The Football Coaching Podcast with Joe Daniel

Every season we learn lessons as coaches. What are we good at, what are we bad at, what do we need to expand or contract in our playbook and system. This year was no different. On this episode Joe and Daniel are going through YOUR lessons learned from YOUR season.

Toxicity happens in every profession. It happens on Wall Street, it happens in the military, and it happens in sports. Generally, it's magnified in positions when the rules or positions put a toxic person "in charge" of others. This is especially an issue when that group is made up of kids that can't take a stand against the toxicity. On this episode, Joe and Daniel discuss what a Toxic Coach looks like, why you need to deal with them now rather than later, and just how you can go about letting a coach go.

As the off season begins for many across the country, it's time to focus on what you need to improve for next year. Without a doubt, many of you have strength and speed on your improvement list. But, it's not just THAT you hit the weight room. It's HOW you hit the weight room that matters. On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss the importance of using the weight room, why you need to have a program to follow, and what that program should consist of.

As voted on by the loyal listeners, we bring you a peek into our lives as parents. On this episode Joe and Daniel are joined by veteran coach Kenny Ridley to talk all things, parenting and coaching.

The Pro Style Offense is an ever evolving system. Originally named after the actual schemes being used in the NFL, it has taken an identity of its own as a balanced offense capable of being used as a Smash Mouth running offense, or an air-it-out passing attack. On this episode Joe and Daniel are discussing how to take your High School version of this scheme and incorporate a Star Wide Receiver. We discuss what he might look like, what his role is in the Pro Style Offense, and what you can do to highlight him in your gameplan.

With the Wing-T, and its variations, being so popular, and the 4-2-5 being the most used JDFB defensive system, we figured it was time to put the two together. We're talking about defending the Buck Series with the 4-2-5 defense. On this episode Joe and Daniel will break down the strengths of the 4-2-5, what the weaknesses are, and how to make adjustments to eliminate those weaknesses.

The Tiger Cat Blitz… super solid name (especially if your mascot is a tiger), but even more solid of a scheme. This is the cheat code of all blitzes, by reducing your risks and multiplying your reward. On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss the Tiger Cat Blitz, how to install it, and how to adjust it to whatever front you want to run.

Having a Star QB can open up a WORLD of opportunity. But, if you aren't prepared to really let him shine, you could find yourself wasting some top tier talent. On this episode, Joe and Daniel discuss using a Star QB in the Spread system. We talk through what a star looks like, what makes him different in the spread system versus other systems, and how you can expand your system to really let him show off what he brings to the table.

In any defense, you need ALL 11 men to fill their role, "Do your job," if you will. But, on the defensive line, a man amongst boys can make your life much easier. Not all stars look the same, though. On this episode, Joe Daniel and Daniel Chamberlain discuss the makeup of a Star Defensive Lineman, what a star at each position might look like, what their role is in the 4-2-5 really is, and what else you can do with them to create chaos for the offense.

Getting help running our schemes is something that EVERY coach struggles with. Having someone else point out our flaws isn't an easy thing to do. But, it could be one of the most beneficial things you can do for your team and your development. On this episode, we discuss the importance of using Game Film Analysis, why you need to get an outsider's eyes on your film, what the pros are seeing when they watch other people's film, and where all you can go to get some help.

Lots of teams are "multiple" on Defense. You'll get a little odd front, a little even. Maybe they'll play a quarter in attack mode, and then one just playing base. But, being multiple on offense is a fairly new concept and is even breaking into the NFL. Go check out the Detroit Lions and their complete Wing-T package they ran in week 2. On this episode, Daniel Chamberlain is joined by Beau Collins from NW Arkansas to talk about combining two different offensive schemes into the same system.

As football defenses continue to trend… as they will do… we're seeing more 4-2-5 on friday nights. If you're running an "old school" offense, like the wing-t, you're probably thanking the football gods that you get to block up an even front once again. For the rest of us, we're trying to block up a traditional front with a modern offensive scheme. On this episode, Joe and Daniel discuss the weaknesses of the 4-2-5, how the Zone Scheme takes advantage of those weaknesses, and how you can expand your run game to attack the 4-2-5 in other ways.

Gap Scheme and odd fronts CAN seem like a mismatch for the defense at face value. But, knowing your defense and using your advantages in your favor can lead to some great outcomes. On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss what exactly constitutes "Buck Series", what the advantages of running the 3-4 truly are, and what the disadvantages can be if you aren't prepared to solve them.

