HEADER

Monday, August 5, 2013

CIA... a great reference

When I sit in my teaching meetings,  I no longer doodle plays...well, not at the time! Last year our school's theme was CHANGE.IMPROVE.ACHIEVE. I immediately loved it and start brainstorming how  to apply it to my team. I tried it with my JV squad last year and it worked wonders! This year's plan is to use it for the entire team. The CHANGE and IMPROVE should be limited to two individual areas. The ACHIEVE area should be ONE weekly goal.

CIA TEMPLATE 

STRESS to your players to be positive.
Don't write DON'T FUMBLE, instead write BALL SECURITY.
Don't write NO BLOWN COVERAGES, instead write LOCK DOWN COVERAGE.

I put my name at the top along with columns for OFFENSE,DEFENSE, and SPECIAL TEAMS.

CHANGE (for the individual). This was used to correct last week's mistakes.

IMPROVE (for the individual). This was used to  focus on technique or knowledge.

ACHIEVE (for individual and team). This is the weekly goal for the player.


After the game. I would grade each player. GREEN = success. YELLOW = "maybe".  PINK = no.

More GREEN usually meant a VICTORY!


Wednesday, July 24, 2013

TOP TEN REASONS to buy Coach Dan Gonzales' Recoded and Reloaded


YES I have been busy but I must give some props to Dan Gonzales. The new book is great! I have wanted to do a FULL review but life happens...So at least I wanted to give you some before the season starts.

RECODED and RELOADED

My only complain is it not be available in eBook form. I'm a bit spoiled from the Mind Blower
(Coach Keith Grabowski's  101 Pro Pistol Plays)

10. It gives you a reason to buy his first book...

Concept Passing 

9. Drill ideas: This is not just clinic talk, he diagrams "how to" ideas to coach the routes and concepts

8. A READY LIST that organizes all of his concepts. It makes you think if you have a complete pass game.

7. PLENTY of PICTURES!

6.  A quote from Ben Franklin
 "Observe all men; thy self most" 




5.  A route tree that makes sense. Routes that are used daily...not just ones that make a TREE look pretty.

4. Acronyms! I love them!
DOLPHIN = QB read in OUTSIDE to INSIDE
HIDE = HITCH then IN
BRONCO = Back  Runs Option, Clear Out

3. Color coded blocking
 GREEN and GOLD = RB is GONE
BROWN and BLACK = RB is check release

2. The backside chapter alone is worth the price. No more Mirror. Mirror...



1. So simple a system an 8 year old can learn it! 

I have tinkered with some of these concepts. This Summer, my favorite has been combining our top concept with a Coach Gonzales inspired HIDE backside tag.





I hope to finish the FULL REVIEW soon. Coach Gonzales provided me with some excellent insight!



Monday, June 10, 2013

More buidling and revamping...

A few articles back, I wrote about making 
 
THE SCARECROW

Well, I decide to revamp this piece of equipment to serve two puposes.

AN ARCH for WRs and agilities.

A QB TARGET.


So, this is the result. I'm trying to figure out the best (cheapest) way to make a base...





Friday, May 10, 2013

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Question: Want to be a great coach?

Answer: Listen and learn from other great coaches. I had the opportunity to check out National Football Academies camp this morning. WOW! To have the chance to see Coach Dub Maddox speak and coach in person...AWESOME. Here are parts of his talk.

You must affirm to your players, Let them know "What It takes"

We are looking for leaders and in today's society, they are hard to find.

Coach Maddox talked about the definition of a LEADER and HOW to LEAD.

How to Lead
1. It's not about me
2. "Moving the Chains" can be defined as doing the little things, making sacrifices, and doing things that make you uncomfortable

What do you LOVE about the game?
-You are looking for that affirmation that answers THE question.
-The people that you play the game with!

What do SUCCESSFUL people do?
1. They make it about others (serving) not about themselves.
2. They do the little things RIGHT!
3. They are willing to SUFFER for others

Coach Maddox showed a great collection of movie clips that represented heroes. He defined them as someone that sacrificed, overcame adversity and was mentored by someone.

