S2 Cognition Podcast

14 Year NFL Veteran and Super Bowl Champion, Drew Stanton delves into the concept of impulse control, specifically in the context of quarterbacks in the NFL. The discussion highlights how impulse control affects decision-making on the field, pre-snap reads, and the pressures that influence a quarterback's decisions. The conversation emphasizes the complexity of the quarterback position and the need for tailored coaching strategies to enhance decision-making skills. Drew also touches on the intricacies of impulse control in quarterbacks, emphasizing the importance of game-like practice scenarios and the need for error correction in practice settings. We end the discussion talking through how coaches can create environments that challenge players to make decisions under pressure, ultimately leading to better performance on the field.

Brian has worked at Elite 11, the youth QB camp gold standard, since its inception and oversees all elements from scouting, to drill work, to the finals MVP decision. Drew was an early attendee at the Elite 11 and went on to play QB at Michigan State and in the league for 14 years capping off his final season with a Super Bowl victory with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. We dive into the evolution of quarterback evaluation and development. We also highlight the importance of both the physical and the highly desired intangible qualities that form the make-up of quarterbacks, the role decision-making plays in on-field performance, and the excitement and challenges of building innovative, “on the field” decision making drills for QB training and development.

We dive into the early days of the company, the evolution of cognitive testing in sports, the importance of measuring cognitive processing in athletes, the logistics that go into testing collegiate and professional teams, and the valuable insights gained from their work with teams like LSU and Alabama. We also touch on some personal anecdotes and travel experiences related to our work in sports science.

Chapman University Men’s Basketball Head Coach and Host of the Slappin’ Glass Podcast, Dan Krikorian dives into the intricacies and challenges coaches face when understanding player’s on-court decision-making while also exploring the pain-points coaches have in player's on-court decision making. Then he explains the importance of understanding player dynamics and creating synergistic rotations based on how player’s make reads and decisions, and the need for adaptability and continuous learning in the coaching profession.

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Slappin’ Glass Apple Podcast Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/slappin-glass-podcast/id1528050811

Veteran Coach and former Wisconsin Herd Player Development Assistant, Omar Mance, covers the importance of data and analytics in basketball coaching. He emphasizes the complexity of decision-making at the highest level of the game and how data can help identify players with the capacity to excel in certain situations. Mance also highlights the role of coaching in helping players improve their decision-making skills and overcome inconsistencies. The conversation touches on the emphasis for on-court training and the importance of understanding the speed and dynamics of the game.

The University of Alabama Men’s Assistant Basketball Coach, Ryan Pannone, dives into how S2 testing helped unlock innovation in his coaching by targeting specific areas for improvement and designing more efficient drills. He also discusses his approach of teaching, drilling, reading, and playing to develop players’ decision-making abilities, and emphasizes the importance of making mistakes in real-time and learning from them. Additionally, we touch on the need for self-correction and the importance of building flexible brains and creating opportunities for players to improvise and find rapid solutions.

Since going undrafted in 2019, Calvin Anderson has played in 46 NFL games and throughout the episode, he lays out his journey up to this season. He dives into the mental and physical challenges of playing on the offensive line and the importance of quick reactions and decision-making. Anderson also highlights the value of understanding the scheme and the ability to isolate and focus during high-pressure situations. We then discuss the value of on-the-fly thinking and reacting amidst conflict, and how it sets players apart. Finally, he discusses how quantifying and identifying these skills allows coaches to assess players and coach them more efficiently.

Luke McCown dives into the complexity of decision-making for quarterbacks and explores the nuances of offensive schemes, play action, and post-snap reads. We also cover the evolution of offensive strategies and the impact of motion, as well as the cognitive and visual processing involved in reading defenses and making split-second decisions. Luke then details the complexities of reading defenses, making split-second decisions, and the training methods to improve decision-making skills. The discussion also touches on the role of experience, talent, and practice in honing these skills, as well as the challenges faced by young athletes in developing their decision-making abilities.

Brandon, Scott, Will and Dub discuss read-react skills in quarterbacks. Specifically, the guys review Visual Learning, Instinctive Learning, and Decision Complexity, and how these cognitive skills translate onto the field. Coaches Dub Maddox and Will Hewlett talk about coaching strategies for these cognitive skills, specific drills that worked to improve performance, and configuring scheme and practice based on maximizing performance. You don't want to miss this one...lots of good coaching nuggets!

Ep 31 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-31-adaptive-strategies-for-field-vision-in/id1636895843?i=1000646613303

Ep 32 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5HKCb5Y5ss1iT7yypRWCsS?si=5471a5428b984875

Co-Founders Brandon Ally and Scott Wylie discuss field vision in quarterbacks. Specifically, the guys review Perception Speed, Search Efficiency, and Tracking Capacity, and how these cognitive skills translate onto the field. Coaches Dub Maddox and Will Hewlett talk about coaching strategies for these cognitive skills, specific drills that worked to improve performance, and configuring scheme and practice based on maximizing performance. Finally, the guys break down different cognitive styles, different play styles, and how to move the needle in coaching quarterbacks. Its a fascinating listen!