Low Numbers Practice Help

First of all, instead of full team, emphasize 1/2 line a lot more to get a better look. You can use team every now and then, but for a better look you want some 1/2 line at the POA to get talent on talent.

Second, go to Lowes and spend $150 or so on 10-11 35 gal trash cans--buy more like 20 or so if you can afford it. Turn them upside down and line them up on the field as a dummy offense or dummy defense. Then you can run drills at them like routes on air, formation checks, run fits, stunt fit, etc. vs. them without having to rely on having 11 scout players who stay focused or stand in the right places. Frankly, there were times last year where a trash can gave us a better look than our scout defensive players and you're not making kids stand around in places they won't be on Fridays.

Third, use coaches as read keys or scout team QB whenever possible. Also, when it's a pass, make sure the defense still allows the QB to throw the ball so the secondary gets work on pass defense.

Fourth, when you get your OL and RBs together to work on pass protection, send your WRs down there to help give them a scout front to work against. Take your QBs and maybe some of your top WRs and do some individual drills with them in another part of the field. For inside run drill, do something similar: use your WRs as scout defense. You can accomplish the same thing with fewer players.

Fifth: try to cut back on highly specialized periods simply because you won't have the numbers to do many of them. An inside run drill and perimeter period (combining outside run and 7 vs. 7) might be all you really need during group time to work the backs and receivers, while the OL needs an inside run drill and blitz pickup w/the RBs--they can work on outside run blocking, pulling, etc. during OL individual time. If you use the other players as scout defenders in these drills, you can accomplish the big things without the numbers biting you as much.

Sixth, put a premium on matchups in individual period. When you've got your OL there, pair up your top 2 linemen, next 2 best, etc. so they get better looks there. Do the same with your WRs and DBs. Your best guy isn't going to get much out of just beating on your weakest freshman.

These are just some ideas. What kind of stuff do you run on both sides?

To get your first team defense a good look half line has been best for us. You get good on good and have enough numbers.

As far as getting offense ready you can go first offense against whoever is left so you have your best 11 together executing. Or...

Use half line again during team O for good on good. Or...

Have the right side of the offense be your first team and have the left side of your offense be the back ups or JV. The remainder play defense and you can match up good on good with the first teamers. Switch up halfway through the period. This allows you to play full team offense, get JV kids some quality development with starters, and match up starters for a good look on that side.

In these situations group and individual periods are very important because you might not get great team periods match ups no matter what you do.

Our team this year has about 20 healthy dressed for practice at this point due to injury. Some things we have done to help:

1. Half-line = good on good or as close to it as you can get.

2. Combined Individual Groups = example last week on offense we combined QB/WR/RB and did a Toss drill while the OL/TE worked on blocking schemes. Then we switched and the OT/TE came with RB/WR and worked toss. During that time the Centers, guards, QB, and fullbacks worked trap drill.

3. Trash-Cans these are great for simulating the defensive front or offensive line. No they can't fire off but they allow you to have a full defense or offense and work things like steps or pass drops.

Low numbers is a tough situation and one of the best things you can do is focus on small parts of your scheme and isolate the players that are key in those spots. Last week on the toss drill our wrs got better at stalk blocking, fullbacks and wings got better at leading and setting the edge, and the OL/TE got better at reach blocking. Tailbacks started seeing the lanes better. Bottom line as a team we got better at toss that period which is one of our bread-and-butter plays.

Good Luck Coach low numbers is tough but its a good opportunity to build team unity