Gordon Elliot

Head Coach- Auburn HS- WA. 2011 Detroit Mega Clinic

Multiple Double Wing Jet Sweep

“simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”

-6 running plays
-3 blocking schemes (execution for the O-Line is number 1 priority): down, reach, pull/scoop
-utilize formations and motions to look complex
-use a lot of misdirection/deception- the lower the level of football you coach, the better it works

Why double TE double wing formation: it forces the defense to defend 10 gaps and 6 possible
ball carriers

-strive for a balanced attack (50/50 is not balanced to us). Doesn’t think it is possible to get good
at both running and throwing the football in high school football. Run oriented but pass
effectively.

Fullback: Fullback’s toes are at 5 yards in a 2 point stance. He is always offset to one side or
another.
Tight Ends: 2-3 foot split and in a low 2 point stance.
Offensive Line: 2 foot splits (never adjusts them). 3 point stance and off the ball as far as legally
possible.
*Play Calling: They do not use the traditional number method most coaches use when calling
plays (i.e. 46 Power is 4 back through the 6 hole). Instead they use colors to designate which way
the play will go. –
 Green= play goes to the right , Yellow= play goes to the left
 i.e. Ace Sweep Green = Ace (double TE double wing) Sweep (Jet Sweep) Green (to the
right)
 The reason they did this is because they believed that the offensive lineman can process
their assignment on the play much easier and faster if they just know what way the play is
going instead of thinking which number hole. Early on, they would wear green shoe laces
on their right foot and yellow shoe laces on their left foot and all the linemen had to do
was look down at their feet to know which way the play was going. (Possible No
Huddle concept?)
The Jet Sweep
Their jet sweep is more of an ”alley” sweep than the traditional jet sweep that is taught to run
hash-numbers-sideline. Philosophy of the play is similar to the “packers” sweep. Still want to
snap the ball when the ballcarrier is at the outside leg of the backside tackle (backside B gap).

O-Line Rules: Reach/Skate . Responsible for the defender from your inside shoulder to outside
shoulder. All linemen on the backside (past the center) rip and reach to 2nd level.
If you can’t reach him= “skate” call tells your teammate next to you to block down and you will
pull around

Fullback: always offset to the side of the motion. He always leads through the alley as the “clean
up” blocker. He is responsible for any defender in the alley.
 Ben Albert
Defensive Line- Temple- 2011 Detroit Mega Clinic
1 Gap Football for Defensive Linemen

1 gap football allows you to:

- Attack the line of scrimmage & disrupt blocking schemes
- Get up field & stay on the edge of the blocker
- Stop the run on the way to hitting the QB
- Get to rush the passer on run downs
- Leads to more 1st down sacks because of aggressive play
Run Rules:
“hats in the cracks (gaps)”
1. Play your gap
o Know your TASK (Technique Alignment Stance Key)
o Note the oppoenet’s stance and splits
o Note backfield sets. 1st meeting of the week is formation recognition
o Get the big picture of the play. See any and all movements
o Get off the ball!
2. Reactions- No Guessing
o Key the hat of the offensive linemen.
o Stimulus-response training in practice sessions
o Constantly working on proper footwork and hand placement
3. Keys
o Pass= react & retrace to draw
o Man block- drive, reach, cut
o Down block= think some kind of trap coming your way
o Pull= collision
 Kerry Coombs
Defensive Backs- University of Cincinnati- 2011 Cincinnati Mega Clinic
DB Philosophy & Coverage’s
kerry.coombs@uc.edu

The Big 3 in training camp/spring ball:

1. Sharpen Fundamentals
a. Tackling
b. Leverage
c. Forcing turnovers

2. Learn the system- learn to play fast

3. Mentality- drill effort and toughness all year long

- Drill your players in reps of 3. This will reinforce the 3-and-out mentality. During
practice, they will rep a drill 3 times in a row then put their fist in the air and yell when
are getting another “3 and out”

- Play cover 2 (2 deep, 5 under, 4 man rush) to take receivers out of the game.

o In cover 2, corners are responsible for the flat but they must understand that the
flat zone extends to 18 yards deep in cover 2
o Corners= DVE- Deny Vertical Entry to the safeties. They must be road blocks and
always be physical with receivers.
o Safeties are aligned at 12 yards and burst pedal to 25 yards. Their thought process
is “it is always a pass unless..”

