A few years ago I was interested in using a Go Pro camera. Lucky for me I was able to buy a used one for pretty cheap. It definitely is an interesting perspective and can help with Oline play as well. I may have to invest in updated one with remote for easier of editing.
I will refrain from putting Notre Dame Clinic notes in the title. Last year's notes ended up on a MICHIGAN FORUM site!!! (It was titled KNOW YOUR ENEMY)
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!
The last few years going to clinics, I always make it a
point to ask questions. My two favorites are
Q: What is your favorite concept?
Q: What do you call on 3rd and 10?
During the Notre Dame Coach’s chalk talk, when the
opportunity came for me to ask a question. I asked Coach Martin “What is your
favorite concept?” He got a sly grin, paused then started drawing a boundary
throw…As he drew the concept, it looked familiar to me. The concept is known as
Grand Valley State “W Read”.
The beauty of this concept is that combines many
of Coach Martin’s philosophies.
Can be run from multiple formations
TE to the boundary
Empty
Empty with a TE
The base of this concept is the crossing wheel action. The main difference is it is not your classic POST by #1 and OUT and UP #2.
BASIC "INGREDIENTS"
1 part WHEEL CONCEPT
1 part Run and Shoot SWITCH CONCEPT
A dash of Coach Martin
Basic QB tip
“Don’t throw TO the
WR…Throw ball AWAY from defenders”
VS 1 HIGH SAFETY
The #1 (outside) WR runs directly to the hash to a depth of
18 yards. This route allows the WR to get to open grass sooner and it is not a
typical route that a CB may have to defend.
The #2 (inside) WR runs to a depth of 5 yards to the outside
edge of the numbers…
EDITOR’S NOTE: I prefer telling WRs Outside and Inside of
NUMBERS, NOT TOP or BOTTOM of the NUMBERS. In the past, when I told a rookie WR
“get on the top of the numbers”, he would be DIRECTLY on the numbers…in the middle
of them!
The inside WR breaks up and stays on the edge of the numbers.
VS 2 HIGH SAFETIES
The #1 (outside) WR get to 10 yards (or over LB) then run
the route between a DIG and a POST.
The #2 (inside) WR begins the same wheel type route; the
only difference is if he can’t beat the CB then SIT IT DOWN.
VS 2 HIGH SAFETIES
plus a LB walling and dropping deep
Now the concept
becomes similar to the run and Shoot SWITCH concept
The #1 (outside) WR settles at 8 yards without getting too
wide
The #2 (inside) WR settles at 12 yards
I look forward to seeing Notre Dame running this concept against the big boys this year. I also plan to run this concept in some form this season. Cross your fingers that I will get some quality clips this year!
When punishing a player...
"Take away what the player loves the most...PLAYING TIME"
Brian Kelly HC
"Drills need to look like a game or they are just warmups"
Bob Diaco DC
"Use a more balanced stance and base for lateral routes to help eliminate false steps"
Scott Booker TE Coach
"You make them (OL) right, pick up theirs" in reference to RB pass protection
Tony Alford RB/Inside WR Coach
"Little Things are big in the grand scheme"
Mike Denbrock Outside WR Coach
"Only use Walk Through or Full Speed...1/2 speed or 3/4 speed to hard to define"
Harry Hiestand OL Coach
"There is no greater feeling for an Offensive Lineman than moving a defender from
Point A to Point B, against his will"
Joe Moore former ND OL coach (from Coach Hiestand)
"A Punt is way better than a turnover"
Chuck Martin OC
"The Stretch Run is a good answer for the inside blitz that run to stop Inside Zone"
Jerrod Ackley, Head Coach, Immokalee High School (FL)
General Notes
I'm a offensive coach but, it was fun watching the ND defense play and Coach Bob Diaco coach.
I definitely saw Chuck Martin's influence on the offense.
The offensive staff is doing a fine job moving players around and getting running backs into space.
All four QBs took reps and all had positives and negatives.
Tommy Rees looks much quicker.
Mike Golic was at practice on Saturday and he still looks great.
Often overlooked, the quick game can be a very effective part of the offense. Timing of the routes plays an important role in the installation of the concepts. The Concept begins as a mirrored half field process. Each concept begins mirrored, but will end with a frontside and backside concept. You should never expect a QB to be successful trying to look at the widest side of the field, then redirect to the opposite widest side. That is why there is a need for a backside concept which puts the WRs on the move looking for open grass.
As I am preparing for the 2010 season, I have come to the early conclusion that four combinations are a solid foundation to the quick game.
o ALL HITCH
o FADE and OUT
oSKINNY and ARROW
o IN and SEAM
The QB uses a presnap read to determine which side to run the combination. If a QB’s decision making is questionable then one solution would be to run the combination to the wide side of the field. Another solution would be using a freeze cadence to help the QB, sideline coach or pressbox coach see the coverage alignment.
