Question: I would like to know the numbers for the holes in the running game. I am a first year coach and have a lot of first year players and would like to set up some cones with the numbers on them for them to run through.
Hi Coach,
There are different ways to number the holes [gaps between offensive players] for the running game One of the easiest is to have even number gaps to the right of the offensive center and odd number gaps to the left of the offensive center. Lower numbers would be nearest the center and higher numbers to the outside.
In a typical numbering system your holes [or gaps] would look like this:
SE 9 7 LT 5 LG 1 CN 0 RG 4 RT 6 TE 8
/3 /2
The gap between the offensive center and both guards often will have two numbers so that plays that require special blocking can be called and differentiated from plays using straight ahead blocking [32 or 33 trap – FB trap with trap blocking up the middle] or [10 or 11 sneak – QB sneak with man blocking to the right or left of the center].
Your wide running plays will be run in the 8 or 9 holes, your off-tackle plays will be run in the 6 or 7 holes, your dive, lead, slant plays will be run in the 4 or 5 holes.
Try to emphasize to your running backs that they run between the cones and not over them and that the size of the hole will vary based on the defense that is being played.
- Coach Tom Bass.
Question: How do I teach DB's to tackle properly?
Hi Coach,
Just like any other segment of your defense, I feel that it is very important your defensive backs have a form tackle drill at least three days a week. You will notice that I said form and not full speed. You should be emphasizing technique and not contact.
In the beginning, you can start with a basic three step tackling drill with pairs of DBs lined up one yard apart. Pair the players up by size when possible. Designate which player is going to tackle and the shoulder he will use to make the tackle. The tackler should line up with his feet even, shoulder width apart, back straight, head up and the palms of his hands resting on his thighs.
You can call out one, two, three and have the tackler execute the appropriate movement. On one, he should take a short step forward with the foot opposite his tackling shoulder.
On two, he needs to take a longer step into the center of the other player’s body, bend his knees, keeping his back straight and head up, drive his shoulder pad into the mid-section of the opposing player, and allow his head to slide to the side of the player.
On three, he takes a third step with his other foot. Keeping a wide base, he should roll his hips up and forward, maintaining a straight back. At the same time he needs to pound both arms into the player, grab his jersey in both hands and drive him up and back.
He can carry the player back for a couple of steps but there is no need to drive him to the ground.
Once you feel confident that the players understand how to do the three-step drill, you can introduce a basic open field tackling drill that sets up with the players five yards apart.
One line is designated as the tacklers [T] and the other as the ball carriers [BC]. On the coaches command of “one” both players start forward, when the BC has gone 2 yards [spot marked with a cone, chalk or T–shirt] both players should; stop and run in place. The coach can then either point out or call out the direction he wants the BC to cut at 90-degree angle.
The T should step with his foot on the side of the BC cut and move forward to make the tackle. As he nears the BC, the T he should shorten his stride, keep his head up, his eyes open, and have a wide base.
He should drive off of the foot opposite the direction of his movement, rolling his hips forward and up, driving the shoulder on that side of his body into the side of the BC. At the same time he should allow his head to slide in front of the BC and pound both arms into the BC, grabbing his jersey in both hands and driving him up and back.
Based on your observation and the manner in which your players approach the tackling drills, you can gradually increase the distance separating the players and slowly increase the speed and tempo of the drill to three quarters speed.
My recommendation is base the tackling drill you use on the reluctance and skill level of your weakest player so that he does not fear the drill every day in practice.
I would leave full contact tackling to any scrimmage plays you may conduct as a team during your normal practice sessions.
- Coach Tom Bass.
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Question: I have been coaching for about ten years now and hope you can help me. I have been promoted from off/def line to running the defense. I'm also looking for new drills and exercises to help my kids.
Thank You, Mike
Hi Mike,
Before you work on drills, it is really important that you have a feel for the entire defense and make certain that you have excellent coordination by all of the players.
Before you install any defense make certain that it make sense versus the run and pass, that you have a design that clearly designates who has force [contain] versus any wide running play, who will be playing the cutback, who will have reverse and bootleg responsibility, and that your coverage assignments are clear.
Try not to put the player in the tough spot of asking him to move quickly in one direction and then have specific coverage in another area when it is pass. it is also imptortant for you to understand that you will have a much greater knowledge and desire for perfection than will most of your players, so go slow, look for quality of play and not quantity of defense.
As a DC, my goal was to allow my position coaches to teach the individual skills that a player will need to have success in our system. We did not run any individual drills that had no bearing on what we wanted to do.
During group work in practice we would do the following drills:
- WR/TE/QB one-on-one versus DB pass coverage
- RB/QB one-on-one versus LB pass coverage
- OL one-on-one versus LB pass rush
On another day we would work half of our defense versus half of the offense on our run defense – I would decide on the defense we would run versus specific offensive plays.
