keithgrabowski

A Holistic Approach to Technical, Tactical, and Psychological Preparation

In the past, success in football was primarily about physical conditioning, memorizing plays, and putting those together on game day. Now it’s about how well coaches can prepare their teams on three essential fronts. Technical execution, tactical mastery, and psychological resilience are three key areas that Justin Hemm, head coach at Skyridge High School in…

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Jeff Simmons Shares His Keys to Film Study to Block More Punts

Carnegie Mellon dominated punt blocking in 2023, and they are continuing that trend in 2024. The Tartans led the nation in 2023 with 10 blocked kicks, including eight blocked punts. In 2024, they currently hold the top spot again, with three blocked punts and six blocked kicks so far. For special teams coordinator Jeff Simmons…

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What Gets Measured Gets Managed

Sometimes as coaches, we don’t do the important things often enough. We may install something in camp and then forget to emphasize the key principles daily, or in our time crunch of the season, we might save some work for the big moments only. It’s something that two-time national champion Shane Dierking has learned to…

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The Players-Formations-Plays Game Planning Process

Simpson College Robbie Aldinger learned from one of the best ever while he was a student assistant and then intern at the University of Mount Union. Retired Hall of Fame Coach Larry Kehres built his offenses on the principle of “Players-Formations-Plays.” It’s been a philsophy that the dozens of coaches at the high school, college,…

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Quarterback-Centric, Tempo Based Offense

Matt Walker, head coach at University of River Falls, was recently recognized as the Coach and Coordinator Head Coach of the Week presented by Hansen Ratings for his leadership and staff. Under his guidance the team puts the quarterback at the middle of everything. On top of that, they are tempo based in practice which…

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Winning with a Two Quarterback System

In football, the weeks leading up to the season usually involve determining who is QB1. At Brownsburg High School in Indiana, they began the season with QB1 and QB1A and the pair have the Bulldogs off to a 6-0 start and a number one ranking in the state. Head Coach John Hart showcases this innovative…

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The Process: A Compass for Navigating Adversity and Prosperity

Under the leadership of Nick Saban, “The Process” became the cornerstone of Alabama’s football culture, and it created consistent excellence over the Saban era. Now, with Kalen DeBoer leading a new era, he and his staff, including offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan, have been entrusted with upholding and continuing this tradition. Their challenge is to maintain…

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A Guide to Preparing for Uptempo Offense

A good uptempo offense presents one of the toughest challenges for a defense. Coach Matt Tschetter, defensive coordinator at Wartburg College, and his staff actively use strategies to handle this fast-paced, high-pressure style of play. They focus on conditioning the defense to keep up with the tempo, simplifying communication, and drilling game-like tempo in practice….

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Practicing Like You Play: How Ben Dixon’s Game-Like Practices Lead to Game Day Success

The old adage “practice how you play” is more than just a slogan; it’s a mindset that that leads to game day success. For Ben Dixon, the offensive coordinator at Calvin,  it’s all about preparing his players to execute under real-game conditions by simulating those same conditions in practice—both physically and mentally. Game-Like Tempo and Efficiency…

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Time Well Spent – How Less Practice Time Led to Better Performance

The “grind” is often seen as the pathway to success, but Ursinus College head coach Peter Gallagher took a different approach. Gallagher and his staff found that less time on the field—strategically managed—could lead to better results, both for their players and for the coaches themselves. Their changes enhanced the team’s performance and promoted a…

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