For teams that are RPO-heavy in their attack, the defense will start to take away conflict by bringing a safety down into the box either pre-snap by alignment or by rotation in buzzing a safety down into the box.
With this move, they effectively equate numbers in the run, and the underneath passing windows are typically left open by a 2nd level player whose run-fits are now taken away.
This creates the necessity of having vertical answers. An offense can drop back and use seam reads or choice routes, but the objective of any RPO is to run the ball while having a protection answer.
Of course, the RPO can remain the call by simply shifting to a 3rd Level RPO. Most of these are designed with some sort of underneath throws still available with quick routes or key screens. When the offense is successful with these, then the defense needs to decide if it really wants to bring that extra defender down.
Today, we will take a look at three 3rd Level RPO with the Glance, Bender, and Slot Fade and how each attacks a void in the defense.
If the backside safety comes down, then Glance is a favorite for many programs. These typically are run as a 5-step break.
Glance can be run to the field as well. At Alabama, they call it “pop.” The idea is to attack space as Alabama WR Coach Holmon Wiggins points out in this video:
Glance is fine to the field as well, but you have to be wary of the backside safety. Noel Mazzone has his receivers flatten it out to what he calls a grass glance. The purpose is to not bring the Glance into the safety. He explains it in this video:
Another option is to use a Bender route allowing the receiver to bend into the void rather than giving a distinct break. This type of route comes into play versus different rotations but it allows the offense to attack a void in the middle of the defense with an easy throw. Former Averett OC Kirkland Brown explains it off of a gap scheme in this video:
Glance and Bender bring the receivers into the middle of the field, so safeties are always a danger, but the slot fade attacks a different void of the defense and can be protected with back shoulder throws as well.
Former SDSU OC Jeff Hecklinski explains the Slot Fade RPO here:
Defenses are getting better and better in how they defend RPO. Having a mechanism to attack their aggressiveness can provide answers and explosive plays.
Planning for some 3rd Level RPO answers can be an effective way to get the chalk back for the offense.
Guest: Bryan Callen
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Football Training Techniques for Football Training Like the Pros
Whether you're a coach or parent, how much do you really know about football training techniques and helping your players or son train properly to reach the ultimate success they're looking for? With all the football training aids and programs out there, it can be quite overwhelming and/or confusing.
If you're not helping your players or son dramatically improve in the areas of conditioning, strength and speed, how in the world can you expect them to have success, especially against the best teams on the schedule?
It doesn't matter if it's Pop Warner or high school, you need to focus on football training like the pros...it's all about teaching how to develop acceleration and deceleration, as well as change of direction speed. That's what gets you more offensive yards and prevents giving them up on defense.
It's time to educate yourself, whether it be through the best youth football training dvd out there, or a total football training program. These days, it's not longer OK to neglect the best football training techniques available, allow a free-for-all in the weight room, or think "gassers" are sufficient to get football players into shape.
Even if you're overwhelmed with how to provide the correct speed, strength, and conditioning players need, or you don't honestly know enough about it, focusing on better schemes, scouting or film preparation will never overcome a team that doesn't have the size, strength and speed of the top programs in your district.
If you're a coach, it's your responsibility to give your team all the correct football training techniques. If you're a parent and frustrated by the lack of speed, strength and conditioning help your son is receiving by his coach, you must do more than having your son look at one youth football training dvd or use a couple of football training aids.
There are too many quality total football training packages available that are comprehensive and complete in the information provided to not take advantage. People like NFL head strength and conditioning coach Duane Carlisle are providing help to youth coaches, players and parents that results in understanding what football training like the pros really entails.
What needs to happen is that you take action. Get the right tools. Help your players or son. Their success and happiness depends on you taking a proactive approach to bettering their strength and conditioning.
Specific football training techniques, a quality youth
football training dvd and how football training like the pros is done.
Discover all the details right here:
Remembering the character of God builds our confidence as we approach Him with our petitions.
From Intouch Ministries
September 24, 2023
Talking to God doesn’t always come naturally, but we have examples in Scripture to help us. In today’s passage, Nehemiah strengthens His prayers by recalling God’s character. Bringing divine attributes to mind increases his faith and confidence in the Lord.
Nehemiah begins by saying, “Please, lord God of heaven” (1:5). lord, when it appears in all capital letters, denotes the word Jehovah. It means “God who is eternal in His being.” Why is this detail important? Acknowledgment of God’s eternal being is a reminder that God is faithful. Nehemiah prays with confidence because he knows the Lord keeps His promises.
