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with Mike Van Deist

A near legendary coach in NAIA circles, Carroll College’s Head Coach Mike Van Diest’s Fighting Saints have won the last four NAIA Championships. During that time Carroll has ranked among the top ten NAIA teams defensively. Last fall they led the NAIA in scoring defense and total defense and gave up only six rushing touchdowns in 14 games.

Q. How do you prepare your players concerning the defensive game plan. Is there anything you’ve learned through the years such as ‘too much information, not enough information’? What, in your view, are the core values concerning defensive execution? Jim Dostal, DC, Prairie High School (IA). AFM subscriber since 1997.
A. The keys we concentrate on relative to the defensive game plan are formations, tendencies, down and distance situations, and backfield sets. Another key is whom do they go to on third downs? Because we’re looking at 11 on 11 situations, we look at match-ups that can give us an advantage on defense. Could there be a mismatch with one of their offensive linemen that we can take advantage of?
    In terms of core values, we emphasize alignment and assignment. Are our players aligned correctly, are they in the right gaps and what about the execution of their assignments? Are we teaching them the correct way to make the play?

Q. When you recruit a player do you concentrate on his athletic prowess or knowledge of certain fundamentals? I ask because we teach a shoulder-blocking technique that I fear costs some of our linemen an opportunity to play at a D-I or D-II level? Danny Carter, Assistant Coach, Lee High School, Jonesville (VA). AFM subscriber since 2006.
A. We look at athletic ability as well as effort. Our concern is not so much the differences in technique the player learned in high school but is he coachable. If he is, we can teach him a different blocking style and he’ll learn our skills. Besides the physical side, we want to make sure about the mental side.
     If it's a QB situation, his athletic ability, effort, hustle and coachability are more important to us. These qualities will give him a better chance to be successful whether he's learning the option or the spread offense.

Q. What do you do in the off-season to prepare your quarterbacks? Classroom work. simulations? Eric Firestone, Assistant Coach, Talledega High School (AL). AFM subscriber since 2004.
A. Nick Howlett, our offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, works with our quarterbacks throughout the off-season. He concentrates on watching game film on a regular basis with the quarterbacks. As a drill, he’ll stop a play just before the snap and ask the QB’s about reads such as the safety rolling down and then ask for what’s the proper call. It’s a hands-on session with a more relaxed atmosphere and no pressure with our QB’s having a real opportunity to learn.
    Essentially, we’ll look at two things: breaking down ourselves on film and monitoring our decisions and then looking at our opponents…there’s so much information available we try to adjust then to what we can control.

Q. What is the best 3-3 stack defensive alignment against the Tight End sets that have a wing attached? Greg Marshall, Head Coach, Gahr High School (CA), AFM subscriber since 2003.
A. We look at it as a TE set with two backs and then one with one back… in the two back alignment, with the WR split, our Strong Safety is the key and he lines up outside the gap and 7 yards off the wing. He can then support the run if he has to… Is it a run or pass? If the TE releases, the SS fills the gap and has leverage with the inside linebackers.
   
In the one back alignment, our linebacker is the key… the SS in this situation is outside on the wing and will bump with the Mike and Weakside linebacker… adjustments are then made with the wing player but the SS is a support player outside the wing. The linebackers must make the proper adjustments.

Q. I would like to know more about the Eagle 43 coverage package. That is, what about the reads and keys vs. the run and the pass? Doug Clarke, Head Coach, APW Central School District (NY). AFM subscriber since 2002.
A. The key is the Sam linebacker through the TE...he should not be looking at the backfield but concerned with who is the first and second threat to block him? Look at the TE and tackle as well...if the TE releases, his eyes should shift to the tackle for a run-pass key.

Q. Could you set up a typical practice schedule with time frames? That is, what portion would be team meetings, conditioning drills, and scrimmaging? Mike Jones, Head Coach, Estill County High School (KY). AFM subscriber since 2002.
A. Here’s an overview of our two hour practice schedule for a Tuesday or Wednesday during the season where we do the most game preparation:

• 15 minutes pre-practice: This is time before actual practice to work on special teams plays, the center and QB to practice exchanges, and individuals to work on specific techniques.

• 10 minutes: Loosening up and stretching exercises.

• 15 minutes: Special teams execution-this could be punting and punt returns one day (Tuesday) and kickoffs and return coverage the next (Wednesday).

• 30 minutes: Individual practices by position; that is, working on technique and actual game assignments.

• 15 minutes: Group period of offense and defense vs. formations we’ll see at game time. Quarterbacks and receivers will work on routes and timing and we’ll review game assignments.

• 5 minutes: #1 offense vs. #1 defense in 7 on 7 skeleton plays… (I learned from LaVell Edwards that it’s more realistic to use your best offensive and defensive players for this rather than your scout team – it simulates the actual speed of the game)… This is also a pursuit period for our defense. We also see reaction of our offense and defense to pass rushes, blitzes, various formations, etc.

• 15 minutes: We do the offensive vs. skeleton defense and defense vs. skeleton offense with our scout teams so it’s a more scripted part of practice… the previous drills – #1 O vs. #1 D – was more reaction.

• 25 minutes: Complete team vs. the scout squad as our opponents.

• 10 minutes: PAT and field goal unit practice… this includes getting on and off the field and simulates game conditions.






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