We all dream of having a "bell cow" running back to hang our hat on throughout the season. But, misusing that type of player in the Pro Style Offense can see you losing your best player before year end. On this episode Joe Daniel and Daniel Chamberlain discuss how to let your star running back shine in your Pro Style offense, what he might look like, what his role should be, and how to call your offense to get the most out of him… without overusing him.

Justin Dottavio is a strength and conditioning coach and long time user of the Dale Baskett Speed and Movement training program. He uses Dale's teachings in his every day work to help kids of all sports and disciplines. Joe Daniel and Daniel Chamberlain are joined by Coach Justin Dottavio to discuss how Dale's program changed his world in training athletes. For more information jump over to Athletic Speed and Movement at www.AthleticSpeedandMovement.com.

A star Inside Linebacker can be an absolute game changer for your defense, especially in the run game. But, are you getting the full potential out of your linebacker? If not, is it your playcalling that's holding him back? On this episode Joe Daniel and Daniel Chamberlain (the one in the war paint) discuss what makes an ILB a star, what their role is in the 4-2-5 defense, and how you can call your defense to let him shine.

Gap scheme, old school football, can be run against any defense. The 3-4 defense is taking the country by storm, and it's inevitable that you'll see it this season. We're taking a look at these two proven systems against each other. On this episode, Joe Daniel and Daniel Chamberlain are discussing the advantages, disadvantages and problem solving techniques of using gap scheme run plays against the 3-4 defensive front.

If you have a star WR, you probably know it. What you may not know is how to use him to his fullest. How can I get the ball in his hands when I know he's getting double coverage every snap? On this episode Joe Daniel and Daniel Chamberlain are joined by Ron McKie to discuss what a star WR looks like, what roles they can fill for your team, and how to build an offense around him.

The Free Safety is likely the best player on your defense right now. But, is he a star? If you have a star, how do you utilize him to really let him shine? On this episode Joe Daniel and Daniel Chamberlain talk all about using a Star FS in your 4-2-5 Defense. We talk about what makes him a star, what role he usually plays, and ways to highlight his talents.

The Zone Running Scheme and the 3-4 Defense are two of the most popular schemes in football today. Chances are, if you run the 3-4, you'll face a zone team this season. You need to be prepared when that week (or weeks) comes around. Knowing your weaknesses and your strengths can give you the upper hand on Friday Night. On this episode, Joe and Daniel discuss defending zone runs with your 3-4 defense, what issues you'll face, how to fix them, and what your strengths should be.

The 4-2-5 has become one of the most used defenses around the country. Which means you'll likely face it at some point this season. Gap scheme run plays are the backbone of many offenses. So, you're probably running at least power and counter right now. We want to see how the two match up, and how you can gain the advantage on Friday nights. On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss the plan to attack the 4-2-5 with gap scheme run plays. We look at the weaknesses of the 4-2-5, why we should run gap scheme plays against it, and what the best gap scheme run plays are to run against the 4-25.

Breaking into coaching or getting your first Head Coach job, much like learning any new skill, can be like drinking water from a fire hose. You can't possibly take it all in until you become grounded on a foundation. But, we've all been there before, and most coaches want to help you survive your first days in the indust or as a new Head Coach. On this episode we give you cutups of our conversations with coaches from different experience levels. These guys have been doing it at varying sizes of schools, but still getting it done.

It's the Battle of the Titans… football edition. This time, we're putting two of the most used offenses against each other. Whether you're looking to throw it around in the Spread Offense, or wanting to be more balanced in the Pro Style offense, this episode is for you. On this episode, Joe and Daniel discuss the benefits and weaknesses of the Spread Offense and the key reasons you should or shouldn't run each one.

Each Season we take a break from talking football for a week and just discuss something else in our lives. This season we landed on video games. On this episode, Joe and Daniel discuss games that make them feel nostalgic, what their favorite game from the past are, and what games they're playing right now.

The Sprint Out Game can be very useful to every team for a multitude of reasons. Maybe you're already using it some, and maybe you've never known the difference in Sprint Out, Roll Out, and Bootleg. On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss the Sprint Out game, what it can do for you and your team, and how you can integrate it into a full offensive playbook that you already have.

The interior blitz may be every new DC's original go-to call. But, they are very likely misusing them. Interior blitzes are a great addition to any playbook, and can range from the most simple to excessively complex. On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss Interior Blitzes, their benefits and weaknesses, and when you should (or shouldn't) be using them on Friday nights.

