Welcome back to the Board Drill Podcast! In Season 2, Episode 25, we’re diving into the foundation of gap scheme football with one of the best in the trenches—Coach Ian Tatum, Assistant Head Coach, OC, and OL coach at Walkertown High School in North Carolina.

Coach Tatum breaks down the ins and outs of Power—from install day to adjustments, including QB power, power read, and the toss read series. We talk personnel, back alignment, puller rules, and how to build a nasty offensive line mentality around your gap game.

This is a must-listen for any coach looking to enhance their run game and understand how to marry Duo, Power, and Counter into a cohesive, hard-nosed attack.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro: Kyle, Matt, and Coach Ian Tatum kickoff

01:00 – Philosophy of Power: "God’s play" and why it’s day one install

02:10 – Base Power from 20 Personnel with a sniffer

03:15 – Installing Duo alongside Power – differences and similarities

04:40 – Adjustments vs. different fronts – fitting Power to your team

06:00 – Power Read and Toss Read variations

07:30 – Teaching Puller Footwork and Rules

10:15 – OL Drills and mindset to build a gap scheme culture

13:00 – Gameplan integration – mixing Duo, Power, Counter

16:20 – Reading the DE on toss vs. power read

18:40 – When to tag QB Power and how to package it

21:00 – Dealing with safeties fitting the backside

24:00 – Creating constraint plays off your base run

28:45 – Managing OL personalities and building toughness

32:10 – Practice scripting and how Tatum installs run game in-season

36:30 – Favorite formations and motions to dress up Power

40:45 – Power vs. odd vs. even fronts – blocking rules

44:00 – Run game adjustments midseason

48:30 – RPOs off Power and Buck Sweep

52:15 – Why Toss Read is underutilized in HS ball

56:30 – Coaching impact, daily player relationships

57:55 – Social media and YouTube/Content support for coaches

59:30 – Final thoughts and sign off

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