Wildcard Weekend Saturday - Coaching Points from Team Playing Today
Jan 13, 2024 4:25 pm
Coach -
The NFL playoffs and the road to the Super Bowl begin today. Let’s take a look at coaching points and insight from the coaches who will be leading their teams on the field today.
Cleveland Browns
Coding makes for better communication and adjustments
A key for the Browns win today will be keeping Joe Flacco protected. They have two outstanding line coaches in Scott Peters and Bill Callahan.
I’ve known Cleveland Browns Assistant Offensive Line Coach Scott Peters for a long time now, and have always seen his ability to understand and communicate the finest details of a coaching point.
What he has done in coding his “Strike System” for his linemen is to create a way they communicate with “brevity code.” Brevity code was developed by fighter pilots to quickly communicate detailed information with an economy of words. One or two words can communicate a lot if the system is set up correctly.
Whether you are an offensive line coach or not, what Coach Peters developed can serve as a template for how you coach more efficiently both in practice and on game day and communicate to your players the exact technique or adjustment they make.
Coach Peters explains the “Strike System” coding in this video:
Kansas City Chiefs
OL Coach Andy Heck has the offensive line performing well. In this video, he shares several drills he uses to teach correct body position. These are drills that can be utilized in the off-season:
Design Principles of the Chiefs' Screen Plays:
#1) Play Action Screens: The Chiefs often utilize play action to freeze linebackers and defensive linemen, creating a momentary delay and allowing the screen play to develop. By executing a convincing play fake, the Chiefs exploit the defense's aggressive tendencies, opening up passing lanes for the screen.
#2) Misdirection Screens: Another effective element of the Chiefs' screen game is incorporating misdirection. Using pre-snap motion, deceptive route combinations, and clever alignment, the Chiefs create confusion among defenders, leading to open spaces and opportunities for their playmakers in the screen game.
# 3) Screen Variations: To keep the defense guessing and prevent them from keying in on their tendencies, the Chiefs employ various screen variations. These include wide receiver screens, tunnel screens, slip screens, and running back screens from multiple formations, keeping defenses off balance and unable to anticipate their next move.
The Play Action Misdirection and Variations are illustrated well in this video:
Miami Dolphins
Empowering the Quarterback and Running Backs
The wide-zone scheme places great importance on the quarterback position. By participating in the scheme without taking unnecessary hits or having to process every single play, the quarterback can focus on leading doing his job to open opportunities with the pass.
The wide-zone scheme allows the quarterback to effectively manage the run game while also maintaining the threat of a passing play. With the running backs being crucial in finding open gaps and making quick decisions, the scheme relies on their ability to make the right choices on the field. By giving the running backs the freedom to find open gaps, the wide-zone scheme ensures that the offense remains dynamic and adaptable.
Implementing the wide-zone scheme effectively can maximize their team's potential and create a dynamic and exciting style of play. Understanding and utilizing the wide-zone scheme can be a game-changer for any offense team looking to gain a competitive edge on the field. It has certainly made the difference for the Miami Dolphins.
Miami Dolphins assistant Chad Henley gave a thoorrough presentation of the Wide Zone play at Lauren’s First and Goal Clinic. In this clip he explains the benefits of using Wide Zone and illustrates it with game film.
Video: Benefits of Wide Zone/It takes 11
Techniques for Effective Man Coverage
Shutting down the run is the first thing that every defensive coordinator will talk about. Answers for that are evident in being able to have more than they can block. Of course that leaves a defense playing zone behind it vulnerable versus the passing game and run-pass options.
Going to man coverage has been a popular answer, but many defensive coaches feel that this can only be done if the defense has superior defensive backs.
The truth is, anyone can play man coverage if they understand and can play with sound technique. Miami Dolphins DB Coach Joe Kasper is quick to point this out. Playing man coverage begins with their philosophy behind why they are playing it.
Kasper explains the benefits of playing man coverage first and foremost as using it to be a challenge and give nothing away for free. In using the correct technique, every route should be forced to struggle from the snap.
He wants to control the pace of the fight and defend every blade of grass by utilizing this aggressive strategy. Kasper shares their reasons for playing man in this video:
The process for correctly executing man technique begins with the defender answering five pre-snap questions quickly:
- Who do I have?
- What are his splits?
- What is his skill set vs my technique?
- What is the situation?
- Where is my help?
After having those answers, the concept is simple, but the fine details are critical. Using techniques like OTP (over the rop), DOH/Trail, Quick Jam and Cheetah, Duke is able to be successful with man coverage.
Kasper explains the DOH/Trail technique in this video:
There’s clinic talk and what is actually taught to players. Kasper shares exactly what they teach players in his course utilizing the coaching points and film that effectively gets these points across. While this is from his time at Duke, you can be sure he’s brought some of these techniques with him to the NFL.
Here’s more from coaches in today’s game
Cleveland - Bill Callahan and Scott Peters, OL, Jordan Thomas, DL, Monte Gibson, S&C Cleveland Browns - Teaching Power Cleans to Young Athletes Jr. High Strength & Conditioning: The Road Starts Here
Miami Dolphins Mike Judge - Getting Tight Ends Ready To Compete
Enjoy the games!
Coach Grabowski
P.S. Our clinic presentations from all current NFL coaches are on sale here: