Why You Should Use A Tight End and/or Fullback (Or 3)
I was always told as a young coach that everything works in cycles. After many years of running a four wide receiver offense, I have in the last few years started using one, two, and sometimes three tight end’s in…
Fire 3 Zone Pressures Concept
Before we teach our players any of our pressures, we introduce them to the four rules of engagement, which are our standard blitz rules EVERY player on defense should know and understand. We also focus on teaching the rules and…
Gun vs. Pistol
There are pro’s and con’s for both the Shotgun and the Pistol alignment. Since we now use both alignments, I thought I would share a few of the good and bad I have found up to this point. Pistol Alignment:…
Quick And Easy D.O.B. Drill
In my opinion, there are three key components to playing excellent defensive football. When I work with my linebackers, everything we do in our individual periods is explained to them as “building a house”. The most basic, fundamental skills we…
Shutting Down the Run With the Under Front in Your 4-3 Defense
I love using the 4-3 defense’s over front because it is one of the most versatile defensive fronts in the game. There are times, however, when we know that the offense wants to run the ball. In those situations, we…
Recruit and Develop
The title of this article is a phrase that I first became aware of when hearing Greg Schiano speak at the New York State High School Coaches Clinic in February of 2008. Up to that point, I can honestly say…
Finding the Right Special Teams Personnel
It is continually said that special teams is 1/3 of the game, so much so that at this point it has become something of a cliché. Despite how coaches repeat it, we can easily forget just how impactfull special teams…
2-Ball Kickoff Coverage Drill
I used this drill for the first time earlier this season so I am still working out the kinks, but it has a lot of value for a few reasons: – it reps 2 kickers and 2 returners at…
The 4 to 5-Day Installation Plan
There has been a lot of discussion lately about quicker installation plans for camp as opposed to slow schedules that allow for proper execution prior to moving on to something new. I instituted this faster plan at Aurora University a…
Defensive Guru Smith Still Has Impact on Royals
It was a morning practice in the summer of 1986. The Mercer County football team had just finished a 10-minute period of throwing pass patterns on air — no defense. Not a single completion. The night before we had scrimmaged…