Coaching Points from NFL Teams that Clinched a Playoff Spot
Dec 19, 2022 6:12 pm
Coach ,
It’s getting exciting in the NFL season as the playoff picture starts to unfold. Much is still up in the air, especially in the AFC but 7 of the 14 spots have been clinched, and we have six of those teams represented in our clinics.
Let’s take a look at who has clinched s well as coaching points from those who presented in our clinics.
NFC Playoff Teams
Philadephia
At 13-1 the Eagles are 1st in the NFC East and have quickly turned things around from the 2020 season in which they finished at 4-11-1. Nick Sirianni is in his second year as head coach after recording a winning season in 2021 at 9-8. The Eagles seem to have it figured out under Coach Sirianni’s leadership and are poised to make a run at the Super Bowl.
From a personal standpoint, I couldn’t be more proud of Joe Kasper who was a player of ours at Baldwin Wallace and is now Defensive Quality Control for the Eagles. While a graduate assistant at Duke in 2020, he delivered a clinic on the “Cheetah Technique” used in man coverage. He explains DOH technique here (click on image for video):
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys clinched a playoff spot and are 10-4 in the NFC East. On defense, the Cowboys are 2nd in passing yards allowed, seventh in points per game, and 8th in yards allowed.
Dallas Cowboys Defensive Coordinator Dan Quinn embraces the idea that everything we accomplish, we accomplish as a team. Coach Quinn talks about the players in this example he shares, but this applies to the coordinator and everyone on the staff (click on image for video):
OL Coach Joe Philbin is tasked with keeping Dak Prescott upright and currently are fourth in the NFL with a 4.12 QB Sacked percentage. They are also averaging 4.6 yards per rush.
He feels that 5 man protection is generally similar across all levels. He shares his principles of pass protection and objectives in this video (click on image for video):
Minnesota Viking
Minnesota finished 8-9 in 2021 and new head coach Kevin O’Connell has the ship righted with the Vikings clinching the NFC North and currently 11-3.
Mike Pettine is the assistant head coach and made a name for himself on the defensive side of the ball across the NFL.
He discusses double mug disguise and the pressures while playing with different coverages behind. He makes an important coaching point though: disguise early but never stray too far from your work. In other words, don’t get yourself out of position. In the video, Coach Pettine illustrates and shows film on Double Mug Pick Cover 1:
Video: Double A Gap Mug Pressures
Daronte Jones returned to the Vikings after serving as the defensive coordinator for LSU in 2021. While leading the Vikings' defensive backs in 2020, the team ranked top 10 in the NFL in interceptions, and Jones helped S Harrison Smith tie his career-high with five interceptions.
Coach Jones reverse-engineered the 6-points of contact to determine exactly how to attack the ball and get it out. This is something that they share with their players and chart daily. He shares their approach here:
Video: 6 Points for Ball Security
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers are in the playoffs again and clinched the NFC West after finishing 3rd in 2021. They are currently in the hunt for a first-round bye.
Covering lanes is important for any type of punt, getting into and maintaining coverage lanes is critical. It does become more challenging on shield punt which a majority of high school and college teams utilize now. Emphasizing an outside release, of course, will help expand players to their lanes and allow for the correct coverage of the field and punt.
San Francisco 49ers Analyst Austin Mangin specifically addresses this with the shield punt in this video (click on image for video):
Visual representation of concepts we are trying to get across creates imagery that makes the memorization and recall of assignments and techniques easier. Coach Mangin uses a paint scraper to teach how blockers on the punt return unit can avoid penalties that move the ball backward and hurt field position.
Here’s Coach Mangin explaining the “Scrape Paint” technique (click on image for video):
AFC Playoff Teams
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs clinched their seventh consecutive AFC West title. It extends their lead on the most consecutive division titles by any AFC West team.
Offensive Coordinator Eric Bienemy has been a big part of KC’s success in using a multitude of offensive weapons in creative ways.
Coach Bienemy learned an important lesson when he entered the NFL as a player: Be a person of Value. As a rookie, coach Dan Henning pointed out to Eric “You need to understand that we don’t need you to play running back. You need to learn your way.” Later that day, personnel director pulled him aside and told Bienemy, “You are going about this the wrong way - Seek not to be a person of success. Be a person of value.” He learned how to play special teams and it opened up avenues for him. He became a value. He shares the story and insight in this video (Click image for video):
OL Coach Andy Heck has the offensive line performing well. In this video, he shares several drills he uses to teach correct body position. These are drills that can be utilized in the off-season:
The Buffalo Bills clinched a spot in the playoffs with their win over the Dolphins. New York Giants OL Coach Bobby Johnson presented at the COOL Clinic when he was with the Bills for the 2021 season.
We will share more of these coaching points as the playoff picture clears up.
Always be growing!
Coach Grabowski
P.S.
We have had staff members from a number of teams in the hunt or on the bubble for the remaining playoff spots. Be sure to check these clinics out as well:
AFC
Baltimore - TJ Weist, Special Teams
Cincinnati - Lou Anarumo, Defensive Back
Cleveland - Bill Callahan and Scott Peters, OL, Jordan Thomas, DL, Monte Gibson, S&C
Pittsburgh - Mike Sullivan, QB
Las Vegas - Chris Ash, DB
Tennessee - Keith Carter, OL, Jason Houghtaling OL
NFC
Carolina - Ed Foley, Special Teams, Joe Dailey, WR
Green Bay - Adam Stenavich, OC/OL
New Orleans - Doug Marrone, OL
New York - Bobby Johnson, OL, Christian Jones, WR
Tampa Bay - Joe Gilbert, OL