This is an alternate method of making linebacker strength calls for your defense. Find out what you should never do with your linebackers on defense.

My favorite comment when we post a new 4-2-5 Defense article or podcast to the Joe Daniel Football Facebook Page has got to be, “So it’s a nickel defense ”. You got me, dude.

There seems to be a small counsel of football terminology gatekeepers out there. No one knows who appointed them, or what authority they have. But they’re pretty sure they have it.

Today’s episode of the JDFB Quick Clinic isn’t to fight those guys. After all, they’re right! The 4-2-5 Defense and the 3-3-5 Defense are at least, in theory, a Nickel Defense.

But it is important to talk about terminology and what we mean when we say Nickel Defense. While it can certainly be used to describe a 4-2-5 Defense, and there is no harm in doing so, most coaches are not talking about the two as being one and the same.

Nickel Defense or Nickel Package?

The most common place you’ll hear coaches talking about a Nickel is really not in describing a 4-2-5 Defense. As I’ve pointed out many times, the 4-2-5 Defense that we’re running is really the same as a 4-4 Defense. I just like calling those guys safeties because it makes them feel faster.

Instead, the Nickel Defense usually isn’t a defense at all. More commonly, coaches are talking about a package in their defense. The Nickel Package is a personnel package that 4-3 Defense and 3-4 Defense coordinators use in passing situations or when there is no Tight End, to replace a Linebacker with a Defensive Back.

You probably knew that. You’re a smart guy. You’ve played Madden before.

But that’s the critical element. The Nickel Package is not a change in the actual defense. It’s just a change in one player because the skill set needed is different that the skill set the base defense requires. You need a better pass defender, or a better player in space, than your normal base defense uses.

Yes, you might have some coverage change-ups. Maybe even a special blitz or two for when the Nickel is on the field. But your core defense remains the same. You did not change from a 4-3 Defense, a 7-man front defense that uses a 2-gap Mike Linebacker, to a 4-2-5 Defense with an 8-man front and 1-gap defenders.

Is the 4-2-5 Defense a Nickel Defense?

But when you talk to a coach who says he runs a 4-2-5 Defense, what he’s really running is a variation on a 4-4 Defense. He’s got two outside linebackers that are called Safeties. Maybe they even spend the majority of their time in man coverage, or playing a deep half safety in a Split Field Coverage package.

Most coaches who run a 4-2-5 Defense don’t think of themselves as running a Nickel Defense. And truthfully most coaches who call their defense a Nickel Defense as a base package fall into the same boat. They call it a Nickel because it’s the terminology, but the thought process is the same. It’s just their defense.

These guys don’t decide to take a DB off the field and replace him with a Linebacker, then all the sudden call it their 4-3 Package.

When coaches are running a 4-2-5 Defense, they consider it the base defense. Except in extreme situations like a Double Wing Offense, they’re going to run with that base 4-2-5 Defense every week.

It comes down to one thing, and one thing only. Don’t get caught up in terminology. Or the difference between a 4-4 Defense and a 4-2-5 Defense. We don’t need gatekeepers in football coaching!

When you look at that exchange film and find out you’ll be defending a running quarterback this week, it gives you the chills. The best athlete on the field is going to have the ball in his hands on every single snap.

But don’t worry. There is hope. Check out this week’s JDFB Quick Clinic for a few simple tips to prepare your defense for that tough assignment. You can listen to the episode using the player at the bottom of this post or wherever podcasts are available.

Game Planning for Defending a Running Quarterback

There’s a few big mistakes coaches make when preparing to defend athletic QBs. We’re focusing on shutting down a quarterback that is a primary runner here. This is NOT about defending the extremely dangerous Dual Threat Quarterback. That’s a whole different discussion.

The first step to defending a running quarterback is making sure you’re really seeing what you think you are seeing. Is that play really a Zone Read? Or is it a designed QB keep? While they may look the same, the blocking scheme completely changes what you’ll be working on with your Defensive End all week.

Figure out what the plays are really designed to do. Is the QB creating on his own? Or are these carefully constructed blocking schemes to feature his athleticism? Is he reading it? Was that a play action or a keep all the way?

Diagram a few of the top plays out. This is a huge help for really understanding what an offense is trying to do. And how sophisticated the system is. I’ve included a download for a blank play sheet below – just enter your email address and it will be sent straight to your inbox.

Run Fits and Option Responsibility

The next critical piece is your run fits. High School running plays pretty much fall into two categories. Zone blocking schemes or gap blocking schemes.

