IDENTIFYING AND IMPLEMENTING ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Selection taken from the coaching canon , "Finding The Winning Edge".

A critical part of the game planning process is to identify the skills each player needs to perform the steps (tasks) involved in a particular play or play sequence. After identifying the skills needed by the player, a team must have a process in place for ensuring that their players develop these skills so that each play or play sequence is productive. Taking steps to develop these skills in every player occurs in two stages: isolating the skills and teaching the skills.

• Isolate the skills. The first step in the game planning process should be to analyze the tasks involved in the assignment of every player. Next, a decision must be made regarding whether the players have the ability to master the necessary skills. If it is determined that the ability of the players does not mesh with the skills required for a specific task. If they do not, the head coach must either discard this part of his offensive plan or alter the play or play sequence to fit the level of talent.
  
  Whatever the head coach’s decision, his decision can be made easier if he strictly adheres to one of the cardinal principles of training – specificity/ Specificity refers to the fact that “an individual gets what he trains for. “ All factors considered, the more specific his players’ preparation for a particular game, the better their performance.
• Teach the skills. Collectively, teaching players the skills they need involves an evolutional process of promoting, enhancing, practicing and refining each facet of the capacity being developed. In this regard, the rudimentary teaching progression of “hear it – see it – do it” is as applicable as it ever was.

Employing the proper teaching sequence is possibly the most viable way a coach can impact the game, certainly at the position level. Accordingly, as the head coach, you must make a decision as to what level of the teaching hierarchy you wish to utilize.

For example, with regard to teaching skills to your players, you must decide whether to rely on having the players learn by rote memorization or to require them to utilize critical thinking skills and acquire a more comprehensive knowledge of the offensive system. You should keep in mind that the more players are taught to critically analyze their responsibilities and to understand the relationship of these responsibilities to the total structure of the offense, the more productive the system will be.


Walsh, Bill - "Finding The Winning Edge", 1997, pg 210 - 211

Fumble Analysis

Back in the old days before cut-ups were readily available, I was resigned to taping games off of TV to try to learn as much as I could. One advantage with the game telecasts are the close-ups which allow you to analyze exactly how fumbles occur. I use this video of fumbles to show my skill players and I relate it back to the Ball Security fundamentals that I talked about in my last post:

http://brophyfootball.blogspot.com/2010/05/its-all-ball-security-these-days.html


Fundamentals of Ball Security:
1. Two Finger Claw
2. Wrist above Elbow
3. Ball Tight to Chest
4. Tuck Elbow In
5. Opposite Hand Over Football on Contact
6. Keep Pads Low

Fumbles - I from Barry Hoover on Vimeo.

Zone Blocking - Ron Hudson (ULL)

Ending the OL presentation, was ULL OC, Ron Hudson, discussing ULL's notorious rushing attack.

( Audio of Clinic Presentation Here )

Philosophy
Linemen work playside gap to linebacker, which becomes a zone, gap, man-scheme.

Rather than talk about hips and footwork, Hudson feels his emphasis on face and hands ("point with nose") is what helps his linemen grasp zone concepts faster ("in playside gap, put your nose to far number of defender").

The question Hudson wants to present on every down is "Can the defense stretch with us"?
Then he will see where the offense can stop just one of the defenders (from stretch) and gash them for a big run

RB Coaching points (on zone)

• Slide shuffle
• Shoulder square to cocked to attack
• Stay on track to aiming point
• Press heels of OL

OL Coaching points (on zone)

Uncovered:

• deep bucket step
• 1,2,3 square
• get vert

Or

• Shuffle (gain leverage)
• then press (vertical)

Covered:

• Bucket step (lose ground to gain leverage)
• Plant your face on far number (of DL covering you)
• Take steam off slanter (DL moving away, stay on as he crosses your face)
• Follow landmark (far number)

Uncovered linemen work flipper / near leg (2nd step) / to near flipper:
1. Lateral
2. Flipper

Hudson's approach with surface contact on zone is premised on kinetic loading through dipping the hips prior to engaging a defender. This becomes a 1, 2 step then (load) vertical jump through the defender. This is illustrated through his "Superman" drill shown below.

Coaching Points for linemen

• Don’t extend arms in run game (think tripod)
• Throw face and hands on 2nd step
• Dip hips to uncoil (helps timing)
• Eyes to the sky when Crowther pumping (don’t drive through and bury your head)

ULL REACH from ragin caucasian on Vimeo.

Zone Combos

Ringo / Lucky / Triple (line) calls to communicate help into zone
If the center hears a Ringo call– and near man (3 tech) comes, the nose doesn’t matter

Triple is 3-man combo (and PST just 'hears' "Ringo", meaning he's on his own) between the BSG, C, and PSG

uncovered center slams nose and works to Mike. He can work to slam the nose, and have the BSG work towards the Mike


Uncovered center sees the near knee of the 3 tech come towards him, he will work to take him, while the PSG 'takes the steam off' the stick

Cadence
The cadence is ALWAYS on 1, and they don't have false starts because the center calls the cadence (though the QB calls the protection at the line). The cadence is a 2-syllable, 1-word ('SETHUT'). The center snaps the ball on the 'T' of SET. The rest of the line will rise out of their stance on the 'H' of HUT.

