Coach ,

With Florida State taking the ACC spotlight, the Clemson Tigers may have faded (somewhat) into the background, but the defense is performing at a high level and statistically is in the Top 25 in most categories.

Clemson Defense:

#5 Total Defense 261.8 ypg

#5 1st Downs Allowed 

#5 TFL 7.3/game

#8 Rush Defense 86.3 ypg

#8 Fumbles 

#14 Pass Defense 175.5 ypg

#16 Red Zone Defense .714

#23 3rd Down .326

#23 TO gained 11

#27 Scoring Defense 19.33/ppg

For DC Wes Goodwin it starts with having a solid weekly process.

Coach Goodwin had the privileged to study and learn from some of the finest defensive minds in the country, contributing to top-ranked defenses at Clemson University. He shared that process at the South Carolina Football Coaches Association Clinic.

The Importance of Efficiency and Resource Utilization

To maximize productivity and ensure a well-organized game week, it is essential to establish an efficient game planning process. 

For the Tigers, this process begins on Sundays, the day after the game. As a coaching staff, they commence by individually grading the previous game before convening defensively at 1:30 PM. 

Following this, they meet with head coach Dabo Swinney at 4:00 PM to review the game collectively. 

From 5:00 PM onwards, they embark on studying the scouting report, meticulously assigned to each member of the staff. Delegation of responsibilities is a key component, allowing them to divide and conquer the task at hand. 

By utilizing this approach, they can effectively analyze the opponent's strengths, weaknesses, and tendencies, setting the foundation for a successful game plan.

Analyzing the Opponent's Play-Caller and Tendencies

As a defensive coordinator, Coach Goodwin’s primary focus on Sundays is understanding the opponent's play-caller. By examining their tendencies in various situations, such as turnovers, plus territory, and crucial downs, he aims to decipher their decision-making patterns. 

Additionally, he takes a deep dive into formation tendencies, paying particular attention to early downs and base situations. This systematic approach enables him to separate special situations like two-minute drills and red zone scenarios, allowing for a comprehensive analysis of the opponent's first and second-down strategies. 

By identifying their preferred personnel groupings, formation utilization, and motion tendencies, he gains valuable insights into their offensive game plan.

Studying First and Second Down Strategies

First and second downs form the core of an opponent's offensive game plan. Therefore, a thorough understanding of their approach in these situations is crucial. He begins by analyzing their play-caller tendencies, focusing on their preferences in different scenarios. This involves observing their decision-making after turnovers, in plus territory, and within field goal range. 

Furthermore, he explores formation tendencies, personnel utilization, and favorite runs associated with each personnel grouping. Motion tendencies, such as jet motion or receiver motion across the formation, are also closely examined. 

By separating different situations and dissecting their first and second-down strategies, he can identify potential weaknesses to exploit and develop an effective defensive game plan.

He shares the process in this clip from the clinic:

Video: Weekly Process

Building the Package - An Example

The three-deep coverage employed in hot pressures has a vulnerability, of course "four verts." However, with the addition of six blitzers, the defense can compensate for this weakness. 

As the ball is snapped, the cornerbacks on both sides squeeze towards the quarterback, while the cheat safety overlaps the vision of the quarterback. T

his overlapping technique restricts the quarterback's ability to effectively target the fourth receiver, providing an advantage to the defense. 

Whether it's a run or a pass play, the cheat safety adjusts their positioning accordingly, contributing to the overall effectiveness of the coverage scheme.

Adding hot pressures gives you the opportunity to increase to add 2 deep 3 under coverages sending 6 rushers and you can base a majority of your calls to match specific formations in which you want to use them. 

In a lot of cases you can utilize the consistency of the offense and their pass blocking scheme to free up a rusher. This also has the ability to allow you to leave expected rushers in coverage if you have a stud they are sliding to and other things of this nature while still improving the percentages of you getting to the QB. 

Coach Goodwin shares an example with his inside hot pressure:

Video: Texas Pressure

Pressure vs the Run

Coach Goodwin game plans "Texas" and its purpose is stopping the run on first and second downs. He explain that the Mike linebacker is assigned to cut off the zone or outside zone, while the wheel backer reads the play and reacts accordingly. 

The specific positioning and responsibilities of the linebackers are determined based on the opponent's offensive formations. In game planning how they will use Texas each week the decision on which linebacker goes first depends on the opponent's run game tendencies.

Here’s Coach Goodwin explaining Texas vs. the Run:

Video: Texas Pressure vs Run

An effective game planning process is the backbone of a successful defense. By adopting an efficient approach, utilizing resources, and delegating responsibilities, you can strategically analyze opponents and develop game plans that maximize your team's strengths and exploit the opposition's weaknesses. 

The systematic study of the opponent's play-caller tendencies, formation usage, and first and second-down strategies play a pivotal role in formulating a comprehensive game plan. 

Thank you to Coach Goodwin for sharing this clinic.

Always be growing!

Coach Grabowski