Insight from Coaches in Tonight's Big Game
Jan 08, 2024 2:57 pm
Coach -
Tonight’s game presents two different styles of offense with Michigan’s power running game at the heart of their attack and a highly efficient passing game led by JJ McCarty who completes 73.2% of his passes (230-314 for 2,851 yd, 22TD/4INT), and Washington’s big play passing game behind Michael Penix, Jr. (336-504, 4,648 yd, 35D/9INT).
The cliche is "defense wins championships" and that may be true as Michigan has been one of the best defenses over the past two years. They will be tasked with stopping a high powered passing game.
Our CoachesClinic team put together insights from the coaches who have presented at our clinics.
Enjoy the game! If you are at AFCA shoot me an email or DM me on X @CoachKGrabowski. We have a pregame happy hour in our suite at Opryland. Stop by and say hello.
Coach Grabowski
Insight from the Michigan Staff
Michigan Gap Schemes
The Michigan Offensive Line is the staple that has pushed their program to 3 Big Ten Titles in a row and 3 Playoff Appearances. Making things even more interesting they won 2 consecutive Joe Moore Awards and now enter into the National Championship playing this year's JMA winner. Expect an OL Clinic in this game.
Here’s Michigan OC/OL Coach Sherrone more talking about Power.
Coach Moore notes, “... when you teach Gap Schemes it really doesn’t matter who is where, it is all based upon your rules”. It allows you to build a run game menu with understood rules that will allow you to expand from there plays more complicated for the defense and in many ways minimally significant changes to your offense.
Gap Schemes give you the ability to make the same play into many different variations. Same or similar rules adapt with Tackle Over, GT Counter, and TE inserts among many other options. From there it extends to the run game with RPO where a TE inserts turn into a flat route and many more off of it.
Work the Edges
The outside zone really allows an offense to stress the front in terms of gap responsibility. Running gap schemes require LB to have a downhill mentality to stop the run while outside zone force them to move to keep their gap integrity and it opens running lanes for the back along with creating play action opportunities.
Michigan’s OL is big and powerful and can knock you off the ball, but they are also athletic and can distort you horizontally on outside zone.
Coach Moore share some outside zone clips in this next video.
Double Teams/Open Pulling
Having the athletic OL gives you an advantage when wanting to pull them. Everyone in gap schemes wants to talk about the pullers and the movement. But, the down blocks are insanely important. They also aren’t always as easy as the whiteboard makes them seem. Work the down block and a variety of ways. But, preach the mentality of finishing the block even if it doesn’t go completely as drawn up!
Coach Moore shares some of the details behind their down blocks in this video.
Michigan’s Efficient Passing Game
Michigan is #5 in the country in passing efficiency and #2 in completion percentage. Though they throw the ball much less than Washington, they have the confidence in calling passes because they have consistency in moving the ball with the pass.
Having a QB who can recognize what the defense is doing and attack it allows for the efficiency that Michigan has developed. Of course that can be trained.
Becoming good at reading a coverage is getting enough repetitions at it so that the process is sped up. A QB doesn’t need to get his whole receiver core together to rep it. In fact, he doesnt need anyone running. Here is a great drill from Michigan QB Coach Kirk Campbell which can be adapted to your concepts with the various coverages you see.
Video: Cover Recognition Drill
The Biggest Offensive Play in Football
While neither team wants to have to trot their punter out on the field, the Punt is such an important part of the game. Long ago a coach told me that the punt is the biggest offensive play in that it moves the ball farther down the field than any other play.
We certainly don’t want our punter out on the field an inordinate amount of time, but I always told my offense something I learned in “end each series in a kick.”
With that being said, beyond the strong leg of a punter and the skill of the long snapper, how a punt is covered will make or break the play.
Coverage Considerations
Like any other play, it starts with personnel and building your scheme and technique on what you players can do well, then developing it from there.
Jay Harbaugh, the 2021 Football Scoop Special Teams Coordinator of the Year starts with people, not scheme. He wants to ensure that the people on his unit are the best fit for the job that they are being asked to do. He explains the considerations for personnel here (click on image for video):
Video: Coverage Considerations
Insight from the Washington Staff
William Inge - Developing Fundamentals: Drill Work for ILB
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
Nick Sheridan - Offense Organization & QB Play
After serving as Indiana’s OC, Nick Sheridan reunited with Kalen Debor at Washington as the TE Coach. He brings a wealth of offensive knowledge to the Huskies.
Know that your vision is going to guide everything you do and the way you act, play etc. In the end don’t take it from me, take it from Coach Sheridan. “What you do matters - how you do it matters more”.
Coach Sheridan does a great job of explaining it here:
Video: Create a Vision
Language - How are you talking
How are you talking to the other coaches? How are you talking to your players?
In getting everyone aligned in your offense, the first step is to Identify a common language among your staff and get everyone on the same page and allow this to trickle down to your players and reap the benefits.
Much of society today is dictated by language and the rhetoric used, falls on the good side of this. Understand one coach calling it a pop pass another calling it a buck pass and another coach saying a TE seam creates confusion and lapse among staff and players alike. Identify and uproot these issues. Coach Sheridan explains the importance of it in this video:
Video: Build a Common Language
Coach Sheridan’s knowledge as a teacher of the game really shined through in this talk given at the Illinois HS Football Coaches Association Virtual Clinic. For the Huskies, and any offense looking to excel in 2024, alignment of coaches and players is crucial, and that is made possible through the efficient use of of language and terminology.
Enjoy the game!
-The CoachesClinic Team
P.S.
Save on all 3 Resources from Michigan OC/OL Coach Sherrone Moore (45% off)