- Whatever coverage you play, the flat defender carries the wheel route

- Play cover 3 to get an 8th guy in the box.

o OC’s know that the soft spot in cover 3 is the seams.

o Underneath zone defenders must get collisions on receivers (DVE)
o If a deep 1/3 player has 2 receivers on his side, he must split the receivers and
become a middle-deep 1/3 player
o Vs. 4 verticals out of trips formation. The Mike LB cannot let #3 cross his face on
the way to the hash., goes back to the DVE philosophy.
 Randy Bates
Linebackers- Northwestern- 2011 Cincinnati Mega Clinic
Linebacker Teaching Philosophy
Randy-bates@northwestern.edu

Teaching Philosophy:
1. Take time to prepare for your meetings.
2. Cannot afford to be a tough professor. Professors aren’t fired when their students fail,
however coaches are! Do not let your players fail “your class” (position/scheme)
3. Be fresh and enthusiastic in your meetings. Make them unique
o Does “name that tune” at beginning of meetings
4. Be a multiple teacher
a. 7 minute rule- this generation of kids is use to watching so much television that
their attention span is around 7 minutes (average length of time between
commercials). You must take this into account when you teach in meetings
i. Handout- 1 page tip sheet they put in their position binder
ii. Board- have the information already written on the board before they walk
in
iii. Watch film- make it a point to teach everyone in the room besides those on
the film
iv. Walk Through- last 10 minutes of meeting time is walk through
v. Let them screw up in practice so you can coach them from their mistakes

- Have your players draw up your schemes and opponent schemes so they can learn the
details. This will help them understand the big picture.

- Believes that a player has to hear a coaching point or game plan reminder at least 7 times
before they remember it

Communication

1. Talk with them daily on how they’re doing

a. Let them know the good & bad news
b. Give them structure and routine
c. Let them know what you’re thinking (this goes with other coaches as well)
2. Evaluate previous practice- tell them quickly and get it over with
3. Correct immediately on the field
a. Never let them leave the lockeroom negatively
Tackle well & often

1. Daily drills with or without pads

2. In both individuals and group
3. Make sure all of your staff teaches tackling the same exact way using the same
terminology and progressions

Run to the ball

1. Wants to be the best as pursuit

2. Grades pursuit effort every day

- Believes grip strength is one of the most underemphasized attributes a linebacker can develop.
All workouts involve some exercises working on strengthening grip
o Towel lat pull downs (without thumbs)
o Towel pull ups (with or without thumbs)
o Sand/rice in a bucket
o Tug of war (with or without thumbs)
o Bands
o Farmers walk (without thumbs)

2011 Spring Practice Schedule

March 7 8:15 to 10:30 a.m.

March 8 8:15 to 10:30 a.m.
March 10 8:15 to 10:30 a.m.
March 12 9:30 to 11:45 a.m.
March 28 8:15 to 10:30 a.m.
March 29 8:15 to 10:30 a.m.
March 31 8:15 to 10:30 a.m.
April 2 9:30 to 11:45 a.m.
April 4 8:15 to 10:30 a.m.
April 5 8:15 to 10:30 a.m.
April 7 8:15 to 10:30 a.m.
April 9 9:30 to 11:45 a.m.
April 12 8:15 to 10:30 a.m.
April 14 8:15 to 10:30 a.m.
April 16 Noon (Spring Game)
 Dave Clawson
Head Coach- Bowling Green State University- 2011 Cincinnati Mega Clinic
Putting Together An Offensive Game Plan

- All your position coaches need to know what you’re thinking for calls during games so
they can practice more efficiently

Day 1 (day after a game)

- Rank 5 best skilled players
- Who is your 6th best? This would dictate what personnel groups you use, base sets, and what ifs
- Who do we want to get the ball to? How many ideal carries does he need?
- Their personnel: What do they do?
Field or boundary defense
Sub packages
Rules of their defense
Rank their personnel
-What are our best matchups by position group
- Critical calls: game on the line plays, consider not so much what play but who to call on
-What do we need to avoid
-Emphasize situations in practice. Define the situation and objective of the scenario: 1&10, 2nd &
off schedule, 3rd & 6 or less, 3rd & off schedule, field position, coming out, etc.

Day 2 (Monday)
- Base offense (core runs), 12-15 specific calls
- Base play action passes , 3-4 specific calls
- Box count plays, no more than 5 calls
-Screens and draws
- Dropback passes , 6-8 specific calls
- specials and trick plays , 3 specific calls
-Need to decide what is thrown out because theres not enough time to practice it
-Blitz protection answers
-2nd and off schedule
- Script Tuesday practice, seek input from staff on what they like and what needs to be cut out
- What rule conflicts have we created?
-Have we practiced the matchups we want in order to win?
- New plays: rule is if we put in a new play it has to be worth more than 3 yards and we have to
rep it at least 3 times. Is it worth the investment?

