The Football Coaching Podcast with Joe Daniel

In 2004, I was captivated by the idea of throwing on every down. Chris Hatcher had me hooked. The Air Raid is absolutely brilliant. With just a handful of passing concepts, a simplistic running game, and a few screens and draws, you can make sure the defense is never right. Like every other scheme in football, it doesn't always turn out that way on the field. But it sure is a cool idea. While the offense is still being used, it's not as revered as it once was. You can look back to the '90s, when Kentucky's passing offense took the SEC by storm. Hatcher's teams that dominated Division II Football. And of course, Mike Leach throwing the ball all over the lot at Texas Tech. Not to mention, Tony Franklin System teams were dominating High School Football. When we look at the landscape today, it doesn't look quite as bright for the Air Raid. Leach and Kliff Klingsbury have struggled recently, as has Hatcher. (for what it's worth, I'm not a TFS member so I can't say for sure - but Tony seems to have evolved...) That doesn't mean it's not fun to talk about! So sit back and listen to Episode 131 of The Football Coaching Podcast. We're talking Mesh, Y-Shallow, Y-Stick, and just generally chucking the football all over the field!

You need to be prepared for anything, and that goes far beyond X's and O's. These are 8 important parts of your program that need to be addressed before practice starts.

How you install your defense shouldn't be scary. There's no right way to do it - but there's a lot of wrong ways. Coaches are often concerned way too much with how much to install, how fast. That's not the big issue. If you install too much, too fast, it's because you have too much in your playbook. It's a whole different issue - but one that I'll address in this podcast too. No, your bigger conern is not how much or how fast. The question is, is your focus in the right place? When you start installing all kinds of whacky defensive fronts and blitzes, your focus is no longer on the kids. Your focus is now on the X's and O's. That doesn't win football games. Listen to Episode 129 of The Football Coaching Podcast to find out how you can keep your focus where it needs to be when you install your defense this season.

I love the Wing-T Offense. So here's what I think about it. I'll tell you a basic overview of how I view the Wing-T Offense. It's incredibly versatile, but there are some basic rules. Then I'm going to give what I see as the advantages and disadvantages of running this type of scheme. If you're a Wing-T Guru, maybe you'll hear some things you agree with and some things you don't. For coaches who may not know a whole lot about the Wing-T, I hope this will spark you to learn a little more.

There's a lot of myths about tackling. But the truth of coaching better tackling is much simpler. I always hear coaches talking about violence. There's some misguided idea that if you don't lay the lumber you can't play defense. In reality, the whole goal of tackling is to get the man with the football on to the ground. He doesn't need to be hurt. We don't need cracked ribs, or snot bubbles (yes, a The Program reference). We just need him down on the ground, not gaining any more yards. How do you make that happen? It's not some special sauce. You don't need to hire some tackling guru. I do like what I've seen of USA Football by the way, I just don't believe that alone could fix your tackling woes. The key to better tackling is to coach specifically what you want from your kids in a tackle. Build confidence in their own abilities to make a tackle. And then get some help for them. 1 on 1 tackling is always going to be a tough job. The kids who carry the football are usually the best athletes on the field. If they weren't... well, they'd play more defense. But 3 on 1 is always good odds. By pursuing to the football, defeating blocks, and getting better with our reads and keys, tackling will automatically improve. More guys to the football means more chances to finish the tackle.

It's a huge Mail Bag episode today! Plus a short interview with Coach Ricky Coon from Southeast Missouri State. Here's what's on the menu... What are some key tips for a first year Head Coach? How should I adjust my practice plan for Junior High football? What adjustments do we make to the practice plan schedule for Training Camp? How do you align your corners for Cover 3? What are the 5 Defenses every coach should study? How do you hold the Linebackers on the Jet Sweep? Big mailbag show. Dive in and find some good stuff.

