Carlos Rogers executes a break using the T-Plant technique
We have been moving rather slowly in our spring ball drills. When I say slow I mean we are doing a lot of things in repetition. This is a good thing for building stimulus response. We have established our Every Day Drills (EDDs) and are starting to get a little more in depth in terms of attaching the techniques to the scheme. Everything that we have established to this point stems from an off-man or zone approach. When we start competing in 1on1’s we will need to be prepared to work on press footwork and techniques as well.
We have been very deliberate in working on the T-plant break though, as I want them to be able to have something to hang their hat on. We know, and can be confident in the fact that, through repetition, we will be quick and efficient when we react to those visual cues that tell us to break on the ball. There is more than one way to change direction but I am adamant that we will do it one way as a group and we will become experts at using the T-plant technique. I believe that this will help to establish a standard for what we expect in terms of execution and provide the framework for the importance of paying attention to even the smallest detail as we progress. It is just as important to condition the athlete’s mind-set as to how he views (thinks about) learning, practicing and perfecting the techniques necessary to compete at a high level, as it is to condition the neuromuscular patterning required to achieve desired levels of execution.
Fundamental drills that we have progressed to:
1.Swipe and secure when breaking through the receiver
2. Weaving to maintain inside leverage against a wide receiver taking an inside release
3. House turn and playing the ball at the highest point
Some of the extended concepts/drills that we worked in our last session included:
1. Reviewed wide receiver splits and correlating assignments
2. Reviewed quarterback profile and 3-step and 5-step drop (gun and center) reads
3. Combined the T-plant drill with an angle break drill to break on a hitch and slant route
4. Expanded 3/5-step reads to incorporate sink technique and angle break (defending the smash combo)
Drills that we need to introduce next:
1. In/Out of phase
2. High point take away
3. Feet, hips and hands (press techniques)
4. Reverse creep, jam and sink (collision & vision – hang and robber techniques)
5. Breaking through the receiver and recovery on double moves (hitch-go, slant-corner, post-corner & whip)
Communication to be addressed:
1. Sink in base/quarters
2. Trade in quarters
3. Hang and rob in bandit
4. In call by corner to OLB/SAF
5. Cross call by SAF/OLB to ILB
Saturday Nite Lites 