Football Coaching

[Jazzo]

Does or has anyone here coached football? If so, at what level? What offense did you use (Pro Set, I-Formation, Double Wing, Wing-T, etc.)?
What Defense did you use (5-3, 6-2, 4-4, etc)?

I just wanted to open this topic up for discussion since the season is getting close now. I will be coaching my son's Pop Warner Pee Wee Youth football team this season. If I could have it 100% my way, I would run the Single Wing on offense and the Gap Air Mirror (GAM) on defense. Any comments or opinions would be appreciated....

 

[big D]

what age are you coaching?

I got 11 yr olds. Wing-T, I-Form, Spread on offense. 5-3 on D.

 

[Jazzo]

what age are you coaching?

I got 11 yr olds. Wing-T, I-Form, Spread on offense. 5-3 on D.

I will be coaching Pee Wee which is 9,10,11 yr. olds / 75-120lbs. and light 12 yr. olds who have to be between 75-100lbs.

Are you runnings all three formations on offense??? What league are you coaching in?

 

[Tony]

That 6-2 defense ain't no joke. A former Miami Dolphins player (now Head coaching Pee Wee football) my sons team played against last year used that defense and they couldn't get anywhere. It was a Pop Warner team... I think Menlo Atherton.

 

[Jazzo]

That 6-2 defense ain't no joke.

Yeah, I agree it's a lot more effective than the 5-3 or 4-4 at the Pee Wee level. It all depends on how you use it and if your kids know how to adjust to the different formations. For example, against the Pro-Set I, I would have five of the lineman line up in the gaps in four point stances. The sixth would line up on air on the strong side outside of the TE. I would then have the weak side LB contain....

If it was up to me though, I would like to run GAM which is a Gap 8, 10-1 or 9-1-1 depending on the offensive formation you see during the game. It is an agressive defense designed to stop the run and your corners play man coverage.

 

[Tony]

You've got it pretty much down. That should work at the Pee Wee level. The team I mentioned went all the way to the championship and they weren't giving up any points. I was on the sideline (as a parent moving the chains) and they were stuffing every run there was. Just contain the outside and there will be no where to run. Pee Wee teams aren't too good at passing anyways. Try that 6-2 defense. All them gaps you mentioned are covered.

 

[Jazzo]

Just contain the outside and there will be no where to run. Pee Wee teams aren't too good at passing anyways.

Yeah, my corners have to be excellent tacklers, fast and disciplined. I would especially have the best corner on the wide side. As you probably already know, the Sweep is the most effective offensive play at the Pee Wee level.
So if you use an agressive defense that makes it even harder for a 11-12 year old to throw an accurate pass. That's if he gets it off in time.....

I agree that Pee Wee, Jr. Pee Wee, etc. teams do not have a great percentage of completed passes. I mostly look at passing as a wasted down most of the time, if your facing a descent defense. I would only pass to keep the defense honest (silent audible hitch, etc..)

 

[Tony]

You've got it pretty much down. You're going to take your team pretty far.

I couldn't stand my sons coaches last year (I ended up pulling him out). They were terrible at coaching. They had the D-line in 2 point stances. Yes defensive tackles in 2 point stances... Just awful... And the coaches gave all of their kids the skilled positions (even though they weren't good enough) and didn't give the others a chance. I wanted to whip them coaches so bad... That's why they ended up 2-6 and they had like the 2nd worst defense in Pop Warner. I gotta holla at the president to make sure none of them coaches are returning.

 

[thascary1]

well I find this thread a little odd...not in the info needed out of but in the fact that


When my son played 2 years ago at this same age level, we passed very effectivly most of the game. The qb was a kid who kid "air it out" about 25 yards and we had 3 (including my son) who could go deep and catch it or go voer the middle and use speed to the outside of the field.

they would tear up a 6-2 defense if you ask me.

we also ran alot of misdirection and option as well, so a 6-2 wouldn;t have been that good against that either......unless they were well disicplined...but at that age we all know how that would go.

 

[Jazzo]

They had the D-line in 2 point stances. Yes defensive tackles in 2 point stances... Just awful... And the coaches gave all of their kids the skilled positions (even though they weren't good enough) and didn't give the others a chance. I wanted to whip them coaches so bad... That's why they ended up 2-6 and they had like the 2nd worst defense in Pop Warner. I gotta holla at the president to make sure none of them coaches are returning.

Yeah, there's no way a D-line can be effective in 2 point stances (lol)! Unfortanetly, there are idiots would have the opportunity to coach and don't have a clue what they are doing. It always makes me laugh when you get coaches that say we have to make it fun for the kids then make them run laps during practice. I hate it even more when the coach keeps stopping the plays in practice and talks for like 10-15 minutes at a time. The kids just look off into space and daydream. When no pads week starts, I would have them begin practicing the first play with no contact. The practice time is very limited before the Jamboree and first game.

I also don't agree with "Nepotism"!!! I will assign positions and depth chart rankings based on performance, not who the player's father or mother is! I will not even show it with my son... He plays where I think he will help the team out most and that's Snapper and/or Blocking Back on Offense and Middle Linebacker on Defense.

I feel ya on the incompetent coaches and wanting to talk to the president. If I were you though, I would try and get in there and volunteer as a coach, especially if you know you can do a better job. I went through this whole same thing in the past and that's what motivated me into assistant coaching my son's team.

