I've been digging back into the 4D-FTP from Coach Mark Rodriguez again and its growing on me. I don't believe I gave it a fair shake the first time around, likely because I assumed it was something that it wasn't ( a method to replace backpedal or shuffle technique). The video series IS well done and the video quality is exceptional (I would also recommend subscribing to Coach Mark's youtube channel).
The drills of disc two are of important note and I could really see using these as everyday pre-practice routines. Again, the investment in the technique could get 'expensive' (may not see an immediate ROI), but even if you used a T-step or 'run the feet' transition, the 4D drills (Drift, Drop, Dig, Drive) develop fluid hip movement. That is the whole point, as Coach Mark stress again and again in the series, is developing the muscle memory to be an instinctively quicker athlete
DRIFT- The conscious decision / automatic reaction your body’s direction
Positive step in the direction you’re looking to go
DROP- knee drop / body lean in direction to where you want to go, start turning head …..moves shoulders (head turn/ shoulder turn / knee bend….lean forward)
DIG - The shoulder comes on-top of your DIG step to swing your speed
(Drift is a step, Drop is a movement)
DRIVE (from the knee) – The dig propels you, if the drift step holds it just becomes a T-step
CATALOG UPDATE
Its been difficult to finish my 'project' and forgetting what has been copied, what hasn't, and what discs need to be remastered. To help with this (and anyone else attempting it), is just by generating text list of the ISO images captured so far.
To do this, just navigate to the directory location from a DOS command line and enter "dir>(file name).txt" to create a text listing of all files within this directory. A TXT (notepad) file will be generated in the directory you are in.
From here, just open Excel (or any other spreadsheet application), open the TXT file and create the necessary columns to list the files you've created. Now I can stack my DVDs in piles of "done" and "to do" and give me a clear work load of what is left.
My "off season project" is near complete. I have essentially burned my physical video library of DVDs to a 1.5 Terabyte external hard drive as a backup against scratches or loss.
It may seem like a lot of unnecessary work, but searching, organizing, and keeping up with over 453 NCAA/NFL game film DVDs (plus a few hundred clinic discs) can be tedious and subject to error. I had no real feasible method other than to store the discs on large disc spindles, which began taking up more and more physical space. It was herding cats to find a disc (even after having grouped spindles by categories), then to go through the process of creating a copy was worse.
Now, once I receive a disc, I just pop it in the drive, rip the ISO image to my portable hard drive and store it away as a master disc.
It also makes providing copies for other coaches that much easier, too. I just pull from the ISO image catalog, pop in a blank disc, and burn....done. This way, the bookshelf full of DVDs, the entire collection is available on a paperback-sized drive, available to take with me anywhere and burn (dvd-ready discs) anywhere with a DVD-RW drive.
I have toyed with the notion of ripping the complete video files entirely as .avi / mpegs and store on a HD to viewed via a media sharing network, but it is completely limited to the DLNA/LAN where it is set up and not as practical as just throwing in the original DVD.
1. Open DVD Decrypter
2. Select MODE (ISO) > Read (the DVD you have in the drive)
3. Choose where you what the disc image written to ......
4. Hit the Graphic at the bottom.................done
To burn, just do the opposite (Write > source [local storage] to destination [DVD] ).
Video is an awesome tool for teaching young people today. If you are making a video install playbook, it is a good idea to show the play drawn up before showing the video of the play itself. This helps your players to better visualize the concept. The best way to draw this play up is to "grab" a picture just before the snap of the ball from the video clip itself, draw it up in PowerPoint using arrows and letter, and then add this drawing back to your video.
First open Movie Maker and click on View and then click on Timeline. Next, import the video clip that you want. Now, there is a green line at the beginning of the clip. You can grab the picture from the beginning of the clip or you can drag the green line to whatever point you want to in the video. Once the green line is where you want it, click Tools, then click on Take Picture From Preview. Now you have a .jpg picture file that you will draw on in PowerPoint.
Next, download and open one of these PowerPoint files. The bottom file is the newest version of PowerPoint:
Right-click on the PowerPoint slide and go to Format Background and click on Picture or texture fill. Next click on the File button and find and select the .jpg file you just created from Movie Maker. Now your picture will be in the background.
Next, move around the arrows and change the letters to how you want them. Warning: working with curved lines is a pain in the butt in PowerPoint.
Once you have the play drawn up how you want, you will need to save the slide with the drawing so you can import it into your video. Click on the Windows icon in the top left corner and go down to Save As and then click on Other Formats. Click on File name and name the slide and then click on Save as type and save as .gif. It will ask you to export every slide or the current slide--click on Current Slide only. You can give the .gif file the same name you gave the original .jpg file.
