biggus3
Sophomore Member
Posts: 178 
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Post by biggus3 on Aug 3, 2016 14:22:50 GMT -6
we are a larger school, and usually are pretty well platooned off, since we have the numbers. However this year, our top 9-10 guys are studs and are miles ahead of everyone else on both offense and defense. those guys will play most of the game, catching a blow here and there. The nice part about it is that the other kids in the program just know those guys are better, so there hasn't been too much b*tching about playing time YET, and they seem genuinely excited to potentially have a good year. As a result we should have a good JV and sophomore team as well
My question for you guys is how do you structure practice to get quality reps in? When they step out out defense, it looks like the scout team are prisoners in Abu Ghraib.
How manage the stressors put on your guys, so that they have something left for playoffs? We feel we may be able to make a run, if we don't run them into the ground first. They are in great shape right now, but as the strength coach, I don't want to see 4 years of hard work thrown down the drain for those guys who have worked so hard because the o line coach wants to run a board drill, or the d coordinator won't sub out our FS because is THE dude that makes the defense go and has played 180 snaps every week.
And just in general, any tips for working with a bunch of ironmen. I know some of you smaller school guys have a ton of experience with this, if you could share some of that knowledge I would be grateful.
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Post by coachirish on Aug 3, 2016 20:54:06 GMT -6
I would suggest doing one side of ball on designated days. Example....Monday-specials, preview oppositions o and d, Tuesday-defense, Wednesday-offense, thurdsay-review all.
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Post by fantom on Aug 3, 2016 21:34:50 GMT -6
we are a larger school, and usually are pretty well platooned off, since we have the numbers. However this year, our top 9-10 guys are studs and are miles ahead of everyone else on both offense and defense. those guys will play most of the game, catching a blow here and there. The nice part about it is that the other kids in the program just know those guys are better, so there hasn't been too much b*tching about playing time YET, and they seem genuinely excited to potentially have a good year. As a result we should have a good JV and sophomore team as well My question for you guys is how do you structure practice to get quality reps in? When they step out out defense, it looks like the scout team are prisoners in Abu Ghraib. How manage the stressors put on your guys, so that they have something left for playoffs? We feel we may be able to make a run, if we don't run them into the ground first. They are in great shape right now, but as the strength coach, I don't want to see 4 years of hard work thrown down the drain for those guys who have worked so hard because the o line coach wants to run a board drill, or the d coordinator won't sub out our FS because is THE dude that makes the defense go and has played 180 snaps every week. And just in general, any tips for working with a bunch of ironmen. I know some of you smaller school guys have a ton of experience with this, if you could share some of that knowledge I would be grateful. I've always coached at big schools and every year we've had a substantial number of two way players. First, I'll say that I don't think that there's much worry about kids wearing down as the season goes on. Kids bounce back really quickly. Sure, they'll get tired during the game but there won't be much carry-over from game to game. One thing that we do for helping in-game is that, rather than two way players, we make them one and a half way players. The coaches get together and decide where they really NEED the kid the most. In the case of your FS, he may be vital to the defense but you have some role players who can take part of the load off of him on offense. As the season goes on you can work on training a young FS to get some plays on defense. For this to work the coaches, especially the HC, must have the welfare of the whole team as his priority, not just his unit. About the part where you worried that this situation would ruin all of the work that you put in as strength coach- isn't this what all that work was for? |
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Post by tabs52 on Aug 3, 2016 21:37:23 GMT -6
We are a smaller that consistently plays about 7 guys both ways. The only ones that wouldn't go both ways was the qb and a few of our bigger linemen who just couldn't. I don't know if there is a one size fits all solutions. Our problem is that the drop off between our 1's and some 2's and our scout team was huge. We never got great work especially in our team sessions. We are switching to the plan that coach Irish suggested this year, in the that's the coach's job. I had a linebacker who didn't need the reps in practice, plus he played just about every play on Friday including special teams he needed the break on Tues/Weds. He got the mental reps in indy time as well technique. I hope this make sense
The other thing to do is give the days off if you can, if you a saturday game give the monday off or if there is a team you should steam roll give the monday off
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Post by blb on Aug 4, 2016 6:05:24 GMT -6
I wouldn't change how we practice because we had a lot of guys starting both ways.