He ended by saying...

"They are wating for YOU to be great. How do you do it?
STEP UP and LEAD!"

Coach DUB MADDOX in action (forgive me for the windy sound)


NFA DRILL with Coach Maddox from John Maurek on Vimeo.


Coach DARIN SLACK


Sunday, April 14, 2013

Notre Dame 2013 Clinic Nuggets

Bill Belichick
"If you have to "light a fire" in the same players, everyday, that is a Red Flag."

Marc Trestman
"The BEST know WHY they do it."

Chris Ault
"The Pistol Formation presents a one back formation with the effect of a two back offense."

Sam Wyche
"How do you learn? PAY ATTENTION!"

Marvin Lewis
"Challenge yourself AND challenge your staff."

Brian Kelly
"Stress to your players that BEFORE practice is critical:REST and HYDRATION."
 
Mike Denbrock (WR Coach)
"You must PRACTICE full speed so can PLAY full speed."

Harry Hiestand (OL Coach)
referring to the PUNCH in pass protection
"Don't attack the rusher, be patience, to avoid overextending and losing your balance."

Chuck Martin (OC and QB coach)
"Don't complain about what they (players) can't do, Ask them to do what they can do."

Kristin Sheehan (Co-Director Play Like A Champion Today Educational Program)
"How do you find happiness? By serving others."

Don Fellows (HC Grand Rapids Christian  High School)
"We want a double team block at the point of attack on all our runs." 

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Nuggets from a former clinic

During Coach Ron Zook's talk...

IT TAKES NO TALENT to

-COMMUNICATE

-know your ALIGNMENT and RESPONSIBILITY

-RUN TO THE BALL

-have the proper BODY POSITION to make a play

-have the proper PURSUIT ANGLE

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Coach Grabowski iBook review...FINALLY!


We are on the cusp of the next "big thing"

I consider myself lucky to be coaching at this time. I'm a tech geek and I love my gadgets. I have seen the development explosion (I'm currently writing this note on my phone).

From
Overheads
to computer-laptops
to PowerPoint (Coach Andre Coverdale's are the best!)
to a brief affair with Visio, One Note, and Publisher
to VHS TAPES! > DVD > LANDRO > HUDL!!!
to Webinars and Skyping/FaceTime/Circles?

It is March Madness for Football coaches

Coach Keith Grabowski's iBook  

101+ Pro Style Pistol Offense Plays is available on the iBookstore from your iPad:

101+-pro-style-pistol-offense


I’m calling it the “MindBlower”








Coach Grabowski is the Offensive Coordinator at Baldwin Wallace University. Thanks to wonderful world of Twitter, Coach contacted me about his new creation.


Reviewer disclaimer: This “book” can only be purchased through iBooks and played on an iPad.

Review PROclaimer: I have been saving my money for an iPad. Coach Grabowski’s book allowed me to make an early purchase. RIGHT before the family headed off a Spring Break vacation.

I “read” it almost nonstop. I purchased it on a Thursday night and finished it the next Tuesday.

Places I viewed the book.

While I exercised. (no I didn’t do curls with it)

At School.

At Starbucks.

With my son…Actually he delayed my viewing of the book, I let him check out the new iPad first…(Dad of the Year 2013)

I took it to the weight room to show my HC, he was mesmerized for 20 minutes then started to write down plays on the board.

I was ready to read some of it while waiting at the Barber Shop…but I didn’t have to wait. I was pissed...could this be the only time someone was pissed about NOT waiting?


My first question, "How did you discover this ebook technology?"

Coach Grabowski answers
"I had been looking for a way to publish a multimedia ebook and epub was just too complicated to get dynamic content into the product.  I saw iBooks Author and initially there was a learning curve, but with some recent updates the area which had been somewhat cumbersome-getting video into the ibook, became much easier."


