This is the weekly recap of this past week’s Coach and Coordinator podcasts! Host Keith Grabowski was joined by two high school football coaches and two college football coaches. On the shows were Jason Eck, Jason Bornn, Thad Wells and Joe Ashfield. Listen in to hear a preview of each show!

Today’s guest on the Coach and Coordinator podcast is Joe Ashfield, who enters his first season as offensive line coach at Rice University. Prior to Rice, Ashfield spent five seasons as an offensive assistant at Stanford, where he prepared opponent scouting reports and statistical analysis. Other coaching stops include New Mexico Military Institute, Loras College and Delta State. He also coached the North Harbour Pride in New Zealand and the New Zealand National Team.

After playing college football at Saint John’s University, where he graduated in 2000, Ashfield played professionally as a quarterback in the German Football League

On today’s show, Ashfield and host Keith Grabowski talk about his experience playing and coaching overseas and developing as an offensive line coach.

Show Notes

2:15 Going from football player to coach

7:18 Practice style of his college head coach, John Gagliardi

10:52 Playing football abroad

12:33 Putting players in the best situations to succeed

14:34 Coaching football overseas

17:14 Developing schemes later in coaching career

18:24 Transition from playing quarterback to coaching offensive line

21:49 Building the offensive line at Rice

25:43 Giving control to the players

29:02 Players modifying the scheme to their advantage

32:32 Implementing successful and safe technique

35:09 Using strongest part of the body in blocking

38:21 Best drill to unlock the player’s hips into the block

40:47 Ashfield’s go-to play to call

42:19 Why he uses the wing on the gap scheme

43:45 The Winning Edge

Today’s guest on the Coach and Coordinator podcast is Joe Ashfield, who enters his first season as offensive line coach at Rice University. Prior to Rice, Ashfield spent five seasons as an offensive assistant at Stanford, where he prepared opponent scouting reports and statistical analysis. Other coaching stops include New Mexico Military Institute, Loras College and Delta State. He also coached the North Harbour Pride in New Zealand and the New Zealand National Team.

After playing college football at Saint John’s University, where he graduated in 2000, Ashfield played professionally as a quarterback in the German Football League

On today’s show, Ashfield and host Keith Grabowski talk about his experience playing and coaching overseas and developing as an offensive line coach.

Show Notes

2:15 Going from football player to coach

7:18 Practice style of his college head coach, John Gagliardi

10:52 Playing football abroad

12:33 Putting players in the best situations to succeed

14:34 Coaching football overseas

17:14 Developing schemes later in coaching career

18:24 Transition from playing quarterback to coaching offensive line

21:49 Building the offensive line at Rice

25:43 Giving control to the players

29:02 Players modifying the scheme to their advantage

32:32 Implementing successful and safe technique

35:09 Using strongest part of the body in blocking

38:21 Best drill to unlock the player’s hips into the block

40:47 Ashfield’s go-to play to call

42:19 Why he uses the wing on the gap scheme

43:45 The Winning Edge

On today’s Coach and Coordinator podcast, host Keith Grabowski discusses a rarely used play in football. It comes from NFHS Rule Book, Article 10.2.4(a), that says when a fair catch is made on a kickoff or punt, the receiving team doesn't have to immediately go on offense:

SECTION 24 KICKS, ART. 3: A free kick is any legal kick which puts the ball in play to start a free kick down. After the ready-for-play signal and before the kick, each player other than the kicker and holder for a place kick must be behind his free-kick line. A free kick is used for a kickoff, for a kick following a safety, and is used if a free kick is chosen following a fair catch or awarded fair catch.

ART. 7 : A place kick is a legal kick made while the ball is in a fixed position on the ground or on a kicking tee. No material or device may be placed on the ground to improve the kicker’s footing. The ball also may be held in position on the ground or on a kicking tee by a place-kick holder who shall be a teammate of the kicker. A place kick may be used for a scrimmage kick, a kickoff, a free kick following a safety or for a free kick following a fair catch or awarded fair catch.

The last time the fair catch-free kick was seen in the NFL was in 2008, when San Francisco 49ers kicker Phil Dawson attempted a 71-yard free kick field goal. It’s only happened a handful of times in NFL history, with the lone success coming in 1976, when San Diego Chargers kicker Ray Wersching made the free kick against the Buffalo Bills. In recent history, it’s been used sparingly at the high school level, like here.

Grabowski talks about the meaning of the rule, and how it can impact your game plan. You can find more tips and information about the fair catch-free kick in this blog by Grabowski.

