The Board Drill Podcast

In this episode, we flip the script. Kyle Bradburn moves from host to guest, and Matt Dixon leads the deep dive into Kyle’s defensive install process. If you coach high school or college football and run quarters-based coverages, this is a detailed look at how to structure your install with clarity, confidence, and pressure from Day 1.Kyle outlines how he builds out his Cover 7 package over time. He discusses base rules, daily structure, alignment tools, pressure integration, and how his players take ownership of checks post-snap. Whether you call it split-field quarters, match quarters, or Cover 7, this is a must-watch for coaches looking to build a system that teaches players how to solve problems on the field.Subscribe to the channel for more defensive breakdowns, coaching education, and in-season strategy from real coaches doing the work.Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@boarddrillFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/boarddrillTurn on notifications to catch every new episodeTimestamps00:00 – Intro and role reversal01:30 – How Kyle structures his install02:40 – Day 1 priorities and pressure mindset03:30 – Teaching player-led adjustments and checks04:15 – Using Clamp vs 2x206:00 – Base rules for split zone quarters08:45 – Install sequencing against 20 and 21 personnel11:10 – Adjusting to trips and motion14:00 – Keeping the toolbox manageable17:05 – Coverage tags20:40 – Corner technique and teaching points23:55 – Nickel and Star player roles26:15 – Pattern-match triggers in Cover 730:10 – Pressure installation and rules33:00 – Tying pressure into coverage structure36:45 – Advice for new play callersIf this episode helped you, drop a comment, share it with your staff, and subscribe to the channel.

In this episode of the Board Drill Podcast, Kyle and Matt sit down with Coach Tom Yashinsky, head coach at Onalaska High School in Wisconsin, to dive into the nuts and bolts of building a consistent and competitive football program from the ground up. Coach Yashinsky brings nearly two decades of experience and shares detailed insight on aligning your program 9–12, structuring staff, developing coaches, and building buy-in across your community.

Whether you’re a head coach, coordinator, or position coach, this one’s packed with practical wisdom you can apply immediately. Don’t miss the breakdown on practice structure, middle school alignment, and how Onalaska turned a struggling program into a perennial playoff team.

Timestamps:

* 0:00 – Intro and how Coach Yashinsky joined the show

* 1:10 – Onalaska football background and program context

* 3:04 – Taking over the program under tough circumstances

* 6:35 – Aligning your staff across all levels (9–12)

* 9:58 – Year-round planning and development focus

* 12:45 – The importance of coach retention and mentorship

* 16:12 – Practice organization and seasonal phases

* 20:41 – Lifting schedules and coordinating with multi-sport athletes

* 24:09 – Offseason program and coach roles

* 28:57 – Building culture: “Be Early, Be Loud, Be Invested”

* 32:44 – Middle school and youth integration strategies

* 37:11 – Handling success: sustaining performance and expectations

* 42:36 – Advice for new head coaches

* 46:58 – Final thoughts and how to connect with Coach Yashinsky

Subscribe, like, and share if you’re a coach looking for real-world solutions and ideas you can bring into your own program tomorrow.

Coach Jordan Irsik is back on the pod, and this one’s packed with insight for defensive coaches at every level. We kick things off with reactions to the 2025 National Championship and break down what made Indiana’s title run so special. From there, Coach Irsik talks through his current offseason mindset, how he’s staying sharp while raising two young boys, and what it looks like to build a pressure package that actually fits your personnel.We also cover game planning, in-season adjustments, why being reflective matters, and how to keep growing without being on the clinic circuit. It's an honest, no-BS convo for coaches who want real tools and perspective.Timestamps:00:00 - Welcome back Coach Irsik01:00 - New baby, offseason life, and podcast circuit02:00 - National Championship reactions03:50 - Indiana’s turnaround and coaching legacy06:30 - What elite defensive football looks like08:00 - Coaching with two kids at home10:15 - Using the offseason to reflect and adjust12:45 - Creating pressures based on your players16:00 - What to emphasize in install and prep19:30 - How to gameplan without overloading22:50 - Teaching coverage vs. scheme complexity25:40 - The reality of adapting in-season29:10 - Staying sharp without the clinic tour32:15 - Building a coaching community35:00 - Final takeaways and parting wisdomSubscribe + leave a review to help us growFollow us on Twitter: The Board Drill

