is full of promise. The reality is, however, that each week 50% of all teams, coaches and fans suffer through a defeat. In my 20 plus years of coaching football, I have been a part of teams that started great and I have been part of teams that have struggled mightily out of the gate. Both situations can pres
The Safety Rulebook
While coaches can take an active role in injury prevention by coaching safer tackling and blocking techniques, football’s governing bodies can have a lasting impact for all teams by tweaking rules designed to ensure player safety.Governing organizations – including the NCAA, the National Federation of High Schools, and Pop Warner – have instituted new rules that go into effect this fall to help ensure the safety of players.NCAAThe NCAA approved a number of new
COMPLEXITY Using Complex Warm-Ups to Jump Start Your Athlete’s Workout
All high school strength and conditioning coaches are looking for that “magic bullet” or the one thing that will help their student-athletes make incredible jumps in explosive power. Having your athletes perform “complex” warm-ups will help them achieve that goal. A “complex” warm-up is a series of 6-10 exercises, done for a set number of reps, in consecutive order, without resting or changing weights for the entire set.Here is an example:1. Upright Row x42.
Leadership Lessons
The NFL High School Player Development Program presented by the National Guard goes off the field to help mold the leaders of tomorrow.On so many levels, the NFL High School Player Development program presented by the National Guard is unique. There are many football camps around the country for high school athletes, but only one program – HSPD – includes character development sessions to help athletes be successful in the classroom, in the community, and at home. Only one program
Expanded Special Teams: Kickoff and Punt Returns
One of the biggest areas for hidden yards in a football game takes place in the return game of special teams. Making blocks in open space is critical to field position. Technique, fundamentals, angles, and field awareness must be emphasized to be successful. With the motto “every yard counts” players must understand that working to be at the correct landmark can be the difference between a game-changing return and a penalty. Here are drills that we practice:Illini Kickoff Retu
FREE FORM - General Practice Plan Form
With pre-season camp coming soon, the General Practice Plan Form is a must for every coach. This form details priorities before practice as well as providing a comprehensive guide in five-minute increments – period by period – of a complete two hour and 15 minute practice. Specific practice drills are also included for all positions.
VIDEOTAPING FOR AUGUST TWO-A-DAYS
The key to having productive video sessions during August two-a-days and the regular season is being completely organized. Some questions you ought to ask are:
Complete Cornerback Coverage Techniques
The proper technique for backpedaling is a key to maximizing a cornerback’s coverage.As with any technique in football, there are a number of ways that standard defensive back techniques can be taught. The core fundamentals of backpedal, break, and bail are often articulated in very different ways. While it is important to put some of your best athletes at the cornerback position, there are always times when you will need to adapt your personnel and teach a corner how to play the pos
Coaching Technology – Today and Tomorrow
Technology is a critical part of coaching success and will be even more important in the future.From the first time a football game was ever filmed, in 1903, to the invention of the first videotape recorder, in 1951, to the first-ever editing system in 1987 to the introduction of digital editing in 1994, technology has been influential in shaping how coaches prepare for opponents and communicate during games.Today, coaches have a wider variety of technology tools available t
What, as a Defensive Coach, Gives You the Most Trouble?
Coaching football is simple in theory - score touchdowns, and stop the opposition from scoring touchdowns. Too bad theory isn’t reality. Every football coach in the world understands that there is a lot more to it than that. Defensively, you are charged with stopping an entire offense in a few short days of practice and game planning. Each coach has their own way of going about stopping each team. Over the years, you develop your defense to suit your team and stop the opposition, yet for ea
That Championship Season – AFM’s 2011 Survey of 334 State Champions
Winning a state championship is the pinnacle for most high school teams. Learning from the experience of championship coaches can help in your quest to hoist the trophy.Hard work. Dedication. Leadership. Commitment. Focus. Team chemistry. These are the common themes that emerge when you talk to high school coaches that won their state championships in 2011.But there is also great diversity among the 334 teams that raised the state championship trophy last season. There are t
Safety First – Teaching safe tackling technique can reduce head and neck injuries and help protect the game’s future.
In the past 35 years, two-thirds of football-related catastrophic injuries have occurred while making a tackle, according to the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research at the University of North Carolina. Most of these were caused by helmet-to-helmet contact. “This is a major problem,” said Fred Mueller, Ph.D., director of the NCCSIR, which has collected data and published annual reports on catastrophic football injuries for 48 years.Dr. Mueller said head-to-he
Drills Report – 13 Advanced Punting Ideas and Drills
Punting is one of the most difficult and least acknowledged skills in the game. Coaches expect punters to punt well every time, but one bad punt or a botched snap can result in a serious conversation from a coach or, even worse, a loss of a game. Punting can be a big momentum changing play for you or the other team. Here’s a list of coaching points and drills that can help with this position and make it a more positive part of your program.1. Punter Stretches• Make ea
Speed Report – Useful or Useless Speed and Movement Applications
To bridge the gap between knowledge and application begins with having knowledge on the subject. Many football coaches have a limited knowledge of football speed. That’s not a positive for the athletes they train. However, that can be changed. I’m not trying to be negative or flippant, but I’m offering a challenge. A challenge to spend more time looking outside the box with the methods you’re providing. They may look fine to the untrained eye, but are they really sound for addressing
Tournament Time
This month, hundreds of young athletes representing all 32 NFL teams will converge in Indianapolis for the NFL High School Player Development National 7-on-7 Tournament presented by the National Guard.7-on-7. The name evokes highly-skilled athletes, pinpoint passing attacks, and non-stop action.In the last decade, there has been an explosion of high school 7-on-7 events during the summer months. Most of these competitions feature elite skill position players honing their gam
Coach to Coach – Summer Session (Part II)
Using the summer months to organize and articulate your coaching philosophies and methods.In part two of using the summer months to organize and articulate your coaching philosophies and methods, I want to share with you a few methods and strategies in developing your game week schedule, practice preparation, organizing your game day, halftime responsibilities and addressing parent concerns.Game Week Schedule and PreparationsAt Foothill, we play our games on Fr
Play Like a Champion
When the upcoming high school football season gets underway, there will be over 15,000 coaches and teams that, at least on paper, have a chance to win their state championship. By the season’s conclusion, roughly 340 will have raised the championship trophy. There will be teams that will be celebrating the latest in a string of many championships and others that will be claiming the title for the first time in school history. There will be veteran coaches for whom winning is expected and fi
The Double Slot, Triple Option Offense
This offense, with simple option, counter option, read and play-action passes can be effective against any defense.In 1991, I made the decision that our team would transition into a double slot, triple option offensive program. Despite the fact our program was thriving, I felt that if we ever wanted to establish ourselves as an elite program, we needed an approach that would allow us to compete with the superior talent we would see deep into the playoffs.I began the transfor
Reloading at Rockhurst – Tony Severino, the head coach at Rockhurst High School for 29 years, believes in keeping his players busy in all aspects of their lives – not just on the field.
It was near the end of an hour-long interview when Tony Severino was asked a question that he has fielded numerous times in recent years. “How much longer do you think you’ll coach?”His answer is the same every time.“I get asked that every day. You’re the second one today that’s asked me,” said Severino, who will turn 64 in September. “I’ve been saying, ‘five years’ for the last 10 years. I have such a good time doing what I do. When I don’t, I’
Diamond Backs – For a team with many playmakers, the Diamond formation may be the best way to showcase their talents.
In April, after a West Virginia spring practice, a few Mountaineer defensive coaches strolled over to running backs coach Robert Gillespie with troubled looks on their faces. They had just been introduced to the new facets of the Mountaineers’ already-potent three-back Diamond set Head Coach Dana Holgorsen and Gillespie had been installing. The defensive coaches’ initial reaction was shock. They said, “Man, that’s very tough to deal with,” Gillespie recalled. “They talk
Drills Report – Linebacker Progression Drills
Coaching linebackers is an ever-evolving process. With today’s offensive schemes becoming more and more complex, we must ask more of our defensive players. I ask our linebackers to read keys, be aggressive run stoppers in the box, defeat blocks, get to the ball using a specific technique, tackle the ball carriers, find receivers and cover them up in zone concepts as well as cover backs and receivers man-to-man. While doing all this, I also expect them to know the game plan, call the defense
Strength Report – Maximizing Time in the Weight Room
In 2011, Lake Travis High School won their fifth consecutive Texas 4A Division l State Championship, a feat that had never been accomplished in Texas high school football. During the past five years, the team has an overall record of 77–3. There are many factors that contribute to winning a state championship, much less winning five consecutive state championships, and one factor is the effort in the weight room during the season and in the off-season.At Lake Travis, our focus is
Coach to Coach – Summer Session
Using the summer months to organize and articulate your coaching philosophies and methods.Being a head football coach is a job that requires a multitude of skills. The coach that is successful over a long period of time has learned to master the art of the “tions” – motivation, delegation, innovation, articulation, dedication – all the while maintaining the most important element – passion. In order to become efficient in all of these areas, a head coach must know and be able
Tiger Feeding Time
To see a full version of this article with photos, click here, or copy and paste this li
The Power of Knowing the Future
As a Peak Performance Coach, I help athletes to identify and resolve blocks that affect performance. One of the most significant of these blocks is a coach with a negative coaching style. Generally, coaches have no idea how being tense, angry, threatening or abusive affects their athletes. Even a slouching coach has a negative effect. The coach's at
Philosophy of Pass Protection
Being both the OC and OL coach allows us to have a “Protection First” view to the offense. I always stress two things to the offensive unit – first, we must protect the QB at all costs, and second, if you cannot protect the QB, you will not play. This philosophy has been a big part of our success in protecting the QB over the past several years. Over a three year period from 2008-2010 our
AFM Subscribers Ask with Pulaski Academy (AR) Head Coach Kevin Kelley
As AFM reported in April’s cover feature, “Mad Genius”, Coach Kevin Kelley of Pulaski Academy (AR) has an unorthodox approach to the game. His team never returns a punt, they almost never punt themselves, they kick off onsides virtually every time and they usually go for a two-point conversion. For Kelley, the unconventional strategy has worked with a 49-7 record over the last four years and multiple state championships. Many AFM subscribers had questions for Coach Kelley about his unus
Special Teams – Practice Schedule, Goals, and Critique
Our players understand the importance of special teams because of the amount of time that we put in coaching them. Starting in the spring, we spend a minimum of 10 minutes per day on the “big four” – punt, kickoff, kick return and punt return. We also put in extra point/field goal work in every day. We keep it fresh by changing up drills as much as possible.We run a traditional punt formation and we changed our scheme slightly and spent a lot of time in the spring on punt. It
Punch and Move - Pass Protection Drills for Offensive Linemen
There are many factors that go into keeping your quarterback upright and healthy throughout the season. We teach that it takes “ALL 11” to effectively execute the passing game. Every position on the field has a job to do, from running backs’ blitz checks, quarterbacks throwing the ball on time, hot routes being run with precision and timing and, of course, the line handling their responsibilities.Varied schemes and launch points are a great way to keep a defense off balance.
Tackling - Still the Key to Successful Defensive Play
At every level of football and in every historical era of the game, tackling has always been, and will always be, the most important skill for defensive players to execute. Like all defensive coaches, we have several tackling drills in our arsenal.Before these three drills are described, it will help to describe the basic components of the tackling technique that we teach.Basic components of tackling technique:Leverage – the tackler takes away one direction for th
Multiplicity – Using Personnel Groupings to Enhance Your Offense and Player Morale
After the 2004 season, my first as a head coach in a big high school program, we were faced with the challenge of pay-to-play. The coaching staff made a great effort in selling our program to athletes and parents, and we fielded the biggest roster in spite of the new pay-to-play obstacle. We also knew that in order to keep those numbers, we needed to re-evaluate how we were utilizing our players, especially in terms of playing time. We looked at the possibility of two platoon, and we wanted t
Eyes Up – Quarterbacks Coach Terry Shea has devoted more than 40 years of his coaching life to the development of the position including the training of elite players like Robert Griffin III.
Terry Shea knows quarterbacks. In addition to quarterback coaching stints in the CFL, college, and the NFL, Shea has helped prepare future NFL quarterbacks for their professional careers. Among others, he has tutored Matthew Stafford, Sam Bradford, and most recently, Robert Griffin III. When elite quarterbacks want the best in personalized instruction, they call Shea.The compilation of his 40 years as an expert in coaching quarterbacks is now in his recently published book, Eyes Up
Drills Report – Ball Security – 4 Running Back Drills to Prevent Turnovers
Offensive coaches would agree that turnovers often are a deciding factor in the outcome of a game. They provide a huge lift for the defense and can create an emotional letdown for the offense. Given all of this, it would seem to make sense to spend a portion of practice emphasizing the need for proper ball management. We begin each practice with a five minute period focused on this issue. We point out that losing the ball provides the opponent with a twelfth man, the implica
Speed Report – Multi-Dimensional Movement Speed Before the Season Begins
The essence of football speed is velocity with control. Many sports require movement changes. However, football is more challenging than other team sports due to the amount of contact during practice and games that other team sports don’t have.Football has multiple requirements. Add the speed and movement factors involved and movement becomes challenging. Good movement positioning and control is the backbone of performance. What makes for an outstanding performance is not solely
Developing Footwork for Your O-Linemen
An offensive lineman has always had the advantage of knowing the play and the snap count. How he uses those pieces of information once the ball is snapped will determine the quality of the player and the overall unit. He must be able to move forwards, backwards, and laterally while driving an attacking defender in the process. He must accomplish this moving comfortably from what most would call an uncomfortable position. This is why nothing is more important than developing good solid footwor
The Two Greatest Lessons that Football Teaches
The values of respect and sacrifice are vital to the success of a team, an organization, a family, and a society as a whole.I believe that the sport of football has the greatest teaching potential of perhaps any organized activity in our world today. This is because all of life is social, and we as humans are social beings. In the game of football, the first thing you must learn is the value of teamwork: a coordinated and cohesive effort on the part of many, in the pursuit of one goal.
Your Take: Review What You Do
Self-analysis is critical to year-to-year improvement.It doesn’t matter if your team won 12 games last year or 2 – the winter off-season period is the time to review what you do. Every aspect of your offense should be critically reviewed, from the individual drills your position coaches use to the plays you call and why you call them. Here is the process we use to critically analyze who we are vs. who we think we are.Our offensive staff establishes scheme go
Winning the Turnover Battle - Three drills that will help your defense recover fumbles and make interceptions.
At the conclusion of each season, we evaluate how effective we have been in various areas. Then we decide what we can do to get our players to be more effective as it relates to our defensive philosophy (See Chart). Although we recognize there is always room for improvement in every area, we ask ourselves what did we do well, and what do we need to emphasis more? We have seen great improvement in the last two years has been point four “Create turnovers and big plays – SCORE!” Our defens
Advanced Spread Punt Team Drills
After more than four decades of coaching, I have been exposed to a lot of great information from many outstanding coaches. I have taken ideas and concepts from each source and adapted them to what we do now at Sacramento City College. We are always open to new ideas in our efforts to keep improving. Here are our thoughts on the most critical play in football, the punt, and how we teach its execution.To convey the importance of the punt team, make sure our players understand that a
Different Looks from the 4-3 Defensive Scheme - To be effective as a defense, it’s critical to give multiple looks and disguise coverage on every play.
Defensively, we use a multiple 4-3 front scheme. Like many teams, we primarily employ a two high safety look and base our primary coverages off of pattern reads. Our defensive philosophy is very simple - we want our players to know exactly what they are supposed to do and how they are supposed to do it. That being said, we have been able to follow some rules that allow us to accomplish that primary goal while still giving our defense the ability to disguise what we do and sometimes confuse th
Making the Most of the Hurry-Up, No-Huddle Offense - Calling plays at the line can let you double your offensive snaps.
His team had just been walloped 56-7 in its spring game last May and Palm Beach Gardens (FL) head coach Chris Davis knew he had to make some adjustments or face another mediocre .500 season. He just wasn’t sure what he was going to change in his system. His teams had been 4-5 and 5-5 in 2009 and 2010.A few weeks later, Davis was attending a coaches clinic where he heard Gus Malzahn, then the offensive coordinator at Auburn, speak on the advantages of a no-huddle, hurry-up offense
Dynamic Relaxation, Rhythm, Intensity – Learned from Drill Applications
There are three main components for sprint speed – relaxation, rhythm, and intensity. Connotations of the first two components – relaxation and rhythm – don’t sound like normal football terms when you think of the mental mind set. Relaxation is an uncompromising term in the football world. When players walk on to a football field they don’t think of relaxing. They don’t even begin to think that it’s a good idea.Rhythm is a term that you hear sometimes in football. It
Love the Grind: Summer Football Strength and Conditioning Program
At Fruitland High School, we refer to our football program as the “Biggest Small School Football Program in the State of Idaho.”Our athletes pride themselves on their off-season work ethic or what we like to refer to as “The Grind”. For our program, we run six-week strength and conditioning classes Monday-Friday leading up to the start of our double day practices. Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays are lift days; Tuesdays and Thursdays are agility and conditioning days.
Winning the First Five
No matter the discipline or industry, in sports, business or academics, in fact, just the way we play the game of life – the most successful do not depend on pure luck or mental prowess or physical ability. The most successful in all phases of life are those who can master the fundamentals of their game. At Louisiana College, we talk about “winning the first five.” We do not want our student-athletes to win routes solely on athleticism, because we realize that there will come a time wh
Your Take – Get the Head Out of Football
At every level of football, greater awareness of the dangers of head injuries and the role that helmet-to-helmet contact often plays in them has led to rule modifications and, in many cases, a greater effort by coaches to minimize the risk of head injuries by incorporating blocking and tackling techniques that take the helmet out of the game. It is critical that this continue to help ensure safety of players and protect the future of the game.Since being taught the proper blocking
6 Rules for Beating Press Coverage – Are your receivers getting stuffed by the press? Here’s how to get them freed up.
One of the most difficult things for my players to do is beat press coverage. Since we run a double wing offense at John Carroll, defenses will often pack the box with defenders and lock down on the outside. By playing press man, defenses try to disrupt the timing of pass routes by jamming receivers at the line of scrimmage. If successful, the defense has a greater opportunity to sack the quarterback since teams often blitz when playing man coverage. However, when a receiver beats press cover
Suited for Success – 2012 Football Uniforms
Coaches work hard to prepare their players for the big contest on game day. Focus and game planning take shape during the practice week – all for those few precious moments on a Friday night or Saturday afternoon.Because of what’s riding on those moments, coaches always want to put their best foot forward in execution and appearance. 2012 is offering teams across the nation more selection and performance than at any other point in the history of the game. Game uniforms are beco
Run Stoppers – Improve your defense with Princeton’s schemes, adjustments, and drills.
Your defensive structure must be simple, it must allow your players to play fast, and it must be adjustable to multiple schemes and sets that offenses present. Our base fronts and coverages are based on the personnel that we have in our program at the present time. Therefore, what works with one group, one year, might not with the next year’s group. We are constantly assessing and reinventing to get better as a defense. With that said, we have installed and implemented a foundation of core
Samson’s Strength and Conditioning Coaches of the Year
NFLMark UyeyamaSan Francisco 49ers If the San Francisco 49ers weren’t the most physical team in the NFL, they were high on the list.Mark Uyeyama is the main behind that physicality, although the 49ers strength and conditioning coach is way too humble to admit it.“Take a look at Justin Smith or Ray McDonald, really look at those guys, now,” said Uyeyama, Samson Equipment’s NFL Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year. “That’s not me, man.
Taking Your Physical Abilities to the Next Level
Today’s players are bigger, stronger, and faster than ever before. A focused conditioning program has become essential to on-the-field success. In Complete Conditioning for Football, a book and combined DVD package, authors Pat Ivey and Josh Stoner detail a comprehensive training program that builds players’ abilities as well as the football-specific skills their positions require.Coach’s ResponsibilitiesDelineating the responsibilities of all assistant coaches is the job
The Challenges of Teaching Football Speed
The first step toward teaching football speed is dealing with velocity and angles that change rapidly. Secondly, you must provide a progressive training system that is relative to speed and movement physically, mentally, and technically. The nature of the game provides various challenges to movement speed, angle changes, frequency changes, and rapid acceleration. Your teaching must fit these practicums because, unlike track sprinting, the technical application for football speed is not all li
Moving Up, Moving On or Moving Out: Life on the Coaching Carousel
Years ago I sat in a clinic presentation given by a prominent NFL head football coach who stated “Most high school coaches want to be college coaches, most college coaches want to be NFL coaches and most NFL coaches would like to be high school coaches.” Most coaches possess an unquenchable desire to advance their careers to the next level. Most of us are eager to face new challenges and conquer the next occupational mountain.The world of football coaching is fill
Coaching to Make the Game Safer
AFM has long advocated that safer football is better football. We have addressed player safety issues in the past and will continue to focus on ways that the coaching community can help ensure the health and well-being of players, in particular with regard to head injuries. Here are just a few ways that coaches can be proactive and promote safer football. Medical experts have pointed out that less-severe blows to the head on a repeated basis can be jus
The Triple Option Trips Offense – Mixing and matching the routes and timing of three receivers can lead to an explosive offense.
In our offensive package, our trips series is one of our most successful and explosive schemes. It is easy to teach as well as execute, and it will enable you to take advantage of whatever tactics the defense tries to employ to stop your momentum.Our basic trips formation positions three receivers to one side of the set, with a tight end or split receiver on the opposite side. The split receiver, #1, is approximately 12-15 yards from the offensive tackle. Our #2 and #3 receivers ar
AFM’s College Coaches of the Year
Mike Gundy Oklahoma StateGundy led the Cowboys to the greatest year in their history, netting him AFM’s top coaching awardThe visitors’ locker room at Texas A&M is located right next to the entrance that takes you onto the field. Every time the doors open, the visiting locker room is treated to the sounds of Kyle Field, featuring rowdy fans, bands and entertainment. It’s not the most peaceful environment to settle a team down, especially one trailing 20-3 at the ha
Coach to Coach – Maximizing Productivity: A Key Component to Success
If football had a caloric value, I would have gained fifty pounds over the last month. From high school championship games, to college bowl games, to NFL playoff games, I am fat on football. One of the factors causing my football weight gain is how I consume the product. There are no fast food meals here. The invention of the DVR has turned me into a slow and steady consumer. A three hour game can easily take me twice that long to watch. The rewind and pause features allow me to regurgitate o
Drills Report – Getting Open: Drills to Make Your Wide Receivers Great
The most important part of any passing game is the ability of wide receivers to get open. Your type of passing system will determine what types of routes are run, but the ultimate success of the passing game will be based on your wide receivers abilities to get open at the right time for the quarterback. Over the years, I have coached some outstanding receivers, and all the great ones had the ability to get open. The key is practice repetition. We work on a grid square every
Speed Report - Movement Skills – Critical for Drill Effectiveness
Using drills for teaching and developing football movement is certainly not uncommon. However, breaking down the drills analytically is not the most common practice. Most drills are performed to provide reinforcement for certain football movements, usually relevant to a position. The movement patterns are supposed to create better agility and speed of movement with the use of cones or other equipment creating a challenge for player agility. Although there’s nothing wrong with that, there’
Getting Your Team Connected
By Eric Slivoskey, Former Coach Seinajoki Crocodiles (Finland) How connected are you to your players? Do you merely make contact with team members to ensure that they are staying out of trouble and not reflecting poorly on the program, or do you strive to know something personal about each person on the squad. In a world that seems to be changing faster than any of us could have ever imagi
Muddle Hd” The New Age Muddle Huddle Two-Point Formation
Like all coaches, I look forward to the off-season to attend as many coaching clinics as I can that are held throughout the United States. Some coaches attend clinics looking to have a good time and use the weekend as an “outing” away from the wives and kids to unwind and enjoy themselves with their staff. When I go to clinics, I aim to attend as many sessions as possible to learn and gain knowledge from some of the most successful and innovative minds in football today. I set out to lear
AFM Subs Ask - with former NFL special teams coach Mike Sweatman
Mike Sweatman coached for 23 years in the NFL, primarily with special teams. He began his NFL career with the Vikings and later coached with the Bears, Patriots and Jets and had two stints with the New York Giants. Sweatman coached under Bill Parcells when the Giants won the Super Bowl in 1990 and later, Coach Tom Coughlin hired him as Special Teams Coordinator in 2004. His career included three Super Bowl appearances and two championships. He answers your questions about special teams
Texas Titans – Lake Travis High School has built a winning tradition from the ground up.
The Lake Travis (TX) High School athletic program is blessed with a huge enrollment, college-caliber facilities and an abundance of next-level talent, especially at the quarterback position. With those types of advantages, the Cavaliers are expected to have success.But, with four straight 4A state titles and a shot at an unprecedented fifth, Lake Travis football has exceeded even the highest expectations and stands out as a prime example of an administration and coaching staff that
Drills Report – EXPANDED – Special Teams at South Dakota State
I have had the opportunity to work as the special teams coordinator at South Dakota State for the past two seasons. During that time, I could not be more pleased with our success. In 2010, we ranked No. 4 in FCS net punting, No. 4 in punt return yardage defense, No. 9 in kickoff returns, No. 1 in kickoff return yardage defense and No. 37 in punt returns. We accomplished these numbers without placing one single player in the top-20 of any category. I truly believe we achieved that success beca
Learning to Read the Defense
By John Groll, Assistant CoachBedford High School MI) Football has been a part of my life for more than 30 years. Over that time, I have coached or played ever position except quarterback and defensive line. Under a new coach last year, I became the new defensive line coach in our 4-3 defense. I would like to share with you how we teach our defensive linemen to read various blocks.
COACHING FROM THE HEART
by Marc Sites, Assistant Coach Liberty High School (CO) List any great team or dynasty in the history of sports and every team had a great coach. John Wooden at UCLA, Bill Walsh with the 49ers, Phil Jackson with the Bulls and Lakers, Red Auerbach with the Celtics and the list goes on and on. On the flipside, there have been plenty of talented teams in sport that were never champ
The Spread Wing-T Passing Game – Using the Spread Wing-T gives your playmakers opportunities to make big plays.
The Wing-T has been a great offense for me over the past 13 years. It serves as a very deceptive run attack and it allows the offense to move the chains. The trend in football is toward more receivers and more passing as athletes get stronger, better and bigger. Therefore, several years ago I began mixing the Spread Offense and the Wing-T. The Spread Wing-T operates out of a shotgun set with multiple receivers. This offense allows us to get the ball to our best athletes in a variety of ways.
Maximizing Your Kickoff Coverage – Each player must possess a different skill set to ensure effective kickoff coverage.
In order to maximize your kickoff coverage, each player must possess a different skill set and be committed to a ‘Want’ philosophy. At Minnesota State University, we take our special teams very seriously. We dedicate significant meeting time and practice to special teams every day. We film both angles of all phases, including when we do individual drill work for a specific unit. Our philosophy for special teams is very basic:• This is not rest time. This is an opportunity to make a
Keys for Effective Man Coverage – Effective use of man coverage by your defensive backs can confuse the offense and put more pressure on the QB.
Effective use of man coverage by your defensive backs can confuse the offense and put more pressure on the quarterback.One of the main reasons the Air Force Academy has been able to climb to the top five in the country in pass defense the last few years has been our ability to mix in effective man coverage. Based out of our 3-4 scheme, the effective use of man coverage has allowed us to vary our pressure package and also allowed us to be more aggressive in our coverage
Point Counterpoint - Stopping the Air Raid
Spread Stoppers - Defending the Zone Read, Bubble Screen and Four VerticalsTrying to defend the spread includes being creative and mixing defenses but pressure on the quarterback and aggressive open-field tackling are critical. The evolution of the spread offense has defensive coordinators longing for the good old days when defending the triple option meant accounting for the fullback, quarterback and a pitch man. But these days the third option might just a
Point Counterpoint - Winning with the Air Raid
You can put up big passing yards with this version of the spread -- and these key plays from its master architects.The spread is everywhere. Coaches from junior high to the NFL have used it to extend defenses, create passing and running lanes and utilize the increased number of talented players at the skill positions.But one version of the spread – the Air Raid – stands above all other offenses in its ability to produce prolific passing numbers. Ju
Drills Report – Expanded – Advanced Defensive Line Play Techniques and Drills
At Kutztown University, we believe in an aggressive, attacking style of play from our defensive line. Here are seven coaching points and seven drills to help your defensive line improve every day. Coaching Point #1 – We use this acronym every day.SACKERS - Stance (balanced and coiled)A - Alignment (See foot and shoulder)C - Concentration (What are you looking at?)K - Keys (mirror feet)E - Evaluate (what do you see?)R - Res
Speed Report – Bring Your ‘A’ Game Each Day
Many coaches do not consider speed and movement training to have a critical impact on their players on a daily basis. As a result, they fail to give it the same attention and focus that they give to other areas of practice and training.Most great coaches would consider attention to detail and good time management as cornerstones of their success. Why, then, do so many coaches fall short when it comes to using speed training to develop their athletes? Why do they not apply the same
Coach to Coach – My 2011 Coaches Christmas List
The Christmas season is here. Hopefully, this time of year finds you in a festive state. Regardless of how the season went or is finishing up, we all can be thankful for the opportunity and privilege of being a football coach. As I welcome the Christmas Season, I am excited about the ability to give. However, there is still that kid in me that likes to receive as well. So I began to think of things I would include on my Coaching Christmas List. What if we, as coaches, could ask for anything i
Ten Tips to Help Every Youth Football Coach Be the Best They Can Be
By Harold “Bud” Boughton Senior Consultant and Assistant Coach, Franklin College Two years ago I was asked to be a guest speaker at two USA Football Coaching Schools. I knew right away what I wanted to talk about. Drawing on my coaching experience at both the college and youth level, I created a presentation entitled, “Coaching is T
Your Take – Today’s Football Coach
You are a college football coach.Some days, you might as well be a flag waving in the wind, for all the control you possess over your fate. You have season plans, practice plans, game plans. You have a system and a strategy, tested both with time and toil. Every hope and dream are in place.But then the tailback goes down with a torn ACL, and your world changes. The phone rings in the middle of the night, and your world changes. One of your key players acts like the teena
Get Educated 2012 Coaches Clinics
Now is the time to develop your game-plan for the 2012 coaches clinic season. It’s your opportunity to pick up philosophy, techniques, drills, and the latest in offensive formations, defensive schemes and special teams play from some of the game’s most successful coaches. Here are four premier organizations that will be conducting clinics scheduled during the winter months in 2012.Nike Coach of the Year Clinics There are 20 nationwide Nike COY clinics in 2012. Most of the clini
Making an Impact with Your Kickoff Return
For a successful kickoff return, it is critical for all 11 players – including the deep returners – to think about making their block.There is almost nothing that compares to returning the opening kickoff of the season for a 95-yard touchdown against your school’s historic rival. The capacity crowd who had not yet made it to their seats for our 2010 opening game missed one of the most exciting moments of the year, a moment that made a statement to our opponent that we had come to
Playoff Prep – Good strategy during the season can increase your chances of success in the post-season.
How do you prepare now to for maximize your playoff run in November and December? There are many reasons why some teams are strong playoff performers and some are not. Some of those reasons are controllable, and others obviously are beyond the coach’s control. Some teams experience regular season success, but those accomplishments don’t continue through the playoffs. For others, advancing week-after-week is a tradition. What are the critical elements – physical, psychological and strate
Father Figure – In his celebrated career, Houston’s Ray Seals became much more than a coach to many of his players.
Twenty-three years ago, Ray Seals decided to change his coaching legacy. It wasn’t going to just be about football anymore.Seals arrived at Madison High School (TX) in 1988 to find a program full of kids from low-income families. Some came to practice with no clothes; some hadn’t eaten. His players were foul-mouthed and disrespectful. They weren’t college material. “I said right then that when I became head coach, that wasn’t going to happen to my kids,” said Seals.
Drills Report – Building Pocket Awareness
We believe that pocket awareness is one of the most important quarterback skills to develop. I did say develop. We don’t believe that most people are born with the ability to stand in the pocket and wait for people to run into them. We spend fifteen minutes a week during the season working on pocket awareness. On Monday, we spend five minutes re-enacting the pocket awareness situations that the quarterback should have handled more efficiently from the previous game. On Tuesday, w
Coach to Coach – Offensive Game Planning: Strategies for Success
I love designing and developing offensive schemes. When I was a kid, I would sit for hours designing plays on my electric magnetic football game. Years later, I am still designing plays and offensive schemes. The challenge of designing a play and teaching players to execute it with precision in the midst of violent chaos is one of the things I love most about coaching. Once the plays and schemes have been designed and installed, the next aspect of being a successful offensive coach is putting
Promoting Small College Football
by Dawn L. Harmon Editor’s note: Jason Dannelly isn’t a football coach. He isn’t a football player either– at least not since college. He is, however, a football fan and it is from this passion that his current venture stems. As founder and owner of Victory Sports Network, Dannelly has touched thousands of lives through relentlessly writing about, promoting, and analyzing NAIA college football. At almost
Coaching In Poland
Compared to other European countries, organized American football in Poland is in its infancy, but growing. What once began at a grass roots level has now turned into three separate divisions - 1st Division, 2nd Division and an eight-man football league. The Polish American Football League or (PLFA) was started in 2006 with four teams. With the popularity of American football growing, the PLFA split into two divisions in 2008 - PLFA I (8 teams) and
How Much Does Crowd Noise Really Affect Your Team?
Sport psychology is taken so seriously by most elite football teams that they have entire staffs dedicated to the mental well-being of their players. In high school, the pressure to constantly perform at a high level for many college prospects can cause great stress and anxiety. After all, most are mentally still teenagers, though their physical presence would make you think otherwise. Though the disparity between physical and mental development may be evident to those who are trained on the
Overcompensate in the Coop - Drills to Improve Your Defense
I have come to realize that it doesn’t matter what level of football you coach - fundamentals are the most important aspect. At Catawba College, our defensive philosophy is to keep things simple so our athletes can perform at the highest level. Fundamentals are of utmost importance. A phrase that is used many times, like a broken record, is “lower your pad level!” But what does this mean and how can I get this accomplished without repeating myself over and over? I will explain some dri
The Sprint-Out Passing Game: The Major Pass Routes – Reading the cornerback is critical to the success of the sprint-out passing game.
There are three major routes we use with the sprint-out game. These routes can be used against any coverage and the quarterback reads are all very simple. The sprint-out game is a timing type of passing game. The quarterback will sprint-out and attack the edge of the defense and must be ready to throw the football on his forth or fifth step. This will time with the breaks of the receivers, and the pass must be in the air before the break by the receiver. As with all passes, the quarterback wi
Zone Blitzing Out of the 4-3 Defense – Various combinations of zone blitzes and their disguises can be effective against any offense.
Zone blitzing has been around for a number of years. This scheme has evolved with the different offenses we see today. You may bring multiple backers, drop ends into coverage, play different coverages behind the blitz, and twist defensive linemen within the zone blitz, but the bottom line is that zone blitzing allows the defense to apply pressure in the run and pass game without having to play man coverage.A major part of a successful zone blitz package is disguise. We spend a lot
Rolling the Dice – Knowing the capabilities of your players is critical when evaluating the risk vs. the reward of going for it on fourth down.
Les Miles is known as the Mad Hatter and the Riverboat Gambler. The perception is that, on any given fourth down, he will reach into his bag of tricks and attempt a high-risk play. But do those monikers really fit?Take 2010. LSU did lead the nation in fourth-down percentage, converting 11 of 12 times. But all but two SEC teams went for it on fourth down more often. Half the league attempted 19 or more fourth-down conversions. So it’s not as if Miles views every fourth down as a c
Coach to Coach – Principles for Becoming a Better Coach
As I write this article, we are only three weeks away from the official start of the 2011 football season. It’s the time when players and coaches alike are weary of countless off-season workouts and are ready to put the preparation and hard work to good use. With every clank of a 45-pound round, our players see the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s the calm before the storm and the season rapidly approaches.If you have read my previous articles in the Coach to Coach column, you
Drills Report (Expanded) – ‘The Six Pack’ Concept: Keeping Linebacker Fundamentals Strong All Season Long
During pre-season camp, individual periods tend to be much longer, which gives the position coach ample time to work on the fundamentals that are essential to linebacker play. As coaches, we become spoiled with all of that individual time. Once pre-season camp ends, so do the long individual periods, as the focus turns to preparation for upcoming opponents. This can drastically shorten the amount of time that you can truly devote to working on fundamentals. But, it is important to
Speed Report – Doing What’s Best for In-Season Speed Training
Playing football is not kind to football speed during the season. While off-season work must focus on mechanical execution and coming into camp running fast, as was covered in our article last month, speed maintenance is the focus for in-season speed training.Football is a game that is played the best when each athlete can move aggressively fast. That benchmark should have been established in the summer speed sessions. Once the season begins, the objective is to maintain the speed
Strength Report (Expanded) – Position Performance Training: Defensive Line
When it comes to performance training for linemen, the common thought is to have them lift as much weight as possible. On the surface, this might seem to make a lot of sense due to the fact that linemen have to move heavier loads at the point of contact in most cases. But what’s going to affect the point of contact most is the movements the linemen go through before contact. Factors such as how one comes out of his stance, his body positioning, and the efficiency of his steps prior to conta
Quarterback Play: Finding Ways to Complete Passes in Critical Situations
Drop and throw, drop and throw, and again, drop and throw. There is no other position in sports that demands such commitment, discipline, and practice. Playing quarterback and more importantly, having the extraordinary opportunity to lead a football team into competition, requires an understanding of not only the position and its necessary skills, but a knowledge of each and every player on offense, and the entire team. How do we train the quarterback to reach a level of play that
Leadership in Football
What do the names Lombardi, Landry, Walsh, and Dungy all have in common? They are the names of football coaches who were innovative in implementing and teaching new strategies and tactics but they were also great team leaders. What was it about their attention to the details of the game that required hard work, dedication and focus that led them to some of the best winning percentages in the history of the National Football League? In their own way, each one of these coaches truly cared about
Your Take – Risky Business
Players, parents and coaches across America are being confronted with growing evidence that some young adults participating in impact sports might be experiencing irreversible injuries that put them at risk for compromised mental functioning, personality dysfunction, and early dementia. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a degenerative brain disorder that affects individuals exposed to repetitive brain trauma. Research is showing that CTE is the result of major collisions (concussions)
Drills to Develop Complete Backs – Maximize the effectiveness of your running backs through ball security, blocks and pass receiving.
Maximize the effectiveness of your running backs through ball security, blocks, and pass receiving.At Nicholls State University, we run a multiple-pro style offensive system. For our system to be successful, we ask our running backs to be involved in a variety of ways. We place value on our running backs becoming what we call “complete backs.” We define a “complete back” as a running back that runs the football with violent intentions, executes blocks in the ru
Q & A with Bill Ramseyer
Keys to Successful August PracticesBill Ramseyer has a reputation for turning programs around. While head coach at Firelands High School in Ohio, his teams finished with a 24-2 record for a school that never had a winning season prior to Ramseyer’s arrival. After becoming head coach at Wilmington College, Ramseyer amassed a 114-58-4 record over 19 seasons. Before his arrival, Wilmington had only 28
The Heat Is On – In the hottest months of the year, coaches need to watch for any signs of heat illness.
August will be here in a few weeks, and for most areas that means the hottest weather of the year. The high heat and humidity combined with the most intense football practices of the year mean that coaches need to be extra alert for any signs of players who might be suffering heat-related illnesses. Football players, perhaps more than any other athletes, are vulnerable to a variety of serious medical conditions arising from outdoor physical activity in intense heat. It is tragic bu
Great Expectations – How do coaches like Bob Stoops manage high expectations or overcome low ones?
“Coaches who can outline plays on a black board are a dime a dozen. The ones who win get inside their players and motivate.”– Vince LombardiEvery season starts with expectations, some higher than others. How a coach handles those expectations can be the difference between failing to meet them and exceeding them. But what is the secret to dealing with expectations in this era of pre-season rankings, blogs and media pundits that put pressure on teams before fall practice even
Utilizing the Quick Passing Game in a Spread Offense
At Kansas Wesleyan, one of the key components of our spread offense is being able to successfully utilize the quick passing game. Our offense is based out of a single back, 2 x 2 formation. One of our main objectives is keep things simple. This ranges from route concepts, protections, signals and words. As an offensive staff, we strive to get players to react instead of over-thinking. We encourage our players to be athletes and make plays based on reaction. In this article, we will discuss th
Drills with a Purpose Practice Systems That Match Your Defensive Objectives
Whitworth practices 11-player drills that match the goals of their defense – pursuit, interception, and two-minute drills.Most coaches understand the importance of drilling with a specific purpose in mind. Most educators have stressed the importance of teaching toward a specific objective. However, not all coaches align their drills with their team’s main objectives. We have intentionally aligned our practice drills to match, teach, and reinforce our main defensive
Summer Speed Training - Finishing on Par
Summer is the home stretch for football speed development. We must be sure that when we report for in-season practice that we‘re speed ready. That means we have our power, plyos and techniques in alignment for playing at a maximum level when the bell rings. Hopefully, you have spent sufficient time to progressively develop the skills of mechanical execution so that you can use the summer to heat up the nervous system with fast aggressive speed work. To improve
Motivation & Leadership During The Off-Season
The off-season in competitive college football has become almost non-existent. The so-called ‘off-season’ has become, in itself, a competitive season. At Emporia State University we have developed the POWER OF E off-season program. Just like any good college program, everyone takes pride in their player development. We believe we have a unique way of doing it with our program. Through this program we believe that we maximize our player’s potential with a focus on competitiveness, leader
Letter From The Publisher
Moving up the Coaching Ladder Part of the fun of being with an organization that has chronicled the successes of football coaches for over 15 years is following the careers of coaches that we featured in AFM years ago. It’s great to see a coach like Gary Patterson, for example, who we put on our “Hot List” of up-and-coming coaches in 2004, achieve such great success at TCU and become AFM’s FBS Coach of the Year in 2011. While we’ve worked
Coach Steuerwald's 22 practice sessions
Coach Steuerwald, who turns 76 this month, points out that almost half of his team’s practices each season are conducted during the three weeks prior to the first game. Like many coaches, he has two-a-day practices Monday through Friday before fall classes begin, and also holds a single practice on Saturday morning. That’s 11 practice sessions each of the first two weeks and four more the week of the season opener. That’s why so much w
Subscribers Ask: With Patrick Ross Head Coach • Lindenwood University
Over the last few years, Patrick Ross has gained a reputation for both turning programs around and having prolific offenses. In his second season at Ottawa University in 2003, Ross’ team improved from 5-5 to 9-2, winning the KCAC title and advancing to the national playoffs. He was named national NAIA Coach of the Year the following season, his first at Lindenwood, leading the Lions to an 11-0 regular season record. That year Lindenwood tied for the same number of wins the team earned in th
Split the Field In Half
Every defensive backfield coverage has its strengths and weaknesses. What can maximize its effectiveness is knowing concepts of half-field coverage along with multiple disguises.We are a defense that defenses formations. The field always plays a part in how we cover that formation. Very few times are the run or pass requirements the same to both sides o
Tiger Training – Missouri’s 10 Key Defensive Line Drills and Techniques – How you can fortify your pass rush.
The key to any defensive pass rush is putting pressure on the quarterback. Missouri conducts drills daily to accomplish just that. At the University of Missouri, I have been very fortunate and blessed with defensive linemen who have and are embracing this attitude. In my time here, we have increased our sack total each year. We have had many players go on to All-Conference honors. We have had players lead the Big 12 in sacks and in tackles-for-loss. We have had a defensive lineman
Steuerwald’s Rules – A coaching legend shares his guidelines for designing and implementing an effective pre-season practice schedule.
In sixty days or less, your 2011 team will be assembled for pre-season practice. They’ll be pushing themselves to achieve peak physical condition, battling each other for higher spots on the depth chart and, in most places around the country, struggling to get through practices in oppressive heat and humidity.
Coach to Coach: The Pre-Season Home Stretch
“The time will come when winter will ask what you were doing all summer.” - Senator Henry ClayTwo months and counting! It is amazing how fast the season is approaching. By the start of June, our players have completed countless workouts, 10 days of spring ball and now are preparing for summer camp at the University of Nevada. We have spent the last few months training and preparing ourselves for the 2011 season. June is the start of the final phase of the so called off-season.
Speed Report: Teaching Drills Properly – the KEY to Playing Fast
We all like drills. The correct speed drills are the KEY for the best player development. When we arrange drills weekly and monthly for a speed development program, we must have a plan. That is, a plan that puts drills in an arranged order. This is a must for progressive skill development. Without it, you are working in vain. All learning skills and especially running movement skills must be taught in a progressive order. This is because the skill applications for running are constantly activ
Strength Report: Fairmont State’s Summer Strength Program
Breaking down each seasonal phase of your strength and conditioning program throughout the calendar year is a must. But before we outline the entire year, let’s devise a plan for summer workouts. Here’s a complete plan divided into two phases for your summer workouts.
Letter from AFM - Last Call for Fall Prep
With the school year coming to a close, the next major event on the football calendar will be the start of pre-season practice. Every coach would likely agree that the weeks leading up to the season opener are critical times for conditioning, learning the playbook and fine-tuning offensive and defensive units. For many coaches, putting together a plan for pre-season practice is a no-brainer. If they’ve been successful in recent years, especially in their openin
15 Keys to Building A Successful & Sustainable Football Program
By Frank DiCocco • Assistant Coach • Dwyer High School (FL) • 2009 Florida 4A State Champions 1. Have a Flexible and Evolving Approach to the Game: Have a flexible and evolving approach to schemes and strategies. Have a Flexible and Evolving Offense: Develop an efficient and effective offensive approach for each team, each season, and each game. Place a premium on production, both in terms of yards and points. As long as the winner of a football c
Get The Most Out Of Your Practice
By Don Tyre • Assistant Coach • Our Lady of Mercy High School • Fayetteville, GAIf you want to enhance the productivity of your football team, where can you find time to do it without making practice longer? Use your imagination to change the pace of practice. Don`t waste time. Practice what you are going to do in a game. Do you run sprints in a game? A fast pace in practice is vital and a fast pace in a game is advanta
FREE FORMS - Coaches Evaluation Form
This complete and thorough form details a rating system (1-5) to evaluate coaches. The categories include personal and professional attributes, administrative procedural abilities, knowledge and practice of both medical and legal aspects, theory and techniques of coaching, personnel management, and public relations skills.
From the Coach’s Bookshelf – Winning Football
In his new book Winning Football, Bill Ramseyer provides a blueprint for coaching success. Based on lessons he’s learned from his decades in coaching, the book is a complete handbook that examines all parts of the game. Here is an excerpt from his opening chapter.Elements of Success Success can be measured in many ways. If you are a coach, perhaps you measure success by the positive influence you have on the lives of the players you coach – the attitudes
2011 Uniform Preview
Uniforms can be the face of your program. Some schools stay traditional and almost never change. Others go with a different look every buying cycle, and some coaches change them up to mark a new direction for the program. Your uniform is a link between your players and the team. Jerseys are symbols of pride for most players. 2011 brings a wave of selection and style options for your club. Favorites have been brought back and some new styles have been added, all w
8-Week Summer Strength & Conditioning Program – A FBS strength & conditioning coach gives you a complete and comprehensive lifting and running schedule for high schools with detailed workout charts.
This is an eight-week summer training program for football, incorporating lifting, conditioning, speed and agility drills. It is a comprehensive plan of attack intended for all high school programs, and will be successful if carried out to its entirety. Everything in this program is designed to work together. Switching up days/workouts is not recommended.Training Philosophy: First and foremost we believe in perfect technique. Players must perform all movements correctly, with spe
Being a Complete Running Back – Running with the ball is only one aspect of being a complete running back.
As coaches, we are constantly evaluating our players. And our players are constantly evaluating themselves. How many times have you had a player come to you and ask, “Coach, what do I need to do to get more playing time?” or “What do I need to work on?” At Sacramento State, we emphasis ownership. We ask them to be accountable for themselves and their performance both on and off the field. On the field, we ask the running backs “2B A PART”.
Hybrid Power – The Pistol-Flex Triple Option is an innovative offense that combines two distinct styles – the Pistol and the Flexbone.
So many new offenses have been introduced in recent years, it is sometimes difficult to decide if one system or another will work best for your team. How do you choose from the variety of offensive schemes, given your team make-up and objectives? Editors Note: Coach Markowski hosts a blog on the pistol-flex triple option, you can visit by clicking
5 Keys to Running a Successful Youth Camp
Thinking about the annual obligatory youth camp stirs up mixed emotions among coaches across the country. On one hand, they are excited to teach their sport to future players. On the other hand, many see this camp as just another time consuming activity taking time away from their varsity teams and their families during the summer months. Unfortunately, not all coaches take advantage of these camps as an opportunity to build their program from the ground up. Instead, these camps often become
Coach to Coach – Coaching to Make a Difference
The longer I coach and the more time I spend witnessing kids transform into young men, the more I realize that in this profession we have the opportunity and the responsibility to be more than just a coach. Coaching allows all of us the unique opportunity to leave a lasting imprint on the lives of our players. Our profession is one of only a few that will mold and shape future business leaders, politicians, husbands, fathers, clergy, infantry and military leaders. One of my favorite maxims co
Drills Report: Advanced Linebacker Drills
In today’s game, players need to be more athletic than ever, especially at the linebacker position. The game has evolved quickly over the past 10 years. Offensive schemes have become more advanced and complicated. To combat this offensive growth, defenses have also advanced. In order to be a great linebacker, you need to be a well-rounded player – and today’s linebackers have to be strong against the run, while having the athleticism to cover the passing game. &nbs
Speed Report: Football Movement and Speed Skills – Combining Linear Speed with Movement Speed
Summer is coming soon and spring is a perfect time to improve the skill-set of your players to increase their playing speed and confidence. Often, we work on linear speed and movement speed independently. Why not combine the two? That’s what football requires – speed and movement. I thought this month would be a great time to add some playing speed skills for your team. Some years ago I began combining movement drills with linear speed work, all during
The Heart of the Game
Every year during the football off season, we see and read media reports that manage to keep the game in the news and give us our “football fix”. Draft coverage, spring practices and games, coaching changes and player movement have traditionally filled the void between early February and late August when no football is being played. For avid fans, and for those of us who make our living connected to the game, there is no such thing as too much football. But t
Protecting the Quarterback – Pass protection schemes for the sprint-out passing game.
In the first article on the sprint-out passing game in AFM (Issue No.8, 2010), we explained the basis of this passing game with some basic routes. In the sprint-out game, the quarterback will sprint to the call side and attack the perimeter of the defense. This is not a roll out. The quarterback must sprint and attack the outside and put pressure on the defensive perimeter. The quarterback will either throw or run the ball, but he will continue to attack the defense downhill on the perimeter
Getting the Perfect Fit – 15 steps for finding the right helmet to help keep your players safe.
The proper fitting of helmets can be a time-consuming process. However, it’s a critical element in protecting players’ safety. Helmets need to be “issued and fit,” not merely handed out. Schedule and allow time for this very integral part of your program. Don’t shortchange your athletes, especially when it comes to safety. Proper fit is the key to head protection and player comfort. The goal is a customized fit for every player. A helmet that doesn’t
Master Motivator – Brett Steuerwald has used effective communication and motivational techniques to become one of America’s most successful coaches.
Texas, Florida, California and other Sunbelt states are almost universally recognized as the premier regions for high school football. But, if you look beyond the states that seem to get all of the national attention, you can find coaches that have established dominant programs over many years, have had major impact in their communities and have had a positive influence over thousands of young athletes. Brent Steuerwald is
Sack Attack – Troy’s Defensive Ends Coach Randy Butler reveals their strategy to attack the quarterback.
Troy’s Defensive Ends Coach Randy Butler reveals their strategy to attack the quarterback.Today’s passing offenses are more prolific than ever. It’s not unusual for teams to throw for over 300 yards a game on a consistent basis. Not only is it tough to defend a pass-happy offense in the defensive backfield, rushing the passer is more difficult than ever before because of the three-step, five-step, play-action, boot/waggle and sprint-out protection. Also, today’s rules fav
Drills Report: Tight End Run Blocking – The Reach-Scoop Drill
At Texas State, we utilize the tight end position in a pro style offense featuring multiple formations and personnel groups. We are committed to establishing our run game to open up our passing game. I believe that an effective offense must establish the run and that the tight end can be a key component in this. Due to our commitment to the run game, I am going to focus on one run blocking drill: the Reach-Scoop Drill. Our offense features three types of run block
Speed Report: Why You Do What You Do for Football Speed Training
Have you really analyzed why you use the methods and teaching applications you use for football speed or have you just borrowed available concepts and plugged them into your program? Have you just covered the bases or have you really looked into becoming more knowledgeable about football speed? If you haven’t studied the subject, what and where did you get what you use today? Why is it good, and why did you choose to incorporate it into your football program? Did it come from a friend, a co
Strength Report: Ohio University’s Spring Conditioning
At Ohio University, we go through a systematic approach to enhance speed, agility and football specific conditioning during the spring. We have four weeks to train in May after spring practice is completed. We then have a three week discretionary period due to finals and the break between spring and the summer quarter in June. Our main focus in May after practice is on linear speed – both acceleration and max velocity for skill players and just acceleration for
Feeding the Ducks
Sports nutritionist James Harris makes sure that University of Oregon athletes are properly fueled and ready to compete at the highest level.For many years, football coaches have recognized that effective strength and conditioning programs are essential ways to help athletes achieve peak performance. Increasing numbers of programs now also understand that proper nutritional practices are just as important if you want to maximize an athlete’s effectiveness on the field. &nb
AFM Subscribers Ask – with Mark Hudspeth Head Coach, University of Louisiana
Mark Hudspeth was appointed the 25th head coach at the University of Louisiana last December. He brings with him a reputation for a high-powered, no-huddle offense. Previously the Passing Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach at Mississippi State and head coach at North Alabama, he brought the no-huddle concept to Starkville and now to the University of Louisiana. Hudspeth has a national championship, four conference championships, eight post-season appearances a
Samson’s Strength & Conditioning Coaches of the Year for 2010
NFLRusty JonesChicago Bears In 2006, Chicago Bears Strength and Conditioning Coach Rusty Jones received the National Professional Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year award. What made the award so special was that all 32 NFL strength and conditioning coaches voted on the award. “Because it was from my peers, it really meant something special,” said Jones. Jones just completed his sixth full season with the Chicago Bears, the last three
Drills Report: Wide Receiver Stalk Blocking
Statistically, we had our best offensive season in decades, if not ever, at Indiana State in 2010. Our scoring average improved from 9.0 points per game to 31.9 points per game. A major factor in the increased production was our efficiency in the running game. In 2009, we averaged just 97 yards rushing per game. Compare that to the 193-yards rushing per game we had this season. Getting receivers to buy into their importance in the run game can sometimes be challenging.
Coach to Coach: Football Clinics – The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
If you are like me, your email has been full of invitations and promotions to the many football coaching clinics being held across the country. As a coach with 19 seasons under my belt, I have attended many clinics, have had the opportunity to speak at many clinics, and I host the Shotgun Zone Fly Summit. Clinics provide us with a great opportunity to learn from some of the most successful people in the business. They are also a great excuse to get a “hall pass” for a w
Letter From AFM - Saluting Strong Men
Ever since Boyd Epley changed football forever when, in 1969, he persuaded Bob Devaney to allow Nebraska football players to participate in weight training, the role of strength and conditioning in the game has taken center stage. When the Cornhuskers went on to win consecutive national championships in 1970 and 1971, it was a vivid demonstration of the power of strength training for football and it dispelled the myth that lifting weights would make players muscle-bound and slow. &
AFM’s 2010 High School Coaches of the Year
EastHarold Fairclough Allentown Central Catholic (PA) When it comes to loyalty to one’s alma mater, Harold Fairclough is a prime example. Fairclough is a graduate of Allentown Central Catholic High School, where he is the head coach. Playing for head coach Jim Morgans in the early 1990’s, Fairclough learned how important it is to let his assistants do their job. Taken the model used by Morgans, Fairclough surrounded himself with the best coaches possible, ga
AFM’s 2010 High School Coach of the Year Tony Heath Pearland (TX)
Euless Trinity, Southlake Carroll, Katy, Cy Fair, Northshore, Lake Travis. Imposing programs all poised to win Texas 5A Championships in any given year. There is very little debate that this is the toughest state championship to win in the nation. They’ve got the biggest stadiums, the biggest crowds and the most pressure. Enter Pearland High School outside of Houston, also a 5A program. When Tony Heath considered the head coaching position at Pe
Your Take: Turn Back the Clock For Safety
The recently completed football season will go down in history as the year of the concussion. Not because the game fundamentally changed, but improvements in head injury detection have forced a closer examination of the subject at all levels of the game. The football community is no longer taking a “head in the sand” approach to a problem that has existed for a long time but only now is beginning to be understood. In the future, head injuries in football will decline. The solution w
Turf Trends
Chances are very good that your team has either installed a synthetic turf field at your facility or played at least one road game on a turf field. Each year, hundreds of football practice and game fields are converted from natural grass to synthetic turf. That’s not surprising, considering that today’s turf systems provide safe, consistent, all-weather playing surfaces that can be utilized 24/7 by not just the football team but by a long list of other sports and activities. &n
Secrets of Central Florida’s Elite Kickoff Units
UCF had the best combined kickoff return and coverage statistics in the FBS.Central Florida’s elite kickoff units aren’t built exclusively with elite athletes. In fact, when building the coverage and return units, physical traits like speed, strength and size often take a backseat to effort, attitude and toughness. The formula works. Special teams coordinator Tim Salem’s kickoff return team finished No. 1 in the nation, averaging 27.78 yards per retur
AFM’s FBS Coach of the Year -Gary Patterson •TCU
The BCS-busting Patterson led the Horned Frogs to a perfect record, a Rose Bowl victory, and a #2 national ranking.As college football fans look at the national landscape over the last 10 years or so, there always seems to be the same names at the top week-in week-out, year-in year-out, whether it’s Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Florida, Alabama, LSU, USC. Every now and then a new team might rise up for a few weeks or a couple of years. But like any list,
Drills Report: Murray State’s Defensive Back Press Man Coverage
As defensive back coaches, we often teach our athletes to do things that are unnatural to them and are against what their instincts tell them to do. We tell them to not to follow their key inside if they are a flat defender, do not jump a route that sits in front of them if you are a vertical defender, do not jump a deep crossing route if you are half-field player. Among many other things, a successful defensive back must be disciplined on every play. It is a unique position on the field in t
TRICKING THE DEFENSE WITH BIG PLAYS
By Marc Sites, Assistant Coach, Liberty High School (CO) “Watch out, this team is fancy,” said an opposing player to his teammates at one of our games recently. We had just converted a fake punt on a fourth and two for about a five-yard gain. It wasn’t an unusual play by any standards, but that statement caused me to reflect on the number of trick (or creative) plays I hav
JUMP STARTING AN OFFENSE WITH PLAYMAKERS AND SPECIAL PLAYS
Coaching a successful offensive unit is very complex and requires a good amount of organization. In establishing an offensive philosophy, it is important to follow a few basic principles to ensure success. WINNING OFFENSIVE STRATEGIES
Your Take: Time To Get Enlightened
Note: The following is an excerpt from Building the Enlightened Warrior, the complete version of which can be downloaded at Xenith.com.Mounting evidence indicates that playing football in an extreme fashion might destroy your brain. Concussions have clearly been an uncontrolled epidemic in football for decades. Epidemics are not instantly cured by simple solutions. They require complete strategies for risk reduction. We must end the gladiator mentality
Quarterback Play – Focusing on Strengths
“A leader needs to know his strengths as a carpenter knows his tools, or as a physician knows the instruments at his disposal. What great leaders have in common is that each truly knows his or her strengths – and can call on the right strength at the right time. This explains why there is no definitive list of characteristics that describes all leaders.” - Donald O. CliftonAs a football coach, it’s very easy to get caught up in the strategy and design of a practice week a
Mississippi Masters – Head Coach Lance Pogue of South Panola High School led his Tigers to a 15-0 record and the number one prep ranking in America.
At South Panola High School in Batesville, Mississippi, they are not accustomed to losing. Since Head Coach Lance Pogue joined the school in 2007, the Tigers have an overall record of 58-2 and, prior to this year, had won two state championships in three years to add to their previous six titles. But this year South Panola set a new benchmark by not only winning another Mississippi 6A State Championship but by also capturing the mythical prep ‘National Champions
Coach to Coach: Making Your Off-Season Count, Part II
Last month, I wrote about some simple steps in evaluating a season that does not meet expectations. I touched on a few of the areas that I feel are critical in assessing these types of seasons. The areas include communication, off season training programs and evaluating returning players’ strengths and weaknesses and adjusting schemes accordingly. But what about the seasons that exceed our expectations? The seasons when things went right. Seasons when players and coaches came together to pr
Drills Report: Running Back Drills for Ensuring Ball Security
We ask a great deal of our running backs at Minnesota State University, and it is my job as running backs coach to help our players meet the expectations we have of them. Some of our offensive game goals that our RBs are directly involved in include:• 100% Ball Security.• Break 25 tackles as a team and gain more than 75 yards after contact.• More than 90% positive plays and more than 10 explosive plays.• Out-rush our opponents in the fourth
Speed Report: Confusing Conditioning for Football Speed Development
Conditioning is, in reality, a performance trait useful during the season. It can consume your periodization schedule in the off-season when, in reality, it’s not relative. You may not agree with my thoughts on how you should address conditioning. You should focus your training on speed and power and not conditioning. The word ‘Conditioning Coach’ in the collegiate world has begun to change - now it’s become a ‘Performance Coach.’ A coach in the
Your Take: Pay for Play – Don’t Hold Your Breath
It’s really a matter of slave labor vs. political correctness. The workers who bring in hundreds of millions of dollars to schools are the college athletes. The political correctness folks are the establishment – the government, NCAA and the universities. We’re talking the long-debated subject of pay for play. Should the athletes who work year-round to win games, championships, and thus bring big dollars to their institutions deserve some type o
Establishing a New Defense with an Effective Dime Pass Rush
At the Colorado School of Mines, our defensive staffs have run the same 3-4 pressure defense since 1988 and have made the necessary changes and adjustments to have success against constantly evolving offensive schemes. During my tenure as the Head Coach at Georgetown University, we had some successful defenses including the #1 I-AA defense in the nation in 1995 and 1996, as well as one of the top 25 defenses in 2005. During my two years at Towson University, we w
Sizing Up Your Team – Post-Season Evaluation Can Be a Positive Exercise for Coaching Staffs and Players
The 2010 high school football season has ended, but that does not mean that head coaches downshift into neutral and coast for the next few months. In reality, the 2011 season already has begun. What is accomplished in the off-season is often key to how successful next season will be. In many ways, the off-season is as busy, if not busier, than the actual fall season for head coaches. Equipment needs to be reconditioned and inspected
Flying Ducks – Oregon’s Prolific Fast-Paced Offense Presents Monumental Challenges to Defenses
By Bjorn Zetterberg and David PurdumWhen former Oregon Head Coach Mike Bellotti hired Gary Crowton as offensive coordinator in 2005 to install the spread option offense, it was his intent to keep up with so many other teams in college football that had gone in that direction. In its first year, the Ducks’ spread yielded impressive results – a 10-2 record, 34.5 points per game and over 430 yards per game in offensive production.
Coach to Coach: Making Your Off-Season Count, Part I
The end of another season is here. It’s time to decompress and reintroduce myself to my wife and three children. It’s time to take a few weeks off and recharge the battery. The end of the football season is also the introduction of the Holiday Season and I’m looking forward to a great Christmas and New Year. I like the idea of the New Year. It’s a chance to evaluate our lives, our work and our relationships. The New Year presents us with the opportunity to alter our course or maybe ev
Executing the Double Option Run From Any Backfield Set
by Paul Anthony Markowski, Fullbacks Coach SimonFraserUniversity In general, I consider myself a proponent of the option running game. Specifically, I am a convert to the triple option running philosophy. I say “philosophy”, since I truly believe that the triple option is not just another play. Rather, it is an offensive mindset. The triple cannot be installed in one day, nor can it be used as
The Importance of Formation Recognition
By Ryan Ruschhaupt, Assistant Coach Monterey Peninsula College Football is an ever evolving game where some of the most creative and intelligent coaches in sports find ways to defeat you merely by the alignment of players in a formation. Offensive coordinators search for alignment weaknesses
Getting Successful Quarterback Play
By Brian Hayes, Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach Anna Maria College There are a lot of different intangibles that make up successful quarterback play. I have seen all types of quarterbacks be successful and play well in many types of different systems. I believe that you fit your system to what your quarterback does best and work towards his strengths. There are five points that I really talk a lot about when coaching our quarterbacks. These five things that I wi
Your Take: The Story Behind the Poll
Last year, FBS coaches were “polled” about the controversial Bowl Championship Series and in the process got used as propaganda. As everyone knows, opinion polls are a complex business. The people that run them best are experienced, highly-trained and well-paid professionals. It’s for good reason. You can garner almost any answer you want from a poll depending how the question is asked. Politicians, business and others will pay top dollar to either get manipulated
Goal Line Defense: Lenape Valley’s 6-5 Scheme
When introducing our Goal Line Defense to our team, we stress from day one that we must stop the run at all cost – “We are fighting for inches not yards”. As a staff, three principles must be kept in mind at all times: 1. Instill in our players the mindset that “they cannot score by running the football on us – they must pass to score”. Also, attitude is as important as schemes and techniques. 2. Have a limited number of adjustments to formations and motions.
Georgia’s In-Season and Bowl Game Strength Training
Every year, college football players across the country engage in strength and conditioning programs from January until the beginning of training camp in August. Those workouts lay the conditioning foundation and strength base for the upcoming season. And while those workouts are important, many strength coaches would argue that workouts held during the season are just as important, if not more so, than workouts held during the rest of the year. This simple question must be asked: When woul
John McKissick: 7 Keys to Long-Term Success
McKissick, 84, entered his 59th season at Summerville in September with a record 576 wins. He’s accomplished the astonishing feat with a plethora of offenses, from the wing-T to the wishbone to his current spread attack. His defense also has changed with the times, transforming from a wide-tackle 6 and 50 look used to defend the tight ground attacks of the past to a multiple scheme designed to stop the modern spread offenses. “You’ve got to change with the material y
Speed Report: The History of Football Speed Development in America (Part II)
In part one, we chronicled the history of football and weight training changes over the years. My point of emphasis was to provide you with insight to the path football speed has taken. The amazing thing about the history of football speed is that there isn’t a recorded history to be found. This article will summarize where it began and where it is today. I was the first football speed coach in America. I began coaching football and track sprints in 1968 at the high school le
Strength Report: Practical Movement and Strength Training – The Key to Speed
I have been fortunate, in my 16 years of performance coaching, to have been mentored by the best in the business. Furthermore, I have been privileged to work both at the collegiate level and in the private sector. This allowed me to see things from a different perspective, exposing me to areas such as speed training and leadership/management skills that I wouldn’t have been exposed to had I just stayed at the collegiate level. Although it was a huge risk to leave college athletics, the
Fundamentals of Wide Receiver Play and Reading Coverages
By PJ Fleck, Wide Receivers Coach Rutgers University PURPOSEFUL “TEACHING” I was always told that I was the “King of the TOO’s” (too small, too slow, too short). I heard all the time, “GET OUT OF THE BREAK, DROP YOUR WEIGHT, CATCH THE BALL, GET OFF THE PRESS.” “Cat
GAME DAY AT CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL
On a grey fall Friday afternoon, Carmel Catholic head coach Andy Bitto greets a visitor as he enters his office. Kickoff is four and a half hours away, but minus his headset, Bitto is already sporting his game day outfit—brown and gold pullover, brown tie on white shirt, khaki pants and tennis shoes. The outfit could be labeled old school, something out of George Halas’ time. After all, where is the Under Armour? Bitto hands the visitor an itinerary for that week’s
Setting the Tempo by Attacking and Reacting
By Kevin Cristillo, Defensive Line Coach Kentucky Christian University My philosophy as a D-line coach is to be aggressive and stop the run. As a defensive lineman, your main job is to stop the run. By stopping the run you are dictating the tempo of how the game is going to be played. Almost every team wants to establish a run game presence so that they can complement that with their passing game. Stopping a team’s ability to run puts them i
JUMP STARTING AN OFFENSE WITH PLAYMAKERS AND SPECIAL PLAYS
By Charlie Stubbs Head Coach Nicholls State University Coaching a successful offensive unit is very complex and requires a good amount of organization. In establishing an offensive philosophy, it is important to follow a few basic principles to ensure success.
Coaching in Denmark Part III
For my final and third installment on my coaching experience in Denmark, I would like to share two topics that are universal when it comes to coaching American football: officiating and game management. My wife and I were thrilled to attend the Steelers/Dolphins game on October 24 in Miami. As the clock ticked down to the final minutes, the game was suspended in air as Ben Roethlisberger’s touchdown attempt was being reviewed by the officials. Every fan, whe
The Sprint-Out Passing Game for a Smaller, More Athletic Quarterback
In high school football, you have to adjust your offense to the talent and ability of the players that you have. Unlike college, you cannot go out and recruit, so you must be able to adjust to the talent of your players. The quarterback position is a perfect example. You must adjust to your quarterback’s talent and abilities. At Southwestern, we had a four-year run in the shotgun spread offense because of two quarterbacks in a row that were 6’3” plus and had great arms. Th
17 Cornerstones of Defensive Line Play
St. Cloud State University has a long tradition of excellence on the defensive line. In 2008, both defensive ends earned All-American honors, marking the third such honor in the past four seasons. Two of these players were named most valuable defensive lineman in the conference. Talented players are obviously the most important ingredient in our success. Utilizing an attacking and aggressive system of play has allowed these great players to play fast. Playing fast is a must in a position th
0-12: How To Deal With Losing
We embrace winners. It’s in our DNA. But the other side of winning is losing, and it can be a painful pill to digest when it happens so often. Perhaps that is no more evident than in coaching. But, inevitably, every coach will experience that pain at some point in his career. How a coach deals with the negative aspects that accompany losing is a matter of perspective and having faith in what he is doing will reap rewards in the face of adversity. Bob Davie, the former coach at No
Drills Report: Daily D-Line Must Drills
Like many things, football is a game that requires you to do a few basic concepts. You have to block, run and tackle. With this in mind, my approach to coaching the D-Line has always been to be sure and hit certain key things everyday. Each day you strive to build and develop the best group that you can possibly have. To do this, you always must strive for perfection within your group. Remember, if you make it important, your group will also. It is very important to know what makes your playe
From the Coaches Bookshelf - Heartland Heros
The Smith Center (KS) Redmen became one of the most interesting high school football stories of recent years when they put together a 79-game unbeaten streak over six years before finally losing in last season’s Kansas 2-1A championship game. Author and New York Times reporter Joe Drape spent the 2008 season in Smith Center and documented the Redmen’s undefeated season and their sixth consecutive state title. In his book, Our Boys, now available in paperback, he paints a vivid port
Built From The Ground Up
A Guide to the Game’s Top Cleats As much as I would like to say this in jest, I am sure there are plenty of your players that still haven’t equipped themselves with new gear for the upcoming season. You will see the ones at practice, the players that are routinely using athletic tape to hold together that pair of cleats they have been using for a year or two, but are just too stubborn or forgetful to replace. That is why I would like to run down the best of what the top fo
John Robinson, Assistant Coach
By Jeff Fedotin • RivalsHigh.com At 75, John Robinson’s coaching career has come full circle – from USC to the NFL to now, the sidelines of San Marcos High School as an assistant coach Connor Kuehnle’s parents did not believe their son when he told them the identity of his new defensive coordinator. “There’s no way it’s John Robinson from USC and the Rams,” Kathy and Kenzie Kuehnle said. “There’s no way this guy’s gonna come an
In-Season Training and Practice Planning For Punters and Kickers
A coach’s dilemma: what do you do with punters and kickers during the season? It’s a dilemma which has existed for a long time. It is especially true at the high school level but to varying degrees at the college and professional level as well. I have personally experienced this dilemma for the 25 years I have been a coach and for the fifteen years I was a player in high school, college and as a professional. Just handing the kicking specialists some footballs and sendin
Guru of the Golden Arms
As a high school quarterback, Steve Clarkson led Wilson High in Los Angeles to a 39-1 record and three straight city championships in the late 70’s. That was followed by three years as the starting quarterback for San Jose State where he played for John Elway’s father, Jack Elway. Clarkson broke several passing records in the process at SJSU (1979-82) and was a two-year Academic All-American. He was destined to fulfill his dream of being drafted by an NFL team. It didn’t qui
HERO TO ZERO IN ONE PLAY: Drilling the Defensive Back for Confidence
While I am now coaching tight ends at Columbia University, I have spent many seasons as a defensive backs coach. If anyone has been a secondary coach or played the position before, you are intimately familiar with those times when, in the final seconds of a game, an intercepted pass can “seal the deal” for your team or where a deep bomb can spell misery. The positive end result of those times is a combination of competitiveness, but more importantly, reliance on solid fundamentals. I have
7 Concepts in Developing a Winning Mentality
As a seasoned coach and life-long sports fan, I am always intrigued by teams, players and coaches who never reach their full potential and also those who do. I am intrigued by overachievers and curiously puzzled by those who consistently settle for less. Is it simply DNA? Do some possess genes that demand a lifelong pursuit of excellence while others inherit traits that have them looking for the paths of least resistance? In a competitive environment where everyone professes a desire to win,
In-Season Speed Training - Good News, Bad News
Summer is over and now it’s time to turn on the lights and begin with weekly competition. Speed and strength should be at their peak levels coming into the fall season. The months of hard work with zero competition are over and it’s time to benefit from the fruits of your labor. Speed should certainly be at the razor’s edge coming in. This is where the fun begins: maintaining and/or improving speed during the season. This can be done, but not without a commitment to certain de
A Conditioning Program for Skill Positions Using Lunge Variations
By Kim E. Fischer, Ph.D., CSCS • Teri Walter, Ph.D. • Joseph Matovich, CSCS Department of Health and Sport Sciences, Otterbein University Position requirements for skill position players like running backs, defensive backs, wide receivers, and quarterbacks differ from the offensive and defensive line positions in that quickness, agility, change of direction, balance, body control, and reaction time are even more critical characteristics for player success. Skill position p
Offensive and Defensive Collision Drills To Improve Your Team’s Performance
Little boys and men play football because it helps release aggressive energy and humbles all who have tried it. The sensation of running into someone at full speed is defining. No other element of football accelerates players, coaches and spectators than hearing the impact of a collision. Shoulder pads, helmets, forearms, and brute force contacting each other with speed and leverage. I began being a good football coach when I taught players how to take on a full contact collision. Eve
Coaching In Denmark (Part II)
By Wayne Anderson In this next installment of coaching in Denmark, I would like to share more about the teaching aspect of coaching a team like the Odense Swans. The first thing you must remember about a team like the Swans is that what you can truly do as a coach depends on how many coaches you have on your staff and how many players consistently participate in practice. In Denmark, our season is divided into two different parts:
GEORGE BLANDA “It’s Never Too Late”
By T. J. Troup Coach, Teacher, and Pro Football Historian Future Hall of Fame Quarterback Bobby Layne was sold to the New York Bulldogs before the 1949 season by “Papa Bear” George Halas. To fill the roster spot, Halas used the Bears 12th pick in the draft to take quarterback George Blanda of Kentucky. During his last three years at Kentucky, playing under the legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant, the Wildcats won 20 of 31 games and played in the
GAME STRATEGY AND PLAY CALLING: THE “HEDGEHOG” PHILOSOPHY
By Bruce Reynolds Former Head Coach William Penn High School, New Castle (DE) Game day strategy and play calling should not be too elaborate. Go with what got you there. Too many coaches make the mistake of trying to put in too many “new” things for the big game. My father, the Dr. Brooks E. Reynolds, a Methodist minister, was always preaching Steven Covey’s theme: “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” You can appl
Coaching in Denmark
By Wayne Anderson Sporting Director/Head Football Coach, Odense Swans I joined the Odense Swans in Denmark as their head coach on May 18th. Having coached in Norway and Italy prior to this position, traveling overseas was not a new experience; however, there are always unique challenges with each destination. With eight years of seasonal coaching positions, my wife and I have a routine when preparing me for the season away from home. When preparing to coach in E
AFM Subscribers Ask: Steve Warren Head Coach Abilene High School
Last fall, Abilene finished the season 15-0 by beating Katy High School in the Division II 5A Texas State Championship. Winning their first state title in 53 years, Abilene completed the season as the consensus #2 high school team in the country. Before Warren arrived in 1996, Abilene suffered through eight consecutive losing seasons. Entering his 15th season this fall, Warren has an overall 132-63 record which includes 11 straight playoff appearances. Abilene uses a one-back system as its base
Right Guard, Getting the proper mouth guard will give players greater comfort and help prevent concussions.
By Dallas Jackson and Tim Bergeron RivalsHigh.com Greg Ladd screams at the TV every time he sees LeBron James doing it. Or Tom Brady, Sidney Crosby or Landon Donovan. Ladd is a big sports fan. He also is a dentist. And every time he sees a pro athlete who bites, chews or holds his mouth guard between plays, he gets annoyed. To Ladd, such actions mean his mouth guard isn’t the right fit and therefore is not likely to provide much protection. Eve
Portable Perspective
Colleges and high schools have long employed elevated end zone and sideline cameras to capture practice and game video that could be reviewed and used as a teaching tool. But, until recently, the stationary cameras were limited in how they could be used in a variety of practice situations. Now, that has changed with the introduction of the remarkable portable elevated camera system from U.S. Sports Video called the SideWinder. In the summer of 2006, Tennessee Offensive Coordi
Drills Report: The 3-On-2 Contain and Tackle Drill
The purpose of this drill is to be able to close on a ball carrier and adjust to the different angles when a player is blocked or taken out of the play. Once a tackler has been blocked, the remaining two tacklers in this drill adjust and close in on the runner without getting beat to the outside, split down the middle, or overrunning the ball carrier. Depending on the coach’s objective, the goal of the drill is to either completely contain the ball carrier by wrapping him up or tackling him
Game Week Practice Planning to Defend the Spread Option Attack
When we prepare to play against the spread option, we first need to understand that getting the most out of our practice time is the number-one priority. We understand that the option teams that we face run their offense at a high level and they have gotten hundreds of reps at what they do before we face them. So, we need to be able to get as many reps as possible in just one week. For the past eight years, our philosophy has changed from trying to get good at practicing and
10 Musts Before The Start of Fall Camp
#1 Hit the weights and don’t forget to stretch for success. Nothing can make up for players that are not physically ready to play their best. Instead of lamenting that your players are not “bigger, faster and stronger,” take the initiative and make them bigger, faster, and stronger. If you do not have a weight room, create your own. We started our weight room in a storage closet in the wrestling room. I personally ran the summer weight room three days a w
Offensive Game Planning: A Week-Long Schedule to Success
Game Week Schedule - Sunday Our game week schedule is designated from Sunday to Friday. Our main objective for Sunday is to have a final breakdown of our previous game by 4:00 pm. Our breakdown consists of players’ grades on assignments and team goals. We also determine individual awards for our players from the previous game. Following our team meeting, our players divide into groups and watch film with the position coaches. Their night ends with position lifts. At abo
Small Schools, Big Time Programs
For years, Smith Center, Kansas’ (population 1,700) claim to fame was that it’s located in the geographic center of the United States. Now, high school football has put the town on the map. The Smith Center Redmen gained national attention in 2007 when, in the middle of an eventual 79-game winning streak, they had an 11-game run where they outscored their opponents a combined 706-0. In one memorable game, they scored 72 points – in the first quarter. Wh
Coach to Coach
* Getting more done in less time is always a great model for success. Be organized and get the most out of your time with your players and staff. Wasted time is one thing that you can never get back. I have worked with coaches that must have had a different watch than I did. 3:30 meant 4:00 and a one-hour meeting always meant two hours. The one thing that all of us have in common is that we each have 24 hours in each day. I read recently that 25% of American worker
Speed Report: Combining In-Season Conditioning with In-Season Speed Training
The answer is usually not well-received. My reply is that we need to understand how the game is played physiologically. If you run athletes hard and often with short recovery time between efforts, your athletes are being exposed to overtraining. Consequently, you’re training the wrong metabolic system and will not be tapping the proper system that is required. Limited recovery with constant brutal sprinting is going to keep the heart rate at maximum levels. The heart rate should have a
Drills Report: The Skill Drill: The Zone Read, Tunnel Screen and Bubble Screen
The Skill Drill was born out of necessity and has become a constant in our practices. My dislike of players standing around during practice helped create this drill sequence. When your players learn the pattern of this drill, practice reps will go through the roof. The drill combines all positions of a spread offense and works them with all of them at the same time. By using this pattern, you can increase your number of reps, coach multiple positions with a limited number of coaches, get all
Simplicity and the O-Line – Why The Flip/Flop O-Line Works
As coaches, we tend to overthink and overestimate our influence on game days. The common trap is our attempt to outcoach our adversaries across the field. While giving a clinic two years ago, I had an epiphany: “It is not my job to outcoach someone. It is my job to get my men to outplay their opponents.” On game day, it does not matter what we know. It’s what our players know that determines the outcome. This became my motto in everything I do as an offensive line coach and I am ble
Technology Tools: Computer Software That Brings Your Play Diagrams to Life.
Use coaching technology to your advantage with computer software that brings your play diagrams to life. Technological advances have had a significant impact on football and coaching, especially in how plays are developed and illustrated for coaches and players. Today’s state-of-the-art play diagramming software gives coaches advantages never before available. For playmaking, computers have indeed changed the way coaches coach. “Computers and software
No Punting Allowed
The controversy began last November 16th when New England Coach Bill Belichick went for a fourth down conversion late in a game from deep in his own territory against the Indianapolis Colts. With 2:08 left and the Colts with only one timeout, a successful conversion, in all probability, would have won the game. Belichick felt – from his own research – that the Patriots had a 60% chance of making the fourth and two for a first down. The Patriots were stopped short, the Colts took o
Legendary Leader - George Smith of St. Thomas Aquinas
George Smith of St. Thomas Aquinas shares principles that have helped him become one of the nation’s winningest coaches His heroes are old-school coaches like Paul “Bear” Bryant, Woody Hayes and Don Shula, and his disciplinarian style in many ways reflects an old-school coaching philosophy. But George Smith is not afraid to try something new if it will help give his football team an edge. That’s what Smith, the head coach at St. Thomas Aquinas
Coach to Coach
The 2010 season will be my 20th as a Head Coach and/or Offensive Coordinator at both the high school and college levels. I have coached a lot of games in that stretch and held ten times as many practices. I started playing football in 1976 and haven’t missed a season since. I guess you could say that I am addicted to this great game. In those 34 years, I have learned some important lessons that have played a huge role in my coaching life. As we head into the 2010 season, I want to share some k
Speed Report: Refining Peak Speed For Fall Camp
Theoretically, maximum speed should be the goal for your team heading into fall camp. Once football starts and the banging begins, football isn’t kind to speed. Olympic world class sprinters would not train in pads to perfect or refine their peak speed potential. The only referral to track speed that parallels football is the beginning of fall camp, contusion free and speed ready. Summer Time is the Right Time Pre-summer is over and you’re enterin
Strength Report: Lamar’s Off-Season Strength and Conditioning Program
The Lamar football program begins play in 2010 after a 21-year layoff. As the first Sport Performance Director in school history, it has been my task to develop and implement a speed, power, strength, agility, flexibility, and conditioning program. The process has been difficult, to say the least. Combine that with the fact that we are waiting for our athletic facility to be built and one can only imagine the challenges we have faced. Needless to say, I not only have had to think outside my b
Five Ways To Ensure A Solid Foundation For Your Junior High Program
By Bill Shepard, Assistant Coach, Durand High School (IL) and Darin Davis, Assistant Coach, Dakota High School (IL) If a head coach at the high school level wants to achieve success then he needs to invest time in his junior high program. We believe that there are five essential ingredients that help lay a solid foundation for a football program at the junior high level. It may take time to get all of the ingredients in place but the effects on th
Game On! Finding A Football For Your Program
One of my high school coaches once took a break from our two-a-day practice and held up a football. “Can any of you tell me how long a football is?” he asked. Like most players and coaches, I never knew the exact length of a football (and as a lineman, my regular hands-on experience with footballs in practice was slim to none). We were stumped. “Eleven and a quarter inches,” he said. “I tell you this because that 11 ¼ inches is the differ
7-On-7’s: Tune Up Your Passing Game
While 7-on-7 competitions have been around for nearly 30 years, it’s only in the last seven or eight years that this concept has exploded. The growth of the 7-on-7 competition is a direct reflection of the growth of the spread offense. Today, more and more high schools and colleges are using the spread, and players and coaches see the value of 7-on-7 tournaments and competitions as ways to hone passing skills. The events match skilled players against each other. Usually played on
Trickeration: The Art of Deceiving a Defense. When And How To Use Trick Plays.
It was January 1, 2007 and the Boise State Broncos were reeling. Oklahoma’s 25 unanswered points gave the Sooners a 35-28 lead. The Broncos found themselves at 4th-and-18. Their season would end in 18 seconds. That’s when head coach Chris Petersen and OC Bryan Harsin reached into their gadget bag. Broncos QB Jared Zabransky hit Drisan James for 15 yards, shy of the first down. But as five defenders bore down on James, he lateraled to Jerard Rabb, catching Oklahoma flat-footed. R
Drills Report: Multi-Purpose Wide Receiver Drill
We expect the following from our receivers: 1. Maximum effort. 2. Know your assignments. 3. You must have the desire and willingness to block. 4. You must have the desire to catch every ball thrown to you. 5. You must possess the willingness to improve your skill. For route mechanics, wide receivers must follow the correct cutting techniques, body posture and route cuts or breaks. The WR must stay low in and out of h
A Unique Approach to Trips: Maximize Reps and Sets, Minimize Mistakes
By David Buchanan Head Football Coach, Mason County High School (KY) In the late 90’s our program was one of many that was riding the spread offense to bigger and better things. And, like many spread teams, we were heavy in the 2 x 2 set. We knew that trips, a 3 x 1 set, was something that we needed. But how could we install it without bringing on a tremendous amount of additional learning for our kids? Our players were athletic, intelligent, and gave us
Samson’s Strength & Conditioning Coaches of the Year
From the NFL to High School, Strength & Conditioning Coaches are trusted to maximize their team’s potential when they step onto the field. Here, Samson Equipment recognizes those coaches who made a big impact in 2009... NFL Dan Dalrymple New Orleans Saints New Orleans Saints Strength and Conditioning Coach Dan Dalrymple learned a valuable lesson when he had a free agent tryout with the Seattle Seahawks in 1987. Dalrymple had been a four-
Takeaway! More and More Teams are Using The Strip To Create Turnovers
Stripping the football from an opposing running back or receiver is not a new concept. Some players, such as former Giants Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor, included it their defensive tactics long before the NFL owners made the strip legal in 2002. More than ever though, defensive players are being coached about stripping the ball and successfully implementing it in game situations. Colts wide receiver Pierre Garcon’s strip of safety Ed Reed following a Peyton Manning intercepti
Drills Report: The ‘W’ Drill - Offensive Line Style
The W drill is one of the oldest and most-used defensive back drills. It is a great way to teach defensive backs the proper body positioning and footwork necessary to excel. It teaches players how to keep their hips low, eyes up, feet within the framework of their body, and how to change direction properly. As an O-line coach, I teach my players to develop these same skills defensive back coaches do. The drill requires as little or as much equipment as you find necessary, and can be
Strength Report - CITADEL’S OFF-SEASON STRENGTH & CONDITIONING PROGRAM
The winter off-season is the first of two primary development phases in the annual layout of a collegiate football player. The second is the summer. These are the only two periods of the year where no football is being played and training sessions are directed by the strength and conditioning staff. For us at The Citadel, the winter differs slightly from the summer, in terms of our priorities and where they rank. We believe that the better we keep the team physically prepared over the course
From The Coach’s Bookshelf Jim Lefebvre’s ‘Loyal Sons
The Four Horsemen of Notre Dame may be the most famous backfield in college football history. But, incredibly, until recently their story had never been explored in book-length form. Author and football historian Jim Lefebvre tells it in great detail in Loyal Sons: The Story of The Four Horsemen and Notre Dame Football’s 1924 Champions. The national award-winning book gives us insight into the coaching greatness of Knute Rockne as he guides his Irish to an undefeated season, Rose Bowl victo
Letter from AFM
While Tim Tebow lay motionless on the turf after suffering a concussion against Kentucky last September, Gator Nation held its breath. Tebow’s injury, caused by a severe blow to the head during a sack, put him in the hospital overnight and sidelined him from practice, television and video games for over a week. The good news for Gator fans was that Tebow benefited from a bye week and, with rest, recovered in time to lead Florida to a 10-3 win at LSU just two weeks after his injury.
Fundamentals of Defensive Back Play
There are many fundamentals to becoming a good DB. In this article I will talk about a few points that I think are keys for successful DB play. The first point is stance followed by backpedaling, then run and pass keys and finishing with responsibilities in coverage. Your stance is the start of good DB play. Here at Cal U we have two different types of stances, zone and man. In both stances are feet are shoulder width apart with good knee bend. Knee
Developing Functional Power for Football
The search for conditioning drills that enhance functional power for sports is an on-going process. A key consideration in this endeavor is the principle of specificity of training. Simply stated, specificity of training means that the body gets better at doing physical activities that it is required to do on a regular basis. If these activities are progressively overloaded as they are repetitively performed, the resultant gains are further magnified. In many sports improving pow
Dramatic Turnaround: Going From 0-11 to 12-1 In One Year
After Luke Salmons was hired to be the head coach at struggling Lawrence County High School (KY) in 2008, he did what every new coach would do. He put his plan in place and hoped for the best. Salmons inherited a program that did not have a winning record since 2003. “They’d had a period of five or six years where they didn’t win many games, and so I got the job,” said Salmons. “I’ve always wanted to be a head coach, and you never really know whe
Developing the High School Kicker & Punter
Some of the most exciting and scary moments of a high school football game usually surround one player on your team, the young man who handles your extra points, field goals, kickoffs and/or punts. These plays usually have the coach’s heart somewhere in his throat, but if you stop to think about it, how much practice time have you devoted to this young man on his kicking mechanics and game preparation? As a special teams and kicking coach, I understand that most high school footba
The 5-Wide Attack Spread Offense
Offense is such a personal choice. The type of offense you run really reflects your personality. No one can tell you that one offense is better than the other. It is a personal preference. Yet you need to understand different types of offenses: I, Wishbone, Wing-T, Single Wing, Spread, etc. There are also different styles of offense: time consuming, no-huddle, power running, option, etc. You have to determine what best suits your style or personnel. For two out of three years we we
AFM’s College Coaches of the Year
FCS Andy Talley • Villanova All season, Villanova kept tapping the rock, again, again and again, never knowing when it would break. The rock was one of the founding blocks from the first church at Villanova, which was built in 1896. The square block sat in the Wildcats locker room and even traveled on the road. Before every practice and every game, players and coaches tapped the rock. “This is what life is all about,” said Talley. &ldqu
AFM’s FBS Coach of the Year: Boise State’s Chris Petersen
Chemistry is so much more than just a cliché at Boise State. In fact, according to head coach Chris Petersen, chemistry is “as important as anything we do here.” “I think we have all been on those teams where we’ve had a lot of talent, but haven’t done well for one reason or another,” said Petersen, American Football Monthly’s FBS Coach of the Year. “We’ve also all probably had the opportunity to be on a team that didn’t have a lot of talent, but did very well to
Drills Report: Making Improvements In Your D-Line Pass Rush
With the current trend of offensive football becoming more and more spread out, defensive line coaches are seeing less and less of the traditional 5-and 7-step passing game. The traditional pass rush angles and teaching progressions don’t necessarily fit in defending the “spread” offense. Pressuring the QB in the shotgun and 3-step passing game has definitely become harder and forced D-linemen to adapt as pass rushers. We have developed seven “points of emphasis” in the pass rush t
Strength Report: A Post-Season Developmental Program for Linemen
The primary objectives of the post-season football developmental program for our linemen are to enhance individual athletic performance and reduce the potential of injury through the implementation of exercises, drills, team concepts and work ethic that transfers directly to the playing field. To accomplish these objectives, we incorporate a fourteen-week cycle divided into three phases. The first four weeks is a transition phase beginning at the end of the season. This phase is use
Sickle Cell Trait in Football: Educating Coaches
by: McCall Parrish, AFCA & Tai M. Brown, AFCA In the past 10 years, 20 NCAA football players have lost their lives to non-traumatic football deaths. Of those 20, 16 deaths occurred in conditioning activities while the other four occurred in day one or day two of preseason football practice. The question has to be asked: Are we training our football players to death? Out of the 20 players who have died, eight of those deaths were caused by exertional sickling
Was It a Loss?
It was a heartbreaking loss yesterday. With less than two minutes left in the game, and a chance to score and win, they fell short by a foot. The last few moments were hard to endure as their opponent took control of the ball and let time run out. I was there, on the sidelines, trying to capture images to illustrate the values of the school’s football program -teamwork, commitment, sacrifice, determination, discipline, courage. But I put my camera away. Over the last two y
Your Take-“Defending The BCS”
In the wake of the BCS National Championship game, some critics are using the opportunity to raise questions about the Bowl Championship Series. But I have a question for the critics: Can they name the team that won the college football national championship in 1997? It’s a trick question. The year before the BCS was created, there was no single champion. Instead, two teams that didn’t even play each other in a bowl game each claimed a share of the national champ
Reading the Proper Visual Keys - A True Essential In Stopping the Run
Effective defensive line play in football involves much more than three or four guys butting heads with the offensive line. Numerous physical techniques – hand placement, stance, shedding blockers, etc. – have been developed and refined in an attempt to overcome the offense’s built-in advantage of knowing where the play is going. All too often, an equally important mental technique which directly addresses this issue is overlooked. At West Liberty University, we devote significant time
An Offense For the Undersized: The Double Wing
In 1999, Ygnacio Valley High School, under the direction of head coach Tim Murphy, set the all-time large-school record in Northern and Central California by rushing for 5,019 yards. The Warriors’ offensive line that season averaged 208 pounds. In 2003, Murphy led Clovis East High School to the California Interscholastic Federation title and finished ranked in the Top 25 in the nation. The T-Wolves’ offensive line averaged 198 pounds. In 2007, Clovis East rushed for just
Your Take – “My Hail Mary Pass”
Let me start off by saying I can’t believe I’m writing something that football coaches will see. I’ve always had a fascination with the profession. If it’s not recruiting, it’s practice. If it’s not practice, it’s preparing game plans. And then there’s the “baby-sitting” aspect of playing father, spiritual guide, and disciplinarian for any number of problems that crop up. And oh yeah, by the way, there’s a game to be played with strategy, substitutions and clock management.
How To Slow Down the ‘Tempo’ Wing-T
During my first year as a Defensive Coordinator in 2006, we were very fortunate to have an excellent team at Merced High School. Making it to the sectional final and nearly pulling off a last-minute win was an exciting way to begin my career as a DC. However, that year was tempered with several doses of humility, mainly at the hands of the wing-t offense (specifically the tempo wing-t). In our second game of the year vs. Madera H.S., coached by wing-t guru Randy Blankenship, and later in the
From Huddle to No-Huddle in 5 Simple Steps
Over the past few years, no huddle offenses have become increasingly prevalent among D-I football teams. While no-huddle has found its way into the high school game to a certain extent, many coaches still avoid this concept because of the perceived communication barriers. They watch college QBs constantly changing the play and get headaches thinking about how that could work on their team. At the same time, it is hard to deny the advantages that you can gain from the no huddle such as contro
Strength Report - The Effects of Ankle Position on Change of Direction Movements on the Field
Through our teachings of how athletes can reprogram their nervous systems to increase their speed and athleticism, the repositioning of the ankle joint has been the number two most important aspect for increasing acceleration and maximum velocity ability. The most important, joint reposition, is the change and control of the body position. The ankle must be dorsi-flexed immediately at take-off. In fact, Ralph Mouchbahani, while at the University of Freiberg, demonstrated that electrical a
From the Coach’s Bookshelf – Brian Billick’s More Than a Game
During his tenure as head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, Brian Billick experienced the pinnacle of NFL coaching success when the Ravens crushed the Giants in Super Bowl XXXV. He also suffered through perhaps the lowest point of his career when he was dismissed after posting a 5-11 record in 2007. Throughout his nine seasons at the Ravens’ helm, though, one thing remained consistent – the grind. In his new book, More Than A Game: The Glorious Present and Uncertain Future of the NFL
Shore Up Your Secondary – AFM’s compilation of tactics, drills and strategies to make your secondary your primary line of defense.
If you’re heading into post-season play, you’re likely to face a situation where your defensive backfield is forced to come up with a big play. If you’re ahead late, your secondary will be tested in coverage when your opponent goes to the air game. If you need to get the ball back to mount a last-minute offensive of your own, you’re going to need your defenders to prevent the other team from getting game-clinching first downs. Either way, your secondary can mean the difference between
Strength Report – Harvesting Strength from the Field
We frequently look at different forms of strength equipment to help reach our ultimate goal of building a complete athlete. While much of the equipment we incorporate at Vanderbilt can be utilized inside, our staff definitely prefers to implement them outside on our practice fields. I have always felt that this form of outdoor strength training replicates farming. As coaches, we all want to grow strong, healthy, productive athletes that don’t break down and can withstand the heat. Simil
Lessons Learned - Bunkered In-Game Week in the NFL
Working in the NFL is a fight against time. A work week consists of 80 -100 hours for the coaches. The time is divided up between individual work assignments, group projects, game-planning meetings, coaches’ film sessions, player meetings and film sessions, walk thru’s and practice. The meeting time with the players is between 20 - 25 hours per week. The amount of time actually practicing on the field is less than ten hours per week. Hard to believe, but true. Monday:
No Pipes and No Posts - Protecting the Middle
Every coverage has its strengths and its weaknesses. The key to any productive defense lies in when to mix and match coverages based on personnel, down and distance and run/pass tendencies. The strength of the quarters coverage, or cover four scheme, has been synonymous with stopping the run because of the availability of tying in both safeties at the point of attack, giving the defense nine defenders in the box. Many even-front teams have been using the coverage against pro and slot formatio
Increasing the Efficiency of Your Practice and Video Time
“Time stands still for no man.” I’m sure you’ve heard this quote before. If you are like us, you are constantly looking for ways to optimize your team’s practice and video time. Doing so will greatly improve your team’s chances for success. Our offensive philosophy at Northwest Missouri State University is to “Be Balanced.” • 2006 run to pass ratio: 55% to 45% • 2007 run to pass ratio: 52% to 48% • 2008 run to pass ratio
Q&A with Frank Spaziani
After over 30 years of paying dues as an assistant, Frank Spaziani finally gets his time. Frank Spaziani has been in the game long enough to know how it works – or the way it should work. In a world of instant gratification, his mantra has been if you work hard, stay humble, and pay your dues then good things will come. Which is why, after serving 33 years as a collegiate assistant, 12 of those molding the Boston College Eagles defense into a national powerhouse, the sixty on
Onside Every Time - Sam Nichols Turns the Tables by Making His Kickoff Team an Offensive Unit
In last November’s Michigan Division 4 district title game, underdog South Haven, trailing 7-3, began the second half with an onside kick. What seemed like a very risky strategy paid off, as the Rams recovered the kick, scored on the ensuing possession and held on for a 16-7 victory. It was the first playoff win and first district title in school history. Some in the media called Head Coach Sam Nichols’ decision to onside kick a big gamble. But was it?
The Strength Report - How to Prepare Your Athletes for Collegiate and NFL Weight Programs
Preparing Your Athletes for Collegiate Strength Programs By Joe Kenn MA, CSCS, SCCC Director of Athlete Development – Football, University of Louisville In an era where physical fitness is at an all time low, it is imperative that coaches at the high school level understand they are not getting the same type of athletes coaches worked with decades before. With the de-emphasis of general physical education at the elementary and middle school levels
Inside the Numbers - Running Up The Score
Reward Kids: “Too many times coaches will make decisions based on statistics, things such as streaks of holding opponents under 14 points or letting a rusher break a hundred. I am a firm believer that once the game is in control every kid needs to be rewarded for their hard work and have the opportunity to play.” - Bryan Gray (GA) If there is a chance: “I don’t make the decision of when to pull starters for my team. My preference is to leave the d
GEAR - Products for Coaches
The original Athletic Super Striper & Athletic Super Stripe Paint make it easy and affordable to stripe your field like a pro. The highly pigmented Athletic Super Stripe Paint gives you crisp, long lasting stripes every time and it’s guaranteed to empty completely and not clog for 10 years. Just one case will stripe an entire football field. The Athletic Super Striper’s big 10-inch wheels will tackle your field in no time and the striper comes with a lifetime guarantee. In 1970, Fox Valle
5 Dumbest Things Parents Have Told Me
A friend of mine once asked me why I coach for the Bill George Youth Football League. I told him that I do it because I couldn’t get my dream job at a prison or an orphanage. He looked at me strangely as if he didn’t understand my response. He asked me why and I said because they don’t have alumni or parents. This is an old coaching joke but any of us that have held a clipboard can relate to it. Keep in mind that 90% - 95% of parents are wonderful.
King of Your Turf
Those of you who have climbed a mountain—even by a steady trail where no ropes or crampons were required—know it is an exhilarating experience. Slowly but surely, one snowy peak after another emerges from behind the slopes until you are standing with a vista beyond description. It is breathtaking. In that one moment, there is no place you’d rather be and no other feeling you’d rather have. That, coaches, is Zone FEEL at its best, and it is the type of Zone FEEL you must
Increasing the Efficiency of Your Practice and Video Time
“Time stands still for no man.” I’m sure you’ve heard this quote before. If you are like us, you are constantly looking for ways to optimize your team’s practice and video time. Doing so will greatly improve your team’s chances for success. Our offensive philosophy at Northwest Missouri State University is to “Be Balanced.” • 2006 run to pass ratio: 55% to 45% • 2007 run to pass ratio: 52% to 48% • 2008 run to pass ratio
An In-Depth Look at High School Football Practice
American Football Monthly conducted a survey to high school football programs about the details of their practices – here are the results. We’ve included feedback from survey respondents (high school coaches) on practice circuits on tackling, turnovers and special teams. Speakingout Briefly describe the stations in your tackling circuit. “All of our tackling is done by position. We attempt to simulate the types of situations that each position on defen
The Perfect Practice
Practice how you play. Perfect practice makes perfect. We’ve all heard the coaching axioms about preparation, and how important it is to practice efficiently. We hear them, but do we really listen? Just by simple word association, practice is tedious. To our players, it’s drudgery. Many of them simply go through the motions, “get through the practice”, and hold back until game day – which is why they signed up, after all. How do you organize your practices to mak
Design Practice With a Purpose; Just Make Sure You Have the Right Purpose
“Take a lap.” They’re probably the most dreaded three words in football practice history. We’ve heard them at the start of every practice from Pop Warner through high school. As players, when we labored around that quarter mile track or sandbagged around the perimeter of the football field, we knew what we were doing was pointless. Our coaches thought we were being conditioned, but we had a feeling we were being fooled. We may have been right. Sadly, similar commands are still being u
Positive Point of View
For 20 years, U.S. Sports Video has provided football programs nationwide with technology that gives coaches better ways to analyze their teams. Mike Bokulich was reflective as he looked over the shipping boxes that contained 125 new EagleCam SkyHawk elevated camera systems ready to be shipped to customers from coast to coast. “There was a time,” he said, “when we weren’t sure we could sell a single system, let alone hundreds.” That time was t
Longhorn Legend
Texas strength and conditioning coach Jeff “Mad Dog” Madden oversees a cutting-edge Longhorn program that combines intense training with sound nutrition practices. The words on the wall of the University of Texas’ strength and conditioning training facility have inspired All-Americans, Heisman Trophy winners, National Champions and hundreds of Longhorn football athletes. They read, “The pride and winning tradition of the Texas Longhorns will not be entrusted to the weak nor t
How to slow down the “Tempo”Wing-T
During my first year as a Defensive Coordinator, in 2006, we were very fortunate to have an excellent team at Merced High School. Making it to the sectional final and nearly pulling off a last-minute win was an exciting way to begin my career as DC. However, that year was tempered with several doses of humility, mainly at the hands of the wing-t offense (specifically the tempo wing-t). In our second game of the year vs. Madera H.S., coached by wing-t guru Randy Blankenship, and later in the s
NO PIPES AND NO POSTS - PROTECTING THE MIDDLE
How the Southlake Carroll Dragons defend problem areas in Quarters Coverage Every coverage has its strengths and its weaknesses. The key to any productive defense lies in when to mix and match coverages based on personnel, down and distance and run/pass tendencies. The strength of the quarters coverage, or cover four scheme, has been synonymous with stopping the run because of the availability of tying in both safeties at the point of attack, giving the defense nine defenders
Reducing Penalties - Mike Westoff\'s Penalty Prevention System
How Mike Westhoff Turned the Jets into the Least Penalized Team Over the Last Eight Years It only takes about three minutes before Mike Westhoff gets to the tape. Like a proud father, the New York Jets special team coordinator is moving his red laser up and down the surface of a 42” TV in his office in Central New Jersey. “Did you see that block? Watch him snipe him here. That’s football for you,” he grumbles between bites of a banana. “A kick returner has to be e
Lessons Learned -from an NFL Assistant Coach - Bunkered In: Game Week in the NFL
Working in the NFL is a fight against time. A work week consists of 80 -100 hours for the coaches. The time is divided up between individual work assignments, group projects, game-planning meetings, coaches’ film sessions, player meetings and film sessions, walk thru’s and practice. The meeting time with the players is between 20 - 25 hours per week. The amount of time actually practicing on the field is less than ten hours per week. Hard to believe, but true. Monday:
How to Prepare Your Athletes for Collegiate and NFL Weight Programs
Preparing Your Athletes for Collegiate Strength Programs By Joe Kenn MA, CSCS, SCCC Director of Athlete Development – Football, University of Louisville In an era where physical fitness is at an all time low, it is imperative that coaches at the high school level understand they are not getting the same type of athletes coaches worked with decades before. With the de-emphasis of general physical education at the elementary and middle school levels w
Mount Union Offensive Line
Mount Union’s run game is primarily based on the zone run play. At Mount Union, we drill the fundamentals of zone blocking at each practice. By understanding the fundamentals, our linemen are able to execute these drills in practice and use them in a game setting. The three main components of the zone run play are: 1. Step 2. Hands (punch) 3. Feet (finish) I’ve included four zone blocking drills that practice the fundamentals of zone blocki
Inside the Numbers - Running Up the Score
Reward Kids: “Too many times coaches will make decisions based on statistics, things such as streaks of holding opponents under 14 points or letting a rusher break a hundred. I am a firm believer that once the game is in control every kid needs to be rewarded for their hard work and have the opportunity to play.” - Bryan Gray (GA) If there is a chance: “I don\'t make the decision of when to pull starters for my team. My preference is to
Gear - Products for Coaches
Muscle Milk Collegiate • CytoSport Developed to meet the complex nutritional needs of today’s athletes, Muscle Milk Collegiate is rapidly becoming a key addition to weight rooms and nutrition programs across the country. Muscle Milk feeds hungry muscles by combining high quality protein, carbs and custom fat structures known as MCT’s – or medium chain triglycerides – so athletes can recover more efficiently from training. Forget about the high sugar con
Appreciating the constants in the now transitory coaching profession
Guess how many head coaching changes were made in major college football this year? Not five, not ten, not 20… but 22. Yes, 22 out of the 119 FBS programs are undergoing a new reign. For those that aren’t math majors, that’s nearly 20 percent. What’s even more interesting is that a dozen of those 22 coaches that either left on their own accord or fired were on the job five or less years. There’s a reason why the Paternos, the Bowdens and the Beamers o
ADDING FLEXIBILITY TO YOUR DEFENSIVE GAME PLAN
As high school defensive coordinators, we are challenged on a weekly basis to stop a variety of offensive schemes. Over the course of last season, these offensive schemes included split-back veer, wing-t, fly, zone, pro-style, full-house double TE, and of course the spread offense. Our defensive staff has always prided itself in being able to prepare our players on a weekly basis to stop our opponent’s particular scheme, their most dominant player, and their bread-and-butter plays.
Recruiting Confidential
ESPN’s Bruce Feldman shares his insight into the methodology of big-time college recruiting Since 1994, ESPN The Magazine’s senior writer Bruce Feldman (left) has been tracking college football at its highest level. He’s been in dozens of football war rooms and seen hundreds of player evaluations and highlight tapes. He has even ha
FROM POP WARNER TO PREP SUPERIORITY
How Bill Powers, a former Pop Warner coach, has turned a small Christian high school into a powerhouse in the football hotbed of Florida Can’t blame Bill Powers much for pinching himself once in awhile to make sure this is all real. After all, how else would you explain a former Pop Warner coach with no prior high school coaching experience turning a doormat of a football program into Florida’s winningest prep team in the last four years? “I really don&
Developing a “Six-second competitor”
Missouri’s secret program that builds toughness and confidence It’s no secret that Missouri has been one of the most improved college football teams in the country over the last five years. Under Head Coach Gary Pinkel, the Tigers have won back-to-back Big 12 North Championships and had four bowl appearances in the last four seasons. Pinkel has won 31 out of his last 42 games as a head coach. The numbers speak for themselves. Those numbers, some would say, have a lo
Wide Receiver Separation
On behalf of Northwestern University, Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald, and the entire Northwestern Football Program, I would like to thank American Football Monthly for allowing me to share some of our wide receiver drills with you. We are a part of a great profession that shares coaching points freely. I’m honored to share with you a separation drill series that has been very productive for our wide receivers. At Northwestern, we run a spread, four-wide receiver offens
Seeing is Believing
While the days of coaches scratching out X’s and O’s on a chalkboard or huddling around a 16mm projector to review game film are long gone, some football programs have not, until recently, taken full advantage of the high-tech teaching tools available to coaches today. Case in point – Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village, California. To call the Oaks Christian football program high-profile would be an understatement. Not only had Head Coach Bill Redell’s Lio
Starting from Scratch
When Old Dominion re-started their football program after a 68-year hiatus, they turned to Rogers Athletic for their practice equipment needs. The last time Old Dominion University played an intercollegiate football game, Franklin Roosevelt was president. Helmets were made of leather, and they didn’t have facemasks. Minnesota went 8-0 and was voted the national champion. The year was 1940. So, when it was announced that the program would be reinstated for the 2009 season, the un
Helping an Unnoticed Player Get Noticed
High school football offers many great rewards for young men. Unfortunately, due to state guidelines that are different across the board, not all players develop the same or receive the same type of coaching. Occasionally at the high school level players develop late, new kids move into town or those athletically gifted kids walking the halls decide to play football. If this is the case for a senior on your team, then you and he are going to be behind in the recruiting process.
5 Things Every Youth Coach Must Do Today to Win in the Fall - .COM
Welcome to my first article in American Football Monthly’s Youth Coaching Expert column. I have been fortunate enough to have had a success at the youth coaching ranks and it will be my goal to impart some of the lessons that I have learned, both good and bad, over the years. I will not be writing these columns for the coaches that get the super fast kids where you can just pitch them the ball and they go and make magic happen. You guys probably don’t need my help! Instead, I am goi
Q&A with Lou Tepper
The name Lou Tepper has been synonymous with defensive football. Considered one of the original gurus of linebacker play, Tepper has coached over 20 professional linebackers including the likes of Dick Butkus Awards winners and NFL standouts Kevin Hardy, Dana Howard and Simeon Rice while he was the head coach at the University of Illinois. Since being named head coach in 2006 at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Tepper is enjoying a resurgence at the Division II level. The
The Strength Report - How to Utilize Your Space to Positively Effect Your Program
The High School Perspective: By Dave Brown, Strength & Conditioning Coordinator, Archbishop Mitty High School (CA) No matter how big your training facility is, you should be trying to utilize space to make your training efficient, challenging, productive and motivating. How do you train when resources are limited? Archbishop Mitty High School has one of the top athletic programs in the nation. Sports Illustrated, in 2006-2007, rated th
Inside the Numbers - Onside Kicks
“Survey Says…” AFM asked survey respondents to share what they do to increase their chances of recovering onside kicks. Kick’em in the Chest “Instead of overloading a side and using the traditional onside kick, from our normal alignment, we have our kicker drive the ball directly at one of the front lineman. We hope the ball will kick-back toward our approaching players. We prefer to use this early in games to surprise the receiving team.”
Letter - Want To Be 1 in 11,000?
We all chase the same dream. Whether it lies in conference championships, state championships, national titles – we prepare endlessly for the honor of hoisting that trophy in glory. We’re living in denial if we don’t understand that the percentages are against us. There are terrific coaches that spend their entire life in this business and don’t ever get that opportunity. Ever wonder why they never get there? Sure, luck has its place but most of the time it can come down to one game,
Lessons Learned - From an NFL Assistant Coach
Besides coaching on defense, my most valuable learning experience took place while working with the quarterbacks. Prior to my NFL coaching days, I worked a summer football camp for two years at a Big Ten university where I befriended the QB Coach, (Presently an Assistant Head Coach in the NFL) who taught me the QB position. We spent hours upon hours watching film. The first words that came out of his mouth were, “If you want to learn football, this is the position to coach.”
Drills Report: Training the Eyes
We emphasize “eyes” at Cal Lutheran. The most common remark we hear from our opponents is, “you guys play fast.” I believe the reason we play so fast is because we drill daily our eye placement. By drilling eye placement every day, keying becomes second nature and we are able to diagnose the play rapidly while reacting accordingly. We base our defense out of a 3-2-6. Each position group has a key progression that is drilled during individual time. The defensive line, ins
Schutt - College Coaches of the Year
Mike London University of Richmond Creating Competition in Practice – Making Players Perform Under Pressure After seven games into the 2008 season with a record of 4-3, nobody believed Richmond could win it all, except Mike London himself, who saw something special in his guys. “I knew that our losses could have gone either way early on,” said London, who was the defensive coordinator at Virginia before taking the job at his alm
Schutt - High School Coaches of the Year Regional
Midwest Region Chuck Kyle • St. Ignatius High School (OH) Ohio is high school football and Chuck Kyle at St. Ignatius is Ohio football at its best. Kyle, the longtime legend at the parochial school in Cleveland, is known for racking up state championships, and he capped this season off by winning his tenth in his 26 years as the head coach of his alma mater. Just don\'t ask him if this one was most memorable. “It likes comparing children,” says Kyle.
Schutt - National High School Coach of the Year
Coaching Smart A Florida football legend, George Smith, is the Schutt Sports National High School Coach of the Year George Smith’s coaching career could have ended before it ever really got started. As a 27-year-old first-year head coach, Smith was getting his staff together after his first full season, a 6-4 campaign in 1975. “I was going around asking my staff in a post-season meeting who was going to come back for next year,” Smith recalls. “They al
Schutt - FBS Coach of the Year
“They pay coaches bigger salaries now, so you better not waste any time getting the job done. There is always someone else in waiting.” Simply put, Brian Kelly knows how to win football games. And he can win them at any level. Just as a craftsman works his plan to the detail, Kelly has executed his formula for success at every level he’s been – from Division II Grand Valley State to mid-major Central Michigan to a former Big East doormat, the University of Cincinnati.
Middle Cross Kickoff Return
Developing and repping a solid kickoff return team can be an explosive offensive weapon for your football team. With the kickoff team, you are generally looking to avoid negative momentum. However, with the kickoff return team, you can gain a huge momentum swing with a great return. At the very least, you want to give your offense the ball outside of the 30-yard line. The kickoff return team is important, because you can give your offense the ball in good field position, and could possibly ev
Central Missouri’s Tackling Drills
With the increasing pressure that offenses are posing for defensive coaches, organizing practice to maximize benefits is vital. Covering everything and still improving fundamental skills is nearly impossible. The fundamentals unfortunately get shorted more often than not. I think that coaches do a tremendous job at adapting to this dilemma by combining skills into one drill. With that in mind I want to discuss three tackling drills that accomplish that exact purpose. Drill: Fini
Managing Team Dynamics - .COM
At the end of the day, if the coach isn’t going to manage the team’s internal and external dynamics, then who is? In today’s non-confrontational society where conflict and upheaval are seen as overly-aggressively and negative actions, a large helping of moral courage is required to effectively manage inner and outer team influences; unfortunately, many coaches refuse to address team dynamics, often to the detriment of all involved. Being able to manage team dynamic
The Multi-Option I-Bone Offense
In late 1983, while working as a publicist for the Alamo Community College District in San Antonio, Texas, I met Dr. James R. Smith, a local veterinary dermatologist who would forever change the way I looked at football. As if his occupation were not interesting enough (at that time, there were only four veterinary dermatologists in all of Texas, and only about 25 in the entire country), Dr. Smith would later give me another reason to find him interesting. On late afternoon in February 1984, b
Mental Toughness: Quiet the Mind
How often have you heard these? \"We choked today.\" \"We started out flat.\" \"We play down to our competition.\" Or these…\"We were in the zone.\" \"Things just clicked.\" \"It was as if I knew what was about to happen.\" All of these statements reflect on a team\'s mental performance...how the brain affects outcome. Many times, a restless brain gets in the way of performance. Your body obeys dual voices from your brain. One of the voices is the strong silent type. Your bo
Developmental Aspects of Implementing the Front and Back Squat in a Training Program
The College Perspective: By Joe Kenn MA, CSCS, SCCC Director of Athlete Development – Football University of Louisville Utilizing a squat movement is highly recommended for any athletic-based program. The combination of hip and knee extension that this movement develops is a key component in an athlete’s overall physical development. At one time, the traditional barbell back squat was the primary squat utilized in our program. Now, we use a variety of
Football Coaches are Football Savvy, but Just How Movement & Speed Savvy?
For nearly 30 years I‘ve worked toward becoming an expert at movement and speed for sports performance. The time spent has been a labor of personal gratification. I’ve worked with the old pros and today’s modern superstars of the NFL. My forte has been developing players at the novice to elite levels. Over the last 29 years, I’ve consulted with 11 NFL teams on speed development and was once on the staff of the Seattle Seahawks. Three years ago, I was approached by Pete Carroll from USC a
Inside the Numbers – 2-Point Conversions
How many times did your team attempt a two-point conversion during the 2008 season? 0 – 5 Attempts: 57.4% 6 – 10 Attempts: 23.8% 11 – 15 Attempts: 8.4% 16 – 20+ Attempts: 10.4% Of those attempted 2-point conversions, how many times were you successful? 0 – 5 Conversions: 76.4% 6 – 10 Conversions: 14.6% 11 – 15 Conversions: 4.1% 16 – 20+ Conversions: 4.8% “Survey Says
The Little Things...