On another day we would run an inside drill OL/TE/QB/RB versus our front of DL/LB. At the same time, we would have the WR/QB/TE/RB running full pass patterns versus our DB and a set of LB.
At the end of practice when we went full O versus D we would have a set number of plays where we could have the offense run plays that we anticipated seeing in the upcoming game. Often we drew these plays up on cards if they were not the formations and blocking schemes that were familiar to our offensive coaches.
We might have a set number of these plays covering our defense for 3 and long, short yardage, goal line, 1 and 10, and 2 and less than 7. This period should not be a full scrimmage but should be run at a good tempo so that you can see that your players are reacting properly.
The key from your standpoint is to be organized, give the players clear instructions and as many repetitions as possible, to praise every defensive player, and to only practice those activities that you feel you will use in the game.
Check out our “Practice Planner’ for specific drills, Congratulations on your new position and Good Luck this season.
- Coach Tom Bass.
Question: Coach, I've been coaching for 9 years and I'm getting ready to
take on a 12-13 year old team this season. I want to implement a 4-3
one gap responsibility playing a cover 2, w/pressing corners. They run 70% of the time in this league using mostly split back and power formations. I'm hearing that a two tight formation could possibly give us problems. Could you give me the pros and consof running this defense?
Hi Coach,
Your base 4-3 cover 2 defense should be a good starting point using one gap responsibility. There are some areas that you need to be aware of in this type of defense. The most crucial is the FB lead play that creates an additional running lane that you need to account for in your teaching. This can be a challenge for any 7 man front defense.
RCO LCO
WLB MLB
RDE DT DT LDE SLB
SE 9 7 LT 5 LG 1 CN 0 RG 4 RT 6 TE 8
/3 QB /2 FLK
FB
TB
In this base alignment our RCO and LCO would have contain to their side.
Our two DT would have the G-CN gap on their side of the ball.
Our RDE and LDE would have the G-T gap one their side of the ball.
Our WLB and SLB will have the gap just outside of the offensive tackle on their side.
This allows out MLB to range free unless it is a lead play [FB or HB blocking] in either G-T gap. In this case, because our DE is coming inside of the offensive tackle our MLB must take on the lead blocker using his outside shoulder and arm against the inside shoulder of the blocker, filling the extra running lane.
You can also give a call [Lion/Left or Ram/Right] that would give the two DT and the DE the gap to the side of the call [usually to the TE side]. Now the MLB will need to move over so that he can take on the lead blocker with his inside shoulder and arm to the outside shoulder of the blocker. At the same time, the WLB needs to move to the TE side and look for any cutback run in the G-CN gap on the TE side.
If the offense introduces a second tight end in the place of the SE, nothing needs to change and you will still be sound.
Obviously if the offense goes two tight ends and takes out the fullback, you have eliminated any concern for the lead play.
On passing situations [3rd down and 7 or more yards] you may want to give your MLB two gap responsibility [either 4 or 5 hole based on backfield flow] thus allowing your two DE to have the respective 6 or 7 gaps and to rush from the outside if the QB sets up.
In his type of defense, it is very important that your LCO and RCO key the nearest offensive blocker OT or TE [or WB in wing-T] on their side and instantly come up [to a point there yards outside the next defensive player and two yards across the line of scrimmage] and take on any lead blocker with their inside shoulder and arm, turning the ball carrier back to the inside if possible or forcing him deep and wide to the sideline.
In reality, playing cover 2 with a 7-man front, really gives you a nine-player defense to stop any running play.
- Coach Tom Bass.
Question: I coach a CYO team that is going to be large in numbers. I'm excepting about 25 kids out this year. My question is, with our 8 plays minimum and 8 minute quarters, what is the best way to approach playing time. I don't want parents on my back all year and I want each and every kid to want to play next year.
Hi Coach,
I congratulate you on wanting every player to have a positive experience and the desire to return and play the next season. One of the keys to motivating the players is making certain that each of them gets into the game.
What are your options in this area? You could handle all substitutions by series, or by quarters. By series might hurt your continuity but it would probably guarantee that all the players saw action about the same amount of time.
With 25 players, you may want to limit the number of players that you start on both offense and defense so that the greatest numbers of individuals automatically have the opportunity to play.
Depending on the size of your coaching staff and volunteer parents, you may want to put one person specifically in charge of your automatic substitutions and have them keep a record on the sideline of exactly how many plays each player has played.
Let your players know whatever system you are going to use and then please try to stick to it. Explain that injuries may cause a revision, but that every player will play in the game on either offense, defense or special teams.
I realize that this is an important challenge for you and your staff but with pre-game planning I do believe that you can make it fair for everyone.
Thanks,
Coach Tom Bass