In this episode of The Board Drill Podcast, Coach Cory Quinn from Tishomingo County High School in Mississippi returns to break down how he creatively gets the tight end, wing, and slot involved in his offense. The episode is split into two recordings due to a quick technical issue, but we jump right back into the conversation without missing a beat.Coach Quinn details concepts like Bogey, Pop, and Train motion, and shows how motion, formation variation, and personnel usage can create stress for defenses and open up explosive plays. Whether you're trying to expand your play-action game or find new ways to get your tight end more touches, this is a clinic-level conversation built for coaches.If you enjoy the show, please like and subscribe. It helps us continue to bring on great guests and keep content coming throughout the offseason.Timestamps00:00 - Intro and Welcome Back Coach Quinn01:28 - Clarifying Tishomingo County02:25 - From Buck Sweep to Balanced Offense04:32 - Getting More from the Slot, TE, and Wing06:58 - Using Motion to Stress the Secondary10:14 - Installing the Bogey Concept14:45 - Creating Vertical Stretches with Motion17:30 - Film Breakdown: Bogey Against Rolled Coverage20:10 - Train Motion to Displace Linebackers21:42 - Coaching Simplicity for Young Tight Ends25:00 - Tagging Switch to Alter Landmarks27:15 - Third and Long Conversion Using TE as the Read29:44 - Formational Adjustments with Empty and Orbit Motion32:03 - When and Why to Call These Concepts35:15 - Wing Release Coaching vs. Zone and Man37:40 - Final Thoughts and Creative Takeaways

In this episode, Kyle and Matt sit down with Coach Josh Katz, Defensive Coordinator at West Orange High School in Orlando, FL, to discuss the real challenges of being a first-year coordinator. From managing egos to finding his identity as a play-caller, Coach Katz brings an honest and tactical perspective to the table. Whether you’re stepping into your first coordinator role or you’re a seasoned vet looking for fresh insight, this one delivers.

👇 TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – Intro & Coach Katz Joins the Show00:45 – Teaching Biomedical Science & Coaching Football02:00 – Coach Katz Shares His Philosophy as a First-Year DC03:30 – Game Planning: What No One Tells You05:15 – Struggles with Practice Planning and Time Management07:10 – Learning to Adjust & Getting Staff Buy-In10:00 – Building the Call Sheet: The Weekly Process14:00 – Halftime Adjustments & Communication with the Staff18:20 – Teaching Coverage Rules to Young DBs22:30 – What Coach Katz Would Tell Himself Week 125:45 – Audience Q&A and Final Thoughts

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

* First-year coordinators often face information overload — simplify and clarify.

* You can’t do it alone. Building staff trust and communication is essential.

* Practice planning is harder than it looks — reps need purpose.

* Teaching players your system is just as important as having one.

Whether you’re a high school coordinator, aspiring coach, or just a ball junkie, this episode packs insight, honesty, and some solid laughs.

Don’t forget to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE for more deep-dive football content!

—

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your pods.

Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Drop them in the comments or hit us up on Twitter (@BoardDrill).

In this episode of The Board Drill Podcast, we sit down with Coach Tim Dycus, the head football coach at Winter Springs High School (FL). Coach Dycus dives into the details of building a culture, the reality of turning around a struggling program, and the leadership lessons that come with over two decades on the sidelines.Coach Dycus took over a program that many saw as an easy win on their schedule—until now. Under his guidance, Winter Springs just posted its first winning season in years and reached the playoffs. This episode is a must-watch for coaches who are grinding in the trenches, building brick by brick.Timestamps0:00 - Intro & Coach Dycus joins the show1:34 - Taking over a struggling program3:05 - Coach Dycus’ backstory: from business owner to football coach6:42 - What he learned from Seminole County football legends10:17 - How he built a winning culture at Winter Springs14:10 - Getting buy-in from the players and staff17:32 - The small wins that built momentum21:45 - Key schemes and system changes26:10 - Advice to young coaches stepping into tough jobs30:33 - Coaching in the social media age35:21 - Building relationships and developing leaders38:10 - Coach Dycus’ coaching philosophy42:00 - Lightning Round: Favorite drills, toughest opponents, best advice45:50 - Final thoughts and what’s next for Winter Springs football📲 Subscribe for more in-depth football conversations with high school and college coaches across the country.

The Board Drill Podcast - Ep. 13 | Dawson Mitchell | Match Coverage In this episode, Kyle and Matt are joined by Coach Dawson Mitchell (@CoachMitchell48), the linebackers coach at Cartersville High School. Coach Mitchell walks us through how his defense runs 2-Read coverage, how they teach their DBs to handle common route combos, and what pattern-matching looks like in a high school setting.Timestamps:0:00 - Intro and how Kyle connected with Coach Mitchell2:00 - Cartersville’s base coverage philosophy3:15 - Coaching 2-Read: teaching DBs to read 2-to-15:40 - How they handle double slant and smash routes8:25 - Matching routes vs. spot-dropping: what they emphasize10:00 - Teaching eyes, leverage, and hip turns13:45 - Adjusting to different offensive tendencies week to week16:30 - Why they don’t pedal their corners18:05 - Differences between 2-Read, Palms, and Quarters21:10 - Practical drills and how they rep it in practice24:00 - Final thoughts on teaching coverage at the high school levelThis is a pure football episode. No slides. No fluff. Just straight-up ball talk.Subscribe for more in-depth breakdowns and interviews with coaches across the country.

