Coach and Coordinator Podcast

Today’s guest is John Weaver, the associate athletic director, wide receivers coach, and interim offensive coordinator at Madison Ridgeland Academy. He has taken on the role of offensive coordinator for the beginning of the season and has been tasked with creating the identity of their offense which he built upon going extremely fast.Through the first three games of the season, their “hammer down” tempo has produced 507 yards per game and 51 points per game.  We talk about the keys to establishing an uptempo offense, play-calling considerations to create a rhythm, practice methodology, and player workload. This episode is full of great tips to help you improve your tempo as we progress through the season.Show Notes: Things that built an identity for MRA early in the season Hurry up to go fast Get into a rhythm The quarterback is the straw that stirs the drink  Let QB feel the flow of the game Plays to establish rhythm Thinking about openers What does the QB like? Andrew Coverdale, Tom Lombardo, Phil Longo  Practice methodology and structure Hammer Down Two-Minute on air Maje sure the linemen are moving to the ball in practice Glen Elarbee and Keith Barefield Workload on players Flavor of the week Rewind Keeping it fun Intentionality - I care about you as a person     Related:John Weaver - Branding and Building Identity Within a Culture     Andrew Coverdale - Practice Tips and IdeasPhil LongoGlen Elarbee-The Detail of Coaching OL in and Uptempo OffenseKeith Barefield - Tempo is a LifestyleBest of Coach and Coordinator - What it Means to Play FastResources:Coach Weaver Resources on CoachTubeGlen Elarbee - Counter & Uptempo Offensive LinePhil Longo - Coordinating an OffenseKeith Barefield - Tempo is a Lifestyle Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the course of our Season series, we have heard again and again about the importance of fundamentals from coaches at every level. Today we put the focus back on the fundamentals of tackling with our in-house tackling expert Fordham University assistant coach Vince DiGaetano.Coach Dig joined us during camp to talk about tackling situations that are difficult to work on in practice but are important to prepare for in the game. It’s worth going back to those ideas.Today the focus is on improving tackling early season and coach Digaetano shares insight he has gained from his study of tackling. He gives suggestions that you can implement in your program to help improve this important fundamental.Show Notes: Staying with the same tackling circuit Grading practice tackling drills Entry point - square to the ball Put a shell around the ball What statistics show Keep circuits the same but use mini-circuits More reps for the two deep and for young kids Hoop tackle drill Back end - working those that play together in reps Working against jump cut Additional Coach DiGaetano Episodes:Player Vocal Leadership Plus Early Camp Tackling Considerations The Players Write the Practice PlanDefining Practice Tempos and Finishes for Better PerformanceDeep Dive on Defense: Team TacklingTrends in Teaching TacklingShort Prep Time for the SeasonRelated Resources:Coach DiGaetano has some of the best tackling resources available, including:Winning Gaps with Engaged TacklesDeep Dig: Preseason Tackling FundamentalsEffective Team Tackling with the 3 C’s: Contact, Chase, and Converge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 In the early season, we deal with fine-tuning our schemes with a challenge being the fact that we may know very little about the opponent. Sure we can do our research on what they do, and the schemes they rely on but like our own teams there are new pieces to the puzzle that are being tested to see how they fit.  Today we look at two approaches to handling the early season and think about how much can we do early, and then how we handle the imperfections of our schemes and the players executing them especially as they are continuing to learn and fine-tune their performance.Our guests today are Steve Steele, Head Coach of 6x state champions RIggs HS in South Dakota, USFL Michigan Panthers Offensive Coordinator Eric Marty, and USFL Offensive Coordinator John Tomlinson. They share their insight on handling the early season progression of offense.Steve Steele, Head Coach, Riggs HS A contrarian view of how much early Keeping the focus on us Using learning as a way to avoid distraction and ease pressure Eric Marty, Offensive Coordinator, USFL Michigan Panthers Concentric circle Build on a small set first Get better and master things then move on  John TomlinsonOffensive Coordinator, USFL Pittsburgh Maulers Be accountable for performance Don’t play two opponents So many errors early can be overwhelming Focus on the most important error correction first Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we move through the early season, understanding how we continue to evolve and build around what we established in camp can be a challenge. We have to ask ourselves how much more can this team handle. Are they ready for the next step in the progression? How much do we know about this opponent that we can adjust to or add a wrinkle for?While we will have some data to work off of in the early weeks, we need to remember that the opponent is going through that early season evolution as well.As you will hear today, it goes back to the teaching methods we used in camp and the fundamentals that we established a few weeks back even though it seems like a distant memory as the urgency of the season hits.Today we will hear from Utah Defensive Coordinator Morgan Scalley, Heidelberg University Defensive Coordinator Branden Jakubcin, High School Defensive Coordinator John Rice, and the Defensive Coordinator of the defending D3 National Champion North Central College Shane Dierking.They give us insight into the approach they take to preparing for an early-season opponent, adding wrinkles, and making adjustments.Show Notes:Morgan Scalley, DC, Utah It is always about fundamentals  Upper-classmen lead the way A good team can step back and be sound in the fundamentals  Branden Jakubcin, DC, Heidelberg University.  