Coaching Knowledge Project #4 Bill Snyder

Over the last few summers, I have started taking notes on some of the coaching biographies and books that I have read. One problem that I have had over the years is that I read so much and look at so much different info that I don't ever retain the knowledge for future use. I will read about a drill or a philosophy and I will think "Hey, that fits pretty good with my guys. I wanna use that this year." Then I will lay the book or the info to the side and forget all about it.
             Earlier this year, I began to compile & organize these notes & axioms into a single document. Ideally I would like to eventually have a notebook that I could add to each offseason and look at again each pre-season as I reevaluate my program. I thought that as part of this blog and my compilation efforts, I would share some of the things that I've found.
           These are quotes about coaches, quotes from coaches about their influences, and outside observations on coaches and their programs. Some of these are Hall of Fame coaches, some have losing records, and some are career assistants; all have good things to offer.

In the 1990s, Bill Snyder left the offensive coordinator position at Iowa under Hayden Fry to become the Head Football Coach at Kansas State University. He is widely regarded as steering the biggest turnaround of any college football program in history. This is good stuff by and about Bill Snyder:

BILL SNYDER

·         He was clearly organized, had a vision and an expectation. Visible toughness was demanded.

·         The idea was that if each one of us found a way to make that daily improvement, then individually we would grow, which means collectively we would be growing.

·         Some guys didn’t stick. Snyder didn’t view those guys as bad guys or guys with poor character. To them, it just wasn’t worth the price, which was ok to admit.

·         It was a way of showing how we cared and we were going to do everything possible to help them live their lives in a positive manner.

·         When we came to Iowa, every visual image of the past, and losing, had to go.

·         The players wore blazers. It is a way of saying, “I’m going to do my part.” It demonstrates a professional presence and sets an example for the players in the program. To the players, it’s likely that everyone they have known in their life that wore a suit held some position of authority.

·         Win your games and you’ll get where you want to go.

·         Being persistent in what you believe in, sticking to your guns, and when things are bad, finding a way to make them better.

·         His attention to detail and his organizational skills on a day to day basis were just astonishing

·         Commitment - We wanted everyone committed to a common cause.

·         Unity - There was a commonality of purpose and caring about one another and our team.

·         Toughness – There has to be the ability to get thru and extend that breaking point.

·         Expectations – But if you do collectively prepare to win; players & coaches there is every reason to believe that it can culminate in success.

·         Leadership - On a football team, you want only 2 groups, Leaders & Followers

·         Improvement – Do something each day to help you improve in each of the key areas.

·         Eliminate the types of mistakes that we had total control over.

·         Expect more out of ourselves than anyone else.

·         Responsibility – The responsibility comes with holding yourself accountable to achieve the things that you have control over.

·         My message to the team was the greater the investment, the greater the pain in defeat, and I didn’t see any great pain. The pain was going to be equivalent to what you’re putting into it during the course of the week.

·         No task was beneath me. I wanted our players to know that. It was about setting the example.

·         What I assessed the year on was steady improvement made during the course of the year individually, and to some degree, collectively and that we had gotten ourselves into the fourth quarter with a chance to win in four of our games.

·         Confidence is a quality that allows abilities to surface.

·         We didn’t all of a sudden become a better football team. We were a better football team by first being individually better, and then collectively better.

·         The secret to success is constancy of purpose.

·         He had such attention to detail for absolutely every facet of our football program.

·         Here is what we expect the opponent to do, and here is what we want to do.

·         This was a way to have players perform under pressure. You knew they were going to answer most of the questions right, which allowed the team to gain confidence.

·         Make sure you take 5 minutes today to come up with something that can make you a better coach. Practice was to be thought through with a sense of purpose.

·         We play with one heart and eleven heads.

Human Computer Post of the Week

School has begun, the season is underway, and my spare time has all but disappeared. Still, this is why I started this blog, so that it would force me to sit down for a minute (even if its at 1:00am) and reflect on what is important.

FAITH:  "Lord, when I am wrong, make me willing to change; when I am right, make me easy to live with. So strengthen me that the power of my example will far exceed the authority of my rank."
                                                                 The Supervisor's Prayer

              "...to offer ourselves as a model for you, that you might follow our example."
                                                              2 Thessalonians 3:9

FAMILY:  "Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
                        Theodore Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss)

FOOTBALL:   "Anyone can become angry - that is easy, but to be angry with the right person at the right time, and for the right purpose and in the right way - that is not within everyone's power and that is not easy."
                      Aristotle
Wow, just wow....as a coach who oftentimes wears his heart on his sleeve, I am sometimes conflicted about whether I am doing things the right way. Do I yell too much? Do I show too much frustration? I am still not sure if I am doing things right, but this quote really helped me self-reflect.

