Recoded and Reloaded...a review that is finally done

Long overdue, I can’t believe that it was almost a year ago when I wrote a preview… 
You don’t just read a book by Dan Gonzalez, you digest it. Once again, Coach Gonzalez produces a book that makes you think. When is the last time you saw a quote from Benjamin Franklin in a football book? The great thing about this compilation is there are many ideas that can easily transfer to your offense. This is not Coach Gonzalez’s “first rodeo”, but an evolution of his first book , but you don’t necessarily need to buy it to understand the second work. In my opinion, BOTH books are significant additions to my permanent library.

Coach Gonzalez’s packs a large amount of football goodness into 171 pages. The book’s size resembles a notebook…

no small pictures or print to contend with!

THANK YOU!

NO READING GLASSES required

The book contains 10 chapters

1.    The need for restructuring
2.    Traits of a complete pattern system
3.    An offensive flow chart
4.    Formations and Personnel Groups
5.    A structure for calling pass plays
6.    Protection
7.    Structural tags and backside tags
8.    Distilling pass concepts and attacking the defense
9.    Assembling patterns
10.  Installation

Route Tree that I love!

Coach Gonzalez has a Route Tree that makes sense. I’m not a big fan of the traditional route tree. But I believe it can have a place in your offensive system. It is a great teaching tool for rookies. I HATE the traditional route tree! WHY? Many of the traditional route trees (YAWN) have “branches” that are used seldom. Coach Gonzalez’s tree has all routes that are staples to his offense. The pictures in the book grouped some of the routes together… I would have liked to see each route diagrammed separately too. I’m sure if you hire Coach Gonzalez, he could make that happen. I am intrigued by the 2 route, which is describes a 3 step IN. This may replace the slant…

Protections using colors…

We have used names for pass concepts and the lineman and backs had to know their assignments based on the just the name. Two years ago, our head decided the Oline and backs needed some concrete verbiage. So a THREE digit system was introduced:

• First number tells type of concept and direction for line.
• Second number tells which direction for back to block.
• Third number tells the CONCEPT.

It has it flaws, but I have learned to live with it.

Coach Gonzalez uses colors to signify the protection type.
You want the BACK in typical slide BOB protection? That would be BROWN or BLACK call. If you want the back in a route or GONE from the protection? That call would be GREEN or GOLD. If you have a Tight End in formation and want to keep him in the protection…the call would be TAN or TEAL. More protections and codes are fully diagrammed in the book. If you are struggling for pass protection communication that is simple, then I highly recommend using the Coach Gonzalez coding.

Tags

SWITCH, CUBE, DEPOT, BRONCO, BENGAL, BADGE…these are a few tags diagrammed in the book.

Coach Gonzales groups the tags into three groups:

o    STRUCTURAL TAGS
o    “B” TAGS
o    “R” TAGS

Great teachers use teaching methods that work. Coach Gonzalez is a big fan of acronyms. I love them too. They are an excellent memory tool. HIDE and SLIDE are two staples of the backside tags. HIDE is simply “Hitch, then come Inside” and SLIDE uses switch release then HIDE technique. for those of use that love the TRIPS formation, the tags CUBE and CASH are used.

The names Dolphin, Patriot, and Redskin are used…no, not as play names but as part of the “STRETCH FAMILY”.

Dolphin = OUTSIDE to INSIDE Read
Patriot = INSIDE to OUTSIDE Read
Redskin = DEEP to SHORT Read

Coach Gonzalez is easy to reach through his website. I have had a few telephone conversations with him that always seems to humble me (No, I don’t know everything)

and

wondering how to get a visual conversation the next time....

 

A couple of nuggets I have gained from his conversations

He would rather have a GUY that makes the catch, not a playmaker

When setting the Pass Protection, you should set the slide to the field. Most Zone Blitz comes from the field.

What is your favorite concept? Anything with a  DRAG route

What do you like on 3rd and 8? It starts with 2 back protection and a DRAG route...

He loves 4 verticals and the adjustments off the concept.




So, if you are struggling with your pass game then buy Coach Gonzalez' books.

BOTH OF THEM.

If you need more help...HIRE HIM!

And finally, I am hoping to have a PART THREE to this story...

VIDEO CLIPS

please oh please pretty please

EDITORS NOTE: As always If you find errors in this article let me know... Any questions or comments? please post HERE or contact me.

Some Non football finds...that may help you!

I have discovered Google+. 
This has cut into my FACEBOOK time (not a BAD thing!)

Here are some good videos I have found and would like to share...ENJOY!!!

POSITIVE COACHING



 


Using an iPad to share presentations....

How I take clinic notes...

As the clinic season gets underway for me, I thought I would share some insight on how I take, then compile my notes. This year I will try out using my iPad as well as my newest addition of a Bluetooth keyboard. I got a great deal on the keyboard thanks to nomorerack.com.

Here are the staples of what I like to pack in my bag.

TEMPLATE PAPER

Yes, I know most clinics supply a tablet, BUT I am somewhat "OCD"  and I have discovered the spacing is not always the best...

Sorry IRISH...

Here is what I like to use. Email me if you want a copy. DRAW A PLAY TEMPLATE

MARKERS

and of course highlights too! This is the result of using the R4 system. I like to go back and color the diagrams with colors for RHYTHM, READ, RUSH. Or just separate the OLine blocking and the RBs...