The next Hebrew word, Elohim, is translated “He who is absolutely sovereign.” This name refers to the Creator and recognizes His omnipotence. Once again, Nehemiah acknowledges an important attribute of God—this time, His power. Nehemiah knows that the God who spoke the world into being is certainly able to answer his request.
We may not use these divine names very often, but we’d all benefit from following Nehemiah’s example of praising God’s character. What attribute of the Father do you need to be reminded of today? Take a moment to thank Him for this trait. Then approach God boldly and lay your request at His feet.
Bible in One Year: Micah 1-4
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The offense is a critical aspect of any basketball team's success, and there are various offensive concepts that teams use to score points. The goal of any offense is to create easy scoring opportunities, whether that be through pick-and-rolls, isolation plays, or fast breaks.
Coaches also focus on teaching their players the importance of ball movement and spacing to create open shots. Overall, the offensive strategy is just as critical as the defense, and teams must develop a well-rounded and efficient approach to ensure success on the court. In this article, we will delve into motion offense, zone offense, and 5 out offense to expand your knowledge on these offensive concepts.
Benefits of the Motion Offense
As renowned coach Mark Cascio attests, the motion offense is beloved for its versatility and two-way teaching capabilities. It keeps defenses on their toes, as there are endless possibilities and counters to exploit any defensive actions. We will look at the advantages of using a motion offense, which develops fundamental players and is simple to set up for new coaches. With its positionless nature and emphasis on basketball IQ, the motion offense offers a unique approach to the game that will take your team's performance to new heights.
The motion offense is well known for its ability to develop players with solid fundamentals. By incorporating a wide range of skills such as spacing, ball movement, player movement, passing and cutting, and screening, this offense challenges players to become well-rounded and versatile. Players' overall skill level and game awareness are enhanced by the offense's continuous movement and decision-making demands.
For coaches, the motion offense offers an easy-to-install system that allows for flexibility and creativity. With its emphasis on concepts rather than set plays, the motion offense empowers coaches to teach their players how to read and react to the defense.
Furthermore, the motion offense is a powerful tool for developing basketball IQ. Players are forced to use critical thinking skills and make split-second decisions on the court due to the offense's continuous movement, screening, and decision-making responsibilities. As players become more familiar with the offense, their basketball IQ improves, leading to better overall team performance.
Attacking the Zone Defense
Zone defense is a common strategy used by basketball teams to disrupt the opposing team's offensive flow. To counter the zone defense effectively, teams need to employ specific offensive concepts and strategies. Utah Jazz assistant coach Scott Morrison educates us on the tactics used in the NBA and his experience in the G-League.
When looking to attack a zone defense, the dribble-drive offense can be a highly effective strategy. This offensive concept involves players aggressively driving to the basket using quick dribble moves and decisive cuts while teammates are spaced out, creating open lanes. Attacking the holes in the zone can cause the defense to collapse, forcing them to make decisions that could result in breakdowns.
However, Coach Morrison mentions that if your team lacks the necessary athleticism to consistently drive and penetrate the zone defense, incorporating pick-and-rolls can be an effective alternative. Teams can create mismatches and force defensive rotations by setting screens and using pick-and-roll plays. The pick-and-roll allows offensive players to exploit gaps and make the defense react, opening up passing lanes or opportunities for mid-range jump shots.
When facing a zone defense, it is crucial to focus on creating space, whether through proper spacing principles or aggressive dribble-drive offense. Offensive players can push the defense to respond by spreading the floor and attacking the gaps, opening up scoring possibilities. Additionally, incorporating pick-and-rolls can be a viable option if your team lacks athleticism. These offensive strategies, when executed effectively, can help break down zone defenses and provide your team with the best chance of success.
Utilizing the 5 Out Modern Offense
A dynamic and innovative strategy that has grown in popularity recently is the 5-out modern offense. This offensive system creates better players by emphasizing individual skills, decision-making, and versatility. Players are given structured flexibility to read and respond to the defense, which enables them to show off their skills and make wise decisions on the court. Accomplished head coach and founder of “94 Feet LLC” Kyle Diemer showcases this prevalent offense that we see so often in the NBA.
One of the primary strengths of the 5-out modern offense is its attack mentality. Players are encouraged to be aggressive and look for scoring opportunities in the paint consistently when using this offensive strategy. Whether it's through dribble penetration, backdoor cuts, or quick ball reversals, the focus is on relentlessly hunting the paint and putting pressure on the defense. This mindset not only creates scoring chances but also opens up opportunities for offensive rebounds and kick-outs to shooters.