Game Preparation: Breaking Down Our Opponent

As I prepare for my 16th straight season opener as a coach and my 11th as a Defensive Coordinator, I have once again started to think about how I break down opponents. I can honestly say that I have never done it the exact same way in any two seasons. There has always been some new idea from a book, or some nugget from a clinic, or some hard lesson taught to me by a good opposing coach that has caused me to change things from year to year. Over the last few years,the changes have become fewer as I have become more experienced and more comfortable with my own philosophy as a coach. I have developed a framework that works for me and the coaches that I work with. Like most things in any coaching philosophy, this framework is a collection of ideas poached, borrowed, and inspired by other coaches.

Offensive Complexity

We like to determine the complexity of an opponent’s offense. We base this on how much of their attack includes any of the following concepts:

•        TRICK PLAYS or GIMMICKS

•        EMPTY Formations

•        FULL HOUSE Formations

•        OVERLOADED Formations

•        SCREENS

We will then break down the opponent film in the following order:

•        Split RUN Plays & PASS Plays

•        Group plays by FORMATIONS

•        Determine TRUE RUN GAME

•        Determine TRUE PASSING GAME

Running Game

We want to find out the opponent’s TRUE RUNS. To do this, we break down all offensive plays into Run or Pass. We will then evaluate the run plays and throw out the following:

•        Goal – Line Runs

•        QB Scrambles

•        Trick Runs (Wildcat, Reverse, etc)

•        Runs w/ 1 yd to go

•        Runs w/ 3 TD lead (game by game)

•        Runs in the 4th quarter (game by game)

What we are left with is the core of the opponent’s run game.We will then match these with formations and core surfaces to see what we need to stop.

Passing Game

When we analyze the passing game, we will first classify the pass plays by the QB action:

QUICK = 3 step from under / 1 step from gun

DROPBACK = 5 step from under / 3 step from gun

SPRINT = rolling movement of the QB to a side

PLAY ACTION = coordinated QB ball fake & RB action

After we have divided the plays this way, we will attempt to match up protections with the QB action. We try to group Pass Protections into one of three categories: FULL SLIDE, BOB, or HINGE.

Pass Routes & Combinations

We want to draw each pass play that we see on film. Then we want to look at the favorite routes broken down by position in the formation (#1 WR, #2 TE, etc).

•        We want to be able to tell the CB what the top three routes he will see from #1 are.

•        We need to tell the Safety & Spurs what the top 3 routes from #2 are.

•        We need to tell the LBs what the favorite RB routes are & what routes attack the low hole.

We will then also look at the combinations between the receivers on a side. We want to identify the favorite 2 man combination & the favorite 3 man combination.

Surfaces

We want to evaluate how offenses are attacking towards certain surfaces in their formations. To do this we will identify the formational surfaces used by an offense & what plays they run to that surface. We classify surfaces by the following eight labels:

•        OPEN = 1 split WR

•        PRO = an attached TE & 1 split WR

•        TWINS = 2 split WRs

•        TRIPS = 3 split WRs

•        TREY = an attached TE & 2 split WRs

•        NUB = an attached TE

•        WING  = an attached TE & a WB

•        WING OPEN = a WB & 1 split WR

All other surfaces, such as QUADS or OVERLOAD, are regarded as Exotics

Field Zone / Down & Distance Breakdowns

      We compile all of the formation & play information so that we can feel secure in knowing our opponent’s “identity” on offense. We then turn our attention to compiling Down & Distance info in search of a clear picture of the opponent’s tactics. We break down the following categories into percentages & favorite plays:

•        1ST PLAY OF A DRIVE

•        1ST & 10 AFTER A RUN

•        1ST & 10 AFTER A PASS

•        2ND & LONG AFTER A RUN

•        2ND & LONG AFTER A PASS

•        2ND & MEDIUM

•        2ND & SHORT

•        3RD & MEDIUM

•        3RD & SHORT

•        3RD & LONG

We will then examine each Down & Distance category both as a whole & divided into Field Zones.

Putting It All Together

Now, the next question is, Do I type all this up & give it to the players? The answer is HECK NO! One of the biggest problems that I faced as a younger coach was PARALYSIS BY ANALYSIS. That means that I would compile so much information that I was unable to put it into a form that it was useful for the players. As I have matured as a coach, the amount of stuff that I give to my players becomes smaller, simpler, and more clearly-defined each year. Now the coaching staff will use all of the information at hand to compile a game plan, and we will use the information to gain a familiarity with our opponent that will enable us to hopefully call a better game. But everything doesn't necessarily need to be shared with the players.