Are you getting all you can out of your practice time? Practices need to be geared toward winning football games. Not looking at your practices that way? You're leaving something on the field. Listen to Episode 125 to find out... How to plan a practice with a purpose What drills you should be using and what drills you don't need How to progress your players through a practice to learn a skill set they need for the next game (or needed last game!) How to create a competitive atmosphere while still accomplishing game planning goals How to know if you should install a new play or leave it out And you'll learn about the latest Live Web Clinic from Joe Daniel Football! Questions & Answers What coverage should we use on the Goal Line with our 4-2-5 Defense? Do you use a 6-Technique Strong End or a 30 technique Will Linebacker in your 4-3 Defense? Show Links To sign up for the May 19, 2015 Web Clinic, 15 Critical Keys To Planning Perfect Practices For Your Football Team Every Week This Season, visit http://joedanielfootball.com/ppwc What A Real 4-3 Defense Should Look Like For more detail on the 5 Minute Rule, listen to Episode 83 of The Football Coaching Podcast.

Coach Rob Patterson sat in with me for The Football Coaching Podcast in this episode. He's currently the JV Coach for Southern Lee High School in Sanford, NC. Coach Patterson has been on a path a lot of coaches want to know how to follow. He started coaching youth football when his son was playing. And he fell in love with it. After many years of coaching, he's moved to the Middle School and now High School coaching ranks. And he's winning. Rob is a Joe Daniel Football Insider member as well as a member of the 4-3 Defense eCourse. His youth team won their Pop Warner championship. He took his defense to the Middle School level and allowed just 8 ppg. Currently, he is coaching with the Junior Varsity at Southern Lee and also working in the box and as Quality Control for the Linebackers on the Varsity. Special Bonus: How To Build A Whiteboard, or... Why I Cannot Drive My Truck Right Now.

Episode 123 of The Football Coaching Podcast is the start of something new. This is our first Success Stories interview with members of Joe Daniel Football. Coach Donnie McDonough returned to his alma mater after college, and took over as the head coach at Western Wayne High School in 2013. After a rocky start, the team finished 6-4 in 2014. Their first winning season, and first playoff appearance, in 20 years. Coach McDonough is a member of The 4-3 Defense eCourse, and a Joe Daniel Football Insiders member. Hear how his football team made the turnaround in this episode!

Earlier in the week I wrote an article about the true nature of the 4-3 Defense. The way I see it, anyway. The 4-3 Defense has certain rules. A few years ago I wrote about the 8 Laws of The 4-3 Defense. Block down, step down. Spill the football. 7 Man Front. Mike Linebacker has to be a 2-gap player. I know a lot of people don't see the 4-3 Defense this way. That's OK for them. For me, the Miami 4-3 Defense as it was designed by Jimmy Johnson and his staff at The "U" is where it's at. And it is still one of the best defenses in football. So sit back and listen to How To Coach The 4-3 Defense! Show Links My interview with Shap Boyd on Quarters Coverage (includes the link for his video, assuming it's still available) Download my Defensive Installation Manual Want to learn more about the 4-3 Defense? Check out my eBook, Installing Football's 4-3 Over Defensive Front.

There's more to getting ready for a football season than printing out a pretty playbook. Your football team has to execute fundamentals if they're going to win. That means you need to have your drills ready. And this week, we're looking at how to build your defensive drill package for the upcoming season. Follow this 5 step process to decide how you're going to put your drills together. And know that your package will be a forever growing and changing entity. If you are going to follow these steps, you need to get Step 1 nailed down first. And that means you need the Defensive Installation Manual.

I get a lot of emails asking about the Install Schedule. There's more to it than that. While most of my eCourses give an in-depth look at the install schedule for the scheme, there's a key. Those courses include why you install each piece. That is why I'm not real excited to email you a spreadsheet of our install schedule. It changes every year. So check out episode 120 of The Football Coaching Podcast to see the 4 questions you need to ask when setting up your install schedule. I look at this specifically from the standpoint of Spring Practice, because it is April here as I record the podcast. But you should apply the same logic in the Fall as well. One last note. I just moved into a new office with it's own little studio. I recorded this without thinking - I knew there'd be an echo, just not how bad it would be. I'll hang up some blankets and put a couple books on the shelf before the next episode. But I thought this episode was too good from a content standpoint to just throw out (they're never as good the second time). Question & Answer When using Robber Coverage, which side is the Read Side against 11 personnel formations (1 TE, 1 RB)? Do you call your strength against a 12 personnel formation (2 TE's, 1 RB) Show Notes [02:45] Spring Practice Schedule [04:30] Why I don't sent out install schedules [07:07] Step 1 - What do you need to get good at? [10:04] Step 2 - What do you need to find out? [14:10] Step 3 - What do you install in the first 2 weeks of the season? [18:56] What coaches should be doing in Spring Practice [23:55] Step 4 - Ask yourself why. [33:40] Question: Which side is the Read Side in Robber Coverage against 11 Personnel? [39:30] Question: How do you call your strength alignment to 12 personnel formations?