Note: It is a good idea to save the play slide as a .jpg file the first time and then save it as a .gif the 2nd time after you draw the play up. This lets you go back and fix the play if you change anything on the drawing and it's easy to differentiate between the original pic and the drawn-up pic file by the file format.
Here is the order that I use. You will have to import the videos and pictures into the Movie Maker timeline:
1. Show .gif picture 2. Show the play, wide angle 3. Show the .gif picture again 4. Show the play, wide angle at 50% speed 5. Show the play, tight angle, 50% speed
To show the play in 50% speed, right-click the video, click Effects, go all the way down and click on Slow Down, Half; next click on Add, then click OK.
Make sure to save your files. Now, you can make a dvd or upload your video to Yahoo for your players to watch and learn. Kick butt and share with the rest of us when you get done.
I am nearing completion on this spring football's video handout/playbook.
Once I get this completed, then all I have to do is show up and sip margaritas at practice for three weeks.
[Powerpoint animation captures courtesy of Camtasia ]
The only thing left is to add the important narration and some Easter eggs for the players (incentivizing watching the material). We will likely have no returning players to the secondary, so getting this new (sophomore-heavy) group ready (and avoid many of the unnecessary mistakes) right away will be a welcome challenge.
Introduction of alignment, assignment, keys, and leverage. Then followed up by pattern matching examples of common concepts we will face. The DVD will also feature the C1 and C3 video clips of NCAA teams, as well. I intentionally included clips of when a DB was 'wrong', followed up with a clip of correctly playing a route, so they could see what kind of common mistakes to avoid.
UPDATE:
Here is the 10 minute overview with narration. Yahoo couldn't take the entire clip, so I had to break it into thirds. The audio was forced and I tried cramming a lot into short amount of time, but this is something the players can review again and again (ala a crash course in 'whats important').
Time to get organized! It has been difficult to manage the 600 and some football DVDs in my collection and relying on one master disc is a risky proposition.
The plan for 2010 is to create ISO files for each one and save to a few external Terabyte hard drives. This should better categorize and secure this library (primarily of game film).
Write the ISO file to the chosen directory (external HD)
Then when I next need to burn an additional copy, I simply slap in a blank DVD, pull up the file, and BURN! That's it. I'd have my entire library on a few small, portable HDs that can be (plug-and-play) burned anywhere.
After spending years teaching the traditional back pedal, I have found the most efficient method another way. For the past few seasons, the "Saban Method" (though, clearly not his invention as it is as old as his days in Cleveland) of the shuffle and pattern-match.
Though playing true Cover 3, we 3 step shuffle into 3 step (short) game (under 12 yards).
Corner reads QB into the shuffle while periphing #1 to #2 receiver.
The 3-step shuffle puts the corner at a depth of 10 yards, which would be on top of any short game stick into their route, which helps the corners remain in phase with receivers and any vertical threats. As a general rule, we don't jump short throws, as they belong to the underneath defenders, however, being able to anticipate routes and throws allows the put him in a position to make the interception and reduce unnecessary RAC.
If QB continues on drop (into 5-7 step), the corner is already in perfect position to turn and run (ala baseball turn), anticipating the deeper route (+12 yards).
If #1 goes vertical, he will simply baseball turn (bail) into the vertical stem, staying over the top of #1. This transition is the most important reason to use the shuffle as there is no wasted movement in going from square with a receiver to a 180 degree bail.
If #1 is shallow (hitch/out), immediately look to #2's stem (see first handout below)
If #2 goes vertical, you must baseball turn to stay over the top of #2
If #2 sticks at less than 10 yards (and #1 is shallow) like double hitch/curl/slant, now the corner can stick his downfield foot in the ground and jump #1.
The shallow stems on weakside (single) receivers, or against the double shallow quick routes - with the corner in a shuffle just applies the brakes to his upfield foot, rather than the rather cumbersome 'replace-the-feet' or 'T-step' regrouping to come out of his break and attack the ball.
The FS versus pro, is keying TE as he presents the first immediate inside vertical threat.
If the TE is vertical after 10 yards, the FS can anticipate picking up the TE threatening the middle of the field
If the TE releases outside, he can anticipate the weakside post or cross (dragon)
If the TE releases inside, he can anticipate the strongside post or possibly help out on the weakside vertical route.