 

EXTRA PENS and PENCILS

This is one of my "PAY IT FORWARDS". Just is case someone forgets one. Plus the Vendors always seem to have a ton.

FLASH DRIVE or THUMB DRIVE 

or whatever you call it now a days... If a Speaker has a PowerPoint to share, I can sometimes get him to drop it on my drive. It save him an email. However, the popularity of the HUDL presentation may make this tech tool obsolete!

VARIOUS ITEMS 

I always try to pack Chap Stick, gum and mints. These are necessities for morning breath..and I always share!

YES, I'm one those nerds that like to sit up front. I always try to make sure to sit on the side opposite of the speaker. This is the best view!

TIP: Don't hesitate to ask the speaker to join you for lunch or dinner...especially if the coach is from out of town.

If the speaker has handouts, great, I will still try to make additional notes and then put them into my Power Points.Why do use Power Point? Because I can have notes AND drawings availiable. As most of the coaches I have shared notes with know, I mainly use two different types of slides.

The first one has a large TEXT BOX for general notes.

  

 

The other is a yard line grid. It is adapted from PLAYMAKER PRO with some "life-life" colors. The bottom has player assignments.

If the play diagrammed is a run play, I will try to use a larger view for the blocking scheme.

 

And for drills, I will use some shape to make figures...

Over the years, I have become pretty adept at "drawing" in Power Point. This the result of trial and error. Lines have become fairly simple. The new version of Power Point made the line more difficult (For shame Bill Gates!). But, I found that is If use an old PP file the lines translate...

So, after the clinic, I try to highlight one idea from each speaker and post some CLINIC NUGGETS.

Then, in the weeks to follow, depending upon my schedule. I transfer my notes to a PP.

I put them on a clip board and set on my "Macgyver Prop Up".

No gum was not used...just PVC, electrical tape and some shelf liner to keep it from sliding around.

I'm lucky, that I have an hour at school, after the students have been loaded on the bus. Some peace and quiet in my office. Unless, I'm at home as a result of a SNOW DAY!

I plan to make a short video on how to draw curvy line in PowerPoint. But that will become obsolete as a make full transition to the APPLE WORLD.

OH YES... IT WILL BE  MINE!!!

 

ONE DAY CLINIC

I have known these coaches for years and have learned a ton from them!

A great opportunity and very cost effective!

Below is an email from Coach Alison

We are hosting a fast n furious coaching clinic in Springfield, IL on March 8, 2014. 

The clinic is taught by 

Ken Leonard (Head Coach at Sacred Heart-Griffin HS)

Derek Leonard (Head Coach at Rochester High School) 

John Allison (Offensive Coordinator at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School)

It is a coaching system that we have been doing a few years now and 

generally do on just a single school by school basis. 

Normally the cost for the clinic is $750. 

We are having a larger one day clinic and opening it up to a maximum of 8 schools. 

Because we are doing several at the same time, we are lowering the cost for the one day clinic to $300.

That includes bringing your entire staff with all access to the materials on Hudl. 

The clinic will last for at least 8 hours and will begin at 9:00 am. 

For more information please see the attachment. 

If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact me.
 
Rochester H.S. Set record for most offensive yards in a season in 2012.
Sacred Heart-Griffin H.S. set Illinois State scoring record in 2013.
Combined 8 State Championships in the last 9 years.

FAST N FURIOUS SYSTEM 

Coach Alison, Coach Leonard AND our own Coach Konecki will be speaking...

 THIS THURSDAY

FEBRUARY 6th 

 AT THE

GLAZIER CLINIC

2014 INDY Glazier Nuggets

glazierclinics.com 

HUDL

 Links should work !

10 more ways to use Hudl

Dominate with Data

Playbooks, Practice Scripts and Presentations

Must use TAG a GAME next year!

Don't use QUICKLY ADD COLUMN if you want all you staff to see it.

Andy Mitchell OC Marian College (IN)

Our #2 blocker for bubble doesn't sprint off the line, he shuffles to read the defender's angle.

Our TEs don't make moves...he makes the defender PAY for tackling him.

Mike Emendorfer HC University of Wisconsin-Platteville

Sacks are not always the result of poor pass protection...many times it is the QB being indecisive with his reads.

If I find I find a formation that makes you "bleed", I'm sticking with it.

All UWP PowerPoints are available for a small fee going to the GAs

Coach Munz  

Blair Hubbard HC Faith Christian HS (CO)

Our rocket sweep is nothing more than a hyperactive Outside Zone,

We chart who is making the tackle on Rocket Sweep...then we attack where that defender was...

PowerPoints and DVD clips are available by contacting Coach Hubbard

Faster than the FLY 

My Favorite play of 2014: Coach Banks

Coach Terrance Banks joins us again for a guest post!

Twitter @tbanks1906

Many of us have fallen in love with the Snag concepts, 3-man snag or the Andrew Coverdale mesh (Coach  Coverdale's original concept can be found here) is one of the most used plays in offensive football today. 2 man snag, used heavily be UCLA offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone has quickly become a new favorite of many coaches, mine as well.

However, I have a variation that I fell in love with this season, that is the Snag, Wheel, Swing especially inside the redzone and primarily to the boundary. Without further ado, clips. 


For more talk on this play join us at

Nohuddlespread Proboards

Then the clips

Coach Mo notes...This is our first post of the year. I can't believe we have been away this long! I have to retrain and discover how to insert HUDL clips directly into the post.
HOORAY I GOT IT!!

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!