And it is Dynamic…




 VIDEO...PowerPoints...and  some words to read too...

And with a quick flip...FULL SCREEN!






After overcoming the initial WOW FACTOR, I was thrilled to see that Coach Grabowski and I have the same run game philosophy.

 “Gap responsibility, blocking angles, and a combo at the point of attack are key to a successful play” 

I do like the ZONE SCHEME with double teams. But I could not “live” without a GAP SCHEME too… Coach Grabowski’s offense combines a mixture of Zone, Gap and Option schemes which produces a POWERful and Multiple running attack.

My next question to Coach,  "How do you find the balance to coach the ZONE and GAP Schemes?"
Inside Zone, Outside Zone, Power and Counter...do you focus on one more than another per week?

He answers
“We find the balance in our planning and truthfully what we may be better at upfront from year to year. Some years we've been better and heavier with zone, others with gap.” 


As I read further I discovered the same we have followed the same path of issues. We have always read the backside on ALL gun runs. We then placed the RB behind the QB to provide a more downhill path. This past year, we wanted an even more quicker hitting run, so we decided, on some runs to have a direct handoff. It worked! But we still did not like the Play Action…

Until,

I came across…


“ In the spring of 2012, we decided to experiment with all of our runs being executed off of the quarterback reversing out after catching the snap. We spent time in each practice practicing the mesh and the naked or naked fake after the hand off. We wanted both to look the same.”

We will most definitely be adding a reverse out handoff to our run game. This will make for a more effective play action game.


The Baldwin Wallace Offense attacks different spots of the defense with an emphasis on a Downhill running game.

The POWER is an A GAP attack.



 The OUTSIDE ZONE is a C GAP attack.



 



The play diagrams were color coded for each OLine assignment. I started doing this to help separate all the overlapping lines…GREAT IDEA!





The formation system combines numbers and base words similar to Coach James Vint.



Simple and easy to remember words for different "surfaces"





The Zone Read play has become multiple too...no longer do teams "just read the backside DE". Coach Grabowski uses some easy terms to change the READ KEY.


“Tags to create variations"


The following tags are used in our zone running game. Currently we don’t use all of these, but we want the structure to work like an operating system on a computer, so when we do install these variations, the structure is in place. Some of these apply to both inside and outside zone while others are used primarily with one or the other.They designate who we are reading or inserting for:​


Split – back side defensive end​

Bob – back side linebacker​

Mike – declared linebacker​

Lead – weak side linebacker
Boss – strong side support​
Wham – defensive tackle



And finally...some of my favorite plays from the "MINDBLOWER" (no more Scanners).

Wanna see them all? BUY the BOOK!


TIGHT BUNCH...(must run more of this in 2013!)



Verbiage to rival Coach Gruden!


WHAM! Madden would love this play.


ohh, so you want to pass too??




DOWN-DOWN-KICKOUT!


How could you NOT like a play with the word TRUCK in it???


Keep on Truckin'

DOWN-DOWN-PULL AROUND!


This play will be assimilated.





After talking with Coach Grabowski, he explained how he can incorporates Multiple Shifts and Motions into his No Huddle operation.
He mentioned that he has procedures for certain shifts and certain motions.
One procedure would be (for example) "End up in Bunch Strong". For this procedures the players can line up anywhere then shift on the QB's signal.
Another procedure would be more specific...(For Example) Line up in ACE RIGHT then shift to TREY LEFT"
I plan further discussions on this subject and will be using this next fall!

It truly is hard to sum up this "experience". This is a MUST buy!


Coach Grabowski on Twitter

Coach Grabowski on AFM


and there will be more "books"  to come...prepare your brain!






Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Coach Grabowski's blog

As I finish up my review of his eBook....
(Actually debating on whether I include a clip of the movie SCANNERS)

Here are some great articles. Coach really cranks them out!

ONE WORD PLAYS

FOUR VERTS

SPACING

QB MANUAL

WING IT

RETENTION LEARNING 

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Teaser Review

Coach Keith Grabowski just published a new book "101+ Pro Style Pistol Offense."
 Well you can't really call it a book, It has some printed words...

