How Much Is Too Much Part 2: Fully Installing Concepts

    This is the second installment on my series on How Much is Too Much? Today I want to talk to you about what it means to "fully install" a concept. One of the biggest issues we have as offensive coordinators is that we install a bunch of concepts, but we don't "fully" install them. We end up with a lot of play calls that are what we would say are good calls, but due to a lack of execution, they become bad calls. They aren't going to work against a particular defensive look, and we have limited answers in place.  Bad play calls stall drives and lead to multiple three and outs. I have had plenty of these in my career, and many stem from trying to do too much. 

A fully installed concept has the following 7 components

1. The concept base install

2. Blocking rules installed against each front you will see

3. Perimeter Blocking Rules and adjustments

4 Complementary Plays to take advantage of defensive answers

5. Play Action Component to take advantage of secondary support on runs

6. Route adjustments that can be made to attack coverage on passes

7. Reverse or trick play using the action of the original play 

    A full install is far beyond knowing the rules of a play, and your assignment. A full install of a play means that you can install that play, run it versus any front or coverage, and you have answers to the different adjustments defenses will make. When you have a concept fully installed, your players know how to adjust on the fly. They can change their path, their route, or their footwork. The back can adjust his path. The QB can adjust his read. Your players can make sight adjustments, and the coaches have complementary concepts that take advantage of defensive answers. You have to have answers for the answers of the defense.

    Let's look at midline option when installed fully. When midline is fully installed, we could run it against any front and any blitz. We had built in answers to the adjustments defenses made. We had if/thens built into the play. We had easy in-game adjustments that allowed us to handle different things the defense might do. Our kids could sight adjust based on how the defense lined up. We were able to successfully run the play anywhere on the field, against every opponent we faced, and we were able to have consistency. It wasn't a feast or famine concept. We had complementary tags that helped provide us answers to what defenses did to take midline away. 

    If they lined up in two high safeties, our receivers did one thing with their blocking. If we got 1 high safety, our receivers made an adjustment. Our playside guard changed his path based on the alignment of the read key and the defensive front. Our tackle and tight end would adjust their blocking based on whether there was a down guy in the C gap. 

    From the box, I could see what the defense was doing to try to stop midline. We typically saw three things defenses would do. First, they would scrape exchange with the 3 technique and the Mike backer. Second, they would have the Sam fall-in on the quarterback. Third, they would have the backside inside linebacker playing fast over the top to take the dive. We needed answers to those three adjustments. If they reduced their front, then we had ways to answer that as well. 

    We had complementary tags to take advantage of their adjustments. If they scrape exchanged, we would run our give scheme. If the Sam fell in on the QB, we would run mid triple which we tagged Mid Pitch. If the Will was fast over the top, we would run follow opposite. If the 3 tech was fast upfield, we would trap him. Below is an example of midline with complements. 

    We also had four play action concepts we ran off midline option to take advantage of secondary adjustments. If the Mike was playing triggering fast, we would throw a pop to the TE. If the safety was screaming downhill, we would run a post. If the corner was playing pitch, we ran verticals. We also ran the TE on an arrow off midline action if the Sam was squatting. 

How Much Is Too Much? 5 Negatives When You Install To Much

How much is too much? This is the age old question of offensive coordinators everywhere. At what point do we have too much installed? Why does this even matter? Is there such a thing as too much?

    The first thing I will say is that I never once thought we had too little installed. There never was a season where I said, man, we didn't have enough in our system. There have, however, been several seasons where we felt we had too much installed. And often, it showed on the field. 

When you have too much installed, there are 5 things that you will find. 

1. You never get good at anything

2. Your players can't execute at a high level

3. Your coaches struggle to troubleshoot during games

4. It becomes harder to call plays, especially the right plays

5. You don't have an identity. 

    When you have too much installed, it is hard to be good at anything. You will find that you become really good at being average. How many times have you called the perfect play, only to have a kid bust on assignments? This is going to happen at times, but it is going to happen far more often when you have too much installed. 

