The Football Coaching Podcast with Joe Daniel

Bracket coverages are an advanced way to help lock down, or eliminate the threat of, a star WR. You can also use it to cover a bunched group of WRs. On this episode Joe and Daniel talk all things double coverage, what it is, why you need to carry it, and how to best utilize it in your base defenses.

Shifts and Motions, also known as "Window Dressing," are growing exponentially in High School football. Not only are they growing in frequency, but in complexity as well. Throwing shifts and motions into an already efficient offense can lead to explosive results! On this episode Joe and Daniel are discussing what shifts and motions are, why they use them in their offenses, and how they gameplan to make use of shifts and motions.

What is a Turnover Culture? Nick Saban put it best, "The ball, the ball, the ball!" Defenses must get the ball back for the offense If you're thriving in turnover culture, your players are constantly thinking about getting the ball out. Most HS teams struggle to emphasize it Why is it hard to commit to in High School? We're usually having to focus on more basic principles, such as alignment or run fits. Facing multiple offensive schemes at the High School level means we're constantly having to coach the basics and struggle to move on to more advanced philosophies How can we use this mindset in our system? Develop drills that highlight a fundamental of defense, such as tackling, and then add a ball security piece to the end of it. Practice ball security/strip drills every week. Keep your defensive scheme simple so you can move on to more advanced tactics.

Every coach identifies the games on their schedule each year that are winnable, and those that just aren't. We often have that game on the schedule that if we found a way to win, would be considered an upset. But, what is the magic behind the upset, and how can we get there? On this episode, Joe and Daniel discuss what makes up an upset, why it's so important for your program, and how to approach the big game weeks.

There are MANY situations that play out during a football game. It's hard to pinpoint any one that's the MOST or LEAST important. But, without a doubt, playing defense in the Red Zone is very important. On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss the importance of Red Zone Defense, why we're forced to make changes to our base defense in the Red Zone, and how you can scheme those changes up for your next game.

Playcalling has changed drastically over the years. From running a WR in to communicate each play, to signals, radio comms, and poster boards. We all do things a little differently. On this episode, Joe and Daniel are talking with innovator and Head Football Coach Thad Wells to discuss his "Rooski" play calling system. Listen to find out how the Rooski system can give you an edge by simplifying football for your players.

Throughout our careers, we have both stumbled upon greater understandings of the game of football, the schemes that fit into it, and the path of being a coach. We call these our "Aha Moments." On this episode, Joe and Daniel talk about their individual "Aha Moments" on Offense, Defense, and in regards to the total program.

In the modern game, tags make the world go round. Whether you're tagging formations, pass routes, run blocking, or RPOs… Tags can create a whole new offensive world for you and your team, without adding another base play to the playbook. On this episode, Joe Daniel and Daniel Chamberlain discuss the importance of using tags in your offense, what tags are, and how you can start using them TODAY!

Three Safety Defenses have started making a name for themselves at places like Iowa State University. But, high schools across the land are also incorporating more of the scheme in their defense. Sometimes a new thing is good, especially if it fits the "Coach Simple, Play Fast, Win!" ideology. On this episode Joe and Daniel are joined by PJ Gibbs, the creator of the Fast and Physical defensive system, to discuss the Three Safety Defense, how it can help your team, and how to sprinkle some into your current scheme this year.

It's week 8, your playoff chances are on the line. Your star Running Back is deemed ineligible because he let his grades slip. What do you do? Well, hopefully you put some plans into action long before this happened. On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss the ways you can fill holes in your depth chart well before they happen. They talk causes for players to miss time, why you need a plan in place, and what those plans may look like.

In this episode of the Football Coaching Podcast, hosts Daniel Chamberlain and Joe Daniel engage in an insightful discussion with new Owasso Rams head coach Antonio Graham about his coaching journey and key principles in football coaching. The conversation highlights essential coaching values such as adaptability, maintaining core beliefs during schematic changes, and fostering a strong team culture.

College Football 25 is taking the world by storm in 2024! After 11 years of waiting, the "boys are back in town." We're all playing just as much as you… except for when we're in practice of course. On this episode Joe and Daniel are joined by friend of the show, and YouTube gaming sensation, Ron McKie to talk about the new game, the pros and cons, and how we can use the game to teach football.

Just like the offensive episode from last week, this episode is all about trimming down that expansive playbook you've built over the last 12 months. On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss the process of playbook management, what you can do to trim your playbook without cutting it too much, and when to expand what you're running.

After a full summer of learning all the newest trends, adding 100 tags to your system, and now it's time to get it all installed. But, we have to be real with ourselves at some point about what we can get installed with any confidence. On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss the process of playbook development, why you need to trim your playbook, and how to decide what stays and goes.

The fourth phase of the game, the referee, is something that we all need to better understand. We all focus on offense, defense, and sometimes… special teams. But focusing on the Ref crew is often overlooked. On this episode Joe Daniel and Daniel Chamberlain are joined by Mike D the Referee from the Whistle Talk podcast. We talk all things reffing, coaching, and some hilarious stories.

