How #6 USC prepares their O-Line to attack movement on OZ

Jul 20, 2023 10:20 pm

Coach ,

#7 on the Preseason Top 25 is USC. Today Coach Kauffman shares insight from OL Coach Josh Henson. He delivered a presentation at the C.O.O.L. and Coach Kaufmann breaks that down

Coach Grabowski

Season Preview Capsule

It’s no secret here we all know that Lincoln Riley’s teams and offenses flow through good QB play and Junior Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams returning they are going to be pretty good. This team has some questions to answer though before many of the critics are going to really believe. With the previous history of success at Oklahoma in the playoffs and last season ending with a loss to Tulsa.

There is going to be a hill to climb most likely to make the playoffs. Personally, I think more than anything this season is going to play a huge part in how well the transition to the Big Ten goes and the long term success.

The biggest concern for this team is going to sound like a broken record but, again it is the defense. A year ago 7 times this team gave up 28 or more points. All of their losses they surrendered more than 40. They aren’t going to avoid this problem either as their schedule is going to be much more difficult. Adding Washington and Oregon to the conference slate this year is a challenge in itself. But, adding Washington and Oregon in back to back late season games as well as playing Notre Dame and Utah back to back two weeks before that. Their work is cut out for them.

Breaking it Down

Throughout a lot of this Top 25 we have had clips talking about overarching schemes but, not much diving directly into the fundamentals and drills associated with a position in particular. If you are a zone scheme team, the outside zone is almost certainly in your arsenal.

If you are struggling to handle a variety of issues working with the zone scheme you are in the right place. Watch as Coach Josh Henson guides you through OZ and making adjustments and the techniques for attacking movement in this C.O.O.L. Clinic presentation.

Video: Josh Henson- Outside Zone - Adjustments & Techniques for Movement

Sorting the Drill Menu

With every coach you have a variety of drills that you are comfortable with and a variety that you have picked up on. A tool that I have found from speaking with coaches that helps is creating a drill menu.

This aids in sorting your EDD’s, familiar and unfamiliar drills. But, it also helps you to understand where you are truly dedicating your time throughout the week. Use a menu or some kind of format to formulate and aid in developing your position group and organizing your individual drills to truly contribute to your game plan and how you play on the weekend. See Coach Henson’s Line Drills here.

Video: Line Drills

Being Flexible

Normally talking about flexibility with the offensive - line, everyone wants to talk about an athlete's ability to bend. Here I mean it in a different manner. I’ve said before that offense has the advantage in many cases today in football and I do stand by that. But, within an offensive perspective the way offense has evolved it has forced the hand of intricate defenses to increase movement and stray largely from base play. With this we need our lines to be flexible and ready to see any kind of stunt, having a box of tools for your offensive line to use at their disposal and be ready to have the ability to attack these different situations will aid your offense greatly. See how Coach Henson drills movement to give his O-Line the tools to work in these situations.

Video: Movement Recognition

Eyes

From my time with the offensive line the biggest thing I found was when our guys had the time and had seen the looks all week on both film and in practice outside of team period they usually handled the movement pretty well.

The movement of defenses can be hectic but, tends to be pretty consistent. We know scouting wise what stunts and pressures they are comfortable with and we both know which are their strengths.

I encourage coaches especially at the high school level to find walk through time prior to practice, maybe even without pads to just set up some twists or whatever movement you are planning to see and give your guys as many chances to witness these items a week prior to it being full speed.

Strive to Succeed!

Coach Kauffman