Presented by www.schutt-sports.com • 800-426-9784 Dead Ball Snap Bill Powers, Head Coach, Jupiter Christian High School (FL) “Out of our shotgun formation, we use the Dead Ball Snap which is pretty unique. I watch a lot of football and I don’t see a lot of schools doing it. This is great for programs who rely on the shotgun formation, but have problems with consistent snaps. We th
The Fly Guy
Take one of your quicker athletes, start him in full motion before the snap, get him the ball as he hits top speed and let him run. Sounds simple? Hardly. Sure, on paper, the concept of the fly or jet sweep is elementary, but to run it effectively – that takes some precision. It’s a precision that has made Mark Speckman at Willamette College in Salem, Oregon his living as a head coach. He’s known around the country as “The Fly Guy” patterning his offense around the fly sweep – a sch
Focal Tackling - Using Your Eyes to Make Plays
We know that football has become a game played in space – there is no denying that. In the last issue of AFM, we discussed the way that tackling has morphed from a semi-barbaric method of driving someone into the ground, into a more detailed approach based on where you are in the field. Because spread schemes get their athletes the ball in space, most defensive coaches preach to their players to “leverage” the ball or keep it inside the numbers and know where your help is. Tackling used to
The Drills Report: Delaware’s Defensive Line Hip Emphasis Drills
As defensive line coaches, we all know the importance of developing strength, power, quick feet, active hands, and a relentless desire to get to the football. What I also add to that list is the development of the hips in relation to movements necessary to play defensive line. We work year-round on the strength, power and flexibility of the hips. Our training staff and strength & conditioning coaches work year-round improving this area and I incorporate drills that I feel are
Football Video – The Right Way
From the days of 16 millimeter film to the videotape era to today’s sophisticated digital video systems, recording and sharing game images for team analysis and opponent scouting has been an essential coaching tool. But do some coaches underestimate the importance of video and miss opportunities to get more effective use out of their video programs – possibly costing them future wins? According to David Affholter, the answer is, unfortunately, yes. “All coaches study game video o
Myths vs. Facts - The A-11 Offense a Year Later
It was only last spring when AFM first debuted this radical new offensive scheme that was conceived in the living room of Steve Humphries, the offensive coordinator at Piedmont High School in California. Back then it might have only been a fad when Humphries and head coach Kurt Bryan had just installed it the season before and really had only implemented it on offense around 70 percent of their snaps. But since, it has taken on a life of its own. Like any fad that starts to pick up sp
30-Stack Pressure Defense
When we went to the 30-Stack defense as our base defense, we did so for a few reasons. First, it suited our personnel. Traditionally, we are a school that does not have great size, but we were fortunate to have athletes who could run. This defense allowed us to feature our greatest asset: team speed. Second, we liked the idea of being in a defense where we could show a lot of different looks to opposing offenses in terms of fronts and coverages without having to change personnel. The 3
Tackling Solutions
Editor’s Note: Due to the overwhelming response we’ve received from coaches on the issue of tackling, we are currently working with a group of coaches to publish a series of tackling improvement articles this off-season. Ok, so we’ve identified the problem. But how do we fix it? Each coach has their own suggestions as to how to improve our tackling dilemma, but we found that it can be broken down into three distinct elements of improvement – position-specific tackling,
The Tackling Crisis
As coaches, we spend countless hours and plenty of dollars sitting in clinic talks on the zone option or the odd-stack defense. These scheme-driven talks seem to motivate us more than anything. We shell out bucks on DVD’s about the most innovative offensive scheme or blitz-busting defense. After a loss, it’s never the scheme that bears the brunt of the loss – it’s fundamentals. “We didn’t tackle well.” If all of football comes down to blocking and tackling, then why are offens
Special Teams Time Management
Special teams is the aspect of the game where the “Hidden Yardage” can have a great effect of the outcome of a game. The MSU “Red Hawks” will win the hidden yardage weekly. This is accomplished through hard work, being well disciplined, knowing and executing the techniques and assignments and playing every play as a 101%er. Solid special teams are directly related to sound and effective time management. The old adage of “Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance” couldn\
AFM Subscribers Ask...with Charlie Weis
In Charlie Weis’ first two seasons as head coach, the Notre Dame roster was deep with leadership from strong junior and senior classes – giving Coach Weis a record combined-win total for the first two seasons for any University of Notre Dame head football coach. The following two seasons found Coach Weis developing a squad of young, inexperienced freshmen and sophomores, resulting in two tough seasons. Now with his fourth season well underway (at time of printing), it appears that Coach Weis
Season Ending Evaluations of Players/Program
Jeff Shutter • Head Coach • Eastern York High School (PA) I always give the players a survey first to have them self evaluate their play, to evaluate their teammates, and to make suggestions for next season. I hold a meeting and distribute our lifting and conditioning calendar for the off season. I meet with the captains to have them write a brief note to help next year’s captains. The staff evaluates each game in hindsight and also evaluates returning players
Offensive Linemen: Developing Fast Feet
As an offensive line coach, you’ve probably learned by now that a football team has two types of players: skill and linemen. Players that are athletic and agile become backs and receivers while those that are slower, clumsier, and less athletic, inevitably, become linemen. Whereas I understand that backs and receivers need to have blazing speed and the ability to cut on a dime, as a line coach, I know that in order for linemen to be effective, they must have many of the same qualities, alth
Leadership Lessons for the Winning Coach
I have spent most of my adult life learning and practicing the art of leadership. I feel lucky to have attended the most famous leadership school in the world—West Point. This base coupled with a 20-year career as a military officer and coaching high school sports in Wisconsin, Washington and Texas has allowed me to develop some leadership principles that helped me achieve winning a state championship in football. I hope by sharing some ideas with you, it may help you achieve your goals.
Turf Safety – The Verdict Is In
If you are fortunate enough to have a synthetic turf field at your facility, you know about all the advantages it offers. It holds up in any weather conditions, it’s consistent and durable and your athletes love playing on it. It provides unlimited practice time and can be used around the clock by other sports teams and activity groups. But is synthetic turf safe? A variety of issues have been raised by special interest groups, some rumored to have connections with the natu
10 Offensive Strategies
Charlie Stubbs is to coaching what IBM is to computers. Now at 53, chances are he’s logged more hours under a headset than the entire American Airlines flight crew. He’s spent 19 years in collegiate coaching, including the last eleven as a coordinator at such high-profile schools as Louisville, Tulsa, Alabama, UNLV and Oregon State. Perhaps it’s just coincidence that after his stint in Louisville, where the Cardinals averaged 32.5 points per game under his tenure, he landed in the lap of o
Beaver Brawn
When Oregon State beat #1-ranked USC in September, most observers agreed that the Beavers out-muscled the heavily favored Trojans. That was satisfying, but not surprising to OSU’s first-year Director of Strength and Conditioning Bryan Miller. The Beaver’s strength and conditioning program is being transformed under Miller, who was promoted in his third year at OSU when Jeff Macy left to become Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Milwaukee Bucks. With the help of a new facility featu
An Adjustment No One Wants to Make
Funny how we always tell our players that football is like life. We have our ups and downs and we learn how to juggle both of them without compromising our integrity or losing our dignity. About a month ago, our starting senior middle linebacker and one of the nicest kids, went down with a severe knee injury. But it wasn’t during practice, it was in the minutes leading up to it. As he was taking his introductory lap before our stretch he had the bright idea (we know they don’t always use
Gear
Promoting Players • College Coaches Network College Coaches Network (CCN) recognizes that one of the hardest jobs of the coach is promoting your players – especially your Sub-D I prospects. CCN’s Give Every Player a Chance to Play™ program is designed specifically for high school coaches and leverages the CCN online platform (www.collegecoaches.net) to support the critical role you play in recruiting. Whether helping with your superstars or giving national exposure
The Drills Report: Auburn’s Running Back Drills
We practice a number of drills for running backs on a daily basis. These include ball leverage drills; movement and bag drills; decision-making drills; pass blocking drills; and pass catching drills. For this article, we’ll include our five ball leverage drills: A. Strip Drill-Side: This is protecting the ball from defenders trying to strip the ball in a crowd – usually linemen and linebackers – (See Diagram 1).
What Can You do as a Coach to Improve Academic Progress and Eliminate Ineligibility
Vic Wallace, former Head Coach Lambuth University and now Special Assistant to the President for Athletics Lambuth University is a small, academic university. The university provides, for all students, a person with the title: Director of Student Success, Retention and Academic Advising. Professors report to this person via e-mail, phone or note anyone who is struggling in class, not attending, not getting assignments in or any student that requires special assistance or
- More Solutions to Problem #11
Continued from: 32 Solutions for the 12 Biggest Problems You\'ll Face this Season Problem 11: On field game/time management issues... what can be done if this is a problem within your coaching staff? We designate one coach as our time management coach, which is usually the coach(es) in the press box since they are away from the pressures
Hammer Strength High School Football Player of the Year Award-2008
(AFM recently interviewed Hammer Strength/Life Fitness about the award) Tell us about the origins of the Hammer Strength High School Football Player of the Year award? Each fall, strength, sweat and stamina are on display in high school stadiums, and performance is put to the test in weight rooms and football practice fields across America. Hammer Strength is recognizing the select young athletes who work harder and longer to be their best with it
Q & A With New Northern Illinois Head Coach Jerry Kill
Coach Kill is in his first season at NIU after turning the program around at Southern Illinois Q1-As you began your coaching career, who was your mentor(s) as a young coach? Coach Dennis Franchione and Coach Chuck Broyles at Pittsburg State Q2-Looking back on your coaching career, is there one lesson you learned early on that has stayed with you? Probably the organization of practice. That\'s where you win is the organizat
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1 - *Why The Spread? 11 Questions For A Coach To Consider” Here are three: *‘What is the most critical element to running a successful Spread offense?’ *‘Can the Spread be successful with players of different abilities and sizes?’ *‘What defense gives the spread offense the most trouble?’ Go to www.AmericanFootballMonthly.com
Performance, Pain & Fear
Most athletes experience some pain, whether it is physical or psychological, during a season. Sports medicine has focused on helping the body heal and getting many athletes get back onto the playing field quickly, after a physical injury. But are we overlooking some need? Is fear a factor in the speed and completeness of recovery? Critical Emotion, Neglected? In last month’s article: Injury: A Mind/Body & Spirit Relationship? I reported how two fullbacks and a middle
The Speed Report: Variables For In-Season Speed Training (Part 2)
Last month we described many things that you can accomplish and sustain during the in-season. So very often in-season speed training becomes a burden to the football world in terms of time allotment. Football is about speed and the maintenance of technical applications that produce it. It never ceases to amaze me how much can be accomplished during the season with consistent training reinforcement. Conversely, the dissipation of technique can also be void of consistency when neglecte
Coaching Quarterbacks To Be Effective Runners in the Shotgun Zone Fly Offense
The evolution of the quarterback from a true pocket passer to a passing / running hybrid is one of the most lethal offensive combinations that defenses have ever faced. A player that can beat you in the air and has the skill and confidence to beat you on the ground as well is what many of today’s best offensive coordinators are aggressively looking for. The Shotgun Zone Fly offense relies on this type of hybrid player. The success of the SZF run game, in large part, comes from the a
Nickel Package: Matching Speed with Speed
With the continued advancement of spread offenses saturating the game of football, it becomes almost a necessity for defenses to match speed with speed by employing some type of nickel package in their scheme. It seems like not too long ago, coaches were fixated on putting their best eleven defenders in the game, regardless of the type of personnel that they were up against. Rarely was there any two-platoon system where players were subbed on and off the field defensively, like they were offensi
The Drills Report: Washington Linebacker Drills
We spend more time on block protection and tackling than any other skill sets we teach. Tackling is still best learned in team situations in practice. Getting in a proper tackling position in practice is the best way to simulate the live situations that come up in the game. The coaching points we emphasize in tackling are: 1. Eyes up and in front. 2. Bend the ankles, knees, and hips. 3. Time up the hit and explode on contact – hit through the runner. 4. Club with t
Q & A with Mickey Andrews
For twenty-four years, Mickey Andrews has been coordinating the Florida State University defense. His longevity in such a competitive field and his commitment to stay in one place in such a transitory occupation where most other coaches are looking for the “next best thing” speaks volumes about the type of character he possesses. Now regarded as somewhat of the elder statesman in major college football, Andrews spent some time with Mike Kuchar of American Football Monthly chatting about ever
AFM Subscribers Ask...with Mark Richt
An outstanding high school quarterback in South Florida, Mark Richt attended the University of Miami in nearby Coral Gables. There, he played for Coach Howard Schnellenberger and backed up future Hall of Fame QB Jim Kelly. Richt coached later on Bobby Bowden’s staff at Florida State for over a decade and helped mentor two Heisman Trophy winners, Charlie Ward and Chris Weinke. The Seminoles also won two National Championships during his time in Tallahassee. Named the head coach at Georgia prio
What’s the Best Way to Grade Your Players During the Course of the Season?
Gary Chilcoat, O-Line and Outside Linebackers Coach Deep Run High School, Glen Allen (VA) “I have used film grades in the past, but they are so time consuming that you really know how they played before you grade. What I have found most effective is grading them during practice. We tell our players they earn the right to play Monday through Thursday. Most people can give great effort on Friday’s, but it takes a true believer to work hard during the week. We expect sta
- More Solutions to Problem #12
Continued from: 32 Solutions for the 12 Biggest Problems You\'ll Face this Season Problem 12: Communication issues between the press box coaches and the sideline coaches...how do you improve this issue? As an offensive staff, which includes our head coach as an offensive position coach, we spend a lot of time in the off-season talking and me
Injury: A Mind/Body & Spirit Relationship? - A Need
There is a need to develop the mind, body and spirit because they constitute the whole person. They cannot be separated. This article addresses psychological response to physical injury. When there is a physical injury there is always a psychological response. Unfortunately, the psychological response is rarely treated even though the use of psychological techniques can safely reduce pain and speed healing and have the athlete back on the field more quickly than just treating the physical in
Preparing for the Dangerous Return Man
At 6:50 in the third quarter on Sunday, February 10th 2008, in Hawaii, Rob Bironas kicks off for the AFC. Devin Hester takes the ball on the 4-yard line, and heads up field. At the 18-yard line he suddenly stops and throws back across the field to Cowboy tight end Jason Witten who advances the ball 35 yards into AFC territory. When special teams coach Mike Stock of the NFC asked Hester ‘Why?’ Devin\'s response was, \"I saw him waving.’ In the last two years Devin Hester had advanced
- More Solutions to Problem #10
Continued from: 32 Solutions for the 12 Biggest Problems You\'ll Face this Season Problem 10: Poor personnel management from the sideline; penalties for not lining up properly, offside penalties, and your athletes\' running onto the field late. Is it the coaches\' or the players\' fault or both? Our philosophy is simple: what you see on t
- More Solutions to Problem #9
Continued from: 32 Solutions for the 12 Biggest Problems You\'ll Face this Season Problem 9: Special teams letdowns – losing a game because of special teams play...what can be done to improve special teams play? Our focus here at Holbrook is on kick coverage and punt/punt return, since these are the biggest change of field plays in the
5 Misunderstood Contractual Issues
Through my experience as an attorney for the NFL Coaches Association and as an agent with Coaches Inc., I have examined a myriad of coaching contracts over the last nine years. Due to the harsh, unpredictable reality of this profession, your contract is your only protection for you and your family when the stars fall out of alignment and you end up fired. Unfortunately, coaches tend to overlook the contracts they sign because they are happy to have a job and do not want to be considered ungr
Maximize Your Football Coaching Video
College coaches will admit that watching video accounts for 2-3 times more of their in-season workload than actual on the field preparation. Football game video is a necessary evaluation tool for coaches and players, yet many coaches struggle through each season with untrained videographers producing ineffective results. A decade of coordinating video for high school, NAIA, and NCAA-FBS football has taught me that finding the right personnel to handle your team\'s football video is
Challenging the Placekick
During my thirty-five years on the sidelines I\'ve watched in amazement as teams would not contest the PAT kick of their opponents. The defensive players might wave their arms to distract the kicker, maybe a rusher would come off the edge and a couple of players might jump up in an effort to block a kick but usually a PAT kick attempt would go unchallenged. Often, even where there was a poor or slow snap, a bobbled hold, or a slow kicker, the kick would cross the bar and the extra point would
- More Solutions to Problem #8
Continued from: 32 Solutions for the 12 Biggest Problems You\'ll Face this Season Problem 8: Unproductivity in the red zone. Not being able to finish drives especially because of the lack of a strong field goal kicker...how to you deal with this issue? When we get within the red zone we limit our offense to what we do best: our ‘sainted
- More Solutions to Problem #7
Continued from: 32 Solutions for the 12 Biggest Problems You\'ll Face this Season Problem 7: Dealing with academic and disciplinary issues like cutting classes or grades...what can be done to solve this issue? We have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to these issues with both affecting playing time, depth chart, playing level, and eve
- More Solutions to Problem #6
Continued from: 32 Solutions for the 12 Biggest Problems You\'ll Face this Season Problem 6: Tackling issues – the team’s consistency in missing tackles..how do you improve this problem? We go back to the basics as a team to reinforce the proper fundamentals of tackling. In defensive individual time we also spend a lot of time on var
- More Solutions to Problem #5
Continued from: 32 Solutions for the 12 Biggest Problems You\'ll Face this Season Problem 5: Senior leadership issues among the team – upper classmen not taking accountability for THEIR program... how do you get your team back on the right track? We have instituted a leadership council and teaming concept this season to start developing
- More Solutions to Problem #4
Continued from: 32 Solutions for the 12 Biggest Problems You\'ll Face this Season Problem 4: Dealing with an early season setback such as an injury to your best player...how do you counter this setback and what is the contingency plan if this occurs? Having multiplicity in one’s scheme is very important at any level. Being a small town sc
- More Solutions to Problem #3
Continued from: 32 Solutions for the 12 Biggest Problems You\'ll Face this Season Problem 3: Not being able to get the ball in the hands of your playmaker and teams finding ways to limit his touches...what do you do to counter the frustration inherent to this problem? As the offensive coordinator in a triple option offense it is important
- More Solutions to Problem #2
Continued from: 32 Solutions for the 12 Biggest Problems You\'ll Face this Season Problem 2: Your running back has ball control issues... if he’s prone to fumbling, how do you improve his ball security? Ball security by all players is priority #1 in our offense and great care is given to ball security. We have a series of drills where th
- More Solutions to Problem #1
Continued from: 32 Solutions for the 12 Biggest Problems You\'ll Face this Season Problem 1. Not playing to the level of your opponent – avoiding a major let down early in the season... how do you deal with this issue? Are there ways to motivate a team that is under achieving? Our biggest issue is not so much playing down to our opponents,
The Strength Report: Core Training
If I told you I could guarantee that you would improve your strength, power, and speed would you do what I asked? When athletes are unable to perform football skills, one of the most common breakdowns is posture. Posture is primarily controlled by your core. It doesn’t take long walking onto a practice field to hear a position coach barking posture coaching cues. Everything from the stance to the transfer of power for a kicker is controlled by the core. A strong core is essential for optima
The Sprint Out Pass Game
With every offensive coach these days designing their scheme to find ways to get the ball to the perimeter, it seems like the sprint out pass game would be a viable option. But the truth is, many teams don’t utilize this package in their offense, mainly due to the fact that they may not have a QB mobile enough to do it or they don’t have the time to devote to a totally separate package. But what if we were to dispel those two myths directly in this article? It’s true. In fact
The Speed Report: Variables For In-Season Speed Training (Part I)
When the season starts coaches become so focused on football that speed development is often the last thing they are concerned with. Speed erosion is greatest during the season. We must be mindful that football is a game of collisions and moving fast to make plays. If speed enhancement is ignored during the season, the off-season becomes a point of diminished return. There is a lot one can do in-season to preserve off-season development and actually improve speed. Time is never your friend durin
32 Solutions for the 12 Biggest Problems You\'ll Face this Season
Monitor and adjust. It’s probably the most useful axiom in the coaching and teaching profession. We’re all regimented people by nature, which is why we get into this in the first place. We have everything accounted for and leave nothing to chance – from the opening stretch period in practice to our awards dinner in December. But what if that plan starts to tumble and collapse right in front of our face? What if your all-area QB tears his ACL during two-a-days? What if your seniors are not
Implementing the Saluki Zone Blitz Blitz Package
In our March issue this year, American Football Monthly presented an overview of the zone blitz scheme and its concepts. It’s a scheme that has been around for over thirty years originating with the innovative mind of Bud Carson, the notorious coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers “Steel Curtain” defense in the 1970’s. Though it has been tweaked into some more of the style we see today, the general concepts of the zone blitz remained constant. In its simplest form, the zone bl
Missouri\'s Top Three Principles of Defense
I would like to discuss and illustrate the ‘Top Three Principles of Missouri Defense.’ 1. SPEED TO THE BALL. 2. VISION & BREAK (Break 1/3 The Distance The Ball Is In The Air). 3. TAKEAWAYS. I. SPEED TO THE BALL At Mizzou we take pride in running to the football. We evaluate our players’ effort on every single rep in practice and games. It is very important that Missouri players understand this is our #1 principle. Our succ
Unbalanced Formation
Surrattsville High School has been running the Spread Veer Offense for seven years. Surrattsville has the smallest enrollment in our county, meaning there are a lot fewer males to choose from to participate in the football program. The difficulty of having the smallest school is that we are scheduled to play schools that are not just one classification above us but sometimes two classes above us. We look to find ways to improve our chances for success. We have always run the Spread Ve
The Drills Report: Advanced Quarterback Drills
As with many offenses in this day and age we run a spread out of many different personnel packages and motions. Unlike most offenses, we use the “Gun” exclusively because it fits our personnel best. The problem with this is that quarterbacks left to their own devices in the gun will start to develop bad habits, mainly throwing mechanics. For example, a QB who always throws out of the gun will start to develop lazy feet, bad body positioning, and not getting his shoulders in proper position.
AFM Subscribers Ask...with David Cutcliffe
After only 22 wins over the last 13 seasons, Duke turned their fortunes to new head coach David Cutcliffe last December. Coach Cutcliffe comes to Durham after serving the previous two seasons as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Tennessee. His coaching experience includes a six-year stint at Ole Miss where the Rebels had a 44-29 record and went to four bowl games. Cutcliffe was named the SEC Coach of the Year in 2003 after leading the Rebels to a 10-3 record. He has participated
The 5th Down: Dealing with an Unsupportive Administration
Marcus George, Head Coach Ansbach High School Dodds, Germany “Our main goal when we go to a new school or welcome a new administrator is to weave ourselves tightly with the aims and goals of the staff and administration. It is important to let the staff know that you support them and to hear what the administrator is saying. Many times, we don\'t initially hear what we want to hear from a new administrator but the tune usually changes when they realize that our pla
Mental Training For Performance Enhancement and Injury Management
This is the first in a series of articles exclusively for www.AmericanFootballMonthly.com by Dr. Raymond Petras, a sports performance and injury management specialist. The Objective The objective of coaching is to enhance performance. We all attempt to do this through practice, strength training and conditioning. I wish to pass on to those of you who are interested, concepts that will aid your coaching. Performance Enhancement Early one sp
Conditioning: Train Fast to Be Fast
In football, it is often said that speed is the great equalizer. It can negate the size and strength of opposing linemen and make the opposing team look like it is running in mud. It’s no wonder that many coaches devote much time and effort to developing this skill during in and out-of-season workouts. Ultimately, the question becomes, how can efficient speed development be achieved? After all, no one would want to put forth so much time and effort if what was being done was ineffective.
Interviewing for a High School Coaching Job – The Key to the Right Fit
As anyone that has stayed in the coaching profession for long can tell you there are jobs that will be desired and there are jobs that look good but by taking them it could be the beginning of the end of your coaching career. How do you run the gauntlet of the interview process and find out the true story of what is going on at the interviewing school for the good of your professional opportunity and family considerations? A job interview is actually two interviews; the school offic
The Speed Report: Maintaining Maximum Speed Capacity During the Season
In the July Speed Report on final preparations for in-season speed, I stressed maximizing speed prior to in-season. Now we are in-season and we must have a plan for sustaining the qualities we worked to develop. The key emphasis here is quality, not quantity. As I have put forward the last two years of writing the Speed Report, everything is quality, not quantity. Speed is a precision skill which must be trained in that manner. Too much emphasis on over working the physical aspects of training w
Michigan\'s Rich Rodriguez
There is no doubt that Rich Rodriguez has continued to establish himself as one of the premier coaches in college football. Known as the modern grandfather of the spread offense, Rodriguez has continued to establish quick strike offenses while developing even more explosive players to lead it. Now after taking the West Virginia program to new heights by making them a perennial national title contender, Rodriguez has his biggest challenge in front of him – as the new head coach of Michigan.
The Winning Edge: Preparing D-Linemen for Game Day
Mike Waufle and Ray Hamilton know defensive line play. Between the two of them, they have a total of 49 years of coaching experience at the Division I level and professional levels of football. Among those in their tutelage are the likes of Andre Tippett, Russell Maryland and Michael Strahan. So it’s only fitting that the two guru’s of defensive line play collaborated on producing a scouting form called the “Winning Edge” which they give to each of their players during game week. Actu
Predicting Offensive Coodinators\' Calls
Dear offensive coordinators, Ever get the feeling that someone is watching you? I mean really watching your every move. We’re talking about pure diagnosis here, like the quintessential chess playing tactic of knowing your next move before you do. This is the science of breaking down and dissecting your every move before you do it – and Warren Central High School’s (IN) defensive coordinator Steve Tutsie has got it down pat and he’s just about to share it with you.
The Triple Screen
It started with a sophomore defensive end on the scout team during the 2007 spring practice. When this inexperienced defender was able to blow up our jailbreak screen because he recognized the tackle was leaving to block the perimeter, it was another sign that we needed to address the fact that defensive teams have improved in their defending of the spread and screen game. Only four years earlier, our jailbreak screen, at times, had easily become a big play. Now, everyone was catching on to the
AFM Subscribers Ask...with Will Muschamp
Last fall, under Defensive Coordinator Will Muschamp, Auburn led the Southeastern Conference in scoring defense and finished in the top 10 nationally in pass efficiency defense, total defense, pass defense, and scoring defense. Since then Muschamp has joined the Texas staff as DC and inherits a defense that set school records for passing yards (3,611) and total yards (4,825) surrendered in a season in 2007. While he has his work cut out for him, Muschamp has a proven track record of fixing defen
The 5th Down: How to Motivate an Unmotivated Player
Rey Hernandez, Defensive Coordinator, La Jolla High School, San Diego, CA “We have started using an off-season program that is patterned after those used at some colleges. In fact I got the idea from a recent article in AFM about Kent State’s program. We selected seven captains and we conducted an NFL style draft wherein the captains selected team members. All returning varsity and junior varsity players were drafted and these players composed the “active mem
The 10 Commandments of Coaching Leadership
Coaching and leadership have always been intertwined. So much so that Duke Basketball Coach Mike Krzyzewski says “I don\'t look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.” If leadership is, as Yuki suggests, “the application of intentional influence in order to achieve a desired result,” then coaching is actually leadership in practice. However, before we move forward on what actions coaches should and should not take, it’s import
Developing a Dominating Run Blocking Technique
Talk to any football coach worth his salt and he’ll tell you that you win or lose up front. Playing the offensive line at any level, is a high risk-low reward job occupation with an image encapsulated in grunt work, doing the bear essentials to help your team win. Perhaps nobody possesses that element more than Rich Alercio, the first head football coach at Division III Castleton University, in Castleton VT. Alercio and his 22 years of football coaching experience were hired last Fe
Three Plays for The Spread Offense
The spread offense is one of the most exciting offenses around today and is one of the biggest reasons why, at Wayland High School, we have had such great successes over the past couple of years. Over the last three years we have a record of 33-4 with two league titles and one state championship. It wasn’t always like this at Wayland. My first year as the head coach we were 1-10 while we were installing the spread offense but once the kids bought into the system we were able to turn things aro
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Wireless Headset System HME DX300 HMEYou spend hours preparing for the big game - make sure your hard work pays off! HME’s DX300 Wireless Headset system keeps your coaches in constant touch throughout the game. It takes only minutes to set up and operates on AC or batteries. Dual-slot diversity automatically detects strongest signals for uninterrupted conversations. Digital technology offers superior sound clarity. Up to 20 coaches can communicate in hands-free, two-way conver
Offensive Line Drills for the Inside Zone
Inside zone blocking is a topic that is near and dear to my heart. I always look to see if someone is talking on zone at a clinic or if there is an article in AFM because I don’t have all the answers and I love stealing ideas. I have played in or been coaching in a zone scheme for the past 18 years. At Blue Valley High School, we are an inside zone running team. In the past we were a single back ace and now we have evolved to the pistol formation. Even though we are different in the backfield,
The Drills Report: Auburn\'s Pass Rush for Defensive Tackles
At Auburn, our emphasis is on our players having great effort on each play. We want our players to have ‘relentless pursuit.’ If they get knocked down, they get up and sprint to the ball. We want them to know how to play hard and that loafing is never acceptable. This is the key to playing good defense and being a good pass rusher. We stress a three-and-out principle. Everything we do in practice requires three perfect reps before we leave the field. When you conduct practice that way, it g
10 Mistakes You\'re Bound to Make at Pre-Season Practices
So the summer is winding down and you’ve put a stamp on your off-season conditioning; wrapped up the local seven on seven tournaments; and made all the necessary arrangements to have an intense and productive camp in preparation for another eventful season. But as the lazy days of July morph into the intensely crammed early days of August, there are some major concerns that need to be addressed before heading into summer camp. Sure, every good coach has a plan, but there are some major decisi
AFM Subscribers Ask...with Wisconsin-Whitewater's Lance Leipold
Taking over for his former college coach Bob Berezowitz last fall, Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Lance Leipold led the Warhawks to their first Division III National Championship. After losing to Mount Union in the title game in both 2005 and 2006, UW-W proved the third time is the charm as they upset Mount Union in their third straight meeting, 31-21. In the process, Leipold became only the second first-year coach to ever win a D-III National Championship. Leipold’s coaching career also began at
The 5th Down: Playing Time
Tim Dodson, Head Coach, Siuslaw High School, Florence, OR “First I think it is important to describe our school because size of school and coaching staff have a great deal on how playing time is handled. We are a 450 student high school and we have around 30 players on our varsity roster and 35 players in our frosh/soph program. We have three coaches with our frosh/soph team and three coaches with our varsity team. Our frosh/soph coaches are busy on our game night and
Special Teams Game Plan Design
In no other phase of the game can field position be changed so dramatically in just one play as in the kicking game; yet, coaches often minimize weekly preparation in the kicking game just to get a few more offensive or defensive reps. Also, in no other phase of the game can one play be so emotionally uplifting, or, conversely, so demoralizing as in the kicking game. Additionally, consider that nearly one-third of the game is consumed by some phase of the kicking game and that for eve
Technology Buyer\'s Guide
Every football program can benefit from today\'s advanced technology. The following companies are in the business of helping coaches become more successful through innovative technology solutions. We recommend that you save these listings for future reference. Coaching Software BW Software • 888-752-9625 • www.bwsoftware.com BW Software has provided specialized productivity tools for football c
Zone Blitzing the Spread Offense
There are some major philosophical components that need to be taken into consideration when coaches devise defenses. The first are structural concerns – what base front will you imply, even or odd? What will be your base coverage – will you be in a one high or two high safety defense? How will you defend the run game – will you be a “box” team that filters all perimeter runs to the middle of your defense, or will you prefer to “spill” everything to the perimeter, making the speed
iFutbol Fever!
As everyone knows, soccer is king in the Mexican sporting world. But did you know that football as we know it, Fútbol Americano to Mexicans, has been played south of the border at the collegiate and professional levels since the 1920’s and today enjoys widespread popularity? Or that the top conference in the ONEFA (the primary collegiate league) is known as Doce Grandes – the Big 12? Or that an ONEFA All-Star team beat a NCAA Division III All-Star team in 2003 to capture the annual Aztec Bo
The Pistol Offense: Keep the Defense Off Balance by Formation and Tempo
Offensive play callers are constantly looking for an advantage over the defense. One of the ways we try to achieve this is by using many different formations and changing the pace of our offense. We believe we force defenses into playing base fronts and coverages because they can never be comfortable as to what formation we will align; we add to their stress by changing pace of play with no huddle and quick running plays. In this article, we will outline the formations and tempo-changing aspects
The Drills Report: Minnesota Wide Receivers Drills
At Minnesota we believe there are keys to playing the wide receiver position in our offense. The topics that I would like to cover all build on one another with one being no greater than the other. The topics I would like to discuss with you are: 1 Route Expression. 2. Release Techniques. 3. Ball Catching. Route Expression Our offense relies heavily on our receivers getting good vertical stretch, running precise routes, and being abl
The Wildcat Spin
The two-minute offense has always been a main emphasis of our situational offensive package. We want our players to be confident in a two-minute situation because we have drilled it in practice and executed it before the half and at the end of games. Not only do our players have to make our plays successful by understanding each responsibility, they also have to understand how to manage the clock. For example, one of the main rules we live by is when to get out of bounds. We teach our players to
Blocking Kicks - The Take Off, Bend and Approach
Think special teams isn’t as vital a part of the game as offense and defense? You ever sit back and think about what type of effect Appalachian State’s win over Michigan last year in the Big House had on the landscape of college football? Sure, Big Blue rebounded to have a productive season. What Appalachian State did on that Saturday afternoon in early September was not only pull off a made-for-TV Hollywood style upset, but it got every coach who was fortunate enough to be watching that ga
Gashing the Odd Stack with the Gap Scheme
It has become the most widely used defensive scheme in the country. Following the routes of its forefathers – Rich Rodriguez while at West Virginia and Joe Lee Dunn at Memphis – the odd stack defense has trickled down to most all levels of football and with good reason. Because of the three down linemen structure, coordinators could get their faster athletes on the field to match those spread offenses that have taken shape. But there is a weakness and it’s a glaring one. Ask any
AFM Subscribers Ask...with Valdosta State\'s David Dean
Last December Valdosta State’s Head Coach David Dean became the second coach to win the Division II National Championship in his first season. Dean replaced Chris Hatcher in January 2007 and then led VSU to a 13-1 record, culminating in a 25-20 win over Northwest Missouri State in the championship game. Dean served as Valdosta State’s Offensive Coordinator from 2000-2006 where the Blazers won another national championship in 2004. During that time VSU was a perennial leader in scoring offens
The 5th Down
American Football Monthly crosses into new territory with the beginning of a new cutting edge feature – THE 5TH DOWN. So much of the game of football happens outside the playing lines whether it be preparation, motivation, off-season training, analyzing your future opponent, dealing with an over-obtrusive administration or handling sensitive issues with your team members, such as playing time. It’s a new department and a new opportunity to share ideas, anecdotes and stories relative to yo
The Five Keys to Drop Back Pass Protection
Teaching fundamentals of drop back protection can be broken down into five phases. These five areas are the set, relative position, body position, lateral movement, and separation. In this article I will break down each of these phases in detail and provide a sound and proven fundamental approach to each. Before I go on I would like to say that this information has been gathered over several years of listening to and visiting with some of the top offensive line coaches in high school, college
Maximizing Your Time on the Practice Field
Detailed preparation and expert organization are essential to every winning program. The practice schedules leading to Saturday must be precisely crafted, minute-to-minute plans designed to produce maximum effort at kickoff. AFM asked Defensive Coordinator Bob Elliott for a specific breakdown of how he gets his San Diego State Aztecs ready for Mountain West opponents. Most important for his players he said is to get them accustomed to the same routine every day. The details of the sess
How to Choose a Video System That\'s Right for You
In the early 1980’s, videotape replaced 16 millimeter film as the standard tool for coaches reviewing game footage and game-planning for upcoming opponents. While video had obvious advantages to film, coaches were just as limited in their ability to jump to the right video segment as they were with film. Watching game tapes provided video that could help a coach see a player’s problems and correct them, but rewinding and fast-forwarding through tapes was cumbersome and a big waste of time. E
Fueling Champions
As Director of Strength and Conditioning at LSU, Tommy Moffitt knows how to train athletes to become champions. With his second BCS National Championship at LSU in the last five years, Moffitt solidified his reputation as one of the country’s top strength and conditioning coaches. The 2003 Samson Strength and Conditioning Collegiate Coach of the Year, Moffitt understands the critical role that nutrition plays in supplementing the hard work that happens in the weight room. AFM recently asked
The Drills Report: Connecticut Secondary Drills
The emphasis that we have chosen to take with our defense, and in this case our secondary, is on fundamentals. There are certainly many variations and philosophies to choose from and we have decided that what we do is the best thing for our program. We believe that tackling is 10% technique and 90% desire. We use a few drills to simulate the different scenarios a defensive back will find himself in throughout the course of a game; they include tackling, block protection and ball skills. The dril
Developing Deception with the Spread Option
What do spread option and Wing T coaches have in common? A ton of consistency and an utter hell-bent philosophy of running their offensive scheme regardless of any situation or circumstance. For the most part, once you’re induced into the clan of one of these systems, it stays with you forever. Sure some coaches will tweak their systems slightly to fit their personnel, like riding the fullback more if he’s a stud or letting the QB get the majority of carries. But essentially you are what y
Developing a Passing Attack that Fits Your Plans and Players
Throughout my twenty-nine years in the profession, I have had the opportunity to coach at both the collegiate and high school levels. During that time, I have had the pleasure of working with various coaching staffs that have helped me formulate my philosophies on dealing with the passing game. At the same time, I have had many athletes with various ranges in athletic abilities. Therefore, I have had to adapt each year to the specific situation. When you are developing a passing at
Running the Spread in the Red Zone
It was only two years ago that many coaches around the country turned their eyes to the University of Arkansas to see if Gus Malzahn’s Hurry-Up No-Huddle offense could make the jump from high school to college. Truly it was a trial by fire in the brutal SEC. Now, after a year in Fayetteville and one leading the Tulsa Golden Hurricane’s offense, the jury has reached a verdict. It works. Tulsa quietly finished second in the nation this past fall in touchdowns with 79. On
Defensive Game Planning
Game planning is all about prioritizing; sifting through all the infinite details that you and your staff have investigated; and pinpointing the most crucial elements. Every coach worth his whistle charts tendencies from every down-and-distance, from every formation, and from each hash mark. They scout blocking schemes and multiple personnel match-ups, just like you do. They document the number of times you run certain routes; they know what your go-to running and passing plays are an
The Drills Report - Central Florida\'s Ball Security
One of the fastest ways to lose a football game is by the offense turning the ball over to its opponent. Keeping turnovers to a minimum through techniques and drills that are practiced ensures the team’s chance of success. The offensive coaches’ motto at UCF is, “Ball security is a job, yours and mine.” If an individual is fumbling the ball away too many times, he will be replaced. If a position on the team is losing the football, the coach will be replaced. With this emphasis
AFM Subscribers Ask...with Jerry Moore
Appalachian State Head Coach Jerry Moore led the Mountaineers to one of college football’s all-time upsets last fall: ASU beat Michigan, in Ann Arbor, 34-32. Additionally, Moore and the Mountaineers completed last season as the first ‘three-peat’ in the history of Division I-AA or FCS football. ASU won their third consecutive National Championship beating Delaware, 49-21. Appalachian’s head man since 1989, Moore has an overall 167-70 record. In 2006 he was selected the Schutt Sports FCS
Game Day Contributors
Football offers the opportunity to work with others. Young men compete to make the team. Once they make the team, they need to understand that they have a role to play on the team. That role may be either a primary role player made up of starters and players in rotation or a secondary role player which includes a player off the bench for an injured player or scout team personnel. The head coach and position coaches must also understand that secondary role players need to be game day contribut
Fire, Football and Families
(The following article was written by John Torres, a 25-year veteran of coaching youth football. The feature describes the effect of last October\'s fires throughout the San Diego area and how it affected Coach Torres and his team). Saturday October 20th, 2007 The SC Wildcats as an organization go 7-3 today. My squad, the J1 Navy team, brings home a win after playing a tough squad from Simi. A birthday is celebrated at local eatery and none of us are ready f
The Speed Report: The Essence of High School Combines and Your Players
High school combines nationally have mushroomed over the last five years. Is it a fad or is it here to stay? Personally, I think it will stay for a while. Some years ago I was living in Seattle and for a point in time was the speed coach for the Seattle Seahawks. I was obviously aware of the NFL combines that were conducted at that level. In those days the statistics recorded by the organizations were strictly confidential; they were not public knowledge. Today, the combines are liv
Samson\'s I-AA, II, III, NAIA, Juco and HS Strength & Conditioning Coaches of th
Division I-AA/FCS: Henry Briscoe Central Arkansas The Strength and Conditioning Coach at Central Arkansas, Henry Briscoe, has been influenced by a number of coaches and players over the years. But, in addition to that, one book that has helped his strategy is the Book of War by Sun-Tsu. “One of the concepts in the book is to analyze your weaknesses and make them your strengths,” says Briscoe. “We try to do that in the weight room and on the field. This can be
Building Team Unity with the Games Inside the Game
These days the game of football is broken down to a science. Sure, most coaches preach lip service about blocking and tackling but they are usually the same ones that spend a great deal of money and countless hours filing into clinic discussions trying to find the latest innovative offensive scheme or researching a bone-crushing defense. So instead of searching the ends of the earth for the newest scheme or end-all technicality, some coaches have turned towards the intangibles like developing t
The Drills Report - New Mexico Linebacker Drills & Techniques
Our defensive package is the 3-3-5 out of which we execute multiple fronts, stunts and blitzes. I will talk about the two types of man technique we use in our package: blitz technique and over technique. The focus will be the key coaching points that we emphasize each day. Man-To-Man Pass Defense There are two types of man-to-man pass techniques that we use. Our linebackers will play a cautious man-to-man when they don\'t have help in the deep zones. We call this
Practice Planning For All Levels of Play
\"Winning is never an accident, it is the result of high intentions, determination and skilled executions\" When was the last time you or any coach you know complained of having too much practice time? As a coach with nearly 25 years of experience at the youth leagues, I have never heard a coach complain of this. I doubt sincerely that high school or colleges complain of this as well. One thing I have found out though, in the research I have done of successful coaches at all leve
Multiple Fronts Without Changing Personnel
No matter what defensive scheme you run, there are a few elements that must always be consistent for you to be successful. The athletes must believe in what they’re doing and they must understand what their responsibilities are. At the high school level we cannot recruit, so finding the great corners, the big Middle LB or the two big, strong, fast linemen may not happen each year. As high school football coaches we need to be able to adjust what we do depending on what the parents send us. No
7 Essentials to Kickoff Coverage
While most people would agree that special teams can be a ‘difference maker,’ the University of Pittsburgh’s Charlie Partridge feels it is especially true of high school programs. “Great high school teams win two or three games a year, I promise you, just on special teams,” says Partridge. Special teams is all too often the stepchild in coaching clinics, behind offense and defense. But the man in charge of the kicking game at Pitt knows better. Like many coaches,
Air Raid Offense Drills
In the book Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose is a quote by the author of Warriors, J. Glenn Gray: “Organization for a common and concrete goal in peacetime organizations does not evoke anything like the degree of comradeship commonly known in war. At its height this sense of comradeship is an ecstasy…men are true comrades only when each is ready to give his life for the other without reflection and without thought of personal loss.” The players on our team must build cohesiveness close
Schutt Sports College Coaches of the Year
FCS - DIVISION I-AA Mark Farley Northern Iowa (7th year) Record: 12-1, first Gateway Conference school to complete a perfect 11-0 season; upset Iowa State. Offense: Primarily a one-back, Shotgun West Coast offense, with 30-40% mix of I-formation. Defense: 4-3 Key Stat: Talk about balance – the Panthers averaged 227 rushing yards and 229 passing yards this season. The difference in Mark Farley’s f
Schutt Sports High School Coaches of the Year
EAST Jim Morgans, Parkland HS (Allentown, Pa.) After losing to the Parkland Trojans, opposing coaches invariably remarked on their relentless defense. Parkland’s defensive pursuit was no accident. The Trojans, who recorded seven straight shutouts en route to a 14-1 season, practice a different pursuit drill every day. One is the rabbit drill. “We toss the ball to a rabbit – he’s a kid who will run down the sideline,” coach Jim Morgans explain
National HS Coach of the Year - Grace Under Fire
They say there are no hopeless situations; there are only men who have grown hopeless about them. But about this time last year, circumstances surrounding Miami’s Northwestern High School, one of the nation’s most respected football programs, certainly seemed hopeless. Antwan Easterling, one of the nation\'s most sought after running backs, was 19 years old at the time and had consensual sex with a 14 year-old freshman in one of the school’s bathrooms. Despite the fact that it was consider
The Choice of Champions
As every coach will attest, effective and reliable communication between the coaches on the sideline and those in the press box is a critical element of any team’s success on the field. For two San Diego area high schools, this meant a change was needed for the 2007 season. Head Coach Damian Gonzalez’s Division I Poway Titans were coming off an 8-6 season in 2006 where headset communication was sometimes an issue. “At certain schools we would pick up a lot of static on our headse
Where Tradition Begins
Coach Laycock recently completed his 28th season at the helm of Tribe Football and is the program’s winningest coach with a career record of 178-127-2. Starting in 1980, his coaching career at W&M has included 18 winning ledgers and postseason games in nine seasons. To honor and build upon this proud tradition, W&M dedicated the new Jimmye Laycock Football Complex in the fall of 2007. This 30,000-square-foot building features a locker room, athletic training room and offices for coac
The Speed Report: Training Aids and Apparatus
We looked at sprint assisted and resisted aids in a past article. In this article I’ll discuss a few of the other popular training aids and whether or not they are a good resource for enhancing speed and movement in your program. Since speed and movement can be enhanced through training, entrepreneurs and manufacturers are attempting to make it easier for coaches and trainers to get the job done by offering a potpourri of training aids. Each month I receive magazines and catalogs to
The Situation
You’re down after just scoring, 17-14, with a minute to go in the first half. As you line up to kickoff, the coach signals in for an onside kick. Rolling the dice, you feel that if you recover the kick, your three time outs will pay dividends as you try to at least gain some yardage and kick a field goal before the first half ends. It would be great to go into the locker room tied (or ahead) since at one time you trailed, 17-0. What formation would you use for the onside kick and what respo
Letter From the Editor/Publisher: The Countdown is on to AFM University Clinics
The first of four AFM University clinics kicks off the weekend of February 8-9 in St. Paul. The last one is in Kansas City on February 29-March lst. Among the coaches speaking at the clinics will be representatives from the BCS National Champion LSU Tigers and the Junior College National Champions, Butler Community College. Each clinic will have a combination of national, regional and local speakers. Here is a sampling of some of the sessions on each weekend: St. Paul • February
Dual-View Plays of the Football Game Tape
A dual-view football game tape can help both coaches and players and can be produced with less than a thousand dollar investment. My dual-view method simultaneously shows two views of the same play in a football game: 1) The sideline game film shot from the press box. This is the typical high school medium shot showing the halfback on one edge of the frame and the linebacker on the other edge. 2) The second view shows an extreme wide view shot from the same angl
How To Get The Most Out Of Practice Time As An Assistant Coach
Football programs at all levels from Pop Warner to the NFL have to deal with similar challenges. Your practice time is limited. Your playbook is unlimited. Your next opponent presents numerous difficulties. As a result, many coaches struggle weekly with the same dilemma: How are we going to get all this done? The answer, of course, is that every staff must get the most of practice time. But how? While many clinics, books, and articles advise head coaches how to plan a week or day of practi
Time for Turf
The trend may be irreversible. Each year, hundreds of football practice and game fields are converted from natural grass to synthetic turf. That’s not surprising, considering that today’s turf systems provide safe, consistent, all-weather playing surfaces that can be utilized 24/7 by not just the football team but by a long list of other sports and activities. ¶ Rick Doyle, President of the industry support group Synthetic Turf Council (STC), recalled a remark made by a board member a
A Systematic Approach to Your Quarterbacks\' Thought Process
In my 28 years of coaching I have had the opportunity to work with whom I believe to be three of the finest offensive coordinators/quarterback coaches in the history of college football: Bob Toledo, Dennis Franchione and Brian Billick, all whom have been instrumental in my coaching development. It should be noted that Coach Billick was on his way out of Utah State when I was on my way in. He has been very gracious down through the years in terms of helping with the development of my thought proc
Utilizing Play Action Passes With in Your Offense
To win consistently: Offenses – Must be able to run the ball. There are various styles of running the football effectively. Some like ISO, Power, Toss, Counter, Option etc. Other methods include Zone, ZoneRead, Speed Sweep, Reverses. Defenses – Must be able to stop the run. They must force offenses to be one dimensional and predictable. High powered offenses must complement their runs with a versatile Play Action Passing Game. It is important to slow d
The 7 Deadly Sins of Coaching Long Snappers
How many big games end with one team winning a nail-biter by only a few measly points? And how many of those games could have gone the other way, if that kicker had just made that one kick or if that punter could’ve gotten a little bit more on that one punt? Or if that one snap hadn’t been off and yet, how many coaches really know how to teach their specialists so they can make that difference? Long snapping has often been looked at as a skill that players either have or
The Aggressive 8 Man Front
One of the best defenses in college football, over the last few years, plays on Long Island. C.W. Post is known for their tough 8 man fronts and for stopping the run. The challenge that most teams have in implementing an 8 man front is the pressure it puts on the secondary. But at C.W. Post, DB Coach Ernie Blount has managed to teach the skills required to his DBs to make sure that, even though the 4-4 scheme that the Pioneers employ leaves the defensive backfield on their own, the guys back the
The Machiavellian Football Coach
Written in 1513 and published posthumously in 1531, The Prince (Il Principe) by Niccolò Machiavelli has become synonymous with ruthlessness and tyranny. Today, it is often read (along with Lao Tzu’s The Art of War, interestingly enough) in business courses as preparation for the cut-throat world these students are about to enter. A careful reading of The Prince, however, yields an insightful view into topics essential to becoming a successful football coach. Before we set about anal
Defending the Pass
In today’s brand of college football, teams tend to throw more than they run. In light of this trend, the coaching staff at UCLA has tried to be more creative with regard to how we coach and prepare our players to play against the pass. Also, because of his experience in the NFL, UCLA Defensive Coordinator Dewayne Walker, then with the Washington Redskins, brought information from studies done on \'Ball Disruptions.\' It is well known that combining pressure on the passer with the ja
The Speed Report: Resisted and Assisted Sprint Training
Since speed and movement control are two of the most sought-after athletic qualities, coaches and trainers are always looking for ways to help athletes improve in these areas. In this article, we will look at the topic of sprint assisted and resisted training and try to sort out the good from the not-so-good as it pertains to football. I travel the country and spend time with coaches presenting my Team Speed Workshops for their programs. These coaches constantly ask me what I think abo
The Shotgun Zone Fly: Benefits of a Diversified Run Game
More and more teams are realizing the benefits of a diverse run game based out of the shotgun. Coach Bryon Hamilton, at Foothill High in Palo Cedro, CA, implemented his own shotgun system several years ago. The system, which he calls the Shotgun Zone Fly Offense, dovetails well with the popular Spread offense. Since developing the SZF, Foothill has become one of the top teams in their classification and is known for one of the most formidable running attacks in northern California. “
Gaining the Pre- and Post-Snap Advantage
It is commonly said that an offense has two distinct pre-snap advantages over any particular defense: one, they know the snap count and two, they know where the ball is going. Once the ball is snapped those advantages disappear, but there are other factors post-snap, such as movement and deception, to help leverage defenses. AFM talked to three of the more prominent coaches in the country: Dale Weiner of Catholic High School in Baton Rouge; Byron Hamilton of Foothill High School in Cal
Navy\'s Deceptive Linebacker Strategy
The Midshipmen also know the fundamentals required to make up for those shortcomings. That’s why Coach Paul Johnson’s program is poised for a fifth consecutive trip to a bowl game. Offensively, Johnson’s patented option attack helps minimize athletic mismatches. But, defensively, it’s tough for the Midshipmen to out-scheme superior opponents. It’s not that they don’t try. “We’re not very big and can’t just line-up and play with some people,” explained Navy
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The Drills Report - Zone Blocking: Run Game Drills
In this article we will cover some of the drills we use to develop our offensive linemen for the run game. Drills are where you develop your offensive linemen into playmakers. It’s difficult to teach technique and fundamentals during team practice. Instead, in team you should see your drills being put into use. Here are seven important points when teaching drills: 1. Teach a handful of drills. 2. Teach the fundamentals (‘Fundamentals Wins Games’). 3. Rep every
Common Bond
The contrasts could not be greater. The big school in the football-crazed state that routinely plays in front of over 10,000 fans and produces multiple D-I players every year. The small school in the small state that’s only playing in its eighth year and might draw 2,000 for the season’s biggest game. One tech-savvy coach who has grown up with computers and another who had, until very recently, never used a computer and still refuses to use email. But Defensive Coordinator Jonathan Kay of po
Five Things That Can Stop Your Triple Option from Being Successful
The Triple Option, when run correctly, can be a defensive coordinator’s worst nightmare. The Triple Option requires the defense to account for all the moving parts: the quarterback, the fullback, and the halfbacks. To account for each of these players every play can be a headache for any defense. However, like any other type of offense, the Triple Option can be its own worst enemy if not run correctly. In this article, I will address the five most common ‘offensive concerns’ in running the
AFM Subscribers Ask...with Hal Mumme
Changing the fortunes at colleges has been a way of life for New Mexico State’s Hal Mumme. The Texas native has turned around the programs at four colleges – Iowa Wesleyan, Valdosta State, Kentucky and Southeastern Louisiana – and is now attempting to do the same at New Mexico State. Considered a mastermind of the Air Raid offense, Mumme’s teams have ranked among the top programs in both passing and total offense. Now in his third year with the Aggies, he answers your questions...
What Do You Mean You Guys Don\'t Bench? Not At All?
\"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect\"—Mark Twain I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve had to answer the title of this article in the past four years—from all factions: fans, players, parents and even other coaches. As you well know, in our profession anytime we go against the norm there is some inherent risk. There is safety in conformity. “If the league champ is running the spread, then we will too. So
Dynamic Stretching during Warm-Up?
On almost every football field in America, at some point before practices and games, the teams line-up and static stretch. Football teams have always done it, so what is the problem? The problem is that if anyone responsible for those football teams was asked why they are static stretching, they will probably not be able to offer a reason that is supported by current research. Is there a better activity to include in the warm-up? Dynamic stretch can generally be defined as controlled,
4-3 Defensive Line Play
What You Practice Must Mirror Who You Are We are a true Attack 4-3 front with an aggressive Cover 4 scheme behind it as our primary coverage (See Diagram 1). As a base rule we spill all blocks in an attempt to make the ball go east and west before it can hit us north and south. While priding ourselves in being assignment sound, we play fast– but smart– at all times. The drills and techniques we use as position coaches must mirror who we are as far as scheme, personnel, a
Techniques and Drills for Pass Protection
At Upper Iowa, our offensive linemen go out before practice and then stay after to work on proper pass protection techniques. If these drills are instilled on a daily basis, the players can work on their own technique and know what results to expect. When I was hired in January of 2006, my first priority was to have our offensive linemen dedicate themselves to fundamentals and techniques. Last year our offensive line averaged 270 pounds and two of our starters had never played O-Line in their re
The Strength Report: Developing the Explosive Athlete - Auburn's Off Season Tra
Conditioning should be at the forefront of a football strength and conditioning program. This does not diminish the importance of the weight room but there always needs to be a certain level of fitness for each player. You can't overemphasize the importance of conditioning, especially in this day and age. No matter how great the player is in the weight room, if he can't run, he can't play. This not only applies to straight-ahead running but the ability to move athletically, to change direction a
Defending the No-Huddle Offense
The no-huddle offense can give even the most talented defenses fits. In Georgia’s season opener against Oklahoma State, the Bulldogs struggled to get lined up correctly when the Cowboys mixed in the no-huddle on two first half scoring drives. “Early in the game, they were getting us off-balance and we weren’t getting lined up (because of the no-huddle),” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “That was probably our biggest halftime adjustment – making sure we were lined up on time.
Letter From the Editor/Publisher: Being an Effective Linebacker
Chris Tormey is the linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Washington. Having been a position coach, defensive coordinator and head coach, Tormey has learned from his mentors: Don James, Dennis Erickson, and Tyrone Willingham. With more than a quarter century devoted to coaching and especially linebackers, Tormey has formulated his own thoughts on a linebackers progress for success. He calls it: C.A.S.K.R.E.P.T. 1. “Communicate: It is the linebacker
How Kent State Creates Leaders through Year-Round Competition
Kent State University Head Coach Doug Martin remembers trying to figure out what went wrong following a 1-10 season (including 0-8 in the Mid-American Conference). Picking up the pieces after the team had gone a respectable 5-6 the previous year wasn’t easy. But one piece that certainly needed to be addressed was team leadership. “When coaches are losing, the first thing that comes out of their mouths is we don’t have any leadership,” Martin said. “Well, it’s our job as coa
The Drills Report: Defensive Backs: Drills & Techniques
As a former player at Virginia Tech, I feel honored and privileged to have the opportunity to coach at my alma mater and work with such great people, coaches and players. I want to discuss our base footwork drills, the movements within the drills and how they coincide with the movements we perform during practices and games on a regular basis. I truly believe that repetition is the mother of learning. I try to have our base footwork drills mimic the movements that through repetitions n
AFM Subscribers Ask...with Jerry Glanville
The man in black is back...Veteran NFL coach Jerry Glanville accepted the head coaching position at Portland State earlier this year. The former head coach of both the Houston Oilers and Atlanta Falcons, Glanville spent more than a decade out of coaching while serving as a television analyst. He returned to the coaching ranks on the college level two years ago, joining June Jones’ staff in Hawaii as Defensive Coordinator. After two years in Honolulu, Glanville accepted the PSU position on Febr
Arena Advantage
In the fast-paced world of the Arena Football League, where teams are pressured to score on virtually every possession, players seek to gain an advantage every time they touch the ball. That includes having the best jerseys available – ones that can’t be grabbed by would-be tacklers trying to prevent a touchdown. Dallas Desperados quarterback Clint Dolezel, the AFL’s all-time leader with 865 career touchdown passes, knows more about getting the ball into the end
Quarterbacking: \'The Ritual\'
This can easily be a 20-30 minute practice routine, while it can be reduced/condensed to a pre-game routine. This is something we work with at every practice. As the season goes on, I reduce repetitions and \"speed\" things up to shorten the routine. It is excellent for \"warming up\" the quarterback before he works with running backs and receivers. It is very conducive for either a camp or high school practice situation. The drills are best completed with two or more quarterbacks. One of the n
High Maintenance vs. Low Maintenance
(The following article was written by David Buchanan, Head Coach at Mason County High School in Maysville, Ky. A similar questionnaire can be adopted for your program. Coach Buchanan can be reached at david.buchanan@kyschools.us ) * Turn in to Coach Buchanan at the beginning of practice on Monday! As a football player, you want to be a low maintenance player. High maintenance players require a lot of time and att
The Strength Report: Developing the Explosive Athlete - Defensive Backs
The philosophy on training high level football athletes is a basic one with simple principles. Each individual athlete, for the two to five years of their athletic career, will establish specific goals and objectives for themselves. As a commitment to ‘training’ as a high level or elite competitor, what can reliably be improved upon to develop a better skilled player or defensive back? Within the terms of training, for the game of football long term, is the length of the athlete
The Speed Report: In Season Conditioning: Specificity is Key for Game Endurance
Well, we’ve developed off season speed. Now how does it hold up during the season demands? Put on the pads and let’s go through the physical parameters of the body busting hell. Will he endure with the same speed and efficiency that off season was developed in shirts and shorts and no physical pounding? No! Why do you think that the world-class sprinters have not made a great impact in the NFL over the years? The demands of football’s pounding nature doesn\'t lend itself to the infinite pr
Penn State Pass Rush Tecniques
One of our basic philosophies as a defensive unit is to make the opponent one dimensional. We tell our defensive linemen ‘To earn the right to rush the passer, you must first stop the run.’ The last three years against the run, we ranked 4th in 2004, 2nd in 2005 and 2nd in 2006 in the Big Ten Conference and nationally ranked 34th in 2004, 7th in 2005 and 7th in 2006. We really sell to our players the importance of stopping the run and getting to the quarterback. To be a great defen
Letter From the Editor/Publisher: Requests from Subscribers
In a recent AFM subscriber survey, the question was asked: ‘What would you like to see at www.AmericanFootballMonthly.com that is not currently offered?’ A number of responses asked about video features and, more specifically, including video on the web site that corresponded to articles published in AFM. Some of the responses included: ‘You guys keep in mind that football coaches are football junkies. We can’t get enough. Videos of stuff would be a nice addition to the
How to Get Your Gamebreakers the Ball
University of North Alabama coach Mark Hudspeth has been coaching football in the South for awhile. “I grew up just south of Starkville, Mississippi, watching Emory Bellard run the option. So, I have been an option guy from way back.” Hudspeth has learned that the basic premise behind Bellard’s famous Wishbone offense, developed and implemented under Darrell Royal at Texas, is ball distribution and having the defense decide where the ball goes. Since Hudspeth’s arrival in 2002,
The Drills Report - Advanced Wide Receiver Drills
I have been coaching college football for more than ten years, all of them as a receivers coach at various levels of competition and talent. One of the beliefs I’ve developed over that period of time is that many receivers do not know how to properly catch a football. They have not been taught nor do they use the proper fundamentals and techniques needed to accomplish this basic but critical task. Many coaches believe a player is either born with the natural ability to catch a footba
Winning with Arkansas\' Wildcat Formation: Going to Your Best Athlete
When All-SEC running back Darren McFadden lined up in a shotgun formation directly behind the center in the 2006 SEC Championship Game, the entire Florida defense was surprised, as were the 73,000 fans in attendance at the Georgia Dome. Catching the Gator defense by surprise, McFadden took the snap and connected on a two yard strike with Felix Jones, who was left uncovered in the left flank, cutting the deficit to 17-14. Although the score wasn’t enough to keep the Razorbacks in the game, it w
AFM Subscribers Ask...with Glenn Caruso
Macalester College’s football program began a new era on December 16, 2005 when the college named Glenn Caruso its new football coach. In his previous position as offensive coordinator at South Dakota, Caruso directed an offense that set 117 school records including points scored and total yardage. In 2005, the Coyotes went 9-2 while averaging 49.7 points and 583 yards per game. Last fall, in his first season as Macalester’s head coach, the Scots produced their two highest single-game, total
Effective Cover 1 Robber Coverage
John Burrell sits in his office on a warm afternoon in late July. The Western Connecticut State University coach wishes he could walk over to the clock on the wall and stop the hands from moving. But with a game scheduled for late August that clock just keeps on ticking towards another season. There never seems to be enough time to get ready. And getting ready for Burrell often includes creating something different. A new twist. A wrinkle no one has seen before. An adjustment here. An adjustment
Aerial Attack with the Tight End
The most amazing aspect of what Texas Tech has accomplished in Mike Leach’s reign in Lubbock is the consistency of a prolific passing offense. Since 2001 the Red Raiders have finished no worse than fifth in the nation in passing offense among all Bowl Subdivision schools. For four straight years – 2002 through 2005 – they led the nation. The players change, but the results don’t. After splitting duties as Co-offensive Coordinator over the past few years, Dana Holgorsen becomes
Zone Play Concepts and Techniques
We have a very diverse offensive system at TCU. The breadth of our offensive system forces our linemen to develop a number of skills. We try to have our schemes carry similar patterns, concepts and elements to reduce the amount of practice time used for learning plays. We try to invest most of our practice time in technique training. The Zone Play has been traditionally one of our most productive plays. We use it as well to establish a physical personality for our offense and we belie
The Strength Report: Developing the Explosive Athlete - Running Backs
The cadets at West Point are highly motivated. They are at the United States Military Academy because the objective and goal is that they all will be great officers and that is the number one priority; that is, to do everything possible so they will be great officers. The entire training mission at the USMA is to get the cadets to be leaders. At Army, my program is built around a year-long periodized program. We utilize the non-linear periodization cycle and we approach it with the fou
The Speed Report: Preparing for Football Performance: Proper Warm Ups
One of the more important aspects of practice or game performance is being ready to function mentally and physically. Whether your team is warming up for a practice or a game, certain aspects of readiness (prepared for action) must be applied. When elite athletes perform they are very good at mentally processing variable psychomotor movement activities. When a team takes the field to warm up for practice or a competition, they should approach it with a good mental focus each time. Prac
The Situation
Your team is playing its opening game against the top ranked team in the league. You’ve just come off a great summer camp that enabled you to put in three offensive packages (Spread, Pro and Wishbone) and this year you have the personnel to run them all. It’s been a tough game so far, having lost your starting QB in the second series of the game. The score is tied 28-28. The kick return team did a great job just getting the ball back to your opponent’s 40-yard line with 1:30 left on
Oregon\'s Defensive Line Prep vs. the Shotgun Spread Offense
In recent years, there has been a major shift back to the old-school principles of the past. More and more teams at the high school and college level are turning to athletic QBs and more option based systems to take advantage of the way defenses play against multiple WR formations. For coaches like Oregon D-Line Coach Michael Gray, it means new drills and rules to work on with his linemen. The premise behind these spread-type systems is that an offense can account for defenders by usin
Meshing the Option with the West Coast Offense
Not unlike the other service academies, when it came to running the football, the United States Air Force Academy prided itself on executing a balanced, three-back option attack. Focusing on four to five yards a carry – their patented scheme would burn up the clock and wear down its opponents. It was that ‘three yards and a cloud of dust’ mentality that former head coach Fisher DeBerry preached to his cadets for the 23 years of his reign giving them a chance to compete against bigger, stro
Keys to Great Defensive Back Play
In developing sound defensive back play I stress eight keys to success. The keys are precise clear communication, a solid stance, smooth backpedal, plant/drive, interception point, job and mindset. These keys are stressed everyday throughout practice, during every period. On game day the big key is mindset. Communication – An important key for the secondary is to communicate during the football game. The importance of talking cannot be overemphasized. They
Coastal Carolina In-Season Offensive Practice Outline
One of the more crucial aspects of in-season offensive practice planning is making sure that everything we plan to have in our arsenal on Saturday has been installed and practiced at some time during the week. Although that may sound simple, the limited practice time constraints we have make it imperative that we have a sound structure to our weekly practice plan so that no part of our game plan is left on the cutting room floor. The following schedule outlines how we break u
The Strength Report: Developing the Explosive Athlete - Linebackers
First and foremost our program is about producing results. Coaches can design the greatest programs on paper, but if athletes are not committed to the program then they are simply pieces of paper. Ground based and multi-joint exercises support the foundation of what we teach and coach. We use squatting, various single leg and hamstring exercises to gain strength in the hips and lower body. It is imperative that the top of the thighs be parallel during a squat – a shallow squat is not as effect
What You Must do to be a State Champion
For the last four years AFM has conducted a nationwide survey of championship high school coaches on a cross section of subjects that ranged from style of play to educational and coaching backgrounds. The results provided some clear cut trends while other topics illustrated subtle shifts that merit attention. The conclusions most apparent were: 1. The consistent use of ‘feeder’ programs among state championship teams. 2. A constant in the number of returning starters combin
D-Backs: Playing with Low Pad Level
One of the most important fundamental concepts that we stress in the secondary at Iowa State University is playing with low pad level. We believe as a staff that this improves the capabilities of our players in two ways. First, low pad level allows us to have phenomenal power when striking a ball carrier or when disengaging from a blocker. Second, it allows for quicker cuts and breaks, especially within the secondary. I have had the opportunity to work with both the linebackers as well
The Drills Report: Three-Step QB Drills
In this article, I will discuss part of the three-step game that we run at Mendocino College along with some of the drills used for our quarterbacks. At Mendocino, we run a spread offense and rely heavily on the production of our quarterbacks and receivers. This past season, we finished tenth in the state of California in passing yards per game. Our three-step game is just one aspect of how we get the ball in our playmakers’ hands as quickly as possible. Hitches, double-slants and ou
AFM Subscribers Ask... with Ron Vanderlinden
Penn State Linebackers Coach Ron Vanderlinden answered questions from subscribers in the May issue of AFM. Because of the subscriber response, he answers additional questions about the linebacker position. A coach for more than a quarter century, Vanderlinden has coached at Bowling Green, Michigan, Ball State, Colorado, Northwestern, Maryland and Penn State. He was the Terrapins head coach from 1997-2000 and this fall enters his seventh year in Happy Valley. Q. What is the teaching
GAME PREPARATION FOR HIGH SCHOOL DEFENSE
It is an honor to contribute to American Football Monthly and to represent the Verona Area High School football program. A common challenge faced in preparing a defense for each game is that of making changes and adjustments to defend the opponent, while maintaining the base structure of the defensive scheme. A second challenge is to maintain a manageable level of sophistication in scheme while eliminating player confusion. Many staffs spend the off-season learning new schemes, mo
DRILLS, SKILLS, & CHARACTER: FOUNDATIONS OF THE O-LINE
\"Skill guys come with me, linemen - go with coach.\" Translation: Fast athletic guys that get to touch the ball get on the field and play catch - husky, slow kids go drive the 800 pound sled a mile or two. Anyone who has played football is familiar with this scenario. Especially those privileged enough to play on the offensive line. The group of young men that play offensive line are used to hearing these expressions. They have grown accustomed to not touching the ball, not gettin
The Strength Report: Developing the Explosive Athlete - Offensive Linemen
Training a football player is a year long endeavor. We have four years to develop the players under our charge. At BGSU we receive tremendous support from Head Coach Gregg Brandon and his staff in emphasizing the program to the players and allotting time for training during the NCAA imposed hour guidelines. The football staff also does a great job in identifying talent. When developing an explosive football player step one is evaluation. Players play certain positions because of body type, skill
Letter From the Editor: Offense vs. Defense: Keeping it Competitive
How about a spring game in which the defense gets points for turnovers, fourth down stops, and third and outs while the offense receives points for first downs and plays over 30 yards? Well Oklahoma did just that in their annual spring game. “Having a scoring system that rewards the defense as well as the offense makes the game more competitive for all the players,” said Oklahoma’s Director of Football Operations, Matt McMillen. “Normally, teams play 1’s vs. 2’s and 2’s v
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Coach-to-Player Communication • Telcommand Telcommand makes practices more efficient and effective through better communication. There are two basic components: the Coach’s Unit, which is a headset transmitter and the Player’s Unit, which is a receiver placed in a sleeve that’s worn on the players arm. With a press of a button or with voice activation, a coach can communicate directly to an individual player on the field, giving instructions in a normal speaking voice r
The Drills Report: Defensive Line Drills
Here are the physical and mental characteristics we look for in defensive linemen as well as our philosophy of the D-Line attack: Physical: • Play with his hands. • React on the action. • Play with toughness. • Play the run first. • Attack at every snap of the ball. Mental: • Must be violent in the trenches. • Understands the role of a D-lineman. • Always plays at a high tempo but is under control.
Bandit 2 Read
Our base defensive alignment is a 4-3 gap control defense while we play a 2 read coverage behind it. I first learned the 2 read coverage from Sonny Lubick when he was the defensive coordinator at the University of Miami. I feel I have really refined Sonny’s scheme over the past 14 years. By using 2 read as our base coverage, it not only allows us to execute multiple coverages and disguises in the secondary, but most importantly, this coverage gives us the opportunity to run a covera
Winning the War in the Trenches
The first thing LSU D-Line Coach Earl Lane impresses on his guardians of the trenches in pre-season is that their contributions are just as vital to the Tigers success as the guys who change the scoreboard. “What I emphasize to my players right at the outset,” Lane says, “is the importance of the positions they play. When most people use the term ‘skill players’ they’re talking about quarterbacks, running backs and receivers. I want my guys to know we’re skill players as well. Foot
Technique Over Talent
Coaching legend Bill Walsh has said that the essence of coaching is isolating the skills necessary to play a position and then finding the best way to teach those skills. And no position is more in need of solid skills than the offensive line. Longtime Cincinnati Bengal offensive line coach Paul Alexander has become known as one of the best technical experts in offensive line play. He has distilled the skills required for consistently solid linemen and has a system in place that consequently hon
Training Revolution
Ed Dudley, Head Football Coach for Walton High School in Marietta, Georgia faced a situation that plagues many coaches at top programs. He was confident that his school had a good strength program, but he knew his team had to become faster and more agile in order to go deeper in the playoffs. “We had several players going to a few different trainers and you could see a big difference in their foot work. I knew we needed to find the best speed and agility program that we could manage ourselves,
Situational Success - An Offensive Checklist
The content of this article will serve as a reminder as you prepare your offense each week. This article is based on some lessons I\'m continuing to learn as a play caller. When preparing team offensive practice, coaches need make decisions as to the nature of these sessions. How much time is given to live scrimmaging? Can our objectives be accomplished with \"dummy scrimmage\" or plays on air? What kind of defense will we be facing this week? I would encourage you to g
The Strength Report: Wide Receivers Part II
Our next three phases are the Pre-Season Camp, Fall In-Season, and Bowl Preparation or Transition. During the Pre-Season Camp we will utilize different circuits in the strength program. The wide receivers will lift two to three times weekly for about 30-40 minutes. The volume of lower body strength training is decreased significantly, due to the demands that are being placed on the position group on the field during practice in camp. This is a time we focus on recovery and injury prevention with
The Situation
It’s near halftime with your opponent at the 50 yard line in a Spread Shotgun set with trips on the right side and a single WR on the left. There’s time for one more play before halftime and it looks like a ‘Hail Mary’ is coming. You’ve been in a 4-4 defense but must adjust to a potential trick play or long pass. How would you defend this offense? Travis Cossey, Defensive Coordinator and Tim Schipper, Head Coach, Fennville HS, MI. AFM subscriber sin
The Drills Report: Ball Security Drills
At American International College, through the diligence of our staff and head coach Art Wilkins, the idea of ball security and turnover margin is given our top priority. We have been taught to view this statistic as second only to the score of the game. Also, I have been extremely fortunate to coach talented players with high character and the ability to work hard and buy into our principles. In this article, my objective is to share my beliefs on ball security as it pertains to running backs,
AFM Subscribers Ask... with Tommy Bowden
The first thing that comes to mind when you look at Tommy Bowden’s record is consistency. In ten seasons as a head coach, all ten of his teams have been bowl eligible at the conclusion of the regular season. Each of his last seven teams have finished with a winning record. In his ten seasons as a head coach (two with Tulane and eight at Clemson) Bowden has an overall 78-41 record, a 65.5% winning percentage. A walk-on wide receiver at West Virginia, Bowden’s first coaching job was
Zone Pressure
Virgina Tech has had tremendous success against teams that run spread-type offenses the last few seasons. In fact, the Hokies are undefeated against offensive-minded teams like Louisville, Clemson, Wake Forest, and West Virginia since 2003. So many teams struggle adapting their old schemes to these new formations without leaving their kids vulnerable to the run game. Or, they give up huge chunks of yardage in the pass game trying to put pressure on the passer and leave their defenders with too m
Giving Your Quarterback the Advantage
Quarterback Training & Development’s obligation to offensive skilled position players is to teach them the skills and techniques that give them a chance to succeed against players who are better than they are. We recently received the following email from one of our players: “Hey coach, the camp went really well. We did 1 on 1 drills which built my confidence because I found out that I could definitely play with some of the best.” This is a necessary part of competing at any level. At s
The Strength Report: Developing the Explosive Athlete - Wide Receivers (Part I)
Our football players are put through a year round periodized speed, strength and conditioning plan. Depending on what time of year it is, our focus for our football players will also change. The annual plan is broken down into six different phases: Winter Development, Spring Development, Summer Pre-Season, Pre-Season Camp, Fall In-Season and Bowl Preparation or Transition. Our football players are also grouped and categorized by strength and skill level along with the position they play on the f
The Speed Report: Wide Receivers - Seperation Speed and Body Control
As coaches we could look at the receiver position and concentrate our focus on linear speed and figure we’re okay. If our wideouts post good 40 times and catch the ball, then we’re good to go. This is not totally true. Linear speed is only a portion of the package for a receiver\'s speed. As a football coach you are well aware of the fact that running in a straight line fast can be impressive. However, displacing momentum while sprinting at maximum intensity levels on a football fi
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Buy Now – Watch Now Instructional Coaching Videos • www.AFMVideos.com Tired of waiting 5 or more days to receive and watch the instructional coaching videos you just bought? American Football Monthly introduces the smartest innovation in instructional coaching videos: Buy Now – Watch Now. Buy Now – Watch Now lets you buy your videos online and watch the same videos immediately on your computer while the DVD copies of your videos are shipped directly to you (FREE ship
AFM Subscribers Ask...
Ron Vanderlinden, now approaching his seventh year as Linebackers Coach at Penn State, has developed a reputation as an outstanding linebackers mentor. Over the years, he has coached Penn State All-Americans Paul Posluszy and Dan Connor, Pat Fitzgerald and Barry Gardner of Northwestern and Chad Brown of Colorado. He also helped the Nittany Lions defense rank in the top 15 nationally in rushing, pass efficiency, scoring, total defense and sacks in 2005. Similarly, his Northwestern defense in 1995
Technology Tools You Need Today
There’s no denying that technological advances have had a significant impact on football and coaching. In only a few decades, we’ve come from cutting and splicing 16mm game film by hand in order to analyze opponent’s tendencies to today’s state-of-the-art editing systems and software that can give coaches information and advantages never before available. Coaches today are wireless, online, hi-speed and most definitely high-tech. Product innovation and falling prices are drivin
A New Way to Communicate
Amos Alonzo Stagg used a megaphone to convey instructions to players during practices in the early days of the game. Countless coaches have barked orders into bullhorns so they’d be heard by players 20, 30 or 40 yards away on the practice field. Many coaches, however, still rely on yelling, which can be an ineffective way to teach or motivate individual players. Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith have each demonstrated that a calmer, more educational approach to coaching can motivate players
Coach-By-Coach Responsibilities on Game Day
Coaches across America at every level require their players to be prepared for every game so they can be as effective and efficient as possible. If you do not require the same game day plan from your coaching staff in both responsibility and communication, then you are not being true to the requirements you place on your players. In researching another project for AFM, we found a wide discrepancy on game day responsibilities and communication among coaching staffs at various levels. T
The Pistol Offense - Part I
Without uncertainty, two of the most popular schemes in high school and college football today are the inside/outside zone play and the play action that results from it. Imagine the offensive productivity you’d have by being able to combine those two concepts while adding an element of misdirection? It’s exactly this kind of productivity that Chris Ault, head coach at Nevada, is having with the Wolf Pack since converting from an “I” formation to his own invention, the Pistol offense.
Does Current Research Support The Use of Dynamic Stretch During Warm-up
Traditionally, preparation for football practices or games includes warm-up and static stretching, with no particular preference for what order they are performed in. Dynamic stretch is becoming more and more popular; however, it has yet to have a major presence in football. This article reviews research on dynamic stretch to see if it is appropriate as part of the warm-up for football. On almost every football field in America at some point before practices and games, the
Letter From the Editor: Intangibles: What Makes the Difference in your Quarterba
About a month ago, AFM caught up with new Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh as he was driving back home from campus in Palo Alto. Harbaugh led Michigan to three bowl games, played in the NFL for 15 seasons, and just completed an outstanding three year 29-6 run as head man for the University of San Diego, a Division I-AA college in the Pioneer League. The Toreros finished 11-1 in each of the last two seasons. “You look for accuracy, location, how a quarterback practices from his on the
The Shotgun Spread Wing-T Package : The Next Generation
We have experienced a great deal of success over the past four seasons running our version of the Spread Shot-Wing-T offense. This package developed from our desire to keep our base Wing-T system yet spread the field against defenses that were “loading the box” on us. The quarterback that we used was a classic pocket passer and could sit in there and deliver the ball to a receiver anywhere on the field. When that player graduated, we found that a more athletic quarterback could not perform t
The Situation
Pete Saylor, Assistant Coach, Southern Columbia High School, Catawissa, PA. AFM subscriber since 1999. The field position does not put us in a panic mode. The staff has reminded the team that our opponent has some outstanding athletes with the ability to make some big plays. It is important that we keep our composure over the course of the game. We know that they like to take advantage of their team speed. With that said, we feel we can stay in our base defense and have succes
Stripping the Ball
Trailing 3-0 in the second quarter at Florida State last fall, Boston College defensive back Sulaiman Sanni rapidly closed on a short pass to the tight end in the flat. He stood up the receiver, securing the tackle, while another defender came in on the play and began to poke and pry at the ball – just like the Eagles had practiced all season. The ball popped loose. Safety Wes Davis didn’t hesitate, scooped up the fumble and returned it to the FSU 1 yard line. It was the first of three Semin
Developing the Explosive Athlete: Wide Receivers
Strategy My strategy when designing a strength and conditioning program for the Georgia Tech football team first starts with the word EFFORT. Over the last eleven years that I have been in this business, I have found that all of the successful teams that I have worked with were not always the most talented but won because of their willingness to put forth the extra effort and intensity needed for us to become successful. I firmly believe that the athlete’s motivation and dedic
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GROUND BATTLE CHUTES - RAE CROWTHER The Rae Crowther Ground Battle Chutes are designed to keep players low and maintain a good football position while moving. If your goal is to train as many athletes as possible, in as many varied drills as possible, and in the shortest possible time - then you have found the perfect chutes! The Ground Battle Chutes are the best chutes to place on your practice field because they allow you the most room for your drills. Sizes range from 27
Drills Report: 10 Advanced Drills for Wide Receivers
Our March Drills Report comes from Denie Marie, a veteran high school, college, and professional coach who is now working in athletic administration at Virginia Tech. Marie has coached at various levels for over 20 years including St. Thomas More Prep, the US Coast Guard Academy, Trinity College, Brown, Kent State, Marietta College, Virginia Tech, and the Arena Football League II. Included are a selection of wide receiver drills that Coach Marie used throughout practices sessions. Each drill is
The Middle 2 Defense
I’m presenting a coverage I call Middle 2, a basic form of Cover 2 which allows your Mike Linebacker to defend the deep middle one-third of the field (preferably the two receivers or two speed receivers) but at the same time keeping deep half safeties. This coverage is great vs. a spread formation team (three to four speed receivers) because it gives you excellent position down the middle. Plus, it forces the team to throw short-mid range passes. The following diagrams explain this by position
Lightning Strikes San Diego Chargers\' Dave Redding\'s Unusual Methods to Effect
STRATEGY San Diego’s Dave Redding, the 2006 Samson Strength and Conditioning NFL Coach of the Year, describes football as an “awkward movement sport.” And that description shapes his strategy on training the Chargers. “I could really care less what they bench, squat or power clean one time,” he said. “I don’t test them on that. I do test them on their ability to sustain a very intensive effort for two hours, four days a week, year round. The o
Samson\'s Division I-A Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year: Jay Butler
Rutgers running back Brian Leonard knows strength and conditioning coordinator Jay Butler played a major role in the Scarlet Knights’ amazing turnaround. But that doesn’t mean he always enjoyed Butler’s tactics. “Along with the strength, conditioning and speed, he’ll do things to make you mentally tough,” said Leonard. “He’ll do the worst things you could ever think of. Like after a long day of winter conditioning, you’ll be real tired, and the next day, he’ll wake
Deadly Opponent-MRSA: An Invisible Killer
On December 7, 2003, Coach Frank Girardi’s Lycoming Warriors lost 13-9 to Bridgewater (VA) in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division III playoffs. A disappointment to the legendary coach, to be sure. But the pain was nothing compared to the tragedy the team suffered less than 24 hours prior with the death of their star wide receiver, Ricky Lannetti. The 3rd team All-American had led Lycoming throughout his senior season, setting team records for most catches in a game (16) and a season (7
The Backside Tackle in the Spread Run Game
In 2003 and 2004 seasons the Marist Red Foxes, using 21 players, went a combined 7-12 with an 0-3 record vs. conference champions. They averaged just five points per game in those three losses. In the spring of 2005 we installed the spread offense and experienced a dramatic turnaround. The Red Foxes went 7-4 with a 2-3 record against conference champions while averaging 26 points per game in those five contests. The inside read and triple option was the basis of our run game. The offen
Play Action to Complement your Spread Option Offense
At Blackburn College, we employ the Spread Option offense made famous by teams like the United States Air Force Academy and the United States Naval Academy. This offense fits our program due to three main factors: time constraints due to our work program (Blackburn College is a “Work College” – all students have a job on campus), size of the athletes we can recruit at Blackburn (Division III), and the type of high school programs in our general recruiting area. Since the Spread Option offe
The Strength Report
I have had the opportunity to be a strength and conditioning coach for 11 years, and had the privilege of working in some great programs with some great head coaches. From Oklahoma, to Minnesota, to Kansas, I have been fortunate enough to work with many great athletes and had the opportunity to learn quite a bit about how to develop not only sport specific strength, but also position specific strength. Philosophy / Strategy The game of football is ever-evolving; howev
AFM Subscribers Ask...
Former Georgia Southern head coach Mike Sewak helped learn his craft from two GSU legendary coaches: Erk Russell and Paul Johnson. An oustanding lineman for Virigina in the late 70\'s, Sewak first coached at Hobart and Georgia Tech before joining Russell\'s staff for two seasons in the mid 80\'s. In those two years in Statesboro, the Eagles won national championships. He then coached at Hawaii and Ohio before coming back to GSU on Johnson\'s staff. As OC, Sewak and the Eagles won two more champ
2007 Spring Practices
2007 SPRING PRACTICES COLLEGE SPRING DATES FOOTBALL CONTACT
The Tools to be a Linebacker
Defining A Hawk Linebacker: In the 50 front, which is the Hawk base defense, the two linebackers are labeled Sam and Will. Sam is historically the strong side linebacker based around the offensive set and normally lines up on the tight end side. The other linebacker is labeled Will and normally plays on the split-end side of the offensive set. In an offensive set that has two tight ends the Sam linebacker will position himself on the tight end side that has the flanker present or a power
The Mental Aspect of Winning in the Trenches
All defensive line coaches have been embedded to believe that games are won and lost in the trenches. We would love to have that 6’ 8”, 290 lb. defensive end who runs a 4.5 40-yard dash and benches 500 lb. But for most of us that is not reality. As the old saying goes, “The game of football is 90% mental and 10% physical.” All coaches believe that the team that is most prepared will win the ball game. Here at Florida A&M University, we are fortunate to have a head coach, Rubin Carter, an
Schutt Sports High School Coach of the Year
Steve Tutsie
In just his first year as a varsity head football coach, Steve Tutsie led his Warren Central Warriors to a 15-0 record and an Indiana State Class 5A championship. The Warriors were as dominant as any team in the country, outscoring their opponents 722 to 124 and winning the state championship game by a comfortable 35-14 over Carmel in the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. Tutsie, 41, was so impressive under the head set that he was named the Schutt Sports National Coach of the Year. Tutsie doe
Schutt Sports High School Coaches of the Year
East Greg Toal Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, NJ Using the run to set up the pass isn’t exactly a breakthrough in game strategy. However, it worked to perfection as Don Bosco Prep put the finishing touches on a 12-0 season and New Jersey Non-Public State title with a 41-0 rout of St. Peter’s Prep in the championship game. The offense featured diversified looks out of the spread all season with a one-tight end, three-wideout look among the most used formations
Schutt Sports College Coaches of the Year
DIVISION I-AA Jerry Moore Appalachian State 2006 I-AA National Champions (14-1) Offense: Spread option Defense: An aggressive 4-3 that can play an aggressive zone or man behind it Not long after the Mountaineers finished celebrating their 2005 national title, it was time to put it behind them and focus on the next task – repeating. “We had to tune out everything from the past season and focus on the goal
Getting Everyone on the Same Page: Coach Ralph Munger Talks About
Preparing for the mental and emotional challenges of football can be confusing. How are coaches to know what works and what doesn’t? One way would be to ask successful coaches about how they prepare their teams. Another would be to learn about research in sport psychology. This article attempts to help you do both. Parts of my interview with my high school football coach, Ralph Munger, Head Coach of the Rockford High School Rams (2004 and 2005 Division 1 State Champions in Michigan), are
The Strength Report
Our philosophy and strategy at the University of San Diego is to develop players that are willing to persistently work towards achieving their goals and dreams, that believe if they dedicate themselves to their preparation they will deserve to be confident and expect to be successful. We teach players to perform with the fundamental habits that will enable them to be successful in their football career and life: by implementing a comprehensive program that teaches players to pay atten
Promoting Turf in Your Town: 21st Century Field of Dreams
Tired of subjecting your players to the muddy, rutted, divot-filled, dangerous conditions of your embarrassing home playing field? Frustrated by rainouts, postponements – or worse, injuries caused by poor or inconsistent field conditions? Then it’s time for your school to go synthetic! • Most coaches fully understand the benefits of synthetic playing surfaces as compared to natural grass: extended practice time, reduced maintenance costs, consistent and safe playing conditions and, for col
Synthetic Turf: Wave of the Future
Chances are very good that your team has either a) played at least one road game on a synthetic turf field or b) installed a synthetic turf field at your home facility. If neither applies to your program, expect that to change in the near future. • The “New Generation” synthetic turf fields, once considered a luxury only NFL teams or high-profile universities could afford, are being installed at high schools and colleges from Maine to California. The trend is so strong that industry leader
AFM Subscribers Ask...Arizona\'s Mike Stoops
Arizona Head Coach Mike Stoops recently completed his third season in Tucson as the Wildcats finished with a 6-6 regular season record after back-to-back 3-8 campaigns. A 21-year coaching veteran, Stoops had an overall 168-48-2 record as an assistant coach. For five years prior to taking the Arizona job, Stoops was the top aide to his brother Bob at Oklahoma. A defensive back while an undergrad at Iowa, Stoops also coached at Iowa and Kansas State. Having a reputation as an outstanding defensive
The Spin Offense: The Running Game (Part II)
When Dale Weiner and his staff at Catholic High School in Baton Rouge (LA) developed the “spin offense” as their primary offense in 2001, there were three aspects that they felt needed to be accomplished in order to be successful: develop a base run package with complimentary play-action off of it; keep the defense on its toes by using misdirection and motion; and keep it simple enough so that the players and coaches can make adjustments on the fly. Although the system is quite sim
Backed Up Against the Wall: Coming Off the Goal Line
Although many programs panic or go flat when their offense takes the field after the ball has been spotted on the minus one yard line, our program gets excited! In Hal Mumme’s Air Raid offense we have taken this negative part of the field and flipped the scenario into our favor. Many coaches may see it as an unorthodox approach to this situation, but we view it as a chance to demoralize our opponent. When backed up against the wall, we have three main goals: think touchdown, no negative
Coaches: Ways to Lose a Football Game
Everyone knows that brilliant coaching strategies, like those of Bill Walsh on offense and Buddy Ryan on defense, can win teams games. But the opposite is also true. Coaching mistakes can cost your team games. We talked to as many coaches as we could about what the key mistakes are that can cost you games, real world examples of the mistakes and how to avoid them. Here is what they had to say: Jerry Schmitt, head coach, Duquesne University “One thing tha
Playing it Safe in The Red Zone
Keep it simple. The Cardinal Rule, no only for life in general, but also for football. It is a philosophy you may want to adopt to play better defense in the Red Zone. There is no question that the Red Zone is the most important zone on the field. Good Red Zone defense wins games! Typically on defense it is the most aggressive section of your game play; it quickly can become a high risk / high reward zone. However, I want to explain why you should
Establishing a Multiple Attack Running Game
During my time as a coach, I have learned that it is extremely hard to be one-dimensional and have constant success. Some teams do it and have success but on an overall basis we as a staff feel better about our chances with a multiple attack running game. First of all, we think it is much harder for our opponents to prepare for and if a team has success stopping one phase of our running game then we easily can retract to another phase. In today’
7 - Keys to Kick Starting Your Special Teams
While all coaches extol the value of the kicking game, the reality is, when faced with the time constraints that all coaches have, the kicking game gets pushed to the back burner and ends up being last on the time priority list. The test of time is a test that every football coach faces each and every year, especially when it comes to the kicking game. The good thing about time is that it is the one thing, unlike talent, that all coaches ha
Sticking to the Script
Many coaches believe in the philosophy of scripting your first 10-15 offensive plays of the game and a few less than that for the second half. The idea is to make it easier for your players to have early success and to learn how the defense will react to some of your core plays. We talked to three coaches for their philosophies about scripted plays and for information about the kind of plays they actually put into their scripts. The coaches are Tommy Condell, OC of the C
Blocked! 10 Essentials to Master in Blocking a Punt
Blocking punts can make a key difference in winning a game for you. Not only do punt blocks give you a better chance to score on your next possession (or perhaps even on the block itself), but also they provide a boost of confidence for your own team and represent a psychological blow for the opposition. We talked to two coaches for their views on the details of blocking punts: Dave Ungerer, special teams coordinator at University of Alabama, an
The Strength Report: Running Backs and Wide Receivers
As a strength and conditioning coach at the Division I-A level, philosophically, I feel you have to first develop core beliefs, which guide you in creating your specific training methods. These core beliefs must first and foremost be grounded in scientifically proven methods, which speak to the specific athletic goals of the athletes and sports you are focused on. The primary philosophy I follow in program design for football is a system utili
The Drills Report: Wartburg College\'s Cut Block Circuit
The cut block is very important to our offense. At Wartburg College, we utilize the cut block in several of our offensive schemes. Although we do believe in the cut block, we do not cut our own players in practice. Because the cut block is so important in our offense, we asked the same question everyone asks, “How do we practice cutting without cutting our own players?” In order to effectively teach the technique and practice the cut block, we
Gear: Products For Coaches
The X|Pload line brings world-renown Nautilus performance to plate-loaded training equipment. The line incorporates intelligent design and features that make it a cut above the rest for elite-level strength training: • Strength curves incorporated through 4-bar linkage for most effective workout possible • Low weight loading points – no need to load plates at eye level • Integrated weight plate storage, standard • Efficient footprint
Letter From The Editor: Those Days are Forever Over
In both small towns and large cities across America, the tradition over the years has been for a high school team to watch game films as a team. This has usually been a three to six hour process as coaches analyze the previous game\'s film and go back and forth about what worked and what didn’t on each play. If a future opponent\'s film was also available, that was shown to the team as well. So much for what went on a generation ago. Now, in the digital age, editing equ
Inside the Option: Maximizing its Effectiveness and Keys to Defending it
The triple option offense has grown in popularity in recent years, with coaches appreciating the difficult adjustments that the option forces on a defense. We talked to three coaches who have had success running the option, and one who has had success defending it. On the offensive side, we spoke to Paul Johnson, head coach of Navy; Chuck Petersen, offensive coordinator at Air Force; and Mike Sewak, former coach at Georgia Southern. On the defensive side, Al Seamonson, outside lineb
AFM Subscribers Ask
Now in his 20th season as head coach at Virginia Tech, Frank Beamer has established the Hokies as a consistent top ten Division I-A power. Beamer ranks third among all active D I-A coaches in wins and last fall led the Hokies to an 11-2 record and their 13th straight bowl game. Year-in, year-out, Virginia Tech has a reputation of being one of the finest colleges in special teams play: the Hokies led all I-A schools in blocked punts in the 90’s.
Pursuit, Tackling, and Takeaways
As coaches, we have many formative years. We learn to scheme, we learn organization, we learn player relations, how to recruit, how to present, how to teach, motivate, package, adapt. There are certain things that have changed over time and there are some constants. Tackling and pursuit have always been trademarks of great defenses. More recently, takeaways has been a great indicator of team success. The goal of this article is to
The Spread Punt
There are some general concepts I need to mention before we get into the spread punt: 1. Get off time The snapper and the punter are a unit that must work together. By this I mean the faster your snapper is the more time your punter can take. The slower your snapper is the faster the punter must be at getting the ball off. From the snap to the punt, any time over 2.1 seconds increases
Becoming a Complete Back: Teaching Your RBs to Protect Your QB
During my career I have had the privilege to coach some outstanding running backs in high school and college. I have been fortunate to coach backs who have given me their undivided attention and were excited about reaching their potential as complete running backs. Several of the backs I have had the opportunity to coach went on and played in the NFL. Tony Smith, Chris Buckhalter and Harold Shaw all had successful careers. All of
Making an Offense One Dimensional: Strategies for Developing an Effective Run De
Stop the Run: It’s the number one objective for any defensive coordinator at any level; in fact it’s Defensive Football 101. You can’t play defense without first stopping the run. Rushing yardage is also the first statistical category offense will use to measure its performance. Teams that know how to control the clock by running the football win games. In fact, the two go hand in hand. If you look at successful teams from Pop Warner right up
The Strength Report: Defensive Backs
My philosophy for training the college football athlete is based upon the physical and mental demands occurring during the course of a normal practice and game. Football is a collision oriented game grounded in the physical skills of blocking, tackling, jumping, running, throwing and kicking. These are skills initiated by the lower body and lend credibility to the maxim of football being played on your feet. These highly synchronized skills are ex
The Drills Report
This month’s drill has been submitted by Coach Jason Phillips, Receivers Coach at the University of Houston. Coach Phillips brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Cougars football program as not only a coach but also a former player. Coach Phillips coaching career began with the Spring Football League’s Houston Marshals in 1999 with stops at the Minnesota Vikings (2001), Atlanta Falcons (2002) and Southwest Texas State (2002). While
GEAR: Products for Coaches
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Letter from the Editor
Special Teams: They Can’t Be Over-Emphasized When the term ‘Special Teams’ is mentioned each of us may have a different image or mindset as to what it means. One may recall a game that was decided by a kickoff or punt return while another may remember a fumble return for a score. There have been many dramatic finishes that ended in a special teams play. One of the most exciting games in college history was decided by not one but tw
AFM Subscribers Ask...
Three Heisman Trophy winners in five years… USC’s Pete Carroll has had three of his players – Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, and Reggie Bush – win football’s ultimate individual prize in his five seasons with the Trojans. He also has two National Championships, a 34 game winning streak (broken in last year’s BCS Championship with Texas) and an overall 54-10 record. Considered one of the outstanding defensive minds in football, Carroll has a combined 31 years of both pro and colle
Missouri: From the Shotgun to the Shovel Pass
In the past year of running the Shovel Play we averaged 5.5 yards per carry and it offered a great change-up to our inside zone play and our speed option. The Shovel Play is a great play for any shotgun offense because you can run it out of many sets and it forces the defense to prepare for the triple option. A common misconception is that you need a fast or running quarterback to run this play; this is not true. In our previous year at the University of Missouri our quarterback only kept
Maximizing the Shotgun Formation
The shotgun formation has become more and more popular, with some teams now using it to run as well as pass. We talked to three outstanding coaches about the intricacies of the shotgun. Lew Johnston, head coach of Western Branch High School in Chesapeake, VA, uses the shotgun as a change-up to his standard Delaware Wing T offense. New Mexico State quarterbacks coach Matt Mumme is part of a team that uses the shotgun about 50 percent of the time. A
The Speed Report: Increasing your Linebacker Speed
Every coach in America selects athletes year to year to play linebacker and must determine various characteristics needed to make the wisest choice. LB’s are the heart of the defense and a player must be multi-dimentional athletically able to hit, run, move quickly, and have the mental tenacity of a lightening bolt on a mission. Finding players each year with these skills sometimes is easier said then done. Lead with Speed S
The Drills Report - West Virginia\'s Defensive Secondary Footwork Drills
This month’s drill was submitted by Coach Tony Gibson, the Defensive Backs Coach at West Virginia University. Coach Gibson is entering his sixth year as a member of Coach Rich Rodriquez’s staff. Coach Gibson has also made stops along his coaching career at West Virginia Tech University, Cumberland University, Glenville State College and Gilmer County High School. While at West Virginia University, Coach Gibson has been part of three Big East
The Center / Quarterback Exchange
Every scrimmage down starts with the center’s snap; yet it can be one of the most neglected areas of football. There have been many games lost because of a fumbled Center / QB exchange. The snap is a procedure that must not be taken for granted. The fundamentals of snapping the football should be emphasized and practiced everyday, just as you practice the fundamentals of blocking, tackling, receiving, etc. All phases of snapping should be practiced with repetition until it becomes
Free team websites offered to every high school in the U.S
Did you know that your high school football team has a personal assistant to help with the day-to-day management of your program? Yes, you now have a professional-quality website that can help you communicate with players, parents and the community, get alumni involved and raise funds for your program. It
AFM Subscribers Ask
with Mike Van Deist A near legendary coach in NAIA circles, Carroll College’s Head Coach Mike Van Diest’s Fighting Saints have won the last four NAIA Championships. During that time Carroll has ranked among the top ten NAIA teams defensively. Last fall they led the NAIA in scoring defense and total defense and gave up only six rushing touchdowns in 14 games. Q. How do you prepare your players concerning the defensive game plan.
In the Heart of Special Teams: Your Best Opportunity to Gain a Competitive Advan
At the University of Cincinnati, we believe that special teams is one area of the game where you can gain a significant advantage over your opponent simply through the commitment of your best players and the commitment of your entire coaching staff. In this article I will share ideas on how we attempt to get our players to buy into special teams and how we attempt to “out coach” our opponents. Whether you coach high school, college or in the pros, each one of us sells
The Speed Report
Football has grown tremendously in the area of athletic development and strength development in recent years. The knowledge level in the weight room alone is nearly off the chart. The advent of the NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Assoc.), which is now approximately 30 years old, provides certification for strength coaches nationally. The journals they supply are written by PHD scientists and are knee deep with physical science infomation
The Drills Report: Defensive Line Progression and Drills: UW-Platteville
At UWP, seven areas are emphasized that will make a defensive lineman successful on Saturdays. These areas are: Stance, Starts, Hands, Blow Delivery, Block Recognition, Squeeze and Escape, and Pass Rush Techniques. We feel that these are the areas that must be repped each day at practice. The first area that we work on is stance. Feet should be armpit width apart with toe to instep relationship. We want the toe to in-s
\'Do Right...\'
As William \"Billy\" Joe sat in his hotel room in Tallahassee on that January afternoon in 1994, awaiting his job interview with Florida A&M University officials, hardly anybody in Florida\'s capital city knew who he was or why he was there. Nearly all of the city\'s residents were caught up in a parade through the downtown streets for Florida State as the city celebrated the Seminoles\' first national title. Little did the football-crazed fans realize that Joe was formulat
The Diary of a New Coach - Part I
Norman, Okla., is 17 miles south of Oklahoma City and perhaps most famous for being home of the Oklahoma Sooners. Football has deep roots in Norman. Norman High School, a Class 6A school with a strong football tradition itself, has nine state championships. NHS runs out of the offset I-formation and our base plays are either 42/43 Crunch (an iso on the playside backer) with a complimentary 26/27 Counter, or an option attack, depending on our personnel. Most of our passing is from a three-step
News & Notes
Former NFL Europe head coach Dick Curl joins the Chiefs Dick Curl, who joined NFLE in 1991 as Barcelona Dragons offensive coordinator and spent the last three seasons with the Frankfurt Galaxy as their head coach, has been named pro personnel assistant with the NFL\'s Kansas City Chiefs. In each of his first two seasons in Frankfurt, Curl was named NFLE Coach of the Year after leading the Galaxy to a berth in World Bowl. The Galaxy lost to the Rhein Fire in 1998, but beat Barce
Mike Leach Q & A
Q: You didn\'t reach the Division I-A level until 1997 at Kentucky. Before that, you had coached in Division II and the NAIA. What did you learn from your experiences at small colleges and how did you reach your current level?A: When you work at small colleges, you have to know a little bit about everything involved in a football program. A lot of things at major college that are done by someone else, I\'ve actually done myself. I\'ve actually been an equipment guy while coachi
New Equipment
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The Situation- WEB ONLY RESPONSES
We asked our subscribers what they would do in the following situation. We had such a tremendous response that we were unable to print all of them inside the magazine. Here is the situation and the remainder of the responses: You’re on defense near your goal line. While you’ve contained the run, your opponent now has a first down at your four-yard line. They are in a spread offense with a flanker on one side and a split end on the other. Your opponent decides to pitch to the tailb
AFM Subscribers Ask... Texas Tech
Premiering with this issue American Football Monthly begins ‘AFM Subscribers Ask…’, an in-depth Q & A session with a different coach each month. Subscribers are asked to send in their inquiries with specific questions for the coach featured that month. Our first coach to answer your responses is Texas Tech’s Mike Leach. One of the top offensive minds in the game today, Leach begins his seventh season in Lubbock thi
Being a Secondary Technician
Press Man Technique: Defending Against a Receiver’s Release Moves When breaking down the game of football, or any other sport, it comes down to taking proper angles and using them to help increase the odds of making plays which helps teams win games. Angles in the game of football can either make or break a team’s success. Understanding angles through geometry and understanding the physics of the body through the prope
Punt of No Return
10 Ways to Guarantee Your Opponent Won’t Score on a Punt Return When your offense has stalled and you have to punt the ball away, the last thing you want to give up is a punt-return touchdown. We spoke with three experts about how to prevent such a disaster – Rick Sang, director of American Football Specialists/ Ray Guy Kicking Academy in Bowling Green, KY; Granville Eastman, defensive coordinator and special teams coach
Point-Counterpoint: The Two Minute Offense
Defending the Two-Minute Offense Baylor vs. Edinboro
The Drills Report
This month’s drills are from George Godsey, quarterbacks coach at the University of Central Florida. A standout quarterback at Georgia Tech, Godsey played for his current mentor, UCF head coach George O’Leary. Last fall, the Golden Knights engineered one of the greatest turnarounds in college football history – after going 0-11 in 2004, UCF hosted the Conference USA Championship
The Scouting Report
At the entrance to the Katy High School (TX) athletics field house, there’s a high trophy case with the inscription, “When excellence becomes a tradition, greatness has no limits.” The Katy Tigers have developed both a tradition and greatness. Named as the ‘High School Team of the Decade’ by the Houston Chronicle, Katy won Texas State Class 5A football championships in 1997, 20
Impact Stats: The Most Critical Statistic in Football
Obviously the most important statistics in a football game are points scored and allowed – that will determine the winners and losers. But what comes next? What statistic plays the biggest role in determining a game’s outcome? We asked nine successful coaches that question. And eight of them answered that it’s turnover margin. One said average starting field position. Here are the coaches’ explanations. “Obviously every possession is very valuable,” said Mike
Advanced Level Techniques for Today\'s Quarterback
I have had the fortune of coaching at many different levels through the years. One thing that I have found is that at the ‘Non D-I levels’ it is hard to find a quarterback with good mechanics. The higher levels take their pick from the kids that are gifted athletically as well as mechanically. This becomes especially tough when you run an offense that revolves around the pass. This article will focus on what I believe to be the proper mechanics of the QB throw. From the
Pre-Season Practice: The Importance of Making Every Minute Count
Pre-season practice plays an important role in getting your team prepared for the upcoming season. We spoke to two successful head coaches – Mike Leach of Texas Tech and Terry Hoeppner of Indiana University – about how they conduct their pre-season practices and what they hope to get out of them. NCAA rules dictate that teams can begin practice about a month before their first game. Teams aren’t allowed to practice in full pads for the first five days.
Temperature Rising! Pre-Season Practices: Proper Hydration
Pre-season practice means hot weather, which brings with it the risk of dehydration and heat illness. While many people function quite normally with mild dehydration in everyday life, fluid deficits and heat illness are no laughing matters in football. The National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injuries stated that 19 high school football players died of heat stroke on the playing field between 1995 and 2005. We spoke to two experts about how to prevent serious dehydra
Point Counterpoint: Defending the Kickoff vs. Maximizing your Kickoff Return
TALE OF THE TAPE Kyle “Bubba” Schweigert Minnesota-Duluth Head Coach 3rd year 2005 North Central Conference Coach of the Year Bulldogs led Division II in kickoff returns in 2005
Exclusive: Inside Mickey Andrews\' Florida State Defense
Great college football teams are designed to STOP great college football teams. And when you play the kind of brutal and challenging schedule Florida State University lines up against each fall, you better be prepared to STOP great college football teams. Florida State defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews, who has been at the school for 22 years, is the architect behind the strategy, philosophy, instruction, motivation and guidance of one of the game’s stingiest defenses. Throughout his
The Drills Report: Georgia\'s Offensive Blocking Circuit
This month’s drill has been submitted by Coach Neil Callaway, the Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach of the 2005 SEC Champion Georgia Bulldogs. Since Coach Callaway became a member of coach Mark Richt’s staff in 2001, the Bulldogs have won two SEC Championships, three bowl victories and three top six finishes in the final polls. Coach Calloway explains his blocking circuit: “We implemented the Blocking Circuit at
The Scouting Report
Todd Graham returned ‘home’ this past January. A native of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Graham was named Rice University’s 17th head football coach on January lst. In his previous coaching stops, Graham played major roles in reversing the fortunes of struggling programs. It started at East Central University where, in his three seasons as DC, ECU improved from a break-even program to the NAIA national championship in 1993. As
Media Training: A Coach’s Playbook for the Media Game
If you don’t know what media training is, you are not alone. However, in the next five years, every team in major and mid-major collegiate and professional sports will include media training as part of their preparation for the season – or wishing they had. High school coaches who want to prepare their student-athletes will also embrace this cutting-edge trend as a life skill they need to pass on to their players to be successful in sports and in the real world. So, what
Defensive Line Attack: Read Rules for 6 Offensive Line Steps
This article will focus on the reads for an attacking style defensive front. These reads are based on the idea of offensive linemen being able to take 6 initial steps that will tell the defensive lineman how to react. The reactions are based on whether the defensive player lines up in an inside shoulder technique (a 7 tech for example) or an outside shoulder technique (a 5 tech for example). The reads and techniques are the same for both outside a
The Beauty of the High/Low
Creating quick reads for your quarterback that can lead to receivers gaining big yards after the catch. The beauty of the high/low read is how it can create success for every position group on the field. We succeed with big receivers or fast receivers and with strong-armed quarterbacks or smaller, more athletic quarterbacks. In addition, it creates a quicker passing game so the offensive line does not have to protect too long. It even
High Percentage Throws: Valdosta State\'s Shallow Passing Game
Offensively, we go by a simple rule in implementing our game plan each week. We try to make positive yards on first and second down, then pick up the remaining yards needed to move the chains on third down. We feel the best way to do this is using mostly high percentage passes and mixing in an occasional run. In this article, I am going to concentrate on one such high percentage pass play in our playbook: The Shallow Game. Our Shallow Game has been one of the most successf
Improving Your Running Game
The commitment to run the ball has to start when a head coach lays the foundation for his system. Portland (OR) State’s Tim Walsh sees this mentality as key to any coaching staff. “Coaches have to find a way to instill a belief in their players that they can run against anybody. At Portland State, we’ve created a mindset for players over several seasons.” Walsh and his assistant coaches stress the team’s prior success to new recruits, while returning players have already been in
Hide and Seek: Disguising Your Blitz
The blitz can be a potent weapon to nullify a high-flying air attack. But blitzes must be disguised to insure their effectiveness. If the offense knows they are coming ahead of time, it can easily adjust and burn the defense for major yardage. We talked to three successful coaches about how to disguise blitz packages: Mickey Matthews, head coach of former Division I-AA champion James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA; Chuck Martin, head coach of defending Division II
The Drills Reports: Louisiana Tech\'s Defensive Tackle Circuit Drills
This month’s feature drill is from Randy Bates, Defensive Coordinator for Louisiana Tech University. Under the leadership of Coach Bates last fall, the La Tech bulldog defense ranked third in the Western Athletic Conference. Also, the 2005 defensive WAC statistics ranked the Bulldogs first in overall turnover margin (+13), second in rushing defense, and third in both passing and scoring defense. Coach Bates began his career 24 years ago at Muskingum College as an offens
The Scouting Report
If two words describe Mira Mesa High School in San Diego they are tradition and excellence. One of the top academic schools in the city, the Mira Mesa Marauders also have an outstanding football legacy. Led by Head Coach Gary Blevins and Assistant HC Chris Thompson, Mira Mesa plays in the prestigious San Diego Eastern League. This fall they play Long Beach Poly in a non-league game. Poly, a perennial Southern California power, has the most alums of any school in the nation playing in the
Preparing your Defensive Game Plan
Every football coach, at one time or other during the season thinks “If only there were more time to prepare for this game, we could…”. DC’s are under great pressure each week to develop and implement a scheme that puts their players in the best possible position to make plays. This type of defensive game planning requires many hours of preparation – first breaking down game tape and determining an offense’s tendencies, and then selecting fronts, stunts and blitzes from the De
Teaching WR\'s the Critical Skills
One of the main problems that have plagued football coaches for a long time is how to teach the necessary skills needed to play the game during the fifteen to thirty minutes in practice known as individual. Just at the wide receiver position, we must teach stance, start, footwork, route running, releases (press and open field), blocking (push blocking, wall-off, cutting, middle block), catching the ball, running with the ball, and many other skills needed to be a good wide receiver.
Generation X\'s and O\'s
Game Simulation Technology Allows you to Teach From the Field Level in Real Game Situations When Oklahoma State quarterback Bobby Reid missed significant practice snaps last fall and quarterbacks coach Larry Fedora was forced to prepare junior Al Pena for his first start, Fedora turned to technology. Fedora put a state-of-the-art football simulator produced by GridIron Technology, Inc. in the hands of his quarterbacks, allowing Reid a chance to stay mentally
Do your Players Measure Up?
As a coach, you tell you players that to be successful, they must work hard. This is true whether they are on the field, in the classroom or in the weight room. But players want proof that they are indeed improving. How can you reassure and motivate them so they will remain diligent in their training? The answer is simple: testing. With a basic testing program, you can measure, evaluate, set goals for and motivate your athletes. Testing will also let you design workouts to meet the sp
The Big Squeeze
ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT times to get a football player into the weight room is during the rigorous two-a-day practice sessions before the start of each football season. During this time the athlete\'s body is pushed to the limits of exhaustion. It\'s a time of major concern to most strength and conditioning coaches and athletic trainers because of the chance of overuse/overwork muscle strains and pulls that can occur. During this time the question arises as to what would be the best
Linebacker Play The Minnesota Way
Linebackers are usually the leaders of the defense. The good ones have poise, intelligence, leadership, mental and physical toughness, dependability, intensity and football instincts. They must have knowledge of the defense. They must be able to defeat offensive linemen weighing 320-plus bearing down at them. They must be able to react quickly and trust what they see and know. Finally, they must, must, must, be a
A Record to Remember
Risk and reward. Maybe it’s no accident those two words appear so often together. It was the risk taken by Dan Devine, leaving his job as a Michigan high school football coach for a lower-paying job as a graduate assistant under Coach Duffy Daugherty at Michigan State that led to a long, highly successful coaching career, including a national championship as coach of Notre Dame. Devine didn’t remain a graduate assistant for long. He soon became a full-time coach and, i
The Problem with Legends? Replacing Them.
On the day he was officially announced as Florida’s new head football coach, Ron Zook made his point loud and clear. In fact, he made his point repeatedly. Eleven times, to be exact, but then whose paying attention? If you’re Zook, only everybody. “I am not Coach Spurrier. I am not going to be Coach Spurrier,” Zook said. Get the point? Ron Zook isn’t Steve Spurrier. He isn’t the most successful head coach in the history of Gator football. He didn’t
Know Your Field, After All it\'s Your Turf
When it comes to player safety, what is your most important piece of equipment? As a coach you’ve been taught to properly fit helmets and shoulder pads, both essential tools that can keep players safe. But what about your field? How safe is it? Without proper care and maintenance, your field can cause severe injury – just like ill-fitting helmets or pads. With overuse – repeating drills in the same place – and misuse – using a field already in poor condition or beyo
The Drills Report
As coaches, we are always looking for new and innovative ideas to help improve the play of our athletes. As in any other setting, practice makes perfect and practice on the football field involves drills. American Football Monthly’s newest feature is dedicated to finding creative drills that coaches can implement into their programs. The subject matter will be broad in scope and will be selected from coaches of all levels; from high school through professional. This month’s feature
Effective Grading Strategies
Grading players should be easy, effortless and not take hours to do. Our system will utilize a check box numbering system that allows coaches to rate players easily and effectively. We will use three major criteria for determining a player’s ability at each play: Alignment, Assignment and Hustle. Once a player has been graded a more complete picture will aid the coach in determining what a player needs to work on. For example: A player might consistently be in a poor alignment y
Building More than Strength
How to incorporate Leadership, Teamwork, and Sport Psychology Training into Your Strength and Conditioning Program. \"We have found a direct correlation between the team strength and the success on the field.\" - Kevin Vanderbush Football success is often attributed to having great leadership, positive team chemistry, and athletes who possess the proper mental mindset. Often times, teams who have mas
How do you Scout your Opponents Offensive Line
It always seems to work this way, things filtering down from the colleges to the high schools. As technology with digital editing has advanced and pro teams have become more intricate in their scouting, so, too, have colleges and high schools. One place that’s as prevalent as any other is picking apart your opponents’ offensive linemen. Anton Stewart, the defensive coordinator at Pittsburg State (KS), is among the growing number of coac
Running Wild
HOW TO CREATE AN EFFECTIVE RUNNING GAME THAT WILL BOOST YARDS AND WINS For all of football’s passing progress over the past decade, the running game remains a fundamental cornerstone of winning football. Whether you’re punching the ball across the line in short-yardage situations or controlling the clock, every team must be able to get the ball into the hands of a capable runner who can read and follow effective blocks downfield, breaking tackles and making defenders miss.
Prep Report - Flying Under the Radar
TERRY EIDSON: A LARGE PART OF DE LA SALLE’S TRADITION Much has been said and much has been written about the football program at De La Salle in Concord, CA. The Spartans and coach Bob Ladouceur won a national-record 151 straight games and six National Prep Poll titles from 1992-2003. Although De La Salle has developed a handful of NFL players and its share of college stars, Ladouceur gets more acclaim for his ability to exact every last drop of ability out of his pla
Inside Linebacker Play & Progression
Like any position on the football field there are a lot of different ways to prepare your players for game days. Of course linebackers are the backbone of almost every type of defensive scheme. They are involved in every run and pass play and must have the skill to find the football on every play. Since there are so many multiple defensive schemes a linebacker must be ready to line up in a three point stance and stop the run or line up against a flanker and cover against the pass. Ther
Looking For a Boost in Your Offense?