Show Notes

1:36 The NFHS rule of the fair catch-free kick

2:53 Understanding what the situation and rule means

4:25 Important tips when considering the fair catch-free kick

10:29 Defending against the free kick situation

11:25 Strategies for using the free kick in-game

13:38 Considering this play at the end of the game

14:29 Installing the fair catch-free kick situation in camp

On today’s Coach and Coordinator podcast, host Keith Grabowski discusses a rarely used play in football. It comes from NFHS Rule Book, Article 10.2.4(a), that says when a fair catch is made on a kickoff or punt, the receiving team doesn't have to immediately go on offense:

SECTION 24 KICKS, ART. 3: A free kick is any legal kick which puts the ball in play to start a free kick down. After the ready-for-play signal and before the kick, each player other than the kicker and holder for a place kick must be behind his free-kick line. A free kick is used for a kickoff, for a kick following a safety, and is used if a free kick is chosen following a fair catch or awarded fair catch.

ART. 7 : A place kick is a legal kick made while the ball is in a fixed position on the ground or on a kicking tee. No material or device may be placed on the ground to improve the kicker’s footing. The ball also may be held in position on the ground or on a kicking tee by a place-kick holder who shall be a teammate of the kicker. A place kick may be used for a scrimmage kick, a kickoff, a free kick following a safety or for a free kick following a fair catch or awarded fair catch.

The last time the fair catch-free kick was seen in the NFL was in 2008, when San Francisco 49ers kicker Phil Dawson attempted a 71-yard free kick field goal. It’s only happened a handful of times in NFL history, with the lone success coming in 1976, when San Diego Chargers kicker Ray Wersching made the free kick against the Buffalo Bills. In recent history, it’s been used sparingly at the high school level, like here.

Grabowski talks about the meaning of the rule, and how it can impact your game plan. You can find more tips and information about the fair catch-free kick in this blog by Grabowski.

Show Notes

1:36 The NFHS rule of the fair catch-free kick

2:53 Understanding what the situation and rule means

4:25 Important tips when considering the fair catch-free kick

10:29 Defending against the free kick situation

11:25 Strategies for using the free kick in-game

13:38 Considering this play at the end of the game

14:29 Installing the fair catch-free kick situation in camp

Today on the Coach and Coordinator podcast is returning guest, Thad Wells, head coach at Mooresville High School (North Carolina). Wells made his first appearance on the podcast on June 4th, 2018. He begins his first season as head coach at Mooresville, after he was the head coach at Blacksburg High School (Virginia) for three seasons. Under Wells, Blacksburg went 27-12 overall, including winning a state title in 2016. Last season, Blacksburg went 11-2 overall, but lost in the regional final game by a single point. Wells got his first head coaching job in 2014 when he was hired at Colleton Preparatory Academy (South Carolina) when he was 27 years old.

Learn more about Wells and some points talked about in this podcast at http://www.thadwells.com/usa.

On today’s show, Wells and host Keith Grabowski talk about setting up an efficient game plan and being creative with how you run a football program.

Show Notes

0:52 Setting up a program by putting family first

2:56 Being efficient with practice and film time

18:40 Each position coach’s responsibility in the game plan

22:29 Using Hudl in practice and preparation

26:31 Going beyond the two-play series

30:10 Creating randomness and asking questions in practice

33:32 Outside of the box sets in the offense

Today on the Coach and Coordinator podcast is returning guest, Thad Wells, head coach at Mooresville High School (North Carolina). Wells made his first appearance on the podcast on June 4th, 2018. He begins his first season as head coach at Mooresville, after he was the head coach at Blacksburg High School (Virginia) for three seasons. Under Wells, Blacksburg went 27-12 overall, including winning a state title in 2016. Last season, Blacksburg went 11-2 overall, but lost in the regional final game by a single point. Wells got his first head coaching job in 2014 when he was hired at Colleton Preparatory Academy (South Carolina) when he was 27 years old.

Learn more about Wells and some points talked about in this podcast at http://www.thadwells.com/usa.

On today’s show, Wells and host Keith Grabowski talk about setting up an efficient game plan and being creative with how you run a football program.

Show Notes

0:52 Setting up a program by putting family first

2:56 Being efficient with practice and film time

18:40 Each position coach’s responsibility in the game plan

22:29 Using Hudl in practice and preparation

26:31 Going beyond the two-play series

30:10 Creating randomness and asking questions in practice

33:32 Outside of the box sets in the offense

The guest on today’s USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Jason Bornn, head coach at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California. Bornn is in his 16th season as the head coach at Saugus. Last season, Saugus finished its season 6-7, but still made an appearance in the state semifinals game. In his tenure, Bornn has compiled an 85-75 record with four semifinals game appearances. That also includes five seasons of seven wins or more.

