Available: Wide Receiver Skills and Drills in an Uptempo System

Get it here for iPad/Mac

Tyler Dorton has coached 3 all-state players and 7 all-conference players in 4 years.  He’s worked hard on learning his craft and assembling a series of drills that allow him to accomplish much in a small period of individual time allotted to him in practice.  Dorton presents over 80 minutes worth of drills detailing not just what, but also the “why” behind the drills.  This is an outstanding manual for any receivers coach looking to refine his players skills and teach them to be effective on game day.

iPhone versions of Coaches Edge iBooks coming soon.

No iPad or Mac?  No problem.  Dan Gonzalez’s The Need for Change and The Blue Print, Josh Herring’s Quick Rhythm Option Routes, and Brent Eckley’s RPO. Will be available soon in the iPhone version.

These versions will contain all of the content, but some of the interactive features are not supported on the iPhone.  The good news is all text, diagrams, and video are available.

To win these four titles for your iPhone email me at grabkj@gmail.com and put “iPhone” in the subject line.  We will draw the winner upon the release of the first title.

Dan Gonzalez Webinar Series

I’ve seen the content Dan is including, and you will not want to miss this.  He is including material that is not found in his books.  His ideas are cutting edge and will make any offense better.

Register here

Email me grabkj@gmail.com.  Put “Gonzalez” in the subject line. Upon your registration you will receive a code for A Coaching Arsenal iBook and be entered in a drawing to win 5 Coaches Edge current or future titles of your choice.

Get more great Coaches Edge Technologies interactive books.

Targeted Attack:  Using Tempo as a Weapon by Keith Grabowski

Over 20 tempo tools are discussed in detail and further explained with game video.  If you are not including Tempo as part of your attack, you are missing huge opportunities to move the football.  Lean more here. 

Want some RPO now?

RPO is something you will see a section on in several of our iBooks.

Josh Herring includes it in Quick Rhythm Option Routes.  This concept is a great tool for any offense, and he has utilized quick rhythm routes with run pass options as well.

101+ Read Game Plays by Keith Grabowski includes a variety of read game components, RPO, and play action off of the read game.

Pin & Pull Resources

Follow me on twitter: @CoachKGrabowski

Pin and Pull has been a great play to allow us to get the ball out on the perimeter with force.  Here are a list of resources beginning with my own.  I have a detailed chapter on pin and pull in my iBook 101+ Pro Style Pistol Offense Plays for the iPad and Mac. Here are some Pin and Pull Resources to aid you in learning more about the scheme:

From Me:

My article on AFM

Pin and Pull from the Spread

Trailer on my AFM Video on Pin&Pull

Sweep Read that Attacks Both Perimeters

Use the Proper Tool-Pulling Technique

Smart Football/Chris Brown:

Outside Zone Variant:  Pin & Pull

Sweep Read Play

Colt’s Stretch Play

Fishduck:

Sweep Read Play

Strong Football

Loosening Up the Box

Misc:

Pin & Pull Scheme Cut-Ups

Pin & Pull Cut-ups

Auburn Buck Sweep

Complementing the Power O

Offensive Line-Sweep Pulls

On AFM: Key to Successful Power Read-QB/Sweeper Mesh

Having a week one bye has allowed me some extra time to watch both high school and college football for the last few weeks. A play that I’ve seen numerous times is the inverted veer or “power read.” It’s a play that puts major stress on the defense as it is an option play that can attack inside or outside. For teams that have an athlete at quarterback and some speed from either a receiver or tailback, this is a play that with practice and repetition can put some explosiveness in an offense.
In studying some game film of this play, the different scenarios of what can happen can be minimized. In setting up drills or practice reps, defenders can be controlled to give the offense a look at the possibilities that need to be taken into account. Film study also revealed some key coaching points to make this an effective play.

Read more here.

Inside Zone and Outside Zone Technique

Another good one from Coach Mountjoy.

NOTE: O-LINE SPLITS = 18” (CONSISTENT):

INSIDE ZONE TECHNIQUE (DRIVE BLOCK TECHNIQUES):

. COVERED: Take a 6” lead step aiming eyes at playside number. Second step to crotch (do not crossover). Hands at base of shoulder pads.

2. If DLM stretches with you – stay on block and uncovered teammate works up on LBer.

3. If DLM anchors on you – double team with uncovered teammate. Stay on block until wiped off & then work upfield aiming eyes to playside number of LBer.

4. If DLM slants inside – force him to flatten his slant and double team with uncovered teammate. Stay on block until wiped off & then work upfield aiming eyes to playside number of LBer.

. UNCOVERED: Take a 6” lead step aiming eyes at helmet of DLM. Do not cross over on second step.

1. If helmet goes out on your 1st step – 2nd step upfield aiming eyes to playside number of LBer.

2. If helmet stays put – double team (hip to hip) with covered teammate & wipe him off on Lber.

3. If helmet slants inside – get eyes to his playside number. Double team with covered teammate & wipe him off on LBer.

OUTSIDE ZONE TECHNIQUE (REACH BLOCK TECHNIQUES):

. COVERED: Take a 6” lead step aiming eyes at playside arm pit. Second step slightly outside crotch (do not crossover). Inside hand on midline & outside hand under armpit.

