Learning from NFL Coaches who are on the Road to LVII
Jan 13, 2023 4:54 pm
Coach ,
The 2022 NFL season provided a lot of excitement, especially down the stretch as teams fought for their spot in the playoffs.
I always enjoyed watching what is done at the NFL level and learning how I can adapt principles and strategies and tactics to the situations I was coaching in.
We were fortunate to have 13 of these coaches who are competing in the playoffs in our clinics and they shared details that can make a difference at every level.
Each shared the concepts, but more importantly the details behind the techniques that made them successful on the biggest stages - the NFL.
Let’s take a look at the 13 coaches and a coaching point or two from their clinic presentations.
Kansas City Chiefs - 1st Round Bye
The Chiefs clinched their seventh consecutive AFC West title. It extends their lead on the most consecutive division titles by any AFC West team. Kansas City earned the first-round bye. We’ve had two coaches from the offensive side of the ball in our clinics. Here’s some insight from each.
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:
Philadelphia Eagles - First Round Bye
The Eagles had to win one of the last three games to clinch the bye. They waited to the final game and the return of Jalen Hurts to do that.
At 14-3 the Eagles won 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):
Bengals vs. Ravens
We have a clinic presentation from each of the coaching staffs in this match-up.
Defensive Coordinator Lou Anarumo has the Bengals playing sound defense and like last season will look to have them peaking at the right time.
Bengals
Coach Anarumo spoke at his home state’s clinic in 2020 and shared two versions of Tampa two which they keep in their toolbox.
Tampa 2 is a coverage that Lou Anarumo says can be used at every level in order to outnumber an offense in the run game and have change-ups in coverage that protect the middle of the field deep which becomes a priority of an offensive attack when they see cover two.
The Bengals begin their set-up in the 4-2-5 starting in an over front. In order for Tampa 2 to work, there are five “musts” for the coverage to be successful. Every coverage has keys and if they aren’t utilize then the coverage will prove to be ineffective. From reading the QB shoulders to how the middle runner drops are explained in this video (click on image for video):
Coach Anarumo has used this from the Division III college level all the way up to the NFL and it’s a coverage he believes can work at any level of the game. In this example, he shows how they start in disguise in order to not give the quarterback a key.
He illustrates the coverage on game film in this clip (click on image for video):
Video: Preview of Tampa 2 Game Film
Ravens
The Ravens Special Teams assistant TJ Weist spoke at the Louisiana Football Coaches Association Clinic.
The Ravens have a tall challenge with a familiar foe. In a game where every play counts, the Ravens will look to win the special teams battle.
He shares a punt return drill which limits the typical run on a full punt-punt return rep. He explains the technique needed to spring the returner for a big gain.
Buccaneers vs. Cowboys
Cowboys
Like last season, one of the names for the open head coaching positions is Dan Quinn. He’s led an effort that brought the Cowboys back to the playoffs for the second straight season under head coach Mike McCarthy.
For Coach Quinn, it begins with setting the bar high and having every team member hold each other accountable for the standard.
It’s something that he has done for a long time as a head coach, coordinator, and position coach, and how he does it is certainly a template for any coach to use with his group, unit or team.
The standard provides the edge for Coach Quinn and his players. He feels it is important for a coach to define it in writing and put everyone on the same page. He defines “the standard” for his team in this video (click on image for video):
Coach Quinn goes on to explain how “the standard” gives every member of the team a “go-to” as far as how to approach a teammate when something is not being done the right way as they have defined it. They push each other to be the best they can be. He explains it here (click on image for video):
OL Coach Joe Philbin is tasked with keeping Dak Prescott upright and the run game grinding away. Here’s a thought on pass protection from Coach Philbin.
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):
Buccaneers
The Buccaneers had must-win situations to make the playoffs and they came through. As always, Tom Brady is the major factor in this match-up. The Bucs will have to keep Brady upright.
In 2020 that was the key to the Bucs success and a Super Bowl win. Offensive Line Coach Joe Gilbert spoke about “Fundamentals and Techniques in Protecting Tom Brady” at the COOL Clinic.
Specifically, the offensive tackles need to do their job. Coach Gilbert believes the three components for an OT’s success are “Set Line, Punch, and Mirror.” (click on image for video):
Video: Offensive Tackle Protection Techniques
Keeping the hands tight is crucial in the punch. Using a slightly deflated volleyball helps train the tight hands to be able to execute a tight hands punch. He explains that in this video (click on image for video):
Vikings vs.
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 at 13-4.
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
NY Giants
In 2021 OL Coach Bobby Johnson was with the Buffalo Bills, and he’s back in the playoffs with the Giants under new head coach Joe Judge.
Coach Johnson will be looking for his group to provide the great protection that was seen by the Bills in the playoffs last year.
From a teaching perspective, it starts with teaching the “how and why” of their drills and techniques as soon as possible. (click on image for video):
Video: Teach the Why and How as Soon as Possible
For the offensive line, it’s having a toolbox of different sets in order to win the battle on the line of scrimmage. The more dynamic a defensive lineman is, the more tools an offensive lineman needs. In this video, Coach Johnson details the “hot set” (click on image for video):
WR Coach Christian Jones moved from the Vikings to the Giants in 2022. Here’s his insight on releases.
Releases happen on the second level in space as well. A good release at level two will bring the receiver into space for the throw. It’s something that is key for Kupp. Vikings WR Coach Christian Jones shows it on film here (click on image for video):
Video: Second Level Release
Forty-Niners vs. Seahawks
Forty-Niners
There are a ton of details on these units, but today we will highlight one for each.
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):
Last year gave us incredible games in every round and a ton of excitement and I know we are all hoping for the same in 2023.
We will have more NFL coaches in our clinics during the next month which will include the COOL Clinic and Lauren’s First and Goal.
Always be growing!
Coach Grabowski
P.S. All of these clinic presentations are 57% off for the weekend.