TGOG Film

Well, it's finally here!  For those that have doubted the technique, a dear friend of mine, and colleague, Coach Barry Hoover, who runs Coach Hoover's Football Coaching Site, has done all the leg work for me in finding the proper cut-ups for the film and putting it all together.  I can take no credit here, Coach Hoover's a fine individual, who by the way, can tear up some BBQ!!!  Anhow, here is the film, hope everyone enjoys it!

Some other things to look at this off-season:

Brophy stirring the pot with Florida State and Mickey Andrew's famous "jet" technique and pass rush technique in his latest blog post.  He also has another good post on the "In, At, Out" Drill for LB's.

Some other sites to check out are in my blog roll.  Always give these guys a look, there's some good stuff out there!

Smart Football
Hit Em' Hard
Spread Football
Blitzology
Compete in All Things

These are just a few in my blog roll.  Great stuff out there written by great coaches that take time out of their busy schedules to help us out.  Thanks guys!!!  Dog days of summer are here, don't get lacidasical!!!!  Season's right around the corner.

Duece

Links!!!

Just a tidbit on some things I 'm reading and other happenings out there on the Internet.  Sorry for the lack of postings, but the book comes first, and the blog is suffering.  Please bear with me as I do have some good posts in the works.

Brophy's been beating the band over at Cripes! Get Back to Fundamentals blog.  The latest post on how to download and cut up the NFL's "All-22" films, is, pardon my French...BAD ASS.  Great job big dawg!  Other good ones here lately have been some stuff on Bo Pelini (one of my favorite Over/Under guys), as well as Brophy's 1 high Nickle stuff (which plays in to some of my older posts on defending the spread with a one-high look).

Coach Hoover's been working his tail off too, with some good articles on ball security, using the 8-2-1 kickoff return to limit concussions and injuries (for more 8-2-1 stuff go here), and Urban Meyer's passing concept known as Bullets.  As usual, Hoover's posts are clean, clear and full of some awesome information.

The next blog, is Smart Football.  To be honest, if you aren't checking Smart Football daily, what the hell are you doing then???  Really guys, take the time out to read this blog...DAILY, the popular author of The Essential Smart Football, Chris Brown, has one of the best football blogs around.  The blog is filled with not only football X's and O's, but also philosophy, practice organization information, and even the occasional business and life posts.  What more could you want all in one blog?

Spread Football is a cool blog with several nice tidbits for the spread happy coach.  Some of my favorites have been the post on double slants (always a favorite of mine), the post on option from pistol sets and especially the post on Alabama's smash concept.  A very well thought out and clean blog, so what are you waiting for?  Go check out Spread Football!!!

A couple of new sites I haven't had a chance to read all the posts on are Coach Vint's site and Coach Mac's Play Fast Football.  The few posts I have read, have been flat awesome!  Coach Vint's post on building a championship culture are second to none.  These are two new blogs I'm checking out, and from what I've seen, they will be added to the reading list...shortly.

So many  blogs...so little time!

Again, sorry about the delay in posts, maybe this will wet your whistle for a while until I can get finished with the book.  Things are looking good though and coming right along with it, but when you are a perfectionist it probably takes a bit longer than it really should.  Anyhow, please be patient with me!

Duece

Smart Football Store and Other Links



Want some links?


Just saw this today, but you've got to check out Smart Football's store!  A little (ok, maybe a LOT) Air Raid biased, but some cool stuff nonetheless.  Just in time for the holidays folks, so get your Smart Football gear and as always continue to read Smart Football's blog.





Kick Ass!


Brophy has been lighting up the postings here lately with several awesome tidbits of information, from coaching the under front to Bill Walsh's practice schemes and philosophy, all of these can be found at Cripes Get Back to Fundamentals.  As always Brophy, top notch stuff.

I was checking out Spread Football today and came across their new message board.  Seems like it will be a good one!  Check out the No Huddle Spread message board today!

If you're not into no huddle spread, and are maybe a more "3 back attacker" well, I've got another message board I recently joined that might be the right fit for you.  Coach Calande has his message board dedicated to the "dreaded double wing" and the 46 Gambler defense that has some good discussion topics on it.  Check out his site, and let me know what you think!




Ahh, the Gambler...


Coach Hoover continually churns out great posts.  His latest on making highlight videos and how Georgia lost the SEC Championship are nothing short of stellar posts.  He's also got some great links over there, and good "how to" videos in terms of technique of coaching various positions.  I once ate ribs with this guy, and all I can say is, he writes much cleaner than he eats (wink-gotcha buddy)!!!!

