Learn from the CoachesClinic Match-Up #7 Washington vs. #8 Oregon
Oct 14, 2023 5:52 pm
Coach ,
A battle between top 10 opponents Oregon and Washington come together in this pivotal Week 7 college football matchup, with implications for the PAC-12 Championship and the College Football playoffs.
A win by the Ducks or Huskies, combined with the possibility of a USC loss on the road at Notre Dame this week, would put the winner of that game in pole position in the Pac-12 standings and the favorite to win the conference. championship.
Both teams are at the top of the national rankings:
Washington is No. 1 in college football with an average total yardage of 569.4 per game, and quarterback Michael Penix is No. 2 in passing yards and No. 1 in passing yards, while Oregon ranks trailing in 2nd place with an average of 555.8 yards carried on offense.
With that said, both defenses face a tall task. The defense that does even just a little better may make the difference in the game.
Let’s take a look at some coaching points from each side.
#7 Washington Huskies
For Co-Defensive Coordintor/LB Coach William Inge, he recognizes how the game has undergone a significant transformation, with a shift from traditional approaches to embracing new methodologies.
As coaches, it is crucial to adapt and understand the changing dynamics of players' mindset, their response to criticism, and evolving training regimens, and the role of technology in enhancing linebacker evaluation.
Adapting to the Changing Landscape
Coach Inge acknowledges the transition from old school to new school linebacker evaluation techniques. While the players themselves haven't changed, their approach to the game, response to criticism, and training methods have evolved.
As a result, coaches need to be flexible and receptive to different coaching approaches. It is imperative to understand that external factors, such as parents, select teams, and personal trainers, may influence a player's perspective. To mitigate potential conflicts, coaches should establish trust and emphasize the importance of following the team's guidance and training regimen.
Embracing Technology
Technology has revolutionized coaching. In recent times, coaches have witnessed the benefits of utilizing technology in their coaching processes. The advent of platforms like Zoom, social media, Hudl, YouTube, and email has provided unparalleled opportunities to connect with prospects and captivate their interest.
Coaches must embrace these technological tools to effectively communicate their coaching philosophy and attract potential recruits. By leveraging technology, coaches can stay ahead of the game and adapt to the changing preferences and abilities of modern players.
Watch Coach Inge explain it in this video:
Video: Old School vs. New School
Understanding Individual Learning Styles
A key aspect of successful linebacker evaluation lies in recognizing and catering to the diverse learning styles within the team. Players come from various backgrounds and possess different learning preferences. Some individuals grasp concepts easily through verbal or physical explanations, while others require visual representations or hands-on demonstrations.
Coaches must tailor their teaching methodologies to encompass all learning styles. Employing a four-step learning process consisting of demonstration, imitation, correction, and repetition can help instill solid habits and ensure consistent growth. Correcting mistakes and reinforcing proper technique during the correction phase is crucial to building strong fundamentals and minimizing the development of detrimental habits.
Dominance Starts with Drills
Understanding the purpose of drills and when to use them will maximize the development of your linebackers. Coach Inge explains how the development begins with drills in this video:
Video: Dominance Starts with Drill
#8 Oregon Ducks
Understanding How to Rush
Coach Lanning said it best in the clinic, when you rush, ultimately every player has to learn to be a DE. When you are rushing situationally your athletes have to understand while the goal is to get to the QB there also is integrity that needs to be kept for a variety of plays they could run. Don’t rush yourself out of the play!
Being an athlete and combining that with situational awareness can become a large portion of why these simulated pressures become so successful. The entire goal is to complicate the image for the entire offense, do not allow your athletes to clear the picture up for them. Coach Lanning explains the Duck’s Blitz Technique in this video:
To Simulate Pressure, You Have to Pressure
To create the illusion that you are bringing pressure there also has to be the threat that you bring pressure. With the tools coaches and players have nowadays and the way the game has progressed, if you show the tendency that you are simulating pressure but ultimately 90% of the time you only bring 4, you can bet that the other coaches are going to know it.
To maximize the influence of the simulated pressures into your scheme there constantly has to be a threat that you may bring 5, 6 or 7 man pressures as well. Find commonality between your heavier pressures and the picture they are giving both the protection and the QB to allow yourself to create the best complimentary image you can and influence the offense as much as possible.
Create a Plan
Film study is everyone's best friend, as they say the eye in the sky does not lie. Well to add to that, simulated pressures are great but if we are aimlessly building 10+ sim pressures into our system without method to the madness or simply just giving looks that are similar to our other rushers we really are not maximizing what we can accomplish.
Utilize the tendencies and study of film on your opponents in passing downs to understand the passing concepts and protections schemes so that you can optimize both your rush and coverage to create havoc plays. Keep them simple and effective. Be able to run these items on the fly and allow your players to understand what is taking place. Coach Lanning summarizes his process in this video:
Video: Building Simulated Pressures
This will be a fun one to watch and games like these will fill up the remainder of the season. Enjoy the game and good luck in your preparations for next week!
Always be Growing!
Coach Grabowski
Clinics from Oregon Staff:
3 & 4-Man Spacing Concepts - Will Stein, OC/QB
Special Teams Philosophy & Drills - Joe Lorig, STC/Nickels
Understanding Position Maintenance: In M.O.F. Closed Principles - Dante Bartee, Analyst
Split Field Man Match Quarters Defense - Dante Bartee, Analyst
Game Planning out of the 4-2-5 - Dante Bartee, Analyst
Cover 3 (1 High Zone) Match Principles vs. 3x1 Formations - Dante Bartee, Analyst
Cover 3 (1 High Zone) Match Principles vs. 2x2 Formations - Dante Bartee, Analyst
Rethinking Defense: From Structure to Communication - Dante Bartee, Analyst
Clinic from the Washington Staff
“Quarterback Play & Pass Game Organization” - Nick Sheridan, TE Coach