Practice With a Purpose

A week of effective, meticulously planned defense practices at LSU
by: Will Muschamp
Defensive Coordinator, Louisiana State University
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It is an honor to represent head coach Nick Saban and the LSU football staff in American Football Monthly. As coaches, we constantly stress to our players the importance of knowing what to do, but do not always explain when and how a scheme applies itself in a game situation. Here at LSU, we stress to our players knowing what to do, how to do it and when it applies.

Our in-season practice schedule helps our players understand what we will call in the game and the situation where it is appropriate. Each day of the week our players understand what part of the game plan we are working on.

We meet as a unit to begin each practice day and explain the installation and practice for that day. We also work against our offense on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to get good-on-good work done. We still script game plan calls to get the execution versus good people.

Monday Defense Practice Schedule

Here is a sample of our in-season practice schedule. The length of each period may vary week-to-week and I have just listed the team-scripted drills, not the entire practice.

Louisiana State University
Inside the Numbers
(Regular season)

3.73: Yards per carry allowed
9: Rushing touchdowns allowed for season
116.7: Rushing yards per game allowed
48: Fewest rushing yards allowed in one game
177: Most rushing yards allowed in one game
6: Games in which the opponent did not score a rushing touchdown
54: Longest rushing play given up during the season

On Monday, we meet as a defensive unit and give a scouting report on the opponent’s personnel, top formations, top runs and top passes. We state to the kids what we will need to do in order to win the game. We show any basic adjustments we will make with our base fronts and coverages. Each position coach is responsible for film review of the areas covered in the team meeting. Once we are finished as a unit, we break up into individual position meetings.

• 10 minutes: Team corrections from previous week
• 7 minutes: Force drill (play action passes) vs. scouts
• 7 minutes: 7-on-7 vs. scouts
• 7 minutes: Red Area 7-on-7 scouts
• 15 minutes: Team vs. scouts (top runs and passes)

Tuesday Defense Practice Schedule

On Tuesday, we meet as a defensive unit and go over first down, second down and short yardage and goal line calls for the game. Once we are finished as a unit, we break up into individual position meetings. Everything at practice is down and distance scripted for that day.

• 10 minutes: Team run vs. scouts (1-10, second down)
• 6 minutes: Team run vs. our offense (1-10, second down)
• 7 minutes: Force drill (play action pass)
• 7 minutes: 7 on 7 vs. scouts (1-10, second down)
• 7 minutes: 7 on 7 vs. our offense (1-10, second down)
• 7 minutes: Blitz vs. scouts (1-10, second down)
• 12 minutes: Team vs. scouts (1-10, second down, six or less)
• 6 minutes: Team vs. scouts (second down, seven yards or more)
• 6 minutes: Team vs. scouts (short yardage and goal line)
• 6 minutes: Team vs. scouts (short yardage and goal line)
• 12 minutes: Team vs. our offense (1-10, second down)

Wednesday Defense Practice Schedule

On Wednesday, we meet as a defensive unit and correct anything from Tuesday’s practice. We cover Red Area run and pass, second and long and third down. Once we are finished as a unit, we break up into individual position meetings. Everything at practice is down and distance scripted for that day.

• 10 minutes: Team run vs. scouts (review, second and seven or more and third down runs)
• 6 minutes: Team run vs. our offense (second and seven or more and third down runs)
• 7 minutes: Red area 7-on-7 vs. scouts
• 7 minutes: 7-on-7 vs. scouts (third down)
• 7 minutes: 7-on-7 vs. our offense (second and seven or more, third down)
• 7 minutes: Blitz vs. scouts (review, second and seven or more, third down)
• 12 minutes: Team vs. scouts (review, second and seven or more, third down)
• 12 minutes: Team vs. scouts (third down and red area)
• 12 minutes: Team vs. our offense (second and seven or more, third down)

Thursday Defense Practice Schedule

On Thursday, we meet as a defensive unit and correct anything from Wednesday’s practice. We will cover our two-minute game plan with the players. That day at practice we will rep two minutes versus our offense two times. We signal our defenses at every practice, but during our move the field period we meet as a unit and view selected plays from the opponent’s previous games. Defensive calls are made and the players make the checks and adjustments where needed.

• 8 minutes: 7-on-7 (all downs)
• 10 minutes: Team vs. scout blitz review (all downs)
• 10 minutes: Team vs. scouts red area, short yardage and goal line review
• 20 minutes: Team vs. scouts - move the field - all situations, substitutions involved
• 12 minutes: Two minute vs. offense
• 20 minutes: Defensive unit film review

Friday Defense Practice Schedule

On Friday we do not practice, but do go out for a walk-through and substitution drill. The walk-through has all possible calls and adjustments for the players to make. We try to give them every possible situation they may face on game day.

• 20 minutes: Defensive walk-through
• 20 minutes: Defensive unit film review

We ask our players to practice with a purpose everyday. As coaches, we need to provide the purpose of the practice. Each day, we feel our players need to understand what we are practicing, how we are practicing, and where it applies in the game. It is not always what we know on game day, but what the players know and how they are prepared to handle it.

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