Coach ,

In most offenses, the running back is the work horse, getting the ball 20+ times per game.  You would think we train him with the detail that a 20 touch per game player should get.  Not always true.

Years ago, when I was learning the zone running game from a former Big Ten offensive coordinator, I asked the question, “How do you coach the running back?”  The reply was tongue and cheek, but the answer just didn’t sit right. “If he can’t do it, go to the next one.”

Now maybe that used to work at a Big Ten school that recruited, but I was coaching at a high school, and athletically, there was drop off in ability as we looked at who the next one and then the next one might be.  We had to train our running backs better, and essentially we head to do that on our own.

That was 16 years ago. Today, the resources are better, and one coach who is working to share the knowledge he learned over a 25 year career that spanned the NFL, major college football, and high school is David Walker.

He spent the final seven years of his career in the NFL and now his mission is to engage, educate and empower coaches.

He put together what he terms a level 505 level class for Developing the Complete Running Back. For Coach Walker, it begins with a clear objective, “To develop and enhance the physical skills, football skills, and mental toughness to successfully perform and execute the job description of the position.”

It is about training these skills:

• Body control
• Lateral quickness
• Contact balance
• Vision
• Speed
• Lateral quickness
• Acceleration
• Toughness
• Ball Skills
• Attention to Detail
• Accountability
• Effort

Coach explains in this video.

Coach shares this checklist for what needs to be developed in the running back.

Accountability of the back (and the guy who coaches him)

Protect the ball

Protect the quarterback

Eliminate mental errors

Make the play without the ball in your hands

Communication (give and receive)

Become every down and every situation player

Be productive and consistent

Play harder and longer that opponent

Build football intelligence

Create missed tackles

Coach Walker is specific about how he trains all aspects of the running back.  Here is his philosophy on developing this critical position in your offense.

The best thing about the training and drills that Coach has put together is he shows what skill is being used in the drill and then exactly how it translates on game film.

Coach teaches the aspects of coaching an every down back:

Running the ball

Blocking for the Ball

Route running

Ball security

He finishes his lesson with a round table discussion of NFL and college coaches who discuss important details of coaching the position.

For years, it was easy to get by just putting the best athlete in the position and letting him do his thing.  Like Coach says, we want him to be able to take what we blocked up for 4 yards and turn it into 40 yards.

Coach Walker plans on adding to this series. Check out his course “Developing the Complete Running Back.”

Always be growing!

Coach Grabowski