The Board Drill Podcast

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Join seasoned coaches Kyle Bradburn and Matt Dixon on The Board Drill Podcast, a dynamic journey into the intricate world of high school football. With a passion for the game that extends beyond the field, Kyle and Matt delve deep into the challenges facing coaches today. This podcast is more than just X's and O's; it's a guiding light for high school coaches nationwide, offering valuable resources and insights to empower them on their journey to becoming better, more effective leaders on and off the field. Tune is for engaging conversations on football with The Board Drill Podcast!

Kyle Bradburn, Matt Dixon


    • Jul 15, 2026 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 1h AVG DURATION
    • 178 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Board Drill Podcast

    Bracketing in Cover 7 with Coach Chad Broadrick

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2026 57:59


    Most coaches treat quarters as a set of rules that react to what the offense does after the snap. Chad Broadrick treats it as a way to decide, before the ball is ever snapped, which two players he is going to take away.In this episode, the Head Football Coach and Athletic Director at Centennial High School in Tennessee walks through his Cover 7 film and the single question that drives every call in it: how do we double the two guys we are worried about on Friday night? Everything else is built backward from that answer.Broadrick lays out the four buckets he lives in out of Cover 7, which are cones, brackets, triangle concepts, and box concepts, and shows how each one is really just a different tool for getting a double team on the right player. The star and the money carry outside leverage, the safety plays the aggressor on any in-breaking route, and the Mac takes the back. From there it becomes a language: ink and orc to set the corners' press, Seahawk to wall and midpoint a vertical, Connie to keep from getting picked on the rail route, stump and smash rules to the field, cut and buster to trips. For coaches who want a cleaner way to organize their quarters answers instead of memorizing a hundred unrelated checks, this is someone who has done that work.He is also honest about where the coverage lives and dies. Cover 7 can look rough in seven-on-seven, where isolation routes get exposed and there is no rush to bother the quarterback. In a game, with a four-man rush and a plan for who you want doubled, it is a different picture. That is where Broadrick gets animated, because the real value shows up when you build pressure out of the structure. He shows how the same bracket calls turn into simulated pressures and creepers, tracing the back, VTeching the center, and getting a hit on the quarterback while still doubling the vertical routes behind it.The conversation closes in the red area, where cut becomes a two-man concept with trap rules and the corners play as waterfall defenders protecting the goal line, then moves into Turkey and Clifford and when it actually makes sense to dial them up. Matt jumps in from the offensive side to compare it all to Palms, and makes the case that Cover 7 gives a coach more pre-snap structure and control over exactly who gets doubled, without the practice cost that Palms demands.The film gremlins were out in full force during this one, so a few clips fought back, but the ideas came through clearly. If you run any form of quarters and want a smarter way to take a team's best player out of the game, this one is worth your time.This episode is presented by Sideline HQ.Sideline HQ is the equipment and operations management platform built for football programs. Keep your gear, inventory, and operations organized in one place so you can spend your time coaching. Learn more at sidelinehq.co and let them know Board Drill sent you. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.boarddrill.com/subscribe

    One Play, A Dozen Ways to Run Counter | Coach Sean Cooley

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2026 61:25


    Some coaches collect plays. Coach Shawn Cooley collects ways to run the same one.In his third visit to the Board Drill, the East Ridge offensive coordinator makes the case that you do not need a thick call sheet to be multiple. You need one play your kids believe in and a hundred ways to show it. For Cooley, that play is counter, and over the course of the episode he takes GH counter from its plainest form all the way out to the edges of what a defense will let you get away with.Along the way he gets into GT and split-flow counter, a first-level slice RPO he calls emo, counter quick borrowed off the college game, and a long-trap ISO wrinkle he is half convinced should have gotten him fired. From there it turns into a quarterback run clinic: a center-turned-quarterback lowering his shoulder between the tackles, jet and empty-formation keeps, a guard-tailback counter, and a shovel pass he simply calls Tebow. The thread running through all of it is the part most offenses skip. The offensive line barely changes a rule, and the defense never gets to tee off on your base.If you run gap scheme, this is an hour well spent with the whiteboard open. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.boarddrill.com/subscribe

    The King of All Blitz Patterns with Wallie Kuchinski

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2026 64:15


    This week on The Board Drill Podcast, Kyle sits down with Coach Wallie Kuchinski, Associate Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator at the University of St. Thomas, for an hour-long install of what Coach K calls the king of all blitz patterns.On tape it looks like the NCAA pressure everybody runs. It is not. It is a single five-man zone pressure built on reading offensive linemen instead of assigning gaps, and that one distinction is what makes it hold up against every run scheme and every protection a coordinator can dial up. Coach K teaches it the way you wish every clinic taught it, all the way down to the footwork: the flat step, the pound-step head fake, the lean off the snap so you never tip the pressure, and the term the Tommies use instead of box or force, splatter.From there it builds. How the front cuts the field in half and turns pulls into tackles for loss. Why a bunch of single teams gets extra hats to the ball. How the pattern beats outside zone, power, and RPOs, and the three-man loop that asks a center to do something he simply cannot do. Coach K also shows how the whole thing travels from a 3-4 into a 2-4-5 nickel, so the 4-2-5 crowd can run it too.It is a heavy install with a ton of drill tape, and it closes with Coach K on what 19 years with the program has taught him about teaching defense, plus the story behind the Tommies' jump from Division III to FCS Division I.If you coach the odd front, or you have ever written NCAA pressure on a call sheet and wondered if there was a better way to read it, this one is worth the notebook.This episode is brought to you by Sideline HQ. Rosters in one spreadsheet, equipment in another, helmet reconditioning tracked on a napkin. Sideline HQ puts all of it in one place: rosters, inventory, gear assignments, and the stuff that eats up your Sundays. Built by football people for football people. Spend less time on paperwork and more time coaching ball. Check it out at sidelinehq.co and tell them Board Drill sent you.TIMESTAMPS00:00 Intro and tonight's topic, the king of all blitz patterns01:11 Sponsor, Sideline HQ01:59 The 3-4 front and kicking into a 2-4-5 nickel05:00 Non-pressure run fits, scrape, spill, and splatter08:40 The scoop technique and the arrow-to-contain player11:00 Drilling the line, flat step, point the toe, pound-step head fake12:30 The trace technique on the tight end and the five-minute install16:00 Force and scrape in space18:50 Why this beats the NCAA pattern, cutting the field in half23:02 Defending outside zone and mid zone from the pistol26:00 Run-throughs that turn pulls into tackles for loss29:56 Splatter and why phone-booth tackles win35:50 Denting the tight end and the second-step climb40:49 Falling back across the formation versus zone42:01 The C gap power counter44:00 The no-tight-end catch-all and attacking RPOs47:02 The power of simplicity50:00 Protection beaters, the half slide and the hot throw52:35 Three-man loops and the center who cannot pass it off57:00 Running the same pattern from 11 personnel in a 2-4-559:55 The closing question and the jump from D3 to FCS This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.boarddrill.com/subscribe

    Installing Stump Coverage with Coach Colin Lark

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2026 58:52


    Stump coverage does not get talked about enough. Most cover 7 teams run Stubbie as their three by one answer and stop there, but the moment a good offensive coordinator figures out you are in Stubbie, the double in from three becomes a weekly problem. Stump is the answer, and Coach Colin Lark from Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas, Texas breaks the whole thing down.Coach Lark walks through every position rule in the coverage: the corner in mod technique, the in call and what it triggers, the nickel reading three to two, the safety's vertical tracking rules, and how the three by four push changes linebacker responsibilities. He then puts it under pressure against trips concepts you actually see on Friday nights, including dagger, sail, and stick, and shows spring film of the coverage working against each one.Kyle and Matt bring their own history with the coverage into the conversation, from using Stump almost exclusively as a high red zone answer to beat the double in corner, to the linebacker communication nuances that made it difficult to run full time at the high school level. The result is a real coach to coach conversation about not just how the coverage works, but when to use it, how to teach it, and what it takes to make it stick with your kids.Coach Lark also demos Football U, his interactive playbook tool that lets players rep coverages from their phones and gives coaches accountability on whether their guys actually know their assignments.This one is worth a full listen. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.boarddrill.com/subscribe

    Installing Stump Coverage with Coach Colin Lark

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2026 58:52


    Coach Colin Lark, defensive backs coach at Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas, Texas, joins the Board Drill to teach Stump coverage from the ground up. Stump is the three by one check out of the cover seven world: a four over three concept that matches any three receiver surface while keeping split safety structure intact.Coach Lark walks through every position rule, from the corner's mod technique and the in/smash call to the nickel reading three to two, the safety's vertical rules, and the three by four push mechanism. Then Kyle and Matt stress test the coverage against real trips concepts from Notre Dame's offense, dig into formation checks against attached tight ends, sniffers, and bunch, and break down spring film including a pick six against stick.If you run Stubbie, mini, or special and you're tired of getting beat by the double in from three, this episode is the answer.Coach Lark also demos Football U, his interactive playbook tool that lets players rep out coverage checks from their phones.Check out Football U here: https://www.footballu.comTIMESTAMPS00:00 Intro and welcoming Coach Colin Lark02:09 Stump coverage overview: the four over three check for trips09:20 Stump vs Stubbie: what changes at the corner and why you need both16:16 Why Stump became a red zone answer against the double in22:02 Stress testing Stump against Notre Dame's dagger and sail concepts28:06 Formation checks: attached tight ends, sniffers, and bunch33:36 Backside coverage options and game planning around their best player38:44 Spring film: the three by four push, carrying the wheel, and a pick six42:46 Taking three through and handling the dirty over route49:15 Up calls and teaching defenders when to fall off55:42 Final question: the most unique thing Bishop Lynch doesThis episode is sponsored by Sideline HQ. If you're still managing equipment on spreadsheets, check out Sideline HQ for check in, check out, and full equipment management right from your phone. Handle equipment in minutes and get back to coaching football. Learn more at sidelinehq.coSubscribe for more X's and O's breakdowns, coaching philosophy, and film study, and find all of our content at www.boarddrill.com

