Young guy, getting ready for his first season as a DC, reached out to four experienced, veteran coaches, to get some advice as he got ready for his new role. Here is what he got in return. Enjoy & Merry Christmas! 🎄
When watching films, what is the first thing you would look for?
How much Statistical information did you break down each week?
In HUDL what did you typically try to look at and break down each week formation, RB Depth etc?
Why did you break this information down?
What tendencies did you look for each week?
When breaking down information what tendencies did you look for first and foremost?
What is the first thing you would do each week when breaking down an opponent?
When putting your game plan together each week what is the first thing you would try to answer?
What are their favorite formations? What are they trying to do out of each formation?
How are we going to shut down their best run play?
What adjustments do we need to make in our pass coverage to stop certain route combinations?
Who is their best player? how do they get him the ball? How are we going to slow/stop that person?
What other things did you look for?
How do you approach
2nd down and short and long?
3rd down short and long?
What numbers/feelings/intuitions influenced when you would blitz, change coverage, alignments etc?
Did you try to take away their best run plays through blitzes or alignments or a combination of both?
Coverage
How did you approach trips/empty formations? What adjustments did you all make out your defense?
Blitzing
Did you set up a system to blitz out of?
If so would you only design blitzes from that system?
Did you create specific blitzes for each team and then rep them that week? Or would you try to use specific blitzes/stunts that had already been implemented into your system?
When looking at blitz packages to use against another team, what did you look at attacking?
The pass protection?
Trying to get the RB 1 on 1 with your best DL, LB etc?
Their worst Lineman?
Boundary?
Passing Formation/Pass plays out of that formations
Finally what was your favorite part of being a Defensive Coordinator?
Coach X
When watching films, what is the first thing you would look for? I break down the video first.... set, play, Dn/Dist, Hash, result. That info dictates everything else. And, you would find alot of info as you do it.
How much Statistical information did you break down each week? Tendencies generated by the breakdown.
In HUDL what did you typically try to look at and break down each week formation, RB Depth etc? I do #1 and then go from there.
Why did you break this information down?
What tendencies did you look for each week? Down/Distance, Formation, Personnel....
When breaking down information what tendencies did you look for first and foremost? See The above
What is the first thing you would do each week when breaking down an opponent? See #1
When putting your game plan together each week what is the first thing you would try to answer? What do they do best. Who are their best players.
What are their favorite formations? What are they trying to do out of each formation?
How are we going to shut down their best run play?
What adjustments do we need to make in our pass coverage to stop certain route combinations?
Who is their best player? how do they get him the ball? How are we going to slow/stop that person?
What other things did you look for? Tip offs. Is there anything they do that tells me the play, presnap.
How do you approach
2nd down and short and long? None.
3rd down short and long? Try to stop what they like best.
What numbers/feelings/intuitions influenced when you would blitz, change coverage, alignments etc? Try to blitz so that I can still cover their favorite pass areas.
Did you try to take away their best run plays through blitzes or alignments or a combination of both? Alignment and reads. If it is ridiculous, blitz the gap.
Coverage
How did you approach trips/empty formations? What adjustments did you all make out your defense? 30. Slide LBs and secondary to strength.
Blitzing
Did you set up a system to blitz out of? Yes
If so would you only design blitzes from that system? No
Did you create specific blitzes for each team and then rep them that week? Or would you try to use specific blitzes/stunts that had already been implemented into your system? Both
When looking at blitz packages to use against another team, what did you look at attacking? Numbers and bad blockers.
The pass protection?
Trying to get the RB 1 on 1 with your best DL, LB etc?
Their worst Lineman?
Boundary?
Passing Formation/Pass plays out of that formations
Finally what was your favorite part of being a Defensive Coordinator?
Solving the problem.... what do they do best and how do we stop it!
Coach A
1. I want to know how they are blocking each play from someone that is playing a similar defense as ours.
2. I am old school. I did everything by hand, I would draw every play and how the blocked it on paper, then I would group it (formation and play) on to a hit chart and analyze what would be the best defense to run versus the different formations. I would get an assistant coach to use hudl and group the formations and plays so that I could sort them by formation as I watched them throughout the week.
3. I would use the hit chart from #2 to get the tendencies.
4. #2
5. Yes to everything in this question. It is important to have answers for everything you mentioned.
6. It depends on what they like to do, you get an understanding of what they like to do by studying their film.
7. Everything I did was to stop what they like to do. It has to be sound on paper before you can sell that to the kids. You will do most all your work on paper every Sunday, then teach the assignments and techniques to execute it to the kids throughout the week.
8. No, with base defense first, blitzes and movement was plan B if the base defense did not work.
9. I would have two to three ways of defending trips, and two ways of defending empty. We would choose based upon what they did.