Day 3 (Tuesday)
- Red Zone: when does the personality of the defense change?
3 areas of the red zone:
o 25-16: Score Zone (5 runs, 5 pass calls)
o Tight Red Zone (5 runs, 5 pass calls)
o 5- Goal Line (3 runs, 3 pass calls)
o Strive for carryover in your calls
rd
- 3 & 11: 6 pass calls, 1 run call, 1 screen call
- 3rd & 7-10: 5 pass calls, 2 run calls, 1 screen call
- 3rd & 4-6: Core philosophy calls
- This may not fit your offense philosophy. However, it is important to develop a formula
for exactly how many calls you need to practice in a week based on the number of plays
you have in a game and what you want to accomplish.

Day 4 (Wednesday)
- Goal Line: discuss your plan in the off season. If you break down how many times you are
actually in a goal line situation, it is not as much as other situations.
- Develop your game plan versus core goal line defenses (6-5, 7-2, gap 8, etc.). There is only so
many ways to line up in a goal line defense.
- 2 point plays, 2-3 specific calls
- win the game plays , 2-3 specific calls
- Short Yardage plays
- 3rd & 4 or less, will always have a QB sneak call, best inside run & outside run call, and best
safe pass call

Day 5 (Thursday)- Dress rehearsal

- First 20 calls, 2 minute O, 4 minute O, Coming Out, Game on the line
- Test your calls based on what ifs by yourself and staff
- Does your QB need to be successful early to have a good game?
- If there seems like no good call then go with what they have practiced the most
 Dan Reardron
Head Coach- Youngstown Ursline H.S. OH. - 2011 Cincinnati Mega Clinic
Year Round Development of a Championship Program

http://www.ursuline.com/athletics-football.aspx
- Family atmosphere: encourage staff members to bring their family around practices
- Set goals high and talk about them every day. The cover of the weekly scouting report is
a state championship ring.
- Have a great tempo at practice
- Compete every day: you can’t win a game in the off season but you can lose a game
- Make it big time: do everything first-class
- If something is wrong, fix it! Good leaders don’t care if they’re hated.

- Make young players apart of your team

o Mindset of 1 team that plays 3 games a week
o Freshmen will practice with the varsity as much as possible except for team. This
allows varsity coaches and players to work with them on technique
o All together for 1 team photo only
o Freshmen will dress for all regular season home games, and all playoff games
o Tell your freshmen that at least 2 of them will play varsity football on special
teams. Give them something to compete with each other for.
o On lower levels, find a way to play as many players as possible

- Market the program: press releases, whenever your team is doing something positive,
take a picture and write up a short bit about what they did and send it to the local reporter.
You will be surprised how much they like to publish what you send them
o Community service is mandatory in off-season
o Team Poster- Team photo with seniors (including cheerleaders). Solicit local
businesses to buy ad’s on the poster to offset the cost. Every kid in the local
elementary schools will get a free poster.

- Special Teams: have a non-traditional approach to special teams. Want to be the hardest
game plan for opponents. Bunch kickoffs, empty punt, surprise onside kick once a game
- Team Functions: Will have one every 6 weeks, tries to offer them on a night that won’t
conflict with another sport (bowling, attend a girl’s b-ball game, pizza, movies, etc.)

- Team Lock-In: Saturday night in March after basketball season is over. Players will
arrive at 9:00pm and released at 6:00am. When they arrive, they are broken down into
groups (with the coaches). Have events in anything you can imagine. Team building
activities. Goal setting meeting with position coaches and set team goals for upcoming
season

- Program Calendar:
o January: 3 day schedule, team night at girls basketball game
o February: 3 day schedule, lift-a-thon, coaches attend clinics
o March: 3 day schedule, Team Lock In
o April: 4 day schedule, coaches devotions, attend spring practices
o May: 4 day schedule, combines, team outing
o June: 10 days off following last day of school, 3 day schedule
o July: 3 day schedule, youth football camp, team outing

- Weight Program:
o 48 minute sessions
o Super sets, high intensity, high tempo
o Before/after photos in June (before) and January (after)
o Entire coaching staff is present
o Includes competition drills
o Break the monotony once a month (basketball, kickball, dodgeball, etc.)
 Scott Isphording
Quarterbacks- University of Toledo - 2011 Cincinnati Mega Clinic
Developing a Lesson Plan for Your Drills
scott.isphording@utoledo.edu

Individual / Group Drills:

- Name It:
o Players can quickly identify to
o Quick, concise, descriptive i.e. Read 1-2-3
- Intended Outcome: what do you want the drill to produce
- Purpose: what is the drill specifically working on to produce the intended outcome
- Positions: what positions are going to be involved in the drill?
- Start: what is going to start the drill?
o Minimize the use of whistles because there is never a time in a game where
something starts on a whistle. Use cadence or on movement
- Finish: what is going to end the drill?

