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Post by funkfriss on Apr 15, 2019 9:17:30 GMT -6
I also think the “misuse of unlimited game film storage” is all an excuse for more $$. You could easily set a limit for game film, say 15 total per season. Problem solved.
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Post by funkfriss on Mar 29, 2019 8:57:56 GMT -6
I'm all for breaks every 30-45 minutes from meetings, but why call it a cell phone break? Why not just call it a break? 15 minutes to go do whatever. This was sort of the point of my earlier post. Everyone gives their players breaks during the NFL workday I would presume. But...because Kingsbury is calling them cell phone breaks, he gets to sound more hip and in-tune with the needs of modern players. This. “Come to the Cardinals bro where we grind and shine and get our swole on. No grandpas in hoodies with sticks up their asses allowed!”
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Post by funkfriss on Mar 21, 2019 8:12:01 GMT -6
We’re a small school and have been fortunate the past few years to have an absolute beast of a lineman. The only problem is, he’s SO much better than his teammates that he doesn’t get much out of practice. He destroyed anybody one-on-one and any team session he’d mess everything up if he went hard. In short, we struggled to both make practice worthwhile for him and also good for the whole team. We’ve got another kid coming up that will be the same way. Any suggestions? Coach if you were looking for some better match ups, I'll trade you my starting guards next year for him, both are about 175lbs and 5'8 If they both pull on Power and run into each other I’m going to have to decline. The spots are already filled...
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Post by funkfriss on Mar 21, 2019 7:27:31 GMT -6
Thanks for the replies. Definitely work to perfect technique as much as possible.
The biggest problem we have is during team time when he goes against scout team as a DL. It’s like the Waterboy except as a lineman. We’ve tried putting him against our next best or a quicker kid, but didn’t matter. He blew everything up and we couldn’t give the rest of the defense a look.
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Post by funkfriss on Mar 20, 2019 6:13:58 GMT -6
We’re a small school and have been fortunate the past few years to have an absolute beast of a lineman. The only problem is, he’s SO much better than his teammates that he doesn’t get much out of practice. He destroyed anybody one-on-one and any team session he’d mess everything up if he went hard. In short, we struggled to both make practice worthwhile for him and also good for the whole team.
We’ve got another kid coming up that will be the same way. Any suggestions?
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Post by funkfriss on Mar 8, 2019 20:36:30 GMT -6
Boy I tell you that must be nice!! Maybe it’s b/c we’re a smaller school? Here’s a snippet of what we have. Two years ago, the best RB we’ve ever had, good throwing and running QB, fastest kid on the field, meh receivers, experienced OL. Majored in run game, especially run option. This year: QB was back, less experienced OL, two RBs that were both decent, best crop of receivers we’ve had. Less run, more pass, more QB designed runs and RPOs. Next season: New QB (never taken a meaningful snap at any level), no true RB, great receivers, even less experienced OL. More quick pass/screen/sprint out game. More option runs. Limited drop back. Again, we’re not changing WHAT we do so much as HOW we do it. More emphasis on different formations, packages and plays. But this is exactly what I'm talking about. We are a flexbone team and we plug players into the system where they can help the team. Your great running back and QB sound like a great 1-2 punch for our system. If we had a guy who could throw well we would run veer pass and waggle a few plays more a game but that's really it. My point is that if you have a system you really don't need to change anything. Just plug them into a spot where they get the ball as much as possible. Then when you have average talent your not jumping to some other system and vise versa. This is just my opinion Agreed, I don’t advocate changing systems at all, but I do like adapting what you do year to year. Emphasizing certain formations and plays, adding a few wrinkles that you may not have used the past couple years (like adding a sprint out game), etc. To use flexbobe as an example, one of the problems I’ve seen with FB teams is when they have a weak spot at QB, FB or WB it’s too easy as a defense to force you to give it to your weak link. So for me, I would adapt to the personnel. Weak at FB? Run less triple and midline and more Load option and Jet/Rocket schemes where you can use the FB as a blocker or trap/counter player just to keep defenses honest. Also maybe go with more empty formations to get either a TE or another receiving threat into the picture. All things still within the FB system, but maybe not exactly what was run the past couple years. You see this a lot in the pros. One example, the Skins get RG III and they take their zone running concepts and turn them into options, RPOs, boots and sprint outs to compliment the player. Cousins now the starter? A lot less read, more downfield progression concepts and pocket PA passes. No wholesale change, just adapting the system. The Patriots are another one where their system is the same, but they adapt so well year-to-year to fit personnel.
