This comprehensive discussion from the Coaching 101 podcast, featuring hosts Daniel Chamberlain and Kenny Simpson and guest coach Antonio Graham, explores the intricacies of building effective defensive strategies in football. The dialogue delves into the creation of pressure packages, the importance of adaptability, and keeping defensive plays simple yet effective. Highlighting the needs for both new and veteran defensive coordinates, the conversation emphasizes understanding team strengths, opponent strategies, and balancing a base system with the ability to expand based on play. Furthermore, the talk addresses common coaching mistakes, stressing the importance of mastering fundamental skills before advancing to complex strategies. In addition to coaching insights, the episode promotes ProCom headsets and encourages listener engagement through social media, fostering a community committed to learning and improving coaching practices.

00:00 Introduction and Casual Banter
01:15 Guest Introduction: Antonio Graham
02:18 The Importance of Coaching Community
03:11 Antonio Graham's Coaching Journey
04:40 The Transition from Player to Coach
06:14 The Challenges and Rewards of College Coaching
09:07 The Move to High School Coaching
14:16 The Role of Verbiage in Coaching
14:34 Building a Pressure Package in Defense
18:49 The Importance of Simplicity in Coaching
21:21 The Role of Game Plan in Coaching
32:05 The Importance of Having a System in Coaching
36:50 Building a Simple System
37:07 Discussing Pressure Points
37:26 Strategies for Winning
37:51 The Importance of Movement
38:17 The Role of the Linebacker
39:19 The Art of Blitzing
40:25 The Changing Game
41:00 The Power of Turnovers
42:30 The Evolution of Defense
47:46 The Importance of Teaching Basics
50:10 The Art of Blitzing Revisited
52:07 The Importance of Adaptability
53:36 The Power of Simplicity
01:04:24 The Importance of Tackling
01:06:46 Closing Thoughts

Daniel Chamberlain:

@CoachChamboOK

[email protected]

chamberlainfootballconsulting.com

Kenny Simpson:

@FBCoachSimpson

[email protected]

FBCoachSimpson.com

Going 0-10 as a new head coach is the ultimate nightmare scenario, but not unheard of. The old saying, “good jobs don’t come open,” has never been truer than today. But, new HC’s have to break in somewhere. Coach Spain joins us on the show to talk about living through that nightmare scenario, and coming out the other side with a 10-0 regular season.

To watch the video from this episode or others like it, check out the Youtube pages of Kenny and Daniel.

What did you find out you didn’t know?

• X’s and O’s
• Horrible with coaches
• Discipline is an every day task, not a single motivational speech
• Learning other coaches get paid too
• Being a head coach is lonely
• Get a support system, don’t complain down the chain of command
• Scheme is 90% of your job as an assistant, but 10% as a head coach

How will you adjust moving forward?

• When building a staff; hire people first
• Coaches can handle different amounts of responsibility
• “Are you a man, or are you a boy” conversations
• Enjoy the moments

What NOT to do as a Coach

• Today’s Lesson: “You are never “ready” as a new Head Coach, so don’t let that be a barrier.”

Social Media

• Logan Spain
  • Twitter: @coachspain_dq
• Daniel
  • Twitter: @CoachChamboOK
  • Email: [email protected]
• Kenny
  • Twitter: @FBCoachSimpson
  • Email: [email protected]
• Coaching 101 Podcast
  • Twitter: @Coaching101Pod

Daniel Chamberlain:

@CoachChamboOK

[email protected]

chamberlainfootballconsulting.com

Kenny Simpson:

@FBCoachSimpson

[email protected]

FBCoachSimpson.com

Daniel Chamberlain:

@CoachChamboOK

[email protected]

chamberlainfootballconsulting.com

Kenny Simpson:

@FBCoachSimpson

[email protected]

FBCoachSimpson.com

Installing and maintaining an explosive but simple passing game can be a tedious process if you’ve never done it before. For some coaches, the run game comes naturally. But, the passing concepts that we need to be successful can be a whole other story. Dub Maddox joins Kenny and Daniel to talk install, non-negotiables, and changing routes at the line.

What is a basic install?

• Compare talent to system
• Quick Game / RPO / Intermediate
• Boot / Sprint Out
• Power Pass
• Quick Game: RPO Stick/ Snag (phasing out)/ 
• Intermediate: 
  • Does your OL let you use it?
  • Beat the Coverages you are going to see
  • Arm Talent of QB/ Skill of WR’s
• Screen Game
• 4-5 concepts in the system, use 2-3 concepts per season

How do you teach your QB?

• QB School in Jan 2x week through spring ball
• Recognize defense
  • Fronts
  • Coverages
  • Blitzes
• Non-negotiables
  • Space
    • Capped vs Uncapped routes
  • Time
    • Footwork
    • Steps matched to routes
  • Talent
• Headset to Helmet
• Coverage Weaknesses
• Teach a language
  • Capology
• VR “Reps”

Do you teach Route Adjustments?

• Post-snap adjustments are off limits for most players
• Routes can flatten or go more vertical 
• Tags

What NOT to do as a Coach

• Today’s Lesson: “Think more is better”

Social Media

• Daniel
  • Twitter: @CoachChamboOK
  • Email: [email protected]
• Kenny
  • Twitter: @FBCoachSimpson
  • Email: [email protected]
• Coaching 101 Podcast

Twitter: @Coaching101Pod

Daniel Chamberlain:

@CoachChamboOK

[email protected]

chamberlainfootballconsulting.com

Kenny Simpson:

@FBCoachSimpson

[email protected]

FBCoachSimpson.com

The Offensive Line may be the most important position on the field, regardless of your scheme. As they go, you go in most cases. As they are the most important group, your development of them may be the most important work you’ll do as a position coach throughout your career. 