So that running quarterback doesn’t really change too much. You’re still going to see one of the two. Maybe with an extra blocker, since the Quarterback is carrying the ball. But the concepts remain the same.

Are your run fits in order? If you don’t know the answer, you need to learn the Umbrella Principle for perfect run fits. Learning the Umbrella Principle and teaching it to your players also takes care of your option fits.

Build the Package for Defending a Running QB

You know what they do. You know your defense can stop them. Now you just need a few tricks up your sleeve to seal the deal.

If you have a good defensive football system, that shouldn’t be a problem. You can easily make adaptations by pulling levers to give your defense an edge. Alignment adjustments and assignment adjustments are going to be the keys here.

Just listen to this episode of the JDFB Quick Clinic to find out a couple of simple adjustments any defense can make when you’re defending a running quarterback!

Drawing up complex X's and O's on a napkin can be a lot of fun, but the best offenses often rely on very simple football plays that just plain work. Not always sexy, but they get the job done.

The inspiration for this episode was a conversation on our private Chalk Board Forum for JDFB Coaching Systems clients about some simple football plays for a youth football team. Then the topic of the Wedge Play came up. That got my thinking.

The Best Simple Football Plays

At JDFB it's always about the Coach Simple, Play Fast, Win philosophy. If you're not familiar with that yet, you can learn all about this core principle here.

The basics are this: Keep your coaching simple so that your kids understand what they are being asked to do. That gives your players confidence to execute. Confident players play fast. No paralysis by analysis. Fast kids win more football games.

I've worked with a lot of football programs. That Coach Simple philosophy has never failed. I've never had a coach come back and say, "we just didn't have enough in the playbook!"

(it is very common, after the fact, for coaches to admit they tried to do way too much)

But these simple football plays go even beyond that principle. We're talking the absolute simplest run play, and the simplest passing play you can run in this JDFB Quick Clinic.

In the run game, the clear winner is the Wedge Play. The one that started this whole conversation. In the passing game, it is the simple look pass.

Why Every Playbook Needs Simple Plays

You might have some real fancy stuff in your playbook. Maybe you're committed to the Run & Shoot passing attack. Or you've decided to run Split Back Veer. Neither of those is simple (that's not a bad thing, if you know how to teach it).

But you're still going to want some simple plays. I don't see any good reason why every single team in football shouldn't run the two simple football plays described in this podcast.

The Wedge Play is in just about every offensive playbook for good reason. It's how you block the Quarterback Sneak. I have absolutely no idea why anyone would not have this play in your playbook.

There have been times where we've literally stolen yardage just running the sneak at a soft spot in the defensive front.

The same goes for the Look pass. I've heard this given a few different names, like a quick screen. It's just a pass to a wide receiver who's being given too much cushion by the cornerback. Because it is so easy to complete, the Double Wing Offense is the only playbook that might not need to have it.

Both plays have been extremely important in my own play calling with the Pistol Power Offense System. Although they are not fancy, they are extremely easy to install and execute for solid yardage.

Listen to this podcast using the player below or in any podcatcher. And you can submit your questions to the JDFB Quick Clinic for a future episode by either emailing me at joe@joedanielfootball.com or sending me a message on Twitter @footballinfo.

If you've decided to simplify your defense with a spot drop coverage, you're probably looking at how to play cover 3 vs 4 verticals. Coaches are realizing the value of the spot drop cover 3's simplicity but offensive coaches are licking their chops to attack it, too.

This week's episode of the JDFB Quick Clinic looks at key points for coaching the deep third defenders. From the basics of Cover 3 alignment and the zone turn, to the much more difficult question of how to stop those 4 vertical attacks.

Critical Free Safety Coaching Points for Cover 3 vs 4 Verticals

The Free Safety is by far the most critical part of how your defense will handle 4 verticals with any 1-high safety coverage. He's got to be patient and stay centered or the Quarterback will take advantage when he picks a side. Most QBs are taught to look off the Free Safety to attack the seams.

Along with staying in his peddle and not getting drawn to a side early, he needs to also key the Quarterback to see the ball come out of his hand. Good Free Safeties need to cover from hash to hash to give your Cover 3 maximum effectiveness against 4 verticals.

Couple that importance with his critical role as the alley defender in your run fits. Your Free Safety should always be the best athlete on the football team. One thing that's remained consistent is that the quality of the Free Safety will dictate just how good your defense can be. You can't hide this guy.

