← Table of contents
Building a championship football team

Index

Reading edition

A & M wave drill, 222-223

Action pass:

coverage of, 75-77

from broken backfield, 78-79

from flanker set, 4-spoke coverage versus, 96-97

from floater set, 4-spoke coverage versus, 98-99

4-spoke pass defense against, 92-93

Africa, 16

Against the grain, 143

Aggies, 232, 233

Agility drills, 209

Alabama wave drill, 226-227

Ant plan, 16-17

Assistant coach, 203, 204, 212

group work, 21

responsibility, 22

specialist, 21-22

type of man, 18-20

Automatics, 151-152

faking, 152

Backs:

flanked out, defense adjustments versus, 56-57

in victory defense, 47

Bad play, 141

Ball carrying techniques, 155-157

mental attitude and, 157

open field running, 156-157

Baltimore Colts, 3

Baseball terminology, 214

Berry, Ray, 3

Best defensive player, in victory defense, 47-48

“Big plays,” 214

Big tip drill, 218-219

Blocked kicks, 114, 115

Blocking techniques, 157-166

blocking linebackers, 159-160

crack back block, 164-165

downfield, 160-161

drive block, 157-158

junction block, 165

pass protection, 163-164

post-lead block, 161-162

reverse shoulder block, 158-159

roll block, 165-166

trap block, 162-163

Box defense, 143, 190

Bucker drill, 228

Butt ball drill, 222

Butt block, 120

Center, 114

extra point and field goal blocking rules, 137

in goal line defense, 49-50

offensive stance for, 145

in quick kick formation, 125

spread punt blocking rules, 119

Champions, 231-234

Chop block, 143

Church, 20

Circle drill, 224-225

Clemson College, 16

Climb block, 143

Club, 142-143

Coach:

assistant (see Assistant coach)

backfield, 187, 195-196

dedication, 10

defensive, 21-22, 208, 212

head (see Head coach)

high school, 22

long term contract, 9-10

mental toughness, 10

necessity of a plan, 11

offensive, 21-22, 205, 208, 212

qualifications, 10

quarterback, 194

staff, 11

and winning team, 9-11

Coaching:

division of duties, 21-23

over-coaching kickers, 112

rewards of, 232

teaching and, 23

(see also Planning for a game)

Color, 143

Conerly, Charlie, 2

Corner man:

defensive stance, 43

left, defensive:

4-spoke pass defense versus action pass, 93

from flanker set, 96-97

from floater set, 99

4-spoke pass coverage versus straight drop back pass, 91

from flanker set, 95

from floater set, 98

4-spoke pass defense versus roll-out pass, 95

right, defensive:

4-spoke pass defense versus action pass, 92

from flanker set, 97

from floater set, 99

4-spoke pass coverage versus straight drop back pass, 91

from flanker set, 96

from floater set, 97-98

4-spoke pass defense versus roll-out pass, 94

Cotton Bowl, 3

Courage, example of, 4-7

Covered, 142

Covering third-and-fourths drill, 216-217

Crack back, 143

Crack back block, 164-165

Cross-body block, 120

Crow, John, 141

Cutchin, Phil, 195

Cut off, 142

Dedication:

coach, 10

players, 12

Defenders, pass defense by, 85

Defense, 24-61

axioms, 27

errors, 26

gang tackling, 28

goal line, 48-51

importance of belief in, 61

limiting offense, 26

numbering system, 28-34

advantages of, 34

objectives, 24-27

offensive-minded, 25

pass (see Pass defense)

personal challenge, 26-27

philosophy of, 26

reaction football, 26

scoring, 25, 26

signal callers, 33, 34

6-2 alignment, 53-56

split-T, 51-55

stance, 41-43

surprise, 44-46

team proposition, 27-28

techniques, playing of, 34-41

versus backs and ends flanked, 56-57

versus single wing offense, 57-61

versus unbalanced line, 56

victory, 46-48

Defensive alignment:

attacking, 171

even, 190

numbering, 166-171

odd, 190

Defensive bucker drill, 228, 230

Defensive coach, 21-22, 208, 212

Defensive cuts drill, 215

Defensive ends, drills for, 220-221

Defensive football (see Defense)

Defensive interior linemen, drills for, 222-228

Defensive reaction drill, 226

Defensive secondary:

drills for, 215-220

stunting in, 105-110

Desire to excel, 13

Dietzel, Paul, 2

Dog fight, 25

Dog fight drill, 217

for safety man, 218

Downfield blocking, 160-161

Drills, 215-230

for defensive ends, 220-221

for defensive interior linemen, 222-228

defensive, for team, 230

functional, 230

for linebackers, 228-230

for secondary, 215-220

(see also under Name of Drill)

