ONE OF THE BIGGEST mistakes defensive coaches make is they don’t practice “real” football. That is, they don’t create a mirror image of what happens on game nights during the week’s practices. Here are a few tips on trying to keep your practices real, productive and efficient.
1. Before the week’s practice begins, have all your opponent’s plays clearly drawn vs. your defenses.
2. Train the assistant coaches to run multiple defensive repetitions at a fast tempo.
3. Choose players for your scout team who are similar in size, speed and ability to that of your upcoming opponent.
4. Practice in sections by defensive situations. Divide your defensive practice time into situational sections such as goal-line defense, field-goal block period, pass-blitz period, ahead-on-points prevent defense, short-yardage situations, etc.
5. Make multiple defensive changes (if you use them) in practice. Do them suddenly and without warning your players.
6. Run formations in practice that force your defense to use check-offs (trips, spread, etc.).
7. Run motion in practice — even if the scouting report says this week’s opponent doesn’t — to help your defense adjust to it.
8. Include offensive plays that hurt all defenses, such as screens, draws and reverses. This keeps your defensive units sharp and focused.
9. Change the QB’s snap count often and use quick counts, long counts, audibles, etc.
10. Hold practice stoppage to a minimum. Coach on the run. Fix problems quickly and move on.