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…
High Completion Vertical Pass Route
I think that balance is the key to having great success in any offense…not just spread offenses. You need to be able to throw the ball…and not only when you have to throw it, but also when you want to…
Your First Head Coaching Job
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…
Training Modifications Due to Injury During Football Season
Football is a collision sport, and it is inevitable that your team is going to have to deal with injuries at some point during this football season. Early in my career, I was very hands off with students who had…
Shutting Down the Pistol Flex Bone Option With Your 4-3 Defense
There is nothing tougher than stopping a great option Offense. No matter how physically superior your guys are, the option guys are going by a simple mantra: If you can’t block ‘em, read ‘em! The power of the option attack…
Key to a Successful Power Read: QB/Sweeper Mesh
Having a week one bye has allowed me some extra time to watch both high school and college football for the last few weeks. A play that I’ve seen numerous times is the inverted veer or “power read.” It’s a…
Rob Taylor talks to Detroit Lions Strength and Conditioning Coach Ted Rath
Ted Rath is now in his fifth season as the strength and conditioning coach for the Detroit Lions. The previous two seasons he was an assistant strength and conditioning coach at his alma mater, the University of Toledo. Rath…
“Bread & Butter” Power Run For Any Offense
The 46/ 47 Power O was my best running play for years. I won a lot of games running this play out of 21 personnel. The play required having a tough fullback who had to take the right angle to…
Lead Speed Option
On this play, I like to read the first defender passed the DE. This gives the QB ample time to attack the perimeter with force. The B-Back is looking for the first wrong color to block (make sure he does…