The Best Moment in Coaching

This is video after last night's game between Louisville and Rutgers.  Louisville's QB and Offensive coordinator embrace after a tough emotional win on the field.  This is for me the best moment in football, not just winning a tough emotional game but the bonds that have developed between players and coaches.  As you watch the video listen near the end a man says, "This is what people don't see."  And it's true, most people never see after an emotional win or loss what happens between coaches and players.

Coaching at Snow College

In the past month there has been a big change come up in my life.  Earlier this month I interviewed for the Tight End coaches position at Snow College.  Last week I was offered the position and accepted.  Less than a year after moving back to Oregon I am returning to Utah as a football coach at a JC.  I pondered over taking this job and I came to realize this would be a good step for my goal of coaching at higher levels.  Snow is a top junior college program in the country and sends quite a few players on to D-1 schools.  One great thing I will get to do is go out and recruit players, something I am looking forward to.

I am excited and thankful that this opportunity opened up for me.  I am also thankful for Coach Riley welcoming into his staff this last season on such short notice.  He and the rest of his staff are good men who I hold high respect for.  This was just a chance that came up I had to take.  I want to thank everyone that has helped me as I have worked as a coach.  Without them this opportunity wouldn't be possible.

Having Fun Playing Football

How many of you remember this scene?



Now how many of us laughed at this part of the movie when we first saw this film?  It is a pretty funny scene but it brings to mind something that I want to address that coaches can do with regards to having fun while playing football.

Question for you coaches, how many of you have told your players to have fun playing football before a game?  It's an honest question because I think at times as coaches we can forget to tell our players to do this.  We get so focused on the game plan and pregame warm ups that we at times tend to miss telling our players something very very important.  To go out and have fun playing the game.


This is something I have started telling my players as our pre-game warm ups end and repeat just before taking the field that I want them to have fun out there with a big ole' grin on my face.  I have found that it helps the players relax a bit more on the field.

Isn't that what is important when it comes to football, coaches?  Having fun out there?  Make sure you let your players know this before playing the game.

Newest Post on Play Full Throttle

My latest blog post is actually now on the Play Full Throttle website.  I will continue to post here but have been invited to post my material on that website as well.  Here is a link to the article where I talk about having your defense shift from one front into a completely different one prior to the snap of the ball.  If you have any questions about the topic, please make sure to email me or leave a comment.  Thanks everyone, hope you are doing well getting ready for the new season.

To Pistol Or Not Do The Pistol Offense

As I have been looking at different offensive systems one there's been one that is increasingly picquing my interest. I have been thinking I need to learn more about the Pistol offense that was started at Nevada.

In the last few years this seems to have become an increasingly popular offensive formation amongst college and high school teams across the country.  Based on what I have read, proponents of this offense say it has an advantage of being the best of the spread and under center offense since the back is aligned right behind the QB. 

I have read that by having the back aligned this way it prevents a defense from knowing what side the run play is going.  In essence the run game is similar to what you would do if you were wanting to run all your plays out of I or single back formations.

The argument I constantly hear is that in the spread the defense knows which way the run play is going.  I disagree in that if the defense cheats to one side it allows for cutback lanes with the inside zone.  Another way to keep a defense honest you can run a counter.

I guess the biggest thing I would like to learn more about is my favorite play out of the spread which is the Zone Read.  To make this play work it seems that you would need to have the back cross in front and then bend the play back into the zone blocking like below.

I don't see as much a chance for cutbacks since the defense could be reacting to the backfield action and work more to their right.   Compare this to the zone run out of the spread with the back aligned to the side as shown below and how it can lead to cutbacks for the running back.  Below are illustrations on what I mean.

Back is able to hit the hole playside

Defense cheats, is washed down the line opening up a cutback lane for the back

The zone run from under center you will see the same chance for a cutback.  The difference is that the QB isn't reading the end on whether to pull the ball or not.  This makes me wonder if because you might not get as good a cutback with the zone read in the Pistol that the veer has become more prevalent among teams that want to run option.

Other questions have come up as I have looked at this offense when it comes to the run game.  With a counter you can read the end and if he chases the tackle then pull the ball.  Is that still something that can be done out of the Pistol or because it might take longer to develop something that is negated in that play.  What about with the QB counter?

One of the best things is that I am in Portland and so today I will be stopping by Portland State and speaking with their offensive staff.  But I would love to hear from other coaches on the strengths, weaknesses, and experiences with this offense.  Should I look more into doing the Pistol or not for my future as a coach.

Update:  I wasn't able to meet with them today, the pro day got moved up.  But I will probably be meeting with them next week.