As season went on we cut down practice time on Thursdays. Cut back on or don't do traditional Conditioning at end of practices.
Getting quality look from Scout Teams is a problem for everybody. Do the best you can.
Rest two-way players where you can on Special Teams. Get them out when game is decided.
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Post by groundchuck on Aug 4, 2016 6:39:34 GMT -6
I'll just echo a lot of what fantom and others said. Rest them when you can. Even 1-2 plays can help. Rest them on return units, not coverage units. We don't rest guys on FG/XPT because that play is worth points. So our best guys on that.
As the season goes on we are usually on the field for less time so that cuts down on the physical stress on their bodies. We had a state run a few years ago and at practice we really cut down on the starters reps. Only enough to know where to go and what to do. Obviously we needed to walk the line between not enough-just right-too much. What that also did allow us to develop the second string players more and we didn't lose anything with the studs.
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Post by tabs52 on Aug 4, 2016 8:11:24 GMT -6
I would agree with what fantom said, that is why you train hard in the off season, for this purpose right here. Believe a board drill is not going to do damage to them, but as the s and c coach look for ways to recover them in the season alter how you train during the season
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Post by blb on Aug 4, 2016 8:50:47 GMT -6
During practice we gave players water breaks every 20 minutes at most plus a full five-minute break ('Sky Drill') in middle.
Additionally, if I felt effort was beginning to lag I would give them a break. There is no sense getting "reps" if they can't go full-speed.
I was very cognizant of wanting them as fresh (especially legs) and eager to hit on game nights as possible.
Having said that, Football is an uncomfortable game. Kids are going to be sore and tired from the first day of practice until a week or two after the last.
So to be successful they have to take pride in doing difficult things well (not just surviving or getting through them).
That's where physical AND mental toughness comes in, and that must be ingrained during Off Season conditioning.
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Post by dubber on Aug 4, 2016 10:06:25 GMT -6
I'll just echo a lot of what fantom and others said. Rest them when you can. Even 1-2 plays can help. Rest them on return units, not coverage units. We don't rest guys on FG/XPT because that play is worth points. So our best guys on that. As the season goes on we are usually on the field for less time so that cuts down on the physical stress on their bodies. We had a state run a few years ago and at practice we really cut down on the starters reps. Only enough to know where to go and what to do. Obviously we needed to walk the line between not enough-just right-too much. What that also did allow us to develop the second string players more and we didn't lose anything with the studs. I'll deviate a little bit from this advice. Our best coverage team is our first kickoff......our stud RB/LB is on that unit. Ideally, he won't be on the kickoff unit the rest of the game. If it is a "coverage CRITICAL" situation, he'll be back on it. He is also off PAT. From TD to Defense, that is enough rest for him to be ready to go. I will agree on the cutting back in practice on hitting and conditioning. Also, you do need to know where you can get rest..... For example, we have probably 5 2-way starters this season, which is uncommonly low for us. Our TE/DE knows his break is on offense. Our QB/FS knows his break is on defense. Our RB/MLB knows his break is on defense. Our DT/C knows his break is on defense. Our DT/OL knows his break is on offense. For us, those decisions are made around the drop off we experience. The drop off at center, quarterback (two positions we never like rotation at anyway), and running back are MUCH BIGGER than the corresponding defensive substitutions. Our DT and DE are FAR WAY our best upfront and have adequate offensive back ups. |
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Post by poundtherock1 on Aug 4, 2016 12:07:04 GMT -6
We treat our 2 way guys as backups on one side of the ball. That way they are fresh and never off the field on their dominant side, and effective for 10-15 plays on the other.
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Post by coachklee on Aug 5, 2016 11:57:12 GMT -6
OL gets rest on D
QB gets rest on D
RB / FB /WR will mostly get rest on O
DBs & LBs are the guys that give up big plays on D...I'm only taking them off on D if they are the QB or OL & need a break...and then it is all about field position, the tempo of the opponent, score, etc.
We also work to try & have as many 1-way starters as possible so most of the 1st & 2nd quarters guys just play on 1-side which leaves are best guys fresher at the end of the game
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