Coach,

Kendal Briles is back in the SEC and with it comes his infamous tempo. It also looks like he’ll have LaNorris Sellers back at QB so he’ll have his big-arm quarterback that helps the offense go.

In a clinic from THSCA from his last stop at TCU, Kendal Briles explained tempo the way he actually coaches it. 

Here are three points that drive everything he does offensively:

1: Tempo Starts With Communication

Briles stays on the field. One signaller. Every play.

The quarterback and skill players get the call and relay it. The offensive line doesn’t need variation. To them, every play should look the same.

If the signal can’t get from the sideline to all 11 clean and fast, the offense isn’t playing fast.

Tempo breaks first in communication, so it’s vital this process is down pat. Additionally, Briles says he doesn’t worry about sign stealing because if the opposing team has enough time to steal the signal and get a counter defense in, then they’re not snapping the ball fast enough.

Tempo Mechanics

2: The Center Sets the Pace

Briles builds tempo around the center. The center finds the spot. The center gets the ball down. Everyone else moves off him.

Guards don’t settle until he’s set. Tackles don’t relax until the ball’s placed.

That’s why intelligence at the position matters. The center has to know where the ball is going before anyone else does.

If he hesitates, the offense hesitates.

3: Tempo Is Enforced Between Plays

Briles wants to play an entire drive with one football for as long as he can.

Skill players sprint the ball to the umpire. No flips. No waiting on the wrong official. The next signal is already coming.

Using one ball exposes bad habits. Slow jogs. Lazy handoffs. Standing around.

They use continuous film to coach it. Every second between snaps is on tape. Players see exactly where tempo is lost and exactly what it looks like when it’s done right.

Briles goes much deeper in the full clinic on how this tempo ties into play calling, matchups, and scoring pressure over the course of a game.

This section alone is worth studying if tempo is part of your offensive identity.

Always be growing!

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