Defensive team period before pads

Coach,

We use quick whistles. We run our summer workouts just like we would during the regular season. The defensive coaching staff installs all that you mentioned and 'perfects' it against our own offense. After 'perfection' (personnell in the right place at the right time) we then break down and go against a scout offense running our opponents schemes, starting with the most common. Our defense seems to click sooner and quicker than our offense. We participate in summer passing leagues, and do tons of conditioning.

As far as it devolving into a 'cluster', we try to keep it fun, and have enough in the practice plan where ther is no down time. Down time is the deathblow to a smooth practice. Our coaching staff meets weekly for overal scheme discussions, and daily for tweaks and progress. Practice is just like class, you have a lesson plan that lays out what you want to accomplish that day. If you dont't finish it all, it carries on 'till the next. If you finish all of it early, you review, reteach, and practice with variations.

Just my two cents.

Coach G