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AFM Magazine

AFM Magazine


The Last Rep

Two-Way Players
by: Aaron S. Lee
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Although playing both ways is very rare in college and professional football, coaches are often forced by need to utilize two-way athletes to increase their team’s odds of success. American Football Monthly recently sat down with six of the top college position coaches in the nation that have experience in working with two-way athletes.


How do you prepare a two-way athlete in practice?

“Usually at the high school level practice is divided into separate offensive and defensive periods, basically because many of the starters play both ways due to the limited resources available. In college, we have to find time to share.” – Larry Fedora, wide receivers, Florida

“For depth purposes we have experimented with some athletes going both ways, but the athletes suffered because of the intangibles such as motion, sets, etc. – there is no substitution for reps. However the one thing we have found is no matter how good the athlete is, in most cases, they will not be as effective on both sides of the ball.” – Matt Lubick, wide receivers, Colorado State

“When the head coach sets the practice schedule, the coordinator and myself get together and decide when we need the athlete on our side of the ball and when we can afford to let him take reps on the other side ... communication is key.” – Stan Hixon, wide receivers, LSU

“We have a receiver, Chris Gamble, that goes both ways and it has not been that hard to find ways to fit him in on both sides of the ball during practice. He is also a punt returner, so there is a time in practice when he is working on special teams. I can use those minutes to stand back there and talk to him between catches about coverages on defense. I have to keep things simple and not ask him to do too much at first ... you can’t expect for them to learn your entire scheme.” – Mel Tucker, defensive backs, Ohio State

“I think using an athlete on both sides of the ball starts with having a primary position for the athlete to start from. For instance a defensive back that doubles as a wide receiver would spend the majority of his time working defense with an emphasis on the secondary and only a fraction of time working on the two or three pass routes on offense that he may be asked to run.” – Mike Cassity, defensive backs, Illinois

How do you know if a player can go both ways?

“Obviously two-way players are more abundant in high school out of necessity. In college they are more rare, but those who do make the transition on both sides of the ball are truly gifted athletes. However, an outstanding defensive back does not necessarily make a good receiver.” – Larry Fedora, wide receivers, Florida

“You don’t know until you try it. You have to take into consideration what it is going to do to the team. Are the other players at those positions going to feel that they are getting mistreated? In our case we are in desperate need of another deep threat and kids on the offensive side of the ball understand that DeAngelo Hall gives us the best alternative.” – Lorenzo Ward, defensive backs, Virginia Tech

“Basically the only reason a program at the college level would ever want a player to go both ways is out of need. It is a different story in high school football where talent does not run as deep. In pre-season, our wide receivers and defensive backs switch roles during drills so that each player can gain a better grasp of the others position and we gain a firmer grasp on which athletes may be able to provide support in an emergency situation.” – Mel Tucker, defensive backs, Ohio State

“When freshmen report we try to look at all athletes on offense and defense because you never know where they may best be beneficial to the needs of your team.” – Mike Cassity, defensive backs, Illinois

“A lot of the skill athletes in college played both ways in high school and are already accustomed to playing outside their primary position.” – Stan Hixon, wide receivers, LSU

Do you worry about fatigue?

“Quality of performance and fatigue is always a factor in dealing with any athlete much less a two-way athlete. Coaches need to watch two-way athletes during the week of practice and not let them do so much that they are worn out before the game even starts. If you are calling on a player to handle that much responsibility you have to be willing to provide enough breaks in practice to keep them fresh.” – Mel Tucker, defensive backs, Ohio State

Do you worry about egos being bruised by players losing a slot to a two-way athlete?

“Football is all about production. It is not an athlete’s right to play because he shows up every day for practice. Only the best are given the opportunity to perform. So a coach must make that understood from the first day of camp.” – Larry Fedora, wide receivers , Florida

“Everything we do is based on performance because this is a performance-based business. Our kids understand that the athletes that perform are the ones that are going to play. It is not always the best player, but it is the one that is the most productive.” – Lorenzo Ward, defensive backs, Virginia Tech

“If you provide a good atmosphere and develop a grounded team then you should not have a problem with egos. However, the kid that you use both ways must be a team guy and not just doing it for selfish reasons like increasing his chances for a Heisman.” – Matt Lubick, wide receivers, Colorado State

“An athlete must earn the right to be a starter at Ohio State. I don’t get paid any more to play one player over another, so my goal is to put the best player on the field to give us the best opportunity to win whether he is a true freshman or a fifth-year senior. I never hold it against a kid that simply wants to play more ... as coaches we want our kids to want to play. My job is to show them what it will take for them to receive more playing time and then it is up to them to work towards that goal.” – Mel Tucker, defensive backs, Ohio State

“Team chemistry is very important and the object of the game is to win the game. If a particular player helps us have a better chance of winning then the rest of the team should be in favor of his playing time. The best players should play whether they are freshmen, sophomores or whatever.” – Stan Hixon, wide receivers, LSU

“I think it goes back to the philosophy of your program, and at Illinois we talk about team and playing as one. We never let egos get in our way.” – Mike Cassity, defensive backs, Illinois

What advice do you have for another coach working with a two-way player?

“Whichever side you are flipping the athlete over to help bolster your depth, make sure you keep things as simple as possible. Don’t feed the athlete too much information until you see that he is able to absorb more.” – Larry Fedora, wide receivers , Florida

“Situations in college and high school are much different. Working with two-way athletes in high school is a much more common aspect of the game. You have to deal with parents in high school, but high school coaches are paid to do a job and they have to do what they can to help their team win.” – Lorenzo Ward, defensive backs, Virginia Tech

“If you want a player to be successful on both sides at the college level, then you have to focus on his primary position and only give a small number of base plays to run on the other side of the ball. Keep things as simple as possible.” – Matt Lubick, wide receivers, Colorado State

“First of all decide what’s the most important thing for your team to be successful. Does your team need an outstanding defensive back or outstanding wide receiver? If you have an abundance of one over the other, then perhaps you can bolster your depth from the opposite side of the ball.” – Stan Hixon, wide receivers, LSU

“My philosophy is to keep a smile on my player’s face. I do that by not placing demands that are unrealistic. I feel that coaches in college are in a unique position if they have an athlete capable of going both ways. It is an honor for me to have an opportunity to coach someone that talented. If a player can have fun and keep a smile on their face then they will be extremely productive.” – Mel Tucker, defensive backs, Ohio State





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