    I equate installation to a jar full of sand. Once that jar gets full, you put the lid on. You can't add any more sand because there isn't any room. When you add some more sand to the jar, you can't put the lid back on. If you do get the lid on, you risk the jar breaking. How many times have you overloaded your players to the point they can't execute? Everything you install has to be practiced. It has to be rehearsed. You have to be able to run it against any front. The more things you try to do, the less time you have to practice each thing. 

    Another big issue that comes up is troubleshooting. When you have too many plays in your playbook it makes it really difficult to troubleshoot. Your guys come to the sideline after a series, only to be overloaded with information. They are not going to be able to process that information.  Your kids won't be able to make adjustments on the fly. If I am a receiver who has to adjust my blocking based on who the force guy is, I have to be able to determine if this is one high or two high. I have to know based on depth, eyes, and leverage if the corner is a force guy, or a deep zone dropper, or playing man. The more I have to remember, the harder it is going to be for me to make an adjustment and block the right guy. It is why we have receivers blocking no one. They are unsure. This happens all the time in games. Or, a guy will run the wrong route. An offensive lineman will step with the wrong foot. Having too much creates confusion and makes it harder to troubleshoot. 

    The hardest thing to do as a play caller is choose the right play to call when you have too much installed. You are looking at your call sheet, and it is just filled with information. There are really great things on your call sheet, and you can't pick what to call. Or, you can't find something you are looking for. You become indecisive. When you are indecisive you are not going to be as effective as a play caller. If you are targeted in your preparation, you will find yourself being a better play caller. 

    What is your identity? You have to have an identity concept if you are gong to be successful. What is the one play that you can run in your sleep when you need a first down? What is the one thing people must be able to stop if they are going to beat you? That doesn't mean you aren't good at other things, but knowing your identity and identity concept are vital for you to be explosive on offense. Your kids also feed into your identity. When you don't know your identity, they won't know your identity. 

    This is the big challenge coaches face each season, and each game week. How much is too much? It is going to be different for each team. What works for one team may not work for another. Some teams have a higher football aptitude. When a backup is in the game, your call sheet might be limited even further. The less they have to learn, the more effective they will be able to be. 

    As you prepare for the upcoming season, ask yourself these three questions.

It's Camp Season!

Camp season is upon us, as colleges across the country will be hosting opportunities for student athletes to get exposure this summer. There are one day camps, three day camps, elite camps, satellite camps, and more. During this time of year I get bombarded with questions about camps from prospects and parents. 

First: Camps Are A Time For Evaluation

    Camps give college coaches a chance to do three things. First, they get to watch you move in person. They get to see you live and watch you perform. They see first hand your athleticism. They see your ability to change direction. The watch your footwork, your speed, quickness, and explosiveness. Do you have good hip flexibility? They are also going to see if you can make plays against elite competition. 

    Next, they are going to see how coachable you are. They get a chance to work with you through drills, and see how well you respond to coaching. Do you listen when you are given instruction? Do you listen when other players are getting instruction? Do you take reps, or do you hang in the back of the line? Do you hustle around? 

    Finally, they get to see if you pass the eye test. Are you big enough to play there? Are you really the height you say you are? Do you really weigh what you say you weigh? Do you have long arms? 

    Ultimately, they are going to determine if you will add value to their program. Will you help them win more games? Can they see you elevating their program? 

Next: A Camp Invite is NOT an Offer

    The University of Texas has come through your door to talk to your high school coach. They leave several camp brochures, and tell the coach they want to see some guys at camp. A Graduate assistant sends you a DM inviting you to camp. You get excited because Texas is your dream school. Up until this point they have not talked to you one time.  You were backup on varsity, and are undersized for your position. You sign up for the camp, and send the coach a link to your film. You go to camp, have the best day of your athletic career, and never hear from them again. This scenario gets played out thousands of times each year.