In this episode, we’re joined by Coach Dean Young, DC at Midlothian HS (TX), to break down his unique “Pinch Front” concept and the back-end coverage he calls “Texas Two and a Half.” Coach Young explains how his team adapted through adversity, simplified their rules, and developed a system that mixes Tampa 2 and three-cloud principles with aggressive front play. If you’re looking for a flexible, sound way to adjust your defense to your personnel, this episode is a must-watch.Topics include simplifying coverage rules, adapting Tampa 2 principles, how to cancel gaps with the DL, and why Coach refuses to call anything Cover 3.Timestamped Topics:0:00 - Intro & Guest Welcome1:19 - Origin of the “Pinch Front”2:44 - Adapting to Injuries & Personnel Issues3:45 - From Quarters to Tampa 2 to Base Defense4:32 - Simplifying Rules with Pinch Front6:05 - Explaining “Texas Two and a Half”9:20 - Techniques & Coverage Leverage Details12:50 - Adjusting to 2x2 vs. 3x1 Formations17:10 - Why Coach Hates Cover 320:55 - How the Front Marries the Coverage26:10 - Game Planning Tips & Weekly Adjustments30:42 - Q&A: Coaching the Overhang Player33:05 - Blitz Rules and Complementary Pressures36:30 - Scouting Considerations for This Defense40:18 - Favorite Situational Calls44:00 - Building Confidence in the System47:12 - Final Thoughts & Twitter Fights Over Cover 3Follow Coach Young on Twitter: CoachDeanYoungRead the original Hex Front article: https://www.boarddrill.com/p/hex-front-theory-can-4-down-defensesLike, comment, and subscribe for more in-depth conversations on modern defensive football. Stay tuned for more from The Board Drill!

In this episode, we’re joined by Coach Dean Young, DC at Midlothian HS (TX), to break down his unique “Pinch Front” concept and the back-end coverage he calls “Texas Two and a Half.” Coach Young explains how his team adapted through adversity, simplified their rules, and developed a system that mixes Tampa 2 and three-cloud principles with aggressive front play. If you’re looking for a flexible, sound way to adjust your defense to your personnel, this episode is a must-watch.Topics include simplifying coverage rules, adapting Tampa 2 principles, how to cancel gaps with the DL, and why Coach refuses to call anything Cover 3.Timestamped Topics:0:00 - Intro & Guest Welcome1:19 - Origin of the “Pinch Front”2:44 - Adapting to Injuries & Personnel Issues3:45 - From Quarters to Tampa 2 to Base Defense4:32 - Simplifying Rules with Pinch Front6:05 - Explaining “Texas Two and a Half”9:20 - Techniques & Coverage Leverage Details12:50 - Adjusting to 2x2 vs. 3x1 Formations17:10 - Why Coach Hates Cover 320:55 - How the Front Marries the Coverage26:10 - Game Planning Tips & Weekly Adjustments30:42 - Q&A: Coaching the Overhang Player33:05 - Blitz Rules and Complementary Pressures36:30 - Scouting Considerations for This Defense40:18 - Favorite Situational Calls44:00 - Building Confidence in the System47:12 - Final Thoughts & Twitter Fights Over Cover 3Follow Coach Young on Twitter: @CoachDeanYoung

Read the original Hex Front article: https://www.boarddrill.com/p/hex-front-theory-can-4-down-defensesLike, comment, and subscribe for more in-depth conversations on modern defensive football. Stay tuned for more from The Board Drill!

S3E2 – Run Fits w/ Coach Zach Capehart (Silverdale Academy DC)In this episode, Kyle and Matt are joined by Coach Zach Capehart, the defensive coordinator at Silverdale Academy in Tennessee. They dive deep into how to fit the run from multiple fronts — with a real-world lens of limited practice time, two-way players, and up-tempo offenses.This is not just theory. It’s a clinic on practical defense for high school coaches.Timestamps:00:00 – Intro + Background on Coach Capehart02:30 – The Silverdale context: small school, tempo offense, time limits06:15 – Why they choose to be multiple despite having two-way players08:40 – Key principles: simplicity, communication, and essentialism12:10 – Teaching run fits with limited install time17:05 – How tempo offenses stress your defense — and how to respond22:45 – Adjusting fronts while keeping base rules intact27:10 – The role of personnel and playing to your kids’ strengths32:00 – Q&A and wrap-up: best advice for fitting the run with constraintsWhether you’re a DC at a big program or building a system with 50 players and 90-minute practices, this one’s packed with takeaways.Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more content made by coaches, for coaches.