    Nathan McPeek on Team Standards and Leadership

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2026 51:22


    Coach Nathan McPeek has built Frederick Douglass High School (Lexington, KY) into one of the most consistent programs in Kentucky 6A football: a 2022 state championship, a perfect 39-0 record against city opponents, 27 playoff wins, and five players currently in the NFL. In this episode, he breaks down the player-led leadership system behind it all, from the core values that run the locker room to trust sessions, the game-day beast lift, and the branding that gets his kids recruited.If you coach high school, youth, or small college football and want a blueprint for developing leaders instead of just managing talent, this one is for you.TIMESTAMPS00:00 Welcome and meeting Coach Nathan McPeek01:44 Building Frederick Douglass from 13 players to a 6A power06:31 Living the core: the four values that run the program11:31 Leadership as influence and why tradition doesn't graduate17:04 Beating Instagram culture with a real value system21:44 Player-driven vs. player-run: getting the team out of neutral26:16 Trust sessions: small groups, captains, and 6 a.m. accountability29:29 The game-day beast lift, velocity training, and five NFL players36:59 Branding and social media that gets the program noticed40:01 Process over outcome: starting 0-3 and finishing 8-545:44 A recruiting one-stop shop and final thoughtsSPONSOR: SIDELINE HQStop spending your off season chasing down equipment. Sideline HQ tracks who has what so you don't have to remember. Go to www.sidelinehq.co for your free 30 day trial and get the app that makes equipment checkout as easy as 1, 2, 3.Subscribe for more coach-to-coach conversations on scheme, technique, and program building. New episodes drop regularly. For more from the show, visit www.boarddrill.com. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.boarddrill.com/subscribe

    Nathan McPeek on Team Standards and Leadership

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2026 51:22


    Coach Nathan McPeek has built Frederick Douglass High School (Lexington, KY) into one of the most consistent programs in Kentucky 6A football: a 2022 state championship, a perfect 39-0 record against city opponents, 27 playoff wins, and five players currently in the NFL. In this episode, he breaks down the player-led leadership system behind it all, from the core values that run the locker room to trust sessions, the game-day beast lift, and the branding that gets his kids recruited.If you coach high school, youth, or small college football and want a blueprint for developing leaders instead of just managing talent, this one is for you.TIMESTAMPS00:00 Welcome and meeting Coach Nathan McPeek01:44 Building Frederick Douglass from 13 players to a 6A power06:31 Living the core: the four values that run the program11:31 Leadership as influence and why tradition doesn't graduate17:04 Beating Instagram culture with a real value system21:44 Player-driven vs. player-run: getting the team out of neutral26:16 Trust sessions: small groups, captains, and 6 a.m. accountability29:29 The game-day beast lift, velocity training, and five NFL players36:59 Branding and social media that gets the program noticed40:01 Process over outcome: starting 0-3 and finishing 8-545:44 A recruiting one-stop shop and final thoughtsSPONSOR: SIDELINE HQStop spending your off season chasing down equipment. Sideline HQ tracks who has what so you don't have to remember. Go to www.sidelinehq.co for your free 30 day trial and get the app that makes equipment checkout as easy as 1, 2, 3.Subscribe for more coach-to-coach conversations on scheme, technique, and program building. New episodes drop regularly. For more from the show, visit www.boarddrill.com.

    Coaching Modern Linebackers: Drills, Reads, and Block Destruction

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2026 89:16


    Modern linebacker play lives in the tweener space: guys who can fit the run, play in space, and rush off the edge without being a true safety or a true edge. In this episode, Kyle and Matt sit down with Coach Nick Vagnone, linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator at Lenoir-Rhyne University, to break down how he develops modern linebackers inside a 3-3-5.Coach Vagnone gets granular on the Sam, Mike, and Rush roles, the read step versus pop in place debate, how he teaches block destruction and tackling, and the exact Indy drills he uses to build it all. If you coach defense at the high school, youth, or small college level, there is a lot here worth stealing.SIDELINE HQStop running your equipment room out of a spiral notebook. Sideline HQ lets you check gear in and out in seconds, track what every kid has, and knock out end of season inventory in minutes instead of a whole Saturday. The first 30 days are free, no credit card, no catch. Try your free trial at www.sidelinehq.coCHAPTERS00:00 Welcome and tonight's guest, Coach Nick Vagnone06:00 Why Lenoir-Rhyne moved from a 3-4 hybrid to a 3-3-509:41 Building a player-led defensive identity14:21 Defining the modern linebacker: Sam, Mike, and Rush23:40 Read step versus pop in place30:53 The five movements and five core skills of a linebacker36:54 Stance and start: the first drill every linebacker runs42:04 Coaching pass drops, angle pedal, and head on a swivel51:10 Change of direction and linebacker ball skills1:00:10 Walking run fits with the scout line1:03:09 Block destruction: taking on half a man1:10:33 Living on the sled and the dip and rip1:14:38 Tackling with the donuts1:18:58 Circle chase: forced fumbles and ball security1:26:35 The closing question: 828 Day at Lenoir-Rhyne This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.boarddrill.com/subscribe

    Coaching Modern Linebackers: Drills, Reads, and Block Destruction

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2026 89:16


    Modern linebacker play lives in the tweener space: guys who can fit the run, play in space, and rush off the edge without being a true safety or a true edge. In this episode, Kyle and Matt sit down with Coach Nick Vagnone, linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator at Lenoir-Rhyne University, to break down how he develops modern linebackers inside a 3-3-5.Coach Vagnone gets granular on the Sam, Mike, and Rush roles, the read step versus pop in place debate, how he teaches block destruction and tackling, and the exact Indy drills he uses to build it all. If you coach defense at the high school, youth, or small college level, there is a lot here worth stealing.SIDELINE HQStop running your equipment room out of a spiral notebook. Sideline HQ lets you check gear in and out in seconds, track what every kid has, and knock out end of season inventory in minutes instead of a whole Saturday. The first 30 days are free, no credit card, no catch. Try your free trial at www.sidelinehq.coCHAPTERS00:00 Welcome and tonight's guest, Coach Nick Vagnone06:00 Why Lenoir-Rhyne moved from a 3-4 hybrid to a 3-3-509:41 Building a player-led defensive identity14:21 Defining the modern linebacker: Sam, Mike, and Rush23:40 Read step versus pop in place30:53 The five movements and five core skills of a linebacker36:54 Stance and start: the first drill every linebacker runs42:04 Coaching pass drops, angle pedal, and head on a swivel51:10 Change of direction and linebacker ball skills1:00:10 Walking run fits with the scout line1:03:09 Block destruction: taking on half a man1:10:33 Living on the sled and the dip and rip1:14:38 Tackling with the donuts1:18:58 Circle chase: forced fumbles and ball security1:26:35 The closing question: 828 Day at Lenoir-RhyneSUBSCRIBEFor more coach to coach conversations on scheme, technique, and player development, subscribe and check out everything we are building at www.boarddrill.com

    Why Programs Are Built On People, Not Schemes with Kurt Hines

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2026 61:17


    Coach Kurt Hines has spent 29 years on the sideline and 32 in the classroom. He has been a head coach in New Hampshire and at Coronado in California. He has been hired and he has been fired. Through all of it, he has settled on one belief that drives everything: programs are built on people, not schemes.In this conversation, Coach Hines walks Kyle and Matt through how he hires assistant coaches (no resume, no football talk in the first interview), why his early failures with delegation made him a better head coach, and a turbulent flight to Mississippi that changed how he leads when he is not in the building. He shares the discipline story from his first year at Coronado that tested everything he believed about being a man of his word, the viral video that put his program on national news, and what he has learned in the months since being let go after his most recent season.This one is for coaches who care more about the long game than the next win. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.boarddrill.com/subscribe

    Coach Kurt Hines: Why Programs Are Built On People, Not Schemes

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2026 61:16


    Coach Kurt Hines joins Kyle and Matt for a wide-ranging conversation on program development, hiring, delegation, and what it really takes to build a culture that lasts. With 29 years on the sideline and head coaching stops in New Hampshire and at Coronado in California, Coach Hines breaks down why programs are built on people first and schemes second.We get into his interview process for assistant coaches (and why he sets a timer to talk about anything BUT football for the first 30 minutes), the failures that taught him how to delegate, the flight to Mississippi that flipped his perspective on empowering staff, and the discipline story from his first year at Coronado that defined who he was as a head coach. Coach Hines also shares the story behind one of his most viral videos and offers honest advice for coaches who just got let go.If you are trying to build something that outlasts the wins and losses, this one will hit.TIMESTAMPS00:00 Intro and welcoming Coach Kurt Hines02:32 Why program development is about people, not schemes07:11 The right way to hire assistant coaches17:48 Delegation and giving coaches skin in the game22:32 The flight to Mississippi that reshaped how Kurt leads26:49 Failure as the best teacher32:11 Building controlled chaos so players learn to fail36:14 The Coronado story and holding the line on discipline43:14 Going viral and using social media the right way52:14 Community service and the final question54:45 Advice for coaches who just got let go==========================SPONSOR: SIDELINE HQThis episode is brought to you by Sideline HQ, the equipment tracking app built for coaches. Tired of slow checkouts during spring ball and missing gear in the fall? Sideline HQ lets you manage your inventory and track your equipment right from your phone.Try it free for 30 days at sidelinehq.co.==========================Subscribe for more coach-to-coach content and find every episode at www.boarddrill.com.#BoardDrill #FootballCoaching #XsOs

