Getting Up to Speed

Right now we're facing a problem getting players to go at game speed. We've taught the techniques and blocking assignments to take care of the problem of sitting back because they're not sure where to go. We're still slow off the ball and our initial contact is soft, much less sustaining that contact. We did have a good object lesson in practice today when a smaller but aggressive player moved a bigger, athletic, but less aggressive player out of the hole. Playing at game speed is not coming natural to this group. We've scrimmaged with a late whistle to get everybody to stay with the play. We ran wedge after wedge today versus 15 defenders (yes 15) just to promote hard nosed running and sustained blocking at the point of attack. The offense at least started to move the ball.
Another problem is getting backs to cut up field on the power plays at the 8/9 hole. We've had the runner run into the back of the B kicking out on the OLB, or try to run around the outside of the kick out block. Today in practice we ran full speed 11 on 11 plays with me standing at the point to cut upfield. Its kind of interesting to watch the play from right in the middle of it.
Any ideas would be great.

Should You Ever Punt

This week's Sports Illustrated has an interesting article about a high school coach who does not punt. Especially in middle school football, I can very rarely see any benefit to punting. I've seen too many instances where the snap goes bad, the punt doesn't go very far, or its returned to basically the position the ball started. In every case it would've been better to run your best play and take your chances.
I also agree with an onside kick on every kick off. In most cases you're kicking the ball to guys not used to handling it, you don't give up much field position, you have an excellent chance of  recovering the ball, and you're keeping the ball away from the kids your opponent wants carrying the ball. There isn't much, if any, downside to the tactic. I know our varsity team wants the ball squib kicked between the hash mark and the sideline.

Double Wing Power Plays and Transferring Drills to 11 on 11

After the wedges, 38, and 29 Sweeps, I put in the power plays. 88/99 Power and Over 88 Power/Under 99 Power.
Along with putting in the plays I'm trying to get drills we work on in break down sessions in practice to transfer over to 11 on 11. One way I try to accomplish this is, for example, breaking down the creation of a good edge with the pulling guards and lead block by the B back. Immediately after the breakdown session I go into 11 on 11 with an emphasis on the offense. I then try to focus on the skill we just worked on. I'm always amazed, but really shouldn't be, when the first couple of plays the guards and B back go where they are supposed to but make contact with absolutely no one. I always wonder why they think I'm having them pull or lead the play. They honestly don't know where to look when its 11 on 11. So I break the skill down and then immediately apply it to 11 on 11 and correct, showing them where the people they are supposed to block are coming from.
Any ideas on how to get skills worked on in drills to transfer to 11 on 11 would be appreciated.

Link to the Power Plays

Double Wing Sweep Drill: Isolate the Blocking Assignments

This is a drill I use to teach the blocking assignments and work on pulling the back side guard for our 38 and 29 sweeps. I teach all our linemen to pull and play the guard position. They may need to know it in an emergency during a game and they have, at least, been exposed to the technique when they move on to high school. We get a lot of players involved and the defensive coach can work on defense techniques simultaneously. Practice is harder than the game for the offense in this drill, because the defense absolutely knows what play is coming. If the defense cheats too much I'll throw in a pass play just to keep them a little more honest.

Link to The Sweep Drill

Game One

We kind of took it on the chin in tonight's game, or at least in the second half. We led most of the first half and ended the half tied. We gave up the go ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter and another touchdown late when the substituting became a little more liberal.The game basically came down to their big, tough, fast kid breaking loose just a little more often than ours.
We have quite a list to work on for the next game, which is usually the case following the first game. Moving the ball with any consistency was a big issue.
The list:

• Blocking assignments
• Sustaining blocks-sometimes it wasn't even hit and quit, it was stand up and watch the ball carrier get tackled.
• Moving personnel-some guys will get new positions to get them in a position to help us.
• Creating ways to take advantage of personnel-we have a tight end who can really hurt teams with his size and good hands. 
• Pretty much all the basics.

It was fun to see how kids would respond when another team was across from them, especially when they got seriously hit for the first time. The plan would be that now the kids have a better idea of the speed they need to be at to have success on the field. 

The Player Coach Exchange of The Day

It take you back to uniform/equipment day and give you this actual exchange between a player and myself yesterday before practice.

Player: Coach I need a tailbone pad.
Me: Where's yours?
Player: I never got one.
Me: Why didn't you get one on Friday?
Player: I didn't think I needed one.

Remember "patience and understanding." It has been a lot of fun getting back into it. Kids, at the core, really haven't changed too much through the years. They do seem to bring a bit more baggage though, which isn't their fault.
We're reaching the point where some kids are getting it and really starting to fly around the field and there's the other group that isn't sure of themselves. The unsure of themselves group have some who have that "this isn't football in the backyard" look on their faces. I hope they stick it out.

Youth Football Audibles

I found a post at Youth Football Drills explaining how to use an audible system in youth football. It has me thinking how I can tweak my system to include calling an audible at the line of scrimmage based on what the quarterback sees on a presnap read. I can see potential for having the quarterback read the defenses reaction to our Over and Under unbalanced formations and having a play to take advantage of either no reaction or an over reaction.

Settling in For a Weekend of College Football

I'm looking forward to watching football this weekend. Its my time to relax and recharge from a week of teaching and coaching. I don't really watch looking for ideas either, because the game they are playing on TV bears little resemblance to the game I coach during the week.  I do prefer the college game to the pro game though, more variety in offenses and you just can't beat the atmosphere of a college town on game day.
Go Badgers

The Base Passing Game

The pass is not a prominent part of our offense in terms of number of plays or the number of times they're called in the game. However, the pass is intended to change the momentum of the game (it doesn't always change momentum to our favor). We are trying to take advantage of overeager defenders trying to help on the run defense or of defensive backs looking into the backfield. Its not very complicated (are you seeing a theme here), but I've found it to be very effective. We do add plays as we go along throughout the season to take advantage of our personnel and defenses we've seen. 

Link to The Base Passing Game

The Base Running Game

These are the first three plays that I put in. They each look the same on initial movement and if executed correctly, specifically the fakes, three areas of the field face a simultaneous threat - the middle and both flanks. This is adapted from Hugh Wyatt's Dynamics of the Double Wing.
Link to the First Three Running Plays

These three plays and their companions to the other side of the formation give us a good base to start building our running game. It is vital to get these plays to look as close to identical as you can get. I've been amazed to watch linebackers take off chasing a wingback they think is carrying the ball on a sweep opening the wedge for a big gain. Middle school defensive ends often feel they need to help their buddies on the inside and will crash down hard on a wedge only to have the ball ran around their open side by a wing or the quarterback. Our base passing game also begins from these three plays. These plays can be run from an OVER or UNDER unbalanced formation as well, with little change to the blocking assignments. It is simple, but we have to keep it that way. Remember we have a game coming up quickly.