Football Plays and Drills Extras

Football tackling takes hunger and aggressiveness. Before you can get to working on football tackling drills and improving football tackling skills, you need to impress this upon your players.

Pursuit is another trait that every great defensive player has. Desire and motivation result in effective pursuit. Great pursuit keeps your defense from giving up the big play and helps to overcome any individual breakdowns. It helps bring about the big play for your defense.

Remember, pursuit needs to be there on each and every play in the game. In order to make sure it's there on game-day, it must be practiced in every football tackling drill during each day of practice. This will develop the proper intensity that's needed for effective defensive play.

May 2, 2006 23:30 - Sled Offensive Line Drills

This page of sled offensive line drills continues from our first "O" line drills page...

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May 3, 2006 20:30 - Treasure Coast HS Welcomes First Ever Players

On Monday, at Whispering Pines Park in Port St. Lucie, FL, head coach Pete DeLuke welcomed seventeen players to his team. But these weren't just new players, these were the first ever football players at Treasure Coast High School, a new school.

The players will have their names put into a time capsule so the first practice will have its very own place in history. One player, David Beckum, who will play linebacker this fall, said he's happy to be here.

"The practices will be closer to my home now, and I'll have more chance to play. I think the whole situation will be better for me."

Beckum, a sophomore, played for St. Lucie West Centennial's junior varsity team last fall, but found it hard to break into the crowded linebacker corp there.

Since there is no senior class yet at Treasure Coast High School, there were almost four players for every coach at the practice. In addition to five coaches, Treasure Coast had 22 total player in practice - five players remained on the sideline because they had not completed paperwork.

On Thursday, the incoming freshmen are permitted to join the practice. DeLuke said he expects 50 additional players then, judging from the preseason sign-ups.

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May 4, 2006 10:47 - Offensive Line Stance Technique

The stance is vital for solid offensive line play. A perfect stance results in good offensive line blocking because it provides blockers leverage and power.

Offensive Lineman Stance
A proper offensive line stance starts with the feet spread about armpit width apart, with a toe-to-instep relationship. Don't allow the feet to get wider than the shoulders and be sure the toes are pointed straight ahead.

Now, form a tripod by squatting, placing the down hand just inside the near foot, and balancing the weight between the down hand and the balls of the feet. Keep the shoulders square to the line and parallel to the ground. Place the off hand just above the knee.

Keep the back flat and be sure the tail is at shoulder level or just a bit higher. The head should be brought back without straining and so that the defensive lineman or linebacker in your area can be seen.

Offensive Lineman Start
For powerful offensive line blocking, each lineman must come out of the stance in a forward direction. The motion must not be upward. The forward motion produces a power base when combined with a proper first step.

Here's two easy-to-understand "first step" rules:

• If the defender is lined up over the blocker, then push out from the up foot and then step with the back foot
• If the defender lines up on either side, step with the foot nearest him

May 5, 2006 23:10 - T.O. and the Tuna in Dallas

I must admit that one of the stories inside the NFL that has me intrigued for '06 is the "soap opera in the making" down in Dallas.
Let me start off by saying that Terrell Owens is not one my favorite players, to put it nicely. This guy has been a cancer on every team he's played for. Last summer, he looked like a spoiled little brat. Anyone making $8 mil a year who can say with a straight face he's having trouble feeding the family (by the way, TO, what family? You and your cat?) is an absolutely out of touch idiot in my book. I think the guy should have been forced to sign a small contract that only gets fat if he produces with his mouth shut, but that's just me.

Anyway, I'm not naive enough to really think someone like Dallas wouldn't step up and pay the guy.

That being said, I'm interested in this situation because of the presence of coach Parcells. I like Bill Parcells. I like the fact that he does it his way, is tough on his players and that he provides us all with some great sound bytes each season to laugh at.

What's he gonna do when the inevitable happens and "look at poor me" Owens has his first fit about something selfish? It should get very interesting down in Dallas when Drew Bledsoe gets thrown under the bus by TO just like every other quarterback who's had the, ahem, pleasure of throwing to the best thing to hit the NFL since (hmmm, what would TO say here?) EVER.

I can't wait for the TO drama to start up. Will the Cowboys be able to handle it and thrive or are they going down like the Eagles? We'll know in a few months, won't we?

By the way, don't even get me started on that ridiculous little man who works as TO's agent ;-)

May 6, 2006 16:33 - Favre May Play Beyond 2006

Here's a quote from ESPN.com regarding Brett Favre and his plans to play longer than just one more season:

"Despite comments earlier in the offseason that there was "no doubt" the 2006-07 season would be his last, Favre said Saturday that he wasn't so sure.

"I know I said that," Favre said Saturday, in his first public comments since telling the Green Bay Packers he would return for another year. "But I hope you guys will respect me. I'm going to play this year, give it my best and not talk about it."

Favre said the constant speculation surrounding his football future has become a distraction for the team."