    How Denton Ryan Builds a Weekly Defensive Game Plan with Coach Will Cockerill

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2026 74:44


    How Denton Ryan Builds a Defensive Game Plan with Coach Will CockerillDenton Ryan DC Will Cockerill is back on the pod. In two seasons as the defensive coordinator at Ryan, he has gone 25-5, finished number one in scoring defense in the Dallas area at just over 12 points per game, and posted a 70 percent third down stop rate back to back. This episode is not about scheme. It is about the process of getting 16-year-olds to execute at a high level from one Friday night to the next.Coach Cockerill walks through his entire weekly system: the post-game summary he sends to his head coach Saturday morning, the position-specific Google Docs that structure his Sunday staff meeting, how he scripts and sequences practice Monday through Thursday, how he organizes film in Huddle for players and coaches, and how he builds a call sheet that leaves nothing to chance on game night. Kyle and Matt break it all down with him.If you are a coordinator trying to build a more organized weekly structure, this one is required listening.0:00Introduction and welcome back to Coach Will Cockerill, DC at Denton Ryan2:0016 years in Texas, a 25-5 record as DC, and the three keys to success at any program5:30Defensive metrics, stop rate, havoc rate, third down efficiency, and the Sons of Ryan identity9:09Game planning philosophy: target their best, attack their weakest lineman, make them go left-handed12:00The Friday night to Saturday routine: grading, player stats, and the game summary to the head coach15:30The defensive awards system: BGO, Honey Badger, Ball Hawk, and building the templates to save time19:54How the sideline trash can dunking tradition changed their takeaway numbers21:00Saturday scouting: bucketing run schemes as zone or gap and how that simplifies the whole week26:00The staff Google Doc: four position-specific questions that structure the Sunday meeting before anyone walks in31:00Sunday staff meeting, finalizing the scouting report, and getting it on Huddle and the facility TVs34:00Monday practice: helmet only, tackle circuits, bread and butter run scheme, and team tempo39:00Tuesday is third down day: scripting every situation with the opponent's actual plays44:00Wednesday is red zone day: scripted from plus 20 to inside the five, and scouting next week starts now48:30Thursday: trick plays, situational football, and finalizing the call sheet52:49The WAR Cut-Up explained: Winners Are Relentless, a three to five game sample, and how film is shared in Huddle57:57Call sheet breakdown: fronts, movements, hash-based tendencies, and built-in answers before Friday1:03:00Why Coach Cockerill says process and teaching matter more than scheme1:11:10Unique program differentiators, short practices, giving players the answers all week1:13:51Community, purpose, and what it means to coach kids who need you1:14:49The pancake brigade and why nutrition is the next real competitive edgeThis episode is brought to you by Sideline HQ, the easiest way to manage your program's equipment. Stop losing gear and start tracking it from your phone. Check it out at sidelinehq.co!Subscribe for new episodes every week at www.boarddrill.com.

    How Denton Ryan Builds a Weekly Defensive Game Plan with Coach Will Cockerill

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2026 74:45


    Will Cockerill has gone 25-5 in two seasons as the defensive coordinator at Denton Ryan High School in Texas. His defense finished number one in scoring defense in the Dallas area at just over 12 points per game and has held a 70 percent third down stop rate back to back. The Sons of Ryan are not just a good defense. They are a program built on culture, structure, and a weekly process that leaves nothing to guesswork by Friday night.In this episode, Coach Cockerill returns to the pod and walks through the full system. How he collects grades and sends a game summary to his head coach Saturday morning. How he uses position-specific Google Docs to structure his Sunday staff meeting before anyone walks in the room. How he sequences practice Monday through Thursday, buckets film by scheme instead of play name, and builds a call sheet that already has the answers to problems before they show up in a game.This one goes well beyond X's and O's. It is a blueprint for how a coordinator runs a week.0:00 Introduction and welcome back to Coach Will Cockerill, DC at Denton Ryan2:00 16 years in Texas, a 25-5 record as DC, and the three keys to success at any program5:30 Defensive metrics, stop rate, havoc rate, third down efficiency, and the Sons of Ryan identity9:09 Game planning philosophy: target their best, attack their weakest lineman, make them go left-handed12:00 The Friday night to Saturday routine: grading, player stats, and the game summary to the head coach15:30 The defensive awards system: BGO, Honey Badger, Ball Hawk, and building the templates to save time19:54 How the sideline trash can dunking tradition changed their takeaway numbers21:00 Saturday scouting: bucketing run schemes as zone or gap and how that simplifies the whole week26:00 The staff Google Doc: four position-specific questions that structure the Sunday meeting before anyone walks in31:00 Sunday staff meeting, finalizing the scouting report, and getting it on Huddle and the facility TVs34:00 Monday practice: helmet only, tackle circuits, bread and butter run scheme, and team tempo39:00 Tuesday is third down day: scripting every situation with the opponent's actual plays44:00 Wednesday is red zone day: scripted from plus 20 to inside the five, and scouting next week starts now48:30 Thursday: trick plays, situational football, and finalizing the call sheet52:49 The WAR Cut-Up explained: Winners Are Relentless, a three to five game sample, and how film is shared in Huddle57:57 Call sheet breakdown: fronts, movements, hash-based tendencies, and built-in answers before Friday1:03:00 Why Coach Cockerill says process and teaching matter more than scheme1:11:10 Unique program differentiators, short practices, giving players the answers all week1:13:51 Community, purpose, and what it means to coach kids who need you1:14:49 The pancake brigade and why nutrition is the next real competitive edgeThis episode is brought to you by Sideline HQ, the easiest way to manage your program's equipment. Stop losing gear and start tracking it from your phone. Check it out at sidelinehq.co! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.boarddrill.com/subscribe

    Spring Install Plan and Red Zone Offense with Coach Josh Jones

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2026 59:45


    Coach Josh Jones has been on the show before, and he earns every return trip.Jones is the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Knoxville Catholic High School in Tennessee. He has been coaching football for over 30 years, and in this episode he sits down with Kyle and Matt to lay out two things that every offensive staff should have nailed down before fall: a structured spring install plan and a reliable menu of red zone concepts.The spring install portion alone is worth the listen. Jones walks through how he staggers a 3-day install plan across six weeks of classroom sessions before spring practice ever begins, so that by the time players hit the field, they have already seen each install twice. He also talks through how he coordinates with his defensive staff, how he adjusts the playbook based on what his quarterback can actually do, and how he used Georgia Tech film this offseason as the foundation for building out a new offense around a mobile quarterback with college offers.From there the episode shifts into red zone work. Jones covers the high red double under and the SOCK pre-snap read process, sprint snag as a low red staple, and boundary mesh as a concept he has run at multiple stops because it gives answers against every coverage structure. He also shares the quarterback coaching points he has been using for years, including the simple phrase that a former player rattled back to him word for word five years after leaving the program.Clean. Practical. No wasted time.This episode drops as spring ball is starting for programs across the country. If your install is still being pieced together, this one is the right listen at the right moment.TIMESTAMPS0:00 Intro, guest welcome, and sponsor read1:17 Spring install overview: staff meetings and personnel evaluation8:50 The 6-week pre-spring install schedule and repetition structure13:05 Why repetition works: the walk-on quarterback story13:16 Building the offense around your quarterback's skillset15:34 What Georgia Tech film taught Knoxville Catholic this offseason18:38 Spring focal points: scheming for your league and early opponents19:04 The 3-day install menu: run game, quick game, drop backs, and red zone24:34 Why Jones practices red zone every single day of spring ball27:14 Offensive and defensive coordination during spring practice31:32 Red zone philosophy: run the football and QB critical factors35:01 QB coaching points: KYP, KYS, and Jones-isms that stick five years later37:03 High red zone: double under concept and pre-snap read process (SOCK)43:01 Low red zone: sprint snag and reading the flat46:57 Boundary mesh: a universal red zone concept that works against all coverages59:52 What makes Knoxville Catholic different from every other programThis episode is brought to you by Sideline HQ. Sideline HQ is the easiest way to manage your program's equipment. Stop losing gear and start tracking it. Built for coaches, by coaches. Visit www.sidelinehq.co to learn more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.boarddrill.com/subscribe

    Spring Install Plan and Red Zone Offense with Coach Josh Jones

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2026 59:44


    Coach Josh Jones is back in the board room for his second appearance on the Board Drill Podcast. Jones is the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Knoxville Catholic High School in Tennessee, bringing over 30 years of coaching experience to the table. In this episode, Coach Jones walks through his full spring install plan and breaks down several red zone concepts he has relied on at every level of high school football.Topics covered include the 3-day install structure, how to build repetition before players ever set foot on the grass, adjusting the offense to your quarterback's skillset, coordinating with your defensive staff during spring, and specific red zone concepts for high red, low red, and goal line situations.If you coach offense at any level of high school football, this one is worth your time.This episode is brought to you by Sideline HQ. Sideline HQ is the easiest way to manage your program's equipment. Stop losing gear and start tracking it. Built for coaches, by coaches. Visit www.sidelinehq.co to learn more.Subscribe for more coaching content at www.boarddrill.comTIMESTAMPS0:00Intro, guest welcome, and sponsor read1:17Spring install overview: staff meetings and personnel evaluation8:50The 6-week pre-spring install schedule and repetition structure13:05Why repetition works: the walk-on quarterback story13:16Building the offense around your quarterback's skillset15:34What Georgia Tech film taught Knoxville Catholic this offseason18:38Spring focal points: scheming for your league and early opponents19:04The 3-day install menu: run game, quick game, drop backs, and red zone24:34Why Jones practices red zone every single day of spring ball27:14Offensive and defensive coordination during spring practice31:32Red zone philosophy: run the football and QB critical factors35:01QB coaching points: KYP, KYS, and Jones-isms that stick five years later37:03High red zone: double under concept and pre-snap read process (SOCK)43:01Low red zone: sprint snag and reading the flat46:57Boundary mesh: a universal red zone concept that works against all coverages59:52What makes Knoxville Catholic different from every other program

    Pressure Without the Risk | Coach Jimmie Tyson on Hot Coverage and Six-Man Blitz Paths

