Great Teachers Are Detailed Teachers
There is a lot that goes into being a great teacher. None of it has to do with anyone snarling on the sideline during a game or really even at practice, for that matter. Great teachers are detailed teachers. They are as hard on themselves as they are their students.
You are witnessing it a lot in the NFL right now. You are seeing third string players come in and compete at a very high level with little to no practice. How? Well, trust us when we say that there are plenty of reps going on after practice. If you are the “assistant” line coach or the quarterback coach and you are coming off of the field when the normal practice is over, well that won’t work. You better be getting your 2’s and 3’s ready.
A lot of the detail also involves allowing your players to learn without you. The access to great video is obviously a part of that. The other teaching tool is these of detailed drawings and coaching assignments. Yes, there is that word again. Detail is hard. It often takes place in the background away from Twitter.
Great Teachers Spend More Time Preparing Than Most People Think
Detailed teachers understand that you are always well ahead of the schedule with your teaching. Does it take more time? Absolutely. Maybe it’s that old saying that coaches like to use when they talk to their players though. You know, the one about the pain of sacrifice vs the pain of regret.
What Do The Best Teachers/Coaches Use? Let’s Check In With The Under Armour All-America Game…
Here at FirstDown PlayBook we have lived this life for more years than some of you coaches have been alive. It is a hard life but a rewarding one. More rewarding though if you are a detailed teacher. Much much more rewarding than not coaching or teaching well.
Defensive Line
Call Side End Alignment: Head Up 6 Technique Or 7 Technique.
Key: TE.
Play To: C Gap. Play Away: C Gap.
Pass: Contain Rush
Away Side End Alignment: 5 Technique.
Key: Tackle.
Play To: C Gap. Play Away: C Gap To Trail.
Pass: Contain Rush.
Tackle Alignment: 3 Technique.
Key: Guard.
Play To: B Gap. Play Away: Squeeze & Restrict A Gap.
Pass: Two Way Go Pass Rush.
Nose Alignment: Shade 1 Technique.
Key: Center.
Play To: A Gap. Play Away: A Gap.
Pass: A Gap Pass Rush.
Linebackers
Sam LB Alignment: Stack The Defensive End.
Key: TE To RB (Run/Pass Key)
Run To: Tight Path: A Gap Outside In Late. Wide Path: Scrape Outside For Force Contain. Run Away: Slow Scrape To Cutback.
Pass: (Spot Drop) Curl Flat Drop
OR Read #2 To #3 (Does #2 Block/Vertical/In/Out) (Is #3 To Or Away From You?)
Mike LB Alignment: Stack Nose. May Cheat To The Skill.
Key: Back Thru Center.
Run Strong: A Gap to Scrape. Run Weak: B Gap To Scrape Inside Out.
Pass: (Spot Drop) Hook Drop
OR Read #3 To #2
Secondary
Nickel Will Alignment: Head Up To Inside Of #2.
Key: #2
Run To: Attack The Technique Of The Blocker And Win With Outside Leverage On The Ball. Run Away: Pursue & Stay Behind The Ball To Play Cutback Early. Take Proper Pursuit Angle Late.
Pass:(Spot Drop) Curl Flat Drop
OR Read #2 To #3 (Does #2 Block/Vertical/In/Out?) (Is #3 To Or Away From You?)
Strong Safety Alignment: 10-12 Yards Deep Head Up To Inside Of Tight End.
Key: #2 To #1
Pass: (Spot Drop) Quarters
Or Read #2 To #1 (Does #2 Block/Vertical/In/Out?)
Run To: Alley Inside Of SLB. Run Away: Backside Alley To Pursuit Angle.
Free Safety Alignment: Alignment: 10-12 Yards Deep Head Up To Inside Of #2.
Key: #2 To #1
Pass: (Spot Drop) Quarters
Or Read #2 To #1 (Does #2 Block/Vertical/In/Out?)
Run To: Alley Inside Of NW. Run Away: Backside Alley To Pursuit Angle.
Call Side Corner Alignment: Outside Foot On The Inside Foot Of The WR. 7-9 Yards Deep.
Key: #2 To #1
Pass: (Spot Drop) Quarters
Or Read: #2 to #1 (Does #2 Block/Vertical/In/Out?)
Run To: Contain. Run Away: Contain Until Ball Breaks LOS Then Pursuit Angle With Cutback Leverage.
Away Side Corner Alignment: Outside Foot On The Inside Foot Of The WR. 7-9 Yards Deep.
Key: #2 To #1
Pass: (Spot Drop) Quarters
Or Read: #2 to #1 (Does #2 Block/Vertical/In/Out?)
Run To: Contain. Run Away: Contain Until Ball Breaks LOS Then Pursuit Angle With Cutback Leverage.
