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AFM Magazine


Lessons Learned - Bunkered In-Game Week in the NFL

by: Chris Mattura
Veteran NFL Assistant Coach
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Working in the NFL is a fight against time. A work week consists of 80 -100 hours for the coaches. The time is divided up between individual work assignments, group projects, game-planning meetings, coaches’ film sessions, player meetings and film sessions, walk thru’s and practice. The meeting time with the players is between 20 - 25 hours per week. The amount of time actually practicing on the field is less than ten hours per week. Hard to believe, but true.

Monday:
On Monday, the coaching staff watches and grades the film starting at 7:00 am. That usually takes from four to four and a half hours. Film analysis is done separately by all three sides of the ball. After the film, injuries and personnel changes are discussed.
The coaching staff then splits up to study their individual responsibilities. I had the opponent’s quarterback. His head location at the snap, footwork, reads, body mannerisms were all part of my presentation. I also studied all their gadget plays. Most gadget plays take place in what we call “the alumni zone”, -30 to +30. In addition, I assisted the defensive line coach with blocking schemes and the breakdown of the opponents’ protections.

Tuesday:
Tuesday is all game planning. The players are off and the staff works from 7:00 am until midnight putting the plan together. 1st and 2nd down run defenses are discussed.
3rd down passes and red zone defense are formulated. We work on how to attack and take away their best player. Our short-yardage and goal line plans are finalized. We then put a large book together on all of the opponent’s runs and passes in the categories above. Some of the book is actually done with hand drawings while other charts and supporting documentation are computerized.

Wednesday:
On Wednesday, the players return and the juices start to flow. It’s always good to see them after a complete day off. All the players I worked with were great kids. They were from all over the United States and had many different backgrounds. It was a great cultural learning experience each and every day. Wednesday consists of the implementation of the game plan (meeting), walk thru, practice and then a film session of watching the practice tape. We meet again as a staff at 7:00 pm and rehash the plan by watching specific cut ups of our opponent. The day that starts at 7:00 am finishes at 11:00 pm.

Thursday:
Thursday is a repeat performance of Wednesday, although each head coach picks up the pace differently. Some scrimmage live for ten plays on the goal line, while others just move themselves around at a rapid pace with nothing but unconditional positive regard for their team. By Thursday, you’d better be rocking and rolling in the NFL. Otherwise, Sunday might be a long day. As a staff, we worked hard on the Red Zone scripting for practice on Friday. Thursday evening I was done around 9:30 pm. It was time to finally get a shave.

Friday:
Friday was a shorter day on the practice field so we put the pedal to the metal with the practice plan. We always tried to practice at a frenetic pace. On Fridays, we didn’t have a walk thru and the concentration was red zone, 3rd down situations, goal line, short yardage and our 2-minute plan. The players are out of the building by 2:00 pm at the latest. Don’t forget, Friday evening is date night/family night in the NFL.

Saturday:
We watched Friday’s practice as a staff on Saturday morning at 7:00 am and then with the players at 8:30 am. I scripted Saturday mornings walk thru. I picked the plays I thought they were going concentrate on. I usually had a bead on the opponent by my breakdowns and offensive intuition. After the 10:30 am walk thru, we either headed to the airport if we were away or had some free time before getting to our home hotel.


The Saturday evening ritual in the NFL is like no other profession. Players and coaches are focused in and not much chatter takes place. The special teams meeting happened first, followed by separate offensive and defensive meetings. The evening culminates with the team meeting, operated by the head coach. That usually ends about 9:30 pm. Then, the players and coaches are fed as if it was the Last Supper. You name it, we had it! One head coach would eat ice cream right from the vat. He was a nervous wreck. Lights out at 11:00 pm. The players are all secluded on one floor with police officers stationed from 11:00 pm until 7:00 am. One head coach liked to do the bed check himself at 11:00 pm with an additional police officer. He wanted to give his last words of encouragement to each player before game day rolled around, which makes a lot of sense.

Sunday:
Sunday morning started with breakfast and then busses were scheduled for different departure times to head to the stadium. If they were allowed to, the offensive lineman would probably sleep at the stadium on Saturday evening. They usually took the early bus which would leave around four hours before kickoff. I would always leave on the late bus which would pull out exactly two and a half hours prior to the game. Walk the field, say hello to some of your counterparts and then head back into the locker room after pre-game for the head coaches final words.

Win or lose, once in the shower, you are already concentrating on the next opponent






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