Why Mid-Line? Our first season at Bucknell we had installed a spread option offense. We invested a lot of time into our base play: the triple option. As the season progressed we had been able to execute the triple with some moderate success. At the end of the 2003 season we had averaged just a little over six yards per attempt. We had run some mid-line in 2003 but were not majoring in it. We, as an offensive staff, knew that in order for us to compete on a yearly basis with the
10 Impact Stats to Build a High Scoring Machine #3 Scoring Offense
In its most simplistic terms, Scoring Offense is probably the most basic of all football statistics. After all, the team that scores the most points generally wins the game. And, as former NY Jets-now Kansas City Chiefs coach Herman Edwards put it so eloquently… “We play to win the game.” With a potent offense, good things generally happen. Texas was the highest scoring team in the country – through all colleges among I-A, I-AA, II and II
Point Counterpoint - The Blitz
Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts were helpless against the Pittsburgh Steelers and their blitz packages in last month’s AFC playoff game. Manning, the master of the audible and game’s best gunslinger, spent most of the afternoon forcing passes, trying to avoid getting crushed or getting crushed. After the game, Manning hinted that he didn’t have the best protection. The offensive line, running backs, extra blockers and offensive co
Samson\'s College and High School Strength and Conditioning Coaches of the Year
Division I-AA: Russell Patterson-Appalachian State The pace of an Appalachian State football game is dictated by their no-huddle offense.The breakneck scheme results in a high number of plays and keeps both sides of the ball in constant readiness. Having them prepared for the full 60 is the job of strength and conditioning coach Russell Patterson. It must be working. The Boone, NC Mountaineers captured the Southern Conference title with a 6-1 mark, were 12-3 overall,
Texas Sized Strength
Speed kills. Just ask most of the Texas Longhorns’ opponents during the 2005-06 season. That can be attributed largely to the players that head coach Mack Brown and his staff recruit. As big of a factor in the team’s success, however, is the strength and conditioning program the Longhorn players endure. Sure, endure. “Oh, I’ve been known as a guy that works them and works them hard,” laughed Jeff Madden, the University of Texas as
The Drills Report
Sponsored by: Rogers Athletic Company As coaches, we are always looking for new and innovative ideas to help improve the play of our athletes. As in any other setting, practice makes perfect and practice on the football field involves drills. American Football Monthly’s newest feature is dedicated to finding creative drills that coaches can implement into their programs. The subject matter will be broad in scope and will be selected from coac
SCOUTING REPORT
Mark Panella is the Quarterbacks/Receivers Coach at De La Salle High School in Concord, CA and has served on coach Bob Ladouceur’s staff – except for a brief period – since 1989. He has just about seen it all – from the team’s incredible 151 game winning streak to the lows of an unheard of consecutive losses. He also serves as the team’s Video Coordinator. The starting quarterback on the 1984 De La Salle team that went 11-1, Panella s
Three Basics for your Athletic Training Game Plan
Every coach should have a game plan when it comes to athletic training. Here are some points to consider: 1. Emergency Plans: As a coach you should have an emergency plan in place for your practice sites and football field. Your plans should include: A) forms of communication such as phone, walkie-talkie, etc. B) Directions to the location of the practice or game facilities C) Access to the field or practice area (Any locked gates? Do you have a Key?) 2. Athlet
Video a Necessary Part of Every Program
“It was film in the old days, up to about ‘88 or 89,” recalls Clemson’s veteran video coordinator Rick Bagby, a pioneer in his field who led the video revolution that enables football coaches better use their time to develop sophisticated, smart, systems, and, he hopes, winning game plans for the ACC program that’s been a big winner for decades in the South. Across the country in the Pacific Northwest, Steve Pohl has been running Oregon’s football video operation since 19
Pass Efficiency Defense
One of the more crucial categories relevant to the success of a team at any level is turnovers. No coach or even member of the media can argue that a team’s Turnover Differential at the end of a season is analogous to that school’s success or failure. Even more sophisticated today is the statistical category, Pass Efficiency Defense. Important to every team, Pass Efficiency Defense evaluates the following categories that result in an overall PED rating: • Opponents pa
Point-Counterpoint Third and Long
Heading into December, USC\'s overwhelming offense was tops in the nation in third-down efficiency. After outlasting Pat Hill’s impressive Fresno State squad in November, the Trojans were converting on an amazing 54% of third downs. Having Reggie Bush doesn’t hurt. Pete Carroll’s explosive bunch was also No. 1 in turnover margin. It’s not hard to figure out why Matt Leinart and company keep rolling. The third-down efficiency rankings are filled with explosive offenses, includi
Stopping the Spread Offense
Defending the spread offense. Where does one start? Maybe on the other side of the ball. What exactly is a spread offense? And understanding what it is you are trying to defend will go along way in answering how you are going to defend it. The spread offense means many things to many people. Sure there are some consistencies, but it seems every coach has added his own twist and own purpose to running the spread offense. And while trying to stop the spread offense, you better know what
Point Counterpoint: The Screen Pass
When the rule was changed allowing downfield blocking on any pass completed behind the line of scrimmage, the quick wide receiver screen, also known as the “tunnel” or “rocket” screen, gave blitz-weary offensive coordinators a counter attack capable of causing of mass destruction. “It’s such a good football play,” said James Madison head coach Mickey Matthews. “It’s changed football. If they get the play executed, and you’re in a blitz, it’s going to be a big pla
Dominating Run Defenses
Different teams. Different schemes. Different coaches. Different levels of play. But Ohio State, Duquesne, Edinboro and Trinity all shared one very important distinction at the end of the 2005 college football season. They all led their respective NCAA Divisions in stopping the run. And while the way they accomplished their No. 1 ranking varied, a closer look at each program revealed some common threads to their success. All four agreed that personnel is the biggest determining factor
Schutt Sports Regional High School Coaches of the Year
East Region: Jeff Weachter Bishop McDevitt HS, Harrisburg (PA) Jeff Weachter, 40, led Bishop McDevitt high school in Harrisburg, PA to a 13-1 record this season, reaching the semifinals of the state 4A division. Pure football talent explains a lot of the school’s success, Weachter said. Five of his players were recruited by Division I colleges. But the team had to overcome some adversity. LeSean McCoy, ranked as the top running back in the country by some recruiting
A Winning Tradition: Lakeland\"s Bill Castle
When you’ve been in coaching 36 years, 35 at the same school and 30 as the head coach, you see a lot of players and teams come and go. Some are more memorable than others. Some kids, some teams, some seasons, they all start to run together. Did that Smith kid play tackle or guard? Or was that his older brother? Was it the 1991 team or the 1992 team that was so fast? Was it the second state championship or the third state title that overcame all that adversity? Some teams and players
Schutt Sports College Coaches of the Year
Joe Taylor Hampton Joe Taylor made a decision last off-season that helped lift his Pirates to the Div. I-AA playoffs. During his regular off-season evaluations – which involves looking at every play of every game, interviewing coaches and writing a letter to his players – Taylor realized his defense needed to change. “You must look at this as a bu
Schutt Sports Div. I-A Coach of the Year Finalists
Charlie Weis had amassed an impressive coaching resume punctuated with four Super Bowl rings, three with the New England Patriots and one with the 1990 New York Giants. This season the challenge was to transfer his success in the pro ranks to his first season in charge at Notre Dame. Could the magic he devised for Tom Brady translate to Brady Quinn? Would the genius of the master offensive coordinator in the NFL rub off on the defense and special teams in South Bend? Those were critica
Heart of a Lion: Joe Paterno
Football is a funny business. It is a war-like game in which the biggest, strongest and toughest will often come out on top. Throw in the elements of brains and intelligence and it can either amplify the preceding characteristic or eliminate it. The teams on the sidelines – on a given autumn afternoon or evening – want to humiliate, eliminate and defeat their opposite numbers. It is the most competitive of all sports. Yet there is a fraternity among its players and coac
Scouting Report
Coach Jim Kunau just completed his 13th year as head coach at Orange Lutheran High School. In 2004 the Lutheran Lancers received the ultimate prize: a CIF Championship. With an overall record of 131-32-3, Kunau has seen it all and established LHS as one of the elite programs in southern California. From a school approaching 500 students in which 22 players were football players a decade ago, Orange Lutheran has evolved to an enrollment of nearly 1,200 with 200 student-athletes now a part of a hi
Open Door Policy
Bob Johnson’s coaching experience spans nearly 35 years with stops at Los Amigos High School, El Toro, and, for the past 7 years, Mission Viejo High School. He won his 200th game as a head coach last fall and is closing in on the Orange County record of 236 wins held by Los Alamitos’ John Barnes. Undefeated thus far in 2005, the Mission Viejo Diablos completed a perfect 14-0 season last fall, winning the CIF Southern Section Division II Championship and have won 78 of their last 79 games. La
Correcting Mistakes: Effective halftime defensive adjustments
Fifteen minutes. A short amount of time, especially when you’re trying to sum up how your defense performed during the first 30 minutes and determining how to approach the next 30. Despite the short amount of time, halftime strategies vary from coach to coach. But Mickey Andrews, the long-time defensive coordinator at Florida State, looks at it another way. “Each football game is like a test in the classroom,” he said, “but there you don’t get to go in, take 30 minutes on
Crunching Numbers
Now that the season is over and the dust has settled, it’s time to look back and evaluate your season. As offensive coaches, we all accumulate a huge amount of statistical data over the course of the season. We also know that statistics can be deceiving. Using all the data we collect can help us understand our own offense as well as determine those areas which need improvement. In this article I will discuss how to collect data, evaluate your statistics, and implement the necessary changes to
Swinging Momentum With Int’s
Few plays in a game are more significant than an ill-timed interception. Offensive coaches can argue that there’s never a good time for one but no play seems to have more of a psychological impact than the interception. Last fall some of the leaders in passes intercepted included Troy, Boise State, USC, Coastal Carolina, Cal Poly, Shippensburg and Carthage. Coincidentally, all those colleges had outstanding seasons. “The interception—more than just about any other play – swings
Quarterback Fundamentals
Throughout the course of football history there have been many great quarterbacks to play the game of football. Some of the quarterbacks that I have enjoyed studying over the years are Joe Montana, John Elway and recently Peyton Manning and Ty Detmer. Ultimately the one thing that each one of these quarterbacks has in common is great fundamentals that took each one of their games to another level. In our offensive scheme there are many demands on the quarterback. So repetition is the m
From Scouting Report to Game Plan
Know thy enemy. On the battlefield or the football field, few statements ring truer than that. Being able to effectively size up an opponent, identify their weaknesses, recognize their tendencies and formulate an attack puts you that much closer to victory on Saturday. In today’s high-tech world, scouting the opposition is often done with the latest in digital editing equipment. And when the lights go out, every program, every coach and every player is scanning their scouting report for the ex
Celebrating 10 Years of schutt sports coaches of the year
Terry Hoeppner, Indiana He won the Schutt Sports Division I-A Coach of the Year Award in 2003 as head coach of the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks and that did not go unnoticed. How could it? QB Ben Roethlisberger went on to become a first-round draft choice for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2004 and was thrust into the starting lineup when No. 1 QB Tommy Maddox went down with a knee injury. All Roethlisberger did was lead the Steelers to 14 straight regular-season wins and a berth in the AFC cha
Point-Counterpoint
There is no need for punt coverage, if the punt is blocked. “A blocked kick can turn the momentum of the game more than anything else,” said Air Force legend Fisher DeBerry. “It’s won a lot of football games for us and created some field position for us.” Yet, more and more coaches, including DeBerry, are utilizing the “Shield Punt,” which, admittedly, sacrifices protection for coverage. “There’s been some kicks blocked if the shield breaks down,” DeBerry said. “
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Can Big Mo Be Stopped?
It doesn’t take long for Larry Kehres to teach a reporter a lesson about momentum. Kehres, whose ridiculous resume includes seven Div. III national titles since 1993 for Mount Union College, is making dinner at his home and talking to the reporter on the phone at the same time. “Don’t let a mistake bug you,” he said. “Just think about it. You have periods of frustration, happiness and boredom every day. You just have to –.” That’s when the phone dies. The reporter calls
Open Door Policy
In his 13th season as head coach of the Portland State Vikings, Tim Walsh has the distinction of being the longest tenured and winningest football coach in the program’s history. After taking over for legendary Vikings coach Pokey Allen, Walsh helped lead Portland State to three straight NCAA playoff appearances. In 1996, the Portland State athletics program made the move to Division I-AA (from Division II) in football. That placed Walsh in the position of having to build an under-fu
It Starts in the Trenches
Juan Castillo has coached offensive linemen at the high school and Division II level. He’s also spent the past 11 years with the Philadelphia Eagles. Throughout this career, the daily principles he brings to his job have remained the same. “To me it’s still the same – it’s all about fundamentals,” Castillo said. “When I was at Texas A&I, I was fortunate to learn a lot of my drills from NFL coaches and major college coaches, but I still break it down the way I did at the s
The Prep Report
Flying Under the Radar The Triple Option is Alive and Well The triple option – it was college football’s offense de jour in the 1960s and 70s, highlighted by the ultra successful wishbone systems at Texas, Oklahoma and Alabama. Now, only a handful of Division I-A programs such as Rice and Air Force employ an option system. But the triple option is still very much alive and well on high school football fields across the nation. Especially at Warren Cent
The Staff Report
The start of a new season always involves the coaching staff’s discussion of personnel. We have sat in these meetings as a GA, as a volunteer, as an assistant, as a coordinator and as head coach. It seems that in every one of these meetings the discussion of depth creates quite a bit of emotional dialogue. Who wants the player on offense? How many tailbacks do we need? Do we need that many at wide out? Can we get by with the amount of defensive and offensive linemen? After the discussion,
The Wing-T vs. Multiple Defenses
For defensive coordinators, there is no peskier offensive scheme than the good, old Wing-T. They keep trying to pop that guard trap over and over. Then right as your linebackers have forgotten what a pass looks like, they go play-action. Absolutely aggravating. Western Branch High School (Chesapeake, Va.) Head Coach Lew Johnston is a pesky Wing-T guy. Orchestrated 75-percent of the time out of the shotgun, Johnston’s T really drives D.C.’s crazy. Pearl River High School (LA) H
Stopping the Wing-T
It is one of the most confounding offenses found in either high school or college football. Mention the Wing-T at any meeting of coaches and the majority – if being honest – will admit that it is one of their worst nightmares. It is an offense that is as unpredictable as any in the game and the team that is unprepared for it will be placed in peril and will most likely be embarrassed. Few coaches will put their team at that disadvantage. Through scouting and film study, most coache
How to Stop the Option
Snap to the Q. He sprints to the right, instantaneously scans the defense as he is hit. At virtually the same time he pitches to the fullback. Quick cut to the left, he darts through the hole and rips off 55 yards. How often have you seen it? How many times has it left you pacing the sidelines, shaking your head and clipboard? It’s the ageless option pitch/run. How do you stop it? What options does a coach have? AFM contacted a number of high school and college coaches and
No Fly Zone: Containing the Air Raid Offense
Let’s say you’re going up against a team with a potent air raid offense – a team like Texas Tech, or Boise State or Louisville. How do you stop these pass-happy attacks? We asked five coaches of college and high school teams around the country with outstanding pass defenses. The coaches have a wide variety of suggestions — from constantly changing your formations to physically intimidating the opposition. They offered strategies of how to pressure the quarterback; details of pr
C.W. Post Defensive Line Play
Defensive line play at C.W. Post has been an integral part of our team’s success over the past eight seasons. We have led the country in rushing defense four out of the last five years. Despite losing players to graduation we have been able to stay on top of most conference defensive categories such as sacks, tackles for loss and rushing defense. Our defensive line teaching progression has been consistent throughout our years at Post. The progression is basic and allows our players t
Spreading It Out
At Santa Rosa Junior Coillege our offensive philosophy is to spread people out with formations and to keep the pressure on with a no huddle attack. We want to spread the ball around to our four WR’s and RB and throw the ball short to people who can score. We also believe in keeping it simple. We only run a few plays but expect our players to execute to perfection. By keeping our play list short, it allows us to utilize our practice time to prepare for any defensive look we may see
Back in Black
Jerry Glanville will be the first to insist he’s not re-inventing the wheel in his return to college football. “I’m not bringing anything back to the game people aren’t already using,” said Glanville, who hasn’t coached in the college ranks since 1973. “Whether I’m coaching defense or the kicking game the way I coach is to try and take opponents totally out of their comfort zone, that there’s no play where they can feel like we aren’t coming after them, like we’re sitting t
Blessed Sacrament
Entering into spring practice Mike Henderson, head Football Coach at tiny Blessed Sacrament Huguenot Academy has a lot to reflect on. Just seven short seasons ago he took over the High School\'s 0-10 program and capped off last season with consecutive C.A.A. State Championships. a remarkable achievement. An amazing achievement considering the severely limited physical and personnel assets he was given to work with. Mike Henderson was hired as the Head Football Coach at Hu
Top Of Their Class
Bruce Harbach Head Football Coach and Strength Coach, Lancaster Catholic High School Strength and Conditioning Coordinator, Wilson High School • Lancaster, PA Bruce Harbach is a coach and a teacher. Problem is, it’s at two different schools. Harbach is the hea
Tuesday Morning Quarterback
Most of you have experienced plenty of Monday morning quarterbacking from fans, media and even parents. You don’t need more of the same old thing. You need someone on your side, someone who believes in you and your profession. That’s why this column is called Tuesday Morning Quarterback. While the out
The 25% - 75% Rule
The training program I designed is real simple, and on paper, or in a clinic talk, is probably not going to turn a lot of heads. Our emphasis instead is on cultivating attitude and effort, combined with a year-round climate of discipline and toughness. In summation, 25% of our program is WHAT we do, while 75%
Heavy Impact
It’s the youngest, and certainly in many respects, the most important element in developing winning athletic programs, especially football, other than the head coach himself. The strength and conditioning coach and his staff can be difference makers between a winning program and mediocrity. Before the earl
Sharks In The Water
We base out of our 3-3 Stack Defense. In Diagram 1 you will see that we have a Nose in a zero technique. Our Ends are in a tight 5 technique. The Mike linebacker is stacked behind the Nose and is responsible for running the track of the FB. The L and R are in 50 techniques and are responsible for B gaps. The Nitro and Diamond are 3 by 5 off the TE or a ghost TE. This is our pressure package and we want the offense to have to account for blo
Letter from the Editor
What’s the secret to having a successful football season? What’s necessary to be a consistently winning program, year-in, year-out that produces a playoff caliber team? Is it strictly talent on the field or a combination of other ingredients? Many coaches will list the following and not in any particular order: • Talent – the skills that perform on the field • Assistant coaching staff – a loyal, professional staff • Resources – fields and practice faciliti
10 Impact Stats to Build a Championship team • #9 - Turnovers Gained
Turnovers Gained, the statistic that ranks No. 9 in the overall listing of “10 Stats to Build a Championship Team” correlates to the success of teams at all levels of competition. USC led all Division I-A schools with 38 Turnovers Gained and, in the process, won their second consecutive National Championship. Hampton was the Division I-AA leader with 43 Turnovers Gained and they finished last fall with a 10-2 mark.The colleges with the most interceptions in Division II and
Gear
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Kicking It In
There is a saying among football coaches that “kicking a football is like swinging a golf club.” This statement is true because both incorporate the upper and lower body to work simultaneously. However, the two skills are very different. As a former Division I-A place kicker, I have included in my article a set of techniques and drills for soccer style kickers to help any coach work with their athletes.
Get a Grip
I have been asked to write about the program that our offensive staff implemented this past season for ‘Ball Security.’ In 2004 we were fortunate enough to go through the entire season (695 touches) with only one offensive lost fumble. This put us first in the Big Ten and tied us for first in the nation. Ball Security is an aspect of our game that our team and coaches take personally and very seriously. We make it a priority at each position to make sure our players understand that fu
The Wing-T: An Offense for the Ages
Jim Roth taught the Delaware Wing-T in a week. Granted, it was a very basic version. It was for an all-star game at the end of last season, and Roth already had one running back from his own team in the backfield. Two other running backs already had experience using a two-point stance, so the Wing-T wasn’t that different. The offensive system itself, based on timing, deception and athletic blocking schemes, worked. Roth’s team won, 29-7. “I had a lot of coaches s
High Powered Passing Offenses: Why Are They Really Successful?
High-powered, spread-’em-out, throw- the-ball-on-every-position offenses come and go. Or do they? Are aerial offenses that treat a running back with limited respect fads and gimmicks? Or are these offenses formulas for success that can win on a consistent basis over the long term? Keith Simons is one coach with an answer. All he has to do is point to his record. Simons’ Santa Rosa Junior College Bears won the Mid-Empire Conference Championship with an 11-0 record and finishe
The Art of Play Calling
A good play is easy to spot on game day. It’s the decision to go for it on fourth-and-one that yields a fresh set of downs, a blitz-beating touchdown toss, or even a basic trap play, executed perfectly a handful of times, that marches your offense down the field. But while these plays unfold in the moment, it’s the weeks and even months of preparation that ultimately make them work. Good play calling is the result of repetition and trial and error without the glare of the lights or th
Gorilla Warfare
Chuck Broyles doesn’t pretend to hold the “secrets” for winning. But through an aggressive style of play, a loyal staff and players, and an offense that works to stay one step ahead of defenses, Broyles and his staff have turned Pittsburg State (Kan.) into a perennial power in NCAA Division II. During the last 15 seasons, under Broyles, Pittsburg State is 154-30-2. The Gorillas have won the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) championships nine times, missed the
Open Door Policy
AFM:What was the feeling like when you were named head coach and in charge of the Southlake Carroll program? TD: I’ve competed against Southlake Carroll over the years and I was truly honored to be named head coach. Like the University of Texas, there is tremendous tradition here and I was honored and humbled about the job. At the first spring booster club event I attended I remember the slogan: ‘Protect the Tradition.’ It meant a lot. AFM: Tell me how your office
Turnover Margin
Of the more than 20 statistics the NCAA publishes, one of the most important – and maybe least recognized – is Turnover Margin. It’s not just a coincidence that consistently successful teams place high in this category. Last fall the leaders in this statistic included USC (Division I-A); Coastal Carolina (Division I-AA); Valdosta State (Division II); Carthage College (Division III); and Central Methodist University (NAIA). Over the last five years, the D I-A leader is Miam
Gear
BW Software announces TD Video Viewer for Microsoft Windows ($395). TD Video is a Macintosh based software product that provides affordable digital video editing for football ($895). With our new Windows based TD Video Viewer, you can analyze plays, enter scouting data and print scouting reports. You still need to capture the game video with TD Video for Macintosh. N
Spread Shotgun Wing T Offense: The Running Game
To recap the information presented in our first article in the December, 2004 issue of American Football Monthly, we felt we needed a means to spread the field against defensive teams that wanted to gang up on us on the line of scrimmage. We had a young man whom we were developing at quarterback that we knew was going to be very talented as far as throwing the football. But I did not want to abandon our Delaware Wing T base philosophy. We took the Wing T formation and spread
Point-Counterpoint VEER Option vs. the 4-4
TALE OF THE TAPE JOHN CURTIS CHRISTIAN HS PATRIOTS SCHOOL
4,733 Wins, 5 Coaches, 1 Question
Glenn Robinson Men’s College Basketball Coach • Franklin & Marshall Franklin & Marshall head coach Glenn Robinson is the most successful basketball coach in Division III history with 697 wins. He has been coaching for 37 years and what he learned at the very beginning helped set him on his course for success. “One of the first things I got to do when I became a coach was meet Dean Smith,” Robinson said. “He was very successful and had that great staff
Letter from the Editor
The world of statistics is both fascinating and annoying. While they don’t always tell the whole story they certainly indicate trends. In football, you can really accumulate statistics in just about any category your want: rushing first downs, third down passing accuracy, or forced turnovers. The NCAA has a total of 24 statistical categories that they update weekly for Division I-A, I-AA, II, and III. They range from Total Offense to Net Punt
Tuesday Morning Quarterback
Have another bowl of big ice cream. Make it a big one. Pour on some of that chocolate syrup, too. Have another fast-food cheeseburger. Make it a double cheeseburger, with extra cheese. And fries. Or better yet, onion rings. How about some fried chicken? How about more caffeine? Choose your poison: coffee or cola. How about a few too many beers? Maybe a few too many mixed drinks? Or perhaps a big dip of smokeless tobacco? Or a cigaret
The Secrets to Efficient Practices
“Whatever you accept (in practice) that’s what you’re going to get. If you accept lackadaisical performance or lack of effort, then you can be assured that’s what you’re going to get.” - Kansas State Head Coach Bill Snyder Richland (Fort Worth, Texas) head coach Gene Wier has a problem. “I’ve not had many good practices in my time,” he said humbly and with a chuckle. His six state championship rings beg to differ.
Take Advantage of the Blitz... Screen It
The Colorado School of Mines football program has earned the reputation for relying on the forward pass to move the ball offensively. Over the past four seasons, we have averaged 322.1 passing yards a game. The success that we’ve had throwing the ball has increased the amount of blitzes we see from the defense. We needed to develop other phases of our offense to make the blitz a high-risk endeavor for the opposing defenses. Two ph
Defensive Drills for Every team: Pursuit & turnovers
Sponsored by Rogers Athletic www.RogersAthletic.com As I talk to many coaches across the country, I have learned the #1 drill each defensive player must perform exceptionally is the Pursuit Drill. The main goal of the drill is to set the tone for everyone on the field to get to the football every play. Over the past months, I have reviewed game film from the past few years. I have been ama
Cover Story 10 Impact Stats To build a championship team. AFM has researched and ranked the top statistical categories t
Boise State\'s Defensive Line Run Technique
“The instant we recognize the blocking scheme we shed the block and either make a play or run to the ball.” - Romeo Bandison Between the 2002-2004 season, Boise State ranked in the top 25 at number 12, 15 and 13 in the final collegiate poll. In those three seasons, our defense has also been in the top 20 in the nation versus the run: #16 - 2002, #11 - 2003, and #10 - 2004. At Boise State we play a
Kentucky's Best Passing Game Drill
Football coaches often ask each other, "What is your best drill?" At the University of Kentucky, our best offensive drill is called Routes On Air. It is the cornerstone of how we teach and practice our pass offense with our quarterbacks, receivers, and running backs. One of the reasons that our staff was hired at the University of Kentucky was because of our pass-oriented offense. This same offense was very successful for us at Valdosta State and Iowa Wesleyan. At both schools,
Learning on the Job
The days immediately following the 1997 college football season weighed heavily on the head and shoulders of Mike DuBose. In his first season as Alabama's head coach, the Crimson Tide had slipped to a 4-7 record, only the second losing season at Alabama since Coach Paul "Bear Bryant" Bryant returned to Tuscaloosa after the 1957 season. Losing at arch-rival Auburn by one point in the final seconds was one thing. Losing to programs such as Louisiana Tech, Kentucky, Arkansas and M
Heartbreak in the Heartland
Not unlike like millions of fans, players, coaches, alumni and followers associated with what became known as the Big Red Machine, Frank Solich had no idea what a profound effect Tom Osborne would have on his life. In 1962 Solich was a fullback for Bob Devaney's Huskers, and a young assistant football coach named Tom Osborne was teaching classes on the side to help supplement his meager coaching stipend. Solich was enrolled in an educational psychology. Osborne was his i
Top 15 Advancements in Football Products & Services
Digital Editing Systems - Arguably the greatest advancement (in any sport) in the areas of scouting and teaching aids, digital editing systems give teams an unprecedented advantage in obtaining and presenting detailed information. The best part – the last several years has seen a drop in pricing. Artificial Turf - The one thing coaches preach to their players is the one thing that today’s grass-like artificial turf provides – consistenc
High School Strength and Conditioning
“But if I knew then what I know now, we might have won a few more championships.” - Mike Nitka In Indiana, basketball is king. Except at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis. Sure, the basketball teams have enjoyed modest success recently. But since 1984, the football program has won seven state championships, been nationally ranked three times, including a national championship in 1991. Strength coach Kevin Vanderbush is la
3 High School Programs - 3 Different Strategies for Success
They seem to be there every year. Like a leaf changing color in the fall or students grumbling about going back to class, the high school football elite return each season to reclaim their dominance. These high school powerhouses didn’t earn their reputations overnight. But how did these teams reach this unique place? What road takes a football program to the pinnacle and then keeps it there for season after season after season? Players change. Even coac
The Multiple Screen Passing Game
Various screen passes have been an important part of our multiple offensive attack at Iona College and all the other schools I have coached at (St. Joseph’s College, Morehead State University, Lehigh University and Fordham University) throughout my career. We have always emphasized the use of multiple formations, multiple personnel groupings, and a multi-dimensional offense that attacks the whole field and attempts to keep the defe
Feeder Frenzy
No one would have predicted it. No one in Elizabethtown, Ky., in 1998 and ‘99 would have looked at the seventh and eighth graders playing for T.K. Stone Middle School and guessed they would someday reach the 2003 state championship game as high school seniors. “I don’t remember their record but they were pretty much a .500 team in seventh and eighth grade,” former Elizabethtown High School coach Brett Burnett said. “But that was a group of
1/2 Block 1/2 Wall Return
\"Over the past four years our Punt Block team has been responsible for 18 blocks and 5 touchdowns.\" - Jay Sawvel It is certainly an honor to share some ideas regarding our Punt Block team. When we arrived at Southern Illinois University four years ago we felt that being aggressive on special teams served two main purposes: 1) in our early days at SIU we had to generate plays in the kicking game in order to be competitive, and 2)
Back to Basics
During the last three years, the Ponderosa football staff has committed itself to focusing on the fundamentals of defensive football. The first twenty minutes of every defensive practice are spent on either a team pursuit drill or a circuit. Our circuits are something we feel are unique and they have allowed us to emphasize the importance of executing basic football skills. Since the inception of this philosophy in 2001, we have amassed 53 inte
Redefining Murphy\'s Law
Harvard coach Tim Murphy is enjoying rare success despite dealing with handicaps many Division I coaches might bristle at facing. He works at the nation’s oldest college, one of the world’s elite educational institutions, so Murphy and his teams must live up to traditions nearly as old as America itself. He must also recruit student-athletes who can handle academic standards that might appear impossibly high. In addition, Murphy has zero athletic scholar
In Good Hands
PURPOSE: To increase the number of catches per day in a short time period. COACHING POINT: During each drill, the coach can emphasize the proper techniques he is teaching. Emphasis should be placed on stance, start, release, controlled run, stick and separate. Also very important is stem, quickness in and out of the break, proper route technique, steps (plant foot), body control and hand and eye coordination.
Five-Step Protection Scheme
At Olivet Nazarene University we base all of our passing philosophies on protecting the quarterback first. Our five-step passing game is based on three different protection schemes, the ability to have 7, 6, or 5 men to stay in and protect the passer. Which protection we use is not always based on formation, but rather we base our protection scheme on the needs of a particular route concept. Sometimes we will line up with two backs in the backfield. But a par
College Strength & Conditioning coach of the year
Mike Gentry has built a foundation of success in Virginia Tech’s weight room and is becoming a legend among his peers The weight room. You want to talk about the basics and building blocks of any football program, start with the weight room.That’s where the foundation is built. Players are in the weight room nearlyevery day, working on getting stronger, quicker, more flexible and more explosive.Mike Gentry, the director of strength and condi
High School Coach of the Year
For Southlake Carroll head coach Todd Dodge, the 2004 season brought intense pressure and the highest of expectations. With 11 returning starters from last year’s state runner-up team, including All-State quarterback Chase Daniel, the Dragons were not only the favorites in Texas but also in the nation. Yet, while a strong nucleus of players returned, six of Dodge’s eight coaches did not, including defensive coordinator Charlie Stalcup. He succumbed to a fiv
Running Back Routes in the Air Raid Offense
When you think of the “Air Raid” offense, the first thing that comes to mind is great quarterbacks and elusive receivers. Over the years this offense has generated a great deal of yardage through the air. A large portion of that comes from the involvement of our running backs. Our running backs play a vital part in our offense because they give us the opportunity to create mismatches with different defenders
Coach of the Year - A Season for the Ages
He knew it was over. Tommy Tuberville and his whole staff would soon be shown the door, despite four consecutive winning seasons, four bowl games and share of thee division titles in five seasons at Auburn University. One more game, against archrival Alabama, and they would all be out looking for new jobs. “I had already put in my application to be a greeter at Wal-Mart,” he would later joke. Laughter helped. Gallows
Can Your Quarterback Handle the Clock?
The topic of clock management can be one that is talked about a great deal in coaching meetings, but one that can be easily overlooked, especially in the overall preparation of the quarterback. I hope you will find the following information helpful in some way. Clock Management as defined is the QB’s ability to control the clock efficiently in all situations:, A. Dea
Disruptive Behavior
The old cliché “The Defense Wins Championships” is definitely true. I can also speak specifically to this after our team, the Pearl River Community College Wildcats, won the 2003 MACJC State Championship and the 2004 National Championship. Not only do I believe this defensive philosophy to be true and to work toward maintaining a defense that will produce champions, but any and all championship contenders must work on developing a defense that will keep th
Schutt Sports College Coaches of the Year
Tim Murphy Harvard Triumph – thy color is Crimson Tim Murphy choreographed every step of the way for Harvard, and he led his team to a 10-0 record – the first time since 1906 the team had recorded a double-digit victory total. Since replacing the well-respected Joe Restic in 1994, Murphy has led Harvard to four Ivy League titles in nine seasons, including two unbeaten and untied seasons.
The Staff Report
With the football season ending, you and the athletes you coach need to stay motivated in the off-season so your team can come out in spring practice running on all cylinders. In addition to staying motivated in the off-season, you do not have to wait until next season begins to start mental training. In fact, the off-season is a great time to work on your team’s mental skills. Most coaches will agree that talent alone is not enough for success and other inta
A Look Inside Coaches Office: Troy Morrell
AFM: What was it like the first time you stepped into your office knowing that you’re in charge of Auburn football? TT: When I first stepped into the office I was amazed at how large it was... it’s probably bigger than all the offices I’ve had as an assistant coach combined. It was built by Coach (Pat) Dye and the complex itself houses everything. With all the windows,
Multiplicity
In the world of offensive football, some coaches believe “the simpler the better.” They will use three to four formations per game, which will allow for the reduction of assignment errors by the players. However, the offense becomes limited in its options. Other coaches take the approach of creating personnel mismatches through multiple formations; they will enter a game with as many a 15 to 20 formations. The first step is to introduce your team to the bas
Letter from the Editor
An overall football budget includes a variety of items: equipment, field maintenance, health issues including doctors and a support staff, salaries for staff, travel, on-the-road meals, security, and a number of other factors. Obviously, the budget for a high school football team differs from that of a Junior College or Division I-A program. But more and more programs-at all levels-are including funding for the growth of a new position with the structure of the
Sterling College\'s - Principles of the 3-4 Defense
Every coaching staff in America has to have a starting point when they put together an offensive or defensive scheme. Our defense staff at Sterling College is committed to four main principles. First of all, we are committed to having our best eleven football players on the field. Secondly, we want to position players where they will be able to make plays by being deceptive. Thirdly, we want to be assignment proof. And, finally, we want to minimize the ability
5 Tips for Breaking Down Film
Every coach starts somewhere. Whether it the first year of freshman football in high school or on a Pop Warner team or in a coach’s meeting, most football coaches can remember the first time they started watching film. For Matt Kelchner, it started at home. Kelchner, head coach of Div. III Christopher Newport, still remembers seeing grainy football film for the first time. It was at home. His father, a college coach, would bring home a film projec
Unsung Hero
A week in the life of Tulsa’s video coordinator, Gabe Haney Good coordinators are vital to the success of any college football program. But if all you’re thinking about is the guys in charge of your offense and defense, then you’ve overlooked a key position. When time is tight and the stakes are high, you better make sure that you’ve got a top-flight video coordinator who can break down every bit of information about your opponent and your own team in
Football Video Technology:
When a football program is on the smaller scale, we have to imagine that when it comes time for budgeting, there are certain items that take precedent. Obviously, the team must be equipped with the proper tools: helmets, shoulder pads, shoes and those items necessary to outfit a college or high school football player. The next item that must take precedent is
Technology and Your Budget: Hints and Suggestions
NFL teams are spending millions on video technology and complex computer systems. Division I-A teams are spending hundreds of thousands on their own versions of the same technology. So what? What does that mean for NCAA Division II and III, NAIA, junior college and high school programs with limited budgets and resources? Do you find yourself at clinics and conventions walking right past the tech booths and ignoring the tech seminars, afraid you
2005 December 2005 Innovators of the option • From Scouting Report to Game Plan • True Football Speed • Quarterback Fundamentals November 2005 It Starts in the Trenches • Attacking Defenses with the Veer • 4 Technical Components of Punt Coverage • Teaching
Science & Common Sense
Systematic resistance training and conditioning has become accepted as a precursor to increased athletic success and an important component for reduction of athletic related injury. Nearly all high school and college football programs participate in some type of weight training, speed, agility and conditioning regimens. The football coach can find the available information relat
Strength in Numbers
Tommy Knotts Quarterbacks Coach, Duke Former Head Coach, Independence High School Charlotte, N.C. 2003 football team: Class 4A State Champions Whether it be a rigorous strength and conditioning program or an abundance of talented players such as Florida quarterback Chris Leak – most likely the two feed off each other – Tommy Knotts has mastered high school football in
Discipline & Confidence
Related Videos American Football Monthly now offers a full line of coaching videos. So, if you enjoyed this
Pride in the Work Place
Tommy Moffitt demands and gets results. He’s just not always there to see them. Moffitt, AFM’s Samson Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year, helped tighten up Tennessee as the Vol’s head associate strength and conditioning coach from 1994-97. In 1998, after Moffitt had accepted a position under Butch Davis at Miami, Tennessee upset Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl to capture the first BCS National Championship. Bad timing. Moffitt spent the next two y
Maximum Focus Maximum Results
Directly after Super Bowl XXXVIII, six parked buses sat out in front of the locker room area outside Reliant Stadium. Three for New England, three for Carolina. The Patriots had just won their second Super Bowl in three years. Adam Vinaterri’s 41-yard game-winning field goal capped off an exhausting fourth quarter that saw 37 points scored, 18 in the last three minutes. Carolina strength and condi
Football Speed
If you’re the fastest team on the field, great! If not, you have a problem. So let’s prevent that from happening. Sound easier said than done? Well, it’s easier than you think. In most cases, when a linebacker gets beat by a running back around the corner, we simply think the running back is just faster. But in more cases than not, the running back didn’t get around the corner because he had more speed;
Motivating Athletes in Your Strength Program
Ask any strength and conditioning coach to name their primary objective, and almost all will say motivation. In my experience as a strength and conditioning coach, the true foundation for optimal strength and conditioning is effort. And the major factor contributing to effort is motivation. Effort is the key to attaining the goals and objectives you have set as a coach for your program. In order for a c
Black Bear
Related Videos American Football Monthly now offers a full line of coaching videos. So, if you enjoyed this
Schutt Sports Regional High School Coaches of the Year
West Regional Tom Joseph Mountain View HS (Mesa, Az.) 2003: 13-1, 5A East Valley Regional Finalist Record at school: 27-1, 2 years Career record: 94-40 Tom Joseph’s Mountain View High School football program has established an incredible tradition. In the 25-year history of the school, Mountain View has won eight state ch
Leading the Charge
Every college football head coaching job is tough in its own way. Every job presents its own trials, its own pressures. For Miami (Ohio) coach Terry Hoeppner, some of the most unique and heavy challenges in the history of college football surround him and try to stare him down every day. Every college football head coach has an office, too. None of them are like Hoeppner’s office complex. His place of work is
Sharing Information Just Became Easier
For nearly a decade, thanks in many ways to publications like American Football Monthly, technology in football has become the norm rather than the exception. Every major football program, college or pro, has relied heavily on the latest forms of capturing, editing and exchanging video to enhance its ability to compete both on and off the field. Yet, very few football programs have the mega-million dollar budgets of major college football – much less t
Schutt Sports National High School Coach of the Year
Pictures Perfect
To find out something about Kelly Donohoe, the coach, all one needs to do is examine his record the past four years at Blue Springs High School. Under Donohoe’s direction, the Wildcats have gone 45-5 with two perfect seasons and a pair of Class 6 state championships. To find out about Kelly Donohoe, the man, spend an afternoon at his fashionable Eastern Jackson County home and watch him interact with his wife Jennifer, his high school sweethea
Rodeo Circuit
Related Videos American Football Monthly now offers a full line of coaching videos. So, if you enjoyed this
3-5-3
It seems like the phone never stops ringing at Georgia Military College. Since installing a new defense in 2001, the small college in Milledgeville, Ga., has become the de facto expert on the subject. And it seems that the more people hear about the 3-5-3 defensive scheme that they run, the more the phone keeps ringing, with coaches from high schools to colleges trying to find out GMC’s secret. “I can’t beg
Finishing Strong
We’ve reached the midpoint of the season. You spent your spring and much of the summer training your players, evaluating up and coming talent, and refining your game plan – adding a few wrinkles that you picked up from the pages of American Football Monthly and coaching clinics you might have attended. The end of summer marked the beginning of the football season with the introduction
A Dramatic Jump
It’s not supposed to be this easy. Teams simply cannot make the jump from Division I-AA to D I-A and immediately be competitive. The talent, the depth, it just isn’t there. Division I-A has the SEC, the ACC, the PAC-10 and the Big 12. That’s where the athletes are. That’s where the good teams are. Not in Maine, Delaware... or Connecticut? The game is ‘a-changing.’ The o
6 Issues That May Be Effecting You
In the early part of the 20th century, there was a loud hue and cry to ban football. The game was violent, dangerous and apparently out of control. President Teddy Roosevelt had decided it was a brutal activity. There had been many deaths in one year. Football coaches who would soon find themselves out of a job took it upon themselves to clean up the game and make it acceptable. They rewrote the rules, got rid of the flying wedge – a syst
Cover Story Coach Searches: Making the Right Fit By David Srinivas
Maximizing Player Performance
Coaches don’t need as much reminding these days. The summer of 2001 brought heat-related football illnesses to the forefront. The death of the Minnesota Vikings’ Korey Stringer in 2001 brought a rash of media attention to the issue of staying cool during football training camp. It was indicative of a larger issue – from 1960 to 1998, there have been 91 documented heatstroke deaths related to football. When the story became national news,
510 And Counting
For the Record John McKissick’s Record as head coach at Summerville High School: 1952-2003
A Coach\'s Perspective: How to Deal with Kids
You can make a significant mark if you put 40-plus years in the coaching business. And Pat Collins certainly hasn’t been cheated during a career that began in 1963. Collins’ experiences have been many and varied – he has coached in high school, college and the pros. He was an assistant at Louisiana Tech when a sophomore named Terry Bradshaw was tearing up the college ranks. Collins won a Division I-AA championship as head coach at Northeast Lou
Making the Jump
You ask Tommy Knotts why he decided to leave his job as head coach of one of the most dominant high school programs in America for an assistant’s job at a college football program. You wonder how he could leave Independence High School in Charlotte, N.C., where his teams have won 62-straight games, the second-best mark in the country. You assume it’s because of some major life-changing event. Was
Under Pressure
Before I begin, I would like to thank the people at American Football Monthly for giving me this opportunity. I also owe Coach Dirk Koetter and Coach Brent Guy thanks for allowing me to represent our staff in these pages. These are some concepts we believe in at Arizona State. Hopefully, there are a few things you can use with your players as well. You
Industry Watch
There has been much advancement in the game and profession of football throughout its history – advancements such as the forward pass, film study and television. Today, football is currently experiencing one of its greatest advancements in one area of the sport. Walk into any football facility at any level and you’ll see products that you would have never seen just a decade ago. It’s not uncommon to see a digital video
The Long Red Line
As football coaches, we have all heard the theory that the difference between winning and losing close games often comes down to special teams play. At Monmouth College, we believe sound execution, communication and efficiency in the kicking game are the cornerstones for success. Special teams demand a great deal of preparation, organization and attention to detail. Philosop
If at First You Don\'t Succeed
One nasty defeat gnawed away at Kirk Ferentz’s gut for a full year. When Iowa rolled through the Big Ten schedule in 2002 and won eight straight games without a loss, it was one of the top stories in college football. Ferentz, then in his fourth season as head coach of the Hawkeyes, figured his team would be competitive in the Big Ten, but critics saw them as a middle of the pack team. With mobile Brad Banks at
Randy Shannon
Ray Lewis, Phillip Buchanon, Ed Reed, Duane Starks, Warren Sapp, Vince Wilfork, Sean Taylor, Jonathon Vilma ... the list goes on and on ... and on and on. Clearly, the University of Miami wins because of one reason – talent. Actually, there are 36 reasons, as in 36 NFL first-round draft picks since 1984, the most of any college or university. With all that talent, Sebastian, the ‘Canes mascot, might as
Stepping Out of the Shadows
When George Lumpkin was a young assistant coach at Hawaii, he worked alongside an assistant with big hopes and dreams for his career. That assistant started at Kent State, moved to Hawaii, made stops at San Jose State, Cal, Tennessee and Ohio State before finally moving on to an extended pro football career. Lumpkin and his friend kept in touch and he even visited him professionally over the years, tapping into his friend’s
Letter From the Publisher
Quick. Pick a legendary head coach that you most respect from football’s past or present – it could be Rockne, Bryant, Osborne, Paterno, Bowden, Gagliardi, Robinson, McKissick – anyone. Now guess the one thing that you have in common with your choice. Wins? Probably not. Championships? Keep working at it. Longevity? Let’s give it a few more years. How about this – aside from the passion for the game and profession of football, they wer
Crunch Time
Diagram 1. Diagram 2.
Rushing Ahead
Over the past five years we have had quarterbacks who have been 6-foot-1 or less. For this reason we have been in the shotgun a considerable amount of the time. We wanted to have threats with plays other than the passing game. We have been good throwing the ball but we needed more. We are always trying to gain yards but we also want to eliminate the negative yardage plays.
Maximizing Player Performance
It’s the summer of 2003, and the Oklahoma Sooners football team doesn’t have much to complain about. The squad is ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press and the ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Preseason Poll, and the Sooners are enjoying the return to national prominence brought upon by coach Bob Stoops and his dominating defense. The team is preparing for a season that would see it lose the National Championsh
The Next Level
There’s nothing obvious about Gary Patterson’s background that would suggest he could be one of the nation’s hottest college football coaches. There’s nothing that stands out on a life resume that starts with growing up in a small Kansas town, playing Juco ball on an academic scholarship, walking on and playing special teams for a perennial college football loser, coaching at places most college foo
Keeping Drives Alive: Effective Third Down Game Planning
At Western Michigan University, we utilize a multi-faceted approach when it comes time to game plan third down. It is a cooperative effort, involving all of the members of the offensive staff and the head coach. Before any meaningful discussion on third downs takes place, you must develop the down and distance parameters that will guide you through your game planning. We have two general categories, run situatio
Fired Up?
As the new football season arrives, coaches around the nation are preparing for the tasks and challenges they will soon face when the 2004-2005 football season gets into full swing. However, nothing ever goes just as planned or scripted in any coach’s playbook and that’s why coaches, just as the athletes I work with on the mental game, need to develop strategies to deal with the myriad of responsibiliti
His Own Man
Delaware’s K.C. Keeler doesn’t have many bad days. And since his return to his alma mater in 2002, neither have the Blue Hens. “I’ve never seen him in a bad mood,” said Mike Corey, co-host of the “K.C. Keeler Show” on 94.7 FM, the River. “Even if he is having a bad day, you would never be able to tell it.” Maybe that’s because, these days in Newark, Del., there’s
Attention! Forward March!
No one is more excited about the upcoming season than Bobby Ross. And, yes, he knows all about his new team’s recent struggles. “I still have the energy so I might as well use it,” says the 67-year-old head coach, who received the nation’s longest losing streak as a welcome back gift. Ross became the 34th head football coach at the United States Military Academy in December. He returns to the sidelines
LSU
It is an honor to represent Coach Nick Saban and the entire LSU football program, and to share some thoughts on our organizational structure that we feel are paramount to having consistent and productive special teams play. Almost every program claims that they are committed to special teams, but as Coach Saban constantly reminds us, “Your actions speak so loud I cannot hear what you say.” At LSU, we fe
Open Door Policy
With this issue, American Football Monthly begins a new section of the magazine entitled Open Door Policy... it’s an inside look at the office of a head football coach. But not just the inner-workings of a day in the life of a coach, but what goes on behind the scenes; that is, the good, the bad, and the unusual. It’s an intimate look inside a coach’s den.... Our first Open Door
3-Step Passing Game
It is my pleasure to share with you the cornerstone of our offense at Blinn College which is our 3-step passing series. This series has been the foundation of our offense and helped us be very successful as an offensive unit. During the past two seasons we have completed 73% of our 3-step passes and averaged 12.2 yards per completion using this series. At Blinn College
Trojan Pride
It’s clear to me that I want to put together a program that can win on a consistent basis and compete for championships year in and year out. This is a grand opportunity here,” a proud Pete Carroll said early this summer during a break at his football camp on the University of Southern California campus in Los Angeles. “USC has all the elements you need for a championship program.” Coach Ca
Zone Read
The theory behind the Zone Read Play: • Simple in its’ scheme • Can be run to the TE or SE side • Can be used out of a one or two back set • May be run out of a variety of formations • Offensive line does not need to be overpowering to be effective
So You Want to be a Video Coordinator
“There aren’t too many positions available-there are 117 in Division I, 32 in NFL, and that’s it. (Smaller) schools usually don’t have enough money. It’s an extremely important position, but you’ve got to provide a decent product. Some schools provide terrible video. “There are chances to get into a job like this, but it’s tough to crack into (the business). You can’t go to school to be a video coordinator.
Leaps and Bounds
Marshall’s Brad Helton refers to him as “The Godfather of Video Coordinators.” But like most of his colleagues, UCLA’s Ken Norris is a cipher unless you are intimately familiar with his work. Over the years, Norris has worked with and for a number of football giants – men such as George Allen, Terry Donahue, John Robinson and Norv Turner. Norris has been a big help to the coaches for whom he has worked. But like all good video c
Coach Potatoes
More than 83,000 Crimson Tide fans just got real excited. They were packed in Bryant-Denny stadium to see the first ever No. 1 team visit Tuscaloosa. Alabama had just capped off a six-play, 80-yard drive with a Brodie Croyle 20-yard touchdown pass to Triandos Luke, cutting top-ranked Oklahoma’s lead to 13-10 midway through the third quarter. With the momentum clearly on their side, ‘Bama’s defense forced th
Letter From the Publisher
In the five years that we’ve been publishing American Football Monthly’s annual Technology issue, we’ve seen many advances in the various software and hardware designed specifically for football. Today’s technology allows coaches to merge diagrams and video together in presentation formats, trade game film over the Internet, introduce DVD options for film quality, track the frame-by-frame movements
In the Eyes of the Beholder
It’s been about fifteen years since video tape has come into the world of college and high school football. It has imparted many changes on the way coaches do business. Film was the format of the day. It was a great format with a few important exceptions. It was not easy to work with, attested by the phrase cut-up as in actually cutting it up to get what you wanted. It was not an easy process to get the final product as it had to be sent out for proce
Spotlight
Pat Coleman, KC Keeler, Steve Pohl Pat Coleman Publisher & Editor, D3Football.com Why You Should Know Him: Pat Coleman has been following Division III football since the early 90s, ever since the likes of Duquesne, Iona and Georgetown played D-III. He is a 1994 g
Cover Story Leaps & Bounds: UCLA’s Video Coordinator Ken Norris - So You Want to be a Video Coordinator: UCLA’s Ken Norris on the position By David Srinivasan
The Mental Game
This article looks at ways that instructional technology and principles can be used to improve the mental performance of your football players. The focus is on decision-making. That breaks down into a player’s ability to recognize an opponent’s actions, to know his team’s schemes and his individual assignments, and to choose the correct response. It does not include executing the response. Coaches spe
The Use of Formations to Gain an Advantage
Garrison High School has a long tradition of a winning football program. We have been in the playoffs 28 times and won 22 district championships. This was the first time in my coaching career that I had taken over a program that had a winning tradition and the opportunity was there to make a good program great instead of trying to turn an unsuccessful program into a winning program. I was hired in July of 1999 an
Learning Curve
Mark Hudspeth has not wasted any time traveling down his career path. Yet, at each stop along the way – some more rocky than others – he has made sure to slow down, take his time and learn. “I think it’s very important to focus on the job at hand,” says Hudspeth, now in his third year as head coach at Division II North Alabama. “Concentrate on where you are at and where you are working. Sometimes guys are too busy looking for t
From Gloom To Glory
Here’s a warning: like every season, this story starts with a test. You thought you were done with those when you finished college, huh? Well at least it’s a multiple choice test, so you can always make an educated guess. Question 1: When your team slips in September and loses a game or two (or three), you: 1. Call all your coaching connections and start looking for another
Sunshine State of Mind
The state of Florida produces over 80 percent of the United States’ supply of citrus. Every year, the Sunshine State sells roughly $4 billion worth of oranges, tangerines, pineapples and other goods grown within its borders. About $3.5 billion worth of orange juice is exported from Florida to the rest of the country – and world – every year. As dominant as the citrus business is in the state of Florida, th
Three-Step Pass Protection
The Doane College football program has an historically successful tradition. Over the past 20 years Doane College has competed in the national playoffs during the 1980’s and 1990’s (last appearance in 1999), and has proven the test of time with consistency by accumulating a .603 winning percentage. We run the “West Coast Offense” at Doane College. Our offensive philosophy is a balanced attack that u
Mean Green
As much as any other coach in the country, Darrell Dickey, the persevering and successful head football coach at the University of North Texas, lives with the reality of college athletics, where aspiring football programs like his, are locked on a collision course with 21st century fiscal reality. “We have an athletic department that’s really struggling for money, so we have to play a very demanding sch
Rebirth of the \'Blue Death\'
Family. Above all else, the one element that most contributed to our success as a team and as a defensive unit was a family atmosphere brought to the program in the Spring of 2003 by our head coach, George Small. More important than the success experienced on the football field was the way that kinship maintained us as we endured the passing of one of our young and most talented
Family Values
“My door is open. 24-7,” says the University of Arizona’s new 42-year old football coach Mike Stoops. It’s the first policy Stoops instituted when he became the 28th coach in the 104 year history of football on the Tucson campus last November 29th. Stoops’ declaration signaled the start of give-and-take between players and coaches, a family-like feeling at a place crying for it. It’s a rare concept in the big business-like atmo
An Alabama Legend
If you seek success akin to that of Hoover (Ala.) High School’s Rush Propst, there’s a simple formula you can follow: • Start from the bottom and work your way up – paying attention to detail not salary. • Make plenty of friends in the business, and stay in touch – frequently. • Understand your limitations. • Al
Bridging the Generation Gap
77, 77, 68, 74, 67, hut? No, it’s not some ill-fated snap count devoted to offensive linemen. Instead, those are the ages of some of the most respected coaches in the business. Men like John Gagliardi of St. John’s (Minn.) University, Dick Vermeil of the Kansas City Chiefs, Joe Paterno of Penn State, Bobby Bowden of Florida State and Lou Holtz of South Carolina. There’s no doubt about the track record of these men as all are championship-level coache
An Eagle Among Us
At what point do the perceptions disappear and give way to reality? At what point do people in the football business, as well as the media and the fans, stop looking at the outside, at the skin color, at the last name, at the perception that his place in the world must be the result of a handout, a favor or a quota? What would it take to change the assumptions and move on to the facts? Would a man have
Air Raid Offense
When you think of the “Air Raid” offense, the first thing that comes to mind is great quarterbacks and elusive receivers. Over the years this offense has generated a great deal of yardage through the air. A large portion of that comes from the involvement of our running backs. Our running backs play a vital part in our offense because they give us the opportunity to create mismatches with differen
Getting the Most Out of a Football Clinic
It’s been a good but not great season. A 6-4 record was good enough to finish in second place in the division, but not good enough to earn a spot in the postseason playoffs. The year has been strangely similar to last year and the year before. It seems that a rut has developed and your team is stuck in it. That’s not all bad since there has been a lot of winning - but not en
Scorching the Defense
>Scott Maxfield is confident, maybe even a little cocky. Running his no-huddle spread offense at Blinn College, he deserves to be. After leading the nation with 558.7 yards per game at the junior college level last season, you get the impression that Maxfield’s Buccaneers can move the ball at will. In fact, he’ll come close to telling you that himself. “It doesn’t matter
The Spread Shot-Wing Offense
For years, we were a basic Delaware Wing T football team. We had great success with it, using the 3 basic series (buck sweep/trap; belly/down and power) and mixing in a good dose of play action and 3 step drop-back passes to keep defenses honest. But four years ago we started a 15 year old freshman at quarterback whom we knew was going to be somebody special as far as throwing the football before he g
No Huddle? More Chances
In 2002 the Lambuth University Eagles went 6-4 and averaged 55 snaps per game. During the spring of 2003 we put in the no-huddle offense. Our general offensive scheme did not change, just the tempo at which we ran the plays. In the 2003 season we increased our snaps per game to 70 and improved our overall record to 9-3, won a conference championship, and a trip to the playoffs. This is roughly a 27% i
Inside The Hornet\'s Nest
As coaches we are always looking for a new idea or concept that agrees with our own personal offensive or defensive philosophy. When it comes to seeking out new information, I am no exception. An article that captured my attention was featured under AFM’s old name, American Football Quarterly, entitled, “High-flying Hornets” (Volume 4, 1st Quarter). The article focused on current Texas State University-San Marcos (formerly Southwest Texas
High School Scouting
It’s Wednesday night, and for Salt Fork coach Brian Plotner and his linebackers and defensive backs, that means film night. Every Wednesday during the season, that group meets at the home of a player or coach to learn more about its next opponent. “They pick up on tendencies,” said Plotner. “They re-familiarize themselves with the formations they’ve seen in practice. “Sometimes they pick up on things I didn’t see by looking at it from a differ
The Last Rep
Practice scheduling is becoming more important with every season that passes, so American Football Monthly recently sat down with six of the top head coaches from around the country to get their thoughts on some of the major issues concerning their industry. What is a coach’s mindset entering a new season? “Coaches in Division III are at a disadvantage because we
Miles Apart
Respect: What does it take to get a little? Last season, playing in arguably one of the toughest divisions in all of sports – the Big 12 South – the Oklahoma State Cowboys posted W’s in six of their last seven, including a pair of wins large enough to end the careers of two sets of goal posts at Lewis Field in Stillwater, Okla. But despite beating Nebraska for the first time in 41-years; and despite e
Maximizing Player Performance
Every year in the month of August thousands of coaches from around the country prepare their players for yet another season of football. And every year thousands of football players are at risk of succumbing to the threat of heat illness linked to dehydration. In recent years several athletes from high school to the professional ranks have died from heat stroke, causing many to take a closer look at the importance of proper cooling and hydration techniques f
Helmet Fitting: The Perfect Fit
In today’s environment, a Football Coach must be proficient at more than organizing practices and teaching football skills. He must not only coach the football team, he must run the football program. This entails selecting, ordering, sizing, issuing and fitting the protective equipment. The proper fitting of helmets can be a time-consuming process, however, it is very critical to a properly run football p
Special Forces
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The Way It Used To Be
If there is one constant, it is that there are no constants. Over time, everything changes and nothing remains quite the same. Never is this more evident than in the profession of coaching college football. American Football Monthly recently sat down with a few of the game’s greatest coaches for a peek inside the ever-changing world of college football. From their first
Two-A-Day Recommendations
The key to a successful two-a-day training regime is full awareness of dangers, appropriate planning and preventive measures. The following tips could help your athletes get the most out of two-a-day practice while remaining safe: Plan every minute of two-a-days carefully and stick to your plan. Be sensitive to varying factors of heat, humidity, tempo of practic
Where There\'s Smoke There\'s Fire
Every year certain coaches separate from the pack … and this year will be no exception. Whether they are relative newcomers or wily veterans, these coaches are the future of high school, college and professional football. With the help of some of the top sports writers and football experts in the nation, American Football Monthly has compiled a list of coaches that it believes will make such an impact in
Coaching the Player
I appreciate the opportunity to share my thoughts concerning coaching the player. As you well know, the hub of your program is the players and the effective job you do in coaching them. I. Coaching – Teaching and Parenting II. Challenge of Coaching (raise his self image) A. Making each player the best he can be. Total Person – student, player and person.B. It starts w
My Three Sons
In Bill Mallory’s Bloomington, Ind., office, there is a picture hanging on the wall of the former coach celebrating on top of his team’s shoulders. Like all good pictures, there’s a story behind this one, and it reflects what family and football is all about. In 1987, Mallory, in his fourth year as head football coach at Indiana, had his team off to a 5-1 start, and with wins over Ohio State, Northwestern and Minnesota,
Making a Point
Over midway through the 2003 season in which he has a team potentially bound for Florida state championship hardware again, there probably aren’t many prep coaches who wouldn’t want to be in the shoes of Palm Bay’s Dan Burke, who considers himself one of the luckiest in the business. Burke, with his team on the radar of the USA Today top 10 all season long and a nationally televised game on The Football Network, has buil
Hired! Now What?
Last month, American Football Monthly gathered a panel of experts to give you the tools you need to get your next job in part one of a two-part series focused on career management. AFM discussed everything from networking, resumes, interview skills, salary negotiations, coaching agents and dealing with the media. This month, AFM pulls out all the stops in part two as we show
OSU: Defensive Fundamentals
Two basic defensive fundamentals that we teach at Oklahoma State are 1) How to defeat a block and 2) Pursuit angles to the football. Both fundamentals are key to the success of any defense. In order for a player to be productive, he must first get himself in position to make the play. Defeating a block The first block sequence that we teach is how to defeat a base block. The progres
Letter From the Editor
With a 29-26 come-from-behind victory over then-No. 10 Bethel College (Minn.), John Gagliardi of St. John’s University (Minn.) surpassed Eddie Robinson to become college football’s all-time winningest coach with 409 wins. The 77-year-old Gagliardi, who has coached at St. John’s (Minn.) for 51 seasons, has averaged eight wins a year in his 55 years as a head coach. Grambling State’s Eddie Robinson averaged seven wins
Stepping Into Retirement
Forget about Bob Stoops, Jim Tressell and Larry Coker. The best college football coaches in America are the former coaches who show up when they want to at home football games, sit in their suites or club level seats surrounded by family and friends and thank the football gods that they no longer have to sweat the outcome. There’s nothing like retirement to make a head coach the second most popular guy in tow
Starting From Scratch
No matter what level of football you’re coaching or playing, it’s hard enough to maintain a successful program these days. From high school to Division I to even the NFL, there are budgets, injuries, ever-growing parity with technology and those inevitable peaks and valleys. That’s talking about established programs. What’s it like to try to create all of those things programs strive for: fans, top-tier
Avoiding Major Mistakes in the Interview Process
Networking: Make the Most of Every Opportunity
Steppin\' Out
Former coach and forever Grambling State legend Eddie Robinson doesn’t come on campus as much these days. Maybe it’s because, at 84-years wise, Coach Robinson’s sideline agility isn’t what it used to be. Winning 408 football games will do that to you. Or maybe it’s because he’s satisfied, knowing that a budding superstar has filled his giant shoes, which were left behind upon college football’s all-time winning
Tiger Attack
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Etched In Stone
Perhaps Super Bowl-winning head coach Jon Gruden, of Tampa Bay, said it best when describing the profession of coaching when he told American Football Monthly, “Coaches are like offensive linemen, you don’t hear much about them unless they are in the transactions section changing jobs.” Unfortunately that is sometimes the case, but the fact remains that coaching is still one of the most rewarding
The Way It Used To Be
If there is one constant, it is that there are no constants. Over time, everything changes and nothing remains quite the same. Never is this more evident than in the profession of coaching college football. American Football Monthly recently sat down with a few of the game’s greatest coaches for a peek inside the ever-changing world of college football. From their fi
Goin\' Up
It would be so easy to say it’s all the head coach. Take a look at his success, his overall record, his impact on the program and the fact that seven of his assistant coaches have left the program in the past three years and moved on to higher levels of college football and the program hasn’t skipped a beat, and it’s easy to say the head coach must be the reason. But what about the university? The tradition
Cover Story Resurrection - Hal Mumme and Woody Widenhofer return to football to revive Southeastern Louisiana football and their careers. Read the complete article >>> April 2003 Staff Meeting
Attacking the Blitz Defense
Related Videos American Football Monthly now offers a full line of coaching videos. So, if you enjoyed this clin
The Last Rep
The strength and conditioning industry has gone from being an afterthought in most football programs to being the cornerstone of any championship foundation in just the past 20 years. Men like Kim Wood, Boyd Epley, Dan Riley, Joe Juraszek and John Dunn have carved a path of knowledge and success – sometimes thru trial-and-error – for all those to follow.
Training Mr. Everything
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Making \"Quality\" a Priority
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Maximizing Player Performance
Presented by Gatorade Sports Science Institute By their very nature, football coaches are always looking for the latest drills to teach championship-winning techniques, for the best strategy for goal-
The Way It Used To Be
If there is one constant, it is that there are no constants. Over time, everything changes and nothing remains quite the same. Never is this more evident than in the profession of coaching college football. American Football Monthly recently sat down with a few of the game’s greatest coaches for a peek inside the ever-changing world of college football. From their first job t
Throwback
Attention all coaches: Think conditions are tough where you are? Try taking a group of talented, but often-immature, teenagers and transforming them into not only Division-I football players, but also into NCAA-caliber students. Oh by the way, you have only two years to do it. Seems like an impossible mission – for the average coach. Luckily for 24 Georgia Military Bulldogs, who, in the last three years, hav
Using The Inside Screen as a Weapon
It is an honor to have the opportunity to be a part of what I feel is the best football publication in the world. I have had the chance to read American Football Monthly religiously in my collegiate coaching career. I will be a first-year offensive coordinator at Marietta College. I came from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where I began coaching tight ends as a graduate assistant and eventually became an offensive line coach. I have
In Your Face and Aggressive!
In order to be successful against today’s high-powered offenses, and all the skilled personnel they can throw at you, defensive backs must possess incredible physical talent and mental tools. They must be able to run with the fastest, jump with the highest and hit with the hardest. In addition, they must have very selective memories, be without conscience and have no guilt or remorse. Their abilities and
Full Circle
Coaching didn’t appear to be in the cards for Sam Wyche when he took his bonus money from playing in Super Bowl VII with the Washington Redskins and invested in a sporting goods business. Legendary NFL coach and owner Paul Brown had already told Wyche, a career backup quarterback, that he would be a coach someday, but Wyche’s original investment took off and soon grew to 13 retail and wholesale stores in North and South Carolina.
The Last Rep
Although playing both ways is very rare in college and professional football, coaches are often forced by need to utilize two-way athletes to increase their team’s odds of success. American Football Monthly recently sat down with six of the top college position coaches in the nation that have experience in working with two-way athletes. How do you prepare a two-way a
The Way It Used To Be
If there is one constant, it is that there are no constants. Over time, everything changes and nothing remains quite the same. Never is this more evident than in the profession of coaching football. American Football Monthly recently sat down with a few of the game’s greatest coaches for a peek inside the ever-changing world of football. From their first job to their last, their first championship season to their f
LSU\'s Offensive Line Drills
First of all I would like to say it is an honor to be able to represent head coach Nick Saban and the LSU football staff in American Football Monthly. As coaches we know the game is always changing, but some things never change. You must know fundamentals, you must be able to block and tackle. There are many ways to skin a cat but these are some of the basic fundamentals that we “hang our hat”
Dominate 4th Down
Starting a program from scratch in 2000 brought enormous challenges for the coaching staff at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas. One key foundational element that allowed us to challenge the best teams on our schedule in such a short period of time was the commitment to be productive offensively on fourth down. Field position gained by effective punting has become a trademark of ETBU fo
The Right Way
Unlike the NFL, where free agency allows a team to upgrade its roster yearly, rebuilding a struggling college team can be a long, grueling process, usually filled with defeat and frustration. However, a successful resurrection can be one of the most gratifying, fullilling and respected accomplishments of a coach’s career. Before Bill Snyder took over at Kansas
The Last Rep
Practice scheduling is becoming more important with every season that passes, so American Football Monthly recently sat down with six of the top coaches from around the country to get their thoughts on some of the major issues concerning two-a-days and pre-season preparation. How do you get yourself and your players prepared for two-a-days? “More than anything, I
The Home Team
8 Tips In an effort to keep football coaches on good terms with their significant others, AFM has compiled these eight tips to help you maintain balance between career and family: 1) Pick Up the Phone - That’s right, call. Your wife understands the demands of your job, but at least pick
Pressure Points
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Focus the man behind the camera
Nearly nine years after the fact, Brad Helton can finally admit it. When he became Marshall’s video coordinator in 1995, Helton re-wired his entire office area. “That way the coaches couldn’t even come in here and make a tape,” Helton says, laughing. “At the time, I didn’t know how many programs even had video coordinators or how many people were doing it or what they were doing it with, so I did it for job security. I figured
Technology Game Plan
The arrival of spring means that spring football has begun at many college campuses across the country. Springtime also provides coaches the opportunity to visit other coaching staffs and observe their practice routines. In Texas, high school coaches especially like to take this opportunity to visit with area college staffs. Its during these times that visiting high school coaches ask me to offer my thoughts on
Film School
I started in 1992 as graduate assistant in the football video department at the University of Illinois. Prior to that I had no idea what went in to preparing for a football game. In 1996, I became the video coordinator here at the University of Oregon where I have spent the last seven seasons. Aside from trying to explain to my friends what I actually do, and convince my Mom and Dad that I ca
Outline for Technology Game-planning
With the growth of technology in football and the ever-increasing demands on coaches’ time game planning and scheduling has become even more important providing the foundation for a successful football program. This is an outline of the weekly schedule we use at Fordham University for offensive game planning. The outline also highlights the manner technology makes our film study either more efficient or allows us to study
The Staff Report
Career: 8 Guidlines for the High School Assistant Coach So you dream of becoming the head coach someday? Well, there are a few things you need to know and do that will help you earn that dream job you’ve been looking for. Anyone who wants to be a successful assistant coach and eventually a successful head coach must have certain qualities that set them
Everybody\'s All-American
Coker\'s 24-Game Winning Streak 2001 (12-0) Miami 33, Penn State 7 Miami 61, Rutgers 0 Miami 43, Pittsburgh 21 Miami 38, Troy State 7
Northwestern\'s Academic Game Plan
High School Coaches The foundation for successful college football student-athletes is laid by the high school coach. Whether the player goes on to play college bal
One Day at a Time
Bob Ladouceur has always had a good feel for football, a good sense of spacing. “I think I’ve always been able to see the whole field pretty well,” he said. This, in part, explains why the unpretentious, self-effacing De La Salle High of Concord, Calif., coach has never worn headsets or never been one to scream or holler. He’s
The Way It Used To Be
If there is one constant, it is that there are no constants. Over time, everything changes and nothing remains quite the same. Never is this more evident than in the profession of coaching college football. American Football Monthly recently sat down with a few of the game’s greatest coaches for a peek inside the ever-changing world of college football. From their first job t
Solid Ground
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unCommon Ground
At this moment, it’s probably rainy in Juneau, Alaska, sunny and hot in Key West, Fla., hot and humid in El Paso, Texas, and dry and windy in Howells, Neb. In The Bronx, it’s doing whatever New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner says it’s doing. OK, just kidding. But we’re not kidding about this: in these five culturally, socially and economically diverse areas, some
Gold Rush
In 1969, a 22-year-old college student, nine credit hours shy of graduating, accepted an offer to become the head football coach at John Curtis Christian High School – the school his father, John Curtis Sr., had founded eight years earlier in River Ridge, La. It was a dream come true for the young coach, and he eagerly arrived that summer to meet with players and organize a weight program. The summer wound down, and on the first day of pract
The History of the Wing-T
It is an honor to have the opportunity to write this article and especially since the article deals with a topic as dear to my heart as the wing-t. In my 33 years of coaching I have seen many different cycles of football but the wing-t has remained a fixture since the time before I played and throughout my time as a player and a coach. I am sure that it will continue to be a very popular system long
A Cyclone of a Secondary
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Elevation
Jenks or jinx, nothing could stop Bill Blankenship’s Tulsa Union team from running the table in 2002 for the school’s elusive first state championship in 11 seasons under his leadership. A 52-3 thrashing of Broken Arrow stifled any chuckles about Blankenship and his veteran staff not being able to win the big one and validates what has been one of high school football’s better-kept secrets outside of the Sooner State.
Undersized? No Problem
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Letter From the Editor
You know, I have been fortunate to meet some of the best people that the football industry has to offer, establish some longlasting relationships and have the opportunity to hear some pretty fantastic stories along the way. One of my new favorite stories, which – depending on who asks me and when – changes daily, was a story told to me by Tommy Condell, the offensive coordinator at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
Maximizing Player Performance
Presented by Gatorade Sports Science Institute It has been more than a year since the death of Korey Stringer,
Getting Footballs Game Ready
It doesn’t matter whether you purchase a dozen footballs at a time or 244 like Auburn equipment manager Frank Cox has each of the last five seasons. Once they are delivered, these footballs have to be made game ready. While you could simply throw the footballs out of the shipper’s box and into your players’ hands, there are a few guidelines you may wish to follow. While routines vary from program to program and even season to
The Last Rep
Practice scheduling is becoming more important with every season that passes, so American Football Monthly recently sat down with six of the top head coaches from around the country to get their thoughts on some of the major issues concerning their industry. How important is practice scheduling? “Practice is the most important time that you have. T
Simple Formations Take Advantage of Complex Defenses
J.T. Curtis’ offense isn’t complicated. Rarely will the Patriots line up in anything but the basic pro set. And you know what is coming – the veer option. Yet, for 28 years, teams have had trouble stopping it. Since 1975 – the first year Curtis utilized the split-back veer – the Patriots have reached the championship game 22 times, winning 18 titles. Since 1977, they have lost only two district games. The Patriots made 10 consecutive appearances in t
Cover Story Gold Rush: J.T. Curtis In his 33 years as head coach, J.T. Curtis has brought John Curtis Christian High School’s trophy case a national record 18 gold footballs. And counting... By David Purdum A TV Star too
How to Lose a Game
Every coach has that call he’d like to have back. It might be that defensive set on that goal-line stand that gave up the go-ahead score on third-and-goal from the five. Or that time he passed three times from inside his own 10 leading with less than two minutes left in game. If he’s lucky, maybe it’s one or two a season. Tulsa Union coach Bill Blankenship knows his share about losing, even though he hasn’t done that much of i
Counter Attack
The past two seasons we have experienced tremendous success as a team and as an offense at Northwestern College. In 2001, we were one of only seven undefeated football teams in the country. Statistically, our best running play for each of the past five seasons has been the counter play. In 2000 and 2001 we averaged 6.9 and 7.1 yards a carry respectively using the counter. When we included all of the plays that ca
Quarterback High
Without a doubt, during their short 13-year existence, Evangel Christian Academy in Shreveport, La., has left a permanent mark on the landscape of high school football. With seven state titles over the past 13 years and one national championship, the Eagles have etched their dominance in the Louisiana record books from 1A-5A and everywhere in between. But perhaps the only thing that st
Urban Development
The record book said Bowling Green was in trouble when Urban Meyer went to interview for the university’s head coaching position in December 2000. The record book said the Falcons hadn’t had a winning season since 1994. The record book said the university had replaced coach Gary Blackney in mid-season that year after nine years on the job and two conference championships. Meyer loo
The Adventures of John L. Smith
He is a man who believes in the basic lessons of life – strength, discipline, love and respect – but don’t think for a second that Louisville head coach John L. Smith is willing to go through life being satisfied with the routine and mundane. “The teams in the power conferences (the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big XII, SEC, Pac-10)
The Big Play
There is not a head coach in the country that won’t expound on the importance of having good special teams play. We all know how to say the right thing, but unless a head coach is truly committed to special teams, your players will look at the “teams,” as we call them at Michigan, as just a break between offense and defense. But most importantly, special teams must be important to the head coach.
Breaking the Mold
Imagine a day when young men still stood at attention when young ladies entered the room or when a teacher could put their arms around a kid in need or when coaches led more by example than strong words. Imagine a day when kids would say “Yes, sir” and “No, ma’am.” Or when kids lost they graciously accepted defeat and proudly shook their opponents hand. Imagine a day when students a
Maximize Player Performance:
Basic strength training is the cornerstone of any football program. After all, stronger muscles produce more force, thus increasing the athlete’s ability to produce greater speed and power, that typically means a higher level of on-field performance. Well-conditioned athletes are also less susceptible to 4 Tips to maintain speed and agility while buildi
The Staff Report
Within the game of Football the difference in many athletes performance stems from flexibility of the hips. Whether your need is to engage a man on the line of scrimmage or to come in and out of your cuts faster, your results will depend on this. An interior lineman will be able to drive through the more forcefully and the skill position athlete will be able break down faster and more efficiently. Throughout
Running with the Bulls...
EDITOR\'S NOTE: On Dec. 12, 2002, Jim Leavitt signed a new five-year contract with a total base salary worth $2.4 million. The salary escalates from $407,173 in 2003 to $596,143 in 2007, the final year of the contract. Leavitt had been under contract through 2005. In addition to base salary, the new contract includes a $25,000 annual annuity and television/radio money that escalates from $40,000 to $50,000 over the course of the five years.
Reconditioning
Days, weeks, and especially months of incessant contact, unrelenting abuse and inevitable overuse can take its toll on football players. The same can be said for those players’ equipment. The off-season can be a time for both players and coaches alike to rejuvenate and recharge from an arduous season – successful, disastrous, or simply somewhere in between. But who
Focus on Critical Information to Place Your Players in Position to be Successful
FOR LAST YEAR’S TECHNOLOGY ISSUE, American Football Monthly asked me to share some insight on the organization of game planning staff and resources.* This year, Travis Davis has asked me to again address the subject of game planning, this time regarding an often asked question: In light of the finite time we coaches have available each week for strategic planning, how can we find and use the best from th
Technology Crossroads
Bobby April had reached a crossroads in his career and his life. When the New Orleans Saints fired Mike Ditka’s staff after the 1999 season, April – the special teams coach – found himself without a job. April also found himself with a year left on his contract, and decisions to make. “I had a daughter who was going to be a senior in high school, and I wasn’t going to
Roll Call at the Ball
In order to have a great defense, you must have great pursuit and gang tackling. In order to have great pursuit, you must emphasize running to the football throughout the entire practice. This includes the time spent in our individual and team periods. You must grade the effort of your players everyday. We’ve had outstanding defenses the past few seasons. In 2000, we finished first i
Use Video Technology to Enhance On-Field Performance
Once a high school wide receiver myself, I remember the way our football coach would stress the importance of two things – execution and fundamentals. During the season, both play crucial roles in any team’s on-field performance. The off-season, however, is the best time to develop them. Free from the day-to-day headaches of game planning, the off-season
May 2002 Cover Story Information Age Bobby April of the St. Louis Rams uses technology to gain a coaching and career edge. Technology Crossroads - St. Louis Rams special teams coach Bobby April is one of a growing
Georgia Military College’s Devastating 3-5 Defense
Following the 2000 season, our staff met to discuss what we needed to do to give our team a chance to play for something special in 2001. We had just finished the season 7-3 with the #2 ranked defense in the NJCAA, but we knew we had the talent returning to do better in 2001. One of the things we decided to do was to revamp our defense and change to a 3-5 scheme. While some may question the sanity of rebuilding
Back to School
Chan Gailey File: 1974-75 University of Florida - graduate assistant 1976-78 Troy State University - defensive backs coach 1979-80 Air Force Academy - defensive assistant 1981-82 Air Force Academy - defensive coordinator 1983-84 Troy State University - head coach 1985 Denver Br
No Excuses, No Apologies, Just Football
The Morriss File 1988-89 New England Patriots - Offensive Line 1991 Mansfield, Tex., HS - Offensive Coordinator 1992 Washington (PSFL) - Head Coach 1992-93 Valdosta State - Offensive Line 1994 Arizona Cardinals - Offensive Line 1995 San Antonio (CFL) - Offensive Line
ROAD TRIP
During his formative years as a high school coach, Barry Alvarez religiously studied the game while absorbing knowledge from a variety of sources. One spring, he decided to prove he was willing to go the extra mile (or miles in this case) to learn everything he could about the X’s and O’s of football. So he piled into his car with one of his coaching buddies (a former college teammate at Nebraska) and they
Who Is Jock Sutherland?
Full games would go by and not a single pass would be thrown at the University of Pittsburgh. That is, when Jock Sutherland was the head coach. That is the brand of football he sold. As a well-known critic of the passing game, he instituted a single wing offense that perfectly matched his personality. His teams won their battles in a cloud of dust, pounding opponents into the ground with the runnin
A Rare Breed
For a head coach of a professional or college team the bottom line is always the same – it’s all about winning. But it’s the road traveled that makes the man. A coach needs to put a game plan together, teach his players how to perform and find a way to inspire them. It is the motivational aspect of the job that often gives a coach his opportunity to show his individuality.
Special Delivery
At Missouri Western we try to make special teams special. Many coaches have made the statement that special teams are one-third of the game, but actually as far as time spent on the field, they are less than that, but in impact they are more. Special team plays have a major effect on the results of the game. Blocking a punt for a touchdown or returning a kick for “six” more often than not results
NFL Coach of the Year - Bill Belichick
You thought you knew him from his days in Cleveland. You saw the images on television. The grim, stern, face, void of emotion, ratcheted with intensity. You saw the newspaper stories. The humorless, dogmatic responses. A personality as cold and brittle as the wind blowing in from Lake Erie, pummeling Cleveland. You thought you knew him, but did you? Did you really? Did the people feeding those
The Nature of a Quiet Man
Dick Jauron is by nature a quiet man. Not given to yelling, screaming or grand statements. But as head coach of the Chicago Bears, he was able to get his team to achieve grand accomplishments in 2001. Try worst to first in the NFC Central Division. Try the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs, earning a bye and a ticket to a home game in the divisional playoffs. That ticket was torn u
New Equipment
LOK-CUP SHOULDER PAD Austin Athletic Mfg. Co. 800-813-7706 www.austinathletic.com The Lok-Cup™ shoulder pad is back by popular demand. Austin Athletic Mfg. Co. presents a new and improved line of our popular Lok-Cup™ shoulder
Snake Bitten
Our defensive philosophy is to have 11 hats with speed to the ball. We accomplish this by doing a pursuit drill every day, and by coaching effort on every play. We also watch film after every practice to evaluate fundamentals, techniques, proper execution of the defensive scheme and, most importantly, effort. We believe that with great effort from all 11 players, we have a chance to win. We feel that playing with great effor
Practice With a Purpose
It is an honor to represent head coach Nick Saban and the LSU football staff in American Football Monthly. As coaches, we constantly stress to our players the importance of knowing what to do, but do not always explain when and how a scheme applies itself in a game situation. Here at LSU, we stress to our players knowing what to do, how to do it and when it applies. Our in-season practice schedule helps ou
Coach\'s Guide to Training Room Strategies
As coaches, you certainly want athletes who can give it their all day after day. Training camp is a high stress time for you as well as for your players. Not only can this experience be mentally trying, but it is physically demanding as well. Everyone is well aware of the heat-related deaths that received national attention last summer. The bad news is that summers aren’t going to be any cooler, traini
Cover Story Path To Victory Under Sonny Lubick's guidance, Colorado State is now a consistant winner The Look of a Winner - Anyone who thinks there are some programs that will never turn aroun
Freshmen can work with strength coaches
The NCAA has changed its rules to give incoming freshmen players more access to the strength and conditioning coach. The move comes on the heels of a pair of training-related deaths prior to the 2001 season. The new rule is thought of as a no-brainer by most coaches because of the disadvantages freshmen can sometimes face going against upperclassmen who have been working out all summer
Past, Present, Future
“I don’t have all the answers. As soon as I retire, then I’ll have all the answers. I’ll stay up in the stands with the rest of the fans who have all the answers, and I can answer it all then. Right now, I still have to go do it. It’s never easy to go out and get it done.” - John Gagliardi SO HOW MUCH LONGER IS JOHN GAGLIARDI GOING TO keep coaching? It’s a ques
Gary Gaines Trades Lights for Sunny Saturday Afternoons
GARY GAINES WILL BE THE FIRST ONE TO TELL YOU that nothing comes easy – especially in coaching. In fact, the Abilene Christian University head football coach wouldn’t have it any other way. Gaines, who led teams to nine playoff appearances in 17 years as a high school coach, gained national attention as the head coach of
Dale Lennon\'s 3 Keys to Success...
You don’t just win the Division II national championship without a plan. And University of North Dakota head coach Dale Lennon had one of his very own. The Fighting Sioux alumnus and former assistant coach returned to Grand Forks, North Dakota, and within three short years guided the Big Green to the national title. Recently American Football Monthly had the opportunity
The Science Of Recruiting Letters Part 1
What if you could have an in-home visit with any football recruit in the nation at any time during the NCAA’s mandated recruiting period? What if your in-home visit could take advantage of every possible opportunity to share your program’s tradition, goals and intentions with a potential game-breaking superstar that could help make the difference between a 5-6 also-ran and a 6-5 bowl run?
Words of Wisdom
Just the mention of Alabama football conjures images of hound’s-tooth hats and championship trophies; images of football past, present and future; images of great players led by even greater men. Paul “Bear” Bryant immediately comes to mind when referring to the University of Alabama. But without question, former Crimson Tide head coach Gene Stallings is a close second.
NCAA retools off-season football workout plans
Although the NCAA has had policies in effect for more than 30 years regarding the safety of players from heat-related illnesses, the Association has doubled their efforts to create an off-season conditioning program for football to make student-athlete safety the primary goal. With several heat-related deaths during the summer of 2001 in both the collegiate and professional rank
Rocky Mountain High
Dave Logan sits comfortably in his hotel room at Kansas City’s posh Crown Center talking football with me while stealing looks at the Oakland Raiders-San Diego Chargers game on the TV. As we talk, his cell phone rings. It’s his teenage daughter, Cassidy, back home in Colorado checking in for the evening. Near the end of the interview, the room phone rings. This time it’s Logan’s broadcast partner,
Turf
Artificial turf has undergone a major makeover. Instead of a hard, abrasive surface that players feared and fans despised, the newer version of artificial turf provides a softer, more cushioned playing field that wears well and can stand up under heavy usage. That’s the key to today’s artificial grass-like surfaces. For universities, colleges and high schools with
High School Coaches of the Year
SOUTHEAST Cecil Flowe Parkview High School (Lilburn, Ga.) 2001: 15-0, Class AAAAA champs, Record at school: 103-18, 9 years If Cecil Flowe were not guiding a high school football team to victory after victory, he’d probably make a good CEO. Attention to detail, hard work, planning - all qualities Flowe possesses, but the 45-year-old Parkview High Sc
Words of Wisdom.
The address for the Georgia Tech football office is 150 Bobby Dodd Way NW. The mere fact that a school would honor a coach with a street name speaks volumes of the accumulated respect and reverence the institution has for the coach. But, naming a street on campus after Coach Dodd hardly begins to tell the story of the adoration this distinguished gentleman of southern football
New Equipment
Recruiting Software From CyberSports 1-315-732-4333 members.home.net/cybersports CyberPalm allows you to take all your recruits information on the road with you, and sync any changes you made on the road when you return to the office. Now all the coaches can have access to any new information you have gathered on your recent recruiting trips. With a few clicks of the mouse, selected prospec
Division I-A Coach of the Year Ralph Friedgen
The Big Man knew. The Big Man had a plan. Sure, he had plenty of Xs and Os spinning around in that bald head of his, but he also had hopes, dreams, goals and plans. Big plans. Plans to build a program. Plans to transform a program. Plans to tear down all the old bad habits and all the losing ways and re-teach the right habits, instill a winning confidence from the ground up. Pl
A Guide to Empowering and Educating Your Athletes About Supplement Use
Let’s face it, supplements are here to stay. The lure of Bigger, Stronger, and Faster is irresistible, and all the glossy ads and quick fixes draw athletes like magnets. A Blue Cross and Blue Shield survey of teens using performance enhancers estimates that at least 1 million adolescents have tried these products. A survey conducted by the NCAA estimates that approximately 60% of college athletes have or
Why Split?
Meeting with an informal group of offensive line coaches at the national coaches convention this year, the question was asked about our wide splits in the bowl game. After some conversation with the group, it was clear that many of them had not watched us play prior to the Alamo Bowl. The truth of the matter is our offensive line has always used wide splits in some form.
Poetic Justice
My job as defensive line coach is to help my players attain our team goals, our defensive goals, and their individual goals. One of the ways I do this is by preparing them during the week for situations they may encounter during the game. On Saturdays, I do not want them thinking; I want them reacting. For this reason, I am very careful with respect to what I expose them to during the week. I try to keep i
Football Strength
It’s no longer just about lifting weights, Washington State develops flexibility, speed, skill development and conditioning to get the most out of their players. By Steve Silverman The role of the strength coach has changed dramatically over the years. A couple of decades ago, the concept of the strength coach was a relatively
Jake Gaither
For 25 years, Alonzo \"Jake\" Gaither was Florida A&M football. The juggernaut he developed in Tallahassee was every bit the equal of the powerhouse that Eddie Robinson built at Grambling. Coach Gaither, who called every player \"Baby\", won an astonishing 85% of his games (203-36-4), and more importantly made men out of the young boys who showed up at FAMU. Current Florida A&M athletic director Ken Riley,
Using Video Technology to Enhance Performance
It’s the middle of the off-season. And like normal you find yourself searching for techniques and tools that can help your athletes become better, more fundamentally sound football players. As a coach, you know there are certain attributes that make athletes successful on the field of competition. Diehard performance in the weightroom, for example. Crafting bigger and stronger athletes enhances perfo
The 80\'s Series
One of the most effective run option, pass series used at Delaware State University is our 80’s series to the tightend. This series can be run from a one or two back set. It may be used against any front and is very effective against blitzing defenses. In red zone and short yardage situations, the 80’s series has proved to be an effective scoring weapon. Our blocking schemes for the 80’s series are p
To Macho and Back with Stephen F. Austin
To start with I would like to thank American Football Monthly for providing coaches with valuable articles and ideas from some of the top coaches in the game. I am honored to submit this article and I hope it will live up to the standard of previous publications. The subject of this article “To Macho and Back with S.F.A.” is a brief overview of how we call, adjust and stem out of our Double Eagle or
Who’s Hot?
DAN HAWKINS, HC, BOISE STATE After serving as Dirk Koetter\'s assistant head coach, special teams and tight ends coach and overseeing Boise State’s highly successful community service and public involvement program, Hawkins moved up to the head coach’s job when Koetter took over at Arizona State following the 2000 season. During his time as an assistant at Boise State, t
Red Hot
RANDY SANDERS Most first-time college football coordinators get their new jobs in the offseason, with plenty of time to prepare for spring practice, more time to teach in the spring and then even more time to work toward the coming season. If they’re really fortunate, they’ll open the season against East Bugtussle State Teachers College
Triple Option Means Triple Threat
The Rice University Triple Option traces its roots to West Texas High school football. Emory Bellard invented wishbone triple option football in the summer of 1968. Coach Bellard always liked option football and the advantages three back formations gave an offense. He started toying with the concept while coaching at Ingleside and Breckenridge High Schools. Coach Bellard felt to be successful on offens
Top 25
1. De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) The coach: Bob Ladouceur (261-14-1, 23 years) 2001: CIF-NCS Class 4A champion, 12-0 For the record: Not only have the Spartans won a national record 125 games, they’ve also scored in a nation’s best 269 straight contests and were National Prep Poll titelists in 1994, ‘98, 2000 and ‘01. 2002 resume:
Big-Time Boosters
Maximize Your Booster Club - Tips to excite your boosters about fundraising, helping your program succeed. Innovative Fundraising Ideas - Here are some fundraising ideas your booster club can consider to raise anywhere from a little to a lot of
Paths to Success
On first glance, the high school football programs at Artesia (N.M.) High School and Carol City (Fla.) Senior High School look considerably different. Artesia head coach Cooper Henderson’s club works out in state of the art, modern facilities built with the help of bond issues passed by its citizens, while Carol City coach Walt Frazier’s main source of support is the fans and paren
A Coach of Life
Texas high school coaching legend Gordon Wood wasn’t interested in talking about the 396 wins, the most by a football coach at any level in history. “No one with a good record thinks about it,” Wood says when asked about a career that spanned 43 years and resulted in nine state championships in Texas. Wood began his coaching career at Rule High School in 1940, working his way thr
What Football Taught Me that the Classroom Rarely Did
From the day I was born, football has been important in my life. My father, Joe, has coached more than forty years in Texas and my brother, Chad, has been in the profession for a decade. Most of my formative years were spent at the field house. I helped my father cut the grass on the fields and lay the boundary lines. By the time I was ten, I roamed the sidelines helping him chart plays. Thinking back, I cannot believe that there was a better childhood. Because my father was a coach and a fo
Follow The Leader
When the University of Texas whipped out the wishbone in the 1960s, it didn\'t take long for college football programs all over the South to follow the trend and come up with their own version of the triple-option. When Florida coach Steve Spurrier brought a wide-open passing attack to the run-oriented SEC in the early 90s, it didn\'t take long for the rest of the conference to pick up on the trend and discover the joys of passing.When Nebraska and Kansas State starting using press-man def
Attacking the Line of Scrimmage
Philosophy: At the University of Arkansas our attitude is to attack, disrupt and create a new line of scrimmage. Our terminology is to attack, bend and spill the ball outside. We want to create one on one match-ups for our front. Our LB\'s are fast flow, thus creating stress on an offensive lineman to execute two-on-one-combo blockers. We expect to turn those two on one combo\'s into one on one match-ups. Our linemen are playmakers are not space eaters. The only exception would be tru
Climbing to the Summit
He\'s coached at the high school level, at the small college level, and the major college level for the past 24 seasons. Along the way, he\'s been an assistant head coach, an offensive coordinator, a running backs coach and a receivers\' coach. Someday, Woody McCorvey would like to be a head coach on the college level.That\'s why McCorvey is a position coach at the University of Tennessee. He knows being a coordinator or an assistant head coach might be the most obvious path to a head coachin
On the Circuit
At the University of North Dakota, we have one major goal for our defense to attain each season. That goal is to lead the North Central Conference in fewest points allowed. This is not an easy task in one of the most balanced and powerful Division II conferences in the country. Yet we have reached our goal of allowing the fewest points in our league in six of the last nine seasons. During six of the last seven seasons, we have also been first or second in our conference in total defense. While w
Working His Plan...
When one thinks of the success the Florida State football program has experienced, the first person that comes to mind is head coach Bobby Bowden. But even Bowden, who has spent more than a quarter of a century on the Seminole sidelines, has to answer to someone. That someone is Florida State Director of Athletics Dave Hart, Jr.In six plus years at the helm of the FSU athletic department, Hart has set a direction for the former women\'s college - it became co-educational in 1947 - that has es
Blood Brother
When Rutgers University Athletic Director Robert Mulcahy began his search for a new head football coach last November, die-hard Scarlet Knight fans and a large contingent of New Jersey high school coaches wanted one thing ... they wanted a \"Jersey Guy.\" They wanted what another favorite son, Bruce Springsteen, refers to in song. What they wanted was one of their \"Blood Brothers.\" They wanted a guy who spent his July weekends down on the Jersey shore cruising the boardwalk, and his Novem
Running Out of the Spread
Northwestern has certainly had a long football history - but it has not usually been very glorious.The Wildcats first started to line up and play football back in 1882 and since that time they have put together a record of 412-563-43. A lot of head shaking and fist-banging has been done by their fans over the years.The team had endured 23 straight losing seasons heading into 1995 when a bit of magic dust was sprinkled over Evanston. The Wildcats suddenly got good and got nasty. They went f
Efficiency in the Scoring Zone
From the time we watched our first game, we all understood the fundamental role of the offense in the game of football. The purpose of the offense is not to control the clock, nor is it to create field position or give the defense a rest. Although these are all important by-products of an effective offense, they are not the primary focus. The role of the offense is to score points, period. It is with that basic premise in mind that we communicate and develop our philosophy for the area between t
Cover Story Greg Schiano October 2001 Blood Brother - Perennially bad and lacking for direction, Rutgers turned its fo
Equipment Room
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H20
Working out means working up a sweat. In fact, many people believe the more you sweat, the better the workout. But losing all that fluid is just your body\'s way of cooling itself. You have to give back what\'s lost in a workout. If you don\'t, you are putting yourself at risk of dehydration that could end with serious consequences. The National Athletic Trainers\' Association has a Position Statement explaining the role of proper hydration in athletic performances. Take the time to r
Letter From the Publisher
Protecting your assets... In the business world, there are a few axioms that are universally applied by all successful companies. For example, some of these management philosophies are: focus on those things with the greatest opportunity for success; make certain you do whatever is necessary to keep your best employees; and protect your company\'s most valuable assets. However, in the football world, I fear teams sometimes ignore sound, proven and winning business strategies th
The Truth About Turf
Your quarterback is on the run. Coming from his left is a 275-pound defensive end charging with a full head of speed. Coming straight at him is a blitzing middle linebacker. You watch from the sidelines and know the inevitable is about to happen. It\'s just a matter of who is going to get to your quarterback - the end or the linebacker. The linebacker wins the race. He explodes past a would-be blocker and wraps up the quarterback with a nasty hit punctuated by his head bouncing off th
The Protector
When Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive back Damien Robinson is asked how important athletic trainers are to his game, he whips out his cell phone.\"He is the No. 1 number,\" Robinson says of Bucs head trainer Todd Toriscelli. Once thought of as those guys who toted water or taped ankles, athletic trainers are now as important to winning football programs as quarterbacks with cannons for arms or receivers who can sprint downfield undetected to catch those powerful blasts.\"I think the i
Everyone on the Same Page
In the absence of a certified athletic trainer, the head coach or coaches have many responsibilities as it relates to an injured athlete. During the course of a game, as one can imagine, all coaches are very involved with focusing on the next play, making the right substitutions, calling or signaling the right signs and searching for a way to win the game. One of the most difficult responsibilities for a coach is when an athlete is injured and his or her attention has to be refocused on ensuring
Little on Size Big on Protection
Mouthpieces are one of the required and fundamental pieces of equipment of football. Yet, many coaches do not realize that there are more options than just \"boil and bite\". Despite this requirement, a study of Arizona High School coaches states that 53% of coaches polled believes that not all of their players wore mouthguards. This same study shows that 33% of these same coaches believe they have the greatest influence over compliance of their athletes. Yet, many coaches do not realize that th
Emergency Situations: What\'s the Coach\'s Role?
Football is a collision sport and by its very nature invites injury. Participation in football requires all out exertion. There are numerous situations involving oftentimes high speed contact with other bodies or with the ground. While coaches focus on strategy and victory, they also must be aware of injury risks and know their role when a situation does transpire. Fortunately most injuries do not result in emergency situations, however, when emergencies do occur, prompt care is essential. With
Lion Heart
Coaching requires the commitment to teach, to inspire athletes to set and achieve team and/or personal goals, while simultaneously developing the all-important necessary strategies to win! At no time should a coach ever forget or choose to ignore a most basic fundamental and unwritten code: coaching involves people not just schemes or strategies. Regardless of the level or the sport chosen to coach, this code can never be forgotten or the meaning lessened: that coaches, first and foremost, are i
Buried Treasure
It\'s so easy to be wrong about what you see on the surface. So easy to dismiss the dirt on the surface and ignore the treasure below. Sometimes it takes a little more time and effort to dig for what really matters, for something precious, for the truth.When it comes to UAB head coach Watson Brown, it\'s easy to see the record and miss the point. It\'s easy to see his .378 winning percentage and draw knee-jerk conclusions. It\'s easy to see those 112 losses, compare them to 68 wins and
HOW TO REAP THE REWARDS OF PLAY DIAGRAMING SOFTWARE
No one needs to remind you that coaching is a time-consuming profession. Game planning. Practice planning. Scouting. Play diagraming. All of these things take valuable time.Perhaps you know a resourceful coach who always seems to find new ways to make more efficient use of his time. These coaches are usually the successful ones. Managing your time and your team are both necessities. So is preparing your team. One tool that can help you become more efficient and also help you prepare yo
NEVER A DOUBT
An upset? Don\'t call Oklahoma\'s national championship or its Orange Bowl victory over Florida State an upset. An upset is when a team that shouldn\'t win beats a team that should win, and that wasn\'t the case when the Sooners completed their undefeated season by beating the Seminoles 13-2. So what if Florida State was favored to win by nearly two touchdowns? So what if the Seminoles were playing for the national championship for the third time in four years? So what if the Sooners w
Leading By Example
Just four short months after assuming the reigns of the University of Oklahoma athletic department, Sooner athletic director Joe Castiglione made a decision that would shake the OU football program out of its recent doldrums and head it toward a sudden and glorious future. He hired Bob Stoops as head football coach.Prior to his arrival in Norman, Castiglione - a former football walk-on at the University of Maryland - spent 18 years rebuilding the pride and solidifying the infrastructur
The Relentless Pursuit of Excellence
Each year coaching staffs spend countless hours and large amounts of money searching for new and innovative ways to improve their defensive performance. Descriptive phrases such as \"swarming defense\" and \"relentless pursuit\" depict the type of play coaches are seeking from their defensive units. While using innovative coaching aids, advanced computer technology, and attending professional clinics can help a coach in his pursuit of these levels of performance, perhaps the most effec
Level the Playing Field
When we came to Martin a year ago, we knew that we were nearly starting from scratch. We only had thirty-eight players on our team for our first spring practice. Knowing that our numbers were low and we were going to have to play a very tough I-AA schedule with many young players, we had to try and find a way to do something different that would level the playing field. Having seen the Academies become very successful with less talent than their opposition by playing option football, and
Method to the Madness
This article is an analytical look at scheduling practices of some major college football programs. Some teams seek to insure victories. Other schools look for tough opponents for one of three reasons: 1) to prepare for the balance of the schedule; 2) enhance exposure for the program; or 3) increase revenues. While we are not advocating any one type of philosophy, we do understand that a program\'s success or lack thereof can be determined by the scheduling policies put in place. The r
Artificial Oasis
This isn\'t your father\'s artificial turf. It\'s a line that rolls off turf salesmen\'s lips nearly anytime they are asked to talk about their product. And it\'s a line that few associated with the fine art of field management dispute. Artificial turf has changed dramatically since it was first rolled out at the Houston Astrodome 36 years ago when dome officials, desperate to prove that the much-maligned facility was truly state-o
The Final Four
As coaches, we want to be prepared for every situation that may happen during a game. One of those situations is having 30 seconds left on the clock, one or no timeouts, and needing a field goal or touchdown to win or tie. How many times will this happen to you? It\'s only happened to me once - in the 1992 NAIA I national championship game between Gardner Webb University and Central State (Ohio). I was offensive coordinator for head coach Woody Fish at Gardner Webb. I wish I could t
Equipment Room
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Special Delivery: Pete Rodriguez
Pete Rodriguez has a motto to match his moxie. Here it goes: No matter how nervous he might get sometimes as the special teams coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks, the blood, sweat and tears of his work are the last thing you\'ll see on his sleeve, skin or collar.\"Don\'t ever let them see you sweat,\'\' Rodriguez said. \"I try to believe in that commercial. You need to have control, and however you handle it, reflects your own personality. Some guys are real vocal and holler and scream. I
Letter From the Publisher
Storm clouds gathered over the landscape of football. The first effects were felt in Tallahassee in February when freshman linebacker Devaughn Darling died after a strenuous off-season workout. Then, on July 25, incoming University of Florida freshman fullback Eraste Autin died six days after he collapsed following a voluntary workout. As if these tragedies were not enough to make everyone associated with the game of football look hard at the types of workout programs athletes are participating
On A Mission
It\'s 8:30 on a humid Friday morning in June, and Ralph Friedgen looks frazzled, as if he\'s already worked his standard 18-hour day. Sweat sits on the face of the 54-year-old, who appears out of breath when arriving at his University of Maryland office.For the Terps new football coach, the morning has been about three hours old - and hectic at that. Friedgen chased down three of his freshmen to get them to their academic tutor on time and coordinated details for Maryland\'s ongoing high scho
Multiple Looks Create Havoc
We are often asked, \"Just what is your base front and coverage?\" When people who watch us play or opposing coaches ask, I know we are accomplishing our top priority of creating multiple looks. I believe our defensive system is one that is very simple to teach, and creates problems for opposing coaches (especially in preparation), plus it allows our players to be athletic, creative, and develop ownership. We have developed a teaching progression of both assignment and technique that
Capitol Will...
A year ago at this time, the Washington Redskins were the most hyped team in NFL history - Super Bowl expectations, $100 million payroll, marquee free agent signings. These days, the volume in Redskins land is at a monotone. One person took it upon himself to bring the franchise down to earth: Marty Schottenheimer.After a two-year stint as an ESPN analyst, the NFL\'s 12th all-time winningest coach is back on familiar turf. Since becoming the Redskins head coach and taking charge of the tea
Play Action for the Big Play
The past three seasons we have experienced much success at Jones Jr. College. In 1998, we were fortunate enough to finish the season 12-0 with a #1 ranking in one national poll. Our no-huddle, one-back offensive attack has averaged 29 points per game in the three seasons we have been together. In the spring of 1997, our staff decided to put in the one-back offense with the objective of spreading the defense. Our offensive philosophy is fairly simple. We want to determine where the defen
News & Notes
Tragedy strikes Florida as freshman FB, Autin diesEvery coach and parent\'s nightmare happened in Gainesville, when incoming Florida freshman Eraste Autin died of complications related to heat stroke, six days after collapsing and falling into a coma following a workout with teammates. Autin fell unconscious just outside Florida Field in late July while jogging back to the locker room after one of the football team\'s voluntary summer conditioning sessions. Although no autopsy wa
The Clemson Zone Combo Package
The Clemson Tigers offensive style of football was developed in accordance with and is a reflection of head coach Tommy Bowdenís personality. The offense was designed as an aggressive, up tempo, attacking style that continuously applies pressure to the defense. This attitude has produced one of the most balanced offensive attacks in the nation over the last four years. His teams have consistently averaged more than 190 yards, both rushing and passing, and have generated on average more than 440
State of Emergence
A huge photograph of a college quarterback appears, mural-like, on the side of a building across from Madison Square Garden in New York City during the past summer, touting the senior\'s candidacy for the Hesiman Trophy. Two of his teammates will appear this season on promotional billboards in San Francisco and Los Angeles.You think: Notre Dame, maybe?At the rival school up the road, they\'re hyping the star running back for the Heisman Trophy. They pose him in a photo with a prominent alu
Jon & Jay: The Gruden Brothers
He has become one of the best coaches in the NFL. Jon Gruden may be small of stature, but his commanding presence on the sidelines has been one of the main reasons the Raiders have become one of the elite teams in professional football after a long stay in mediocrity. Gruden speaks volumes with every grimace and every gesture. But coaching for Gruden is more than just an emotional display. In the m
Putting Nine in the Box
We have been fortunate to achieve an extremely high level of success at Trinity over the past five to seven years. Obviously, there is no one single factor which has allowed us to develop into a consistent winner. Playing with strong special teams, and having an offense which scores 30+ points a game has definitely helped us gain an advantage over our opponents. From the defensive side of the ball,
The Big 10
Every year thousands of coaches try to take the next step up the ladder of success thatleads to the land of head coaching. Most of these men fully believe they have \"what it takes\" and all they need is a chance. Yet, many of these same men will tell me they feel totally disenfranchised and do not know how to \"get in the loop\" or make it to the next level. So many coaches seem to feel if they wor
Scout\'s Honor
WORKING IN THE NFL ISN\'T ALWAYS ABOUT THE GLORY. Despite working in the richest and most successful league in all of professional sports, there are still a great number of key employees who aren\'t household names. Yet without them, head coaches, star players and backups couldn\'t have the degree of preparation that is seen on a weekly basis. Scouts are generally in the game for the love of it. O
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High School Coach of the Year
ON A WARM SUMMER DAY LAST JULY, CATHEDRAL Prep coach Mike Mischler and 13 of his senior football players loaded into his Jeep Cherokee and a rented passenger van to begin a journey through the nation\'s heartland. The two-vehicle caravan\'s four-day swing through the college towns of South Bend, Ind., Iowa City, Iowa, East Lansing, Mich., and Ann Arbor, Mich., was an informal meet-and-greet trip for Mischler and his players - a way for them to see some campuses, meet some coaches, and
Schutt Sports: Regional High School Coaches of the Year
SOUTHEASTNick ColemanVenice High School (Venice, Fla.)2000: 15-0, Class 5A state champs, Record at school: 21-5, 2 yearsVenice High School coach Nick Coleman is a little ahead of his time. At 31, he\'s already led a team to a state championship and a national ranking. Rarely has such a young head coach accomplished so much in the highly competitive world of Florida prep football. And when Coleman started his second full season as head coach of the Indians la
High School Notes
De La Salle snars No. 1 with 113th straight win The winning continues at De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif. The Spartans, coached by Bob Ladouceur, finished the season with their ninth consecutive North Coast Section Class 4A title and 14th overall, posting a perfect 13-0 record. De La Salle has now won a national-record 113 straight games dating back to the 1992 season which explains why they were crowned national champions by the National Prep Poll for the third time. The
Practicing What You Preach
Too many times, we as coaches are guilty of talking out of both sides of our mouths. We stand before our players in meetings or in front of our peers at coaching clinics and expound on our philosophies, values and beliefs about the keys to winning football games. Yet, when we go out to the practice field, our practice structure does not mirror these beliefs. Instead, we spent too little time on what we say are the important things and get caught in the trap of using our limited practic
Tightening the Tight End
Tight ends are deeply involved in the run game, the pass game, formations, and pass protection. We want our guys to be competent in all of these areas. A one-dimensional player is going to have a difficult time excelling on a full-time basis.Football has changed tremendously in various areas. However, through the years, some basic fundamentals remain constant. Players must learn to play with a base, play with a knee bend, have sound footwork, and play with leverage, both vertically and
The Old Dog Has Some New Tricks
He\'s 64 years old, he\'s been a head coach for 29 years, he\'s won 223 games, taken six different teams to a combined total of 22 bowls, and won a national championship at one of the nation\'s most prestigious programs.He\'s the first to admit he\'s stubborn, sometimes to a fault. He didn\'t have to change his coaching methods. He didn\'t have to change his offense or his defense or his staff management style. He didn\'t have to try anything new. He didn\'t even have to take this job
Equipment Room
Rogers Lev Sled 1-(800) 248-0270 www.rogersathletic.com Utilize the power of leverage to achieve more gridiron victories. Only the Rogers Lev Sled requires the blocker to drive the pad to compress the spring - then he is able to elevate the pad. From Rae Crowther Co. 1-800-841-5050 www.raecrowther.com The most effective football sleds and machines in the game. 68 years of what works. 1, 2, 5, and 7 man sleds. Off
Built to Last
When Dimitri Jacques was courted by Florida Atlantic University, the 18-year-old senior at Miami Beach High School didn\'t know what to think. Since he was a kid he had always wanted to play for the University of Miami. But at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, he just wasn\'t big enough to play defensive end for the mighty \'Canes.On the surface, going to Florida Atlantic seemed like a risky move. Here, after all, was a school that had never even had a football team, much less a winning season.On the
Two Hot to Stop
According to the old cliche, defense wins championships and offense sells tickets, so if the rising number of offensive-related hires in recent years tells us anything, it\'s that college presidents, athletic directors and major boosters doing the hiring must be more interested in selling tickets than winning championships.But what factor sells tickets more than winning championships? Just ask the folks at Oklahoma, where coach Bob Stoops and the Sooners are the hottest ticket West of the Mis
Cover Your Bases
When coaching cover two to your athletes it is essential that they know that their first responsibility is to defend the pass. Undisciplined safeties and corners spell one thing for the offense a big play. The secondary must be able to distinguish between what is an aggressive play and what is an over aggressive and undisciplined play. Most secondary breakdowns occur when there is an over-reaction to an initial read, which occurs at the snap of the ball. A simple illustration of this is a saf
Equipment Room
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Letter from the Publisher
Every morning as I take my first glance in the mirror, I cOme face to face with the man who is rapidly (and to my amazement) starting to look like my father. And, as if I needed any further evidence that I am getting old, every half-hour I hear myself saying something to one of my four children that years ago I swore I would never say. (\"There are starving children somewhere who would love those green beans ...,\" or, \"Not everyone can be pretty, but everyone can be polite...\").I ru
Fast Facts On Fast Food
Let\'s face it, most football players aren\'t sitting around training tables at meal times. Most are standing in line at fast-food restaurants debating whether they want the No. 3 or No. 4 and whether they should super-size it or not. So what\'s a coach to do to help his or her athletes eat healthy? Well, for starters educate them. This chart, produced by health educators at the University of Illinois, clearly shows that while a lot of fast-food is good for little more than producing
Big Man On Campus
When Boyd Eply told Nebraska head coach Bob Devaney he was going to teach his Cornhuskers how to lift weights, Devaney was about as excited as if Eply had told him he was going to teach them how to fumble in the end zone.\"Why would you want to do that?\" Devaney asked. \"I have a friend at Michigan State and he doesn\'t lift weights. I have a friend at Ohio State and he doesn\'t lift weights. In fact, I don\'t know anyone in the whole country who lifts weights. The way I understand it
Running On Empty
FOOTBALL PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN TIMING PLAYERS in the 40 yard dash for years and making evaluations based on the results. But while the test is time-honored, is it really an accurate assessment of how fast a player will be on the field on any given Saturday?As an expert in speed development for football players, I feel that straight line sprint speed is only a partial assessment of an athlete\'s playing speed. The reason is obvious. Few football players run full bore for 30 to 50 yards dur
Spread Offense
A GREAT COACH ONCE SAID, \"Good football teams either do something different or they do it better.\" At Rhode Island, we try to do both. The offense we run is a combination of the run and shoot. We call our formation the spread and have found that it allows us to use alignment to stretch a defense both horizontally and vertically. It stretches a defense horizontally with the option and vertically with four quick receivers at the line of scrimmage. This approach, we think, keeps defenses
Packaging Your Passing Game
As the passing game has evolved, problems have arisen in packaging the pass routes for all protections, personnel groups and formations. For example, we have 10 different personnel groups, ranging from three tight ends and two running backs, to five wide receivers. Making the passing game flexible enough to encompass all the variables can get difficult. Our offensive staff has put a great deal of time and thought into this, and has developed a comprehensive, yet very user-friendly, sy
Virtual Football
It\'s the end of a long practice in an even longer week. But despite your best efforts, your quarterback clearly needs more work. He\'s having a hard time throwing long against the blitz and there\'s no way he\'s going to master it without spending a lot more time on the field. Time, however, is one thing you can\'t give him. Don\'t panic. Just hand him his virtual reality mask, program it for a rush and send him on his way. Tell him you\'ll see him in the morning to discuss the compu
Building a Hungry Defensive Line
Our overall philosophy with our front four is to create 1-and-1 match ups as quickly as possible. We are fast flow with our inside linebackers, therefore the 2-on-1 combinations quickly turn into 1-on-1 blocks. We expect our defensive lineman to win those 1-on-1 battles. We expect these guys to be playmakers, not space eaters. The only situation that we actually tie up two is the double-team block with our three technique. Other than that exception, we are coaching technique to escape blockers a
Cover Too
It may come as a surprise to some that computers have been helping high school and college coaches build game plans for nearly 20 years. Starting with the early Apple II and IBM personal computers, technology that had previously been available only to larger colleges and professional teams began working its way into the high school and small college ranks. Innovative coaches, facing many obstacles, began to integrate computers into their game planning processes during the mid-1980s. C
To AD or not to AD...
Can you see this happening? A new coach is hired. He wants new computers and video equipment for his staff. So, off to the AD\'s office he goes. The athletic director, anxious to do everything to make the new coach happy, tells the coach to get him a proposal. Thereafter, the coach instructs his video coordinator to \"... write something up.\" The coach and his video guy then return to the AD\'s office to make their pitch. The AD will most oftentimes try to approve the expenditure, and then find
High School Notes
Privates may vie for championships in TexasThe days of public and private schools competing for separate state championships in Texas might be coming to an end. A bill approved in March by the Texas state Senate would allow private schools with enrollments of over 500 to compete with University Interscholastic League (public) schools for state championships. Texas is currently one of three states that do not allow private and public schools to compete with each other for distr
Cutting the Chord
Coaching great Knute Rockne is known for his motto \"Winning - it\'s not everything ... it\'s the only thing.\" But as any successful coach can tell you, perhaps the only thing you can really count on are the long, often tedious hours. No one needs to remind you that coaching is a time-consuming profession. You\'ve been there. Late nights followed by early mornings. And if by some miraculous intervention more hours were added to the day, you\'d probably just spend this surplus time in your offic
The Information Age
It\'s the kind of argument that breaks out hundreds of times during hundreds of coaches meetings that are held at hundreds of school across the nation each week.The coaching staff at Pittsburg State University in Kansas was mulling over the team\'s weak spots and one coach insisted that a glaring problem was the team\'s inability to convert on third down. The idea caught on quickly and pretty soon the entire staff was in agreement that the Gorillas simply weren\'t very good in third-down situ
From Athlete to Administrator
When Arizona State University appointed Gene Smith as the school\'s 18th director of athletics on July 27, 2001, the Pac-10 school gained both an experienced and accomplished leader. Before arriving in Tempe, Smith served as athletic director at Iowa State University (1993-2000) and at Eastern Michigan University (1986-93). At Iowa State, he coordinated the financial and physical transformation of the Cyclone athletic department, including the construction of a $6.1 million three-story football
News & Notes
Sooners visit the White House President Bush honored Bob Stoops and his University of Oklahoma national championship football team at the White House March 5, 2001 in a special ceremony held in the Rose garden. The team was recognized along with the women\'s softball team, which beat UCLA 3-1 for its first national championship at the Women\'s College World Series in Oklahoma City last spring. The teams also toured the U.S. Capitol and were recognized on the Senate floo
Going on the offensive
The old days of calling the game from the \"seat of the pants\" are quickly fading into the past. To become more effective, offensive coaches must know their team\'s tendencies and start looking at the tendencies of their opponent\'s defense. The first step is for offensive coaches to begin seriously scouting their own offense by using a good scouting software program. The next step is to start scouting the opponent\'s defense and then to use the information to modify their offensive game p
May 2001 Cover Story The Information Age - Computers and the countless software applications have forever changed the face of coaching... a look at how the changes have affected coaches like Pittsburg State's OL coach Bill Kroenke.
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High five
At Mississippi State, we play with five defensive back all of the time as a part of our base package. We have used this personnel grouping for the last five seasons with great success. It is our opinion that with all of the different formations and personnel groupings offensive coordinators are currently employing, it is in our best interest to be able handle these multiple and varied looks and personnel groupings with our base defensive package. It is our philosophy that the best way to pl
What a Tangled Web We Have Weaved...
Rewind your football clock 30 years, to a time when legendary Alabama coach Paul \"Bear\" Bryant used preseason practice to install the wishbone in total secrecy and used it to ambush an unsuspecting USC team in the Crimson Tide\'s season opening 17-10 win over the Trojans. Fast forward that clock to August, 2001, to a time when first-year Alabama coach Dennis Franchione attempted to prepare his team for its season opener against UCLA. Franchione, following an Alabama tradition, opened his p
Ten Coaches You Should Know
Bobby Bowden. Joe Paterno. Steve Spurrier. Phillip Fulmer. Even the casual college football fan knows those names, and they\'ve earned their fame and fortune through time, experience and victory. But what about those head coaches who don\'t make the headlines, but still do a great job? The NCAA record book is filled with the names of outstanding coaches who never coached a game in the so-called \"big time,\" but there\'s no doubt that men such as Amoz Alonzo Stagg, Ron Schipper, Frosty Weste
Words of Wisdom
In 1982 after a 41-year hiatus, Georgia Southern returned to the gridiron led by long-time Georgia Bulldog defensive coordinator Erk Russell. In what has been described as the Miracle of Beautiful Eagle Creek, Russell took a start-up program to a NCAA I-AA national championship only in his fourth year, and led the Eagles to the playoffs five-straight seasons, three more title tilts, and won two more national championships. In his eight seasons, Russell was 83-22-1. More importantly, Erk set the
A Wizard in the Land of Oz
When Tony DeMeo left the tight confines of the East Coast for the wide-open plains of Topeka, Kan., and Washburn University in December 1993, what he found was pretty alarming. The school, though getting ready to begin its 103rd year playing the game, was one of the barren wastelands of college football. Five years had passed since the Ichabods last posted a winning record and the program was languishing through a 12-game losing streak. Even worse, DeMeo found only 29 players on the ro
Breaking Bonds
It had been one of the most embarrassing nights of Marty Schottenheimer\'s career. After a two-year absence from the head-coaching ranks, Schottenheimer decided to get back into the business when Redskins owner Daniel Snyder came calling. While that decision may have been questionable considering Schottenheimer\'s criticism of the Redskin owner, he ultimately decided to take the job because he thought he could get the Redskins back to the playoffs and into the Super Bowl. Schottenheimer is o
News & Notes
Notre Dame gets a new sponsor In a deal announced in September, Notre Dame has signed Chevrolet as a major sponsor of its athletic programs. The automaker will now be one of five corporate sponsors with an ongoing presence at university athletic events. The deal was set to commence with the Irish football home opener against Michigan State on Sept. 22. Terms of the one-year deal were not revealed by either the university or Chevrolet. Notre Dame\'s ot
Gaining an Edge Through Special Teams
As football coaches, we have all heard the theory that the difference between winning and losing close games often comes down to a special teams play. At Arizona State University, we believe that in order to achieve success, sound execution of special teams play is paramount. We approach special teams with the perspective that the difference between winning the PAC-10 Championship and finishing at the bottom of the league could very well be determined by the effectiveness and efficiency of our s
Cover Story Tony DeMeo November 2001 A Wizard in the Land of Oz - Tiny Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas may not win conference
Northwestern University Offense Practice Sturcture
It is an honor to represent our Head Coach Randy Walker (one of the best coaches in the college game today); a tremendous offensive staff (Mike Dunbar - TE / FB; Howard Feggins - WR; Jeff Genyk - RB; James Patton - OL; and Kevin Johns - Offensive Graduate Assistant); and the best group of young men that I\'ve ever been associated with in college athletics with this article for American Football Monthly. We are truly blessed here at Northwestern University with excellent opportunities that are
Developing Your Two-Minute Offense
Using your two-minute offense as efficiently as possible can really make your offensive unit much more explosive. Think about what it does to an opponent when you have demonstrated consistently the ability to score from anywhere on the field by driving the ball and using the clock with great management skills. As we all know, two-minute is a form of hurry-up no huddle procedure that can keep a defense on its heels. On offense, we are attacking somewhat oblivious to the defense because we
Feeling Pressed?