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2026 97:57


    Coach Jimmie Tyson is back. The DC at Dothan High School in Alabama returns just weeks after his first appearance because there was unfinished business: hot pressures. In this film-heavy session, Coach Tyson breaks down how he couples six and five-man pressure paths with hot coverage, why self-scouting data pushed him away from zero coverage, and how a modular system lets him run the same pressure with man, fire zone, or quarters behind it.This is a clinic. Coach Tyson pulls real film from games against some of the top programs in Florida and Alabama and walks through the concepts live. If you coach defense at any level, this one is for you.This episode is brought to you by Sideline HQ. Stop losing gear and start tracking your program's equipment all on your phone. Save time and money at sidelinehq.co.TIMESTAMPS0:00 Welcome back and Sideline HQ sponsor read1:13 Coach Tyson returns: why hot pressures were left on the table2:56 Self-scouting data: why explosive plays killed their zero pressure game plan10:09 Run game fit with hot coverage and the eight-man box advantage10:58 Eye technique players: reads, alignment, and front shoulder keys13:00 Corner technique: catch and carry, seven to nine yards off14:33 Five-man pressures with two under four deep (quarters) behind them18:02 The Utah drill for teaching eye players43:09 The flinch effect: how hot coverage takes the quarterback off his spots44:10 Scrambling quarterbacks and plastering technique45:19 Adjusting hot pressure usage against athletic quarterbacks46:45 How hot coverage turns explosive plays into manageable gains51:38 Attacking bubble screens with everyone's eyes on the quarterback55:35 Stemming pre-snap to prevent protection checks57:06 Triple A-gap pressure paired with hot quarters coverage59:32 Corner pressure with hot coverage: bringing the boundary corner1:00:02 Bear front with nickel off the edge versus zone read1:01:20 Selling skeptical coaches on multiple-gap pressures1:05:17 The Flores/Minnesota blitz: seven-man pressure with pop technique1:08:27 Pop technique evolution and how they adapted it for high school1:17:05 Using the pressure in a playoff game to take empty off the table1:24:47 Situational usage: when to call hot pressure and when to stay away1:25:29 The Tango tag: four under two deep as another coverage option1:26:33 Coach Tyson's favorite blitz path1:29:34 Scripting the first 12 defensive plays to give offenses fits1:33:12 Building a Thursday exotic script to prepare for wrinkles you have never seen on tape1:36:21 Closing thoughtsSubscribe for more coaching content at www.boarddrill.com. We post new episodes weekly and have a growing video and article library built for coaches at every level. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.boarddrill.com/subscribe

    Pressure Without the Risk | Coach Jimmie Tyson on Hot Coverage and Six-Man Blitz Paths

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2026 97:57


    Coach Jimmie Tyson is back. The DC at Dothan High School in Alabama returns just weeks after his first appearance because there was unfinished business: hot pressures. In this film-heavy session, Coach Tyson breaks down how he couples six and five-man pressure paths with hot coverage, why self-scouting data pushed him away from zero coverage, and how a modular system lets him run the same pressure with man, fire zone, or quarters behind it.This is a clinic. Coach Tyson pulls real film from games against some of the top programs in Florida and Alabama and walks through the concepts live. If you coach defense at any level, this one is for you.This episode is brought to you by Sideline HQ. Stop losing gear and start tracking your program's equipment all on your phone. Save time and money at sidelinehq.co.TIMESTAMPS0:00 Welcome back and Sideline HQ sponsor read1:13 Coach Tyson returns: why hot pressures were left on the table2:56 Self-scouting data: why explosive plays killed their zero pressure game plan10:09 Run game fit with hot coverage and the eight-man box advantage10:58 Eye technique players: reads, alignment, and front shoulder keys13:00 Corner technique: catch and carry, seven to nine yards off14:33 Five-man pressures with two under four deep (quarters) behind them18:02 The Utah drill for teaching eye players43:09 The flinch effect: how hot coverage takes the quarterback off his spots44:10 Scrambling quarterbacks and plastering technique45:19 Adjusting hot pressure usage against athletic quarterbacks46:45 How hot coverage turns explosive plays into manageable gains51:38 Attacking bubble screens with everyone's eyes on the quarterback55:35 Stemming pre-snap to prevent protection checks57:06 Triple A-gap pressure paired with hot quarters coverage59:32 Corner pressure with hot coverage: bringing the boundary corner1:00:02 Bear front with nickel off the edge versus zone read1:01:20 Selling skeptical coaches on multiple-gap pressures1:05:17 The Flores/Minnesota blitz: seven-man pressure with pop technique1:08:27 Pop technique evolution and how they adapted it for high school1:17:05 Using the pressure in a playoff game to take empty off the table1:24:47 Situational usage: when to call hot pressure and when to stay away1:25:29 The Tango tag: four under two deep as another coverage option1:26:33 Coach Tyson's favorite blitz path1:29:34 Scripting the first 12 defensive plays to give offenses fits1:33:12 Building a Thursday exotic script to prepare for wrinkles you have never seen on tape1:36:21 Closing thoughtsSubscribe for more coaching content at www.boarddrill.com. We post new episodes weekly and have a growing video and article library built for coaches at every level.

    QB Influence and Third Down Success with Austin Herink

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2026 80:21


    In this episode of The Board Drill Podcast, Kyle and Matt sit down with Austin Herink, Senior Offensive Analyst at UCF, for a film-room-level breakdown of quarterback influence on third down success. Coach Herink shares the self-scout study he conducted after UCF finished 118th nationally in third down conversion rate, comparing the Knights' approach against the best and worst offenses in college football and the NFL. From distance-to-gain data, to QB archetypes, to play design principles from Indiana, Vanderbilt, Utah, and the Chicago Bears, this episode is a clinic on how to think about third down from the inside of a Power Five program.Whether you are a high school coach looking to improve your self-scout process or a coordinator rethinking your third down package, this one is built for you.Timestamps: 0:00 Welcome and introductions2:13 Why Herink ran this study and how he built the methodology5:30 UCF self-scout: 34% conversion rate, distance to gain, and what the data revealed10:04 Drop eight, run efficiency, and what third and long actually looks like for most offenses16:48 Best offenses compared: the full table, QB archetypes, and what Indiana, Vanderbilt, Utah, and the Bears did differently21:45 Short yardage principles: identity concepts, personnel, and planning around your weaknesses26:00 Third and medium film: Vanderbilt's run-pass marriage, Belly G lead, and plays on plays33:53 Condensed splits, stacks, and bunches: forcing defensive communication to create easy throws39:00 Indiana's deep ball philosophy, Fernando Mendoza throwing into the teeth of the defense, and trusting your reps44:50 Three level floods, Bird 3 screens, and how the best teams approached third and extra long50:38 Key takeaways: situation, personnel, and why first and second down decides third down53:01 Studying the worst offenses and what bad third down football looks like in reverse1:09:11 Identity in game planning, Mike McDonald's Seahawks, and coaching technique over assignment1:13:27 Mind Time at Washington: cross-unit connection and building the tightest roster possible1:15:45 Playing football in Vienna, Austria, closing thoughts, and sign-offSubscribe at www.boarddrill.com for episode releases, coaching articles, and more content from coaches at every level.

    Why the Best Defenses in Football Are Getting Simpler with Cody Alexander

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2026 51:56


    Cody Alexander ( @MatchQuarters ) joins Kyle and Matt to break down why the best defenses at every level are stripping things back to the basics. From NFL case studies to high school application, Cody explains why schematic bloat is killing defenses, how technique should drive your scheme, and what Mike McDonald's modular defense concept really looks like when you peel it apart. If you have ever felt pressure to add more to your playbook just to keep up, this episode is your permission slip to simplify.Visit www.boarddrill.com to subscribe and never miss an episode.0:00 Intro and Cody Alexander's impact on The Board Drill2:03 The trend toward defensive simplification at every level3:50 Why defenses bloated: disguise culture and mental load5:56 McDonald's modular defense and the Ravens 2.0 system7:46 How NFL technique translates to the high school level8:43 Super Bowl pressure breakdown and nothing new under the sun10:54 Vikings and Seahawks edge schemes and hash adjustments12:38 Half-field zones, condensed set checks, and palms pressures15:07 Where weak rotation Cover 3 and quarters overlap18:12 Using seven-on-seven as a sandbox for pressure development20:00 The whiteboard exercise: put all your calls up and face the truth22:34 Rewriting your playbook as a staff and clinicking each other25:13 The telephone game on your coaching staff and how to fix it28:44 Teaching the whole player, not just one piece32:45 Modular practice structure and half-line work from the flexbone34:38 Summer pods and structuring your 12 offseason sessions37:43 Why linebacker coaching is the weakest link in the chain40:18 Need vs. want: if it does not work by Wednesday, drop it42:54 The litmus test for schematic bloat and weekly self-scouting46:11 Three must-haves for any DC taking over a new program48:35 Unique thing: no-agenda team cookouts for culture building

