Keep Your Pads Down!

Coach William Green, Defensive Tackles Coach for the Jacksonville State Gamecocks sits down to talk about his playing days as a defensive end for the Florida Gators under Urban Meyer and Will Muschamp, what's been the key to JSU's five straight conference championships, and pass rush technique for interior defensive linemen.

Jeremy Hickman, Assistant Head Football Coach and Defensive Coordinator at Tivy High School, talks about the "Standard" he has set for the Tivy "Blue Swarm Defense." He then walks us through how he breaks down and prepares for opponents during the season, and then he and I reminisce about some or our favorite moments over the past six seasons of coaching together at Tivy.

Our most unique episode yet features my 95 year old grandad, retired Brigadier General Robert Taylor (USMC), who turns the tables on me and starts off the episode grilling me about my thoughts on leadership. Eventually, we get to his life in the military and lessons he learned along the way during a distinguished 32 year career in the United States Marine Corps.

Zack Leonard, Christianburg High School Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Line Coach and author of the book "Outside Shades" joins us to talk about the fundamentals of defensive line play, including block destruction, pass rush, a GREAT technique for defeating double teams and what it's like coaching ball in the great state of Virginia!

Matt Stepp joins us for week two of KYPD "Beach Sessions" to talk with us about how he went from message board legend to the most trusted source in Texas High School Football. Plus, we talk about Stepp's experiences covering high school football around the state, including his pick for best press box food and favorite Friday night traditions. Stepp also talks about the origin of the "Stepp Bomb" and discusses teams from 2A-6A that he believes are poised for turnaround seasons in 2019. You will DEFINITELY want to tune in for this one!

Episode 16 is our first installment of the KYPD! Beach Sessions! This week we are in Orange Beach, Alabama and talking with McNeese State Defensive Line Coach Ben Olson. Coach Olson talks with us about what it's like to coach under Dino Babers, his coaching progression for block destruction, pass rush technique for interior defensive linemen, and more!

Neil Evans, Head Football Coach at Harding Academy in Searcy, Arkansas and my college roommate talks with us about his unique strategy in handling small school numbers, opting for a "two-platoon" system, rather than using two-way players. He'll tell us how they arrived at this philosophy and why he thinks it's made a huge difference in his program. Plus, we share some stories of our days of playing football together at Harding University involving Coach Evans' unexpected first collegiate start and a friendship that began because of a "mud flap" mullet.

A MUST LISTEN for all coaches in the State of Texas! Mike Wise, Director of Training and Rules Interpreter for Football for TASO, joins us today to shed some light on UIL rule changes for the 2019 football season. An official for 28 years, Mike shares some of the highlights of his officiating career, which includes countless rivalries and a 2015 State Championship, plus he clarifies some of the rules of the game that are most often misinterpreted by coaches and fans. Mike closes with how we as coaches can work more effectively with our officiating crew and how we can help with the recruitment and retainment of quality officials for our game. Enjoy!

Coach Borner shares his powerful story of growing up in inner-city Dallas and the struggles he endured as a high school football player and how those experiences shaped him as a man and coach today. We also discuss Coach Borner's coaching progression for his D-Line and his experiences playing under and coaching for legendary Texas high school football coach Reginald Samples.

Coach Watson, Defensive Tackles Coach for the University of the Incarnate Word Cardinals, joins us to talk about how the UIW staff took a 1-10 team and turned them into Southland Conference Co-Champions in just the current staff's first season. The Cardinals also led the nation in turnovers in 2018, so we discuss how the UIW staff is coaching that aspect of the game as well as UIW's success with twisting and slanting up front.