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Post by blockdownkickout on Sept 12, 2013 7:54:15 GMT -6
Gentlemen, we have a problem that I'd like to get some opinions on. We're only two games in and due to injuries, we find ourselves paper thin up front. As far as guys I would trust to play in a varsity football game, we have 5 starters and one backup (maybe 2 if we were playing a bad team). On the defensive side it's about the same. My question is have any of you ever gone to complete non contact practices this early in the season? Have you seen a big drop off in your toughness up front when you've done that? Any suggestions as to how to stay aggressive on the OL when you're not hitting? Or is the risk of injuries in practice worth it to stay aggressive? Thanks
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Post by silkyice on Sept 12, 2013 8:14:52 GMT -6
We only hit live for 5 to 15 minutes in an offensive goalline period on Tuesdays each week during the season. But that period is brutal, full live, cutting, gang tackling. We are very physical on Fridays.
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Post by silkyice on Sept 12, 2013 8:15:05 GMT -6
We only hit live for 5 to 15 minutes in an offensive goalline period on Tuesdays each week during the season. But that period is brutal, full live, cutting, gang tackling. We are very physical on Fridays.
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Post by woodyboyd on Sept 12, 2013 8:35:45 GMT -6
We only have contact during spring ball and two-a-days. Once the season starts, everything is non-contact (or gentle thud on the line). We have only had 3 losses in the past six years. Going to two-platoon and non-contact have been, in our coaching staff's opinion, the two biggest reasons why. Having seen what it has done for us I will never go back to full-contact practices.
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Post by blockdownkickout on Sept 12, 2013 8:39:59 GMT -6
We only have contact during spring ball and two-a-days. Once the season starts, everything is non-contact (or gentle thud on the line). We have only had 3 losses in the past six years. Going to two-platoon and non-contact have been, in our coaching staff's opinion, the two biggest reasons why. Having seen what it has done for us I will never go back to full-contact practices. So, what is your philosophy on teaching tackling? Is there ever a time when you run team defense and you are taking the ball carrier to the ground? |
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Post by woodyboyd on Sept 12, 2013 9:24:44 GMT -6
We only have contact during spring ball and two-a-days. Once the season starts, everything is non-contact (or gentle thud on the line). We have only had 3 losses in the past six years. Going to two-platoon and non-contact have been, in our coaching staff's opinion, the two biggest reasons why. Having seen what it has done for us I will never go back to full-contact practices. So, what is your philosophy on teaching tackling? Is there ever a time when you run team defense and you are taking the ball carrier to the ground? I coach offense only, but our defense only does live tackling in spring ball, and even then, we NEVER take a player to the ground. The only time a ball carrier is taken to the ground is during our final practice of spring ball (Think of a college spring game). We teach tackling in shirts and shorts. We focus on shimmy, fit on the ball carrier, violent arm swing. Our players do a daily tackling circuit that involves shimmy and wrap on a ball carrier, violent arm swings on a ball carrier holding a stand-up bag, reaction drills where the defender must break down in front of a moving ball carrier and get a good two hand touch on the ball carrier's hips while keeping his chest in front of him. In all honesty, we have become better tacklers by focusing on "tagging" a ball carrier below the waist with two hands and our chest in front. Our defense is always healthy, we rarely miss tackles, and we still have a very "violent" defense that plays extremely physical on game night. |
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Post by blockdownkickout on Sept 12, 2013 10:36:12 GMT -6
I'm just going to keep asking questions because I think this is where we're going. So, team defense - how is the defensive line playing? Is there an offensive line showing blocking schemes? Are you lining up garbage cans?
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Post by newhope on Sept 12, 2013 13:13:24 GMT -6
We don't hit much, other than bags. O-line is very physical, I don't think the defense is (and they do more live than the offense does. At my previous school, we did it about the same and we were physical. I think a lot of it has to do with the players themselves as much as it has to do with how much you hit during the week. NFL doesn't hit during the week, games are pretty physical. It's an interesting question, however, and I'm not sure there is a clear answer. Once you get short handed enough, though, you have to ask am I willing to get one hurt in practice and get beat because he's not out there on Friday night?
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Post by woodyboyd on Sept 12, 2013 20:57:13 GMT -6
I'm just going to keep asking questions because I think this is where we're going. So, team defense - how is the defensive line playing? Is there an offensive line showing blocking schemes? Are you lining up garbage cans? We will use a scout team offense (we do not use cans). The scout team tries to model the opposing offense at about 75% speed. We don't believe in going full speed against a scout team as our #1's will always win, and our #2's rarely ever give a good look of the opposing offense. Our defensive coaches are mostly concerned with the run fits. We preach proper fit and make sure every one knows their responsibility. We truly focus on being great teachers of fundamentals and how each position fits into the total defensive scheme. We feel that if our players know their responsibilities by heart that they will play faster on game day, thus being a physical and violent defense. Additionally, our defense gets off the field about 30-45 minutes before our offense so they can get in the weight room every day. This focus on lifting/conditioning also helps make us play physically on Fridays without risking injury in practice. |
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Post by realdawg on Sept 13, 2013 4:00:56 GMT -6
We don't go live much either. Thud up front and wrap the ball carrier up unless HC gets pissed about the focus level and makes it live. We are a very physical team but we do not tackle well in space as a result so we emphasize getting to the ball to compensate.
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