To watch the video from this episode or others like it, check out the Youtube pages of Kenny and Daniel.

What skills are non-negotiable installs for O-Linemen?

• Match scheme to skills
  • List skills required to make scheme successful, work backward
• Skills identified by position
  • Zone Gs vs Gap Gs are completely different 
• Nasty Streak
• Intelligent
• Firing Out
• Aiming Points
• Hand Placement
• Hips

What are your Every Day Drills for O-Linemen?

• Down blocks
• Sealing
• Pulls with pullers, not everyone has to work this skill
• Grid

• 
  

What NOT to do as a Coach

• Today’s Lesson: “Don’t treat all O-Linemen like Equals”

Social Media

• Daniel
  • Twitter: @CoachChamboOK
  • Email: [email protected]
• Kenny
  • Twitter: @FBCoachSimpson
  • Email: [email protected]
• Coaching 101 Podcast
  • Twitter: @Coaching101Pod

Daniel Chamberlain:

@CoachChamboOK

[email protected]

chamberlainfootballconsulting.com

Kenny Simpson:

@FBCoachSimpson

[email protected]

FBCoachSimpson.com

Coverages can be as complex or as simple as you want. But, you may not always NEED that complexity. “Country Cover 3” has been around forever, and it’s not going anywhere soon. However, you may find other factors that dictate you need more than spot drop zone coverage.

On this episode Kenny and Daniel are talking about building out your coverage playbook.

What is your home?

• Zone or man
• 2 High or 1
• How do you adjust to sets
• How do you work run fits with pass drops / who are conflict players and how do you teach them

Match | Drop | Man

• What does your schedule look like?
• How does the offense want to run their scheme?

How do you build?

• Read 2 Base
• Roll Cover 3
• Robber
• Disguise
• Tag system

What NOT to do as a Coach

• Today’s Lesson: “Teach “different” concepts” - relate them together.

Social Media

• Daniel
  • Twitter: @CoachChamboOK
  • Email: [email protected]
• Kenny
  • Twitter: @FBCoachSimpson
  • Email: [email protected]
• Coaching 101 Podcast
  • Twitter: @Coaching101Pod

Daniel Chamberlain:

@CoachChamboOK

[email protected]

chamberlainfootballconsulting.com

Kenny Simpson:

@FBCoachSimpson

[email protected]

FBCoachSimpson.com

Offensive skill players are the Lamborghinis of football. They need to be properly tuned to really run the race. 

On this episode we caught up with Chris and Danny Haddad at the 2024 AFCA, and we're talking all about how to tune your supercars. We talk drills and skills by position for your offensive players. 

• Chris Haddad
  • Twitter: @ChrisvIQtory
• Danny Haddad
  • Twitter: @CoachHaddadJr
• Daniel
  • Twitter: @CoachChamboOK
  • Email: [email protected]
• Kenny
  • Twitter: @FBCoachSimpson
  • Email: [email protected]
• Coaching 101 Podcast
  • Twitter: @Coaching101Pod

Daniel Chamberlain:

@CoachChamboOK

[email protected]

chamberlainfootballconsulting.com

Kenny Simpson:

@FBCoachSimpson

[email protected]

FBCoachSimpson.com

It's AFCA season! We sat down with Joe Daniel and Adam Harvey at the convention to talk a little DB play.

Daniel Chamberlain:

@CoachChamboOK

[email protected]

chamberlainfootballconsulting.com

Kenny Simpson:

@FBCoachSimpson

[email protected]

FBCoachSimpson.com

On this episode Kenny and Daniel are joined by Bo Gould (OL Coach, Southside) and PJ Gibbs (DC, Golden Gate) to talk Offensive and Defensive line. We're stepping back and letting the experts talk technique, and how they would defeat each other's scheme. 

This was our first recording at the AFCA Convention 2024 in Nashville, TN. We apologize for the audio being a little different.

Daniel Chamberlain:

@CoachChamboOK

[email protected]

chamberlainfootballconsulting.com

Kenny Simpson:

@FBCoachSimpson

[email protected]

FBCoachSimpson.com

On this episode Kenny and Daniel discuss what you should be looking for when you’re putting together your run game.

To watch the video from this episode or others like it, check out the Youtube pages of Kenny and Daniel.

What goes into a Rushing Attack?

• Identity of offense
• Zone or Gap Scheme
• How to gain numbers
• Foot to foot - Run behind the wall

Why do we organize it in families or series?

• Run, Adjusts, RPO, Play Action
• Motion, Can it be with different players
• Counters - Reverses
• Family - Zone/Gap
  • Ease of teaching
• Series - Everything looks the same
  • Allows me to know how the defense will likely play, and go where they aren’t
• Adjustments - Double Team (similar to doubling a WR on Def)

How can we develop a ground game that sets us up for success?

• Must be able to run to win at all levels of football - Finish games
• Physical Football 
• Get numbers right

What NOT to do as a Coach

• Today’s Lesson: “Don’t get ahead of yourself in building an offense.”

Social Media

• Daniel
  • Twitter: @CoachChamboOK
  • Email: [email protected]
• Kenny
  • Twitter: @FBCoachSimpson
  • Email: [email protected]
• Coaching 101 Podcast
  • Twitter: @Coaching101Pod

Daniel Chamberlain:

@CoachChamboOK

[email protected]

chamberlainfootballconsulting.com

Kenny Simpson:

@FBCoachSimpson

[email protected]

FBCoachSimpson.com