Condition in the days of old was something of a debacle. Due to the increase of research and knowledge in this realm, most of us are moving forward and looking for a better way. On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss how conditioning is changing from the past to the present, how they're establishing new norms and following the science, and how to change your own program throughout the training calendar to best help your players.

Option football is as old as the game itself, but it's also still based on one player making some type of read to know where the ball will go. When defending the option, you are being put in a spot to be WRONG. So, you need to have a plan to force the QB's hand. On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss the intricacies of QB Read option plays, why it's important to have a plan to stop them, and how to game plan them throughout the week.

Unbalanced formations add a lot of stress to the defense. From adjustments, counts, angles… It all adds up on young players trying to communicate their issues to a coach. So use it to your advantage! On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss the definition of unbalanced formations, their advantages, and why gap scheme pairs with them so easily.

Parents. More than that, parents of players on your team. Some loathe them, some love them. But, regardless of where you stand on the topic, you need them. You need them to help you build your team, your program, and your culture. On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss the importance of keeping parents close to your program by letting them have some ownership in it.

"Blitz Paths" are a very convoluted way to say "modular blitzes." Blitz paths are pieces of blitzes that can be called together to mix and match pieces of different defenses. It's not the most simple thing to understand either. On this episode Joe and Daniel are joined by Coach Chris Vasseur, aka Coach Vass, to educate our audience on what exactly blitz paths are, why we should use them, and how to game plan them from week to week.

In football, there are many ways to throw the ball around. Many coaches use two primary types of concepts; full field or mirrored routes. Either can be effective, but mirrored route concepts may fit you best. On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss the differences of the two concept types, why you should use mirrored routes, and how to game plan to defeat your opponent on Friday nights.

Install season is just a couple of months away! Is your install schedule locked in? How are you getting from new team to playoff contender this year? On this episode, Joe and Daniel discuss the key pieces of an install schedule, why the schedule matters, and how they're progressing each side of the ball.

Offseason, and more specifically Summer, is upon us. It's time to convince kids to come spend their summer mornings (or evenings) picking up heavy things and putting them down. But, we all know you have a lot of competition for their time. So, how do you build the buy in and improve your summer weights culture? On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss the intricacies of small school summer workout programs, what you can do to improve your numbers, and what the alternatives are to "mandatory" participation.

2-Tight formations are all the rage in small school football, especially against odd front defenses. If you're running one of those (3-4, 3-3) then it would be smart to have a plan for how you'll align to and attack a 2-tight formation. On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss everything you need to know about aligning to and defending 2-tight formations this year.

Counter (maybe only falling under Power) is one of the most popular run plays in High School football today! Everyone has a version, and they're all useful. But, why do so many variations exist? On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss the foundations of Counter, why they carry multiple variations, and what the advantages of each are.

In a lot of states, spring time is the second best time of the year, right behind the fall. We get to blow the dust off of the pads and helmets and get back on the practice field for a couple of weeks, and see what our kids (and coaches) remember. On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss what your Spring Practice should really be used for, how to organize your practice, and how to evaluate what you installed.

Winning programs have more than "great schemes" in common. The best programs have a sense of accountability built into them. A self-governing team accomplishes more with less, because everyone is bought in. The term we've given this trait of accountability is Culture! On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss the big buzz word, what it means, why some coaches struggle with it, and how you can ensure your program is on the right path to a great culture.

Developing your Offensive Line is one of the most important tasks you can perform as a coach. Whether you're the Offensive LIne coach, the Offensive Coordinator, or the Head Coach, you'll find your success goes as the OL development goes. On this episode Joe and Daniel are joined by Owasso Rams Co-OC and Offensive Line Coach Justin Morsey to discuss what a developed offensive lineman looks like, how to evaluate the guys on your squad, and what your development program should look like throughout the year.

Offensive Coordinators LOVE trying to break your defensive rules. As defenses get more "simple," OC's try to make your simplicity work against you. Even your most basic rules can become jumbled when dealing with condensed edges and TE Nub formations. On this episode Joe Daniel and Daniel Chamberlain are working through defending TE Nub, taking on a condensed edge, and how to do all of that without losing your defensive identity.

You've probably noticed that Joe and Daniel have been starting the podcasts a little differently recently. We're doing what all good coaches do, stealing an idea and making it our own. On this episode, we're talking about our new "Level Up" section of the podcast, how it's making us better coaches, and how we hope you can join in and get better yourself.

Teaching Quarterback reads isn't the easiest part of coaching, for sure. Often coaches start in the trenches and learn the run game. But, eventually you have to get to the passing concepts and how your QB will decide who to throw the ball to. On this episode, Joe and Daniel are joined by a friend of the show, Coach Ron Mckie, to discuss QB Reads. We cover pre-snap, and post-snap reads that can help make your QB make better decisions.

Watching game film is just like every other skill in coaching, it takes practice to get good at. Unfortunately, we don't watch enough film when the pressure is off as coaches. We see it as a time-sink and keep that for weekends before in-season games. But, if we commit to a process to improve, we can get more out of those weekends with less time expended. On this episode, Joe Daniel and Daniel Chamberlain are discussing the importance of watching game film, what to look for while watching, and how to put your practice plan into action.