As always, go check out my alter ego at The 12th Man Blog.  Here I get away from X's and O's and Jimmies and Joe's, and pretty much lay it on the line how I feel.  Don't really care whether it's right, wrong, or even politically correct.  So grab a beer, or your favorite "toddy" and come on over to The 12th Man....it'll be fun!

These are just some tidbits I wanted to throw out there, since it is the season of giving.  Hope everyone has a safe and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!




Dont' have too much fun this holiday season!

 


 
Duece

I'll Be Back...

Well, it's been a crazy ride this season, and with only two games left, things will be over soon and I can get back to posting.  Do I ever have some stuff for you guys!  I'm working on the following:

1. Key mistakes to avoid as a defensive coordinator
1. Believe me folks, if anybody has screwed up and NOT followed this protocol this season, it's me.  I'm going to share some of those events and how we got the ship righted to finish strong.
2. The 8-2-1 kickoff return scheme.
3. Using nickel personnel to effectively defend the two back running game.
4. Tackling drills.
5. The unbalanced single wing and how this offense impacted myself, our coaches, and the players.

These are just a few of the things I've got in store, so don't forget about me.  In the meantime you can always check out my other blog, The Twelfth Man, where I get away from X's and O's and go a little more "opinionated".  Here are some other things you should be looking at as well.

Brophy has been back and has some great pieces, on Saban, Tony Franklin and La. Tech.  As always Brophy writes with a witty purpose, and does a great job explaining things.

Smart Football has been putting up some good stuff on the West Coast offense and how it helped Drew Brees attain his record.  Also some great articles on Geno Smith, Dana Holgorsen and some breakdown on the zone blitz coverage.  As always, Chris is a very talented writer and has links to several great video clips over on his site. 

Well, if you season is ending and you are not looking to the playoffs, once it's over, take a week or two and rest up as the whirlwind we know as the off-season will begin!  If your headed to the playoffs, congratulations, now keep your eyes on the prize!!!

Duece

Overwhelmed at the Moment

I figured I better post this before I have a mutiny on my hands, so here goes.  Gonna have to put the blog on hold at least for the football season.  I've picked up some new duties as the interim head coach of the team I was the assistant head coach for.  The head coach is down sick and can only do so much, so I've had to shoulder a much larger percentage of the duties this season.  I hope you understand.  I'm also trying to get my book completed, so time is of the essence and writing along with being a head coach has taxed me to my limit.  Anyhow, please don't throw rocks, I'll be back to posting here soon, just let me get my ducks in a row at the moment!

Some other great sites to check out while I'm away are:
Coach Hoover's Blog
Brophy's Blog
Smart Football
Coach Iannucci's blog
Tony DeMeo
Kickology
Chief Pigskin

Anyhow, good luck on your seasons, we start next week! 

Let's go!

Duece

More Flexbone Passing

Going with the theme from the last post, here's some drop back stuff that might interest some of you flexbone nuts!  I used to keep things simple and mirror my routes to either side in the flex, however, with the Air Raid craze that has taken over the football landscape, there is a need to evolve the flexbone passing game.  I'm going to show you some simple concepts, both Air Raid and Run and Shoot you can add to your arsenal of weaponry with little teaching time so that your team can still master the triple option.  This concept of teaching time is very important to flexbone coaches, as the attention to the passing game gets lost due to the intricate time needed to spend working and perfecting the reads in the run game.  However, this does not mean you cannot have a good passing game in the flexbone.  I think the concepts you choose need to be limited, very simple, and little to no reads on the part of the QB (he has enough on his plate already). 

Levels
Levels has been written about tons of times (as seen here and here), so I'm not going to go into grave detail on the subject, other than this concept fits the flexbone very well.  Since the flex, is a 2x2 offense in the base formation, the concept is very simple.  There are two sides to the play, the clear out side and the "in" side.  These concepts must be tagged so I would tag the clear out side by simply calling "right" or "left" and that call (ie. Levels Left) would dictate what side of the offense was going to be the clear out side.  To the clear out side, the wide receiver runs a takeoff and the slot will attempt to bust the middle of the coverage wide open.  Here's the key to the success of the play is the clear out side slot's read.  He's the only receiver reading anything, and all he does is "run to daylight".  So if the defense is MOFO (2 high safeties), the slot is going to run a skinny post splitting the safeties.  If the defense is MOFC (1 high safety),  then the slot will run right up the hash mark.  To the "in" side, the inside slot is basically running a five yard "in" route while the wide receiver will run his "in" route at a depth of 10 to 12 yards.  The B back, will release to the call side flats on an arrow route and look for the ball immediately if call side LB blitzes.  Here is the concept drawn up out of the base set:





This would be the route combo vs. MOFO defense



This concept can also be run out of trips as well, with the A and Z backs switching their assignments.  The A back will now clear out the middle of the coverage with the Z back running the five yard "in" route.