           Case in point: We have broken down 150 snaps of an opponent. Earlier in the year, they ran a tailback pass one time and it was successful for a TD. All of our coaches need to be aware that if the game is tight, we might need to be on the lookout for this. However, we do not need to run it against our defense 10 times that week in practice or give it a whole page in the scouting report. I am more worried about stopping the trap that they have run 38 times.

I will also spend a great deal of time looking at formations & backfield sets. I am looking for some common denominator that can tell me Run or Pass. ( For me to consider something a tendency that I will share with the players, it has to be 70% or more.) I can remember attending a clinic a few years ago and listening to a young college coach talk playing this defense against the run and another defense against the pass. Someone asked him," How do you know if it going to be a run or a pass?" The speaker got a funny look on his face and kind of stuttered and said,"Well, we just know." I almost fell out of my chair. If anyone out there can help me with that special method of just knowing whether it will be a Run or a Pass, please let me know.

In summary, what we usually give to our players consist of the following:

• a one page summary of the opponent's season and their offensive identity
• their top 3 run plays
• their top 3 passes
• any formation tendency (for example: any formation with 2 TEs is 80% bootleg pass)
• The LBs must know the top RB and the top run play most likely to threaten their position
• The DBs must know the top individual pass routes that they will see
• The DL must know the best OL and the best blocking scheme
• a final page outlining 3 key Defensive goals for this game

This framework has worked for us but as I said, it changes every year. I am very interested to hear what other coaches do so feel free to share. Thanks!

Human Computer Post of the Week

Putting this in my head every day this week:

FAITH:
    "The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance; the wise man grows it under his feet."
                                                                                     James Oppenheim
         I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
                                                                              Philippians 4:11

FAMILY:
      "Children learn to smile from their parents."
                                           Shinichi Suzuki (Japanese Violinist & Instructor)
With two children under 3 in the house, I really need to keep this in mind. They are like sponges, watching everything my wife and I do.

PHILOSOPHY:
                                   Make Full Use of What Happens To You
    Every difficulty in life presents us with an opportunity to turn inward and to invoke our own submerged inner resources. The trials we endure can and should introduce us to our strengths. Remember to turn inward and ask what resources you have for dealing with the problem.
                                                                     Epictetus

FOOTBALL:
           Two key points to motivating kids:

• They have to know you care.
• They have to be getting better at what they are doing.

      

John Maxwell's Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: The Law of Respect

THE LAW OF RESPECT
       People Naturally Follow Leaders Stronger Than Themselves
If you want to influence others you need to be respected as a leader. "The Leader must know, must know he knows, and must be able to make it abundantly clear to those around him that he knows." When a group gathers for the first time, leaders tend to look to go their own way. They begin to think in terms of where they want to go and who they want to take with them. Soon people change direction to follow the strongest leaders. People naturally align and follow leaders stronger than themselves.
The Top Ways Leaders Gain Others' Respect:

• Natural Leadership Ability

      --But one of the greatest pitfalls for natural leaders is relying on talent alone.

• Respect For Others

      --When people show respect for others, especially for people who have less power or a lower position than theirs, they gain respect from others.

• Courage

      --Good leaders do what's right, even at the risk of failure, in the face of great danger, and under the brunt of relentless criticism.

• Success

      --When leaders are successful at their own endeavors, people respect them.

• Loyalty

      --When leaders stick with a team until the job is done, remain loyal to the organization when the going gets rough, and look out for followers even when it hurts them, people respect them and their actions

• Value Added To Others

      --One measure of leadership is the calibur of people who choose to follow you. The second measure is see how people respond when you ask for commitment or change.

"Success is having the people who know me the best, respect me the most."
                                                                     John Maxwell

Coaching Knowledge Project #3 Chuck Knox

Over the last few summers, I have started taking notes on some of the coaching biographies and books that I have read. One problem that I have had over the years is that I read so much and look at so much different info that I don't ever retain the knowledge for future use. I will read about a drill or a philosophy and I will think "Hey, that fits pretty good with my guys. I wanna use that this year." Then I will lay the book or the info to the side and forget all about it.
             Earlier this year, I began to compile & organize these notes & axioms into a single document. Ideally I would like to eventually have a notebook that I could add to each offseason and look at again each pre-season as I reevaluate my program. I thought that as part of this blog and my compilation efforts, I would share some of the things that I've found.
           These are quotes about coaches, quotes from coaches about their influences, and outside observations on coaches and their programs. Some of these are Hall of Fame coaches, some have losing records, and some are career assistants; all have good things to offer.

