Simple Success with the Punt Return/Punt Block Unit
I am of the belief that nothing can create momentum (or lose momentum) quicker than a big play with your punt return unit. Whether it’s a blocked punt or a big return, a big play here can swing the pendulum…
Using the Punt Block/Return Team as a Weapon
Of all the ways to seize momentum in a football game, there are few things more devastating than a blocked punt. The field position swing that comes with a blocked punt drastically changes the expectations and the strategy of both…
The Godfather of the Royals Offense
Roger Gruneisen seemed different from any football coach that I had grown up with. He had long hair and was an expert on rock and roll — the first coach I ever saw play the air guitar or reference ‘The…
Better Running Form for Fewer Football Injuries
I’ve written about the role of technique (form) and the prevention of injury many times. Most the time technique was related to a disruption in the neuromuscular pathway exhibited in execution of the skill. However, there is still another…
Running Veer Option From the Gun, With Special Blocking for Read
I began running the Veer later in my coaching career. I had a QB who was a good fit for the Veer and we were able to get some big plays for our offense. As I became more familiar with…
Single Wide Receiver, Boundary “Read” Concept (With RB)
An often overlooked version of the vertical pass game is the 3 x 1 or 2 x 1 boundary “Read” involving the running back working into the boundary with a single wide receiver. Field Side: Whether a 3 x 1…
Get More Out of Your Zone Scheme with the Fullback Zone Dive
One of my favorite plays from the two-back offense that we ran at the high school level was a fullback zone dive. This was a play that we used to complement our stretch play. Our version of the stretch play…
My Best All-Purpose Run Play
My #1 all-everything Run play is QB Power Read with Fly Sweep Mesh. This is a version of the play that Jordan Lynch (NIU) has used to get him to New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist, and it has…
Cold Weather Tackling
It’s mid-December and for a lot of the country, it’s COLD! If you are still playing football (like the NFL) you know that the cold weather affects the game in any number of ways. As a former NFL special teams…
Evolution in Strength and Conditioning
This is going to be my 17th season as a strength and conditioning coach working with athletes and preparing them for the upcoming football season when we begin in January. There has been tremendous growth in the field of strength…