Coaching Cover 3 Cornerbacks

High School coaches usually try to hide a guy at Corner. They aren't directly involved in your run fits, so they don't need to be a great tackler. And he's the farther defender away from the Quarterback, so the throws tend to be lower percentage. Even in routes on air drills.

To maximize the ability of the cornerback, and get any real help from your Cover 3 vs. 4 verticals, you've got to keep his coaching simple. The ASKA for Cornerbacks is detailed but not complicated.

Corners always want to force the Quarterback to throw outside of them. Because it's a longer throw, he's got plenty of time to react and squeeze the go route. He's also got sideline help to the outside. If he can force the Quarterback to overthrow the ball or throw it too far outside, it's an incompletion every time.

Listen to this episode of the JDFB Quick Clinic to find out the extremely important coaching point I learned from a Kirby Smart clinic talk about a decade ago. It's the most important teaching point for corners in Cover 3 vs 4 verticals that I've heard.

Do you have a question for the JDFB Quick Clinic? Send your questions by email to joe@joedanielfootball.com or message me on Twitter @footballinfo.

When you see that big time coordinator on the sidelines covering his face with that football play call sheet, it's pretty exciting. You think that's just what a football coach is supposed to look like. What you need to have in your hand on game day to be official.

This week's JDFB Quick Clinic takes a look at those offensive and defensive call sheets. What needs to be on your call sheet? And do you even need one in your hands?

Do You Need a Football Play Call Sheet?

Before you start downloading templates and filling out every call in your playbook, take some time to consider if you even need a play call sheet. If you can't remember your play calls, do you have too much?

The Coach Simple, Play Fast, Win philosophy does not rely on a big playbook. You aren't trying to win a chess match. You're putting the faith in your athletes to execute on the field on game day. You keep the play calls simple so that your players are confident in what they're being asked to do, so that they can play at a high level on game day. The play calls aren't the secret sauce.

But, you probably do need a call sheet. Especially at first. When you start using a new coaching system, it can be hard to keep it all straight in your head. Even if the calls are simple. And if you're going to be using wrist bands for your calls, you might need a play call sheet just as a reference to those calls on the wrist band.

What Needs to Be on Your Call Sheet?

You've made the decision. At least for starters, you need to have a call sheet in your hand on the sidelines. Who knows how long you'll need it. There's a good chance you won't look at it much after the 1st Quarter. At least, not for actual play call advice. It's nice to have if you just freeze up in that regard but you'll find you get into the flow of the game most of the time.

Play call sheets are simple, You can google up football play call sheets and find plenty of templates. I've used a few as a foundation, but eventually they evolve into what I really need. The few call sheets I've made in recent years start as a very, very basic Excel spreadsheet.

In this episode of the JDFB Quick Clinic, I'll go into exactly what goes on that spreadsheet at the start. Then we'll look at how that spreadsheet evolves over time.

By the way, if you're going to be a football coach for long, you probably need to get pretty good with spreadsheets. They're a great tool for making everything from call sheets, to practice plans and equipment inventory.

There's a special challenge for linebackers in defending jet sweep motion. When they see it, they forget everything they've been taught and start chasing the shiny object. The Jet Sweep run play is a lot more dangerous because of what it does to your defenders, than it is as an actual yardage gainer.

This week's JDFB Quick Clinic focuses on how to adjust to Jet Sweep motion. It doesn't matter what defensive front you're running, because your defensive front shouldn't be the ones trying to stop the jet sweep. This is more about your coverage.

Threats from Jet Sweep Motion

There are more threats from the jet sweep motion than just the jet sweep itself. Your plan for defending the motion starts with knowing the biggest threats it creates for your defense.

Along with the jet sweep, you need to be ready for plays that can attack your defensive front. Those include the Jet Read variation of Power Read, and any inside run game where the jet sweep motion is just being used as window dressing.

You'll also need to be ready for passing concepts that use the flat route that is usually run by the sweeper. Concepts like Curl-Flat, Slant-Arrow or any number of 3x1 passing concepts will threaten your coverage. And there's always the possibility of an RPO to the sweeper if your force defender loses his leverage.

How to Adjust Your Defense

The adjustments for defending jet sweep motion all start with an understanding of run fits. You need to know how the umbrella works. Check out my article on Umbrella Principle run fits to learn the simplest way to get your players to understand their role in stopping the run.

Spill defenders under the umbrella must stay focused on their key reads. Nothing about the jet sweep will hurt you as bad as having linebackers and defensive ends jumping outside at the sight of motion. Then you're trying to stop Inside Zone with 4 or 5 spill defenders left.