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Post by funkfriss on Mar 8, 2019 9:16:22 GMT -6
I see everyone talk about changing or adapting their system year to year but how many people are actually getting different kinds of kids year to year? I have never been in a place that was like that. You may have a 1 in a 1,000,000 class or athlete come through but normally towns have the same "type" of kids every year Boy I tell you that must be nice!! Maybe it’s b/c we’re a smaller school? Here’s a snippet of what we have. Two years ago, the best RB we’ve ever had, good throwing and running QB, fastest kid on the field, meh receivers, experienced OL. Majored in run game, especially run option. This year: QB was back, less experienced OL, two RBs that were both decent, best crop of receivers we’ve had. Less run, more pass, more QB designed runs and RPOs. Next season: New QB (never taken a meaningful snap at any level), no true RB, great receivers, even less experienced OL. More quick pass/screen/sprint out game. More option runs. Limited drop back. Again, we’re not changing WHAT we do so much as HOW we do it. More emphasis on different formations, packages and plays.
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Post by funkfriss on Mar 8, 2019 8:18:25 GMT -6
The best advice I can give anyone who aspires to be a HC or have autonomy in their offense is to come up with a system that you are comfortable with, but also can be adapted year-to-year based on talent at different positions.
I think running the same system of base plays is vital because your players get to the Varsity level with a great foundation that can be easily perfected. However, you can’t be a slave to your favorite plays if you don’t have the cat(s) to run them.
I remember when I was in HS. We were an I, Power football team. Our coach had always had a 200+ pounding FB, a good lead RB, and a fast wing/slot. My senior year, we had a decent RB, nobody to fill the FB or wing roles, two great TEs, and the most athletic QB he’d ever had. Our solution? We continued to run FB Dive and Power and everything else he’d run in the past with kids that really didn’t fit while at the same time neglecting the talent he had at the QB position.
All that really had to be done was create a decent short passing/sprint out game, run more option looks (which we had in the playbook), and let our run game complement our QB. We would still be running basically the same plays we already knew (maybe a few new pass concepts) so the carryover and expertise would still be there.
In short, I think some coaches are happy with a certain degree of success (we went 6-3 that year) and become complacent. To me, I coach by three mantras.
Bobby Bowden: “You don’t prepare to beat the average team on your schedule. You prepare to beat the BEST team on your schedule.”
Bill Parcells: “Every player deserves the chance to win and it is your job as a coach to give them the best chance to win.”
Every intelligent offensive mind: “Get your dudes the ball!”
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Post by funkfriss on Mar 4, 2019 14:05:15 GMT -6
Would definitely recommend a Rocketbook for the future. So easy to set up and use. Take notes, upload instantly and erase. I also like it for doodling and sending things to coaches as it can be sent to multiple people via text as well.
As for past notes from before the Rocketbook I have scanned them within ScanPro. All are now in Drive which I can access from anywhere and are separated by year. I also have a “Thoughts for ___” doc that I’ve done the past four years that takes the little nuggets I get each year and want to incorporate the next season.
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Post by funkfriss on Feb 21, 2019 17:04:41 GMT -6
reminds me of a John Wooden story with Bill Walton: everyone on UCLA basketball team had to shave.. Bill Walton (star center for UCLA):" Coach I am not going to shave... My style is to have a beard" CoachWooden:" Bill we are really going to miss you" Walton shaved!!!! obviously you cant do this in all circumstances...But I do like the discipline part of it When you’re a 10-time champ with 10 other 5-star players on the team you can have any rules you want!
