Coach ,

Our CoachesClinic Small College Team of the Week is #20 Shepherd University (7-1).

If you have been watching the NFL news lately, one story that has made headlines is the Chicago Bears winning just their second game of the season with rookie QB Tyson Bagent stepping in for an injured Justin Fields.

Bagent was the Harlon Hill winner in 2021(D2’s version of the Heisman). He excelled at as the QB at Shepherd University.

Shepherd is no stranger to success. Since taking over in 2018, Head Coach Ernbie McCook is 51-11 including NCAA D2 national semi-finalist finishes in 2021 and 2022.

The #20 Rams come into this week’s match-up at Bloomsburg at 7-1.

An area that has stood out this season is the return game.  The Rams are #1 in the country on Kick Return with 27.8 yards per return and 2 touchdowns.  Junior DB Christian McDowell is best with 10 returns for 239 yards, 23.9 avg.  However, the success return is a collective effort. RS Jr. Malaki Brown and So. Cameron Dorner have each taken one back for a TD.

Starting field position is also helped by the Rams #12 Punt Return unit which averages 15.47 yards per return with 1 TD.  Fr. DB Miles Greer leads those effort with 17 for 272, a 16.0 average and 1 TD.

Special Teams Coordinator Luke Wright guides the efforts behind top ranked return team. For the Rams it starts with a winning equation which consists of:

-Show effort and belief that this play matters

-Be physical and violent

-Be Technicians

-Have high football IQ and situational awareness.

Coach Wright gives an overview of the philosophy and KO coverage in this video:

Video: Special Teams Equation and KO 

For the Rams, Special Teams are certainty a point of pride.  They make it a team effort where the all-stars of the offense and defense come together as a collective to help the team win.

Best of luck to the Rams and to you as you head into another weekend of competition!

Always be growing!

Coach Grabowski

Ranked Small College Teams (D2, D3, NAIA)

D2

8 Ferris State - Sam Parker, OL Coach - Ferris State O and Grant Caserta, LB Coach - Ferris State Championship Defense - A Unique Twist on the 4-3

11 Indy - Brad Wilson, OC - Gap Schemes, RPO & Tags, Inside Zone

19 Tiffin - Cris Reiserts, HC - Slow and Quick Screen Game

20 Shepherd - Ernie McCook, HC - Shepherd Pass Pro, Luke Wright, STC - Special Teams Play, Josh Kline, DC - Rams Defensive Concepts

21 Truman St - Jason Killday, OC - Stick Concept

D3 

1 North Central Shane Dierking, DC - Manipulating Gaps, Defending Empty Formations

6 Wisconsin-Whitewater Brody Pogue, WR Coach, Whitewater Special Teams

17 Ithaca - Micheal Toerper - Special Teams Philosophy, Drills and Transferable Skills

23 DePauw - Brett Dietz, HC - Maximizing Play Action in a Balanced Offense

NAIA

#3 Morningside - Casey Jacobsen, Co-DC, LB Fundamentals - Developing an LBeast

#8 Keiser - Doug Socha, HC 

#11 Lindsey Wilson - Phil Kleckler, HC - Bear Front and its Variations

#18 St Xavier  - Bill McKeon, DC - Zone Blitz 3 Deep with 2 or 3 Under

#23 St. Thomas - Tony Nemeyier, OC - Building an OL from Scratch