10. Tweak are already installed blitzes for each team and then rep them that week.
11. Yes to everything you mentioned.
It requires a tremendous amount of film study. Break it all down first thing, get it sorted and organized so that it makes sense to you, then begin analyzing and game planning. It is important that you rep everything you could possibly see on Friday night throughout the week, don"t let Coach X cheat you on practice time :). It will be a blast. I hope this helps
Coach B
When watching films, what is the first thing you would look for?
Coach -- I will tell you, I’m wired a little different than most. I loved football practice and I loved watching film. I enjoyed both. The first thing I would always do was just watch the games I had. I wouldn’t stop the video for anything I wanted to get a feel of the game from all angles. I watched their O and their D. Almost like watching the game as a fan, so to speak. When I was done, I had a feel of his sets, his best players, his adjustments to struggling, who can play, etc. I did that before I started entering any data. Once I entered all the data I wanted, then I would start to just watch him by sets. You have smart kids like we did. If you can teach them what he likes to do in each set, they’ll play faster. Once I had a feel of his sets, then I liked to watch his games from down and distance. What’s he like on first down? Coming out? 3rd and short and 3rd and long? At this point, I was almost quizzing myself. I had a good feel of how he would call the game and what he was trying to do. Some weeks it’s easy and some weeks it’s not. That’s what makes it so fun. Then, I would sort by run/pass and watch all the runs and then all the passes. Again, I’m just getting a feel for what he wants to do, what set he likes to do it out of. Who’s he trying to get the ball to -- why or how does he do that? Does he like the wide side? Is he afraid of the short side? Is there a OL he’s trying to run behind or is there a OL he’s trying to hide, etc.
How much information did you break down each week? And was there anything specific that you would add as far as custom columns in HUDL?
I think you can get into entering too much information. I wanted D/D, Formation, Play, Run or Pass, Hash
Why did you break this information down? Honestly because it was easy to sort and it would give me a great look into our opponents offense.
What tendencies did you look for each week? Other than what is above….I would always look for an OL tendency. You will play some teams where reading the guard or guards is the easiest thing in America. Some weeks it may be the fullback. Some weeks it’s the neck of the center. Some weeks you won’t have anything remotely close to a key to read to help your kids. You will have to rely on being sound and being in the right places.
When breaking down information what tendencies did you look for first and foremost? See above
What is the first thing you would do each week when breaking down an opponent?
See above
When putting your game plan together each week what is the first thing you would try to answer?
What are their favorite formations? What are they trying to do out of each formation? Yes, absolutely
How are we going to shut down their best run play? Yes, absolutely -- then how many reps can we get against this in practice. Walk thru reps, slow reps, fast reps, individual reps, team reps, etc.
What adjustments do we need to make in our pass coverage to stop certain route combinations? Yes, but only if vital / necessary. The only way this would change is if they hardly ever would run the ball.
Who is their best player? how do they get him the ball? How are we going to slow/stop that person? Yes and usually in high school football, you can put this at the top.
What other things did you look for? Are they physical? Are they fast? Will he give me some opportunities to blitz him on odd downs? Will he give away what he wants to do with motion? Will he give away what he wants to do with personnel? How many of his studs play both ways?
How do you approach
2nd down and short and long?
3rd down short and long?
You are always going to have a little idea of what a guy wants to do on short and long yardages. Rep those, teach your kids what he likes to do and move on. IMO, too much is made about downs and distances. If he has a tendency and you see it, rep it and teach your kids what it is. If not --- teach your kids what he likes to do out of each set, prep them with reps and video and you will be fine. You know as well as I do what’s coming when we get in Stack I (3-4 base plays), but more than likely, just 1. Does it really matter what down it is? Not really. When it’s whatever down it is and long, don’t get beat deep and don’t let the QB stand there and play Peyton Manning.
What numbers/feelings/intuitions influenced when you would blitz, change coverage, alignments etc?
I want to blitz to be aggressive and to develop an aggressive mentality with my defense. I don’t like to sit back and play what if. I’d rather be in control. Blitzing is harder on an offense to block guys that are moving. I liked blitzing on early downs. Again, because I want to be in control, not you. Offensive play callers want to be comfortable. They want you to stand there so they can do anything and everything that they want. Get them behind the chains and things change. And, you can be more conservative on 3rd down. I was more aggressive in the red zone. We implemented a period for inside of the 20 so we could cover differently and be more aggressive. I thought it helped us immensely. Don’t just blitz just to blitz and realize that you are going to give up something when you do.
If you are going to change coverage, make sure you have practiced changing coverages and your secondary coach knows what he’s doing ; ) We played 3, 2, 2 read, roll 3 and quarters. You can’t do any of that unless you have smart kids.
Alignment adjustments come from feel, experience and the press box. Communicate with your guy up top what you want and make sure you are asking questions. Most of the time it’s going to be your front lining up wrong, an LB out of position or you are attacking a guy you don’t need to.