When working freeze plays, the center can make a "Trout" call, declaring the TACKLE will call the cadence (great for aggressive defensive ends).

ULL INSIDE RUN from ragin caucasian on Vimeo.

Pass Pro - Chris Truax (SFA)

Proceeding Allen Rudolph at the ULL clinic, was Stephen F Austin Offensive Line Coach, Chris Truax. Truax shared his thoughts on protection in SFA's 1-back system.

SFA is a 4 wide 1-back offense with 15 routes, 3 runs, 3 screens, and 3 protections bearing a strong resemblance to "air raid" (note his astute observations on formation naming).

Truax spent time discussing his philosophy on protection and offensive line play fundamentals.

( Click for Audio of the Clinic )

Fundamentals of Pass Pro

• Know where QB set is
• Be patient
• Get into set quickly
• Use hands
• If you are covered by a down defender know your help
• Maintain loose and relaxed posture prior to contact
• Stay off your toes
• Don’t lean on defender after contact
• Head goes back as hands/arm extend to jam

Protection Drills For Linemen Everyday

• Kick flat
• Kick angle
• Kick vertical

Truax explaining center technique for gaining leverage with the off hand

Coaching the center in pass pro

• Uncork hips (of snap hand) to point to landmark
• extend opposite (off) hand

If down lineman is positioned on center's off hand?

• Off hand punch
• kick off leg
• 2nd step/hand regoroups

Dealing with dangerous 1 tech , do they fan to the nose?

• No, they will always call protection to 3 tech
  Don’t chase space, if Nose hips leave, drift back

Screen Game - Allen Rudolph (Southeastern Louisiana)

The next few posts will cover a round table-type 4 hour discussion on offensive line play. This was an attempt by ULL OC, Ron Hudson, to kickoff a type of Southern C.O.O.L. clinic. Hudson plans on expanding this forum in the future and it would be something of a 1-back offensive line conclave. The discussions taking place this day consisted of presenting a concept then sharing perspectives between various coaches off that theme.

Allen Rudolph and Chris Truax share philosophy on handling OL

As you will see/hear, quite a bit of information is shared and problems discussed. This deviates from the standard fare of rote lecturing present at most clinics.

To start the morning, Southeastern Louisiana Offensive Coordinator, Allen Rudolph, shared his approach to slow (RB) screens.

( Click for Audio of Clinic )

RB Landmark screens
Rudolph bases his RB landmark screens of their 4 vertical principle; receivers will use a 15 yard takeoff unless tagged with a “crack” call (at the LOS). They also will choose to simply run 5-step concept routes, while the back and line engage the screen (Drive /Choice concepts).

The offensive line technique progression is to:

• Set
• Punch
• Extend
• Release

For the split receivers with a "crack" call, they don't want him to settle and engage a box player. Instead, they simply want the receiver to make (any) contact, and "take his head off". At worst, the receiver will have bought the back a split-second to break free. At best, it will knock a defender out of pursuing the play.

How do they deal with trash underneath or a DL twist in the way of the screen?
If the defensive line stops and peeks, the offensive line will redirect and take it. Rudolph does not use a 'rat killer' (who will double-back after releasing on the screen and pick up any backside pursuit).

The PSG engaged in the screen will sprint to the numbers; if the LB closes (from inside-out), he will pick him up. The RB landmark is 3-5 yards outside the tackle box (hash landmark)

PST – no set/cut; pass set kick slide
BST – does whatever

If confronted with a head up (4) or inside (4i) guy on the tackle, the PST & PSG combo to release ('you' / 'me' call on who kicks to screen and who engages the DE). If both are unsure about the box (look), they will make a 'grey call', meaning it is definite pass call to tackle (‘you’ tackle kicks to screen).

RB Throwback screens

Rudolph uses throwback screens in conjunction with slide protection as it allows the QB to set deeper and extend the launch point. Although this can be run out of any formation, the rules remain simple. Engaging the frontside tackle, guard, and center, the assignment depends on how the line sets after the play.

Rather than having static assignments that can cause a play to fail if one man doesn't fulfill his role, he has these linemen release at the same level so they can see and communicate who becomes what role within the screen. The first man out (not always the PST) will pick up the first opposite color jersey and kick out. The second man will continue pursuing the landmark (hash when ball is in the middle / top of the numbers when ball is on the hash) and then engage the first man outside. The remaining lineman will follow the second lineman to the landmark and engage the first man inside.

1-first color
2-first to landmark
3-next inside threat

Rudolph allows his linemen to cut on perimeter ONLY if the defender is coming downhill (aggressive). In any other situation, he requires his offensive line to gather their feet and attack the V of the neck (of the defender).

The key coaching point on his throwback screen is that the offensive line has to be flat on their release. If the linemen can't see the other (lineman) guy, then they will have no idea what their relationship to the point of attack (1,2, or 3) is. If the line releases at angles, they will often have responsibility overlap and pit two linemen on one defender.

Troubleshooting Screens
Rudolph uses four simple tenets to determine what went wrong when screens don't work (how to screw this up) to ensure that the execution is bulletproof.

• Line or backs leave too early
• The line is not flat down LOS
• Not cracking when man coverage
• Don’t bring the running back across the formation vs man (inviting linebackers into the box)