The FS versus doubles, is to key both inside vertical threats (Y & H) and is praying to God one of the underneath backers reroutes the vertical stem of either receiver. FS must respect both vertically in C3, which is why we stress the QB keys here.
Below is the first DVD handout for DBs after the first Spring scrimmage - going over alignment and handling pattern recognition with 2 receivers. This was a good example of "training the junior high" out of these guys, who would fixate on the single receiver in some pseudo-bastard man-cover 3 concept. More on video handouts can be read here, here, here, and here.
One other important aspect (briefly touched on during the handouts shown here) is alignment in 1-high defense. Divide the field into thirds, using your landmarks and field position as the guide.
For corners, the 'divider rule' is used which is premised on the top of the numbers being 9 yards from the sideline in high school (2 yard length of numbers). The landmark, or 'divider' (of the field) exists 1 yard inside the number (10 yards from the sideline) that the corner must align inside the receiver if he is formationed outside this landmark. The reason being, he is discouraging inside, vertical breaking routes that the FS will not be able to assist on. This allows all 3 deep secondary personnel to coordinate their help amongst each other to distribute the deep thirds appropriately.
The video handout given in Spring Ball (mentioned before) included video of various defenses playing the same coverages. The last few posts illustrate examples of what was given to the players. This helps them better understand how the coverage responds (or doesn't) to formations, routes, and runs. From NFL to NCAA, it all remains the same.
Cover 4, the do-everything double-robber answer to 1 back offenses.
This works great against most spread passing games and/or any type of even receiver formation (doubles/twins). As you can find in the playbook link below, "quarters" as it is called, provides a defense an aggressive safety-support run defense (because of a simple read for both safeties) as well as a fail-safe answer to two-man receiver game on the perimeter/vertical.
Cover 2 becomes a great way to even up a defense and provide a pseudo-9 man run front (with corners as force) and discourage intermediate passing with so many shallow zone defenders.
Great versus any even formation, like cover 4, it can bottle up and discourage two-man receiver routes. The main point of stress becomes the open hole (MOFO), but provides clear, distinct reads for both safeties.
Cover 2 Mike
You are responsible for middle hook. Your cover down is #3 strong. If TE releases inside you will “you me” with Sam and the TE is now #3. If the TE releases INSIDE and vertical you need to carry him. Sam
You are responsible for weak side curl. Your cover down is 2 weak. If 2 goes vertical you need to reroute/collision his stem. Will
You are responsible for weak side curl. Your cover down is 2 weak. If 2 goes vertical you need to reroute/collision his stem.
Strong Safety
You will wall TE. If TE releases inside fall to curl and your cover down will be #3. If TE releases OUTSIDE and vertical you will carry him..
Weak Safety
Align 15 yards deep, on top of #2 weak side or EMOL; your horizontal alignment will vary according to the spit of the receiver in relationship to the hash. You are secondary run support. You will play deep ½ off of #1’s release, post, post corner, dig. On float technique you will play deep ½ off of #2.
Free Safety
Align 15 yards deep, on top of #2 strong side; your horizontal alignment will vary according to the spit of the receiver in relationship to the hash. You are secondary run support. You will play deep ½ off of #2’s release
Corners Align in press position with inside foot to outside foot of the receiver or neutral, balanced stance – you cannot allow the receiver to get outside you. You are primary run support on the perimeter. You are a collision / funnel player with flat responsibility vs. pass. If you have 2 quick receivers to your side (twins) use the float technique.
The 'garbage defense' that can be played against any offensive front, cover 3 provides the best of both worlds; a 3 deep MOFC shell to discourage deep passing and an 8 man front against the run.
Cover 3 is great against any odd receiver sets (2x1, 3x1, 3x2) and it's balanced alignment provides a strong interior run-defense. It affords the defense the benefits of Cover 1 (interior run strength), without the liabilities of individual matchups in man-coverage.
It is often victimized by attacking the curl-to-flat player, who typically will have to cover a width of nearly 17 yards by 15 yards deep. This is where the two-man receiver games are played to put this player in conflict (arrow/shoot/stick/wheel/etc).
Below are basic rules for secondary positions in Cover 3;
Cover 3 Cover 3 will be the foundation of our passing game coverage. It will be necessary for everyone to have a thorough understanding of this coverage scheme vs. any formation an offense can throw at us. Below are some of the basic rules for playing cover 3. ( one thing should be noted here, when we have people coming in and out of one we call the defender by the name rather than merely calling in or out) this helps TE defender whose zone is being infiltrated by giving him specific feedback.