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Post by funkfriss on Feb 21, 2019 10:08:47 GMT -6
Not at all! The only thing we do in the summer is 7-on-7 a handful of Sundays and a couple days of prep before team camp. There is a week between camp and practice that we give the kids off as well, but honestly, after team camp the boys are chomping at the bit to start practice. That's good! It must be different than us because we run the weight room during the summer on top of 7 on 7 and some OL competitions, so we feel that we all need a break from each other before the long haul begins! Sorry, we do weights as well. We do it year-round, so didn't even think about it as something "extra" we do in the summer.
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Post by funkfriss on Feb 21, 2019 10:07:21 GMT -6
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Post by funkfriss on Feb 21, 2019 9:51:09 GMT -6
Our program has been going to a 3-day team camp for the past 10+ years. From the coaching side, it's a great way to get reps and your base schemes in. It really gives us a head start on the season as it is held at the end of July and we roll into practice shortly after. For the kids, it's a great way to get away from home for a few days and hang out with their teammates. I know this, there would be a mutiny if I told the guys we wouldn't be going this year! Do you ever feel like there is some player burnout during the season by doing your team camp at the end of July? We do our team camp in June, give them some time away from football and weights at the end of July/early August before we start our season. Not at all! The only thing we do in the summer is 7-on-7 a handful of Sundays and a couple days of prep before team camp. There is a week between camp and practice that we give the kids off as well, but honestly, after team camp the boys are chomping at the bit to start practice.
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Post by funkfriss on Feb 21, 2019 9:44:54 GMT -6
Dumb rule. This isn’t Remember the Titans. Sunshine. Sun - Shine If the kid is a tough SOB QB like that he can have hair down to his ankles for all I care!!
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Post by funkfriss on Feb 21, 2019 8:55:56 GMT -6
Our program has been going to a 3-day team camp for the past 10+ years. From the coaching side, it's a great way to get reps and your base schemes in. It really gives us a head start on the season as it is held at the end of July and we roll into practice shortly after. For the kids, it's a great way to get away from home for a few days and hang out with their teammates. I know this, there would be a mutiny if I told the guys we wouldn't be going this year!
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Post by funkfriss on Feb 21, 2019 7:31:26 GMT -6
Does anyone have a team rule about hair length? When do you enforce it? What do you do if they don’t cut their hair? I’m curious to why you, or anyone else, feels the need for this rule.
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Post by funkfriss on Feb 14, 2019 11:13:21 GMT -6
I actually wasn't impressed with it as a whole. I've been going to the MN Glazier for 10+ years, so I have heard from the great national Glazier speakers (Fox, Slack, Golla, Hetlet). Looking back, I wish I had sat on more of them as I probably would have picked up on more the second/third go around than what I did. As it is, I sat on mostly offensive sessions with the local HS and college assistant speakers. Did grab a few nuggets, but nothing groundbreaking. Coach Ashfield (Rice) and Coach Bazea (Homewood-Flossmoor, IL) were the highlights for me. I think I'm becoming one of the old guys at the clinics. Pretty soon I'll be sleeping in the chairs in the hallway. With the national guys I always try to avoid their systems and go to their other sessions or sessions not specific to the system.
And I completely agree on the casino location...I liked the downtown hotel.
100% on the national guys. Their "extra" session is usually worth the price of admission. And I echo the location. Now, if we could just take the casino's conference area and attach it to the Bloomington hotel..... The Bloomington hotel was a great location (BK breakfast anyone?) and had the BEST parking I've ever seen for a coaching clinic, but it was definitely getting too small for Glazier.
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Post by funkfriss on Feb 13, 2019 13:17:49 GMT -6
I actually wasn't impressed with it as a whole. I've been going to the MN Glazier for 10+ years, so I have heard from the great national Glazier speakers (Fox, Slack, Golla, Hetlet). Looking back, I wish I had sat on more of them as I probably would have picked up on more the second/third go around than what I did.
As it is, I sat on mostly offensive sessions with the local HS and college assistant speakers. Did grab a few nuggets, but nothing groundbreaking. Coach Ashfield (Rice) and Coach Bazea (Homewood-Flossmoor, IL) were the highlights for me.
I think I'm becoming one of the old guys at the clinics. Pretty soon I'll be sleeping in the chairs in the hallway.
