|
Post by cqmiller on Feb 20, 2012 19:15:27 GMT -6
Just got back from the Vegas Nike COY Clinic...
1) Dabo Swinney (Clemson) had a great presentation of WR drills and video clips of them running them with all of his WR's (Sammy Watkins is FREAKING GOOD) 2) Chip Kelly spoke about practice management and program philosophy. Said a number of times that his way wasn't necessarily the best way for everything, but that they have made the decision to do what they do and live with the problems that occur because of their issues. Namely that he refuses to look at defensive statistics because he knows that he puts his defense at a disadvantage when they score so quickly. 3) Strength coach at UNLV was great at explaining what they did and why he believes that the olympic lifts are best for generating POWER, which is what football is all about. He doesn't believe in lifting less than 80% of a kids max EVER. 4) David Shaw was AWESOME. Went through the 2 basic philosophies in football and what they use and why. They are a "we only run about 10 plays but will do it out of 100 formations" team, while others are a "we only run about 10 formations, but can run 100 different plays out of each one" 5) Rich Rodriguez told jokes for 90 minutes. VERY FUNNY, but didn't really talk about football.
If I had to choose the order for the speakers I would have to go: #1 = David Shaw and Chip Kelly. Could not choose one over the other #2 = Dabo Swinney #3 = UNLV Strength coach #4 = Rich Rod
I was disappointed with the high school speakers for the most part. Went to the breakout session where 3 coaches from the same staff were speaking on 3 different topics. My coaches that were in the DL topic said that it was "worthless" and I went to the OL one. All I learned is that I can win a bunch of games in a row if I have 5 OL who are: Tackles - 1 at Auburn, 1 at USC Guards - 1 at Oregon State, 1 at Fresno State Center - (the crappy lineman) only plays at University of San Diego
All I saw was his 5 NCAA D-1 OL doing bag drills and blocking Power/Counter over and over again.
|
|
|
Post by coachorr on Feb 20, 2012 21:10:21 GMT -6
CQ, you the man, thanks. The Chip Kelly comment on Offenses that score and strength and con comments are what I think to a T and I have been hammered by people on these two issues before. And as far as oline practices, I have seen that way too many times, but there has only been one kid in SE idaho who has actually gone out of SE Idaho on a full ride in the last 7 years to play oline at the d1 level and that was Mark Asper at Oregon.
Great notes, thanks. Are you going to the Glazier clinic in Vegas this week? I might make it to your SLC clinic.
|
|
|
Post by coachfurn on Feb 22, 2012 16:14:03 GMT -6
I saw all 3 of Tuke's sessions at Dallas Glazier this past weekend. He was phenomenal. Also to point out something to some of the other coaches replying in this post. Most clinics I go to, the coaches always say, "speak up and let me know at any point if you have questions" I think coaches get intimidated and think someone will laugh at their questions. But I asked a couple questions this weekend asking them to explain what their lb are keying in spread gun, etc...what is the db technique exactly on press and what are sf looking at exactly. I think if you would ask the questions, most of them will answer what you are looking for. But one thing I have learned, a lot of coaches are not going to put all of their 'secrets' out there concerning how they teach something. But they will answer your questions and reveal a lot of their 'secrets' piece by piece. As my grandpa said, boy you'd be surprised what you can get if you just ask.
|
|
|
Post by Wingtman on Feb 27, 2012 9:53:06 GMT -6
coachks, Did you see the guy from Illinois this weekend in STL too? Because thats what he talked about... really? Gimmie something for a guy with no hangtime and going down to the 20.
Saw Combs speak..he was really good. Saw his Specials stuff. Very good
|
|
|
Post by John Knight on Feb 27, 2012 10:45:29 GMT -6
|
|
|
Post by PIGSKIN11 on Feb 27, 2012 13:00:39 GMT -6
He did a special on HBO Sports John.... GO online if you are a subscriber you can see it I am sure
|
|
|
Post by John Knight on Feb 27, 2012 13:01:43 GMT -6
|
|
|
Post by coachplaa on Feb 27, 2012 18:07:50 GMT -6
I've spoken quite a few times and I'll tell you that I prefer speaking at clinics away from home for one reason....full disclosure. I really enjoy passing on and sharing things I have learned, especially the "secret sauce" type of stuff, but I have trouble doing it when coaches that are on my schedule are in the room. You see it all the time with college coaches at these Nike clinics, and they won't get into any specifics if another college coach is there listening.