AND VIDEO 

AND PowerPoints.

I have nicknamed it "The Mindblower" 

It is only iPad based, but a great new resource! I wanted to put a short note about this...FULL REVIEW after my FAMILY SPRING BREAK.

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





 If you don't have an iPad...start saving your money...
how about your TAX RETURN???




More from Coach Grabowski 

Coach Grabowski on AFM

Coach's Blog

AND more "MINDBLOWERS" coming soon!!!

Thursday, March 21, 2013

2013 INDY CLINIC notes

Sorry for the long delay...I was waiting for some coaches to respond,but nothing!

INDY CLINIC 2013

I have been busy!!

  • FIRST CLINIC talk. recorded it and editing it.
  • Also been reading  Dan Gonzalez's book. The chapter on backside tags is worth the price ALONE!!
  • REVAMPING QUICK GAME
  • Helping a buddy install the offense
  • Trying to write the blog article on FORMATIONS, MOTIONS and SHIFTS.


Sunday, March 3, 2013

ONE WEEK until SPREAD FOOTBALL clinic

WHEN: March 10. (SUNDAY)
TIME: 9am-12 (REMEMBER DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME)
Crete Monee High School IL
20.00 per coach
SPOTS ARE LIMITED!
Email me for details
dacoachmo@homail.com
DM for details
https://twitter.com/dacoachmohuddle


We will film it AND might try to LIVE STREAM IT!!

SUNDAY MORNING slot fit our (family) Schedules the best!



Friday, March 1, 2013

Some slow screen insight from Charlie Weis

I found this in my archives...some pretty good stuff. Coach Weis knows how to run a slow screen!



Offensive Basics
1) Attack Scheme-Personnel

a.    Weak player on defense
b.    Know your player’s strengths
                                          i.    BUILD on THEM
                                        ii.    Minimize weakness of your players

 2) Fit Your System

SCREEN KEYS

>WHO to BLOCK

>FIRST OUT to MOST DANGEROUS or HUGGER

>FIRST UP

SCREEN BASICS

>Block the pass protection first

>Encourage the RUSH but NO FREE PASSES (Releasers)

>Leverage the rusher to OUR advantage

>Don’t’ throw a rusher behind you

>Screen blockers release together > NO EARLY RELEASE

>BLOCKERS release FLAT/FAST to “sidewalk”

>IF DLine is looking for screen BLOCK HIM

SCREEN POINTS

>When Downfield, get 2 yards away from defender and settle, DON'T LUNGE

>TACKLE-bait inside or let BULL RUSH

>If DE squats, attack him

Thursday, February 28, 2013

DOUBLE SLANTS aka THE MAN BEATER

After years of a nonbeliever in DOUBLE SLANTS, I have done some research and think I ready to give it another try!




Saturday, February 23, 2013

INSTALL ideas

As a finish up my CLINIC NOTES and start my next article...
here is a great video from THE "Ragin Caucasian"

ISU INSTALL 2008 



SORRY: I couldn't embed the video :(

Sunday, January 27, 2013

2013 INDY GLAZIER CLINIC NUGGETS

Joe Medina Cascia Hall Prep School (OK)

"Use Play Action Pass early in the game, it takes advantage of the defense when they are aggressive"

"We like 3rd and MAKEABLE"

Rich Hargitt Nation Ford High School (SC)

"Use a Crazy formation on 4th down instead of trying to use a base formation and long/hard count"

"If a play doesn't work, tweak it first before getting rid of it"

Kevin Kelley Pulaski Academy (AR)

"When you give players more ownership, they tend to remember it BETTER."

"A High School coach can affect more lives in a year than most people in a lifetime"

Lee Owens Ashland College (OH)

"Use SCAN Tempo on ALL 4th downs"

Steve Specht St.Xavier High School (OH)

"We run the Coast to Coast Offense...we take ideas from coast to coast."

