The Grind (NFL Coaching Schedule)

Not to long ago, I had the privilege of spending an evening or two drinking .......and chatting it up with some seasoned coaches, veterans of the NFL coaching grind. Many of the stories ran into one another and stretched spans of never-ending days into months. One coach in particular talked about how Friday afternoon would essentially be the only day of the week that they had an opportunity to actually 'be home' and maintain whatever family life you thought you had. The days during the 28-week siege of a season (not counting OTA, "off-season" requirements), would often begin at the office at 430 am and not end until 10 or 11 at night. This coach was adamant that no one slept in the office, that these were days chocked full of football.


What the hell are these guys doing all day? What could possibly demand so much time? How much film could you possibly watch in a day's time? Are these guys bullshitting or what?

Well, here is a Bill Walsh-era game week schedule format. Those days are filled and with the advent of 'instant (video) libraries' (where every game from the previous week can be called up at a moment's notice, shared by the league) are becoming more and more specialized and refined. This is just an outline, however, and in the dog-eat-dog world of professional (and NCAA) coaching, you realize that you (and your staff) will do whatever it takes to gain an edge. This also can help explain why you see so many guys recycled in the league, because it is such an enclosed, tight-knit fraternity; not made for just anyone.

Sample Game Week Schedule
MONDAY
1100 Individual coaches finish viewing and grading video.

• View film as an offensive/ defensive staff.
• Written comments for each play
• Catalog comments by both player and play for analysis

1300 Staff meeting
1400 Team meeting Special Teams viewing of game
1430 Offensive / Defensive viewing of game

• Coordinator reviews 15-20 key plays with the entire offense, major points of emphasis Break up positionally to review film

1615 On-field (practice)
1645 Practice ends
2000 Dinner
2100 The running back, offensive line, and tight end coaches meet to outline basic runs and pass protections schemes for morning meeting with the coordinator


TUESDAY (Coaches only, players' day off)
800 Personnel report on opponent by the team's Director of Pro Personnel
830 Offensive staff meets and discusses base runs and pass protections
1000 Offensive line coaches begin run and protection sheets, and view goal line, short-yardage, and red-zone situations. The offensive coaching staff lists base pass, play action, and action passes and specials
1130 Lunch, workout, miscellaneous
1400 List nickel passes and nickel runs
1600 Begin scripting sheets
1700 Review blitz situations
1800 Dinner
1900 Finalize

• Script sheets
• Scripts and cards
• Scouting reports and installation slides

2000 Begin short yardage and goal line discussions

WEDNESDAY
730 Staff meeting
815 Quarterback meeting

• Basic defensive profile
• Run checks
• Protection perimeters and concerns

830 Special teams meeting
900 Team meeting (5)

• Scouting report
• Install base runs, nickel runs, and protections

930 The offensive line breaks off

• Install base runs, nickel runs, and protections

1000 Individual meetings
1115 Walk-through
1145 Lunch
1245 Individual meetings (view video of opponent)
1315 Meetings end
1330 Special teams meeting
1400 Practice
1615 Practice ends
1715 Coaches review practice video

• Finalize short yardage and goal line offense
• Finalize red-zone offense
• Review backed up and four minute offense
• Review script sheets and prepare cards for Thursday's practice

THURSDAY
730 Staff meeting
815 Quarterback meeting

• Review blitz
• Outline red zone approach

830 Special teams meeting
900 Team meeting (5)

• View practice (the offensive line is separate)

930 Offense together - install short yardage, goal line, red zone and backed up plans
1030 Individual meetings (view video of opponent)
1115 walk-through
1145 Lunch
1245 Individual meetings (view video of opponent)
1315 Meetings end
1330 Special teams meeting
1400 Practice
1615 Coaches review practice video
1700 Discuss openers


FRIDAY
730 Staff meeting
815 Quarterback meeting

• Discuss openers

830 Special teams meeting
900 Team meeting (5)

• Review practice video (the offensive line is separate)

945 Offense - review the checks and alerts, review the game plan by personnel and formation
1100 Individual meetings
1130 Practice
1300 Practice ends

• Finalize offensive sideline sheet
• List openers

SATURDAY
900 Review practice video (the offensive line is separate)

• Individual meetings - hand out final game plans

1030 Practice
1115 Practice ends
1800
2000 Check into hotel
2100 Special teams meetings
2130 Offensive / defensive meetings

• Review openers
• Use cut ups to support opening calls
• View game video to give players a flavor of the game
• Plan and review key situations (e.g. short yardage, goal line, blitz, etc)

2200 Team meeting
2205 Snack

Additional readings;

http://www.slate.com/id/2149181

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/rumors/post/Pressure-stress-may-be-taking-toll-on-Reid-s-he?urn=nfl,131972

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Willing+to+pay+the+high+costs+of+becoming+a+coach%3F-a0163535233

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/12/31/the-truth-about-hard-working-nfl-coaches/