The jet sweep is handled by your force defender and the alley defender. They need to be ready to shut it down.

Start with your force defender. Pull the alignment lever to get him wide enough to stop the sweep. Don't forget that he'll need to maintain that width in case of RPO's to the sweeper after the initial mesh.

You can also roll an alley defender over. When moving from double formations to Trips with the jet sweep, I always want to 'Check Roll' to a 1/4, 1/4, 1/2 coverage. That way you get your alley defender in better position to come down and help out on the play.

For all the details on how to defend jet sweep motion, check out this week's podcast below!

Get the best Offensive Line Drills so you get the best performance out of your Offensive Linemen. Your practice time is too limited to run hundreds of different drills. What drills should actually run?

Over the past couple years, since turning to the 90 Minute Practice Plan, I've had to really examine just which Offensive Line drills were worth what little practice time we had to work.

80/20 for Offensive Line Drills

Enter the Pareto Principle, or the 80/20 Rule. Just in case you don't already know it, the Pareto Principle says that 20% of the work you put in produces 80% of the results. That's critical for football coaches to understand. Out of all those cool drills and gimmicks you see at clinics and in catalogs, only 20% are really worth doing.

This episode of the JDFB Quick Clinic looks at applying the Pareto Principle to your Offensive Line Drills. I always hear coaches complaining about how little individual time they have to work with their guys. Or just practice time in general. You're probably better off trying to work within those limitations - as long as you know what to run. This episode helps you figure that out.

Offensive Line Drills to Make Sure You Never Miss a Block

We take a look at what really matters for your Offensive Linemen to make the block. It's all about the first two steps. Not how quick they are, or how long or short they are. In fact, what matters is the angle. Take the right first two steps, with the right angle, and you never miss a block. Of course, if you make him hold that block too long, he might get his tail whipped. That comes down to play design and execution by the skill guys. But he won't miss the block.

Spend over half your Offensive Line drill time on the first two steps. I'll share some simple drill concepts that you can use in your Offensive Line individual periods to get this done. They don't require any contact, either. Do you have a couple of veteran leaders on your Offensive Line? Then let them run these drills in pre-practice or during the off-season.

Spend the rest of your drill time actually blocking someone. But we do a lot of 'Pro Wrestling' in those drills, too. That means there's a pre-determined winner. But it should look very real. These are 1 on 1 drills and 2 on 2 combo blocks for your zone game. Throw in some Pass Protection 1 on 1 and you've got a complete practice.

Waste Less Practice Time

The only other step you'll need is getting your guys to finish blocks. It involves a simple drill you can work for a couple of minutes during special teams... and a chicken sandwich. The true difference maker.

Use the player below to listen to Episode 220 of the JDFB Quick Clinic to hear all about building your Offensive Line practice around these drills and creating better blocking with less wasted hours on the practice field. Then your guys will have more energy for the long season ahead!

Coaches can learn a lot from tagging your game film in Hudl. You can also waste a lot of time. 

Hudl and other video analysis tools are a powerful tool for football coaches. Not only can you can quickly share film with your next opponent, your entire staff and all of your players. But you can get a ton of data when you tag your film properly.

The problem a lot of coaches run into is figuring out what to tag to actually get a real result. They might tag everything under the sun, or nothing at all. In this episode, I’ll share what I tag on a game film or exchange film - and what order we’ll do it in, based on time available.

You can send in your questions for the JDFB Quick Clinic by messaging me on Twitter @footballinfo or sending an email to me at joe@joedanielfootball.com.

Can you still spill the football with slow linebackers? Find out why teaching run fits isn’t about your players’ talents. 

This week’s question for the JDFB Quick Clinic is about the spill technique in the Miami 4-3 Defense, but it’s about more than that. This is about the importance of consistent teaching.

And it’s about myths and misconceptions in coaching. The idea that one defense works for this type of player, or one style works for another set of athletes - and you should jump around to find them. This episode is about building your defense on core principles, not a playbook or something you heard at a clinic.

This was a response to a listener question sent by twitter. You can send in your questions for the JDFB Quick Clinic by messaging me on Twitter @footballinfo or sending an email to me at joe@joedanielfootball.com.

Long Stick Technique is used by Defensive Ends in zone blitzes like the America’s Fire Zone. Find out how to coach it. 

