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Post by Wingtman on Jun 15, 2016 9:23:45 GMT -6
Just found out our week 1 opponent's head coach left the first of June, and their new guy takes over next week. I've spent the last month preping based on last years film, etc. The good news? We will see them in a scrimmage and they won't see us (we dont have one), and we are changing up what we do as well. The negitive is, not sure the best way to prepare moving forward. Still dont know the name of the new coach at this school.
What have you guys done in the past? Prepare based on just generic defenses and a base spread (thats just an assumption, since everyone here runs spread). Just prep as normal from last years film till I get new stuff?
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Post by blb on Jun 15, 2016 9:30:59 GMT -6
Get film from where the new coach was previously if you can.
If not practice against your own stuff (for more reps) until you can scout their scrimmage.
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Post by jg78 on Jun 15, 2016 9:39:28 GMT -6
Going into a game blind is a lot more of a concern defensively than offensively. Seeing them in a scrimmage should help a lot, though. You won't have all the tendencies, etc., that you'd have for a midseason game, but if you attend a scrimmage and can see a couple of base formations and recognize the key players and how they're used that will help a lot. I think you're in a better position than your opponent here from a strategic standpoint. They may be a little sharper for having had a scrimmage, though.
But I wouldn't worry too much about them this time of year either way. I would work on myself until I saw them scrimmage.
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Post by groundchuck on Jun 15, 2016 10:04:24 GMT -6
Get film and try and do some research. Like it was stated above offensively it's not as big a deal. Defensively I'd like to have a picture of what they'll do. But if your scheme can adjust and your players are good fundamentally you'll be ok.
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Post by **** on Jun 15, 2016 11:08:25 GMT -6
If your kids know and understand their rules then you should be fine.
Two years ago I prepped for flexbone for our first game because that's what they ran the previous year. That team didn't play in a jamboree and then when we actually played them week 1 they're running Wing T. If you and you're kids are freaking out that you're playing something you haven't seen on film, then you probably didn't prepare them well enough in the first place, or you are not sound in what you do.
Defense is about rules. If a kid plays his rules and technique correctly you should be fine (assuming you're not being majorly out athleted)
Does it help to know what they're doing? Yes, but it's not the be all end all.
I don't prepare for our week 1 opponent till that week, if they're that good then 2 weeks out.
We see everything from Notre Dame Box to Quads through the summer. Each week in season shouldn't be a new learning experience. If we haven't ran against a generic type of any offense at some point in the summer, then I am failing my kids.
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Post by funkfriss on Jun 15, 2016 13:26:28 GMT -6
If your kids know and understand their rules then you should be fine. Two years ago I prepped for flexbone for our first game because that's what they ran the previous year. That team didn't play in a jamboree and then when we actually played them week 1 they're running Wing T. If you and you're kids are freaking out that you're playing something you haven't seen on film, then you probably didn't prepare them well enough in the first place, or you are not sound in what you do. Defense is about rules. If a kid plays his rules and technique correctly you should be fine (assuming you're not being majorly out athleted) Does it help to know what they're doing? Yes, but it's not the be all end all. I don't prepare for our week 1 opponent till that week, if they're that good then 2 weeks out. We see everything from Notre Dame Box to Quads through the summer. Each week in season shouldn't be a new learning experience. If we haven't ran against a generic type of any offense at some point in the summer, then I am failing my kids. Same thing has happened a few times in openers I've been a part of. After the first time I swore I would never prepare for a week 1 opponent again unless we had scrimmage film or other intel. |
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Post by coachd5085 on Jun 15, 2016 13:54:42 GMT -6
If your kids know and understand their rules then you should be fine. Two years ago I prepped for flexbone for our first game because that's what they ran the previous year. That team didn't play in a jamboree and then when we actually played them week 1 they're running Wing T. If you and you're kids are freaking out that you're playing something you haven't seen on film, then you probably didn't prepare them well enough in the first place, or you are not sound in what you do. Defense is about rules. If a kid plays his rules and technique correctly you should be fine (assuming you're not being majorly out athleted) Does it help to know what they're doing? Yes, but it's not the be all end all. I don't prepare for our week 1 opponent till that week, if they're that good then 2 weeks out. We see everything from Notre Dame Box to Quads through the summer. Each week in season shouldn't be a new learning experience. If we haven't ran against a generic type of any offense at some point in the summer, then I am failing my kids. This is a great post--and really captures the essence of the little quotation that @jgordon credits me for (here, but not in his book..LOL) PLAY DEFENSE...not defenses. I think this is a GREAT opportunity for you and your staff because it will force you to focus on actually playing DEFENSE. A great book to read at this time of year is the Fritz Shurmur "TEAM DEFENSE" because it will make you question whether you are sound or not. Doesn't matter if you are a 4-3, a 3-4, a 50, a 34, a "pro 4-3" a bear, a double eagle, a 3-3 stack, a 4-2-5....there are things that need to be done. It will also force your staff to focus on YOU offensively, and not blocking any various defenses. FOCUS ON YOU. Defensively, you only have so many possible alignments. How will YOUR DEFENSE align to 2 TE, 1 TE, 0 TE. How do you adjust to the "fancies" such as tackle over, unbalanced etc. What coverages will you call. How will various WR splits (1 WR, 2 WR, 3 WR, 4 WR to your side, as well as bunch/stack) affect the players. What about motion and trades? That is about it. Add in how you play option and your defense is done. |
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Post by mariner42 on Jun 15, 2016 15:48:59 GMT -6
Call him up and ask for some professional courtesy? Coaching is a fraternity, share and share alike.
I'm very open about film and info with opponents, don't have anything to hide. We do what we do, stop us f*cker.
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Post by bignose on Jun 15, 2016 16:09:30 GMT -6
You are in a much better situation than your opponent is.
He has just taken over a program in June.
How much do you think he will have in for the first week of the season?
Plus you get to see him in scrimmage.
Do what you do, worry about your kids beating his kids, but be ready to "coach on the grass."
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Post by carookie on Jun 16, 2016 10:38:26 GMT -6
My first year as a DC was in a similar situation. It was a rival school who just hired a new coach, and a whole new staff. There was absolutely no film on the OC whatsoever, but we were less than blind. Ran into them at a couple passing leagues, and had their scrimmage film; although I knew the HC was shady and going to try to pull a fast one if possible.
As I expected, their passing league/scrimmage work was all a ruse (all they had shown previously was 11 personnel pro stuff, come game they are 90% empty sprint out and jet sweep). Luckily I had a big advantage- I DON'T CHANGE GAME TO GAME! We have a simple system, we practice it, and repeat; it fits whatever the opponent does. We don't put in new coverages, new fronts, new blitzes every week just to match what might happen- we do what we do, and we try to do it better than what you do.
There should be something in your system to handle power-I there should be something to handle 5 wide (and all points in between). It is pre-season so you are practicing for the season as a whole so just get good at what you do and then get better at it. Running, tackling, covering, getting off of blocks, all that stuff is good vs any offense.
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