 

[Jazzo]

well I find this thread a little odd...not in the info needed out of but in the fact that


When my son played 2 years ago at this same age level, we passed very effectivly most of the game. The qb was a kid who kid "air it out" about 25 yards and we had 3 (including my son) who could go deep and catch it or go voer the middle and use speed to the outside of the field.

they would tear up a 6-2 defense if you ask me.

we also ran alot of misdirection and option as well, so a 6-2 wouldn;t have been that good against that either......unless they were well disicplined...but at that age we all know how that would go.

This is the reason I would run the Gap Air Mirror defense because the QB wouldn't have time to air it out 25 yards. The offense would have to adjust and bring the WR's or Flanker in tight to help block. If not it would be sacks and batted balls all day long! I agree that the 6-2 isn't the best solution. You also have to look at how the opposing teams were using the defense and adjusting to the offensive formations. Breaking down game film would be the best way to see how the D responded. I've seen Defensive Coordinators who did not have a clue what they are doing. What offensive formation did your son's team use???

 

[Tony]

I also don't agree with "Nepotism"!!! I will assign positions and depth chart rankings based on performance, not who the player's father or mother is! I will not even show it with my son... He plays where I think he will help the team out most and that's Snapper and/or Blocking Back on Offense and Middle Linebacker on Defense.

Man I wish you were coaching my sons squad last year. You're going to have a good year... no doubt about it. Good luck!!

 

[MRTHECOSE]

I also don't agree with "Nepotism"!!! I will assign positions and depth chart rankings based on performance, not who the player's father or mother is! I will not even show it with my son... He plays where I think he will help the team out most and that's Snapper and/or Blocking Back on Offense and Middle Linebacker on Defense.

my dad benched me when he coached on the team i was on . i never tripped. it wasnt all the time but if i didnt have a hot bat i wouldnt start. that and i had a knee injury i wasnt telling anyone about. so i sucked at field at times

 

[Tony]

we also ran alot of misdirection and option as well, so a 6-2 wouldn;t have been that good against that either......unless they were well disicplined...but at that age we all know how that would go.

Discipline is the key.... It's easier said than done to beat that defense. It's all about containment. As long as the outside linebacker doesn't bite and get fooled. That misdirection play won't work. The line of scrimmage is stacked and the d-linemen are shooting gaps. Menlo Atherton ran that defense last year and they ended up champions.

 

[Jazzo]

Man I wish you were coaching my sons squad last year. You're going to have a good year... no doubt about it. Good luck!!

Thank you....

 

[Jazzo]

Discipline is the key.... It's easier said than done to beat that defense. It's all about containment. As long as the outside linebacker doesn't bite and get fooled. That misdirection play won't work. The line of scrimmage is stacked and the d-linemen are shooting gaps. Menlo Atherton ran that defense last year and they ended up champions.

Exactly, Discipline is the key!!! Discipline reflects on the coaching squad. If the kids are making mistakes, then it's up to the coaches to correct it. If the kid doesn't listen, then he is getting limited play (Minimum Play Players). Sometimes though you can do everything right, but just face a better all around team that day. These are usually your 7-6, 6-0, etc. games.......

 

[Tony]

You are 100% percent correct. My sons teams was getting blown out and then the coaches would blame the kids after the games. I remember one coach told the kids "y'all embarrassed us"... That was pissing me off... one game they were getting blown out 30-0. That's a reflection of the coaching.

 

[Jazzo]

That's a reflection of the coaching.

Exactly!!! If the kids don't listen or want to change bad habits then it's probably time for a coaching change. If a coach doesn't have the knowledge, motivation, etc. then the kids will sense it. The coach's attitude rubs off on everyone else. If the coach complains, cries, makes excuses then it contaminates the rest of the team.

 

[thascary1]

This is the reason I would run the Gap Air Mirror defense because the QB wouldn't have time to air it out 25 yards. The offense would have to adjust and bring the WR's or Flanker in tight to help block. If not it would be sacks and batted balls all day long! I agree that the 6-2 isn't the best solution. You also have to look at how the opposing teams were using the defense and adjusting to the offensive formations. Breaking down game film would be the best way to see how the D responded. I've seen Defensive Coordinators who did not have a clue what they are doing. What offensive formation did your son's team use???

they used a basic I formation.

They had a pretty big line so there wasn't too much pressure and the wr's like I said were quick. The rb's were decent size and speed so if there was a blitz it was pretty easy to dink and dunk....no blitz that left most the wr's 1 on 1, and like I said our wr;s were fast enough to get open alot of the times.


Now I am not saying they aired it out 25 yards every time, but they also never faced a 6-2...I was just mention the 25 yards air it our because against a 6-2 they could have eaisly beat that with the long passes.

You're going to be surprised at how little the balls get batted down...at least here in my sons league the offenses were so much more faster and in sync than the d's.....I don't think the d-line batted a pass all season and that goes for our team as well as the teams we played.

 

[thascary1]

Discipline is the key.... It's easier said than done to beat that defense. It's all about containment. As long as the outside linebacker doesn't bite and get fooled. That misdirection play won't work. The line of scrimmage is stacked and the d-linemen are shooting gaps. Menlo Atherton ran that defense last year and they ended up champions.

it is 100% the key I agree.

and at this age.... out of your team of 20 players you may have 5 that are disicplined....lol...and 5 would be a good #...hahahahaha