You know, I hope he does play longer than one more year. It's true that many players try to hang on longer than they should as their skills decline. Franco Harris did it in the '80's and Eddie George just recently.

But Favre? This guy can still "gun" it. His arm is still there, he can still move around. I don't see his skills diminishing like you see in other players. He's a fun guy to watch and as long as he can perform to a high level, he'll always be fun to watch.

The only question, really, is the players around him. Will they be enough to help him out?

May 8, 2006 14:59 - Don't Overlook the Importance of the Long Snap

Too many football coaches don't place enough emphasis on perfecting the long snap on punts.

Paul "Bear" Bryant knew what he was doing, right? Here's what he had to say about the importance of good long snappers:

"About 98 percent of blocked punts occur
because of a poor center snap"
That right there should convince you that you need to find some quality long snappers and develop their skills so they become even better.

Football is a game of field position. If you allow your punts to be blocked, you'll end up losing that battle. A blocked punt hurts you in many ways - it can result in an immediate score for the opposition, it lifts the opposition's spirits and deflates the spirit of your players, it puts your defense in a tough spot, etc.

Your long snapper doesn't necessarily need to be one of your centers. It can be anybody on your team who can get the job done, every time. Make it a point to find out who that player is and put in the necessary time with that player (or players) so they become great at getting the football placed in the punter's hands.

May 9, 2006 21:47 - The Quick Kick

Yesterday I discussed the importance of a quality long snapper. In staying with the area of special teams, let's look a little bit at the quick kick.

The quick kick can be quite effective. As I mentioned yesterday, field position is extremely important. Now, there are some "possession" guys out there who don't like the quick kick. If they use it at all, they might only pull it out on third and long situations. Because of this, we don't see the quick kick used much anymore.

However, if field position is really important to you, you might want to think seriously about using this type of kick more often. While you may get 30-35 yards out of a normal punt, a quick kick could give you as much as 60 yards instead. Since the other team won't have anyone back to return it, this type of strategy can help you back your opposition into a deep hole.

Also, there is a high chance that, if your opponent does get a chance to return your quick kick, they'll probably clip one of your players on the play and give up even more yardage on the penalty.

All in all, it wouldn't hurt to pull this one out once in a while when you need it.

May 10, 2006 23:47 - Linebacker Double-Duty

It's important to find quality linebackers. We all know that, but it's not always easy, is it?

Your linebackers are the main players on defense that must perform double-duty. They have to be good at defending the run and the pass. If they can only defend one really well, but are terrible at the other, it puts you at a disadvantage.

The offense knows this, so they employ the draw play to make your linebackers drop into coverage before running the ball right up the middle. Or the offense will use a play action pass to suck your linebacker up and then throw the football to the vacated area.

Therefore, your linebackers must get good at their "reads". An outside linebacker can key the end on his side. If the tight end releases out for a pass, your 'backer drops back. But it's also good to teach him to make other reads, like the offensive guards, for example. If they're dropping back to pass protect, it is most likely a pass.

But, then again, it might be a draw or reverse. We'll get into some linebacker reads at a later date. For now, focus on teaching your 'backers to watch for deception from the opponent's offense.

May 12, 2006 16:25 - The Media Twists the Truth

I find it amazing how the media will try to twist the truth a bit just so they can get a more juicy story going.

I read the Hines Ward story in the latest Sports Illustrated article and I saw right away that someone was trying to convey a story that wasn't there.

The quote from Ward that got me stirred up was this,

"I don't have anything to say to him. After what he did to me, after how he treated me, no. The numbers I put up? The seasons I had, for them to keep on bringing in guys...?"

The article tries to make it appear that this is how he currently feels about head coach Bill Cowher. But Ward has come out later saying that this was a quote that was based around his contract problems back in the summer of '05, not how he feels now.

Here's what Ward has said since the article:

"It was a good article, but everything got taken out of context," Ward said. "The question to me was about what was the lowest part of your contract holdout, what were some things going on in your mind."

"Once we had our talk (last summer), that was it," Ward said. "That's the reason why I came back to camp: I needed to hear that from him. That was the question, how it was set up and asked.

"So, the quotes that was said to that was speaking to the contract negotiation. So, it all got blown out of proportion."

This is typical of many media outlets, not just Sports Illustrated. They ignore Hines Ward until he's a Super Bowl MVP, then they want to make his story more juicy by making events of the past look current. These guys should just tell it straight. People will still pay attention and still fork out money for the magazines.

May 13, 2006 13:46 - Flutie Retirement Decision Coming Soon

Doug Flutie has said that he'll announce whether he'll retire or not in about a week. Whether he retires or not, he's been great to watch all these years.

"I think I know what I want to do," the Patriots' 43-year-old backup quarterback said. "I just want to make sure I have everything on the table before I do anything." He doesn't expect the final decision to be a difficult one. "It's going to be pretty cut-and-dry when it all comes down to it."