My pet peeve when I listen to clinic talk is getting a coach that isn't passionate about his topic. You don't see it often with football coaches, because we are usually quite opinionated on how to get things done, but wishy-washy presentations make me want to leave. Also, since many of us are visual or kinesthetic, pictures/video/demonstration is KEY to a good clinic talk.
|
|
|
Post by coachks on Feb 27, 2012 22:49:26 GMT -6
Maybe I'm weird....
What I'd really like out of a clinic would be this: You get a speaker going over his position group, lets say he is the DB coach. He goes over his stuff in 1 or 2 sessions (lets say 2 hours).
After that he goes over an entire game tape with you. Instead of 6 or 7 select clips, he takes a 2 hours (or whatever increment) and just goes through an entire game just like he would grade it post-game.
Lets say it's a Cover 4 team in a "glazier" format (3 sessions). The first session goes over their techniques. "This is how we play Cover 4. This is how we play Cover 3. This is how we play man". The 2nd session is a touch of review and the next 2 sessions are the coach going over film against an opponent. He can explain the game-plan, how he coached his guys that week and then grade the film. Show us the good, the bad and the ugly. How does the game unfold? What adjustments did you make during the game? What adjustments did the opponent make?
|
|
|
Post by fullhouseo on Mar 2, 2012 8:48:29 GMT -6
Coaches at Clinics can't give you play breakdowns or things like that and asking the question "what defense can stop your offense" is a ridiculous question that MUST get the answer "there isn't one". The reasons for this are:
1.Anytime a HS coach is presenting at a clinic that is relatively close to their school there will always be coaches there that they play against.
2. Coaches that speak at a clinic are normally successful so the other coaches they play against will attend their session in order to figure out how to defend them. This means, if I as a speaker say "we can't really run what we want against ........" would not be in my best interest to share even though the person asking the question may really be interested in my answer and not looking for a way to stop me. I can't take that chance in a room with over 100 people that none of my info will get on the internet or be given to my opponents.
If you really want to find that kind of information out you need to go visit a high school program, sit down with the coaches and spend a day or two with them getting real answers to your questions and it is going to work better if you need to drive a ways to do so. This is why at clinics you can really get some good position stuff and program stuff but from a scheme standpoint you aren't going to get much. I also don't know of many offenses that can be completely broken down in 3 sessions that are 50 minutes long. I run the full house T, a pretty basic offense, and when I learned the offense I sat through the basics of Trap for 90 minutes and was blown away by the detail and variations that go in to a play that looks so simple. This is just my opinion.
|
|
|
Post by cqmiller on Mar 2, 2012 9:11:09 GMT -6
To me, I understand that you can't really run certain plays against a specific defense, but if you don't already have contingencies built into your playcalling, you probably shouldn't be speaking at a clinic. I know that if I just sit in the I formation on offense against a 3-3-5 defense, life will be tough for me because they have 8 in the box every snap. I would be more than willing to share that in front of my opponents. To me, that is just common sense.
First thing I will do is try to "break the stack" using formations. Find out what formations I can get into that will turn that 3-3-5 into more of a 3-4 or a 4-3. Now we can start to play games.
I truly believe that too many speakers think "everyone will beat me" if I share anything worthwhile, and at the same time too many coaches in the audience think "I can win 10 games if I just ran this new play/offense/defense", which leads to a sour taste in a lot of people's mouths after a clinic.
Winning games still comes down to who has the better players 99% of the time. I've seen coaches do absolutely unsound things on defense and get away with it because my 5'10" 205lb right guard can't keep the 6'3" 240lb LB off my QB for long enough for me to hammer them where they have a huge weakness. It isn't that that particular blitz is the best blitz ever, but if my RG could physically handle that MLB, there would be major issues in the secondary. Scheme can only win you a game if your players are equal ability and talent. I've been out-coached and still won, I've out-coached the other guy and still lost. Perfect example last year we faced a team that ran an absolutely unrecognizable defense. Sometimes 3 down, sometimes 2 down, sometimes nobody in a 3pt stance. They were all over the place... but their 3-star, played in the all-american game this year DE somehow was matched up against my freshman LT all night long. Ended up being a long night for me and my QB. We had a body on a body, we had receivers getting open, but not before that DE was all over the QB. LT did an okay job and only gave up 1 or 2 sacks the whole night, but the QB could never really settle in and throw on-time. I feel like we had a scheme advantage, but I couldn't get enough help on that kid for us to take advantage of it.