-you should be able to write down your drill on paper in words descriptive enough that a player
could read it and do it without you

Categories of Drills: Every day drills, Once a week , As needed

Types of Drills: teaching, repetition, competitive, group, team

Tempo of Drills: full speed, half speed, walk through, tap off, thud, no cutting, full go, is QB
live or not?

- Keep a drill list. Keep track of how much you use it and what changes need to be made
- What you see on film is taught or tolerated
- Have a drill progression. Know what drills belong on day 1 or later
- Take notice of your position in the drill. Figure out what spot will allow you to see
everything possible
 Dave Mueller
Head Coach / A.D.- Highlands H.S. KY. - 2011 Cincinnati Mega Clinic
Developing a Championship Program

http://highlands-bluebirds.com/

2010 Kentucky Class 5A State Champions (won state title game 50-0)
25 state titles including 2000, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

10 Proven Points of a Championship Offense:

1. Ball security is number 1 priority
2. Be a great blocker
3. Control the ball and maintain field position
4. Eliminate mental mistakes
5. Believe in the run, perfect the pass
6. Rise to the occasion, make great plays
7. Score from anyplace on the field
8. Give the defense wrong reads
9. Execute the offense, know and believe in your system
10. Excel at your position

- The core of a championship program’s success is the day to day level of motivation of
you and your coaching staff
- If you want to be a great high school football coach, it must be your job, hobby, and
passion
- Our goal as coaches is to develop players into men that can be counted on
- 4 things a man should be: a hard worker, a protector, have a vision for their life, and loyal
part of a group (team, family)
- The worst thing you can do for a kid is to contribute to his inflated ego, especially if he is
good
- You should strive to recruit a staff that wants to have a strong ownership in your program
- Youth football camps: don’t go too long with them. Don’t exhaust them. Let them feel
energetic and wanting more. Starts football in 1st grade
- Modified and shortened 2-a-day schedule for freshmen
 Brian Nix
Defensive Coordinator- Alcoa H.S. TN. - 2011 Cincinnati Mega Clinic
Alcoa Outdoor Summer Strength & Conditioning

2010 Tennessee Class 2A State Champions 15-0

State Champions in 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
- Monday:
o Inside:
 Squat max effort
 Bench speed (high tempo)
 Hang clean speed (high tempo)
 Lower body plyometrics
 Chin ups
 Dips
 Agility Circuit
 Pro Agility
 Mirror Dodge drill
 Finish Drill: Core work or some sort of group/team activity
o Outside:
 Power Circuit:
 Sled Power Walk
 Sled Heel-Toe
 Tire Flips (make it competitive)
 Medicine ball overheads
- Wednesday:
o Inside:
 Power clean max effort
 Clean-pull max effort
 Push press
 Bent over row
 Bicep
 Grip strength
o Outside:
  Strength circuit:
 Rope pulls
 Medicine ball twists
 Hip / core work
 Keg- carry up hill or flat walks
 Speed Circuit:
 Hill power walks
 Up hill sprints
 Down hill sprints
 Resisted running
 Finish Drill: 300 yard shuttle & keg carry relay or medicine ball throw

- Thursday:
o Inside:
 Squat speed workout
 Bench max effort
 Clean variation speed workout
 Triceps
 Shoulders
 Team Agility Circuit
 Cone sprints
 Various cone agilities
 Finish Drill: speed group sprints and core work
o Outside:
 Strength Circuit:
 Medicine ball chest work
 Sled push
 Sled power walk
 Plyometrics
 Bruce Cobleigh
Retired Head Coach- 2011 Cincinnati Mega Clinic
How to Teach the Jet Sweep

http://www.championshipsystems.com/bruce-cobleigh
Cumberland University Wing-T Clinic April 15 & 16
- Currently a consultant for Cumberland University football
- System has 14 packages of plays that answers defensive reactions
- Jet sweep is the signature play that we will run from every formation and is always a
check with me call
- We drill jet once a week for 10 minutes (at high school level)
- 2 foot splits across the line with line far off the line of scrimmage as possible
- WB splits is 1 foot by 1 foot. Feels this is very important to the success of the play

Identifying #1 Defender:
- To TE: the first defender in or outside
- To SE: first man aligned on or outside tackle
- Must identify #1 and #2 defender every play. TE is responsible for pointing out #1
defender
- Most teams will line up a defender on the wingback to blow up jet. You must have an
effective passing game off jet motion to get them to back off