    Being Multiple and Changing the Picture Week to Week with Coach Jimmie Tyson

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2026 56:41


    The Board Drill Podcast | Coach Jimmie Tyson | Being Multiple, Changing the Picture, and Week-to-Week Pressure VariationsIn this episode, host Kyle Bradburn sits down with Coach Jimmie Tyson, the new Defensive Coordinator at Dothan High School in Alabama. Coach Tyson brings over 20 years of coaching experience, including six years at Florida A&M University and nearly a decade as the Defensive Coordinator at Lincoln High School in Tallahassee, Florida, one of the most respected programs in the state. The conversation is packed with film, concepts, and practical teaching points for any coach looking to be more multiple on the defensive side of the ball.Coach Tyson breaks down how a candid conversation with an offensive coordinator changed the way he thought about defense, how following Mike McDonald's work at Baltimore and Seattle shaped his coverage matrix, and how his staff built a system that lets them run the same blitz path with multiple coverage tags using just one word. From traditional Tampa 2 to using the nickel as the hole runner, dropping ends into hooks, rolling safeties, disguising zero, and changing the picture week to week based on opponent tendencies, this episode covers a ton of ground with real film to back it up.If you coach defense, this one is for you.TIMESTAMPS0:00 - Welcome and Introduction0:49 - Coach Tyson's Background: FAMU, Godby High School, Lincoln High School, and Dothan High School1:53 - What It Means to Be Multiple on Defense2:00 - The Origin Story: How a Post-Practice Conversation with OC Grant Thompson Sparked a New Philosophy3:40 - Scripting Defensive Plays Just Like an Offense Scripts Its First 124:10 - The Mike McDonald Connection: Following His Work at Baltimore and Seattle5:47 - Building the Coverage Matrix: Putting X's on the Board and Interchanging Roles7:47 - Running Traditional Tampa 2: Film from 2019 and Coaching the Mike in the Hole10:06 - Non-Traditional Tampa 2: Why the Nickel Makes a Better Hole Runner Than the Mike11:33 - Disguising Tampa 2 as a Zero Pressure Look to Freeze the Quarterback13:27 - Motion Rules Against Non-Traditional Tampa: Why Nothing Has to Change15:14 - Hole Player Technique: Staying Top-Down, Climbing with Verticals, Reading QB Eyes18:00 - Walling Tampa 2: Dropping Ends as Hook Players with Cross-A Gap Pressure19:10 - Teaching the Ends to Drop: Running to the Hip of Number Two, Rules vs. the Tight End22:33 - Making This Work with Undersized Ends25:55 - Bears to Tampa: Tagging Ends to Drop Off a Bear Front29:51 - Adjusting Coverage Assignments Week to Week Based on Opponent Threats32:09 - Coverage Tags Off the Same Blitz Path: Zero, Pop (Cover 1), and Tampa33:58 - Three-High Look with Tampa 2: How the Same Concept Wears a Different Mask Each Week34:23 - Making Offensive Coordinators See Ghosts: Running Exotic Looks That Never Show Up on Game Day35:19 - Player Buy-In and Ownership: If It Is Not Clean by Wednesday, It Does Not Go In36:13 - Bringing Nickel and Dime to the A Gap While Dropping the Nose as the Hole Runner39:22 - Four-Man Edge Pressure with Nickel and Dime, Walling Concepts, and the Triangle Over Two43:19 - Transitioning to One-Word Calls: Simplifying Multi-Concept Pressures and Coverages44:00 - Double A Gap Presentations Dropping Into Cover 3: Making Quarterbacks Throw Hot Into Coverage47:16 - Cadence and Stem Work: Presentation Stems vs. Last-Second Stems and Communication Drills49:51 - One-Word Calls in Action: Loading the Front and Bringing the End Down the B Gap51:34 - Showing the Load Front, Stemming, and Dropping Mike and Will While Bringing the Nickel for a Sack53:08 - The Big Takeaway: Crossover Technique and Why Everyone on the Defense Must Learn Every Role54:23 - Coaching the Process: Getting Players to Think and Communicate Instead of Just React55:47 - What Makes These Programs Unique: Staff Development Clinics and Dothan's Team Competition System59:19 - Final Thoughts from Coach Tyson: Why Defensive Coaches Need to Sit in Offensive MeetingsCONNECT WITH THE BOARD DRILLWant more film breakdowns, scheme deep dives, and conversations with coaches at every level? Subscribe and head over to www.boarddrill.com for more content. New episodes drop weekly.Subscribe now so you never miss an episode! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.boarddrill.com/subscribe

    Being Multiple and Changing the Picture Week to Week with Coach Jimmie Tyson

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2026 56:40


    In this episode, Kyle sits down with Coach Jimmie Tyson, the new Defensive Coordinator at Dothan High School in Alabama. Coach Tyson brings over 20 years of coaching experience, including six years at Florida A&M University and nearly a decade as Defensive Coordinator at Lincoln High School in Tallahassee, one of the top programs in the state of Florida.Coach Tyson walks through how a post-practice conversation with his offensive coordinator changed the way he called defense, how studying Mike McDonald's work at Baltimore and Seattle led to building a coverage matrix, and how his staff developed a one-word call system that lets them run the same blitz path with completely different coverages week to week.Topics covered include non-traditional Tampa 2 with the nickel as the hole runner, dropping ends as hook players, disguising zero coverage while dropping into Tampa, changing assignments based on opponent tendencies, stem work, cadence reads, player buy-in through ownership of pressures, and why every player on the defense needs to understand every role.Coach Tyson also closes the show with two of the most unique things he has seen done at the program level, including a staff development system he brought from college and a team competition model at Dothan that produced 95 percent summer attendance last year.If you coach defense at any level, this one is worth your time.For more content, visit us at www.boarddrill.com.

    How Coach Nguyen Uses Unbalanced to Win the Numbers Game

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2026 50:29


    Coach Jimmy Nguyen (OC/QB, New Canaan HS, CT) hops on the Board Drill Podcast to break down unbalanced formations and how they're using them to steal numbers in both the run game and pass game without turning the offense into a special package the kids cannot own.We talk tackle-over, WR unbalanced (X Over), jet/toss/boot sequencing, and how tempo plus presentation forces defenses to either over-rotate or play vanilla. If you want easy ways to stress rules and communication on Friday nights, this one's a clinic.Chapters / Timestamps00:00 Intro + meet Coach Jimmy Nguyen01:03 Why unbalanced (run + pass) at New Canaan03:20 Using weekly formation variation to stress defenses04:16 Culture + players taking ownership of the program06:05 Types of unbalanced + how they label/call it07:25 Tackle-over math: extra gap advantage + what defenses waste09:00 Biggest pass-game advantage off unbalanced (confusion + hiding guys)10:16 Jet sweep/jet pass as an opener from tackle-over12:57 Tempo and sugar huddle to prevent defensive checks13:40 Formation into the boundary + tackle-over examples17:05 WR unbalanced: X Over + nasty/condensed splits20:01 Coaching the toss: RB landmarks + getting downhill fast22:58 Boot off toss: sequencing the over-rotation25:49 Under-center unbalanced with 4 on the LOS (how teams align)27:54 Bride & Groom tag: RB as #1 receiver + rule stress34:59 Building the screen game off unbalanced looks36:06 Play sequencing cut-ups (quads/diamond quick screen, years apart)45:56 Unique program piece: varsity giving back to the youth program48:58 Wrap-up + closing thoughtsQuick Takeaways1. Unbalanced is not trick. It is a weekly numbers tool if your tags stay simple.2. Defenses tend to over-commit to the gap problem, which opens up jet, screens, boot, and quick game.3. Pairing unbalanced with tempo and sugar huddle can force opponents into vanilla calls. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.boarddrill.com/subscribe

    How Coach Nguyen Uses Unbalanced to Win the Numbers Game

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2026 50:29


    Coach Jimmy Nguyen (OC/QB, New Canaan HS, CT) hops on the Board Drill Podcast to break down unbalanced formations and how they're using them to steal numbers in both the run game and pass game without turning the offense into a special package the kids cannot own.We talk tackle-over, WR unbalanced (X Over), jet/toss/boot sequencing, and how tempo plus presentation forces defenses to either over-rotate or play vanilla. If you want easy ways to stress rules and communication on Friday nights, this one's a clinic.Chapters / Timestamps00:00 Intro + meet Coach Jimmy Nguyen01:03 Why unbalanced (run + pass) at New Canaan03:20 Using weekly formation variation to stress defenses04:16 Culture + players taking ownership of the program06:05 Types of unbalanced + how they label/call it07:25 Tackle-over math: extra gap advantage + what defenses waste09:00 Biggest pass-game advantage off unbalanced (confusion + hiding guys)10:16 Jet sweep/jet pass as an opener from tackle-over12:57 Tempo and sugar huddle to prevent defensive checks13:40 Formation into the boundary + tackle-over examples17:05 WR unbalanced: X Over + nasty/condensed splits20:01 Coaching the toss: RB landmarks + getting downhill fast22:58 Boot off toss: sequencing the over-rotation25:49 Under-center unbalanced with 4 on the LOS (how teams align)27:54 Bride & Groom tag: RB as #1 receiver + rule stress34:59 Building the screen game off unbalanced looks36:06 Play sequencing cut-ups (quads/diamond quick screen, years apart)45:56 Unique program piece: varsity giving back to the youth program48:58 Wrap-up + closing thoughtsQuick TakeawaysUnbalanced is not trick. It is a weekly numbers tool if your tags stay simple.Defenses tend to over-commit to the gap problem, which opens up jet, screens, boot, and quick game.Pairing unbalanced with tempo and sugar huddle can force opponents into vanilla calls.Board Drill resources and articles:https://www.boarddrill.comFollow Board Drill:Twitter/X: @boarddrill

    Building the Quarterback Run Game with Coach Justin Roberts

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2026 77:55


    Board Drill Podcast | Coach Justin Roberts (Eagles Landing Christian Academy)In this episode of the Board Drill Podcast, Kyle and Matt sit down with Coach Justin Roberts, Head Football Coach at Eagles Landing Christian Academy.We kick things off by revisiting one of the wildest games we've ever been a part of (42–14 at half

    Building the Quarterback Run Game with Coach Justin Roberts

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2026 77:54


    Board Drill Podcast | Coach Justin Roberts (Eagles Landing Christian Academy)In this episode of the Board Drill Podcast, Kyle and Matt sit down with Coach Justin Roberts, Head Football Coach at Eagles Landing Christian Academy.We kick things off by revisiting one of the wildest games we've ever been a part of (42–14 at half

    Offensive Line Development and Drill Progressions with Tim Foster

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2026 69:56


    In this episode of The Board Drill Podcast, we sit down with Coach Tim Foster, OL Coach at Hebron Christian in Georgia, to talk through his progression for developing dominant offensive linemen. He starts with stance and footwork, builds through board drills, and finishes with game application.Coach Foster walks through how he transitioned into coaching offensive line, how he built his individual progression, and why mastering solo blocks is the foundation for everything up front.If you are an offensive line coach looking for practical, install-ready drill work, this episode is for you.Timestamps:Coach Tim Foster Segment0:00 – Intro and meeting Coach Foster at Mount Bethel Clinic2:00 – Transitioning from tight ends and offensive coordinator to offensive line4:30 – Building an OL system from the ground up at Hebron Christian8:45 – Why solo blocks are the foundation of OL play12:30 – Board drill setup and teaching progression18:00 – Stance, first step, and creating repeatable movement23:15 – Pad level, hand placement, and creating force on contact30:40 – Using boards for down blocks, pulls, and drive blocks38:20 – From drill work to game film, bridging practice to Friday night45:10 – Putting offensive linemen at a disadvantage in drills to build game confidence52:30 – Coaching details that separate good from great up frontKyle and Matt Wrap-Up58:00 – Episode cut short and recapping Coach Foster's key points1:00:15 – Why winning one-on-one blocks is everything1:03:30 – Bird Dog drill, freeze and fix technique1:07:45 – Creating disadvantage drills for better game performance1:12:10 – Board drill versus pan sled, teaching tools that matter1:16:30 – Final thoughts and future guest teaserKey Topics Covered-Offensive line individual development-Board drill progressions-Solo block mastery-Drill design with built-in disadvantage-Coaching footwork and pad level-Translating individual periods to game performance This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.boarddrill.com/subscribe

