Single Platoon Question

I coach Oline and LBs. I meet with the Oline twice a week at lunch. Gives us time to watch extra film of ourselves, film of the opponent, go over blocking schemes, and its a good way to just spend more time as a group. It has gotten to the point that more than just Olineman want to come so we mostly talk oline but we go over some defense now too.

I think it depends on the context. Taking responsibility for your position group in a staff meeting is a lot different from puffing your chest out or pointing fingers at other groups. 

I don't know if that is completely true. Depending on where you are it is encouraged to develop an identity within your position group. Just an example but like in Meyer's book. Just saying its not as black and white.

Back when I played and into the beginning of my coaching career we used to Platoon, you were an offensive player or a defensive player that is it.

It created a "friendly" competition.

We would split them up entirely! They would never lift together, watch film at the same time, different cabins at camp, or practice (obviously).

During Camp, the offense and defense used to literally be at each other's throats, and it would get nasty.

Kids had an Identity, they would literally argue over who has the hardest practice and who was the best.

The factions would LITERALLY hate each other to the point where if a kid got moved to the other side of the ball he would be physically threatened lol

We had a culture of showing each other up and it made a really good work ethic because each position wanted to be able to trash talk

It would last all the way up until the opening kick off of the first game... and then we built ourselves a team.

Now-a-days (under a new staff) we split the entire team and give EVERYONE an offensive and defensive position. 
It is more efficient as kids have a bigger chance of seeing the field, but there isn't the same intensity of the old Offense vs Defense battles.

update..We won 29-7..anyone watching the game would know we should have had 50 against an inferior team...we had a minimum of 6 holding calls (they had none)... anyway directly after the game HC says good game etc if we want to beat our rival next week we need to limit our penalties and play clean...OL guy takes his guys and says you rocked, we ain't changin a thing..kids were pumped and excited...now like a said above he is probably the 2nd best HS Oline guy I know (not counting me) LOL Again I am torn...he is trying to get kids jacked but says opposite the coach

I agree they are completely different. I was attempting to say I don't think everyone that creates unit cohesiveness is a cancer nor do I always think it's a bad thing. Think of all the people that might read a book like that and see the unit cohesiveness portions and attempt to apply it. They aren't really a cancer but a coach trying to get better. Sadly there is a lot more college coaching information than HS.

I think it's a double edge sword. I feel like if you are preaching team all the time and at the same time each position group is saying their the most important it can send a mixed message.

Now that is a problem. There is a difference between creating pride and cohesiveness in a group and telling them they are the most important group.

I disagree. Immediately after you have six holding penalties and the HC tells the team that that needs to get fixed, "We're not gonna change a thing" is not a good message. 

I'm trying to give the guy the benefit of the doubt based on what I know about jgordon. If he would have been blatantly disrespectful I doubt he would be "torn" about whether this guy was a problem.



Maybe I'm just over thinking it. 

Our O-line coach was doing O-line dinners a few years back and our D-line coach started to help hosting them as well.  They pretty much coach all the same kids so they do that together and watch extra film on Mondays.

I encourage our position coaches to meet with their kids to go over stuff or just see how things are going but I do want us to coordinate so that our message is the same.

I think what your guys are doing is great but you are right to want a single voice and message throughout the program.  I'm sure if you just addressed that everyone would be on board with it.