In the current world of high fly, high movement, "formation them to death" offenses that seemingly have all the rules in their favor, just getting an efficient defense on the field can feel like an impossible task. On this episode Joe and Daniel are joined by Coach Chris Cole to talk game planning an opponent, what adjustments you should or shouldn't make in your coverages, and how to build a practice schedule to minimize those blown coverages against your opponents best concepts.

The 2-minute offense is something that only comes around twice per game, but is used in every game! It's a fairly special scenario in which your offensive play calling may see a break from all other tendencies to take advantage of a short clock. On this episode, Joe and Daniel discuss what a 2-Minute offense is, why you need to have a plan for it, and what key pieces go into that plan.

Concussions have, unfortunately, been a part of football for as long as we can remember. Even when it was just a statement, "Dude, I got my bell rung," they were still happening. Today is no different. In the "Arms Race" between safe football equipment and Bigger, Faster, Stronger athletes, there is ample opportunity for concussions to make a devastating impact on your players and team. On this episode, Joe and Daniel are joined by Dr. Samantha Chamberlain PT DPT to talk all about concussions, what they are, what they look like, how we can return to sport, and most importantly how we can mitigate them in the first place.

In 2023-24 we saw a LOT of football being played out of the two-high safety shell. High School to the NFL, size and league did not matter. What's this "static" look all about, and how are we coaching our players out of it? Joe and Daniel are joined by University of Tulsa Safety Coach (and friend of the podcast) Dominique Franks top talk differences in 1-high vs 2-high, what coverages fit best, and how safeties are still included in the run fits from their two-high alignment.

The Quick Game isn't some new fangled thing in football. In fact, in the passing game, it may be as old as the power/counter combo. However, it is still extremely effective. The quick game can give you a quick strike game plan to take advantage of what your opponent is giving you defensively. On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss the quick game, what it consists of, why you need it, and how to use it with the offense you already have installed.

Power, the backbone of the gap-scheme world. A foundational play for offenses the world around. But, with the evolution of defenses, multiple front teams, and high pressure packages, how can we ensure the Power play stays relevant? On this episode Joe and Daniel are talking variations of Power, what base power is, why you need variations, and how to install it with your team.

Clinic Season is a FULL GO! But, are you getting the most out of it? Do your coaches disappear to the bar on Friday night and show up to catch the ride home? Are they sitting at the back of the room on their phone? We often take "vacations" for clinics when we should be sharpening our sword for next season. On this episode Joe and Daniel, who was excessively late, are joined by Mike Carter to discuss what you should be taking from this clinic season.

Decentralized command is a tenant of leadership for us military members. In football, you just call it hiring a coordinator. But, that task isn't always as simple as "just hiring a coordinator." Sometimes you get to hire someone in, and sometimes you have to promote from the guys you have. On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss how to do each of those things, what to do if no one is ready to be the guy, and ways to bring in someone that's an expert.

As with the Defensive Staff Break Down from two weeks ago, we go through all the ways you can organize your Offensive Staff to get the most efficient coach-to-player coverage. This episode was recorded at the 2024 American Football Coaches Association Convention in Nashville, TN.

Adding to your staff can be a great thing! Many coaching staffs are short at least one guy, and likely more than one. But, if you aren't getting that new coach ready to be a functioning part of the team, you may find yourself with another fan with a whistle. On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss staff additions, how to focus their training to be on your staff, and why you need to be so efficient in your training.

Your team is only as good as your staff. But, your staff is only as good as your ability to organize them. You have to get the best coaches coaching the players they're the best at coaching to maximize your success. On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss defensive staff organization, what it should look like, what variable can change it, and how to pick the coaches you're using.

Last week we talked about finding the perfect job, so it's only right to follow it up with HOW to get the job. We invited eightlaces.org founder, Chris Fore, to come shed some light on this topic. On this episode we're talking all about how to make yourself stand out, what mistakes will hurt your chances, and how to prepare for the interview.

It's job hunting season. Many coaches, head and assistant, are moving on from one place to find greener pastures. But, what is the perfect job? On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss why the job matters, what the red flags are to stay away from, and what things you should target in a job.

There comes a time in every job when talent must be rearranged. Football Coaching is no different. You could even say, as a Head Coach, talent management is the majority of your job. But, when is the right time to make those changes? On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss the reasons a coach should make a change, and what the right way to go about making changes is.

Communication tends to be most Football Coaches' weak spots. In an Alpha dominated world, we just think everyone else around us has our knowledge base or assume they know what needs to be done. Unfortunately, in most cases, our assumptions are wrong. On this episode Joe Daniel and Daniel Chamberlain discuss what a plan of communication, or a Standard Operating Procedure, is as well as why you need to prepare yours now and how you can implement it with you staff this year.

Another season has come and gone. Unless you're holding the trophy at the end (and maybe even if you're holding the trophy), there's at least one thing you need to fix or update in your system. No system is perfect, and some are just bad. On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss why you shouldn't throw your system out, how to evaluate it to make some corrections, and what changes you can make without a wholesale change.