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Post by jjdennis on May 16, 2007 20:55:22 GMT -6
Do any of you have this problem?
I coach LB's and during the play (live scrimmage) I tend to focus on only one player. We play with 3 LB's and so I am basically watching 1/3 of a kids plays. If I am watching the Left LB and the offensive play goes the other way, then I miss the Right LB's performance.
The reason I ask is because we had our final scrimmage today and filmed it. This is the only film we have from the entire spring. Going into today's scrimmage, I thought we had an A+ LB and two C LB's, but after watching the film I realized we have an A+ LB, a B+ LB, and a D- LB.
This creates doubts in my mind about giving the backup enough reps and worries me going into the Fall.
I hope the post made sense. Any thoughts? Do any of you struggle with evaluating players live?
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Post by brophy on May 16, 2007 21:39:33 GMT -6
don't focus on players - focus on responsibilities.
If you are on defense, focus on gap fits......who is NOT fitting into their gap? THAT is the guy that is the liability...why isn't he fitting? Probably because he is taking bad steps (read) or he is not getting off blocks (technique).
How is the Curl player? Where the $@# is he? what is he doing THERE?! .....Big picture - see the symptoms to diagnose the cause.
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Post by coachd5085 on May 16, 2007 23:27:25 GMT -6
watch with "soft eyes"..don't try to focus on anything. You can practice this watching film, and during inside drill.
Also, having everything SCRIPTED in advance... and I mean EVERYTHING even scrimmages vs your own offense...will help you out. you will know what is coming, and that tends to keep things in a bit slower motion.
Get behind the D, and watch the keys... see if the lb's are reacting to what they are seeing properly...(also, just gives you a little sense of perspective. It is harder to jump all over a kid for screwing up a read if YOU can't follow them either.)
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Post by briangilbert on May 17, 2007 0:12:05 GMT -6
if a guy isn't quick off the ball he can't play at the HS level. period.
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Post by coachjim on May 17, 2007 5:20:24 GMT -6
Hahaha, that was the problem I had last year, except that I had to watch all eleven as DC and ended up only seeing 1/11th of what was occuring. Even our own HC would frequently ask after a play, "What happened, how'd they do that, who got through, what went wrong?!" And we would all just shrug, we were also just looking at only one or two guys. Good advice about focussing on responsibilities instead and with soft eyes, will do that this year as HC on offense. I had been wondering how I was going to focus on everything and make changes, that should help. It's funny, but sometimes the obvious just needs to be said out loud every now and then and it all makes sense.
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Post by spartancoach on May 17, 2007 5:30:12 GMT -6
I have never had any problems with this at all. Of course, I am the QB coach.
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Post by CoachMikeJudy on May 17, 2007 5:43:24 GMT -6
Someone mentioned SCRIPTED SCRIMMAGES...this is key.
I script all live periods and intersquad scrimmages and give copies of the script to every coach on O & D. Everyone should be able to follow along and it keeps us on pace.
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Post by coachd5085 on May 17, 2007 6:04:51 GMT -6
white mike...you are so right. IN fact, I am a proponent of scripting EVERY period other than individual work and maybe a 5 minute period once a week unscripted just to see if you get caught with your pants down. Other than that, I think inside should be scripted, pass skell should be scripted, half lines should be scripted, team should be scripted... Not doing so isn't putting your kids in the best position to succeed.
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Post by coachjim on May 17, 2007 6:25:40 GMT -6
I thought of one other thing, when wm mentioned scripted plays. Tunnel vision.
I don't get nervous or too stressed during games but both of those things can give you "tunnel vision." Thats when you can only focus in on a small portion of what's directly in front of you, like looking through a tunnel and you miss everything else that is happening around you. This occurs in stressful situations for some. I only mention this, because it hasn't been and you never know, might be a factor in your issue.
To cure tunnel vision, you keep breathing, keep talking which gets your mind focussed on other things, and of course as just mentioned have some scripted plays that you can divert your attention elsewhere during stressful moments.
It doesn't sound like you get this to me based on your post but it might be something that is happening that you aren't aware of so thought i'd add that one last thought.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2007 6:34:49 GMT -6
The script helps a ton. Think about what should happen and from what angle it should happen. I've always felt it's easier to see what didn't happen than what did.
By that I mean that if you know you've got ISO coming and you know that you're trying to Box it back in, you don't have to stare at that guy to watch him do it. You'll see where he fits up and how.