    Offensive Line Development and Drill Progressions with Tim Foster

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2026 69:55


    In this episode of The Board Drill Podcast, we sit down with Coach Tim Foster, OL Coach at Hebron Christian in Georgia, to talk through his progression for developing dominant offensive linemen. He starts with stance and footwork, builds through board drills, and finishes with game application.Coach Foster walks through how he transitioned into coaching offensive line, how he built his individual progression, and why mastering solo blocks is the foundation for everything up front.If you are an offensive line coach looking for practical, install-ready drill work, this episode is for you.0:00 – Intro and meeting Coach Foster at Mount Bethel Clinic 2:00 – Transitioning from tight ends and offensive coordinator to offensive line 4:30 – Building an OL system from the ground up at Hebron Christian 8:45 – Why solo blocks are the foundation of OL play 12:30 – Board drill setup and teaching progression 18:00 – Stance, first step, and creating repeatable movement 23:15 – Pad level, hand placement, and creating force on contact 30:40 – Using boards for down blocks, pulls, and drive blocks 38:20 – From drill work to game film, bridging practice to Friday night 45:10 – Putting offensive linemen at a disadvantage in drills to build game confidence 52:30 – Coaching details that separate good from great up front 58:00 – Episode cut short and recapping Coach Foster's key points 1:00:15 – Why winning one-on-one blocks is everything 1:03:30 – Bird Dog drill, freeze and fix technique 1:07:45 – Creating disadvantage drills for better game performance 1:12:10 – Board drill versus pan sled, teaching tools that matter 1:16:30 – Final thoughts and future guest teaser Offensive line individual developmentBoard drill progressionsSolo block masteryDrill design with built-in disadvantageCoaching footwork and pad levelTranslating individual periods to game performanceTimestampsCoach Tim Foster SegmentKyle and Matt Wrap-UpKey Topics Covered

    Week 1 Install Blueprint: Coverage, Fronts, and Pressure Rules w/ Coach Bradburn

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2026 54:00


    In this episode, we flip the script. Kyle Bradburn moves from host to guest, and Matt Dixon leads the deep dive into Kyle's defensive install process. If you coach high school or college football and run quarters-based coverages, this is a detailed look at how to structure your install with clarity, confidence, and pressure from Day 1.Kyle outlines how he builds out his Cover 7 package over time. He discusses base rules, daily structure, alignment tools, pressure integration, and how his players take ownership of checks post-snap. Whether you call it split-field quarters, match quarters, or Cover 7, this is a must-watch for coaches looking to build a system that teaches players how to solve problems on the field.Subscribe to the channel for more defensive breakdowns, coaching education, and in-season strategy from real coaches doing the work.Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@boarddrillFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/boarddrillTurn on notifications to catch every new episodeTimestamps00:00 – Intro and role reversal01:30 – How Kyle structures his install02:40 – Day 1 priorities and pressure mindset03:30 – Teaching player-led adjustments and checks04:15 – Using Clamp vs 2x206:00 – Base rules for split zone quarters08:45 – Install sequencing against 20 and 21 personnel11:10 – Adjusting to trips and motion14:00 – Keeping the toolbox manageable17:05 – Coverage tags: Clamp, Sky, Solo, Special20:40 – Corner technique and teaching points23:55 – Nickel and Star player roles26:15 – Pattern-match triggers in Cover 730:10 – Pressure installation and rules33:00 – Tying pressure into coverage structure36:45 – Advice for new playcallersIf this episode helped you, drop a comment, share it with your staff, and subscribe to the channel.

    Week 1 Install Blueprint: Coverage, Fronts, and Pressure Rules w/ Coach Bradburn

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2026 54:01


    In this episode, we flip the script. Kyle Bradburn moves from host to guest, and Matt Dixon leads the deep dive into Kyle's defensive install process. If you coach high school or college football and run quarters-based coverages, this is a detailed look at how to structure your install with clarity, confidence, and pressure from Day 1.Kyle outlines how he builds out his Cover 7 package over time. He discusses base rules, daily structure, alignment tools, pressure integration, and how his players take ownership of checks post-snap. Whether you call it split-field quarters, match quarters, or Cover 7, this is a must-watch for coaches looking to build a system that teaches players how to solve problems on the field.Subscribe to the channel for more defensive breakdowns, coaching education, and in-season strategy from real coaches doing the work.Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@boarddrillFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/boarddrillTurn on notifications to catch every new episodeTimestamps00:00 – Intro and role reversal01:30 – How Kyle structures his install02:40 – Day 1 priorities and pressure mindset03:30 – Teaching player-led adjustments and checks04:15 – Using Clamp vs 2x206:00 – Base rules for split zone quarters08:45 – Install sequencing against 20 and 21 personnel11:10 – Adjusting to trips and motion14:00 – Keeping the toolbox manageable17:05 – Coverage tags20:40 – Corner technique and teaching points23:55 – Nickel and Star player roles26:15 – Pattern-match triggers in Cover 730:10 – Pressure installation and rules33:00 – Tying pressure into coverage structure36:45 – Advice for new play callersIf this episode helped you, drop a comment, share it with your staff, and subscribe to the channel. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.boarddrill.com/subscribe

    Building a Unified Football Culture with Coach Yashinsky

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2026 68:17


    In this episode of the Board Drill Podcast, Kyle and Matt sit down with Coach Tom Yashinsky, head coach at Onalaska High School in Wisconsin, to dive into the nuts and bolts of building a consistent and competitive football program from the ground up. Coach Yashinsky brings nearly two decades of experience and shares detailed insight on aligning your program 9–12, structuring staff, developing coaches, and building buy-in across your community.Whether you're a head coach, coordinator, or position coach, this one's packed with practical wisdom you can apply immediately. Don't miss the breakdown on practice structure, middle school alignment, and how Onalaska turned a struggling program into a perennial playoff team.Timestamps:* 0:00 – Intro and how Coach Yashinsky joined the show* 1:10 – Onalaska football background and program context* 3:04 – Taking over the program under tough circumstances* 6:35 – Aligning your staff across all levels (9–12)* 9:58 – Year-round planning and development focus* 12:45 – The importance of coach retention and mentorship* 16:12 – Practice organization and seasonal phases* 20:41 – Lifting schedules and coordinating with multi-sport athletes* 24:09 – Offseason program and coach roles* 28:57 – Building culture: “Be Early, Be Loud, Be Invested”* 32:44 – Middle school and youth integration strategies* 37:11 – Handling success: sustaining performance and expectations* 42:36 – Advice for new head coaches* 46:58 – Final thoughts and how to connect with Coach YashinskySubscribe, like, and share if you're a coach looking for real-world solutions and ideas you can bring into your own program tomorrow. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.boarddrill.com/subscribe

    Building a Unified Football Culture with Coach Yashinsky

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2026 68:16


    In this episode of the Board Drill Podcast, Kyle and Matt sit down with Coach Tom Yashinsky, head coach at Onalaska High School in Wisconsin, to dive into the nuts and bolts of building a consistent and competitive football program from the ground up. Coach Yashinsky brings nearly two decades of experience and shares detailed insight on aligning your program 9–12, structuring staff, developing coaches, and building buy-in across your community.Whether you're a head coach, coordinator, or position coach, this one's packed with practical wisdom you can apply immediately. Don't miss the breakdown on practice structure, middle school alignment, and how Onalaska turned a struggling program into a perennial playoff team.Timestamps:0:00 – Intro and how Coach Yashinsky joined the show1:10 – Onalaska football background and program context3:04 – Taking over the program under tough circumstances6:35 – Aligning your staff across all levels (9–12)9:58 – Year-round planning and development focus12:45 – The importance of coach retention and mentorship16:12 – Practice organization and seasonal phases20:41 – Lifting schedules and coordinating with multi-sport athletes24:09 – Offseason program and coach roles28:57 – Building culture: “Be Early, Be Loud, Be Invested”32:44 – Middle school and youth integration strategies37:11 – Handling success: sustaining performance and expectations42:36 – Advice for new head coaches46:58 – Final thoughts and how to connect with Coach YashinskySubscribe, like, and share if you're a coach looking for real-world solutions and ideas you can bring into your own program tomorrow.

    Adapting and Leading a Defense with Coach Irsik

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2026 58:36


    Coach Jordan Irsik is back on the pod, and this one's packed with insight for defensive coaches at every level. We kick things off with reactions to the 2025 National Championship and break down what made Indiana's title run so special. From there, Coach Irsik talks through his current offseason mindset, how he's staying sharp while raising two young boys, and what it looks like to build a pressure package that actually fits your personnel.We also cover game planning, in-season adjustments, why being reflective matters, and how to keep growing without being on the clinic circuit. It's an honest, no-BS convo for coaches who want real tools and perspective.Timestamps:00:00 - Welcome back Coach Irsik01:00 - New baby, offseason life, and podcast circuit02:00 - National Championship reactions03:50 - Indiana's turnaround and coaching legacy06:30 - What elite defensive football looks like08:00 - Coaching with two kids at home10:15 - Using the offseason to reflect and adjust12:45 - Creating pressures based on your players16:00 - What to emphasize in install and prep19:30 - How to gameplan without overloading22:50 - Teaching coverage vs. scheme complexity25:40 - The reality of adapting in-season29:10 - Staying sharp without the clinic tour32:15 - Building a coaching community35:00 - Final takeaways and parting wisdomSubscribe + leave a review to help us growFollow us on Twitter: The Board Drill This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.boarddrill.com/subscribe

