BLACK

Nick Saban speaking at the Mississippi Association of Coaches Clinic yesterday.


A great lecture sharing his philosophy on program building, dealing with athletes today, then follows up with him going over how he adjusts/morphs Cover 3 to handle everything an offense can dish out. 72 minutes of Saban.....................
Coaching is teaching
Teaching is the ability to inspire learning

Influence
Thoughts, habits, priorities - these are the triggers of everyone's actions

Develop Leaders
Leadership is understanding how what you do affects others

Rip/Liz (Rita/Lucy) linebacker adjustment in Cover 3
(though not articulated clear in MSU 97 or LSU 01 playbooks, I go over this 'safety-down' adjustment in cover 3 to handle verticals here)

DARIN SLACK

Ending the OL presentation, was ULL OC, Ron Hudson, discussing ULL's notorious rushing attack.

• Slide shuffle


• Shoulder square to cocked to attack


• Stay on track to aiming point


• Press heels of OL

• deep bucket step


• 1,2,3 square


• get vert

• Shuffle (gain leverage)


• then press (vertical)

• Bucket step (lose ground to gain leverage)


• Plant your face on far number (of DL covering you)


• Take steam off slanter (DL moving away, stay on as he crosses your face)


• Follow landmark (far number)

• Don’t extend arms in run game (think tripod)


• Throw face and hands on 2nd step


• Dip hips to uncoil (helps timing)


• Eyes to the sky when Crowther pumping (don’t drive through and bury your head)

Proceeding Allen Rudolph at the ULL clinic, was Stephen F Austin Offensive Line Coach, Chris Truax. Truax shared his thoughts on protection in SFA's 1-back system.

SFA is a 4 wide 1-back offense with 15 routes, 3 runs, 3 screens, and 3 protections bearing a strong resemblance to "air raid" (note his astute observations on formation naming).

• Know where QB set is
• Be patient
• Get into set quickly
• Use hands
• If you are covered by a down defender know your help
• Maintain loose and relaxed posture prior to contact
• Stay off your toes
• Don’t lean on defender after contact
• Head goes back as hands/arm extend to jam

Protection Drills For Linemen Everyday

• Kick flat
• Kick angle
• Kick vertical

Coaching the center in pass pro

• Uncork hips (of snap hand) to point to landmark
• extend opposite (off) hand

If down lineman is positioned on center's off hand?

• Off hand punch
• kick off leg
• 2nd step/hand regoroups

Dealing with dangerous 1 tech , do they fan to the nose?

• No, they will always call protection to 3 tech
  Don’t chase space, if Nose hips leave, drift back

The next few posts will cover a round table-type 4 hour discussion on offensive line play. This was an attempt by ULL OC, Ron Hudson, to kickoff a type of Southern C.O.O.L. clinic. Hudson plans on expanding this forum in the future and it would be something of a 1-back offensive line conclave. The discussions taking place this day consisted of presenting a concept then sharing perspectives between various coaches off that theme.

Allen Rudolph and Chris Truax share philosophy on handling OL

As you will see/hear, quite a bit of information is shared and problems discussed. This deviates from the standard fare of rote lecturing present at most clinics.

To start the morning, Southeastern Louisiana Offensive Coordinator, Allen Rudolph, shared his approach to slow (RB) screens.

RB Landmark screens
Rudolph bases his RB landmark screens of their 4 vertical principle; receivers will use a 15 yard takeoff unless tagged with a “crack” call (at the LOS). They also will choose to simply run 5-step concept routes, while the back and line engage the screen (Drive /Choice concepts).

The offensive line technique progression is to:

• Set
• Punch
• Extend
• Release

For the split receivers with a "crack" call, they don't want him to settle and engage a box player. Instead, they simply want the receiver to make (any) contact, and "take his head off". At worst, the receiver will have bought the back a split-second to break free. At best, it will knock a defender out of pursuing the play.

How do they deal with trash underneath or a DL twist in the way of the screen?
If the defensive line stops and peeks, the offensive line will redirect and take it. Rudolph does not use a 'rat killer' (who will double-back after releasing on the screen and pick up any backside pursuit).

