Off Season Preparation Philosophy Question

All the schemes in the world won't matter if you aren't in the right system to fit your talent. Better to concentrate on you first then on everyone you play. There is a book out there called "Good to Great". One of the main thrusts of the book is that you not only have to have the right people "on the bus" but also in the right seats on the bus. It is a business book about developing companies that achieve beyond what others do, but most of the principals in the book are relevant to coaching football.

The off-season is about development for the entire program.

Physically, emotionally, mentally, and SOCIALLY

I guess, the last part is not so easily recognized. I really believe in developing the subtle social qualities, both within the staff ( understand how you other coaches think, what their philosophy is, how they teach, how they look at other players, what qualities they value, how they communicate, etc)......as well as the players ( kids hanging out together, understanding each

THIS ALL BOILS DOWN TO INVESTING IN ONE-ANOTHER ( each member put together = The Program )

I guess I am big on this because .........those Top Tier teams in your league? Guess where they stack up in those dynamics? Kids are tight and fight for one-another ( I didn't say they all get along, just that they respect one another primarily because they ALL put their "time" in ), same goes for the coaches.

Football isn't played in a vacuum - we just don't throw out athletes on the field. If you can get players turned into a family, you've got "something". The trickle-down effect of open communication / sharing / help with the other coaches is just like unified parenting, a synergistic result is reaped.


With that being said, examining your conference opponents and their personnel......just stopping them from doing what they do when they win.....Can you stop those wing-t teams from running belly consistently? Can you stop those Pro-I teams from ramming Iso down your throat? Can you get pressure on that spread team? etc.......WHAT is your programs answer to these questions out of your base package?

You really can't answer these honestly until you get an idea of what kind of team YOU are going to be (after personnel evaluation and off-season participation of your athletes)? Does that dynamic change "WHO" you are going to be in the next season? From THAT 'change', how does that measure up with your opponents?

Brophy, certainly helping the players grow is the highest priority in the offseason. I took the question to be about Xs and Os.
5085, I agree that you an go overboard in trying to beat "that team". We see it on these boards, especially the defensive boards, with coaches saying things like, "Our league is a running league so I'm not that worried about the pass". I ask myself, "What about the playoffs?". Sure, you need to be have a plan for every system you may eventually see. Still, I believe that if you want to get to the top, there is a team that will be in the way year in and year out and you need to fit your system to beat them.

Phantom--one of my favorite quotes from Parcells is "You can't win championships with a 9-7 blueprint". Not that I am suggesting that scheming against the top teams is doing. In fact, after further thinking, a lot of my response depends on what is meant by "concentrating" on beating those teams. Like in my example, I think the spring should have been spent constructing a defensive system that would allow our players to succeed IN A SCHEME THAT COULD BEAT OUR MAJOR OPPOSITION. So I think a lot of my answer would depend on what coach sky meant by scheming against the premiere teams.

Great stuff! Here's my input:

I think we are trying to address some of the larger fundamental issues that could help us win more consistently in the future, and frankly that is one of the primary reasons I'm back with these guys this year. Last year was tough, we missed the playoffs after having high hopes going in. We had a D1 QB, senior line, another skill kid who'll who'll be playing baseball at the next level, but had plenty of D1 offers for FB.

We decided to do 3 things that I really support:

1. Put Character and Commitment above talent! We have had our share of div one kids the past few years. Only problems was they weren't high character guys, not great teammates, not great students, they wanted the limelight, girls, to be "the man". The coaching staff now admits that they did not aggressively address this attitude. It was my first year with this team last year and i was shocked that the top players were not held to rigorous conduct and leadership standards. The HC has made this the primary off season issue and has done a great job of laying down the law and following through. A lot of the problem children graduated and the HC has really communicated this new shift very well. The school admin loves it, so do parents, and boosters.

2. No more "defense d jour". The HC is an offensive guy and the DC loves to change systems yearly. Last year they installed the 3-5-3 then abandoned it after 2 games. My opinion was that it was not researched well enough. Coach what you know. They have committed extensive off season time and resources to commit to the 4-3 and the HC says it's our defense for the next 5 years, period! It has the flexibility needed on our league.

3. Offense was always predicated on Star player, too one dimensional. Going back to a Multiple I that focuses on 3-step, PA and Screens. It will always adjust to personnel, but not by 75%, more like 25%. In the past we have always tried to feature a stud, Div 1 QB, Div 1 FB, etc. Works great against weaker team. Better teams stop our feature kid, we were done. Going to try to achieve better balance.

So yes, these guys did take a longer look in the mirror than ever before to try and position ourselves to win consistently, but also to put character ahead of W-L. Great stuff.

In terms of improving ourselves first. Man, to me, thats a given. I've had my off season workouts, group and individual goals in place. I'm a hard worker. To me that stuff is a given. All our camaraderie stuff starts to gel in May and continues through the summer.

Back to the opponent strategy stuff; Of those 3 teams we need to beat to make the playoffs, historically we can't stop two of them, and we can't score against the other. I agree that we need to position ourselves well and get our house in order. But man, I can't help but think that we have to also figure out a more strategic approach to ensure that we can compete with those guys from and X"s and O's standpoint. I wanna win, I am spending a lot time and working my tail off with the boys. I'd like to see more commitment looking at film, doing more research and strategy sessions to produce a wining outcome. I'm convinced we can beat these guys consistently, with a better game plan.

I would agree more with your assistants and HC. I don't discount preparing for the main teams in your conference, but that is of no importance if you don't figure out who you are as a team. You must become great at what you are planning to do as a team and let those big games take your focus during that week.

My suggestion if you were one of my assistants---I would tell you to do everything you can scout and breakdown those big teams--over the offseason. I may even send another assistant your way and entrust you guys to give us a much better shot at winning those big ones. I would just want to make sure that once the season starts you help to prepare--and your sole focus should be--that weeks game. I am sure your mindset is already that way.