The teaching process that was used in camp and how that applies all year long.  Process for thinking about the opponent Layering in concepts that were installed in camp John Rice , DC, San Jacinto HS.  Taking it slow allows them to do more Thoughts on getting new ideas in-season How he thinks about fitting those into what they do Shane Dierking, DC, North Central College A coach must always be ready for adjustments.  Looking at what answers they have available The process of organizing potential adjustments for game day Related:Shane DierkingManipulating Gaps to Limit ExplosivesAn Obsession with Learning and Growing Plus Coaching the 4-2-5Resources:Shane DierkingDefending Empty FormationsManipulating GapsJohn RiceIntro to Split Safety CoverageBranden JakubcinTackling, Turnover & Pursuit DrillsDefensive Fundamentals CircuitsUtilizing Rip/Liz Match Coverage out of the 3-4 Tite Front as your BaseWinning Money Downs using Different Personnel GroupingsAttacking the Offense with Stunts and Blitzes out of the 3-4 Tite Front Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special edition of Coach and Coordinator Podcast, we gain perspective on the season from United States Army Colonel JR West. Colonel West brings the unique perspective of serving as a leader in the Army, coaching for ten seasons, and having played for Army West Point.We discuss different aspects of the season with insight into how fundamentals and communication, whether in football, the military, or life, will always lead to a win.Show Notes: Why Coaching Matters The Purpose of Creating Go Army Edge Fundamentals, Fundamentals, Fundamentals Investing in Individuals Communication After Action Reports For more information on Go Army Edge, visit www.GoArmyEdge.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Special teams is an area a team can capitalize on in the early season. To be successful on special teams, coaches must be organized in the way they operate and attentive to the details. It doesn't need to be a complex undertaking. It simply means having a sound structure, and you are able to implement it well.In this episode, we talk with retired NFL special teams coach Bobby April, who was recognized as NFL Special Teams Coach of the Year in 2004 and 2008, Charlie Coiner, who spent 19 years in college football and the NFL with a focus on special teams, and Brett Arkelian, who is an analyst and special teams coach for Fresno State.These three coaches discuss simple ways to gauge special teams success, prepare for the unusual, and coach kickers and punters, especially if your background is not in kicking or punting.Coaches Featured in This Episode: Brett Arkelian, Analyst and Special Teams Coach, Fresno State Charlie Coiner, Retired NFL and College Coach Bobby April, Retired NFL Special Teams Coordinator Show Notes: Keys to Great Contact Hit It with a Sledgehammer How to Drill It Lock Out Kicks Goal Post Kicks Same Approach Every Time Dry Run/Walk-Through for Kickers Punters: It’s All About Hands Laces: Spaces Drill Be Like a Bad Baseball Pitcher Work No Fundamental Movement Skills Dealing with Unusual Formations/Plays on Special Teams How to Present Content and Structure Dealing with Shield Punt Swinging Gate Defending Fakes Organization Gauging Success Stats for Complementary Football   Thank you for supporting our partners:Learn More about The Headset App:The Headset App completely changes the communication market for coaches. While traditional headset systems are expensive, as well as a pain to transport and set up, The Headset App setup is ridiculously simple at a fraction of the cost. Download The Headset App today in the App Store or Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Coaching is not a copy-and-paste function. It requires an understanding of what your players need for a particular week and a particular game plan so that they are prepared for the plays you run, the looks the defense gives, and the situations that you will face.In this episdoe, Matt Drinkall, Co-OC/OL Coach from Army West Point, Kyle Segler, OL Coach at Louisiana-Monroe, and Brendan Walsh, OL Coach at Colgate University share valuable ideas for focusing your individual time and practice periods on the aspects of your scheme and technique that specifically be used in the next game.These three coaches share their approach to drills and practice periods to create the most effective way of preparing their players. While the focus is on offense, and particularly offensive line, the ideas shared apply across any position. We look at everything from a process for drill selection, to a focus on details, and creating an effective walk-through.Matt Drinkall, Co-OC/OL Coach, Army West Point Drill bank Spreadsheet set up Avoiding haphazard approach to practice planning Allocating time properly Kyle Segler, OL Coach, Louisiana-Monroe Footwork pre-practice period Details create the big picture Practice is as important at the end of the season as it was in camp Brendan Walsh, OL Coach, Colgate University Walk-through Filming walk through See their eyes Related Episodes:Matt Drinkall: Defeating the Tite FrontKyle Segler: Navigating a Coaching TransitionAdditional Resources:Matt Drinkall: Sprint Out Passing: Moving the Pocket for SuccessKyle Segler: TE Utilization in Multiple Set OffenseBrendan Walsh: Going Downhill: GT Counter and Other VariationsThank you for supporting our partners:Learn More about The Headset App:The Headset App completely changes the communication market for coaches. While traditional headset systems are expensive, as well as a pain to transport and set up, The Headset App setup is ridiculously simple at a fraction of the cost. Download The Headset App today in the App Store or Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether you are on the offensive, defensive, or special teams side of the ball, early season game planning has some nuances in determining exactly what to focus on. It’s a balance of taking what you know about an opponent and their personnel and, to the best