A Note on Scouting.....

"You can't herd cats....but you CAN find a little bit of catnip and
have them follow you to the ends of the earth"

Important things to consider when disseminating information to your players.
Areas of the field (+20, 40-40,-35, etc)

1. top 5 formations and WHY they use them
2. top money plays between the 30s out of what formation
3. red zone matchup plays (inside the 15)
4. kids should know what players do what (how the OC uses the players) and the weak links in the OLine and tips those players give pre-snap ("look to #65 presnap for a run/pass key")
   If Steve Smith is on the field, you had better know where he is at.
   If Steve Smith is lined up outside the numbers, look for this....
   If Steve Smith is lined up in the backfield, look for this....

That may be authentic coaching clinic gibberish, but it doesn't help us play on Friday night!

Explaining WHAT works and WHAT doesn't work based on the game plan. The point of the scouting sheet is to inform your players on what the offense is trying to do. Letting them know what they are seeing on a down and becoming familiar of the strengths and weakness of said matchup (formation / personnel).

It is important to hammer away at what is most important on a given down or formation or field area.

Compartmentalize what is important.

• Defend the endzone, field, and down conversion on a given series.
• Ensuring the proper matchups (secure numbers, minimize liabilites, exagerate opponent's weakness with formation).

If you can put together a comprehensive overview of your opponent's offense, chances are, you have a pretty good idea of how to defend them. If you just spit out numbers based on some tendency calculus, chances are you are just going to shoot from the hip on game night. DC'ing on game night should be analytical and surgical in its application.
Practice week should be sharpening your tools to operate with.
The 'scouting report' should just be a crib sheet of what you ALREADY GO OVER IN FILM/PRACTICE.
The paper version is just something they should reference, something to read on the toilet.
Sending home a cheat-sheet scouting report and video cutups of the game is all a part of the job of TEACHING the game.