Coach -

Before we get into today’s topic, just a quick reminder that the 42nd Annual C.O.O.L. Clinic™ begins today at noon…

The C.O.O.L. Clinic is where we first heard of Scott Peters and his innovative techniques. At the time, he had recently retired as a player, but began working with teams to help them improve their techniques. Peters is now the offensive line coach for the New England Patriots.

Scott Peters has an interesting story of how the techniques he teaches now have evolved and how Bill Callahan incorporated these into effective schemes. 

To make a long story short, his venture into Brazilian jujitsu as a way to recover from an injury not only helped him back into the game for a few more years but also helped develop some of the safest and most effective techniques in the game today. For Peters, it was a new understanding of leverage that came out of what he learned from martial arts.

The Cleveland Browns' offensive line under the direction of Bill Callahan and Scott Peters has been a mainstay of late in the conversation of best offensive lines. 

We all know games are won and controlled in the trenches, and the job these two coaches have done and their knowledge made it no mystery why they were coveted hires this off-season.

Callahan and Peters landed new roles with the Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots, respectively.

Let’s take a look at some of the work they did together in both the run game and the pass game starting with the Wide Zone Play.

Callahan & Peters - Wide Zone Pendulum Strike and Pass Pro Strike System

Callahan and Peters worked to teach the safest (least amount of head impacts recorded by the NFL) and most effective non-traditional set of techniques. 

They emphasized hand usage and removed the head as a tool for contact.  In the process, they unlocked using the hips, something that every offensive line coach probably says multiple times every practice.

Video: Callahan Half Man Wide Zone Combo-Part 1

In the wide zone concept, Coach Callahan emphasizes playing long.  They look to make an immediate fit to create a long vertical and horizontal movement that ultimately reduces negative plays. 

The combinations are built on aiding the post-up blocker to platform the down defender and get into a position to climb to the LB. 

The other end of this teaching is the idea of assisting the trail blocker that is responsible for the overtaking of the down defender. These techniques help the trail blocker because the buckboard technique they utilize aids them in winning the first touch and getting a more clean fit. 

But the teachings of this tandem span beyond just the striking in the run game and the reduction to head injuries. A large piece of this hour and a half long clinic is the idea of the pass pro striking system. Outlined by Coach Peters here.

Video: Strike System Preview

The system they use improves their communication and reduces verbiage that is necessary to explain what to use in each situation. 

The idea of shoulder disruption and playing long remains the same. This brings about a common theme for the OL and allows them to play confident and aggressive while being familiar with the position of their body. 

The simple understanding and quick and effective communication and teaching can occur where the athlete registers a large amount of information quickly and with relatively little processing.

The duo goes their separate ways, but their new teams will benefit from their methods.  

Don’t forget to register for this year's C.O.O.L. Clinic and see all the information about the clinic this year here!

Get it from the chalkboard to the grass!

The C.O.O.L. Clinic Team