Drive block, 143, 157-158

Drive man, 143

Eagle, 144

“Easy” touchdown, 24, 25, 27, 61

8-man front, 143

recognizing and attacking, 190-192

8 technique, 40

Ends:

blocking rules:

extra point and field goal, 137-138

spread punt, 119

tight punt formation, 123

defense versus single wing offense, 58

defensive stance, 42

in 5-spoke defense, 70

flanked out, defense adjustments versus, 56-57

goal line defense, 49

left, in punt return, 127-128

left, defensive:

coverage of action pass from broken backfield, 78

coverage of straight drop back pass, 75

from broken backfield, 78

pass defense by, 81-82

in quick kick formation, 125

right, in punt return, 128

right, defensive:

coverage of action pass, 76

from broken backfield, 79

coverage of straight drop back pass, 75

from broken backfield, 77

6-2 alignment, 53-54

in split-T defense, 52

in victory defense, 47

Errors, 24, 26

Even defense, 143

Explode drills, 225-226

Extra-point, blocking rules, 137-138

Eye-closer drill, 229

Eye-opener drill, 229

Far back, 142

Field goal:

blocking rules, 137-138

defending against attempt, 139

Field position, 187-190

Fighting spirit, 186

Fill, 143

Films, of game, 203, 204, 206, 212

grading, 213-214

First down zone, 189

5-spoke defense, 31, 32, 33, 66-73

(see also 5-spoke pass defense)

5-spoke pass defense:

advantages of, 85-86

dividing the areas, 71-73

principle of, 87

5 technique, 38

Flanker set:

4-spoke coverage versus straight drop back pass from, 95-96

4-spoke coverage versus action pass from, 96-97

Flare, 143

Flooding an area, 179-181

Flow, 142

Football:

American way of life, 3-4

intrinsic values of, 4-7

winning, theory of, 8-17

Four Horsemen, 1

4-on-1 drill, 222

4-spoke defense, 30-31

(see also 4-spoke pass defense)

4-spoke pass defense:

advantages of, 87-89

alignment, 89-90

in 40 series, 99

principle of, 87

versus action pass, 92-93

from flanker set, 96-97

from floater set, 98-99

versus flanker set, 95-97

versus floater set, 97-99

versus roll-out pass, 93-95

versus straight drop back pass, 90-92

from floater set, 97-98

4 technique, 35, 37

Free wheeling zone, 189

Fullback:

in goal line defense, 50-51

offensive stance for, 146

in quick kick formation, 125

Fumbling, 27, 28

Gain, Bob, 112

“Gangster,” 108-109

Gang tackling, 28

Gap, 143

Gap 8 alignment, 32

Gauntlet drill, 227-228, 230

Gilmer, Harry, 2

Gipp, George, 3

Goal line defense, 48-51

challenge of, 48

Goehring, Dennis, 233

Going wide, 171-174

change-off for blockers, 174

quarterback option, 172-173

run-pass option, 172

three-way option, 173-174

Grange, Red, 1

Groin block, 143

Guards:

blocking rules:

for extra point and field goal, 137-138

for spread punt, 119

defense versus single wing offense, 58

defensive stance, 42

goal line defense, 49

middle:

in punt return, 127

in split-T defense, 52

in quick kick formation, 125

right, in punt return, 128

6-2 alignment, 53

versus single wing offense, 59

Gut zone, 189

Hale, Lloyd, 233

Halfbacks:

defensive, pass defense by, 83-84

defensive stance, 43

in 5-spoke defense, 70

left:

4-spoke coverage versus action pass from floater set, 99

in goal line defense, 51

in quick kick formation, 125-126

left, defensive:

coverage of action pass, 76

from broken backfield, 79

coverage of straight drop back pass, 75

from broken backfield, 77

4-spoke pass defense versus action pass, 93

from flanker set, 97

4-spoke pass defense versus roll-out pass, 94

4-spoke pass coverage versus straight drop back pass, 91

from flanker set, 95-96

from floater set, 98

offensive stance for, 146

in punt return, 128

right:

4-spoke coverage versus action pass from floater set, 99

in goal line defense, 50-51

in quick kick formation, 125

right, defensive:

coverage of action pass, 76

from broken backfield, 79

coverage of straight drop back pass, 75

from broken backfield, 77

4-spoke pass defense versus action pass, 91-92

from flanker set, 97

4-spoke pass defense versus roll-out pass, 94

4-spoke pass coverage versus straight drop back pass, 91

from floater set, 96, 98

6-2 alignment, 54

in victory defense, 47

Head coach, 18, 23

delegation of responsibility, 22, 23

example, 19

group work, 21

(see also Coach)

Head on, 144

Henderson, Gene, 114

High school coach, plan for, 22

Holder, in extra point and field goal attempt, 138

Howard, Frank, 16

Huddle, offensive, 152-153

Ice, 143

Inspiration, 232

Intercept drill, 215-216

Intercepting passes, 27, 62, 66, 105

“It’s All in a State of Mind,” 231-232

Junction block, 165

Keith, Bob, 233

Kicker:

blocking rules for tight punt formation, 124

over-coaching, 112

in quick kick formation, 125-126

Kicking, in defensive football, 24-25

Kicking game techniques, 111-139

extra point blocking rules, 137-138

field goal attempt:

blocking rules, 137

defense against, 139

kick-off, and its coverage, 130-137

kick-off return, 132-134

on side (short) kick, 134-136

defending against, 136-137

place kicking formation, 138

punting, 111-116

punt return, 126-130

quick kick formation, 124-126

spread punt formation, 116-122, 126

tight punt formation, 122-124

Kick-off, 27, 130-137

coverage, 130

types, 130-132

Kick-off return, 27, 132-134

middle, 133

right, 132

L.B., 142

LeBaron, Eddie, 2

Left end (see under Ends)

Left halfback (see under Halfbacks)

Left tackle (see under Tackles)

Leverage drill, 225

Lewis, Tommy, 3

“Lightning,” 109-110

Linebackers:

blocking by offense, 159-160

defensive:

4-spoke defense versus action pass, 93

4-spoke pass coverage versus straight drop back pass, 91-92

pass defense by, 182-183

defensive stance, 42-43

drills for, 228-230

in 5-spoke defense, 70

4-spoke coverage versus straight drop back pass from flanker set, 96

inside, in goal line defense, 50-51

left, in punt return, 128

left, defensive:

coverage of action pass, 76-77

from broken backfield, 78-79

coverage of straight drop back pass, 75

from broken backfield, 78

middle:

in goal line defense, 49-50

defense versus single wing offense, 58

outside, in goal line defense, 51

right, in punt return, 128

right, defensive:

coverage of action pass, 76

from broken backfield, 79

coverage of straight drop back pass, 75

from broken backfield, 77

6-2 alignment, 54

in split-T defense, 52

strong side, defense versus single wing offense, 59

in victory defense, 47

weak side, defense versus single wing offense, 58

Linemen:

blocking techniques, 157

defensive interior, drills for, 222-228

interior, blocking rules for tight punt formation, 122

middle, in victory defense, 47

offensive stance for, 144-145

spread punt blocking principle for, 119

warm up time, 212

Line splits, 146-150

basic rules, 147-150

pre-shift position, 147

Lipscomb, Gene “Big Daddy,” 2

Lockett, Bobby, 234

Long term contract, value of, 9-10

L.O.S., 142

McKenzie, Jim, 26

Man on L.O.S., 142

Meals, pre-game, 211, 212

Michigan State University, 113

Middle drill, 223-224, 230

M.L.B., 142

Moore, “Scrappy,” 117

Morale:

coaching squad, 21

for defense, 25, 26

squad, 21

team, 186

Motion, 143

“Must” zone, 188-189

Nagurski, Bronco, 2

Near back, 142

New York Giants, 2, 15

9-man front, 143

recognizing and attacking, 192-194

9 technique, 41

Notre Dame University, 3

N/T, 142

Numbering system for defense, 28-34

advantages of, 34

O’Brien, Davy, 2

Odd defense, 143

Off-back, 142

Offense:

advantages over defense, 150

assignment football, 26

main requirements of, 140

mistakes, 25

objective, 140

primary principles of, 140

sound, 141-142

Offensive coach, 21-22, 205, 208, 212

Offensive football (see Offense)

