TRINITY’S WEEKLY

PREPARATION
SCHEDULE
ANDREW COVERDALE
ASSISTANT COACH • TRINITY HIGH SCHOOL • LOUISVILLE
KY
COVERDALE@TRINITYROCKS.COM
I. THE WEEKLY SCHEDULE
THURSDAY-FRIDAY (1 WEEK OUT)
• Begin relevant film breakdown of next opponent (basic)
• OUR MOST RECENT GAME plus ANY IN OUR LIBRARY
• DOWN/DIST/YL/GAIN/EFFICIENT
• DEFENSIVE CATEGORIES – BEGIN LABELLING CONVERSATIONS
SATURDAY MORNING (PRE-PLAYER
ARRIVAL)
• Staff arrives with ‘focus clips’ – compile for film session
• BOTH REINFORCEMENT AND CORRECTION
• SHOULD COVER NOT ONLY ASSIGNMENT-COMMUNICATION-TECHNIQUE, BUT ALSO
CORE VALUES
• SEND ADDITIONAL NOTES/CRITIQUES VIA HUDL LATER IN THE WEEKEND
• General debrief of Friday night’s performance
• Live Scouts give report
• Begin ‘FIRST LOOK’ – 1-2 series from a sampling of games
• PERSONNEL ISSUES
• CORE FRONTS, FITS, TECHNIQUES, STUNTS, PRESSURES, COVERAGES – ON MAIN
WHITE BOARD IN MTG RM
• AGREED-UPON LABELS
• Identify/Spell Out Scout Defensive Units
SATURDAY MORNING (PLAYERS)
• Focus clips as a group from Friday night (:20-:30)
• Written self-evaluation (see attached)
• Scout Defense in – Preview clips of next opponent (:20)
• Walk-through introduction of scout defense units, calls, alignment,
techniques, terms
• Help our kids – both offense and scout – understand why they play
defense the way they do – build the framework for our WHYs
• Players tend to generate really good questions – the collaboration begins
• Big generalities
SATURDAY MORNING (POST-
PLAYERS)
• Finish First Look
• Quick ‘lap around the map’:
Considerations or questions related to our offense
• PROBLEMS – POSSIBLE CALLS/CHECKS/ADJUSTMENTS
• THINGS THAT JUMP OFF THE SCREEN
• POSSIBLE ADDITIONS
• Complete initial scouting report by position
• Question list per coach (will include later)
• Remainder of video labelling due Sunday early evening
OL: FRONT/STUNT TE: PUSH/BLITZ WR: COVOC*: EFF/FORMATION INFO/PLAY INFO
SUNDAY: GOTO MEETING
• Staggered/overlapping meetings
• Answer questions left over from Saturday, ‘mature the
thought process’
• Did initial impressions from First Look bear out?
• Focus primarily still on Base Offense
• Finalized calls/checks/adjustments/additions
• Plan Monday’s practice
• Prioritized technique scenarios by play
• Prioritized Fronts (Run foundations) / Pressures (Live pass) /
Screen scenarios
 S

4-2 (OVER) COV 2 V. 3 X 1

4-1 SPLIT FRONT V THS 2014 (6 OR TIGHT 9
ON TE)
MONDAY: BUILD THE BASE (SHELL)
• Every adjustment/call/check/addition is taught as a WHY in
reference to the opponent’s approach (Pre practice walk-
through)
• Foundational periods:
• NON-NEGOTIABLES (Ball security, First step, Team FINISH, etc)
• PERIMETER BEST v BEST
• RUN FOUNDATIONS
• SCREEN OVERVIEW
• LIVE PASS x 1 or x 2
• 2-3 SPECIALTY FOCUS PERIODS (Wildcat, Trick, Jet, Shovel, Certain Play actions, etc)
• EXTENDED TEAM PERIOD – BASE OFFENSE – “Try it on”
• TEMPO PERIOD
TUESDAY: BASE OFFENSE + OFF-SCHEDULE;
COMPETITION (FULL)
• Best vs. Best: Perimeter - Inside Run – 7 on 7 – 11 on 11
(Generally Base)
• Group & Team periods:
• Screen of the Day
• Team or Inside run v Scouts (Base)
• 7 on 7 v Service (Base/Off Schedule)
• Live Pass; also possible “Speed Group”
• Tempo
• Team (Base & Off-Schedule)
• EXPOSE the issues! Toughest possible scenarios!