So, you\'re not witty, charming, and entertaining all the time. So, you tend to be serious, stoic, cautious and devoted to film study and game preparation. That\'s just fine with reporters. Well, maybe not all reporters (TV folks aren\'t journalists, they\'re entertainers), but you might be surprised to learn which qualities the average college football writer respects in a football coach. How about honest, approachable, discerning and perceptive? Those are the qualities any beat wr
Moving Target
Over the last several years, no team in Ohio Athletic Conference has attempted more passes and completed more of them than Capital University. Needless to say, we are a passing team and philosophically go into every ball game thinking pass first and run second. Our pass offense is multi-dimensional. We use multiple formations, but for the most part use one back and four wide receivers. We throw from a variety of launching points, use a multitude of actions, and run patterns designed fo
In Praise of the Three Technique
Early in my career I was influenced by three very good defensive line coaches. They are: Bob Karmelowicz of the Kansas City Chiefs, who I spent time with during the spring of 1999, John Pease of the Jacksonville Jaguars, who I had the opportunity to work with in the Jaguars Minority Fellowship Coaching Internship Program, and Cliff Yoshida, who recruited me and was my position coach while I played defensive tackle at East Carolina University. I practice a style of coaching that has been influenc
The Computer is Up
I don\'t necessarily like all the things that go along with (coaching) ... all I want to do is coach the team and that\'s it.\" Perhaps you would agree with Tampa Bay\'s Tony Dungy who spoke these words back in 1998 when he was named this magazine\'s NFL Coach of the Year. No matter what level you coach, you undoubtedly have tasks, obligations or perhaps people whom you\'d rather not have to deal with. But whether it\'s recruiting new players, scouting next week\'s opponent, or teaching
What Reporters Really Want
I have a soft spot for football coaches. I respect them. I admire them. I still look at my favorite coaches with true appreciation for their time, commitment, energy, intensity and passion for the game, and the life lessons that came with being part of it. I empathize with the challenges they face, the hours they work, the fragile nature of their job security and the expectations they face from outsiders who understand very little about what they do. And I am a member of the media.S
If coaches had crystal balls,would it help them win the big one?
Matt Cavanaugh\'s eyes were red - almost blood shot. The Baltimore Raven offensive coordinator was meeting with the media for the last time before his team would take the field against the N.Y. Giants in Super Bowl XXXV and he looked worn out and emotionally overwrought.But looks can be deceiving. It wasn\'t emotions that made Cavanaugh look like he\'d been on an all night crying jag. His eyes were swollen from staring at hours and hours of the Giants on videotape.\"I\'ve looked at
The Linebacker Shuffle
We, as coaches, spend countless hours trying to develop the ideal offensive or defensive scheme. As impotant as these schemes are they cannot be practiced at the expense of developing fundamentals. As we all have witnessed, in crunch time it is the execution of fundamentals that often determines the outcome of a game. This is exemplified at the linebacker position in many ways but none more than stance and movement. A coach can drill key reaction and devise schemes to get a linebacker
Just for Kicks
The punt return means big play time for us. Players at Western Maryland pay special attention to this part of the game. We have had success blocking punts and we have returned punts for touchdowns multiple times over the past four seasons. More importantly, we make things happen on every punt return and have an opportunity to score. Statistically, having a return average of 10 yards or more is important, but the goal should be to accumulate yardage consistently on each return. Put Pressur
News & Notes
Fassel gets giant raise While Jim Fassel didn\'t win the Super Bowl, he won the respect of the New York Giant\'s brass. Exactly a month after the Giants lost to the Baltimore 34-7 in Tampa, team officials announced that they had signed Fassel to another four-year contract even though he had another year left on the contract extension he signed after the 1999 season. While the terms weren\'t available, Fassel will reportedly earn $11 million over the four years - more than doublin
Cover Story NFL Coach of the Year Jim Haslett April 2001 NFL Coach of the Year Jim Haslett - When Jim Haslett came marching into New Orleans last year, few expected him to turn around the most bedeviled team in the history of
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Paradise Found
June Jones would be lying if he said he expected this. The same is true of his coaches, his players and friends in the coaching profession. That\'s because it\'s not supposed to happen. Teams don\'t go 19 games without winning, then turn around and win eight regular-season games, capture a share of the conference championship, earn a bowl bid and then win the bowl game. It\'s not supposed to happen, especially to a team that faces the unique geographic obstacles that are part of Uni
Air Attack
There are more than a few Division I-A offenses around the nation that can keep a defensive coach\'s eyes wide open in the week leading to that Saturday\'s encounter. The trouble with Joe Tiller\'s record-setting air show at Purdue, however, is that the sleepless nights don\'t always end when the final gun sounds. Just ask Penn State defensive backfield coach Tom Bradley. His Nittany Lions actually survived their late-October showdown with the Boilermakers (31-25) at
Complete Coach
Whether you coach at the high school, college or professional level, you've probably taught your players the importance of goal setting. To help your players reach their goals, you instruct them almost daily on proper weightlifting techniques, correct tackling form and to explode off the ball. But how about proper nutrition and hydration? Football, especially at the championship level, is an explosive game. It demands rigorous training and extols excessive abuse on the body. You
Quarterbacking the Quarterback
The fundamentals of any position are important, and perhaps they are most crucial at the quarterback position. Quarterback fundamentals are both physical and mental. We have a list of beliefs in training a QB and they are:1. Never take a sack. Know when to take a chance and when not to by considering down, distance and field position.2. Throw against blitzes every time. Every play is a blitz until proven otherwise. This teaches the QB to be prepared, play under control and not to hu
So Sue Me!
WHEN NEWS SURFACED THAT A GEORGIA TECH offensive lineman and his mother wanted criminal charges filed against head coach George O\'Leary after the 314-pound player was roughed up in practice, everyone had an opinion.\"This is getting out of hand. Soon we will have to arrest Dale Earnhardt for a hit-and-run accident at the Daytona 500,\" one Atlanta man wrote in response to a reader survey conducted by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.Still others, had a far different view. \"This
December 2000 Staff Meeting Letter from Publisher Words of Wisdom from legendary Notre Dame coach Ara Parseghian
The Survivor
Here he was, scaling a fence in a driving thunderstorm, with a blank videocassette under his rain jacket. The coaching staff desperately needed video of its next opponent, but a lack of sufficient technology at the team\'s training facility prevented the team from finding the game on television. That did not, however, prevent the team\'s head coach from finding another solution. So with the rain pouring down and thunder rumbling overhead, he found himself climbing the fence betwe
Bum Philllips
From 1975-85, there was not a more colorful personality in the NFL than former Oilers\' and Saints\' coach O.A. \"Bum\" Phillips. As Houston\'s coach from 1975-80 and the New Orleans Saints\' coach from 1981-85, Phillips\' homespun wit, sense of humor and Texas drawl made him a non-stop quote machine. What was sometimes forgotten was the fact he was a veteran football man who was mentored by Bear Bryant and spent more than 30 years in the game. Also lost in the shuffle is that \"Bum\" is the
Traveling Man
Somewhere on the road between 19 cities in 11 states, Mike Leach found a way to climb the rope from the small time to the big time. Call it the back-road plan for future coaching success. Leach, the new head coach at Texas Tech, never played college football, never coached at the Division I level until 1997 and never even really knew he wanted to be a football coach until after he earned his law degree from Pepperdine in 1986. After law school, his path was filled with job after j
Flash
In an effort to create a fully dimensional offense it is the opinion of this author that protections must be changed constantly to create defensive dilemmas. The ability to \"free release\" the running back in a one-back offense is critical to create a burden on the defense. It is essential that the running back be perceived as a viable receiving threat. This can only be accomplished through a protection that allows for the running back to release without regard to protection and a patter
Back with the Pack
For eight consecutive years, football schools in the Atlantic Coast Conference have been looking up to Florida State in the league standings. Nobody has hit upon a formula to unseat the Seminoles as one of the most dominant programs in NCAA history. So North Carolina State decided to take a new approach in its search for a football coach. Instead of hiring a big-name head coach like Georgia\'s Jim Donnan or Stanford\'s Tyrone Willingham, both of whom were considered, the Wolfpack decid
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The Best Coach I ever Had
Speaking to a group of 750 business executives in Tampa, Fla., NFL Quarterback Trent Dilfer got choked up as he described the profound impact Tampa Bay Head Coach Tony Dungy has had on his life on and off the field. \"Tony Dungy is more than a football coach,\" Dilfer said. \"He\'s a man whom I look up to because of his faith and character. He is the type of husband and father I hope to be for my family. \"Tony provided an example for me in multiple areas. He helped me better contro
Letter from the Publisher
In May of 1999, we changed the format of our magazine from a quarterly publication to monthly. We made this change as a result of a demand from our readers, who wanted up-to-the-minute information about their profession. We had lived four years as a quarterly magazine, and it was time to grow. At that time, we chose the name American Football Coach as our new title. It was our thinking that as a magazine for the real heroes of the game, the thousands of men who toil hour-after-hour on
Southern Pride
BLITZ SYSTEM At Southern Mississippi, we are a multiple front defense. When we are in 50 defense, we refer to this as Okie. This is our Okie blitz system.1. Each of our players are described by a letter: LinebackersB - Bandit M - Mike S - Stringer W - Wolf Def. LineT - TackleN - Nose E - End Def. BacksFC -Field CornerR - Rover F - Free SafetyBC - Boundary Counter
Building the Foundation
The past decade has seen NFL offenses evolve evolve the past decade by using multiple substitutions and formations to create mismatches in the run and pass game. Therefore, it is more important than ever to properly plan for an opponant and develop a sound base package to build a foundation to stop either the run or pass. The No. 1 goal of a defense must still be to stop the run. With multiple formations the offense can spread a defense out and make it tough to stop the run. Defenses are for
AIR RAID Running Back Techniques and Drills
The most productive running backs in the SEC over the last three seasons combined have been from the University of Kentucky. Anthony White and Derek Homer have combined for more yards (rushing and receiving totals) than any other two-back combination. White had three straight 1,000-yard seasons from rushing and receiving yards combined, and Homer combined with White in 1997-98 to put the pair over 4,000 yards combined for those two seasons. White also became the third player in NCAA h
September 2000 Staff Meeting Letter from Publisher News and Notes Dick Curl leaves Europe and joins the Chiefs... Bama's DuBose makes a sick young man's day...NCAA legislation may hurt I-AA football...Mizzou seeks to get out of future
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The Evolution of Technology in Football
CLICK...CLACK...CLICK...CLACK.... the only sound emanating from the darkened room droned endlessly. For decades, it was the sound of technology in football. For generations of players and coaches, the first technological skill to be mastered was how to thread film in the 16mm projector. It was film, passing back and forth through the projector\'s gate, which was the sound of technology in the game. An endless ribbon of film ran through the game and connected generations of coaches and pla
Letter from the Publisher
The forward pass. Integration. Facemasks and new equipment that makes players seem more prepared for a battle than a game of football. TV, radio call-in shows and 24-hour a day media coverage. All of these changes have dramatically altered the game of football. Yet the sum total of these alterations pale in comparison to the virtual metamorphosis that is taking place in the year 2000. Computers, the associated software programs, and enhanced video equipment are dynamically changing the ga
On Target
During the 1990s many defenses were transformed from \"read and react\" defenses into attacking defenses. An effective attacking defense is not just a loose cannon, it\'s a guided missile. To be effective you have to know when and where to attack. Sophisticated scouting software of an opponent\'s offense through statistical analysis gives the defensive coaching staff the tools they need to create a \"smart-weapon, guided-missile\" attacking defense. Creating Defensive Call Sheets t
Glossary
American Football Monthly (a-mer- -kan fut-bol koch), noun 1. the only trade journal designed exclusively for the football professional. 2. the one-stop place for all football coaches to go to obtain up-to-the-minute information on everything from xs & os to sports nutrition that will help their program. 3. the magazine found on the desk of every successful coach in the nation. Analog- a process whereby the recorded video image information is a continuous equivalent of
Editing Systems: Getting What\'s Right for You
ADVANTAGES OF EDITING SYSTEMSUsing an editing system will not only make your video sessions run more smoothly but also allows you to easily scout your opponent and your own team - not to mention helping you teach and grade out players. You\'ll save time by watching only the essential video clips, because an editing system allows you to customize videotapes to your team\'s needs. You can create separate tapes for offense, defense and special teams. Imagine the benefits of sending sc
6 Hours to 5 Minutes:
How would you like to add several hours of \"free\" time to your schedule each week, especially during the football season? Time to view some additional videotape, review the game plan, or maybe just get some rest. A major catalyst in freeing time for the staff of the Minnesota Vikings has been the use of computers within our football operations. We have never viewed computers as a magic bullet to solve problems. We still rely on the intelligence and creativity of our staff to make
News & Notes
McKittrick Loses Battle with Cancer After a 14-month battle with cancer, San Francisco 49ers' OL coach Bobb McKittrick died on March 15. He was 64. McKittrick, who worked with five Super Bowl winning teams in 21 years, courageously continued working on the 49ers' staff while fighting bile duct cancer. A former Marine Corps officer, McKittrick was known for his toughness, hard work and dedication to the game and to his players. His on-field coaching duties were assumed by Pat Mo
The Calm After The Storm
It was the cruelest possible irony. Less than two weeks after the worst natural disaster in North Carolina history had crippled 66 counties, caused what was later estimated at $6 billion in flood damage, and cost 51 people their lives, the football forecast at East Carolina called for Hurricanes. By that time, however, Steve Logan was the last person on which such madness could be lost. He was, by trade, a head coach. But in the days leading up to East Carolina\'s Sept. 25 date
Curtain Call
After two long seasons in St. Louis, the experiment was failing badly. Dick Vermeil, in his attempt to reinvent himself as a football coach and erase the lingering, distasteful image that haunted him when he left the Philadelphia Eagles in 1982, appeared to be hitting another dead end. The 1998 season ended with the St. Louis Rams losing six of their last seven games. Their 5-11 record, preceded by a 4-12 mark in Vermeil\'s first season as Rams head coach, was only half the problem
USFL—The $1 League
They were supposed to be the rot and refuse, a bunch of has-beens, never-weres and never-will-bes. Their value? One dollar. One lousy buck. But for three action-packed spring seasons - 1983-85 - they were the United States Football League - the USFL - the latest failed attempt to wrestle the monopoly on professional football away from the NFL. During its three years on the field, the USFL sported four Heisman Trophy winners: Herschel Walker, Mike Rozier, Doug Flutie and two-time winne
Rolling to Victory
The 1999 season was very successful for the players, coaches and staff of City College of San Francisco. We were fortunate enough to complete our season with a perfect 12-0 record and win the 1999 J.C. Gridwire National Championship and California state championship. We also achieved this same feat in 1994 after completing the season 11-0. In the 90s, we won our conference nine times in 10 years (1990, 1992-1999) and we are three-time defending Northern California champions. In all, we ended the
Working the Right Angle in Your Passing Game
Since the days when the great Sid Gillman started using the angle-type route for the running back, there have been many ways that teams have coordinated it into their passing games. The route is being used at all levels of football, and with every conceivable formation and personnel grouping. With the variety of offenses using the angle-type route, there have been many ways that the pattern has been run. While all of them can be effective, there are some pros and cons to each that we
Bobby Bowden
When talking about successful coaches in college football in the 1990s, the conversation can be considered meaningless if Bobby Bowden is not mentioned at some point. Bowden, who has been at the helm of the Florida State Seminoles for the past 24 seasons, took over a mediocre FSU team and made it great. In his time in Tallahassee, the Seminoles have won two national championships (1993, 99), six ACC titles and have won more games in the 90s (109) than any team has in any previous decade in NC
Sudden Impact
All coaches preach turnovers as a deciding factor in victory. What impact does the interception return really have on the outcome of a game? From 1946-99, there have been 25,001 interceptions in AFL/NFL history, with 16,409 (65.63 percent of those) accounting for victories. The percentage of victory by interceptions during this 54-year span has never been lower than 57.67 percent (1962 season), and never higher than 69.92 percent (1977). Thus, year after year, there is little fluctuati
Unusual Options
Head Coach, Washburn University With the coming of eight-man front defenses, popularized by Virginia Tech and the use of zone blitzes, bear blitzes and other pressure defenses, the option game has resurfaced in college football. Just about every team, regardless of their offensive philosophy, has added some form of an option attack to their playbook. I think everyone realizes the value of a mobile quarterback and it seems logical to use his mobility to run an occasional option t
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Behind Bowden
With two national titles, 13 years among the top four teams in the country and six Atlantic Coast Conference championships in the 1990s, the Florida State Seminoles have the track record to prove they know what it takes to be a champion. It is that knowledge of the means to reach success that has not only fueled FSU\'s success on the field, but also it\'s success in the Don Fauls athletic training facility. Randy Oravetz, the Director of Sports Medicine at FSU, heads up the te
The Diary of A New Coach
THIRD GAME WEEK: As I said before, our number one objective is really not to win, but to prepare. This week was the exception. We were playing our cross-town rival, Norman North, a school that had never scored against any Norman High team in their two-year existence. Our varsity and J.V. had already scored shutouts the week before so this was a must win. For the game Tuesday, our emotions were high. Our team was more pumped up than they had been all year. We got the b
Brain Damage
A minor knock on the head can have big consequences In the past decade, researchers HAVE concluded head injuries, which seem relatively minor and insignificant, could cause permanent brain damage. Due to the potentially serious consequences, even minor head injuries should be a concern to coaches, trainers, and players.The reasons are obvious: Football players are prone to head injuries. Surveys have shown that roughly 10 percent of all college football players will sustain
The Five Most Common Injuries in Football
Identifying the five most common injuries in football is a difficult task considering the large array of choices. After all, football is a contact sport, and contact breeds injury even in the best circumstances. According to a 1995-97 NATA injury surveillance of 10 high school sports, football players suffered more injuries than any other athletes, with more than half of those injuries occurring in practice. Keep in mind that many things can be done under the guise of prevent
The Other Coordinator
Throughout the life of our magazine (now American Football Monthly), I have very seldom written articles. But, when we conceptualized this special issue on sports medicine, I immediately decided to author a piece on the role of the sports medicine staff for a football team. I wanted to do this because I strongly believe athletic trainers and sports medicine staffs are potentially one of the most under utilized and overlooked aspects of a successful football program. Lets face i
Shotgun Quick
As with any offensive system, several aspects must be executed with consistent precision in order to effectively move the ball and score points. One of the most important aspects we feel is crucial to our success is the quick passing game. Because we run about 80 percent of our offense out of the shotgun, we must be able to execute the quick game out of the gun as well. As everyone knows, you mu
Being at your best when things are not going well
Bruce Snyder, an avid reader, has noticed that books are rife with stories of people who retreat when faced with crisis. If you are doing a good job and are confident in yourself, he believes that you will retreat to your basic core values, and that it\'s important to remind everyone of what those core values are. \"I think that\'s playing the percentages,\" he says, \"and I think that\'s what I do in those cases. I don\'t go against percentages. The percentages are, over the
The Basics
It\'s been called the sick tank, the warm-up room - and in at least one case, the wildlife sanctuary. It\'s where players go to prepare for battle and where they return to let their game faces down as they confront the pain of injury. It\'s not a simple place. The athletic training room, even in its most basic form, is a microcosm unto itself. Building one entails careful attention to the structural requirements, which are more detailed than finding four walls and a ceiling.
News & Notes
Utah rewards McBride with an extension 60-year old Ron McBride has agreed to a contract that will keep at the the University of Utah team for four years and presumably allow him to finish his career with the Utes. Under the terms of the deal, McBride will earn a total of $310,000 a year, including incentives based on the team\'s performance in the classroom and on the field. Offering a bit of levity to the announcing of the extension, McBride said, \"Little does the univers
The Turner Network
Both head coaches had their backs to the wall entering the season, Norv with the Washington Redskins and Ron at the University of Illinois. Norv had gone five seasons without reaching the playoffs, the longest stretch of any active NFL coach, and Ron had crafted a 3-19 record in his first two years. New Redskins owner Daniel Snyder applied volumes of extra pressure on Norv by telling him to make the playoffs or find a new job. Ron was in the critical third year of a five-year contract.
Equipment Room
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Schutt Sports High School Coaches of the Year
SOUTHJohn Parchman,Hoboken HS, Hoboken, NJRobert E. Lee HS, Midland, Texas 1999: 15-0, Class 5A, Div. I state champsRecord at school: 57-8-1, 5 yearsWhen you win a football state title in Texas, you\'ve done something. When you do it two years in a row, that\'s really special. And special is a very accurate way to describe coach John Parchman\'s Midland Lee Rebels. In the last two seasons, Lee High School has claimed back-to-back Class 5A Texas Bowl
Do It Your Way
Throughout my twenty-two years in the profession, I have had the opportunity to coach at both the collegiate and high school levels. During that time, I have had the pleasure of working with various coaching staffs that have helped me formulate my philosophies on dealing with the passing game. At the same time, I have coached many athletes with various ranges in athletic abilities. Therefore, I have had to adapt each year to the specific situation. When you are developing a passing attack, it
News & Notes
Barnett\'s Colorado Contract Finalized After more than one year, Gary Barnett and the University of Colorado finalized a five-year contract. The multi-year contract, retroactive to Jan. 22, 1999, when he accepted the position, is one of three positions the State Legislature allows CU to exempt from standard contract rules. All other deals are limited to one year. \"We\'re delighted to have finalized the agreement with coach Barnett. This gives us the opportunity to accomplish the g
Equipment Room
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Speed Training for Combines
Whether a player attends the NFL combine in Indianapolis, or one of the ten NFL-sanctioned Scout Camp regional football combines, he will be tested in a variety of areas. But when the combine is over and all the data has been collected, there is typically only one question that gets asked about a player: How fast is he? Because this is the reality of the situation, all combine participants should be well-prepared to face the \"holy trinity\" of combine tests: the 40- yard dash, the short shu
Philosophy of Performance: One Coach\'s Interaction Style
On January 22, 1996, Malcolm Glazer, owner and president of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, made a pivotal administrative decision by hiring Tony Dungy as his head coach. The appointment wasn\'t significant just because Dungy was one of only a handful of minority coaches. Rather, the hiring struck many as unusual because Dungy\'s personality - on and off the field - was far from the stereotypical mannerisms of other head coaches. Unlike some of the more renown names associated with \"great\"
Joe Cool
For the record, the song was called, \"In Heaven, There is No Beer.\" And the first time he heard it being belted out by a senior citizens band from the local Kiwanis club on that late summer day in 1989, Joe Glenn began to realize just how much work he had ahead of him. It was his first game as head football coach at the University ofNorthern Colorado, and although the afternoon would end in a narrow victory over Idaho State, it was a truly humbling experience. It had been seven years
Q And A: Larry Kehres
Q.You graduated from Mount Union with a major in business administration. If you hadn\'t gotten into coaching, what do you think you\'d be doing now?A.I suppose I\'d be doing something in the business world. But to tell the truth, right now I can\'t picture myself doing anything but coaching.Q: a head coach for 14 years, are you still learning?A:Yes, of course. That\'s part of the changes a coach needs to make. Anticipating problems is how I\'d put it. When s
Words of Wisdom - Eddie Robinson
In the world of sports, there are certain numbers that stand alone, needing no words to aid in the description of their meaning. In baseball, that number might be 56, signifying the amazing hitting streak compiled by Joe DiMaggio. In basketball, that mystical number might be 100 - the number of points scored by Wilt Chamberlain one night in Hershey, Pa. And in football, a pretty good number to remember would be 408. That\'s the number of wins the immortal Eddie Robinson accumulated ove
Husker Power
Looking back, it\'s hard to believe it. But just 30 years ago, coaches at the University of Nebraska were actually discouraging athletes from lifting weights for fear it would make them muscle bound and slower. My, have times changed in Lincoln. I first came to Nebraska in 1968, competing as a pole valuter on the track and field team. A back injury halted my valuting career in the spring of my junior year. To rehab my back, I went to the weight room every day where a few injured Husker foo
The Winning Business
The work ethic that has steered Larry Kehres to some amazing heights in college football coaching began to take shape a long time ago. The man who has earned four AFMA Coach of the Year awards at Mount Union College in Ohio, Kehres as a youth performed tasks before and after school and had his first job when he was just 10 years old. \"We didn\'t feed chickens every day or anything like that,\'\' says Kehres, who grew up in rural Palmyra township near Alliance. \"But when I was t
The Triple Shoot
During the early winter months of 1999 the University of Wyoming installed a new run-and- shoot-style offense called the \"Triple Shoot.\" We knew going into the season that we would have the usual growing pains associated with the implementation of a new offense. We also had the added concern of starting three freshmen on the offensive line, a freshman at superback (running back) and a freshman in the starting rotation at receiver. We tried to stay as balanced as possible and were
Passing Drills for Young Quarterbacks
Coaching quarterbacks is unique for a number of reasons. First, the spaced repetition time needed to master the mechanics of throwing, setting up to throw, optioning - along with all of the footwork that accompanies the position - is extensive. Secondly, the mental preparation is more demanding than with any other position on the field. Finally, the need for the quarterback to be an on-the-field extension of the head coach and offensive coordinator requires that a unique bond develop between pla
Complete Coach
21st Century Uniforms and Apparel You look good, and you feel good; you play well.by Rod Smith It\'s an adage as old as the game itself. But as we stride into a new century, does this axiom still carry the weight it once did? You bet it does. At the onset of the 21st century, the fusion between sports, entertainment and fashion has never been stronger. Football uniforms are continually becoming more customized, form-fitting and durable. Yet at the same time, t
Equipment Room
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Adversity? What adversity?
Gary Barnett never thinks about what could have been. No way, Barnett said. What\'s done is done. The Rose Bowl season in 1995? No time to think about it. All the job offers he got in 1996? His answer is a resounding, \"No. I made the right decision.\'\' Even after he inherited the nation\'s toughest schedule this year in his second year at the helm of Colorado, Barnett talked only about how much he and his team liked the idea of facing the best of
The Conductor
While other coaches spent the off-season boning up on the latest offensive drills or figuring out how to defend against the pass, Texas Tech\'s Manny Matsakis was curled up with the latest issue of Psychology Today and wondering whether the heavy metal band Metallica could help his kickoff coverage team stop the run-back. So far, Matsakis is convinced his time was well spent. \"Every time we play it, something good happens,\" Matsakis says of his growing love for Metallica w
What\'s the Rush?
When New Mexico State head coach Tony Samuel selected a coaching staff to join him in Las Cruces three years ago, the first priority was to put a physical team on the field. The other coaches and I made a commitment to run the ball. During the past two seasons, the Aggies were ranked 7th and 13th in rushing offense.Since all of the coaches have worked with Nebraska teams, it\'s easy to understand why the option is an integral part of our offensive package. The G-Option is one of the options
Frantastic
When Texas Christian University stomped Arkansas State in its third game this year, it was more than just another win in a season that is supposed to put the once hapless team on the map. The 52-3 drubbing stretched the Horned Frogs\' winning streak to eight - their longest since 1938 and the fourth longest in the country. TCU Coach Dennis Franchione shrugs amicably when asked about the historic victory. \"The only stat I worry about is the \'W,\'\" he says.
Equipment
Issues | November 1999 Equipment Room Chronomix Corp.1-800-538-1548www.chronomix.comThe Practice Timer is a multi-use training tool. It can be programmed for circuit interval training or practice segment timing. When not running programs it can be used as a hundredth of a second stop watch for timing the forty yard dash or laps. Accessories
Why They Return
George Seifert had what seemed like the perfect life. He did what he wanted when he wanted to do it, a leisurely existence that he earned as a retired football coach with the highest winning percentage in NFL history. Following the 1996 season, he left his beloved San Francisco 49ers — the team that once played home games at Kezar Stadium where he served as an usher in high school — after 17 years and embarked on a lifestyle that qualified him for a Robin Leach prof
Follow the Leaders
Contrary to the opinion of many people, leaders are not born. Leaders are made; and they are made by effort and hard work." —Vince Lombardi Providing leadership is one of a football coaching staff's fundamental responsibilities. Coaches are expected to dictate the direction, set the standard and mold the attitude and character of their team. One of the outcomes of effective leadership is the development and empowerment of other leaders. Are you devel
Wannstedt—Winning Again
Given their shared passion for late-night cheese nachos over a few Heinekens, the average nutritionist might suggest that Jimmy Johnson and Dave Wannstedt need the afternoon jog for which they've become notorious. But those who understand and appreciate their seemingly symbiotic relationship—one forged over the past two decades—will tell you otherwise. Johnson and Wannstedt were born to run. Together. After all, that's how the Miami Dolphins' head coach and
The Ultimate Interview
An over-time approach to getting the right candidate for the head coach position. When all things are equal, and the score is tied, how do you determine the better of two outstanding candidates for the head football coach position at a large high school with a very competitive athletic program? This dilemma was tested last spring with excellent results. I offer it to you from the position of a principal at a high school in suburban Kansas City. But
New Equipment
HeavyRopefrom Strength Systems, Inc.800-451-5867www.strength-systems.comThe HeavyRope is a weighted jump rope, allowing an athlete to gain both a cardiovascular and upper-body strength workout at the same time. It is available in one, two, four, five and six-pound weights. A suggested training program is included with each rope.The reason that it's called a HeavyRope is because the rope is weighted with sand. The product is made of a rubber materia
Complete Coach
The smallest edge on your competition can mean the difference between a championship and a season-ending loss. Complete Coach is an educational series helping coaches learn more about products and services dedicated to giving you the edge you need. As a coach some things are out of your control. After all, athletes are born—not made, right? The biggest players always have the biggest heart. And you can't teach someone how to be fast, right? Wrong. If t
Equipment Room
Chronomix Corp.1-800-538-1548www.chronomix.comThe Practice Timer is a multi-use training tool. It can be programmed for circuit interval training or practice segment timing. When not running programs it can be used as a hundredth of a second stop watch for timing the forty yard dash or laps. Accessories are available for printed results or automatic timing. ContinentalAthletic Supply1-800-544-5564www.continentalathletic.com
Innovations
When Ron Dayne broke the Division I-A record for career rushing yards, we couldn't help but measure him against history. If we have any affinity for college football, we can't help ourselves. We plead for perspective. We beg for a sense of where the current era fits in the historical landscape of college football. Is Dayne better than Ricky Williams? Herschel Walker? Tony Dorsett? Archie Griffin? O.J. Simpson? Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch? Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis? Jim Thorpe?
Walking the Sidelines
Every week during college football season, fans routinely cast their eyes on somebody's Top 25 poll - Associated Press, ESPN/USA Todayand several lesser-known ranking systems now incorporated into the Bowl Championship Series formula - to see where their respective schools might stack up with the rest of the nation. These polls are anything but perfect. They spur controversy, often drawing the ire of people in places like Blacksburg, Lincoln, Knoxville, Manhattan and State College
The Fly-T
The Fly-T offense is an offshoot of George Halas\' T-formation.\" Its development is attributed to former L.A. Rams offensive coordinator Hamp Pool. From 1950-55, the talented Rams used this offense to lead the NFL in total offense four times and finish a close second the other year. I played in the Fly-T in high school. And I\'ve been using the fly series sparingly for several years - mainly as a distraction to defensive coordinators. Our present head coach and defensive coordinator,
News & Notes
Raiders, municipality will get their day in courtThe Oakland Raiders have a February court date with their municipal rivals in the team's bid to break its lease. The trial will take place in Sacramento, the city chosen after Oakland and Alameda County asked for a change of venue. The proceedings could run as long as eight weeks. The ruling will decide whether the nomadic Raiders are free to move again - most likely back to Los Angeles — or whether they must remain in Oakla
Complete Coach
As a coach, your time is not only valuable, it's also restricted. And with a finite number of hours in a day, you can only accomplish so much. While many of your daily obligations - such as family, school and boosters - have little or nothing to do with coaching, these obligations force you to become more effective during the short stretches of time when you actually get to focus on coaching. With this in mind, how can you both save and manage your timemore efficiently? The answer li
New Equipment
New Equipment Chronomix Corp.1-800-538-1548www.chronomix.comThe Practice Timer is a multi-use training tool. It can be programmed for circuit interval training or practice segment timing. When not running programs it can be used as a hundredth of a second stop watch for timing the forty yard dash or laps. Accessories are available for printed results or automatic timing. ContinentalAthletic Supply1-800-544-55
1998 American Football Monthly Coordinators of the Year
OFFENSEMike LeachUniversity of Kentucky*(*now at the University of Oklahoma)Sure it is easy to coach one of the best offenses in the country when you have All-American Tim Couch (7 NCAA, 14 SEC and 26 school records) as your QB. But to dismiss the accomplishments of the UK offense and the staff that led it as purely the play of Couch would be a failure to look deep into the system that has produced huge numbers at every stop over a 11-year period. 1998 Amer
Beating the Clock
Walk down the halls of the Minnesota Vikings' picturesque Eden Prairie compound, and you'll come to the end of a hallway where there's a familiar name on the door: Bud Grant. Whether you will find him there or not is anybody's guess. His role as consultant to the franchise doesn't demand the 100-hour work weeks "required" in coaching. But then, Grant was never the type who believed you needed to put in a 100-hour week just to win a ballgame. To find Grant, you'd better get dressed up and h
Q&A With Bud Grant
Q: What is your philosophy on staff management?A: Philosophy is something you are asked about a lot, but I am not so sure everybody has a philosophy or that I have a philosophy. Your coaching staff is vitally important; there is no successful team that doesn't have a good staff. As much as coaching might be overrated, your assistant coaches certainly can't be or shouldn't be. They are really the backbone of the team, because they do most of the work. I think it is important for
Oklahoma's Passing Game Drills
For over 10 years, I had the opportunity to work with University of Kentucky coach Hal Mumme. I was his offensive coordinator at Iowa Wesleyan, Valdosta State and UK, and we were fortunate enough to enjoy some tremendous success. Mumme is as committed to moving the football through the air as any coach I have ever known, and, needless to say, I learned a great deal from him. Since we were going to commit to the passing game, we created an offensive practice plan around developing the ski
News & Notes
Jayhawks and Irish set to open the 1999 season in the Robinson Classic Notre Dame will open the 1999 season by playing host to Kansas in the second Eddie Robinson Classic on Aug. 28. It will be the first time the Irish and Jayhawks have met since 1938, and the Aug. 28 season opener is the earliest in Notre Dame history. The classic benefits the Eddie Robinson Foundation and honors the former Grambling coach who retired after 55 years following the 1997 season. He was inducted into
Family First
For Houston Nutt, his coaching philosophy is crystal clear. It's all about family. Sounds simple enough, but when he arrived at the University of Arkansas, the plan didn't look so easy. He was dealing with 15 seniors who had one season left in a football program that certainly had seen better days in the Southeastern Conference. The players went to him and said, "Coach, we want to win, and we are willing to do whatever it takes to do it." Nutt could have slid into a pessimistic fra
\'The Punch\'
*Photos/Diagrams are no longer available* Every snap is a hand-to-hand war at the line of scrimmage. Somewhere along the line offensive linemen have been taught that they should be passive and \"take the blows,\" \"deflect the force,\" or \"re-direct\" their defensive line opponents. I do not buy into that thought process; never have and never will. That type of thinking will get you beat. I believe that the \"PUNCH\" technique has revolutionized how offensive linemen are tau
The Other Side of the Ball
While most of the attention on our football team during the last few years has been focused on the offensive side of the ball and the great job of our former head coach Gary Crowton (now offensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears) and the play of our quarterback Tim Rattay and record-setting wide receiver Troy Edwards, we've also had some success on defense. We have accomplished this success by working as a staff to discover new and innovative ways to maximize the time we have with
Splitting Ranks
Don't mess with tradition. That's what Lawrence High School head football coach Dick Purdy might have told voters prior to the November 1994 bond issue vote that would eventually split Kansas' largest high school and most dominant football power into two separate schools. However, this was a battle that even tradition couldn't withstand. Voters approved the $36.9 million bond issue and in the fall of 1997 the city's second high school-Free State High School-opened its doors to the pub
News and Notes
Judge sends message to the NCAA: "No more SAT!" 302 NCAA Division I programs were cast adrift in a boat without a rudder or sail by a decision that sent shock waves throughout all of college football. U.S. District Court Judge Ronald Buckwalter ruled that the NCAA and its institutions may not use a minimum test score as a basis for eligibility. However, on March 31, an appeals court issued a temporary stay order to halt the imposition of the judge's ruling which would have completely disa
May 1999 Staff Meeting Letter from Publisher Reader Feedback News and Notes No more SAT? • H
New Equipment
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Fulmer's Way
In Knoxville, Phillip Fulmer Way intersects with Peyton Manning Pass right in front of the main entrance to Neyland Stadium. But, no one really needs directions to the famed shrine of college football that has seen Phil Fulmer emerge as one of the nation's top collegiate coaches. Tennessee appreciates their favorite son. His face graces the covers of books and magazines and now the street that leads loyal Volunteer fans to the football stadium has been renamed in his honor. The 19
Letter from the Publisher
One day early in September, I was involved in a conversation that both reminded me of one of my favorite feel good "heck yeah... he's doing it right" stories of last summer, and compelled me to make a mental note to remember to share it with you. A very good friend of mine has a son who is currently a freshman player at one of the country's top football schools. This kid is a player and was recruited by virtually every school in the nation. At practice in August he quickly showed promi
The Communicator
He is everywhere in Baltimore. The slender face with the receding hairline and jutting jaw is on several Baltimore-area billboards or in team advertisements in national sports magazines. He has been active in the community, not selling just the Ravens, but himself. One day could include several motivational speeches that might have stops at the Baltimore Teachers Association or a high school football clinic with 200 coaches. Brian Billick has enamored fans in Baltimore. He quote
Bo
Glenn E. "Bo" Schembechler retired after the 1989 season as the winningest coach in the illustrious history of Michigan football (194-48-5). Schooled as an assistant under the legendary Woody Hayes, Bo's name became synonymous with toughness, winning, Wolverine football, and dominance in the 1970's as his teams won more regular season games than any other school (96-10-3). During his 21-year tenure at the Big House, Michigan won or tied for 13 Big 10 championships, and he guided 17 teams to bow
Re-Examining Spearing
Every few years the problem is rediscovered in the media by a cervical spine injury in the NFL. Most recently it was Detroit Lions linebacker Reggie Brown. Television networks show the hit numerous times and stories appear in newspapers and magazines. But the injury is always portrayed as an unfortunate accident. It's not used to educate the football community that there is an identified cause for these injuries. No one says, "Reggie Brown made the mistake of loweri
Brian Billick Q & A
Q.In your decision to take the job, how important was the philosophical commitment from the top management at Baltimore for the development of a winning franchise in your overall analysis of the situation?A. Without the proper commitment and support from the overall organization, winning on the field is virtually impossible. This means having the same passion and commitment for the game as the players and coaches. I have experienced many times, particularly at the college level,
Offensive Minded
When University of Kentucky athletic director C.M. Newton was searching for a football coach after the 1996 season and called Florida's Steve Spurrier for suggestions, the Gator boss didn't throw out any names. Just a formula. "I told him to go after an offensive-minded guy because that's how you move the ball up and down the field, win games, win championships and put fans in the seats," said Spurrier. In other words, somebody like, well, himself. Newton took Spurrie
New Equipment
Chronomix Corp.1-800-538-1548www.chronomix.comThe Practice Timer is a multi-use training tool. It can be programmed for circuit interval training or practice segment timing. When not running programs it can be used as a hundredth of a second stop watch for timing the forty yard dash or laps. Accessories are available for printed results or automatic timing. ContinentalAthletic Supply1-800-544-5564www.continentalathletic.com
Win-Win Situation
If it had been a marriage last January - so sudden, so shockingly surprising - the town gossips would have had a field day. Dashing Dennis Erickson, the coach who won two national football championships at Miami, and Oregon State, the ungainly spinster of college football? No way. It can't last, the gossips would have said. Oregon State just got him on the rebound from that nasty mess in Seattle. Gosh, he can't be the desperate, can he? After all the bright lights, and the fame
Letter to the Editor
Sometimes when you do something day after day, you lose sight of the importance of what you are doing. Toyou, it becomes "just a job". Do you ever coast through the day on cruise control? Teach classes. Go to practice.Look at film. Is it that way for other people you come into contact with during your work week?Do you ever wonder if the dentist is really thinking about you and your cavity, or is he just performing another filling, while daydreaming of his upcoming vacation to Hawaii?
News & Notes
Ravens loaned $65 million from NFL lender The NFL has arranged a $65 million, short-term loan for the Baltimore Ravens, backed by the eventual sale of part of the franchise to a new investor, according to The Baltimore Sun. Team owners voted overwhelmingly to approve the bailout for Ravens controlling partner Art Modell, one of the league's longest-standing owners. His financial problems have prompted several NFL actions in recent years, including the 1996 vote to all
It's Not About the Plays . . . It's About the Players.
Twice a year, after the college football season and again after spring drills, University of Oregon coach Mike Bellotti arms himself with a yellow legal pad, and a supply of pens, and spends most of several consecutive days in his office. He isn't, on those occasions, scribbling Xs and Os. He isn't tinkering with the sophisticated offense that has placed Oregon in the top 20 in the nation in passing in five of the last six seasons. He isn't refining the strategies that
New Equipment
New Equipment Chronomix Corp.1-800-538-1548www.chronomix.comThe Practice Timer is a multi-use training tool. It can be programmed for circuit interval training or practice segment timing. When not running programs it can be used as a hundredth of a second stop watch for timing the forty yard dash or laps. Accessories are available for printed results or automatic timing. ContinentalAthletic Supply1-800-544-5564
Main Attraction
It's not like Mack Brown didn't have enough to worry about in his first year at the helm of the University of Texas football program. There was picking up the pieces from a dreadful 4-7 season and the enormous expectations of the "Hook 'em, 'Horns" faithful. Not to mention the separate controversies that precipitated his arrival in the Lone Star State. One being the firing of his predecessor, John Mackovic, and the other the bitter feelings that lingered in North Carolina when B
The Warhawk Way
Special teams practice and organization of time is always critical to any good football team. At UW-Whitewater, we have been very fortunate to have an offense that averages 40-plus points per game over the last three seasons. Along with a high-point average, comes a huge number of kick-offs and field position changes for our defense. We select kick-off coverage personnel mostly from the defensive side, particularly linebackers and defensive backs. Occasionally, we will use a fast, agi
Letters to AFM
We want your input! Letters to AFM should include the name, address and telephone number of the writer. Mail to: AFM, P.O. Box 13079, North Palm Beach, FL, 33408. Or, you can e-mail your letter to us at letters@americanfootballmonthly.com or reach us via fax at (561) 627-5275. Visit AFM online at www.americanfootballmonthly.com. Dear AFM: You recently asked, "Why does America love football?" There are a
A Bronx Tale
It is said that New York City is like no other place on Earth. To its public school football coaches, the phrase takes on an entirely different meaning. The Big Apple is, in many ways, high school football's final frontier. The sport somehow is managing to survive in an environment where all too often it seems the forces are aligned to squelch it out. By and large, high school teams in the city are under funded and many operate with no money provided by the Public Schools Athle
What Do You Expect?
Over the years, Bishop Amat Memorial High School (Calif.) has achieved notable success. The school has been recognized by the U.S. Congress as one of the "Exemplary Private High Schools in the Nation" and consistently receives the highest possible accreditations from the various associations and boards responsible for scholastic certification. This tradition of academic achievement has found its way onto the athletic fields of Bishop Amat, as well. Since their first varsity football s
New Equipment
New Equipment Wilson NCAA Footballs773-714-6400www.wilsonsports.comAll Wilson NCAA Game Footballs are made of Horween® 864 leather with tanned-in tack and lockstitch construction with 3 patterns to choose from 1001, 1005 and 1004.1001- Most Division 1 Schools use the 1001, same pattern and size as the NFL Game Ball.1005- Better known as the "small ball", the 1005 is growing in popularity as a ball that is easier to grip and throw for play
Youth Issue
The following pages dedicated to youth football are the first of what I know will become an annual supplement to our magazine. This is our effort to help the thousands of men, who give so willingly of their time to enrich the lives of the young men playing youth football at parks and sandlots across the country. Whether it be Pop Warner, Police Athletic Leagues, Park and Rec. leagues, or NFL Flag teams, the youth coach is the backbone of the sport. These teachers are coaches and mentors in th
Head Game
Wouldn't it be great to be able to match player personalities with particular football positions to get the best performance from the entire team and thereby improve the chances of success for the players and the team? The focus of this article is on a new and promising line of research that links a player's personality with his playing position on the field. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a personality test that has been used for years in various settings, especially in the
New Equipment
Rocket Pop-upFrom Rogers Athletic Company800-248-0270Help young players develop aggressiveness and safely master the blocking and tackling skills needed for victory. The Rocket Pop-up comes to its feet after every hit, freeing other players from holding or righting standard dummies. Jersey-style numbers give youth aiming points for practicing correct techniques.The Rocket Pop-up is a foam-filled dummy so there is never a loss of practice time due to leaking air
News & Notes
Colorado vs. Colorado State will continue to play in DenverThe rivalry between Colorado and Colorado State will be played at Denver's Mile High Stadium for two more years. The two in-state rivals, who played their first 69 meetings in either Boulder or Fort Collins, met last season at Mile High Stadium for the first time. School officials signed a contract to continue the Invesco Rocky Mountain Showdown in the final two years of Mile High Stadium's existence. Mile High will be replace
Whiplashed:
When Mark Whipple was on his way home last spring from the Atlantic-10 Conference meetings, the rookie head coach at the University of Massachusetts decided to buy one of those preseason football magazines to see where the so-called experts believed the Minutemen would finish in league play. Much to his dismay, UMass was the only team among 11 conference schools not mentioned in this magazine's A-10 forecast. It was as if the program didn't even exist. "We weren't in there, m
Coach of the Year: Bill Snyder
There's a story to illustrate the apathy. Its authenticity is tough to attribute, but the tale is too good not to share. A kid, who undoubtedly had room to roam in empty KSU Stadium, had enough by the fourth quarter and began acting up. His father in all likelihood a diehard since he hadn't fled for the exits, reportedly told his son, "If you keep that up, I'll bring you back next week." Cruel punishment indeed. Today, the bleacher space that kid could have used to se
Clock Management
A year ago, I wrote a book called Football Clock Management. In the course of writing it, I did a great deal of research. One category of that research was games that were won in dramatic fashion in the final seconds. That category contains a surprising number of downfield-lateral plays-although fewer in recent years than in the past. It should not be that way. In fact, there should be infinitely more downfield laterals in today's football games. The most famous downfield-late
The Philosophy of Gaucho Football
Note: The following pages are directly out of the staff manual of one of the nation's top junior college programs. While it is somewhat different than anything heretofore offered in "Outline to Victory," we feel that the thoughts contained wherein may help crystallize the views of you and your staff. Special thanks to Bill Cunerty, who, due to health concerns, recently stepped down. ELSIf you are reading this, you are a member of the best coaching staff in community college football.
Youngstown's 'Dave' Play
Over the past 12 years, fans and opponents of Youngstown State have come to understand that Penguin Football is tailback football. Our "Dave" play is one that can average four-plus yards on any down and can consistently gain the yardage needed for a first down when facing a short yardage or goal line situation. During our championship years, we have called this play over 220 times a season. Because of its use and the nature of our offense, we must prepare two tailbacks while a third a
UConn's Bracket and Vice Defensive Techniques
We play different types of man coverage with our nickel package. The advantages of this coverage are that we can take away our opponent's number one receiver, or the number one route they run. Bracket Coverage Diagram 1Diagram 2 Diagram 3Diagram 4 In bracket coverage, we double the number two receiver from a horizontal viewpoint, meaning we will find his release and then react. In Diagram 1, you will see the initial ali
High-Flying Hornets
Emporia State University, an NCAA Division II school in the prestigious MIAA (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association) Conference, featured the most balanced, yet explosive offensive attack in all of college football. Utilizing an attack with four receivers, no tight ends or fullback, the Hornets established 42 ESU, 30 MIAA, and nine NCAA records. No tight end and no fullback. Wait a minute, is this the run-and-shoot? Hardly. To say that the Hornets have achieved these acco
Letters to the Publisher
Dear Publisher: First, let me congratulate you and AFM on your article outlining minority coaching issues (The Dilemma of Black Coaches, Vol. 3, 3rd Quarter). The article's fair and objective presentation of the issues dealing with minority hiring presented the problems well. Yet, as we now sit in the midst of another hiring season, there is an even greater reason for concern. On the heels of a dismal hiring record in '97, we must ask: Are we off to greater disappoitment in 1998? T
When Tragedy Strikes
When the home telephone of a college football coach rings late at night, it's often the kind of news he'd rather not hear. Usually, it means a player has been arrested, violated a rule or done something to anger someone. Such thoughts ran through the head of Mississippi State Coach Jackie Sherrill when he picked up the telephone at his home on the evening of August 5. The news was, indeed, bad. But this time, it was so bad it made an arrest or a rule violation seem small and insignific
Pay Attention
In order to be a successful football player, one must be able to focus his attention on the right cues at the right time. The position a player plays often determines whether that player's focus of attention should be broad (large) or narrow (small), internal (from within), or external (from outside sources, i.e. teammates, opponents, playing surface). The purpose of this article is to focus on the kicker. Here are some guidelines to help increase your kicker's ability to direct his at
Closed Head Injuries in Football
When his eight concussions in nine NFL seasons forced New York Jets wide receiver Al Toon to retire on November 27, 1992, the event was overshadowed by another, arguably more serious injury. Two days later, in a contest between the Jets and Kansas City Chiefs, teammate and defensive end Dennis Byrd suffered a fractured vertebra when he collided violently with teammate Scott Mersereau, leaving Byrd partially paralyzed and requiring surgery to stabilize his spine. The lack of natio
1997 AFM Coordinators of the Year
OffenseAL BORGESUCLAChico State '81What a difference a year makes when shaping the identity of a program. Take, for example, the Bruins of UCLA and offensive coordinator Al Borges, who recently participated in year two of Bob Toledo's tenure. From the moans and groans of an inaugural 5-6 campaign came the hope for progress in 1997. A young, learning quarterback. Five starters on the offensive line. Experience on both sides of the ball. "We wanted to
NFL Coach of the Year
Picture Sir Edmund Hillary, circa 1953. How might he have felt, standing atop Mount Everest for the first time, if some anonymous Sherpa guide suddenly tapped him on the shoulder and said, "Nice job on this Everest thing and all but, uh, have you seen the really big one behind you?" Tony Dungy might know that feeling. Having just scaled his own Everest in '96 as he finally landed the NFL head coaching job that had eluded him for 10 years, Dungy was presented with this Tibetan-siz
Q&A With Tony Dungy
Q: It seems to me you believe coaches and players have a responsibility to the kids that look up to them. How do you feel about the role of an athlete in the community?A: Whether you want to be or not, you have to face the facts that you are a role model and that's part of the job. I don't necessarily like all the things that go along with it, like dealing with the media and doing interviews. I'd much rather just sit here--all I want to do is coach the team and that's it. But it is part
Letter From Publisher
I may be accused of 'Monday morning quarterbacking,' but, during the 1997 season I saw a growing trend of what I believe to be an under-utilized weapon in the arsenal of coaches: clock management. I remember each time telling myself. 'How can this be?' 'I am not a coach, I must be wrong. These guys are the experts; there must be a good reason they did not do this or did do that.' Yet, certain results or potential results could be avoided with proper time management and the exercise
Extraordinary Success Miami's Onside Kicking Game
At Miami, we teach and use the onside kick in two specific ways: (1) a "surprise" kick where we attempt to catch our opponents off guard; and (2) the desperation situation-the typical onside kick circumstance where you have to get the ball back. We have been exceptionally efficient in this phase of the game. As a matter of fact, during 1997 in our game versus New England (November 23, 1997), our kick coverage team recovered an NFL record three in the same game. I am convinced our success
Wisdom in a Multitude of Counselors
The NFL Draft covered so colorfully this April by an array of ESPN expert commentators has once again captivated the American football psyche with an over-analysis of this "game within the game." The annual reloading of America's major college and professional football teams through the recruiting and drafting process challenges to exceed the game itself in importance. Any wise coach knows having the right names on the backs of the jerseys can overcome any number of coaching shortfa
Letters to the Publisher
Dear Publisher: I enjoyed reading the Clinic Bonus Clock Management (Vol. 3, 4th Quarter), by John T. Reed. Mr. Reed brings up some interesting points that all coaches must be aware of when the game gets down to crunch time. At Ohio State, we use the time/down/ time out table on our game plan call sheets. We take it a step further by having a second table which is the situation of having just made a first down. We can roughly add 24 seconds to the change of possession table so we ar
Texas Tech's Double Screen
One of the biggest advantages an offense can have in a game is an ability to keep the opposing defense off balance. At Texas Tech, we try to gain such an advantage in a variety of ways. One of our main goals is to mix the running game with the passing game using a large variety of formations. Another of our biggest weapons on offense is our screen game. I would like to talk about one of our most successful and unique screen passes. We call this play "Double Screen." Double
Q&A With Mack Brown
Q: When you came in, you talked about reaching out to the high school coaches. Now did you find the things that you did were any different than your philosophies at Carolina, or just something not done in Texas in recent years? A: I'm not sure what's been done in here in the past, and I'd rather not look back. We're doing the same things here that we did at Tulane and at North Carolina. We enjoy the high school coaches, we know they are the lifeblood of college football regardless of wh
Letter From the Publisher
Bud Grant, the Hall of Fame coach of the Minnesota Vikings (18 years, 158-96-5, 12 playoff teams and four Super Bowl appearances, all after a successful Hall of Fame career as a CFL coach with Winnipeg: 10 years, 102-56-2, and four Grey Cup championships), was an innovator in the "self-scouting" concept. He was a great believer in "coaching people" and getting to know what made them tick. Grant was known for creating rules during training camp simply to test his players. He wanted to know fo
The Eyes of Texas are Upon Brown
The youthful looking forty-something coach had told everyone who would listen he wasn't going anywhere. His team, the media, the fans. North Carolina had become home, and he was just dandy there, thank you. Kids in school. Roots. A wife with a lucrative land development business. Perhaps more compelling, Mack Brown had a top ten program two-years running, a program he had nutured from the brink of abandonment 10 years before. Those close to Brown, personally and professionally
The Truth About Creatine
Athletes in all sports, especially football, are always looking for ways to become bigger, stronger and faster. To attain the quintessential trifecta of size, strength and speed, athletes have been known to use any and all means necessary. Unfortunately, even alternatives with documented harmful side effects such as steroids have been seen as viable options. The current "magic potion" for many athletes is creatine monohydrate. But what is it? What will it do? And, does it actually do w
Keep the Chains Moving
Achieving results on third down is one of the biggest keys to winning any football game. Third-down situations are often pivotal in determining the outcome of a game. A key stop for the defense can change momentum or significantly alter field-position advantage. Conversely, a conversion by the offense can keep a drive alive, eat up clock time, and keep scoring opportunities available. For the offense, the objective is simple: keep the football by making the necessary yardage. Severa
This page brings together American Football Monthly's expert articles dedicated to optimizing Football Practice. Here you'll find valuable insights, proven techniques, and innovative ideas from experienced coaches on how to make the most of your valuable practice time.
Discover strategies and tips covering all aspects of practice management:
- Practice Planning: Creating detailed daily and weekly practice plans, scripting periods, and setting clear objectives.
- Structuring Practices: Organizing sessions for optimal flow, transition time, and focus on different phases (individual, group, team).
- Efficiency & Tempo: Maximizing quality repetitions, minimizing downtime, and controlling the pace of practice.
- Drill Integration: Selecting and implementing drills effectively to teach technique and reinforce scheme concepts.
- Skill Development: Designing practice segments focused on improving fundamental and position-specific skills.
- Player Engagement: Keeping players focused, motivated, and actively learning throughout practice.
- Safety Considerations: Implementing protocols to ensure a safe practice environment.
- Practice Evaluation: Methods for assessing the effectiveness of practice sessions and making adjustments.
Practice Search Results
From Practice to Program: How to Build Youth Football the Right WayBuilding a successful youth football program starts long before Friday nights. It begins with intentional, well-organized practices that maximize development, keep kids engaged, and create a positive experience for everyone involved.
THE CREATIVE ACT OF COACHING
Artists create at the edges of chaos and order. They take others’ advice as information, not a prescription. They understand that someone else’s path is not their path. And remind us that the only practice that matters is the one we consistently do.
Southwest Minnesota State In-Season Practice Schedules
Cover: Getting the Most Out of Special Team Practices – By Andre Powell, Special Teams Coach, University of Pittsburgh
The Drills Report: Fundamental Defensive End Training
T he defensive line is home to some of the knees and hips should be as close to 90-de- largest, most athletic players in sports, gree angles as possible. This ensures that the particularly at the defensive end position. lineman isn’t overextended, which will result in Focusing on the fundamentals of a defensive lose of power when firing out. Once his stance lineman is crucial to properly develop a force is optimized, we then shift our focus to the to neutralize
Strength Report: Football Specific Conditioning, Part II
E very head coach desires to have traction. While performing speed training, to sprinting because unnecessary tension mechanics can be improved solely by run- team speed; that is, players that in the body will restrict the speed of limb movements. can run fast at every position on the field. Heavy squats are used to increase ning at faster speeds. The knees will lift It is a common understanding that higher and a desirable forefoot strike oc- force output;
Locking Down a Slot Wide Receiver
Learning some techniques and progressions on covering a slot receiver will give you a foundation to improve your one-on-one match up in the slot. There are a variety of drills specifically for man-to-man technique that you can practice. Offensive coordinators are placing a premium on using spread systems. Therefore, the DB’s have to possess the skills to cover all types of players all over the field. Covering in the slot is a different facet of their craft and needs to be emphasi
Off-Season Drill Work for Offensive Linemen
The off-season, specifically the cycles around spring football, January through March and May through August, are absolutely vital to the growth and development of an offensive lineman. It is when they make the most significant gains in upper and lower body strength, speed, conditioning and explosiveness as well as continuing to develop and improve position specific technique. We preach the concept of doing it harder and better than it’s ever been done before. It is a constant strain to imp
State Champions 2015 – The Best of the Best
Gary Rankin – Alcoa High School, TNSpread Offense • 4-3 Defense• Tennessee’s all-time winningest high school coach.• Won 7 state championships in his 10 years at the school.• Averaged 32 points in playoff games last fall, surrendering only 4.5 ppg.• Defeated Christ Presbyterian Academy in 3A state title game, 20-0.Chris Wolfe – Male High School, L
Hal Mumme – The Godfather of the Air Raid Offense
Considered the original architect of the Air Raid Offense, Hal Mumme developed his passing game after studying the playbook of LaVell Edwards, the near-legendary coach of BYU. Mumme first brought the offense to Texas when he was the head coach at Copperas Cove High School. Mumme studied Edwards and built the high school program into a consistent power with the strength of a wide open passing attack. In those days the I-formation was king but Mumme saw possibilities with three and four receive
Leadership Strategies: How to Develop a Steady Stream of ‘Championship Level QBs in Your Program, Part I
There is not much argument in any level of football that to win consistently and compete for championships you need strong quarterback play. So what defines ‘strong quarterback play’ and how do you develop that consistently within an organization? This series of articles will lay out a clear path that can easily be followed in any program given the proper attention. Let’s first discuss what goes into the makings of a great quarterback. From there, you’ll be in a better posi
Drills Report: Special Teams Organization for Competition Drills and Circuits
One of the greatest challenges for coaching special teams at all levels is how to get maximum quality reps in the most efficient manner possible during practice. Teaching multiple skills and techniques to 60+ players takes the combined effort of the entire coaching staff. I rely on all our coaches to help teach our players different aspects of the kicking game. It also takes a great deal of planning and organization so that your time on the field is efficient.One organizational con
Strength Report: Football Specific Conditioning, Part I
Football is an explosive sport requiring power and speed in linear and non-linear sport specific movements. With the average time per play lasting 6 seconds and a 40 second play clock, football is an interval based sport switching from high intensity bursts of about 6 seconds and low intensity active-recovery periods of about 40 seconds. Due to the high intensity nature of each play, one goal of the off-season conditioning program is to train the capacity and efficiency of the short duration,
Creating Turnovers Through Ball Disruption
As a head coach for 11 years, I have also worn the title of the offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator, and even though I am an offensive coordinator by heart, I realize more and more in this profession how important your defense is to your program’s success. As a defensive coordinator, one of the things I like to do after every season is review each game film and try to see what made us successful and what hurt us each game. Defensively, the main things I like to focus on while wa
Effective Strategies for Dealing with Man - Coverage Beaters: Stacks, Bunches and Mesh
ULM’s 3-3-5 defensive scheme is known for its aggressive style of play predicated on five and six-man pressure. To effectively utilize this type of defense, the pass coverage system must be proficient in man-to-man coverage. The ability to play cover 1 and cover 0 allows the defensive line and linebackers a great deal of freedom to find numerous ways to pressure the quarterback and stop the run by outnumbering the offense at or near the line of scrimmage. Of course, no defensive scheme is w
Missouri Protection - Teaching Pass Blocking Fundamentals to Running Backs
Using the right technique, four protection drills will help your running backs protect the quarterback.When we teach protection, there are a variety of drills that I use. I start with the base of the body, which are the feet, and I work my way up to the hands and the upper body. I start with the feet because that is where everything begins. A phrase I use a lot when coaching is get the right “Body Position.” I talk to running backs about blocking the defender with their feet.
Post- Season Priorities - Wrapping up one season and transitioning to the next are critical times for successful programs
When your season ends, do you kick back, relax and get away from the game for a couple months? Of course not. Whether it’s formulating and implementing an off-season strength and conditioning program, ushering in a new group of players and preparing them for the following season or putting together motivational exercises, every successful coach knows that winter presents an opportunity for physical and mental team building.To find out how the best coaches approach the post season
Linebacker Movement Drill Progressions
When developing drill progressions for your position group, it is important to break down the points of emphasis that you want to develop on a daily basis. Since individual period time is so valuable at all positions, it is crucial to stay organized to maximize the efficiency of the drill work you accomplish with your position group. By breaking down a position through film study we are able to create drill progressions that fit our scheme, personnel, and practice scripts to accomplish proper
Conditioning for an Aggressive, Up-Tempo Offensive System
Up-tempo offenses have become more and more popular at all levels of football and whether this is your team’s offensive philosophy or not, chances are that there are several teams like this in your conference or on your schedule that you must prepare for. Before we can begin to discuss the particulars of conditioning for an attacking, fast-paced style of play such as the up-tempo offense, we have to take a look at the dynamics of a typical football game and how we try to alter those dynamic
Every Program Needs a Speed System Like the One at Southeastern Louisiana
For the past 20 years it has become understood that football speed training is beneficial. However, what’s often missing in speed programs is the lack of a technically sound system. According to the definition of the word ‘system’ it’s “a group of related parts that move or work together.” This is the very essence of what makes a speed program viable. Many organizations throughout the country address the issue of speed training but may not be aware they could be missing the most i
A Little Help From Your Friends
The Beatles told us that you can Get By With A Little Help From Your Friends……And nothing could be more true within the world of coaching football. Your Membership in American Football Monthly provides you with a golden opportunity to submit YOUR EXPERIENCE to be shared with your fellow coaches. We want you to consider contributing and helping your peers become better coaches. Do you have ideas you always wanted to share? Do you have t
UNC-Charlotte Offensive Line Blocking Stations
Editor’s Note: UNC-Charlotte former offensive line coach Ed Ratliff wrote this clinic this summer before his sudden passing. Ratliff died of natural causes in early August and was both an experienced and respected coach. Our deepest condolences to his family and friends.We start practice with a blocking station circuit that sets the tone for the day. We play in a fast tempo offense that runs the inside zone, counter play, and power play. We take pride in starting practice fast and wo
A Quick, Simple, High Rep Progression for Defeating Blocks
Repetitions with four different ways to defeat blocks – the rip, punch, slip and cut techniques – will help improve your overall defense.One of the many great things about being at Butler University is being centrally located and having so many terrific football programs very close to use as professional development resources. Let’s be clear, no one is inventing a new defense. However, there are many different schemes, philosophies, fits, terminology, etc. This is where I think a
Why Coach? Being Compassionate, Optimistic, Attentive, Confident and Humanistic are Some of the Qualities a Coach Should Possess
When I was invited to submit an article to AFM, I figured I would simply put some drills together, share some concepts, propose a few diagrams and maybe even talk about the transition of players from high school football to college competition. After all, that’s what we, as coaches, would need for personal or professional development, right? I shared my ideas with colleagues in the office and even surveyed some young coaches who were helping with our sum
RAISING THE BAR - Transforming your Training Facility
Master Strength & Conditioning Coach Troy Jorgensen of Missouri Southern State University has transformed his training facility – with the help of Samson Equipment.Top collegiate programs are well aware of the importance of having facilities that will impress recruits and give their athletes an edge. That’s especially true with strength and conditioning facilities.But what about smaller colleges – those non-FBS schools that generally operate with much smaller
Ways to Turn a Season Around – Four Coaches Have Proven Ways to Help Turn a Season Around After a Struggling Start
Dan Rohn Grand Rapids West Catholic High School (MI) In 2013, Coach Dan Rohn’s Grand Rapids West Catholic team started the season 1-4 – and went on to win the Michigan state championship. In 2012, West Catholic started 1-3 – and reached the state championship game. In Rohn’s first eight seasons, West Catholic won its season opener only three times. It’s all part of the plan. “We gear everything toward being the best football team in
Leadership Strategies: Prima Donna Athletes – Transformational Leadership vs. Servant Leadership
Narcissus, a beautiful youth, glanced into a pool of water. Rejecting the nymph Echo, he fell in love with his own reflection. – Greek mythologyTying Greek mythology to football isn’t really a stretch, given the fact high school coaches are continually faced with one or more players who believe the team is there to serve them and not vice versa. Many coaches label these players as ‘cancers’. Unless, of course, they are clocked in the 40-yard dash under 4.5 or are of behemoth si
Using the Clean and Jerk as Your In-Season Workout
In my weight room the clean and jerk is our lift during the season. It builds explosiveness and has shown to keep athletes healthy. The clean primarily works the hamstrings, lattisumus dorsi, biceps, and trapezius muscles. Players learn with this lift to be explosive because it teaches to produce a large amount of force in a very short period of time. Another benefit of the lift is that it works hips and glutes. They are two very important areas that have to do with power and speed
AFM Subscribers Ask with Shawn Liotta Offensive Coordinator, Clairton High School (PA)
Shawn Liotta is the offensive coordinator at Clairton High School (PA), a team which averaged 59.9 points per game last season. Clairton also averaged 12.8 yards per play and 510 yards in total offense per game, even though the PIAA Mercy Rule was in effect in the second half of 12 of the 16 games his team played. His offense is aptly named the ‘No-Huddle, No Mercy’ offense.Along the way, Clairton’s quarterback, running back and wide receiver each set school records last fall
Shrug Off Predictability with Formation Adjustments, Not Checks – Offensive coaches, now more than ever, are using non-traditional sets to gain an advantage on the defense.
Football has always been a game of numbers, leverage and angles. Offenses are constantly adjusting their formations and schemes to gain the advantage. You normally hear this in regards to the run game but, it applies to the pass game as well. Now more than ever, offensive coaches are using non-traditional sets (i.e., Bunch, Empty, Unbalanced) to gain the numeric or angle advantages on the defense. They also are taking advantage of another situation – predictability.If you are lik
Warhawk Special Team Play – Technique and Drills
Special teams are a major determining factor in the outcome of football games at any level. It is fundamental that you stress not only the importance of special teams to your program but also continually drill them and show them the results that you want. This is our philosophy for special teams play:• We use the KISS principle – Keep It Simple Stupid – which allows you to focus on fundamentals.• Give the illusion that you do a lot of different formations, moti
Texas Legend Phil Danaher
Phil Danaher has been the head coach at Calallen High School (Corpus Christi, Texas) since 1984. He is one of two coaches in the history of Texas high school football that has amassed over 400 wins. Danaher has a chance in 2016 to surpass the all-time leader – G. A. Moore – who won 426 games over a 44-year career. Danaher’s career record is 407-103-4.Danaher’s teams have made the playoffs every year since he arrived at Calallen. Before he took over the program, Calallen had
Leadership Strategies: In Need of a New Direction
Coaching staffs should not expect seniors to lead simply based on their age. So, the ultimate goal of our program became to build better men, to help them to grow individually, and eventually teach them how to lead other young men. The result of our emphasis on leadership has been impressive. In 2014 we had a 13-game winning streak that included a #1 Missouri state ranking, a top 150 national ranking, and a narrow defeat in the Class 5 State Semifinals. Provid
Coach to Coach: To Overcome Early Season Adversity, Become a Champ
Early season adversity is common in football. Whether the adversity is a devastating loss, poor team chemistry, or another issue, a pre-planned process for improvement is necessary. Here are some suggestions for overcoming adversity and becoming a CHAMP. Can DoAdversity is often hard to overcome because individuals and teams stay focused on the problem for too long. A loss or setback always stings, and it should, but moving on and not looking back is essential for improvement.
Pre-Season Conditioning and Speed Training – The Good, The Bad, The Indifferent – Part II
We’ve clearly established that you need to consider using the proper energy system that delivers the greatest return for your training investment. I will not argue the choice you make as stated in part one of this article that you should or shouldn’t condition. That’s your choice. However, if you do condition at all, you need to come up to speed by selecting the right system available for your time spent.Anaerobic conditioning is the ability to perform at a rate faster than c
Tackling Drills Without Pads
What can help develop a player to be a better tackler? One thing a player can do to be a better tackler is to know their surroundings. In knowing their surroundings, I’m talking about the scheme, and not only their fits, but the fits of players on either side of them. One of the biggest things we forget as coaches is to teach our players where their help is. Knowing where their help is allows them to play faster and attack in proper angles. Not knowing where your help is creates a slower, t
Developing Physical Linebacker Play
From my standpoint, the greatest compliment our defensive staff can receive is at the end of the game having the opposing coach say how hard and physical our guys played. Playing hard is something that every coach demands from their team. Playing a physical style necessarily is not. If we do not practice being physical, how can I expect my guys to come out on Saturday and play physical? We try and recruit naturally physical kids, but we all know sometimes it does not work out that way. Over t
Building Character and Commitment Through Community Service
By Dan Kratzer, Former Head Coach South Dakota School of Mines and Technology In season community service is part of every freshman’s commitment to the school. We let them know from the start that part of the responsibility in this world is to not always think of themselves, but to think and do for others. As the majority of our players are either math, science o0r engineering majors, they have a tendency to be somewhat introverted. So, we wanted to do something that
AEMA Report: Challenges Female Equipment Managers Face Working Football
Female equipment managers face many challenges working for the football team. For many decades the world of football has been dominated mostly by men with women playing only minor roles, if any. As we grow as a society and as a sport, women are starting to emerge in football in a variety of roles that once were thought to only be done by males. The world of football equipment has been, in particular, one of the harder positions for females to work. Many coaches and support staff have always b
Your Take: Long Hours, Hard Work – Do You Spend Your Time Doing What Matters Most?
If you are a head football coach, chances are that you are also a husband, father and classroom teacher. Usually guys that are wired to be a head football coach are wired to give their best in everything they do. How in the world do you balance all of the demands that go with those roles? Are you active in your church? I have spent 23 years as a head football coach. The last 19 years were at Mason County High School (KY). I underestimated how much work I would have to do when I became the new
Explosive Drills for Running Backs
Here are three running back drills that will help players’ overall agility and increase their explosiveness. Each one should be practiced daily throughout the season.1. Jump Cut/Spin DrillI love a running back that has the ability to flow into
Coaching HD – Technology to Prepare Your Team in Camp and During the Season
As another season is ready to commence, now is the time to solidify plans and details, and be sure that you are able to work through the grind of the season in the smartest way possible. Utilizing technology to help you and your staff be efficient will pay dividends in both preparation for each week as well as alleviating some of the stress that comes with the long work day that the season brings.In 2010, huge advancements improved the way we are able to work as coaches. The film r
Coaching the Blitzing Linebacker – Learning the proper progressions, techniques, and then drills for a blitzing linebacker will improve his performance on game day.
Attacking with linebackers and slanting the defensive linemen creates an opportunity to be unique and aggressive. Blitzing linebackers creates opportunities to change the defense into an over or under defense after the snap. When this is done with the 3-3-5 stack alignment, there is flexibility to match offensive numbers or be balanced at all times. What makes a linebacker effective in a swarm and strike defense?Recruiting linebackers to fit your defense takes great atte
We Are The Champions
Earning the state champion title means different things to different coaches.After the Gatorade is dumped, after the trophies are raised, after the last party is over, the coaches of the 300-plus high school state champions have time to reflect on their seasons and what winning the state title meant to them, their players, their schools and their communities.To some, becoming a state champion is the culmination of their coaching career. For others, it’s the continuation of
Leadership Strategies: Developing a Leadership Council
Jerome Learman was a high school coach for 20 years and 13 as a head coach. He received his doctorate in 2005 from Michigan State in Kinesiology. Learman is currently teaching at both Michigan State and Central Michigan University. While coaching, Learman developed a leadership council for juniors and seniors who received leadership training to become captains. American Football Monthly spoke to Coach Learman about his leadership council.After taking over for Craig Bohl, North Dakota S
Turning Up Motivation in the Dog Days of August
If your team is like most teams, you will start August with excitement, enthusiasm, and a drive to get better every single day. Inevitably, your players will tire of doing boring drills against their own teammates, effort will slacken, and practices will get stale. Coaches who can prevent the downturns or nip them in the bud have a great advantage over opponents who stay stuck for longer periods of time. Here are three recommendations for turning up the motivation and effort in the dog days o
Speed Report: The Challenges of Teaching Football Speed
The first step toward teaching football speed is dealing with velocity and angles that change rapidly. Secondly, you must provide a progressive training system that is relative to speed and movement physically, mentally, and technically. The nature of the game provides various challenges to movement speed, angle changes, frequency changes, and rapid acceleration. Your teaching must fit these practicums because, unlike track sprinting, the technical application for football speed is not all li
Letter from AFM – The Best of the Best
A state championship is the culmination of a year-round program that includes an extensive off-season strength and conditioning program as well as a detailed summer training program. We asked the state champion head coaches questions about their 2014 campaign. What were their priorities going into the season? What made last fall memorable? What were the keys to the championship season? Did adversity play a part of the season? And, has your coaching philosophy changed – if at all – over th
Interview with Dr. Jared Wood and Jeff Heath, Dallas Cowboys Safety and Special Teams Starter
This past off-season I had the opportunity to interview Jeff Heath, a safety and special teams starter for the Dallas Cowboys. I love getting to interview guys like Jeff because they weren't superstars coming out of high school or college, and yet they are
FREE FORM - General Practice Plan
With pre-season camps starting soon, it’s important to be as organized as possible. The “General Practice Plan Form” will help you organize your time for every minute of practice. Categories include ‘Prior to Practice’, ‘Team Stretch’, ‘Agilities’, and ‘Practice Periods’ for all positions.
A Complete Summer Conditioning Program
Each program has different goals when it comes to strength and conditioning training during the winter months and then in the summer:Winter • Conditioning is not a focal point.• Time to develop size and strength. • Fine tune mechanics and speed and agility (linear and deceleration).Summer• Learn to carry the new weight.• Develop max strength and peak power.• Prepare the athlete to deal with the extremes of
Gaining Leverage - Using unbalanced sets and formations can give your offense an advantage.
In this high tech game of offensive football, every coach is looking to gain advantages. We have incorporated different unbalanced sets as a part of our offensive scheme. Our players understand what we are trying to accomplish with these sets and, more importantly, they understand the do’s and don’ts in these formations. Ultimately, with these formations, we look to surprise the defense and create a small amount of confusion. We also look to out-leverage the defense and bring more players
Why We Do What We Do - A Look Inside Clemson's Strength and Conditioning Program.
The foundation of any successful collegiate football program is an understanding and commitment by all who work with the student-athletes to shape them into the vision the head coach has for the team. Head Coach Dabo Swinney has a vision of greatness for our program, which in the past four years, has driven us to two ACC Atlantic Division Championships, one conference championship, a 4-year span of 10+-win seasons, three straight bowl wins over ranked opponents, three straight Top 15 finishes
Are You Short on Big Linemen? If so, you should consider playing a stand-up Will End
Are you like most programs that have a shortage of big players with most of those needed on the offensive and defensive line? Then playing a standup Will End may be something that can help your defense. We have used the standup Will End for over 30 years and the results have been well worth it. Physical Attributes - We used to look at our back-up RB or DBs, but then we realized that there is no definition of who can play this position. It has become a position of its
Think Quick! If executed correctly, the quick passing game can be effective, regardless of the down and distance situation.
The University of Idaho’s quick passing game was first developed by Head Coach Dennis Erickson when he coached the Vandals. Now, Paul Petrino has refined the quick passing game after working on it with his brother, Bobby, when both coached at Louisville. Our goals with the quick passing game are to get the ball out of our QB’s hands quickly and produce explosive plays with short passes. This demands a system that is detailed, disciplined, and practiced every day at full s
Coach to Coach: Follow These Four Keys to Become a Better Coach Every Day
As coaches, we often preach to our players, “You will either get better or worse today.” In order to get better every day, players have coaches who have made practice plans for them and provide encouragement, feedback, and inspiration. But if we, as coaches, are going to get better, who and what do we have to help us? The following is an acronym for a process you can use on a daily basis to make sure you are improving in key areas of coaching effectiveness. Follow this plan each day, and
Drills Report: The Run-Up, Escape Drill
The ‘Run-Up, Escape Drill’ teaches our quarterbacks three important fundamentals – ball security, vision downfield, and launching while trying to escape or avoid pressure. The drills we practice are the drills that we witness our players performing as we watch game tape. The Run-Up, Escape Drill is one drill which we see over and over as we watch game film and then rep daily in practice.We can incorporate under center drops (5 or 7-step) or shotgun drops (3 or 5-step) into th
Letter from AFM - Hat's Off to You, Coach
The next time you go into our online archive of back issues at AmericanFootballMonthly.com, scroll all the way down to June 2004 and open up our cover story on John McKissick. At the time we published this profile, McKissick was the all-time winningest coach at any level of football with 510 victories in 52 years as head coach at Summerville High School in South Carolina. In the feature, he shared some of his secrets of success and longevity with our readers. He summed up his belie
Three Simple Things That You Can Do For your Players
By Jim PlaceHead CoachDayton Ponitz High SchoolThink of how much we ask of our players. Sometimes a coach needs to take a step back and look at himself through the eyes of his players. If you do this, ask yourself, “What am I doing for my players?” I am sure all of you can answer the question with a long list of positive experiences, but let me suggest three simple things to add to that list. 1. Write your players a thank you n
Coaching HD: Train the Brain
Over the past year, there has been tremendous growth in the realm of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) applications in football. The idea of training the brain to function in a number of different situations has merits in terms of gaining experience as well as performing in a setting where the dangers of injury are removed. Data on these simulations show that performance on the field is improved. Cognition training provides an additional way for preparing the brain for high spee
AEMA Report – The Second Football Season
By Austin Perryman, Student Equipment ManagerUniversity of Tennessee-ChattanoogaSpring football is altogether one of the most memorable seasonal sports to be involved in as both a high school player and a FCS student manager. I’ve been lucky enough to have been involved as both.Just before my last spring at Lincoln County High School in Fayetteville, TN I hurt my back doing hang-cleans. It wasn’t much at first, but as the spring went along, my back sta
Technology Steps Up – Aided by recent rules changes, tech companies now give coaches valuable new tools to analyze games in real time.
Aided by recent rule changes, tech companies now give coaches valuable new tools to analyze games in real time.For many years, technology has been an integral part of coaching. From the advent of game film to the development of sideline communications to the introduction of today’s sophisticated online video services, those in the technology arena have strived to keep up with the needs of coaches and utilize the latest in high tech innovations.Now, by virtue of an importan
Maximizing Your Defensive Circuit Drills – Turnover, tackling, and block destruction drills can improve your defensive play.
Every year we try to create themes for our team that we can use throughout the year to refocus our players no matter how our team is performing. We are also always looking for ways to maximize reps and be more efficient in practice time. One of the ways we do this is our SU Defensive Circuit (See Diagram).
Maximizing Your Offensive Circuit Drills – Overall blocking can be improved with a progression of drills.
Overall blocking can be improved with a progressions of drills.During the football season time to prepare and practice is very precious. We tend to spend all of our time on “scheming” the opponent and very little on fundamentals. Because of the importance of fundamentals, we have decided to build them into our practice schedule. We call them the “Fundamental 5” or “Fun 5” for short. The first one is blocking by the entire offensive unit.Blocking is the one skill
5 Keys to Boost Your Off-Season Training
It’s an old adage that championships begin with your off-season weight training program.The old adage is that championships are won in the off season. A positive, challenging and competitive off-season program can help be the catalyst that can set a team apart from the pack in the upcoming season. No two strength programs are the same and one cannot claim to be better than the other. However, there are a few key building blocks that can help to lay the foundation for future football
Wisconsin: Developing a Defensive Game Plan
In preparing a defensive game plan, there will be many things to take into consideration as you study your opponent. There will be many questions that you must answer about the opposing offense and your defense in order to put together a solid game plan. Below are several key points and areas that must be considered as you watch the game film and cut-ups. By “Defining” and “Identifying” your opponent’s offense you can begin to formulate your game plan:Define the Offense by:
Coach to Coach: Turning Up the Heat – Eight Suggestions for Creating Your Best Summer Ever
While often a challenge, the elements of summer (extreme heat, players not being in school, having too much free time, not having transportation to activities) provide a great opportunity to create a mentally and physically stronger team. Mental toughness is only built when conditions are difficult, and extreme weather, such as summer heat, creates a great opportunity to build mental toughness. Here are some tips for creating strong minds, bodies, and team chemistry this summer.Set Mo
Drills Report: The Wall Punt Return
The Wall Punt Return is easy to install and can vastly improve your team’s return yardage. We make a commitment to our special teams. Five days a week we hold a special teams period in which all of our coaches are expected to coach one aspect of that specialty. Each special team unit is then broken down by position where each coach can work on developing player fundamentals and techniques needed to be successful on that particular special team.General Rules of the Wall Punt Return:
The Speed Report: Football Speed and Movement Training – Making it Relative to practices and Games
Speed on the football field is every coach’s desire. The good news is that speed and movement can be developed. When I started developing football speed 36 years ago, no one believed it could be taught. How it was developed back then and even today, is still an issue that concerns me. Far too many programs are using inferior fundamental principles and, in most cases, they’re principles that fall short of the mark for maximizing results. Incorporating sound teaching fundamentals
TURNING AROUND A LOSING PROGRAM
By Chad Hanson, Head Coach, Eleva-Strum High School (WI) Chad Hanson is the head coach at Eleva-Strum High School in Wisconsin. Three years ago he was hired to improve the school’s football fortunes. In the previous three years prior to his arrival, the team won a total of five games. * What were the issues with the Eleva-Strum football program before you arrived? What was the culture like? - The situation that I walked into at Eleva-Strum was a unique one. The
FREE FORM - Passing Strategy
With spring practice in full form, it’s time to tweak “Passing Strategy: Down and Distance.” This free form lists passing opportunities in every down and distance situation. Whether it be first and ten at midfield or first and 15 in the red zone, this form details the priorities for your quarterback.
AFM Subscribers Ask with Mike Golden
Mike Golden is the Director of Sports Performance at the University of Massachusetts. He has 18 years of collegiate strength and conditioning experience. Prior to UMass, Golden coached for two seasons at the University of South Florida. He also coached at East Carolina, helping build the Pirates into one of the top programs in Conference USA, winning back to back conference championships under Head Coach Skip Holtz. While at ECU, he also trained first round draft pick Chris Johnson, who recor
Winning the Key Ground with Kickoff Coverage - Each man in kickoff coverage has an assignment ...Each man in kickoff coverage has an assignment along with a kicker who must be skilled in directional kicking.This is a game of field position and we talk a lot about “Winning the Key Ground.” Below is our philosophy and goals for our kickoff cover unit.Philosophy 1. Cover two-thirds of the field with directional kicks.2. Inside and in front coverage – not lane.3. &nb
Drills for Receivers When You Don’t Have a Lot of Time – Repping fundamental drills with an emphasis on focusing on the proper technique and catching the football will improve the overall play of your wide receivers.
Repping fundamental drills with an emphasis on focusing on the proper technique and catching the football will improve the overall play of your receivers.In spread offenses, the receiver’s play is critical. However, in other style offenses, the receiver gets little attention. These drills are what I use once a week to drill the catching process. It includes hand strengthening exercises incorporated with drills where the receiver will get 46 catches in 20 minutes without using a lot o
The No-Huddle, No-Mercy Offense – A Look Inside the Most Productive Offense in the NationDuring the 2014 season, the Clairton High School offense scored 958 points on their way to a 15-1 record. The Bears would finish with the second highest scoring offense in the history of high school football, shattering virtually every offensive school record as they averaged 59.9 points per game. A balanced offense averaged 12.75 yards per play and totaled 8,162 yards (3,249 passing/ 4,913 rushing).Playing FastIn my first season as the offensive coordinator at Clairton High S
Samson Equipment's Strength and Conditioning Coaches of the Year for 2014
NFL: Garrett Giemont Pittsburgh SteelersBACKGROUND Garrett Giemont’s first job in the NFL was with the Los Angeles Rams in 1978. With over 30 years of experience in the NFL, Giemont was also the strength and conditioning coach for both the Oakland Raiders (1995-2002) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2003-2005). Head Coach Mike Tomlin brought Giemont to Pittsburgh in 2007 and he enters his 9th season with the Steelers this fall. Coach Giemont also worked as the D
Drills Report: Quarterback Drills You Can Use At Any Level
In this Drills Report there will be three different drills for quarterbacks – One Foot Throw, The Levels Drill, and the Quarterback Scramble Drill. Each one is designed to improve a different area of the quarterback’s technique.One Foot Throws Drill (Diagram 1)Object
A Nine-Week Off Season Super-Cycle Strength and Conditioning Program
This article was published in the January edition of American Football Monthly with factual errors. The revised version is posted below. AFM regrets the errors.True developmental training at the collegiate level can be defined as two mandatory, nine-week training phases per year. The remaining time each year could be considered in-season, discretionary or possibly maintenance. The other possibility in the yearly scheme that
LOCKED IN PREPARATION - Mental Conditioning for Football
The 2014 season marked my 10th season as defensive coordinator at Northwestern College. Throughout the ten years we have been blessed to have some great players and have had consistently strong defenses. Over this time, we have always gone into each game week with a list of ten goals. These goals were all measurable outcomes we could strive to achieve in each game. How we measured each goal may vary from year to year but these goals always included winning as our #1 goal. This goal was follo
AEMA Report: Shoulder Pads – To Recondition or Not to Recondition?
Many professionals involved in the administration of athletic programs that involve the use of various types of protective equipment are faced with the dilemma of keeping the equipment in reliable and sanitary condition from season to season. As with most of the other tasks they are assigned, this endeavor is frequently controlled by the constant constraints on today’s sports budgets and the perceived value of these expenses. Few will argue the significance and necessity of esta
DC Leadership Lessons - Detail is critical in making sure a staff knows the expectations of a defensive coordinator.
As a defensive coordinator, you are the head coach of the defense. That’s the way I approach it every day. Before fall camp and spring ball, I discuss my expectations for each coach and their position group. As the leader of those coaches, I want to make sure we are on the same page. My Expectations -A. No egos. We should all be trying to achieve the same thing.We should all be in this for the kids. If you are in it for any other reason such as money, not
Zoned In - Inside zone drills for covered and uncovered linemen
To get the most out of our O-linemen we use an effective drill called the Board Drill, which is part of our every day drills. We buy into it and start each day on the boards to develop great departure angles, contact, and follow through.The inside zone is the area blocking scheme where the covered lineman blocks on and the uncovered lineman blocks the playside gap often resulting in combinations. The O-linemen must read the near foot of the first DL. Movement is the key. The
Rawlings Football 2014 College and High School Coaches of the Year
Urban MeyerOhio StateIt was supposed to be a relatively straightforward formula. Any team with designs on winning a national championship should flex its muscles early in the season, stay relatively healthy, especially at the skill positions, and play its football in the Southeastern Conference. Somehow, Urban Meyer and the Ohio State Buckeyes did not come close to following that formula, yet the team pulled off
Coach to Coach: The Mindset of Excellence
At the end of the 2013 season, I remember watching 15-0 North Dakota State win their third straight FCS title. An ESPN reporter got to Head Coach Craig Bohl in the end zone for the post-game interview. At the end of the interview I heard coach Bohl say, “We pursue perfection and along the way we touch excellence”. It takes an incredible attitude to push for something so unattainable that it can never be reached and the
Drills Report: Four Running Back Drills for Good Footwork and Instinctive Moves
Running backs need to have great footwork. They also need to be able to make moves as second nature. These are not the only things that we practice. But it is very important to make sure that the running backs get plenty of work on these. With our spread offense, the running backs need to be instinctive. Being able to make moves without thinking is critically important. We work on drills that will help us during game situations. There are four drills that we work on every day
Strength Report: Indiana’s Off-Season Training PhilosophyCollege football seasons are becoming longer and more physical than ever before. With many college football teams seasons lasting from 14 to 20 weeks, it is critical to use the off-season training weeks as a time to rebuild and retrain in a proper way. In order to start the year off with a proper foundation for the upcoming year, off season training programs can last anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks consecutively, depending on a number of factors - spring practice start dates
MY FOOTBALL JOURNEY: 2014
By Wojciech “Coach Voyt” Andrzejczak This past year has been a blessing in terms of my growth as a coach. For the first time in 10 years, I’ve gave up my New Year’s party to watch Bowl Games. So instead of partying with friends I was enjoying Johnny Manziel’s magic in Atlanta on last New Year’s Eve. In February, I coached at a football camp in Prague in the Czech Republic. Summer gave me the opportunity to teach flag football at Camp Saginaw in the town of Oxford,
Helmet Maintenance 101
For football coaches, athletic trainers, and athletic equipment managers, player safety is the number one priority for their athletes. One of the best ways to support that endeavor is to have a certified athletic equipment manager on staff. Established in 1973, the athletic equipment managers association (AEMA) added certification for members in 1991. The certification program represents a level of competence, professionalism, and accountability to organizations, coaches and athletes. With th
From the Coach’s Bookshelf: Linebacker Lessons
Coach Lou Tepper brings more than 45 years of experience as a college football coach to Complete Linebacking. In this excerpt, Coach Tepper details the many intangibles a linebacker must possess to maximize his success.Linebackers are the glue of a defensive unit, physically and emotionally. Physically, they fill the open seams between defensive linemen inside and patrol the perimeter in conjunction with the secondary. In zone coverage lineback
Simulating Game Action with 3 Linebacker Drills
We run a 3-4 based scheme, so we need to have quite a few different linebacker drills ready when fall camp starts. To make sure we can cover all of the skills that our players need for the season, I start with a chart. This chart changes slightly from year to year as I adjust what skills and techniques I feel our players need to have. I also add new drills that I see or take out drills I want to get rid of. Ultimately, I don’t want to have so many drills that I don’t hav
Special Teams Winning Edge (Part II)
In the December issue, we discussed the head coach setting the tone for special teams play, the importance of other assistant coaches being involved in areas of special teams, setting goals, and strategy for the punt unit, kickoff unit, kickoff return unit and punt return unit. In this article, we’ll discuss practice efficiency and key points to consider when game planning for your next opponent. Spring Practice Plans Each spring, we evaluate our performance from th
Running for Sparty: Michigan State Running Back Essentials, Fundamentals and Abilities
I have been fortunate to be a part of the successes and championships at Michigan State and truly believe that they are a result of a tremendous team effort of our coaches and administrators.We have been blessed with talent at the running back position over our years here but we also believe that we do a good job of developing these young men. This article outlines what we believe it takes to play RB at a high level – the essentials. These are what the individual, to some degree,
Planning Ahead: What are the keys to game planning for an offensive coordinator?
What does an offensive coordinator go through as he prepares for his next opponent? What are the keys to having the most efficient game plan? AFM spoke to three offensive coordinators about the topic – Keith Grabowski, former offensive coordinator at Baldwin Wallace University, football consultant Dan Gonzalez, a former high school and college offensive coordinator, and Nick Restifo, the offensive coordinator at St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland.What is the process for
Imagery: Practice Without Practice
We’ve all daydreamed. As a kid, I often drifted away to the football field, wearing a black jersey with the white number 40. I was running for touchdowns on the biggest stage. Defenders were diving at my feet as I sliced and diced my way to the end zone.The defender was diving for air behind me. I could be anyone in my mind. I would make the moves in my mind as I imagined myself becoming Gayle Sayers in that white number 40. In my mind I imagined myself em
Maximize Practice Time with Special Team DrillsWe pride ourselves on having a special team’s identity. It’s consists of pressure, field position, and points. These identities help create tempo and energy throughout practice and games. Our philosophy consists of: Pressure:• We make every effort in every way to apply pressure to our opponent. Field Position:• We either want to flip or win field position whenever possible. Points:• With every special teams unit, we e
FREE FORM - Coaches Evaluation Form
With the season now completed, it’s a perfect opportunity to evaluate the coaching staff with the Coaches Evaluation Form. Categories include Personal and Professional Attributes, Administrative Procedural Abilities, Knowledge and Practice of Medical-Legal Aspects, Theory and Techniques of Coaching, Personnel Management, and Public Relations Skills.
Character is the Key
By Jim Place, Retired High School Coach Each year you have 10 scheduled games. Every team will set their goal at going 10-0 but the reality is that very few teams have the physical talent to reach this goal. The reality is that each team has a four game swing based upon their talent. For a given team based upon their talent the best record may be 7-3 and their worst 4-6, other teams 2-8 to 5-5 or 9-1 to 6-4. This is the range of record
Managing Your Program: Evaluating Staff - Creating an Environment For Success
As the season ends, equipment is collected, banquets are planned, and goals are set with the returning players. It’s important to not lose sight of one very important component in your program – the coaching staff. The team’s success is very closely tied to the coaches who create the environment that nurtures that success, yet often, the staff is the last component attended to in the transition from one season to the next. Years ago, former Navy Commander and aut
Helmet Maintenance 101 -
By Michael Valentine, Equipment Manager, Northern Illinois University and Melisande Resendiz, Assistant Equipment Manager, Northwestern UniversityFor football coaches, athletic trainers, and athletic equipment managers, player safety is the number one priority for their athletes. One of the best ways to support that endeavor is to have a certified athletic equipment manager on staff. Established in 1973, the athletic equipment managers association (AEMA) added certification for mem
Special Teams Winning Edge (Part I)
I am a believer in our special teams philosophy because we have seen great success in every major category at two different universities – North Greenville University and Gardner-Webb – at two different levels of college football.My first few years as a special teams coordinator was trial by fire. But what I did learn is that you have to completely embrace the role because all great programs are sound and explosive in the kicking game and you have a chance to create a cul
Defensive Backs Techniques, Fundamentals, Tips and Drills (Part I)
The defensive back position today is perhaps the most physically demanding of any player. He must be able to tackle much bigger running backs and run with wide receivers that have world class speed and the height of a basketball player. Athleticism, hard work, determination and intelligence must be added to God-given talent and instinct in order to play effectively in the secondary. Here are some tips for defensive backs at all levels that you can share with your athletes.Tips For DBs
Wild Bunch - Stress out defenses with the Bunch Passing Game
We have had success with our ‘Bunch’ passing game. There are four major advantages of using the bunch pass:• It allows you to get wide receivers open based on scheme, not one-on-one matchups.• The bunch game will loosen up man coverage schemes.• It makes the defense spend practice time trying to defend it.• It creates advantages in the run game by spreading the defense out.There are four basic bunch plays that we use
Cashing In - Use some of these creative fundraising techniques to bring extra dollars to your program and motivate players.
Virtually every high school program in America relies on fundraising activities for at least some of their football budget. Whether it’s to purchase necessities such as uniforms or program enhancements such as camps or dinners, fundraising can go a long way toward making “wish-list” items a reality.Fundraising activities also tend to unite players behind a common cause and bring together members of the community in support of the team. Courtesy of AFM readers, here are seven
Building Blocks
Whether you’re starting a new program from scratch, taking over a losing program, or trying to develop your program into a consistent winner, these proven techniques from state champion coaches can be your blueprint for success.When Dave Redding accepted the head coaching position at Mansfield High School in Mansfield, Massachusetts in 1988, he knew changes had to be made. “Mansfield had not won a league championship since 1976,” said Redding. “We focused on the off-season stre
Coach to Coach: Energy Regulation - The Pressure and the Phenom
The best quarterback on the team is a sophomore. He’s 6’2” and built like a tree. His whole life has been filled with off season camps and QB gurus. He has all the physical attributes a coach could wish for. Everybody on the team has great expectations for this phenom. Anything less than a championship by the time he’s a junior or senior will be a great disappointment. It’s game time, and he knows everyone’s watching. He can feel the pressure. His stomach doesn’t feel so good. H
Drills Report: Running and Tackling Drills - A Twist for TNT DrillsSimilar to other teams, we spend time each week working on tackling and turnover (TNT) drills. In the past, we typically felt satisfied at the conclusion of each TNT drill as our defense seemed to grasp the fundamentals of tackling and forcing turnovers. However, when we reached game day and even team practice scenarios, our drills did not seem to translate to the field. Often, we missed tackles (especially in open-field situations) and our players suddenly lacked focus when it came to
Safety First: Be Safe In Your Weight Room (Part I)
Safety is a critical element at every high school and college weight room. AFM spoke with three strength and conditioning coaches about weight room safety procedures including Jim Kielbaso, the Director of Total Performance Training Centers (MI), Jim McGuire, the Assistant Director of Strength and Conditioning at Merrimack College, and Dan Leary, assistant coach and strength and conditioning coach at Seaside High School (OR).How do you instruct your athletes on safe lifting procedures
Speed Report: Running Ahead of Speed - Stimulus for Training Incentives (Part II)
In our last article on running ahead of speed, we focused on in season concepts that aide the transition of off season development. In part two, here are suggestions and methods that can help stimulate your athlete to strive for higher production. Working year-around can sometimes be mundane, which will disrupt the concentrated and continuous focus needed. Their sense of purpose is significant for sustaining collective desire for reaching objective goals and benchmarks. Speed train
Letter from AFM: 2014 - Was Something Missing?
Except for the NFL and college playoffs, the 2014 season is complete. Looking back, in high school, college and the NFL this season we saw great individual and team efforts, stunning upsets, dominant victories, miracle comebacks and record-setting performances. Everything we’ve come to expect from the game in the modern era.But something was missing this year compared to the recent past. That’s the relentless and overwhelmingly negative media coverage of the dangers of football
Fueling Champions
Sophisticated nutritional and recovery practices and new NCAA food guidelines help Florida State’s Katy Meassick keep Seminole athletes fully fueled and ready for competition.To build a championship program in the ultra-competitive FBS, every aspect of athletes’ training, on and off the field, must be carefully addressed. That includes making sure that proper nutritional and workout recovery practices are being followed. At Florida State, that job falls to Sports Registered Die
Erasing A Decade of Disappointment: The Transformation of the Mustangs
A lot of coaches like talking Xs and Os, which is the easy part of coaching. The scheming and game planning is the chess match we all signed up for and love to do. However, as head coaches, we take on a little more than just the scheme these days. When you get your shot to be a head coach, for most of us, we don’t inherit a program that wins and is used to winning. Rather, it is usually a challenging program, one that has not won or doesn’t do so consistently. This p
Shotgun Snapping in a Run-First Offense - Teaching proper techniques and practicing as many reps as possible will improve the performance of your shotgun snapper.
Shotgun and pistol snapping have become more commonplace in today’s game. It is also common for some high school and college teams to operate out of the shotgun for the majority of their offensive snaps. We are a run heavy team (75 %/25 %) and we operate out of the shotgun nearly 100% of the time. A few years ago, I researched as much as I could about the shotgun snap. I read from multiple sources and emailed, called, and met with various coaches. I wanted to understa
Zone Defense on the Goal Line - To be efficient in this zone defense, give each player a specific responsibility.
As the passing game has evolved over the last few decades, defenses have been challenged in a variety of ways. Defensive coaches have had to try to find ways to maintain some competitive balance in both the red zone and the big red zone. In the 1970’s it was rare to find teams playing zone defense in the red zone. The standard coverage was man-to-man with corners playing on the line of scrimmage with inside leverage. The most common pass in this scenario became the quick fade to the corner
Options Galore - To be successful running a multiple option offense from the gun and pistol, every player must identify the read key and the option key.
Option football has changed over the years. My experience with the option has included under center wishbone as a high school coach in the mid ‘80s, followed by under center flex-bone as a college coach in the late ‘90s, and flex-bone shotgun in the 2000s. After becoming the head coach at Augustana College in 2011, I wanted to return to option football but with a more updated approach. So, in 2012, we began running a unique, multiple option system from the shotgun and pistol th
Lasting Legacy - At 70, Corky Rogers is still going strong as a member of the exclusive 400 win club.
It was a misty, cool, December night in Florida. Things looked bleak for coach Corky Rogers and his Bolles School team from Jacksonville. The Bulldogs were trailing a powerhouse Santa Fe team 17-6 with less than a minute to play in a semifinal playoff game. Santa Fe was loaded with future NFL players. “We were just getting it taken to us,” Rogers said. “We were trying everything you could try, because nothing was working.”In that final minute, Rogers made an adjustment and
Five on the Line - The 5-man defensive front is making a comeback – especially against traditional run-first offenses.
Before the advent of today’s high-powered spread offenses, it was common for defenses to employ a 5-man front with a nose guard, two tackles and two ends. While many teams have gone away from 5-man fronts, AFM found a surprising number of 2013 state champions that use the front either exclusively or part time.Here, coaches from four championship programs share their insight and strategies for making the 5-man front effective, especially against the run. They are Matt Crossman, de
Coach to Coach: The Mental Fundamentals - Attention Control and Concentration
One Play at a Time It takes consistent practice in order to concentrate and focus on the proper things. Our defense in high school had a motto on every break of the huddle. The Mike linebacker would call the defense and yell “HIT!” and everyone would follow with “HARD!” HIT.....HARD! It seems so simple but that was over 25 years ago and it still gets me fired up. It served as a great verbal trigger to focus on the next play and it describes what we were about
Safety First: Keeping Equipment Clean - In-Season
Football season is long and hard on equipment. It is the equipment managers’ job to maintain that equipment so that it can last all season. This includes repairing and cleaning the equipment on a regular basis. The number one goal of cleaning football equipment is killing the microbes that pose the biggest threat to athletes including MRSA, Staph, Meningitis, Strep, Athletes foot, HIV, Herpes, Hepatitis, mold and mildew. These microbes can keep a player out of play for days, weeks, months,
Strength Report: How to Use Weighted Sleds for Explosive Acceleration
There are numerous products designed to increase speed, but one of the most effective, versatile and easiest to use is the weighted sled. The research on resisted sled sprinting has changed over the years, creating a lot of confusion for coaches. Fortunately, recent information has shown that proper use of these sleds can have a positive effect on an athlete’s ability to accelerate – the most important aspect of football speed. Which Way to Push Because the abili
Speed Report: Running Ahead of Speed - Making it Doable and Challenging During the Season
Making it Doable and Challenging During the SeasonThis is part I of a four-part series entitled, “Running Ahead of Speed.” The objective is to help you build a truly consistent results-oriented football speed and movement program. Like any endeavor that’s year -to-year, it must rely on certain required elements in order to truly maximize training success.We’re all busy, and this can often determine what is done and how it’s done. Just running isn’t speed work. Ru
Limits on Live Tackling in Practice – Good or Bad for the Game?
National player safety concerns prompted in great part by the National Football League’s (NFL) response to player lawsuits and scientific research data that is calling into question the safety of the game has led to numerous efforts to implement changes that will hopefully make the game safer on all levels of play. The California Assembly by a vote of 50-22 has approved AB 2127 a bill that will prohibit high school and middle school football teams of school districts, charter school
The American Equipment Managers Association
The purpose of the Athletic Equipment Managers Association (AEMA) is, as a national organization, to promote, advance, and improve the equipment managers’ profession in all of its many phases. Members of the AEMA will now be working with American Football Monthly to help educate and inform AFM subscribers about how to better address equipment-related issues.What is the background of the AEMA? In 1974, 25 equipment managers became the first members of the organization at
Five Keys to Defending the Wing-T With Your 4-3 Defense – To stop the Wing-T, use three different fronts, key on the guards and limit your blitzes.
Good Wing-T football coaches are tough to beat. They know their offense, formation, and series. They will know what the role of each player on your defense is, and which defenders they want to put in conflict.As a defensive coordinator, you start in a hole to begin with. Wing-T coaches always seem to have the answer, no matter what solution you come up with.So why do some defensive coordinators want to be the opposing offensive coordinator’s best friend? They gameplan
Drills to Develop A Game-Ready Quarterback – Drills that simulate game conditions can help get your QB ready for any situation he'll face on the field.
The quarterback position has long been described as another coach on the field. The qualities of a good quarterback must be fine-tuned from his playing ability to his leadership ability. These qualities must be identified, explained, practiced and developed to their fullest to create a successful and winning quarterback.There must be drills developed and executed that cover every situation that will arise for a quarterback in a football game. But before we ever get to the game, pra
A Complete In-Season Training Program
Our mission as a strength and conditioning department is to develop strong minds within strong bodies and prepare each athlete for the rigors and demands of college athletics. We have three goals we use to summarize the mission:1. Reduce the occurrence of injury2. Improve athletic performance3. Optimize team successWith our football program, I view the in-season as our most important training stage of the entire year. This is the time when the
The Art of the Interception – Proper positioning and anticipation are two prerequisites for making an interception.
Just about every coach at every level will tell you that turnovers are critical. Interceptions, especially, alter the momentum and often change the outcome of a game. What can be done to help your defense cause an interception? What type of preparation is needed so that your defense is ready to anticipate a potential interception?AFM spoke to five defensive coaches whose teams were among the leaders in interceptions last fall. They included four defensive coordinators: Josh Homolka
Starting Fresh – What are the priorities for five new first-year head coaches?
Steve Sarkisian’s first team meeting as head coach of the Southern California Trojans lasted an hour. There was no planned speech, only bullet-pointed priorities on what he expected from his players and what they could expect from their new coach. He strived to make his introduction as real as possible.“I don’t think you should come into that first meeting (with a new team) believing that you’re going to win over all the players,” said Sarkisian, who, after five successfu
Managing Your Program: Building a Team – Objectives for Camp
Unity/Chemistry - Establishing chemistry is a big goal for every team in camp. Hopefully, the ground work was established in the off season. No matter how the off season went, camp and the new season have a new dynamic in how the team will interact and work together. It is a time for leadership of the team to really take root. This is an area that can be coached, managed and developed. A good head coach and his staff will see some of the issues that must be worked on during camp so
Drills Report: Kickoff Return – The Alley Drill
Anyone who has coached special teams at any level will usually list three problem areas that can sometimes make it difficult to excel in the kicking game. One is personnel. It is a constant challenge to balance utilizing your roster to the max yet also getting the best players on your team involved in the kicking game. Another is how much time is allotted to special teams practice. If you are in high school or college, your practice time is often limited. Unless you have a head coach who real
Coach to Coach: The Mental Fundamentals – Motor Programming
The ball is in the air. It’s a perfect spiral flying straight into a pair of hands. He drops it! It’s like his hands exploded from the speed of the ball. The coach yells “catch the ball, you gotta make that catch” or something similar, as if the player didn’t want to catch the ball in the first place. Why waste your breath on stating the obvious? What kind of receiver doesn’t want to make the catch? Chances are, the reason he missed the catch is because he hasn’t done
The Kettlebell Alternative
Ten years ago I made a decision that would change the course of my training practice and instruction forever. On the recommendation of a mentor of mine, I took a considerable leap of faith, jumped on a plane to St. Paul, MN, and with virtually no experience whatsoever, dove into a kettlebell certification weekend that nearly killed me. It was the RKC (Russian Kettlebell Certification) by Dragon Door and I had no earthly understanding what I was getting into. It was like a football training ca
Speed Assistance and Resistance - Good or Bad for Football?
Since speed and movement and movement control are the most sought-after athletic qualities, coaches and trainers are always looking for ways to help athletes improve in these areas. Let’s look at the topic of loading and assisting and try to sort out the good from the not so good. Coaches constantly ask me about load speed work and assisted speed work. For football, it’s a controversial subject. First, coaches place too much value on it and, in most cases, use it improperly. Of
Getting Everyone on the Same Page: Coach Ralph Munger Talks About Building Confidence
By Jared Wood, Sports Psychology Consultant
Carmel High School’s Game Week Preparation Model
By John Hebert, Assistant Coach, Carmel High School (IN) The Carmel defensive system currently in place has many influences. Through external benchmarking visits, (2005-Colerain High School in Cincinnati; 2008- Air Force Academy; 2010- Naval Academy; and 2012 Grand Valley State) we have become committed to a one ga
Pressure Defenses, Part II: Having the proper angle for each player is crucial in pursuing a ball carrier in space.
Last month’s issue included our defensive alignment and strategy as well as our different fronts and coverages. This month, we feature three different defensive pursuit drills.A crucial period of practice for us is our pursuit drill time. The focus is on getting aligned, proper communication, correct angles, and great effort. This drill sets the tempo for the rest of practice. Going hard every time and sprinting to the football is a point of pride for all of our players.
Flex Fronts: Stop offenses by using a different front on every play.
As I watched Clemson and Auburn play in BCS games last January, I wondered how many high school coaches will be going to the spring coaching clinics put on by these schools. More importantly, what are defensive coaches going to do to stop these types of offense? Tight ends are becoming a huge part of offenses. While there are some teams that don’t ever use one, other teams use three on one play. We have to be able to line up against all of these formations.In Florida, we see a di
Play Keep-Away: Each time your team punts, the goal is to kick it 40 yards and out of bounds.
It’s that time of year when coaches are in clinic research, upgrading playbooks and pushing the weight room as hard as possible. One area that is overlooked in a lot of playbooks is special teams evaluation. In most cases, special teams is the difference between two evenly-matched teams. Often overlooked and under-practiced, special teams play effects the overall efficiency of your program.In high school, we all face that very special player in the kicking game that can score any
Complete Package: Becoming a complete wide receiver includes becoming a better downfield blocker.
Blocking is critical to becoming a complete wide receiver. Blocking as a receiver is about effort, position, and leverage. A complete receiver always puts as much effort into blocking as he does into catching passes. It is great if you have what it takes to run clean routes to get open and catch the football, but what if the play that’s being called is a running play? Will you do your part to ensure the play is a success and that a teammate has a great opportunity to score? Or, will you jus
Big D: Defensive Line Philosophy and Daily Drills for an Aggressive Front
One key to a strong defense is that each position group develops the fundamental skills required to consistently execute their individual assignments. Here is our defensive line philosophy and an outline of the daily drills we utilize to help our players compete at a high level. Defensive Line PhilosophyWe pride ourselves on being a fast, aggressive front that plays with exceptional fundamentals and discipline. We prepare, practice, and compete with tremendous energy and
AFM’s Annual State Champions Roundup
State Champ Coaches’ Profile Average Age = 48 Average Years as a Head Coach = 13 (22% have 20 or more years experience) 80% are coaches and teachersWhat are some of the reasons for your success? (multiple answers)100% said Coaching Staff98% said Players72% said Parents Support69% said Strength and Conditioning57% sai
Coach to Coach: The Mental Fundamentals: Goal Setting
Building Perspective The first game is just around the corner, so we call a team meeting to assess our direction for the season and set some goals. When I ask the kids what their goals are for the season they seem to reply with the same answer every year, “win league, win state and beat our rivals.” Winning seems to be the theme for every goal. Even the coaches I’ve worked with base all of their goals around winning. It reminds me of that famous Lombardi quote
Prevention of Exertional Heat-Related Illnesses
The key to prevention is balancing all the factors that influence body temperature so that the body temperature stays within a safe range. Here’s how:Monitor weather conditions and adjust practices accordingly. Table 11.1 shows the specific air temperature and humidity percentages that can be hazardous. Keep in mind, however that football exertional heat-related deaths have occurred at temperatures as low as 82 degrees with a relative humidity index at only 40 percent. If heat and h
Icing on the Cake
Every year, when we survey head coaches of state championship teams, we learn something new about the coaches and teams that won state titles the previous season.This year, for example, we found out that the vast majority of teams use a no-huddle, hurry up offense at least some of the time and 31% use it all of the time. That’s amazing when you consider that only a handful of teams were running no-huddle only five years ago when we ran a cover story that asked, “Should You Ditc
FREE FORM - Offensive Game Plan
With summer practices here, it is time to put together a detailed Offensive Game Plan Form. This form includes all down and distance situations, red zone and goal line plans, and special situations. It’s a must for every offensive coach.
Coaching American Football Overseas
By John Trana, American Football Coach in Russia and Croatia American football’s popularity is growing quickly all around the world. It is opening up new avenues for players and coaches to continue their football careers. There are over 700 teams in Europe alone playing American football. The quality of football can vary drastically with the top teams playing at a low college level. As the NFL continues to expand overseas, so will the popularity of American foo
Your Take: Expanding Your Coaching Network
We all have a stack of business cards, or an inbox full of messages from other coaches throughout our network. When was the last time you reached out to one of those coaches to discuss a concept or to share a scheme? Have you applied or inquired about a job at a school where you did not know anyone on the current staff? Is there a chance that one of those contacts in your file has a connection to use?The concept of increasing value and depth to your network is one that should not b
Pressure Packed – Game-like drills will help your quarterback make good decisions.
In today’s offensive game plans, most teams have a spread attack that works out of the shotgun set. Teams run 60-65 plays per game with the quarterback in a drop back technique for most of the passing plays. Out of the number of passing plays called, at least 12-15 plays – on an average – force the quarterback out of the pocket or to retreat back into the middle of the pocket. This means at least one fourth of your pass plays have a QB making a decision to either run or pass while
Situational Analysis – Having a specific gameplan for each offensive situation enhances your chances of success.
We teach our players to develop a thorough understanding of situational offense: its importance, its relevance, and the consequences of not recognizing and reacting to the many situations that exist and ultimately define our game. Here are eight main situations and how we develop our players’ understanding of them. During the beginning of fall camp, as well as in the opening of spring practice, we implement a well-planned-out installation that will be the foundation of our offens
Put the Block On – Block circuit drills and one-on-one punt rush drills can increase your chances of blocking a punt.
Blocking punts takes not only personal belief and courage, but training and a good scheme to get the right player free to the punter. We teach the techniques necessary to properly block punts. We also practice different drills to train players to use those techniques plus a few scheme adjustments to try to get players free to the punter. I always tell the players that I want volunteers, not mercenaries. Mercenaries are people you hire to do a job; volunteers do it because they love it. Pu
Teaching the Inside and Outside Zone Using 3-Person Groups
O-Linemen need to determine their defender’s alignment so they know if they are a covered or uncovered lineman.This topic is about teaching the inside and outside zone using 3-person groups during your individual periods.Before getting into the actual drills, a few things must be understood. The two plays are based on the teaching that in any inside or outside zone play, there are “covered” and “uncovered” linemen. Covered linemen are those that have a d
Summer Priorities – What should be your priorities heading into the summer months?
The summer months bring about a number of challenges for every football coach. Staying in contact with players and parents without school every day can be difficult. Similarly, coordinating staff meetings and giving players and coaches the needed time off before the grind of a new season begins can also be taxing.What should be your priorities heading into summer? What are the most effective ways to communicate with players and coaches? How important are strength and conditioning p
Managing Your Program: Creating the Installation Schedule for Fall Camp
Recently, the three-day installation has become a popular topic. It seems the challenge is to see how fast you can install your offense, and the process is repeated with deeper levels of understanding being developed in each repetition of the installation. This is something Dana Holgersen made popular at West Virginia. While I have implemented the three-day initial install, I extended the total install out to seven days with a layered approach. Each subsequent day adds layers to the initial i
Coach to Coach: The Mental Fundamentals
The yellow flag is thrown and the coach’s voice is rising. It’s obviously a bad call. Everyone can smell the home cooking. “That score would have put us on top and now it’s called back. The ref has literally taken points away from us.” The coach is livid and walking the tightrope to ejection. The lack of composure is reflected in the players when the clock dwindles and the cheap shots fly. This game will be lost in more ways than one.Building mental toughness starts with
Drills Report: The Wall Return Drill
One of the most exciting plays in football is when a punt returner is able to sprint around the edge and make use of the “wall” on an outside return. At Illinois, we rely on a drill installed on day one of our fall practices for our punt return team.An important phase of the return is having initial landmarks for the wall blockers (Diagram 1). When the ball is on a hash and a wall return is called to the wide side of the field, the wall blockers use the far hash as a landmark.
Football and Networking: What Are the Priorities?
What do you hope to get out of the clinics and conventions you attend this off-season? Most coaches will say they are hoping to gain “one thing”. They may spend a full day or a whole weekend listening to speakers to find one minor improvement on a drill or the slightest variation to their favorite play. Clinics and conventions are great for that, but don’t ignore the networking opportunities they also present. To get the absolute most of any football professional development event you a
FREE FORM - Running Back Drill and Technique Checklist
Drills and coaching techniques are a part of every spring practice. The Running Back Drill and Technique Checklist is a form that is helpful to every coach. It includes ball protection techniques, body control and agility drills, and timing, blocking and passing drills.
SERVE and PROTECT
Legendary New England Coach John Papas teams up with Xenith to provide future collegiate athletes with added protection, better fit and strong performance.If you’ve coached at the high school and collegiate levels for over 35 years, chances are you’ve developed strong opinions about football equipment. You know which products are best for your players from performance and safety standpoints and you know which companies are best to work with. Coach John Papas has seen
Your Take: Win The Offseason: Organization Matters
Organization isn’t the sexiest topic to talk about, but if you’re serious about improving as a coach, it takes more than how-to videos and watching game tape. Reviewing your notes and processes can help save time and energy, while also allowing you to tackle your goals of molding your athletes into better players and people.Being disorganized can mean the difference between winning and losing. Even the smartest coaches need to be reminded of old plays and schemes that could hel
BE SPECIAL By committing to better special team practice organization, your units will create more explosive plays.
Special teams are an important part of any football game. They are the first play of every game, and many times the last and decisive play in a game. During every special teams play, one of these situations occurs – a large field position exchange, a change of possession, or a scoring opportunity. Frequently, two of these situations take place on the same special teams play. By their very nature, special teams plays are “special” and have a big impact on the outcome of the game.
UPSET SPECIAL Give your underdog team a shot with these strategies.
Nearly every coach has entered a game week knowing that the only people picking his team to win are on his staff or inside his own locker room.These situations can be an opportunity to galvanize a team by instilling an us-against-them world mentality; freeing the underdogs to play loose and pulling off an upset.No one knows that more than George O’Leary, the head coach at the University of Central Florida. The Knights pulled off the biggest upset in BCS history by beat
Athletic Body Control The Movement Training Correlation to Football Speed
Before we move to the details of movement training, let’s clarify what is football speed – the velocity and control by which variable movement patterns are executed efficiently without velocity loss. Most of the time it’s far easier said than done. My term for this activity is “Transition Speed.”The second area to clarify is Athletic Body Control (ABC). The term “Athletic” means athletes and the exercises practiced by them in a sport that requires physical skill or st
Cougar Defensive Line Drills part II
Last month, our defensive line drills included the use of agility bags and a variety of cage drills. This issue includes the use of post mount sleds, hoops, two-man pop ups and tite bags. We practice a number of these drills daily, which we believe improves both the agility and quickness of our D-linemen.#1. Post Mount Sleds
Maximizing Spring Agility Drills
If every athlete used the spring to improve their speed and strength, summer conditioning would be really simple. Everyone would be faster and stronger than before, and with a couple of weeks of basic conditioning, you’d be ready for football practice. Unfortunately, things never seem to turn out that way, so you need to have an effective plan in place.It’s important to analyze the metabolic requirements of football and design conditioning routines that train the proper e
ESTABLISHING A QUICK-PACED OFFENSE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Aside from scoring, the ability to control the clock and the tempo of a football game is the primary objective of any offense. For years, the pattern was to pound the ball slowly and chew up the clock to control a game and defeat an opponent. Yet, with
Recognition and Competition: Motivating Players in the Off-Season
There is no magic formula for motivating players and yet it is considered a crucial part of any team’s success. Athletes are unique in their psychological needs for external motivation and even those needs change as each athlete matures. To complicate matters further, each year a team’s motivational needs change based on previous successes and a host of other varia
Managing your Program - Self Evaluation With Film
Spring football begins soon around the country. While the format and limitations vary from state-to-state, there should still be a focus for both the players and coaches. The spring is a time where the sense of urgency is not as important as during the season. There either isn’t a game at the end of this period, or if there is, it’s at the end of several weeks of preparation. With that removed as a prime focus, development of a foundation for the fall is of utmost importance. Using film a
Rowan University's Special Teams Philosophy and Punt Team Techniques
We think our approach to special teams is very sound. We utilize all players, both starters and reserves, on special teams and use players from both sides of the ball. Also, we will reward certain players for outstanding play by allowing them to participate on special teams.We identify every player’s strengths and incorporate them into special teams. We cannot afford to spend an inordinate amount of time teaching skills that players have already mastered. We keep the schemes rela
U-TURN How Southern Virginia University went from 3-8 to 8-2.
