The Football Coaching Podcast with Joe Daniel

Joe Daniel Football
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Helping Football Coaches build your Program and Succeed

  1. 3d ago

    How to Defend the Flexbone Offense | FBCP S21E10

    Defending the Flexbone doesn't require installing a gimmick defense it requires trusting your base run fits and understanding how they account for the dive, quarterback, and pitch. Joe Daniel and Daniel Chamberlain break down how the Umbrella run fit system handles the triple option, what to look for when game planning a Flexbone team, and how to dictate option reads based on personnel and tendencies. Coaches will learn how to keep the plan simple, identify the player they can't allow to beat them, and make smart in-game adjustments without abandoning the defense their players execute best. 5:17 - Understanding the Flexbone Offense 9:15 - Flexbone Formation and Personnel Alignment 11:30 - Flexbone Base Plays and Concepts 14:01 - Why Your Base Defense Stops the Flexbone 15:20 - Fitting the Umbrella Defense to the Flexbone 20:07 - How Run Fits Handle All Option Offenses 22:46 - Avoiding Gimmick Defenses Against Triple Option 35:53 - Game Planning for the Flexbone 44:39 - Stopping the Flexbone Star Player 49:32 - In Game Adjustments Against the Flexbone  Defending the Flexbone Offense Step 1: Build Your Defense Around Umbrella Run Fits Start with a run fit system that accounts for the dive, quarterback and pitch without changing your defense for the Flexbone. Every defender needs a consistent spill, force, alley or stay in coverage responsibility. READ: Coach the Umbrella Principle to Get Perfect Run Fits for Your Defense Step 2: Understand How Your Base Defense Handles Option Football Learn how the same run fits handle different forms of option football. Instead of installing a special Flexbone defense, understand how your existing responsibilities account for the dive, quarterback and pitch phases of the option. LISTEN: How to Defend the Spread Option Offense | FBCP S21E07 Step 3: Keep the Corner Out of the Run Fit Maintain a stay in coverage defender so the offense cannot use play action when the defense becomes overly aggressive against the option. Let the Free Safety attack the run while the Corner protects against the explosive pass. READ: How to Coach Football's Cover 3 Defense Step 4: Prepare Your Players to Execute Their Fits Turn the run fit responsibilities into reactions your players can execute without searching for the football. Train key reads, block reactions and the force and alley relationship so defenders can play their assignment against the deception of the Flexbone. READ: The Most Important Football Drill for Coaching Safeties Step 5: Build the Flexbone Game Plan From Film Identify what this specific Flexbone offense does best before adding adjustments. Find their best player, determine which phase of the option creates explosive plays, study their tendencies and decide where you want the football to go. DOWNLOAD: Defensive System Guide Step 6: Prepare Adjustments Without Abandoning Your Base Know where your base defense can be attacked and prepare answers before game day. Use fronts, tags, slants or added numbers only when the opponent gives you a reason to make the change. READ: Identify These Four Weaknesses in Your Defensive Playbook to Make Great Adjustments Step 7: Trust the System and Make Them Execute Do not panic when the Flexbone strings together first downs or controls the clock. Continue fitting the dive, quarterback and pitch, force the offense to execute repeatedly, and make adjustments only when you have identified a specific problem your base defense is not solving. ​LISTEN: We Can't Stop the Run | FBCP S18E05