Vs. 2 backs Corners Align with INSIDE leverage 8 – 10 yards off the ball. You have the flexibility to show different types of looks at different times. You may start showing press, outside leverage or some other type of look. (preferably coordinated with the FS). On the snap, your primary responsibility is to zone your 1/3 of the field. Read the receiver through the step zone. Once the receiver clears this area, you must identify and see #2 and know where he is in relationship to your zone. You are secondary run support. On a pass underneath it is your job to outside-in everything. Keep the cup. The linebackers will work inside out to the boundary. You cannot allow the ball carrier to go up the sideline
Free safety
Your run key in a two back set would be the TE. Take your two backward read steps and identify run or pass. Once you see pass your base responsibility is to one the middle 1/3 of the field. You cannot cheat to one side or the other. It is important for you to realize when you are on the field, (right/ left hash or middle) and drop accordingly. See #2 both strong and weak, if vertical continue to get depth. If they break off their routes expand your vision to #1’s and look for one of them entering your zone. Vs run you are the alley player to both sides/ your job is to run the alley and cut the ball off before it gets beyond the second level. Stay inside- out on the ball carrier.
Wolf/ Dog Backer Your job is to work from curl to flat. A basic landmark would be the numbers at a depth of 10 – 12 yards. Remember on the snap you are a run player first. Identify run or pass. Once you see pass open up at a 45 degree angle and begin your drop buzzing through the curl and keeping leverage on the flat. You want depth and width on your drop. You hold the curl by #1 through the first window, and pass him off to the inside backer because you must keep leverage on the flat. Once you see the quarterback turn his shoulders towards the flat, you are shot out of a cannon and get to the flat inside out keeping the cup. On run to your side, you are the guy that is the force player to cut off the sideline. No runs or blocks can reach your outside shoulder. Be physical and keep your outside shoulder free. You cannot get bounced for width. On run away, you are the cutback player. You shuffle down to the open gap and hold your position. You must remain in the cutback area until you see the ball has cleared the line of scrimmage at which point you get into an angle of pursuit and chase down the ball. The ball can never be cutback beyond your back shoulder when the ball is away from you.
Zip / Sam Your job is to work the hook zones. You are run players first. Once you have read pass you open up and drop to your zones. A general landmark is 12 yards deep at the hash marks. The first person that can get to your zone is the #2 receiver to your side. Know where he is. We will expand and contract with our under coverage depending on routes of the receivers. Listen for calls indicting #1 working to the second window by Dog or the Wolf. Do not jump the short routes by the backs or #2. We will react to those routes. We want the ball to go underneath. Do not give up a 12-yard route to stop the 3 or 4-yard route by the backs or TE. Vs run you are fast flow players. Your ‘fit’ is off the hip of the DE, with the Free Safety playing the “alley” to your outside. With this in mind, we are able to string the perimeter plays outside compressing the running lane with the Wolf / Dog and the secondary run support corners playing outside-in. Hit the clear. We will discuss this greater with our position group.
Vs. 1 back The basics of the coverage remain the same with some critical adjustments. We will use the example of 4 quicks for the purpose of this discussion.
Corners The corners will move to inside leverage on #1. Depth is 8 – 10. We will not stem vs. this look. On the snap of the ball, the corner will zone turn and gain depth off of #1 while reading #2. On the first few steps he can be patient to read the receivers through the 3-step game. Once he has established it is not a short pass, he will continue his drop with greater urgency. It is important that he keep his depth on #1. Against 4 verticals he will play in the zone principle. There should never be an occasion when both of the verticals are on the same level. We will take care of this problem with our flat players. We must be prepared to run with #1 if the ball is thrown vertical to him, but be able to break back on a ball thrown to #2.
Free Safety
Same as in 2 back set though he must now key both #2 receivers. He is required to play 2 in the zone like the corners, and not get caught leaning one way or the other by the QB. The free safety should have maximum benefit because of the re-routes by the flat players. The free safety must also be aware of where #1 is on both sides to defend the possible post. Wolf / Dog Backer
If the #2 receiver is split further than 7 yards from the end man on the line of scrimmage, you will split the difference by alignment between #2 and the EMOL. On pass, your drop will intersect with a vertical stem of #2. You are required to collision / reroute the #2 receiver on a vertical (upfield) release to prevent an unfavorable 4 vertical matchup with our 3 deep secondary.
Known as the "best defense in football", Cover 1 provides the defense with a bullet-proof answer for nearly everything and typically an extra defender at the point of attack. With 1-high safety closing the middle of the field (MOFC), the defense is built inside-out, looking to spill all plays to the sideline. Because everyone is manned up with a safety in the deep hole, that will leave one linebacker free, who becomes the "rat in the hole" who robs the underneath hole and intercepts any crossers that come free.
