Coach ,

I love Monday mornings because it is a chance to reflect on the teachable moments from the games I attended or watched over the weekend.  

What’s on my mind today is creating playmakers and enhancing the use of role players as well as scoring on defense. Here are the three tips for the week.

Play Offense on Defense

We talked earlier this season about Jim Knowles approach to playing offense on defense. He likes to create plays for his playmakers and that certainly came to light with defensive end JT Tuimolauo this past weekend against Penn State.

Tuimolauo’s defensive performance may have been one of the best in Ohio State history. Here’s what he did:

• Six tackles
• Three TFLs
• Two Sacks
• A forced fumble 
• A fumble recovery
• A deflected pass resulted in an interception for DE Zach Harrison, 
• Two interceptions, one of which was a pick-six sealing the Buckeye’s win in the fourth quarter.

All of this is the result of Coach Knowles's creativity in how he uses his players. The defense is in multiple fronts which can change from play to play, yet it is simple for his players and it allows them to play fast and highlights each individual’s skill set.

In this video, he is sharing hows they drop the end into coverage, which Tuimalo did occasionally against Penn State resulting in his first INT (click on image for video):

Video: Drop End

Coach Knowles and his staff’s efforts have resulted in a huge turnaround for the OSU defense. At the forefront of their success is how they have been able to put their players in a position to win.

Create multiple roles

Former Virginia Tech Defensive Coordinator Justin Hamilton presented an insightful clinic on creating roles for players. As the season heads into the playoffs, finding ways to create those roles and utilize skillsets provides more firepower for your defense. Whether that’s finding a way to get better pass rushers in on obvious run downs, or better-matching personnel as the offense substitutes, this approach provides benefits both now and in the future.

To do this it takes uniform verbiage, consistent training in fundamentals, and intentional scripting. Coach Hamilton explains it here (click on image for video):

Video: Multiple-Role Teaching

Teach Defenders to Score

As mentioned earlier, Tuimolauo’s interception and return were a difference maker. His was relatively easy after he caught the ball, but working this in a drill to teach defenders to look for blocks and the defensive ball carrier to work number to has to sideline.

 Coach Josh Kline is the Defensive Coordinator for #6 Shepherd University. They are ranked #3 in D2 with 5 defensive TDs in 2022 including 4 INT returns which ties them for 1st in D2. He uses what he calls an “Interception Pursuit Drill.” The drill teaches his players to flip modes into blockers and ball carriers to escort the interceptor into the endzone. He illustrates this with drill and game film here (click on image for video):

Video: Interception Pursuit

Always be growing!

Coach Grabowski

P.S. The Halloween treat today is that all 3 of these clinic presentations are 50% off.