    Getting invited to camp does not mean a school is recruiting you. Question: Why would a college invite guys to camp that they aren't interested in recruiting? Great question. The answer is that they want a good turnout. They want the energy. You might think they would only want the guys they are recruiting. But that is really a non issue. You see, when they finish stretching and break into positions, athletes will then be grouped by ability. If you are a guy the school is recruiting, you will be grouped with the best players. You will be coached by the position coach. The guys who aren't being recruited will be grouped with the lesser talented players. They will be coached by a "guest" coach. This might be a Division II or Division 3 Coach, or a coach from outside who is hired to work the camp. This isn't a bad thing, and gives you an opportunity to be evaluated by a coach you might be able to play for.  

    Understand that when that college coach invites you to camp, he may just be looking for a guy to fill a spot. If the school hasn't talked to you at all before inviting you to camp, they probably aren't interested in evaluating you at camp. They want you at camp to increase the numbers. That doesn't mean you are a bad player, it simply means you aren't going to get an evaluation from the host school. 

Focus On Schools Where You Can Play

    You want to focus on attending camps at schools where you can play. If a school is actively recruiting you, their camp would benefit you. If a school does not know who you are, you are probably going to be a donation. Everyone wants to go to Alabama, or Oklahoma, or Ohio State, or some other major FBS Power 5 School. But realistically, if those schools haven't talked to you before camp, you are not going to come out of camp with an offer. Here are a couple simple things you can do to determine if you can play at the school: 

    Look at their roster. Are you comparable to the height and weight of the players they are recruiting? Do you have the grades and test score it would take to be admitted into school? Do you have similar statistics in high school to the guys they are recruiting, and are on their roster? This is a quick way to know if you even have a shot at being recruited by a school. 

    It is very rare that a player who is not being recruited walks into an FBS camp and earns an offer. While I say it is rare, it can happen. But it happens because you do something that "wows" the coaches. Several years ago I was at a camp at an FBS school, and a linebacker from a tiny high school showed up. He had no offers. The coaches tested 40's at the start of the camp, and he ran a 4.4. That got him some attention. He then did really well in every drill. When it came time for 1-on-1's, he covered running backs and tight ends like a blanket. He left camp with an offer. His 40 time became a difference maker. He did something that wowed the coaches. 

 Have A Camp Plan

    If you want to make the most of camp season, you have to have a plan. You don't want to go to camps to be a donation. You want to go to camp to increase your chances of earning a scholarship. You aren't going to be able to attend camps every day during the summer, nor do you want to. You want to make sure you are attending workouts with your own team, and you don't want to burn yourself out and risk injury attending camps every single weekend. Over the years I have seen many really good players pull a hamstring or a quad because they attend too many camps. You have to have a plan for your summer. If you finishing your junior year, it is vital you have a plan. You have one shot to earn a scholarship. 

    First, make list of schools who you have actually talked to. Then, find out when those schools are offering camps. Put those camp dates on a calendar. Look at your school workout schedule. if there are dates where a camp is offered when you don't have workouts, that is a camp you want to attend. See which camps are offered in close proximity and similar similar dates. If you are traveling over 2 hours to go to camp, try to find a couple of camps you can attend in that area. You might go to one camp on a Friday, and another on a Saturday. You can also set up campus visits when you attend camps. While there aren't a lot of students on campus, this gives you an opportunity to see the campus of a school you are interested in. 

Prepare For The Camp

    The first time you run a 40 should not be at camp. Make sure you are attending summer workouts for your own team. In addition to working hard in the weight room, make sure you are working on your speed and agility. Don't go into camp without being prepared to have a great performance. Over the years I have seen a number of guys go to camp as a prospect, and leave as a suspect. I have seen guys at the top of the board end up off the recruiting board because of a bad camp performance. Make sure you are prepared. 

Camps Are An Audition

    Camps are your chance to audition for college coaches. It is your opportunity to show the coaching staff that you have the ability to play at their school. Do you have the measurables they require? Do you have the athletic ability they are looking for? Do you have the right mindset and attitude to be a championship player? Everything you do at camp will be evaluated. Treat the camp as a business trip. You are not there to clown around and make friends. You are there to make an impression. 