Football is a game of evolution, adaptation, and sometimes… cycles. Option football seems to fit into each of those descriptions, and has since the fall of 1964 when Coach Bill Yeoman told his Offensive Tackle "You can't block him anyway, so just get out of the way," and the defensive end was so confused that he ran up the field and out of the play… and the Split Back Veer Triple Option play fell into Coach Yeoman's lap. Since, we have seen offenses adapt and evolve into spread teams that want to throw the ball all over the place, but they always seem to find themselves looking for "options" regardless if they're pass or run based. On this episode, Joe and Daniel discuss Option Football, what it is, how it can help you be successful, and how to incorporate it into your current offense.

Quarter Coverage, or Match Quarter, is widely believed to be one of the best pass stopping coverages. In a world full of Cover 1, 2, and 3 "beaters", pattern matching helps players match up to any passing concept thrown at them. But, "if it was easy, everyone would be doing," it has never been a more fitting phrase. In this episode Joe and Daniel discuss pattern matching in Quarters Coverage, the pro's and con's of the scheme, and when you'll know if your players and staff are truly ready for the challenge.

The Double Edge Blitz, or the laziest call in Joe's terminology, can help you when you're in a pickle or when the offense just has your number for a series. But, there are better and worse places to call it. On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss the Double Edge Blitz, what they are fundamentally, the benefits they bring to your system, and coaching points to ensure your players know it and execute it to perfection.

Most of the time, when you're thinking about passing concepts, you're thinking about 5-step drop passing concepts. Do you love smash? Four verts? Double slant? Odds are, you're running these out of a 5-step drop for your QB. On this episode Joe and Daniel are joined by Head Coach Dylan Terry to do discuss what the 5-step drop game is, what advantages it brings to your offensive arsenal, and ways to gameplan your next opponent to ensure you're putting the correct plays on your call sheet Friday night.

Cover 1 Coverage seems to be in every team's arsenal on defense. Whether they're a Primary Man Free team, or just using it as an off coverage for their Cover 3 base, they all want to have and need to have the option to go man-on-man with a little safety help over the top. On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss the basics and fundamentals of Cover 1 as a coverage, We talk about what Cover 1 is, what benefits it brings to your defensive system, what problems you may have with Cover 1 and how to fix them.

Twist Games can be some of the most frustrating things to an Offensive Line coach who's just trying to get his unit to perform. Especially early in the season, you can push an Offensive Line unit beyond their skillset with just a few movements by your big boys upfront. On this episode Joe and Daniel are joined by Southeaster Missouri State's DC Ricky Coon to talk about what twists are, how they can give you and advantage, and some quick pointers on installing them into your defensive scheme.

We've broken open the mailbag again. We're digging in to answer the questions you're asking the most. On this episode, Joe and Daniel tackle everything from Nasty Splits to assigning OC/DC roles. You can review the questions in order below and find the answers on the podcast.

Cover 3 has silently, or maybe less so, become the go to defense of a majority of coaches across the world. Whether it's run heavy divisions, fear of playing man, or tired of watching Cover 2 Corners getting blown up by the run game, coaches are converting… and for good reason. In this episode, Joe and Daniel are joined by Coach Kahn Chace to discuss the fundamentals of Cover 3, what benefits it brings to your defensive package, and how to coach the basics to any age or skill of player.

The Zone Blitz at its core is one of the two basic blitz types on defense. They can range from simple zone evacuation blitzes in which we want to send an LB or Safety, and expand to some of the most complex blitzes in the business with different versions of America's Fire Zone Blitz. In this episode, Joe and Daniel discuss the ins and outs of the Zone Blitz, how they fit into your scheme, and a method for game planning Zone Blitzes for your next opponent.

The play action pass could be one of the biggest threats in your arsenal, especially if your run game is explosive. The more you can make a team commit to stopping your run, the more the play action pass can open up. You NEED to carry at least one play action scheme into your game on friday night. On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss the basics of three play action schemes, the differences in the names of some of them, and why you need them in your scheme.

You've just scored to get within 1. It's been a hard fought battle up until now, but the game is almost over and you aren't confident overtime is the best option. What do you do? The entire situation above was unnecessary, we were going for 2 no matter what the situation was. If you don't know why, then this episode is for you! Listen to Joe and Daniel as they break down some Two Point Conversion analytics, plays, and gameplans for ensuring when you score, 8 points go on the scoreboard.