Today, I am going to follow up Chuck Knoll of the Steelers with notes, quotes, & comments from and about Chuck Knox of the Seattle Seahawks. He is best remembered as head coach of three National Football League (NFL) teams, the Seattle Seahawks, the Buffalo Bills, and the Los Angeles Rams, serving two separate stints with the latter team over more than two decades.

CHUCK KNOX

·         When you talk to him about an upcoming game, he lights up.

·         If it was bad, we don’t want to repeat it. If it was good, we want to see if we can improve on it.

·         The game never stands still. It takes a great amount of time and study during the offseason to keep up with the changes.

·         Players must feel secure in what they are doing, secure in the knowledge that what they are doing is for their own good and the good of the team.

·         It starts with the head coach and the price he is willing to pay.

·         You build on skills that exist.

·         There isn’t a day I’m on the job that I don’t get my plan together and get in touch with myself.

·         We stress the sense of pride but I tell  my coaches and players that pride is not like a coat; it is not something that you lay down for two or three days and then decide when you get up some morning that you’ll have pride that day and put it on. It must be there everyday and it takes constant work to achieve it, to keep it.

·         The pride factor involves coming out every day and trying to be a little better football player than you were yesterday.

·         The greatest feeling a team can have is to be in a locker room on gameday with each player knowing that everybody else worked as hard as he did that week, that everybody else on the team is ready to play. You know its true because you saw them in the meeting when coaches asked them a question and they responded correctly. You saw them make a mistake in practice, the mistake was corrected and they didn’t make it again. You saw the QB take home films. You know that he looked at them because you rode to practice with him and he talked to you about what he saw the previous night.

·         If they see that you and your coaches know what you are talking about; if you treat them like men with no emotional highs and lows; and if they feel they can talk with you and feel comfortable with you, then the respect will come.

·         When everyone knows what must be done, they are with you.

·         Principles of Coaching

1)      To Inspire Learning

2)      Concentration

3)      Belief

4)      Demand it be done

5)      Evaluate

6)      Never forget the Basics

7)      Sell Skill

8)      Don’t Demonstrate

9)      Teach, don’t holler

·         He follows his own example by simplifying the technical instruction

·         Motivation begins with the coach’s attitude towards practice

·         I want my coaches going out there everyday with specific objectives in mind.

·         Methods he feels are most successful:

1)      Knowledge of football & belief in what is being taught

2)      Knowing people

·         Winning Edge:

1)      Build confidence by playing the percentages

2)      Be basic in your approach to the game

3)      Don’t coach caution into good players

4)      Nothing is accomplished without enthusiasm

5)      Look for and recognize mistakes

6)      Little things are done by winners

7)      Having a good time just gives you a chance to win

8)      A coach must be himself

9)      A coach must be alert

10)  Prepare for the psychological ups & downs : I always know what I am going to say if we win, or if we lose. I know what I’ll do if we win or if we lose. All this affects the individual player and the moment you say or do the wrong thing, it is too late to erase it.

11)  A coach must have a plan and believe in it.

·         A player cannot have dedication unless he is in good physical condition. His body simply will not let his mind do what it wants because he can’t concentrate if he is tired. Then all his mind is thinking about is survival, and practice or playing a game becomes nothing more than an endurance test.

·         He feels the OL coach should have the most to say about the running game.

·         He believes strongly that a defensive backfield coach cannot handle the overall defensive coordination because of the importance of his work with the secondary.

·         He has a method of making his assistants sell their ideas to him and back them up with sound, logical football sense. He tells his coaches not to be discouraged if he turns them down.

·         He stresses each season that his coaches return to page 1 in their books and begin with the most basic fundamentals.

·         4 objectives each summer:

1)      Develop a winning attitude

2)      Sound base of fundamentals

3)      Well- conditioned

4)      Finish all experimenting

·         Each week, draw up a checklist that tells them what kind of game they can plan on. They lay out key elements such as establishing the run, field position, substitutions, communication, when to be conservative and when not to be.

·         This outline keeps us on top of the so-called little things because I firmly believe those are the things that really win for you.

·         The key for us is that practice without improvement is meaningless.

·         His blocking system – he will look for a point of isolation along the line where one defensive man is put on an island by cutting off the other defensive people. The they block that one man square up, right in the middle of his face, and whichever side he decides to take, we run the other side.

·         The defense is not burdened by too many details. Everything has been made so concise.