As the season progresses, coaches and coordinators must ensure their defensive units remain sharp and perform at their best. The late season brings unique challenges, such as maintaining fresh and game-ready players, managing injuries, and countering opponents who are familiar with our team’s tendencies. In this episode, we explore three key strategies to navigate the late season successfully and keep defenses in battle rhythm. Coaches Featured in This Episode: Todd Drury, Defensive Coordinator, Western Illinois John Mumford, Former NFL Defensive Line Coach Vince DiGaetano, Defensive Assistant, Fordham University Show Notes: Todd Drury Adjusting Practice to Stay Fresh and Healthy Focusing on Stance, Technique, and Visual Keys Defending Opponents and Tailoring Practice John Mumford Managing Player Reps and Developing Depth Reducing Heavy Contact and Practice Time Tracking Reps, Player Health, and Building Confidence Vince DiGaetano Analyzing Opponents and Self-Scouting Predicting Opponent Strategies and Shoring Up Deficiencies Managing Meaningful Contact and Avoiding Fatigue Related Episodes: Todd Drury: A Unique Practice Period for More Reps for the Defense Sacks and Takeaways Vince DiGaetano: Player Vocal Leadership Plus Early Camp Tackling Considerations The Players Write the Practice Plan Defining Practice Tempos and Finishes for Better Performance Deep Dive on Defense: Team Tackling Trends in Teaching Tackling Short Prep Time for the Season Additional Resources: Coach DiGaetano has some of the best tackling resources available, including: Winning Gaps with Engaged Tackles Deep Dig: Preseason Tackling Fundamentals Effective Team Tackling with the 3 C’s: Contact, Chase, and Converge Follow All We Are Doing: Visit CoachandCoordinator.com to listen to the entire library of episodes in The Season. Follow us on Twitter/X @CoachKGrabowski. Sign-up for our weekly newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.