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Post by funkfriss on Feb 6, 2019 13:26:05 GMT -6
He has cut-ups of just McVay's eyes, dating back to college. And he knows when he eyes get a certain diameter without exceeding a certain diameter, exactly what play he called. Gotta wear shades. I remember catching Grambling St. games on TV some years back and seeing their coach in shades (and a suit) in the Superdome thinking he was a bit out of place. Maybe he was just smarter than everyone else
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Post by funkfriss on Feb 5, 2019 9:01:31 GMT -6
The point of padding isn't to prep the opponent, it is to prep the coach. When you thoroughly break down film like this you start to notice subtle tendencies that carry over when it's time to game prep. You start to understand what it means when the guard and tackle are a foot closer to each other, why an OLB is 4x4 and the Corner 8x1 one play and up at the LOS and pressed respectively the next, why receivers vary their stance and splits, etc. It really is Football 101. Not only that, but in the NFL you play against the same coordinators and players for so many years that you start to pick up on their particular whens and whys.
One thing that I'll add to this. I'm not sure how much football I really know, but I feel like my knowledge is pretty good. Regardless, the knowledge I do have I believe is strongly due to the fact that I have coached at various points of my career in the Pro Style I, Wishbone, Wing-T, Spread Wing-T, Flexbone Triple, and Spread Zone w/ various passing concepts borrowed from West Coast, Air Raid, and Run and Shoot. On the defensive side of the ball, I have been on teams that have run a 5-2, 4-4, 3-3 stack, 4-3, and 3-4. We have run every possible zone coverage and man. All throughout I have read the books, watched the videos, listened to the speakers, and learned as much as I could from the coaches I worked under. I've also listened to many coaches speak on offenses and defenses that we've never run.
My point is, if you are a young coach, get as much information as you can on EVERYTHING (and if you're a HC encourage your coaches to do this). Don't pigeon hole yourself to only learning your team's offense and defense or even the position you coach. You are losing out on so much valuable information that definitely will help you down the road. For example, when we see "exotic" things like Flexbone Triple or Wing-T I don't bat an eye because I can pick up quickly what schemes they are running and what they are trying to accomplish because I've been there, done that. Hell, many times I can even decipher pretty quickly WHO they got their offense from.
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Post by funkfriss on Jan 28, 2019 9:45:14 GMT -6
maybe its just me maybe I just haven't been around a bunch of really dedicated assistant caoches (not HCs or most coordinators), but when someone tells adults to do something on their own over the weekend I've found that like 90% of people either don't do it or do it very sparingly and then try to pass it off as they really did it and dug deep into it. That being said I'm all on board the no kids till Monday philosophy. I just think the adults should be coming in to work. I'm glad I have good assistants who enjoy this part of the gig, so having film broken down and ideas for game plan come Sunday has never been an issue. However, if you have those a little less motivated for this, I would suggest a sheet of questions that coaches fill out as they are breaking down film. We do this anyways because it really helps to speed up the game planning process.
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Post by funkfriss on Jan 28, 2019 8:40:23 GMT -6
Maybe it's just me, but I really like seeing a number of people who used to #grind on Saturday or the entire weekend but have since scaled way back and see it as an improvement. If you do it and kids are jacked up to be there every Saturday morning, even in week 10, and each Saturday is productive than kudos to you and keep on knowing you're lucky with the kids you have.
From my experience, it ain't worth it. If the season is going poorly, every Saturday morning is a b*tch and the excuses for missing start piling up. Even if the season is going well and you make a playoff run, those Saturdays start to wear on both players and coaches and burnout sets in. We stopped having Saturdays about 5 years ago. This past season we made it further than our program has in a long time and our kids even came in the Monday after we lost in the semis saying "Man I wish we had practice today." There was no burnout after the long season and no amount of lactic acid reduction can replace that.
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Post by funkfriss on Jan 27, 2019 12:02:41 GMT -6
Crazy, in california you can have zero contact on sundays, Volluntary or otherwise. Ive always hated volluntary/mandatory rules in general as everyhting becomes default mandatory anyhow. Might as well call it like it is Bingo! Let’s be honest, there’s no such thing as optional for most coaches.