- When the TE has no one aligned on him, he will take the first threat on or inside 2nd level

Quarterback:
- Will receive the ball from center and pivot on his right foot (if play is going to the right)
& turn 180 degrees. His back will be to the line of scrimmage with elbows in and point of
the ball in his belly button
- Ball should be snapped when the ballcarrier is in the backside B gap
- Ball is handed off over the inside leg of the playside guard (A gap)
- QB is responsible for finding the SS or strength of the defense on every play to make the
check with me call
Fullback:
- Will align with heels at 4 yards depth
- On snap, he will run slightly off midline, brushing skin to skin and fake trap to 2nd level
Tight End:
- Pick it up and put it down 6” lateral step
- On the crossover step, step to the crotch of the defender
- Doesn’t have to hook the defender just get a body on him
- If he over runs the jet motion, run him to the sideline

Wingback:
- Aligns 1ft outside TE and 1 foot deep <- very important
- Faces north-south instead of cocked in. This is better for the passing game and jet/rocket
- Rule is to block #2 defender
- If the defender is on the line of scrimmage, the WB will attack 1 yard outside his hip
- Will drill the reach block with the linemen using a flipper technique because they are
usually the ones called for holding on the edge if they use their hands

Guard:
- Pull flat and fast
- Pick foot up and put it down, rolling over the front foot while throwing the frontside arm
- Find the butt of the playside wingback and read his block
o WB’s head outside on defender= run to sideline
o WB kicks out, fold underneath and look inside
o WB stalemate= use clearest path

- “CS” =crack-stalk call. Playside WB will crack #1 and Tight End takes #2 defender. Will
do this to the split end side especially out of a nasty alignment

- If a defensive end/outside linebacker uses a box technique effectively versus you, you’re
not using the passing game good enough

Loose Right: great check with me formation

 Bruce Cobleigh
Retired Head Coach- 2011 Cincinnati Mega Clinic
Bunch Routes off Jet & Rocket

- Run as a part of 80 (belly/down) series Keep Pass package

- Snap the ball when the back is directly behind the QB. By the time the ball is in the QB’s
hands, the back will be aligned in a bunch set with the Tight End and playside Wingback
- Puts defenses in conflict who like to walk up a defender on the playside wingback to beat
him up
- When running down/belly off of jet motion, make sure the back running the jet motion
continues to run a flat route (even though it’s a run play) to make the linebackers run with
the motion. Don’t give them a reason to stand still.
- If the Inside Linebacker runs out to cover the Jet Sweep= run Belly, If he fills hard to
stop belly or tries to get penetration to stop jet, then continue to run jet and bunch passes.
If the back running the jet is going full speed like he should, the linebacker should never
be able to catch him in the backfield
- Half slide protection with the fullback picking up any defender coming off the edge.
Fullback must run full speed on a direct line 1 yard outside of the playside tackle
- Will run this out of various formations and alignments (nasty sets, unbalanced, empty)
and out of the pistol and shotgun

Red 82 Choice:

- Player in motion always runs flat route

o Jet motion- Arrow route (see above), get width not depth! Receiver must look
over his inside shoulder so he can catch the ball at full speed & bend up field
o Rocket motion- flare route, get width to stretch the defense. Still looks over inside
shoulder. Likes this vs. defenses who bring a lot of pressure
 - Choice/Whip route:
o flood route that the receiver choses path based on the drop or reaction of the
linebacker.
o The depth of the route is based on the depth of the linebacker.
o If the linebacker drops, the receiver running the whip route will sit underneath
him.
o If the linebacker blitzes, the receiver will sit in the hole vacated by him
o If the linebacker stays in area, the receiver will punch with the outside hand, pivot
on outside foot, open, then run on path to sideline

The Quarterback:
- Vs. Edge pressure: if the defense is bringing a lot of edge pressure, Quarterback needs to
know he should immediately throw arrow or flare route
- The Quarterback will reverse out (using 80 series footwork) then set up behind the
offensive tackle and slightly come down hill as he throws
- Progression:
1. Flat route
2. Sneak a peek deep (TE smash route)
3. Whip Route
4. Run or throw it away
- The Quarterback is ALWAYS reading the force defender

-#1 Bunch passing route. Cumberland University will only use this one for a whole season (went
from 5-6 to 8-3 in one year after putting this route in)
- Stem route to 16 yards by TE & arrow route should open fade route by the wingback
- if run to the split end side, the split end will run the stem route to the same area a TE would and
the Wingback will still run the fade route