A Tribute to a Young Coach
Frank DiCocco was a frequent contributor to both American Football Monthly and Gridiron Strategies. He primarily wrote about defense, and, more specifically, the 4-2-5 defense. Both a high school and college coach, Frank tragically passed away last spring at 29…
Remembering 16 mm Film and Those Gold Helmets
Of all the coaches who have influenced me in my lifetime, without a doubt the coach that had the biggest impact was never my coach, but he is my dad. My dad is John Buchanan and I continue to look…
Double Screen for the Red Zone
One of our best red zone plays over the past four years has been our double screen. This past season, whenever we got inside the ten-yard line, our players not only wanted it to be called, they expected it; and,…
Your First Head Coaching Interview
Interviewing for the first time can be an exciting yet nerve racking experience. I know I found my mind racing with what questions could they ask, what should I ask the panel, who will be interviewing me, how many rounds…
Zone Read with Lead Blockers
For the last decade, the zone read has established itself at every level, even into the NFL. In fact, ESPN the Magazine reported the overall read option runs were called 974 more times in 2013 than in 2011. With the…
Great Boundary Pressure Beater To Your TE
What started as a boundary beater play became a great high percentage, quick pass play to my TE with simple reads for the QB on a three-step drop out of the Shotgun. The ideal formation for this play is to…
Systematic Method and Progression For Teaching The Clean
The clean and its variations are what many strength and conditioning coaches use to develop explosiveness in their athletes. One of the common errors I see when I visit with coaches and watch their athletes is a lack of a…
When to Use Triple Pass
Triple Pass is a play-action passing play that should be used when the safety (ies) start to cheat up in order to provide run support to the perceived point of attack. When those safeties start to blow up your base…
Switch Block Vs. Two-High Safeties
In order to prevent a disaster when running your triple option play vs. two-high safeties with the corners rolled up, I suggest that the playside WR and playside A-back make a “switch” call in order to exchange responsibilities on the…
Make Your X-PT/FG Team Another Offensive Personnel Group
As a practice planner you are always looking for ways to optimize the time you have out on the field. For most, it seems that the Extra Point/Field Goal Team is a unit that is overlooked and/or not enough time…