The Football Coaching Podcast with Joe Daniel

Special teams can be both frustrating and time consuming. It’s a part of the sport which can be so simple, but seems to be made complex by coaches trying to gain a competitive edge. In this episode, Joe and Daniel break down what changes make sense to make and how your game plan should be altered from week to week.

There’s no worse feeling for a coordinator than to get to Friday night and our team can’t match the opponent on the field. It doesn’t matter what side of the ball you’re coaching on, if you can’t gain yards against their defense, or can’t stop their offense, frustration and embarrassment will quickly set in. You need to have an answer as soon as possible. Hopefully, it’s that night, if not at least being able to get right before the next opponent copy-cats and hits you with the same exact problem. On this episode, Joe and Daniel discuss what comes next after you’ve been exposed. It may be what your choices are on game-night to solve the problem and move on, or a plan for next week to ensure you never suffer that fate again… or at least because of the same problem.

Injuries are an unfortunate part of football that can truly derail your season if they happen to a key player. Maybe it’s your QB. Maybe it’s your 5th QB. Maybe it’s your lead tackler, or the best Offensive Lineman your school has ever had. If you haven’t been struck by the injury bug yet, keep doing what you’re doing because that’s likely helping. But, understand that it will happen at some point. In this episode, Joe and Daniel are joined by NFL Great Dominique Franks as they discuss what to do to salvage your season when you have a key injury, and how you can help yourself in the offseason before the injury ever happens.

The discussion focuses on the ASKA Principle and the art of making quick adjustments in football. Coaches share insights on refining strategies like inside zone blocking and how to navigate playoff dynamics. Emphasis is placed on simplifying communication with players for better results. The episode highlights the impact of small changes in alignment and stance on overall performance. Anecdotes reveal challenges in coaching youth football and the need for adaptability in various game conditions, making every lever count.

Sometimes we find ourselves in a position where change is necessary in our depth chart. Maybe the injury bug has hit your team, suspensions, grade troubles… The list is endless. Regardless of the reason, you need to be ready to move players around within your scheme.  In this episode, Joe and Daniel are joined by Coach James Vint to discuss how to make changes to your lineup, when the foundation for a “We not me” team is best to be laid, and how to prevent backlash from players, families, and fans when making those changes.

The podcast discusses the value of self-scouting in football teams, using game footage to identify mistakes and make improvements. They also explore the importance of analyzing tendencies in offense and defense, and discuss the challenges and strategies of coaching offensive linemen.

“Football is a game of adjustments.” I’ve probably said that phrase 25 times in the last 5 weeks. Some weeks we’re better at it than others. If you’re not make adjustments throughout the week, or on Friday nights, then you may find yourself playing less efficient football and in need of evolving what you’re doing as a play caller. On this episode, Joe and Daniel discuss what it takes to identify the things you’re doing right or wrong and how to begin altering the game plan you’re using to put your kids in the best position to be successful.

Across the United States, approximately 1,161 teams are playing 8-man football. Compared to the approximate 16,000 11-man teams and another 700+ college teams, 8-man coaches are at a disadvantage when it comes to adding to their offensive and defensive systems. You can’t turn on the TV on Saturday and watch the local college team tear it up in the 3-2-3 defense. So, they have to be able to take new content from the 11-man teams and adapt it to fit their situation. On this episode, Joe and Daniel are joined by Coach Kenny Ridley as he discusses his path from college player to 11-man DC, and then the foot-first jump into the 8-man world and all the new challenges that brought his way. Coach Ridley discusses the origin of his defensive scheme, how he adapted 11-man fundamentals to the 8-man game, and he breaks down the basics of 8-man football to those of us who not had a reason to dig into it.  

The evolution of football, particularly on the Offensive side of the ball, is something that just about anyone can google and read the history of. However, very few coaches have lived the game and experienced those changes first hand. On this episode, Joe and Daniel sit down with NE Oklahoma and NW Arkansas coaching legend Bill Blankenship to get his perspective on the evolution of the game, what’s made him so successful over the years, and how he’s kept things simple at multiple levels of football.

Similar to making changes in life, making changes in football can be hard, difficult, frustrating… the list goes on. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” is a mantra that comes to mind. But, if it is broken you definitely need to fix it. You can’t sit on an unsound system just to claim simplicity and not wanting to confuse the kids. On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss the reasons why you should, or shouldn’t, change your defensive front midseason, what key pieces need to stay the same after the new front is installed, and how to execute a change without muddying the water so much that your players can’t play.