  2. Sep 3

    Offensive Line Drills | FBCP S21E09

    Great offensive line drills aren't about collecting more drills, they're about identifying the blocks your offense actually needs and building practice around the problems your linemen must solve on Friday night. In this episode, Daniel Chamberlain and Joe Daniel break down practical drills for gap and zone schemes, combo blocks, pulling, pass protection, and first-step footwork while explaining how to eliminate traditional drills that don't translate to game situations. 4:58 - Identifying Which Blocks to Drill in Your Scheme  12:39 - Overrated O Line Drills Sleds Boards and Chutes  14:58 - The O Line Coach as Advocate for Your Linemen  16:13 - Minimizing Block Engagement Time for Smaller Linemen 31:57 - Vertical Pass Set Drill Using Yard Lines 35:08 - Group Pass Protection Drill vs One on Ones 37:43 - Combo Block Drill with Hip to Hip Pad Technique  48:21 - Gap Scheme Pull and Kick Drill with Chute Landmarks  56:54 - Base Blocking Drills Zone Reach and Down Blocks  60:54 - Pass Protection Footwork and Birdwalk Communication Drill Build Better Offensive Line Drills 1. Build Drills Around the Football Your Linemen Actually Play Start by identifying the blocks, footwork and techniques your offensive system actually requires. Your drill menu should come from your scheme and the problems you see on film, not a collection of traditional offensive line drills. READ: Complete Guide to Coaching Football Drills that Win Games 2. Learn to Diagnose What Your Offensive Line Needs Break offensive line execution into smaller problems you can attack in practice. Use game and practice film to identify the specific skill that is failing, then build drill work around correcting that problem. LISTEN: Better Football Drills That Get Faster Results | FBCP S20E20 3. Make the First Two Steps the Foundation Build offensive line technique from the first step to the second step, then add aiming points, fits and finishes. Mastering those first two steps gives your linemen the best opportunity to execute blocks without relying on size or strength. LISTEN: Individual Drill Periods for Skill Development | FBCP S21E01 4. Simplify the Job for Your Offensive Line Reduce the number of blocking schemes your players have to master and build the offense around what your linemen can execute. Use formations, tags, shifts and other adjustments to create answers without constantly changing their core blocking rules. LISTEN: How to Design Run Plays That Get Big Yards | FBCP S20E16 5. Develop Communication and Combination Blocking Teach offensive linemen to recognize fronts, communicate responsibilities and work together instead of treating every block as an isolated one-on-one matchup. Build simple rules that let players solve movement and second-level defenders together. LISTEN: Coaching Combo Blocks in Your Offensive System | FBCP S17E08 6. Progress Individual Technique Into the Run Game Move from controlled footwork and blocking drills into pods, half-line work and group run periods. Keep the same techniques and communication your linemen learned individually while gradually adding the movement and decisions they will see on game day. LISTEN: Practice Planning: Group Run Drills for Skill Progression | FBCP S21E05 7. Build Offensive Line Development Into the Practice Plan Give your offensive line enough focused practice time to reinforce the blocks and communication your offense needs that week, then carry that same focus through individual, group and team periods. DOWNLOAD: Perfect Practice Plan Template​

  3. Aug 27

    Practice Planning: Group Passing Drills for Game Day Execution | FBCP S21E08

    Build a group passing period that actually carries over to Friday night instead of simply looking good in seven-on-seven. Dan Chamberlain and Joe Daniel break down how to progress from individual work and routes on air into half-field concepts, seven-on-seven, and team periods while giving quarterbacks, receivers, and defenders meaningful game-specific reps. Coaches will learn how to increase practice tempo, create more good-on-good work, simplify coverage adjustments with tags, and keep both sides of the ball focused on the reads and reactions that matter when the run game is back in the equation. 14:42 - Planning Group Passing Periods 16:22 - Practice Focus and Progression for Passing 25:30 - Defensive Passing Indies Before Run Indies 28:36 - Getting Good on Good in Group Passing 30:03 - Routes on Air Drill Setup 33:01 - Curl Drill Against Cover Three 42:55 - Air Drill Up Tempo Passing 45:03 - Defensive Coverage Tags and Spokes 48:59 - Split Field Seven on Seven Drill 60:58 - Translating Seven on Seven to Team Period Progressing Your Group Passing Drills Step 1: Build Every Practice Around a Clear Focus Start with the specific passing skills, reads and concepts your offense and defense need to improve, then organize every period so individual, group and team work progresses toward that same goal. READ: 10 Keys To Preparing a Football Practice Plan that Wins Games Step 2: Build Individual Skills That Transfer to Group Passing Break the passing game into the smallest skills your quarterbacks, receivers and defenders need to execute, then use individual periods to prepare them for the reads and techniques they will encounter when the groups come together. LISTEN: Individual Drill Periods for Skill Development | FBCP S21E01 Step 3: Develop the Quarterback Before Expanding the Passing Drill Give your quarterback the throwing mechanics, footwork and fundamentals he needs before asking him to execute complete concepts against a defense. Progress from warmups and routes on air into the reads and decisions required in group passing periods. LISTEN: Quarterback Drills and Throwing Mechanics | FBCP S21E02 Step 4: Simplify the Passing Game Around Concepts Your Players Can Execute Build your passing periods around a small number of concepts your quarterback can read and your receivers can execute consistently. Once the base concepts are reliable, use tags and adjustments to expand what you can attack without adding unnecessary complexity. LISTEN: Our Passing Game Sucks! | FBCP S18E02 Step 5: Progress From Individual Work to Group and Team Execution Use a deliberate progression from individual technique into routes on air, half field concepts, 7 on 7 and finally team periods. Each step should add another piece of the game without losing the focus established earlier in practice. READ: Complete Guide to Coaching Football Drills that Win Games Step 6: Make 7 on 7 Productive for Your Defense Use 7 on 7 to reinforce the actual coverage rules your defenders will execute on Friday night. Work the key reads, drops, route combinations, change ups and pressures that matter against your opponent instead of treating 7 on 7 like a passing tournament. READ: How to Coach Football's Cover 3 Defense Step 7: Put the Progression Into Your Weekly Practice Plan Build individual, group passing and team periods into a repeatable practice structure so players get enough quality reps without wasting time between periods. Use the template as the weekly shell, then change the focus and specific drills based on what your team needs to improve. ​DOWNLOAD: Perfect Practice Plan Template