Currently, the 5-out offense's success depends heavily on spacing. In order to spread out the opponent and open up lanes for drives, the offense positions all five of its players on the perimeter. Proper spacing allows for effective ball movement, quick decision-making, and clear driving angles. The emphasis on spacing makes the offense hard to guard and gives players more room to operate.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a well-executed offense is crucial for a basketball team's success. Whether it's through pick-and-rolls, dribble drive offense, or fast breaks, the goal is to create easy scoring opportunities. Ball movement and spacing play a significant role in generating open shots and exploiting defensive gaps. The motion offense, with its versatility and emphasis on developing fundamental players, offers structured freedom and is easy to install for new coaches. It also enhances basketball IQ and keeps defenses guessing. Attacking a zone defense requires specific strategies, such as the aggressive dribble drive offense or incorporating pick-and-rolls for teams lacking athleticism. Creating space and relentlessly hunting the paint are key factors in breaking down zone defenses. Lastly, the 5-out modern offense, known for its attack mentality and emphasis on spacing, develops better players and provides structured flexibility. Its relentless pursuit of the paint and focus on sharing the ball make it a formidable offensive strategy. By incorporating these offensive concepts and strategies, you can elevate your team's performance and achieve success on the basketball court.
Today we look at receiver play, specifically route running, from two different perspectives. We first get some keys to being a great route runner from
Tony Sorrentino, Assistant WR Coach for the Minnesota Vikings, and then from a player, Will Swinney, former WR, Clemson.
You may recognize the last name. His father is Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney, so I’m sure he’s picked up a ton from a coaching perspective along the way.
To illustrate the art of route running we will focus on the Corner today is how to win the space inside and create a window for the quarterback to throw into.
To begin, Coach Sorrentino believes there are three keys to route running:
Win at the line of scrimmage. Defenses will press until they believe you can beat press.
Create vertical pressure. Go up the field and make all routes look the same.
Develop the route at the top
Whether it’s for a job interview or in the classroom with his players, these are things that Coach Sorrentino is convicted about and will share in any situation he’s asked to talk receiver play.
Let’s focus on developing the top of the route, especially how it relates to the Corner route.
Fundamental to any route is the Feet. Everything is about feet: Feet get you out of the break and create separation, especially by staying underneath the body.
Coach believes he can learn a lot about a receiver in preparing for the draft by studying and analyzing the top of the route. He explains the importance of developing the top of the route in this video:
Video: Develop Route At The Top
Let’s take a look at how this applies to the Corner route. In this example, he illustrates how Cooper Kupp wins the Corner route and the adjustments he makes along the way to win and create space for the throw:
Video: Cooper Kupp Corner
Will Swinney believes there is an art to running a Corner Route. He sees it as being a master of deception. You want to make him think you are doing something else. This is done by marrying routes up and make them look the same.
He wants to get in the defender's head and have a plan to win the route beforehand and then adjust after.
He goes through the specifics of running a Corner route in this video:
Video: Art of the Corner Route
The consistency between what Coach Sorrentino and Will Swinney emphasized is making everything look the same and having a plan. There is the ideal break that’s drawn on the diagram, then there's the technique and break necessary to get the route open and give the QB the window he needs.
Receivers who are developed beyond running the route as drawn on the diagram will get a quarterback in trouble or at the very least force him to move on in the progression to another receiver. We know our guys want the ball, so they should be motivated to learn the art of route running.
As you get out on the field more in the spring and summer, developing the skill and savvy of your receivers will pay huge dividends in the fall.
As we look forward to the fulfillment of God's promises, we can rejoice in His presence today.
From Intouch Ministries
September 20, 2023
Zephaniah 3:14; Zephaniah 3:16-17
Zephaniah had to deliver hard news to Judah. Because of their sins—especially the sin of worshipping false idols—a day of great judgment lay ahead. “On that day,” the prophet said, God would judge their enemies, but His anger would also devastate the nation He loved (Zephaniah 1:4-9).
In verse 16 of chapter 3, however, Zephaniah uses the same phrase—“on that day”—to promise a time of renewal. God encourages them to rejoice, even while they wait and endure a time of suffering. As the other prophets do, Zephaniah connects the call to joy with God’s faithful presence among His people. Whatever they face, He will be with them. They have enemies and feel abandoned, but God is “a victorious warrior” who “will rejoice over [them] with shouts of joy” (v. 17).