WEDNESDAY: 3RD DOWN/RED ZONE/GOALLINE
(FULL OR SHELL)
• Group & Team periods:
• Screen of the Day
• Team or Inside run v Scouts
• 7 on 7: Best v Best & Service – all situational
• Live Pass – can be situational or general
• Team – 3rd Down ladder v Scouts
• Team – Red Zone & Goalline v Scouts
• OPEN ZONE SHOTS; SHOTS BY FIELD ZONE (OUTER RED, RED, TIGHT RED)
• CONVERSION CALLS (RED, TIGHT RED; 3 M / 3 L)
• PLUS 5 CALLS
THURSDAY: CLEAN-UP; SPECIAL SIT; OPENERS
(HELMET)
• Special Situations
• CLOSERS/END OF GAME/2 POINT PLAYS
• 2 MINUTE, 4 MINUTE
• COMING OUT
• Review the 3rd Down & Red Zone calls that need another
rep
• Any other segment/concept that needs addressed
• “Emergent ideas”
• Openers
END OF PRESENTATION
Andrew Coverdale
Assistant Coach • Trinity High School • Louisville KY
Coverdale@trinityrocks.com
 FUNDAMENTALS OF
ASSEMBLING AN
OFFENSIVE GAME
PLAN
Andrew Coverdale
Assistant Coach • Trinity High School • Louisville KY
Coverdale@trinityrocks.com
II. THE PLANNING
PROCESS
II. THE PLANNING
PROCESS
ROUND 1: ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS
ROUND 2: MAKE THEM DEFEND US
ROUND 3: SELF-ANALYSIS
ROUND 4: CATEGORIES
ROUND 5: OPENERS
ROUND 1: ASKING THE RIGHT
QUESTIONS
1. WHO CAN RUIN THE GAME?
• Must not lose sight of this! Becomes a FILTER for anything else we
talk about
• A defensive lineman with his consistent penetration or pass rush
• A slot/perimeter player who knifes blocks and disrupts in the blitz
game
• A linebacker who runs windows or fits with exceptional speed &
explosiveness
• A linebacker with exceptional depth and range in coverage who
breaks on the ball
ROUND 1: ASKING THE RIGHT
QUESTIONS
2. THEIR BASIC STRUCTURE
• COMFORT calls – trying to learn their
philosophy/personality/identity beyond the charts
• Very early games are good for this
• Basic fronts/coverages/techniques
• Who are their overhang/conflict players?
ROUND 1: ASKING THE RIGHT
QUESTIONS
3. ADJUSTMENT PLAYERS & METHODS
• Personnel group driven/match?
• Call it & work the call out v. Master Checks
• WHAT TRIGGERS MASTER CHECKS?
• WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BREAK THE LOOK THAT CREATED A MASTER CHECK?
• Communication:
• SIDELINE TO DEFENSE
• WHO’S TALKING AND WHEN AMONG DEFENSIVE PLAYERS
• Linebackers v Safeties as ways to fit formations & motion
• RELOAD/REFIT THE FRONT – ALWAYS, NEVER, SOMETIMES (PRESSURE TELL?)
• Do they check when we check?
ROUND 1: ASKING THE RIGHT
QUESTIONS
4. HOW DO THEY:
A. Identify? (Field/Boundary – TE/Open – Passing Strength – Backield
set)
B. Diagnose? (Key structure for ILB, Edge/Slot players, Safeties)
C. React? (Fits & responses based on keys)
ROUND 1: ASKING THE RIGHT
QUESTIONS
5. WHAT IS IN THEIR TOOLBOX?
A. Shown
B. Understood or possible
• Trends in defensive football
• Mining obscure video
ROUND 1: ASKING THE RIGHT
QUESTIONS
6. WHAT ARE THEIR PHILOSOPHIES ON PRESSURE?
A. Way of Life v. Strategic Situational v. Reactive v. Means to create
a particular 1 on 1
B. What drives it?
• PERSONNEL, DOWN/DIST, FORMATION/BACKFIELD, FIELD POSITION
C. Are there tips that can narrow the possibilities?
• SAFETY ALIGNMENT / LB DEPTH / THE FRONT / CADENCE
ROUND 1: ASKING THE RIGHT
QUESTIONS
7. STATISTICAL ANALYISIS
A. Is there anything that’s 100% because of their structure and
philosophy?
B. Where can we reasonably narrow the possibilities?
• DOWN & DISTANCE
• PERSONNEL GROUP
• FIELD POSITION
C. Playlists/Focus on Explosive & Negative plays. Why?
• INDIVIDUALS > THE ‘WHY’ OF THEIR DISRUPTIVENESS OR LIMITATIONS & EYE
DISCIPLINE ISSUES
• SCHEMES > WHERE/HOW THEY BREAK PEOPLE DOWN OR GETTING EXPOSED
ROUND 1: ASKING THE RIGHT
QUESTIONS
7. STATISTICAL ANALYISIS
D. Categories & Push – Standardizing what our breakdowns tell us
• ZERO PRESSURE
• MAN PRESSURE
• MAN NO PRESSURE
• ZONE PRESSURE
• 2
• 3
• 4
ROUND 1: ASKING THE RIGHT
QUESTIONS
8. STAFF QUESTIONS (See following)
A. The “Defensive Coordinator” role on the Offensive Staff (see self-
scout)
B. Bottom line: Who are they, and how can they create problems
for what we like to do?
*OUR BEST GUESS AT HOW THEY ARTICULATE THIS TO THEIR PLAYERS:
“IF WE STOP __________, ___________, ___________, AND _________, WE WIN.”
*PRIORITIZE: RUN FITS, PRESSURES, COVERAGES
ROUND 2: MAKE THEM DEFEND US
1. ROLE OF THE OFFENSIVE MAP
ROUND 2: MAKE THEM DEFEND US
2. SNAPSHOTS OF SIMILAR PLAYS
A. Run fits
B. Route match
C. Screen response
ROUND 2: MAKE THEM DEFEND US
3. REELS BY FORMATION - VISUALIZE
A. Run gap distortions / Dual responsibility
B. Free access throws or matchups without help
C. Matching #3: 3 x 1 v 3 x 2 v TE variations
D. Screen potential
E. Master Checks
ROUND 2: MAKE THEM DEFEND US
4. BEGIN CREATING CALLS/CHECKS/”TWINS”
*DAILY STAFF POST-PRACTICE QUESTION:
WHAT ARE OUR EXPLOSIVE CALLS?
ROUND 3: SELF-ANALYSIS
1. SELF-SCOUT CATEGORIES
• Down & Distance
• Personnel
• Backfield
• Formation
• FORMATION ‘TRAITS’ – E.G. UNBALANCED, BUNCH, FIB, NUB
• Field position
• ‘Dude report’
ROUND 3: SELF-ANALYSIS
2. ROLE OFF THE “DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR”
• Compile & use the self-scout
• See us through their eyes all week
• Be a contrarian – find holes/problems – expose them
ROUND 3: SELF-ANALYSIS
3. TENDENCIES – THE IOCANE POWDER GAME
“BUT IT'S SO SIMPLE. ALL I HAVE TO DO IS DIVINE FROM WHAT I KNOW
OF YOU. ARE YOU THE SORT OF MAN WHO WOULD PUT THE POISON
INTO HIS OWN GOBLET, OR HIS ENEMY’S? (HE STUDIES THE MAN IN
BLACK NOW). NOW, A CLEVER MAN WOULD PUT THE POISON INTO HIS
OWN GOBLET, BECAUSE HE WOULD KNOW THAT ONLY A GREAT FOOL
WOULD REACH FOR WHAT HE WAS GIVEN. I'M NOT A GREAT FOOL, SO I
CAN CLEARLY NOT CHOOSE THE WINE IN FRONT OF YOU. BUT YOU MUST
HAVE KNOWN I WAS NOT A GREAT FOOL; YOU WOULD HAVE COUNTED
ON IT, SO I CAN CLEARLY NOT CHOOSE THE WINE IN FRONT OF ME… ”
-FROM THE PRINCESS BRIDE
 ROUND 3: SELF-ANALYSIS
3. TENDENCIES – SITUATIONAL VISUAL TOOL
THEM US IDEAS
• Over Saw 1 MP 2/2 3 1 34 Bluff Run 1/2
• Under B B 1 59 PA 1/2

• Under Pinch 3 ZP 3/4 3 2

• Under Bark FZ 33 1/4
• Over B A 3 II
33

34
 ROUND 4: CATEGORIES
1. BASE
• Direct Runs
• Jet Family Runs
• NOT JUST FILLING THESE UP, BUT
Protected runs (Fast Screen RPO / 2nd Level RPO)
• Screens & SPO WEIGHTING THEM BASED ON
• Play Action WHO WE’RE REVEALING OURSELVES TO
• KEEPER/NAKED AND HOW IT MATCHES THE OPPONEN