of your ability, filling in the blanks with educated projections. More than anything, it is still about building on what you do best.In this episode, we talk with Mike Judy, the four-time Delaware state champion head coach at Smyrna High School, Dan Carrel, who is Coastal Carolina’s Co-Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach, and Dante Bartee, an Analyst at the University of Oregon to gain their insights into early season game planning. While the focus is more on the defensive side of the ball, their approach works in any phase of the game.Mike Judy, Head Coach, Smyrna High School Dealing with the unknowns of an early season opponent What you can get out of a scrimmage film Working with the staff to more accurately predict what an opponent is planning on being Dan Carrel, CO-DC/LB Coach, Coastal Carolina It is about what you do best An example where they didn’t think ahead about getting ready for things that they’d see from the offense Planning for the future Dante Bartee, Analyst, University of Oregon Game planning for early season opponents Thoughts on how to work ahead in game plan preparation Advice for game plan prep on a smaller staff Related Episodes:Dante Bartee: Accelerate EverythingDan Carrel: Complementary FootballAdditional Resources:Dante Bartee: Thoughts from a First-Time College DCDan Carrel: Make Sense of Your Self-ScoutThank you for supporting our partners:Learn More about The Headset App:The Headset App completely changes the communication market for coaches. While traditional headset systems are expensive, as well as a pain to transport and set up, The Headset App setup is ridiculously simple at a fraction of the cost. Download The Headset App today in the App Store or Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A strong start to the season is directly correlated to player buy-in. It requires more than telling players they need to own things. Coaches must create environments where players have opportunities to take ownership of the team, offense, and defense.In this episode, Mike Elder, Tyler Roehl, and Todd Drury provide ideas with examples of the little things we can do to create the buy-in needed to get the season started off with a strong foundation with players and coaches aligned in the culture.Focusing on specific behaviors and building them into your team, unit, and position group sets everyone up for success within a player-led culture.Today’s Coaches: Mike Elder is the head coach at Avon High School (OH). Tyler Roehl is the offensive coordinator at North Dakota State University. Todd Drury is the defensive coordinator at Western Illinois University. Show Notes: Be Great at Things That Require No Effort End Everything with a Kick Competitive Excellence Mental Reps and Coaching Everyone Learning from Larry Kehres The Brotherhood Player Ownership Through Communication Everyone Is in Alignment Player Autonomy to Create Ownership Players Have Ownership in Coaching Examples of Players Taking Ownership Bringing Ideas to the Coaches Begin with the End in Mind Play the Game the Right Way Prepare Players for What They Will See Most Coach the Fundamentals Situational Preparation Related Episodes:Mike Elder: The Importance of the High School Coach in Building a K-12 Football Program Tyler Roehl: Utilizing the TE and FB in the Pro-Style OffenseTodd Drury: A Unique Practice Period for More Reps for the DefenseAdditional Resource:Tyler Roehl: Developing Fullbacks and Tight EndsThank you for supporting our partners:Learn More about The Headset App:The Headset App completely changes the communication market for coaches. While traditional headset systems are expensive, as well as a pain to transport and set up, The Headset App setup is ridiculously simple at a fraction of the cost. Download The Headset App today in the App Store or Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we focus on things coaches can do to ensure a positive start to the season and remain aligned with the culture we have worked on all year long and through camp.Going back and revisiting those things before the week one kickoff brings attention back to what has brought us to this point, as well as reinforces the beliefs and behaviors that will take us through the long season. It’s also an opportunity to build football IQ through dress rehearsals and to get the pulse of the team by establishing open lines of communication so that when any issues arise, there’s trust to work together to solve problems.Doing these things puts your team on solid footing as the adversity that impacts every team in some way is about to hit as it always does when the ball is kicked off.Today’s Coaches: Pete Shinnick is the head coach at Towson University. Coach Shinnick has a 159-67 record as a college head coach, spanning 20 seasons with stops at West Florida, UNC Pembroke, Azusa Pacific, and now Towson. He has twice been recognized as the Division II National Coach of the Year and won the 2019 D2 National Championship. Scotty Walden is the head coach at Austin Peay University. Coach Walden believes in revisiting all cultural beliefs and behaviors before his team kicks off for the first time. He explains the dress rehearsal that ensures everyone in their program – coaches, players, and support staff – knows exactly what to do and where to be on game day. Loren Johnson is the head coach and five-time state champion at Highland Springs High School (VA). Coach Johnson explains the importance of sitting down with the leaders of the team to have open discussions outside of the football setting and how they bring the whole team together to discuss how they need to do things and communicate throughout the season. Thank you for supporting our partners:Learn More about The Headset App:The Headset App completely changes the communication market for coaches. While traditional headset systems are expensive, as well as a pain to transport and set up, The Headset App setup is ridiculously simple at a fraction of the cost. Download The Headset App today in the App Store or Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices