The Football Coaching Podcast with Joe Daniel

3rd downs on defense are the magic number. This one play, especially if it's the first 3rd down of the drive, can add or subtract several percentage points from the offenses' chances to score. So, how can we get better at stopping our opponent on these critical downs? In this episode, Joe and Daniel discuss situational practice planning to better prepare your players for 3rd down, how you can call your defense to be in better position to stop your opponent, and what we're doing to motivate our players during crucial downs.

3rd and Long is the ultimate, we don't have a great play here, offensive situation. The deep pass is already covered, the run hasn't been great or you likely wouldn't have been in this mess to begin with. So, what are your options? In this episode Joe and Daniel discuss the reality of 3rd & Long, what your real options are to convert, and how you can use situational practice plans to better prepare your players for the tough down and distance.

We've hit that time of year that guys go back "into the lab." This year you've diagnosed some other needs for your team, and the lab is changing from just being the weight room, to needing some speed development. In this episode, Joe and Daniel discuss the benefits of Athletic Speed and Movement to get your team faster and more explosive this offseason. They talk through Football Speed Training Progressions, how to coach speed without being a guru, and dveloping the correct skills for football speed.

Discover the powerful tactics to defend against the elusive screen game. Learn effective drills like the screen retrace to enhance your team's reaction. Understand the critical responsibilities of players in countering screens and why weekly practice is crucial. Treat screen plays like runs for better defensive fits. Gain insights on integrating screens into offensive strategies and cross-training blitzers for enhanced defense. Wrap up with key takeaways on mastering screen defense.

Discover the crucial role of timing in a successful run game that can make or break a football team's performance. Learn how to optimize alignment and footwork for effective plays while minimizing block engagement time. Explore techniques to creatively adjust existing plays and enhance coordination between offense and defense. Uncover strategies to increase yards per carry by focusing on dependable runners and using innovative motions. Plus, find out how to creatively utilize your offensive plays and put your top players in favorable positions.

Leadership isn't easy. It isn't natural for everyone. But, there are ways to help your players improve their leadership ability throughout their time in your program (it all starts with confidence and competence.) In this episode, Joe and Daniel discuss what it takes to be a leader, how to improve the leadership of your team, and how that leadership can show up on Friday nights.

Shifts and motions are a great tool for offenses to use, but that doesn't mean they have to leave you stumped on the defensive side. You need to have adjustments ready for your kids to use when the offense starts moving around. In this episode Joe and Daniel discuss the keys to keeping a shifts and motions in check by using a complete defensive system, installing your adjustments early in the season, and Drilling players on adjustment communication.

Resiliency is one of the hardest things to train in High School football. In a world where technology continues to make every day life easier and easier, we have to make kids understand that being uncomfortable and straining won't end them. In this episode Coaches Joe Daniel and Daniel Chamberlain discuss preparing your players for adversity through practice planning to cover the hard things, preparing them for things that could happen on Friday nights, and getting rid of the "Here we go again" mentality.

Discover why Cover 3 might be the ultimate high school defense—it's simple, effective, and easy to teach. Learn the basics of the spot-drop approach and how to simplify your practice. The hosts share real-life success stories using Cover 3 and tackle common weaknesses like flat vulnerabilities. Strategies for disguising the coverage to confuse opponents are also explored. Plus, get insights on when to switch up defenses and tips for teaching alignment and technique. A treasure trove for coaches looking to enhance their game!

Tackling may be the bane of every DC's existence, especially when trying to turn a program around. It's also the part of football that has evolved the most… outside of Travis Kelce type of TEs, and the weird side-arm throwing motion used around the country now. Tackling doesn't have to be a thorn in your paw, you have to simplify your system so it can happen more naturally and in pairs. On this episode Joe Daniel and Daniel Chamberlain discuss the easiest ways to fix mistakes in tackling, through Umbrella Run Fits, how to do it without running the "Oklahoma Drill" every week, and motivating your players to ATTACK.