    Adapting and Leading a Defense with Coach Irsik

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2026 58:35


    Coach Jordan Irsik is back on the pod, and this one's packed with insight for defensive coaches at every level. We kick things off with reactions to the 2025 National Championship and break down what made Indiana's title run so special. From there, Coach Irsik talks through his current offseason mindset, how he's staying sharp while raising two young boys, and what it looks like to build a pressure package that actually fits your personnel.We also cover game planning, in-season adjustments, why being reflective matters, and how to keep growing without being on the clinic circuit. It's an honest, no-BS convo for coaches who want real tools and perspective.Timestamps:00:00 - Welcome back Coach Irsik01:00 - New baby, offseason life, and podcast circuit02:00 - National Championship reactions03:50 - Indiana's turnaround and coaching legacy06:30 - What elite defensive football looks like08:00 - Coaching with two kids at home10:15 - Using the offseason to reflect and adjust12:45 - Creating pressures based on your players16:00 - What to emphasize in install and prep19:30 - How to gameplan without overloading22:50 - Teaching coverage vs. scheme complexity25:40 - The reality of adapting in-season29:10 - Staying sharp without the clinic tour32:15 - Building a coaching community35:00 - Final takeaways and parting wisdomSubscribe + leave a review to help us growFollow us on Twitter: @boarddrillVisit www.boarddrill.com for breakdowns, cutups, and more

    Distributing the Ball in the Gun T with Coach Cory Quinn

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2026 68:07


    In this episode of The Board Drill Podcast, Coach Cory Quinn from Tishomingo County High School in Mississippi returns to break down how he creatively gets the tight end, wing, and slot involved in his offense. The episode is split into two recordings due to a quick technical issue, but we jump right back into the conversation without missing a beat.Coach Quinn details concepts like Bogey, Pop, and Train motion, and shows how motion, formation variation, and personnel usage can create stress for defenses and open up explosive plays. Whether you're trying to expand your play-action game or find new ways to get your tight end more touches, this is a clinic-level conversation built for coaches.If you enjoy the show, please like and subscribe. It helps us continue to bring on great guests and keep content coming throughout the offseason.Timestamps00:00 - Intro and Welcome Back Coach Quinn01:28 - Clarifying Tishomingo County02:25 - From Buck Sweep to Balanced Offense04:32 - Getting More from the Slot, TE, and Wing06:58 - Using Motion to Stress the Secondary10:14 - Installing the Bogey Concept14:45 - Creating Vertical Stretches with Motion17:30 - Film Breakdown: Bogey Against Rolled Coverage20:10 - Train Motion to Displace Linebackers21:42 - Coaching Simplicity for Young Tight Ends25:00 - Tagging Switch to Alter Landmarks27:15 - Third and Long Conversion Using TE as the Read29:44 - Formational Adjustments with Empty and Orbit Motion32:03 - When and Why to Call These Concepts35:15 - Wing Release Coaching vs. Zone and Man37:40 - Final Thoughts and Creative Takeaways This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.boarddrill.com/subscribe

    Distributing the Ball in the Gun T with Coach Cory Quinn

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2026 68:06


    In this episode of The Board Drill Podcast, Coach Cory Quinn from Tishomingo County High School in Mississippi returns to break down how he creatively gets the tight end, wing, and slot involved in his offense. The episode is split into two recordings due to a quick technical issue, but we jump right back into the conversation without missing a beat.Coach Quinn details concepts like Bogey, Pop, and Train motion, and shows how motion, formation variation, and personnel usage can create stress for defenses and open up explosive plays. Whether you're trying to expand your play-action game or find new ways to get your tight end more touches, this is a clinic-level conversation built for coaches.If you enjoy the show, please like and subscribe. It helps us continue to bring on great guests and keep content coming throughout the offseason.Timestamps00:00 - Intro and Welcome Back Coach Quinn01:28 - Clarifying Tishomingo County02:25 - From Buck Sweep to Balanced Offense04:32 - Getting More from the Slot, TE, and Wing06:58 - Using Motion to Stress the Secondary10:14 - Installing the Bogey Concept14:45 - Creating Vertical Stretches with Motion17:30 - Film Breakdown: Bogey Against Rolled Coverage20:10 - Train Motion to Displace Linebackers21:42 - Coaching Simplicity for Young Tight Ends25:00 - Tagging Switch to Alter Landmarks27:15 - Third and Long Conversion Using TE as the Read29:44 - Formational Adjustments with Empty and Orbit Motion32:03 - When and Why to Call These Concepts35:15 - Wing Release Coaching vs. Zone and Man37:40 - Final Thoughts and Creative Takeaways

    Challenges of a First-Year Coordinator

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2026 84:59


    In this episode, Kyle and Matt sit down with Coach Josh Katz, Defensive Coordinator at West Orange High School in Orlando, FL, to discuss the real challenges of being a first-year coordinator. From managing egos to finding his identity as a play-caller, Coach Katz brings an honest and tactical perspective to the table. Whether you're stepping into your first coordinator role or you're a seasoned vet looking for fresh insight, this one delivers.

    Challenges of a First-Year Coordinator

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2026 84:58


    Challenges of a First-Year Coordinator | Coach Josh Katz (West Orange HS)In this episode, Kyle and Matt sit down with Coach Josh Katz, Defensive Coordinator at West Orange High School in Orlando, FL, to discuss the real challenges of being a first-year coordinator. From managing egos to finding his identity as a play-caller, Coach Katz brings an honest and tactical perspective to the table. Whether you're stepping into your first coordinator role or you're a seasoned vet looking for fresh insight, this one delivers.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – Intro & Coach Katz Joins the Show00:45 – Teaching Biomedical Science & Coaching Football02:00 – Coach Katz Shares His Philosophy as a First-Year DC03:30 – Game Planning: What No One Tells You05:15 – Struggles with Practice Planning and Time Management07:10 – Learning to Adjust & Getting Staff Buy-In10:00 – Building the Call Sheet: The Weekly Process14:00 – Halftime Adjustments & Communication with the Staff18:20 – Teaching Coverage Rules to Young DBs22:30 – What Coach Katz Would Tell Himself Week 125:45 – Audience Q&A and Final ThoughtsKEY TAKEAWAYS:First-year coordinators often face information overload — simplify and clarify.You can't do it alone. Building staff trust and communication is essential.Practice planning is harder than it looks — reps need purpose.Teaching players your system is just as important as having one.Whether you're a high school coordinator, aspiring coach, or just a ball junkie, this episode packs insight, honesty, and some solid laughs.Don't forget to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE for more deep-dive football content!Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your pods.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Drop them in the comments or hit us up on Twitter @BoardDrill!

    Turning Around a Program w/ Coach Tim Dycus

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2025 41:17


    In this episode of The Board Drill Podcast, we sit down with Coach Tim Dycus, the head football coach at Winter Springs High School (FL). Coach Dycus dives into the details of building a culture, the reality of turning around a struggling program, and the leadership lessons that come with over two decades on the sidelines.Coach Dycus took over a program that many saw as an easy win on their schedule—until now. Under his guidance, Winter Springs just posted its first winning season in years and reached the playoffs. This episode is a must-watch for coaches who are grinding in the trenches, building brick by brick.Timestamps0:00 - Intro & Coach Dycus joins the show1:34 - Taking over a struggling program3:05 - Coach Dycus' backstory: from business owner to football coach6:42 - What he learned from Seminole County football legends10:17 - How he built a winning culture at Winter Springs14:10 - Getting buy-in from the players and staff17:32 - The small wins that built momentum21:45 - Key schemes and system changes26:10 - Advice to young coaches stepping into tough jobs30:33 - Coaching in the social media age35:21 - Building relationships and developing leaders38:10 - Coach Dycus' coaching philosophy42:00 - Lightning Round: Favorite drills, toughest opponents, best advice45:50 - Final thoughts and what's next for Winter Springs football

    Turning Around a Program w/ Coach Tim Dycus

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2025 41:17


    In this episode of The Board Drill Podcast, we sit down with Coach Tim Dycus, the head football coach at Winter Springs High School (FL). Coach Dycus dives into the details of building a culture, the reality of turning around a struggling program, and the leadership lessons that come with over two decades on the sidelines.Coach Dycus took over a program that many saw as an easy win on their schedule—until now. Under his guidance, Winter Springs just posted its first winning season in years and reached the playoffs. This episode is a must-watch for coaches who are grinding in the trenches, building brick by brick.Timestamps0:00 - Intro & Coach Dycus joins the show1:34 - Taking over a struggling program3:05 - Coach Dycus' backstory: from business owner to football coach6:42 - What he learned from Seminole County football legends10:17 - How he built a winning culture at Winter Springs14:10 - Getting buy-in from the players and staff17:32 - The small wins that built momentum21:45 - Key schemes and system changes26:10 - Advice to young coaches stepping into tough jobs30:33 - Coaching in the social media age35:21 - Building relationships and developing leaders38:10 - Coach Dycus' coaching philosophy42:00 - Lightning Round: Favorite drills, toughest opponents, best advice45:50 - Final thoughts and what's next for Winter Springs football

    Breaking Down Match Coverage Rules with Coach Dawson Mitchell

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2025 56:59


    The Board Drill Podcast - Ep. 13 | Dawson Mitchell | Match Coverage In this episode, Kyle and Matt are joined by Coach Dawson Mitchell (@CoachMitchell48), the linebackers coach at Cartersville High School. Coach Mitchell walks us through how his defense runs 2-Read coverage, how they teach their DBs to handle common route combos, and what pattern-matching looks like in a high school setting.Timestamps:0:00 - Intro and how Kyle connected with Coach Mitchell2:00 - Cartersville's base coverage philosophy3:15 - Coaching 2-Read: teaching DBs to read 2-to-15:40 - How they handle double slant and smash routes8:25 - Matching routes vs. spot-dropping: what they emphasize10:00 - Teaching eyes, leverage, and hip turns13:45 - Adjusting to different offensive tendencies week to week16:30 - Why they don't pedal their corners18:05 - Differences between 2-Read, Palms, and Quarters21:10 - Practical drills and how they rep it in practice24:00 - Final thoughts on teaching coverage at the high school levelThis is a pure football episode. No slides. No fluff. Just straight-up ball talk.Subscribe for more in-depth breakdowns and interviews with coaches across the country. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.boarddrill.com/subscribe

    Breaking Down Match Coverage Rules with Coach Dawson Mitchell

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2025 56:59


    The Board Drill Podcast - Ep. 13 | Dawson Mitchell | Match Coverage In this episode, Kyle and Matt are joined by Coach Dawson Mitchell (@CoachMitchell48), the linebackers coach at Cartersville High School. Coach Mitchell walks us through how his defense runs 2-Read coverage, how they teach their DBs to handle common route combos, and what pattern-matching looks like in a high school setting.Timestamps:0:00 - Intro and how Kyle connected with Coach Mitchell2:00 - Cartersville's base coverage philosophy3:15 - Coaching 2-Read: teaching DBs to read 2-to-15:40 - How they handle double slant and smash routes8:25 - Matching routes vs. spot-dropping: what they emphasize10:00 - Teaching eyes, leverage, and hip turns13:45 - Adjusting to different offensive tendencies week to week16:30 - Why they don't pedal their corners18:05 - Differences between 2-Read, Palms, and Quarters21:10 - Practical drills and how they rep it in practice24:00 - Final thoughts on teaching coverage at the high school levelThis is a pure football episode. No slides. No fluff. Just straight-up ball talk.Subscribe for more in-depth breakdowns and interviews with coaches across the country.