You've just scored to get within 1. It's been a hard fought battle up until now, but the game is almost over and you aren't confident overtime is the best option. What do you do? The entire situation above was unnecessary, we were going for 2 no matter what the situation was. If you don't know why, then this episode is for you! Listen to Joe and Daniel as they break down some Two Point Conversion analytics, plays, and gameplans for ensuring when you score, 8 points go on the scoreboard.

In a world where seemingly every small school coach thinks they have to keep the wishbone, flexbone, or wing T alive due to their "lack of size and skill", the zone run scheme may be the worst best kept secret. On this episode, Joe and Daniel are joined by coaching legend Bill Blankenship to discuss the fundamentals of the Zone Run Scheme. They hit on what exactly a zone run is, why you need to add it to your system, and what the key pieces of a successful zone run scheme are.

The Cover 2 Defensive scheme seems to be outdated and almost extinct. But, the defense has its place in your system, if not in your playbook for this year. On this episode, Joe and Daniel discuss the Cover 2 Defense, what it is, why you need it, and whether or not it should be a primary coverage, off coverage, or a situational install.

As we continue our dive into the fundamentals of the game, blitzing has to make the cut. Although new coaches will likely send blitzes at random and ad nauseam, or search for the most complex blitz schemes known to man, the very simple Single Edge Blitz can be the key to success in gameplanned situations. On this episode Joe and Daniel discuss the Single Edge Blitz's uses, why you need to have them in your scheme, and exactly how to gameplan them to see positive results.

When in doubt, kick it out (of the reach of the front lineman and give your player a chance to recover it). That's the motto that really captures the spirit of a "onside everytime" coach. The onside kick is an excellent tool to use to steal possessions from your opponent when used anytime. On this episode, Joe and Daniel discuss the ins and outs of the onside kick, the reasons you need to start using it, and some coaching tips to ensure you're getting the best out of your onside kick attempts.

Offensive schemes in football have gone many directions throughout the history of the sport. But, in the run game, two schemes have remained: gap scheme and zone scheme plays. In this episode, Joe and Daniel are joined by O-Line Coach Jack Dingus as they break down the basics of the gap scheme, why you need it in your playbook, and some key coaching points to use to be successful.

In a world where there are a multitude of ways to play defense, and minimal time to install the ways you want to do it, every defensive coverage you use has to have a purpose. The Cover 4 coverage is exactly that, a coverage with a purpose. Whether you're needing spot drop or quarters pattern match, you probably have a reason to install a Cover 4 coverage look. On this episode, Joe and Daniel are joined by coaching great Dominique Franks to talk all things Cover 4. Listen in as we discuss the ins and outs of spot drop Cover 4 and Quarters pattern matching

The shield punt is a very simple, yet effective punt scheme. With Special Teams being the least prioritized phase of football, having a scheme that's simple to coach and simple to execute can alleviate many of the Friday night woes. On this episode, Joe and Daniel are joined by Joel Mathews to discuss the basics of the shield punt scheme, why you should use it, and some key coaching points of a simplified special teams scheme.

Live and die by the sword! Okay, maybe not the sword in this day and age, but Defensive Coordinators have replaced the sword with blitzes, and living and dying by the blitz is very true of some coaching philosophies. The man blitz, or blitzing with any man coverage behind you, is a fairly safe and targeted blitz call to live and die by. On this episode, Joe and Daniel discuss the ins and out of man blitzing, why you need to install a few, and how you can mix them into whatever you're running now.

As we start our dive into the basics of football concepts, we're getting our first taste of the passing game. This season on the podcast is all about learning the small pieces to sure up your coaching knowledge. On this episode, Joe and Daniel discuss the quick passing game, why you need it, and a few of the basic concepts you can install today.

Much like we started 2022, Joe and Daniel are closing it out with big predictions about upper level football. This time we're taking on the NCAA, Bowl Season, and the College Football Playoffs! On this episode, you'll hear us discuss the current state of the Transfer Portal, our thoughts on NIL and how it's changing the landscape of college ball, and some Bowl Game predictions you probably don't want to go to the bank with.

Our Mailbag series continues with the second installment, as Joe and Daniel answer some more questions from subscribers. On this episode, we're covering poor character in players, Special Teams programs, and changing defenses from the 4-2-5 to the 3-3 stack.