Coach ,

“The hallmark of excellence, the test of greatness, is consistency.”

— Jim Tressel

At the 3rd Annual Lauren’s First and Goal Clinic, Adam Cushing, Run Game Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach focused on what it takes to create a consistent player.  

While he gives examples with the offensive line, what he describes applies to all position groups, units, and the team.

He established that consistency is the hallmark of greatness.  

The beginning of his talk focused on delivering a consistent message to your players to help cut through a noisy world that delivers an abundance of different messages.  He pointed out that while the message may not hit home immediately, eventually your consistency will make your point come across clearly.

A great takeaway from this talk was what he calls “homework.”  He talked to all of the offensive line coaches he knows to put this together for his offensive line. It is a daily list of things that the players focus on each week on their own and collectively.

The way he does it is collaborative amongst his players giving them each a section to focus on.  He shows the template and explains it in this video:

Video: Homework

This then extends to their study of opponent personnel. Giving a large play list may overwhelm a player.  We work in world of getting our information in small doses, so having them pick out two clips of run technique and two of pass rush technique of the opponent serves again to give them ownership in the process, but also puts together a meaningful playlist that gets them right to the important aspects that we want them to view and more importantly understand so that they can enhance their chances for success on game day. 

He shows the template he gives his OL and explains the process in this video:

Video: Personnel

His discussion includes mental consistency in training players minds especially related to the game plan player-owned culture, and consistency with cultural messages and he finishes with drill film and game film to show how they physically develop consistent offensive linemen.

Here is an example of that:

Video: Stance

This clinic gives more than just a teach tape of drills.  It is framed out well in how Coach Cushing uses mental and physical training to create consistency which will enhance player success on game day.

Now is a great time to think about these types of tools he has put together and how that might apply to your position.

Always be growing!

Coach Grabowski