On February 9th 2009, I agreed to become the head football coach at Southern Virginia University. At the time, the SVU football program faced several obstacles both on and off the field. They included a low team grade point average, discipline problems, and recruitment and retention problems. In addition, they had embraced a mediocre mentality from a losing record.When I accepted the head coaching job, SVU had only had one winning season in school history and had averaged just two
The Business of Coaching - Joe Moglia is a prime example of how success in business and coaching go hand-in-hand.
If you pay attention to the great coaching stories in college football, then you already know about Joe Moglia.You may recognize him as the former CEO of financial services company TD Ameritrade, where he oversaw the firm’s meteoric growth during his seven years at the helm. Or, you may know him as the current head coach at Coastal Carolina, where, in his first season in 2012, he led the Chanticleers to eight wins en route to being named the Big South Coach of the Year. He follow
Cougar Defensive Line Drills
We believe that constant drill work for our defensive line makes them better players. We have a variety of drills for our D-line that feature four different agility bag drills including two in a hole, a lateral run drill, and a cut drill. There are also four different cage drills that we practice on a regular basis – get offs, fast feet, the lateral shuffle, and the L-step. In part II next month, we will include drills such as post mount sleds, pop up bags, and tite up bags. # 1.&n
The Coach’s Role on the Athletic Health Care Team
As a coach, you are likely to be involved in each portion of the athletic health care relay – prevention, recognition and first aid care, assessment and treatment, and rehabilitation.Your roles are defined by • Certain rules of the legal system and rules of your school administration, • Expectations of parents, and • Interactions with other athletic health care &
Running Back-Specific Training: From the Weight Room to the Field
The idea of sport-specific training has gained great popularity over the years. Inevitably, every coach wants to ensure that he/she is attaining maximal transfer with the strength training programming that is being practiced among the athletes in the weightroom. There is some truth to this thought and approach. First, the all-too-familiar SAID Principle (Specific-Adaptations-to-Imposed-Demands), has been proven time and time again in both research and training. This principle states that trai
SPECIFICITY TRAINING The Key Factor for Optimizing Football Speed
Football speed training is too often confused between what should be correctly conceived versus what is incorrectly believed. This is relevant to you if you have a desire to make changes that will benefit the quality of each player’s speed capability. Change that will maximize results drastically. The majority of football coaches use training applications that are not processing their athletes’ football speed by the rule of specificity. That is, specific applications that offer pure value
Thoughts from an HSPD Veteran
Craig Jacoby, who is the site manager for the Rockland, New York, HSPD camp, has over a decade of experience with the program and has seen first-hand how it has benefitted hundreds of high school athletes. We asked him about the camp experience for athletes and the value of the DVD to coaches.AFM: How do HSPD athletes respond to the college-level drills at HSPD camps? Jacoby: In my experience, the players who attend HSPD are getting a training experience that can’t be d
Practice Priorities - All high school coaches benefit from the practice plan developed for the NFL High School Player Development program presented by the National Guard
What are your priorities when designing an early-season practice plan? Do you try to build a collection of proven drills that safely and efficiently teach fundamentals while challenging your players? Do you incorporate teaching techniques that you may have learned from a top college coach at a clinic session? Do you have printed materials and video that every member of your staff can use to gain a thorough understanding of your drills and how to conduct them?If you’re a coach at
AFM Subscribers Ask with Joe Willis (Part I) Head Coach, Cedar Park High School (TX)
Joe Willis is the head coach of 2012 State Champion Cedar Park High School (TX). A defensive specialist, Coach Willis uses multiple looks in his 3-4 defense to slow down an up-tempo offense. Cedar Park calls their defense like they call their offense – marrying the front and coverage calls together and using disguises pre-snap on every play. They use a combination of slants, stunts, and blitzes to help defend the no-huddle offense. Coach Willis answers your questions.How do y
Developing a Defensive Foundation
Having specific goals and a defensive strategy are critical to success.Developing a dominant defensive begins with players believing in your foundation. That foundation is “Organized Chaos.” It is a mindset that you will strive to be the best defense at any level in the nation. Your players need to understand who they are off the field and who you want them to be on the field. At your first defensive meeting, set the standard by which you want them to play. Teach them about what wi
Defensive Back Attack Force
Three different techniques – Shoot the Hip, Glove, and Catch-Hit – can help your defensive backs attack the football.A DB has three things he can do when breaking on the ball – intercept the pass, knock the pass down, or make the tackle. We teach defensive backs three different ways of attacking the football when a wide receiver is being thrown the ball – “shoot the hip”, “glove”, and “catch-hit.” Each of these techniques can be taught whether your DBs backpedal, cr
Systematic Innovation: The No-Huddle, Power Pistol Offense
For Head Coach Robbie Owens of Grand Junction High School (CO), the system’s the thing. He believes offensive innovation is important, but without a system that is simple, adjustable and easy to install and teach, the value of innovation can be diminished.Owens’ system has proved itself over multiple seasons of high-octane offense. By combining the pistol formation with a punishing running attack and an up-tempo, no-huddle pace, Owens’ Grand Junction teams have produced proli
Samson Equipment’s Strength and Conditioning Coaches of the Year
NFL: Luke Richesson Denver BroncosBackground - Luke Richesson began his coaching career at his alma mater, the University of Kansas, in 1997 after a four-year career playing safety for the Jayhawks. After one season as a strength and conditioning intern, he spent the next season at the University of Wyoming and the following two at Arizona State University as a graduate assistant before becoming the performance team direc
Coach to Coach: Thanks for the Memories
In 2010, I wrote my first article for American Football Monthly. In that article I told the story of how Hall of Fame Coach George Allen returned to coaching at the age of 72 to coach my college football team at Long Beach State University. The experience of writing that article and the positive response that I received from coaches around the country far exceeded any expectations I may have had about the joy of writing and sharing my ideas. What was supposed to be one article has turne
Safety First: Good Nutrition – Part of Your Health and Safety Plan
Practicing proper nutrition is one way to help athletes recover from workouts and prevent injuries.Eating right is an essential part of a comprehensive athletic training regimen. It’s widely recognized that the “fuel” that is consumed by athletes prior to and following training is a critical element in allowing them to perform at their highest level and recover effectively from punishing workouts. Proper nutrition is also a player safety issue, as athletes who eat right, hydrate
Strength Report – The Art of Strength and Conditioning Coaching: Beyond the Sets and Reps (Part II)
A program’s success is equally impacted by a coach’s ability to manage, motivate and lead athletes by training methodology. This philosophy, which has served as the foundation of my coaching career, aligns with wisdom shared as by a legendary strength and conditioning coach:“It is usually not whether the program works or not, but whether the player works or not, that determines success.”- Buddy Morris(College and NFL strength and conditioning coach now at the Universit
Speed Report: Can You Improve Your Quarterback’s Speed?
My goal each month is to deliver information useful for all aspects of football. This month, Cree Morris, a long time quarterback training specialist, discusses the topic of improving a quarterback’s speed. What is the difference between football speed and football quarterback speed? Better technical applications produce more efficient movement, which creates effective speed. That is usually the requirement it takes for the QB to avoid a sack or make a play. I will give some spec
M. B. S.
At Wagner College we encourage our guys to think of football as a total body experience. We teach 3 components of the athlete; The “MIND”, The “BODY and
A Wide Receiver’s Philosophy
Individual – Self-Confidence You, as an individual, must accept the responsibilities for your mental preparation, self-discipline and execution of each play. You also must have great pride, attitude and character and a burning desire to
Shining Stars
Top NFL and college players honed their football skills and grew as individuals through the NFL High School Player Development program presented by the National Guard.When high school football players attend the free camps conducted by the NFL’s High School Player Development program presented by the National Guard, they improve their football skills and also learn valuable life lessons in character development sessions. All participating athletes gain from their HSPD experie
Managing Your Program: Measuring Practice Success and Developing Good Habits
With spring football around the corner, coaches are looking to develop or test out some new ideas obtained during the clinic season, identify how personnel will fit into the system and figure out what adjustments will be necessary for the upcoming season. These are legitimate concerns, and spring practice will allow a coaching staff to address them.Spring is also a time to establish the habits that will make the team successful in the fall. Getting the most out of practice by impro
Out in the Open - Live tackling drills can improve your team’s open field tackling.
As today’s game stretches laterally to encompass the entire width of the field, the ability to open-field tackle is at a premium. One of the most difficult skills to acquire as a defensive player is the art of open-field tackling. Even elite athletes need to improve and sharpen their skill sets.How do you enhance those abilities and replicate them at game speed? The answer is simple – live tackling, offensive skill vs. defensive skill. At the University at Albany, Head Coach Bo
Option Football - Few Plays, Many Ways, Part I
Option football has been around for many decades. The vast majority of today’s collegiate and high school programs use some form of option in their offensive scheme.Why run the option? Football is a “numbers game” where the offense tries to outnumber the defense at the point of attack. While there are more than a few ways to accomplish this goal, we believe that the option is by far the easiest and most effective way to ensure that your offense outnumbers the defense on every
Why Cover 4? How this alignment can be effective against both the run and the pass.
A Cover 4 alignment allows the secondary to adjust to various formations and personnel groupings and helps stop the run while also defending the pass. We have found that Cover 4, with certain adjustments, is the most effective defense in today’s world of high-powered offenses. The coverage adjustments that I have made allow the secondary to be more aggressive against the run. Personnel will always dictate the use of any adjustments based on how much your athletes can typically handle
Rawlings Football College and High School Coaches of the Year
It was a summer evening in the mid-1980’s. Volunteer workouts were revving up for the Salem University football team. Salem Quarterbacks Coach Terry Bowden pointed at his quarterback’s cleats and laughed. “His football shoes were covered in cow manure and hay,” Bowden recalled with a chuckle.Thirty years later, that quarterback with the stinky shoes is a national champion and Rawlings Football Coach of the Year, Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher.“Althou
Coach to Coach: An Efficient and Effective Play Calling System
Last year at this time, I wrote an article on the use of tempo as a weapon. I stated then that tempo was being used by many successful teams and that extremely fast-paced offenses were going to be a standard of football for years to come. Today, the use of the fast-paced, no- huddle offense is becoming more the norm than the exception.Webster’s Dictionary defines the word tempo as the “rate of motion or activity”. In today’s football terminology, the word tempo refers to how qu
Drills Report: Pursuing Perfect Ball Security
While blocking and tackling are commonly seen as the two key building blocks of any football program, the most important fundamental of offensive football is ball security. Without possession of the ball, the offensive unit is not on the field. While that may seem like a simplistic and obvious statement, the importance of securing the football is at times an overlooked fundamental in today’s game. Ball security in its basic form is preventing and eliminating fumbles by ball carriers.
Going Camping
Sending your players to the free football camps offered by the NFL High School Player Development program presented by the National Guard is a win-win for you and them.Football camps for high school athletes are big business. Dozens of for-profit camps, costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars to attend, are offered to high school students who want to hone their skills over a period of days or weeks. But only one football camp program offers proven instruction methods a
DEVELOPING THE COMPLETE ATHLETE
Mike Gentry, the Associate Athletic Director for Athletic Performance at Virginia Tech and Dr. Tony Caterisano, a Professor of Health and Exercise Science, have written a comprehensive guide for the strength and conditioning development of the complete football player. This 436-page book details how a coach can build overall power and stamina in athletes as well as develop self-discipline in maximizing athletic potential.What exactly makes one player more athletic than another? Is it s
Confuse the Quarterback, Part II – Disguise your blitzes to stop the run and still defend the pass.
I never liked allowing a good zone read option quarterback to come to the line of scrimmage knowing how our secondary coverage was going to be aligned. I also thought it was important to give the offensive line and the blocking back a variety of pressure calls that were accompanied by some type of movement at the snap of the ball. Our goal was to use these calls to stop the run without significantly compromising the ability to defend the pass. The following calls are some of the different
Drills Report: Complete Special Teams Drills
Kickoff, kick return, punt return, field goal, and field goal block teams all need specific drills.Special teams is the most overlooked facet of the game. Drastic improvements can be made if you are willing to put the time into improving your kicking game. There are plenty of drills out there and you may already use some of them that are not mentioned here. The most important thing is that you set aside time for practice and film study.Kickoff Drills We teac
Safety First: Deadly Opponent
MRSA can be your team’s most dangerous adversary unless you take steps to prevent it.In the last decade, a new and threatening disease has emerged in football programs everywhere – MRSA. What is MRSA, why are football settings especially vulnerable, and what can you do to minimize the threat to your athletes?MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a strain of staph bacteria that does not respond to conventional antibiotics. The infection usually firs
Strength Report: Develop Complete Athletes – Liberty Universitys Unique Strength Program
Building true strength and power on the football field has less to do with fine tuning minor details and more to do with building more horsepower in the “engine” of an athlete. From there, details can be modified to turn the advanced athlete into an elite athlete. The process of creating more horsepower in the athlete is more methodical than most think and we use methods that are not practiced on a large scale. Last year, we had over 82 football players clean at least 300 pound
Letter from AFM
This year, the Rose Bowl celebrated its 100th anniversary, which means that, for 100 years, college football fans have been treated to the excitement and spectacle of the annual parade of bowl games. Classic matchups, historic venues and fantastic finishes are the rule when teams go “bowling”. Next season, with 38 bowls on the schedule, more teams than ever will get to experience the thrill of participating in bowl week activities and competing in a bowl game. There’s one asp
Second Chances in Football
There is one thing for certain in football – someone is going to make a mistake.Fumbles. Picks. Holding calls. Missed tackles. Dropped passes. They are all part of the game. Ultimately, though you can make all the calls, signals and shifts you want but the kids are the ones executing and mistakes are going to happen.As a coach, one thing that you need to be prepared for is how you are going to handle that mistake. Are you going to lose your cool? Fly off the handle? Berate a
Building a Successful Football Program From the Ground Up
The prospect of building a football program is an exciting challenge for any head coach of any experience level. There is no all-encompassing manual instructing a coach how to build a program. No one can wave a magic wand and turn a program into a success over night. The construction project will take time. It could take one season or several seasons to see significant progress. Building a football program is much like building a house - you must start from the ground up and build a solid fou
Fantastic Finish
The National Lineman Challenge was the first event of its kind ever conducted.The NFL High School Player Development program presented by the National Guard capped off another successful year with two thrilling events.Throughout the late spring and early summer, the focus of the NFL High School Player Development program presented by the National Guard is the nearly 200 multi-day camps that are conducted coast to coast and managed by local coaches. High school football players i
Managing Your Program: Giving Players a Focus for the Off-Season
For most programs, January is the start of the off-season.The gains made in the next six months are critical and must happen in order to have success in the fall. Keeping players focused and moving toward their goals and the team’s goals sometimes is a challenge when the season is so far off. Having a system to provide feedback and recognize the accomplishments of players as they develop themselves helps motivate and create excitement while working through the winter months.Follo
Self Analysis: Self-Scout Your Offense for a More Effective Game Plan.
The game has changed a great deal over the past decade. It used to be that offensive coordinators could create down and distance charts and run plays off of them with a pretty reliable sense of what would work. However, as the spread, no-huddle era has exploded onto the scene, it has transformed how coaches must approach the game.Our approach is to use statistics, specifically our offense’s own statistics, to formulate a game plan. The majority of our game planning time is spent
Confuse the Quarterback (Part I)
To stop the zone read, it is critical to present a number of different coverages to the opposing quarterback including a two-deep safety look.The zone read spread offense has had a major impact on all levels of football in recent years. Defensive coordinators have had to make adjustments to their base defensive calls in order to defend the basic running plays, play assignment football against the option, and defend the pass. Many years ago at a coaching clinic I heard a coach say that
Get Your O-Line In The Zone
Teaching the Square Drag, Square Drag and Skip, and the Brace and Skip Technique in Zone Blocking – Some Do’s and Don’tsTwo key elements in proper zone blocking technique are keeping the shoulders square and using lateral steps to close in on the defender. In coaching the offensive line at the collegiate level for the past 23 years, I have learned that we have to adapt our teaching methods and techniques to our players. Rarely do we come across a player who has size, strength, at
AFM Subscribers Ask with Joe Daniel Defensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach Prince George High School (VA) - Part II
Joe Daniel has more than ten years experience coaching on the high school and college level. In 2009, Daniel began building a website which includes more than 300 articles on defensive coaching – www.Football-Defense.com Daniel is also the host of The Football Coaching Podcast and has written several eBooks, including Coaching Football’s 4-2-5 Defense, Installing the 4-3 Over Defensive Front, and Dominating Football Defense with the Zone Blitz. A frequent contributor to
Coach to Coach: Preparing Your Athletes to Succeed at the 4-Year Level
It’s been said that it’s the Willies and the Joes not the Xs and Os that make college football teams and programs great. There is no doubt that a surplus of talent usually translates to wins on Saturday. Every 4-year college coach in the nation is trying to identify high school and junior college athletes who can successfully transition into great college football players. Identifying talent, however, is only part of the equation that determines success. Every year there are extremely tal
Strength Report: Wyoming’s Winter Player Development Program
Much like a football game has four quarters, the Wyoming football player development program is broken down into four distinct phases. Winter training, spring football, summer training and the competitive season make up our yearly training calendar. The Wyoming player development program has a structured plan during each of these phases and is built around landmarks found in the student-athletes academic calendar and competition dates. Each phase has very specific goals and intended outcomes.
The Birth Of The Football Chalk Talk?
Legendary Notre Dame Coach Knute Rockne was a skilled orator and teacher, in and out of the locker roomby Jim Lefebvre
Passing Improvement By Colloquial Folklore
This passing “expert” never played a down at the quarterback position on any
Game Planning Your Coaching Career (Part II)
The Third Quarter After the first half (introduction and growth phase) and making adjustments at half-time, the third quarter becomes the maturity phase of the coaching career. This does not mean that, as coaches, we do not continue to grow or learn. It means that we become more stabilized in our “giftings” as a coach. I admire the confidence of the FBS assistant who maintains a positive attitude that he will land a job in a better environment, after
Trojan Training Table
USC Director of Sports Nutrition Becci Twombley uses cutting-edge nutrition and recovery practices to help Trojan athletes “Fuel On”.Just as strength and conditioning programs have become increasingly sophisticated as coaches strive to provide each athlete with the most effective training regimen, highly-developed custom nutritional programs are becoming the norm in collegiate athletics. It’s widely recognized that the “fuel” that is consumed by athletes prio
Coaching Rewards
The NFL High School Player Development program presented by the National Guard lets coaches give back to the game and reap special coaching rewards.For high school football coaches, the rewards of coaching can take many forms. There are celebrations after big wins, championship trophies, accolades from peers.But most coaches realize that the biggest and best rewards of coaching football are those that come from helping young athletes succeed –
AFM Subscribers Ask with Joe Daniel Defensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach, Prince George High School (VA) – Part I
Joe Daniel has more than ten years experience coaching on the high school and college level. In 2009, Daniel began building a website which includes more than 300 articles on defensive coaching – www.Football-Defense.com Daniel is also the host of The Football Coaching Podcast and has written several eBooks, including Coaching Football’s 4-2-5 Defense, Installing the 4-3 Over Defensive Front, and Dominating Football Defense with the Zone Blitz. A frequent contributor to b
Circuit Drills Emphasize Repetition, Range of Motion and Reaction to Improve Your Special Teams Play.
Our staff at Central Washington University understands the importance and value of the kicking game in each contest. We treat each special team’s preparation with the same enthusiasm, intensity, and creativity as our offense and defense. To do it right, we must train our special teams players in the same way. Preparing players for their special team roles, however, presents some unique challenges. Consider the following:1. Getting Enough RepetitionsAlmost all of our playe
Drills to Perfect Your Pursuit of the Screen Pass.
Relentless hustle and pursuit, along with proper angles and leverage, are keys to successfully defending the screen. We stress the importance of 11 players giving maximum effort running to the football every play. Accountability and repetition are keys to be successful in this point of emphasis. All 11 players are graded every game or scrimmage play to be held accountable. Our coaches confront and demand hustle and pursuit in practice repetitions.We invest time prior to our individ
Rolling Thunder - Be efficient in the 'compressed' Red Zone.
No matter what your base offense is, you will find it necessary to make adjustments in what I call the compressed red zone; that is, from the three in. Adapting your base personnel, formations, and plays can be costly in terms of time and confusing to your players, who try to relate schemes and techniques used in the open field to this unique situation. Adopting a “Thunder Offense” can give you a personnel, formation, and play package that is specific to the compressed red zone. When your
Multiple Looks from a 3-4 Defense to Slow Down an Up-Tempo Offense
When we played Lake Travis High School four years ago, Chad Morris – now the offensive coordinator at Clemson – was the head coach. That year we had a short week of preparation for his up-tempo, no-huddle offense.After a relatively good start in the first quarter, our defense broke down after a turnover in the second quarter. Their fast-paced offense began to take its toll on our defense as we struggled to line-up before the snap, became confused with the offensive packages the
Two Minute Crunch Time: 'Go-To' Plays and a Clock-Killing Strategy
With the increased use of the up-tempo offense at all levels of the game, some teams seem as though they’re running a two-minute drill the entire game. No huddles, keeping the defense off balance, quick scores. But a true two-minute offense, of course, has the added pressure of clock management. When you must have a score with limited time left, it’s critical that your offense remains calm under this pressure – advancing on every play, stopping the clock whenever possib
Safety First: Is your Weight Room a Safe Room?
Don’t overlook the importance of having a comprehensive safety program in your strength and conditioning facility.Stafon Johnson had two successful seasons as a running back for USC in 2007 and 2008 and was primed for a big senior year in 2009 and possibly a shot at the NFL. That all changed on September 8th when the 275-pound barbell he was bench pressing fell on his neck, crushing his larynx and severing his vocal chords. Lucky to survive, he recovered and had a sh
Coach to Coach: Enjoy the Ride
It had been a long time since I’d been on a college sideline as a coach. After 10 years of being a high school head coach, I was excited to be back and I was relieved to see the clock tick to zeros in a 45-13 season opening win. The entire coaching staff and every player had put tremendous effort into preparing for our opener and the final score reflected a great night for us all. As I walked off the field, I couldn’t help but notice the smiling fans, the players chatting with friends and
Drills Report: The Reach Doug Down Drill
I believe that the most important element of our football team is our offensive line. This is not to demean the other positions, but it is what I believe and preach to our players. If the defense gives up 50, then we must score 51. We will not score 51 points if we do not get it done up front. That means a hat on a hat at all times. We know that we will not always have the most gifted skill guys on the field and our quarterbacks might not always make the best decisions, but we can never be me
Strength Report: In-Season Training Considerations
One of the most common questions that a strength and conditioning coach will be asked is “what is your program”? The answer to this question could be extremely complex if you were to take all of the components of a coach’s program – volume, rest, time, conditioning protocols, speed work, agility drills, quickness training, reps, sets, progressions, strength development, power development, periodization models, etc. As you can see, this would be a long article! Instead, the short versi
Speed Report: Combining In-Season Conditioning with In-Season Speed Training
Combining the two – in-season conditioning and speed training – is a subject that often comes up for discussion when I’m doing clinics and workshops across the country at various high schools and colleges. We always discuss the physiological energy mechanisms and how they function when we train. The same question seems to arise each time: What’s the best way to condition during the season?The answer is usually not well-received. My reply is that we need to understand how the ga
Game Planning Your Coaching Career (Part I)
(This article is written to discuss career planning in the coaching profession and this is by no means the only way to pattern your pathway. The experience of one coach, while addressing many issues, does not include all scenarios. However, the organization of the material is well-known to all coaches as it is structured just as all of us would game plan against an unfamiliar opponent. It is hoped that this discussion would have us in the coaching profession talk about
Managing your Program - “Flipped” Coaching
In a clinic talk in 2012, Urban Meyer spoke of how he wants the Buckeyes to be taught and coached through “direct teaching.” He made a point of using the technology and tools available to teach rather than just present to players. Meyer said, “The greatest teaching tools available in the history of this sport are now available to you. The days of saying, ‘I don’t use that’ are not acceptable at the Ohio State University. We’re going to be on the cutting edge of every teaching to
D-Back Run Stoppers Both the Key Read Drill and Block Escape Circuit Drill will improve defensive backs’ recognition of the run.
Stopping the run is one of the main priorities of any defense. In order to accomplish this goal, the defensive secondary must be active against running plays. It is important that all members of the secondary are equipped with the skills to recognize the run and then be able to execute techniques to disengage blocks. Your secondary can sharpen their eye discipline, footwork and hand placement/combat skills by recognizing the intentions of the End Man on the Line of Scrimmage (EMOL)
D-Line Rules vs. Outside Zone and Zone Read
Following the playside and backside rules is critical to stopping the outside zone and zone read.We try to keep our D-line rules and principles the same with outside zone and zone read as well as other plays and concepts. When we speak about outside zone, we break into halves, especially what side the offense is on in pre-and post-snap. We use strength and if the quarterback is under center or in the gun to determine the run strength of this particular play. Otherwise, we may use the t
Fine-Tuning: Adapting the Spread Offense to Your Personnel
Heading into the 2008 season, the pieces were all in place. Oklahoma had a talented and veteran offensive line featuring multiple NFL prospects, an experienced quarterback in Sam Bradford and a versatile playmaker at tight end in Jermaine Gresham. It was on the Oklahoma coaching staff to tailor its offensive scheme to its personnel. And the best way to capitalize on this wealth of talent was to run more plays.Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson (now head coach at Indiana) h
Safety First: Protection Program
Organizations are teaming up to provide athletes with better concussion detection and treatment options.When Mike Lamb played for the USC Trojans in the early 1980s, football was a different game. Unlike today’s safety-conscious environment, the emphasis in that era was on playing through injuries as a sign of toughness and commitment to the team. “Even if you were a little dazed and confused because of a violent hit to the head, the coaches expected you to get rig
Drills Report: Defensive Backs: Footwork, Block Protection, Tackling, and Ball Skills
Our focus on drill work for defensive backs has played a role in our success and paid dividends in the fall. At Villanova, our base defensive front is a 3-3 stack. With five defensive backs on the field in varying roles, we focus our teaching on a select number of skills to best prepare the entire group within our time constraints. Our goal is to spend at least five minutes each practice developing four specific skill categories: footwork, block protection, tackling, and ball skills.F
Strength Report: In-Season Training: Improve Performance, reduce Injuries
The in-season training program is critical to the success of our athletes. Programs should be designed to enhance and not just maintain their level of physical preparation. Lowering expectations during the in-season to maintain rather than improve strength will eventually lead to a decrease in performance and increase the risk of injury.To maximize the strength, health, mobility, and overall fitness of your athletes, is manage the distribution of the volume and loading. Within this
Coaching Rewards
The NFL High School Player Development program presented by the National Guard gives coaches the satisfaction that comes from giving back to the game.What are the rewards of coaching? Some coaches might say that wins and championships are at the top of the list. After all, winning has been the traditional yardstick for measuring coaching success, and few moments can compare to raising a trophy or donning a championship ring.Most coaches,
Tips for Rural Schools: Gridiron Success
By Kevin Swift, Head Coach Gold Coast High School (OR) In the summer of 1997, my family and I left the urban football world of Southern California for the rural football world of the Southern Oregon coast. My coa
CONCUSSIONS IN YOUTH FOOTBALL – ARE WE THINKING CLEARLY?
By Rey Hernandez Former Head Coach, LaJolla High School (CA) The current legislative proposals seeking to limit full contact in high school practices raise some tort liability issues that to date have not made it into the national concussion saf
AFM Subs Ask With Curtis Tsuruda Strength and Conditioning Coach • East St. John High School (LA)
Coach Curtis Tsuruda, has over 30 years of experience as a strength and conditioning coach. He has worked at Tulane, LSU, Hawaii, and Mississippi State and is currently the strength and conditioning coach at East St. John High School in Reserve, Louisiana. He was featured in AFM Subscribers Ask in May and now responds to more of your questions.What methods do you use to train young high school athletes to successfully rack the bar on the power clean? How many days do you fe
Three Pillars of Defensive Prep
Three important items in game planning include practicing proper tackling, studying your opponent’s big plays and those your defense has given up, and focusing on turnovers.We are always looking for a defensive edge on game day. However, with the unpredictability that game day brings, it is very difficult to predict or prepare for every scenario that might present itself. That is why it is important to use Monday through Friday to put the odds of victory as much as possible in our fa
Developmental Tackling, Part I – Effectively using the shimmy technique can help ensure the safety of all defensive players.
Without question, teaching safe tackling skills and drills is one of the most demanding tasks every coach in the country must master. In my 54 years of coaching varsity football, nothing gave me more concern than the idea of a collision with a player’s head down, chin on chest, and the resulting straight line spinal column hit with the top of the helmet. That is almost always the primary cause of paraplegic injury. That is why so much emphasis is placed on converting the speed run of pursui
On Top of the World – AFM’s Annual State Champions Survey and Profiles
State champion coaches share their secrets to winning it all. The results may surprise you.Most high school coaches would agree that their ultimate goal is winning their state championship. Taking home the trophy after the punishing regular season and pressure-filled playoffs is the pinnacle for the 300+ teams that annually achieve that goal.But do coaches agree on the best methods to use to reach that mountaintop? What offensive, defensive and special teams strategies give
Speed Report – Dynamic Relaxation – The Misunderstood Nugget for Speed and Quickness
When we think of the word relaxation it doesn’t suggest a very aggressive picture in our mind. Whenever I mention the term “Dynamic Relaxation” to coaches, they’re momentarily puzzled. They are searching their thoughts for where this picture fits football, a sport that delivers aggressive action every play.Football movement is not naturally linked to relaxation when the game is all about contact. Having a consistent forceful mindset week to week is what every coach desires.
Coach to Coach – Upset Alert: 5 Ways to Plan Against Superior Opponents.
On October 6th 2007, the Stanford Cardinals arrived at the LA Coliseum for a football game against the University of Southern California Trojans. USC was riding a 35-game home winning streak and was one of the more dominant football teams and programs in the modern era. The Cardinal, who were coming off a 1-11 2006 campaign, were being led to the expected slaughter by first- year coach Jim Harbaugh, who would be starting a backup quarterback with a total of three passes on his resume.
Safety First – Pre-Season Safety Checklist
With the 2013 season around the corner, it’s time for coaches to review all safety-related issues and ensure that proper procedures and protocols are in place before fall practice begins. . “Every team and athlete should have sports safety as a top priority,” says Larry Cooper, chair of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Secondary School Committee and head athletic trainer at Penn Trafford (PA) High School. “It’s vital for coaches, athletic trainers, parents and the
A Complete Strength and Conditioning Program for Offensive Linemen PART Two
The strength program is designed as a four-day split. The base spilt is Monday-Tuesday-Thursday-Friday. Other day combinations can be used as well. Recovery must be factored in and tailored to the split chosen. For example, a condensed split does not allow great recovery between workouts during the week. This requires volume to be reduced in workouts one and two to allow for recovery by workouts three and four. However, since three days of recovery exist with this approach, the lat
The Use of Technology in Modern Football (and Life) Is A Matter of Perspective
In the old days, coaches basically drew up plays on a chalkboard. Weightlifting consisted of lifting hay bales on summer vacations and s[ports nutrition was whatever happened to be available to eat and drink. Things change, and when it comes to technology, things have changed drastically. The days of Sid Gillman clipping football footage from film reels that played in movie theatres while he worked as an usher in the 1930's to coaches watching grainy footage of a player taken with a 16mm home
RE-STARTING A COACHING CAREER
I had the good fortune of leading one of the most successful public school programs in the state of Virginia for 22 years. At Western Branch High School in Chesapeake, winning became synonymous with Bruins football. From 1997 to the 2006 season when I retired, our winning percentage was over .800. We won numerous District titles and had three undefeated regular seasons. It
Starting from the Bottom – A guide to the season’s hottest cleats.
As a coach dialing up new schemes and organizing practice routines for the upcoming season, you may not have had time to see what’s in store for this year’s selection of football cleats. When an athlete comes to you with questions on cleats, this guide will help you steer him in the right direction.Over the past few years, players big and small have been leaning toward cleats that are lighter and faster. The game – now more than ever - relies on speed. A transformation of new
Develop Your Dynamic Identity
Every experienced coach knows that teams tend to develop a particular identity during the course of the season. Some coaches argue that the best teams are the ones that have the flashiest, most dominating identities – teams like the Oregon Ducks, known for its high-octane offense, or the Baltimore Ravens, known for its suffocating defense. Other coaches counter that the best teams are often the ones that possess less exciting identities, those summarized with phrases like “balanced” or
Summer Speed Work – This 8-week speed conditioning program will have your athletes primed and ready for August camp.
If your program is like most, you have an extensive pre-season strength training program designed to ensure your players will be in their strongest physical condition when your camp practices start in August. They’ll certainly be strong, but will they be fast? Will they have had the necessary training to execute the fast-paced offenses that so many teams employ today?To achieve a balance between strength and speed, consider implementing a structured speed conditioning program to
Wide Open – Coaches share strategies for winning in summer 7-on-7 competitions.
The explosion in popularity of off-season 7-on-7 passing competitions has helped coaches put a better product on the field in the fall, mainly through player development. But don’t discount the value of putting your playmakers in competitive, late-game situations.“Ideally, I want each of our games to be 21-14 on the final possession, with us trying to score or prevent the tying touchdown,” said Bryan Gray, head coach at East Hall High School (GA) and a big believer in t
Speed Report - Football Speed Information: Good News or Old News?
I have been writing AFM’s Speed Report for 6½ years and have traveled the country for 30 years engaging with coaches who want to learn “thorough and complete football speed training”. Not second-hand information that isn’t football speed specific. More specifically, lineal track techniques. Coaches should understand that these particular techniques don’t provide movement skills needed for football speed and/or transition speed that’s required to play fast and stay in control.
Safety First – Beat the Heat
August camps are coming soon and that means the hottest weather of the year. It is important for coaches – at all levels – to ensure their players are properly hydrated at all times. Perhaps the best advice for football coaches at the beginning of August practices is to take it slow and allow players to gradually get acclimated to the heat. “Heat acclimatization is the number one controlling factor that can help prevent heat illness,” said Brendan McDermott, an associate pr
Strength Report – A Complete Strength and Conditioning Report for Offensive Linemen, Part I
It is my belief that all strength and conditioning programs grow from a very specific set of needs and circumstances that differ from team to team. Every situation is different, so a program influenced by principles rather than copied verbatim is needed.From years spent playing offensive line then beginning my coaching career coaching it and finally working as a football strength coach for the past 25 years, I have gained perspective into the needs of offensive linemen. The princip
Organization of Weekly and Gameday Duties with a Short Staff
By Hunter Sims, Offensive Coordinator Howard Payne University With a limited staff, it is critical to have detailed responsibilities on the day after the game, during the week, and on gameday. As a Division III college, we deal with being under-staffed year in and year out. We need to be completely organized in order to maximize our workload throughout the week. Offensively, we are allotted three full-time coaches. If we’re lucky,
AFM Subscribers Ask -with Curtis Tsuruda Strength and Conditioning Coach, East St. John High School (LA)
Curtis Tsuruda has over 30 years of experience as a strength and conditioning coach. He has worked at Tulane, LSU, Hawaii and Mississippi State. Tsuruda is currently the strength and conditioning coach at East St. John High School in Reserve, Louisiana. He holds the distinction of being a Master Strength and Conditioning Coach, the highest honor in his profession and was selected in 2010 as Samson Equipment’s National High School Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year. He answers your
Running the Triple Option in the Pistol
Using the triple option with the pistol offense is a natural fit and can improve both your running and passing game.Like Army and Navy, we have been a traditional triple option team and have experienced success because our offense gave us a way to compete against superior talent. While we have had a potent rushing attack, when teams put nine or ten players in the box we didn’t have an answer. Last season, we decided to experiment and add the pistol to our offense. Adding the pistol t
Understanding Coverages and How to Attack Them
Each defensive coverage has strengths and weaknesses and ways to attack it.You can help your quarterbacks get through problem areas by teaching them how to identify coverages. Whether it is the pre-snap read, reading on the move, or route adjustments, the quarterback’s performance is based upon his knowledge of how to identify and react to coverages.When teaching the quarterback to identify coverages, we start with the pre-snap read, which will identify the secondary’s a
Emphasizing Ball Security – Mastering the five points of contact will help keep your runners from fumbling
Mastering the five points of contact will help keep your runners from fumbling dropping the ball.When teaching ball carriers about ball security, we talk about the five points of contact. The first point relates to our nickname which is the Eagles, so I use the term “Eagle Claw” for the point of the football. The second point of contact is the forearm and the third is the bicep. Both are used to secure the outside part of the ball to the middle of the body which leads to the fourth
Making the Grade – Spring evaluation is essential for maximizing each player’s contribution to the team
Spring evaluation is essential for maximizing each player’s contribution to the team.While coaches understand that player evaluation is a year-round necessity, spring is a particularly important time for returning player evaluations as your team heads into the summer pre-season lull. It’s the perfect time to size up the strengths and weaknesses of each athlete and set personal and team goals. What is the best way to evaluate a returning player? American Football Monthly asked seven
Safety First – Getting On The Same Page
If you’ve spent time this off-season reviewing the latest safety rules and guidelines, working with medical professionals and athletic trainers to institute procedures for dealing with injuries, checking out the latest in innovative safety equipment and making plans to ensure proper hydration and heat stroke prevention in early season practices, then congratulations! You’ve taken the first steps to make player safety a priority for your program.Now, looking ahead to next season
Drills Report – Advanced Wide Receiver Drills, Part I
I am always looking for effective drills that my receivers can use to make them better. I think it’s important to think through drills before you use them and make sure they reinforce the technique utilized in a game and the technique utilized within your offense. Your players will be able to tell you how certain drills reinforce situations that come up in a game. That’s when you know you are using the correct drills.I always try to get as much out of a drill as I can. When we
Strength Report – 10 Common Errors in Football Strength & Conditioning
The profession of strength and conditioning coaching was formally established in the United States 35 years ago with the formation of the National Strength & Conditioning Association. The aim of the NSCA was to merge science and practice to legitimize our roles and to separate us from other fitness-related “experts.” After all this time, one would expect an evolution in the quality of programming and coaching but it isn’t evident in the practices of many strength and conditioning co
Letter from AFM – Breaking Barriers
Breaking BarriersA member of my extended family plays in a spring football league. Not casual, pick-up, touch football, but the real thing. Full equipment, full contact, real stadiums, NFL rules, professional refs, teams in cities across America. Like a lot of spring pro leagues before it, this league tries to take advantage of football’s popularity by giving fans a quality, on-the-field product to fill the void between the Super Bowl and the start of the fall football season.
As a Coach, How Do You Want to be Remembered?
by Derek Schlieve, Head Football Coach Mayville State University Football is time consuming. It can become all-consuming if you let it. High School football takes a lot of time. College Football requires even more time. I cannot even begin to imagine what the time commitment is like at the professional level. Every now and then, you read a story about how much time coaches put in and what they are missing out on and it makes a person think twic
FREE FORM - General Practice Plan Breakdown
With spring practice in full session, this form details elements of a complete practice. A list of priorities prior to the start of practice is listed as well as activities divided into 10- and 15-minute increments. Player responsibilities for field set-up and pick-up are also included.
Camp Season
- The NFL High School Player Development program presented by the National Guard conducts free camps for high school players that combine football skills teaching with character development lessons.Summer is right around the corner, and that means that it will soon be time for football camps for high school athletes to begin. Camps have become a popular way for high school players to get meaningful instruction and work on their fundamentals in the months leading
Managing Your Program – Spring Practice: Make it About the Details and Development
As we head into spring practice, now is the time to set a focus that will carry the team into strong summer preparations and camp, eventually leading up to the 2013 season. For many areas in the country, a spring game against an opponent is not part of the equation. This is a time that will end in an inter-squad game, or for some, no game or scrimmage at all. This is true at the NCAA Division III level, where we cannot even put on pads. However, this is still a great time to make progress and
Developing an Efficient Kickoff Team – Following a detailed teaching progression for your kickoff team will maximize their potential.
There are many factors that contribute to a successful season on special teams. The most important factor is the strong support and focus of the head coach to ensure that players and coaches are committed to this phase of the game. We always begin our practices with special teams and then break to offense and defense. That goes for installation meetings, film review and practice. We start with 20 minutes of special teams and end practice with a field goal or punt. The importance of special te
Tackling Drills Without Full Contact – Tackling progressions for both the head-up and profile tackle can be taught to emphasize safety.
Concussions continue to dominate our discussions about football injuries. Coaches have to find ways to teach the solid fundamentals of tackling, yet protect their players from preventable injuries.We have to contend with a small squad (usually less than 50 players) and often we have undersized players. Traditional tackling techniques are not just enough for us. We have to give our smaller players a chance to tackle without “ramming their head” into a ball carrier. Over the year
Inside Linebacker Reads in the 3-4 Defense – The 3-4 defense gives the inside linebackers a read on the uncovered guard through to the fullback.
The 3-4 defense gives the inside linebackers a read on the uncovered guard through to the fullback.The 3-4 defense, or Okie front is very flexible and multiple, which is needed against today’s spread offensive attacks. The 3-4 defense has the ability to blitz any of the four linebackers, and, in the 3-4 secondary, a team can play multiple coverages, from zone to man.This old school Okie defensive front has a built-in advantage for the inside linebackers.The adva
Chemistry Class – Team-Building is an important tool for developing cohesion among players.
There is no exact blueprint for team-building, no scientific formula for team chemistry. But it’s easy to spot the teams that have it and the teams that don’t. Enthusiastic, focused sidelines and camaraderie that oozes off the bus are signs of a team with good chemistry. Finger-pointing, listless practices and team cliques are signs of a program in need of a boost of team-building. But how do you alter your team’s chemistry? How do you create a sense of unity when your roster turns over
Safety First – Culture Shift: Changing the culture of football to reduce violent injuries.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell recently addressed the Harvard School of Public Health and talked about the league’s number one priority – ensuring the safety of the players. But, beyond that, he talked about “changing the culture of the game in a way that reduces the injury risk to the maximum extent possible – especially the risk of head injury.” Goodell went on to say that “the culture of change for player safety is our biggest challenge.”There is more concern today
Strength Report – Creating an Edge in the Off-Season
Football players are getting faster. The process of increasing speed is two-fold. You must perform sprints as you would on game day, but you also have to increase lower-body strength and power. If you are looking for an edge this off-season, or just trying to add a new dynamic to the predictable programming, maybe it is time to revisit what you are doing in the weight room and during your conditioning sessions. Many programs across the country base their strength
Tools for Success
The NFL High School Player Development program presented by the National Guard worked with Al Golden and the University of Miami to produce the 2013 practice plan and DVD – benefitting every high school program in America.When it comes to supporting the nation’s high school football coaches, no program can match the NFL High School Player Development program presented by the National Guard. Not only does HSPD provide coaches with the opportunity to give bac
The Double Gun System A Unique Combination of the Double Wing and Shotgun Formations
By Jay Stolfi • Youth CoachIntroduction
Trick Plays: the “Trojan Horse” of Football
By Bruce Reynolds • Retired High School CoachSteven Covey’s principle, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing,” certainly applies to football. Too many coaches try to put in too many ‘new’ things for the big game. That is a big mistake. Concentrate on what you and your team know how to do best. Stay within your system and basic philosophy of offense and defense. Go with what you’re practiced a thous
Defending the Zone Read –Defenses can be successful against the zone read if they understand the rules and their gap responsibilities.
Defending the zone read is similar to defending the triple option that attacks the play side of the defense. We have specific rules for defending the dive (RB), the QB and the pitch. For the dive, we designate the first defender outside the offensive tackle to squeeze and tackle the first threat. The quarterback is designated for the area #2, the curl defender, which is usually the scraping linebacker.We always emphasize that our area #1, the curl/flat defender is responsible for t
Maximizing Special Teams Practice Time – Circuit drills for both kickoffs and punt units can help improve special teams play.
Anyone who has coached special teams knows that there never seems to be enough time to teach the proper techniques as well as implement your systems. Even at a school like Norwich, we end up trying to get more done, in less time.A strategy we’ve used, which has benefitted us greatly, is to set up a circuit of drills for each individual special teams unit and have all of our players rotate through this circuit. This allows us to get a lot of quality, technique-specific work done,
Samson Equipment’s Strength and Conditioning Coaches of the Year for 2012
NFL: Chris CarlisleSeattle SeahawksBackground – Chris Carlisle began his coaching career at Dodge High School (NE) in 1985. After continuing to coach on the high school level and then as an assistant at the University of Arkansas, Carlisle joined the staff at Tennessee in 1998 under John Stucky. He then became USC’s head strength and conditioning coach in 2001 when Pete Carroll called Stucky and asked for a recommendation.
The Rise of the Monarchs – The fastest rising program in college football is just getting started.
Between 1940 and 2009, Old Dominion University did not play a single football game. Zero. The program that had been discontinued after the ’40 season was not reinstated until a 2005 vote established the framework for a new Monarchs team that would begin play in the ’09 season. Basically starting from scratch, the program would face the monumental challenge of building a team where one didn’t exist.Today, the Monarchs are headed to the Football Bowl Subdivision this fall, in only
Drills Report – The Run-Up Escape Drill
The Run-Up Escape Drill which teaches our QBs three important fundamentals – ball security, downfield vision and launching the ball while trying to escape or avoid pressure. The drills we practice are the drills that we witness our players performing as we watch game tape The Run-Up Escape Drill is one drill which we see over and over as we view our game film. We can incorporate under-center drops (5-step/7-step) or gun drops (3-step/5-quick) into the drill. We start by pla
Safety First – Contact In Practice – Is It Worth It?
Football is changing. With the game under great scrutiny from a player safety perspective, those in and out of football are questioning long-held practices that may put players at greater risk of injury.One of those is full contact in practice. The old belief that contact drills and hitting are necessary in practice is giving way to a more restrained approach that limits or even eliminates contact in the interest of player safety. Rockhurst High School (MO) Head Coach To
USING THE iPAD AS A COACHING TOOL
Whether on the field or off, the IPad can be a major part in helping your players improve and communicate the weekly gameplan. Our student-athletes are so used to technology, it is the way they are taught in classroom and it was what they use outside the classroom. Give your student-athlete an IPad and they immediately feel comfortable as they swipe through pages or watch video. After receiving an IPad for my birthday last offseason I started searching for wa
AFM Subscribers Ask with Mike Cieri Special Teams Coordinator, Montclair State University
Mike Cieri recently completed his 41st year as a football coach, the last 12 as Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive Line Coach at Montclair State University. He also coached at Boonton High Since 2003, his special teams have scored eight touchdowns on kickoff and punt returns and blocked 58 kicks – on punts, extra points, and field goal attempts – scoring a total of 72 points in the process. Cieri has also authored the book, 101 Winning Special Team Drills and produced a five-s
Defending the Power Game with the Stack Defense – The stack defense allows players to be aggressive and limit adjustments against either a spread or a power offense.
One of the primary benefits of the stack defense is its ability to line up against any style of offense and be very effective. With the emergence of the spread offense, the stack gives defenses a great opportunity to not only match up with the spread but also attack it. While this is a great benefit, the primary strength of the stack defense is its ability to stop the run. Throughout the course of a season, we will defend shotgun-spread offenses mainly running out of 10 and 11 personnel as we
Variables 101 – Knowing how to analyze over 100 offensive variables gives your defense a statistical edge.
Knowing how to analyze over 100 offensive variables gives your defense a statistical edge.Every defensive coordinator has his own style and process in preparing a game plan for the next opponent. Part of this process is detailing the statistical side of probability on the opponent’s play selection. Ideally, each defensive call has the probability of being successful, helps create one-on-one favorable match-ups and allows the players to execute the proper techniques in stopping the of
AFM’s National and Regional High School Coaches of the Year
Gary Joseph Katy High School Joseph led the Tigers to one of the most dominating seasons in Texas football history. A last-minute playoff loss ended the Katy Tigers’ 2011 season. It marked the second straight season the Tigers had been close, but were unable to finish. Head coach Gary Joseph was determined not to let that happen in 2012. “We had been competitive, but hadn’t finished. This year, we were going to become a more physical football team that w
AFM’s College Coaches of the Year for 2012
AFM’s FBS Coach of the YearBrian Kelly Notre DameAfter decades of frustration, Kelly led the Fighting Irish back to national prominence.It was not a pleasant environment, but Brian Kelly had been there before. He knew what to say.In 2001, Kelly led Grand Valley State to an undefeated season and its first appearance in the Division II championship game. It was also Kelly’s first national championship game as a head coach, and it would end in heartbreak.
Managing Your Program – Avoid a Quarterback Controversy – An Objective System for Grading Your Quarterbacks
In the spring and fall of 2010, we had a heated battle for the starting quarterback position. Our three-year starter was graduating and we had three freshmen battling to be in the number one spot at the beginning of their sophomore year. That year I used three criteria to help me objectively distinguish the starter from the back-ups. After doing that, I realized I could develop the criteria further to not only slot each quarterback in a position, but also give the posit
Coach to Coach – Four Strategies in Preparing Your Quarterback for Success
At the start of the 2012 season, there were a lot of questions from coaches, players, fans and the local sportswriters regarding the state of our quarterback position. We had graduated a MVP quarterback in 2011 and the heir apparent was an undersized junior without any varsity experience. The questions regarding the position were legitimate and I knew that in order for our team to make another championship run, it was imperative that we continue to have great play at the quarterback position.
Drills Report – Blastoff! Using the Blaster to Create Physicality in Your WR Corps
As a former wide receiver, one of the hardest things for me as a player was to catch the ball when a big hit was coming. Now, as a coach, I have noticed that my players also struggle with securing the catch when being hit, or having to fight through contact. Wanting to be able to practice for this difficult situation, I was forced to examine the drills we do in practice. Most of our drills are traditional “ball” drills that focus on the different aspects of the catch, as well as the tuck
Safety First – Training for Safety
Vince Lombardi once said, “Football is not a contact sport. Football is a collision sport. Dancing is a contact sport.” This, coupled with the fact that every year, athletes at all levels are getting bigger, stronger, and faster, means that there is a very real threat to see a dramatic increase in football injuries. These run the gamut from minor injuries with no time lost to more severe injuries that could be season or career ending.Keeping a football te
Strength Report – A Year Round Strength and Conditioning Program, Part II
Last month’s Strength Report included a training program for the post-season, the off-season and the spring season. As part of a year round program, this article will include a strength and conditioning program for both the pre-season as well as an in-season schedule.PRE-SEASONThis is the phase that is probably the most important part of all the training phases we use. During this time, we must build a conditioning foundation that will allow our athletes to make it through p
Speed Report – Elite Training Facilities and Apparatus: Are They the Answer for Football Speed & Movement?
By Dale Baskett • Football Speed SpecialistMike Johnson • Sports Science ConsultantWe looked at sprint assisted and resisted aids in a past article. In this article I’ll discuss a few of the other popular training aids and whether or not they are a good resource for enhancing speed and movement in your program. Since speed and movement can be enhanced through training, entrepreneurs and manufacturers are attempting to make it easier for coaches and trainers to g
Student of the Game: Using Academic Resources To Enhance Your Program
Volume 3: The 10,000 Hour Rule, Athlete-Controlled Feedback and Inside-Out Circuits by Jack Byrne, Defensive Coordinator, Windham High School (NH)
PUSHING THROUGH THE MENTAL BARRIER
Bill Mountjoy, Retired high School and College Coach Often there is a very fine line between a winning and losing effort. More often than not, this is due to the athletes’ mental conc
Giving Back
Two Regional Directors of the NFL High School Player Development program presented by the National Guard discuss how coaches everywhere can give back to the game.Most successful coaches recognize that they are fortunate to have made a career out of football. That’s what motivates so many to give something back to the game by participating in activities that can make a difference – using football to be a positive influence with youth in their communities.Hundreds of coach
From the Coaches Bookshelf - Dream Chaser – 4th and Goal by Monte Burke
For some, coaching football is simply in their blood. In his new book, 4th & Goal, author Monte Burke tells the amazing story of Joe Moglia, who left coaching to pursue what would become a monumentally successful career in financial services. Moglia has since returned to the sidelines and fulfilled his life-long dream of becoming a college head coach. Here is an excerpt.Now sixty-two, Joe Moglia is standing on the sidelines of a football field in Nebraska, wearing a headset and a w
One Team – Two Offenses
By Jeff Hancock • Offensive Coordinator • Siena Heights Universityand Jason Mensing • Head Coach, Whitehall High School (MI)Two years ago the Board of Trustees voted to start football at Siena Heights University and we were fortunate enough to be a part of the very first staff. Among the overwhelming number of things that go into starting a new program was this question because of our limited senior leadership – how were we going to recruit enough players
Thunder Storm – Trine University’s tackling and turnover circuit covers all the essentials of effective defense.
There is little doubt that great tackling and creating turnovers are the two most important things a defense can do to help its team win. We have employed a tackle and turnover circuit that we believe not only teaches our players to tackle with great technique, but also teaches an understanding of how to create turnovers when given the opportunity. As a result, we have been at or very near the top of the turnover margin statistics for our conference over the past few years. We led all of Divi
Legendary Leader – John Gagliardi retires after 64 years, 489 wins and countless changed lives.
Amos Alonzo Stagg coached college football for 57 years in the first half of the 20th century, winning a then-record 314 games. Bobby Bowden tallied 377 wins in his 44-year coaching career at Samford, West Virginia and Florida State. Eddie Robinson coached Grambling for 55 years and won 408 games.John Gagliardi bettered them all. In a coaching career that spanned 60 seasons at the helm of Division III St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, and four prior sea
Coach to Coach – Want to Use a Faster Tempo as a Weapon? Be Creative in Deciding How
NCAA bowl games started on December 15th and finished on January 7th, and, like many of you, I watched almost every game. Of all the current football trends on display, there was one that seemed to present itself in almost every game - the no-huddle, up-tempo offense. Spread offenses have been a football standard for many seasons. However, the pace at which teams are executing their schemes is becoming more and more of a key factor in their offensive philosophy and identity.In today’
Safety First – Stronger Necks = Fewer Injuries
Neck testing and training methods for football are critical ways to reduce injuries.Even though research studies have shown that increases in neck strength decrease the chance of a head injury, there is no national standard for neck testing in collision sports. At the University of Memphis, we developed an innovative program to test, monitor, and strengthen the neck that has decreased our concussions and missed playing time 50% in one year. This past season at Columbia
Strength Report – A Year Round Strength and Conditioning Program, Part I
As strength coaches, it is our job to maximize the performance of our athletes and to minimize their risk of injury. Proper programming and organization go a long way in ensuring our athletes are prepared for each season. Periodization, in its simplest terms, refers to the organization of training phases to maximize performance for the competitive season. The year is broken down into different cycles. The cycle traditionally goes:Off-Season, Spring Season, Pre-Season, In-Season, Post
Student of the Game: Using Academic Resources to Enhance Your Program Part II The Guidance Hypothesis and Overtime Wednesday
By Jack Byrne • Defensive Coordinator • Windham High School (NH)The purpose of this series of articles is to provide ideas for improving various aspects of your football program using ac
LINEBACKER TACKLING DRILLS AND TECHNIQUES
One of our defensive coaching guidelines is that we will get what we demand or allow. If we do not emphasize what we think is important to our defense or if we do not hold our players accountable for what our expectations are, then we are held responsible for the lack of production on the field. This definitely applies to tackling. We demand to be 90% efficient in all tackling opportunities and we do not want to allow poor practice habits or a lack of emphasis on the right things to adversely
Building Blocks – The day your 2012 season ends, your 2013 pre-season begins. Now is the time to build the foundation for your team’s future success.
In today’s ultra-competitive football environment, there’s no such thing as a true off season. The coach who leaves the game behind after the last items of equipment are stored for the winter is the coach who falls behind his peers.Between post-season evaluations of players and coaches, planning and implementing special activities and training programs and working with seniors who want to play at the next level, coaches’ plates are full. To successfully navigate the challenge
Top of the Line
Bishop Gorman High School built one of the country’s top strength and conditioning facilities – with the help of Samson Equipment.When Tony Sanchez assumed head coaching responsibilities at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas in 2009, he produced immediate results – a 15-0 record that included a state championship and a national ranking in his first season. The only thing missing at Bishop Gorman was a strength and conditioning program that would allow the Gaels to maintain th
Quality Control – Planning Your Off-Season
The equipment has been shipped out for reconditioning, awards banquets are complete, and you’ve gotten over that awkward feeling in the week or two following the season where from 3pm-6pm you felt like you should be doing something else. Now is a great time to do some quality control and analysis work before you head into the clinic season. Coaches who are successful year-in and year-out are great organizers. Planning precedes organizing. In order to plan effectively you must per
10 Ways To Maximize Press Man Coverage
There are a number of ways your players can reach their potential as cornerbacks in press man coverage. After playing in college, nearly a decade in the NFL, and coaching at both the college and professional level for 28 years, I have learned a number of things that should be helpful in improving your players’ press man techniques. Here are some tips and coaching points to share with your cornerbacks:1. Attitude – The corner must be ready, relaxed, and supremely confident wh
Secure the Future by Playing it Safe
By the time you read this article, your 2012 football season will most likely be over. I hope that it was a success for you and your team. Some of you are enjoying the holiday season with the satisfaction of winning a championship while others are already charting a course of action that will result in more success in 2013. Regardless of how the 2012 season finished, the winter months will provide all of us the opportunity for some much needed rest and a time to reflect on a
Sometimes the Best Strategies do Not Win Games
If you read American Football Monthly and Gridiron Strategies you can't help but be impressed by all the articles dealing with different offensive and defensive strategies. It is impossible to not be left with the impression that the strategy employed by the football coach is the key to
Subscribers Ask - With Tony Sanchez Head Coach • Bishop Gorman (NV)
Coach Tony Sanchez took over as Bishop Gorman’s Head Coach in March of 2009. The results over three seasons have been spectacular. The Gaels have won three straight state championships with records of 15-0, 13-2, and 16-1. Last fall, Bishop Gorman played three ranked top 25 teams – Chaparral (AZ), Armwood (FL) and Servite (CA). Their only loss was to Armwood, 20-17.Sanchez believes in playing the best teams he can schedule each year. “It was tough to lose the game to Armwood
The Speed Report - Combination Movement Skill Drills FOR THE SECONDARY
What do I mean by combination movement skill drills? Combining position speed skill movements that you might do as one activity only – such as backpedaling – into two or three types of movement changes in the same drill. You will wind up incorporating several skills needed into a non-stop high-intensity and kinetic learning experience.Obviously, an athlete in the secondary must be adept at multi-movement skills, which are why they are practiced so frequently. My idea of doing t
Yoga and Football – Keeping Your Players on the Field
By Tim Tobin, Linebackers and Run Coordinator, Tusculum College andStella Tobin, Advanced Yoga and Pilates Instructor, Personal Trainer and Nutrition Consultant Teams spend around 15 minutes or more during practice, and pre-game doing warm ups. By using Yoga, you can have your players ready in a shorter amount of time, saving both your time and energy. Yoga can help in many ways to make weak areas stronger, tight areas more flexible, correct imbalances, help devel
Student of the Game: Using Academic Resources to Enhance Your Program: Part I The Tactical Games Approach and Open Field Tackling
The purpose of this series of articles is to provide ideas for improving various aspects of your football program using academic resources and studies. If you are anything like me, you are the type of coach that wants a reason and a purpose behind everything you do for your program. Anecdotal evidence can be useful, but is often unreliable and even harmful (if you don’t believe me, think about what would happen if we took everything from an internet forum, Wikipedia, or a TV infomercial as
KICKOFF BLOCK DESTRUCTION PROGRESSION
Learning the proper fundamentals and techniques of kickoff coverage helps put your defense in a favorable position.In spite of the 2012 rule changes regarding special teams play, the kickoff remains one of the most pivotal plays in football. Most everyone who holds this view has a different reason. At Cornell, we feel that the kickoff’s importance lies in determining the drive start for our defense which, over time, is a direct indicator of defensive success and in setting the emotio
Preparing Your Punt Teams
Getting your punting and pressure/return special team units prepared to meet the challenges they’ll face on game day can be the difference between a win and a loss.Successful coaching requires attention to detail. This is never truer than in special teams, especially in preparing your punt and punt pressure/return units. Punts and punt returns hold opportunities for positive, momentum-changing outcomes but they also have the potential for disaster. Of all the plays in football, the p
The Pirate Returns - Mike Leach brings his high-powered but surprisingly simple passing offense to Washington State
Mike Leach is complex. Contrary to popular belief, his coaching philosophy is not. Dating back to his early days as an innovative offensive coordinator at Iowa Wesleyan and Valdosta State, Leach has always experimented with unique plays and unusual ideas. Yet, two decades later, his first offense at Washington State has just 14 pass plays.
Drills Report Bonus - Improving Your Offensive Production
In our offense that we call the “truck and chuck”, we borrow academy-style option principles, implement them from a normal five-yard depth in the shotgun, and then throw as much play-action as we can into it. Like any offense, there are countless ways to practice and prepare our players to execute our style of play. However, when we think about drills and teaching methods for our offense, we stick to a few basic principles:#1 Big/Little/Big - Give the players the big picture (the
Drills Report Virginia Tech Running Back Drills
We have an unbelievable tradition of running back play at Virginia Tech. Our running backs understand the number of great players that have come before them. Since 1980, we have had over 30 running backs sign NFL contracts. That includes David Wilson, a first round draft choice this year and Ryan Williams, a second round draft choice last year.We use four core drills to work on footwork, pass protection, pass catching and overall toughness. Footwork/ball security will be drilled ev
Coach to Coach Dealing with Discipline
I was having dinner on a Saturday night with my family when the doorbell rang. Upon opening the door, I was a little shocked to see a former player that I had not seen in almost ten years standing in front of me. Having past members of my teams stop by to say hello is not an uncommon occurrence but this was different. This young man, who was a part of my first varsity team at Foothill High School, had the distinctive “honor” of being the first player that I had ever dismissed from m
STAYING SHARP Nine In-Season Training Tips
Failure to properly work out during the season will lead to weaker players, more injuries and more losses as the season wears on. Weightroom training during the season confuses many players and coaches. There are so many demands on time and the body that any mistakes made can cause a chain reaction of failures from the weightroom to the field.The old theory of not training at all during the football season is completely out of date.After about 14 days, you can begin to l
12 Coaching Points for Motivation: Trust, Respect, Caring, Honesty
The way we motivate our players is as important to what we do as our technical and strategic knowledge of football. There are many motivational concepts, philosophies, and even gimmicks. True motivation is built around trust, respect, caring, and honesty. I remember, as a young teacher, getting an evaluation form from a principal who asked what my techniques and strategies were for motivating my students. My reply was simple, “I talk to them.” I come across many gimmicky techni
Get More Out of Your Film By Having Better Film
In today’s coaching world, film is a major tool for success. Yet, sometimes we get film that just isn’t up to par. When you get opponents’ film, you are left at the mercy of their filmer. Often it’s a young manager, injured player, young coach, or possibly a volunteer. Your own filmer can sometimes be very green with the camera, have tripod issues or even miss entire plays. People can forget equipment, and then you’re stranded without film. We’ve all had it h
FREE FORM - Weekly Practice Plan
With August camp now in full swing, it’s critical to have a detailed weekly practice plan. This form is just that – a day-by-day listing of what’s scheduled for each practice, including specific plans for the offense, defense and special teams.
Wide Receiver Play Base Fundamentals vs. Press Coverage
The proper technique for hand releases and quick feet are critical for the wide receiver in defeating press coverage.We spend a good amount of time in practice working on individual skills. One of our focuses in practice is releases vs. a hard corner. We work on many different releases, with a goal for our players to develop a repertoire. We spend a great deal of time breaking down each individual skill so it will become a habit for them.We break the skill of releases down i
Managing Your Managers
Most coaches have a good handle on their responsibilities and those of their players. In many programs, these responsibilities are very detailed and almost always put in writing.But often overlooked are the roles and responsibilities of team managers. That’s unfortunate, since having solid, detail-oriented team managers can be a blessing to a coaching staff – giving them more time to focus on helping their players be successful on the field.In my coaching career, I p
Strategies to Overcome a Poor Start
Football season is finally here.By the time you read this column, your team might have already played several games. Hopefully, the start of your season has been successful and is full of promise. The reality is, however, that each week 50% of all teams, coaches and fans suffer through a defeat. In my 20 plus years of coaching football, I have been a part of teams that started great and I have been part of teams that have struggled mightily out of the gate. Both situations can pres
The Safety Rulebook
While coaches can take an active role in injury prevention by coaching safer tackling and blocking techniques, football’s governing bodies can have a lasting impact for all teams by tweaking rules designed to ensure player safety.Governing organizations – including the NCAA, the National Federation of High Schools, and Pop Warner – have instituted new rules that go into effect this fall to help ensure the safety of players.NCAAThe NCAA approved a number of new
COMPLEXITY Using Complex Warm-Ups to Jump Start Your Athlete’s Workout
All high school strength and conditioning coaches are looking for that “magic bullet” or the one thing that will help their student-athletes make incredible jumps in explosive power. Having your athletes perform “complex” warm-ups will help them achieve that goal. A “complex” warm-up is a series of 6-10 exercises, done for a set number of reps, in consecutive order, without resting or changing weights for the entire set.Here is an example:1. Upright Row x42.
Leadership Lessons
The NFL High School Player Development Program presented by the National Guard goes off the field to help mold the leaders of tomorrow.On so many levels, the NFL High School Player Development program presented by the National Guard is unique. There are many football camps around the country for high school athletes, but only one program – HSPD – includes character development sessions to help athletes be successful in the classroom, in the community, and at home. Only one program
Expanded Special Teams: Kickoff and Punt Returns
One of the biggest areas for hidden yards in a football game takes place in the return game of special teams. Making blocks in open space is critical to field position. Technique, fundamentals, angles, and field awareness must be emphasized to be successful. With the motto “every yard counts” players must understand that working to be at the correct landmark can be the difference between a game-changing return and a penalty. Here are drills that we practice:Illini Kickoff Retu
FREE FORM - General Practice Plan Form
With pre-season camp coming soon, the General Practice Plan Form is a must for every coach. This form details priorities before practice as well as providing a comprehensive guide in five-minute increments – period by period – of a complete two hour and 15 minute practice. Specific practice drills are also included for all positions.
VIDEOTAPING FOR AUGUST TWO-A-DAYS
The key to having productive video sessions during August two-a-days and the regular season is being completely organized. Some questions you ought to ask are:
Complete Cornerback Coverage Techniques
The proper technique for backpedaling is a key to maximizing a cornerback’s coverage.As with any technique in football, there are a number of ways that standard defensive back techniques can be taught. The core fundamentals of backpedal, break, and bail are often articulated in very different ways. While it is important to put some of your best athletes at the cornerback position, there are always times when you will need to adapt your personnel and teach a corner how to play the pos
Coaching Technology – Today and Tomorrow
Technology is a critical part of coaching success and will be even more important in the future.From the first time a football game was ever filmed, in 1903, to the invention of the first videotape recorder, in 1951, to the first-ever editing system in 1987 to the introduction of digital editing in 1994, technology has been influential in shaping how coaches prepare for opponents and communicate during games.Today, coaches have a wider variety of technology tools available t
What, as a Defensive Coach, Gives You the Most Trouble?
Coaching football is simple in theory - score touchdowns, and stop the opposition from scoring touchdowns. Too bad theory isn’t reality. Every football coach in the world understands that there is a lot more to it than that. Defensively, you are charged with stopping an entire offense in a few short days of practice and game planning. Each coach has their own way of going about stopping each team. Over the years, you develop your defense to suit your team and stop the opposition, yet for ea
That Championship Season – AFM’s 2011 Survey of 334 State Champions
Winning a state championship is the pinnacle for most high school teams. Learning from the experience of championship coaches can help in your quest to hoist the trophy.Hard work. Dedication. Leadership. Commitment. Focus. Team chemistry. These are the common themes that emerge when you talk to high school coaches that won their state championships in 2011.But there is also great diversity among the 334 teams that raised the state championship trophy last season. There are t
Safety First – Teaching safe tackling technique can reduce head and neck injuries and help protect the game’s future.
In the past 35 years, two-thirds of football-related catastrophic injuries have occurred while making a tackle, according to the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research at the University of North Carolina. Most of these were caused by helmet-to-helmet contact. “This is a major problem,” said Fred Mueller, Ph.D., director of the NCCSIR, which has collected data and published annual reports on catastrophic football injuries for 48 years.Dr. Mueller said head-to-he
Drills Report – 13 Advanced Punting Ideas and Drills
Punting is one of the most difficult and least acknowledged skills in the game. Coaches expect punters to punt well every time, but one bad punt or a botched snap can result in a serious conversation from a coach or, even worse, a loss of a game. Punting can be a big momentum changing play for you or the other team. Here’s a list of coaching points and drills that can help with this position and make it a more positive part of your program.1. Punter Stretches• Make ea
Speed Report – Useful or Useless Speed and Movement Applications
To bridge the gap between knowledge and application begins with having knowledge on the subject. Many football coaches have a limited knowledge of football speed. That’s not a positive for the athletes they train. However, that can be changed. I’m not trying to be negative or flippant, but I’m offering a challenge. A challenge to spend more time looking outside the box with the methods you’re providing. They may look fine to the untrained eye, but are they really sound for addressing
Tournament Time
This month, hundreds of young athletes representing all 32 NFL teams will converge in Indianapolis for the NFL High School Player Development National 7-on-7 Tournament presented by the National Guard.7-on-7. The name evokes highly-skilled athletes, pinpoint passing attacks, and non-stop action.In the last decade, there has been an explosion of high school 7-on-7 events during the summer months. Most of these competitions feature elite skill position players honing their gam
Coach to Coach – Summer Session (Part II)
Using the summer months to organize and articulate your coaching philosophies and methods.In part two of using the summer months to organize and articulate your coaching philosophies and methods, I want to share with you a few methods and strategies in developing your game week schedule, practice preparation, organizing your game day, halftime responsibilities and addressing parent concerns.Game Week Schedule and PreparationsAt Foothill, we play our games on Fr
Play Like a Champion
When the upcoming high school football season gets underway, there will be over 15,000 coaches and teams that, at least on paper, have a chance to win their state championship. By the season’s conclusion, roughly 340 will have raised the championship trophy. There will be teams that will be celebrating the latest in a string of many championships and others that will be claiming the title for the first time in school history. There will be veteran coaches for whom winning is expected and fi
The Double Slot, Triple Option Offense
This offense, with simple option, counter option, read and play-action passes can be effective against any defense.In 1991, I made the decision that our team would transition into a double slot, triple option offensive program. Despite the fact our program was thriving, I felt that if we ever wanted to establish ourselves as an elite program, we needed an approach that would allow us to compete with the superior talent we would see deep into the playoffs.I began the transfor
Reloading at Rockhurst – Tony Severino, the head coach at Rockhurst High School for 29 years, believes in keeping his players busy in all aspects of their lives – not just on the field.
It was near the end of an hour-long interview when Tony Severino was asked a question that he has fielded numerous times in recent years. “How much longer do you think you’ll coach?”His answer is the same every time.“I get asked that every day. You’re the second one today that’s asked me,” said Severino, who will turn 64 in September. “I’ve been saying, ‘five years’ for the last 10 years. I have such a good time doing what I do. When I don’t, I’
Diamond Backs – For a team with many playmakers, the Diamond formation may be the best way to showcase their talents.
In April, after a West Virginia spring practice, a few Mountaineer defensive coaches strolled over to running backs coach Robert Gillespie with troubled looks on their faces. They had just been introduced to the new facets of the Mountaineers’ already-potent three-back Diamond set Head Coach Dana Holgorsen and Gillespie had been installing. The defensive coaches’ initial reaction was shock. They said, “Man, that’s very tough to deal with,” Gillespie recalled. “They talk
Drills Report – Linebacker Progression Drills
Coaching linebackers is an ever-evolving process. With today’s offensive schemes becoming more and more complex, we must ask more of our defensive players. I ask our linebackers to read keys, be aggressive run stoppers in the box, defeat blocks, get to the ball using a specific technique, tackle the ball carriers, find receivers and cover them up in zone concepts as well as cover backs and receivers man-to-man. While doing all this, I also expect them to know the game plan, call the defense
Strength Report – Maximizing Time in the Weight Room
In 2011, Lake Travis High School won their fifth consecutive Texas 4A Division l State Championship, a feat that had never been accomplished in Texas high school football. During the past five years, the team has an overall record of 77–3. There are many factors that contribute to winning a state championship, much less winning five consecutive state championships, and one factor is the effort in the weight room during the season and in the off-season.At Lake Travis, our focus is
Coach to Coach – Summer Session
Using the summer months to organize and articulate your coaching philosophies and methods.Being a head football coach is a job that requires a multitude of skills. The coach that is successful over a long period of time has learned to master the art of the “tions” – motivation, delegation, innovation, articulation, dedication – all the while maintaining the most important element – passion. In order to become efficient in all of these areas, a head coach must know and be able
Tiger Feeding Time
To see a full version of this article with photos, click here, or copy and paste this li
The Power of Knowing the Future
As a Peak Performance Coach, I help athletes to identify and resolve blocks that affect performance. One of the most significant of these blocks is a coach with a negative coaching style. Generally, coaches have no idea how being tense, angry, threatening or abusive affects their athletes. Even a slouching coach has a negative effect. The coach's at
Philosophy of Pass Protection
Being both the OC and OL coach allows us to have a “Protection First” view to the offense. I always stress two things to the offensive unit – first, we must protect the QB at all costs, and second, if you cannot protect the QB, you will not play. This philosophy has been a big part of our success in protecting the QB over the past several years. Over a three year period from 2008-2010 our
AFM Subscribers Ask with Pulaski Academy (AR) Head Coach Kevin Kelley
As AFM reported in April’s cover feature, “Mad Genius”, Coach Kevin Kelley of Pulaski Academy (AR) has an unorthodox approach to the game. His team never returns a punt, they almost never punt themselves, they kick off onsides virtually every time and they usually go for a two-point conversion. For Kelley, the unconventional strategy has worked with a 49-7 record over the last four years and multiple state championships. Many AFM subscribers had questions for Coach Kelley about his unus
Special Teams – Practice Schedule, Goals, and Critique
Our players understand the importance of special teams because of the amount of time that we put in coaching them. Starting in the spring, we spend a minimum of 10 minutes per day on the “big four” – punt, kickoff, kick return and punt return. We also put in extra point/field goal work in every day. We keep it fresh by changing up drills as much as possible.We run a traditional punt formation and we changed our scheme slightly and spent a lot of time in the spring on punt. It
Punch and Move - Pass Protection Drills for Offensive Linemen
There are many factors that go into keeping your quarterback upright and healthy throughout the season. We teach that it takes “ALL 11” to effectively execute the passing game. Every position on the field has a job to do, from running backs’ blitz checks, quarterbacks throwing the ball on time, hot routes being run with precision and timing and, of course, the line handling their responsibilities.Varied schemes and launch points are a great way to keep a defense off balance.
Tackling - Still the Key to Successful Defensive Play
At every level of football and in every historical era of the game, tackling has always been, and will always be, the most important skill for defensive players to execute. Like all defensive coaches, we have several tackling drills in our arsenal.Before these three drills are described, it will help to describe the basic components of the tackling technique that we teach.Basic components of tackling technique:Leverage – the tackler takes away one direction for th
Multiplicity – Using Personnel Groupings to Enhance Your Offense and Player Morale
After the 2004 season, my first as a head coach in a big high school program, we were faced with the challenge of pay-to-play. The coaching staff made a great effort in selling our program to athletes and parents, and we fielded the biggest roster in spite of the new pay-to-play obstacle. We also knew that in order to keep those numbers, we needed to re-evaluate how we were utilizing our players, especially in terms of playing time. We looked at the possibility of two platoon, and we wanted t
Eyes Up – Quarterbacks Coach Terry Shea has devoted more than 40 years of his coaching life to the development of the position including the training of elite players like Robert Griffin III.
Terry Shea knows quarterbacks. In addition to quarterback coaching stints in the CFL, college, and the NFL, Shea has helped prepare future NFL quarterbacks for their professional careers. Among others, he has tutored Matthew Stafford, Sam Bradford, and most recently, Robert Griffin III. When elite quarterbacks want the best in personalized instruction, they call Shea.The compilation of his 40 years as an expert in coaching quarterbacks is now in his recently published book, Eyes Up
Drills Report – Ball Security – 4 Running Back Drills to Prevent Turnovers
Offensive coaches would agree that turnovers often are a deciding factor in the outcome of a game. They provide a huge lift for the defense and can create an emotional letdown for the offense. Given all of this, it would seem to make sense to spend a portion of practice emphasizing the need for proper ball management. We begin each practice with a five minute period focused on this issue. We point out that losing the ball provides the opponent with a twelfth man, the implica
Speed Report – Multi-Dimensional Movement Speed Before the Season Begins
The essence of football speed is velocity with control. Many sports require movement changes. However, football is more challenging than other team sports due to the amount of contact during practice and games that other team sports don’t have.Football has multiple requirements. Add the speed and movement factors involved and movement becomes challenging. Good movement positioning and control is the backbone of performance. What makes for an outstanding performance is not solely
Developing Footwork for Your O-Linemen
An offensive lineman has always had the advantage of knowing the play and the snap count. How he uses those pieces of information once the ball is snapped will determine the quality of the player and the overall unit. He must be able to move forwards, backwards, and laterally while driving an attacking defender in the process. He must accomplish this moving comfortably from what most would call an uncomfortable position. This is why nothing is more important than developing good solid footwor
The Two Greatest Lessons that Football Teaches
The values of respect and sacrifice are vital to the success of a team, an organization, a family, and a society as a whole.I believe that the sport of football has the greatest teaching potential of perhaps any organized activity in our world today. This is because all of life is social, and we as humans are social beings. In the game of football, the first thing you must learn is the value of teamwork: a coordinated and cohesive effort on the part of many, in the pursuit of one goal.
Your Take: Review What You Do
Self-analysis is critical to year-to-year improvement.It doesn’t matter if your team won 12 games last year or 2 – the winter off-season period is the time to review what you do. Every aspect of your offense should be critically reviewed, from the individual drills your position coaches use to the plays you call and why you call them. Here is the process we use to critically analyze who we are vs. who we think we are.Our offensive staff establishes scheme go
Winning the Turnover Battle - Three drills that will help your defense recover fumbles and make interceptions.
At the conclusion of each season, we evaluate how effective we have been in various areas. Then we decide what we can do to get our players to be more effective as it relates to our defensive philosophy (See Chart). Although we recognize there is always room for improvement in every area, we ask ourselves what did we do well, and what do we need to emphasis more? We have seen great improvement in the last two years has been point four “Create turnovers and big plays – SCORE!” Our defens
Advanced Spread Punt Team Drills
After more than four decades of coaching, I have been exposed to a lot of great information from many outstanding coaches. I have taken ideas and concepts from each source and adapted them to what we do now at Sacramento City College. We are always open to new ideas in our efforts to keep improving. Here are our thoughts on the most critical play in football, the punt, and how we teach its execution.To convey the importance of the punt team, make sure our players understand that a
Different Looks from the 4-3 Defensive Scheme - To be effective as a defense, it’s critical to give multiple looks and disguise coverage on every play.
Defensively, we use a multiple 4-3 front scheme. Like many teams, we primarily employ a two high safety look and base our primary coverages off of pattern reads. Our defensive philosophy is very simple - we want our players to know exactly what they are supposed to do and how they are supposed to do it. That being said, we have been able to follow some rules that allow us to accomplish that primary goal while still giving our defense the ability to disguise what we do and sometimes confuse th
Making the Most of the Hurry-Up, No-Huddle Offense - Calling plays at the line can let you double your offensive snaps.
His team had just been walloped 56-7 in its spring game last May and Palm Beach Gardens (FL) head coach Chris Davis knew he had to make some adjustments or face another mediocre .500 season. He just wasn’t sure what he was going to change in his system. His teams had been 4-5 and 5-5 in 2009 and 2010.A few weeks later, Davis was attending a coaches clinic where he heard Gus Malzahn, then the offensive coordinator at Auburn, speak on the advantages of a no-huddle, hurry-up offense
Dynamic Relaxation, Rhythm, Intensity – Learned from Drill Applications
There are three main components for sprint speed – relaxation, rhythm, and intensity. Connotations of the first two components – relaxation and rhythm – don’t sound like normal football terms when you think of the mental mind set. Relaxation is an uncompromising term in the football world. When players walk on to a football field they don’t think of relaxing. They don’t even begin to think that it’s a good idea.Rhythm is a term that you hear sometimes in football. It
Love the Grind: Summer Football Strength and Conditioning Program
At Fruitland High School, we refer to our football program as the “Biggest Small School Football Program in the State of Idaho.”Our athletes pride themselves on their off-season work ethic or what we like to refer to as “The Grind”. For our program, we run six-week strength and conditioning classes Monday-Friday leading up to the start of our double day practices. Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays are lift days; Tuesdays and Thursdays are agility and conditioning days.
Winning the First Five
No matter the discipline or industry, in sports, business or academics, in fact, just the way we play the game of life – the most successful do not depend on pure luck or mental prowess or physical ability. The most successful in all phases of life are those who can master the fundamentals of their game. At Louisiana College, we talk about “winning the first five.” We do not want our student-athletes to win routes solely on athleticism, because we realize that there will come a time wh
Your Take – Get the Head Out of Football
At every level of football, greater awareness of the dangers of head injuries and the role that helmet-to-helmet contact often plays in them has led to rule modifications and, in many cases, a greater effort by coaches to minimize the risk of head injuries by incorporating blocking and tackling techniques that take the helmet out of the game. It is critical that this continue to help ensure safety of players and protect the future of the game.Since being taught the proper blocking
6 Rules for Beating Press Coverage – Are your receivers getting stuffed by the press? Here’s how to get them freed up.
One of the most difficult things for my players to do is beat press coverage. Since we run a double wing offense at John Carroll, defenses will often pack the box with defenders and lock down on the outside. By playing press man, defenses try to disrupt the timing of pass routes by jamming receivers at the line of scrimmage. If successful, the defense has a greater opportunity to sack the quarterback since teams often blitz when playing man coverage. However, when a receiver beats press cover
Suited for Success – 2012 Football Uniforms
Coaches work hard to prepare their players for the big contest on game day. Focus and game planning take shape during the practice week – all for those few precious moments on a Friday night or Saturday afternoon.Because of what’s riding on those moments, coaches always want to put their best foot forward in execution and appearance. 2012 is offering teams across the nation more selection and performance than at any other point in the history of the game. Game uniforms are beco
Run Stoppers – Improve your defense with Princeton’s schemes, adjustments, and drills.
Your defensive structure must be simple, it must allow your players to play fast, and it must be adjustable to multiple schemes and sets that offenses present. Our base fronts and coverages are based on the personnel that we have in our program at the present time. Therefore, what works with one group, one year, might not with the next year’s group. We are constantly assessing and reinventing to get better as a defense. With that said, we have installed and implemented a foundation of core
Samson’s Strength and Conditioning Coaches of the Year
NFLMark UyeyamaSan Francisco 49ers If the San Francisco 49ers weren’t the most physical team in the NFL, they were high on the list.Mark Uyeyama is the main behind that physicality, although the 49ers strength and conditioning coach is way too humble to admit it.“Take a look at Justin Smith or Ray McDonald, really look at those guys, now,” said Uyeyama, Samson Equipment’s NFL Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year. “That’s not me, man.
Taking Your Physical Abilities to the Next Level
Today’s players are bigger, stronger, and faster than ever before. A focused conditioning program has become essential to on-the-field success. In Complete Conditioning for Football, a book and combined DVD package, authors Pat Ivey and Josh Stoner detail a comprehensive training program that builds players’ abilities as well as the football-specific skills their positions require.Coach’s ResponsibilitiesDelineating the responsibilities of all assistant coaches is the job
The Challenges of Teaching Football Speed
The first step toward teaching football speed is dealing with velocity and angles that change rapidly. Secondly, you must provide a progressive training system that is relative to speed and movement physically, mentally, and technically. The nature of the game provides various challenges to movement speed, angle changes, frequency changes, and rapid acceleration. Your teaching must fit these practicums because, unlike track sprinting, the technical application for football speed is not all li
Moving Up, Moving On or Moving Out: Life on the Coaching Carousel
Years ago I sat in a clinic presentation given by a prominent NFL head football coach who stated “Most high school coaches want to be college coaches, most college coaches want to be NFL coaches and most NFL coaches would like to be high school coaches.” Most coaches possess an unquenchable desire to advance their careers to the next level. Most of us are eager to face new challenges and conquer the next occupational mountain.The world of football coaching is fill
Coaching to Make the Game Safer
AFM has long advocated that safer football is better football. We have addressed player safety issues in the past and will continue to focus on ways that the coaching community can help ensure the health and well-being of players, in particular with regard to head injuries. Here are just a few ways that coaches can be proactive and promote safer football. Medical experts have pointed out that less-severe blows to the head on a repeated basis can be jus
The Triple Option Trips Offense – Mixing and matching the routes and timing of three receivers can lead to an explosive offense.
In our offensive package, our trips series is one of our most successful and explosive schemes. It is easy to teach as well as execute, and it will enable you to take advantage of whatever tactics the defense tries to employ to stop your momentum.Our basic trips formation positions three receivers to one side of the set, with a tight end or split receiver on the opposite side. The split receiver, #1, is approximately 12-15 yards from the offensive tackle. Our #2 and #3 receivers ar
AFM’s College Coaches of the Year
Mike Gundy Oklahoma StateGundy led the Cowboys to the greatest year in their history, netting him AFM’s top coaching awardThe visitors’ locker room at Texas A&M is located right next to the entrance that takes you onto the field. Every time the doors open, the visiting locker room is treated to the sounds of Kyle Field, featuring rowdy fans, bands and entertainment. It’s not the most peaceful environment to settle a team down, especially one trailing 20-3 at the ha
Coach to Coach – Maximizing Productivity: A Key Component to Success
If football had a caloric value, I would have gained fifty pounds over the last month. From high school championship games, to college bowl games, to NFL playoff games, I am fat on football. One of the factors causing my football weight gain is how I consume the product. There are no fast food meals here. The invention of the DVR has turned me into a slow and steady consumer. A three hour game can easily take me twice that long to watch. The rewind and pause features allow me to regurgitate o
Drills Report – Getting Open: Drills to Make Your Wide Receivers Great
The most important part of any passing game is the ability of wide receivers to get open. Your type of passing system will determine what types of routes are run, but the ultimate success of the passing game will be based on your wide receivers abilities to get open at the right time for the quarterback. Over the years, I have coached some outstanding receivers, and all the great ones had the ability to get open. The key is practice repetition. We work on a grid square every
Speed Report - Movement Skills – Critical for Drill Effectiveness
Using drills for teaching and developing football movement is certainly not uncommon. However, breaking down the drills analytically is not the most common practice. Most drills are performed to provide reinforcement for certain football movements, usually relevant to a position. The movement patterns are supposed to create better agility and speed of movement with the use of cones or other equipment creating a challenge for player agility. Although there’s nothing wrong with that, there’
Getting Your Team Connected
By Eric Slivoskey, Former Coach Seinajoki Crocodiles (Finland) How connected are you to your players? Do you merely make contact with team members to ensure that they are staying out of trouble and not reflecting poorly on the program, or do you strive to know something personal about each person on the squad. In a world that seems to be changing faster than any of us could have ever imagi
Muddle Hd” The New Age Muddle Huddle Two-Point Formation
Like all coaches, I look forward to the off-season to attend as many coaching clinics as I can that are held throughout the United States. Some coaches attend clinics looking to have a good time and use the weekend as an “outing” away from the wives and kids to unwind and enjoy themselves with their staff. When I go to clinics, I aim to attend as many sessions as possible to learn and gain knowledge from some of the most successful and innovative minds in football today. I set out to lear
AFM Subs Ask - with former NFL special teams coach Mike Sweatman
Mike Sweatman coached for 23 years in the NFL, primarily with special teams. He began his NFL career with the Vikings and later coached with the Bears, Patriots and Jets and had two stints with the New York Giants. Sweatman coached under Bill Parcells when the Giants won the Super Bowl in 1990 and later, Coach Tom Coughlin hired him as Special Teams Coordinator in 2004. His career included three Super Bowl appearances and two championships. He answers your questions about special teams
Texas Titans – Lake Travis High School has built a winning tradition from the ground up.
The Lake Travis (TX) High School athletic program is blessed with a huge enrollment, college-caliber facilities and an abundance of next-level talent, especially at the quarterback position. With those types of advantages, the Cavaliers are expected to have success.But, with four straight 4A state titles and a shot at an unprecedented fifth, Lake Travis football has exceeded even the highest expectations and stands out as a prime example of an administration and coaching staff that
Drills Report – EXPANDED – Special Teams at South Dakota State
I have had the opportunity to work as the special teams coordinator at South Dakota State for the past two seasons. During that time, I could not be more pleased with our success. In 2010, we ranked No. 4 in FCS net punting, No. 4 in punt return yardage defense, No. 9 in kickoff returns, No. 1 in kickoff return yardage defense and No. 37 in punt returns. We accomplished these numbers without placing one single player in the top-20 of any category. I truly believe we achieved that success beca
Learning to Read the Defense
By John Groll, Assistant CoachBedford High School MI) Football has been a part of my life for more than 30 years. Over that time, I have coached or played ever position except quarterback and defensive line. Under a new coach last year, I became the new defensive line coach in our 4-3 defense. I would like to share with you how we teach our defensive linemen to read various blocks.
COACHING FROM THE HEART
by Marc Sites, Assistant Coach Liberty High School (CO) List any great team or dynasty in the history of sports and every team had a great coach. John Wooden at UCLA, Bill Walsh with the 49ers, Phil Jackson with the Bulls and Lakers, Red Auerbach with the Celtics and the list goes on and on. On the flipside, there have been plenty of talented teams in sport that were never champ
The Spread Wing-T Passing Game – Using the Spread Wing-T gives your playmakers opportunities to make big plays.
The Wing-T has been a great offense for me over the past 13 years. It serves as a very deceptive run attack and it allows the offense to move the chains. The trend in football is toward more receivers and more passing as athletes get stronger, better and bigger. Therefore, several years ago I began mixing the Spread Offense and the Wing-T. The Spread Wing-T operates out of a shotgun set with multiple receivers. This offense allows us to get the ball to our best athletes in a variety of ways.
Maximizing Your Kickoff Coverage – Each player must possess a different skill set to ensure effective kickoff coverage.
In order to maximize your kickoff coverage, each player must possess a different skill set and be committed to a ‘Want’ philosophy. At Minnesota State University, we take our special teams very seriously. We dedicate significant meeting time and practice to special teams every day. We film both angles of all phases, including when we do individual drill work for a specific unit. Our philosophy for special teams is very basic:• This is not rest time. This is an opportunity to make a
Keys for Effective Man Coverage – Effective use of man coverage by your defensive backs can confuse the offense and put more pressure on the QB.
Effective use of man coverage by your defensive backs can confuse the offense and put more pressure on the quarterback.One of the main reasons the Air Force Academy has been able to climb to the top five in the country in pass defense the last few years has been our ability to mix in effective man coverage. Based out of our 3-4 scheme, the effective use of man coverage has allowed us to vary our pressure package and also allowed us to be more aggressive in our coverage
Point Counterpoint - Stopping the Air Raid
Spread Stoppers - Defending the Zone Read, Bubble Screen and Four VerticalsTrying to defend the spread includes being creative and mixing defenses but pressure on the quarterback and aggressive open-field tackling are critical. The evolution of the spread offense has defensive coordinators longing for the good old days when defending the triple option meant accounting for the fullback, quarterback and a pitch man. But these days the third option might just a
Point Counterpoint - Winning with the Air Raid
You can put up big passing yards with this version of the spread -- and these key plays from its master architects.The spread is everywhere. Coaches from junior high to the NFL have used it to extend defenses, create passing and running lanes and utilize the increased number of talented players at the skill positions.But one version of the spread – the Air Raid – stands above all other offenses in its ability to produce prolific passing numbers. Ju
Drills Report – Expanded – Advanced Defensive Line Play Techniques and Drills
At Kutztown University, we believe in an aggressive, attacking style of play from our defensive line. Here are seven coaching points and seven drills to help your defensive line improve every day. Coaching Point #1 – We use this acronym every day.SACKERS - Stance (balanced and coiled)A - Alignment (See foot and shoulder)C - Concentration (What are you looking at?)K - Keys (mirror feet)E - Evaluate (what do you see?)R - Res
Speed Report – Bring Your ‘A’ Game Each Day
Many coaches do not consider speed and movement training to have a critical impact on their players on a daily basis. As a result, they fail to give it the same attention and focus that they give to other areas of practice and training.Most great coaches would consider attention to detail and good time management as cornerstones of their success. Why, then, do so many coaches fall short when it comes to using speed training to develop their athletes? Why do they not apply the same
Coach to Coach – My 2011 Coaches Christmas List
The Christmas season is here. Hopefully, this time of year finds you in a festive state. Regardless of how the season went or is finishing up, we all can be thankful for the opportunity and privilege of being a football coach. As I welcome the Christmas Season, I am excited about the ability to give. However, there is still that kid in me that likes to receive as well. So I began to think of things I would include on my Coaching Christmas List. What if we, as coaches, could ask for anything i
Ten Tips to Help Every Youth Football Coach Be the Best They Can Be
By Harold “Bud” Boughton Senior Consultant and Assistant Coach, Franklin College Two years ago I was asked to be a guest speaker at two USA Football Coaching Schools. I knew right away what I wanted to talk about. Drawing on my coaching experience at both the college and youth level, I created a presentation entitled, “Coaching is T
Your Take – Today’s Football Coach
You are a college football coach.Some days, you might as well be a flag waving in the wind, for all the control you possess over your fate. You have season plans, practice plans, game plans. You have a system and a strategy, tested both with time and toil. Every hope and dream are in place.But then the tailback goes down with a torn ACL, and your world changes. The phone rings in the middle of the night, and your world changes. One of your key players acts like the teena
Get Educated 2012 Coaches Clinics
Now is the time to develop your game-plan for the 2012 coaches clinic season. It’s your opportunity to pick up philosophy, techniques, drills, and the latest in offensive formations, defensive schemes and special teams play from some of the game’s most successful coaches. Here are four premier organizations that will be conducting clinics scheduled during the winter months in 2012.Nike Coach of the Year Clinics There are 20 nationwide Nike COY clinics in 2012. Most of the clini
Making an Impact with Your Kickoff Return
For a successful kickoff return, it is critical for all 11 players – including the deep returners – to think about making their block.There is almost nothing that compares to returning the opening kickoff of the season for a 95-yard touchdown against your school’s historic rival. The capacity crowd who had not yet made it to their seats for our 2010 opening game missed one of the most exciting moments of the year, a moment that made a statement to our opponent that we had come to
Playoff Prep – Good strategy during the season can increase your chances of success in the post-season.
How do you prepare now to for maximize your playoff run in November and December? There are many reasons why some teams are strong playoff performers and some are not. Some of those reasons are controllable, and others obviously are beyond the coach’s control. Some teams experience regular season success, but those accomplishments don’t continue through the playoffs. For others, advancing week-after-week is a tradition. What are the critical elements – physical, psychological and strate
Father Figure – In his celebrated career, Houston’s Ray Seals became much more than a coach to many of his players.
Twenty-three years ago, Ray Seals decided to change his coaching legacy. It wasn’t going to just be about football anymore.Seals arrived at Madison High School (TX) in 1988 to find a program full of kids from low-income families. Some came to practice with no clothes; some hadn’t eaten. His players were foul-mouthed and disrespectful. They weren’t college material. “I said right then that when I became head coach, that wasn’t going to happen to my kids,” said Seals.
Drills Report – Building Pocket Awareness
We believe that pocket awareness is one of the most important quarterback skills to develop. I did say develop. We don’t believe that most people are born with the ability to stand in the pocket and wait for people to run into them. We spend fifteen minutes a week during the season working on pocket awareness. On Monday, we spend five minutes re-enacting the pocket awareness situations that the quarterback should have handled more efficiently from the previous game. On Tuesday, w
Coach to Coach – Offensive Game Planning: Strategies for Success
I love designing and developing offensive schemes. When I was a kid, I would sit for hours designing plays on my electric magnetic football game. Years later, I am still designing plays and offensive schemes. The challenge of designing a play and teaching players to execute it with precision in the midst of violent chaos is one of the things I love most about coaching. Once the plays and schemes have been designed and installed, the next aspect of being a successful offensive coach is putting
Promoting Small College Football
by Dawn L. Harmon Editor’s note: Jason Dannelly isn’t a football coach. He isn’t a football player either– at least not since college. He is, however, a football fan and it is from this passion that his current venture stems. As founder and owner of Victory Sports Network, Dannelly has touched thousands of lives through relentlessly writing about, promoting, and analyzing NAIA college football. At almost
Coaching In Poland
Compared to other European countries, organized American football in Poland is in its infancy, but growing. What once began at a grass roots level has now turned into three separate divisions - 1st Division, 2nd Division and an eight-man football league. The Polish American Football League or (PLFA) was started in 2006 with four teams. With the popularity of American football growing, the PLFA split into two divisions in 2008 - PLFA I (8 teams) and
How Much Does Crowd Noise Really Affect Your Team?
Sport psychology is taken so seriously by most elite football teams that they have entire staffs dedicated to the mental well-being of their players. In high school, the pressure to constantly perform at a high level for many college prospects can cause great stress and anxiety. After all, most are mentally still teenagers, though their physical presence would make you think otherwise. Though the disparity between physical and mental development may be evident to those who are trained on the
Overcompensate in the Coop - Drills to Improve Your Defense
I have come to realize that it doesn’t matter what level of football you coach - fundamentals are the most important aspect. At Catawba College, our defensive philosophy is to keep things simple so our athletes can perform at the highest level. Fundamentals are of utmost importance. A phrase that is used many times, like a broken record, is “lower your pad level!” But what does this mean and how can I get this accomplished without repeating myself over and over? I will explain some dri
The Sprint-Out Passing Game: The Major Pass Routes – Reading the cornerback is critical to the success of the sprint-out passing game.
There are three major routes we use with the sprint-out game. These routes can be used against any coverage and the quarterback reads are all very simple. The sprint-out game is a timing type of passing game. The quarterback will sprint-out and attack the edge of the defense and must be ready to throw the football on his forth or fifth step. This will time with the breaks of the receivers, and the pass must be in the air before the break by the receiver. As with all passes, the quarterback wi
Zone Blitzing Out of the 4-3 Defense – Various combinations of zone blitzes and their disguises can be effective against any offense.
Zone blitzing has been around for a number of years. This scheme has evolved with the different offenses we see today. You may bring multiple backers, drop ends into coverage, play different coverages behind the blitz, and twist defensive linemen within the zone blitz, but the bottom line is that zone blitzing allows the defense to apply pressure in the run and pass game without having to play man coverage.A major part of a successful zone blitz package is disguise. We spend a lot
Rolling the Dice – Knowing the capabilities of your players is critical when evaluating the risk vs. the reward of going for it on fourth down.
Les Miles is known as the Mad Hatter and the Riverboat Gambler. The perception is that, on any given fourth down, he will reach into his bag of tricks and attempt a high-risk play. But do those monikers really fit?Take 2010. LSU did lead the nation in fourth-down percentage, converting 11 of 12 times. But all but two SEC teams went for it on fourth down more often. Half the league attempted 19 or more fourth-down conversions. So it’s not as if Miles views every fourth down as a c
Coach to Coach – Principles for Becoming a Better Coach
As I write this article, we are only three weeks away from the official start of the 2011 football season. It’s the time when players and coaches alike are weary of countless off-season workouts and are ready to put the preparation and hard work to good use. With every clank of a 45-pound round, our players see the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s the calm before the storm and the season rapidly approaches.If you have read my previous articles in the Coach to Coach column, you
Drills Report (Expanded) – ‘The Six Pack’ Concept: Keeping Linebacker Fundamentals Strong All Season Long
During pre-season camp, individual periods tend to be much longer, which gives the position coach ample time to work on the fundamentals that are essential to linebacker play. As coaches, we become spoiled with all of that individual time. Once pre-season camp ends, so do the long individual periods, as the focus turns to preparation for upcoming opponents. This can drastically shorten the amount of time that you can truly devote to working on fundamentals. But, it is important to
Speed Report – Doing What’s Best for In-Season Speed Training
Playing football is not kind to football speed during the season. While off-season work must focus on mechanical execution and coming into camp running fast, as was covered in our article last month, speed maintenance is the focus for in-season speed training.Football is a game that is played the best when each athlete can move aggressively fast. That benchmark should have been established in the summer speed sessions. Once the season begins, the objective is to maintain the speed
Strength Report (Expanded) – Position Performance Training: Defensive Line
When it comes to performance training for linemen, the common thought is to have them lift as much weight as possible. On the surface, this might seem to make a lot of sense due to the fact that linemen have to move heavier loads at the point of contact in most cases. But what’s going to affect the point of contact most is the movements the linemen go through before contact. Factors such as how one comes out of his stance, his body positioning, and the efficiency of his steps prior to conta
Quarterback Play: Finding Ways to Complete Passes in Critical Situations
Drop and throw, drop and throw, and again, drop and throw. There is no other position in sports that demands such commitment, discipline, and practice. Playing quarterback and more importantly, having the extraordinary opportunity to lead a football team into competition, requires an understanding of not only the position and its necessary skills, but a knowledge of each and every player on offense, and the entire team. How do we train the quarterback to reach a level of play that
Leadership in Football
What do the names Lombardi, Landry, Walsh, and Dungy all have in common? They are the names of football coaches who were innovative in implementing and teaching new strategies and tactics but they were also great team leaders. What was it about their attention to the details of the game that required hard work, dedication and focus that led them to some of the best winning percentages in the history of the National Football League? In their own way, each one of these coaches truly cared about
Your Take – Risky Business
Players, parents and coaches across America are being confronted with growing evidence that some young adults participating in impact sports might be experiencing irreversible injuries that put them at risk for compromised mental functioning, personality dysfunction, and early dementia. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a degenerative brain disorder that affects individuals exposed to repetitive brain trauma. Research is showing that CTE is the result of major collisions (concussions)
Drills to Develop Complete Backs – Maximize the effectiveness of your running backs through ball security, blocks and pass receiving.
Maximize the effectiveness of your running backs through ball security, blocks, and pass receiving.At Nicholls State University, we run a multiple-pro style offensive system. For our system to be successful, we ask our running backs to be involved in a variety of ways. We place value on our running backs becoming what we call “complete backs.” We define a “complete back” as a running back that runs the football with violent intentions, executes blocks in the ru
Q & A with Bill Ramseyer
Keys to Successful August PracticesBill Ramseyer has a reputation for turning programs around. While head coach at Firelands High School in Ohio, his teams finished with a 24-2 record for a school that never had a winning season prior to Ramseyer’s arrival. After becoming head coach at Wilmington College, Ramseyer amassed a 114-58-4 record over 19 seasons. Before his arrival, Wilmington had only 28
The Heat Is On – In the hottest months of the year, coaches need to watch for any signs of heat illness.
August will be here in a few weeks, and for most areas that means the hottest weather of the year. The high heat and humidity combined with the most intense football practices of the year mean that coaches need to be extra alert for any signs of players who might be suffering heat-related illnesses. Football players, perhaps more than any other athletes, are vulnerable to a variety of serious medical conditions arising from outdoor physical activity in intense heat. It is tragic bu
Great Expectations – How do coaches like Bob Stoops manage high expectations or overcome low ones?
“Coaches who can outline plays on a black board are a dime a dozen. The ones who win get inside their players and motivate.”– Vince LombardiEvery season starts with expectations, some higher than others. How a coach handles those expectations can be the difference between failing to meet them and exceeding them. But what is the secret to dealing with expectations in this era of pre-season rankings, blogs and media pundits that put pressure on teams before fall practice even
Utilizing the Quick Passing Game in a Spread Offense
At Kansas Wesleyan, one of the key components of our spread offense is being able to successfully utilize the quick passing game. Our offense is based out of a single back, 2 x 2 formation. One of our main objectives is keep things simple. This ranges from route concepts, protections, signals and words. As an offensive staff, we strive to get players to react instead of over-thinking. We encourage our players to be athletes and make plays based on reaction. In this article, we will discuss th
Drills with a Purpose Practice Systems That Match Your Defensive Objectives
Whitworth practices 11-player drills that match the goals of their defense – pursuit, interception, and two-minute drills.Most coaches understand the importance of drilling with a specific purpose in mind. Most educators have stressed the importance of teaching toward a specific objective. However, not all coaches align their drills with their team’s main objectives. We have intentionally aligned our practice drills to match, teach, and reinforce our main defensive
Summer Speed Training - Finishing on Par
Summer is the home stretch for football speed development. We must be sure that when we report for in-season practice that we‘re speed ready. That means we have our power, plyos and techniques in alignment for playing at a maximum level when the bell rings. Hopefully, you have spent sufficient time to progressively develop the skills of mechanical execution so that you can use the summer to heat up the nervous system with fast aggressive speed work. To improve
Motivation & Leadership During The Off-Season
The off-season in competitive college football has become almost non-existent. The so-called ‘off-season’ has become, in itself, a competitive season. At Emporia State University we have developed the POWER OF E off-season program. Just like any good college program, everyone takes pride in their player development. We believe we have a unique way of doing it with our program. Through this program we believe that we maximize our player’s potential with a focus on competitiveness, leader
Letter From The Publisher
Moving up the Coaching Ladder Part of the fun of being with an organization that has chronicled the successes of football coaches for over 15 years is following the careers of coaches that we featured in AFM years ago. It’s great to see a coach like Gary Patterson, for example, who we put on our “Hot List” of up-and-coming coaches in 2004, achieve such great success at TCU and become AFM’s FBS Coach of the Year in 2011. While we’ve worked
Coach Steuerwald's 22 practice sessions
Coach Steuerwald, who turns 76 this month, points out that almost half of his team’s practices each season are conducted during the three weeks prior to the first game. Like many coaches, he has two-a-day practices Monday through Friday before fall classes begin, and also holds a single practice on Saturday morning. That’s 11 practice sessions each of the first two weeks and four more the week of the season opener. That’s why so much w
Subscribers Ask: With Patrick Ross Head Coach • Lindenwood University
Over the last few years, Patrick Ross has gained a reputation for both turning programs around and having prolific offenses. In his second season at Ottawa University in 2003, Ross’ team improved from 5-5 to 9-2, winning the KCAC title and advancing to the national playoffs. He was named national NAIA Coach of the Year the following season, his first at Lindenwood, leading the Lions to an 11-0 regular season record. That year Lindenwood tied for the same number of wins the team earned in th
Split the Field In Half
Every defensive backfield coverage has its strengths and weaknesses. What can maximize its effectiveness is knowing concepts of half-field coverage along with multiple disguises.We are a defense that defenses formations. The field always plays a part in how we cover that formation. Very few times are the run or pass requirements the same to both sides o
Tiger Training – Missouri’s 10 Key Defensive Line Drills and Techniques – How you can fortify your pass rush.
The key to any defensive pass rush is putting pressure on the quarterback. Missouri conducts drills daily to accomplish just that. At the University of Missouri, I have been very fortunate and blessed with defensive linemen who have and are embracing this attitude. In my time here, we have increased our sack total each year. We have had many players go on to All-Conference honors. We have had players lead the Big 12 in sacks and in tackles-for-loss. We have had a defensive lineman
Steuerwald’s Rules – A coaching legend shares his guidelines for designing and implementing an effective pre-season practice schedule.
In sixty days or less, your 2011 team will be assembled for pre-season practice. They’ll be pushing themselves to achieve peak physical condition, battling each other for higher spots on the depth chart and, in most places around the country, struggling to get through practices in oppressive heat and humidity.
Coach to Coach: The Pre-Season Home Stretch
“The time will come when winter will ask what you were doing all summer.” - Senator Henry ClayTwo months and counting! It is amazing how fast the season is approaching. By the start of June, our players have completed countless workouts, 10 days of spring ball and now are preparing for summer camp at the University of Nevada. We have spent the last few months training and preparing ourselves for the 2011 season. June is the start of the final phase of the so called off-season.
Speed Report: Teaching Drills Properly – the KEY to Playing Fast
We all like drills. The correct speed drills are the KEY for the best player development. When we arrange drills weekly and monthly for a speed development program, we must have a plan. That is, a plan that puts drills in an arranged order. This is a must for progressive skill development. Without it, you are working in vain. All learning skills and especially running movement skills must be taught in a progressive order. This is because the skill applications for running are constantly activ
Strength Report: Fairmont State’s Summer Strength Program
Breaking down each seasonal phase of your strength and conditioning program throughout the calendar year is a must. But before we outline the entire year, let’s devise a plan for summer workouts. Here’s a complete plan divided into two phases for your summer workouts.
Letter from AFM - Last Call for Fall Prep
With the school year coming to a close, the next major event on the football calendar will be the start of pre-season practice. Every coach would likely agree that the weeks leading up to the season opener are critical times for conditioning, learning the playbook and fine-tuning offensive and defensive units. For many coaches, putting together a plan for pre-season practice is a no-brainer. If they’ve been successful in recent years, especially in their openin
15 Keys to Building A Successful & Sustainable Football Program
By Frank DiCocco • Assistant Coach • Dwyer High School (FL) • 2009 Florida 4A State Champions 1. Have a Flexible and Evolving Approach to the Game: Have a flexible and evolving approach to schemes and strategies. Have a Flexible and Evolving Offense: Develop an efficient and effective offensive approach for each team, each season, and each game. Place a premium on production, both in terms of yards and points. As long as the winner of a football c
Get The Most Out Of Your Practice
By Don Tyre • Assistant Coach • Our Lady of Mercy High School • Fayetteville, GAIf you want to enhance the productivity of your football team, where can you find time to do it without making practice longer? Use your imagination to change the pace of practice. Don`t waste time. Practice what you are going to do in a game. Do you run sprints in a game? A fast pace in practice is vital and a fast pace in a game is advanta
FREE FORMS - Coaches Evaluation Form
This complete and thorough form details a rating system (1-5) to evaluate coaches. The categories include personal and professional attributes, administrative procedural abilities, knowledge and practice of both medical and legal aspects, theory and techniques of coaching, personnel management, and public relations skills.
From the Coach’s Bookshelf – Winning Football
In his new book Winning Football, Bill Ramseyer provides a blueprint for coaching success. Based on lessons he’s learned from his decades in coaching, the book is a complete handbook that examines all parts of the game. Here is an excerpt from his opening chapter.Elements of Success Success can be measured in many ways. If you are a coach, perhaps you measure success by the positive influence you have on the lives of the players you coach – the attitudes
2011 Uniform Preview
Uniforms can be the face of your program. Some schools stay traditional and almost never change. Others go with a different look every buying cycle, and some coaches change them up to mark a new direction for the program. Your uniform is a link between your players and the team. Jerseys are symbols of pride for most players. 2011 brings a wave of selection and style options for your club. Favorites have been brought back and some new styles have been added, all w
8-Week Summer Strength & Conditioning Program – A FBS strength & conditioning coach gives you a complete and comprehensive lifting and running schedule for high schools with detailed workout charts.
This is an eight-week summer training program for football, incorporating lifting, conditioning, speed and agility drills. It is a comprehensive plan of attack intended for all high school programs, and will be successful if carried out to its entirety. Everything in this program is designed to work together. Switching up days/workouts is not recommended.Training Philosophy: First and foremost we believe in perfect technique. Players must perform all movements correctly, with spe
Being a Complete Running Back – Running with the ball is only one aspect of being a complete running back.
As coaches, we are constantly evaluating our players. And our players are constantly evaluating themselves. How many times have you had a player come to you and ask, “Coach, what do I need to do to get more playing time?” or “What do I need to work on?” At Sacramento State, we emphasis ownership. We ask them to be accountable for themselves and their performance both on and off the field. On the field, we ask the running backs “2B A PART”.
Hybrid Power – The Pistol-Flex Triple Option is an innovative offense that combines two distinct styles – the Pistol and the Flexbone.
So many new offenses have been introduced in recent years, it is sometimes difficult to decide if one system or another will work best for your team. How do you choose from the variety of offensive schemes, given your team make-up and objectives? Editors Note: Coach Markowski hosts a blog on the pistol-flex triple option, you can visit by clicking
5 Keys to Running a Successful Youth Camp
Thinking about the annual obligatory youth camp stirs up mixed emotions among coaches across the country. On one hand, they are excited to teach their sport to future players. On the other hand, many see this camp as just another time consuming activity taking time away from their varsity teams and their families during the summer months. Unfortunately, not all coaches take advantage of these camps as an opportunity to build their program from the ground up. Instead, these camps often become
Coach to Coach – Coaching to Make a Difference
The longer I coach and the more time I spend witnessing kids transform into young men, the more I realize that in this profession we have the opportunity and the responsibility to be more than just a coach. Coaching allows all of us the unique opportunity to leave a lasting imprint on the lives of our players. Our profession is one of only a few that will mold and shape future business leaders, politicians, husbands, fathers, clergy, infantry and military leaders. One of my favorite maxims co
Drills Report: Advanced Linebacker Drills
In today’s game, players need to be more athletic than ever, especially at the linebacker position. The game has evolved quickly over the past 10 years. Offensive schemes have become more advanced and complicated. To combat this offensive growth, defenses have also advanced. In order to be a great linebacker, you need to be a well-rounded player – and today’s linebackers have to be strong against the run, while having the athleticism to cover the passing game. &nbs
Speed Report: Football Movement and Speed Skills – Combining Linear Speed with Movement Speed
Summer is coming soon and spring is a perfect time to improve the skill-set of your players to increase their playing speed and confidence. Often, we work on linear speed and movement speed independently. Why not combine the two? That’s what football requires – speed and movement. I thought this month would be a great time to add some playing speed skills for your team. Some years ago I began combining movement drills with linear speed work, all during
The Heart of the Game
Every year during the football off season, we see and read media reports that manage to keep the game in the news and give us our “football fix”. Draft coverage, spring practices and games, coaching changes and player movement have traditionally filled the void between early February and late August when no football is being played. For avid fans, and for those of us who make our living connected to the game, there is no such thing as too much football. But t
Protecting the Quarterback – Pass protection schemes for the sprint-out passing game.
In the first article on the sprint-out passing game in AFM (Issue No.8, 2010), we explained the basis of this passing game with some basic routes. In the sprint-out game, the quarterback will sprint to the call side and attack the perimeter of the defense. This is not a roll out. The quarterback must sprint and attack the outside and put pressure on the defensive perimeter. The quarterback will either throw or run the ball, but he will continue to attack the defense downhill on the perimeter
Getting the Perfect Fit – 15 steps for finding the right helmet to help keep your players safe.
The proper fitting of helmets can be a time-consuming process. However, it’s a critical element in protecting players’ safety. Helmets need to be “issued and fit,” not merely handed out. Schedule and allow time for this very integral part of your program. Don’t shortchange your athletes, especially when it comes to safety. Proper fit is the key to head protection and player comfort. The goal is a customized fit for every player. A helmet that doesn’t
Master Motivator – Brett Steuerwald has used effective communication and motivational techniques to become one of America’s most successful coaches.
Texas, Florida, California and other Sunbelt states are almost universally recognized as the premier regions for high school football. But, if you look beyond the states that seem to get all of the national attention, you can find coaches that have established dominant programs over many years, have had major impact in their communities and have had a positive influence over thousands of young athletes. Brent Steuerwald is
Sack Attack – Troy’s Defensive Ends Coach Randy Butler reveals their strategy to attack the quarterback.
Troy’s Defensive Ends Coach Randy Butler reveals their strategy to attack the quarterback.Today’s passing offenses are more prolific than ever. It’s not unusual for teams to throw for over 300 yards a game on a consistent basis. Not only is it tough to defend a pass-happy offense in the defensive backfield, rushing the passer is more difficult than ever before because of the three-step, five-step, play-action, boot/waggle and sprint-out protection. Also, today’s rules fav
Drills Report: Tight End Run Blocking – The Reach-Scoop Drill
At Texas State, we utilize the tight end position in a pro style offense featuring multiple formations and personnel groups. We are committed to establishing our run game to open up our passing game. I believe that an effective offense must establish the run and that the tight end can be a key component in this. Due to our commitment to the run game, I am going to focus on one run blocking drill: the Reach-Scoop Drill. Our offense features three types of run block
Speed Report: Why You Do What You Do for Football Speed Training
Have you really analyzed why you use the methods and teaching applications you use for football speed or have you just borrowed available concepts and plugged them into your program? Have you just covered the bases or have you really looked into becoming more knowledgeable about football speed? If you haven’t studied the subject, what and where did you get what you use today? Why is it good, and why did you choose to incorporate it into your football program? Did it come from a friend, a co
Strength Report: Ohio University’s Spring Conditioning
At Ohio University, we go through a systematic approach to enhance speed, agility and football specific conditioning during the spring. We have four weeks to train in May after spring practice is completed. We then have a three week discretionary period due to finals and the break between spring and the summer quarter in June. Our main focus in May after practice is on linear speed – both acceleration and max velocity for skill players and just acceleration for
Feeding the Ducks
Sports nutritionist James Harris makes sure that University of Oregon athletes are properly fueled and ready to compete at the highest level.For many years, football coaches have recognized that effective strength and conditioning programs are essential ways to help athletes achieve peak performance. Increasing numbers of programs now also understand that proper nutritional practices are just as important if you want to maximize an athlete’s effectiveness on the field. &nb
AFM Subscribers Ask – with Mark Hudspeth Head Coach, University of Louisiana
Mark Hudspeth was appointed the 25th head coach at the University of Louisiana last December. He brings with him a reputation for a high-powered, no-huddle offense. Previously the Passing Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach at Mississippi State and head coach at North Alabama, he brought the no-huddle concept to Starkville and now to the University of Louisiana. Hudspeth has a national championship, four conference championships, eight post-season appearances a
Samson’s Strength & Conditioning Coaches of the Year for 2010
NFLRusty JonesChicago Bears In 2006, Chicago Bears Strength and Conditioning Coach Rusty Jones received the National Professional Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year award. What made the award so special was that all 32 NFL strength and conditioning coaches voted on the award. “Because it was from my peers, it really meant something special,” said Jones. Jones just completed his sixth full season with the Chicago Bears, the last three
Drills Report: Wide Receiver Stalk Blocking
Statistically, we had our best offensive season in decades, if not ever, at Indiana State in 2010. Our scoring average improved from 9.0 points per game to 31.9 points per game. A major factor in the increased production was our efficiency in the running game. In 2009, we averaged just 97 yards rushing per game. Compare that to the 193-yards rushing per game we had this season. Getting receivers to buy into their importance in the run game can sometimes be challenging.