  4. Aug 20

    How to Defend the Spread Option Offense | FBCP S21E07

    Learn how to defend the spread option without rebuilding your defense for one opponent. Joe Daniel and Daniel Chamberlain explain how umbrella run fits naturally account for the dive, quarterback, and pitch, how simple tags can influence option reads, and how to prepare your scout team to give defenders realistic looks without trying to perfectly recreate the opponent's offense. 6:41 - Scout Team Building From Base Blocks 16:54 - Umbrella Run Fits for Option Defense  19:35 - Natural Gap Exchange Without Tags 24:16 - Defending Pistol Flexbone Triple Option  28:35 - Stopping Spread Option From Base Defense  30:49 - Dictating Quarterback Reads With Q Tags  35:49 - Blitz Packages Against Spread Option 43:25 - Scout Team Preparation for Spread Option  49:03 - Practice Drills for Spread Option  50:56 - Formation Splits and Film Study Keys  Defending the Spread Option Step 1: Build Your Defense Around Umbrella Run Fits Start with a run fit system that gives every defender a consistent responsibility against the dive, quarterback and pitch. Spill, force, alley and stay in coverage should remain intact regardless of the option scheme or formation you face. READ: Coach the Umbrella Principle to Get Perfect Run Fits for Your Defense Step 2: Learn to Stop Any Run Scheme Without Changing Your Defense Apply those same run fit rules against different formations and schemes instead of installing a new defense every week. Your players should be able to recognize their keys and execute their base responsibilities whether they see zone read, power read, triple option or a traditional run scheme. LISTEN: We Can't Stop the Run | FBCP S18E05 Step 3: Control the Quarterback Instead of Chasing Him Learn how gap exchanges, fronts, tags and pressure can influence the quarterback's read while keeping the structure of your defense intact. The goal is to dictate where the football goes and put your defenders in position to handle the quarterback without creating new assignments for everyone else. LISTEN: We Cant Stop Dual-Threat QBs | FBCP S19E08 Step 4: Build a Defensive System That Can Adjust Without Starting Over Organize your fronts, coverages, run fits and adjustments into one system so you can handle option offenses with small changes instead of installing a flavor-of-the-week defense. Your answers to unusual offenses should already exist inside the structure your players know. DOWNLOAD: What You Need to Know to Build the Ultimate Defensive Football Coaching System Step 5: Turn the Option Responsibilities Into Individual Drills Take the run fits off the board and teach players to execute them through their normal key reads. Progress the Umbrella Drill to include the opponent's backfield alignment, pitch phase, bubble action and other option looks your force and alley defenders will see that week. READ: The Most Important Football Drill for Coaching Safeties Step 6: Progress Those Skills Into Group Run Periods Combine the individual skills into half-line, inside run, outside run and 9-on-9 periods. Use these periods to let defenders chain their key reads, block reactions and run fits together before asking them to execute everything during full team work. LISTEN: Practice Planning: Group Run Drills for Skill Progression | FBCP S21E05 Step 7: Give Your Scout Team the Right Look Do not ask your scout offense to become a spread option team in three days. Recreate the formations, blocking reactions, quarterback actions and other keys your defense actually needs to see, then script those looks so your players can execute the same rules they have practiced all season. ​LISTEN: Our Players Don't Execute on Game Day | FBCP S18E21

