One of the rules that I have adopted and it's easy to remember is: "Run away" from man and "Sit down" versus zone coverage. In other words, when adjusting football passing patterns versus a man coverage system, call crossing patterns or passing routes whereby your wide receiver is running away from the defensive back. Look for the mismatches where your wide receiver is basically a better athlete than the defender and is out running them. A lot of teams when up against a man coverage football system will isolate their best athlete versus a weaker defender and let his athletic ability get him open.
Versus zone coverage, the adjustment to make would be to get your players to "sit down" or stop and set up in the seams between the zones. Basically your wide receiver would run his route and look for the opening between zones, stop, set-up, while the quarterback would scan and find him open in the seams.
The key to all your football systems depend a large amount on your personnel that you have to run them. Based on that, you design or adopt a particular football system that your players have the means to thrive in. In other words you don't run a system that your players don't have the tools to operate.
Once you establish that system and your players thrive within it you will be able to make game adjustments within that football system that will be easy for players to adopt. One of the things that you will probably do at some point is to adjust your passing patterns based on what kind of football pass defence that you are up against whether it be man or zone defence.
Rule of thumb: Run away from man and sit down versus zone!
Cheers!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Keys to Football Play Selection
Reading the Defence a Key Element
Did you ever notice while watching a professional football game, particularly when one of the teams has an aggressive defence that likes to blitz allot and pressure the quarterback, that eventually the quarterback while under pressure takes a three step drop and fires a bomb deep that goes about ten feet over the wide receiver's head. We cringe and complain as obviously the receiver had the defensive back beat and a well placed passed would have resulted in a touchdown, however, if you read into it more you'll realize that the play was much more than just an overthrown pass, it was a set -up play.
It was never the quarterbacks intention to complete that pass, it was his intention that after getting blitzed and pressured on every play to get the cornerbacks to back off a bit or pay the price of getting burned deep!
The play created the mindset with the defensive backs to loosen up or be beat!
Now the focus will turn to the stacking and blitzing middle linebackers and the inside pressure that probably has resulted in a sack or several hurried throws by the quarterback. Next, you'll notice that there will be a short series of quick passes placed just behind the stacking or blitzing middle linebackers. After a few of these completions you'll notice that the linebackers are backing off now and dropping into their zones.
The set-up continues. Now with linebackers dropping you'll see the play selection include several runs up the middle for reasonable yardage followed by a couple of quick passes to the wide receivers who run a quick slant pattern versus the defensive backs that have been playing loose, followed by another run play up the middle. With the quick slants the corners have tightened up to defend it, with the quick passes behind the linebackers they have loosened up, and with the inside run plays called they are playing safe, dropping cautiously and then coming up for run support!
The defence is now vulnerable!
The offence by selecting the right plays for the situation have forced the defence to back-off and made them vulnerable, they went from an aggressive attacking and sacking defence to one that is now concerned with being more defensive.
Bring in the play-action. Now with the defence on its heels which results in more time and space for the quarterback, chances are you'll see him now run a play-action pass for the kill. The offence will give them a run look, fake the hand-off to the running back as if the play is going up the middle, the defence bites on the run, and the quarterback will drop back and this time throw a strike right on the money to the wide receiver who clearly has beaten the defensive back.
A far cry from that overthrown pass earlier in the game!
Cheers!
Did you ever notice while watching a professional football game, particularly when one of the teams has an aggressive defence that likes to blitz allot and pressure the quarterback, that eventually the quarterback while under pressure takes a three step drop and fires a bomb deep that goes about ten feet over the wide receiver's head. We cringe and complain as obviously the receiver had the defensive back beat and a well placed passed would have resulted in a touchdown, however, if you read into it more you'll realize that the play was much more than just an overthrown pass, it was a set -up play.
It was never the quarterbacks intention to complete that pass, it was his intention that after getting blitzed and pressured on every play to get the cornerbacks to back off a bit or pay the price of getting burned deep!
The play created the mindset with the defensive backs to loosen up or be beat!
Now the focus will turn to the stacking and blitzing middle linebackers and the inside pressure that probably has resulted in a sack or several hurried throws by the quarterback. Next, you'll notice that there will be a short series of quick passes placed just behind the stacking or blitzing middle linebackers. After a few of these completions you'll notice that the linebackers are backing off now and dropping into their zones.
The set-up continues. Now with linebackers dropping you'll see the play selection include several runs up the middle for reasonable yardage followed by a couple of quick passes to the wide receivers who run a quick slant pattern versus the defensive backs that have been playing loose, followed by another run play up the middle. With the quick slants the corners have tightened up to defend it, with the quick passes behind the linebackers they have loosened up, and with the inside run plays called they are playing safe, dropping cautiously and then coming up for run support!
The defence is now vulnerable!
The offence by selecting the right plays for the situation have forced the defence to back-off and made them vulnerable, they went from an aggressive attacking and sacking defence to one that is now concerned with being more defensive.
Bring in the play-action. Now with the defence on its heels which results in more time and space for the quarterback, chances are you'll see him now run a play-action pass for the kill. The offence will give them a run look, fake the hand-off to the running back as if the play is going up the middle, the defence bites on the run, and the quarterback will drop back and this time throw a strike right on the money to the wide receiver who clearly has beaten the defensive back.