2. If DLM stretches with you – stay on block and uncovered teammate works up on LBer.

3. If DLM anchors on you – stay on block with eyes on playside arm pit.

4. If DLM slants inside – force him to flatten his slant by stiff arming him inside. Stay on block until you feel uncovered teammate & then come off aiming eyes to playside number of LBer.

. UNCOVERED: Take a 6” lead step aiming eyes at helmet of DLM. You may crossover on second step.

1. If helmet goes out & you haven’t contacted DLM by 3rd. step – work upfield aiming eyes to playside armpit of LBer.

2. If helmet stays put – shove him over to covered teammate and work upfield aiming eyes to playside armpit of LBer.

3. If helmet slants inside – aim eyes to his playside armpit. Take him over & wipe covered teammate off to LBer.

ZONE RULES:

TEACH “COVERED/UNCOVERED” (TO DETERMINES WHO ZONE BLOCKS
AND WHO MAN BLOCKS).

. IF YOU ARE UNCOVERED (BY A DLM) – ZONE WITH YOUR PLAYSIDE TEAMMATE.

. IF YOU ARE COVERED (BY A DLM) – ZONE WITH YOUR BACKSIDE TEAMMATE (UNLESS HE IS COVERED THEN YOU MUST MAN BLOCK).

NOTE: IF YOUR MAN IS STACKED IN A “TANDEM” – ZONE WITH TEAMMATE WHOSE MAN IS ALSO STACKED.

************************************************************************

DRILLING ZONE BLOCKING:

1. INDIVIDUAL: (bags OR live) “1 vs. 1”

A) INSIDE ZONE

—-1. Drive Block DLM

—-2. Drive Block LBer

B) OUTSIDE ZONE

—-1. Reach Block DLM

—-2. Reach Block LBer

************************************************************************

2. SMAll GROUP: (INSIDE & OUTSIDE ZONE TECHNIQUES – vs. bags OR live)

A) “2 vs. 2” (uncovered man & covered man work vs. a ILer & DLM).

—–1. DLM widens & LBer steps inside of DLM

—–2. DML pinches inside & LBer scrapes outside

—–3. DLM anchors on covered man & LBer moves behind DLM (reading the RB)

************************************************************************

3. LARGE GROUP: (LIVE)

A) “5 ON 5” (Live – NO bags)

————M
—–E–T—–T–E
—–O-O-C-O-O
———–Q

———–R

4-3 = Gives the Center a chance to zone with Guards (on zone TO callside)

———-B—–B
——E—–N—–E
——O-O-C-O-O
————Q

————R

3-4 Gives the Guards a chance to zone with Tackles (on zone TO callside) or Center (on zone AWAY callside)

B) “7 on 7” (Live – no bags)

———–W—-M—–S
——–E—–T—–T—–E
——–O-O-O-C-O-O-O
—————–Q

—————–R

4-3 = Gives the Tackles a chance to zone with the TE’s (on zone TO callside), or the Guards (on zone AWAY callside)

NOTE: The “5 on 5” & “7 on 7” should be your best (“O”) vs. best (“D”). Full speed with no tackling the RB. Benefits of these:

1. COMPETITIVE DRILLS VS. DEFENSE;
2. BLOCKING TECHNIQUES VS. BLOCK REACTIONS;
3. TEACHES TOUGHNESS!!!!!

************************************************************************

4. TEAM (11 vs. 11)

Thanks again to Coach Mountjoy for providing this info. The zone running game is a big part of our offense. Learn mor about it in my iBook, 101+ Pro Style Pistol Offense Plays. Get it for you iPad here.

On American Football Monthly: Pulling Linemen

I would like to thank our offensive line coach Tony Neymeiyer for his assistance with this article.
Most offenses use schemes that require a lineman to pull and block a defender on the first level or second level. I’ve heard arguments from time to time about which technique is best for a pulling lineman – a “square” pull or an “skip” pull. The fact of the matter is that each serves a different purpose and has its uses within certain schemes.
The same pull style cannot be used for every play because each play requires the pulling lineman to do different things. It’s equivalent to having to not ask a lineman to utilize the same footwork on inside zone as he would on outside zone – both plays are distinctly different from each other even though they have similarities. For the same reason, pulls must be executed based on what you want the puller to accomplish in his block.
Before we get into the specifics of each technique, let’s define each type and give examples of the schemes that use each type…more here

Learn more about the plays and schemes in which these techniques are used in my iBook for the iPad 101+ Pro Style Pistol Offense Plays. Get it here.

When it shows up on film: OL combo block

I wrote on this topic in detail in a clinic article on AFM titled “Distort and Displace with Double Teams.”

We are able to be efficient in teaching our combo because the block applies to both our zone and power schemes.

Here are clips of two different phases of our combo drill. In the first we are really emphasizing staying on the block and getting vertical displacement.

In the second clip we are working the combo vertically and then coming off to the linebacker.

Obviously, with the time we spend on this technique we want to see it show up on film. Here it is in game video on our power play. The left guard and left tackle take the defensive tackle vertically before the guard comes off to the linebacker who has played over the top.