Did you try to take away their best run plays through blitzes or alignments or a combination of both?
Are they any good? Then don’t show your hand. Don’t put film out there for others to see what you may need down the road. I’m going to go into each week prepared to do a combination of both. The one thing we know is that we cannot predict which team and what kids will show up ready to roll on Fridays. Be ready with your gameplan to do both and be ready to adjust. They may stink and you may have to open the kitchen sink to win.
Coverage
How did you approach trips/empty formations? What adjustments did you all make out your defense?
My approach depended on my kids. We approached trips/empty on what we could do well with our personnel. Some years it was stay in a 4-4, some years a 4-3, some years we played a lot of 3-4. I go back to this --- what’s he doing in Trips? Is he sprinting, half-rolling, quick game? Is he spreading you out in trips to formation you to run the ball? Is the back to the trips or away and why ? In empty is the QB ever a threat to run? Is the 3 man side a look for protection or is this a 5 man route concept? Is this his screen set or sets? Can the QB beat us if we let him out of the pocket?
Blitzing
Did you set up a system to blitz out of? Yes, a number system
If so would you only design blitzes from that system? We could blitz out of anything and sometimes we would use words, easy words that made sense to the kids.
Did you create specific blitzes for each team and then rep them that week? Or would you try to use specific blitzes/stunts that had already been implemented into your system?
All depended on what we needed to do and how smart and coachable our kids were. I tried not to add anything unless I knew for sure I had something. We killed a good Jefferson Co. team one year by blitzing the same concept vs. his keys. I’m not sure we had another blitz in our package that night, we just changed up some assignments and ran it a couple of ways. They expected us to sit there and we ate them alive. It was awesome.
When looking at blitz packages to use against another team, what did you look at attacking?The pass protection?
I always began with how they protected (slide, number of men, role of the back, etc)
Trying to get the RB 1 on 1 with your best DL, LB etc? Wasn’t as important to me
Their worst Lineman? Yes, overload the gap and make him play football
Boundary? I always prepared for the game with something coming from the boundary.
Passing Formation/Pass plays out of that formations Yes
Finally what was your favorite part of being a Defensive Coordinator?
The preparation and the teaching that went into preparing our kids to go out and play their best. I loved it. I enjoyed the adjustments I had to make, to get them to perform at a high level. It is tough being a coordinator, but it’s awesome as well. Be prepared to adjust, to dominate people and to get your butt kicked, it’s all going to happen. Remember that you cannot stop everything all the time. I wanted to, you will want to, but we aren’t going to hold every team to zero yards rushing, passing and zero points every single Friday night. You can dominate the game in other ways. You are going to coach some games where you are at your absolute best and you are going to lose. Those are probably the toughest. As much as possible, be the energy at practice and be the positivity at practice. Get your kids to enjoy playing for you and having fun with you. Set your standards high and don’t let your foot off the gas.
Coach Z
When watching films, what is the first thing you would do, just watch it through, onltake notes on certain things etc?
The first thing I do is just watch through before I break down anything. When I watch it again, I break down all the obvious things such as first down/distance, formations, hash mark, etc. For me, personnel grouping is something to watch as well. For example, is the TE the same in spread as it is in 2 back sets. That can be communicated from up top.
How much information did you break down each week? And was there anything specific that you would add as far as custom columns in HUDL?
Formations for alignment purposes, look for anything small such as splits, alignment of receivers, etc.Formations with plays was big one with me because certain plays can only be ran out of certain formations.Hashmark tendency for coverage purposes
Formations with hashmark is also a good indicator of play calls. Route Combinations to make sure all coverages can cover routes. After I left coaching with Coach X, motions became important because a lot teams want you to move so they can take advantage.
Why did you break this information down?
What tendencies did you look for each week?
When breaking down information what tendencies did you look for first and foremost?
Formations with plays is the first thing I look for, try to find tendencies with a formation for example, I know Coach X use to run off-tackle behind a TE no matter the formation so it was good to always know where the TE was located.
With all the passing, I think splits with route combination is a good one to know.
Hashmark by play/formation is a good indicator of what to look for.
What is the first thing you would do each week when breaking down an opponent on HUDL?
The first thing I would do on HUDL is look at formations, try to get an understanding of how plays are ran out of certain formations.
When putting your game plan together each week what is the first thing you would try to answer?
The first thing I would answer is are we sound against all formations and can we fit every play in our base defenses. And then make adjustments to special situations such as unbalance sets, unfamiliar formations, etc. I would look for their best players, see who lines up where in certain formations. I would check to see if they “flip” their offensive linemen or do they have a preference of who to run behind. I think also you have to have an understanding that all coverages do not fit everything perfectly so you may want to think about in the passing game what you are willing to give up.