  5. Aug 13

    The Only Defensive Line Drills You Need | FBCP S21E06

    Learn how to build defensive line drills around the reads and reactions your players will actually use on game day. This episode explains how to improve alignment, stance, strike point, leverage, block destruction, gap control, pass rush, and screen recognition while eliminating drills that do not transfer to the field. Coaches will also learn how to progress from simple key read work into group and team periods based on the offensive schemes they expect to face. 7:05 - Building Defensive Line Drills on Key Reads 8:46 -Why Rope Chute and Sled Drills Waste Practice Time 13:55 - Old School Defensive Line Drills Are Outdated 15:30 - Why Chutes Don't Fix Playing Too High 18:39 - ASCA Principle for Defensive Line Development 22:29 - Five Key Reads for Defensive Linemen 24:49 - Strike Point and Big Surface Technique 40:16 - Defensive Line Drills That Transfer to the Field 55:58 - Progressing Drills From Indies to Group to Team 1:03:52 - Handling Secondary Blocks and Pulling Linemen Defensive Line Drills  Step 1: Build Drills Around the Skills That Actually Matter Stop collecting drills just because other coaches use them. Start with the specific one-on-one game your defensive linemen must win, then build drills that solve the problems showing up on game film. This is the foundation for replacing ropes, chutes, sleds and other activities that do not transfer to game day. READ: Complete Guide to Coaching Football Drills that Win Games Step 2: Fix the Five Problems That Kill Defensive Line Play Use Alignment, Stance, Key Read and Assignment to diagnose why your defensive linemen are struggling. Focus your drill work on correcting high pad level, poor eye discipline, getting trapped, staying blocked and losing pass rush contain. READ: How to Use Defensive Line Drills to Eliminate the 5 Mistakes Killing Your Front Step 3: Learn to Create Better Drills From Your Game Film Instead of searching for the next great drill, learn to identify the problem on film, break it down to the smallest skill that needs improvement and create practice reps that directly address it. LISTEN: Better Football Drills That Get Faster Results | FBCP S20E20 Step 4: Connect Defensive Line Technique to the Entire Defensive System Defensive line technique cannot exist in isolation. Understand how your front, run fits, key reads and assignments work together so every drill reinforces the job your defensive linemen actually have on game day. DOWNLOAD: What You Need To Know To Build The Ultimate Defensive Football Coaching System  Step 5: Get More Reps From Your Individual Drill Periods Structure individual periods around focused, high-repetition work where every player is involved. Use the defensive line key read drill to reinforce alignment, stance and reactions while eliminating unnecessary standing around and wasted practice time. LISTEN: Individual Drill Periods for Skill Development | FBCP S21E01 Step 6: Progress Individual Skills Into Game-Like Situations Take the reactions developed during individual periods and progress them into pods, half-line and group work. Keep the same one-on-one focus while gradually adding the movement and distractions your defensive linemen will see against actual offensive schemes. LISTEN: Practice Planning: Group Run Drills for Skill Progression | FBCP S21E05 Step 7: Make the Skill Show Up on Game Day Carry the same weekly focus from individual drills into group periods and team sessions. Build practices so defensive linemen repeatedly see the blocks and situations they need to defeat that week, then evaluate whether those skills actually transfer to Friday night. LISTEN: Our Players Don't Execute on Game Day | FBCP S18E21

  6. Aug 6

    Practice Planning: Group Run Drills for Skill Progression | FBCP S21E05

    Building an effective run game takes more than calling plays—it requires a practice plan that develops players step by step. In this episode, Joe Daniel and Daniel Chamberlain explain how to structure group run periods that bridge the gap between individual drills and full team sessions, helping coaches reinforce key techniques without overwhelming players. You'll learn how to organize half-line, 9-on-9, inside run, and outside run periods, keep every drill aligned with your weekly practice focus, and script meaningful reps that translate directly to Friday night performance. Whether you're refining your practice schedule or looking to get more from every run period, this episode provides practical coaching strategies you can implement immediately. 5:31 — Progressing from one-on-one drills to live group run reps   9:47 — Chaining one-on-one games into a linebacker's full run fit   14:27 — Using half line periods to organize run drills   17:12 — Bird Walk drill for teaching run blocking landmarks   22:20 — Half line limitations and the eight-man football comparison   29:22 — Scripting group run periods with a play list   32:51 — Organizing nine v nine run periods   35:19 — Nine v nine practice plan progression and seven play scripting   47:35 — Coordinating weekly practice focus across position groups   50:49 — Aligning gap and zone scheme focus days with opponent tendencies Building Better Group Run Periods 1. Master the One on One Game Understand how every successful group period begins with individual skills. Learn how to build drills that teach specific football problems before combining them into larger practice periods. LISTEN: Individual Drill Periods for Skill Development https://www.joedanielfootball.com/blog/indy 2. Build Drills That Transfer to Game Day Learn how to create drills that solve real game problems, progress naturally into group work, and reinforce the habits your players need during live football. READ: Complete Guide to Coaching Football Drills that Win Games https://www.joedanielfootball.com/blog/coaching-football-drills 3. Organize Your Practice Around a Single Focus Learn how to structure every practice period around one coaching objective so your individual drills, group periods, and team sessions all reinforce the same skill. DOWNLOAD: Perfect Practice Plan Template https://www.joedanielfootball.com/practice 4. Script Group Run Periods with Purpose Learn how to organize 9 on 9, half line, inside run, and outside run periods around the specific run concepts your team needs to improve, instead of running random plays. LISTEN: 90 Minutes Means 90 Minutes: How to Make the Practice Plan Work https://www.joedanielfootball.com/blog/90-minute-football-practice-plan-tips 5. Build Your Run Game Through Repetition Learn how to organize your core run concepts so players repeatedly see the same blocking schemes, timing, and reads throughout practice. LISTEN: How to Design Run Plays That Get Big Yards https://www.joedanielfootball.com/blog/design-run-plays-big-yards 6. Connect Individual Skills to Defensive Execution Learn how to carry individual techniques like key reads, block destruction, and run fits into group periods so defenders execute confidently during team sessions. LISTEN: Build Your System Around Your Defensive Run Fits https://www.joedanielfootball.com/blog/defensive-run-fits-system 7. Build a Practice System That Gets Better Every Week Learn how to evaluate each practice by whether your players improved at the day's focus, then adjust future practice plans based on those results instead of simply running more drills. DOWNLOAD: Turnaround Guide https://www.joedanielfootball.com/turnaround-guide