Our coaching staff is considering a two platoon system for the 2015 season. That's not unusual, since it comes up every year. We just may be closer to it this season. It's time to look over the pro's and con's of the two platoon system in Episode 119 of The Football Coaching Podcast.. On the surface most coaches view the concept as being either "The Solution" or a complete impossibility. We have to dig deeper before we make the decision one way or another. Here's the hardest part. Once you make the decision you have to stick to your guns. You'll be tempted to play a lot of guys both ways. Two Platooning only the kids who are not good enough to start, however, won't change much. And then you have to be ready to play kids both ways when it's absolutely necessary, or the right decision for your football team. See the fine line? I'd love to hear your experiences with coaching a Two Platoon football team at the High School level. Post it in the comments! Show Notes The Football Coaching Podcast, Episode 80 - there's only 4 types of defense. http://joedanielfootball.com/80 [00:27] Announcement on open enrollment for Joe Daniel Football [02:30] Coaching a Two Platoon Football Team: Pro's and Con's [23:55] How To Defend Tight End Trips (Trey Formation) in the 3-3 Stack Defense [29:30] Can You Use The 3-2-6 Defense For Passing Downs Or As A Change-Up?

It's been used as a dirty word. A "system" guy. Quarterbacks lose draft position. Coaches get dismissed as being uncreative or unoriginal. They're probably not too upset. After all, you don't get labeled as a "system" guy until you start winning football games. I've just released my video series this week on The Pistol Power Offense System. You can check out the first free video here: http://joedanielfootball.com/pistolpower As I was putting it together, I thought about what it means to run a "system". It means you believe it what you do. You have a playbook, not a stack of plays. You know how you want the job done. Your players learn exactly what the job is. They gain confidence. They play faster. System coaches win more games. And you don't have to BUY a system. You can systematize your own offense. You SHOULD. Socheck out The Football Coaching Podcast Episode 118 to find out how you can turn your football offense into a SYSTEM.

Tons of new stuff on this episode of The Football Coaching Podcast. Among those, this is the first episode coming from directly from Joe Daniel Football. I'll announce some of the changes that are taking place and explain - for the first time - why I made the switch from three sites down to just one. And some of the behind the scenes that made this change so... errr, exciting. Ranting? Yes there is a rant or two. Specifically, what not to ask when you have the chance to meet an offensive guru. Or any genius, for that matter. And finally, I'll dive into the mailbag for a few questions: What do you think about the Hawk Tackle (rugby style) of Pete Carroll versus the USA Football tackling style? How do you coach press man technique for defensive backs? All that is this week on The Football Coaching Podcast!

Back to the mailbag! Well actually, the voicemail bag. I’ll be answering a couple questions that came in from our voicemail line – the best way to get your questions answered on the podcast. First, we’ll look at how to coach the hand-off for the Zone Read, and also for the Power Read or Inverted […]

We’re back this week with MORE of your questions on Coaching Football’s 4-2-5 Defense! This all surrounds the release of 3 free 4-2-5 Defense videos I’ve put out this past week – and are available for a very limited time (like, if you’re reading this a couple weeks later, they’re gone). You can get […]

This week is devoted to answering your questions on coaching football’s 4-2-5 Defense. With thousands of copies of my Coaching Football’s 4-2-5 Defense eBook sold, I’m kind of a self-made expert in the thing. Not to mention that in 2014 we had 107 coaching staffs join up with the 4-2-5 Defense eCourse. In total, there […]

