Coach -

Terry Joseph, Passing Game Coordinator for the New Orleans Saints, doesn't wing his individual period. By the time his defensive backs hit the field for training camp, 80% of his drill schedule is already written.

Video: Terry Joseph - DB Play

Joseph's system comes from his time at Texas, where he developed a drill framework built around four categories. He calls it his alphabet: A-B-C-D.

The A-B-C-D Framework

A – Agilities: Footwork and movement. Flipping hips, changing direction, the foundational athletic work every DB coach runs.

B – Block Destruction: This is the one Joseph thinks gets undercoached. With the volume of RPOs, bubbles, and jet sweeps in today's game, the ball is getting to the perimeter fast. Joseph's point is simple: you can't just tell a corner to "go make the play." You have to give him the tools to defeat blocks. That means coaching leverage, hand placement, and body position. It's about building a toolbox so players can put themselves in position to finish.

C – Contact: Tackling, but with a specific focus: proper leverage and body position to be a safe, efficient tackler.

D – Defend: Ball-in-the-air skills. How do I win at the end of the play? Joseph builds options here too: contested catches, high points, playing through the receiver's hands, so players have answers for different situations.

Each category feeds the others. Agilities get you in position. Block destruction gets you off blocks. Contact finishes the play. Defend wins the contested rep.

Why 80% Is Done Before Camp

Joseph doesn't walk out to stretch wondering what he's doing in period two. His install drives his drill selection.

Before camp or spring ball, he takes the coverage install and maps drills to what he's teaching that day. If Tuesday's practice features a specific coverage, Tuesday's individual period features drills that reinforce the technique his players need to execute it.

The payoff is organization. During the season, Joseph already has his drill structure built by day: Tuesday's rack of drills, Wednesday's rack, Thursday's rack. All he does is highlight what he wants from the existing menu.

That 80% isn't a rigid script. Ge still has 20% flexibility to adjust, but the structure is there. He's not reinventing individual period every week.

Quality Over Quantity

Joseph wants his players to know three things before every drill: what are the coaching points, what does a perfect rep look like, and why are we doing this.

"I'm about quality more than quantity," Joseph said. "I want them to know exactly how I want it to look, how I want it done."

The "why" matters to him. He takes the time to explain the purpose behind each drill, not because players need to be coddled, but because players who understand the purpose execute with more intent.

Four categories. Pre-planned structure. Clear coaching points on every drill.

Joseph's system isn't complicated, but it is deliberate. The organization happens before practice starts so his time on the field is spent coaching, not figuring out what comes next.

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Coaches Clinic Community of Coaches Helping Coaches

More Clinics from Coach Terry Joseph:

Developing a Defensive Passing Game Planning

New Orleans Saints - DB Play

Developing Relationships with Your Players

See you all tomorrow virtually at the Stop RPO Clinic. Outstanding Lineup!

https://stoprpo.coachesclinic.com/

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