In the world of strength and conditioning for football athletes, the emphasis has shifted towards a holistic approach that goes beyond traditional weight room workouts.

We are excited to have Scott Leech, the strength and conditioning coach at the University of Rhode Island, join us to share an approach for a well-rounded training program that includes field work, competitive drills, and prep for contact that fully prepares players for the demands of the game.

By focusing on building strength, agility, and specific football-related skills, we better equip our athletes for success under the Friday night lights and on Saturday afternoons.

Show Notes:

Follow Scott Leech on Twitter/X @ScottLeech72.

For more information on the Gridiron Warrior Program, visit gridironwarrior.carrd.co.

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Signature Championship Rings is a leading designer and supplier of championship rings, serving over 10,000 teams and organizations. With a focus on quality craftsmanship, easy team ordering processes, and affordability, Signature Champions celebrate every champion and their achievements, making their moment last a lifetime. For more information, visit www.signaturechampions.com/podcast.

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Carnegie Mellon University has been one of the best in D3 Football in Red Zone scoring the past two seasons, finishing second in 2022 and first in 2023.

In this segment from the 2024 D3 Top 25 Clinic, Head Coach Ryan Larsen shares the way the Tartans plan and practice their Red Zone offense. His template for excelling in this area of offense is one that can be utilized at all levels.

Follow Coach Larsen on Twitter/X @CoachRyanLarsen.

For more details on the D3 Top 25 Clinic Presented by Coach and Coordinator Podcast, visit d3football.coachesclinic.com.

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In this first episode of Culture OS hosted by Rob Pomazak, Army Offensive Line Coach Matt Drinkall shares insights drawn from his extensive coaching career and offers valuable leadership and program development lessons.

Show Notes:

Follow Matt Drinkall on Twitter @DrinkallCoach.

Series Episodes:

Culture OS Series Kickoff

Related Episodes with Matt Drinkall:

Structuring Your Offense

Tempo, Offensive Design, and Organization

From the Archives - Matt Drinkall

Running Game and Tempo

Coaching Cues in the Class Room, On the Field and In Game

Defeating the Tite Front

Creating the Best Experience for Staff and Players

Keeping the Team Focused and Motivated Mid Season

Strategic Practice Management - Less is More

Related Episodes with Rob Pomazak:

Giving Your Players a Madden Rating to Help Development

What I Learned in My First 10 Years as a Head Coach

Remote Learning and the Four Quadrant Plan

Adjusting and Adapting the Season During Covid 

The Head Coach and Coordinator Dynamic

Additional Coach Pomazak Resources:

Coaching by Design: Complete Guide to Program Development

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In this episode, Jevaughn Codlin, graduate assistant/assistant defensive backs coach at West Virginia University, shares how he adds value to the program even though he is in an entry-level position.

This episode has great reminders for any coach at any stage of his or her career about adding value to the program. Coach Codlin also provides valuable insight for coaches in entry-level positions looking to build their careers.

Show Notes:

Relationships in the Building

Recruiting

On-Field Value

Follow Coach Codlin on Twitter @_CoachCod.

Coaches Mentioned in This Episode:

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In the ever-evolving landscape of football, the concept of run fits has undergone significant transformations to adapt to the changing dynamics of offensive strategies. We are constantly faced with the challenge of staying ahead of the curve in devising effective defensive schemes that can counter the versatility and complexity of modern offenses and vice-versa on the opposite side of the ball.

One of the key drivers of this evolution in run fits has been the rise of Run-Pass Options (RPOs), which have forced defensive coaches to rethink traditional approaches to defending the run.

In this episode, defensive backs and safeties coach Kyle Cogan explains the evolution in run fits that addresses the dilemma posed by RPOs, where defenders are required to make split-second decisions between defending the run and covering potential pass options.

This shift in offensive strategies has led to a paradigm change in defensive philosophies, emphasizing the importance of covering receivers first and fitting the run based on coverage assignments.

By prioritizing coverage responsibilities over run fits, defenses aim to limit explosive plays and force offenses to earn their yardage methodically, ultimately aiming to control the game's tempo and dictate the flow of play.

Show Notes:

Follow Kyle Cogan on Twitter/X @CoachCogan.

Related Episode with Coach Cogan:

1 High Zone Match Coverage

Coach Cogan’s Course:

Odd/Even Run Fits with 7/8/9 Man Fit Progression

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We are excited to kickoff our new series "Culture OS" with our guest host Rob Pomazak, Head Coach at St. Charles North High School in Illinois.

Coach Pomazak has been a guest on the podcast multiple times, and we always enjoy his insight into building a program by design. In this series, he will interview coaches from all levels to gain insight into how they build the operating system that runs the culture of their programs.

Coach Pomazak has outlined the mission, vision, and purpose for this series:

Mission: Deliver helpful content for coaches in all phases of their journey.