A far cry from that overthrown pass earlier in the game!
Cheers!
Monday, April 18, 2011
Football Offensive Line Tips: Strong Side
Implement a strong side Offensive Line
Coaching in youth football you are sometimes faced with the challenge of not having enough quality offensive linemen in order to have the five interior offensive line positions filled. Sometimes as football coaches, especially in small football programs, you just don't have enough linemen.
With the season upcoming there are options.
One of the things you can consider is to implement when coaching in football is a strong side offensive line. What this consists of is taking your two best offensive linemen and let them play beside each other such as in a Guard/ Tackle Combo and run the majority of your running plays behind this combination of offensive linemen. As well, if you're short at the Center position one of the things you can do is take one of your linebackers and make them into a Center. Now, you have an athletic Center that can move, and likes to be physical. On your backside or your weak side of the offensive line, take a couple of your slower defensive linemen and place them as the weak side Guard/ Tackle combo.
Whereas the majority of the running plays will be called to your strong side, coach these two weak side players to have tight splits and not allow any backside penetration that potentially will kill your strong side run. As well, teach them one inside run play to their side such as a counter play. This will be a play you can use when the defense has adjusted to your strong side. Another play you can teach them is a backside lead just off the outside hip of the tackle. Compliment your inside five offensive linemen with an athletic slot back that can possibly play tight end as well. Take your other inside linebacker and let him play some fullback so you now have another block at the point of attack. No doubt the defense will cheat on your strong side but keep them guessing and moving by flipping your strong side offensive line from left to right.
Cheers!
Coaching in youth football you are sometimes faced with the challenge of not having enough quality offensive linemen in order to have the five interior offensive line positions filled. Sometimes as football coaches, especially in small football programs, you just don't have enough linemen.
With the season upcoming there are options.
One of the things you can consider is to implement when coaching in football is a strong side offensive line. What this consists of is taking your two best offensive linemen and let them play beside each other such as in a Guard/ Tackle Combo and run the majority of your running plays behind this combination of offensive linemen. As well, if you're short at the Center position one of the things you can do is take one of your linebackers and make them into a Center. Now, you have an athletic Center that can move, and likes to be physical. On your backside or your weak side of the offensive line, take a couple of your slower defensive linemen and place them as the weak side Guard/ Tackle combo.
Whereas the majority of the running plays will be called to your strong side, coach these two weak side players to have tight splits and not allow any backside penetration that potentially will kill your strong side run. As well, teach them one inside run play to their side such as a counter play. This will be a play you can use when the defense has adjusted to your strong side. Another play you can teach them is a backside lead just off the outside hip of the tackle. Compliment your inside five offensive linemen with an athletic slot back that can possibly play tight end as well. Take your other inside linebacker and let him play some fullback so you now have another block at the point of attack. No doubt the defense will cheat on your strong side but keep them guessing and moving by flipping your strong side offensive line from left to right.
Cheers!
Friday, April 15, 2011
Spring Football Agilty Drills
Power, Agility, And Speed Training For Football
With spring finally warming up it gets the football juices flowing and thoughts of football should be running through your head. Spring is a great time to evaluate your football systems and practice plans as well as equipment. Spring is also a great time to put the notice out to your football players that you will begin to run twice week agility drills in the local gym. The main thing regarding football agility drills is that all players and groups can do them together. You don't have to lump them together in groups.
One of the biggest elements of being an effective football player is that you have to be able to move your feet. For the smaller athletic guys it's quite natural for them to be able to do this, however the common problem in the bigger stronger guys, like your linemen, is that they can't move their feet. Yea, they're big and strong but can't move. Imagine if you spend some time with these guys on footwork agility drills and get them to be able to move their feet and become a little faster and confident because of it. Agility drills don't have to be a complicated process and all you really need to have as far as practice equipment is concerned is some flat rectangular bags, some cones, or a rope ladder.
Drills should consist of elements that require them to pick up their feet such as side stepping over the flat bags to change of direction drills such as back peddle and forward weave to rapid foot movement through a rope ladder.
Cheers!
With spring finally warming up it gets the football juices flowing and thoughts of football should be running through your head. Spring is a great time to evaluate your football systems and practice plans as well as equipment. Spring is also a great time to put the notice out to your football players that you will begin to run twice week agility drills in the local gym. The main thing regarding football agility drills is that all players and groups can do them together. You don't have to lump them together in groups.
One of the biggest elements of being an effective football player is that you have to be able to move your feet. For the smaller athletic guys it's quite natural for them to be able to do this, however the common problem in the bigger stronger guys, like your linemen, is that they can't move their feet. Yea, they're big and strong but can't move. Imagine if you spend some time with these guys on footwork agility drills and get them to be able to move their feet and become a little faster and confident because of it. Agility drills don't have to be a complicated process and all you really need to have as far as practice equipment is concerned is some flat rectangular bags, some cones, or a rope ladder.
Drills should consist of elements that require them to pick up their feet such as side stepping over the flat bags to change of direction drills such as back peddle and forward weave to rapid foot movement through a rope ladder.
Cheers!
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