Wear Something That Sticks Out

    This is key! If you look like everyone else, you will make it harder to get noticed. Wear a colorful bandana or wear your hat backwards. Get bright colored cleats and bright colored gloves. These are examples of things that will help you get noticed. When there is a break the coaches will be talking, and they will say, "hey, did you see the kid with the backwards hat running routes? He's explosive!" Or they will say, "hey, that kid with the bright orange cleats is the kind of guy we want." If you look like everyone else, you won't get noticed. 

    Always have a bag in the car with a couple of options. If you show up at a camp and a bunch of guys have something similar to you, it is good to have a backup. I always tell guys to bring a backup pair of cleats as well. You don't want to have a pair of shoes rip and then you can't perform. 

    With that said, your athletic ability, coachability, and effort are the most important things. Wearing something to differentiate yourself doesn't help if you don't perform. Make sure you go out there and compete.

Camps Are Important

    If you don't attend camps, you are going to reduce your chances of earning a scholarship. If a school tells your high school coach they really like you, but they need to evaluate you at camp before they will offer you, go to the camp. Over the years I have seen many athletes wonder why they are being "slept on" when they didn't go to any camps. Colleges won't recruit you if they don't know who you are. And just having a good film is not enough. You need to go to camps, and it is important you make sure you go to the right camps. 

4 Keys To Getting An Athletic Scholarship

For most of my coaching career I have been heavily involved in recruiting. I have been a high school recruiting coordinator for over 17 years, helping our athletes to get recruited. I also coached at the college level, where I evaluated and recruited student athletes. Over the years I have directed camps and showcases, and hosted recruiting seminars for parents, prospects, and coaches. 

Recruiting is ever-changing. It never stays the same. But one thing remains unchanged. It is competitive. There will be over $3.6 Billion in athletic scholarships given by NCAA schools this year, and another $500 million or so given by NAIA schools and junior colleges. Only 2% of high school athletes will earn any sort of scholarship. Most scholarships are going to be partial, but regardless of the amount, can help make college more affordable. 

How do you get recruited? How do you become one of those 2%. What does it take for you to earn an athletic scholarship? There are four things that parents and prospects must know when it comes to scholarships. 

1. You have to be talented

    

    If you do not have talent, you most likely will not be recruited. This is important to understand. Coaches need to have a reason to recruit you before they will do so. What do you do that no one else can do? If you don't separate yourself, your recruiting will be limited. Before you can earn an athletic scholarship, you have to be a very talented player. Can the college coach see you having the ability to help them win more games? Talent is often measured based on your film. 

2. You have to have the measurables

   

    Recruiting is a lot like a beauty contest. If you run a modeling agency, it doesn't matter how good someone can walk, if they don't have beauty, you won't hire them. This is how measurables work. If you are the best offensive linemen in your state, but you are 5'11," your chances of being recruited are slim. If you are 6'6" and 275 pounds, you will get interest based solely on your size. 

    There are certain measurables that college coaches are looking for at each position. For some schools, not meeting their measurables means they will not offer you a scholarship. They are going to look at your height, weight, wingspan, shoe size, hand size, body type, and more. Again, how are you going to set yourself apart? The better your measurables, the better your chance at a scholarship. If you don't have the measurables, it makes it harder to earn a scholarship. 

3. You have to gain exposure

    No one will recruit you who doesn't know who you are. You have to get your name in front of college coaches. You have to attend camps and showcases. One of the biggest myths in recruiting is that if you are really good, coaches will find you. This simply isn't the case. There are literally thousands of really, really talented athletes who don't get recruited each year, that are good enough to play. They aren't getting recruited because no one knows who they are. 