• HARD PLAY ACTION OVERALL STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSE
• Dropback
• Quick Roll & Movement
• Drive Starters
• MOF calls
ROUND 4: CATEGORIES
2. OFF-SCHEDULE
• 1st & XL (15 to 20)
• 2nd & XL (11 plus)
• 2nd and 3 or less
ROUND 4: CATEGORIES
3. OPEN FIELD THIRD DOWNS
*CATEGORIES DETERMINED SOMEWHAT BY HOW DEFENSE
PRESENTS ITSELF
ROUND 4: CATEGORIES
4. COMING OUT
• Base calls
• Possible Shot
• Conversions: 3rd & Medium, 3rd & Long
ROUND 4: CATEGORIES
5. OPEN ZONE
• Varies: We’re not going to punt, and we’re not going to kick a field
goal
• 3rd & Long is 3rd & Medium, etc – better percentage calls
• Potential for Shot mentality 1st or 2nd down
 ROUND 4: CATEGORIES
6. RED ZONE/GOALLINE (DEFENSIVE CHANGE WILL MITIGATE
SOME OF THIS)
• Outer Red (26 to 21)
• Red (19 to 9)
• Tight Red (8 to 4)
• Goalline (4 in)
• Conversion calls a must
ROUND 4: CATEGORIES
7. FOUR MINUTE
• Very similar to coming out
• 3rd Down teaching critical (no incompletions)
• Bleed plays
ROUND 4: CATEGORIES
8. TWO MINUTE
• Clock stopped calls/drive starters
• Control plays (ahead of the clock)
• Chunk plays (behind the clock)
• Centering play
• CLOSERS
• Beyond QB’s arm
• QB’s arm to 30
• 30 YL – 24 YL – 18 YL – 12 YL – 8 YL
ROUND 5: CREATING OPENERS
1. WEDNESDAY NIGHT CONVERSATIONS
• Staff:
• “What are the A Pluses? What are the As?”
• “What are our explosives?”
• Quarterback:
• LOVE IT
• LIKE IT
• OKAY WITH IT
• PLEASE DON’T CALL
ROUND 5: CREATING OPENERS
2. PURPOSES/GOALS/STATEMENTS ABOUT OPENERS
• Openers are the compilation of the best versions of the components of our
plan
• Openers are the well from which we will draw throughout the game
whenever we get stuck
• Openers should trigger the beginning of any play sequences we want to
develop throughout the game
• Openers should deliberately gather information about the opponent’s
thoughts while establishing a good rhythm for our own players
• FORMATIONS & MOTION
• FITS & TECHNIQUES v FOUNDATIONAL PLAYS
• MATCHUPS
ROUND 5: CREATING OPENERS
2. PURPOSES/GOALS/STATEMENTS ABOUT OPENERS (continued)
• Openers should include a mix of cadences and tempo to help our linemen
establish a comfort zone, particularly when they’re overmatched
• Openers should make defensive players doubt/question what their eyes
are seeing and what they’ve been told in their own planning process
• Openers should be mindful of your best players touching the ball and of
neutralizing their game-ruiners
• Openers create a natural, focused, information-gathering process for our
whole staff at the start of the game (box conversations)
ROUND 5: CREATING OPENERS
3. OPENERS PROCESS
• Have done a “dry run” during team period on Wednesdays if we
had room in schedule
• Thursday – live tempo v Scouts – Right Hash
• Friday – pre-game walk-through – Left hash
• Life experiences
• IF THEY WORK, GO BACK TO THEM!
• 2ND HALF OPENERS
END OF PRESENTATION
ANDREW COVERDALE
ASSISTANT COACH • TRINITY HIGH SCHOOL •
LOUISVILLE KY
COVERDALE@TRINITYROCKS.COM