Many teams prefer a HITCH and SEAM combination. I like the all hitch combination because it helps control the OLB from drifting to the outside hitch.I also like the inside hitch depth to be deeper to help provide a better window for the throw and the inside hitch is the second read for the QB. If the inside hitch is too short then the WR may not be open when the QB looks to him. The inside WR should be alert for a hot throw. A good starting point for the outside WR is 4-5 yards. The WR should use a good plant step with the outside foot. He should whip his head around quickly looking for the ball. On a quick hitch, the WR should use less choppy steps then most quick routes but instead lower his body to slow him down. The inside WR should expect a collision and may have to “post up” the defender. When a first down is needed, you may want a STICKS tag to alert the WRs to run to the depth of the first down marker. I would not use this if the yardage for a first down was greater than seven. The QB’s presnap read needs to be the CBs depth or cushion and coverage ability. The read is outside hitch to inside hitch unless the defense causes him to throw hot.
I like this better than SLANTS and ARROWS. The frontside slant is difficult to teach, both to the QB and WR. The drop of the OLB will often determine the timing of the slant. This is hard to replicate in practice. I hate the outside slant, unless used as a “rub” to get the arrow open. The outside WR makes a post cut at the depth of six yards. He only needs to bend it slightly inside to get position on the defender. The inside WR needs to make sure his inside foot is up because his outside foot is the first to move. The first step needs to be diagonal about a forty five degree angle. On his second to third steps, he needs to whip the head to see the ball. He needs to gain depth with the route to five yards. The QBs presnap read should be the OLB’s run support position and coverage ability. The read is skinny to arrow unless the defense causes him to throw hot. If the outside WR gets position early, then a hot throw could go to him, otherwise throw to the arrow.
The FADE and OUT combination is a great catch and run combination. When you first introduce this, you may want to stress to the QB that the fade’s purpose is to clear the coverage for the out. You may need to adjust the splits of the inside WR to the QB’s arm strength. The outside WR needs to stem inside before his outside release. I always teach the WRs to stay on the numbers to give yourself room to make the catch. Often times the WRs end up one yard form the sideline and catch the ball…out of bounds! Look for the ball sooner than later, the WRs and QBs always seem to make this throw longer than needed. As with the arrow route, the inside WR’s foot should be up. The first and second steps are upfield with his third step rolling to the sidelines. The WR’s fourth and fifth steps are to gain ground to get to the five yard depth. As he is making his third step, he should turn his head and look for the ball. The QBs presnap read should be the OLB’s run support position and coverage ability. The read is fade to out, unless the defense causes him to throw hot. If the outside WR gets position early, then a hot throw could go to him, otherwise throw to the out. A newer combination is the IN and SEAM. The outside WR needs to take a plus split (outside of the numbers) to give him proper spacing. The outside WR runs to a depth of five yards and make a square cut to the inside. You must stress to him that out of the break NOT to speed up because a full speed cut to the inside could take him right into coverage. The inside WR needs draw the attention of the OLB. Run AT him not INTO him. The QB’s presnap read needs to be the CBs depth or cushion and coverage ability in addition to the OLB’s run support position and coverage ability. Easy way to teach this is look for the most grass. The combination is similar to FADES and OUTS because the SEAM’S first purpose is to freeze the OLB. The read is look to the seam then in hitch unless the defense causes him to throw hot.
COVERAGE BEATERS
All combinations beat Cover Three and Cover Four which is most commonly seen in high school.
ALL HITCH versus Cover Two: the inside WRs need to find the grass in the short coverage. The outside hitch may be converted to a comeback, easier to complete then a fade conversion. (Right side of FIG. 2)
FADE and OUT versus Cover Two: the outside WRs need to look for the ball after defeating the Cover Two CB. QB can’t throw to the OUT route. (Left side of FIG. 2)
SKINNY and ARROW versus Cover Two: the outside WRs may convert to a post route.
(Left side of FIG. 1)
IN and SEAM versus Cover Two: the inside WRS may convert to corner route.
(Right side of FIG. 1)
BACKSIDE IDEAS
First, there is no need to include the RB in the protection. The ball should be out quick enough before any rush gets to the QB, so the first protection rule would be playside tackle slide to DE and rest of the linemen slide weak. QB takes care of unblocked blitzer that he can see.
In the event the playside quick combination is not open then the backside concept of slants and swing can be utilized. Slants on the backside is good. There is no hurry to get open, no need for a quick read by the QB. The WR run the routes and find open grass. This concept will be new for 2010 and was inspired by Dan Gonzalez’s book www.amazon.com/Concept-Passing-Teaching-Modern-Game/dp/1606790447/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264767271&sr=8-1. The QB will recognize the combination is covered and redirect to other side of the field.
The inside WR breaks to the inside after one upfield step and find grass over the center in the just outside of QB’s vision. The Outside WR takes two upfeld steps to the outside shoulder of CB then planting to the inside while gaining depth. Where the WR settles depends upon the OLB drop. If the OLB flys to the flats, then the WR will run past him and settle in the hook curl zone. If the OLB stays inside, then the WR then will have a quicker settle. The back will run a swing route. (FIG. 3)