Coach to Coach: Football Clinics – The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
If you are like me, your email has been full of invitations and promotions to the many football coaching clinics being held across the country. As a coach with 19 seasons under my belt, I have attended many clinics, have had the opportunity to speak at many clinics, and I host the Shotgun Zone Fly Summit. Clinics provide us with a great opportunity to learn from some of the most successful people in the business. They are also a great excuse to get a “hall pass” for a w
Letter From AFM - Saluting Strong Men
Ever since Boyd Epley changed football forever when, in 1969, he persuaded Bob Devaney to allow Nebraska football players to participate in weight training, the role of strength and conditioning in the game has taken center stage. When the Cornhuskers went on to win consecutive national championships in 1970 and 1971, it was a vivid demonstration of the power of strength training for football and it dispelled the myth that lifting weights would make players muscle-bound and slow. &
AFM’s 2010 High School Coaches of the Year
EastHarold Fairclough Allentown Central Catholic (PA) When it comes to loyalty to one’s alma mater, Harold Fairclough is a prime example. Fairclough is a graduate of Allentown Central Catholic High School, where he is the head coach. Playing for head coach Jim Morgans in the early 1990’s, Fairclough learned how important it is to let his assistants do their job. Taken the model used by Morgans, Fairclough surrounded himself with the best coaches possible, ga
AFM’s 2010 High School Coach of the Year Tony Heath Pearland (TX)
Euless Trinity, Southlake Carroll, Katy, Cy Fair, Northshore, Lake Travis. Imposing programs all poised to win Texas 5A Championships in any given year. There is very little debate that this is the toughest state championship to win in the nation. They’ve got the biggest stadiums, the biggest crowds and the most pressure. Enter Pearland High School outside of Houston, also a 5A program. When Tony Heath considered the head coaching position at Pe
Your Take: Turn Back the Clock For Safety
The recently completed football season will go down in history as the year of the concussion. Not because the game fundamentally changed, but improvements in head injury detection have forced a closer examination of the subject at all levels of the game. The football community is no longer taking a “head in the sand” approach to a problem that has existed for a long time but only now is beginning to be understood. In the future, head injuries in football will decline. The solution w
Turf Trends
Chances are very good that your team has either installed a synthetic turf field at your facility or played at least one road game on a turf field. Each year, hundreds of football practice and game fields are converted from natural grass to synthetic turf. That’s not surprising, considering that today’s turf systems provide safe, consistent, all-weather playing surfaces that can be utilized 24/7 by not just the football team but by a long list of other sports and activities. &n
Secrets of Central Florida’s Elite Kickoff Units
UCF had the best combined kickoff return and coverage statistics in the FBS.Central Florida’s elite kickoff units aren’t built exclusively with elite athletes. In fact, when building the coverage and return units, physical traits like speed, strength and size often take a backseat to effort, attitude and toughness. The formula works. Special teams coordinator Tim Salem’s kickoff return team finished No. 1 in the nation, averaging 27.78 yards per retur
AFM’s FBS Coach of the Year -Gary Patterson •TCU
The BCS-busting Patterson led the Horned Frogs to a perfect record, a Rose Bowl victory, and a #2 national ranking.As college football fans look at the national landscape over the last 10 years or so, there always seems to be the same names at the top week-in week-out, year-in year-out, whether it’s Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Florida, Alabama, LSU, USC. Every now and then a new team might rise up for a few weeks or a couple of years. But like any list,
Drills Report: Murray State’s Defensive Back Press Man Coverage
As defensive back coaches, we often teach our athletes to do things that are unnatural to them and are against what their instincts tell them to do. We tell them to not to follow their key inside if they are a flat defender, do not jump a route that sits in front of them if you are a vertical defender, do not jump a deep crossing route if you are half-field player. Among many other things, a successful defensive back must be disciplined on every play. It is a unique position on the field in t
TRICKING THE DEFENSE WITH BIG PLAYS
By Marc Sites, Assistant Coach, Liberty High School (CO) “Watch out, this team is fancy,” said an opposing player to his teammates at one of our games recently. We had just converted a fake punt on a fourth and two for about a five-yard gain. It wasn’t an unusual play by any standards, but that statement caused me to reflect on the number of trick (or creative) plays I hav
JUMP STARTING AN OFFENSE WITH PLAYMAKERS AND SPECIAL PLAYS
Coaching a successful offensive unit is very complex and requires a good amount of organization. In establishing an offensive philosophy, it is important to follow a few basic principles to ensure success. WINNING OFFENSIVE STRATEGIES
Your Take: Time To Get Enlightened
Note: The following is an excerpt from Building the Enlightened Warrior, the complete version of which can be downloaded at Xenith.com.Mounting evidence indicates that playing football in an extreme fashion might destroy your brain. Concussions have clearly been an uncontrolled epidemic in football for decades. Epidemics are not instantly cured by simple solutions. They require complete strategies for risk reduction. We must end the gladiator mentality
Quarterback Play – Focusing on Strengths
“A leader needs to know his strengths as a carpenter knows his tools, or as a physician knows the instruments at his disposal. What great leaders have in common is that each truly knows his or her strengths – and can call on the right strength at the right time. This explains why there is no definitive list of characteristics that describes all leaders.” - Donald O. CliftonAs a football coach, it’s very easy to get caught up in the strategy and design of a practice week a
Mississippi Masters – Head Coach Lance Pogue of South Panola High School led his Tigers to a 15-0 record and the number one prep ranking in America.
At South Panola High School in Batesville, Mississippi, they are not accustomed to losing. Since Head Coach Lance Pogue joined the school in 2007, the Tigers have an overall record of 58-2 and, prior to this year, had won two state championships in three years to add to their previous six titles. But this year South Panola set a new benchmark by not only winning another Mississippi 6A State Championship but by also capturing the mythical prep ‘National Champions
Coach to Coach: Making Your Off-Season Count, Part II
Last month, I wrote about some simple steps in evaluating a season that does not meet expectations. I touched on a few of the areas that I feel are critical in assessing these types of seasons. The areas include communication, off season training programs and evaluating returning players’ strengths and weaknesses and adjusting schemes accordingly. But what about the seasons that exceed our expectations? The seasons when things went right. Seasons when players and coaches came together to pr
Drills Report: Running Back Drills for Ensuring Ball Security
We ask a great deal of our running backs at Minnesota State University, and it is my job as running backs coach to help our players meet the expectations we have of them. Some of our offensive game goals that our RBs are directly involved in include:• 100% Ball Security.• Break 25 tackles as a team and gain more than 75 yards after contact.• More than 90% positive plays and more than 10 explosive plays.• Out-rush our opponents in the fourth
Speed Report: Confusing Conditioning for Football Speed Development
Conditioning is, in reality, a performance trait useful during the season. It can consume your periodization schedule in the off-season when, in reality, it’s not relative. You may not agree with my thoughts on how you should address conditioning. You should focus your training on speed and power and not conditioning. The word ‘Conditioning Coach’ in the collegiate world has begun to change - now it’s become a ‘Performance Coach.’ A coach in the
Your Take: Pay for Play – Don’t Hold Your Breath
It’s really a matter of slave labor vs. political correctness. The workers who bring in hundreds of millions of dollars to schools are the college athletes. The political correctness folks are the establishment – the government, NCAA and the universities. We’re talking the long-debated subject of pay for play. Should the athletes who work year-round to win games, championships, and thus bring big dollars to their institutions deserve some type o
Establishing a New Defense with an Effective Dime Pass Rush
At the Colorado School of Mines, our defensive staffs have run the same 3-4 pressure defense since 1988 and have made the necessary changes and adjustments to have success against constantly evolving offensive schemes. During my tenure as the Head Coach at Georgetown University, we had some successful defenses including the #1 I-AA defense in the nation in 1995 and 1996, as well as one of the top 25 defenses in 2005. During my two years at Towson University, we w
Sizing Up Your Team – Post-Season Evaluation Can Be a Positive Exercise for Coaching Staffs and Players
The 2010 high school football season has ended, but that does not mean that head coaches downshift into neutral and coast for the next few months. In reality, the 2011 season already has begun. What is accomplished in the off-season is often key to how successful next season will be. In many ways, the off-season is as busy, if not busier, than the actual fall season for head coaches. Equipment needs to be reconditioned and inspected
Flying Ducks – Oregon’s Prolific Fast-Paced Offense Presents Monumental Challenges to Defenses
By Bjorn Zetterberg and David PurdumWhen former Oregon Head Coach Mike Bellotti hired Gary Crowton as offensive coordinator in 2005 to install the spread option offense, it was his intent to keep up with so many other teams in college football that had gone in that direction. In its first year, the Ducks’ spread yielded impressive results – a 10-2 record, 34.5 points per game and over 430 yards per game in offensive production.
Coach to Coach: Making Your Off-Season Count, Part I
The end of another season is here. It’s time to decompress and reintroduce myself to my wife and three children. It’s time to take a few weeks off and recharge the battery. The end of the football season is also the introduction of the Holiday Season and I’m looking forward to a great Christmas and New Year. I like the idea of the New Year. It’s a chance to evaluate our lives, our work and our relationships. The New Year presents us with the opportunity to alter our course or maybe ev
Executing the Double Option Run From Any Backfield Set
by Paul Anthony Markowski, Fullbacks Coach SimonFraserUniversity In general, I consider myself a proponent of the option running game. Specifically, I am a convert to the triple option running philosophy. I say “philosophy”, since I truly believe that the triple option is not just another play. Rather, it is an offensive mindset. The triple cannot be installed in one day, nor can it be used as
The Importance of Formation Recognition
By Ryan Ruschhaupt, Assistant Coach Monterey Peninsula College Football is an ever evolving game where some of the most creative and intelligent coaches in sports find ways to defeat you merely by the alignment of players in a formation. Offensive coordinators search for alignment weaknesses
Getting Successful Quarterback Play
By Brian Hayes, Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach Anna Maria College There are a lot of different intangibles that make up successful quarterback play. I have seen all types of quarterbacks be successful and play well in many types of different systems. I believe that you fit your system to what your quarterback does best and work towards his strengths. There are five points that I really talk a lot about when coaching our quarterbacks. These five things that I wi
Your Take: The Story Behind the Poll
Last year, FBS coaches were “polled” about the controversial Bowl Championship Series and in the process got used as propaganda. As everyone knows, opinion polls are a complex business. The people that run them best are experienced, highly-trained and well-paid professionals. It’s for good reason. You can garner almost any answer you want from a poll depending how the question is asked. Politicians, business and others will pay top dollar to either get manipulated
Goal Line Defense: Lenape Valley’s 6-5 Scheme
When introducing our Goal Line Defense to our team, we stress from day one that we must stop the run at all cost – “We are fighting for inches not yards”. As a staff, three principles must be kept in mind at all times: 1. Instill in our players the mindset that “they cannot score by running the football on us – they must pass to score”. Also, attitude is as important as schemes and techniques. 2. Have a limited number of adjustments to formations and motions.
Georgia’s In-Season and Bowl Game Strength Training
Every year, college football players across the country engage in strength and conditioning programs from January until the beginning of training camp in August. Those workouts lay the conditioning foundation and strength base for the upcoming season. And while those workouts are important, many strength coaches would argue that workouts held during the season are just as important, if not more so, than workouts held during the rest of the year. This simple question must be asked: When woul
John McKissick: 7 Keys to Long-Term Success
McKissick, 84, entered his 59th season at Summerville in September with a record 576 wins. He’s accomplished the astonishing feat with a plethora of offenses, from the wing-T to the wishbone to his current spread attack. His defense also has changed with the times, transforming from a wide-tackle 6 and 50 look used to defend the tight ground attacks of the past to a multiple scheme designed to stop the modern spread offenses. “You’ve got to change with the material y
Speed Report: The History of Football Speed Development in America (Part II)
In part one, we chronicled the history of football and weight training changes over the years. My point of emphasis was to provide you with insight to the path football speed has taken. The amazing thing about the history of football speed is that there isn’t a recorded history to be found. This article will summarize where it began and where it is today. I was the first football speed coach in America. I began coaching football and track sprints in 1968 at the high school le
Strength Report: Practical Movement and Strength Training – The Key to Speed
I have been fortunate, in my 16 years of performance coaching, to have been mentored by the best in the business. Furthermore, I have been privileged to work both at the collegiate level and in the private sector. This allowed me to see things from a different perspective, exposing me to areas such as speed training and leadership/management skills that I wouldn’t have been exposed to had I just stayed at the collegiate level. Although it was a huge risk to leave college athletics, the
Fundamentals of Wide Receiver Play and Reading Coverages
By PJ Fleck, Wide Receivers Coach Rutgers University PURPOSEFUL “TEACHING” I was always told that I was the “King of the TOO’s” (too small, too slow, too short). I heard all the time, “GET OUT OF THE BREAK, DROP YOUR WEIGHT, CATCH THE BALL, GET OFF THE PRESS.” “Cat
GAME DAY AT CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL
On a grey fall Friday afternoon, Carmel Catholic head coach Andy Bitto greets a visitor as he enters his office. Kickoff is four and a half hours away, but minus his headset, Bitto is already sporting his game day outfit—brown and gold pullover, brown tie on white shirt, khaki pants and tennis shoes. The outfit could be labeled old school, something out of George Halas’ time. After all, where is the Under Armour? Bitto hands the visitor an itinerary for that week’s
Setting the Tempo by Attacking and Reacting
By Kevin Cristillo, Defensive Line Coach Kentucky Christian University My philosophy as a D-line coach is to be aggressive and stop the run. As a defensive lineman, your main job is to stop the run. By stopping the run you are dictating the tempo of how the game is going to be played. Almost every team wants to establish a run game presence so that they can complement that with their passing game. Stopping a team’s ability to run puts them i
JUMP STARTING AN OFFENSE WITH PLAYMAKERS AND SPECIAL PLAYS
By Charlie Stubbs Head Coach Nicholls State University Coaching a successful offensive unit is very complex and requires a good amount of organization. In establishing an offensive philosophy, it is important to follow a few basic principles to ensure success.
Coaching in Denmark Part III
For my final and third installment on my coaching experience in Denmark, I would like to share two topics that are universal when it comes to coaching American football: officiating and game management. My wife and I were thrilled to attend the Steelers/Dolphins game on October 24 in Miami. As the clock ticked down to the final minutes, the game was suspended in air as Ben Roethlisberger’s touchdown attempt was being reviewed by the officials. Every fan, whe
The Sprint-Out Passing Game for a Smaller, More Athletic Quarterback
In high school football, you have to adjust your offense to the talent and ability of the players that you have. Unlike college, you cannot go out and recruit, so you must be able to adjust to the talent of your players. The quarterback position is a perfect example. You must adjust to your quarterback’s talent and abilities. At Southwestern, we had a four-year run in the shotgun spread offense because of two quarterbacks in a row that were 6’3” plus and had great arms. Th
17 Cornerstones of Defensive Line Play
St. Cloud State University has a long tradition of excellence on the defensive line. In 2008, both defensive ends earned All-American honors, marking the third such honor in the past four seasons. Two of these players were named most valuable defensive lineman in the conference. Talented players are obviously the most important ingredient in our success. Utilizing an attacking and aggressive system of play has allowed these great players to play fast. Playing fast is a must in a position th
0-12: How To Deal With Losing
We embrace winners. It’s in our DNA. But the other side of winning is losing, and it can be a painful pill to digest when it happens so often. Perhaps that is no more evident than in coaching. But, inevitably, every coach will experience that pain at some point in his career. How a coach deals with the negative aspects that accompany losing is a matter of perspective and having faith in what he is doing will reap rewards in the face of adversity. Bob Davie, the former coach at No
Drills Report: Daily D-Line Must Drills
Like many things, football is a game that requires you to do a few basic concepts. You have to block, run and tackle. With this in mind, my approach to coaching the D-Line has always been to be sure and hit certain key things everyday. Each day you strive to build and develop the best group that you can possibly have. To do this, you always must strive for perfection within your group. Remember, if you make it important, your group will also. It is very important to know what makes your playe
From the Coaches Bookshelf - Heartland Heros
The Smith Center (KS) Redmen became one of the most interesting high school football stories of recent years when they put together a 79-game unbeaten streak over six years before finally losing in last season’s Kansas 2-1A championship game. Author and New York Times reporter Joe Drape spent the 2008 season in Smith Center and documented the Redmen’s undefeated season and their sixth consecutive state title. In his book, Our Boys, now available in paperback, he paints a vivid port
Built From The Ground Up
A Guide to the Game’s Top Cleats As much as I would like to say this in jest, I am sure there are plenty of your players that still haven’t equipped themselves with new gear for the upcoming season. You will see the ones at practice, the players that are routinely using athletic tape to hold together that pair of cleats they have been using for a year or two, but are just too stubborn or forgetful to replace. That is why I would like to run down the best of what the top fo
John Robinson, Assistant Coach
By Jeff Fedotin • RivalsHigh.com At 75, John Robinson’s coaching career has come full circle – from USC to the NFL to now, the sidelines of San Marcos High School as an assistant coach Connor Kuehnle’s parents did not believe their son when he told them the identity of his new defensive coordinator. “There’s no way it’s John Robinson from USC and the Rams,” Kathy and Kenzie Kuehnle said. “There’s no way this guy’s gonna come an
In-Season Training and Practice Planning For Punters and Kickers
A coach’s dilemma: what do you do with punters and kickers during the season? It’s a dilemma which has existed for a long time. It is especially true at the high school level but to varying degrees at the college and professional level as well. I have personally experienced this dilemma for the 25 years I have been a coach and for the fifteen years I was a player in high school, college and as a professional. Just handing the kicking specialists some footballs and sendin
Guru of the Golden Arms
As a high school quarterback, Steve Clarkson led Wilson High in Los Angeles to a 39-1 record and three straight city championships in the late 70’s. That was followed by three years as the starting quarterback for San Jose State where he played for John Elway’s father, Jack Elway. Clarkson broke several passing records in the process at SJSU (1979-82) and was a two-year Academic All-American. He was destined to fulfill his dream of being drafted by an NFL team. It didn’t qui
HERO TO ZERO IN ONE PLAY: Drilling the Defensive Back for Confidence
While I am now coaching tight ends at Columbia University, I have spent many seasons as a defensive backs coach. If anyone has been a secondary coach or played the position before, you are intimately familiar with those times when, in the final seconds of a game, an intercepted pass can “seal the deal” for your team or where a deep bomb can spell misery. The positive end result of those times is a combination of competitiveness, but more importantly, reliance on solid fundamentals. I have
7 Concepts in Developing a Winning Mentality
As a seasoned coach and life-long sports fan, I am always intrigued by teams, players and coaches who never reach their full potential and also those who do. I am intrigued by overachievers and curiously puzzled by those who consistently settle for less. Is it simply DNA? Do some possess genes that demand a lifelong pursuit of excellence while others inherit traits that have them looking for the paths of least resistance? In a competitive environment where everyone professes a desire to win,
In-Season Speed Training - Good News, Bad News
Summer is over and now it’s time to turn on the lights and begin with weekly competition. Speed and strength should be at their peak levels coming into the fall season. The months of hard work with zero competition are over and it’s time to benefit from the fruits of your labor. Speed should certainly be at the razor’s edge coming in. This is where the fun begins: maintaining and/or improving speed during the season. This can be done, but not without a commitment to certain de
A Conditioning Program for Skill Positions Using Lunge Variations
By Kim E. Fischer, Ph.D., CSCS • Teri Walter, Ph.D. • Joseph Matovich, CSCS Department of Health and Sport Sciences, Otterbein University Position requirements for skill position players like running backs, defensive backs, wide receivers, and quarterbacks differ from the offensive and defensive line positions in that quickness, agility, change of direction, balance, body control, and reaction time are even more critical characteristics for player success. Skill position p
Offensive and Defensive Collision Drills To Improve Your Team’s Performance
Little boys and men play football because it helps release aggressive energy and humbles all who have tried it. The sensation of running into someone at full speed is defining. No other element of football accelerates players, coaches and spectators than hearing the impact of a collision. Shoulder pads, helmets, forearms, and brute force contacting each other with speed and leverage. I began being a good football coach when I taught players how to take on a full contact collision. Eve
Coaching In Denmark (Part II)
By Wayne Anderson In this next installment of coaching in Denmark, I would like to share more about the teaching aspect of coaching a team like the Odense Swans. The first thing you must remember about a team like the Swans is that what you can truly do as a coach depends on how many coaches you have on your staff and how many players consistently participate in practice. In Denmark, our season is divided into two different parts:
GEORGE BLANDA “It’s Never Too Late”
By T. J. Troup Coach, Teacher, and Pro Football Historian Future Hall of Fame Quarterback Bobby Layne was sold to the New York Bulldogs before the 1949 season by “Papa Bear” George Halas. To fill the roster spot, Halas used the Bears 12th pick in the draft to take quarterback George Blanda of Kentucky. During his last three years at Kentucky, playing under the legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant, the Wildcats won 20 of 31 games and played in the
GAME STRATEGY AND PLAY CALLING: THE “HEDGEHOG” PHILOSOPHY
By Bruce Reynolds Former Head Coach William Penn High School, New Castle (DE) Game day strategy and play calling should not be too elaborate. Go with what got you there. Too many coaches make the mistake of trying to put in too many “new” things for the big game. My father, the Dr. Brooks E. Reynolds, a Methodist minister, was always preaching Steven Covey’s theme: “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” You can appl
Coaching in Denmark
By Wayne Anderson Sporting Director/Head Football Coach, Odense Swans I joined the Odense Swans in Denmark as their head coach on May 18th. Having coached in Norway and Italy prior to this position, traveling overseas was not a new experience; however, there are always unique challenges with each destination. With eight years of seasonal coaching positions, my wife and I have a routine when preparing me for the season away from home. When preparing to coach in E
AFM Subscribers Ask: Steve Warren Head Coach Abilene High School
Last fall, Abilene finished the season 15-0 by beating Katy High School in the Division II 5A Texas State Championship. Winning their first state title in 53 years, Abilene completed the season as the consensus #2 high school team in the country. Before Warren arrived in 1996, Abilene suffered through eight consecutive losing seasons. Entering his 15th season this fall, Warren has an overall 132-63 record which includes 11 straight playoff appearances. Abilene uses a one-back system as its base
Right Guard, Getting the proper mouth guard will give players greater comfort and help prevent concussions.
By Dallas Jackson and Tim Bergeron RivalsHigh.com Greg Ladd screams at the TV every time he sees LeBron James doing it. Or Tom Brady, Sidney Crosby or Landon Donovan. Ladd is a big sports fan. He also is a dentist. And every time he sees a pro athlete who bites, chews or holds his mouth guard between plays, he gets annoyed. To Ladd, such actions mean his mouth guard isn’t the right fit and therefore is not likely to provide much protection. Eve
Portable Perspective
Colleges and high schools have long employed elevated end zone and sideline cameras to capture practice and game video that could be reviewed and used as a teaching tool. But, until recently, the stationary cameras were limited in how they could be used in a variety of practice situations. Now, that has changed with the introduction of the remarkable portable elevated camera system from U.S. Sports Video called the SideWinder. In the summer of 2006, Tennessee Offensive Coordi
Drills Report: The 3-On-2 Contain and Tackle Drill
The purpose of this drill is to be able to close on a ball carrier and adjust to the different angles when a player is blocked or taken out of the play. Once a tackler has been blocked, the remaining two tacklers in this drill adjust and close in on the runner without getting beat to the outside, split down the middle, or overrunning the ball carrier. Depending on the coach’s objective, the goal of the drill is to either completely contain the ball carrier by wrapping him up or tackling him
Game Week Practice Planning to Defend the Spread Option Attack
When we prepare to play against the spread option, we first need to understand that getting the most out of our practice time is the number-one priority. We understand that the option teams that we face run their offense at a high level and they have gotten hundreds of reps at what they do before we face them. So, we need to be able to get as many reps as possible in just one week. For the past eight years, our philosophy has changed from trying to get good at practicing and
10 Musts Before The Start of Fall Camp
#1 Hit the weights and don’t forget to stretch for success. Nothing can make up for players that are not physically ready to play their best. Instead of lamenting that your players are not “bigger, faster and stronger,” take the initiative and make them bigger, faster, and stronger. If you do not have a weight room, create your own. We started our weight room in a storage closet in the wrestling room. I personally ran the summer weight room three days a w
Offensive Game Planning: A Week-Long Schedule to Success
Game Week Schedule - Sunday Our game week schedule is designated from Sunday to Friday. Our main objective for Sunday is to have a final breakdown of our previous game by 4:00 pm. Our breakdown consists of players’ grades on assignments and team goals. We also determine individual awards for our players from the previous game. Following our team meeting, our players divide into groups and watch film with the position coaches. Their night ends with position lifts. At abo
Small Schools, Big Time Programs
For years, Smith Center, Kansas’ (population 1,700) claim to fame was that it’s located in the geographic center of the United States. Now, high school football has put the town on the map. The Smith Center Redmen gained national attention in 2007 when, in the middle of an eventual 79-game winning streak, they had an 11-game run where they outscored their opponents a combined 706-0. In one memorable game, they scored 72 points – in the first quarter. Wh
Coach to Coach
* Getting more done in less time is always a great model for success. Be organized and get the most out of your time with your players and staff. Wasted time is one thing that you can never get back. I have worked with coaches that must have had a different watch than I did. 3:30 meant 4:00 and a one-hour meeting always meant two hours. The one thing that all of us have in common is that we each have 24 hours in each day. I read recently that 25% of American worker
Speed Report: Combining In-Season Conditioning with In-Season Speed Training
The answer is usually not well-received. My reply is that we need to understand how the game is played physiologically. If you run athletes hard and often with short recovery time between efforts, your athletes are being exposed to overtraining. Consequently, you’re training the wrong metabolic system and will not be tapping the proper system that is required. Limited recovery with constant brutal sprinting is going to keep the heart rate at maximum levels. The heart rate should have a
Drills Report: The Skill Drill: The Zone Read, Tunnel Screen and Bubble Screen
The Skill Drill was born out of necessity and has become a constant in our practices. My dislike of players standing around during practice helped create this drill sequence. When your players learn the pattern of this drill, practice reps will go through the roof. The drill combines all positions of a spread offense and works them with all of them at the same time. By using this pattern, you can increase your number of reps, coach multiple positions with a limited number of coaches, get all
Simplicity and the O-Line – Why The Flip/Flop O-Line Works
As coaches, we tend to overthink and overestimate our influence on game days. The common trap is our attempt to outcoach our adversaries across the field. While giving a clinic two years ago, I had an epiphany: “It is not my job to outcoach someone. It is my job to get my men to outplay their opponents.” On game day, it does not matter what we know. It’s what our players know that determines the outcome. This became my motto in everything I do as an offensive line coach and I am ble
Technology Tools: Computer Software That Brings Your Play Diagrams to Life.
Use coaching technology to your advantage with computer software that brings your play diagrams to life. Technological advances have had a significant impact on football and coaching, especially in how plays are developed and illustrated for coaches and players. Today’s state-of-the-art play diagramming software gives coaches advantages never before available. For playmaking, computers have indeed changed the way coaches coach. “Computers and software
No Punting Allowed
The controversy began last November 16th when New England Coach Bill Belichick went for a fourth down conversion late in a game from deep in his own territory against the Indianapolis Colts. With 2:08 left and the Colts with only one timeout, a successful conversion, in all probability, would have won the game. Belichick felt – from his own research – that the Patriots had a 60% chance of making the fourth and two for a first down. The Patriots were stopped short, the Colts took o
Legendary Leader - George Smith of St. Thomas Aquinas
George Smith of St. Thomas Aquinas shares principles that have helped him become one of the nation’s winningest coaches His heroes are old-school coaches like Paul “Bear” Bryant, Woody Hayes and Don Shula, and his disciplinarian style in many ways reflects an old-school coaching philosophy. But George Smith is not afraid to try something new if it will help give his football team an edge. That’s what Smith, the head coach at St. Thomas Aquinas
Coach to Coach
The 2010 season will be my 20th as a Head Coach and/or Offensive Coordinator at both the high school and college levels. I have coached a lot of games in that stretch and held ten times as many practices. I started playing football in 1976 and haven’t missed a season since. I guess you could say that I am addicted to this great game. In those 34 years, I have learned some important lessons that have played a huge role in my coaching life. As we head into the 2010 season, I want to share some k
Speed Report: Refining Peak Speed For Fall Camp
Theoretically, maximum speed should be the goal for your team heading into fall camp. Once football starts and the banging begins, football isn’t kind to speed. Olympic world class sprinters would not train in pads to perfect or refine their peak speed potential. The only referral to track speed that parallels football is the beginning of fall camp, contusion free and speed ready. Summer Time is the Right Time Pre-summer is over and you’re enterin
Strength Report: Lamar’s Off-Season Strength and Conditioning Program
The Lamar football program begins play in 2010 after a 21-year layoff. As the first Sport Performance Director in school history, it has been my task to develop and implement a speed, power, strength, agility, flexibility, and conditioning program. The process has been difficult, to say the least. Combine that with the fact that we are waiting for our athletic facility to be built and one can only imagine the challenges we have faced. Needless to say, I not only have had to think outside my b
Five Ways To Ensure A Solid Foundation For Your Junior High Program
By Bill Shepard, Assistant Coach, Durand High School (IL) and Darin Davis, Assistant Coach, Dakota High School (IL) If a head coach at the high school level wants to achieve success then he needs to invest time in his junior high program. We believe that there are five essential ingredients that help lay a solid foundation for a football program at the junior high level. It may take time to get all of the ingredients in place but the effects on th
Game On! Finding A Football For Your Program
One of my high school coaches once took a break from our two-a-day practice and held up a football. “Can any of you tell me how long a football is?” he asked. Like most players and coaches, I never knew the exact length of a football (and as a lineman, my regular hands-on experience with footballs in practice was slim to none). We were stumped. “Eleven and a quarter inches,” he said. “I tell you this because that 11 ¼ inches is the differ
7-On-7’s: Tune Up Your Passing Game
While 7-on-7 competitions have been around for nearly 30 years, it’s only in the last seven or eight years that this concept has exploded. The growth of the 7-on-7 competition is a direct reflection of the growth of the spread offense. Today, more and more high schools and colleges are using the spread, and players and coaches see the value of 7-on-7 tournaments and competitions as ways to hone passing skills. The events match skilled players against each other. Usually played on
Trickeration: The Art of Deceiving a Defense. When And How To Use Trick Plays.
It was January 1, 2007 and the Boise State Broncos were reeling. Oklahoma’s 25 unanswered points gave the Sooners a 35-28 lead. The Broncos found themselves at 4th-and-18. Their season would end in 18 seconds. That’s when head coach Chris Petersen and OC Bryan Harsin reached into their gadget bag. Broncos QB Jared Zabransky hit Drisan James for 15 yards, shy of the first down. But as five defenders bore down on James, he lateraled to Jerard Rabb, catching Oklahoma flat-footed. R
Drills Report: Multi-Purpose Wide Receiver Drill
We expect the following from our receivers: 1. Maximum effort. 2. Know your assignments. 3. You must have the desire and willingness to block. 4. You must have the desire to catch every ball thrown to you. 5. You must possess the willingness to improve your skill. For route mechanics, wide receivers must follow the correct cutting techniques, body posture and route cuts or breaks. The WR must stay low in and out of h
A Unique Approach to Trips: Maximize Reps and Sets, Minimize Mistakes
By David Buchanan Head Football Coach, Mason County High School (KY) In the late 90’s our program was one of many that was riding the spread offense to bigger and better things. And, like many spread teams, we were heavy in the 2 x 2 set. We knew that trips, a 3 x 1 set, was something that we needed. But how could we install it without bringing on a tremendous amount of additional learning for our kids? Our players were athletic, intelligent, and gave us
Samson’s Strength & Conditioning Coaches of the Year
From the NFL to High School, Strength & Conditioning Coaches are trusted to maximize their team’s potential when they step onto the field. Here, Samson Equipment recognizes those coaches who made a big impact in 2009... NFL Dan Dalrymple New Orleans Saints New Orleans Saints Strength and Conditioning Coach Dan Dalrymple learned a valuable lesson when he had a free agent tryout with the Seattle Seahawks in 1987. Dalrymple had been a four-
Takeaway! More and More Teams are Using The Strip To Create Turnovers
Stripping the football from an opposing running back or receiver is not a new concept. Some players, such as former Giants Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor, included it their defensive tactics long before the NFL owners made the strip legal in 2002. More than ever though, defensive players are being coached about stripping the ball and successfully implementing it in game situations. Colts wide receiver Pierre Garcon’s strip of safety Ed Reed following a Peyton Manning intercepti
Drills Report: The ‘W’ Drill - Offensive Line Style
The W drill is one of the oldest and most-used defensive back drills. It is a great way to teach defensive backs the proper body positioning and footwork necessary to excel. It teaches players how to keep their hips low, eyes up, feet within the framework of their body, and how to change direction properly. As an O-line coach, I teach my players to develop these same skills defensive back coaches do. The drill requires as little or as much equipment as you find necessary, and can be
Strength Report - CITADEL’S OFF-SEASON STRENGTH & CONDITIONING PROGRAM
The winter off-season is the first of two primary development phases in the annual layout of a collegiate football player. The second is the summer. These are the only two periods of the year where no football is being played and training sessions are directed by the strength and conditioning staff. For us at The Citadel, the winter differs slightly from the summer, in terms of our priorities and where they rank. We believe that the better we keep the team physically prepared over the course
From The Coach’s Bookshelf Jim Lefebvre’s ‘Loyal Sons
The Four Horsemen of Notre Dame may be the most famous backfield in college football history. But, incredibly, until recently their story had never been explored in book-length form. Author and football historian Jim Lefebvre tells it in great detail in Loyal Sons: The Story of The Four Horsemen and Notre Dame Football’s 1924 Champions. The national award-winning book gives us insight into the coaching greatness of Knute Rockne as he guides his Irish to an undefeated season, Rose Bowl victo
Letter from AFM
While Tim Tebow lay motionless on the turf after suffering a concussion against Kentucky last September, Gator Nation held its breath. Tebow’s injury, caused by a severe blow to the head during a sack, put him in the hospital overnight and sidelined him from practice, television and video games for over a week. The good news for Gator fans was that Tebow benefited from a bye week and, with rest, recovered in time to lead Florida to a 10-3 win at LSU just two weeks after his injury.
Fundamentals of Defensive Back Play
There are many fundamentals to becoming a good DB. In this article I will talk about a few points that I think are keys for successful DB play. The first point is stance followed by backpedaling, then run and pass keys and finishing with responsibilities in coverage. Your stance is the start of good DB play. Here at Cal U we have two different types of stances, zone and man. In both stances are feet are shoulder width apart with good knee bend. Knee
Developing Functional Power for Football
The search for conditioning drills that enhance functional power for sports is an on-going process. A key consideration in this endeavor is the principle of specificity of training. Simply stated, specificity of training means that the body gets better at doing physical activities that it is required to do on a regular basis. If these activities are progressively overloaded as they are repetitively performed, the resultant gains are further magnified. In many sports improving pow
Dramatic Turnaround: Going From 0-11 to 12-1 In One Year
After Luke Salmons was hired to be the head coach at struggling Lawrence County High School (KY) in 2008, he did what every new coach would do. He put his plan in place and hoped for the best. Salmons inherited a program that did not have a winning record since 2003. “They’d had a period of five or six years where they didn’t win many games, and so I got the job,” said Salmons. “I’ve always wanted to be a head coach, and you never really know whe
Developing the High School Kicker & Punter
Some of the most exciting and scary moments of a high school football game usually surround one player on your team, the young man who handles your extra points, field goals, kickoffs and/or punts. These plays usually have the coach’s heart somewhere in his throat, but if you stop to think about it, how much practice time have you devoted to this young man on his kicking mechanics and game preparation? As a special teams and kicking coach, I understand that most high school footba
The 5-Wide Attack Spread Offense
Offense is such a personal choice. The type of offense you run really reflects your personality. No one can tell you that one offense is better than the other. It is a personal preference. Yet you need to understand different types of offenses: I, Wishbone, Wing-T, Single Wing, Spread, etc. There are also different styles of offense: time consuming, no-huddle, power running, option, etc. You have to determine what best suits your style or personnel. For two out of three years we we
AFM’s College Coaches of the Year
FCS Andy Talley • Villanova All season, Villanova kept tapping the rock, again, again and again, never knowing when it would break. The rock was one of the founding blocks from the first church at Villanova, which was built in 1896. The square block sat in the Wildcats locker room and even traveled on the road. Before every practice and every game, players and coaches tapped the rock. “This is what life is all about,” said Talley. &ldqu
AFM’s FBS Coach of the Year: Boise State’s Chris Petersen
Chemistry is so much more than just a cliché at Boise State. In fact, according to head coach Chris Petersen, chemistry is “as important as anything we do here.” “I think we have all been on those teams where we’ve had a lot of talent, but haven’t done well for one reason or another,” said Petersen, American Football Monthly’s FBS Coach of the Year. “We’ve also all probably had the opportunity to be on a team that didn’t have a lot of talent, but did very well to
Drills Report: Making Improvements In Your D-Line Pass Rush
With the current trend of offensive football becoming more and more spread out, defensive line coaches are seeing less and less of the traditional 5-and 7-step passing game. The traditional pass rush angles and teaching progressions don’t necessarily fit in defending the “spread” offense. Pressuring the QB in the shotgun and 3-step passing game has definitely become harder and forced D-linemen to adapt as pass rushers. We have developed seven “points of emphasis” in the pass rush t
Strength Report: A Post-Season Developmental Program for Linemen
The primary objectives of the post-season football developmental program for our linemen are to enhance individual athletic performance and reduce the potential of injury through the implementation of exercises, drills, team concepts and work ethic that transfers directly to the playing field. To accomplish these objectives, we incorporate a fourteen-week cycle divided into three phases. The first four weeks is a transition phase beginning at the end of the season. This phase is use
Sickle Cell Trait in Football: Educating Coaches
by: McCall Parrish, AFCA & Tai M. Brown, AFCA In the past 10 years, 20 NCAA football players have lost their lives to non-traumatic football deaths. Of those 20, 16 deaths occurred in conditioning activities while the other four occurred in day one or day two of preseason football practice. The question has to be asked: Are we training our football players to death? Out of the 20 players who have died, eight of those deaths were caused by exertional sickling
Was It a Loss?
It was a heartbreaking loss yesterday. With less than two minutes left in the game, and a chance to score and win, they fell short by a foot. The last few moments were hard to endure as their opponent took control of the ball and let time run out. I was there, on the sidelines, trying to capture images to illustrate the values of the school’s football program -teamwork, commitment, sacrifice, determination, discipline, courage. But I put my camera away. Over the last two y
Your Take-“Defending The BCS”
In the wake of the BCS National Championship game, some critics are using the opportunity to raise questions about the Bowl Championship Series. But I have a question for the critics: Can they name the team that won the college football national championship in 1997? It’s a trick question. The year before the BCS was created, there was no single champion. Instead, two teams that didn’t even play each other in a bowl game each claimed a share of the national champ
Reading the Proper Visual Keys - A True Essential In Stopping the Run
Effective defensive line play in football involves much more than three or four guys butting heads with the offensive line. Numerous physical techniques – hand placement, stance, shedding blockers, etc. – have been developed and refined in an attempt to overcome the offense’s built-in advantage of knowing where the play is going. All too often, an equally important mental technique which directly addresses this issue is overlooked. At West Liberty University, we devote significant time
An Offense For the Undersized: The Double Wing
In 1999, Ygnacio Valley High School, under the direction of head coach Tim Murphy, set the all-time large-school record in Northern and Central California by rushing for 5,019 yards. The Warriors’ offensive line that season averaged 208 pounds. In 2003, Murphy led Clovis East High School to the California Interscholastic Federation title and finished ranked in the Top 25 in the nation. The T-Wolves’ offensive line averaged 198 pounds. In 2007, Clovis East rushed for just
Your Take – “My Hail Mary Pass”
Let me start off by saying I can’t believe I’m writing something that football coaches will see. I’ve always had a fascination with the profession. If it’s not recruiting, it’s practice. If it’s not practice, it’s preparing game plans. And then there’s the “baby-sitting” aspect of playing father, spiritual guide, and disciplinarian for any number of problems that crop up. And oh yeah, by the way, there’s a game to be played with strategy, substitutions and clock management.
How To Slow Down the ‘Tempo’ Wing-T
During my first year as a Defensive Coordinator in 2006, we were very fortunate to have an excellent team at Merced High School. Making it to the sectional final and nearly pulling off a last-minute win was an exciting way to begin my career as a DC. However, that year was tempered with several doses of humility, mainly at the hands of the wing-t offense (specifically the tempo wing-t). In our second game of the year vs. Madera H.S., coached by wing-t guru Randy Blankenship, and later in the
From Huddle to No-Huddle in 5 Simple Steps
Over the past few years, no huddle offenses have become increasingly prevalent among D-I football teams. While no-huddle has found its way into the high school game to a certain extent, many coaches still avoid this concept because of the perceived communication barriers. They watch college QBs constantly changing the play and get headaches thinking about how that could work on their team. At the same time, it is hard to deny the advantages that you can gain from the no huddle such as contro
Strength Report - The Effects of Ankle Position on Change of Direction Movements on the Field
Through our teachings of how athletes can reprogram their nervous systems to increase their speed and athleticism, the repositioning of the ankle joint has been the number two most important aspect for increasing acceleration and maximum velocity ability. The most important, joint reposition, is the change and control of the body position. The ankle must be dorsi-flexed immediately at take-off. In fact, Ralph Mouchbahani, while at the University of Freiberg, demonstrated that electrical a
From the Coach’s Bookshelf – Brian Billick’s More Than a Game
During his tenure as head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, Brian Billick experienced the pinnacle of NFL coaching success when the Ravens crushed the Giants in Super Bowl XXXV. He also suffered through perhaps the lowest point of his career when he was dismissed after posting a 5-11 record in 2007. Throughout his nine seasons at the Ravens’ helm, though, one thing remained consistent – the grind. In his new book, More Than A Game: The Glorious Present and Uncertain Future of the NFL
Shore Up Your Secondary – AFM’s compilation of tactics, drills and strategies to make your secondary your primary line of defense.
If you’re heading into post-season play, you’re likely to face a situation where your defensive backfield is forced to come up with a big play. If you’re ahead late, your secondary will be tested in coverage when your opponent goes to the air game. If you need to get the ball back to mount a last-minute offensive of your own, you’re going to need your defenders to prevent the other team from getting game-clinching first downs. Either way, your secondary can mean the difference between
Strength Report – Harvesting Strength from the Field
We frequently look at different forms of strength equipment to help reach our ultimate goal of building a complete athlete. While much of the equipment we incorporate at Vanderbilt can be utilized inside, our staff definitely prefers to implement them outside on our practice fields. I have always felt that this form of outdoor strength training replicates farming. As coaches, we all want to grow strong, healthy, productive athletes that don’t break down and can withstand the heat. Simil
Lessons Learned - Bunkered In-Game Week in the NFL
Working in the NFL is a fight against time. A work week consists of 80 -100 hours for the coaches. The time is divided up between individual work assignments, group projects, game-planning meetings, coaches’ film sessions, player meetings and film sessions, walk thru’s and practice. The meeting time with the players is between 20 - 25 hours per week. The amount of time actually practicing on the field is less than ten hours per week. Hard to believe, but true. Monday:
No Pipes and No Posts - Protecting the Middle
Every coverage has its strengths and its weaknesses. The key to any productive defense lies in when to mix and match coverages based on personnel, down and distance and run/pass tendencies. The strength of the quarters coverage, or cover four scheme, has been synonymous with stopping the run because of the availability of tying in both safeties at the point of attack, giving the defense nine defenders in the box. Many even-front teams have been using the coverage against pro and slot formatio
Increasing the Efficiency of Your Practice and Video Time
“Time stands still for no man.” I’m sure you’ve heard this quote before. If you are like us, you are constantly looking for ways to optimize your team’s practice and video time. Doing so will greatly improve your team’s chances for success. Our offensive philosophy at Northwest Missouri State University is to “Be Balanced.” • 2006 run to pass ratio: 55% to 45% • 2007 run to pass ratio: 52% to 48% • 2008 run to pass ratio
Q&A with Frank Spaziani
After over 30 years of paying dues as an assistant, Frank Spaziani finally gets his time. Frank Spaziani has been in the game long enough to know how it works – or the way it should work. In a world of instant gratification, his mantra has been if you work hard, stay humble, and pay your dues then good things will come. Which is why, after serving 33 years as a collegiate assistant, 12 of those molding the Boston College Eagles defense into a national powerhouse, the sixty on
Onside Every Time - Sam Nichols Turns the Tables by Making His Kickoff Team an Offensive Unit
In last November’s Michigan Division 4 district title game, underdog South Haven, trailing 7-3, began the second half with an onside kick. What seemed like a very risky strategy paid off, as the Rams recovered the kick, scored on the ensuing possession and held on for a 16-7 victory. It was the first playoff win and first district title in school history. Some in the media called Head Coach Sam Nichols’ decision to onside kick a big gamble. But was it?
The Strength Report - How to Prepare Your Athletes for Collegiate and NFL Weight Programs
Preparing Your Athletes for Collegiate Strength Programs By Joe Kenn MA, CSCS, SCCC Director of Athlete Development – Football, University of Louisville In an era where physical fitness is at an all time low, it is imperative that coaches at the high school level understand they are not getting the same type of athletes coaches worked with decades before. With the de-emphasis of general physical education at the elementary and middle school levels
Inside the Numbers - Running Up The Score
Reward Kids: “Too many times coaches will make decisions based on statistics, things such as streaks of holding opponents under 14 points or letting a rusher break a hundred. I am a firm believer that once the game is in control every kid needs to be rewarded for their hard work and have the opportunity to play.” - Bryan Gray (GA) If there is a chance: “I don’t make the decision of when to pull starters for my team. My preference is to leave the d
GEAR - Products for Coaches
The original Athletic Super Striper & Athletic Super Stripe Paint make it easy and affordable to stripe your field like a pro. The highly pigmented Athletic Super Stripe Paint gives you crisp, long lasting stripes every time and it’s guaranteed to empty completely and not clog for 10 years. Just one case will stripe an entire football field. The Athletic Super Striper’s big 10-inch wheels will tackle your field in no time and the striper comes with a lifetime guarantee. In 1970, Fox Valle
5 Dumbest Things Parents Have Told Me
A friend of mine once asked me why I coach for the Bill George Youth Football League. I told him that I do it because I couldn’t get my dream job at a prison or an orphanage. He looked at me strangely as if he didn’t understand my response. He asked me why and I said because they don’t have alumni or parents. This is an old coaching joke but any of us that have held a clipboard can relate to it. Keep in mind that 90% - 95% of parents are wonderful.
King of Your Turf
Those of you who have climbed a mountain—even by a steady trail where no ropes or crampons were required—know it is an exhilarating experience. Slowly but surely, one snowy peak after another emerges from behind the slopes until you are standing with a vista beyond description. It is breathtaking. In that one moment, there is no place you’d rather be and no other feeling you’d rather have. That, coaches, is Zone FEEL at its best, and it is the type of Zone FEEL you must
Increasing the Efficiency of Your Practice and Video Time
“Time stands still for no man.” I’m sure you’ve heard this quote before. If you are like us, you are constantly looking for ways to optimize your team’s practice and video time. Doing so will greatly improve your team’s chances for success. Our offensive philosophy at Northwest Missouri State University is to “Be Balanced.” • 2006 run to pass ratio: 55% to 45% • 2007 run to pass ratio: 52% to 48% • 2008 run to pass ratio
An In-Depth Look at High School Football Practice
American Football Monthly conducted a survey to high school football programs about the details of their practices – here are the results. We’ve included feedback from survey respondents (high school coaches) on practice circuits on tackling, turnovers and special teams. Speakingout Briefly describe the stations in your tackling circuit. “All of our tackling is done by position. We attempt to simulate the types of situations that each position on defen
The Perfect Practice
Practice how you play. Perfect practice makes perfect. We’ve all heard the coaching axioms about preparation, and how important it is to practice efficiently. We hear them, but do we really listen? Just by simple word association, practice is tedious. To our players, it’s drudgery. Many of them simply go through the motions, “get through the practice”, and hold back until game day – which is why they signed up, after all. How do you organize your practices to mak
Design Practice With a Purpose; Just Make Sure You Have the Right Purpose
“Take a lap.” They’re probably the most dreaded three words in football practice history. We’ve heard them at the start of every practice from Pop Warner through high school. As players, when we labored around that quarter mile track or sandbagged around the perimeter of the football field, we knew what we were doing was pointless. Our coaches thought we were being conditioned, but we had a feeling we were being fooled. We may have been right. Sadly, similar commands are still being u
Positive Point of View
For 20 years, U.S. Sports Video has provided football programs nationwide with technology that gives coaches better ways to analyze their teams. Mike Bokulich was reflective as he looked over the shipping boxes that contained 125 new EagleCam SkyHawk elevated camera systems ready to be shipped to customers from coast to coast. “There was a time,” he said, “when we weren’t sure we could sell a single system, let alone hundreds.” That time was t
Longhorn Legend
Texas strength and conditioning coach Jeff “Mad Dog” Madden oversees a cutting-edge Longhorn program that combines intense training with sound nutrition practices. The words on the wall of the University of Texas’ strength and conditioning training facility have inspired All-Americans, Heisman Trophy winners, National Champions and hundreds of Longhorn football athletes. They read, “The pride and winning tradition of the Texas Longhorns will not be entrusted to the weak nor t
How to slow down the “Tempo”Wing-T
During my first year as a Defensive Coordinator, in 2006, we were very fortunate to have an excellent team at Merced High School. Making it to the sectional final and nearly pulling off a last-minute win was an exciting way to begin my career as DC. However, that year was tempered with several doses of humility, mainly at the hands of the wing-t offense (specifically the tempo wing-t). In our second game of the year vs. Madera H.S., coached by wing-t guru Randy Blankenship, and later in the s
NO PIPES AND NO POSTS - PROTECTING THE MIDDLE
How the Southlake Carroll Dragons defend problem areas in Quarters Coverage Every coverage has its strengths and its weaknesses. The key to any productive defense lies in when to mix and match coverages based on personnel, down and distance and run/pass tendencies. The strength of the quarters coverage, or cover four scheme, has been synonymous with stopping the run because of the availability of tying in both safeties at the point of attack, giving the defense nine defenders
Reducing Penalties - Mike Westoff\'s Penalty Prevention System
How Mike Westhoff Turned the Jets into the Least Penalized Team Over the Last Eight Years It only takes about three minutes before Mike Westhoff gets to the tape. Like a proud father, the New York Jets special team coordinator is moving his red laser up and down the surface of a 42” TV in his office in Central New Jersey. “Did you see that block? Watch him snipe him here. That’s football for you,” he grumbles between bites of a banana. “A kick returner has to be e
Lessons Learned -from an NFL Assistant Coach - Bunkered In: Game Week in the NFL
Working in the NFL is a fight against time. A work week consists of 80 -100 hours for the coaches. The time is divided up between individual work assignments, group projects, game-planning meetings, coaches’ film sessions, player meetings and film sessions, walk thru’s and practice. The meeting time with the players is between 20 - 25 hours per week. The amount of time actually practicing on the field is less than ten hours per week. Hard to believe, but true. Monday:
How to Prepare Your Athletes for Collegiate and NFL Weight Programs
Preparing Your Athletes for Collegiate Strength Programs By Joe Kenn MA, CSCS, SCCC Director of Athlete Development – Football, University of Louisville In an era where physical fitness is at an all time low, it is imperative that coaches at the high school level understand they are not getting the same type of athletes coaches worked with decades before. With the de-emphasis of general physical education at the elementary and middle school levels w
Mount Union Offensive Line
Mount Union’s run game is primarily based on the zone run play. At Mount Union, we drill the fundamentals of zone blocking at each practice. By understanding the fundamentals, our linemen are able to execute these drills in practice and use them in a game setting. The three main components of the zone run play are: 1. Step 2. Hands (punch) 3. Feet (finish) I’ve included four zone blocking drills that practice the fundamentals of zone blocki
Inside the Numbers - Running Up the Score
Reward Kids: “Too many times coaches will make decisions based on statistics, things such as streaks of holding opponents under 14 points or letting a rusher break a hundred. I am a firm believer that once the game is in control every kid needs to be rewarded for their hard work and have the opportunity to play.” - Bryan Gray (GA) If there is a chance: “I don\'t make the decision of when to pull starters for my team. My preference is to
Gear - Products for Coaches
Muscle Milk Collegiate • CytoSport Developed to meet the complex nutritional needs of today’s athletes, Muscle Milk Collegiate is rapidly becoming a key addition to weight rooms and nutrition programs across the country. Muscle Milk feeds hungry muscles by combining high quality protein, carbs and custom fat structures known as MCT’s – or medium chain triglycerides – so athletes can recover more efficiently from training. Forget about the high sugar con
Appreciating the constants in the now transitory coaching profession
Guess how many head coaching changes were made in major college football this year? Not five, not ten, not 20… but 22. Yes, 22 out of the 119 FBS programs are undergoing a new reign. For those that aren’t math majors, that’s nearly 20 percent. What’s even more interesting is that a dozen of those 22 coaches that either left on their own accord or fired were on the job five or less years. There’s a reason why the Paternos, the Bowdens and the Beamers o
ADDING FLEXIBILITY TO YOUR DEFENSIVE GAME PLAN
As high school defensive coordinators, we are challenged on a weekly basis to stop a variety of offensive schemes. Over the course of last season, these offensive schemes included split-back veer, wing-t, fly, zone, pro-style, full-house double TE, and of course the spread offense. Our defensive staff has always prided itself in being able to prepare our players on a weekly basis to stop our opponent’s particular scheme, their most dominant player, and their bread-and-butter plays.
Recruiting Confidential
ESPN’s Bruce Feldman shares his insight into the methodology of big-time college recruiting Since 1994, ESPN The Magazine’s senior writer Bruce Feldman (left) has been tracking college football at its highest level. He’s been in dozens of football war rooms and seen hundreds of player evaluations and highlight tapes. He has even ha
FROM POP WARNER TO PREP SUPERIORITY
How Bill Powers, a former Pop Warner coach, has turned a small Christian high school into a powerhouse in the football hotbed of Florida Can’t blame Bill Powers much for pinching himself once in awhile to make sure this is all real. After all, how else would you explain a former Pop Warner coach with no prior high school coaching experience turning a doormat of a football program into Florida’s winningest prep team in the last four years? “I really don&
Developing a “Six-second competitor”
Missouri’s secret program that builds toughness and confidence It’s no secret that Missouri has been one of the most improved college football teams in the country over the last five years. Under Head Coach Gary Pinkel, the Tigers have won back-to-back Big 12 North Championships and had four bowl appearances in the last four seasons. Pinkel has won 31 out of his last 42 games as a head coach. The numbers speak for themselves. Those numbers, some would say, have a lo
Wide Receiver Separation
On behalf of Northwestern University, Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald, and the entire Northwestern Football Program, I would like to thank American Football Monthly for allowing me to share some of our wide receiver drills with you. We are a part of a great profession that shares coaching points freely. I’m honored to share with you a separation drill series that has been very productive for our wide receivers. At Northwestern, we run a spread, four-wide receiver offens
Seeing is Believing
While the days of coaches scratching out X’s and O’s on a chalkboard or huddling around a 16mm projector to review game film are long gone, some football programs have not, until recently, taken full advantage of the high-tech teaching tools available to coaches today. Case in point – Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village, California. To call the Oaks Christian football program high-profile would be an understatement. Not only had Head Coach Bill Redell’s Lio
Starting from Scratch
When Old Dominion re-started their football program after a 68-year hiatus, they turned to Rogers Athletic for their practice equipment needs. The last time Old Dominion University played an intercollegiate football game, Franklin Roosevelt was president. Helmets were made of leather, and they didn’t have facemasks. Minnesota went 8-0 and was voted the national champion. The year was 1940. So, when it was announced that the program would be reinstated for the 2009 season, the un
Helping an Unnoticed Player Get Noticed
High school football offers many great rewards for young men. Unfortunately, due to state guidelines that are different across the board, not all players develop the same or receive the same type of coaching. Occasionally at the high school level players develop late, new kids move into town or those athletically gifted kids walking the halls decide to play football. If this is the case for a senior on your team, then you and he are going to be behind in the recruiting process.
5 Things Every Youth Coach Must Do Today to Win in the Fall - .COM
Welcome to my first article in American Football Monthly’s Youth Coaching Expert column. I have been fortunate enough to have had a success at the youth coaching ranks and it will be my goal to impart some of the lessons that I have learned, both good and bad, over the years. I will not be writing these columns for the coaches that get the super fast kids where you can just pitch them the ball and they go and make magic happen. You guys probably don’t need my help! Instead, I am goi
Q&A with Lou Tepper
The name Lou Tepper has been synonymous with defensive football. Considered one of the original gurus of linebacker play, Tepper has coached over 20 professional linebackers including the likes of Dick Butkus Awards winners and NFL standouts Kevin Hardy, Dana Howard and Simeon Rice while he was the head coach at the University of Illinois. Since being named head coach in 2006 at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Tepper is enjoying a resurgence at the Division II level. The
The Strength Report - How to Utilize Your Space to Positively Effect Your Program
The High School Perspective: By Dave Brown, Strength & Conditioning Coordinator, Archbishop Mitty High School (CA) No matter how big your training facility is, you should be trying to utilize space to make your training efficient, challenging, productive and motivating. How do you train when resources are limited? Archbishop Mitty High School has one of the top athletic programs in the nation. Sports Illustrated, in 2006-2007, rated th
Inside the Numbers - Onside Kicks
“Survey Says…” AFM asked survey respondents to share what they do to increase their chances of recovering onside kicks. Kick’em in the Chest “Instead of overloading a side and using the traditional onside kick, from our normal alignment, we have our kicker drive the ball directly at one of the front lineman. We hope the ball will kick-back toward our approaching players. We prefer to use this early in games to surprise the receiving team.”
Letter - Want To Be 1 in 11,000?
We all chase the same dream. Whether it lies in conference championships, state championships, national titles – we prepare endlessly for the honor of hoisting that trophy in glory. We’re living in denial if we don’t understand that the percentages are against us. There are terrific coaches that spend their entire life in this business and don’t ever get that opportunity. Ever wonder why they never get there? Sure, luck has its place but most of the time it can come down to one game,
Lessons Learned - From an NFL Assistant Coach
Besides coaching on defense, my most valuable learning experience took place while working with the quarterbacks. Prior to my NFL coaching days, I worked a summer football camp for two years at a Big Ten university where I befriended the QB Coach, (Presently an Assistant Head Coach in the NFL) who taught me the QB position. We spent hours upon hours watching film. The first words that came out of his mouth were, “If you want to learn football, this is the position to coach.”
Drills Report: Training the Eyes
We emphasize “eyes” at Cal Lutheran. The most common remark we hear from our opponents is, “you guys play fast.” I believe the reason we play so fast is because we drill daily our eye placement. By drilling eye placement every day, keying becomes second nature and we are able to diagnose the play rapidly while reacting accordingly. We base our defense out of a 3-2-6. Each position group has a key progression that is drilled during individual time. The defensive line, ins
Schutt - College Coaches of the Year
Mike London University of Richmond Creating Competition in Practice – Making Players Perform Under Pressure After seven games into the 2008 season with a record of 4-3, nobody believed Richmond could win it all, except Mike London himself, who saw something special in his guys. “I knew that our losses could have gone either way early on,” said London, who was the defensive coordinator at Virginia before taking the job at his alm
Schutt - High School Coaches of the Year Regional
Midwest Region Chuck Kyle • St. Ignatius High School (OH) Ohio is high school football and Chuck Kyle at St. Ignatius is Ohio football at its best. Kyle, the longtime legend at the parochial school in Cleveland, is known for racking up state championships, and he capped this season off by winning his tenth in his 26 years as the head coach of his alma mater. Just don\'t ask him if this one was most memorable. “It likes comparing children,” says Kyle.
Schutt - National High School Coach of the Year
Coaching Smart A Florida football legend, George Smith, is the Schutt Sports National High School Coach of the Year George Smith’s coaching career could have ended before it ever really got started. As a 27-year-old first-year head coach, Smith was getting his staff together after his first full season, a 6-4 campaign in 1975. “I was going around asking my staff in a post-season meeting who was going to come back for next year,” Smith recalls. “They al
Schutt - FBS Coach of the Year
“They pay coaches bigger salaries now, so you better not waste any time getting the job done. There is always someone else in waiting.” Simply put, Brian Kelly knows how to win football games. And he can win them at any level. Just as a craftsman works his plan to the detail, Kelly has executed his formula for success at every level he’s been – from Division II Grand Valley State to mid-major Central Michigan to a former Big East doormat, the University of Cincinnati.
Middle Cross Kickoff Return
Developing and repping a solid kickoff return team can be an explosive offensive weapon for your football team. With the kickoff team, you are generally looking to avoid negative momentum. However, with the kickoff return team, you can gain a huge momentum swing with a great return. At the very least, you want to give your offense the ball outside of the 30-yard line. The kickoff return team is important, because you can give your offense the ball in good field position, and could possibly ev
Central Missouri’s Tackling Drills
With the increasing pressure that offenses are posing for defensive coaches, organizing practice to maximize benefits is vital. Covering everything and still improving fundamental skills is nearly impossible. The fundamentals unfortunately get shorted more often than not. I think that coaches do a tremendous job at adapting to this dilemma by combining skills into one drill. With that in mind I want to discuss three tackling drills that accomplish that exact purpose. Drill: Fini
Managing Team Dynamics - .COM
At the end of the day, if the coach isn’t going to manage the team’s internal and external dynamics, then who is? In today’s non-confrontational society where conflict and upheaval are seen as overly-aggressively and negative actions, a large helping of moral courage is required to effectively manage inner and outer team influences; unfortunately, many coaches refuse to address team dynamics, often to the detriment of all involved. Being able to manage team dynamic
The Multi-Option I-Bone Offense
In late 1983, while working as a publicist for the Alamo Community College District in San Antonio, Texas, I met Dr. James R. Smith, a local veterinary dermatologist who would forever change the way I looked at football. As if his occupation were not interesting enough (at that time, there were only four veterinary dermatologists in all of Texas, and only about 25 in the entire country), Dr. Smith would later give me another reason to find him interesting. On late afternoon in February 1984, b
Mental Toughness: Quiet the Mind
How often have you heard these? \"We choked today.\" \"We started out flat.\" \"We play down to our competition.\" Or these…\"We were in the zone.\" \"Things just clicked.\" \"It was as if I knew what was about to happen.\" All of these statements reflect on a team\'s mental performance...how the brain affects outcome. Many times, a restless brain gets in the way of performance. Your body obeys dual voices from your brain. One of the voices is the strong silent type. Your bo
Developmental Aspects of Implementing the Front and Back Squat in a Training Program
The College Perspective: By Joe Kenn MA, CSCS, SCCC Director of Athlete Development – Football University of Louisville Utilizing a squat movement is highly recommended for any athletic-based program. The combination of hip and knee extension that this movement develops is a key component in an athlete’s overall physical development. At one time, the traditional barbell back squat was the primary squat utilized in our program. Now, we use a variety of
Football Coaches are Football Savvy, but Just How Movement & Speed Savvy?
For nearly 30 years I‘ve worked toward becoming an expert at movement and speed for sports performance. The time spent has been a labor of personal gratification. I’ve worked with the old pros and today’s modern superstars of the NFL. My forte has been developing players at the novice to elite levels. Over the last 29 years, I’ve consulted with 11 NFL teams on speed development and was once on the staff of the Seattle Seahawks. Three years ago, I was approached by Pete Carroll from USC a
Inside the Numbers – 2-Point Conversions
How many times did your team attempt a two-point conversion during the 2008 season? 0 – 5 Attempts: 57.4% 6 – 10 Attempts: 23.8% 11 – 15 Attempts: 8.4% 16 – 20+ Attempts: 10.4% Of those attempted 2-point conversions, how many times were you successful? 0 – 5 Conversions: 76.4% 6 – 10 Conversions: 14.6% 11 – 15 Conversions: 4.1% 16 – 20+ Conversions: 4.8% “Survey Says
The Little Things...
Presented by www.schutt-sports.com • 800-426-9784 Dead Ball Snap Bill Powers, Head Coach, Jupiter Christian High School (FL) “Out of our shotgun formation, we use the Dead Ball Snap which is pretty unique. I watch a lot of football and I don’t see a lot of schools doing it. This is great for programs who rely on the shotgun formation, but have problems with consistent snaps. We th
The Fly Guy
Take one of your quicker athletes, start him in full motion before the snap, get him the ball as he hits top speed and let him run. Sounds simple? Hardly. Sure, on paper, the concept of the fly or jet sweep is elementary, but to run it effectively – that takes some precision. It’s a precision that has made Mark Speckman at Willamette College in Salem, Oregon his living as a head coach. He’s known around the country as “The Fly Guy” patterning his offense around the fly sweep – a sch
Focal Tackling - Using Your Eyes to Make Plays
We know that football has become a game played in space – there is no denying that. In the last issue of AFM, we discussed the way that tackling has morphed from a semi-barbaric method of driving someone into the ground, into a more detailed approach based on where you are in the field. Because spread schemes get their athletes the ball in space, most defensive coaches preach to their players to “leverage” the ball or keep it inside the numbers and know where your help is. Tackling used to
The Drills Report: Delaware’s Defensive Line Hip Emphasis Drills
As defensive line coaches, we all know the importance of developing strength, power, quick feet, active hands, and a relentless desire to get to the football. What I also add to that list is the development of the hips in relation to movements necessary to play defensive line. We work year-round on the strength, power and flexibility of the hips. Our training staff and strength & conditioning coaches work year-round improving this area and I incorporate drills that I feel are
Football Video – The Right Way
From the days of 16 millimeter film to the videotape era to today’s sophisticated digital video systems, recording and sharing game images for team analysis and opponent scouting has been an essential coaching tool. But do some coaches underestimate the importance of video and miss opportunities to get more effective use out of their video programs – possibly costing them future wins? According to David Affholter, the answer is, unfortunately, yes. “All coaches study game video o
Myths vs. Facts - The A-11 Offense a Year Later
It was only last spring when AFM first debuted this radical new offensive scheme that was conceived in the living room of Steve Humphries, the offensive coordinator at Piedmont High School in California. Back then it might have only been a fad when Humphries and head coach Kurt Bryan had just installed it the season before and really had only implemented it on offense around 70 percent of their snaps. But since, it has taken on a life of its own. Like any fad that starts to pick up sp
30-Stack Pressure Defense
When we went to the 30-Stack defense as our base defense, we did so for a few reasons. First, it suited our personnel. Traditionally, we are a school that does not have great size, but we were fortunate to have athletes who could run. This defense allowed us to feature our greatest asset: team speed. Second, we liked the idea of being in a defense where we could show a lot of different looks to opposing offenses in terms of fronts and coverages without having to change personnel. The 3
Tackling Solutions
Editor’s Note: Due to the overwhelming response we’ve received from coaches on the issue of tackling, we are currently working with a group of coaches to publish a series of tackling improvement articles this off-season. Ok, so we’ve identified the problem. But how do we fix it? Each coach has their own suggestions as to how to improve our tackling dilemma, but we found that it can be broken down into three distinct elements of improvement – position-specific tackling,
The Tackling Crisis
As coaches, we spend countless hours and plenty of dollars sitting in clinic talks on the zone option or the odd-stack defense. These scheme-driven talks seem to motivate us more than anything. We shell out bucks on DVD’s about the most innovative offensive scheme or blitz-busting defense. After a loss, it’s never the scheme that bears the brunt of the loss – it’s fundamentals. “We didn’t tackle well.” If all of football comes down to blocking and tackling, then why are offens
Special Teams Time Management
Special teams is the aspect of the game where the “Hidden Yardage” can have a great effect of the outcome of a game. The MSU “Red Hawks” will win the hidden yardage weekly. This is accomplished through hard work, being well disciplined, knowing and executing the techniques and assignments and playing every play as a 101%er. Solid special teams are directly related to sound and effective time management. The old adage of “Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance” couldn\
AFM Subscribers Ask...with Charlie Weis
In Charlie Weis’ first two seasons as head coach, the Notre Dame roster was deep with leadership from strong junior and senior classes – giving Coach Weis a record combined-win total for the first two seasons for any University of Notre Dame head football coach. The following two seasons found Coach Weis developing a squad of young, inexperienced freshmen and sophomores, resulting in two tough seasons. Now with his fourth season well underway (at time of printing), it appears that Coach Weis
Season Ending Evaluations of Players/Program
Jeff Shutter • Head Coach • Eastern York High School (PA) I always give the players a survey first to have them self evaluate their play, to evaluate their teammates, and to make suggestions for next season. I hold a meeting and distribute our lifting and conditioning calendar for the off season. I meet with the captains to have them write a brief note to help next year’s captains. The staff evaluates each game in hindsight and also evaluates returning players
Offensive Linemen: Developing Fast Feet
As an offensive line coach, you’ve probably learned by now that a football team has two types of players: skill and linemen. Players that are athletic and agile become backs and receivers while those that are slower, clumsier, and less athletic, inevitably, become linemen. Whereas I understand that backs and receivers need to have blazing speed and the ability to cut on a dime, as a line coach, I know that in order for linemen to be effective, they must have many of the same qualities, alth
Leadership Lessons for the Winning Coach
I have spent most of my adult life learning and practicing the art of leadership. I feel lucky to have attended the most famous leadership school in the world—West Point. This base coupled with a 20-year career as a military officer and coaching high school sports in Wisconsin, Washington and Texas has allowed me to develop some leadership principles that helped me achieve winning a state championship in football. I hope by sharing some ideas with you, it may help you achieve your goals.
Turf Safety – The Verdict Is In
If you are fortunate enough to have a synthetic turf field at your facility, you know about all the advantages it offers. It holds up in any weather conditions, it’s consistent and durable and your athletes love playing on it. It provides unlimited practice time and can be used around the clock by other sports teams and activity groups. But is synthetic turf safe? A variety of issues have been raised by special interest groups, some rumored to have connections with the natu
10 Offensive Strategies
Charlie Stubbs is to coaching what IBM is to computers. Now at 53, chances are he’s logged more hours under a headset than the entire American Airlines flight crew. He’s spent 19 years in collegiate coaching, including the last eleven as a coordinator at such high-profile schools as Louisville, Tulsa, Alabama, UNLV and Oregon State. Perhaps it’s just coincidence that after his stint in Louisville, where the Cardinals averaged 32.5 points per game under his tenure, he landed in the lap of o
Beaver Brawn
When Oregon State beat #1-ranked USC in September, most observers agreed that the Beavers out-muscled the heavily favored Trojans. That was satisfying, but not surprising to OSU’s first-year Director of Strength and Conditioning Bryan Miller. The Beaver’s strength and conditioning program is being transformed under Miller, who was promoted in his third year at OSU when Jeff Macy left to become Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Milwaukee Bucks. With the help of a new facility featu
An Adjustment No One Wants to Make
Funny how we always tell our players that football is like life. We have our ups and downs and we learn how to juggle both of them without compromising our integrity or losing our dignity. About a month ago, our starting senior middle linebacker and one of the nicest kids, went down with a severe knee injury. But it wasn’t during practice, it was in the minutes leading up to it. As he was taking his introductory lap before our stretch he had the bright idea (we know they don’t always use
Gear
Promoting Players • College Coaches Network College Coaches Network (CCN) recognizes that one of the hardest jobs of the coach is promoting your players – especially your Sub-D I prospects. CCN’s Give Every Player a Chance to Play™ program is designed specifically for high school coaches and leverages the CCN online platform (www.collegecoaches.net) to support the critical role you play in recruiting. Whether helping with your superstars or giving national exposure
The Drills Report: Auburn’s Running Back Drills
We practice a number of drills for running backs on a daily basis. These include ball leverage drills; movement and bag drills; decision-making drills; pass blocking drills; and pass catching drills. For this article, we’ll include our five ball leverage drills: A. Strip Drill-Side: This is protecting the ball from defenders trying to strip the ball in a crowd – usually linemen and linebackers – (See Diagram 1).
What Can You do as a Coach to Improve Academic Progress and Eliminate Ineligibility
Vic Wallace, former Head Coach Lambuth University and now Special Assistant to the President for Athletics Lambuth University is a small, academic university. The university provides, for all students, a person with the title: Director of Student Success, Retention and Academic Advising. Professors report to this person via e-mail, phone or note anyone who is struggling in class, not attending, not getting assignments in or any student that requires special assistance or
- More Solutions to Problem #11
Continued from: 32 Solutions for the 12 Biggest Problems You\'ll Face this Season Problem 11: On field game/time management issues... what can be done if this is a problem within your coaching staff? We designate one coach as our time management coach, which is usually the coach(es) in the press box since they are away from the pressures
Hammer Strength High School Football Player of the Year Award-2008
(AFM recently interviewed Hammer Strength/Life Fitness about the award) Tell us about the origins of the Hammer Strength High School Football Player of the Year award? Each fall, strength, sweat and stamina are on display in high school stadiums, and performance is put to the test in weight rooms and football practice fields across America. Hammer Strength is recognizing the select young athletes who work harder and longer to be their best with it
Q & A With New Northern Illinois Head Coach Jerry Kill
Coach Kill is in his first season at NIU after turning the program around at Southern Illinois Q1-As you began your coaching career, who was your mentor(s) as a young coach? Coach Dennis Franchione and Coach Chuck Broyles at Pittsburg State Q2-Looking back on your coaching career, is there one lesson you learned early on that has stayed with you? Probably the organization of practice. That\'s where you win is the organizat
.COM
1 - *Why The Spread? 11 Questions For A Coach To Consider” Here are three: *‘What is the most critical element to running a successful Spread offense?’ *‘Can the Spread be successful with players of different abilities and sizes?’ *‘What defense gives the spread offense the most trouble?’ Go to www.AmericanFootballMonthly.com
Performance, Pain & Fear
Most athletes experience some pain, whether it is physical or psychological, during a season. Sports medicine has focused on helping the body heal and getting many athletes get back onto the playing field quickly, after a physical injury. But are we overlooking some need? Is fear a factor in the speed and completeness of recovery? Critical Emotion, Neglected? In last month’s article: Injury: A Mind/Body & Spirit Relationship? I reported how two fullbacks and a middle
The Speed Report: Variables For In-Season Speed Training (Part 2)
Last month we described many things that you can accomplish and sustain during the in-season. So very often in-season speed training becomes a burden to the football world in terms of time allotment. Football is about speed and the maintenance of technical applications that produce it. It never ceases to amaze me how much can be accomplished during the season with consistent training reinforcement. Conversely, the dissipation of technique can also be void of consistency when neglecte
Coaching Quarterbacks To Be Effective Runners in the Shotgun Zone Fly Offense
The evolution of the quarterback from a true pocket passer to a passing / running hybrid is one of the most lethal offensive combinations that defenses have ever faced. A player that can beat you in the air and has the skill and confidence to beat you on the ground as well is what many of today’s best offensive coordinators are aggressively looking for. The Shotgun Zone Fly offense relies on this type of hybrid player. The success of the SZF run game, in large part, comes from the a
Nickel Package: Matching Speed with Speed
With the continued advancement of spread offenses saturating the game of football, it becomes almost a necessity for defenses to match speed with speed by employing some type of nickel package in their scheme. It seems like not too long ago, coaches were fixated on putting their best eleven defenders in the game, regardless of the type of personnel that they were up against. Rarely was there any two-platoon system where players were subbed on and off the field defensively, like they were offensi
The Drills Report: Washington Linebacker Drills
We spend more time on block protection and tackling than any other skill sets we teach. Tackling is still best learned in team situations in practice. Getting in a proper tackling position in practice is the best way to simulate the live situations that come up in the game. The coaching points we emphasize in tackling are: 1. Eyes up and in front. 2. Bend the ankles, knees, and hips. 3. Time up the hit and explode on contact – hit through the runner. 4. Club with t
Q & A with Mickey Andrews
For twenty-four years, Mickey Andrews has been coordinating the Florida State University defense. His longevity in such a competitive field and his commitment to stay in one place in such a transitory occupation where most other coaches are looking for the “next best thing” speaks volumes about the type of character he possesses. Now regarded as somewhat of the elder statesman in major college football, Andrews spent some time with Mike Kuchar of American Football Monthly chatting about ever
AFM Subscribers Ask...with Mark Richt
An outstanding high school quarterback in South Florida, Mark Richt attended the University of Miami in nearby Coral Gables. There, he played for Coach Howard Schnellenberger and backed up future Hall of Fame QB Jim Kelly. Richt coached later on Bobby Bowden’s staff at Florida State for over a decade and helped mentor two Heisman Trophy winners, Charlie Ward and Chris Weinke. The Seminoles also won two National Championships during his time in Tallahassee. Named the head coach at Georgia prio
What’s the Best Way to Grade Your Players During the Course of the Season?
Gary Chilcoat, O-Line and Outside Linebackers Coach Deep Run High School, Glen Allen (VA) “I have used film grades in the past, but they are so time consuming that you really know how they played before you grade. What I have found most effective is grading them during practice. We tell our players they earn the right to play Monday through Thursday. Most people can give great effort on Friday’s, but it takes a true believer to work hard during the week. We expect sta
- More Solutions to Problem #12
Continued from: 32 Solutions for the 12 Biggest Problems You\'ll Face this Season Problem 12: Communication issues between the press box coaches and the sideline coaches...how do you improve this issue? As an offensive staff, which includes our head coach as an offensive position coach, we spend a lot of time in the off-season talking and me
Injury: A Mind/Body & Spirit Relationship? - A Need
There is a need to develop the mind, body and spirit because they constitute the whole person. They cannot be separated. This article addresses psychological response to physical injury. When there is a physical injury there is always a psychological response. Unfortunately, the psychological response is rarely treated even though the use of psychological techniques can safely reduce pain and speed healing and have the athlete back on the field more quickly than just treating the physical in
Preparing for the Dangerous Return Man
At 6:50 in the third quarter on Sunday, February 10th 2008, in Hawaii, Rob Bironas kicks off for the AFC. Devin Hester takes the ball on the 4-yard line, and heads up field. At the 18-yard line he suddenly stops and throws back across the field to Cowboy tight end Jason Witten who advances the ball 35 yards into AFC territory. When special teams coach Mike Stock of the NFC asked Hester ‘Why?’ Devin\'s response was, \"I saw him waving.’ In the last two years Devin Hester had advanced
- More Solutions to Problem #10
Continued from: 32 Solutions for the 12 Biggest Problems You\'ll Face this Season Problem 10: Poor personnel management from the sideline; penalties for not lining up properly, offside penalties, and your athletes\' running onto the field late. Is it the coaches\' or the players\' fault or both? Our philosophy is simple: what you see on t
- More Solutions to Problem #9
Continued from: 32 Solutions for the 12 Biggest Problems You\'ll Face this Season Problem 9: Special teams letdowns – losing a game because of special teams play...what can be done to improve special teams play? Our focus here at Holbrook is on kick coverage and punt/punt return, since these are the biggest change of field plays in the
5 Misunderstood Contractual Issues
Through my experience as an attorney for the NFL Coaches Association and as an agent with Coaches Inc., I have examined a myriad of coaching contracts over the last nine years. Due to the harsh, unpredictable reality of this profession, your contract is your only protection for you and your family when the stars fall out of alignment and you end up fired. Unfortunately, coaches tend to overlook the contracts they sign because they are happy to have a job and do not want to be considered ungr
Maximize Your Football Coaching Video
College coaches will admit that watching video accounts for 2-3 times more of their in-season workload than actual on the field preparation. Football game video is a necessary evaluation tool for coaches and players, yet many coaches struggle through each season with untrained videographers producing ineffective results. A decade of coordinating video for high school, NAIA, and NCAA-FBS football has taught me that finding the right personnel to handle your team\'s football video is
Challenging the Placekick
During my thirty-five years on the sidelines I\'ve watched in amazement as teams would not contest the PAT kick of their opponents. The defensive players might wave their arms to distract the kicker, maybe a rusher would come off the edge and a couple of players might jump up in an effort to block a kick but usually a PAT kick attempt would go unchallenged. Often, even where there was a poor or slow snap, a bobbled hold, or a slow kicker, the kick would cross the bar and the extra point would
- More Solutions to Problem #8
Continued from: 32 Solutions for the 12 Biggest Problems You\'ll Face this Season Problem 8: Unproductivity in the red zone. Not being able to finish drives especially because of the lack of a strong field goal kicker...how to you deal with this issue? When we get within the red zone we limit our offense to what we do best: our ‘sainted
- More Solutions to Problem #7
Continued from: 32 Solutions for the 12 Biggest Problems You\'ll Face this Season Problem 7: Dealing with academic and disciplinary issues like cutting classes or grades...what can be done to solve this issue? We have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to these issues with both affecting playing time, depth chart, playing level, and eve
- More Solutions to Problem #6
Continued from: 32 Solutions for the 12 Biggest Problems You\'ll Face this Season Problem 6: Tackling issues – the team’s consistency in missing tackles..how do you improve this problem? We go back to the basics as a team to reinforce the proper fundamentals of tackling. In defensive individual time we also spend a lot of time on var
- More Solutions to Problem #5
Continued from: 32 Solutions for the 12 Biggest Problems You\'ll Face this Season Problem 5: Senior leadership issues among the team – upper classmen not taking accountability for THEIR program... how do you get your team back on the right track? We have instituted a leadership council and teaming concept this season to start developing
- More Solutions to Problem #4
Continued from: 32 Solutions for the 12 Biggest Problems You\'ll Face this Season Problem 4: Dealing with an early season setback such as an injury to your best player...how do you counter this setback and what is the contingency plan if this occurs? Having multiplicity in one’s scheme is very important at any level. Being a small town sc
- More Solutions to Problem #3
Continued from: 32 Solutions for the 12 Biggest Problems You\'ll Face this Season Problem 3: Not being able to get the ball in the hands of your playmaker and teams finding ways to limit his touches...what do you do to counter the frustration inherent to this problem? As the offensive coordinator in a triple option offense it is important
- More Solutions to Problem #2
Continued from: 32 Solutions for the 12 Biggest Problems You\'ll Face this Season Problem 2: Your running back has ball control issues... if he’s prone to fumbling, how do you improve his ball security? Ball security by all players is priority #1 in our offense and great care is given to ball security. We have a series of drills where th
- More Solutions to Problem #1
Continued from: 32 Solutions for the 12 Biggest Problems You\'ll Face this Season Problem 1. Not playing to the level of your opponent – avoiding a major let down early in the season... how do you deal with this issue? Are there ways to motivate a team that is under achieving? Our biggest issue is not so much playing down to our opponents,
The Strength Report: Core Training
If I told you I could guarantee that you would improve your strength, power, and speed would you do what I asked? When athletes are unable to perform football skills, one of the most common breakdowns is posture. Posture is primarily controlled by your core. It doesn’t take long walking onto a practice field to hear a position coach barking posture coaching cues. Everything from the stance to the transfer of power for a kicker is controlled by the core. A strong core is essential for optima
The Sprint Out Pass Game
With every offensive coach these days designing their scheme to find ways to get the ball to the perimeter, it seems like the sprint out pass game would be a viable option. But the truth is, many teams don’t utilize this package in their offense, mainly due to the fact that they may not have a QB mobile enough to do it or they don’t have the time to devote to a totally separate package. But what if we were to dispel those two myths directly in this article? It’s true. In fact
The Speed Report: Variables For In-Season Speed Training (Part I)
When the season starts coaches become so focused on football that speed development is often the last thing they are concerned with. Speed erosion is greatest during the season. We must be mindful that football is a game of collisions and moving fast to make plays. If speed enhancement is ignored during the season, the off-season becomes a point of diminished return. There is a lot one can do in-season to preserve off-season development and actually improve speed. Time is never your friend durin
32 Solutions for the 12 Biggest Problems You\'ll Face this Season
Monitor and adjust. It’s probably the most useful axiom in the coaching and teaching profession. We’re all regimented people by nature, which is why we get into this in the first place. We have everything accounted for and leave nothing to chance – from the opening stretch period in practice to our awards dinner in December. But what if that plan starts to tumble and collapse right in front of our face? What if your all-area QB tears his ACL during two-a-days? What if your seniors are not
Implementing the Saluki Zone Blitz Blitz Package
In our March issue this year, American Football Monthly presented an overview of the zone blitz scheme and its concepts. It’s a scheme that has been around for over thirty years originating with the innovative mind of Bud Carson, the notorious coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers “Steel Curtain” defense in the 1970’s. Though it has been tweaked into some more of the style we see today, the general concepts of the zone blitz remained constant. In its simplest form, the zone bl
Missouri\'s Top Three Principles of Defense
I would like to discuss and illustrate the ‘Top Three Principles of Missouri Defense.’ 1. SPEED TO THE BALL. 2. VISION & BREAK (Break 1/3 The Distance The Ball Is In The Air). 3. TAKEAWAYS. I. SPEED TO THE BALL At Mizzou we take pride in running to the football. We evaluate our players’ effort on every single rep in practice and games. It is very important that Missouri players understand this is our #1 principle. Our succ
Unbalanced Formation
Surrattsville High School has been running the Spread Veer Offense for seven years. Surrattsville has the smallest enrollment in our county, meaning there are a lot fewer males to choose from to participate in the football program. The difficulty of having the smallest school is that we are scheduled to play schools that are not just one classification above us but sometimes two classes above us. We look to find ways to improve our chances for success. We have always run the Spread Ve
The Drills Report: Advanced Quarterback Drills
As with many offenses in this day and age we run a spread out of many different personnel packages and motions. Unlike most offenses, we use the “Gun” exclusively because it fits our personnel best. The problem with this is that quarterbacks left to their own devices in the gun will start to develop bad habits, mainly throwing mechanics. For example, a QB who always throws out of the gun will start to develop lazy feet, bad body positioning, and not getting his shoulders in proper position.
AFM Subscribers Ask...with David Cutcliffe
After only 22 wins over the last 13 seasons, Duke turned their fortunes to new head coach David Cutcliffe last December. Coach Cutcliffe comes to Durham after serving the previous two seasons as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Tennessee. His coaching experience includes a six-year stint at Ole Miss where the Rebels had a 44-29 record and went to four bowl games. Cutcliffe was named the SEC Coach of the Year in 2003 after leading the Rebels to a 10-3 record. He has participated
The 5th Down: Dealing with an Unsupportive Administration
Marcus George, Head Coach Ansbach High School Dodds, Germany “Our main goal when we go to a new school or welcome a new administrator is to weave ourselves tightly with the aims and goals of the staff and administration. It is important to let the staff know that you support them and to hear what the administrator is saying. Many times, we don\'t initially hear what we want to hear from a new administrator but the tune usually changes when they realize that our pla
Mental Training For Performance Enhancement and Injury Management
This is the first in a series of articles exclusively for www.AmericanFootballMonthly.com by Dr. Raymond Petras, a sports performance and injury management specialist. The Objective The objective of coaching is to enhance performance. We all attempt to do this through practice, strength training and conditioning. I wish to pass on to those of you who are interested, concepts that will aid your coaching. Performance Enhancement Early one sp
Conditioning: Train Fast to Be Fast
In football, it is often said that speed is the great equalizer. It can negate the size and strength of opposing linemen and make the opposing team look like it is running in mud. It’s no wonder that many coaches devote much time and effort to developing this skill during in and out-of-season workouts. Ultimately, the question becomes, how can efficient speed development be achieved? After all, no one would want to put forth so much time and effort if what was being done was ineffective.
Interviewing for a High School Coaching Job – The Key to the Right Fit
As anyone that has stayed in the coaching profession for long can tell you there are jobs that will be desired and there are jobs that look good but by taking them it could be the beginning of the end of your coaching career. How do you run the gauntlet of the interview process and find out the true story of what is going on at the interviewing school for the good of your professional opportunity and family considerations? A job interview is actually two interviews; the school offic
The Speed Report: Maintaining Maximum Speed Capacity During the Season
In the July Speed Report on final preparations for in-season speed, I stressed maximizing speed prior to in-season. Now we are in-season and we must have a plan for sustaining the qualities we worked to develop. The key emphasis here is quality, not quantity. As I have put forward the last two years of writing the Speed Report, everything is quality, not quantity. Speed is a precision skill which must be trained in that manner. Too much emphasis on over working the physical aspects of training w
Michigan\'s Rich Rodriguez
There is no doubt that Rich Rodriguez has continued to establish himself as one of the premier coaches in college football. Known as the modern grandfather of the spread offense, Rodriguez has continued to establish quick strike offenses while developing even more explosive players to lead it. Now after taking the West Virginia program to new heights by making them a perennial national title contender, Rodriguez has his biggest challenge in front of him – as the new head coach of Michigan.
The Winning Edge: Preparing D-Linemen for Game Day
Mike Waufle and Ray Hamilton know defensive line play. Between the two of them, they have a total of 49 years of coaching experience at the Division I level and professional levels of football. Among those in their tutelage are the likes of Andre Tippett, Russell Maryland and Michael Strahan. So it’s only fitting that the two guru’s of defensive line play collaborated on producing a scouting form called the “Winning Edge” which they give to each of their players during game week. Actu
Predicting Offensive Coodinators\' Calls
Dear offensive coordinators, Ever get the feeling that someone is watching you? I mean really watching your every move. We’re talking about pure diagnosis here, like the quintessential chess playing tactic of knowing your next move before you do. This is the science of breaking down and dissecting your every move before you do it – and Warren Central High School’s (IN) defensive coordinator Steve Tutsie has got it down pat and he’s just about to share it with you.
The Triple Screen
It started with a sophomore defensive end on the scout team during the 2007 spring practice. When this inexperienced defender was able to blow up our jailbreak screen because he recognized the tackle was leaving to block the perimeter, it was another sign that we needed to address the fact that defensive teams have improved in their defending of the spread and screen game. Only four years earlier, our jailbreak screen, at times, had easily become a big play. Now, everyone was catching on to the
AFM Subscribers Ask...with Will Muschamp
Last fall, under Defensive Coordinator Will Muschamp, Auburn led the Southeastern Conference in scoring defense and finished in the top 10 nationally in pass efficiency defense, total defense, pass defense, and scoring defense. Since then Muschamp has joined the Texas staff as DC and inherits a defense that set school records for passing yards (3,611) and total yards (4,825) surrendered in a season in 2007. While he has his work cut out for him, Muschamp has a proven track record of fixing defen
The 5th Down: How to Motivate an Unmotivated Player
Rey Hernandez, Defensive Coordinator, La Jolla High School, San Diego, CA “We have started using an off-season program that is patterned after those used at some colleges. In fact I got the idea from a recent article in AFM about Kent State’s program. We selected seven captains and we conducted an NFL style draft wherein the captains selected team members. All returning varsity and junior varsity players were drafted and these players composed the “active mem
The 10 Commandments of Coaching Leadership
Coaching and leadership have always been intertwined. So much so that Duke Basketball Coach Mike Krzyzewski says “I don\'t look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.” If leadership is, as Yuki suggests, “the application of intentional influence in order to achieve a desired result,” then coaching is actually leadership in practice. However, before we move forward on what actions coaches should and should not take, it’s import
Developing a Dominating Run Blocking Technique
Talk to any football coach worth his salt and he’ll tell you that you win or lose up front. Playing the offensive line at any level, is a high risk-low reward job occupation with an image encapsulated in grunt work, doing the bear essentials to help your team win. Perhaps nobody possesses that element more than Rich Alercio, the first head football coach at Division III Castleton University, in Castleton VT. Alercio and his 22 years of football coaching experience were hired last Fe
Three Plays for The Spread Offense
The spread offense is one of the most exciting offenses around today and is one of the biggest reasons why, at Wayland High School, we have had such great successes over the past couple of years. Over the last three years we have a record of 33-4 with two league titles and one state championship. It wasn’t always like this at Wayland. My first year as the head coach we were 1-10 while we were installing the spread offense but once the kids bought into the system we were able to turn things aro
Gear
Wireless Headset System HME DX300 HMEYou spend hours preparing for the big game - make sure your hard work pays off! HME’s DX300 Wireless Headset system keeps your coaches in constant touch throughout the game. It takes only minutes to set up and operates on AC or batteries. Dual-slot diversity automatically detects strongest signals for uninterrupted conversations. Digital technology offers superior sound clarity. Up to 20 coaches can communicate in hands-free, two-way conver
Offensive Line Drills for the Inside Zone
Inside zone blocking is a topic that is near and dear to my heart. I always look to see if someone is talking on zone at a clinic or if there is an article in AFM because I don’t have all the answers and I love stealing ideas. I have played in or been coaching in a zone scheme for the past 18 years. At Blue Valley High School, we are an inside zone running team. In the past we were a single back ace and now we have evolved to the pistol formation. Even though we are different in the backfield,
The Drills Report: Auburn\'s Pass Rush for Defensive Tackles
At Auburn, our emphasis is on our players having great effort on each play. We want our players to have ‘relentless pursuit.’ If they get knocked down, they get up and sprint to the ball. We want them to know how to play hard and that loafing is never acceptable. This is the key to playing good defense and being a good pass rusher. We stress a three-and-out principle. Everything we do in practice requires three perfect reps before we leave the field. When you conduct practice that way, it g
10 Mistakes You\'re Bound to Make at Pre-Season Practices
So the summer is winding down and you’ve put a stamp on your off-season conditioning; wrapped up the local seven on seven tournaments; and made all the necessary arrangements to have an intense and productive camp in preparation for another eventful season. But as the lazy days of July morph into the intensely crammed early days of August, there are some major concerns that need to be addressed before heading into summer camp. Sure, every good coach has a plan, but there are some major decisi
AFM Subscribers Ask...with Wisconsin-Whitewater's Lance Leipold
Taking over for his former college coach Bob Berezowitz last fall, Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Lance Leipold led the Warhawks to their first Division III National Championship. After losing to Mount Union in the title game in both 2005 and 2006, UW-W proved the third time is the charm as they upset Mount Union in their third straight meeting, 31-21. In the process, Leipold became only the second first-year coach to ever win a D-III National Championship. Leipold’s coaching career also began at
The 5th Down: Playing Time
Tim Dodson, Head Coach, Siuslaw High School, Florence, OR “First I think it is important to describe our school because size of school and coaching staff have a great deal on how playing time is handled. We are a 450 student high school and we have around 30 players on our varsity roster and 35 players in our frosh/soph program. We have three coaches with our frosh/soph team and three coaches with our varsity team. Our frosh/soph coaches are busy on our game night and
Special Teams Game Plan Design
In no other phase of the game can field position be changed so dramatically in just one play as in the kicking game; yet, coaches often minimize weekly preparation in the kicking game just to get a few more offensive or defensive reps. Also, in no other phase of the game can one play be so emotionally uplifting, or, conversely, so demoralizing as in the kicking game. Additionally, consider that nearly one-third of the game is consumed by some phase of the kicking game and that for eve
Technology Buyer\'s Guide
Every football program can benefit from today\'s advanced technology. The following companies are in the business of helping coaches become more successful through innovative technology solutions. We recommend that you save these listings for future reference. Coaching Software BW Software • 888-752-9625 • www.bwsoftware.com BW Software has provided specialized productivity tools for football c
Zone Blitzing the Spread Offense
There are some major philosophical components that need to be taken into consideration when coaches devise defenses. The first are structural concerns – what base front will you imply, even or odd? What will be your base coverage – will you be in a one high or two high safety defense? How will you defend the run game – will you be a “box” team that filters all perimeter runs to the middle of your defense, or will you prefer to “spill” everything to the perimeter, making the speed
iFutbol Fever!
As everyone knows, soccer is king in the Mexican sporting world. But did you know that football as we know it, Fútbol Americano to Mexicans, has been played south of the border at the collegiate and professional levels since the 1920’s and today enjoys widespread popularity? Or that the top conference in the ONEFA (the primary collegiate league) is known as Doce Grandes – the Big 12? Or that an ONEFA All-Star team beat a NCAA Division III All-Star team in 2003 to capture the annual Aztec Bo
The Pistol Offense: Keep the Defense Off Balance by Formation and Tempo
Offensive play callers are constantly looking for an advantage over the defense. One of the ways we try to achieve this is by using many different formations and changing the pace of our offense. We believe we force defenses into playing base fronts and coverages because they can never be comfortable as to what formation we will align; we add to their stress by changing pace of play with no huddle and quick running plays. In this article, we will outline the formations and tempo-changing aspects
The Drills Report: Minnesota Wide Receivers Drills
At Minnesota we believe there are keys to playing the wide receiver position in our offense. The topics that I would like to cover all build on one another with one being no greater than the other. The topics I would like to discuss with you are: 1 Route Expression. 2. Release Techniques. 3. Ball Catching. Route Expression Our offense relies heavily on our receivers getting good vertical stretch, running precise routes, and being abl
The Wildcat Spin
The two-minute offense has always been a main emphasis of our situational offensive package. We want our players to be confident in a two-minute situation because we have drilled it in practice and executed it before the half and at the end of games. Not only do our players have to make our plays successful by understanding each responsibility, they also have to understand how to manage the clock. For example, one of the main rules we live by is when to get out of bounds. We teach our players to
Blocking Kicks - The Take Off, Bend and Approach
Think special teams isn’t as vital a part of the game as offense and defense? You ever sit back and think about what type of effect Appalachian State’s win over Michigan last year in the Big House had on the landscape of college football? Sure, Big Blue rebounded to have a productive season. What Appalachian State did on that Saturday afternoon in early September was not only pull off a made-for-TV Hollywood style upset, but it got every coach who was fortunate enough to be watching that ga
Gashing the Odd Stack with the Gap Scheme
It has become the most widely used defensive scheme in the country. Following the routes of its forefathers – Rich Rodriguez while at West Virginia and Joe Lee Dunn at Memphis – the odd stack defense has trickled down to most all levels of football and with good reason. Because of the three down linemen structure, coordinators could get their faster athletes on the field to match those spread offenses that have taken shape. But there is a weakness and it’s a glaring one. Ask any
AFM Subscribers Ask...with Valdosta State\'s David Dean
Last December Valdosta State’s Head Coach David Dean became the second coach to win the Division II National Championship in his first season. Dean replaced Chris Hatcher in January 2007 and then led VSU to a 13-1 record, culminating in a 25-20 win over Northwest Missouri State in the championship game. Dean served as Valdosta State’s Offensive Coordinator from 2000-2006 where the Blazers won another national championship in 2004. During that time VSU was a perennial leader in scoring offens
The 5th Down
American Football Monthly crosses into new territory with the beginning of a new cutting edge feature – THE 5TH DOWN. So much of the game of football happens outside the playing lines whether it be preparation, motivation, off-season training, analyzing your future opponent, dealing with an over-obtrusive administration or handling sensitive issues with your team members, such as playing time. It’s a new department and a new opportunity to share ideas, anecdotes and stories relative to yo
The Five Keys to Drop Back Pass Protection
Teaching fundamentals of drop back protection can be broken down into five phases. These five areas are the set, relative position, body position, lateral movement, and separation. In this article I will break down each of these phases in detail and provide a sound and proven fundamental approach to each. Before I go on I would like to say that this information has been gathered over several years of listening to and visiting with some of the top offensive line coaches in high school, college
Maximizing Your Time on the Practice Field
Detailed preparation and expert organization are essential to every winning program. The practice schedules leading to Saturday must be precisely crafted, minute-to-minute plans designed to produce maximum effort at kickoff. AFM asked Defensive Coordinator Bob Elliott for a specific breakdown of how he gets his San Diego State Aztecs ready for Mountain West opponents. Most important for his players he said is to get them accustomed to the same routine every day. The details of the sess
How to Choose a Video System That\'s Right for You
In the early 1980’s, videotape replaced 16 millimeter film as the standard tool for coaches reviewing game footage and game-planning for upcoming opponents. While video had obvious advantages to film, coaches were just as limited in their ability to jump to the right video segment as they were with film. Watching game tapes provided video that could help a coach see a player’s problems and correct them, but rewinding and fast-forwarding through tapes was cumbersome and a big waste of time. E
Fueling Champions
As Director of Strength and Conditioning at LSU, Tommy Moffitt knows how to train athletes to become champions. With his second BCS National Championship at LSU in the last five years, Moffitt solidified his reputation as one of the country’s top strength and conditioning coaches. The 2003 Samson Strength and Conditioning Collegiate Coach of the Year, Moffitt understands the critical role that nutrition plays in supplementing the hard work that happens in the weight room. AFM recently asked
The Drills Report: Connecticut Secondary Drills
The emphasis that we have chosen to take with our defense, and in this case our secondary, is on fundamentals. There are certainly many variations and philosophies to choose from and we have decided that what we do is the best thing for our program. We believe that tackling is 10% technique and 90% desire. We use a few drills to simulate the different scenarios a defensive back will find himself in throughout the course of a game; they include tackling, block protection and ball skills. The dril
Developing Deception with the Spread Option
What do spread option and Wing T coaches have in common? A ton of consistency and an utter hell-bent philosophy of running their offensive scheme regardless of any situation or circumstance. For the most part, once you’re induced into the clan of one of these systems, it stays with you forever. Sure some coaches will tweak their systems slightly to fit their personnel, like riding the fullback more if he’s a stud or letting the QB get the majority of carries. But essentially you are what y
Developing a Passing Attack that Fits Your Plans and Players
Throughout my twenty-nine years in the profession, I have had the opportunity to coach at both the collegiate and high school levels. During that time, I have had the pleasure of working with various coaching staffs that have helped me formulate my philosophies on dealing with the passing game. At the same time, I have had many athletes with various ranges in athletic abilities. Therefore, I have had to adapt each year to the specific situation. When you are developing a passing at
Running the Spread in the Red Zone
It was only two years ago that many coaches around the country turned their eyes to the University of Arkansas to see if Gus Malzahn’s Hurry-Up No-Huddle offense could make the jump from high school to college. Truly it was a trial by fire in the brutal SEC. Now, after a year in Fayetteville and one leading the Tulsa Golden Hurricane’s offense, the jury has reached a verdict. It works. Tulsa quietly finished second in the nation this past fall in touchdowns with 79. On
Defensive Game Planning
Game planning is all about prioritizing; sifting through all the infinite details that you and your staff have investigated; and pinpointing the most crucial elements. Every coach worth his whistle charts tendencies from every down-and-distance, from every formation, and from each hash mark. They scout blocking schemes and multiple personnel match-ups, just like you do. They document the number of times you run certain routes; they know what your go-to running and passing plays are an
The Drills Report - Central Florida\'s Ball Security
One of the fastest ways to lose a football game is by the offense turning the ball over to its opponent. Keeping turnovers to a minimum through techniques and drills that are practiced ensures the team’s chance of success. The offensive coaches’ motto at UCF is, “Ball security is a job, yours and mine.” If an individual is fumbling the ball away too many times, he will be replaced. If a position on the team is losing the football, the coach will be replaced. With this emphasis
AFM Subscribers Ask...with Jerry Moore
Appalachian State Head Coach Jerry Moore led the Mountaineers to one of college football’s all-time upsets last fall: ASU beat Michigan, in Ann Arbor, 34-32. Additionally, Moore and the Mountaineers completed last season as the first ‘three-peat’ in the history of Division I-AA or FCS football. ASU won their third consecutive National Championship beating Delaware, 49-21. Appalachian’s head man since 1989, Moore has an overall 167-70 record. In 2006 he was selected the Schutt Sports FCS
Game Day Contributors
Football offers the opportunity to work with others. Young men compete to make the team. Once they make the team, they need to understand that they have a role to play on the team. That role may be either a primary role player made up of starters and players in rotation or a secondary role player which includes a player off the bench for an injured player or scout team personnel. The head coach and position coaches must also understand that secondary role players need to be game day contribut
Fire, Football and Families
(The following article was written by John Torres, a 25-year veteran of coaching youth football. The feature describes the effect of last October\'s fires throughout the San Diego area and how it affected Coach Torres and his team). Saturday October 20th, 2007 The SC Wildcats as an organization go 7-3 today. My squad, the J1 Navy team, brings home a win after playing a tough squad from Simi. A birthday is celebrated at local eatery and none of us are ready f
The Speed Report: The Essence of High School Combines and Your Players
High school combines nationally have mushroomed over the last five years. Is it a fad or is it here to stay? Personally, I think it will stay for a while. Some years ago I was living in Seattle and for a point in time was the speed coach for the Seattle Seahawks. I was obviously aware of the NFL combines that were conducted at that level. In those days the statistics recorded by the organizations were strictly confidential; they were not public knowledge. Today, the combines are liv
Samson\'s I-AA, II, III, NAIA, Juco and HS Strength & Conditioning Coaches of th
Division I-AA/FCS: Henry Briscoe Central Arkansas The Strength and Conditioning Coach at Central Arkansas, Henry Briscoe, has been influenced by a number of coaches and players over the years. But, in addition to that, one book that has helped his strategy is the Book of War by Sun-Tsu. “One of the concepts in the book is to analyze your weaknesses and make them your strengths,” says Briscoe. “We try to do that in the weight room and on the field. This can be
Building Team Unity with the Games Inside the Game
These days the game of football is broken down to a science. Sure, most coaches preach lip service about blocking and tackling but they are usually the same ones that spend a great deal of money and countless hours filing into clinic discussions trying to find the latest innovative offensive scheme or researching a bone-crushing defense. So instead of searching the ends of the earth for the newest scheme or end-all technicality, some coaches have turned towards the intangibles like developing t
The Drills Report - New Mexico Linebacker Drills & Techniques
Our defensive package is the 3-3-5 out of which we execute multiple fronts, stunts and blitzes. I will talk about the two types of man technique we use in our package: blitz technique and over technique. The focus will be the key coaching points that we emphasize each day. Man-To-Man Pass Defense There are two types of man-to-man pass techniques that we use. Our linebackers will play a cautious man-to-man when they don\'t have help in the deep zones. We call this
Practice Planning For All Levels of Play
\"Winning is never an accident, it is the result of high intentions, determination and skilled executions\" When was the last time you or any coach you know complained of having too much practice time? As a coach with nearly 25 years of experience at the youth leagues, I have never heard a coach complain of this. I doubt sincerely that high school or colleges complain of this as well. One thing I have found out though, in the research I have done of successful coaches at all leve
Multiple Fronts Without Changing Personnel
No matter what defensive scheme you run, there are a few elements that must always be consistent for you to be successful. The athletes must believe in what they’re doing and they must understand what their responsibilities are. At the high school level we cannot recruit, so finding the great corners, the big Middle LB or the two big, strong, fast linemen may not happen each year. As high school football coaches we need to be able to adjust what we do depending on what the parents send us. No
7 Essentials to Kickoff Coverage
While most people would agree that special teams can be a ‘difference maker,’ the University of Pittsburgh’s Charlie Partridge feels it is especially true of high school programs. “Great high school teams win two or three games a year, I promise you, just on special teams,” says Partridge. Special teams is all too often the stepchild in coaching clinics, behind offense and defense. But the man in charge of the kicking game at Pitt knows better. Like many coaches,
Air Raid Offense Drills
In the book Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose is a quote by the author of Warriors, J. Glenn Gray: “Organization for a common and concrete goal in peacetime organizations does not evoke anything like the degree of comradeship commonly known in war. At its height this sense of comradeship is an ecstasy…men are true comrades only when each is ready to give his life for the other without reflection and without thought of personal loss.” The players on our team must build cohesiveness close
Schutt Sports College Coaches of the Year
FCS - DIVISION I-AA Mark Farley Northern Iowa (7th year) Record: 12-1, first Gateway Conference school to complete a perfect 11-0 season; upset Iowa State. Offense: Primarily a one-back, Shotgun West Coast offense, with 30-40% mix of I-formation. Defense: 4-3 Key Stat: Talk about balance – the Panthers averaged 227 rushing yards and 229 passing yards this season. The difference in Mark Farley’s f
Schutt Sports High School Coaches of the Year
EAST Jim Morgans, Parkland HS (Allentown, Pa.) After losing to the Parkland Trojans, opposing coaches invariably remarked on their relentless defense. Parkland’s defensive pursuit was no accident. The Trojans, who recorded seven straight shutouts en route to a 14-1 season, practice a different pursuit drill every day. One is the rabbit drill. “We toss the ball to a rabbit – he’s a kid who will run down the sideline,” coach Jim Morgans explain
National HS Coach of the Year - Grace Under Fire
They say there are no hopeless situations; there are only men who have grown hopeless about them. But about this time last year, circumstances surrounding Miami’s Northwestern High School, one of the nation’s most respected football programs, certainly seemed hopeless. Antwan Easterling, one of the nation\'s most sought after running backs, was 19 years old at the time and had consensual sex with a 14 year-old freshman in one of the school’s bathrooms. Despite the fact that it was consider
The Choice of Champions
As every coach will attest, effective and reliable communication between the coaches on the sideline and those in the press box is a critical element of any team’s success on the field. For two San Diego area high schools, this meant a change was needed for the 2007 season. Head Coach Damian Gonzalez’s Division I Poway Titans were coming off an 8-6 season in 2006 where headset communication was sometimes an issue. “At certain schools we would pick up a lot of static on our headse
Where Tradition Begins
Coach Laycock recently completed his 28th season at the helm of Tribe Football and is the program’s winningest coach with a career record of 178-127-2. Starting in 1980, his coaching career at W&M has included 18 winning ledgers and postseason games in nine seasons. To honor and build upon this proud tradition, W&M dedicated the new Jimmye Laycock Football Complex in the fall of 2007. This 30,000-square-foot building features a locker room, athletic training room and offices for coac
The Speed Report: Training Aids and Apparatus
We looked at sprint assisted and resisted aids in a past article. In this article I’ll discuss a few of the other popular training aids and whether or not they are a good resource for enhancing speed and movement in your program. Since speed and movement can be enhanced through training, entrepreneurs and manufacturers are attempting to make it easier for coaches and trainers to get the job done by offering a potpourri of training aids. Each month I receive magazines and catalogs to
The Situation
You’re down after just scoring, 17-14, with a minute to go in the first half. As you line up to kickoff, the coach signals in for an onside kick. Rolling the dice, you feel that if you recover the kick, your three time outs will pay dividends as you try to at least gain some yardage and kick a field goal before the first half ends. It would be great to go into the locker room tied (or ahead) since at one time you trailed, 17-0. What formation would you use for the onside kick and what respo
Letter From the Editor/Publisher: The Countdown is on to AFM University Clinics
The first of four AFM University clinics kicks off the weekend of February 8-9 in St. Paul. The last one is in Kansas City on February 29-March lst. Among the coaches speaking at the clinics will be representatives from the BCS National Champion LSU Tigers and the Junior College National Champions, Butler Community College. Each clinic will have a combination of national, regional and local speakers. Here is a sampling of some of the sessions on each weekend: St. Paul • February
Dual-View Plays of the Football Game Tape
A dual-view football game tape can help both coaches and players and can be produced with less than a thousand dollar investment. My dual-view method simultaneously shows two views of the same play in a football game: 1) The sideline game film shot from the press box. This is the typical high school medium shot showing the halfback on one edge of the frame and the linebacker on the other edge. 2) The second view shows an extreme wide view shot from the same angl
How To Get The Most Out Of Practice Time As An Assistant Coach
Football programs at all levels from Pop Warner to the NFL have to deal with similar challenges. Your practice time is limited. Your playbook is unlimited. Your next opponent presents numerous difficulties. As a result, many coaches struggle weekly with the same dilemma: How are we going to get all this done? The answer, of course, is that every staff must get the most of practice time. But how? While many clinics, books, and articles advise head coaches how to plan a week or day of practi
Time for Turf
The trend may be irreversible. Each year, hundreds of football practice and game fields are converted from natural grass to synthetic turf. That’s not surprising, considering that today’s turf systems provide safe, consistent, all-weather playing surfaces that can be utilized 24/7 by not just the football team but by a long list of other sports and activities. ¶ Rick Doyle, President of the industry support group Synthetic Turf Council (STC), recalled a remark made by a board member a
A Systematic Approach to Your Quarterbacks\' Thought Process
In my 28 years of coaching I have had the opportunity to work with whom I believe to be three of the finest offensive coordinators/quarterback coaches in the history of college football: Bob Toledo, Dennis Franchione and Brian Billick, all whom have been instrumental in my coaching development. It should be noted that Coach Billick was on his way out of Utah State when I was on my way in. He has been very gracious down through the years in terms of helping with the development of my thought proc
Utilizing Play Action Passes With in Your Offense
To win consistently: Offenses – Must be able to run the ball. There are various styles of running the football effectively. Some like ISO, Power, Toss, Counter, Option etc. Other methods include Zone, ZoneRead, Speed Sweep, Reverses. Defenses – Must be able to stop the run. They must force offenses to be one dimensional and predictable. High powered offenses must complement their runs with a versatile Play Action Passing Game. It is important to slow d
The 7 Deadly Sins of Coaching Long Snappers
How many big games end with one team winning a nail-biter by only a few measly points? And how many of those games could have gone the other way, if that kicker had just made that one kick or if that punter could’ve gotten a little bit more on that one punt? Or if that one snap hadn’t been off and yet, how many coaches really know how to teach their specialists so they can make that difference? Long snapping has often been looked at as a skill that players either have or
The Aggressive 8 Man Front
One of the best defenses in college football, over the last few years, plays on Long Island. C.W. Post is known for their tough 8 man fronts and for stopping the run. The challenge that most teams have in implementing an 8 man front is the pressure it puts on the secondary. But at C.W. Post, DB Coach Ernie Blount has managed to teach the skills required to his DBs to make sure that, even though the 4-4 scheme that the Pioneers employ leaves the defensive backfield on their own, the guys back the
The Machiavellian Football Coach
Written in 1513 and published posthumously in 1531, The Prince (Il Principe) by Niccolò Machiavelli has become synonymous with ruthlessness and tyranny. Today, it is often read (along with Lao Tzu’s The Art of War, interestingly enough) in business courses as preparation for the cut-throat world these students are about to enter. A careful reading of The Prince, however, yields an insightful view into topics essential to becoming a successful football coach. Before we set about anal
Defending the Pass
In today’s brand of college football, teams tend to throw more than they run. In light of this trend, the coaching staff at UCLA has tried to be more creative with regard to how we coach and prepare our players to play against the pass. Also, because of his experience in the NFL, UCLA Defensive Coordinator Dewayne Walker, then with the Washington Redskins, brought information from studies done on \'Ball Disruptions.\' It is well known that combining pressure on the passer with the ja
The Speed Report: Resisted and Assisted Sprint Training
Since speed and movement control are two of the most sought-after athletic qualities, coaches and trainers are always looking for ways to help athletes improve in these areas. In this article, we will look at the topic of sprint assisted and resisted training and try to sort out the good from the not-so-good as it pertains to football. I travel the country and spend time with coaches presenting my Team Speed Workshops for their programs. These coaches constantly ask me what I think abo
The Shotgun Zone Fly: Benefits of a Diversified Run Game
More and more teams are realizing the benefits of a diverse run game based out of the shotgun. Coach Bryon Hamilton, at Foothill High in Palo Cedro, CA, implemented his own shotgun system several years ago. The system, which he calls the Shotgun Zone Fly Offense, dovetails well with the popular Spread offense. Since developing the SZF, Foothill has become one of the top teams in their classification and is known for one of the most formidable running attacks in northern California. “
Gaining the Pre- and Post-Snap Advantage
It is commonly said that an offense has two distinct pre-snap advantages over any particular defense: one, they know the snap count and two, they know where the ball is going. Once the ball is snapped those advantages disappear, but there are other factors post-snap, such as movement and deception, to help leverage defenses. AFM talked to three of the more prominent coaches in the country: Dale Weiner of Catholic High School in Baton Rouge; Byron Hamilton of Foothill High School in Cal
Navy\'s Deceptive Linebacker Strategy
The Midshipmen also know the fundamentals required to make up for those shortcomings. That’s why Coach Paul Johnson’s program is poised for a fifth consecutive trip to a bowl game. Offensively, Johnson’s patented option attack helps minimize athletic mismatches. But, defensively, it’s tough for the Midshipmen to out-scheme superior opponents. It’s not that they don’t try. “We’re not very big and can’t just line-up and play with some people,” explained Navy
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The Drills Report - Zone Blocking: Run Game Drills
In this article we will cover some of the drills we use to develop our offensive linemen for the run game. Drills are where you develop your offensive linemen into playmakers. It’s difficult to teach technique and fundamentals during team practice. Instead, in team you should see your drills being put into use. Here are seven important points when teaching drills: 1. Teach a handful of drills. 2. Teach the fundamentals (‘Fundamentals Wins Games’). 3. Rep every
Common Bond
The contrasts could not be greater. The big school in the football-crazed state that routinely plays in front of over 10,000 fans and produces multiple D-I players every year. The small school in the small state that’s only playing in its eighth year and might draw 2,000 for the season’s biggest game. One tech-savvy coach who has grown up with computers and another who had, until very recently, never used a computer and still refuses to use email. But Defensive Coordinator Jonathan Kay of po
Five Things That Can Stop Your Triple Option from Being Successful
The Triple Option, when run correctly, can be a defensive coordinator’s worst nightmare. The Triple Option requires the defense to account for all the moving parts: the quarterback, the fullback, and the halfbacks. To account for each of these players every play can be a headache for any defense. However, like any other type of offense, the Triple Option can be its own worst enemy if not run correctly. In this article, I will address the five most common ‘offensive concerns’ in running the
AFM Subscribers Ask...with Hal Mumme
Changing the fortunes at colleges has been a way of life for New Mexico State’s Hal Mumme. The Texas native has turned around the programs at four colleges – Iowa Wesleyan, Valdosta State, Kentucky and Southeastern Louisiana – and is now attempting to do the same at New Mexico State. Considered a mastermind of the Air Raid offense, Mumme’s teams have ranked among the top programs in both passing and total offense. Now in his third year with the Aggies, he answers your questions...
What Do You Mean You Guys Don\'t Bench? Not At All?
\"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect\"—Mark Twain I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve had to answer the title of this article in the past four years—from all factions: fans, players, parents and even other coaches. As you well know, in our profession anytime we go against the norm there is some inherent risk. There is safety in conformity. “If the league champ is running the spread, then we will too. So
Dynamic Stretching during Warm-Up?
On almost every football field in America, at some point before practices and games, the teams line-up and static stretch. Football teams have always done it, so what is the problem? The problem is that if anyone responsible for those football teams was asked why they are static stretching, they will probably not be able to offer a reason that is supported by current research. Is there a better activity to include in the warm-up? Dynamic stretch can generally be defined as controlled,
4-3 Defensive Line Play
What You Practice Must Mirror Who You Are We are a true Attack 4-3 front with an aggressive Cover 4 scheme behind it as our primary coverage (See Diagram 1). As a base rule we spill all blocks in an attempt to make the ball go east and west before it can hit us north and south. While priding ourselves in being assignment sound, we play fast– but smart– at all times. The drills and techniques we use as position coaches must mirror who we are as far as scheme, personnel, a
Techniques and Drills for Pass Protection
At Upper Iowa, our offensive linemen go out before practice and then stay after to work on proper pass protection techniques. If these drills are instilled on a daily basis, the players can work on their own technique and know what results to expect. When I was hired in January of 2006, my first priority was to have our offensive linemen dedicate themselves to fundamentals and techniques. Last year our offensive line averaged 270 pounds and two of our starters had never played O-Line in their re
The Strength Report: Developing the Explosive Athlete - Auburn's Off Season Tra
Conditioning should be at the forefront of a football strength and conditioning program. This does not diminish the importance of the weight room but there always needs to be a certain level of fitness for each player. You can't overemphasize the importance of conditioning, especially in this day and age. No matter how great the player is in the weight room, if he can't run, he can't play. This not only applies to straight-ahead running but the ability to move athletically, to change direction a
Defending the No-Huddle Offense
The no-huddle offense can give even the most talented defenses fits. In Georgia’s season opener against Oklahoma State, the Bulldogs struggled to get lined up correctly when the Cowboys mixed in the no-huddle on two first half scoring drives. “Early in the game, they were getting us off-balance and we weren’t getting lined up (because of the no-huddle),” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “That was probably our biggest halftime adjustment – making sure we were lined up on time.