And what about us? We also wait for a world restored, where our fellowship with God will never end. The writer of Hebrews sees Jesus as our example for joyful work while we “run with endurance” toward that goal (Hebrews 12:1). Consider Jesus, he writes, who endured the cross “for the joy set before him”—that of sitting in fellowship with the Father (Hebrews 12:2). Because we look forward to that same blessing, we can set fear aside and rejoice!
Bible in One Year: Joel 1-3
How To Hit A Curveball
There goes the old saying that when life throws you a curveball, hit it out of the park. However, as easy as that sounds, hitting a curveball is one of the toughest tasks that every batter will face over the course of the game. The movement on a curveball differs from pitcher to pitcher. The way the pitcher grips the ball, and their delivery of the pitch has an effect on the trajectory, and the aerodynamics on the way to the plate. The 12-to-6 curve is one of the most common curveballs fans are familiar with, which references the vertical movement from starting high and ending low. Another breaking pitch is the 11-to-5 curve, which entails more horizontal movement but not as much as vertical. There are also curveballs called “slurvy” curves, or sliders, that do not have much vertical movement, but have a strong amount of horizontal movement. One of the hottest pitchers right now who throws a nasty 12-to-6 curve is Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zach Greinke, who has completely left batters stone cold and motionless at the plate. One memorable at bat came against White Sox second-baseman Yomer Sanchez, where he threw his 65mph eephus curveball, which is defined as a very low-speed junk ball. The end result was Sanchez completing his swing before the pitch even got there. Click here to watch to admire this devastating and demoralizing pitch.
Do you want to become the next person who looks as lost as Yomer Sanchez at the plate against someone who has an outstanding curveball? I doubt anyone wants to look like a fool at the plate and this is why I have produced my top 5 steps of hitting a curveball.
1. Study the pitcher: While he is throwing in-game, or in the bullpen, analyze the pitcher’s movements in his windup. See if the pitcher changes up his release points depending on the pitch he is throwing. It is essential to find out if there are any potential tells in his windup of when he will throw a curveball. For example, a twitch in the glove or an adjustment in the windup. Every advantage will count because batters have under a second to determine the pitch, whether the pitch is a ball or strike, and the speed of the pitch. Watch the pitchers arm and observe whether or not it snaps downward, this is an indication a curveball.
2. Recognize the pitch early: As mentioned before there are various trajectories with a curveball that have the ability to throw off batters and lead to an off balanced swing. Curveballs with a lot of topspin will create high pressure on the top of the ball, which leads to a downward and sinking trajectory for the ball. Knowing how strong the topspin is will help you identify if the pitch is a 12-6 curveball versus a slider. Read the ball out of the pitcher’s hand, and never anticipate a curveball will be thrown. It is much harder to think curveball, and react to a fastball. There simply isn’t enough time to change your approach mid-pitch when the pitcher is throwing heat. When a curveball is thrown, the spin creates a small red dot from the laces, which indicates a breaking pitch. Pick up on this early, and react to the movement.
3. Analyze previous at-bats: Were you out in front and completely whiffed in your first at bat against a curveball. Think about the type of stance and approach you came up to the plate. The best stance that I recommend is having your feet shoulder apart and keeping your hands and body back. Make sure your weight stays at least 70% back. The most common mistake batter make when hitting a curveball is having your weight out front, anticipating an off-speed pitch. Keep your weight back, and react to the ball as it leaves the pitcher’s hand.
4. Practice and Utilize Multiple Curveball Drills: One of the best drills for a batter is the underhand recognition drills, which requires having a partner 15 feet behind a screen tossing you pitches underhand. This partner will constantly mix up the speeds and locations of these pitches in order to help the batter get used to the hesitation that is typical of batters when they face breaking pitches. You can also find baseball coaching drills focused on hitting by great coaches such as hall of famer Tony Gywnn.
5. Enhance patience at the plate with lobs: Similar to the underhand recognition drill, have someone behind a screen, but instead have them throw just lobs over the screen. This will allow you to build the mental strength to understand where the ball enters the hitting zone so that you can rocket the ball straight up the middle. It also allows you to stay inside the ball, meaning waiting longer on the pitch to get deeper in the zone for the batter to turn on it and go opposite field. You do not want to be out in front of the plate, because there will be minimal power behind the swing since the hips have already opened up and the bat is already in mid-swing when the pitch isn’t fully at the plate yet.
Sources:
Bahill, Terry. “Bahill's Science of Baseball Research.” Bahill's Science of Baseball Research, 11 Aug. 2011, sysengr.engr.arizona.edu/baseball/index.html.
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