I'm the DC but coach the DBs. I want to see it all but not from behind the safeties. I have an assistant watch the CBs and I stay at safety level so I have them in my peripheral. I can look straight ahead and should see them in my peripheral when they backpedal out. To ensure that the cutback safety runs his angle, he has to run it in front of me so I'll see him . If the play goes wide I can turn and see him come from behind me.
If it's a pass I'll know it and can spin at the start and see what I need.
I think the coach's alignment in practice is as crucial as the player's if you want to fix errors.
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Post by CoachMikeJudy on May 17, 2007 8:36:01 GMT -6
I thought of one other thing, when wm mentioned scripted plays. Tunnel vision. I don't get nervous or too stressed during games but both of those things can give you "tunnel vision." Thats when you can only focus in on a small portion of what's directly in front of you, like looking through a tunnel and you miss everything else that is happening around you. This occurs in stressful situations for some. I only mention this, because it hasn't been and you never know, might be a factor in your issue. To cure tunnel vision, you keep breathing, keep talking which gets your mind focussed on other things, and of course as just mentioned have some scripted plays that you can divert your attention elsewhere during stressful moments. It doesn't sound like you get this to me based on your post but it might be something that is happening that you aren't aware of so thought i'd add that one last thought. Exactly...focus on the BIG PICTURE as an OC/DC/HC, let the position coaches focus on the little things. Scripting everyhting makes preparation so much easier. I agree with coach d about maybe a 5 or 2 5min periods a week of nonscripted live work will help keep you sharp. We always do 2 minute drill live and not scripted, twice a week, and it works great. We will also do 3rd & long drill as a game situation- no coaches on the field, chains/markers out, subbing from the sideline, calling plays from the sideline. This has helped put our kids under some game-like pressure at practice without a coach in his ear telling him to check his alignment.
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SetHut
Junior Member
Posts: 314
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Post by SetHut on May 17, 2007 19:48:06 GMT -6
"Exactly...focus on the BIG PICTURE as an OC/DC/HC, let the position coaches focus on the little things. Scripting everyhting makes preparation so much easier."
I agree with whitemike and others who say to script everything. Good advice to make a habit. But I didn't read that you said you were an OC/DC/HC. You said you coached LBers. So. . .as a position coach it's okay to pick out one guy and evaluate his execution of his position. So what if flow goes away. How does he play "flow away". He'll get it that read in a game won't he? You better be sure he fills, scrapes, plays cutback, or drops properly during team D and isn't as likely to screw-up on Friday night. Scripting will help you know ahead of time what to watch for before it happens. Don't always focus on the playside LB. Rotate your guys in that will play on Friday night and give a few reps to an emergency LB in case the worst happens and you get short-handed.
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Post by kloranc on May 17, 2007 20:44:13 GMT -6
Script everything and film as much as you can. script tough situations and see how your kids react (ie... max blitz vs. screen play) you can't see everything on the field, but if you follow your script during film sessions, you will know what should have happened. The best thing is that film never lies. If someone is blowing it, it will show up on film.
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Post by midlineqb on May 17, 2007 22:55:26 GMT -6
The older you get and the more experience you have the softer the eyes get and more you see on each play. My assistants were always amazed at what I saw when we looked at film (ours or our opponents). After 36 years you learn how to do it. I can't explain it, it just happens.
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Post by CoachMikeJudy on May 18, 2007 8:36:02 GMT -6
I agree with whitemike and others who say to script everything. Good advice to make a habit. But I didn't read that you said you were an OC/DC/HC. Sorry for the misunderstanding, meant that an HC, OC, or DC would want to focus on the big picture as much as possible.
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Post by jjdennis on May 19, 2007 16:15:22 GMT -6
Thanks for the input.
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Post by phantom on May 19, 2007 16:45:16 GMT -6
Script everything and film as much as you can. script tough situations and see how your kids react (ie... max blitz vs. screen play) you can't see everything on the field, but if you follow your script during film sessions, you will know what should have happened. The best thing is that film never lies. If someone is blowing it, it will show up on film. I agree. Scripting is very important and so is taping, at least, group and team periods. Video cameras are cheap and tape is cheaper. It's not hard to find somebody to tape. They don't need to be Quentin Tarantino. They just have to point the camera, hit the right button, and get the whole play. If you don't have anywhere for them to get a high angle shot then put them under the goal post behind the defense.
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