Grouping of personnel is also key as well. I am also a big first down guy, I think you want to create 3rd and long as much as possible by emphasizing winning 1st down.
Formations is the first thing, how will we line up to those formations
Plays and how will we fit those plays in the run and pass game.
What are their favorite formations? What are they trying to do out of each formation?
How are we going to shut down their best run play?
What adjustments do we need to make in our pass coverage to stop certain route combinations?
Who is their best player? how do they get him the ball? How are we going to slow/stop that person?
Is there a go to plan that you would use to slow do a speedy slot?
What other things did you look for?
How do you approach 2nd down and short and long?
This is information I would get from HUDL, I would play tendencies
I would make sure to have blitz package for the short yardage situations
3rd down short and long?
3rd and short, try to stuff the box as much as possible without stretching your defense.
3rd and long, this was always a big blitz down for myself. I would use the HUDL breakdown to make sure my coverages can cover their favorite plays and blitz.
What numbers/feelings/intuitions influenced when you would blitz, change coverage, alignments etc?
Blitz on 3rd and long quite a bit, try to rush the QB at the very least.
In terms of alignment, I would align the same every time and try to mix coverages from the alignment. I like to run 2 high safeties but play a mixture of Cover 2, 3, 4 with those. Also do some combo coverage but the alignment is always the same.
Did you try to take away their best run plays through blitzes or alignments or a combination of both?
I always try to do everything out of our base defense and fits. I would adjust things by scouting and watching video. I may slide an LB or shift DL slightly but I never used a blitz to stop a best running play. I would however keep it in mind if your base packages are not working. I would use a blitz as in game adjustment.
Coverage
How did you approach trips/empty formations? What adjustments did you all make out your defense?
I personally like Cover 2 vs Trips, I think its best way to handle #3 receiver especially with a backside safety. One the things I like to do a lot is play 1-receiver side with soft man coverage, that allows your backside safety to help with the trips side. Cover 2 also allow for minimum adjustments up front with your LB.
I think empty is different depending on the QB. If he is a passing QB, cover 4 is what I preferred although you have to understand that will be gaps in the zones underneath. I also like to blitz and speed up the QB if there tendency is not quick game or screen game. If he is a running QB, I would widen the LB to the formation but I would make sure he doesn't beat me with his legs, make him pass it.
Blitzing
Did you set up a system to blitz out of?
Not really, we had blitzes that we practice and practiced them everyday during blitz period, very rarely did I create a new blitz for a specific team. The blitzes we used were already in place.
If so would you only design blitzes from that system?
Did you create specific blitzes for each team and then rep them that week? Or would you try to use specific blitzes/stunts that had already been implemented into your system?
When looking at blitz packages to use against another team, what did you look at attacking?
Pass protections is the first thing I would look at and try to find the worst lineman.
Also I would look at how they pass protect, are they stepping down, fanning out, pulling anyone, try to take advantage of what they give. If you have a “timid” QB, I would blitz on almost every passing down try to make him make quick decisions.
The pass protection?
Trying to get the RB 1 on 1 with your best DL, LB etc? Their worst Lineman? Boundary?
Passing Formation/Pass plays out of that formations
Did you have specific situations that you liked to practice?
Every defensive practice, I would practice 3rd down. I'm not sure if Coach X still uses but we had a drill called 3rd drill that emphasized 3rd down. I also started using it for 1st down to emphasize the importance of 1st down as well.
I think practicing unbalanced formations is important as well so your kids know how to adjust on the fly.
How did you view your drill work for the defense? Did you try to have everyone implement drills that were as game-like as possible?
Drill work is essential everyday. For me, I think every drill should have a read involved or something to react. For example, when I coach DB’s I would always use a ball or man to make kids to adjust to movement. The game-like drills are usually in groups such as pattern reading with all DBs are run fits with the front 7 or 8.
How often do you like to tackle in practice? Do you implement any creative measures to get more tackling practice in?
I would do tackle drills every day but not all the way to the ground. At Jefferson Catholic, we start to implement rugby tackling drills everyday. I like to do a lot of situational tackling drills such 2 on 1, sideline tackling, etc.
How did you communicate with your Defense on Friday night? Do you have them HUDDLE? Hand Signs?
I think hand signals are the most effective way especially with so many schools going no huddle. I think it also helps to have a second guy to signal the coverage after the coordinator has made the call.
Finally what was your favorite part of being a Defensive Coordinator?
The best thing about being a defensive coordinator is your kids do not necessarily have to a very specific skill set to play if they want, on offense kids need to be able to catch, throw, etc. I always thought if you can play fast and tackle, you can play defense. I know at Jefferson HS. I had LB and DB who were 5 foot nothing but could play because they were physical. They other part of coaching defense is you can let your kids play with an edge (nothing bad) and it takes a different to want to play defense.