Before coaching at Saugus, has made several coaching stops in California. Bornn was an assistant coach at NCAA Division III school Occidental College for one season in 2002. Prior to Occidental, Bornn coached and taught one year at Canyon High School. Bornn spent five seasons as an assistant coach at John Muir High School from 1996 through 2000 before Canyon. His coaching career started at Village Christian Schools from 1990-95. Bornn graduated from California State University-Northridge in 1995.

On today’s show, Bornn and host Keith Grabowski discuss how to prepare for and adjust to opposing offenses, how to conduct practices and more.

Show Notes

1:27 What is a specialty offense

2:46 Preparing to play against the specialty offenses

4:40 Adjusting to the different offensive formations

7:34 Planning the practices in the offseason

11:12 Categorizing the different formations a team may see

14:32 Handling unbalanced sets from the offense

18:03 Being in the right position against a misdirection formation

22:57 Using technology to help prepare for different formations

24:39 Ensuring players are comfortable in unique situations

28:00 Avoiding panicking when specialty plays are run

29:05 Effective time management of their practices

31:59 Identifying problems within their own defensive set

35:42 Preparing to face gadget plays on offense

39:35 Focusing on the overall offense and not the trick plays

41:50 Checklist of ways to prepare for specialty offenses

The guest on today’s USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast is Jason Bornn, head coach at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California. Bornn is in his 16th season as the head coach at Saugus. Last season, Saugus finished its season 6-7, but still made an appearance in the state semifinals game. In his tenure, Bornn has compiled an 85-75 record with four semifinals game appearances. That also includes five seasons of seven wins or more.

Before coaching at Saugus, has made several coaching stops in California. Bornn was an assistant coach at NCAA Division III school Occidental College for one season in 2002. Prior to Occidental, Bornn coached and taught one year at Canyon High School. Bornn spent five seasons as an assistant coach at John Muir High School from 1996 through 2000 before Canyon. His coaching career started at Village Christian Schools from 1990-95. Bornn graduated from California State University-Northridge in 1995.

On today’s show, Bornn and host Keith Grabowski discuss how to prepare for and adjust to opposing offenses, how to conduct practices and more.

Show Notes

1:27 What is a specialty offense

2:46 Preparing to play against the specialty offenses

4:40 Adjusting to the different offensive formations

7:34 Planning the practices in the offseason

11:12 Categorizing the different formations a team may see

14:32 Handling unbalanced sets from the offense

18:03 Being in the right position against a misdirection formation

22:57 Using technology to help prepare for different formations

24:39 Ensuring players are comfortable in unique situations

28:00 Avoiding panicking when specialty plays are run

29:05 Effective time management of their practices

31:59 Identifying problems within their own defensive set

35:42 Preparing to face gadget plays on offense

39:35 Focusing on the overall offense and not the trick plays

41:50 Checklist of ways to prepare for specialty offenses

Today’s Coach and Coordinator podcast continues its “Home Team” series with guest host Joel Nellis, and today’s guest, South Dakota State offensive line coach and running game coordinator Jason Eck.

Eck helped SDSU set single-season records for scoring, total offense and total offense per game last season. The team also had a program-best 11 wins and reached the FCS semifinals for the first time.

Eck also had previous stops at Montana State, Minnesota State, Western Illinois, Hampton, Ball State, Winona State and Idaho. After graduating from Wisconsin in 1999, he remained with the Badgers as a graduate assistant, then moved on to the same position at Colorado.

On today’s show, Eck discusses the importance of making decisions as a family, and how his commitment to his family inspires his players.

Show Notes

3:34 Eck gives the story of how he met his wife

7:54 Invaluable character traits that makes his wife special

9:21 Being married to a coach

10:27 Introducing his children

12:43 Unique characteristics of his sons

14:59 Being a parent, not a coach, to his kids

17:13 Making youth football fun

19:48 Deciding on the right time to have children

22:41 Making a job decision with the family

27:20 Living in different locations

29:37 Changing jobs with the family

33:47 Carving out time in-season for his wife

36:34 Bringing kids to team practices and office

41:22 How he learned from being around his dad

42:29 Overcoming challenges in work/family balance

47:38 Players seeing commitment to family

50:12 Leaving a lasting legacy with his family in coaching