Offensive-minded defense, 25

Offensive passing game techniques, 176-185

passer, 176-179

pass receiving, 183-185

pass routes, 179-182

Offensive running game, 140-175

attacking defensive alignment, 171

ball carrying techniques, 155-157

basic principles of, 140

blocking techniques, 157-166

going wide, 171-174

huddle, 152-153

line splits, 146-150

numbering defensive alignments, 166-171

quarterback’s techniques, 153-155

requirements of, 140

snap count, 150-152

stance, 144-146

terminology, 142-144

Off-side, 142

On-back, 142

One-six formation, 121

1 technique, 35-36

On linebacker, 143

On-side, 142

On-side (short) kick, 134-136

defending against, 136-137

Organization, in building winning team, 15-17

Osborne, Roddie, 141

O technique, 35

“Out-mean,” 13, 17

Outside drill, 218

Over, 142

Owens, Jim, 2

Pardee, Jack, 6, 57, 141, 233

Parella, Babe, 114

Parilli, Vito “Babe,” 176

Pass coverage, 73-81

of action pass, 75-77

from broken backfield, 78-79

of end out, 79

of flanked back and split end out to opposite sides, 80-81

of straight drop back pass, 74-75

from broken backfield, 77-78

zone coverage, 74

Pass cuts, 181-182

Pass defense, 62-110

coaching point, 62

5-spoke, or 3-deep, 66-73

advantages of, 85-86

4-spoke pass defense, 87-89 (see also 4-spoke pass defense)

individual effort in, 62

objectives, 62-66

pass coverage, 73-81 (see also Pass coverage)

phases:

covering areas, 63, 66

holding up the receivers, 63, 64-65

rushing the passer, 63-64

by positions, 81-85

predetermined rotation, 99-104

principles of, 110

stunting in the defensive secondary, 105-110

versus action pass with broken backfield, 78-79

versus broken backfield, 77-78

Passer, 176-179

footwork, 178

grip, 176-177

passing principles and techniques, 178-179

release and delivery, 177-178

rushing of, 63-64

warm up time, 212

Passes (see under Name)

Passing, principles and techniques, 178-179

(see also Passer)

Passing game:

essentials of, 176

primary objectives, 179

(see also Offensive passing game techniques)

Pass protection, 163-164

Pass receiving, 183-185

Pass routes, 179-182

flooding an area, 179-181

offensive pass cuts, 181-182

Pass rush, 64

Peel-off drill, 220-221, 230

Penalties, piling on, 28

Personal protector:

spread punt blocking rules, 119, 120

tight punt formation blocking rules, 123-124

Phillips, O. A. “Bum,” 29

Piling on, penalty for, 28

Place kick, blocking, 139

Place kicking formation, 138

Planning, 16

Planning for a game, 203-214

grading game film, 213-214

in-season planning, 204-212

out-of-season planning, 203-204

week preceding game, 204-212

Players:

dedication, 12

desire to excel, 13

leaders, 14

physical condition, 13

“solid citizens,” 10, 14, 231

traits necessary, 12

type, 11

Point of attack, 142

Position, 144

Position ball, 143

Position lateral, 142

Post-lead block, 161-162

Post man, 143

Powell, Dee, 234

Practice, 206, 207-209, 210, 211

time essential, 214

Punt (see under Kicking game techniques)

Punter, 112-114

timing of, 114-116

Punting, 111-116

Punt return, 126-130

left, 126-128

middle, 128-130

Pursuer, 143

Pursuit drill, 230

Quarterback:

characteristics of, 187

faking, 155

field position, 187-190

in goal line defense, 51

greatest asset, 186

guide for, 196-202

in huddle, 152-153

making the exchange, 154-155

offensive stance for, 145-146

option, 172-173

passing, 105

playing game on blackboard, 194-196

in quick kick formation, 125

after receiving snap, 154

recognizing and attacking defenses, 190-196

stance, 153

taking snap-back, 153-154

team confidence in, 186

techniques, 153-155

tips for, 201-202

training of, 186-202

types of, 186-187

Quick kick formation, 124-126

surprise element, 126

RBI, 214

“Reading” drill, 221

Receivers, holding up, 64-65

Reverse shoulder block, 158-159

Rice Institute, 3, 5, 6, 113, 135

Right end (see under Ends)

Right guard (see under Guards)

Right halfback (see under Halfbacks)

Right tackle (see under Tackles)

“Robber,” 107-108

Robinson, Jackie, 72

Rockne, Knute, 1

Roll back, 144

Roll block, 165-166

Roll-out pass, 4-spoke pass defense against, 93-95

Rose Bowl, 1

Rotation, predetermined, 99-104

Running game (see Offensive running game)

