AFQ X's and O's

Free football coaching strategies, play diagrams, X’s and O’s for coaches at all levels

Coach Burkett



COVERAGE 101: General Thoughts, Zone Principles, Coverage Menu

GENERAL THOUGHTS 1 – “Picks in ZONE, Break-Ups in MAN” 2 – Individualized Player Vision Capability Progression 3 – Saban/Dantonio Field Zone and Receiving Threats Understanding 4 – “Routes occur at 3-13-33” 5 – UNDER COVERAGE IN ZONES = IDEAL…



Recruiting Calendar Progression

As high school and college coaches approach signing day on Wednesday we are all about to also push play on the next recruiting cycle.  Of course we all know that recruiting never really stops and many of us at both…



Emerson, Bloom, et. al. for 2016

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “The secret in education lies in respecting the student.”  Thinking about that as a self-evident truth is a great way to jump into our coaching practice for 2016.  Most of us (especially those who also…



Coverage Menu

As we all evolve our defensive packages this off-season, we are obligated to the fact that everything starts with the Coverage Menu.  From a defensive coach perspective we know that everything starts with stopping the run on first especially and…



Pass Rush – “Work a Move”

In our efforts to create pressure on the quarterback and register sacks we often dismiss the production of the pass rusher as something that occurs as either a function of extreme talent or because the individual simply “just beat” the…



Weekly Opponent Preparation Plan

Many of us are through the first third to half of the season and as we continue to attack the schedule, the emphasis increases on teaching our players equally as much about our opponents as we do ourselves.  What follows…



Building Blocks of Zone Pass Defense

With the multiple coverages that are employed by defenses, there are various individual techniques that the coverage players must master and then employ versus specific routes, patterns, and concepts.  What follows is a simple checklist to teach ANY form of…



Common Blocks Against the D-Line

As we all prepare for training camp and put together our technique boards and drill menus, we must stay conscious of the different types of blocking patterns that our front people will see given our schemes. This is the next…



Summer Evaluation Camps

It’s that time of year of course and whether we are high school or college coaches if we are attempting to constantly raise the water level of the talent in our Programs, then we usually have a plan for the…



Spring Ball Wrap-Up

We just completed a very successful spring football season at Cornell with our 12 practices allowed by the Ivy League.  As with most things, we can attribute much of our success to diligent planning and consistent execution.  What follows below…