Vision: Help as many coaches as possible to develop their program systems.

Purpose: Provide service to the profession.

Whether you are new to the head coaching seat, a seasoned veteran head coach, an aspiring head coach, or just an assistant looking to be the best assistant you can be, this series is full of insight into how successful coaches build their Culture OS.

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Learn More about Playbook Clinics:

Playbook Clinics is a new coaching clinic series, reimagined from the ground up. Playbook organizes a Convening Panel of coaches in the region, asks them what they want to talk about, and who they want to hear from. Check them out at www.playbookclinics.com, get your staff registered, and use the code “Keith” to save $50.

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As we hit mid-February and start to see a little more sun and milder weather, utilizing field work in our strength and conditioning program begins to prepare our team to get back onto the field and develop some general skills that will translate on the field.

Scott Leech is the Strength & Conditioning Coach at Rhode Island. In his presentation from the 2023 Lauren’s First and Goal Clinic, he shared his philosophy and approach to utilizing field work to prepare his team.

In this segment, he explains why it’s important to incorporate this type of work into your offseason program and how it works with the skill of acceleration, which he feels can only be developed in this type of work.

This entire presentation is available as part of the 2023 Lauren’s First and Goal Clinic Premium Pass right now. The pass gives you your ticket to the 2024 clinic and a year of replays, plus access to all the 2023 presentations right up to the kickoff of this year's clinic on February 29. Get your pass, or bring your whole staff and save.

Secure Your 2024 Lauren's First and Goal Passes:

2024 Lauren’s First and Goal Premium Access

2024 Lauren’s First and Goal Premium Staff Access

Thank you for supporting our partners:

Learn More about Playbook Clinics:

Playbook Clinics is a new coaching clinic series, reimagined from the ground up. Playbook organizes a Convening Panel of coaches in the region, asks them what they want to talk about, and who they want to hear from. Check them out at www.playbookclinics.com, get your staff registered, and use the code “Keith” to save $50.

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In this episode, host Keith Grabowski gives three simple ways you can teach your team members to be vocal leaders. This focus on vocal leadership will increase energy, build trust, and push team members to be unselfish and invest in others.

Be sure to attend the D3 Top 25 Virtual Clinic presented by Coach and Coordinator:

https://d3football.coachesclinic.com/

Thank you for supporting our partners:

Learn More about Playbook Clinics:

Playbook Clinics is a new coaching clinic series, reimagined from the ground up. Playbook organizes a Convening Panel of coaches in the region, asks them what they want to talk about, and who they want to hear from. Check them out at www.playbookclinics.com, get your staff registered, and use the code “Keith” to save $50.

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From the archives, we revisit The Leadership Ladder, first presented at a clinic by Gregg Brandon, then the head coach at Bowling Green State University, most recently the head coach at the Colorado School of Mines. It simplifies the levels of leadership and is a helpful tool for your team in the offseason.

Show Notes:

Follow All We Are Doing:

Follow us on Twitter/X @CoachKGrabowski.

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Thank you for supporting our partners:

Learn More about Playbook Clinics:

Playbook Clinics is a new coaching clinic series, reimagined from the ground up. Playbook organizes a Convening Panel of coaches in the region, asks them what they want to talk about, and who they want to hear from. Check them out at www.playbookclinics.com, get your staff registered, and use the code “Keith” to save $50.

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In this clinic series episode, we Dig into the art and science of tackling. It is a skill that demands both physical prowess and strategic understanding. As the game evolves with rule changes designed for player safety, and just a better understanding overall of performance, so too must your tackling systems.

This evolution is crucial in bridging the gap between practice drills and in-game performance, ensuring that players can react effectively in high-pressure situations.

The tackling system, as outlined by Fordham assistant coach Vince DiGaetano, encompasses various phases designed to develop a holistic approach to tackling.

He diagrams the system as a pyramid. It starts with instilling trust and psychological readiness in players, fostering a belief in the coaching methodology and an understanding of the defensive principles beyond mere technique.

While Coach Dig goes deeper in this entire presentation, the rest of which is available from Lauren’s First and Goal,  this segment sets a good foundation for you to think about tackling within your defense and where to get started on tackling in 2024.

Show Notes:

Follow Vince DiGaetano on Twitter/X @CoachDiG.

Secure Your 2024 Lauren's First and Goal Passes:

2024 Lauren’s First and Goal Premium Access

2024 Lauren’s First and Goal Premium Staff Access

Thank you for supporting our partners:

Learn More about Playbook Clinics:

Playbook Clinics is a new coaching clinic series, reimagined from the ground up. Playbook organizes a Convening Panel of coaches in the region, asks them what they want to talk about, and who they want to hear from. Check them out at www.playbookclinics.com, get your staff registered, and use the code “Keith” to save $50.

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