    When you make a decision that you want to play college sports, you have to immediately begin to put your name out there. You have to be willing to do the leg work to get yourself known. If you come from an elite high school program, coaches might find you. But if you are like most kids who come from less well-known programs, you have to be very proactive. Reach out to college coaches. Go on their website and fill out their questionnaires. Go to camps and showcases. Use Social Media. There are so many things that you can do right now. If you want to be recruited you have to be willing to get your name out there. Just like in sales, the more contacts you make, the more chance you have of someone being interested in you. 

4. You have to have good grades. 

    The first thing a college coach asks for is your transcript. If you have below a 3.0 GPA, you are sabotaging yourself. The number of schools who can recruit you is reduced every tenth of a point your GPA falls. Every time you get a zero on an assignment, you sabotage yourself. 

    Getting good grades starts with being in class, and being there on-time. Second, you put your phone away and look at the teacher. Listen to them and take notes. Then, complete your classwork in class. Never say, "I'll do it at home" when the teacher gives you time to work on things in class. And when you do get homework, do it. Homework should be the first thing you do when you get home. Don't turn on the game system or FaceTime your girlfriend until your homework is done. 

    If you are struggling in class, go to tutorials. Your teachers will help you. Someone right now is reading this and saying, "but my teacher won't help me, she's mean to me when I ask for help." That may be true. It might be because your teacher is mean. Or, it might be because you haven't put forth much effort in class, and the teacher wants you to work harder. If the teacher doesn't like you, ask yourself what you need to do to change. Most likely, you have done some unlikable things. College coaches don't want to recruit guys that aren't going to do well in school. And if your GPA is too low, they can't recruit you. It is vital you do well in school. 

    Part of having good grades is knowing what your core GPA is. Your core GPA is not your overall GPA. Your core GPA is based on your math, English, science, social studies, and foreign language courses you take in high school. These courses must be on your school's 48H form. If you don't know what this form is, see your counselor. It lists every NCAA approved core course offered by your high school. I have seen kids lose scholarships because they took courses that didn't count towards the NCAA core course requirement. 

BONUS KEY: Your highlight film matters! Your film with either move you up the recruiting board, or move you down the recruiting board. Your film might even get you taken off the recruiting board. Your highlight film should only be highlights. Don't put average on film. 

Make sure you put your best plays first. Don't put plays in chronological order. Put your most explosive plays first. If they would say WOW, then that play should be the first thing they see. Don't worry if your film is too short. Don't put average plays on film to make it longer. This is a huge mistake too many prospects make. Only show them film that would make them want you to be a part of their program.

    

HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TODAY TO GREATLY INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF A SCHOLARSHIP! Recently I made my recruiting webinar available online for parents and prospects. This has hours of valuable information that will help you with the entire recruiting process. It has everything you need to navigate the recruiting process. For less than the cost of attending a college camp, you can learn everything you need to know to increase your chances of earning a college athletic scholarship! Click the link below to take advantage! I have put this on sale for a limited time! Click HERE to take advantage of this offer!

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Additional Resources for Coaches:

Last year I got hooked up with CoachTube, and put together three courses for offensive football coaches. I put together two courses on RPO's, and a course on Building An Elite System of Communication. All of these courses will help you to score more points!  https://coachtube.com/users/coachvint

Installing Post-Snap RPO's

Installing Pre-Snap RPO's To Get Your Skill Guys More Touches

Building An Elite System of Gameday Communication

All three of these courses are detailed, with everything you need to be more explosive and to score more points. 

The course on communication gives you a detailed approach to your gameday communication. I give you a system and a process to improve the quality of conversations, leading to improved play calling on game day. This course has received outstanding reviews from coaches at all level of football. A coach with multiple state titles told me this course helped them to be much more efficient and explosive this season. 

My two RPO courses take you through a systematic process of installing RPO's into your offensive system. RPO's put the defense in conflict, forcing them to defend all 53 yards of width and all 6 skill players every single play. I not only give you a system, but I teach you the methods to develop your own RPO concepts. 

https://coachtube.com/users/coachvint