The PSG engaged in the screen will sprint to the numbers; if the LB closes (from inside-out), he will pick him up. The RB landmark is 3-5 yards outside the tackle box (hash landmark)

PST – no set/cut; pass set kick slide
BST – does whatever

If confronted with a head up (4) or inside (4i) guy on the tackle, the PST & PSG combo to release ('you' / 'me' call on who kicks to screen and who engages the DE). If both are unsure about the box (look), they will make a 'grey call', meaning it is definite pass call to tackle (‘you’ tackle kicks to screen).

RB Throwback screens

Rudolph uses throwback screens in conjunction with slide protection as it allows the QB to set deeper and extend the launch point. Although this can be run out of any formation, the rules remain simple. Engaging the frontside tackle, guard, and center, the assignment depends on how the line sets after the play.

Rather than having static assignments that can cause a play to fail if one man doesn't fulfill his role, he has these linemen release at the same level so they can see and communicate who becomes what role within the screen. The first man out (not always the PST) will pick up the first opposite color jersey and kick out. The second man will continue pursuing the landmark (hash when ball is in the middle / top of the numbers when ball is on the hash) and then engage the first man outside. The remaining lineman will follow the second lineman to the landmark and engage the first man inside.

1-first color
2-first to landmark
3-next inside threat

Rudolph allows his linemen to cut on perimeter ONLY if the defender is coming downhill (aggressive). In any other situation, he requires his offensive line to gather their feet and attack the V of the neck (of the defender).

The key coaching point on his throwback screen is that the offensive line has to be flat on their release. If the linemen can't see the other (lineman) guy, then they will have no idea what their relationship to the point of attack (1,2, or 3) is. If the line releases at angles, they will often have responsibility overlap and pit two linemen on one defender.

Troubleshooting Screens
Rudolph uses four simple tenets to determine what went wrong when screens don't work (how to screw this up) to ensure that the execution is bulletproof.

• Line or backs leave too early
• The line is not flat down LOS
• Not cracking when man coverage
• Don’t bring the running back across the formation vs man (inviting linebackers into the box)

( audio of clinic presentation here )

General Zone Pressures
1. A solid variation to stopping the run and rushing the passer, the foundation of a GREAT defense

2. Zone pressures allow you to bring extra rushers and play a safe coverage behind the blitz (not as much risk vs. Cov-0 but still high reward w/ negative plays by offense)

3. As a defensive unit, you MUST work on your run fits and QB (Pressure points of the passer) rush lanes vs various personnel/formations/plays. (Trash cans can be used for walk through and run through).

4. QB/WR are taught concepts of the following

• Split safety looks C2/C4/C6
• Post safety looks C3/C1
• No safety look C0 / man-to-man
  Therefore have certain route concepts and combinations that can be designed against each defensive coverage concept

5. QB/WR is taught when you see a blitz, look to;

• Will protections hold up and work the “concept side” of the pass play
• Throw to the “hot side” of the pass play
• QB/WR may have route/sight adjustments called within pass play of “trouble call” (Blitz side)
• As a defensive unit we want to identify all or most of the “concepts and hots” that offense want to use to attack our defensive package. (game plan/adjustments)

6. Can “trigger” the QB to make the hot throws vs what appears to be man-to-man coverage and void areas that are in the defense. The zone pressure concepts will drop defenders in those ‘hot areas’.

7. QB will tell you so much at when, where, how.

• QB Helmet (snap count, hots, checks)
• QB 1st 3 steps (concept/hots/screens)
• QB directional Keys
• QB delivery keys

8. Droppers / Cutters / Screw Down players began on basic progression concept

• Hot
• RB
• Crosser

9. Game Planning

• Ability to attack the weakest blocker in protection (OL,TE,RB) in a 2 on 1 concepts (high / low, inside / outside)
• Ability to attack certain protections and trigger certain adjustmetns with blitz threats
  Man
  Full Slide
  Half Slide
  Dual Read
• Gamble: The QB has to have time to pick out the open WR in the open area

10. 5 man zone pressures are designed in a :

• 3 deep / 3 under concept
• 2 deep / 4 under concepts
• 4 deep / 2 under concept
• Draw basic concept (Rex Ryan)

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"Cause A Pause"

At this point, Jones began illustrating several of their 3 deep / 3 under pressures. Among them were two impressive concepts to take note of; "Dog" and 'Mafia'.