With only one more video handout in the works and set to distribute a hardcopy 'manual' to defensive backs tomorrow, here are a few additional notes on what was last sent out (last week)
The last video handout consisted of next opponent's offense by formation and a "refresher" on fundamental work of the secondary, going over how to read 3 step into 5 step, the level of shoulders, as well as the six common packaged route concepts.
Can't wait for full pads next week, as acclimation week is nearing an end. This morning, we had 80% humidity with a heat index of 116. Great attitudes and good hustle (again).
I Sent out the DB intro to route reading & formation scout DVDs today and surprisingly enough I was called an hour later by our FS (as instructed by the DVD). He wins the $20 prize for actually watching the DVD, which had the 'easter egg' message (prompting the viewer to call me) hidden near the end of the 15 minute scout video. Well, this at least means SOMEONE is watching these vids (with a Freshman calling in next 3 hours later).
This should be a fun carrot to dangle throughout the season as we progress with video handouts.
With limited practice time and with having players going both ways, cramming extra coaching points and ideas into player's heads has become more challenging. More so than ever, I have been experimenting with video cutups on DVDs to send home with the players by position.
This can be real simple or pretty in-depth. I have sent out a total of 6 different DVDs since April to my positions with the benefit of;
a better visualization of technique and concept is formed
repeated viewing (= conditioning message)
tracking curriculum covered
The first DVD was a consolidated collection of NFL/NCAA cuts of our coverages (1,2,3,4) for the DBs to get a understanding of how to play, how players fit within that coverage (run & pass), what breaks a coverage, and playing route patterns. The next DVD was a break-down of our first intrasquad scrimmage, both OL and DBs.
For the Oline video, I included NFL/NCAA cuts of our zone and 90's vertical set protection for the players (since OUR footage was not a good example to use), illustrating individual work (2 steps), group work (6 steps), and team work (game film) of what these concepts actually look like (what's important).
For the DBs, since alignment was crucial to many of our technique work, I included a 45 second prelude of pre-snap snapshots of our scrimmage. This made sure we highlighted how and where we align based on our coverage rules. This was done for the corners, then the FS. Lastly, I wanted to make sure we covered one of the most important concepts that we struggled with, which was handling the smash concept from C3. I included all the clips of 4 verticals and smash so it could provide a clear picture of what we did versus how we should be responding.
For both of these DVDs, I recorded a voice-over narration from a Sansa voice recorder and my Blackberry, piecing the audio and video together with Nero.
I will probably do this during the season, as I do not anticipate us doing much real film time or providing coaching points from film (so the DVDs will suffice for that).
When the season comes, I hope to be able to use more team footage than NFL/NCAA cuts.
A gimick I've used in the past (with printed handouts) is to put an 'easter egg' within the video to gauge who is actually consuming the material. With handouts, I'd give a reward to anyone who could spot 3 spelling errors. First one who brought it to me would get $10. This can be fun when you are taking a long bus ride on those summer tournaments (plus, spelling errors are my biggest pet peeve). With video, I suppose I'll bury a break 10 minutes into a video, claiming the first player to call me gets $20. We'll see how that goes.
The breakdowns of last week lead to breakthroughs a week later.
Frustrated with the progress at the time, the weekend was spent creating position-specific, narrated DVD film study/coaching points with video overlays of what needs to improve. This saved considerable time in addressing the needs heading into game week and affords the players something to focus on (again and again at their convenience) throughout the summer.
The matchup against Evangel went as well as could be expected and the competition helped further define who needs to be on the field and who can contribute.
Next up, 7-on-7 tournaments, weights, and preparing for Fall ball with an intensive film study of all opponents as we transistion to a new (athletic) class this year.
With three weeks remaining until the season 'officially' gets underway......
The monsoon season has washed away numerous attempts at practice and 7 on 7 competitions with local schools. We have a basic defense in thanks to accelerated implementation schedule and some pretty serious passing tourneys in June.
Being the first year for this school running the Nickel, the learning curve is HUGE. The delays and cancellations have forced a necessitity upon me to get the information SOMEHOW to the kids when we can't meet. I burned about two dozen DVDs with powerpoint animations of our base coverages and adjustments with college skelly cut ups , then game film of my previous programs running them.
I am blessed to be with such an athletically gifted and 'mature' group of students at this school - it is rare. I am looking forward to some very rewarding experiences this season.