"Scheme so the the Offensive Linemen can stay aggressive and PLAY FAST."




Wednesday, January 23, 2013

101 Pistol Option Plays review and other Pistol thoughts


I’m always looking to expand my library with worthwhile resources. One key for me is that I can reference the material more than once. I have experience running the Gun Option Run game for the last 10 years. I have seen it evolve a lot over this period of time. Zone Read, Veer Option, Midline Option, and now Dash Option. My favorite is the Veer Option, well actually it is Midline but it always seems to get my QB beat up too much…


 My first exposure to the Gun Offense taught me that the tailback’s alignment in the Gun Offense started at even depth with the Quarterback.



Next. the tailback moved back so to provide a better mesh. The problem is that it is a presnap key for the Defense. If the defender is aligned away from the RB, they would key the RB running ZONE. If the defender is aligned TO the RB, they would key the QB running ZONE READ or SPEED OPTION. So put the RB behind the QB and NO PRESNAP KEY! 








I had thought of this idea about six years and then discovered it was Nevada’s base offense. I referred to it as Power I Gun (PIG for short). Here are some old school clips from that “Era” (Coaching sophomore football…Forgive me for the crude film job).



POWER I GUN
from John Maurek on Vimeo.






I decided to buy the eBook version and am glad I did! I am able to read it on my Laptop and my iPhone (The iPad mini is a near future purchase). For the teams I have coached, the Pistol formation has provided us with a more downhill path for our tailback. When we are in a one back set, it doesn’t give a presnap key to the Defense.
 
Coach Vint’s book is well laid out and easy to read.

The book contains sections on:
  • MIDLINE CONCEPTS
  • MIDLINE COMPLEMENTS
  • VEER CONCEPTS
  • LOAD and LEAD OPTIONS
  • ZONE READ GAME
  • TRAP READ CONCEPTS\
  • COUNTER READ CONCEPTS\
  • SHOVEL OPTION CONCEPTS
  • FRONTSIDE READ CONCEPTS

At first glance I thought I found a grammatical error, complement. But I learned something new from our friends at Google. Complement

I am verbiage junkie. I love to see how other teams call their formations and plays. Coach Vint uses a number to set his Fullback. It is easy to learn and flexible. I may look into incorporating this into our offense next year. Plus the tags are great too! (Boss,Cobra,Cowboy, and Hoss)



Coach Vint uses a phonetic system for his motions. I have always been torn how to name motions.


Only one name for the motion and tag the player.
Examples: H Zip, X Zip, S Zip

Motions that are specific to players.
Examples: GLIDE is only used by the HB, JET is only used by the SLOT

Use a Phonetic system.
Zip = Z into formation
Fip = F into formation
Yip = Y into the formation
Tip = T into formation


This is still been a challenge for me. Could the players confuse ZIP,FIP,YIP and TIP?

Coach Vint answered
"Never had an issue with it. We rarely have two guys go in motion, and they did a good job of remembering what the ips,aps, and ops meant."
He continued
"I built the system to be simple. The goal was for our athletes to be able to play fast. Our verbage was simple and allowed them to play fast without thinking."


I would have like to see Coach Vint go into more detail about QB and RB steps for the base plays. However, I did understand all the plays and know that when you are in the gun, you can over-coach the footwork. For a more detailed look, check out an old article.

 VEER and MIDLINE form the GUN

We are a big two back team, the problem was the backfield set would give a presnap key. So we decided to try putting both back behind the QB. I only have one clip…hopefully I will get myself into gear and breakdown our whole season.

Oh Snap!

You need to install Silverlight to watch Hudl presentations.

Download Silverlight

Need help installing Silverlight? Click here.


Here are my some of my favorites from the book, for the rest... you gotta buy the book!


















I would highly recommend buying this book. Coach Vint did an excellent job and he is very accessible…

Twitter account @coachvint
GREAT JOB Coach Vint! I’m jealous!