I’ll keep this really short. This podcast is all about one thing… The 10 Best Football Coaching Books I’ve Ever Read I make no claims that these are the best ever. I’m open to suggestions. So put those in the comments! Listen to Episode 113 here… These are my favorite Football Coaching Books. They have influenced […]

We’re continuing on with our off-season in preparation for the 2015 Football Season. Yeah it’s early, but time’s wasting away! Today it’s time to talk about your offense. Do you have the right scheme or is it time for a change? The answer isn’t always easy. I’m not a big advocate of constantly changing your […]

This is the short, short Thanksgiving version of a post! I’m only putting this up so that the audio gets into the ear buds and iPhones of you guys that are travelling this weekend. Happy Thanksgiving! Want to hear your question on The Football Coaching Podcast? Click the “Send Voicemail” tab on the right and […]

One season ends and almost immediately, another one begins. Hopefully you took my advice in the last episode and took a little break. Feel rested now? Great! Get back to work! It’s time to evaluate the season. What went good, what went bad. In this episode we’re looking at 4 areas of your football program […]

So the season is coming to a close… ours is over. You feel a certain emptiness. And a certain freedom. Is that free time? Nah, can’t be! Look, don’t jump right back into football mode. Take an off-season. Even if it’s only for a few days. Coaches, we need to unwind. We need to step […]

Most of our seasons are winding down. It either ends unceremoniously at the end of the regular season, or better yet – in the playoffs. Even better, you’re holding a big trophy. But in any of those scenarios, it still could be time to move on. This is a tough time of year for some […]

The Football Coaching Podcast is back with Episode 107. The season is winding down, but we’re still working. Today’s focus is on the Game Day coaching jobs. What are all those guy wearing khakis on the sidelines actually doing? More importantly, what are they supposed to be doing! It’s not uncommon to have a few […]

This one just had to get out. My recordings have gone to crap on my computer, and after a long bout of fiddling with it, I just recorded. If the sound quality is unacceptable… well, I apologize. In this episode, we’re hitting up the listener feedback questions… Question & Answer Tips for running the Muddle […]

It’s that sinking feeling in your stomach. Oh No! You’ve got a dude, that player who is the man… lying on the ground, clutching his [insert terrible injury here]. Now what? Fly into a panic? Cry? Scream? Quit? Next man up! The biggest key to dealing with injuries and other events where you’ve lost a player, […]

I know you’re busy. We all are. But we can’t use that as an excuse. Football coaches are well known for letting our health slip during the season. Our blood pressure gets up, we work ridiculously long hours, and we forget to eat – or resort to eating fast food. The first step is to […]

You are looking LIVE! Today was the first day of the LIVE Football Coaching Podcast recording. I’ll have more information on how you can watch the live podcast, and the recording, later. But I’m planning on doing next week’s on Wednesday at 10:00AM. I’m not sure how that will work though, there’s some cool possibilities […]

Every player on your defense has 5 things they do. That’s all. Maybe in different ways. But there’s just 5. I sent an email out to our Football-Defense.com subscribers this past week detailing the 5 Families. It’s also becoming a pretty consistent theme for the message Insider Members are getting… Tackle Defeat a Block Read […]

My football season is in full swing, with this podcast being recorded on the day of our first scrimmage. To say the least, I’m scrambling. This Episode’s Topics So what did we talk about? Using your iPhone to record practice film Defending Trap plays and pulling guards Defending Trips and Quads formations Preparing your Special […]

Football Coaching Podcast #100 has no special fan fare, we’re in season! I’ll dive into the mailbag for… Coaching your 4-2-5 Defense to defend a Hurry Up, No Huddle offense Should you run your Hurry Up, No Huddle offense in a jamboree or scrimmage setting? How do you decide which way to set your protection […]

The long awaited Episode 99 of The Football Coaching Podcast. It’s a mailbag show with 4 questions from the audience… I’m a young coach at the High School level. What should I do to move up to college and beyond? I’m moving from Sweden, where I’ve been coaching football, to the United States. I want […]

You’re getting ready to start the season. The playbook is set. This group looks good… Now you just have to get the playbook, into their heads. We’re talking install schedule today on The Football Coaching Podcast… How much can I install on Day 1? What should we install first? How do I plan the teaching […]

Looking for ways to twiddle your thumbs but feel really productive? Football coaches have been doing that for years. Granted, just because it made the list doesn’t mean it never did, or doesn’t now, have a purpose. We should just know better. I do some of these things myself, to be honest. I’ve probably done […]

Happy 4th of July!