To take advantage of an explosive rush end they had last year (#9 Claude Davis, now at South Florida), they used this looping stunt. "Dog", showing man coverage blitz (4 rusher overload to a side) then loop the rush end into the far A gap. With the Nose looping to outside contain and the Mike coming fast in the A gap, the stretch of the opposite A gap opens up.

Out of 3 high

Out of 2 high

"Mafia" was another concept they used to exploit the weakside bubble. So vs man protection it provides an easy path to bring a rusher free, vs run they cover up the weakest gap fit on the front. They have found that looping the nose (away from the mafia stunt) can always get the center to jump this crossfacing defender and really open up the area of attack.

vs tight #2

Normally, vs 2-back, the Will and Mike would be looping into the bubble. In this depiction, vs twins, the safety screws down and replaces the Will and becomes a hot blitzer.

Mafia zone pressure vs twins

Of note on this clinic was the verbiage used to coach the BRONCO ends. To keep them honest and playing run first, they don't coach them to drop, they call them "potential rushers" (courtesy of Pete Jenkins). In "mafia", the drop end now is the hole player. Instead of walling off #2, he is falling inside to the hole and fits on cutback on run away.

Coaching Rules for Mafia Pressure:

DL NFL/NCAA Coaching legend, Pete Jenkins (Philadelphia Eagles DL), sharing fundamental principles to be successful with practice.

Important Practice Principles
1. Coaching with purpose: Players and Coaches should be on the same page
2. Practice every day with toughness, speed, and intensity
3. Practice what’s important to be successful
4. Simulation is the key
5. Consistency regardless of the opponent
6. Have an advanced plan (weather, school, schedule, etc)
7. Practice unusual schemes early and often (don’t wait until the end of the week)
8. Practice the obvious situations over and again
9. Stress and emphasize the kicking game
10. The questions we all share: what to teach, how to teach, how long and how often

Identify and define positional needs within your scheme of offense and defense




The drill – the teaching process designed to help your player understand and become physically proficient at skills and techniques needed to play winning football

The time – based on two factors:


1. How well or how poorly players are executing

• Good execution – polish the skill
• Poor execution – coach and rep skill

2. In season, the specific nature of the opponents offense or defense

Any excuse to travel into the heart of the cajun triangle is a good one and be it for football...well, even betta.

Before we dove head first into the weekend's festivities, we HAD to partake in the legendary cajun cuisine of Prejeans. The Crab Au Gratin was delicious and our creole waitress, Trista, (with her French accent) was even more.

The next few series of posts (this week) will be talks from this weekend's UL-Lafayette Ragin Cajun Clinic. Among the list of presenters (that I'll be sharing) were Pete Jenkins (Phil Eagles), William Jones (EMCC), Chris Truax (SFA), Allen Rudolph (SLU), and Ron Hudson (ULL). As stated previously, I am a big fan of podcasting for efficiently assimilating information (through passive stimulation).

This first installment features, Rice Offensive Coordinator, Ed Zaunbrecher, on the methodology for teaching your offensive players in the classroom. This is a great precursor to understanding offensive philosophy and basic offensive concepts.

The mp3 to the clinic lecture is located here

Enjoy!

Teaching the QB in the Classroom
Coach must first be able to give specifics to QB

• Details – fits a system
• Accountability – consistency
• Communication – teaching tools
• Reference for staff
• Continuity when coaches change

Defensive Concepts

• Fronts
• All you expect to see
• Number in box
• Shade-3 tech
• End inside or outside
• Overload
• Coverage rotation
• Free man in protection
• Coverages
• Middle open or closed
• Man or zone
• Areas open and covered
• Spot drop or matchup
• Where are potential blitzers
• What do they allow quickly

Teaching Progression Day 1

• Introduce in classroom drawing
• Film study if possible
• Individual techniques
• Individual timing
• Group vs Air
• Pass skel or inside run
• Team

Teaching Progression Day 2

• Review
• Practice Film
• Question and Answer- if they can’t tell you they don’t know
• Onfield timing
• Pass skel-inside run
• Team

Teaching Tools

• Installation schedule- more thorough-nothing omitted
• Playbook-handouts
• Take notes
• Teaching tapes
• Walk throughs
• Board work
• Homework

Sample Play

• Purpose of play
• Uses
• Concepts involved
• Formations used
• Protection-hots
• Quick throws
• Middle closed reads
• Middle open reads
• Man reads
• Possible adjustments
• Eyes