Levels from a trips set


NCAA
A real popular route combination is the NCAA route.  As most know, the reason for the naming is because of the commonality of the passing concept in college football.  The NCAA concept is another passing concept that with a few tweaks can be formulated to fit into the flexbone passing game. 

The NCAA routes involve a post, a dig, and two drag routes.  In my mirrored route scheme, I had double post and double drag (shown below) tagged as the "six route".  Any time we wanted to run the NCAA combo, I simply tagged which WR was going to run the dig route.

6 Route

In the play below, I simply called "Y Dig" and you come up with the NCAA concept.

The NCAA concept can also be run from the trips formation as well.  When doing this though, I recommend having the A back convert his route into a wheel route.

Shallow Cross
Shallow cross is another passing concept that works well in the flexbone offense.  This concept is very similar to Levels, but with a few different route combinations.  Again, in 2x2 I recommend tagging the side of the offense that will be running the shallow cross, to keep things from being too confusing for the players.  In the diagram below, you can see the route combinations set up as follows; the Y will run the shallow cross, basically being a drag in front of the LB's.  The slot to the tagged side runs a corner route, 10 yards in depth.  Away from the call side the A back is going to run a five yard "in" route.  The receiver away from the tagged side will run a deep post route.  Shallow cross attacks the bottoms and tops of every zone the defense is playing, thereby making a zone dropping defender's job much more difficult because there is a decision to be made.  Defenders do not like to have choices, they want to react and attack and concepts such as the Shallow cross do not allow defenders to attack, because if they do, then receivers are open.



Shallow Cross from trips

As you can see the concept can be run from either the base set, or the trips set.  Another good "change up" is to switch the assignment of the call side receivers.  Have the Y run a clear out or fade, and have the slot run the crossing route.



Run and Shoot
A lot of people ask me "What routes go best with the flexbone", and my usual answer is "Run and Shoot".  The problem with the shoot is that it is a very time intensive passing attack to install.  Flexbone QB's are not going to have the time to learn the reads and routes that a true RNS QB will have.  However, there are some very good concepts that can be utilized in the drop back passing game (some of these concepts have been discussed before).

I'm not going to elaborate much here as there are some really good reads on RNS passing, what I am going to tell you is that you will not have the time you need to dedicate to truly run RNS passing in it's purest form.  However, you can use the concepts, with some tags to put your team in a position for success with very little coaching time involved.  Check the links below for more RNS passing information.

Understanding the Trickeration

• Streak Package
• Choice Package
• Go Package
• Switch Package

Smart Football's Run and Shoot Articles (Chirs does an excellent job of dumbing down the RNS concepts).

• Part 1-Simple Approach to Run and Shoot
• Part 2- The Seam Read and the Go Concept
• Part 3- The Choice Concept
• Part 4- The Streak

Another concept that works well with the flexbone is spacing.  I won't write much about the spacing concept, as it has been documented quite well over the years as well.  However, I will tell you what I did in the past to make spacing a simple concept that the kids could easily run (this comes from the RNS background of "get open" and is easy to put in).

The zero route in my offense meant exactly that, no route was called and the receivers were to listen for the tags.  Some concepts I ran were comeback, slant, and hitch.  If the zero route was called and then "comeback" was added to it, then the receivers would all run comebacks, as shown below.






Comebacks


Here are the others also:

Hitch

Slant

Out

Looks like we were real original with the names right?!  The coaching point for the flexbone coach using the spacing concept is to teach receivers to move around into open areas once they run their routes (this is not how spacing is taught in "mainstream" passing offenses, there, the receivers run to the voids and make reads on the run much like RNS receivers do).  I only did this the two years I had what I would have considered a "good passer", but it was an easy install, as we had some pretty good wide receivers to go along with our gunslinger that year.

Conclusion
Mirrored routes are great in the flexbone, and an offense can go along way by utilizing this simple concept.  However, if you want more out of your passing game in the flex, I suggest adding one, maybe two of the above concepts.  The reason I would keep that number so low is the fact that any addition to the passing game requires time to install, and any time taken from the run game, in the flexbone, can be dangerous.  Another item to consider is pass protection, as the above concepts are all drop back in nature, the OL will have to protect more than usual.  I think the flexbone OC should have at lease one of these concepts under his arm going into every season (mine was Levels), and then only add some if he feels his team absolutely needs them.

Duece

Weak Safety Shuffle Technique in Solo Coverage

Uh oh...