If you want to run zone blitzes, you need to commit the time to execute. America’s Fire Zone is a great zone blitz, one of the most popular overloads you can run. But you can get yourself in trouble in a hurry.

The Long Stick technique is critical. This is how we get the defensive end to control A gap if he’s needed there - and how to get him in on the play when he’s not. 

This was a response to a listener question sent by twitter. You can send in your questions for the JDFB Quick Clinic by messaging me on Twitter @footballinfo or sending an email to me at joe@joedanielfootball.com.

What’s the best key to read for Linebackers in the 33 Stack Defense? Don’t make it hard. 

Lots of coaches have tried lots of different reads for linebackers over time. We’re all looking for that perfect answer so that no matter what happens, we can tell our linebackers that if they just read their key they’ll always be right.

That leads to a lot of over-complicated key reads. And the 33 Stack Defense is no different. In today’s episode we’ll talk about the options you have for teaching key reads to your 3-3-5 Defense or 3-5-3 Defense Linebackers, including how to get the Mike Linebacker the cleanest read.

This was a response to a listener question sent by email. You can send in your questions for the JDFB Quick Clinic by messaging me on Twitter @footballinfo or sending an email to me at joe@joedanielfootball.com.

Never underestimate a good mailbag episode. We hit on some important topics that you need to hear. 

This is the final mailbag episode for a while, since we’ve caught up to 2020 finally! And there’s a few good ones in here. Even if we touch on them a lot.

You’ll find out the most important aspects of turning around a losing culture on your football team. It’s not as complicated as many folks make it sound. Plus get the answer to whether you should run the 4-3 Defense or the 4-2-5 Defense. Or at least some help making the decision.

This was a response to a listener questions sent by twitter. You can send in your questions for the JDFB Quick Clinic by messaging me on Twitter @footballinfo or sending an email to me at joe@joedanielfootball.com.

What do you do when you’ve got a dangerous running Quarterback, but your offense isn’t geared to him? You adjust. 

Any Offensive System that is worth its salt is able to utilize the best athletes on the field. If that’s not the case, you don’t have a System. Because you’re going to have to completely change the offense for a special athlete one day.

In the Pistol Power Offense System, we have multiple ways to utilize athletes all over the field. Today’s question is about using the Quarterback in your run game in a System that is not on the surface designed to do that. 

Find out how easy it is to adapt and utilize the best player on the field with multiple ways to get your Quarterback involved in the run game.

This was a response to a listener question sent by twitter. You can send in your questions for the JDFB Quick Clinic by messaging me on Twitter @footballinfo or sending an email to me at joe@joedanielfootball.com.

The Iso Run Play is a classic downhill run play. But how can you make it safe in the modern game of football?

This was a great question from a listener in response to an email I sent out last week. Like many of you, I’ve been watching a lot of old football… because there’s no new football.

And those old school fullbacks got me thinking. What a great position! Lots of I-Formation running plays, and the Iso run play is one of the favorites. But the blocking… is it safe? Can we run this downhill attacking play, and still keep our players safe?

This was a response to a listener question sent by email. You can send in your questions for the JDFB Quick Clinic by messaging me on Twitter @footballinfo or sending an email to me at joe@joedanielfootball.com.

What’s the ideal personnel for your 4-3 Defense Linebackers? Find out where to put your studs so you’re ready to dominate. 

The Miami 4-3 Defense has been around since the early 1980s. One of it’s most impressive qualities is the versatility in adapting to the evolution of offensive football over the last 4 decades. 

But that’s caused a little bit of a change in where you place your 4-3 Defense Linebackers to put them in the best position.

In today’s episode, we’ll talk about where to play your best linebacker. Then we’ll look at the qualities of your other two positions to look for so your Miami 4-3 Defense maximizes the talents of your linebackers.

This was a response to a listener question sent by email. You can send in your questions for the JDFB Quick Clinic by messaging me on Twitter @footballinfo or sending an email to me at joe@joedanielfootball.com.

No one knows when or if the 2020 High School Football Season will start. But we need to be prepared. 

I’ve heard this question a lot - so today’s episode is not a response to one particular question. It’s a response to a lot of questions from a lot of places, and related to the pandemic that is affecting all of our lives right now. 

How long does a High School football team actually need to get ready? I’ll share my thoughts on it here (and it’s not long). But football coaches are going to have to be prepared to get your team ready in that time. 

Send in your questions for the JDFB Quick Clinic by messaging me on Twitter @footballinfo or sending an email to me at joe@joedanielfootball.com.