Starting with his college heroics at Boston College and then in the USFL, NFL and Canadian Football League, Flutie has presented fans with some great football moments. You have to say something about his longevity, but, more importantly, his resolve.

We all could learn from his grit and determination. Being extremely short for a pro quarterback, he never let all the naysayers get him down. He just kept plugging away, finding teams that wanted him, and then performed at a high level. I thought he was especially fun to watch in his stint with the Buffalo Bills in the late '90's.

Whatever you do Flutie, thanks for the memories!

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May 16, 2006 23:37 - Peter Tuipulotu To Be Inducted Into The County Sports Hall of Fame

At InsideBayArea.com, the San Mateo County Times has a fine story about Peter Tuipulotu and his induction into the The County Sports Hall Of Fame. Here's a quote from the article:

"You could make a good argument that Peter Tuipulotu dominated San Mateo County high school football in the mid-1980s more than any other youngster. He was the best offensive player on standout San Mateo High teams that ran roughshod over their local competition. At one point, they won 27 straight contests.

And Tuipulotu, a member of a distinguished athletic family here on the Peninsula, was the driving force behind those sterling ballclubs."

Tuipulotu, along with nine others, will go into the Hall on June 22 at the San Mateo Elks Lodge. The banquet will be sponsored by the First National Bank of Northern California. Tuipulotu is a former Peninsula Athletic League's offensive player of the year, actually winning this honor during both the 1985 and 1986 seasons. He was also a two time all-San Mateo County first team selection. He played basketball and ran track.

His former coach, Buz Williams, had this to say about the new inductee, "Peter was a special player in every way. He led his teams to championships at every level."

Congrats to Peter.

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May 17, 2006 19:40 - Football Coaching Tip Article - "Increase Your Football Coaching Record"

"How can I become a better and more effective coach?" We hear this question frequently and there's obviously more than one answer. Here's a football article explaining an important football coaching tip that will result in an improved coaching record. What could be more important than that, right?

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May 18, 2006 20:07 - Football Coaching Tips - Become A Better Communicator

Some of the best football coaching tips we can give you involve communication. You can know everything there is to know about football - the plays, drills, fundamentals, etc. If you can't communicate effectively, though, you're headed for a tough time. When coaching youth football, you need to be skilled at communicating.

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May 19, 2006 20:28 - Win the Football Field Position Battle and Kick the Crap Out of Your Opponent

I’ve got a confession to make. I like to win the football field position battle and have the opportunity to kick the crap out of the other team... Yes, I believe in good sportsmanship, but let's tell it like it is. I want to win convincingly, you want to win convincingly and we both know your youth football players want to win convincingly. Why else does Herm Edwards ask, "Why do we play the game? - To win!"

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May 22, 2006 08:40 - Preparation Tips for Your Next Football Game

It's a good idea to prepare well for football game day beyond your regular team practice sessions. As a player or coach, there are things you can do to help you go into each game knowing you will perform properly.

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May 23, 2006 12:53 - Score At Least 5 More Points Per Game By Coaching Football Kicking Properly

I'll bet you're frustrated that your team's football kicking skills are leaving at least five points on the field every game you coach. Think about it, how often have you been in a fourth and three situation on the opposition's fifteen yard line with no confidence in hitting the field goal? Use the tips you'll find in this football kicking article to help your kicker win games for your team.

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May 26, 2006 21:54 - 6 Winning Strategies Guaranteed to Improve Communication Skills and Your Coaching Skills

Are you sure you're doing everything you can to be the best coach possible? Absolutely sure? I've been a coach and I've had a lot of coaches. You know what I've found? Some coaches put all the pieces together and some just don't invest the time necessary to improve communication skills that translate to better coaching skills.

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May 29, 2006 10:52 - A Football Player's Perspective - How to Make It to the Next Level of Play

It was August 2003 and my team at the time, the Pittsburgh Steelers, was holding the first live scrimmage for training camp. As a rookie in the NFL I had practiced a number of times with the team, but this was the first time I was going to suit it up for a "full contact and tackle goal line scrimmage".

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May 30, 2006 22:00 - How To Turbocharge Your Sport Coaching Career Over The Next 90 Days

This may come as a surprise to you, but frustration in sport coaching is very common. No, you're not alone when you feel that pit in your stomach and you worry whether you'll ever get your program winning on a consistent basis. If you're like me or anyone else who has tried his or her hand at coaching, you'll at some point find yourself dealing with a team that just isn't living up to your expectations...

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May 31, 2006 20:40 - Tips for Coaching Football - Build Quality Relationships With Your Players

Let's reflect on a few tips for coaching football that will vastly improve how your players see their relationship with you as well as helping to improve them as individuals. It's not just about teaching them the football drills and skills on the field. Your players look up to you. You're in a position of responsibility and authority. Many youth football coaches take their responsibilites and position lightly.

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