Learn more about our power play and other components of our offense in 101+ Pro Style Pistol Offense Plays which you can get on your iPad from the iBookstore:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/101+-pro-style-pistol-offense/id611588645?mt=11

Utilize Technology to Teach and Coach

In yesterday’s play of the day, the use of still shots with coaching points were used to teach tailback reads. The clinic article on AFM, “Methods for Teaching and Practicing Your System”  discusses this in more detail.

The teaching progression that provides a great foundation for players to learn and understand a concept and the techniques utilizes technology to the fullest as well. What’s given as an introduction is the diagram and assignment chart. This is a good visual and overview, but for most players the X and O diagrams don’t solidify what should be a concrete idea before the player hits the field.

The next step in the process is to use a series of still shots to illustrate the coaching points of technique. This is a better example than film for a few reasons. First, it provides a picture of exactly what the play or technique should look like. Second, it helps train the players eyes for exactly the coaching point they should be looking for when they watch film. Having the presentation available for them to view and refer to is helpful for their learning. Recording a screen cast that includes the still soft and a video walk thru(with voice over) also provides a great resource.  The examples shown are done in Powerpoint.  A still shot is taken from video and coaching points are easily added.

Still shot illustrations with coaching points give the player a much better idea of what the technique should look like. X&O diagrams are not as effective for this.

Third, the film is used to create the still shot explanation should be used and analyzed to show the players what it looks like in video. Now the what was explained and illustrated in still shots can be shown on video. Stopping at key points can train the inexperienced eye exactly what o look for. Young players, if untrained, not have the correct focus when watching video and end up only looking at the big picture.

The examples provided are from a version of the zone running game that I have used in the past. The methods, techniques, and plays are part of an iBook series that will be released later this spring.

My first iBook, full of dynamic content including coaching presentations, still shot explanations and video(wide and tight views) is available for purchase from the iBookstore on your iPad:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/101+-pro-style-pistol-offense/id611588645?mt=11

When It Shows up on Film

Validation for everything you do as a coach on the field and in the classroom is when you see that skill that is constantly drilled in practice show up on game film. The ultimate goal of practice is that the physical skills being taught are directly applied and successful in the game.

Here’s an example of a simple drill we do with the quarterbacks daily. It’s called the concept call drill, and it’s a great drill for mental repetitions. We typically use this drill when field space is limited, when we want to rest arms for a little while, or simply in pre practice to mentally rep each concept that we have on the script. This is a drill that Dub Maddox and Darin Slack outline in their R4 book, From Head Set to Helmet. You can purchase this outstanding coaching resource here.

In this clip, the quarterbacks can be seen working their eyes and feet through the progression, and finish with a B-gap escape (Release).

This type of movement of the eyes and feet through the progression can be seen in the following game cut-up. The QB starts to the left and moves across to his right finding a receiver and throwing him open.

Another drill we work daily is a planned B-gap escape. This is the natural place for our quarterback to leave the pocket in our protection if he has exhausted all options down the field in working through his progression, or if pressure flushes him to the backside. This is another daily drill. The quarterback basically has two options: the B-gap is open and he can maintain his status as a passer looking for any receiver on that side or a late opening receiver working towards him as he begins to leave the pocket, or as he begins up into the pocket, the defender closes the gap and he must release outside of the B-gap getting around any outside rusher. The drill is shown here:

Game application of the drill can be seen in the next video clip.

Seeing what you work on everyday in practice certainly justifies all of the hard work in drilling. It also provides you with good feedback on how you are spending your time. How often are you seeing those drills/skills replicated in a game? Scale your use of your drills based on the frequency of which it happens in the game.

I will be writing on this topic much more during spring practice which begins for us on April 2nd. You will see posts on American Football Monthly and on this website. I primarily use AFM for offensive clinic articles, and post smaller tidbits here. Please feel free to comment, ask questions, or suggest topics. My email is grabkj@gmail.com

My iBook, 101+ Pro Style Pistol Offense Plays can be purchased on your iPad through the iBookstore by clicking the link below:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/101+-pro-style-pistol-offense/id611588645?mt=11

Distort and Displace with Double Teams

On American Football Monthly: The bedrock principle of our running game is to attack with a downhill running game that focuses on level 1 movement and displacement. Fundamental to that is the combination block. A good combination block essentially guarantees a positive yardage play that will keep the offense on schedule. Staying on schedule is critical to moving the chains toward the end zone on a way to a score.
We are always looking for efficiencies in our teaching and coaching. When we can work a drill that has multiple applications in our offense across different concepts, we are maximizing our practice time. We rely on both gap schemes and zone schemes to run the ball effectively. The way we teach the combination block is the same for both of these schemes. When we work a drill for the “B-block” in the zone scheme, we are also getting work for the “Deuce Block” in our gap scheme.
The principle that makes the combination the same in both run concepts is in each the offensive line is going in one direction. On zone plays everyone is responsible for their playside gap. In the gap scheme plays everyone is responsible for their backside gap with two people kicking out. Gap responsibility is the overriding rule for both of these schemes…more here