Letter From the Editor/Publisher: Being an Effective Linebacker
Chris Tormey is the linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Washington. Having been a position coach, defensive coordinator and head coach, Tormey has learned from his mentors: Don James, Dennis Erickson, and Tyrone Willingham. With more than a quarter century devoted to coaching and especially linebackers, Tormey has formulated his own thoughts on a linebackers progress for success. He calls it: C.A.S.K.R.E.P.T. 1. “Communicate: It is the linebacker
How Kent State Creates Leaders through Year-Round Competition
Kent State University Head Coach Doug Martin remembers trying to figure out what went wrong following a 1-10 season (including 0-8 in the Mid-American Conference). Picking up the pieces after the team had gone a respectable 5-6 the previous year wasn’t easy. But one piece that certainly needed to be addressed was team leadership. “When coaches are losing, the first thing that comes out of their mouths is we don’t have any leadership,” Martin said. “Well, it’s our job as coa
The Drills Report: Defensive Backs: Drills & Techniques
As a former player at Virginia Tech, I feel honored and privileged to have the opportunity to coach at my alma mater and work with such great people, coaches and players. I want to discuss our base footwork drills, the movements within the drills and how they coincide with the movements we perform during practices and games on a regular basis. I truly believe that repetition is the mother of learning. I try to have our base footwork drills mimic the movements that through repetitions n
AFM Subscribers Ask...with Jerry Glanville
The man in black is back...Veteran NFL coach Jerry Glanville accepted the head coaching position at Portland State earlier this year. The former head coach of both the Houston Oilers and Atlanta Falcons, Glanville spent more than a decade out of coaching while serving as a television analyst. He returned to the coaching ranks on the college level two years ago, joining June Jones’ staff in Hawaii as Defensive Coordinator. After two years in Honolulu, Glanville accepted the PSU position on Febr
Arena Advantage
In the fast-paced world of the Arena Football League, where teams are pressured to score on virtually every possession, players seek to gain an advantage every time they touch the ball. That includes having the best jerseys available – ones that can’t be grabbed by would-be tacklers trying to prevent a touchdown. Dallas Desperados quarterback Clint Dolezel, the AFL’s all-time leader with 865 career touchdown passes, knows more about getting the ball into the end
Quarterbacking: \'The Ritual\'
This can easily be a 20-30 minute practice routine, while it can be reduced/condensed to a pre-game routine. This is something we work with at every practice. As the season goes on, I reduce repetitions and \"speed\" things up to shorten the routine. It is excellent for \"warming up\" the quarterback before he works with running backs and receivers. It is very conducive for either a camp or high school practice situation. The drills are best completed with two or more quarterbacks. One of the n
High Maintenance vs. Low Maintenance
(The following article was written by David Buchanan, Head Coach at Mason County High School in Maysville, Ky. A similar questionnaire can be adopted for your program. Coach Buchanan can be reached at david.buchanan@kyschools.us ) * Turn in to Coach Buchanan at the beginning of practice on Monday! As a football player, you want to be a low maintenance player. High maintenance players require a lot of time and att
The Strength Report: Developing the Explosive Athlete - Defensive Backs
The philosophy on training high level football athletes is a basic one with simple principles. Each individual athlete, for the two to five years of their athletic career, will establish specific goals and objectives for themselves. As a commitment to ‘training’ as a high level or elite competitor, what can reliably be improved upon to develop a better skilled player or defensive back? Within the terms of training, for the game of football long term, is the length of the athlete
The Speed Report: In Season Conditioning: Specificity is Key for Game Endurance
Well, we’ve developed off season speed. Now how does it hold up during the season demands? Put on the pads and let’s go through the physical parameters of the body busting hell. Will he endure with the same speed and efficiency that off season was developed in shirts and shorts and no physical pounding? No! Why do you think that the world-class sprinters have not made a great impact in the NFL over the years? The demands of football’s pounding nature doesn\'t lend itself to the infinite pr
Penn State Pass Rush Tecniques
One of our basic philosophies as a defensive unit is to make the opponent one dimensional. We tell our defensive linemen ‘To earn the right to rush the passer, you must first stop the run.’ The last three years against the run, we ranked 4th in 2004, 2nd in 2005 and 2nd in 2006 in the Big Ten Conference and nationally ranked 34th in 2004, 7th in 2005 and 7th in 2006. We really sell to our players the importance of stopping the run and getting to the quarterback. To be a great defen
Letter From the Editor/Publisher: Requests from Subscribers
In a recent AFM subscriber survey, the question was asked: ‘What would you like to see at www.AmericanFootballMonthly.com that is not currently offered?’ A number of responses asked about video features and, more specifically, including video on the web site that corresponded to articles published in AFM. Some of the responses included: ‘You guys keep in mind that football coaches are football junkies. We can’t get enough. Videos of stuff would be a nice addition to the
How to Get Your Gamebreakers the Ball
University of North Alabama coach Mark Hudspeth has been coaching football in the South for awhile. “I grew up just south of Starkville, Mississippi, watching Emory Bellard run the option. So, I have been an option guy from way back.” Hudspeth has learned that the basic premise behind Bellard’s famous Wishbone offense, developed and implemented under Darrell Royal at Texas, is ball distribution and having the defense decide where the ball goes. Since Hudspeth’s arrival in 2002,
The Drills Report - Advanced Wide Receiver Drills
I have been coaching college football for more than ten years, all of them as a receivers coach at various levels of competition and talent. One of the beliefs I’ve developed over that period of time is that many receivers do not know how to properly catch a football. They have not been taught nor do they use the proper fundamentals and techniques needed to accomplish this basic but critical task. Many coaches believe a player is either born with the natural ability to catch a footba
Winning with Arkansas\' Wildcat Formation: Going to Your Best Athlete
When All-SEC running back Darren McFadden lined up in a shotgun formation directly behind the center in the 2006 SEC Championship Game, the entire Florida defense was surprised, as were the 73,000 fans in attendance at the Georgia Dome. Catching the Gator defense by surprise, McFadden took the snap and connected on a two yard strike with Felix Jones, who was left uncovered in the left flank, cutting the deficit to 17-14. Although the score wasn’t enough to keep the Razorbacks in the game, it w
AFM Subscribers Ask...with Glenn Caruso
Macalester College’s football program began a new era on December 16, 2005 when the college named Glenn Caruso its new football coach. In his previous position as offensive coordinator at South Dakota, Caruso directed an offense that set 117 school records including points scored and total yardage. In 2005, the Coyotes went 9-2 while averaging 49.7 points and 583 yards per game. Last fall, in his first season as Macalester’s head coach, the Scots produced their two highest single-game, total
Effective Cover 1 Robber Coverage
John Burrell sits in his office on a warm afternoon in late July. The Western Connecticut State University coach wishes he could walk over to the clock on the wall and stop the hands from moving. But with a game scheduled for late August that clock just keeps on ticking towards another season. There never seems to be enough time to get ready. And getting ready for Burrell often includes creating something different. A new twist. A wrinkle no one has seen before. An adjustment here. An adjustment
Aerial Attack with the Tight End
The most amazing aspect of what Texas Tech has accomplished in Mike Leach’s reign in Lubbock is the consistency of a prolific passing offense. Since 2001 the Red Raiders have finished no worse than fifth in the nation in passing offense among all Bowl Subdivision schools. For four straight years – 2002 through 2005 – they led the nation. The players change, but the results don’t. After splitting duties as Co-offensive Coordinator over the past few years, Dana Holgorsen becomes
Zone Play Concepts and Techniques
We have a very diverse offensive system at TCU. The breadth of our offensive system forces our linemen to develop a number of skills. We try to have our schemes carry similar patterns, concepts and elements to reduce the amount of practice time used for learning plays. We try to invest most of our practice time in technique training. The Zone Play has been traditionally one of our most productive plays. We use it as well to establish a physical personality for our offense and we belie
The Strength Report: Developing the Explosive Athlete - Running Backs
The cadets at West Point are highly motivated. They are at the United States Military Academy because the objective and goal is that they all will be great officers and that is the number one priority; that is, to do everything possible so they will be great officers. The entire training mission at the USMA is to get the cadets to be leaders. At Army, my program is built around a year-long periodized program. We utilize the non-linear periodization cycle and we approach it with the fou
The Speed Report: Preparing for Football Performance: Proper Warm Ups
One of the more important aspects of practice or game performance is being ready to function mentally and physically. Whether your team is warming up for a practice or a game, certain aspects of readiness (prepared for action) must be applied. When elite athletes perform they are very good at mentally processing variable psychomotor movement activities. When a team takes the field to warm up for practice or a competition, they should approach it with a good mental focus each time. Prac
The Situation
Your team is playing its opening game against the top ranked team in the league. You’ve just come off a great summer camp that enabled you to put in three offensive packages (Spread, Pro and Wishbone) and this year you have the personnel to run them all. It’s been a tough game so far, having lost your starting QB in the second series of the game. The score is tied 28-28. The kick return team did a great job just getting the ball back to your opponent’s 40-yard line with 1:30 left on
Oregon\'s Defensive Line Prep vs. the Shotgun Spread Offense
In recent years, there has been a major shift back to the old-school principles of the past. More and more teams at the high school and college level are turning to athletic QBs and more option based systems to take advantage of the way defenses play against multiple WR formations. For coaches like Oregon D-Line Coach Michael Gray, it means new drills and rules to work on with his linemen. The premise behind these spread-type systems is that an offense can account for defenders by usin
Meshing the Option with the West Coast Offense
Not unlike the other service academies, when it came to running the football, the United States Air Force Academy prided itself on executing a balanced, three-back option attack. Focusing on four to five yards a carry – their patented scheme would burn up the clock and wear down its opponents. It was that ‘three yards and a cloud of dust’ mentality that former head coach Fisher DeBerry preached to his cadets for the 23 years of his reign giving them a chance to compete against bigger, stro
Keys to Great Defensive Back Play
In developing sound defensive back play I stress eight keys to success. The keys are precise clear communication, a solid stance, smooth backpedal, plant/drive, interception point, job and mindset. These keys are stressed everyday throughout practice, during every period. On game day the big key is mindset. Communication – An important key for the secondary is to communicate during the football game. The importance of talking cannot be overemphasized. They
Coastal Carolina In-Season Offensive Practice Outline
One of the more crucial aspects of in-season offensive practice planning is making sure that everything we plan to have in our arsenal on Saturday has been installed and practiced at some time during the week. Although that may sound simple, the limited practice time constraints we have make it imperative that we have a sound structure to our weekly practice plan so that no part of our game plan is left on the cutting room floor. The following schedule outlines how we break u
The Strength Report: Developing the Explosive Athlete - Linebackers
First and foremost our program is about producing results. Coaches can design the greatest programs on paper, but if athletes are not committed to the program then they are simply pieces of paper. Ground based and multi-joint exercises support the foundation of what we teach and coach. We use squatting, various single leg and hamstring exercises to gain strength in the hips and lower body. It is imperative that the top of the thighs be parallel during a squat – a shallow squat is not as effect
What You Must do to be a State Champion
For the last four years AFM has conducted a nationwide survey of championship high school coaches on a cross section of subjects that ranged from style of play to educational and coaching backgrounds. The results provided some clear cut trends while other topics illustrated subtle shifts that merit attention. The conclusions most apparent were: 1. The consistent use of ‘feeder’ programs among state championship teams. 2. A constant in the number of returning starters combin
D-Backs: Playing with Low Pad Level
One of the most important fundamental concepts that we stress in the secondary at Iowa State University is playing with low pad level. We believe as a staff that this improves the capabilities of our players in two ways. First, low pad level allows us to have phenomenal power when striking a ball carrier or when disengaging from a blocker. Second, it allows for quicker cuts and breaks, especially within the secondary. I have had the opportunity to work with both the linebackers as well
The Drills Report: Three-Step QB Drills
In this article, I will discuss part of the three-step game that we run at Mendocino College along with some of the drills used for our quarterbacks. At Mendocino, we run a spread offense and rely heavily on the production of our quarterbacks and receivers. This past season, we finished tenth in the state of California in passing yards per game. Our three-step game is just one aspect of how we get the ball in our playmakers’ hands as quickly as possible. Hitches, double-slants and ou
AFM Subscribers Ask... with Ron Vanderlinden
Penn State Linebackers Coach Ron Vanderlinden answered questions from subscribers in the May issue of AFM. Because of the subscriber response, he answers additional questions about the linebacker position. A coach for more than a quarter century, Vanderlinden has coached at Bowling Green, Michigan, Ball State, Colorado, Northwestern, Maryland and Penn State. He was the Terrapins head coach from 1997-2000 and this fall enters his seventh year in Happy Valley. Q. What is the teaching
GAME PREPARATION FOR HIGH SCHOOL DEFENSE
It is an honor to contribute to American Football Monthly and to represent the Verona Area High School football program. A common challenge faced in preparing a defense for each game is that of making changes and adjustments to defend the opponent, while maintaining the base structure of the defensive scheme. A second challenge is to maintain a manageable level of sophistication in scheme while eliminating player confusion. Many staffs spend the off-season learning new schemes, mo
DRILLS, SKILLS, & CHARACTER: FOUNDATIONS OF THE O-LINE
\"Skill guys come with me, linemen - go with coach.\" Translation: Fast athletic guys that get to touch the ball get on the field and play catch - husky, slow kids go drive the 800 pound sled a mile or two. Anyone who has played football is familiar with this scenario. Especially those privileged enough to play on the offensive line. The group of young men that play offensive line are used to hearing these expressions. They have grown accustomed to not touching the ball, not gettin
The Strength Report: Developing the Explosive Athlete - Offensive Linemen
Training a football player is a year long endeavor. We have four years to develop the players under our charge. At BGSU we receive tremendous support from Head Coach Gregg Brandon and his staff in emphasizing the program to the players and allotting time for training during the NCAA imposed hour guidelines. The football staff also does a great job in identifying talent. When developing an explosive football player step one is evaluation. Players play certain positions because of body type, skill
Letter From the Editor: Offense vs. Defense: Keeping it Competitive
How about a spring game in which the defense gets points for turnovers, fourth down stops, and third and outs while the offense receives points for first downs and plays over 30 yards? Well Oklahoma did just that in their annual spring game. “Having a scoring system that rewards the defense as well as the offense makes the game more competitive for all the players,” said Oklahoma’s Director of Football Operations, Matt McMillen. “Normally, teams play 1’s vs. 2’s and 2’s v
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Coach-to-Player Communication • Telcommand Telcommand makes practices more efficient and effective through better communication. There are two basic components: the Coach’s Unit, which is a headset transmitter and the Player’s Unit, which is a receiver placed in a sleeve that’s worn on the players arm. With a press of a button or with voice activation, a coach can communicate directly to an individual player on the field, giving instructions in a normal speaking voice r
The Drills Report: Defensive Line Drills
Here are the physical and mental characteristics we look for in defensive linemen as well as our philosophy of the D-Line attack: Physical: • Play with his hands. • React on the action. • Play with toughness. • Play the run first. • Attack at every snap of the ball. Mental: • Must be violent in the trenches. • Understands the role of a D-lineman. • Always plays at a high tempo but is under control.
Bandit 2 Read
Our base defensive alignment is a 4-3 gap control defense while we play a 2 read coverage behind it. I first learned the 2 read coverage from Sonny Lubick when he was the defensive coordinator at the University of Miami. I feel I have really refined Sonny’s scheme over the past 14 years. By using 2 read as our base coverage, it not only allows us to execute multiple coverages and disguises in the secondary, but most importantly, this coverage gives us the opportunity to run a covera
Winning the War in the Trenches
The first thing LSU D-Line Coach Earl Lane impresses on his guardians of the trenches in pre-season is that their contributions are just as vital to the Tigers success as the guys who change the scoreboard. “What I emphasize to my players right at the outset,” Lane says, “is the importance of the positions they play. When most people use the term ‘skill players’ they’re talking about quarterbacks, running backs and receivers. I want my guys to know we’re skill players as well. Foot
Technique Over Talent
Coaching legend Bill Walsh has said that the essence of coaching is isolating the skills necessary to play a position and then finding the best way to teach those skills. And no position is more in need of solid skills than the offensive line. Longtime Cincinnati Bengal offensive line coach Paul Alexander has become known as one of the best technical experts in offensive line play. He has distilled the skills required for consistently solid linemen and has a system in place that consequently hon
Training Revolution
Ed Dudley, Head Football Coach for Walton High School in Marietta, Georgia faced a situation that plagues many coaches at top programs. He was confident that his school had a good strength program, but he knew his team had to become faster and more agile in order to go deeper in the playoffs. “We had several players going to a few different trainers and you could see a big difference in their foot work. I knew we needed to find the best speed and agility program that we could manage ourselves,
Situational Success - An Offensive Checklist
The content of this article will serve as a reminder as you prepare your offense each week. This article is based on some lessons I\'m continuing to learn as a play caller. When preparing team offensive practice, coaches need make decisions as to the nature of these sessions. How much time is given to live scrimmaging? Can our objectives be accomplished with \"dummy scrimmage\" or plays on air? What kind of defense will we be facing this week? I would encourage you to g
The Strength Report: Wide Receivers Part II
Our next three phases are the Pre-Season Camp, Fall In-Season, and Bowl Preparation or Transition. During the Pre-Season Camp we will utilize different circuits in the strength program. The wide receivers will lift two to three times weekly for about 30-40 minutes. The volume of lower body strength training is decreased significantly, due to the demands that are being placed on the position group on the field during practice in camp. This is a time we focus on recovery and injury prevention with
The Situation
It’s near halftime with your opponent at the 50 yard line in a Spread Shotgun set with trips on the right side and a single WR on the left. There’s time for one more play before halftime and it looks like a ‘Hail Mary’ is coming. You’ve been in a 4-4 defense but must adjust to a potential trick play or long pass. How would you defend this offense? Travis Cossey, Defensive Coordinator and Tim Schipper, Head Coach, Fennville HS, MI. AFM subscriber sin
The Drills Report: Ball Security Drills
At American International College, through the diligence of our staff and head coach Art Wilkins, the idea of ball security and turnover margin is given our top priority. We have been taught to view this statistic as second only to the score of the game. Also, I have been extremely fortunate to coach talented players with high character and the ability to work hard and buy into our principles. In this article, my objective is to share my beliefs on ball security as it pertains to running backs,
AFM Subscribers Ask... with Tommy Bowden
The first thing that comes to mind when you look at Tommy Bowden’s record is consistency. In ten seasons as a head coach, all ten of his teams have been bowl eligible at the conclusion of the regular season. Each of his last seven teams have finished with a winning record. In his ten seasons as a head coach (two with Tulane and eight at Clemson) Bowden has an overall 78-41 record, a 65.5% winning percentage. A walk-on wide receiver at West Virginia, Bowden’s first coaching job was
Zone Pressure
Virgina Tech has had tremendous success against teams that run spread-type offenses the last few seasons. In fact, the Hokies are undefeated against offensive-minded teams like Louisville, Clemson, Wake Forest, and West Virginia since 2003. So many teams struggle adapting their old schemes to these new formations without leaving their kids vulnerable to the run game. Or, they give up huge chunks of yardage in the pass game trying to put pressure on the passer and leave their defenders with too m
Giving Your Quarterback the Advantage
Quarterback Training & Development’s obligation to offensive skilled position players is to teach them the skills and techniques that give them a chance to succeed against players who are better than they are. We recently received the following email from one of our players: “Hey coach, the camp went really well. We did 1 on 1 drills which built my confidence because I found out that I could definitely play with some of the best.” This is a necessary part of competing at any level. At s
The Strength Report: Developing the Explosive Athlete - Wide Receivers (Part I)
Our football players are put through a year round periodized speed, strength and conditioning plan. Depending on what time of year it is, our focus for our football players will also change. The annual plan is broken down into six different phases: Winter Development, Spring Development, Summer Pre-Season, Pre-Season Camp, Fall In-Season and Bowl Preparation or Transition. Our football players are also grouped and categorized by strength and skill level along with the position they play on the f
The Speed Report: Wide Receivers - Seperation Speed and Body Control
As coaches we could look at the receiver position and concentrate our focus on linear speed and figure we’re okay. If our wideouts post good 40 times and catch the ball, then we’re good to go. This is not totally true. Linear speed is only a portion of the package for a receiver\'s speed. As a football coach you are well aware of the fact that running in a straight line fast can be impressive. However, displacing momentum while sprinting at maximum intensity levels on a football fi
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AFM Subscribers Ask...
Ron Vanderlinden, now approaching his seventh year as Linebackers Coach at Penn State, has developed a reputation as an outstanding linebackers mentor. Over the years, he has coached Penn State All-Americans Paul Posluszy and Dan Connor, Pat Fitzgerald and Barry Gardner of Northwestern and Chad Brown of Colorado. He also helped the Nittany Lions defense rank in the top 15 nationally in rushing, pass efficiency, scoring, total defense and sacks in 2005. Similarly, his Northwestern defense in 1995
Technology Tools You Need Today
There’s no denying that technological advances have had a significant impact on football and coaching. In only a few decades, we’ve come from cutting and splicing 16mm game film by hand in order to analyze opponent’s tendencies to today’s state-of-the-art editing systems and software that can give coaches information and advantages never before available. Coaches today are wireless, online, hi-speed and most definitely high-tech. Product innovation and falling prices are drivin
A New Way to Communicate
Amos Alonzo Stagg used a megaphone to convey instructions to players during practices in the early days of the game. Countless coaches have barked orders into bullhorns so they’d be heard by players 20, 30 or 40 yards away on the practice field. Many coaches, however, still rely on yelling, which can be an ineffective way to teach or motivate individual players. Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith have each demonstrated that a calmer, more educational approach to coaching can motivate players
Coach-By-Coach Responsibilities on Game Day
Coaches across America at every level require their players to be prepared for every game so they can be as effective and efficient as possible. If you do not require the same game day plan from your coaching staff in both responsibility and communication, then you are not being true to the requirements you place on your players. In researching another project for AFM, we found a wide discrepancy on game day responsibilities and communication among coaching staffs at various levels. T
The Pistol Offense - Part I
Without uncertainty, two of the most popular schemes in high school and college football today are the inside/outside zone play and the play action that results from it. Imagine the offensive productivity you’d have by being able to combine those two concepts while adding an element of misdirection? It’s exactly this kind of productivity that Chris Ault, head coach at Nevada, is having with the Wolf Pack since converting from an “I” formation to his own invention, the Pistol offense.
Does Current Research Support The Use of Dynamic Stretch During Warm-up
Traditionally, preparation for football practices or games includes warm-up and static stretching, with no particular preference for what order they are performed in. Dynamic stretch is becoming more and more popular; however, it has yet to have a major presence in football. This article reviews research on dynamic stretch to see if it is appropriate as part of the warm-up for football. On almost every football field in America at some point before practices and games, the
Letter From the Editor: Intangibles: What Makes the Difference in your Quarterba
About a month ago, AFM caught up with new Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh as he was driving back home from campus in Palo Alto. Harbaugh led Michigan to three bowl games, played in the NFL for 15 seasons, and just completed an outstanding three year 29-6 run as head man for the University of San Diego, a Division I-AA college in the Pioneer League. The Toreros finished 11-1 in each of the last two seasons. “You look for accuracy, location, how a quarterback practices from his on the
The Shotgun Spread Wing-T Package : The Next Generation
We have experienced a great deal of success over the past four seasons running our version of the Spread Shot-Wing-T offense. This package developed from our desire to keep our base Wing-T system yet spread the field against defenses that were “loading the box” on us. The quarterback that we used was a classic pocket passer and could sit in there and deliver the ball to a receiver anywhere on the field. When that player graduated, we found that a more athletic quarterback could not perform t
The Situation
Pete Saylor, Assistant Coach, Southern Columbia High School, Catawissa, PA. AFM subscriber since 1999. The field position does not put us in a panic mode. The staff has reminded the team that our opponent has some outstanding athletes with the ability to make some big plays. It is important that we keep our composure over the course of the game. We know that they like to take advantage of their team speed. With that said, we feel we can stay in our base defense and have succes
Stripping the Ball
Trailing 3-0 in the second quarter at Florida State last fall, Boston College defensive back Sulaiman Sanni rapidly closed on a short pass to the tight end in the flat. He stood up the receiver, securing the tackle, while another defender came in on the play and began to poke and pry at the ball – just like the Eagles had practiced all season. The ball popped loose. Safety Wes Davis didn’t hesitate, scooped up the fumble and returned it to the FSU 1 yard line. It was the first of three Semin
Developing the Explosive Athlete: Wide Receivers
Strategy My strategy when designing a strength and conditioning program for the Georgia Tech football team first starts with the word EFFORT. Over the last eleven years that I have been in this business, I have found that all of the successful teams that I have worked with were not always the most talented but won because of their willingness to put forth the extra effort and intensity needed for us to become successful. I firmly believe that the athlete’s motivation and dedic
Gear
GROUND BATTLE CHUTES - RAE CROWTHER The Rae Crowther Ground Battle Chutes are designed to keep players low and maintain a good football position while moving. If your goal is to train as many athletes as possible, in as many varied drills as possible, and in the shortest possible time - then you have found the perfect chutes! The Ground Battle Chutes are the best chutes to place on your practice field because they allow you the most room for your drills. Sizes range from 27
Drills Report: 10 Advanced Drills for Wide Receivers
Our March Drills Report comes from Denie Marie, a veteran high school, college, and professional coach who is now working in athletic administration at Virginia Tech. Marie has coached at various levels for over 20 years including St. Thomas More Prep, the US Coast Guard Academy, Trinity College, Brown, Kent State, Marietta College, Virginia Tech, and the Arena Football League II. Included are a selection of wide receiver drills that Coach Marie used throughout practices sessions. Each drill is
The Middle 2 Defense
I’m presenting a coverage I call Middle 2, a basic form of Cover 2 which allows your Mike Linebacker to defend the deep middle one-third of the field (preferably the two receivers or two speed receivers) but at the same time keeping deep half safeties. This coverage is great vs. a spread formation team (three to four speed receivers) because it gives you excellent position down the middle. Plus, it forces the team to throw short-mid range passes. The following diagrams explain this by position
Lightning Strikes San Diego Chargers\' Dave Redding\'s Unusual Methods to Effect
STRATEGY San Diego’s Dave Redding, the 2006 Samson Strength and Conditioning NFL Coach of the Year, describes football as an “awkward movement sport.” And that description shapes his strategy on training the Chargers. “I could really care less what they bench, squat or power clean one time,” he said. “I don’t test them on that. I do test them on their ability to sustain a very intensive effort for two hours, four days a week, year round. The o
Samson\'s Division I-A Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year: Jay Butler
Rutgers running back Brian Leonard knows strength and conditioning coordinator Jay Butler played a major role in the Scarlet Knights’ amazing turnaround. But that doesn’t mean he always enjoyed Butler’s tactics. “Along with the strength, conditioning and speed, he’ll do things to make you mentally tough,” said Leonard. “He’ll do the worst things you could ever think of. Like after a long day of winter conditioning, you’ll be real tired, and the next day, he’ll wake
Deadly Opponent-MRSA: An Invisible Killer
On December 7, 2003, Coach Frank Girardi’s Lycoming Warriors lost 13-9 to Bridgewater (VA) in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division III playoffs. A disappointment to the legendary coach, to be sure. But the pain was nothing compared to the tragedy the team suffered less than 24 hours prior with the death of their star wide receiver, Ricky Lannetti. The 3rd team All-American had led Lycoming throughout his senior season, setting team records for most catches in a game (16) and a season (7
The Backside Tackle in the Spread Run Game
In 2003 and 2004 seasons the Marist Red Foxes, using 21 players, went a combined 7-12 with an 0-3 record vs. conference champions. They averaged just five points per game in those three losses. In the spring of 2005 we installed the spread offense and experienced a dramatic turnaround. The Red Foxes went 7-4 with a 2-3 record against conference champions while averaging 26 points per game in those five contests. The inside read and triple option was the basis of our run game. The offen
Play Action to Complement your Spread Option Offense
At Blackburn College, we employ the Spread Option offense made famous by teams like the United States Air Force Academy and the United States Naval Academy. This offense fits our program due to three main factors: time constraints due to our work program (Blackburn College is a “Work College” – all students have a job on campus), size of the athletes we can recruit at Blackburn (Division III), and the type of high school programs in our general recruiting area. Since the Spread Option offe
The Strength Report
I have had the opportunity to be a strength and conditioning coach for 11 years, and had the privilege of working in some great programs with some great head coaches. From Oklahoma, to Minnesota, to Kansas, I have been fortunate enough to work with many great athletes and had the opportunity to learn quite a bit about how to develop not only sport specific strength, but also position specific strength. Philosophy / Strategy The game of football is ever-evolving; howev
AFM Subscribers Ask...
Former Georgia Southern head coach Mike Sewak helped learn his craft from two GSU legendary coaches: Erk Russell and Paul Johnson. An oustanding lineman for Virigina in the late 70\'s, Sewak first coached at Hobart and Georgia Tech before joining Russell\'s staff for two seasons in the mid 80\'s. In those two years in Statesboro, the Eagles won national championships. He then coached at Hawaii and Ohio before coming back to GSU on Johnson\'s staff. As OC, Sewak and the Eagles won two more champ
2007 Spring Practices
2007 SPRING PRACTICES COLLEGE SPRING DATES FOOTBALL CONTACT
The Tools to be a Linebacker
Defining A Hawk Linebacker: In the 50 front, which is the Hawk base defense, the two linebackers are labeled Sam and Will. Sam is historically the strong side linebacker based around the offensive set and normally lines up on the tight end side. The other linebacker is labeled Will and normally plays on the split-end side of the offensive set. In an offensive set that has two tight ends the Sam linebacker will position himself on the tight end side that has the flanker present or a power
The Mental Aspect of Winning in the Trenches
All defensive line coaches have been embedded to believe that games are won and lost in the trenches. We would love to have that 6’ 8”, 290 lb. defensive end who runs a 4.5 40-yard dash and benches 500 lb. But for most of us that is not reality. As the old saying goes, “The game of football is 90% mental and 10% physical.” All coaches believe that the team that is most prepared will win the ball game. Here at Florida A&M University, we are fortunate to have a head coach, Rubin Carter, an
Schutt Sports High School Coach of the Year
Steve Tutsie
In just his first year as a varsity head football coach, Steve Tutsie led his Warren Central Warriors to a 15-0 record and an Indiana State Class 5A championship. The Warriors were as dominant as any team in the country, outscoring their opponents 722 to 124 and winning the state championship game by a comfortable 35-14 over Carmel in the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. Tutsie, 41, was so impressive under the head set that he was named the Schutt Sports National Coach of the Year. Tutsie doe
Schutt Sports High School Coaches of the Year
East Greg Toal Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, NJ Using the run to set up the pass isn’t exactly a breakthrough in game strategy. However, it worked to perfection as Don Bosco Prep put the finishing touches on a 12-0 season and New Jersey Non-Public State title with a 41-0 rout of St. Peter’s Prep in the championship game. The offense featured diversified looks out of the spread all season with a one-tight end, three-wideout look among the most used formations
Schutt Sports College Coaches of the Year
DIVISION I-AA Jerry Moore Appalachian State 2006 I-AA National Champions (14-1) Offense: Spread option Defense: An aggressive 4-3 that can play an aggressive zone or man behind it Not long after the Mountaineers finished celebrating their 2005 national title, it was time to put it behind them and focus on the next task – repeating. “We had to tune out everything from the past season and focus on the goal
Getting Everyone on the Same Page: Coach Ralph Munger Talks About
Preparing for the mental and emotional challenges of football can be confusing. How are coaches to know what works and what doesn’t? One way would be to ask successful coaches about how they prepare their teams. Another would be to learn about research in sport psychology. This article attempts to help you do both. Parts of my interview with my high school football coach, Ralph Munger, Head Coach of the Rockford High School Rams (2004 and 2005 Division 1 State Champions in Michigan), are
The Strength Report
Our philosophy and strategy at the University of San Diego is to develop players that are willing to persistently work towards achieving their goals and dreams, that believe if they dedicate themselves to their preparation they will deserve to be confident and expect to be successful. We teach players to perform with the fundamental habits that will enable them to be successful in their football career and life: by implementing a comprehensive program that teaches players to pay atten
Promoting Turf in Your Town: 21st Century Field of Dreams
Tired of subjecting your players to the muddy, rutted, divot-filled, dangerous conditions of your embarrassing home playing field? Frustrated by rainouts, postponements – or worse, injuries caused by poor or inconsistent field conditions? Then it’s time for your school to go synthetic! • Most coaches fully understand the benefits of synthetic playing surfaces as compared to natural grass: extended practice time, reduced maintenance costs, consistent and safe playing conditions and, for col
Synthetic Turf: Wave of the Future
Chances are very good that your team has either a) played at least one road game on a synthetic turf field or b) installed a synthetic turf field at your home facility. If neither applies to your program, expect that to change in the near future. • The “New Generation” synthetic turf fields, once considered a luxury only NFL teams or high-profile universities could afford, are being installed at high schools and colleges from Maine to California. The trend is so strong that industry leader
AFM Subscribers Ask...Arizona\'s Mike Stoops
Arizona Head Coach Mike Stoops recently completed his third season in Tucson as the Wildcats finished with a 6-6 regular season record after back-to-back 3-8 campaigns. A 21-year coaching veteran, Stoops had an overall 168-48-2 record as an assistant coach. For five years prior to taking the Arizona job, Stoops was the top aide to his brother Bob at Oklahoma. A defensive back while an undergrad at Iowa, Stoops also coached at Iowa and Kansas State. Having a reputation as an outstanding defensive
The Spin Offense: The Running Game (Part II)
When Dale Weiner and his staff at Catholic High School in Baton Rouge (LA) developed the “spin offense” as their primary offense in 2001, there were three aspects that they felt needed to be accomplished in order to be successful: develop a base run package with complimentary play-action off of it; keep the defense on its toes by using misdirection and motion; and keep it simple enough so that the players and coaches can make adjustments on the fly. Although the system is quite sim
Backed Up Against the Wall: Coming Off the Goal Line
Although many programs panic or go flat when their offense takes the field after the ball has been spotted on the minus one yard line, our program gets excited! In Hal Mumme’s Air Raid offense we have taken this negative part of the field and flipped the scenario into our favor. Many coaches may see it as an unorthodox approach to this situation, but we view it as a chance to demoralize our opponent. When backed up against the wall, we have three main goals: think touchdown, no negative
Coaches: Ways to Lose a Football Game
Everyone knows that brilliant coaching strategies, like those of Bill Walsh on offense and Buddy Ryan on defense, can win teams games. But the opposite is also true. Coaching mistakes can cost your team games. We talked to as many coaches as we could about what the key mistakes are that can cost you games, real world examples of the mistakes and how to avoid them. Here is what they had to say: Jerry Schmitt, head coach, Duquesne University “One thing tha
Playing it Safe in The Red Zone
Keep it simple. The Cardinal Rule, no only for life in general, but also for football. It is a philosophy you may want to adopt to play better defense in the Red Zone. There is no question that the Red Zone is the most important zone on the field. Good Red Zone defense wins games! Typically on defense it is the most aggressive section of your game play; it quickly can become a high risk / high reward zone. However, I want to explain why you should
Establishing a Multiple Attack Running Game
During my time as a coach, I have learned that it is extremely hard to be one-dimensional and have constant success. Some teams do it and have success but on an overall basis we as a staff feel better about our chances with a multiple attack running game. First of all, we think it is much harder for our opponents to prepare for and if a team has success stopping one phase of our running game then we easily can retract to another phase. In today’
7 - Keys to Kick Starting Your Special Teams
While all coaches extol the value of the kicking game, the reality is, when faced with the time constraints that all coaches have, the kicking game gets pushed to the back burner and ends up being last on the time priority list. The test of time is a test that every football coach faces each and every year, especially when it comes to the kicking game. The good thing about time is that it is the one thing, unlike talent, that all coaches ha
Sticking to the Script
Many coaches believe in the philosophy of scripting your first 10-15 offensive plays of the game and a few less than that for the second half. The idea is to make it easier for your players to have early success and to learn how the defense will react to some of your core plays. We talked to three coaches for their philosophies about scripted plays and for information about the kind of plays they actually put into their scripts. The coaches are Tommy Condell, OC of the C
Blocked! 10 Essentials to Master in Blocking a Punt
Blocking punts can make a key difference in winning a game for you. Not only do punt blocks give you a better chance to score on your next possession (or perhaps even on the block itself), but also they provide a boost of confidence for your own team and represent a psychological blow for the opposition. We talked to two coaches for their views on the details of blocking punts: Dave Ungerer, special teams coordinator at University of Alabama, an
The Strength Report: Running Backs and Wide Receivers
As a strength and conditioning coach at the Division I-A level, philosophically, I feel you have to first develop core beliefs, which guide you in creating your specific training methods. These core beliefs must first and foremost be grounded in scientifically proven methods, which speak to the specific athletic goals of the athletes and sports you are focused on. The primary philosophy I follow in program design for football is a system utili
The Drills Report: Wartburg College\'s Cut Block Circuit
The cut block is very important to our offense. At Wartburg College, we utilize the cut block in several of our offensive schemes. Although we do believe in the cut block, we do not cut our own players in practice. Because the cut block is so important in our offense, we asked the same question everyone asks, “How do we practice cutting without cutting our own players?” In order to effectively teach the technique and practice the cut block, we
Gear: Products For Coaches
The X|Pload line brings world-renown Nautilus performance to plate-loaded training equipment. The line incorporates intelligent design and features that make it a cut above the rest for elite-level strength training: • Strength curves incorporated through 4-bar linkage for most effective workout possible • Low weight loading points – no need to load plates at eye level • Integrated weight plate storage, standard • Efficient footprint
Letter From The Editor: Those Days are Forever Over
In both small towns and large cities across America, the tradition over the years has been for a high school team to watch game films as a team. This has usually been a three to six hour process as coaches analyze the previous game\'s film and go back and forth about what worked and what didn’t on each play. If a future opponent\'s film was also available, that was shown to the team as well. So much for what went on a generation ago. Now, in the digital age, editing equ
Inside the Option: Maximizing its Effectiveness and Keys to Defending it
The triple option offense has grown in popularity in recent years, with coaches appreciating the difficult adjustments that the option forces on a defense. We talked to three coaches who have had success running the option, and one who has had success defending it. On the offensive side, we spoke to Paul Johnson, head coach of Navy; Chuck Petersen, offensive coordinator at Air Force; and Mike Sewak, former coach at Georgia Southern. On the defensive side, Al Seamonson, outside lineb
AFM Subscribers Ask
Now in his 20th season as head coach at Virginia Tech, Frank Beamer has established the Hokies as a consistent top ten Division I-A power. Beamer ranks third among all active D I-A coaches in wins and last fall led the Hokies to an 11-2 record and their 13th straight bowl game. Year-in, year-out, Virginia Tech has a reputation of being one of the finest colleges in special teams play: the Hokies led all I-A schools in blocked punts in the 90’s.
Pursuit, Tackling, and Takeaways
As coaches, we have many formative years. We learn to scheme, we learn organization, we learn player relations, how to recruit, how to present, how to teach, motivate, package, adapt. There are certain things that have changed over time and there are some constants. Tackling and pursuit have always been trademarks of great defenses. More recently, takeaways has been a great indicator of team success. The goal of this article is to
The Spread Punt
There are some general concepts I need to mention before we get into the spread punt: 1. Get off time The snapper and the punter are a unit that must work together. By this I mean the faster your snapper is the more time your punter can take. The slower your snapper is the faster the punter must be at getting the ball off. From the snap to the punt, any time over 2.1 seconds increases
Becoming a Complete Back: Teaching Your RBs to Protect Your QB
During my career I have had the privilege to coach some outstanding running backs in high school and college. I have been fortunate to coach backs who have given me their undivided attention and were excited about reaching their potential as complete running backs. Several of the backs I have had the opportunity to coach went on and played in the NFL. Tony Smith, Chris Buckhalter and Harold Shaw all had successful careers. All of
Making an Offense One Dimensional: Strategies for Developing an Effective Run De
Stop the Run: It’s the number one objective for any defensive coordinator at any level; in fact it’s Defensive Football 101. You can’t play defense without first stopping the run. Rushing yardage is also the first statistical category offense will use to measure its performance. Teams that know how to control the clock by running the football win games. In fact, the two go hand in hand. If you look at successful teams from Pop Warner right up
The Strength Report: Defensive Backs
My philosophy for training the college football athlete is based upon the physical and mental demands occurring during the course of a normal practice and game. Football is a collision oriented game grounded in the physical skills of blocking, tackling, jumping, running, throwing and kicking. These are skills initiated by the lower body and lend credibility to the maxim of football being played on your feet. These highly synchronized skills are ex
The Drills Report
This month’s drill has been submitted by Coach Jason Phillips, Receivers Coach at the University of Houston. Coach Phillips brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Cougars football program as not only a coach but also a former player. Coach Phillips coaching career began with the Spring Football League’s Houston Marshals in 1999 with stops at the Minnesota Vikings (2001), Atlanta Falcons (2002) and Southwest Texas State (2002). While
GEAR: Products for Coaches
Coach’s Office Playbook and Play Card Software. Coach’s Office offers the best software of its kind for diagramming plays, producing playbooks, printing play cards from a practice script, and producing a slideshow with play diagrams and videos. See for yourself why 1000’s of coaches from the NFL to Pop Warner rely on Coach’s Office. You can download a FREE trial version of the software from our Website and try it before you buy it.
Letter from the Editor
Special Teams: They Can’t Be Over-Emphasized When the term ‘Special Teams’ is mentioned each of us may have a different image or mindset as to what it means. One may recall a game that was decided by a kickoff or punt return while another may remember a fumble return for a score. There have been many dramatic finishes that ended in a special teams play. One of the most exciting games in college history was decided by not one but tw
AFM Subscribers Ask...
Three Heisman Trophy winners in five years… USC’s Pete Carroll has had three of his players – Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, and Reggie Bush – win football’s ultimate individual prize in his five seasons with the Trojans. He also has two National Championships, a 34 game winning streak (broken in last year’s BCS Championship with Texas) and an overall 54-10 record. Considered one of the outstanding defensive minds in football, Carroll has a combined 31 years of both pro and colle
Missouri: From the Shotgun to the Shovel Pass
In the past year of running the Shovel Play we averaged 5.5 yards per carry and it offered a great change-up to our inside zone play and our speed option. The Shovel Play is a great play for any shotgun offense because you can run it out of many sets and it forces the defense to prepare for the triple option. A common misconception is that you need a fast or running quarterback to run this play; this is not true. In our previous year at the University of Missouri our quarterback only kept
Maximizing the Shotgun Formation
The shotgun formation has become more and more popular, with some teams now using it to run as well as pass. We talked to three outstanding coaches about the intricacies of the shotgun. Lew Johnston, head coach of Western Branch High School in Chesapeake, VA, uses the shotgun as a change-up to his standard Delaware Wing T offense. New Mexico State quarterbacks coach Matt Mumme is part of a team that uses the shotgun about 50 percent of the time. A
The Speed Report: Increasing your Linebacker Speed
Every coach in America selects athletes year to year to play linebacker and must determine various characteristics needed to make the wisest choice. LB’s are the heart of the defense and a player must be multi-dimentional athletically able to hit, run, move quickly, and have the mental tenacity of a lightening bolt on a mission. Finding players each year with these skills sometimes is easier said then done. Lead with Speed S
The Drills Report - West Virginia\'s Defensive Secondary Footwork Drills
This month’s drill was submitted by Coach Tony Gibson, the Defensive Backs Coach at West Virginia University. Coach Gibson is entering his sixth year as a member of Coach Rich Rodriquez’s staff. Coach Gibson has also made stops along his coaching career at West Virginia Tech University, Cumberland University, Glenville State College and Gilmer County High School. While at West Virginia University, Coach Gibson has been part of three Big East
The Center / Quarterback Exchange
Every scrimmage down starts with the center’s snap; yet it can be one of the most neglected areas of football. There have been many games lost because of a fumbled Center / QB exchange. The snap is a procedure that must not be taken for granted. The fundamentals of snapping the football should be emphasized and practiced everyday, just as you practice the fundamentals of blocking, tackling, receiving, etc. All phases of snapping should be practiced with repetition until it becomes
Free team websites offered to every high school in the U.S
Did you know that your high school football team has a personal assistant to help with the day-to-day management of your program? Yes, you now have a professional-quality website that can help you communicate with players, parents and the community, get alumni involved and raise funds for your program. It
AFM Subscribers Ask
with Mike Van Deist A near legendary coach in NAIA circles, Carroll College’s Head Coach Mike Van Diest’s Fighting Saints have won the last four NAIA Championships. During that time Carroll has ranked among the top ten NAIA teams defensively. Last fall they led the NAIA in scoring defense and total defense and gave up only six rushing touchdowns in 14 games. Q. How do you prepare your players concerning the defensive game plan.
In the Heart of Special Teams: Your Best Opportunity to Gain a Competitive Advan
At the University of Cincinnati, we believe that special teams is one area of the game where you can gain a significant advantage over your opponent simply through the commitment of your best players and the commitment of your entire coaching staff. In this article I will share ideas on how we attempt to get our players to buy into special teams and how we attempt to “out coach” our opponents. Whether you coach high school, college or in the pros, each one of us sells
The Speed Report
Football has grown tremendously in the area of athletic development and strength development in recent years. The knowledge level in the weight room alone is nearly off the chart. The advent of the NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Assoc.), which is now approximately 30 years old, provides certification for strength coaches nationally. The journals they supply are written by PHD scientists and are knee deep with physical science infomation
The Drills Report: Defensive Line Progression and Drills: UW-Platteville
At UWP, seven areas are emphasized that will make a defensive lineman successful on Saturdays. These areas are: Stance, Starts, Hands, Blow Delivery, Block Recognition, Squeeze and Escape, and Pass Rush Techniques. We feel that these are the areas that must be repped each day at practice. The first area that we work on is stance. Feet should be armpit width apart with toe to instep relationship. We want the toe to in-s
\'Do Right...\'
As William \"Billy\" Joe sat in his hotel room in Tallahassee on that January afternoon in 1994, awaiting his job interview with Florida A&M University officials, hardly anybody in Florida\'s capital city knew who he was or why he was there. Nearly all of the city\'s residents were caught up in a parade through the downtown streets for Florida State as the city celebrated the Seminoles\' first national title. Little did the football-crazed fans realize that Joe was formulat
The Diary of a New Coach - Part I
Norman, Okla., is 17 miles south of Oklahoma City and perhaps most famous for being home of the Oklahoma Sooners. Football has deep roots in Norman. Norman High School, a Class 6A school with a strong football tradition itself, has nine state championships. NHS runs out of the offset I-formation and our base plays are either 42/43 Crunch (an iso on the playside backer) with a complimentary 26/27 Counter, or an option attack, depending on our personnel. Most of our passing is from a three-step
News & Notes
Former NFL Europe head coach Dick Curl joins the Chiefs Dick Curl, who joined NFLE in 1991 as Barcelona Dragons offensive coordinator and spent the last three seasons with the Frankfurt Galaxy as their head coach, has been named pro personnel assistant with the NFL\'s Kansas City Chiefs. In each of his first two seasons in Frankfurt, Curl was named NFLE Coach of the Year after leading the Galaxy to a berth in World Bowl. The Galaxy lost to the Rhein Fire in 1998, but beat Barce
Mike Leach Q & A
Q: You didn\'t reach the Division I-A level until 1997 at Kentucky. Before that, you had coached in Division II and the NAIA. What did you learn from your experiences at small colleges and how did you reach your current level?A: When you work at small colleges, you have to know a little bit about everything involved in a football program. A lot of things at major college that are done by someone else, I\'ve actually done myself. I\'ve actually been an equipment guy while coachi
New Equipment
Scouting/Editing Compatibilityfrom CoachComm800-749-2761www.coachcomm.comCoachComm has combined the popular Digital Scout and PowerTouch scouting software packages with their powerful video editing products. Simply enter the play information (down, distance, formation, etc.) into the portable Palm computer or the fast-entry PowerTouch tablet. Then print out your customized reports and open the CoachWin or DSE editing programs. Import the game files into CoachComm\'s
The Situation- WEB ONLY RESPONSES
We asked our subscribers what they would do in the following situation. We had such a tremendous response that we were unable to print all of them inside the magazine. Here is the situation and the remainder of the responses: You’re on defense near your goal line. While you’ve contained the run, your opponent now has a first down at your four-yard line. They are in a spread offense with a flanker on one side and a split end on the other. Your opponent decides to pitch to the tailb
AFM Subscribers Ask... Texas Tech
Premiering with this issue American Football Monthly begins ‘AFM Subscribers Ask…’, an in-depth Q & A session with a different coach each month. Subscribers are asked to send in their inquiries with specific questions for the coach featured that month. Our first coach to answer your responses is Texas Tech’s Mike Leach. One of the top offensive minds in the game today, Leach begins his seventh season in Lubbock thi
Being a Secondary Technician
Press Man Technique: Defending Against a Receiver’s Release Moves When breaking down the game of football, or any other sport, it comes down to taking proper angles and using them to help increase the odds of making plays which helps teams win games. Angles in the game of football can either make or break a team’s success. Understanding angles through geometry and understanding the physics of the body through the prope
Punt of No Return
10 Ways to Guarantee Your Opponent Won’t Score on a Punt Return When your offense has stalled and you have to punt the ball away, the last thing you want to give up is a punt-return touchdown. We spoke with three experts about how to prevent such a disaster – Rick Sang, director of American Football Specialists/ Ray Guy Kicking Academy in Bowling Green, KY; Granville Eastman, defensive coordinator and special teams coach
Point-Counterpoint: The Two Minute Offense
Defending the Two-Minute Offense Baylor vs. Edinboro
The Drills Report
This month’s drills are from George Godsey, quarterbacks coach at the University of Central Florida. A standout quarterback at Georgia Tech, Godsey played for his current mentor, UCF head coach George O’Leary. Last fall, the Golden Knights engineered one of the greatest turnarounds in college football history – after going 0-11 in 2004, UCF hosted the Conference USA Championship
The Scouting Report
At the entrance to the Katy High School (TX) athletics field house, there’s a high trophy case with the inscription, “When excellence becomes a tradition, greatness has no limits.” The Katy Tigers have developed both a tradition and greatness. Named as the ‘High School Team of the Decade’ by the Houston Chronicle, Katy won Texas State Class 5A football championships in 1997, 20
Impact Stats: The Most Critical Statistic in Football
Obviously the most important statistics in a football game are points scored and allowed – that will determine the winners and losers. But what comes next? What statistic plays the biggest role in determining a game’s outcome? We asked nine successful coaches that question. And eight of them answered that it’s turnover margin. One said average starting field position. Here are the coaches’ explanations. “Obviously every possession is very valuable,” said Mike
Advanced Level Techniques for Today\'s Quarterback
I have had the fortune of coaching at many different levels through the years. One thing that I have found is that at the ‘Non D-I levels’ it is hard to find a quarterback with good mechanics. The higher levels take their pick from the kids that are gifted athletically as well as mechanically. This becomes especially tough when you run an offense that revolves around the pass. This article will focus on what I believe to be the proper mechanics of the QB throw. From the
Pre-Season Practice: The Importance of Making Every Minute Count
Pre-season practice plays an important role in getting your team prepared for the upcoming season. We spoke to two successful head coaches – Mike Leach of Texas Tech and Terry Hoeppner of Indiana University – about how they conduct their pre-season practices and what they hope to get out of them. NCAA rules dictate that teams can begin practice about a month before their first game. Teams aren’t allowed to practice in full pads for the first five days.
Temperature Rising! Pre-Season Practices: Proper Hydration
Pre-season practice means hot weather, which brings with it the risk of dehydration and heat illness. While many people function quite normally with mild dehydration in everyday life, fluid deficits and heat illness are no laughing matters in football. The National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injuries stated that 19 high school football players died of heat stroke on the playing field between 1995 and 2005. We spoke to two experts about how to prevent serious dehydra
Point Counterpoint: Defending the Kickoff vs. Maximizing your Kickoff Return
TALE OF THE TAPE Kyle “Bubba” Schweigert Minnesota-Duluth Head Coach 3rd year 2005 North Central Conference Coach of the Year Bulldogs led Division II in kickoff returns in 2005
Exclusive: Inside Mickey Andrews\' Florida State Defense
Great college football teams are designed to STOP great college football teams. And when you play the kind of brutal and challenging schedule Florida State University lines up against each fall, you better be prepared to STOP great college football teams. Florida State defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews, who has been at the school for 22 years, is the architect behind the strategy, philosophy, instruction, motivation and guidance of one of the game’s stingiest defenses. Throughout his
The Drills Report: Georgia\'s Offensive Blocking Circuit
This month’s drill has been submitted by Coach Neil Callaway, the Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach of the 2005 SEC Champion Georgia Bulldogs. Since Coach Callaway became a member of coach Mark Richt’s staff in 2001, the Bulldogs have won two SEC Championships, three bowl victories and three top six finishes in the final polls. Coach Calloway explains his blocking circuit: “We implemented the Blocking Circuit at
The Scouting Report
Todd Graham returned ‘home’ this past January. A native of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Graham was named Rice University’s 17th head football coach on January lst. In his previous coaching stops, Graham played major roles in reversing the fortunes of struggling programs. It started at East Central University where, in his three seasons as DC, ECU improved from a break-even program to the NAIA national championship in 1993. As
Media Training: A Coach’s Playbook for the Media Game
If you don’t know what media training is, you are not alone. However, in the next five years, every team in major and mid-major collegiate and professional sports will include media training as part of their preparation for the season – or wishing they had. High school coaches who want to prepare their student-athletes will also embrace this cutting-edge trend as a life skill they need to pass on to their players to be successful in sports and in the real world. So, what
Defensive Line Attack: Read Rules for 6 Offensive Line Steps
This article will focus on the reads for an attacking style defensive front. These reads are based on the idea of offensive linemen being able to take 6 initial steps that will tell the defensive lineman how to react. The reactions are based on whether the defensive player lines up in an inside shoulder technique (a 7 tech for example) or an outside shoulder technique (a 5 tech for example). The reads and techniques are the same for both outside a
The Beauty of the High/Low
Creating quick reads for your quarterback that can lead to receivers gaining big yards after the catch. The beauty of the high/low read is how it can create success for every position group on the field. We succeed with big receivers or fast receivers and with strong-armed quarterbacks or smaller, more athletic quarterbacks. In addition, it creates a quicker passing game so the offensive line does not have to protect too long. It even
High Percentage Throws: Valdosta State\'s Shallow Passing Game
Offensively, we go by a simple rule in implementing our game plan each week. We try to make positive yards on first and second down, then pick up the remaining yards needed to move the chains on third down. We feel the best way to do this is using mostly high percentage passes and mixing in an occasional run. In this article, I am going to concentrate on one such high percentage pass play in our playbook: The Shallow Game. Our Shallow Game has been one of the most successf
Improving Your Running Game
The commitment to run the ball has to start when a head coach lays the foundation for his system. Portland (OR) State’s Tim Walsh sees this mentality as key to any coaching staff. “Coaches have to find a way to instill a belief in their players that they can run against anybody. At Portland State, we’ve created a mindset for players over several seasons.” Walsh and his assistant coaches stress the team’s prior success to new recruits, while returning players have already been in
Hide and Seek: Disguising Your Blitz
The blitz can be a potent weapon to nullify a high-flying air attack. But blitzes must be disguised to insure their effectiveness. If the offense knows they are coming ahead of time, it can easily adjust and burn the defense for major yardage. We talked to three successful coaches about how to disguise blitz packages: Mickey Matthews, head coach of former Division I-AA champion James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA; Chuck Martin, head coach of defending Division II
The Drills Reports: Louisiana Tech\'s Defensive Tackle Circuit Drills
This month’s feature drill is from Randy Bates, Defensive Coordinator for Louisiana Tech University. Under the leadership of Coach Bates last fall, the La Tech bulldog defense ranked third in the Western Athletic Conference. Also, the 2005 defensive WAC statistics ranked the Bulldogs first in overall turnover margin (+13), second in rushing defense, and third in both passing and scoring defense. Coach Bates began his career 24 years ago at Muskingum College as an offens
The Scouting Report
If two words describe Mira Mesa High School in San Diego they are tradition and excellence. One of the top academic schools in the city, the Mira Mesa Marauders also have an outstanding football legacy. Led by Head Coach Gary Blevins and Assistant HC Chris Thompson, Mira Mesa plays in the prestigious San Diego Eastern League. This fall they play Long Beach Poly in a non-league game. Poly, a perennial Southern California power, has the most alums of any school in the nation playing in the
Preparing your Defensive Game Plan
Every football coach, at one time or other during the season thinks “If only there were more time to prepare for this game, we could…”. DC’s are under great pressure each week to develop and implement a scheme that puts their players in the best possible position to make plays. This type of defensive game planning requires many hours of preparation – first breaking down game tape and determining an offense’s tendencies, and then selecting fronts, stunts and blitzes from the De
Teaching WR\'s the Critical Skills
One of the main problems that have plagued football coaches for a long time is how to teach the necessary skills needed to play the game during the fifteen to thirty minutes in practice known as individual. Just at the wide receiver position, we must teach stance, start, footwork, route running, releases (press and open field), blocking (push blocking, wall-off, cutting, middle block), catching the ball, running with the ball, and many other skills needed to be a good wide receiver.
Generation X\'s and O\'s
Game Simulation Technology Allows you to Teach From the Field Level in Real Game Situations When Oklahoma State quarterback Bobby Reid missed significant practice snaps last fall and quarterbacks coach Larry Fedora was forced to prepare junior Al Pena for his first start, Fedora turned to technology. Fedora put a state-of-the-art football simulator produced by GridIron Technology, Inc. in the hands of his quarterbacks, allowing Reid a chance to stay mentally
Do your Players Measure Up?
As a coach, you tell you players that to be successful, they must work hard. This is true whether they are on the field, in the classroom or in the weight room. But players want proof that they are indeed improving. How can you reassure and motivate them so they will remain diligent in their training? The answer is simple: testing. With a basic testing program, you can measure, evaluate, set goals for and motivate your athletes. Testing will also let you design workouts to meet the sp
The Big Squeeze
ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT times to get a football player into the weight room is during the rigorous two-a-day practice sessions before the start of each football season. During this time the athlete\'s body is pushed to the limits of exhaustion. It\'s a time of major concern to most strength and conditioning coaches and athletic trainers because of the chance of overuse/overwork muscle strains and pulls that can occur. During this time the question arises as to what would be the best
Linebacker Play The Minnesota Way
Linebackers are usually the leaders of the defense. The good ones have poise, intelligence, leadership, mental and physical toughness, dependability, intensity and football instincts. They must have knowledge of the defense. They must be able to defeat offensive linemen weighing 320-plus bearing down at them. They must be able to react quickly and trust what they see and know. Finally, they must, must, must, be a
A Record to Remember
Risk and reward. Maybe it’s no accident those two words appear so often together. It was the risk taken by Dan Devine, leaving his job as a Michigan high school football coach for a lower-paying job as a graduate assistant under Coach Duffy Daugherty at Michigan State that led to a long, highly successful coaching career, including a national championship as coach of Notre Dame. Devine didn’t remain a graduate assistant for long. He soon became a full-time coach and, i
The Problem with Legends? Replacing Them.
On the day he was officially announced as Florida’s new head football coach, Ron Zook made his point loud and clear. In fact, he made his point repeatedly. Eleven times, to be exact, but then whose paying attention? If you’re Zook, only everybody. “I am not Coach Spurrier. I am not going to be Coach Spurrier,” Zook said. Get the point? Ron Zook isn’t Steve Spurrier. He isn’t the most successful head coach in the history of Gator football. He didn’t
Know Your Field, After All it\'s Your Turf
When it comes to player safety, what is your most important piece of equipment? As a coach you’ve been taught to properly fit helmets and shoulder pads, both essential tools that can keep players safe. But what about your field? How safe is it? Without proper care and maintenance, your field can cause severe injury – just like ill-fitting helmets or pads. With overuse – repeating drills in the same place – and misuse – using a field already in poor condition or beyo
The Drills Report
As coaches, we are always looking for new and innovative ideas to help improve the play of our athletes. As in any other setting, practice makes perfect and practice on the football field involves drills. American Football Monthly’s newest feature is dedicated to finding creative drills that coaches can implement into their programs. The subject matter will be broad in scope and will be selected from coaches of all levels; from high school through professional. This month’s feature
Effective Grading Strategies
Grading players should be easy, effortless and not take hours to do. Our system will utilize a check box numbering system that allows coaches to rate players easily and effectively. We will use three major criteria for determining a player’s ability at each play: Alignment, Assignment and Hustle. Once a player has been graded a more complete picture will aid the coach in determining what a player needs to work on. For example: A player might consistently be in a poor alignment y
Building More than Strength
How to incorporate Leadership, Teamwork, and Sport Psychology Training into Your Strength and Conditioning Program. \"We have found a direct correlation between the team strength and the success on the field.\" - Kevin Vanderbush Football success is often attributed to having great leadership, positive team chemistry, and athletes who possess the proper mental mindset. Often times, teams who have mas
How do you Scout your Opponents Offensive Line
It always seems to work this way, things filtering down from the colleges to the high schools. As technology with digital editing has advanced and pro teams have become more intricate in their scouting, so, too, have colleges and high schools. One place that’s as prevalent as any other is picking apart your opponents’ offensive linemen. Anton Stewart, the defensive coordinator at Pittsburg State (KS), is among the growing number of coac
Running Wild
HOW TO CREATE AN EFFECTIVE RUNNING GAME THAT WILL BOOST YARDS AND WINS For all of football’s passing progress over the past decade, the running game remains a fundamental cornerstone of winning football. Whether you’re punching the ball across the line in short-yardage situations or controlling the clock, every team must be able to get the ball into the hands of a capable runner who can read and follow effective blocks downfield, breaking tackles and making defenders miss.
Prep Report - Flying Under the Radar
TERRY EIDSON: A LARGE PART OF DE LA SALLE’S TRADITION Much has been said and much has been written about the football program at De La Salle in Concord, CA. The Spartans and coach Bob Ladouceur won a national-record 151 straight games and six National Prep Poll titles from 1992-2003. Although De La Salle has developed a handful of NFL players and its share of college stars, Ladouceur gets more acclaim for his ability to exact every last drop of ability out of his pla
Inside Linebacker Play & Progression
Like any position on the football field there are a lot of different ways to prepare your players for game days. Of course linebackers are the backbone of almost every type of defensive scheme. They are involved in every run and pass play and must have the skill to find the football on every play. Since there are so many multiple defensive schemes a linebacker must be ready to line up in a three point stance and stop the run or line up against a flanker and cover against the pass. Ther
Looking For a Boost in Your Offense?
Why Mid-Line? Our first season at Bucknell we had installed a spread option offense. We invested a lot of time into our base play: the triple option. As the season progressed we had been able to execute the triple with some moderate success. At the end of the 2003 season we had averaged just a little over six yards per attempt. We had run some mid-line in 2003 but were not majoring in it. We, as an offensive staff, knew that in order for us to compete on a yearly basis with the
10 Impact Stats to Build a High Scoring Machine #3 Scoring Offense
In its most simplistic terms, Scoring Offense is probably the most basic of all football statistics. After all, the team that scores the most points generally wins the game. And, as former NY Jets-now Kansas City Chiefs coach Herman Edwards put it so eloquently… “We play to win the game.” With a potent offense, good things generally happen. Texas was the highest scoring team in the country – through all colleges among I-A, I-AA, II and II
Point Counterpoint - The Blitz
Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts were helpless against the Pittsburgh Steelers and their blitz packages in last month’s AFC playoff game. Manning, the master of the audible and game’s best gunslinger, spent most of the afternoon forcing passes, trying to avoid getting crushed or getting crushed. After the game, Manning hinted that he didn’t have the best protection. The offensive line, running backs, extra blockers and offensive co
Samson\'s College and High School Strength and Conditioning Coaches of the Year
Division I-AA: Russell Patterson-Appalachian State The pace of an Appalachian State football game is dictated by their no-huddle offense.The breakneck scheme results in a high number of plays and keeps both sides of the ball in constant readiness. Having them prepared for the full 60 is the job of strength and conditioning coach Russell Patterson. It must be working. The Boone, NC Mountaineers captured the Southern Conference title with a 6-1 mark, were 12-3 overall,
Texas Sized Strength
Speed kills. Just ask most of the Texas Longhorns’ opponents during the 2005-06 season. That can be attributed largely to the players that head coach Mack Brown and his staff recruit. As big of a factor in the team’s success, however, is the strength and conditioning program the Longhorn players endure. Sure, endure. “Oh, I’ve been known as a guy that works them and works them hard,” laughed Jeff Madden, the University of Texas as
The Drills Report
Sponsored by: Rogers Athletic Company As coaches, we are always looking for new and innovative ideas to help improve the play of our athletes. As in any other setting, practice makes perfect and practice on the football field involves drills. American Football Monthly’s newest feature is dedicated to finding creative drills that coaches can implement into their programs. The subject matter will be broad in scope and will be selected from coac
SCOUTING REPORT
Mark Panella is the Quarterbacks/Receivers Coach at De La Salle High School in Concord, CA and has served on coach Bob Ladouceur’s staff – except for a brief period – since 1989. He has just about seen it all – from the team’s incredible 151 game winning streak to the lows of an unheard of consecutive losses. He also serves as the team’s Video Coordinator. The starting quarterback on the 1984 De La Salle team that went 11-1, Panella s
Three Basics for your Athletic Training Game Plan
Every coach should have a game plan when it comes to athletic training. Here are some points to consider: 1. Emergency Plans: As a coach you should have an emergency plan in place for your practice sites and football field. Your plans should include: A) forms of communication such as phone, walkie-talkie, etc. B) Directions to the location of the practice or game facilities C) Access to the field or practice area (Any locked gates? Do you have a Key?) 2. Athlet
Video a Necessary Part of Every Program
“It was film in the old days, up to about ‘88 or 89,” recalls Clemson’s veteran video coordinator Rick Bagby, a pioneer in his field who led the video revolution that enables football coaches better use their time to develop sophisticated, smart, systems, and, he hopes, winning game plans for the ACC program that’s been a big winner for decades in the South. Across the country in the Pacific Northwest, Steve Pohl has been running Oregon’s football video operation since 19
Pass Efficiency Defense
One of the more crucial categories relevant to the success of a team at any level is turnovers. No coach or even member of the media can argue that a team’s Turnover Differential at the end of a season is analogous to that school’s success or failure. Even more sophisticated today is the statistical category, Pass Efficiency Defense. Important to every team, Pass Efficiency Defense evaluates the following categories that result in an overall PED rating: • Opponents pa
Point-Counterpoint Third and Long
Heading into December, USC\'s overwhelming offense was tops in the nation in third-down efficiency. After outlasting Pat Hill’s impressive Fresno State squad in November, the Trojans were converting on an amazing 54% of third downs. Having Reggie Bush doesn’t hurt. Pete Carroll’s explosive bunch was also No. 1 in turnover margin. It’s not hard to figure out why Matt Leinart and company keep rolling. The third-down efficiency rankings are filled with explosive offenses, includi
Stopping the Spread Offense
Defending the spread offense. Where does one start? Maybe on the other side of the ball. What exactly is a spread offense? And understanding what it is you are trying to defend will go along way in answering how you are going to defend it. The spread offense means many things to many people. Sure there are some consistencies, but it seems every coach has added his own twist and own purpose to running the spread offense. And while trying to stop the spread offense, you better know what
Point Counterpoint: The Screen Pass
When the rule was changed allowing downfield blocking on any pass completed behind the line of scrimmage, the quick wide receiver screen, also known as the “tunnel” or “rocket” screen, gave blitz-weary offensive coordinators a counter attack capable of causing of mass destruction. “It’s such a good football play,” said James Madison head coach Mickey Matthews. “It’s changed football. If they get the play executed, and you’re in a blitz, it’s going to be a big pla
Dominating Run Defenses
Different teams. Different schemes. Different coaches. Different levels of play. But Ohio State, Duquesne, Edinboro and Trinity all shared one very important distinction at the end of the 2005 college football season. They all led their respective NCAA Divisions in stopping the run. And while the way they accomplished their No. 1 ranking varied, a closer look at each program revealed some common threads to their success. All four agreed that personnel is the biggest determining factor
Schutt Sports Regional High School Coaches of the Year
East Region: Jeff Weachter Bishop McDevitt HS, Harrisburg (PA) Jeff Weachter, 40, led Bishop McDevitt high school in Harrisburg, PA to a 13-1 record this season, reaching the semifinals of the state 4A division. Pure football talent explains a lot of the school’s success, Weachter said. Five of his players were recruited by Division I colleges. But the team had to overcome some adversity. LeSean McCoy, ranked as the top running back in the country by some recruiting
A Winning Tradition: Lakeland\"s Bill Castle
When you’ve been in coaching 36 years, 35 at the same school and 30 as the head coach, you see a lot of players and teams come and go. Some are more memorable than others. Some kids, some teams, some seasons, they all start to run together. Did that Smith kid play tackle or guard? Or was that his older brother? Was it the 1991 team or the 1992 team that was so fast? Was it the second state championship or the third state title that overcame all that adversity? Some teams and players
Schutt Sports College Coaches of the Year
Joe Taylor Hampton Joe Taylor made a decision last off-season that helped lift his Pirates to the Div. I-AA playoffs. During his regular off-season evaluations – which involves looking at every play of every game, interviewing coaches and writing a letter to his players – Taylor realized his defense needed to change. “You must look at this as a bu
Schutt Sports Div. I-A Coach of the Year Finalists
Charlie Weis had amassed an impressive coaching resume punctuated with four Super Bowl rings, three with the New England Patriots and one with the 1990 New York Giants. This season the challenge was to transfer his success in the pro ranks to his first season in charge at Notre Dame. Could the magic he devised for Tom Brady translate to Brady Quinn? Would the genius of the master offensive coordinator in the NFL rub off on the defense and special teams in South Bend? Those were critica
Heart of a Lion: Joe Paterno
Football is a funny business. It is a war-like game in which the biggest, strongest and toughest will often come out on top. Throw in the elements of brains and intelligence and it can either amplify the preceding characteristic or eliminate it. The teams on the sidelines – on a given autumn afternoon or evening – want to humiliate, eliminate and defeat their opposite numbers. It is the most competitive of all sports. Yet there is a fraternity among its players and coac
Scouting Report
Coach Jim Kunau just completed his 13th year as head coach at Orange Lutheran High School. In 2004 the Lutheran Lancers received the ultimate prize: a CIF Championship. With an overall record of 131-32-3, Kunau has seen it all and established LHS as one of the elite programs in southern California. From a school approaching 500 students in which 22 players were football players a decade ago, Orange Lutheran has evolved to an enrollment of nearly 1,200 with 200 student-athletes now a part of a hi
Open Door Policy
Bob Johnson’s coaching experience spans nearly 35 years with stops at Los Amigos High School, El Toro, and, for the past 7 years, Mission Viejo High School. He won his 200th game as a head coach last fall and is closing in on the Orange County record of 236 wins held by Los Alamitos’ John Barnes. Undefeated thus far in 2005, the Mission Viejo Diablos completed a perfect 14-0 season last fall, winning the CIF Southern Section Division II Championship and have won 78 of their last 79 games. La
Correcting Mistakes: Effective halftime defensive adjustments
Fifteen minutes. A short amount of time, especially when you’re trying to sum up how your defense performed during the first 30 minutes and determining how to approach the next 30. Despite the short amount of time, halftime strategies vary from coach to coach. But Mickey Andrews, the long-time defensive coordinator at Florida State, looks at it another way. “Each football game is like a test in the classroom,” he said, “but there you don’t get to go in, take 30 minutes on
Crunching Numbers
Now that the season is over and the dust has settled, it’s time to look back and evaluate your season. As offensive coaches, we all accumulate a huge amount of statistical data over the course of the season. We also know that statistics can be deceiving. Using all the data we collect can help us understand our own offense as well as determine those areas which need improvement. In this article I will discuss how to collect data, evaluate your statistics, and implement the necessary changes to
Swinging Momentum With Int’s
Few plays in a game are more significant than an ill-timed interception. Offensive coaches can argue that there’s never a good time for one but no play seems to have more of a psychological impact than the interception. Last fall some of the leaders in passes intercepted included Troy, Boise State, USC, Coastal Carolina, Cal Poly, Shippensburg and Carthage. Coincidentally, all those colleges had outstanding seasons. “The interception—more than just about any other play – swings
Quarterback Fundamentals
Throughout the course of football history there have been many great quarterbacks to play the game of football. Some of the quarterbacks that I have enjoyed studying over the years are Joe Montana, John Elway and recently Peyton Manning and Ty Detmer. Ultimately the one thing that each one of these quarterbacks has in common is great fundamentals that took each one of their games to another level. In our offensive scheme there are many demands on the quarterback. So repetition is the m
From Scouting Report to Game Plan
Know thy enemy. On the battlefield or the football field, few statements ring truer than that. Being able to effectively size up an opponent, identify their weaknesses, recognize their tendencies and formulate an attack puts you that much closer to victory on Saturday. In today’s high-tech world, scouting the opposition is often done with the latest in digital editing equipment. And when the lights go out, every program, every coach and every player is scanning their scouting report for the ex
Celebrating 10 Years of schutt sports coaches of the year
Terry Hoeppner, Indiana He won the Schutt Sports Division I-A Coach of the Year Award in 2003 as head coach of the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks and that did not go unnoticed. How could it? QB Ben Roethlisberger went on to become a first-round draft choice for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2004 and was thrust into the starting lineup when No. 1 QB Tommy Maddox went down with a knee injury. All Roethlisberger did was lead the Steelers to 14 straight regular-season wins and a berth in the AFC cha
Point-Counterpoint
There is no need for punt coverage, if the punt is blocked. “A blocked kick can turn the momentum of the game more than anything else,” said Air Force legend Fisher DeBerry. “It’s won a lot of football games for us and created some field position for us.” Yet, more and more coaches, including DeBerry, are utilizing the “Shield Punt,” which, admittedly, sacrifices protection for coverage. “There’s been some kicks blocked if the shield breaks down,” DeBerry said. “
GEAR
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Can Big Mo Be Stopped?
It doesn’t take long for Larry Kehres to teach a reporter a lesson about momentum. Kehres, whose ridiculous resume includes seven Div. III national titles since 1993 for Mount Union College, is making dinner at his home and talking to the reporter on the phone at the same time. “Don’t let a mistake bug you,” he said. “Just think about it. You have periods of frustration, happiness and boredom every day. You just have to –.” That’s when the phone dies. The reporter calls
Open Door Policy
In his 13th season as head coach of the Portland State Vikings, Tim Walsh has the distinction of being the longest tenured and winningest football coach in the program’s history. After taking over for legendary Vikings coach Pokey Allen, Walsh helped lead Portland State to three straight NCAA playoff appearances. In 1996, the Portland State athletics program made the move to Division I-AA (from Division II) in football. That placed Walsh in the position of having to build an under-fu
It Starts in the Trenches
Juan Castillo has coached offensive linemen at the high school and Division II level. He’s also spent the past 11 years with the Philadelphia Eagles. Throughout this career, the daily principles he brings to his job have remained the same. “To me it’s still the same – it’s all about fundamentals,” Castillo said. “When I was at Texas A&I, I was fortunate to learn a lot of my drills from NFL coaches and major college coaches, but I still break it down the way I did at the s
The Prep Report
Flying Under the Radar The Triple Option is Alive and Well The triple option – it was college football’s offense de jour in the 1960s and 70s, highlighted by the ultra successful wishbone systems at Texas, Oklahoma and Alabama. Now, only a handful of Division I-A programs such as Rice and Air Force employ an option system. But the triple option is still very much alive and well on high school football fields across the nation. Especially at Warren Cent
The Staff Report
The start of a new season always involves the coaching staff’s discussion of personnel. We have sat in these meetings as a GA, as a volunteer, as an assistant, as a coordinator and as head coach. It seems that in every one of these meetings the discussion of depth creates quite a bit of emotional dialogue. Who wants the player on offense? How many tailbacks do we need? Do we need that many at wide out? Can we get by with the amount of defensive and offensive linemen? After the discussion,
The Wing-T vs. Multiple Defenses
For defensive coordinators, there is no peskier offensive scheme than the good, old Wing-T. They keep trying to pop that guard trap over and over. Then right as your linebackers have forgotten what a pass looks like, they go play-action. Absolutely aggravating. Western Branch High School (Chesapeake, Va.) Head Coach Lew Johnston is a pesky Wing-T guy. Orchestrated 75-percent of the time out of the shotgun, Johnston’s T really drives D.C.’s crazy. Pearl River High School (LA) H
Stopping the Wing-T
It is one of the most confounding offenses found in either high school or college football. Mention the Wing-T at any meeting of coaches and the majority – if being honest – will admit that it is one of their worst nightmares. It is an offense that is as unpredictable as any in the game and the team that is unprepared for it will be placed in peril and will most likely be embarrassed. Few coaches will put their team at that disadvantage. Through scouting and film study, most coache
How to Stop the Option
Snap to the Q. He sprints to the right, instantaneously scans the defense as he is hit. At virtually the same time he pitches to the fullback. Quick cut to the left, he darts through the hole and rips off 55 yards. How often have you seen it? How many times has it left you pacing the sidelines, shaking your head and clipboard? It’s the ageless option pitch/run. How do you stop it? What options does a coach have? AFM contacted a number of high school and college coaches and
No Fly Zone: Containing the Air Raid Offense
Let’s say you’re going up against a team with a potent air raid offense – a team like Texas Tech, or Boise State or Louisville. How do you stop these pass-happy attacks? We asked five coaches of college and high school teams around the country with outstanding pass defenses. The coaches have a wide variety of suggestions — from constantly changing your formations to physically intimidating the opposition. They offered strategies of how to pressure the quarterback; details of pr
C.W. Post Defensive Line Play
Defensive line play at C.W. Post has been an integral part of our team’s success over the past eight seasons. We have led the country in rushing defense four out of the last five years. Despite losing players to graduation we have been able to stay on top of most conference defensive categories such as sacks, tackles for loss and rushing defense. Our defensive line teaching progression has been consistent throughout our years at Post. The progression is basic and allows our players t
Spreading It Out
At Santa Rosa Junior Coillege our offensive philosophy is to spread people out with formations and to keep the pressure on with a no huddle attack. We want to spread the ball around to our four WR’s and RB and throw the ball short to people who can score. We also believe in keeping it simple. We only run a few plays but expect our players to execute to perfection. By keeping our play list short, it allows us to utilize our practice time to prepare for any defensive look we may see
Back in Black
Jerry Glanville will be the first to insist he’s not re-inventing the wheel in his return to college football. “I’m not bringing anything back to the game people aren’t already using,” said Glanville, who hasn’t coached in the college ranks since 1973. “Whether I’m coaching defense or the kicking game the way I coach is to try and take opponents totally out of their comfort zone, that there’s no play where they can feel like we aren’t coming after them, like we’re sitting t
Blessed Sacrament
Entering into spring practice Mike Henderson, head Football Coach at tiny Blessed Sacrament Huguenot Academy has a lot to reflect on. Just seven short seasons ago he took over the High School\'s 0-10 program and capped off last season with consecutive C.A.A. State Championships. a remarkable achievement. An amazing achievement considering the severely limited physical and personnel assets he was given to work with. Mike Henderson was hired as the Head Football Coach at Hu
Top Of Their Class
Bruce Harbach Head Football Coach and Strength Coach, Lancaster Catholic High School Strength and Conditioning Coordinator, Wilson High School • Lancaster, PA Bruce Harbach is a coach and a teacher. Problem is, it’s at two different schools. Harbach is the hea
Tuesday Morning Quarterback
Most of you have experienced plenty of Monday morning quarterbacking from fans, media and even parents. You don’t need more of the same old thing. You need someone on your side, someone who believes in you and your profession. That’s why this column is called Tuesday Morning Quarterback. While the out
The 25% - 75% Rule
The training program I designed is real simple, and on paper, or in a clinic talk, is probably not going to turn a lot of heads. Our emphasis instead is on cultivating attitude and effort, combined with a year-round climate of discipline and toughness. In summation, 25% of our program is WHAT we do, while 75%
Heavy Impact
It’s the youngest, and certainly in many respects, the most important element in developing winning athletic programs, especially football, other than the head coach himself. The strength and conditioning coach and his staff can be difference makers between a winning program and mediocrity. Before the earl
Sharks In The Water
We base out of our 3-3 Stack Defense. In Diagram 1 you will see that we have a Nose in a zero technique. Our Ends are in a tight 5 technique. The Mike linebacker is stacked behind the Nose and is responsible for running the track of the FB. The L and R are in 50 techniques and are responsible for B gaps. The Nitro and Diamond are 3 by 5 off the TE or a ghost TE. This is our pressure package and we want the offense to have to account for blo
Letter from the Editor
What’s the secret to having a successful football season? What’s necessary to be a consistently winning program, year-in, year-out that produces a playoff caliber team? Is it strictly talent on the field or a combination of other ingredients? Many coaches will list the following and not in any particular order: • Talent – the skills that perform on the field • Assistant coaching staff – a loyal, professional staff • Resources – fields and practice faciliti
10 Impact Stats to Build a Championship team • #9 - Turnovers Gained
Turnovers Gained, the statistic that ranks No. 9 in the overall listing of “10 Stats to Build a Championship Team” correlates to the success of teams at all levels of competition. USC led all Division I-A schools with 38 Turnovers Gained and, in the process, won their second consecutive National Championship. Hampton was the Division I-AA leader with 43 Turnovers Gained and they finished last fall with a 10-2 mark.The colleges with the most interceptions in Division II and
Gear
Sideline Kit Schutt SportsNew for 2005 from Schutt®! The VARSITY AiR® Sideline Kit holds all the necessities needed for any inconveniences on and off the field. Just some of the gear it contains are 12 ARMORGUARD® Elite™ loo
Kicking It In
There is a saying among football coaches that “kicking a football is like swinging a golf club.” This statement is true because both incorporate the upper and lower body to work simultaneously. However, the two skills are very different. As a former Division I-A place kicker, I have included in my article a set of techniques and drills for soccer style kickers to help any coach work with their athletes.
Get a Grip
I have been asked to write about the program that our offensive staff implemented this past season for ‘Ball Security.’ In 2004 we were fortunate enough to go through the entire season (695 touches) with only one offensive lost fumble. This put us first in the Big Ten and tied us for first in the nation. Ball Security is an aspect of our game that our team and coaches take personally and very seriously. We make it a priority at each position to make sure our players understand that fu
The Wing-T: An Offense for the Ages
Jim Roth taught the Delaware Wing-T in a week. Granted, it was a very basic version. It was for an all-star game at the end of last season, and Roth already had one running back from his own team in the backfield. Two other running backs already had experience using a two-point stance, so the Wing-T wasn’t that different. The offensive system itself, based on timing, deception and athletic blocking schemes, worked. Roth’s team won, 29-7. “I had a lot of coaches s
High Powered Passing Offenses: Why Are They Really Successful?
High-powered, spread-’em-out, throw- the-ball-on-every-position offenses come and go. Or do they? Are aerial offenses that treat a running back with limited respect fads and gimmicks? Or are these offenses formulas for success that can win on a consistent basis over the long term? Keith Simons is one coach with an answer. All he has to do is point to his record. Simons’ Santa Rosa Junior College Bears won the Mid-Empire Conference Championship with an 11-0 record and finishe
The Art of Play Calling
A good play is easy to spot on game day. It’s the decision to go for it on fourth-and-one that yields a fresh set of downs, a blitz-beating touchdown toss, or even a basic trap play, executed perfectly a handful of times, that marches your offense down the field. But while these plays unfold in the moment, it’s the weeks and even months of preparation that ultimately make them work. Good play calling is the result of repetition and trial and error without the glare of the lights or th
Gorilla Warfare
Chuck Broyles doesn’t pretend to hold the “secrets” for winning. But through an aggressive style of play, a loyal staff and players, and an offense that works to stay one step ahead of defenses, Broyles and his staff have turned Pittsburg State (Kan.) into a perennial power in NCAA Division II. During the last 15 seasons, under Broyles, Pittsburg State is 154-30-2. The Gorillas have won the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) championships nine times, missed the
Open Door Policy
AFM:What was the feeling like when you were named head coach and in charge of the Southlake Carroll program? TD: I’ve competed against Southlake Carroll over the years and I was truly honored to be named head coach. Like the University of Texas, there is tremendous tradition here and I was honored and humbled about the job. At the first spring booster club event I attended I remember the slogan: ‘Protect the Tradition.’ It meant a lot. AFM: Tell me how your office
Turnover Margin
Of the more than 20 statistics the NCAA publishes, one of the most important – and maybe least recognized – is Turnover Margin. It’s not just a coincidence that consistently successful teams place high in this category. Last fall the leaders in this statistic included USC (Division I-A); Coastal Carolina (Division I-AA); Valdosta State (Division II); Carthage College (Division III); and Central Methodist University (NAIA). Over the last five years, the D I-A leader is Miam
Gear
BW Software announces TD Video Viewer for Microsoft Windows ($395). TD Video is a Macintosh based software product that provides affordable digital video editing for football ($895). With our new Windows based TD Video Viewer, you can analyze plays, enter scouting data and print scouting reports. You still need to capture the game video with TD Video for Macintosh. N
Spread Shotgun Wing T Offense: The Running Game
To recap the information presented in our first article in the December, 2004 issue of American Football Monthly, we felt we needed a means to spread the field against defensive teams that wanted to gang up on us on the line of scrimmage. We had a young man whom we were developing at quarterback that we knew was going to be very talented as far as throwing the football. But I did not want to abandon our Delaware Wing T base philosophy. We took the Wing T formation and spread
Point-Counterpoint VEER Option vs. the 4-4
TALE OF THE TAPE JOHN CURTIS CHRISTIAN HS PATRIOTS SCHOOL
4,733 Wins, 5 Coaches, 1 Question
Glenn Robinson Men’s College Basketball Coach • Franklin & Marshall Franklin & Marshall head coach Glenn Robinson is the most successful basketball coach in Division III history with 697 wins. He has been coaching for 37 years and what he learned at the very beginning helped set him on his course for success. “One of the first things I got to do when I became a coach was meet Dean Smith,” Robinson said. “He was very successful and had that great staff
Letter from the Editor
The world of statistics is both fascinating and annoying. While they don’t always tell the whole story they certainly indicate trends. In football, you can really accumulate statistics in just about any category your want: rushing first downs, third down passing accuracy, or forced turnovers. The NCAA has a total of 24 statistical categories that they update weekly for Division I-A, I-AA, II, and III. They range from Total Offense to Net Punt
Tuesday Morning Quarterback
Have another bowl of big ice cream. Make it a big one. Pour on some of that chocolate syrup, too. Have another fast-food cheeseburger. Make it a double cheeseburger, with extra cheese. And fries. Or better yet, onion rings. How about some fried chicken? How about more caffeine? Choose your poison: coffee or cola. How about a few too many beers? Maybe a few too many mixed drinks? Or perhaps a big dip of smokeless tobacco? Or a cigaret
The Secrets to Efficient Practices
“Whatever you accept (in practice) that’s what you’re going to get. If you accept lackadaisical performance or lack of effort, then you can be assured that’s what you’re going to get.” - Kansas State Head Coach Bill Snyder Richland (Fort Worth, Texas) head coach Gene Wier has a problem. “I’ve not had many good practices in my time,” he said humbly and with a chuckle. His six state championship rings beg to differ.
Take Advantage of the Blitz... Screen It
The Colorado School of Mines football program has earned the reputation for relying on the forward pass to move the ball offensively. Over the past four seasons, we have averaged 322.1 passing yards a game. The success that we’ve had throwing the ball has increased the amount of blitzes we see from the defense. We needed to develop other phases of our offense to make the blitz a high-risk endeavor for the opposing defenses. Two ph
Defensive Drills for Every team: Pursuit & turnovers
Sponsored by Rogers Athletic www.RogersAthletic.com As I talk to many coaches across the country, I have learned the #1 drill each defensive player must perform exceptionally is the Pursuit Drill. The main goal of the drill is to set the tone for everyone on the field to get to the football every play. Over the past months, I have reviewed game film from the past few years. I have been ama
Cover Story 10 Impact Stats To build a championship team. AFM has researched and ranked the top statistical categories t
Boise State\'s Defensive Line Run Technique
“The instant we recognize the blocking scheme we shed the block and either make a play or run to the ball.” - Romeo Bandison Between the 2002-2004 season, Boise State ranked in the top 25 at number 12, 15 and 13 in the final collegiate poll. In those three seasons, our defense has also been in the top 20 in the nation versus the run: #16 - 2002, #11 - 2003, and #10 - 2004. At Boise State we play a
Kentucky's Best Passing Game Drill
Football coaches often ask each other, "What is your best drill?" At the University of Kentucky, our best offensive drill is called Routes On Air. It is the cornerstone of how we teach and practice our pass offense with our quarterbacks, receivers, and running backs. One of the reasons that our staff was hired at the University of Kentucky was because of our pass-oriented offense. This same offense was very successful for us at Valdosta State and Iowa Wesleyan. At both schools,
Learning on the Job
The days immediately following the 1997 college football season weighed heavily on the head and shoulders of Mike DuBose. In his first season as Alabama's head coach, the Crimson Tide had slipped to a 4-7 record, only the second losing season at Alabama since Coach Paul "Bear Bryant" Bryant returned to Tuscaloosa after the 1957 season. Losing at arch-rival Auburn by one point in the final seconds was one thing. Losing to programs such as Louisiana Tech, Kentucky, Arkansas and M
Heartbreak in the Heartland
Not unlike like millions of fans, players, coaches, alumni and followers associated with what became known as the Big Red Machine, Frank Solich had no idea what a profound effect Tom Osborne would have on his life. In 1962 Solich was a fullback for Bob Devaney's Huskers, and a young assistant football coach named Tom Osborne was teaching classes on the side to help supplement his meager coaching stipend. Solich was enrolled in an educational psychology. Osborne was his i
Top 15 Advancements in Football Products & Services
Digital Editing Systems - Arguably the greatest advancement (in any sport) in the areas of scouting and teaching aids, digital editing systems give teams an unprecedented advantage in obtaining and presenting detailed information. The best part – the last several years has seen a drop in pricing. Artificial Turf - The one thing coaches preach to their players is the one thing that today’s grass-like artificial turf provides – consistenc
High School Strength and Conditioning
“But if I knew then what I know now, we might have won a few more championships.” - Mike Nitka In Indiana, basketball is king. Except at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis. Sure, the basketball teams have enjoyed modest success recently. But since 1984, the football program has won seven state championships, been nationally ranked three times, including a national championship in 1991. Strength coach Kevin Vanderbush is la
3 High School Programs - 3 Different Strategies for Success
They seem to be there every year. Like a leaf changing color in the fall or students grumbling about going back to class, the high school football elite return each season to reclaim their dominance. These high school powerhouses didn’t earn their reputations overnight. But how did these teams reach this unique place? What road takes a football program to the pinnacle and then keeps it there for season after season after season? Players change. Even coac
The Multiple Screen Passing Game
Various screen passes have been an important part of our multiple offensive attack at Iona College and all the other schools I have coached at (St. Joseph’s College, Morehead State University, Lehigh University and Fordham University) throughout my career. We have always emphasized the use of multiple formations, multiple personnel groupings, and a multi-dimensional offense that attacks the whole field and attempts to keep the defe
Feeder Frenzy
No one would have predicted it. No one in Elizabethtown, Ky., in 1998 and ‘99 would have looked at the seventh and eighth graders playing for T.K. Stone Middle School and guessed they would someday reach the 2003 state championship game as high school seniors. “I don’t remember their record but they were pretty much a .500 team in seventh and eighth grade,” former Elizabethtown High School coach Brett Burnett said. “But that was a group of
1/2 Block 1/2 Wall Return
\"Over the past four years our Punt Block team has been responsible for 18 blocks and 5 touchdowns.\" - Jay Sawvel It is certainly an honor to share some ideas regarding our Punt Block team. When we arrived at Southern Illinois University four years ago we felt that being aggressive on special teams served two main purposes: 1) in our early days at SIU we had to generate plays in the kicking game in order to be competitive, and 2)
Back to Basics
During the last three years, the Ponderosa football staff has committed itself to focusing on the fundamentals of defensive football. The first twenty minutes of every defensive practice are spent on either a team pursuit drill or a circuit. Our circuits are something we feel are unique and they have allowed us to emphasize the importance of executing basic football skills. Since the inception of this philosophy in 2001, we have amassed 53 inte
Redefining Murphy\'s Law
Harvard coach Tim Murphy is enjoying rare success despite dealing with handicaps many Division I coaches might bristle at facing. He works at the nation’s oldest college, one of the world’s elite educational institutions, so Murphy and his teams must live up to traditions nearly as old as America itself. He must also recruit student-athletes who can handle academic standards that might appear impossibly high. In addition, Murphy has zero athletic scholar
In Good Hands
PURPOSE: To increase the number of catches per day in a short time period. COACHING POINT: During each drill, the coach can emphasize the proper techniques he is teaching. Emphasis should be placed on stance, start, release, controlled run, stick and separate. Also very important is stem, quickness in and out of the break, proper route technique, steps (plant foot), body control and hand and eye coordination.
Five-Step Protection Scheme
At Olivet Nazarene University we base all of our passing philosophies on protecting the quarterback first. Our five-step passing game is based on three different protection schemes, the ability to have 7, 6, or 5 men to stay in and protect the passer. Which protection we use is not always based on formation, but rather we base our protection scheme on the needs of a particular route concept. Sometimes we will line up with two backs in the backfield. But a par
College Strength & Conditioning coach of the year
Mike Gentry has built a foundation of success in Virginia Tech’s weight room and is becoming a legend among his peers The weight room. You want to talk about the basics and building blocks of any football program, start with the weight room.That’s where the foundation is built. Players are in the weight room nearlyevery day, working on getting stronger, quicker, more flexible and more explosive.Mike Gentry, the director of strength and condi
High School Coach of the Year
For Southlake Carroll head coach Todd Dodge, the 2004 season brought intense pressure and the highest of expectations. With 11 returning starters from last year’s state runner-up team, including All-State quarterback Chase Daniel, the Dragons were not only the favorites in Texas but also in the nation. Yet, while a strong nucleus of players returned, six of Dodge’s eight coaches did not, including defensive coordinator Charlie Stalcup. He succumbed to a fiv
Running Back Routes in the Air Raid Offense
When you think of the “Air Raid” offense, the first thing that comes to mind is great quarterbacks and elusive receivers. Over the years this offense has generated a great deal of yardage through the air. A large portion of that comes from the involvement of our running backs. Our running backs play a vital part in our offense because they give us the opportunity to create mismatches with different defenders
Coach of the Year - A Season for the Ages
He knew it was over. Tommy Tuberville and his whole staff would soon be shown the door, despite four consecutive winning seasons, four bowl games and share of thee division titles in five seasons at Auburn University. One more game, against archrival Alabama, and they would all be out looking for new jobs. “I had already put in my application to be a greeter at Wal-Mart,” he would later joke. Laughter helped. Gallows
Can Your Quarterback Handle the Clock?
The topic of clock management can be one that is talked about a great deal in coaching meetings, but one that can be easily overlooked, especially in the overall preparation of the quarterback. I hope you will find the following information helpful in some way. Clock Management as defined is the QB’s ability to control the clock efficiently in all situations:, A. Dea
Disruptive Behavior
The old cliché “The Defense Wins Championships” is definitely true. I can also speak specifically to this after our team, the Pearl River Community College Wildcats, won the 2003 MACJC State Championship and the 2004 National Championship. Not only do I believe this defensive philosophy to be true and to work toward maintaining a defense that will produce champions, but any and all championship contenders must work on developing a defense that will keep th
Schutt Sports College Coaches of the Year
Tim Murphy Harvard Triumph – thy color is Crimson Tim Murphy choreographed every step of the way for Harvard, and he led his team to a 10-0 record – the first time since 1906 the team had recorded a double-digit victory total. Since replacing the well-respected Joe Restic in 1994, Murphy has led Harvard to four Ivy League titles in nine seasons, including two unbeaten and untied seasons.
The Staff Report
With the football season ending, you and the athletes you coach need to stay motivated in the off-season so your team can come out in spring practice running on all cylinders. In addition to staying motivated in the off-season, you do not have to wait until next season begins to start mental training. In fact, the off-season is a great time to work on your team’s mental skills. Most coaches will agree that talent alone is not enough for success and other inta
A Look Inside Coaches Office: Troy Morrell
AFM: What was it like the first time you stepped into your office knowing that you’re in charge of Auburn football? TT: When I first stepped into the office I was amazed at how large it was... it’s probably bigger than all the offices I’ve had as an assistant coach combined. It was built by Coach (Pat) Dye and the complex itself houses everything. With all the windows,
Multiplicity
In the world of offensive football, some coaches believe “the simpler the better.” They will use three to four formations per game, which will allow for the reduction of assignment errors by the players. However, the offense becomes limited in its options. Other coaches take the approach of creating personnel mismatches through multiple formations; they will enter a game with as many a 15 to 20 formations. The first step is to introduce your team to the bas
Letter from the Editor
An overall football budget includes a variety of items: equipment, field maintenance, health issues including doctors and a support staff, salaries for staff, travel, on-the-road meals, security, and a number of other factors. Obviously, the budget for a high school football team differs from that of a Junior College or Division I-A program. But more and more programs-at all levels-are including funding for the growth of a new position with the structure of the
Sterling College\'s - Principles of the 3-4 Defense
Every coaching staff in America has to have a starting point when they put together an offensive or defensive scheme. Our defense staff at Sterling College is committed to four main principles. First of all, we are committed to having our best eleven football players on the field. Secondly, we want to position players where they will be able to make plays by being deceptive. Thirdly, we want to be assignment proof. And, finally, we want to minimize the ability
5 Tips for Breaking Down Film
Every coach starts somewhere. Whether it the first year of freshman football in high school or on a Pop Warner team or in a coach’s meeting, most football coaches can remember the first time they started watching film. For Matt Kelchner, it started at home. Kelchner, head coach of Div. III Christopher Newport, still remembers seeing grainy football film for the first time. It was at home. His father, a college coach, would bring home a film projec
Unsung Hero
A week in the life of Tulsa’s video coordinator, Gabe Haney Good coordinators are vital to the success of any college football program. But if all you’re thinking about is the guys in charge of your offense and defense, then you’ve overlooked a key position. When time is tight and the stakes are high, you better make sure that you’ve got a top-flight video coordinator who can break down every bit of information about your opponent and your own team in
Football Video Technology:
When a football program is on the smaller scale, we have to imagine that when it comes time for budgeting, there are certain items that take precedent. Obviously, the team must be equipped with the proper tools: helmets, shoulder pads, shoes and those items necessary to outfit a college or high school football player. The next item that must take precedent is
Technology and Your Budget: Hints and Suggestions
NFL teams are spending millions on video technology and complex computer systems. Division I-A teams are spending hundreds of thousands on their own versions of the same technology. So what? What does that mean for NCAA Division II and III, NAIA, junior college and high school programs with limited budgets and resources? Do you find yourself at clinics and conventions walking right past the tech booths and ignoring the tech seminars, afraid you
2005 December 2005 Innovators of the option • From Scouting Report to Game Plan • True Football Speed • Quarterback Fundamentals November 2005 It Starts in the Trenches • Attacking Defenses with the Veer • 4 Technical Components of Punt Coverage • Teaching
Science & Common Sense
Systematic resistance training and conditioning has become accepted as a precursor to increased athletic success and an important component for reduction of athletic related injury. Nearly all high school and college football programs participate in some type of weight training, speed, agility and conditioning regimens. The football coach can find the available information relat
Strength in Numbers
Tommy Knotts Quarterbacks Coach, Duke Former Head Coach, Independence High School Charlotte, N.C. 2003 football team: Class 4A State Champions Whether it be a rigorous strength and conditioning program or an abundance of talented players such as Florida quarterback Chris Leak – most likely the two feed off each other – Tommy Knotts has mastered high school football in
Discipline & Confidence
Related Videos American Football Monthly now offers a full line of coaching videos. So, if you enjoyed this
Pride in the Work Place
Tommy Moffitt demands and gets results. He’s just not always there to see them. Moffitt, AFM’s Samson Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year, helped tighten up Tennessee as the Vol’s head associate strength and conditioning coach from 1994-97. In 1998, after Moffitt had accepted a position under Butch Davis at Miami, Tennessee upset Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl to capture the first BCS National Championship. Bad timing. Moffitt spent the next two y
Maximum Focus Maximum Results
Directly after Super Bowl XXXVIII, six parked buses sat out in front of the locker room area outside Reliant Stadium. Three for New England, three for Carolina. The Patriots had just won their second Super Bowl in three years. Adam Vinaterri’s 41-yard game-winning field goal capped off an exhausting fourth quarter that saw 37 points scored, 18 in the last three minutes. Carolina strength and condi
Football Speed
If you’re the fastest team on the field, great! If not, you have a problem. So let’s prevent that from happening. Sound easier said than done? Well, it’s easier than you think. In most cases, when a linebacker gets beat by a running back around the corner, we simply think the running back is just faster. But in more cases than not, the running back didn’t get around the corner because he had more speed;
Motivating Athletes in Your Strength Program
Ask any strength and conditioning coach to name their primary objective, and almost all will say motivation. In my experience as a strength and conditioning coach, the true foundation for optimal strength and conditioning is effort. And the major factor contributing to effort is motivation. Effort is the key to attaining the goals and objectives you have set as a coach for your program. In order for a c
Black Bear
Related Videos American Football Monthly now offers a full line of coaching videos. So, if you enjoyed this
Schutt Sports Regional High School Coaches of the Year
West Regional Tom Joseph Mountain View HS (Mesa, Az.) 2003: 13-1, 5A East Valley Regional Finalist Record at school: 27-1, 2 years Career record: 94-40 Tom Joseph’s Mountain View High School football program has established an incredible tradition. In the 25-year history of the school, Mountain View has won eight state ch
Leading the Charge
Every college football head coaching job is tough in its own way. Every job presents its own trials, its own pressures. For Miami (Ohio) coach Terry Hoeppner, some of the most unique and heavy challenges in the history of college football surround him and try to stare him down every day. Every college football head coach has an office, too. None of them are like Hoeppner’s office complex. His place of work is
Sharing Information Just Became Easier
For nearly a decade, thanks in many ways to publications like American Football Monthly, technology in football has become the norm rather than the exception. Every major football program, college or pro, has relied heavily on the latest forms of capturing, editing and exchanging video to enhance its ability to compete both on and off the field. Yet, very few football programs have the mega-million dollar budgets of major college football – much less t
Schutt Sports National High School Coach of the Year
Pictures Perfect
To find out something about Kelly Donohoe, the coach, all one needs to do is examine his record the past four years at Blue Springs High School. Under Donohoe’s direction, the Wildcats have gone 45-5 with two perfect seasons and a pair of Class 6 state championships. To find out about Kelly Donohoe, the man, spend an afternoon at his fashionable Eastern Jackson County home and watch him interact with his wife Jennifer, his high school sweethea
Rodeo Circuit
Related Videos American Football Monthly now offers a full line of coaching videos. So, if you enjoyed this
3-5-3
It seems like the phone never stops ringing at Georgia Military College. Since installing a new defense in 2001, the small college in Milledgeville, Ga., has become the de facto expert on the subject. And it seems that the more people hear about the 3-5-3 defensive scheme that they run, the more the phone keeps ringing, with coaches from high schools to colleges trying to find out GMC’s secret. “I can’t beg
Finishing Strong
We’ve reached the midpoint of the season. You spent your spring and much of the summer training your players, evaluating up and coming talent, and refining your game plan – adding a few wrinkles that you picked up from the pages of American Football Monthly and coaching clinics you might have attended. The end of summer marked the beginning of the football season with the introduction
A Dramatic Jump
It’s not supposed to be this easy. Teams simply cannot make the jump from Division I-AA to D I-A and immediately be competitive. The talent, the depth, it just isn’t there. Division I-A has the SEC, the ACC, the PAC-10 and the Big 12. That’s where the athletes are. That’s where the good teams are. Not in Maine, Delaware... or Connecticut? The game is ‘a-changing.’ The o
6 Issues That May Be Effecting You
In the early part of the 20th century, there was a loud hue and cry to ban football. The game was violent, dangerous and apparently out of control. President Teddy Roosevelt had decided it was a brutal activity. There had been many deaths in one year. Football coaches who would soon find themselves out of a job took it upon themselves to clean up the game and make it acceptable. They rewrote the rules, got rid of the flying wedge – a syst
Cover Story Coach Searches: Making the Right Fit By David Srinivas
Maximizing Player Performance
Coaches don’t need as much reminding these days. The summer of 2001 brought heat-related football illnesses to the forefront. The death of the Minnesota Vikings’ Korey Stringer in 2001 brought a rash of media attention to the issue of staying cool during football training camp. It was indicative of a larger issue – from 1960 to 1998, there have been 91 documented heatstroke deaths related to football. When the story became national news,
510 And Counting
For the Record John McKissick’s Record as head coach at Summerville High School: 1952-2003
A Coach\'s Perspective: How to Deal with Kids
You can make a significant mark if you put 40-plus years in the coaching business. And Pat Collins certainly hasn’t been cheated during a career that began in 1963. Collins’ experiences have been many and varied – he has coached in high school, college and the pros. He was an assistant at Louisiana Tech when a sophomore named Terry Bradshaw was tearing up the college ranks. Collins won a Division I-AA championship as head coach at Northeast Lou
Making the Jump
You ask Tommy Knotts why he decided to leave his job as head coach of one of the most dominant high school programs in America for an assistant’s job at a college football program. You wonder how he could leave Independence High School in Charlotte, N.C., where his teams have won 62-straight games, the second-best mark in the country. You assume it’s because of some major life-changing event. Was
Under Pressure
Before I begin, I would like to thank the people at American Football Monthly for giving me this opportunity. I also owe Coach Dirk Koetter and Coach Brent Guy thanks for allowing me to represent our staff in these pages. These are some concepts we believe in at Arizona State. Hopefully, there are a few things you can use with your players as well. You
Industry Watch
There has been much advancement in the game and profession of football throughout its history – advancements such as the forward pass, film study and television. Today, football is currently experiencing one of its greatest advancements in one area of the sport. Walk into any football facility at any level and you’ll see products that you would have never seen just a decade ago. It’s not uncommon to see a digital video
The Long Red Line
As football coaches, we have all heard the theory that the difference between winning and losing close games often comes down to special teams play. At Monmouth College, we believe sound execution, communication and efficiency in the kicking game are the cornerstones for success. Special teams demand a great deal of preparation, organization and attention to detail. Philosop
If at First You Don\'t Succeed
One nasty defeat gnawed away at Kirk Ferentz’s gut for a full year. When Iowa rolled through the Big Ten schedule in 2002 and won eight straight games without a loss, it was one of the top stories in college football. Ferentz, then in his fourth season as head coach of the Hawkeyes, figured his team would be competitive in the Big Ten, but critics saw them as a middle of the pack team. With mobile Brad Banks at
Randy Shannon
Ray Lewis, Phillip Buchanon, Ed Reed, Duane Starks, Warren Sapp, Vince Wilfork, Sean Taylor, Jonathon Vilma ... the list goes on and on ... and on and on. Clearly, the University of Miami wins because of one reason – talent. Actually, there are 36 reasons, as in 36 NFL first-round draft picks since 1984, the most of any college or university. With all that talent, Sebastian, the ‘Canes mascot, might as
Stepping Out of the Shadows
When George Lumpkin was a young assistant coach at Hawaii, he worked alongside an assistant with big hopes and dreams for his career. That assistant started at Kent State, moved to Hawaii, made stops at San Jose State, Cal, Tennessee and Ohio State before finally moving on to an extended pro football career. Lumpkin and his friend kept in touch and he even visited him professionally over the years, tapping into his friend’s
Letter From the Publisher
Quick. Pick a legendary head coach that you most respect from football’s past or present – it could be Rockne, Bryant, Osborne, Paterno, Bowden, Gagliardi, Robinson, McKissick – anyone. Now guess the one thing that you have in common with your choice. Wins? Probably not. Championships? Keep working at it. Longevity? Let’s give it a few more years. How about this – aside from the passion for the game and profession of football, they wer
Crunch Time
Diagram 1. Diagram 2.
Rushing Ahead
Over the past five years we have had quarterbacks who have been 6-foot-1 or less. For this reason we have been in the shotgun a considerable amount of the time. We wanted to have threats with plays other than the passing game. We have been good throwing the ball but we needed more. We are always trying to gain yards but we also want to eliminate the negative yardage plays.
Maximizing Player Performance
It’s the summer of 2003, and the Oklahoma Sooners football team doesn’t have much to complain about. The squad is ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press and the ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Preseason Poll, and the Sooners are enjoying the return to national prominence brought upon by coach Bob Stoops and his dominating defense. The team is preparing for a season that would see it lose the National Championsh
The Next Level
There’s nothing obvious about Gary Patterson’s background that would suggest he could be one of the nation’s hottest college football coaches. There’s nothing that stands out on a life resume that starts with growing up in a small Kansas town, playing Juco ball on an academic scholarship, walking on and playing special teams for a perennial college football loser, coaching at places most college foo
Keeping Drives Alive: Effective Third Down Game Planning
At Western Michigan University, we utilize a multi-faceted approach when it comes time to game plan third down. It is a cooperative effort, involving all of the members of the offensive staff and the head coach. Before any meaningful discussion on third downs takes place, you must develop the down and distance parameters that will guide you through your game planning. We have two general categories, run situatio
Fired Up?
As the new football season arrives, coaches around the nation are preparing for the tasks and challenges they will soon face when the 2004-2005 football season gets into full swing. However, nothing ever goes just as planned or scripted in any coach’s playbook and that’s why coaches, just as the athletes I work with on the mental game, need to develop strategies to deal with the myriad of responsibiliti
His Own Man
Delaware’s K.C. Keeler doesn’t have many bad days. And since his return to his alma mater in 2002, neither have the Blue Hens. “I’ve never seen him in a bad mood,” said Mike Corey, co-host of the “K.C. Keeler Show” on 94.7 FM, the River. “Even if he is having a bad day, you would never be able to tell it.” Maybe that’s because, these days in Newark, Del., there’s
Attention! Forward March!
No one is more excited about the upcoming season than Bobby Ross. And, yes, he knows all about his new team’s recent struggles. “I still have the energy so I might as well use it,” says the 67-year-old head coach, who received the nation’s longest losing streak as a welcome back gift. Ross became the 34th head football coach at the United States Military Academy in December. He returns to the sidelines
LSU
It is an honor to represent Coach Nick Saban and the entire LSU football program, and to share some thoughts on our organizational structure that we feel are paramount to having consistent and productive special teams play. Almost every program claims that they are committed to special teams, but as Coach Saban constantly reminds us, “Your actions speak so loud I cannot hear what you say.” At LSU, we fe
Open Door Policy
With this issue, American Football Monthly begins a new section of the magazine entitled Open Door Policy... it’s an inside look at the office of a head football coach. But not just the inner-workings of a day in the life of a coach, but what goes on behind the scenes; that is, the good, the bad, and the unusual. It’s an intimate look inside a coach’s den.... Our first Open Door
3-Step Passing Game
It is my pleasure to share with you the cornerstone of our offense at Blinn College which is our 3-step passing series. This series has been the foundation of our offense and helped us be very successful as an offensive unit. During the past two seasons we have completed 73% of our 3-step passes and averaged 12.2 yards per completion using this series. At Blinn College
Trojan Pride
It’s clear to me that I want to put together a program that can win on a consistent basis and compete for championships year in and year out. This is a grand opportunity here,” a proud Pete Carroll said early this summer during a break at his football camp on the University of Southern California campus in Los Angeles. “USC has all the elements you need for a championship program.” Coach Ca
Zone Read
The theory behind the Zone Read Play: • Simple in its’ scheme • Can be run to the TE or SE side • Can be used out of a one or two back set • May be run out of a variety of formations • Offensive line does not need to be overpowering to be effective
So You Want to be a Video Coordinator
“There aren’t too many positions available-there are 117 in Division I, 32 in NFL, and that’s it. (Smaller) schools usually don’t have enough money. It’s an extremely important position, but you’ve got to provide a decent product. Some schools provide terrible video. “There are chances to get into a job like this, but it’s tough to crack into (the business). You can’t go to school to be a video coordinator.
Leaps and Bounds
Marshall’s Brad Helton refers to him as “The Godfather of Video Coordinators.” But like most of his colleagues, UCLA’s Ken Norris is a cipher unless you are intimately familiar with his work. Over the years, Norris has worked with and for a number of football giants – men such as George Allen, Terry Donahue, John Robinson and Norv Turner. Norris has been a big help to the coaches for whom he has worked. But like all good video c
Coach Potatoes
More than 83,000 Crimson Tide fans just got real excited. They were packed in Bryant-Denny stadium to see the first ever No. 1 team visit Tuscaloosa. Alabama had just capped off a six-play, 80-yard drive with a Brodie Croyle 20-yard touchdown pass to Triandos Luke, cutting top-ranked Oklahoma’s lead to 13-10 midway through the third quarter. With the momentum clearly on their side, ‘Bama’s defense forced th
Letter From the Publisher
In the five years that we’ve been publishing American Football Monthly’s annual Technology issue, we’ve seen many advances in the various software and hardware designed specifically for football. Today’s technology allows coaches to merge diagrams and video together in presentation formats, trade game film over the Internet, introduce DVD options for film quality, track the frame-by-frame movements
In the Eyes of the Beholder
It’s been about fifteen years since video tape has come into the world of college and high school football. It has imparted many changes on the way coaches do business. Film was the format of the day. It was a great format with a few important exceptions. It was not easy to work with, attested by the phrase cut-up as in actually cutting it up to get what you wanted. It was not an easy process to get the final product as it had to be sent out for proce
Spotlight
Pat Coleman, KC Keeler, Steve Pohl Pat Coleman Publisher & Editor, D3Football.com Why You Should Know Him: Pat Coleman has been following Division III football since the early 90s, ever since the likes of Duquesne, Iona and Georgetown played D-III. He is a 1994 g
Cover Story Leaps & Bounds: UCLA’s Video Coordinator Ken Norris - So You Want to be a Video Coordinator: UCLA’s Ken Norris on the position By David Srinivasan
The Mental Game
This article looks at ways that instructional technology and principles can be used to improve the mental performance of your football players. The focus is on decision-making. That breaks down into a player’s ability to recognize an opponent’s actions, to know his team’s schemes and his individual assignments, and to choose the correct response. It does not include executing the response. Coaches spe
The Use of Formations to Gain an Advantage
Garrison High School has a long tradition of a winning football program. We have been in the playoffs 28 times and won 22 district championships. This was the first time in my coaching career that I had taken over a program that had a winning tradition and the opportunity was there to make a good program great instead of trying to turn an unsuccessful program into a winning program. I was hired in July of 1999 an
Learning Curve
Mark Hudspeth has not wasted any time traveling down his career path. Yet, at each stop along the way – some more rocky than others – he has made sure to slow down, take his time and learn. “I think it’s very important to focus on the job at hand,” says Hudspeth, now in his third year as head coach at Division II North Alabama. “Concentrate on where you are at and where you are working. Sometimes guys are too busy looking for t
From Gloom To Glory
Here’s a warning: like every season, this story starts with a test. You thought you were done with those when you finished college, huh? Well at least it’s a multiple choice test, so you can always make an educated guess. Question 1: When your team slips in September and loses a game or two (or three), you: 1. Call all your coaching connections and start looking for another
Sunshine State of Mind
The state of Florida produces over 80 percent of the United States’ supply of citrus. Every year, the Sunshine State sells roughly $4 billion worth of oranges, tangerines, pineapples and other goods grown within its borders. About $3.5 billion worth of orange juice is exported from Florida to the rest of the country – and world – every year. As dominant as the citrus business is in the state of Florida, th
Three-Step Pass Protection
The Doane College football program has an historically successful tradition. Over the past 20 years Doane College has competed in the national playoffs during the 1980’s and 1990’s (last appearance in 1999), and has proven the test of time with consistency by accumulating a .603 winning percentage. We run the “West Coast Offense” at Doane College. Our offensive philosophy is a balanced attack that u
Mean Green
As much as any other coach in the country, Darrell Dickey, the persevering and successful head football coach at the University of North Texas, lives with the reality of college athletics, where aspiring football programs like his, are locked on a collision course with 21st century fiscal reality. “We have an athletic department that’s really struggling for money, so we have to play a very demanding sch
Rebirth of the \'Blue Death\'
Family. Above all else, the one element that most contributed to our success as a team and as a defensive unit was a family atmosphere brought to the program in the Spring of 2003 by our head coach, George Small. More important than the success experienced on the football field was the way that kinship maintained us as we endured the passing of one of our young and most talented
Family Values
“My door is open. 24-7,” says the University of Arizona’s new 42-year old football coach Mike Stoops. It’s the first policy Stoops instituted when he became the 28th coach in the 104 year history of football on the Tucson campus last November 29th. Stoops’ declaration signaled the start of give-and-take between players and coaches, a family-like feeling at a place crying for it. It’s a rare concept in the big business-like atmo
An Alabama Legend
If you seek success akin to that of Hoover (Ala.) High School’s Rush Propst, there’s a simple formula you can follow: • Start from the bottom and work your way up – paying attention to detail not salary. • Make plenty of friends in the business, and stay in touch – frequently. • Understand your limitations. • Al
Bridging the Generation Gap
77, 77, 68, 74, 67, hut? No, it’s not some ill-fated snap count devoted to offensive linemen. Instead, those are the ages of some of the most respected coaches in the business. Men like John Gagliardi of St. John’s (Minn.) University, Dick Vermeil of the Kansas City Chiefs, Joe Paterno of Penn State, Bobby Bowden of Florida State and Lou Holtz of South Carolina. There’s no doubt about the track record of these men as all are championship-level coache
An Eagle Among Us
At what point do the perceptions disappear and give way to reality? At what point do people in the football business, as well as the media and the fans, stop looking at the outside, at the skin color, at the last name, at the perception that his place in the world must be the result of a handout, a favor or a quota? What would it take to change the assumptions and move on to the facts? Would a man have
Air Raid Offense
When you think of the “Air Raid” offense, the first thing that comes to mind is great quarterbacks and elusive receivers. Over the years this offense has generated a great deal of yardage through the air. A large portion of that comes from the involvement of our running backs. Our running backs play a vital part in our offense because they give us the opportunity to create mismatches with differen
Getting the Most Out of a Football Clinic
It’s been a good but not great season. A 6-4 record was good enough to finish in second place in the division, but not good enough to earn a spot in the postseason playoffs. The year has been strangely similar to last year and the year before. It seems that a rut has developed and your team is stuck in it. That’s not all bad since there has been a lot of winning - but not en
Scorching the Defense
>Scott Maxfield is confident, maybe even a little cocky. Running his no-huddle spread offense at Blinn College, he deserves to be. After leading the nation with 558.7 yards per game at the junior college level last season, you get the impression that Maxfield’s Buccaneers can move the ball at will. In fact, he’ll come close to telling you that himself. “It doesn’t matter
The Spread Shot-Wing Offense
For years, we were a basic Delaware Wing T football team. We had great success with it, using the 3 basic series (buck sweep/trap; belly/down and power) and mixing in a good dose of play action and 3 step drop-back passes to keep defenses honest. But four years ago we started a 15 year old freshman at quarterback whom we knew was going to be somebody special as far as throwing the football before he g
No Huddle? More Chances
In 2002 the Lambuth University Eagles went 6-4 and averaged 55 snaps per game. During the spring of 2003 we put in the no-huddle offense. Our general offensive scheme did not change, just the tempo at which we ran the plays. In the 2003 season we increased our snaps per game to 70 and improved our overall record to 9-3, won a conference championship, and a trip to the playoffs. This is roughly a 27% i
Inside The Hornet\'s Nest
As coaches we are always looking for a new idea or concept that agrees with our own personal offensive or defensive philosophy. When it comes to seeking out new information, I am no exception. An article that captured my attention was featured under AFM’s old name, American Football Quarterly, entitled, “High-flying Hornets” (Volume 4, 1st Quarter). The article focused on current Texas State University-San Marcos (formerly Southwest Texas
High School Scouting
It’s Wednesday night, and for Salt Fork coach Brian Plotner and his linebackers and defensive backs, that means film night. Every Wednesday during the season, that group meets at the home of a player or coach to learn more about its next opponent. “They pick up on tendencies,” said Plotner. “They re-familiarize themselves with the formations they’ve seen in practice. “Sometimes they pick up on things I didn’t see by looking at it from a differ
The Last Rep
Practice scheduling is becoming more important with every season that passes, so American Football Monthly recently sat down with six of the top head coaches from around the country to get their thoughts on some of the major issues concerning their industry. What is a coach’s mindset entering a new season? “Coaches in Division III are at a disadvantage because we
Miles Apart
Respect: What does it take to get a little? Last season, playing in arguably one of the toughest divisions in all of sports – the Big 12 South – the Oklahoma State Cowboys posted W’s in six of their last seven, including a pair of wins large enough to end the careers of two sets of goal posts at Lewis Field in Stillwater, Okla. But despite beating Nebraska for the first time in 41-years; and despite e
Maximizing Player Performance
Every year in the month of August thousands of coaches from around the country prepare their players for yet another season of football. And every year thousands of football players are at risk of succumbing to the threat of heat illness linked to dehydration. In recent years several athletes from high school to the professional ranks have died from heat stroke, causing many to take a closer look at the importance of proper cooling and hydration techniques f
Helmet Fitting: The Perfect Fit
In today’s environment, a Football Coach must be proficient at more than organizing practices and teaching football skills. He must not only coach the football team, he must run the football program. This entails selecting, ordering, sizing, issuing and fitting the protective equipment. The proper fitting of helmets can be a time-consuming process, however, it is very critical to a properly run football p
Special Forces
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The Way It Used To Be
If there is one constant, it is that there are no constants. Over time, everything changes and nothing remains quite the same. Never is this more evident than in the profession of coaching college football. American Football Monthly recently sat down with a few of the game’s greatest coaches for a peek inside the ever-changing world of college football. From their first
Two-A-Day Recommendations
The key to a successful two-a-day training regime is full awareness of dangers, appropriate planning and preventive measures. The following tips could help your athletes get the most out of two-a-day practice while remaining safe: Plan every minute of two-a-days carefully and stick to your plan. Be sensitive to varying factors of heat, humidity, tempo of practic
Where There\'s Smoke There\'s Fire
Every year certain coaches separate from the pack … and this year will be no exception. Whether they are relative newcomers or wily veterans, these coaches are the future of high school, college and professional football. With the help of some of the top sports writers and football experts in the nation, American Football Monthly has compiled a list of coaches that it believes will make such an impact in
Coaching the Player
I appreciate the opportunity to share my thoughts concerning coaching the player. As you well know, the hub of your program is the players and the effective job you do in coaching them. I. Coaching – Teaching and Parenting II. Challenge of Coaching (raise his self image) A. Making each player the best he can be. Total Person – student, player and person.B. It starts w
My Three Sons
In Bill Mallory’s Bloomington, Ind., office, there is a picture hanging on the wall of the former coach celebrating on top of his team’s shoulders. Like all good pictures, there’s a story behind this one, and it reflects what family and football is all about. In 1987, Mallory, in his fourth year as head football coach at Indiana, had his team off to a 5-1 start, and with wins over Ohio State, Northwestern and Minnesota,
Making a Point
Over midway through the 2003 season in which he has a team potentially bound for Florida state championship hardware again, there probably aren’t many prep coaches who wouldn’t want to be in the shoes of Palm Bay’s Dan Burke, who considers himself one of the luckiest in the business. Burke, with his team on the radar of the USA Today top 10 all season long and a nationally televised game on The Football Network, has buil
Hired! Now What?