Running the line drill, 216

Run-pass option, 172

Rushing the passer drill, 227

Safety man:

defensive:

coverage of action pass, 76

from broken backfield, 79

coverage of straight drop back pass, 75

from broken backfield, 77

pass defense by, 84-85

defensive stance, 43

in 5-spoke defense, 70

in punt return, 128

6-2 alignment, 54

in victory defense, 47

Scoring, on defense, 25

Scoring zone, 189

Scout, 204, 207

(see also Coaching)

Scout report, 207

Scrimmages, 230

Secondary:

alignments, 190

defensive, drills for, 215-220

6-2 alignment, 54

in split-T defense, 52-53, 54

3-deep, defense versus single wing offense, 59

Secondary rotation, defensive calls for, 100-104

Self-scoring zone, 189-190

Set, 142

“7,” 142

Seven Blocks of Granite, 1

7-man spin-out drill, 224

7 technique, 39

Shoot out, 143

Signal callers, 34, 35

in adjustments versus backs and ends flanked, 57

Signal calling, automatic versus non-automatic, 151-152

Single wing offense, defense versus, 57-61

“6,” 142

6 technique, 38-39

6-2 alignment, 53-56

versus single wing offense, 59, Fig. 37

Slam, 142

Snap count, 150-152

Sooners, 2, 26

Southern Methodist University, 116

Southwest Conference Championship, 232, 233

Split, 6, 32

Split-T defense, 51-55

Spread punt formation, 116-122, 126

advantages, 117

blocking rules, 118-120

coverage, 120-122

line splits, 117-118

Staff meetings, 22, 23

(see also Planning for a game)

Stagg, Amos Alonzo, 2

Stallings, Gene, 6, 233

Stance:

defensive, 41-43

(see also under Offensive running game)

Straight drop back pass:

coverage of, 74-75

from broken backfield, 77-78

from flanker set, 4-spoke coverage versus, 95-96

from floater set, 4-spoke coverage versus, 97-98

4-spoke pass coverage versus, 90-92

Strategy, planning of, 205

Sugar Bowl, 15, 26

“Surprise defense,” 44-46

Tackles:

defense versus single wing offense, 58

defensive stance, 42

extra point and field goal blocking rules, 137-138

goal line defense, 49

left, in punt return, 127

right, in punt return, 128

6-2 alignment, 53

in split-T defense, 52

spread punt blocking rules, 119

in victory defense, 47

Tackling drill in the secondary, 219-220

Tackling, gang, 28

Taylor, Lloyd, 6, 141

Teaching, coaching and, 23

Team:

drills, 208

defensive, 230

“learning,” 208

unity, 14

Teamwork, defense and, 27-28

Texas A & M, 29, 57, 87, 113, 114, 141, 232

1955 football team, 5-6

3-deep defense, 143

Three down zone, 189

3-on-3 drill, 223

3 technique, 36-37

Three-way option, 173-174

“Thunder,” 51, 106-107

Tight punt formation, 122-124

blocking rules for, 122-124

kicking from, 122

Time schedules, pre-game, 211-212

Timing:

centers, 114

for extra point, 138

for field goal attempt, 138

punters, 114-116

Tip drill, 216

Touchdowns:

“easy,” 24, 25, 27, 61

interceptions and, 27

Trail junction blocker, 143

Trap block, 162-163

Tulane University, 116

“Twelfth man,” 219

2-deep defense (see 4-spoke pass defense)

Two-on-one block (see Post-lead block)

Two-platoon football, 111

2 technique, 34, 36

Unbalanced line, defense versus, 56

Unity, feeling of, 14

University of Alabama, 87

University of Chattanooga, 117

University of Cincinnati, 136

University of Georgia, 114, 194

University of Houston, 195, 196

University of Kentucky, 14, 112, 113, 114, 116, 136, 176

University of Mississippi, 116

University of Oklahoma, 15, 26, 141

University of Tennessee, 115, 116

University of Texas, 232, 233

Up-backs:

extra point and field goal blocking rules, 137-138

spread punt blocking rules, 119-120

tight punt formation blocking rules, 123

U. S. Navy, 16

Vanderbilt University, 116

“Victory defense,” 46-48

Watson, Don, 6, 233

Wave drill, 230

Webb, Clayton, 112

Wide tackle, 32

Wilkinson, Bud, 2, 141

Winning:

intrinsic value of, 4

theory of, 8-17

Wintle, Walter D., 231

Woodard, Woody, 116

Wright, Jimmy, 6

Zone coverage, 74

Zones, 187-190

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