Most who know me know I like the shuffle footwork for defensive backs (DB's).  I started using the shuffle about 2006 as a way to help my slow corners have an advantage against our competition, who was much, much faster than us.  Since then, the shuffle is all I've really used when coaching corners.  The technique really has allowed a lesser player to play the cornerback position and still be able to be effective against much better talent at wide receiver (WR).

Introduce Solo coverage, or as I was taught "Poach" coverage.  I learned this back in my early days of Quarters coverage.  I used it as my trips open check as an automatic.  The problem I always had with Solo was the weak safety (WS) and his ability to both get over the number three receiver vertical, and being able to come up and play the force player to the away side.  Sure, most times this player is into the boundary and our dear friend, the 12th player (the sideline) can help us out.  However, if you've had some of the athletes I've had to coach, over the past few years, you quickly realize you need some way of helping this kid out.  I had used both a flat-footed buzz technique (which is my standard footwork for a Quarters or Two Read safety), and backpedaling as the footwork technique.  I take to heart a lot of what the players tell me, as they are the one's who are having to execute the technique and perform.  Most of the players did not like the sit and buzz because they always felt late getting to the vertical of number three.  Secondly, they did not like to backpedal because they felt by the time they judged it was a run play, they were late forcing the football.  So what to do?

WS has an issue with leverage on both the vertical by #3 and being able to force.

A few years back, I started toying with shuffling the WS out at an angle, having him open to the number three receiver.  The kids caught on pretty quick and liked it much better than backpedaling or standing flat-footed.  The benefit is two-fold in this case.  The WS gets to open up to his pass key (number three), yet still can see the quarterback and EMOL to get his run reads.   If the number three receiver is vertical, the WS can get into better position using the shuffle because he opens in the direction of the number three receiver putting him closer to his assignment than if he would have simply backpedaled.  If the WS reads run, he can easily use the T-step, redirect and get back downhill to help force the run. 




By opening to #3 WS can easily read #3's intentions






By opening to #3 WS can still see his normal lane of ball read and redirect if necessary


You do need to tweak the alignment of the WS if you use the shuffle.  Originally I had the WS align in the away side A gap.  I felt this alignment allowed him to get to both assignments well, however the WS still was late forcing the run most of the time.  Anytime I tried moving him wider, then the number three receiver became a problem.  Once I tried shuffling, I was able to move my lesser athletic WS's to the B gap, and the more athletic one's to stacked over the away side OT. 




WS is too wide in normal alignment to account for #3 vertical




Something else, not related to WS technique, that can help with Solo coverage is having the read side LB work fast to wall number three and force this receiver to run a "bubble" when going vertical.  This gives the WS time to get a clear read and get to his assignment.  The LB has to work quickly to get to this route and at the very least help be in the throwing lane, especially vs. quick throws. 

Lastly, if you really like Solo coverage, mix in "Roll Solo" as well.  Roll is not a good coverage vs. four vertical routes, however, it is good against teams that run flood concepts with the number three receiver going vertical (instead of the standard of having number one take the top off the coverage).  Roll takes some pressure off of your WS because there is added help by the FS in this case.  Maybe that's for another article though...

Just something I tried and wanted to share with folks who may be experiencing the same issues I had when installing Solo coverage.  Solo is a very good coverage, but it does have it's weaknesses.  By utilizing a technique, I already was coaching my corners on, I was able to help out our WS's in Solo coverage.

Most of you are wrapping up spring practice, you've had your spring games and are looking ahead to the off-season.  However, some of you may still need some improvement.  Here's some great sites in my blog roll you need to check out!

Football is Life Blog Roll

Smart Football
Smart Football is a site I check daily.  The latest post on the Colts offense shows exactly why football coaches should use this site.  The attention to detail here is second to none. 

Gridnotes
Gridnotes is one of those gifts that keeps on giving.  It seems as if this site is updated daily.  Articles ranging from X's and O's to philosophy and tidbits that will make you a better coach grace the pages of this blog.  You can also find links to some of my long lost posts on there as well!  Great site chocked full of TONS of information on the great game of football.

Coach Hoover's Site
Coach Hoover, the master of creating and editing video has a great site with more links than I can possibly count.  Plenty of articles on drills as well as devotion and coaching philosophy can be found on Coach Hoover's site.  Plus...he's a Gator fan, what more could you want?!

Cripes, Get Back to Fundamentals
If you haven't found Brophy's site yet, you are missing out.  Cripes, Get Back to Fundamentals is the Mecca of a myriad of football information.  So stop lying around on a bean bag, naked, eating Cheetos, and get on the Internet to this site!  I guarantee you can burn up a couple of Saturdays doing nothing but reading old posts on here.  Good job Brophy!