Last month, American Football Monthly gathered a panel of experts to give you the tools you need to get your next job in part one of a two-part series focused on career management. AFM discussed everything from networking, resumes, interview skills, salary negotiations, coaching agents and dealing with the media. This month, AFM pulls out all the stops in part two as we show
OSU: Defensive Fundamentals
Two basic defensive fundamentals that we teach at Oklahoma State are 1) How to defeat a block and 2) Pursuit angles to the football. Both fundamentals are key to the success of any defense. In order for a player to be productive, he must first get himself in position to make the play. Defeating a block The first block sequence that we teach is how to defeat a base block. The progres
Letter From the Editor
With a 29-26 come-from-behind victory over then-No. 10 Bethel College (Minn.), John Gagliardi of St. John’s University (Minn.) surpassed Eddie Robinson to become college football’s all-time winningest coach with 409 wins. The 77-year-old Gagliardi, who has coached at St. John’s (Minn.) for 51 seasons, has averaged eight wins a year in his 55 years as a head coach. Grambling State’s Eddie Robinson averaged seven wins
Stepping Into Retirement
Forget about Bob Stoops, Jim Tressell and Larry Coker. The best college football coaches in America are the former coaches who show up when they want to at home football games, sit in their suites or club level seats surrounded by family and friends and thank the football gods that they no longer have to sweat the outcome. There’s nothing like retirement to make a head coach the second most popular guy in tow
Starting From Scratch
No matter what level of football you’re coaching or playing, it’s hard enough to maintain a successful program these days. From high school to Division I to even the NFL, there are budgets, injuries, ever-growing parity with technology and those inevitable peaks and valleys. That’s talking about established programs. What’s it like to try to create all of those things programs strive for: fans, top-tier
Avoiding Major Mistakes in the Interview Process
Networking: Make the Most of Every Opportunity
Steppin\' Out
Former coach and forever Grambling State legend Eddie Robinson doesn’t come on campus as much these days. Maybe it’s because, at 84-years wise, Coach Robinson’s sideline agility isn’t what it used to be. Winning 408 football games will do that to you. Or maybe it’s because he’s satisfied, knowing that a budding superstar has filled his giant shoes, which were left behind upon college football’s all-time winning
Tiger Attack
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Etched In Stone
Perhaps Super Bowl-winning head coach Jon Gruden, of Tampa Bay, said it best when describing the profession of coaching when he told American Football Monthly, “Coaches are like offensive linemen, you don’t hear much about them unless they are in the transactions section changing jobs.” Unfortunately that is sometimes the case, but the fact remains that coaching is still one of the most rewarding
The Way It Used To Be
If there is one constant, it is that there are no constants. Over time, everything changes and nothing remains quite the same. Never is this more evident than in the profession of coaching college football. American Football Monthly recently sat down with a few of the game’s greatest coaches for a peek inside the ever-changing world of college football. From their fi
Goin\' Up
It would be so easy to say it’s all the head coach. Take a look at his success, his overall record, his impact on the program and the fact that seven of his assistant coaches have left the program in the past three years and moved on to higher levels of college football and the program hasn’t skipped a beat, and it’s easy to say the head coach must be the reason. But what about the university? The tradition
Cover Story Resurrection - Hal Mumme and Woody Widenhofer return to football to revive Southeastern Louisiana football and their careers. Read the complete article >>> April 2003 Staff Meeting
Attacking the Blitz Defense
Related Videos American Football Monthly now offers a full line of coaching videos. So, if you enjoyed this clin
The Last Rep
The strength and conditioning industry has gone from being an afterthought in most football programs to being the cornerstone of any championship foundation in just the past 20 years. Men like Kim Wood, Boyd Epley, Dan Riley, Joe Juraszek and John Dunn have carved a path of knowledge and success – sometimes thru trial-and-error – for all those to follow.
Training Mr. Everything
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Making \"Quality\" a Priority
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Maximizing Player Performance
Presented by Gatorade Sports Science Institute By their very nature, football coaches are always looking for the latest drills to teach championship-winning techniques, for the best strategy for goal-
The Way It Used To Be
If there is one constant, it is that there are no constants. Over time, everything changes and nothing remains quite the same. Never is this more evident than in the profession of coaching college football. American Football Monthly recently sat down with a few of the game’s greatest coaches for a peek inside the ever-changing world of college football. From their first job t
Throwback
Attention all coaches: Think conditions are tough where you are? Try taking a group of talented, but often-immature, teenagers and transforming them into not only Division-I football players, but also into NCAA-caliber students. Oh by the way, you have only two years to do it. Seems like an impossible mission – for the average coach. Luckily for 24 Georgia Military Bulldogs, who, in the last three years, hav
Using The Inside Screen as a Weapon
It is an honor to have the opportunity to be a part of what I feel is the best football publication in the world. I have had the chance to read American Football Monthly religiously in my collegiate coaching career. I will be a first-year offensive coordinator at Marietta College. I came from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where I began coaching tight ends as a graduate assistant and eventually became an offensive line coach. I have
In Your Face and Aggressive!
In order to be successful against today’s high-powered offenses, and all the skilled personnel they can throw at you, defensive backs must possess incredible physical talent and mental tools. They must be able to run with the fastest, jump with the highest and hit with the hardest. In addition, they must have very selective memories, be without conscience and have no guilt or remorse. Their abilities and
Full Circle
Coaching didn’t appear to be in the cards for Sam Wyche when he took his bonus money from playing in Super Bowl VII with the Washington Redskins and invested in a sporting goods business. Legendary NFL coach and owner Paul Brown had already told Wyche, a career backup quarterback, that he would be a coach someday, but Wyche’s original investment took off and soon grew to 13 retail and wholesale stores in North and South Carolina.
The Last Rep
Although playing both ways is very rare in college and professional football, coaches are often forced by need to utilize two-way athletes to increase their team’s odds of success. American Football Monthly recently sat down with six of the top college position coaches in the nation that have experience in working with two-way athletes. How do you prepare a two-way a
The Way It Used To Be
If there is one constant, it is that there are no constants. Over time, everything changes and nothing remains quite the same. Never is this more evident than in the profession of coaching football. American Football Monthly recently sat down with a few of the game’s greatest coaches for a peek inside the ever-changing world of football. From their first job to their last, their first championship season to their f
LSU\'s Offensive Line Drills
First of all I would like to say it is an honor to be able to represent head coach Nick Saban and the LSU football staff in American Football Monthly. As coaches we know the game is always changing, but some things never change. You must know fundamentals, you must be able to block and tackle. There are many ways to skin a cat but these are some of the basic fundamentals that we “hang our hat”
Dominate 4th Down
Starting a program from scratch in 2000 brought enormous challenges for the coaching staff at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas. One key foundational element that allowed us to challenge the best teams on our schedule in such a short period of time was the commitment to be productive offensively on fourth down. Field position gained by effective punting has become a trademark of ETBU fo
The Right Way
Unlike the NFL, where free agency allows a team to upgrade its roster yearly, rebuilding a struggling college team can be a long, grueling process, usually filled with defeat and frustration. However, a successful resurrection can be one of the most gratifying, fullilling and respected accomplishments of a coach’s career. Before Bill Snyder took over at Kansas
The Last Rep
Practice scheduling is becoming more important with every season that passes, so American Football Monthly recently sat down with six of the top coaches from around the country to get their thoughts on some of the major issues concerning two-a-days and pre-season preparation. How do you get yourself and your players prepared for two-a-days? “More than anything, I
The Home Team
8 Tips In an effort to keep football coaches on good terms with their significant others, AFM has compiled these eight tips to help you maintain balance between career and family: 1) Pick Up the Phone - That’s right, call. Your wife understands the demands of your job, but at least pick
Pressure Points
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Focus the man behind the camera
Nearly nine years after the fact, Brad Helton can finally admit it. When he became Marshall’s video coordinator in 1995, Helton re-wired his entire office area. “That way the coaches couldn’t even come in here and make a tape,” Helton says, laughing. “At the time, I didn’t know how many programs even had video coordinators or how many people were doing it or what they were doing it with, so I did it for job security. I figured
Technology Game Plan
The arrival of spring means that spring football has begun at many college campuses across the country. Springtime also provides coaches the opportunity to visit other coaching staffs and observe their practice routines. In Texas, high school coaches especially like to take this opportunity to visit with area college staffs. Its during these times that visiting high school coaches ask me to offer my thoughts on
Film School
I started in 1992 as graduate assistant in the football video department at the University of Illinois. Prior to that I had no idea what went in to preparing for a football game. In 1996, I became the video coordinator here at the University of Oregon where I have spent the last seven seasons. Aside from trying to explain to my friends what I actually do, and convince my Mom and Dad that I ca
Outline for Technology Game-planning
With the growth of technology in football and the ever-increasing demands on coaches’ time game planning and scheduling has become even more important providing the foundation for a successful football program. This is an outline of the weekly schedule we use at Fordham University for offensive game planning. The outline also highlights the manner technology makes our film study either more efficient or allows us to study
The Staff Report
Career: 8 Guidlines for the High School Assistant Coach So you dream of becoming the head coach someday? Well, there are a few things you need to know and do that will help you earn that dream job you’ve been looking for. Anyone who wants to be a successful assistant coach and eventually a successful head coach must have certain qualities that set them
Everybody\'s All-American
Coker\'s 24-Game Winning Streak 2001 (12-0) Miami 33, Penn State 7 Miami 61, Rutgers 0 Miami 43, Pittsburgh 21 Miami 38, Troy State 7
Northwestern\'s Academic Game Plan
High School Coaches The foundation for successful college football student-athletes is laid by the high school coach. Whether the player goes on to play college bal
One Day at a Time
Bob Ladouceur has always had a good feel for football, a good sense of spacing. “I think I’ve always been able to see the whole field pretty well,” he said. This, in part, explains why the unpretentious, self-effacing De La Salle High of Concord, Calif., coach has never worn headsets or never been one to scream or holler. He’s
The Way It Used To Be
If there is one constant, it is that there are no constants. Over time, everything changes and nothing remains quite the same. Never is this more evident than in the profession of coaching college football. American Football Monthly recently sat down with a few of the game’s greatest coaches for a peek inside the ever-changing world of college football. From their first job t
Solid Ground
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unCommon Ground
At this moment, it’s probably rainy in Juneau, Alaska, sunny and hot in Key West, Fla., hot and humid in El Paso, Texas, and dry and windy in Howells, Neb. In The Bronx, it’s doing whatever New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner says it’s doing. OK, just kidding. But we’re not kidding about this: in these five culturally, socially and economically diverse areas, some
Gold Rush
In 1969, a 22-year-old college student, nine credit hours shy of graduating, accepted an offer to become the head football coach at John Curtis Christian High School – the school his father, John Curtis Sr., had founded eight years earlier in River Ridge, La. It was a dream come true for the young coach, and he eagerly arrived that summer to meet with players and organize a weight program. The summer wound down, and on the first day of pract
The History of the Wing-T
It is an honor to have the opportunity to write this article and especially since the article deals with a topic as dear to my heart as the wing-t. In my 33 years of coaching I have seen many different cycles of football but the wing-t has remained a fixture since the time before I played and throughout my time as a player and a coach. I am sure that it will continue to be a very popular system long
A Cyclone of a Secondary
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Elevation
Jenks or jinx, nothing could stop Bill Blankenship’s Tulsa Union team from running the table in 2002 for the school’s elusive first state championship in 11 seasons under his leadership. A 52-3 thrashing of Broken Arrow stifled any chuckles about Blankenship and his veteran staff not being able to win the big one and validates what has been one of high school football’s better-kept secrets outside of the Sooner State.
Undersized? No Problem
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Letter From the Editor
You know, I have been fortunate to meet some of the best people that the football industry has to offer, establish some longlasting relationships and have the opportunity to hear some pretty fantastic stories along the way. One of my new favorite stories, which – depending on who asks me and when – changes daily, was a story told to me by Tommy Condell, the offensive coordinator at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
Maximizing Player Performance
Presented by Gatorade Sports Science Institute It has been more than a year since the death of Korey Stringer,
Getting Footballs Game Ready
It doesn’t matter whether you purchase a dozen footballs at a time or 244 like Auburn equipment manager Frank Cox has each of the last five seasons. Once they are delivered, these footballs have to be made game ready. While you could simply throw the footballs out of the shipper’s box and into your players’ hands, there are a few guidelines you may wish to follow. While routines vary from program to program and even season to
The Last Rep
Practice scheduling is becoming more important with every season that passes, so American Football Monthly recently sat down with six of the top head coaches from around the country to get their thoughts on some of the major issues concerning their industry. How important is practice scheduling? “Practice is the most important time that you have. T
Simple Formations Take Advantage of Complex Defenses
J.T. Curtis’ offense isn’t complicated. Rarely will the Patriots line up in anything but the basic pro set. And you know what is coming – the veer option. Yet, for 28 years, teams have had trouble stopping it. Since 1975 – the first year Curtis utilized the split-back veer – the Patriots have reached the championship game 22 times, winning 18 titles. Since 1977, they have lost only two district games. The Patriots made 10 consecutive appearances in t
Cover Story Gold Rush: J.T. Curtis In his 33 years as head coach, J.T. Curtis has brought John Curtis Christian High School’s trophy case a national record 18 gold footballs. And counting... By David Purdum A TV Star too
How to Lose a Game
Every coach has that call he’d like to have back. It might be that defensive set on that goal-line stand that gave up the go-ahead score on third-and-goal from the five. Or that time he passed three times from inside his own 10 leading with less than two minutes left in game. If he’s lucky, maybe it’s one or two a season. Tulsa Union coach Bill Blankenship knows his share about losing, even though he hasn’t done that much of i
Counter Attack
The past two seasons we have experienced tremendous success as a team and as an offense at Northwestern College. In 2001, we were one of only seven undefeated football teams in the country. Statistically, our best running play for each of the past five seasons has been the counter play. In 2000 and 2001 we averaged 6.9 and 7.1 yards a carry respectively using the counter. When we included all of the plays that ca
Quarterback High
Without a doubt, during their short 13-year existence, Evangel Christian Academy in Shreveport, La., has left a permanent mark on the landscape of high school football. With seven state titles over the past 13 years and one national championship, the Eagles have etched their dominance in the Louisiana record books from 1A-5A and everywhere in between. But perhaps the only thing that st
Urban Development
The record book said Bowling Green was in trouble when Urban Meyer went to interview for the university’s head coaching position in December 2000. The record book said the Falcons hadn’t had a winning season since 1994. The record book said the university had replaced coach Gary Blackney in mid-season that year after nine years on the job and two conference championships. Meyer loo
The Adventures of John L. Smith
He is a man who believes in the basic lessons of life – strength, discipline, love and respect – but don’t think for a second that Louisville head coach John L. Smith is willing to go through life being satisfied with the routine and mundane. “The teams in the power conferences (the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big XII, SEC, Pac-10)
The Big Play
There is not a head coach in the country that won’t expound on the importance of having good special teams play. We all know how to say the right thing, but unless a head coach is truly committed to special teams, your players will look at the “teams,” as we call them at Michigan, as just a break between offense and defense. But most importantly, special teams must be important to the head coach.
Breaking the Mold
Imagine a day when young men still stood at attention when young ladies entered the room or when a teacher could put their arms around a kid in need or when coaches led more by example than strong words. Imagine a day when kids would say “Yes, sir” and “No, ma’am.” Or when kids lost they graciously accepted defeat and proudly shook their opponents hand. Imagine a day when students a
Maximize Player Performance:
Basic strength training is the cornerstone of any football program. After all, stronger muscles produce more force, thus increasing the athlete’s ability to produce greater speed and power, that typically means a higher level of on-field performance. Well-conditioned athletes are also less susceptible to 4 Tips to maintain speed and agility while buildi
The Staff Report
Within the game of Football the difference in many athletes performance stems from flexibility of the hips. Whether your need is to engage a man on the line of scrimmage or to come in and out of your cuts faster, your results will depend on this. An interior lineman will be able to drive through the more forcefully and the skill position athlete will be able break down faster and more efficiently. Throughout
Running with the Bulls...
EDITOR\'S NOTE: On Dec. 12, 2002, Jim Leavitt signed a new five-year contract with a total base salary worth $2.4 million. The salary escalates from $407,173 in 2003 to $596,143 in 2007, the final year of the contract. Leavitt had been under contract through 2005. In addition to base salary, the new contract includes a $25,000 annual annuity and television/radio money that escalates from $40,000 to $50,000 over the course of the five years.
Reconditioning
Days, weeks, and especially months of incessant contact, unrelenting abuse and inevitable overuse can take its toll on football players. The same can be said for those players’ equipment. The off-season can be a time for both players and coaches alike to rejuvenate and recharge from an arduous season – successful, disastrous, or simply somewhere in between. But who
Focus on Critical Information to Place Your Players in Position to be Successful
FOR LAST YEAR’S TECHNOLOGY ISSUE, American Football Monthly asked me to share some insight on the organization of game planning staff and resources.* This year, Travis Davis has asked me to again address the subject of game planning, this time regarding an often asked question: In light of the finite time we coaches have available each week for strategic planning, how can we find and use the best from th
Technology Crossroads
Bobby April had reached a crossroads in his career and his life. When the New Orleans Saints fired Mike Ditka’s staff after the 1999 season, April – the special teams coach – found himself without a job. April also found himself with a year left on his contract, and decisions to make. “I had a daughter who was going to be a senior in high school, and I wasn’t going to
Roll Call at the Ball
In order to have a great defense, you must have great pursuit and gang tackling. In order to have great pursuit, you must emphasize running to the football throughout the entire practice. This includes the time spent in our individual and team periods. You must grade the effort of your players everyday. We’ve had outstanding defenses the past few seasons. In 2000, we finished first i
Use Video Technology to Enhance On-Field Performance
Once a high school wide receiver myself, I remember the way our football coach would stress the importance of two things – execution and fundamentals. During the season, both play crucial roles in any team’s on-field performance. The off-season, however, is the best time to develop them. Free from the day-to-day headaches of game planning, the off-season
May 2002 Cover Story Information Age Bobby April of the St. Louis Rams uses technology to gain a coaching and career edge. Technology Crossroads - St. Louis Rams special teams coach Bobby April is one of a growing
Georgia Military College’s Devastating 3-5 Defense
Following the 2000 season, our staff met to discuss what we needed to do to give our team a chance to play for something special in 2001. We had just finished the season 7-3 with the #2 ranked defense in the NJCAA, but we knew we had the talent returning to do better in 2001. One of the things we decided to do was to revamp our defense and change to a 3-5 scheme. While some may question the sanity of rebuilding
Back to School
Chan Gailey File: 1974-75 University of Florida - graduate assistant 1976-78 Troy State University - defensive backs coach 1979-80 Air Force Academy - defensive assistant 1981-82 Air Force Academy - defensive coordinator 1983-84 Troy State University - head coach 1985 Denver Br
No Excuses, No Apologies, Just Football
The Morriss File 1988-89 New England Patriots - Offensive Line 1991 Mansfield, Tex., HS - Offensive Coordinator 1992 Washington (PSFL) - Head Coach 1992-93 Valdosta State - Offensive Line 1994 Arizona Cardinals - Offensive Line 1995 San Antonio (CFL) - Offensive Line
ROAD TRIP
During his formative years as a high school coach, Barry Alvarez religiously studied the game while absorbing knowledge from a variety of sources. One spring, he decided to prove he was willing to go the extra mile (or miles in this case) to learn everything he could about the X’s and O’s of football. So he piled into his car with one of his coaching buddies (a former college teammate at Nebraska) and they
Who Is Jock Sutherland?
Full games would go by and not a single pass would be thrown at the University of Pittsburgh. That is, when Jock Sutherland was the head coach. That is the brand of football he sold. As a well-known critic of the passing game, he instituted a single wing offense that perfectly matched his personality. His teams won their battles in a cloud of dust, pounding opponents into the ground with the runnin
A Rare Breed
For a head coach of a professional or college team the bottom line is always the same – it’s all about winning. But it’s the road traveled that makes the man. A coach needs to put a game plan together, teach his players how to perform and find a way to inspire them. It is the motivational aspect of the job that often gives a coach his opportunity to show his individuality.
Special Delivery
At Missouri Western we try to make special teams special. Many coaches have made the statement that special teams are one-third of the game, but actually as far as time spent on the field, they are less than that, but in impact they are more. Special team plays have a major effect on the results of the game. Blocking a punt for a touchdown or returning a kick for “six” more often than not results
NFL Coach of the Year - Bill Belichick
You thought you knew him from his days in Cleveland. You saw the images on television. The grim, stern, face, void of emotion, ratcheted with intensity. You saw the newspaper stories. The humorless, dogmatic responses. A personality as cold and brittle as the wind blowing in from Lake Erie, pummeling Cleveland. You thought you knew him, but did you? Did you really? Did the people feeding those
The Nature of a Quiet Man
Dick Jauron is by nature a quiet man. Not given to yelling, screaming or grand statements. But as head coach of the Chicago Bears, he was able to get his team to achieve grand accomplishments in 2001. Try worst to first in the NFC Central Division. Try the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs, earning a bye and a ticket to a home game in the divisional playoffs. That ticket was torn u
New Equipment
LOK-CUP SHOULDER PAD Austin Athletic Mfg. Co. 800-813-7706 www.austinathletic.com The Lok-Cup™ shoulder pad is back by popular demand. Austin Athletic Mfg. Co. presents a new and improved line of our popular Lok-Cup™ shoulder
Snake Bitten
Our defensive philosophy is to have 11 hats with speed to the ball. We accomplish this by doing a pursuit drill every day, and by coaching effort on every play. We also watch film after every practice to evaluate fundamentals, techniques, proper execution of the defensive scheme and, most importantly, effort. We believe that with great effort from all 11 players, we have a chance to win. We feel that playing with great effor
Practice With a Purpose
It is an honor to represent head coach Nick Saban and the LSU football staff in American Football Monthly. As coaches, we constantly stress to our players the importance of knowing what to do, but do not always explain when and how a scheme applies itself in a game situation. Here at LSU, we stress to our players knowing what to do, how to do it and when it applies. Our in-season practice schedule helps ou
Coach\'s Guide to Training Room Strategies
As coaches, you certainly want athletes who can give it their all day after day. Training camp is a high stress time for you as well as for your players. Not only can this experience be mentally trying, but it is physically demanding as well. Everyone is well aware of the heat-related deaths that received national attention last summer. The bad news is that summers aren’t going to be any cooler, traini
Cover Story Path To Victory Under Sonny Lubick's guidance, Colorado State is now a consistant winner The Look of a Winner - Anyone who thinks there are some programs that will never turn aroun
Freshmen can work with strength coaches
The NCAA has changed its rules to give incoming freshmen players more access to the strength and conditioning coach. The move comes on the heels of a pair of training-related deaths prior to the 2001 season. The new rule is thought of as a no-brainer by most coaches because of the disadvantages freshmen can sometimes face going against upperclassmen who have been working out all summer
Past, Present, Future
“I don’t have all the answers. As soon as I retire, then I’ll have all the answers. I’ll stay up in the stands with the rest of the fans who have all the answers, and I can answer it all then. Right now, I still have to go do it. It’s never easy to go out and get it done.” - John Gagliardi SO HOW MUCH LONGER IS JOHN GAGLIARDI GOING TO keep coaching? It’s a ques
Gary Gaines Trades Lights for Sunny Saturday Afternoons
GARY GAINES WILL BE THE FIRST ONE TO TELL YOU that nothing comes easy – especially in coaching. In fact, the Abilene Christian University head football coach wouldn’t have it any other way. Gaines, who led teams to nine playoff appearances in 17 years as a high school coach, gained national attention as the head coach of
Dale Lennon\'s 3 Keys to Success...
You don’t just win the Division II national championship without a plan. And University of North Dakota head coach Dale Lennon had one of his very own. The Fighting Sioux alumnus and former assistant coach returned to Grand Forks, North Dakota, and within three short years guided the Big Green to the national title. Recently American Football Monthly had the opportunity
The Science Of Recruiting Letters Part 1
What if you could have an in-home visit with any football recruit in the nation at any time during the NCAA’s mandated recruiting period? What if your in-home visit could take advantage of every possible opportunity to share your program’s tradition, goals and intentions with a potential game-breaking superstar that could help make the difference between a 5-6 also-ran and a 6-5 bowl run?
Words of Wisdom
Just the mention of Alabama football conjures images of hound’s-tooth hats and championship trophies; images of football past, present and future; images of great players led by even greater men. Paul “Bear” Bryant immediately comes to mind when referring to the University of Alabama. But without question, former Crimson Tide head coach Gene Stallings is a close second.
NCAA retools off-season football workout plans
Although the NCAA has had policies in effect for more than 30 years regarding the safety of players from heat-related illnesses, the Association has doubled their efforts to create an off-season conditioning program for football to make student-athlete safety the primary goal. With several heat-related deaths during the summer of 2001 in both the collegiate and professional rank
Rocky Mountain High
Dave Logan sits comfortably in his hotel room at Kansas City’s posh Crown Center talking football with me while stealing looks at the Oakland Raiders-San Diego Chargers game on the TV. As we talk, his cell phone rings. It’s his teenage daughter, Cassidy, back home in Colorado checking in for the evening. Near the end of the interview, the room phone rings. This time it’s Logan’s broadcast partner,
Turf
Artificial turf has undergone a major makeover. Instead of a hard, abrasive surface that players feared and fans despised, the newer version of artificial turf provides a softer, more cushioned playing field that wears well and can stand up under heavy usage. That’s the key to today’s artificial grass-like surfaces. For universities, colleges and high schools with
High School Coaches of the Year
SOUTHEAST Cecil Flowe Parkview High School (Lilburn, Ga.) 2001: 15-0, Class AAAAA champs, Record at school: 103-18, 9 years If Cecil Flowe were not guiding a high school football team to victory after victory, he’d probably make a good CEO. Attention to detail, hard work, planning - all qualities Flowe possesses, but the 45-year-old Parkview High Sc
Words of Wisdom.
The address for the Georgia Tech football office is 150 Bobby Dodd Way NW. The mere fact that a school would honor a coach with a street name speaks volumes of the accumulated respect and reverence the institution has for the coach. But, naming a street on campus after Coach Dodd hardly begins to tell the story of the adoration this distinguished gentleman of southern football
New Equipment
Recruiting Software From CyberSports 1-315-732-4333 members.home.net/cybersports CyberPalm allows you to take all your recruits information on the road with you, and sync any changes you made on the road when you return to the office. Now all the coaches can have access to any new information you have gathered on your recent recruiting trips. With a few clicks of the mouse, selected prospec
Division I-A Coach of the Year Ralph Friedgen
The Big Man knew. The Big Man had a plan. Sure, he had plenty of Xs and Os spinning around in that bald head of his, but he also had hopes, dreams, goals and plans. Big plans. Plans to build a program. Plans to transform a program. Plans to tear down all the old bad habits and all the losing ways and re-teach the right habits, instill a winning confidence from the ground up. Pl
A Guide to Empowering and Educating Your Athletes About Supplement Use
Let’s face it, supplements are here to stay. The lure of Bigger, Stronger, and Faster is irresistible, and all the glossy ads and quick fixes draw athletes like magnets. A Blue Cross and Blue Shield survey of teens using performance enhancers estimates that at least 1 million adolescents have tried these products. A survey conducted by the NCAA estimates that approximately 60% of college athletes have or
Why Split?
Meeting with an informal group of offensive line coaches at the national coaches convention this year, the question was asked about our wide splits in the bowl game. After some conversation with the group, it was clear that many of them had not watched us play prior to the Alamo Bowl. The truth of the matter is our offensive line has always used wide splits in some form.
Poetic Justice
My job as defensive line coach is to help my players attain our team goals, our defensive goals, and their individual goals. One of the ways I do this is by preparing them during the week for situations they may encounter during the game. On Saturdays, I do not want them thinking; I want them reacting. For this reason, I am very careful with respect to what I expose them to during the week. I try to keep i
Football Strength
It’s no longer just about lifting weights, Washington State develops flexibility, speed, skill development and conditioning to get the most out of their players. By Steve Silverman The role of the strength coach has changed dramatically over the years. A couple of decades ago, the concept of the strength coach was a relatively
Jake Gaither
For 25 years, Alonzo \"Jake\" Gaither was Florida A&M football. The juggernaut he developed in Tallahassee was every bit the equal of the powerhouse that Eddie Robinson built at Grambling. Coach Gaither, who called every player \"Baby\", won an astonishing 85% of his games (203-36-4), and more importantly made men out of the young boys who showed up at FAMU. Current Florida A&M athletic director Ken Riley,
Using Video Technology to Enhance Performance
It’s the middle of the off-season. And like normal you find yourself searching for techniques and tools that can help your athletes become better, more fundamentally sound football players. As a coach, you know there are certain attributes that make athletes successful on the field of competition. Diehard performance in the weightroom, for example. Crafting bigger and stronger athletes enhances perfo
The 80\'s Series
One of the most effective run option, pass series used at Delaware State University is our 80’s series to the tightend. This series can be run from a one or two back set. It may be used against any front and is very effective against blitzing defenses. In red zone and short yardage situations, the 80’s series has proved to be an effective scoring weapon. Our blocking schemes for the 80’s series are p
To Macho and Back with Stephen F. Austin
To start with I would like to thank American Football Monthly for providing coaches with valuable articles and ideas from some of the top coaches in the game. I am honored to submit this article and I hope it will live up to the standard of previous publications. The subject of this article “To Macho and Back with S.F.A.” is a brief overview of how we call, adjust and stem out of our Double Eagle or
Who’s Hot?
DAN HAWKINS, HC, BOISE STATE After serving as Dirk Koetter\'s assistant head coach, special teams and tight ends coach and overseeing Boise State’s highly successful community service and public involvement program, Hawkins moved up to the head coach’s job when Koetter took over at Arizona State following the 2000 season. During his time as an assistant at Boise State, t
Red Hot
RANDY SANDERS Most first-time college football coordinators get their new jobs in the offseason, with plenty of time to prepare for spring practice, more time to teach in the spring and then even more time to work toward the coming season. If they’re really fortunate, they’ll open the season against East Bugtussle State Teachers College
Triple Option Means Triple Threat
The Rice University Triple Option traces its roots to West Texas High school football. Emory Bellard invented wishbone triple option football in the summer of 1968. Coach Bellard always liked option football and the advantages three back formations gave an offense. He started toying with the concept while coaching at Ingleside and Breckenridge High Schools. Coach Bellard felt to be successful on offens
Top 25
1. De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) The coach: Bob Ladouceur (261-14-1, 23 years) 2001: CIF-NCS Class 4A champion, 12-0 For the record: Not only have the Spartans won a national record 125 games, they’ve also scored in a nation’s best 269 straight contests and were National Prep Poll titelists in 1994, ‘98, 2000 and ‘01. 2002 resume:
Big-Time Boosters
Maximize Your Booster Club - Tips to excite your boosters about fundraising, helping your program succeed. Innovative Fundraising Ideas - Here are some fundraising ideas your booster club can consider to raise anywhere from a little to a lot of
Paths to Success
On first glance, the high school football programs at Artesia (N.M.) High School and Carol City (Fla.) Senior High School look considerably different. Artesia head coach Cooper Henderson’s club works out in state of the art, modern facilities built with the help of bond issues passed by its citizens, while Carol City coach Walt Frazier’s main source of support is the fans and paren
A Coach of Life
Texas high school coaching legend Gordon Wood wasn’t interested in talking about the 396 wins, the most by a football coach at any level in history. “No one with a good record thinks about it,” Wood says when asked about a career that spanned 43 years and resulted in nine state championships in Texas. Wood began his coaching career at Rule High School in 1940, working his way thr
What Football Taught Me that the Classroom Rarely Did
From the day I was born, football has been important in my life. My father, Joe, has coached more than forty years in Texas and my brother, Chad, has been in the profession for a decade. Most of my formative years were spent at the field house. I helped my father cut the grass on the fields and lay the boundary lines. By the time I was ten, I roamed the sidelines helping him chart plays. Thinking back, I cannot believe that there was a better childhood. Because my father was a coach and a fo
Follow The Leader
When the University of Texas whipped out the wishbone in the 1960s, it didn\'t take long for college football programs all over the South to follow the trend and come up with their own version of the triple-option. When Florida coach Steve Spurrier brought a wide-open passing attack to the run-oriented SEC in the early 90s, it didn\'t take long for the rest of the conference to pick up on the trend and discover the joys of passing.When Nebraska and Kansas State starting using press-man def
Attacking the Line of Scrimmage
Philosophy: At the University of Arkansas our attitude is to attack, disrupt and create a new line of scrimmage. Our terminology is to attack, bend and spill the ball outside. We want to create one on one match-ups for our front. Our LB\'s are fast flow, thus creating stress on an offensive lineman to execute two-on-one-combo blockers. We expect to turn those two on one combo\'s into one on one match-ups. Our linemen are playmakers are not space eaters. The only exception would be tru
Climbing to the Summit
He\'s coached at the high school level, at the small college level, and the major college level for the past 24 seasons. Along the way, he\'s been an assistant head coach, an offensive coordinator, a running backs coach and a receivers\' coach. Someday, Woody McCorvey would like to be a head coach on the college level.That\'s why McCorvey is a position coach at the University of Tennessee. He knows being a coordinator or an assistant head coach might be the most obvious path to a head coachin
On the Circuit
At the University of North Dakota, we have one major goal for our defense to attain each season. That goal is to lead the North Central Conference in fewest points allowed. This is not an easy task in one of the most balanced and powerful Division II conferences in the country. Yet we have reached our goal of allowing the fewest points in our league in six of the last nine seasons. During six of the last seven seasons, we have also been first or second in our conference in total defense. While w
Working His Plan...
When one thinks of the success the Florida State football program has experienced, the first person that comes to mind is head coach Bobby Bowden. But even Bowden, who has spent more than a quarter of a century on the Seminole sidelines, has to answer to someone. That someone is Florida State Director of Athletics Dave Hart, Jr.In six plus years at the helm of the FSU athletic department, Hart has set a direction for the former women\'s college - it became co-educational in 1947 - that has es
Blood Brother
When Rutgers University Athletic Director Robert Mulcahy began his search for a new head football coach last November, die-hard Scarlet Knight fans and a large contingent of New Jersey high school coaches wanted one thing ... they wanted a \"Jersey Guy.\" They wanted what another favorite son, Bruce Springsteen, refers to in song. What they wanted was one of their \"Blood Brothers.\" They wanted a guy who spent his July weekends down on the Jersey shore cruising the boardwalk, and his Novem
Running Out of the Spread
Northwestern has certainly had a long football history - but it has not usually been very glorious.The Wildcats first started to line up and play football back in 1882 and since that time they have put together a record of 412-563-43. A lot of head shaking and fist-banging has been done by their fans over the years.The team had endured 23 straight losing seasons heading into 1995 when a bit of magic dust was sprinkled over Evanston. The Wildcats suddenly got good and got nasty. They went f
Efficiency in the Scoring Zone
From the time we watched our first game, we all understood the fundamental role of the offense in the game of football. The purpose of the offense is not to control the clock, nor is it to create field position or give the defense a rest. Although these are all important by-products of an effective offense, they are not the primary focus. The role of the offense is to score points, period. It is with that basic premise in mind that we communicate and develop our philosophy for the area between t
Cover Story Greg Schiano October 2001 Blood Brother - Perennially bad and lacking for direction, Rutgers turned its fo
Equipment Room
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H20
Working out means working up a sweat. In fact, many people believe the more you sweat, the better the workout. But losing all that fluid is just your body\'s way of cooling itself. You have to give back what\'s lost in a workout. If you don\'t, you are putting yourself at risk of dehydration that could end with serious consequences. The National Athletic Trainers\' Association has a Position Statement explaining the role of proper hydration in athletic performances. Take the time to r
Letter From the Publisher
Protecting your assets... In the business world, there are a few axioms that are universally applied by all successful companies. For example, some of these management philosophies are: focus on those things with the greatest opportunity for success; make certain you do whatever is necessary to keep your best employees; and protect your company\'s most valuable assets. However, in the football world, I fear teams sometimes ignore sound, proven and winning business strategies th
The Truth About Turf
Your quarterback is on the run. Coming from his left is a 275-pound defensive end charging with a full head of speed. Coming straight at him is a blitzing middle linebacker. You watch from the sidelines and know the inevitable is about to happen. It\'s just a matter of who is going to get to your quarterback - the end or the linebacker. The linebacker wins the race. He explodes past a would-be blocker and wraps up the quarterback with a nasty hit punctuated by his head bouncing off th
The Protector
When Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive back Damien Robinson is asked how important athletic trainers are to his game, he whips out his cell phone.\"He is the No. 1 number,\" Robinson says of Bucs head trainer Todd Toriscelli. Once thought of as those guys who toted water or taped ankles, athletic trainers are now as important to winning football programs as quarterbacks with cannons for arms or receivers who can sprint downfield undetected to catch those powerful blasts.\"I think the i
Everyone on the Same Page
In the absence of a certified athletic trainer, the head coach or coaches have many responsibilities as it relates to an injured athlete. During the course of a game, as one can imagine, all coaches are very involved with focusing on the next play, making the right substitutions, calling or signaling the right signs and searching for a way to win the game. One of the most difficult responsibilities for a coach is when an athlete is injured and his or her attention has to be refocused on ensuring
Little on Size Big on Protection
Mouthpieces are one of the required and fundamental pieces of equipment of football. Yet, many coaches do not realize that there are more options than just \"boil and bite\". Despite this requirement, a study of Arizona High School coaches states that 53% of coaches polled believes that not all of their players wore mouthguards. This same study shows that 33% of these same coaches believe they have the greatest influence over compliance of their athletes. Yet, many coaches do not realize that th
Emergency Situations: What\'s the Coach\'s Role?
Football is a collision sport and by its very nature invites injury. Participation in football requires all out exertion. There are numerous situations involving oftentimes high speed contact with other bodies or with the ground. While coaches focus on strategy and victory, they also must be aware of injury risks and know their role when a situation does transpire. Fortunately most injuries do not result in emergency situations, however, when emergencies do occur, prompt care is essential. With
Lion Heart
Coaching requires the commitment to teach, to inspire athletes to set and achieve team and/or personal goals, while simultaneously developing the all-important necessary strategies to win! At no time should a coach ever forget or choose to ignore a most basic fundamental and unwritten code: coaching involves people not just schemes or strategies. Regardless of the level or the sport chosen to coach, this code can never be forgotten or the meaning lessened: that coaches, first and foremost, are i
Buried Treasure
It\'s so easy to be wrong about what you see on the surface. So easy to dismiss the dirt on the surface and ignore the treasure below. Sometimes it takes a little more time and effort to dig for what really matters, for something precious, for the truth.When it comes to UAB head coach Watson Brown, it\'s easy to see the record and miss the point. It\'s easy to see his .378 winning percentage and draw knee-jerk conclusions. It\'s easy to see those 112 losses, compare them to 68 wins and
HOW TO REAP THE REWARDS OF PLAY DIAGRAMING SOFTWARE
No one needs to remind you that coaching is a time-consuming profession. Game planning. Practice planning. Scouting. Play diagraming. All of these things take valuable time.Perhaps you know a resourceful coach who always seems to find new ways to make more efficient use of his time. These coaches are usually the successful ones. Managing your time and your team are both necessities. So is preparing your team. One tool that can help you become more efficient and also help you prepare yo
NEVER A DOUBT
An upset? Don\'t call Oklahoma\'s national championship or its Orange Bowl victory over Florida State an upset. An upset is when a team that shouldn\'t win beats a team that should win, and that wasn\'t the case when the Sooners completed their undefeated season by beating the Seminoles 13-2. So what if Florida State was favored to win by nearly two touchdowns? So what if the Seminoles were playing for the national championship for the third time in four years? So what if the Sooners w
Leading By Example
Just four short months after assuming the reigns of the University of Oklahoma athletic department, Sooner athletic director Joe Castiglione made a decision that would shake the OU football program out of its recent doldrums and head it toward a sudden and glorious future. He hired Bob Stoops as head football coach.Prior to his arrival in Norman, Castiglione - a former football walk-on at the University of Maryland - spent 18 years rebuilding the pride and solidifying the infrastructur
The Relentless Pursuit of Excellence
Each year coaching staffs spend countless hours and large amounts of money searching for new and innovative ways to improve their defensive performance. Descriptive phrases such as \"swarming defense\" and \"relentless pursuit\" depict the type of play coaches are seeking from their defensive units. While using innovative coaching aids, advanced computer technology, and attending professional clinics can help a coach in his pursuit of these levels of performance, perhaps the most effec
Level the Playing Field
When we came to Martin a year ago, we knew that we were nearly starting from scratch. We only had thirty-eight players on our team for our first spring practice. Knowing that our numbers were low and we were going to have to play a very tough I-AA schedule with many young players, we had to try and find a way to do something different that would level the playing field. Having seen the Academies become very successful with less talent than their opposition by playing option football, and
Method to the Madness
This article is an analytical look at scheduling practices of some major college football programs. Some teams seek to insure victories. Other schools look for tough opponents for one of three reasons: 1) to prepare for the balance of the schedule; 2) enhance exposure for the program; or 3) increase revenues. While we are not advocating any one type of philosophy, we do understand that a program\'s success or lack thereof can be determined by the scheduling policies put in place. The r
Artificial Oasis
This isn\'t your father\'s artificial turf. It\'s a line that rolls off turf salesmen\'s lips nearly anytime they are asked to talk about their product. And it\'s a line that few associated with the fine art of field management dispute. Artificial turf has changed dramatically since it was first rolled out at the Houston Astrodome 36 years ago when dome officials, desperate to prove that the much-maligned facility was truly state-o
The Final Four
As coaches, we want to be prepared for every situation that may happen during a game. One of those situations is having 30 seconds left on the clock, one or no timeouts, and needing a field goal or touchdown to win or tie. How many times will this happen to you? It\'s only happened to me once - in the 1992 NAIA I national championship game between Gardner Webb University and Central State (Ohio). I was offensive coordinator for head coach Woody Fish at Gardner Webb. I wish I could t
Equipment Room
Rogers Lev Sled 1-(800) 248-0270 www.rogersathletic.com Utilize the power of leverage to achieve more gridiron victories. Only the Rogers Lev Sled requires the blocker to drive the pad to compress the spring - then he is able to elevate the pad. From Rae Crowther Co. 1-800-841-5050 www.raecrowther.com The most effective football sleds and machines in the game. 68 years of what works. 1, 2, 5, and 7 man sleds. Off
Special Delivery: Pete Rodriguez
Pete Rodriguez has a motto to match his moxie. Here it goes: No matter how nervous he might get sometimes as the special teams coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks, the blood, sweat and tears of his work are the last thing you\'ll see on his sleeve, skin or collar.\"Don\'t ever let them see you sweat,\'\' Rodriguez said. \"I try to believe in that commercial. You need to have control, and however you handle it, reflects your own personality. Some guys are real vocal and holler and scream. I
Letter From the Publisher
Storm clouds gathered over the landscape of football. The first effects were felt in Tallahassee in February when freshman linebacker Devaughn Darling died after a strenuous off-season workout. Then, on July 25, incoming University of Florida freshman fullback Eraste Autin died six days after he collapsed following a voluntary workout. As if these tragedies were not enough to make everyone associated with the game of football look hard at the types of workout programs athletes are participating
On A Mission
It\'s 8:30 on a humid Friday morning in June, and Ralph Friedgen looks frazzled, as if he\'s already worked his standard 18-hour day. Sweat sits on the face of the 54-year-old, who appears out of breath when arriving at his University of Maryland office.For the Terps new football coach, the morning has been about three hours old - and hectic at that. Friedgen chased down three of his freshmen to get them to their academic tutor on time and coordinated details for Maryland\'s ongoing high scho
Multiple Looks Create Havoc
We are often asked, \"Just what is your base front and coverage?\" When people who watch us play or opposing coaches ask, I know we are accomplishing our top priority of creating multiple looks. I believe our defensive system is one that is very simple to teach, and creates problems for opposing coaches (especially in preparation), plus it allows our players to be athletic, creative, and develop ownership. We have developed a teaching progression of both assignment and technique that
Capitol Will...
A year ago at this time, the Washington Redskins were the most hyped team in NFL history - Super Bowl expectations, $100 million payroll, marquee free agent signings. These days, the volume in Redskins land is at a monotone. One person took it upon himself to bring the franchise down to earth: Marty Schottenheimer.After a two-year stint as an ESPN analyst, the NFL\'s 12th all-time winningest coach is back on familiar turf. Since becoming the Redskins head coach and taking charge of the tea
Play Action for the Big Play
The past three seasons we have experienced much success at Jones Jr. College. In 1998, we were fortunate enough to finish the season 12-0 with a #1 ranking in one national poll. Our no-huddle, one-back offensive attack has averaged 29 points per game in the three seasons we have been together. In the spring of 1997, our staff decided to put in the one-back offense with the objective of spreading the defense. Our offensive philosophy is fairly simple. We want to determine where the defen
News & Notes
Tragedy strikes Florida as freshman FB, Autin diesEvery coach and parent\'s nightmare happened in Gainesville, when incoming Florida freshman Eraste Autin died of complications related to heat stroke, six days after collapsing and falling into a coma following a workout with teammates. Autin fell unconscious just outside Florida Field in late July while jogging back to the locker room after one of the football team\'s voluntary summer conditioning sessions. Although no autopsy wa
The Clemson Zone Combo Package
The Clemson Tigers offensive style of football was developed in accordance with and is a reflection of head coach Tommy Bowdenís personality. The offense was designed as an aggressive, up tempo, attacking style that continuously applies pressure to the defense. This attitude has produced one of the most balanced offensive attacks in the nation over the last four years. His teams have consistently averaged more than 190 yards, both rushing and passing, and have generated on average more than 440
State of Emergence
A huge photograph of a college quarterback appears, mural-like, on the side of a building across from Madison Square Garden in New York City during the past summer, touting the senior\'s candidacy for the Hesiman Trophy. Two of his teammates will appear this season on promotional billboards in San Francisco and Los Angeles.You think: Notre Dame, maybe?At the rival school up the road, they\'re hyping the star running back for the Heisman Trophy. They pose him in a photo with a prominent alu
Jon & Jay: The Gruden Brothers
He has become one of the best coaches in the NFL. Jon Gruden may be small of stature, but his commanding presence on the sidelines has been one of the main reasons the Raiders have become one of the elite teams in professional football after a long stay in mediocrity. Gruden speaks volumes with every grimace and every gesture. But coaching for Gruden is more than just an emotional display. In the m
Putting Nine in the Box
We have been fortunate to achieve an extremely high level of success at Trinity over the past five to seven years. Obviously, there is no one single factor which has allowed us to develop into a consistent winner. Playing with strong special teams, and having an offense which scores 30+ points a game has definitely helped us gain an advantage over our opponents. From the defensive side of the ball,
The Big 10
Every year thousands of coaches try to take the next step up the ladder of success thatleads to the land of head coaching. Most of these men fully believe they have \"what it takes\" and all they need is a chance. Yet, many of these same men will tell me they feel totally disenfranchised and do not know how to \"get in the loop\" or make it to the next level. So many coaches seem to feel if they wor
Scout\'s Honor
WORKING IN THE NFL ISN\'T ALWAYS ABOUT THE GLORY. Despite working in the richest and most successful league in all of professional sports, there are still a great number of key employees who aren\'t household names. Yet without them, head coaches, star players and backups couldn\'t have the degree of preparation that is seen on a weekly basis. Scouts are generally in the game for the love of it. O
Equipment Room
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High School Coach of the Year
ON A WARM SUMMER DAY LAST JULY, CATHEDRAL Prep coach Mike Mischler and 13 of his senior football players loaded into his Jeep Cherokee and a rented passenger van to begin a journey through the nation\'s heartland. The two-vehicle caravan\'s four-day swing through the college towns of South Bend, Ind., Iowa City, Iowa, East Lansing, Mich., and Ann Arbor, Mich., was an informal meet-and-greet trip for Mischler and his players - a way for them to see some campuses, meet some coaches, and
Schutt Sports: Regional High School Coaches of the Year
SOUTHEASTNick ColemanVenice High School (Venice, Fla.)2000: 15-0, Class 5A state champs, Record at school: 21-5, 2 yearsVenice High School coach Nick Coleman is a little ahead of his time. At 31, he\'s already led a team to a state championship and a national ranking. Rarely has such a young head coach accomplished so much in the highly competitive world of Florida prep football. And when Coleman started his second full season as head coach of the Indians la
High School Notes
De La Salle snars No. 1 with 113th straight win The winning continues at De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif. The Spartans, coached by Bob Ladouceur, finished the season with their ninth consecutive North Coast Section Class 4A title and 14th overall, posting a perfect 13-0 record. De La Salle has now won a national-record 113 straight games dating back to the 1992 season which explains why they were crowned national champions by the National Prep Poll for the third time. The
Practicing What You Preach
Too many times, we as coaches are guilty of talking out of both sides of our mouths. We stand before our players in meetings or in front of our peers at coaching clinics and expound on our philosophies, values and beliefs about the keys to winning football games. Yet, when we go out to the practice field, our practice structure does not mirror these beliefs. Instead, we spent too little time on what we say are the important things and get caught in the trap of using our limited practic
Tightening the Tight End
Tight ends are deeply involved in the run game, the pass game, formations, and pass protection. We want our guys to be competent in all of these areas. A one-dimensional player is going to have a difficult time excelling on a full-time basis.Football has changed tremendously in various areas. However, through the years, some basic fundamentals remain constant. Players must learn to play with a base, play with a knee bend, have sound footwork, and play with leverage, both vertically and
The Old Dog Has Some New Tricks
He\'s 64 years old, he\'s been a head coach for 29 years, he\'s won 223 games, taken six different teams to a combined total of 22 bowls, and won a national championship at one of the nation\'s most prestigious programs.He\'s the first to admit he\'s stubborn, sometimes to a fault. He didn\'t have to change his coaching methods. He didn\'t have to change his offense or his defense or his staff management style. He didn\'t have to try anything new. He didn\'t even have to take this job
Equipment Room
Rogers Lev Sled 1-(800) 248-0270 www.rogersathletic.com Utilize the power of leverage to achieve more gridiron victories. Only the Rogers Lev Sled requires the blocker to drive the pad to compress the spring - then he is able to elevate the pad. From Rae Crowther Co. 1-800-841-5050 www.raecrowther.com The most effective football sleds and machines in the game. 68 years of what works. 1, 2, 5, and 7 man sleds. Off
Built to Last
When Dimitri Jacques was courted by Florida Atlantic University, the 18-year-old senior at Miami Beach High School didn\'t know what to think. Since he was a kid he had always wanted to play for the University of Miami. But at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, he just wasn\'t big enough to play defensive end for the mighty \'Canes.On the surface, going to Florida Atlantic seemed like a risky move. Here, after all, was a school that had never even had a football team, much less a winning season.On the
Two Hot to Stop
According to the old cliche, defense wins championships and offense sells tickets, so if the rising number of offensive-related hires in recent years tells us anything, it\'s that college presidents, athletic directors and major boosters doing the hiring must be more interested in selling tickets than winning championships.But what factor sells tickets more than winning championships? Just ask the folks at Oklahoma, where coach Bob Stoops and the Sooners are the hottest ticket West of the Mis
Cover Your Bases
When coaching cover two to your athletes it is essential that they know that their first responsibility is to defend the pass. Undisciplined safeties and corners spell one thing for the offense a big play. The secondary must be able to distinguish between what is an aggressive play and what is an over aggressive and undisciplined play. Most secondary breakdowns occur when there is an over-reaction to an initial read, which occurs at the snap of the ball. A simple illustration of this is a saf
Equipment Room
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Letter from the Publisher
Every morning as I take my first glance in the mirror, I cOme face to face with the man who is rapidly (and to my amazement) starting to look like my father. And, as if I needed any further evidence that I am getting old, every half-hour I hear myself saying something to one of my four children that years ago I swore I would never say. (\"There are starving children somewhere who would love those green beans ...,\" or, \"Not everyone can be pretty, but everyone can be polite...\").I ru
Fast Facts On Fast Food
Let\'s face it, most football players aren\'t sitting around training tables at meal times. Most are standing in line at fast-food restaurants debating whether they want the No. 3 or No. 4 and whether they should super-size it or not. So what\'s a coach to do to help his or her athletes eat healthy? Well, for starters educate them. This chart, produced by health educators at the University of Illinois, clearly shows that while a lot of fast-food is good for little more than producing
Big Man On Campus
When Boyd Eply told Nebraska head coach Bob Devaney he was going to teach his Cornhuskers how to lift weights, Devaney was about as excited as if Eply had told him he was going to teach them how to fumble in the end zone.\"Why would you want to do that?\" Devaney asked. \"I have a friend at Michigan State and he doesn\'t lift weights. I have a friend at Ohio State and he doesn\'t lift weights. In fact, I don\'t know anyone in the whole country who lifts weights. The way I understand it
Running On Empty
FOOTBALL PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN TIMING PLAYERS in the 40 yard dash for years and making evaluations based on the results. But while the test is time-honored, is it really an accurate assessment of how fast a player will be on the field on any given Saturday?As an expert in speed development for football players, I feel that straight line sprint speed is only a partial assessment of an athlete\'s playing speed. The reason is obvious. Few football players run full bore for 30 to 50 yards dur
Spread Offense
A GREAT COACH ONCE SAID, \"Good football teams either do something different or they do it better.\" At Rhode Island, we try to do both. The offense we run is a combination of the run and shoot. We call our formation the spread and have found that it allows us to use alignment to stretch a defense both horizontally and vertically. It stretches a defense horizontally with the option and vertically with four quick receivers at the line of scrimmage. This approach, we think, keeps defenses
Packaging Your Passing Game
As the passing game has evolved, problems have arisen in packaging the pass routes for all protections, personnel groups and formations. For example, we have 10 different personnel groups, ranging from three tight ends and two running backs, to five wide receivers. Making the passing game flexible enough to encompass all the variables can get difficult. Our offensive staff has put a great deal of time and thought into this, and has developed a comprehensive, yet very user-friendly, sy
Virtual Football
It\'s the end of a long practice in an even longer week. But despite your best efforts, your quarterback clearly needs more work. He\'s having a hard time throwing long against the blitz and there\'s no way he\'s going to master it without spending a lot more time on the field. Time, however, is one thing you can\'t give him. Don\'t panic. Just hand him his virtual reality mask, program it for a rush and send him on his way. Tell him you\'ll see him in the morning to discuss the compu
Building a Hungry Defensive Line
Our overall philosophy with our front four is to create 1-and-1 match ups as quickly as possible. We are fast flow with our inside linebackers, therefore the 2-on-1 combinations quickly turn into 1-on-1 blocks. We expect our defensive lineman to win those 1-on-1 battles. We expect these guys to be playmakers, not space eaters. The only situation that we actually tie up two is the double-team block with our three technique. Other than that exception, we are coaching technique to escape blockers a
Cover Too
It may come as a surprise to some that computers have been helping high school and college coaches build game plans for nearly 20 years. Starting with the early Apple II and IBM personal computers, technology that had previously been available only to larger colleges and professional teams began working its way into the high school and small college ranks. Innovative coaches, facing many obstacles, began to integrate computers into their game planning processes during the mid-1980s. C
To AD or not to AD...
Can you see this happening? A new coach is hired. He wants new computers and video equipment for his staff. So, off to the AD\'s office he goes. The athletic director, anxious to do everything to make the new coach happy, tells the coach to get him a proposal. Thereafter, the coach instructs his video coordinator to \"... write something up.\" The coach and his video guy then return to the AD\'s office to make their pitch. The AD will most oftentimes try to approve the expenditure, and then find
High School Notes
Privates may vie for championships in TexasThe days of public and private schools competing for separate state championships in Texas might be coming to an end. A bill approved in March by the Texas state Senate would allow private schools with enrollments of over 500 to compete with University Interscholastic League (public) schools for state championships. Texas is currently one of three states that do not allow private and public schools to compete with each other for distr
Cutting the Chord
Coaching great Knute Rockne is known for his motto \"Winning - it\'s not everything ... it\'s the only thing.\" But as any successful coach can tell you, perhaps the only thing you can really count on are the long, often tedious hours. No one needs to remind you that coaching is a time-consuming profession. You\'ve been there. Late nights followed by early mornings. And if by some miraculous intervention more hours were added to the day, you\'d probably just spend this surplus time in your offic
The Information Age
It\'s the kind of argument that breaks out hundreds of times during hundreds of coaches meetings that are held at hundreds of school across the nation each week.The coaching staff at Pittsburg State University in Kansas was mulling over the team\'s weak spots and one coach insisted that a glaring problem was the team\'s inability to convert on third down. The idea caught on quickly and pretty soon the entire staff was in agreement that the Gorillas simply weren\'t very good in third-down situ
From Athlete to Administrator
When Arizona State University appointed Gene Smith as the school\'s 18th director of athletics on July 27, 2001, the Pac-10 school gained both an experienced and accomplished leader. Before arriving in Tempe, Smith served as athletic director at Iowa State University (1993-2000) and at Eastern Michigan University (1986-93). At Iowa State, he coordinated the financial and physical transformation of the Cyclone athletic department, including the construction of a $6.1 million three-story football
News & Notes
Sooners visit the White House President Bush honored Bob Stoops and his University of Oklahoma national championship football team at the White House March 5, 2001 in a special ceremony held in the Rose garden. The team was recognized along with the women\'s softball team, which beat UCLA 3-1 for its first national championship at the Women\'s College World Series in Oklahoma City last spring. The teams also toured the U.S. Capitol and were recognized on the Senate floo
Going on the offensive
The old days of calling the game from the \"seat of the pants\" are quickly fading into the past. To become more effective, offensive coaches must know their team\'s tendencies and start looking at the tendencies of their opponent\'s defense. The first step is for offensive coaches to begin seriously scouting their own offense by using a good scouting software program. The next step is to start scouting the opponent\'s defense and then to use the information to modify their offensive game p
May 2001 Cover Story The Information Age - Computers and the countless software applications have forever changed the face of coaching... a look at how the changes have affected coaches like Pittsburg State's OL coach Bill Kroenke.
Equipment Room
Rogers Lev Sled 1-(800) 248-0270 www.rogersathletic.com Utilize the power of leverage to achieve more gridiron victories. Only the Rogers Lev Sled requires the blocker to drive the pad to compress the spring - then he is able to elevate the pad. From Rae Crowther Co. 1-800-841-5050 www.raecrowther.com The most effective football sleds and machines in the game. 68 years of what works. 1, 2, 5, and 7 man sleds. Off
High five
At Mississippi State, we play with five defensive back all of the time as a part of our base package. We have used this personnel grouping for the last five seasons with great success. It is our opinion that with all of the different formations and personnel groupings offensive coordinators are currently employing, it is in our best interest to be able handle these multiple and varied looks and personnel groupings with our base defensive package. It is our philosophy that the best way to pl
What a Tangled Web We Have Weaved...
Rewind your football clock 30 years, to a time when legendary Alabama coach Paul \"Bear\" Bryant used preseason practice to install the wishbone in total secrecy and used it to ambush an unsuspecting USC team in the Crimson Tide\'s season opening 17-10 win over the Trojans. Fast forward that clock to August, 2001, to a time when first-year Alabama coach Dennis Franchione attempted to prepare his team for its season opener against UCLA. Franchione, following an Alabama tradition, opened his p
Ten Coaches You Should Know
Bobby Bowden. Joe Paterno. Steve Spurrier. Phillip Fulmer. Even the casual college football fan knows those names, and they\'ve earned their fame and fortune through time, experience and victory. But what about those head coaches who don\'t make the headlines, but still do a great job? The NCAA record book is filled with the names of outstanding coaches who never coached a game in the so-called \"big time,\" but there\'s no doubt that men such as Amoz Alonzo Stagg, Ron Schipper, Frosty Weste
Words of Wisdom
In 1982 after a 41-year hiatus, Georgia Southern returned to the gridiron led by long-time Georgia Bulldog defensive coordinator Erk Russell. In what has been described as the Miracle of Beautiful Eagle Creek, Russell took a start-up program to a NCAA I-AA national championship only in his fourth year, and led the Eagles to the playoffs five-straight seasons, three more title tilts, and won two more national championships. In his eight seasons, Russell was 83-22-1. More importantly, Erk set the
A Wizard in the Land of Oz
When Tony DeMeo left the tight confines of the East Coast for the wide-open plains of Topeka, Kan., and Washburn University in December 1993, what he found was pretty alarming. The school, though getting ready to begin its 103rd year playing the game, was one of the barren wastelands of college football. Five years had passed since the Ichabods last posted a winning record and the program was languishing through a 12-game losing streak. Even worse, DeMeo found only 29 players on the ro
Breaking Bonds
It had been one of the most embarrassing nights of Marty Schottenheimer\'s career. After a two-year absence from the head-coaching ranks, Schottenheimer decided to get back into the business when Redskins owner Daniel Snyder came calling. While that decision may have been questionable considering Schottenheimer\'s criticism of the Redskin owner, he ultimately decided to take the job because he thought he could get the Redskins back to the playoffs and into the Super Bowl. Schottenheimer is o
News & Notes
Notre Dame gets a new sponsor In a deal announced in September, Notre Dame has signed Chevrolet as a major sponsor of its athletic programs. The automaker will now be one of five corporate sponsors with an ongoing presence at university athletic events. The deal was set to commence with the Irish football home opener against Michigan State on Sept. 22. Terms of the one-year deal were not revealed by either the university or Chevrolet. Notre Dame\'s ot
Gaining an Edge Through Special Teams
As football coaches, we have all heard the theory that the difference between winning and losing close games often comes down to a special teams play. At Arizona State University, we believe that in order to achieve success, sound execution of special teams play is paramount. We approach special teams with the perspective that the difference between winning the PAC-10 Championship and finishing at the bottom of the league could very well be determined by the effectiveness and efficiency of our s
Cover Story Tony DeMeo November 2001 A Wizard in the Land of Oz - Tiny Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas may not win conference
Northwestern University Offense Practice Sturcture
It is an honor to represent our Head Coach Randy Walker (one of the best coaches in the college game today); a tremendous offensive staff (Mike Dunbar - TE / FB; Howard Feggins - WR; Jeff Genyk - RB; James Patton - OL; and Kevin Johns - Offensive Graduate Assistant); and the best group of young men that I\'ve ever been associated with in college athletics with this article for American Football Monthly. We are truly blessed here at Northwestern University with excellent opportunities that are
Developing Your Two-Minute Offense
Using your two-minute offense as efficiently as possible can really make your offensive unit much more explosive. Think about what it does to an opponent when you have demonstrated consistently the ability to score from anywhere on the field by driving the ball and using the clock with great management skills. As we all know, two-minute is a form of hurry-up no huddle procedure that can keep a defense on its heels. On offense, we are attacking somewhat oblivious to the defense because we
Feeling Pressed?
So, you\'re not witty, charming, and entertaining all the time. So, you tend to be serious, stoic, cautious and devoted to film study and game preparation. That\'s just fine with reporters. Well, maybe not all reporters (TV folks aren\'t journalists, they\'re entertainers), but you might be surprised to learn which qualities the average college football writer respects in a football coach. How about honest, approachable, discerning and perceptive? Those are the qualities any beat wr
Moving Target
Over the last several years, no team in Ohio Athletic Conference has attempted more passes and completed more of them than Capital University. Needless to say, we are a passing team and philosophically go into every ball game thinking pass first and run second. Our pass offense is multi-dimensional. We use multiple formations, but for the most part use one back and four wide receivers. We throw from a variety of launching points, use a multitude of actions, and run patterns designed fo
In Praise of the Three Technique
Early in my career I was influenced by three very good defensive line coaches. They are: Bob Karmelowicz of the Kansas City Chiefs, who I spent time with during the spring of 1999, John Pease of the Jacksonville Jaguars, who I had the opportunity to work with in the Jaguars Minority Fellowship Coaching Internship Program, and Cliff Yoshida, who recruited me and was my position coach while I played defensive tackle at East Carolina University. I practice a style of coaching that has been influenc
The Computer is Up
I don\'t necessarily like all the things that go along with (coaching) ... all I want to do is coach the team and that\'s it.\" Perhaps you would agree with Tampa Bay\'s Tony Dungy who spoke these words back in 1998 when he was named this magazine\'s NFL Coach of the Year. No matter what level you coach, you undoubtedly have tasks, obligations or perhaps people whom you\'d rather not have to deal with. But whether it\'s recruiting new players, scouting next week\'s opponent, or teaching
What Reporters Really Want
I have a soft spot for football coaches. I respect them. I admire them. I still look at my favorite coaches with true appreciation for their time, commitment, energy, intensity and passion for the game, and the life lessons that came with being part of it. I empathize with the challenges they face, the hours they work, the fragile nature of their job security and the expectations they face from outsiders who understand very little about what they do. And I am a member of the media.S
If coaches had crystal balls,would it help them win the big one?
Matt Cavanaugh\'s eyes were red - almost blood shot. The Baltimore Raven offensive coordinator was meeting with the media for the last time before his team would take the field against the N.Y. Giants in Super Bowl XXXV and he looked worn out and emotionally overwrought.But looks can be deceiving. It wasn\'t emotions that made Cavanaugh look like he\'d been on an all night crying jag. His eyes were swollen from staring at hours and hours of the Giants on videotape.\"I\'ve looked at
The Linebacker Shuffle
We, as coaches, spend countless hours trying to develop the ideal offensive or defensive scheme. As impotant as these schemes are they cannot be practiced at the expense of developing fundamentals. As we all have witnessed, in crunch time it is the execution of fundamentals that often determines the outcome of a game. This is exemplified at the linebacker position in many ways but none more than stance and movement. A coach can drill key reaction and devise schemes to get a linebacker
Just for Kicks
The punt return means big play time for us. Players at Western Maryland pay special attention to this part of the game. We have had success blocking punts and we have returned punts for touchdowns multiple times over the past four seasons. More importantly, we make things happen on every punt return and have an opportunity to score. Statistically, having a return average of 10 yards or more is important, but the goal should be to accumulate yardage consistently on each return. Put Pressur
News & Notes
Fassel gets giant raise While Jim Fassel didn\'t win the Super Bowl, he won the respect of the New York Giant\'s brass. Exactly a month after the Giants lost to the Baltimore 34-7 in Tampa, team officials announced that they had signed Fassel to another four-year contract even though he had another year left on the contract extension he signed after the 1999 season. While the terms weren\'t available, Fassel will reportedly earn $11 million over the four years - more than doublin
Cover Story NFL Coach of the Year Jim Haslett April 2001 NFL Coach of the Year Jim Haslett - When Jim Haslett came marching into New Orleans last year, few expected him to turn around the most bedeviled team in the history of
Equipment Room
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Paradise Found
June Jones would be lying if he said he expected this. The same is true of his coaches, his players and friends in the coaching profession. That\'s because it\'s not supposed to happen. Teams don\'t go 19 games without winning, then turn around and win eight regular-season games, capture a share of the conference championship, earn a bowl bid and then win the bowl game. It\'s not supposed to happen, especially to a team that faces the unique geographic obstacles that are part of Uni
Air Attack
There are more than a few Division I-A offenses around the nation that can keep a defensive coach\'s eyes wide open in the week leading to that Saturday\'s encounter. The trouble with Joe Tiller\'s record-setting air show at Purdue, however, is that the sleepless nights don\'t always end when the final gun sounds. Just ask Penn State defensive backfield coach Tom Bradley. His Nittany Lions actually survived their late-October showdown with the Boilermakers (31-25) at
Complete Coach
Whether you coach at the high school, college or professional level, you've probably taught your players the importance of goal setting. To help your players reach their goals, you instruct them almost daily on proper weightlifting techniques, correct tackling form and to explode off the ball. But how about proper nutrition and hydration? Football, especially at the championship level, is an explosive game. It demands rigorous training and extols excessive abuse on the body. You
Quarterbacking the Quarterback
The fundamentals of any position are important, and perhaps they are most crucial at the quarterback position. Quarterback fundamentals are both physical and mental. We have a list of beliefs in training a QB and they are:1. Never take a sack. Know when to take a chance and when not to by considering down, distance and field position.2. Throw against blitzes every time. Every play is a blitz until proven otherwise. This teaches the QB to be prepared, play under control and not to hu
So Sue Me!
WHEN NEWS SURFACED THAT A GEORGIA TECH offensive lineman and his mother wanted criminal charges filed against head coach George O\'Leary after the 314-pound player was roughed up in practice, everyone had an opinion.\"This is getting out of hand. Soon we will have to arrest Dale Earnhardt for a hit-and-run accident at the Daytona 500,\" one Atlanta man wrote in response to a reader survey conducted by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.Still others, had a far different view. \"This
December 2000 Staff Meeting Letter from Publisher Words of Wisdom from legendary Notre Dame coach Ara Parseghian
The Survivor
Here he was, scaling a fence in a driving thunderstorm, with a blank videocassette under his rain jacket. The coaching staff desperately needed video of its next opponent, but a lack of sufficient technology at the team\'s training facility prevented the team from finding the game on television. That did not, however, prevent the team\'s head coach from finding another solution. So with the rain pouring down and thunder rumbling overhead, he found himself climbing the fence betwe
Bum Philllips
From 1975-85, there was not a more colorful personality in the NFL than former Oilers\' and Saints\' coach O.A. \"Bum\" Phillips. As Houston\'s coach from 1975-80 and the New Orleans Saints\' coach from 1981-85, Phillips\' homespun wit, sense of humor and Texas drawl made him a non-stop quote machine. What was sometimes forgotten was the fact he was a veteran football man who was mentored by Bear Bryant and spent more than 30 years in the game. Also lost in the shuffle is that \"Bum\" is the
Traveling Man
Somewhere on the road between 19 cities in 11 states, Mike Leach found a way to climb the rope from the small time to the big time. Call it the back-road plan for future coaching success. Leach, the new head coach at Texas Tech, never played college football, never coached at the Division I level until 1997 and never even really knew he wanted to be a football coach until after he earned his law degree from Pepperdine in 1986. After law school, his path was filled with job after j
Flash
In an effort to create a fully dimensional offense it is the opinion of this author that protections must be changed constantly to create defensive dilemmas. The ability to \"free release\" the running back in a one-back offense is critical to create a burden on the defense. It is essential that the running back be perceived as a viable receiving threat. This can only be accomplished through a protection that allows for the running back to release without regard to protection and a patter
Back with the Pack
For eight consecutive years, football schools in the Atlantic Coast Conference have been looking up to Florida State in the league standings. Nobody has hit upon a formula to unseat the Seminoles as one of the most dominant programs in NCAA history. So North Carolina State decided to take a new approach in its search for a football coach. Instead of hiring a big-name head coach like Georgia\'s Jim Donnan or Stanford\'s Tyrone Willingham, both of whom were considered, the Wolfpack decid
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The Best Coach I ever Had
Speaking to a group of 750 business executives in Tampa, Fla., NFL Quarterback Trent Dilfer got choked up as he described the profound impact Tampa Bay Head Coach Tony Dungy has had on his life on and off the field. \"Tony Dungy is more than a football coach,\" Dilfer said. \"He\'s a man whom I look up to because of his faith and character. He is the type of husband and father I hope to be for my family. \"Tony provided an example for me in multiple areas. He helped me better contro
Letter from the Publisher
In May of 1999, we changed the format of our magazine from a quarterly publication to monthly. We made this change as a result of a demand from our readers, who wanted up-to-the-minute information about their profession. We had lived four years as a quarterly magazine, and it was time to grow. At that time, we chose the name American Football Coach as our new title. It was our thinking that as a magazine for the real heroes of the game, the thousands of men who toil hour-after-hour on
Southern Pride
BLITZ SYSTEM At Southern Mississippi, we are a multiple front defense. When we are in 50 defense, we refer to this as Okie. This is our Okie blitz system.1. Each of our players are described by a letter: LinebackersB - Bandit M - Mike S - Stringer W - Wolf Def. LineT - TackleN - Nose E - End Def. BacksFC -Field CornerR - Rover F - Free SafetyBC - Boundary Counter
Building the Foundation
The past decade has seen NFL offenses evolve evolve the past decade by using multiple substitutions and formations to create mismatches in the run and pass game. Therefore, it is more important than ever to properly plan for an opponant and develop a sound base package to build a foundation to stop either the run or pass. The No. 1 goal of a defense must still be to stop the run. With multiple formations the offense can spread a defense out and make it tough to stop the run. Defenses are for
AIR RAID Running Back Techniques and Drills
The most productive running backs in the SEC over the last three seasons combined have been from the University of Kentucky. Anthony White and Derek Homer have combined for more yards (rushing and receiving totals) than any other two-back combination. White had three straight 1,000-yard seasons from rushing and receiving yards combined, and Homer combined with White in 1997-98 to put the pair over 4,000 yards combined for those two seasons. White also became the third player in NCAA h
September 2000 Staff Meeting Letter from Publisher News and Notes Dick Curl leaves Europe and joins the Chiefs... Bama's DuBose makes a sick young man's day...NCAA legislation may hurt I-AA football...Mizzou seeks to get out of future
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The Evolution of Technology in Football
CLICK...CLACK...CLICK...CLACK.... the only sound emanating from the darkened room droned endlessly. For decades, it was the sound of technology in football. For generations of players and coaches, the first technological skill to be mastered was how to thread film in the 16mm projector. It was film, passing back and forth through the projector\'s gate, which was the sound of technology in the game. An endless ribbon of film ran through the game and connected generations of coaches and pla
Letter from the Publisher
The forward pass. Integration. Facemasks and new equipment that makes players seem more prepared for a battle than a game of football. TV, radio call-in shows and 24-hour a day media coverage. All of these changes have dramatically altered the game of football. Yet the sum total of these alterations pale in comparison to the virtual metamorphosis that is taking place in the year 2000. Computers, the associated software programs, and enhanced video equipment are dynamically changing the ga
On Target
During the 1990s many defenses were transformed from \"read and react\" defenses into attacking defenses. An effective attacking defense is not just a loose cannon, it\'s a guided missile. To be effective you have to know when and where to attack. Sophisticated scouting software of an opponent\'s offense through statistical analysis gives the defensive coaching staff the tools they need to create a \"smart-weapon, guided-missile\" attacking defense. Creating Defensive Call Sheets t
Glossary
American Football Monthly (a-mer- -kan fut-bol koch), noun 1. the only trade journal designed exclusively for the football professional. 2. the one-stop place for all football coaches to go to obtain up-to-the-minute information on everything from xs & os to sports nutrition that will help their program. 3. the magazine found on the desk of every successful coach in the nation. Analog- a process whereby the recorded video image information is a continuous equivalent of
Editing Systems: Getting What\'s Right for You
ADVANTAGES OF EDITING SYSTEMSUsing an editing system will not only make your video sessions run more smoothly but also allows you to easily scout your opponent and your own team - not to mention helping you teach and grade out players. You\'ll save time by watching only the essential video clips, because an editing system allows you to customize videotapes to your team\'s needs. You can create separate tapes for offense, defense and special teams. Imagine the benefits of sending sc
6 Hours to 5 Minutes:
How would you like to add several hours of \"free\" time to your schedule each week, especially during the football season? Time to view some additional videotape, review the game plan, or maybe just get some rest. A major catalyst in freeing time for the staff of the Minnesota Vikings has been the use of computers within our football operations. We have never viewed computers as a magic bullet to solve problems. We still rely on the intelligence and creativity of our staff to make
News & Notes
McKittrick Loses Battle with Cancer After a 14-month battle with cancer, San Francisco 49ers' OL coach Bobb McKittrick died on March 15. He was 64. McKittrick, who worked with five Super Bowl winning teams in 21 years, courageously continued working on the 49ers' staff while fighting bile duct cancer. A former Marine Corps officer, McKittrick was known for his toughness, hard work and dedication to the game and to his players. His on-field coaching duties were assumed by Pat Mo
The Calm After The Storm
It was the cruelest possible irony. Less than two weeks after the worst natural disaster in North Carolina history had crippled 66 counties, caused what was later estimated at $6 billion in flood damage, and cost 51 people their lives, the football forecast at East Carolina called for Hurricanes. By that time, however, Steve Logan was the last person on which such madness could be lost. He was, by trade, a head coach. But in the days leading up to East Carolina\'s Sept. 25 date
Curtain Call
After two long seasons in St. Louis, the experiment was failing badly. Dick Vermeil, in his attempt to reinvent himself as a football coach and erase the lingering, distasteful image that haunted him when he left the Philadelphia Eagles in 1982, appeared to be hitting another dead end. The 1998 season ended with the St. Louis Rams losing six of their last seven games. Their 5-11 record, preceded by a 4-12 mark in Vermeil\'s first season as Rams head coach, was only half the problem
USFL—The $1 League
They were supposed to be the rot and refuse, a bunch of has-beens, never-weres and never-will-bes. Their value? One dollar. One lousy buck. But for three action-packed spring seasons - 1983-85 - they were the United States Football League - the USFL - the latest failed attempt to wrestle the monopoly on professional football away from the NFL. During its three years on the field, the USFL sported four Heisman Trophy winners: Herschel Walker, Mike Rozier, Doug Flutie and two-time winne
Rolling to Victory
The 1999 season was very successful for the players, coaches and staff of City College of San Francisco. We were fortunate enough to complete our season with a perfect 12-0 record and win the 1999 J.C. Gridwire National Championship and California state championship. We also achieved this same feat in 1994 after completing the season 11-0. In the 90s, we won our conference nine times in 10 years (1990, 1992-1999) and we are three-time defending Northern California champions. In all, we ended the
Working the Right Angle in Your Passing Game
Since the days when the great Sid Gillman started using the angle-type route for the running back, there have been many ways that teams have coordinated it into their passing games. The route is being used at all levels of football, and with every conceivable formation and personnel grouping. With the variety of offenses using the angle-type route, there have been many ways that the pattern has been run. While all of them can be effective, there are some pros and cons to each that we
Bobby Bowden
When talking about successful coaches in college football in the 1990s, the conversation can be considered meaningless if Bobby Bowden is not mentioned at some point. Bowden, who has been at the helm of the Florida State Seminoles for the past 24 seasons, took over a mediocre FSU team and made it great. In his time in Tallahassee, the Seminoles have won two national championships (1993, 99), six ACC titles and have won more games in the 90s (109) than any team has in any previous decade in NC
Sudden Impact
All coaches preach turnovers as a deciding factor in victory. What impact does the interception return really have on the outcome of a game? From 1946-99, there have been 25,001 interceptions in AFL/NFL history, with 16,409 (65.63 percent of those) accounting for victories. The percentage of victory by interceptions during this 54-year span has never been lower than 57.67 percent (1962 season), and never higher than 69.92 percent (1977). Thus, year after year, there is little fluctuati
Unusual Options
Head Coach, Washburn University With the coming of eight-man front defenses, popularized by Virginia Tech and the use of zone blitzes, bear blitzes and other pressure defenses, the option game has resurfaced in college football. Just about every team, regardless of their offensive philosophy, has added some form of an option attack to their playbook. I think everyone realizes the value of a mobile quarterback and it seems logical to use his mobility to run an occasional option t
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Behind Bowden
With two national titles, 13 years among the top four teams in the country and six Atlantic Coast Conference championships in the 1990s, the Florida State Seminoles have the track record to prove they know what it takes to be a champion. It is that knowledge of the means to reach success that has not only fueled FSU\'s success on the field, but also it\'s success in the Don Fauls athletic training facility. Randy Oravetz, the Director of Sports Medicine at FSU, heads up the te
The Diary of A New Coach
THIRD GAME WEEK: As I said before, our number one objective is really not to win, but to prepare. This week was the exception. We were playing our cross-town rival, Norman North, a school that had never scored against any Norman High team in their two-year existence. Our varsity and J.V. had already scored shutouts the week before so this was a must win. For the game Tuesday, our emotions were high. Our team was more pumped up than they had been all year. We got the b
Brain Damage
A minor knock on the head can have big consequences In the past decade, researchers HAVE concluded head injuries, which seem relatively minor and insignificant, could cause permanent brain damage. Due to the potentially serious consequences, even minor head injuries should be a concern to coaches, trainers, and players.The reasons are obvious: Football players are prone to head injuries. Surveys have shown that roughly 10 percent of all college football players will sustain
The Five Most Common Injuries in Football
Identifying the five most common injuries in football is a difficult task considering the large array of choices. After all, football is a contact sport, and contact breeds injury even in the best circumstances. According to a 1995-97 NATA injury surveillance of 10 high school sports, football players suffered more injuries than any other athletes, with more than half of those injuries occurring in practice. Keep in mind that many things can be done under the guise of prevent
The Other Coordinator
Throughout the life of our magazine (now American Football Monthly), I have very seldom written articles. But, when we conceptualized this special issue on sports medicine, I immediately decided to author a piece on the role of the sports medicine staff for a football team. I wanted to do this because I strongly believe athletic trainers and sports medicine staffs are potentially one of the most under utilized and overlooked aspects of a successful football program. Lets face i
Shotgun Quick
As with any offensive system, several aspects must be executed with consistent precision in order to effectively move the ball and score points. One of the most important aspects we feel is crucial to our success is the quick passing game. Because we run about 80 percent of our offense out of the shotgun, we must be able to execute the quick game out of the gun as well. As everyone knows, you mu
Being at your best when things are not going well
Bruce Snyder, an avid reader, has noticed that books are rife with stories of people who retreat when faced with crisis. If you are doing a good job and are confident in yourself, he believes that you will retreat to your basic core values, and that it\'s important to remind everyone of what those core values are. \"I think that\'s playing the percentages,\" he says, \"and I think that\'s what I do in those cases. I don\'t go against percentages. The percentages are, over the
The Basics
It\'s been called the sick tank, the warm-up room - and in at least one case, the wildlife sanctuary. It\'s where players go to prepare for battle and where they return to let their game faces down as they confront the pain of injury. It\'s not a simple place. The athletic training room, even in its most basic form, is a microcosm unto itself. Building one entails careful attention to the structural requirements, which are more detailed than finding four walls and a ceiling.
News & Notes
Utah rewards McBride with an extension 60-year old Ron McBride has agreed to a contract that will keep at the the University of Utah team for four years and presumably allow him to finish his career with the Utes. Under the terms of the deal, McBride will earn a total of $310,000 a year, including incentives based on the team\'s performance in the classroom and on the field. Offering a bit of levity to the announcing of the extension, McBride said, \"Little does the univers
The Turner Network
Both head coaches had their backs to the wall entering the season, Norv with the Washington Redskins and Ron at the University of Illinois. Norv had gone five seasons without reaching the playoffs, the longest stretch of any active NFL coach, and Ron had crafted a 3-19 record in his first two years. New Redskins owner Daniel Snyder applied volumes of extra pressure on Norv by telling him to make the playoffs or find a new job. Ron was in the critical third year of a five-year contract.
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Schutt Sports High School Coaches of the Year
SOUTHJohn Parchman,Hoboken HS, Hoboken, NJRobert E. Lee HS, Midland, Texas 1999: 15-0, Class 5A, Div. I state champsRecord at school: 57-8-1, 5 yearsWhen you win a football state title in Texas, you\'ve done something. When you do it two years in a row, that\'s really special. And special is a very accurate way to describe coach John Parchman\'s Midland Lee Rebels. In the last two seasons, Lee High School has claimed back-to-back Class 5A Texas Bowl
Do It Your Way
Throughout my twenty-two years in the profession, I have had the opportunity to coach at both the collegiate and high school levels. During that time, I have had the pleasure of working with various coaching staffs that have helped me formulate my philosophies on dealing with the passing game. At the same time, I have coached many athletes with various ranges in athletic abilities. Therefore, I have had to adapt each year to the specific situation. When you are developing a passing attack, it
News & Notes
Barnett\'s Colorado Contract Finalized After more than one year, Gary Barnett and the University of Colorado finalized a five-year contract. The multi-year contract, retroactive to Jan. 22, 1999, when he accepted the position, is one of three positions the State Legislature allows CU to exempt from standard contract rules. All other deals are limited to one year. \"We\'re delighted to have finalized the agreement with coach Barnett. This gives us the opportunity to accomplish the g
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Speed Training for Combines
Whether a player attends the NFL combine in Indianapolis, or one of the ten NFL-sanctioned Scout Camp regional football combines, he will be tested in a variety of areas. But when the combine is over and all the data has been collected, there is typically only one question that gets asked about a player: How fast is he? Because this is the reality of the situation, all combine participants should be well-prepared to face the \"holy trinity\" of combine tests: the 40- yard dash, the short shu
Philosophy of Performance: One Coach\'s Interaction Style
On January 22, 1996, Malcolm Glazer, owner and president of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, made a pivotal administrative decision by hiring Tony Dungy as his head coach. The appointment wasn\'t significant just because Dungy was one of only a handful of minority coaches. Rather, the hiring struck many as unusual because Dungy\'s personality - on and off the field - was far from the stereotypical mannerisms of other head coaches. Unlike some of the more renown names associated with \"great\"
Joe Cool
For the record, the song was called, \"In Heaven, There is No Beer.\" And the first time he heard it being belted out by a senior citizens band from the local Kiwanis club on that late summer day in 1989, Joe Glenn began to realize just how much work he had ahead of him. It was his first game as head football coach at the University ofNorthern Colorado, and although the afternoon would end in a narrow victory over Idaho State, it was a truly humbling experience. It had been seven years
Q And A: Larry Kehres
Q.You graduated from Mount Union with a major in business administration. If you hadn\'t gotten into coaching, what do you think you\'d be doing now?A.I suppose I\'d be doing something in the business world. But to tell the truth, right now I can\'t picture myself doing anything but coaching.Q: a head coach for 14 years, are you still learning?A:Yes, of course. That\'s part of the changes a coach needs to make. Anticipating problems is how I\'d put it. When s
Words of Wisdom - Eddie Robinson
In the world of sports, there are certain numbers that stand alone, needing no words to aid in the description of their meaning. In baseball, that number might be 56, signifying the amazing hitting streak compiled by Joe DiMaggio. In basketball, that mystical number might be 100 - the number of points scored by Wilt Chamberlain one night in Hershey, Pa. And in football, a pretty good number to remember would be 408. That\'s the number of wins the immortal Eddie Robinson accumulated ove
Husker Power
Looking back, it\'s hard to believe it. But just 30 years ago, coaches at the University of Nebraska were actually discouraging athletes from lifting weights for fear it would make them muscle bound and slower. My, have times changed in Lincoln. I first came to Nebraska in 1968, competing as a pole valuter on the track and field team. A back injury halted my valuting career in the spring of my junior year. To rehab my back, I went to the weight room every day where a few injured Husker foo
The Winning Business
The work ethic that has steered Larry Kehres to some amazing heights in college football coaching began to take shape a long time ago. The man who has earned four AFMA Coach of the Year awards at Mount Union College in Ohio, Kehres as a youth performed tasks before and after school and had his first job when he was just 10 years old. \"We didn\'t feed chickens every day or anything like that,\'\' says Kehres, who grew up in rural Palmyra township near Alliance. \"But when I was t
The Triple Shoot
During the early winter months of 1999 the University of Wyoming installed a new run-and- shoot-style offense called the \"Triple Shoot.\" We knew going into the season that we would have the usual growing pains associated with the implementation of a new offense. We also had the added concern of starting three freshmen on the offensive line, a freshman at superback (running back) and a freshman in the starting rotation at receiver. We tried to stay as balanced as possible and were
Passing Drills for Young Quarterbacks
Coaching quarterbacks is unique for a number of reasons. First, the spaced repetition time needed to master the mechanics of throwing, setting up to throw, optioning - along with all of the footwork that accompanies the position - is extensive. Secondly, the mental preparation is more demanding than with any other position on the field. Finally, the need for the quarterback to be an on-the-field extension of the head coach and offensive coordinator requires that a unique bond develop between pla
Complete Coach
21st Century Uniforms and Apparel You look good, and you feel good; you play well.by Rod Smith It\'s an adage as old as the game itself. But as we stride into a new century, does this axiom still carry the weight it once did? You bet it does. At the onset of the 21st century, the fusion between sports, entertainment and fashion has never been stronger. Football uniforms are continually becoming more customized, form-fitting and durable. Yet at the same time, t
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Adversity? What adversity?
Gary Barnett never thinks about what could have been. No way, Barnett said. What\'s done is done. The Rose Bowl season in 1995? No time to think about it. All the job offers he got in 1996? His answer is a resounding, \"No. I made the right decision.\'\' Even after he inherited the nation\'s toughest schedule this year in his second year at the helm of Colorado, Barnett talked only about how much he and his team liked the idea of facing the best of
The Conductor
While other coaches spent the off-season boning up on the latest offensive drills or figuring out how to defend against the pass, Texas Tech\'s Manny Matsakis was curled up with the latest issue of Psychology Today and wondering whether the heavy metal band Metallica could help his kickoff coverage team stop the run-back. So far, Matsakis is convinced his time was well spent. \"Every time we play it, something good happens,\" Matsakis says of his growing love for Metallica w
What\'s the Rush?
When New Mexico State head coach Tony Samuel selected a coaching staff to join him in Las Cruces three years ago, the first priority was to put a physical team on the field. The other coaches and I made a commitment to run the ball. During the past two seasons, the Aggies were ranked 7th and 13th in rushing offense.Since all of the coaches have worked with Nebraska teams, it\'s easy to understand why the option is an integral part of our offensive package. The G-Option is one of the options
Frantastic
When Texas Christian University stomped Arkansas State in its third game this year, it was more than just another win in a season that is supposed to put the once hapless team on the map. The 52-3 drubbing stretched the Horned Frogs\' winning streak to eight - their longest since 1938 and the fourth longest in the country. TCU Coach Dennis Franchione shrugs amicably when asked about the historic victory. \"The only stat I worry about is the \'W,\'\" he says.
Equipment
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Why They Return
George Seifert had what seemed like the perfect life. He did what he wanted when he wanted to do it, a leisurely existence that he earned as a retired football coach with the highest winning percentage in NFL history. Following the 1996 season, he left his beloved San Francisco 49ers — the team that once played home games at Kezar Stadium where he served as an usher in high school — after 17 years and embarked on a lifestyle that qualified him for a Robin Leach prof
Follow the Leaders
Contrary to the opinion of many people, leaders are not born. Leaders are made; and they are made by effort and hard work." —Vince Lombardi Providing leadership is one of a football coaching staff's fundamental responsibilities. Coaches are expected to dictate the direction, set the standard and mold the attitude and character of their team. One of the outcomes of effective leadership is the development and empowerment of other leaders. Are you devel
Wannstedt—Winning Again
Given their shared passion for late-night cheese nachos over a few Heinekens, the average nutritionist might suggest that Jimmy Johnson and Dave Wannstedt need the afternoon jog for which they've become notorious. But those who understand and appreciate their seemingly symbiotic relationship—one forged over the past two decades—will tell you otherwise. Johnson and Wannstedt were born to run. Together. After all, that's how the Miami Dolphins' head coach and
The Ultimate Interview
An over-time approach to getting the right candidate for the head coach position. When all things are equal, and the score is tied, how do you determine the better of two outstanding candidates for the head football coach position at a large high school with a very competitive athletic program? This dilemma was tested last spring with excellent results. I offer it to you from the position of a principal at a high school in suburban Kansas City. But
New Equipment
HeavyRopefrom Strength Systems, Inc.800-451-5867www.strength-systems.comThe HeavyRope is a weighted jump rope, allowing an athlete to gain both a cardiovascular and upper-body strength workout at the same time. It is available in one, two, four, five and six-pound weights. A suggested training program is included with each rope.The reason that it's called a HeavyRope is because the rope is weighted with sand. The product is made of a rubber materia
Complete Coach
The smallest edge on your competition can mean the difference between a championship and a season-ending loss. Complete Coach is an educational series helping coaches learn more about products and services dedicated to giving you the edge you need. As a coach some things are out of your control. After all, athletes are born—not made, right? The biggest players always have the biggest heart. And you can't teach someone how to be fast, right? Wrong. If t
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Innovations
When Ron Dayne broke the Division I-A record for career rushing yards, we couldn't help but measure him against history. If we have any affinity for college football, we can't help ourselves. We plead for perspective. We beg for a sense of where the current era fits in the historical landscape of college football. Is Dayne better than Ricky Williams? Herschel Walker? Tony Dorsett? Archie Griffin? O.J. Simpson? Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch? Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis? Jim Thorpe?
Walking the Sidelines
Every week during college football season, fans routinely cast their eyes on somebody's Top 25 poll - Associated Press, ESPN/USA Todayand several lesser-known ranking systems now incorporated into the Bowl Championship Series formula - to see where their respective schools might stack up with the rest of the nation. These polls are anything but perfect. They spur controversy, often drawing the ire of people in places like Blacksburg, Lincoln, Knoxville, Manhattan and State College
The Fly-T
The Fly-T offense is an offshoot of George Halas\' T-formation.\" Its development is attributed to former L.A. Rams offensive coordinator Hamp Pool. From 1950-55, the talented Rams used this offense to lead the NFL in total offense four times and finish a close second the other year. I played in the Fly-T in high school. And I\'ve been using the fly series sparingly for several years - mainly as a distraction to defensive coordinators. Our present head coach and defensive coordinator,
News & Notes
Raiders, municipality will get their day in courtThe Oakland Raiders have a February court date with their municipal rivals in the team's bid to break its lease. The trial will take place in Sacramento, the city chosen after Oakland and Alameda County asked for a change of venue. The proceedings could run as long as eight weeks. The ruling will decide whether the nomadic Raiders are free to move again - most likely back to Los Angeles — or whether they must remain in Oakla
Complete Coach
As a coach, your time is not only valuable, it's also restricted. And with a finite number of hours in a day, you can only accomplish so much. While many of your daily obligations - such as family, school and boosters - have little or nothing to do with coaching, these obligations force you to become more effective during the short stretches of time when you actually get to focus on coaching. With this in mind, how can you both save and manage your timemore efficiently? The answer li
New Equipment
New Equipment Chronomix Corp.1-800-538-1548www.chronomix.comThe Practice Timer is a multi-use training tool. It can be programmed for circuit interval training or practice segment timing. When not running programs it can be used as a hundredth of a second stop watch for timing the forty yard dash or laps. Accessories are available for printed results or automatic timing. ContinentalAthletic Supply1-800-544-55
1998 American Football Monthly Coordinators of the Year
OFFENSEMike LeachUniversity of Kentucky*(*now at the University of Oklahoma)Sure it is easy to coach one of the best offenses in the country when you have All-American Tim Couch (7 NCAA, 14 SEC and 26 school records) as your QB. But to dismiss the accomplishments of the UK offense and the staff that led it as purely the play of Couch would be a failure to look deep into the system that has produced huge numbers at every stop over a 11-year period. 1998 Amer
Beating the Clock
Walk down the halls of the Minnesota Vikings' picturesque Eden Prairie compound, and you'll come to the end of a hallway where there's a familiar name on the door: Bud Grant. Whether you will find him there or not is anybody's guess. His role as consultant to the franchise doesn't demand the 100-hour work weeks "required" in coaching. But then, Grant was never the type who believed you needed to put in a 100-hour week just to win a ballgame. To find Grant, you'd better get dressed up and h
Q&A With Bud Grant
Q: What is your philosophy on staff management?A: Philosophy is something you are asked about a lot, but I am not so sure everybody has a philosophy or that I have a philosophy. Your coaching staff is vitally important; there is no successful team that doesn't have a good staff. As much as coaching might be overrated, your assistant coaches certainly can't be or shouldn't be. They are really the backbone of the team, because they do most of the work. I think it is important for
Oklahoma's Passing Game Drills
For over 10 years, I had the opportunity to work with University of Kentucky coach Hal Mumme. I was his offensive coordinator at Iowa Wesleyan, Valdosta State and UK, and we were fortunate enough to enjoy some tremendous success. Mumme is as committed to moving the football through the air as any coach I have ever known, and, needless to say, I learned a great deal from him. Since we were going to commit to the passing game, we created an offensive practice plan around developing the ski
News & Notes
Jayhawks and Irish set to open the 1999 season in the Robinson Classic Notre Dame will open the 1999 season by playing host to Kansas in the second Eddie Robinson Classic on Aug. 28. It will be the first time the Irish and Jayhawks have met since 1938, and the Aug. 28 season opener is the earliest in Notre Dame history. The classic benefits the Eddie Robinson Foundation and honors the former Grambling coach who retired after 55 years following the 1997 season. He was inducted into
Family First
For Houston Nutt, his coaching philosophy is crystal clear. It's all about family. Sounds simple enough, but when he arrived at the University of Arkansas, the plan didn't look so easy. He was dealing with 15 seniors who had one season left in a football program that certainly had seen better days in the Southeastern Conference. The players went to him and said, "Coach, we want to win, and we are willing to do whatever it takes to do it." Nutt could have slid into a pessimistic fra
\'The Punch\'
*Photos/Diagrams are no longer available* Every snap is a hand-to-hand war at the line of scrimmage. Somewhere along the line offensive linemen have been taught that they should be passive and \"take the blows,\" \"deflect the force,\" or \"re-direct\" their defensive line opponents. I do not buy into that thought process; never have and never will. That type of thinking will get you beat. I believe that the \"PUNCH\" technique has revolutionized how offensive linemen are tau
The Other Side of the Ball
While most of the attention on our football team during the last few years has been focused on the offensive side of the ball and the great job of our former head coach Gary Crowton (now offensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears) and the play of our quarterback Tim Rattay and record-setting wide receiver Troy Edwards, we've also had some success on defense. We have accomplished this success by working as a staff to discover new and innovative ways to maximize the time we have with
Splitting Ranks
Don't mess with tradition. That's what Lawrence High School head football coach Dick Purdy might have told voters prior to the November 1994 bond issue vote that would eventually split Kansas' largest high school and most dominant football power into two separate schools. However, this was a battle that even tradition couldn't withstand. Voters approved the $36.9 million bond issue and in the fall of 1997 the city's second high school-Free State High School-opened its doors to the pub
News and Notes
Judge sends message to the NCAA: "No more SAT!" 302 NCAA Division I programs were cast adrift in a boat without a rudder or sail by a decision that sent shock waves throughout all of college football. U.S. District Court Judge Ronald Buckwalter ruled that the NCAA and its institutions may not use a minimum test score as a basis for eligibility. However, on March 31, an appeals court issued a temporary stay order to halt the imposition of the judge's ruling which would have completely disa
May 1999 Staff Meeting Letter from Publisher Reader Feedback News and Notes No more SAT? • H
New Equipment
Chronomix Corp.1-800-538-1548www.chronomix.comThe Practice Timer is a multi-use training tool. It can be programmed for circuit interval training or practice segment timing. When not running programs it can be used as a hundredth of a second stop watch for timing the forty yard dash or laps. Accessories are available for printed results or automatic timing. ContinentalAthletic Supply1-800-544-5564www.continentalathletic.com
Fulmer's Way
In Knoxville, Phillip Fulmer Way intersects with Peyton Manning Pass right in front of the main entrance to Neyland Stadium. But, no one really needs directions to the famed shrine of college football that has seen Phil Fulmer emerge as one of the nation's top collegiate coaches. Tennessee appreciates their favorite son. His face graces the covers of books and magazines and now the street that leads loyal Volunteer fans to the football stadium has been renamed in his honor. The 19
Letter from the Publisher
One day early in September, I was involved in a conversation that both reminded me of one of my favorite feel good "heck yeah... he's doing it right" stories of last summer, and compelled me to make a mental note to remember to share it with you. A very good friend of mine has a son who is currently a freshman player at one of the country's top football schools. This kid is a player and was recruited by virtually every school in the nation. At practice in August he quickly showed promi
The Communicator
He is everywhere in Baltimore. The slender face with the receding hairline and jutting jaw is on several Baltimore-area billboards or in team advertisements in national sports magazines. He has been active in the community, not selling just the Ravens, but himself. One day could include several motivational speeches that might have stops at the Baltimore Teachers Association or a high school football clinic with 200 coaches. Brian Billick has enamored fans in Baltimore. He quote
Bo
Glenn E. "Bo" Schembechler retired after the 1989 season as the winningest coach in the illustrious history of Michigan football (194-48-5). Schooled as an assistant under the legendary Woody Hayes, Bo's name became synonymous with toughness, winning, Wolverine football, and dominance in the 1970's as his teams won more regular season games than any other school (96-10-3). During his 21-year tenure at the Big House, Michigan won or tied for 13 Big 10 championships, and he guided 17 teams to bow
Re-Examining Spearing
Every few years the problem is rediscovered in the media by a cervical spine injury in the NFL. Most recently it was Detroit Lions linebacker Reggie Brown. Television networks show the hit numerous times and stories appear in newspapers and magazines. But the injury is always portrayed as an unfortunate accident. It's not used to educate the football community that there is an identified cause for these injuries. No one says, "Reggie Brown made the mistake of loweri
Brian Billick Q & A
Q.In your decision to take the job, how important was the philosophical commitment from the top management at Baltimore for the development of a winning franchise in your overall analysis of the situation?A. Without the proper commitment and support from the overall organization, winning on the field is virtually impossible. This means having the same passion and commitment for the game as the players and coaches. I have experienced many times, particularly at the college level,
Offensive Minded
When University of Kentucky athletic director C.M. Newton was searching for a football coach after the 1996 season and called Florida's Steve Spurrier for suggestions, the Gator boss didn't throw out any names. Just a formula. "I told him to go after an offensive-minded guy because that's how you move the ball up and down the field, win games, win championships and put fans in the seats," said Spurrier. In other words, somebody like, well, himself. Newton took Spurrie
New Equipment
Chronomix Corp.1-800-538-1548www.chronomix.comThe Practice Timer is a multi-use training tool. It can be programmed for circuit interval training or practice segment timing. When not running programs it can be used as a hundredth of a second stop watch for timing the forty yard dash or laps. Accessories are available for printed results or automatic timing. ContinentalAthletic Supply1-800-544-5564www.continentalathletic.com
Win-Win Situation
If it had been a marriage last January - so sudden, so shockingly surprising - the town gossips would have had a field day. Dashing Dennis Erickson, the coach who won two national football championships at Miami, and Oregon State, the ungainly spinster of college football? No way. It can't last, the gossips would have said. Oregon State just got him on the rebound from that nasty mess in Seattle. Gosh, he can't be the desperate, can he? After all the bright lights, and the fame
Letter to the Editor
Sometimes when you do something day after day, you lose sight of the importance of what you are doing. Toyou, it becomes "just a job". Do you ever coast through the day on cruise control? Teach classes. Go to practice.Look at film. Is it that way for other people you come into contact with during your work week?Do you ever wonder if the dentist is really thinking about you and your cavity, or is he just performing another filling, while daydreaming of his upcoming vacation to Hawaii?
News & Notes
Ravens loaned $65 million from NFL lender The NFL has arranged a $65 million, short-term loan for the Baltimore Ravens, backed by the eventual sale of part of the franchise to a new investor, according to The Baltimore Sun. Team owners voted overwhelmingly to approve the bailout for Ravens controlling partner Art Modell, one of the league's longest-standing owners. His financial problems have prompted several NFL actions in recent years, including the 1996 vote to all
It's Not About the Plays . . . It's About the Players.
Twice a year, after the college football season and again after spring drills, University of Oregon coach Mike Bellotti arms himself with a yellow legal pad, and a supply of pens, and spends most of several consecutive days in his office. He isn't, on those occasions, scribbling Xs and Os. He isn't tinkering with the sophisticated offense that has placed Oregon in the top 20 in the nation in passing in five of the last six seasons. He isn't refining the strategies that
New Equipment
New Equipment Chronomix Corp.1-800-538-1548www.chronomix.comThe Practice Timer is a multi-use training tool. It can be programmed for circuit interval training or practice segment timing. When not running programs it can be used as a hundredth of a second stop watch for timing the forty yard dash or laps. Accessories are available for printed results or automatic timing. ContinentalAthletic Supply1-800-544-5564
Main Attraction
It's not like Mack Brown didn't have enough to worry about in his first year at the helm of the University of Texas football program. There was picking up the pieces from a dreadful 4-7 season and the enormous expectations of the "Hook 'em, 'Horns" faithful. Not to mention the separate controversies that precipitated his arrival in the Lone Star State. One being the firing of his predecessor, John Mackovic, and the other the bitter feelings that lingered in North Carolina when B
The Warhawk Way
Special teams practice and organization of time is always critical to any good football team. At UW-Whitewater, we have been very fortunate to have an offense that averages 40-plus points per game over the last three seasons. Along with a high-point average, comes a huge number of kick-offs and field position changes for our defense. We select kick-off coverage personnel mostly from the defensive side, particularly linebackers and defensive backs. Occasionally, we will use a fast, agi
Letters to AFM
We want your input! Letters to AFM should include the name, address and telephone number of the writer. Mail to: AFM, P.O. Box 13079, North Palm Beach, FL, 33408. Or, you can e-mail your letter to us at letters@americanfootballmonthly.com or reach us via fax at (561) 627-5275. Visit AFM online at www.americanfootballmonthly.com. Dear AFM: You recently asked, "Why does America love football?" There are a
A Bronx Tale
It is said that New York City is like no other place on Earth. To its public school football coaches, the phrase takes on an entirely different meaning. The Big Apple is, in many ways, high school football's final frontier. The sport somehow is managing to survive in an environment where all too often it seems the forces are aligned to squelch it out. By and large, high school teams in the city are under funded and many operate with no money provided by the Public Schools Athle
What Do You Expect?
Over the years, Bishop Amat Memorial High School (Calif.) has achieved notable success. The school has been recognized by the U.S. Congress as one of the "Exemplary Private High Schools in the Nation" and consistently receives the highest possible accreditations from the various associations and boards responsible for scholastic certification. This tradition of academic achievement has found its way onto the athletic fields of Bishop Amat, as well. Since their first varsity football s
New Equipment
New Equipment Wilson NCAA Footballs773-714-6400www.wilsonsports.comAll Wilson NCAA Game Footballs are made of Horween® 864 leather with tanned-in tack and lockstitch construction with 3 patterns to choose from 1001, 1005 and 1004.1001- Most Division 1 Schools use the 1001, same pattern and size as the NFL Game Ball.1005- Better known as the "small ball", the 1005 is growing in popularity as a ball that is easier to grip and throw for play
Youth Issue
The following pages dedicated to youth football are the first of what I know will become an annual supplement to our magazine. This is our effort to help the thousands of men, who give so willingly of their time to enrich the lives of the young men playing youth football at parks and sandlots across the country. Whether it be Pop Warner, Police Athletic Leagues, Park and Rec. leagues, or NFL Flag teams, the youth coach is the backbone of the sport. These teachers are coaches and mentors in th
Head Game
Wouldn't it be great to be able to match player personalities with particular football positions to get the best performance from the entire team and thereby improve the chances of success for the players and the team? The focus of this article is on a new and promising line of research that links a player's personality with his playing position on the field. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a personality test that has been used for years in various settings, especially in the
New Equipment
Rocket Pop-upFrom Rogers Athletic Company800-248-0270Help young players develop aggressiveness and safely master the blocking and tackling skills needed for victory. The Rocket Pop-up comes to its feet after every hit, freeing other players from holding or righting standard dummies. Jersey-style numbers give youth aiming points for practicing correct techniques.The Rocket Pop-up is a foam-filled dummy so there is never a loss of practice time due to leaking air
News & Notes
Colorado vs. Colorado State will continue to play in DenverThe rivalry between Colorado and Colorado State will be played at Denver's Mile High Stadium for two more years. The two in-state rivals, who played their first 69 meetings in either Boulder or Fort Collins, met last season at Mile High Stadium for the first time. School officials signed a contract to continue the Invesco Rocky Mountain Showdown in the final two years of Mile High Stadium's existence. Mile High will be replace
Whiplashed:
When Mark Whipple was on his way home last spring from the Atlantic-10 Conference meetings, the rookie head coach at the University of Massachusetts decided to buy one of those preseason football magazines to see where the so-called experts believed the Minutemen would finish in league play. Much to his dismay, UMass was the only team among 11 conference schools not mentioned in this magazine's A-10 forecast. It was as if the program didn't even exist. "We weren't in there, m
Coach of the Year: Bill Snyder
There's a story to illustrate the apathy. Its authenticity is tough to attribute, but the tale is too good not to share. A kid, who undoubtedly had room to roam in empty KSU Stadium, had enough by the fourth quarter and began acting up. His father in all likelihood a diehard since he hadn't fled for the exits, reportedly told his son, "If you keep that up, I'll bring you back next week." Cruel punishment indeed. Today, the bleacher space that kid could have used to se
Clock Management
A year ago, I wrote a book called Football Clock Management. In the course of writing it, I did a great deal of research. One category of that research was games that were won in dramatic fashion in the final seconds. That category contains a surprising number of downfield-lateral plays-although fewer in recent years than in the past. It should not be that way. In fact, there should be infinitely more downfield laterals in today's football games. The most famous downfield-late
The Philosophy of Gaucho Football
Note: The following pages are directly out of the staff manual of one of the nation's top junior college programs. While it is somewhat different than anything heretofore offered in "Outline to Victory," we feel that the thoughts contained wherein may help crystallize the views of you and your staff. Special thanks to Bill Cunerty, who, due to health concerns, recently stepped down. ELSIf you are reading this, you are a member of the best coaching staff in community college football.
Youngstown's 'Dave' Play
Over the past 12 years, fans and opponents of Youngstown State have come to understand that Penguin Football is tailback football. Our "Dave" play is one that can average four-plus yards on any down and can consistently gain the yardage needed for a first down when facing a short yardage or goal line situation. During our championship years, we have called this play over 220 times a season. Because of its use and the nature of our offense, we must prepare two tailbacks while a third a
UConn's Bracket and Vice Defensive Techniques
We play different types of man coverage with our nickel package. The advantages of this coverage are that we can take away our opponent's number one receiver, or the number one route they run. Bracket Coverage Diagram 1Diagram 2 Diagram 3Diagram 4 In bracket coverage, we double the number two receiver from a horizontal viewpoint, meaning we will find his release and then react. In Diagram 1, you will see the initial ali
High-Flying Hornets
Emporia State University, an NCAA Division II school in the prestigious MIAA (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association) Conference, featured the most balanced, yet explosive offensive attack in all of college football. Utilizing an attack with four receivers, no tight ends or fullback, the Hornets established 42 ESU, 30 MIAA, and nine NCAA records. No tight end and no fullback. Wait a minute, is this the run-and-shoot? Hardly. To say that the Hornets have achieved these acco
Letters to the Publisher
Dear Publisher: First, let me congratulate you and AFM on your article outlining minority coaching issues (The Dilemma of Black Coaches, Vol. 3, 3rd Quarter). The article's fair and objective presentation of the issues dealing with minority hiring presented the problems well. Yet, as we now sit in the midst of another hiring season, there is an even greater reason for concern. On the heels of a dismal hiring record in '97, we must ask: Are we off to greater disappoitment in 1998? T
When Tragedy Strikes
When the home telephone of a college football coach rings late at night, it's often the kind of news he'd rather not hear. Usually, it means a player has been arrested, violated a rule or done something to anger someone. Such thoughts ran through the head of Mississippi State Coach Jackie Sherrill when he picked up the telephone at his home on the evening of August 5. The news was, indeed, bad. But this time, it was so bad it made an arrest or a rule violation seem small and insignific
Pay Attention
In order to be a successful football player, one must be able to focus his attention on the right cues at the right time. The position a player plays often determines whether that player's focus of attention should be broad (large) or narrow (small), internal (from within), or external (from outside sources, i.e. teammates, opponents, playing surface). The purpose of this article is to focus on the kicker. Here are some guidelines to help increase your kicker's ability to direct his at
Closed Head Injuries in Football
When his eight concussions in nine NFL seasons forced New York Jets wide receiver Al Toon to retire on November 27, 1992, the event was overshadowed by another, arguably more serious injury. Two days later, in a contest between the Jets and Kansas City Chiefs, teammate and defensive end Dennis Byrd suffered a fractured vertebra when he collided violently with teammate Scott Mersereau, leaving Byrd partially paralyzed and requiring surgery to stabilize his spine. The lack of natio
1997 AFM Coordinators of the Year
OffenseAL BORGESUCLAChico State '81What a difference a year makes when shaping the identity of a program. Take, for example, the Bruins of UCLA and offensive coordinator Al Borges, who recently participated in year two of Bob Toledo's tenure. From the moans and groans of an inaugural 5-6 campaign came the hope for progress in 1997. A young, learning quarterback. Five starters on the offensive line. Experience on both sides of the ball. "We wanted to
NFL Coach of the Year
Picture Sir Edmund Hillary, circa 1953. How might he have felt, standing atop Mount Everest for the first time, if some anonymous Sherpa guide suddenly tapped him on the shoulder and said, "Nice job on this Everest thing and all but, uh, have you seen the really big one behind you?" Tony Dungy might know that feeling. Having just scaled his own Everest in '96 as he finally landed the NFL head coaching job that had eluded him for 10 years, Dungy was presented with this Tibetan-siz
Q&A With Tony Dungy
Q: It seems to me you believe coaches and players have a responsibility to the kids that look up to them. How do you feel about the role of an athlete in the community?A: Whether you want to be or not, you have to face the facts that you are a role model and that's part of the job. I don't necessarily like all the things that go along with it, like dealing with the media and doing interviews. I'd much rather just sit here--all I want to do is coach the team and that's it. But it is part
Letter From Publisher
I may be accused of 'Monday morning quarterbacking,' but, during the 1997 season I saw a growing trend of what I believe to be an under-utilized weapon in the arsenal of coaches: clock management. I remember each time telling myself. 'How can this be?' 'I am not a coach, I must be wrong. These guys are the experts; there must be a good reason they did not do this or did do that.' Yet, certain results or potential results could be avoided with proper time management and the exercise
Extraordinary Success Miami's Onside Kicking Game
At Miami, we teach and use the onside kick in two specific ways: (1) a "surprise" kick where we attempt to catch our opponents off guard; and (2) the desperation situation-the typical onside kick circumstance where you have to get the ball back. We have been exceptionally efficient in this phase of the game. As a matter of fact, during 1997 in our game versus New England (November 23, 1997), our kick coverage team recovered an NFL record three in the same game. I am convinced our success
Wisdom in a Multitude of Counselors
The NFL Draft covered so colorfully this April by an array of ESPN expert commentators has once again captivated the American football psyche with an over-analysis of this "game within the game." The annual reloading of America's major college and professional football teams through the recruiting and drafting process challenges to exceed the game itself in importance. Any wise coach knows having the right names on the backs of the jerseys can overcome any number of coaching shortfa
Letters to the Publisher
Dear Publisher: I enjoyed reading the Clinic Bonus Clock Management (Vol. 3, 4th Quarter), by John T. Reed. Mr. Reed brings up some interesting points that all coaches must be aware of when the game gets down to crunch time. At Ohio State, we use the time/down/ time out table on our game plan call sheets. We take it a step further by having a second table which is the situation of having just made a first down. We can roughly add 24 seconds to the change of possession table so we ar
Texas Tech's Double Screen
One of the biggest advantages an offense can have in a game is an ability to keep the opposing defense off balance. At Texas Tech, we try to gain such an advantage in a variety of ways. One of our main goals is to mix the running game with the passing game using a large variety of formations. Another of our biggest weapons on offense is our screen game. I would like to talk about one of our most successful and unique screen passes. We call this play "Double Screen." Double
Q&A With Mack Brown
Q: When you came in, you talked about reaching out to the high school coaches. Now did you find the things that you did were any different than your philosophies at Carolina, or just something not done in Texas in recent years? A: I'm not sure what's been done in here in the past, and I'd rather not look back. We're doing the same things here that we did at Tulane and at North Carolina. We enjoy the high school coaches, we know they are the lifeblood of college football regardless of wh
Letter From the Publisher
Bud Grant, the Hall of Fame coach of the Minnesota Vikings (18 years, 158-96-5, 12 playoff teams and four Super Bowl appearances, all after a successful Hall of Fame career as a CFL coach with Winnipeg: 10 years, 102-56-2, and four Grey Cup championships), was an innovator in the "self-scouting" concept. He was a great believer in "coaching people" and getting to know what made them tick. Grant was known for creating rules during training camp simply to test his players. He wanted to know fo
The Eyes of Texas are Upon Brown
The youthful looking forty-something coach had told everyone who would listen he wasn't going anywhere. His team, the media, the fans. North Carolina had become home, and he was just dandy there, thank you. Kids in school. Roots. A wife with a lucrative land development business. Perhaps more compelling, Mack Brown had a top ten program two-years running, a program he had nutured from the brink of abandonment 10 years before. Those close to Brown, personally and professionally
The Truth About Creatine
Athletes in all sports, especially football, are always looking for ways to become bigger, stronger and faster. To attain the quintessential trifecta of size, strength and speed, athletes have been known to use any and all means necessary. Unfortunately, even alternatives with documented harmful side effects such as steroids have been seen as viable options. The current "magic potion" for many athletes is creatine monohydrate. But what is it? What will it do? And, does it actually do w
Keep the Chains Moving
Achieving results on third down is one of the biggest keys to winning any football game. Third-down situations are often pivotal in determining the outcome of a game. A key stop for the defense can change momentum or significantly alter field-position advantage. Conversely, a conversion by the offense can keep a drive alive, eat up clock time, and keep scoring opportunities available. For the offense, the objective is simple: keep the football by making the necessary yardage. Severa
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