Front Line on KOR

Coach,

At the risk of sounding facetious, and certainly not wanting to take your question lightly, if you have tried wedge, offback kickout, etc. with no positive results I would be forced to be getting another 5 up front real quick.

JC

Coach,

There are lots of ways to overcome the problem, we just need to figure out the most expedient one in order to help you right away. In times like these, in my experience, something that has brought good results is to call a special practice just for whatever unit is having problems. Be it on a Saturday afternoon, or whatever, get them together and just lay it out for them. "This unit is killing us as a team! You are just not getting the job done and today, right now, we need to figure out between us an answer to the problem. I would like to hear from each of you as to what you think is preventing you from getting down field and blocking someone? Do you fully understand WHO you are to block? Do you feel that I haven't prepared you well enough tecnique-wise to make the block correctly? I want to know right now what your feelings are." Then, coach, just listen to what they are saying. ASk your questions in a forthright manner, but not like some drill sargeant. You catch a lot more flys with honey than you do with vinegar, and these kids today respond much better to positive reinforcement than getting yelled at all the time. Now, I am old school and that took me a number of years to figure out, but I finally got it. Other than they are just plain scared of the contact, you should be able to overcome any other obstacles that come to mind with good solid coaching. Maybe a little tweak of your returns, ( say put in a middle cross, for example, where perhaps you have been running a right or left hand return) would make it a little more exciting and make them realize that this unit is a major part of any football team in as much as starting field position is critical to the offense! Make them realize that each individual on this unit has a major responsibility to MAKE HIS OWN BLOCK AND NOT TO RELY ON TEAM MATES HELP!!! Tell them that each man on the unit will be graded on film INDIVIDUALLY, and that you fully intend to find out exactly who is letting this all important unit down. Then follow through with what you tell them. Have one of the team videographers come and film a full contact scrimmage of the unit and find out exactly what is going on. Another philosophy of mine is to put the best 11 athletes I have on special forces! I don't care if they are starters on both offense, defense as well! My only exception is my starting QB, and to be honest, I have put him out there when the situation called for every bit of talent we had! In order to remedy the situation, you need to get some kids on that unit that are the real players of the team! Cornerbacks as your gunners, two reliable kids as your contain men, your LB corps as wedge busters, and your safeties as head hunters! Use receivers who are physical as gunners also! Use your FB and RB as a wedge buster and a head hunter! Get innovative in your thinking, coach, and shake 'em up with good solid coaching! I'm betting in no time, you will have the results you are seeking! Please let me know how things are working out for you. I'm sure other coaches on the board will be offering their suggestions as well. Don't look at the pile, just keep choppin'.

Coach Easton