Last time we talked defense, today we’re talking offense! What are the things your players have to be able to do? We look at Every Day Drills for each position in today’s episode… Wide Receivers: Catch balls! Running routes, both get-off's and the top of the route, blocking Running Backs: Ball handling & Ball security, […]

Announcements The 4-3 Defense eCourse is up and ready – still posting the drills, and going to be adding more on the Press check for Quarters. http://the43defense.com On Wednesday July 9 in Atlanta, Georgia (down by the airport), Shane Sams and I will be holding a defensive coaching clinic. It’s not a clinic, it’s more than a clinic. […]

It’s a mailbag week and I’m out the door… I’ll add more later but if you’ve got a road trip you can give it a listen! Question & Answer Re-routes and Wall technique for Inside Linebackers in Zone Coverage Adjusting your Quarters Coverage for Empty Formations – can you still use the Survivor Check? How […]

It’s hard for football coaches to remember what it was like when we were players. We forget. We remember the good times. Big hits. Touchdowns. Time with the guys. And the girls… chicks dig football players, you know. We sometimes forget hating going through summer conditioning. Or the ringing headaches that lasted all of Spring Practice […]

OK, this one was a struggle. I may sound like I’m under water. And I may have had too many over-the-counter remedies for the common cold to be podcasting. But we got it done. In today’s episode, we have some listener emails… In This Episode Plenty of listener emails. Well, 3 listener emails. But they […]

We’re talking Summer Football Workouts. Summer is about a month away but the heat outside got me thinking ahead! How can you get the most out of your Summer workouts? Use your time wisely. PLAN your practice time. Vacations are a GOOD thing. For players and coaches. Give them a reason to leave the pool. […]

Question & Answer How to adjust the 4-2-5 Defense for head up alignments required by Youth Football Leagues rules? Gap blocking vs. Zone Blocking, which is easier to teach with better results? Can you use Press Corner technique in your Quarters Coverage in High School? Getting the Most From Your Practice with Tempo Teach Tempo […]

In episode 85 of The Football Coaching Podcast, we will answer the question “How one term can describe so many looks? Question & Answer How to run the Jet Sweep off of my Inside Zone play? What are the main differences between a run blitz vs. a pass blitz? Lists of Points The origins of […]

Question & Answer What coverages from the 4-2-5 do you utilize against trips and doubles formations? When does gap responsibility get tossed out the door? Why do you shade your N on the center instead of a traditional 1 technique? The difference between the Miami 4-3 Defense Linebacker fits and other 4-3 Defenses? Do you […]

In Episode 86 of Football Coaching Podcast, we talk about 3 plays you can base an offense around. Improve your playbook by focusing on a centerpiece for your offense. This is about being great at one play that gives you Identity. Question & Answer How do you decide which play calls to use, and when […]

In episode 85 of The Football Coaching Podcast, we talk about becoming a football coach. This is for coaches who are trying to get their foot in the door. It is a list of stuff the other coaches don’t want to do. Question & Answer We are pattern reading in Quarters. How can you stop […]

Episode 84 of The Football Coachign Podcast focuses on two big topics. First, we’re talking some more advanced coverage topics. Fiddle and Banjo, to be specific. Fiddle is used for 2 on 1 coverage. That can help us erase a mismatch. Banjo is for 2 on 2. We use that with bunched or stacked receivers. […]

Big thanks to Coach Mike O’Donnell from Rush City High School (MN) for the inspiration for this podcast. He sent me an email on the 5 Minute Plan that he’s been using for the last decade. The 5 Minute Plan is all about making sure that you stay true to your scheme. This short version […]

Earlier this week I hosted a free Web Clinic on Zone Coverage for Defensive Football Coaches. It’s not a sexy topic. But we had close to 200 football coaches who wanted to get better. Those are coaches who get it – they aren’t looking for the next hot gimmick. They know that sound football wins a lot […]