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Post by funkfriss on Jan 27, 2019 11:45:29 GMT -6
Saturday - Coaches break down film on their own
Sunday - Coaches game plan and practice plan for the week (O likes to go in the AM, D likes to go in the PM)
Kids relax, get sleep and be kids for a couple days
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Post by funkfriss on Jan 16, 2019 10:44:05 GMT -6
I like to take the family to one clinic somewhere we've never been before. Going to the Tunica, MS Nike this year. Any suggestions on good things to do with the family while we're there (youngest is 9, oldest is 17)?
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Post by funkfriss on Jan 16, 2019 10:02:48 GMT -6
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Post by funkfriss on Jan 9, 2019 9:17:31 GMT -6
Like every problem in our society, I would change media. Television and movies that burn fantasy pictures in peoples heads that the any Joe can be All-American or that if you're not Coach Carter you're a pile of chit. Social media that has given morans a platform to spue garbage that sounds great but is nothing but blatant lies or fool's gold.
Not to mention kids today can't carry face to face conversations because they're only comfortable communicating with their thumbs.
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Post by funkfriss on Nov 30, 2018 7:43:09 GMT -6
I was always coached (played OL) that when your teammates score a TD you need to run to the EZ and celebrate with them (not excesively) and then get ready for the point after. I see high school, college, and even NFL were after a TD skill guys and OL just turn and walk to the sideline like they just went three and out. Is this something you talk to your guys about or no? I always emphasis to my OL that they need to chase the ball. The ball carrier could fumble it, you have to be there for the next snap anyways, you will celebrate the touchdown, or the least you are the first one there to help up your teammate. Are other coaches actively telling their players this too? This is one of those things that I would not coach up. If kids play hard, do their job, and compete then why should I care how they choose to act after a touchdown or big play (as long as it's not detrimental). Every kid isn't going to be a rah-rah guy and there's nothing wrong with that. In fact, I could flip the coin on you and say "Why do players have to celebrate EVERY decent play like they just won the Super Bowl? You got a first down...congratulations." What I tend to find at least with our team is that kids understand the moment. A TD in the first quarter might not get much of a celebration, but one that changes momentum in a tight game or puts the game away late will get a different response.
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Post by funkfriss on Nov 20, 2018 10:07:51 GMT -6
I've heard multiple people and media outlets call last night's Chiefs/Rams game an instant classic. Did I miss something? I thought it was a good game, but not in the realm of instant classic material. By the end, it started feeling like I was watching the circus or a Big 12 game. There has to be some semblance of competitive defense for it to be a classic in my opinion.
Or maybe I'm just old....
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Post by funkfriss on Aug 10, 2018 13:37:53 GMT -6
It worries me. CTE research is always the go-to reason but I think it's much larger than that. I worry for the video game generation. I am not claiming this is you by any means, but I have a buddy who coaches at a small school (about 200) who is struggling to field a team (about 16). I was talking to him about it and the troublesome part is he refuses to address any issues that might be impacting his situation. He claims its all this soft video game culture (although we played video games 25 years ago too). He claims that concussions are a non issue (only a problem for guys in the NFL, otherwise he and his buddies would be struggling now) and refuses to do baseline testing. All the while relying on drills banned for safety reasons, and multi mile runs in gear. His practices tend to be a lot of standing around getting yelled at, followed by running then more getting yelled at. My point being, WE have to offer something great for these kids and not just blame them/society for dwindling numbers. Note I am not writing we make it easy, just be logical and engaging. I want to highlight something that nobody else is saying. We did have lots of media when we were younger (TV, video games, computers, etc) but the difference is that our parents weren’t heavy consumers as well. Parents engaged with their kids, encouraged them to get out of the house, etc. Now parents hide behind their own screens and are more than happy to have their kids at a screen for hours too as long as they aren’t bothering them. As others have said, kids are kids and will always be kids. They’re like clay, easy to mold but you better get the mold right before it’s too late. Learned behavior is the culprit IMHO.
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