    The Pinch Front with Coach Dean Young

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2025 101:55


    In this episode, we're joined by Coach Dean Young, DC at Midlothian HS (TX), to break down his unique “Pinch Front” concept and the back-end coverage he calls “Texas Two and a Half.” Coach Young explains how his team adapted through adversity, simplified their rules, and developed a system that mixes Tampa 2 and three-cloud principles with aggressive front play. If you're looking for a flexible, sound way to adjust your defense to your personnel, this episode is a must-watch.Topics include simplifying coverage rules, adapting Tampa 2 principles, how to cancel gaps with the DL, and why Coach refuses to call anything Cover 3.Timestamped Topics:0:00 - Intro & Guest Welcome1:19 - Origin of the “Pinch Front”2:44 - Adapting to Injuries & Personnel Issues3:45 - From Quarters to Tampa 2 to Base Defense4:32 - Simplifying Rules with Pinch Front6:05 - Explaining “Texas Two and a Half”9:20 - Techniques & Coverage Leverage Details12:50 - Adjusting to 2x2 vs. 3x1 Formations17:10 - Why Coach Hates Cover 320:55 - How the Front Marries the Coverage26:10 - Game Planning Tips & Weekly Adjustments30:42 - Q&A: Coaching the Overhang Player33:05 - Blitz Rules and Complementary Pressures36:30 - Scouting Considerations for This Defense40:18 - Favorite Situational Calls44:00 - Building Confidence in the System47:12 - Final Thoughts & Twitter Fights Over Cover 3Follow Coach Young on Twitter: CoachDeanYoungRead the original Hex Front article: https://www.boarddrill.com/p/hex-front-theory-can-4-down-defensesLike, comment, and subscribe for more in-depth conversations on modern defensive football. Stay tuned for more from The Board Drill! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.boarddrill.com/subscribe

    Pinch Front with Coach Dean Young

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2025 101:55


    In this episode, we're joined by Coach Dean Young, DC at Midlothian HS (TX), to break down his unique “Pinch Front” concept and the back-end coverage he calls “Texas Two and a Half.” Coach Young explains how his team adapted through adversity, simplified their rules, and developed a system that mixes Tampa 2 and three-cloud principles with aggressive front play. If you're looking for a flexible, sound way to adjust your defense to your personnel, this episode is a must-watch.Topics include simplifying coverage rules, adapting Tampa 2 principles, how to cancel gaps with the DL, and why Coach refuses to call anything Cover 3.Timestamped Topics:0:00 - Intro & Guest Welcome1:19 - Origin of the “Pinch Front”2:44 - Adapting to Injuries & Personnel Issues3:45 - From Quarters to Tampa 2 to Base Defense4:32 - Simplifying Rules with Pinch Front6:05 - Explaining “Texas Two and a Half”9:20 - Techniques & Coverage Leverage Details12:50 - Adjusting to 2x2 vs. 3x1 Formations17:10 - Why Coach Hates Cover 320:55 - How the Front Marries the Coverage26:10 - Game Planning Tips & Weekly Adjustments30:42 - Q&A: Coaching the Overhang Player33:05 - Blitz Rules and Complementary Pressures36:30 - Scouting Considerations for This Defense40:18 - Favorite Situational Calls44:00 - Building Confidence in the System47:12 - Final Thoughts & Twitter Fights Over Cover 3Follow Coach Young on Twitter: @CoachDeanYoungRead the original Hex Front article: https://www.boarddrill.com/p/hex-front-theory-can-4-down-defensesLike, comment, and subscribe for more in-depth conversations on modern defensive football. Stay tuned for more from The Board Drill!

    Fitting the Run with Coach Zach Capehart

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2025 71:56


    S3E2 – Run Fits w/ Coach Zach Capehart (Silverdale Academy DC)In this episode, Kyle and Matt are joined by Coach Zach Capehart, the defensive coordinator at Silverdale Academy in Tennessee. They dive deep into how to fit the run from multiple fronts — with a real-world lens of limited practice time, two-way players, and up-tempo offenses.This is not just theory. It's a clinic on practical defense for high school coaches.Timestamps:00:00 – Intro + Background on Coach Capehart02:30 – The Silverdale context: small school, tempo offense, time limits06:15 – Why they choose to be multiple despite having two-way players08:40 – Key principles: simplicity, communication, and essentialism12:10 – Teaching run fits with limited install time17:05 – How tempo offenses stress your defense — and how to respond22:45 – Adjusting fronts while keeping base rules intact27:10 – The role of personnel and playing to your kids' strengths32:00 – Q&A and wrap-up: best advice for fitting the run with constraintsWhether you're a DC at a big program or building a system with 50 players and 90-minute practices, this one's packed with takeaways.Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more content made by coaches, for coaches. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.boarddrill.com/subscribe

    Fitting the Run with Coach Zach Capehart

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2025 71:55


    S3E2 – Run Fits with Zach Capehart (Silverdale Academy DC)This week, Coach Zach Capehart joins Kyle and Matt to break down run fits from a multiple front structure. Capehart brings a small-school lens — limited practice time, tempo offense, lots of two-way players — and explains how to stay sound without being overly complex.Key Topics (Timestamps in episode):02:30 – Silverdale program context06:15 – Why be multiple with two-way kids?12:10 – Installing fits in short practice windows22:45 – Front variation without overhauling teaching32:00 – Advice for coaches dealing with roster constraintsIf you're a defensive coach looking to simplify without sacrificing soundness, this episode is built for you.

    Joey Wiles on Preparing for College Visits That Develop Your Coaching Staff

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2025 50:05


    In this premiere of Season 3 of the Board Drill Podcast, we bring on one of Florida's most respected voices in high school football: Joey Wiles. The topic? Using offseason college visits as a strategic tool for growing your coaching staff.Coach Wiles walks us through how to build relationships with college programs, how to send assistants on meaningful visits, and why planning those trips with intention leads to better coordinators and future head coaches.Timestamps & Topics:* 00:00 – Intro & Coach Wiles joins the show* 02:08 – Framing college visits as professional development* 05:15 – Structuring the visit process with your staff* 08:40 – Hospitality stories & building trust with college coaches* 12:00 – Why relationships matter more than access* 16:25 – Teaching assistants how to reach out & follow up* 21:00 – Clinic strategy: Assigning sessions & follow-up* 25:10 – The head coach's role in staff elevation* 30:00 – Lessons that pay off down the road* 35:45 – Advice for programs with limited connections* 41:00 – Coach Wiles' closing thoughts on leadership

    Joey Wiles on Preparing for College Visits That Develop Your Coaching Staff

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2025 50:04


    In this episode, Coach Joey Wiles breaks down how head coaches can use the offseason to intentionally grow their staff through college visits. From setting a structured plan to building long-term relationships with college coaches, Wiles provides a roadmap for turning your assistants into future leaders.Episode Timestamps:00:00 – Welcome & introduction02:08 – The purpose behind offseason college visits05:15 – Creating a developmental plan for your staff08:40 – Building relationships: The Bob Stoops story12:00 – Why trust matters when visiting college programs16:25 – Coaching your assistants on how to approach a visit21:00 – Getting the most out of clinics with intentional roles25:10 – Head coach's responsibility to elevate staff30:00 – Long-term value of structured visits35:45 – Encouragement for coaches at any stage41:00 – Final thoughts on mentorship and legacy

    Board Drill Quick Hit: North Dakota State vs South Dakota State

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2025 16:10


    In this Quick Hit, Kyle and Matt dive into the battle for the Dakota Marker between South Dakota State and North Dakota State. We break down how NDSU used a rare spike-nose twist to counter SDSU's outside zone run game—and why it looked completely schemed up.

    Board Drill Quick Hit: Texas Tech Squeeze Formations

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2025 17:19


    Coach Kyle and Coach Matt are back breaking down the nitty-gritty of Texas Tech's squeeze run game from a recent film study. This one's all about how the Red Raiders get physical in the low red zone with tray and trio formations, motion wrinkles, and GH counter action.

    Board Drill Quick Hit: Indiana's Defense Performance

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2025 13:06


    This Quick Hit unpacks Indiana's surprisingly stout defensive performance vs. Oregon. Kyle and Matt focus on quarters run fits, the physicality of Indiana's front, and how Kirk Cignetti's group is overachieving through technique and discipline.Topics Covered:* DE winning with hands vs. TE* LB speed rip and run-through execution* How technique and effort trump talent* Why sound run fits can still beat elite OL unitsPerfect film for teaching D-line play, LB fits, or defensive coaches looking for toughness from undersized personnel.Whether you're a scheme nerd or just love gritty defense, this one's a gem.Indiana's defense played above their weight class—what's your go-to teaching clip for technique over talent? Post a favorite film moment or coaching moment! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.boarddrill.com/subscribe

    Board Drill Quick Hit: Montana State Outside Zone Variations

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2025 9:57


    In this Board Drill Quick Hit, Kyle and Matt dive into Montana State's outside zone bluff variation with jet motion. It's a look into the nuance of QB reads, pitch relationships, and how option elements get baked into modern zone schemes. Whether you run OZ or just want to defend it better, this is a clean breakdown with some sharp coaching points along the way.⏩ Topics Covered:* Jet motion bluff mechanics* QB read and pitch relationship analysis* Differences between pistol vs. gun OZ looks* Run fit reactions from the defense

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