  7. Jul 30

    How to Organize Your Depth Chart | FBCP S21E04

    Picking your starters for a football team is generally pretty easy. Whether you're a best-11 guy, have specialized positions for certain players, or fully two-platooned… those guys stand out and make decisions easily. However, once one guy goes down, the carousel begins. In this episode, Joe and Daniel go through talent evaluation, how to pick the best (and next best) player for each position, and how you can convince players to play a position that's new to them. 9:26 Using ASCA to evaluate positional talent 10:59 Identifying what skills a position really needs 14:49 Building a position rating rubric with five traits 17:20 Ranking players and filling the depth chart like a draft 29:51 Finding the best player for each position based on scheme 34:53 Managing two way players and fatigue on the depth chart 37:30 How depth chart substitutions actually work 57:47 Cross training positions for depth and flexibility 1:02:51 Convincing players to switch to a new position 1:05:37 How to sit a player down and explain a position change Build a Depth Chart That Actually Works on Game Day Step 1: Start With Your Best 11 Build your depth chart around getting your best football players on the field, then determine where each player can contribute most within your system. Do not get locked into traditional position labels or ideal body types. READ: 4-2-5 Defense Positions: Fitting Your Personnel to Your Step 2: Define What Each Position Actually Requires Identify the three to five traits that matter most at each position based on the Alignment, Stance, Key Read and Assignment required in your system. Evaluate players based on their ability to execute those jobs instead of simply using size, speed or their previous position. LISTEN: From Confusion to Confidence: Getting Linebackers to Play Fast Step 3: Fit the System to the Players You Have Keep the foundation of your system intact while adjusting how individual players are used. Simplify assignments, change alignments and use personnel strategically rather than changing schemes because your roster does not match the ideal. LISTEN: Keep the Playbook, Fit the Defense to Your Players Step 4: Build the Real Game Day Depth Chart Your depth chart should reflect what will actually happen when a starter leaves the field. Identify universal backups, cross train players at related positions and know which players will move before simply inserting the listed second string player. LISTEN: We're Not Getting the Most Out of Our Talent Step 5: Give Players Transferable Responsibilities Teach principles that players can carry from one position to another. On defense, concepts such as spill, force, alley and stay in coverage give players a common framework that makes cross training and emergency substitutions easier. READ: Coach the Umbrella Principle to Get Perfect Run Fits for Your Defense Step 6: Build a System That Survives Personnel Changes Organize your defense around consistent principles, terminology and responsibilities so injuries, substitutions and changing personnel do not force you to rebuild what you do. DOWNLOAD: What You Need to Know to Build the Ultimate Defensive Football Coaching System Step 7: Get Players to Buy Into Their Best Role Explain how the new position gives the player an opportunity to contribute and why his abilities fit what the team needs. Players are more likely to accept a position change when they understand the job, see a path to playing time and know how their role contributes to the team. LISTEN: We Aren't Tough Enough to Win

  8. Jul 23

    How to Defend the Wing-T Offense | FBCP S21E03 Audio Episode

    The Wing T offense is designed to make defenders hesitate, overreact, and abandon their fundamentals—but the best defenses do exactly the opposite. In this episode, Joe Daniel explains how to build a defensive game plan that handles the Wing T without installing an entirely new defense, including key coaching points, film study strategies, and practical in-game adjustments that help your players play fast and stay disciplined. Whether you face a traditional Wing T, Gun T, or modern pistol variation, you'll learn how to identify what the offense really wants to accomplish and defend it with sound principles instead of chasing every motion and formation.

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