If you are looking for good football knowledge, check out those sites, you won't go wrong there.  Well, I'm off for a bit, heading to enjoy my memorial day weekend.  Have fun, be safe and enjoy a cool one...





I hear Buffet playing...don't you?!


Duece

Suggestions?

I was thinking, with the New Year ringing in, what suggestions would you have for the site?  I'm always interested in taking my audiences' temperature, so send me an email at footballislifeblog@yahoo.com and let me know what suggestions you have.  Currently I'm still working on the 3-4 defense and the single wing offense.  If you have any information you'd like to pass along, drop me an email.  Anyhow, here's some links to keep you going until my next post.

Here's a good post on the adaptation of the flexbone offense.  I think we are really seeing this offense coming into it's own, and there is no doubt the triple option has made its way back into the limelight of college football.  As always good link from Smart Football to Grantland.

Compete in all Things has a good post on the 3-4 defensive line.  If you're like me and trying to learn more about this defense, then you will want to read this post.  Also if you are like me, finding information on the 3-4 is like finding the Holy Grail!  Good post Mariner!

Coach Hoover really hits home with his latest piece on Tim Tebow.  I don't get all the haters our there, but to be honest, ol' Hoover goes into depth on what he believes is happening to the Denver Tebows...er...Broncos.  I think he's dead on with his opinion here, and I feel the EXACT same way.  Maybe I'm a little cynical, but I do believe in the power of belief, and I do believe that one person can make a difference.  Such is the way with the Broncos.  You cannot deny that the Broncos are not a changed football team.  What makes this even better, is how traditional NFL analysts cannot stand how he's able to be successful.  I also think there needs to be some kudos to head coach John Fox.  He at least had the wherewithal to start Tebow and give him a chance despite all the detractors.  Hey, desperate men sometimes do desperate things.  I hope the ride doesn't end with a few wins either, I'd like to see the Tebows playoff bound!!!  That would be a VERY nice Christmas gift for me.

For those that don't go to Gridnotes to find out your latest update on all your favorite football blogs...GET YOUR FRIGGIN' HEAD CHECKED!!!!!  What a great setup over there.  You can find whatever you need, whenever you want it, and the site is cleanly done, hats off bro, I'll drink a Sam Adams for ya!  Great site, please check it out for all your information needs.  There's great links to articles I frequently check out.  No more searching through this blog or that, all blog posts are referenced and easy to find, again...hats off!

Spread football is at it again with some very useful Air Raid powerpoints.  I'm learning this Air Raid stuff daily, and have "overnight" become a Mike Leach fan (who'd have figured right?).  Take a look at these powerpoints, good stuff and well worth the read!

Well, this is probably the last post before the big day, so to all Happy Holidays, and have a very Happy New Year!!!!




Don't forget the Juice!


P.S. don't forget to follow me on Twitter @theduece02. 

Duece

Revolutionary Safeties and Quarters Coverage- Smart Football/Grantland

Good article on the revolutionizing of the safety play in the NFL.  This has been important to the success of many teams down through the decades as most often safeties are asked to be some of the most versatile players on the field.  

Nothing like versatility!

From playing the run to covering receivers in both zone and man coverages as well as rushing the passer, safeties like Polamalu and Ed Reed have revolutionized the game.  Their ability to do this has been greatly enhanced in the invention of Quarters Coverage.  Read more over at Grantland.

Looks like the Huey board is up and running, thanks Coach Huey for all you do!!!  Thought I was going to have to medicate myself this past weekend...oh wait, I did!

Also, for all you Tebow haters out there, really?  Yes he looked ugly at times, but he's a rookie quaterback in the NFL, don't forget that.  Please also don't forget he's not responsible for pass protection, catching passes that he throws, hanging on to the football he just handed off, or stopping the opponent's run game.  Tebow did just what he was drafted to do, make those around him better.  Isn't this what you want out of the most important postion on the football field?  I think so.  I didn't really think his throwing motion looked that awkward, but hey, being a Gator fan and alumni, I'm biased!

Well, one more game to go for us!  No matter what level I coach, or what the record is, the end of the season still sucks.  I always miss the guys I coach, no matter how they played, or how the season went.  Is that weird?  Hit me up and let me know what you think at footballislifeblog@yahoo.com.  Hope all of ya'lls seasons went well, and those headed to the playoffs, now's not the time to let off the gas, keeping pushing...full steam ahead.  For those with less than stellar season, get ready for the off-season, as the time is NOW!




Keep your foot on the gas baby!


Duece