Coach -

Every Sunday, Game Planning Tips presented by Lauren's First & Goal brings you ideas from some of the sharpest minds in football — concepts that can sharpen how you teach, plan, and lead.

This week, we’re focusing on three critical areas that define championship-level football:

• Executing with precision in the red zone
• Building a defensive culture rooted in habits, not schemes
• Winning through special teams discipline and hidden yardage

Let’s get better together.

Offense – Red Zone Mastery and the RPO Mindset

Joe Moorhead | Head Coach, Akron

Coach Moorhead’s offenses have produced at every level — from Penn State to Oregon to Akron — and his red zone plan is built on simplicity, structure, and player confidence.

He divides the field into planning zones, each with its own call sheet and focus: fringe, red zone, tight red zone, and goal line. His system pairs red zone discipline with RPO flexibility to create constant defensive conflict.

Key Teaching Points:

• Focus on touchdown percentage, not just red zone trips.
• Build plays around numbers, angles, and grass.
• Create conflict and clarity for defenders through RPO structure.
• Keep the complexity in presentation, not in execution.

“You can’t eliminate risk, but you can minimize it through clarity and teaching. The best call is one your players can execute with confidence.”

👉 [Watch the Clip]

Defense – Building a Championship Defense Through Culture and Fundamentals

Mike Elko | Head Coach, Texas A&M University

For Coach Elko, great defense starts long before the snap. His championship philosophy is built on habits — relentless effort, accountability, and daily reinforcement.

Every rep is charted, every pursuit and tackle measured, every ball disruption celebrated. His defense isn’t defined by scheme but by five daily standards:

The Five Pillars:

1. Relentless Effort
2. Angles of Pursuit
3. Tackling
4. Ball Disruption
5. Explosive Play Prevention

“Effort is the baseline. Fundamentals are the standard. The scoreboard takes care of itself.”

👉 [Watch the Clip]

Special Teams – The ABCs of Punt Blocking and Winning Hidden Yardage

Sean Saturnio | Special Teams Coordinator, Army West Point

At Army, Coach Saturnio teaches his players that punt block isn’t a defensive play — it’s the first offensive snap of the series.

His ABCs of Punt Blocking simplify a complex phase and connect every rep to scoreboard impact:

• A – Attack: Rush with purpose, disrupt the punter’s timing.
• B – Block or Bust: Every near-miss matters; pressure changes outcomes.
• C – Capture the Field: Secure the ball, flip the field, and create momentum.

His 2023 Army unit delivered: three blocked punts, top-5 national ranking in punt disruption, and an 85-spot improvement in punt return production.

“We don’t just want to return punts — we want to affect the punter. That’s our identity.”

👉 [Watch the Clip]

Closing Thought

From red zone teaching to defensive culture to special teams precision, this week’s lessons remind us that championship football is built on habits, not hype.

Define what matters, measure it daily, and teach it relentlessly.

– Coach Grabowski

🏆 Presented by Lauren’s First and Goal Foundation

Last week's tips here...

Lauren’s First and Goal Foundation supports pediatric brain tumor research and families affected by cancer through football.

Since its founding, LFG has raised more than $2 million through clinics and community events led by coaches nationwide.

Join the mission or register for this year’s clinic series at 👉 laurensfirstandgoal.org