|
|
|
Post by coachplaa on Mar 2, 2012 9:49:47 GMT -6
I've been going to clinics for 18 years. I still enjoy them and get at least an idea or two to bring back to my program. However, I can't say enough about visiting colleges for spring football. Last year our staff went to Oregon and brought back way more than a clinic could give us. This year we are trying to get to at least two local (NorCal) spring practices, and maybe myself and my coordinators take a trip to a college that runs similar schemes that we do. When you do this, not only do you come away with idea on how to practice more efficiently, but you can WATCH how they coach in individuals and group sessions. Plus, these don't usually cost anything, except for your travel.
|
|
|
Post by coachhart on Mar 2, 2012 10:02:39 GMT -6
I've been going to clinics for 18 years. I still enjoy them and get at least an idea or two to bring back to my program. However, I can't say enough about visiting colleges for spring football. Last year our staff went to Oregon and brought back way more than a clinic could give us. This year we are trying to get to at least two local (NorCal) spring practices, and maybe myself and my coordinators take a trip to a college that runs similar schemes that we do. When you do this, not only do you come away with idea on how to practice more efficiently, but you can WATCH how they coach in individuals and group sessions. Plus, these don't usually cost anything, except for your travel. I agree wholeheartedly - a couple of guys from our staff are heading out to Air Force to watch spring ball and we go to Navy pretty much every year (flexbone team, obviously). You get more in terms of how things are done in practice which is a huge component of success.
|
|
|
Post by coachplaa on Mar 2, 2012 11:57:21 GMT -6
I'll give you a better example. Two years ago, myself and two coaches went to Sacramento State's practice, which is 80 miles away. They don't even run the same schemes that we do. But we drove away with 3-4 things on the WAY that they practiced, that made a BIG difference in how effective we are at practice. That gas I paid for to get there was much less than paying for a clinic/hotel; and I got more out of it. I still love clinics, I just think that anyone can do the spring practice thing and learn a lot.
|
|
|
Post by groundchuck on Mar 4, 2012 14:39:36 GMT -6
I agree with Coach Plaa about this. I try and visit a a spring practice once a year. I take away idea about how they teach a certain skill or how how they practice. It is time and money well spent for sure.
|
|
|
Post by coachbrek on Mar 6, 2012 7:40:01 GMT -6
I have been going to North Dakota State's clinic for years, they run their coaching clinic during spring ball, they bring in speakers college and high school coaches from around the region and from bordering states. So the local guys don't have to worry about giving up their secrets. Some NDSU staff and strength coaches also present sessions.
Then NDSU has practice, they explain and show how they run their drills on grass. Then we get to follow any position coach we want.
They bring in a big time speaker for the last session who is always great.
They treat the coaches like gold, they know where their kids are coming from and there are no egos just a great two day clinic that covers 9-man and 11-man football, some great presenters some not so great but you get the best of both worlds, with clinic sessions and college spring ball.
|
|
|
Post by coachiron on Mar 7, 2012 0:27:47 GMT -6
I would love to see a clinic where the overview of whatever package is presented for an hour or so, then it is broken down into its parts. For example: The head coach presents their Rocket Series, or three step series, in an opening session. Then the next few sessions take the overall concepts and break them down into the various parts. An hour on the oline blocking, an hour on the QB's and RB's, an hour on the WR's, etc. etc. Maybe an hour on how everything is practiced. I also agree with other posts regarding tell us what hurdles you have to over come. Do various defenses or offensive schemes hurt you? How do you overcome it? What do you look for when game planning? BIG pet peeves..... When did clinics become a place to SELL us everything for books, to playbooks, DVD's, etc. I remember when a cocktail napkin and a pen could get you what you needed. Lastly, when doing a powerpoint presentation I thought it was customary to give out hand-outs to help us following along without having to write down every word.
|
|
|
Post by cqmiller on Mar 7, 2012 8:19:41 GMT -6
Most coaches just email the PPT to you after the clinic. You write down their email address and they email it to you. Some of those coaches don't want to fly on a plane carrying 250 copies of a 10 page powerpoint. Easier to just email it.
|
|
|
Post by mholst40 on Mar 7, 2012 11:19:43 GMT -6
I don't really like the Nike clinics, but the one USC held back in the day was a different approach than any other I have been to.
On Friday afternoon/night, the coaches spoke about their schemes/techniques and then presented a practice plan for the following day. On Saturday, all the attendees got to see the whole live practice to see how everything was implemented. The coaches did a fantastic job breaking down what to expect and what to look for in every drill.
To see it live, brought my learning to a completely different level. Plus, it was fun to watch these amazing athletes in action.
|
|