at the end of the day, TKO is nothing more than a very simple zone scheme.

--Which is probably why I've never gotten TKO to work well for me.

Probably the biggest transition issue for us was the backs...now we were asking them to make a choice of where they were going to run, instead of telling them to run it right here....we left a lot of TD's on the field because they refused to bounce outside when it was there...eventually, they started seeing the field better.

--Which is why zone blocking and the Spread approach to running the football is similar to Mitey-Mite football in that it's pitch it to the fast guy and have him look for a place to run.

What was different as a team...we could score quickly from the spread...if we were down two scores, we weren't worried...in the DW, we were worried...we could chew up clock and yards...but it took time for us to get there.

--I get that.  In 2016, we were down 13-0, to win 32-26.  We were down 21-7, to win 34-28.  We were down 23-14, to win 27-23.  But in the Double Wing, we'd have never trailed by those kind of deficits.

--Dave

Congrats Dave. I look forward to the weekly updates!

Congrats Dave. I look forward to the weekly updates!

Thanks Eric.  It's a pretty challenging schedule, so it'll be interesting from that aspect.

--Dave

Congrats Dave. I look forward to the weekly updates!

DP does the best game recaps in the business. I feel like I am at the game watching everything unfold in front of me.

Congrats and good luck!  Sounds like you're going into a good program.

Congrats and good luck!  Sounds like you're going into a good program.

Thanks Coach.  Thursday is our first workout.  Starts at 7:30am, so I'll be there at 7am.  First opportunity to meet my RBs.  Looking forward to getting to work.

--Dave

Thanks Coach.  Thursday is our first workout.  Starts at 7:30am, so I'll be there at 7am.  First opportunity to meet my RBs.  Looking forward to getting to work.

--Dave

Are you going to be running just  their drills only or are they going to let you dig into the Potter running back drill bag?

Are you going to be running just  their drills only or are they going to let you dig into the Potter running back drill bag?

They said I could do what I wanted.  That's always a good thing.

So we started today with form running (which they had never done before).  We went to Knock-Out, Zig-Zag, and Cut Back.  I did the standardized ball-strip drills.  We don't have enough Backs (5) to run a gauntlet.  I went through my background with them; told them my expectations on academics, behavior, language, etc.  The header stopped by to see how it was going.  Then we went to Team and I got to watch The Throwing of The Ball (It's Air Raid).  The OC is young, but very sharp and a good guy to work with.  I'm very comfortable with him.  So we had pre-practice, then practice, then we went inside to lift, then we went to O/D meetings.  Oh, and we practiced on artificial turf.

--Dave

They said I could do what I wanted.  That's always a good thing.

So we started today with form running (which they had never done before).  We went to Knock-Out, Zig-Zag, and Cut Back.  I did the standardized ball-strip drills.  We don't have enough Backs (5) to run a gauntlet.  I went through my background with them; told them my expectations on academics, behavior, language, etc.  The header stopped by to see how it was going.  Then we went to Team and I got to watch The Throwing of The Ball (It's Air Raid).  The OC is young, but very sharp and a good guy to work with.  I'm very comfortable with him.  So we had pre-practice, then practice, then we went inside to lift, then we went to O/D meetings.  Oh, and we practiced on artificial turf.

--Dave

Sounds like a good start!  I look forward to hearing about the updates and best wishes!  I have a feeling you guys will have a great season!

Evidently, whenever it's raining hard, we practice on turf.  Players come out early for pre-practice and limber up.  The coaches are given practice plans with the time increments.  There is a timer and horn for changing sessions.  Every group has a coach (that's a novelty!).  After practice, I watched my group (RBs) lift.  We aren't big (5'4" 145, 5'5" 154, 5'5" 160, 5'7" 165, 5'9" 215).  Except for the 215-pounder (who's a freshman), three are scatbacks, with one linear runner.  However, they are strong.  One benches 275 and another benches 255.  The freshman is the weakest of the group, but has by far the biggest frame.  He'll be able to bench 300 by the time he leaves here.  I'll get their squat info next week.  I've gotten their contact info and texted them all tonight.  I've sent them camp info for all the North Carolina colleges to pique their interest.  I'm in the process of printing out nutrition handbooks for them, as well.  Academically, two are solid and three are outstanding.  Now I just need to develop the relationships with them, as well as their parents.  We have a 7on7 competition tomorrow.  Bus leaves at 7am.  There's rounds of winners and losers.  Our header has already informed the team that we are going down there to win.  It'll be interesting to see how it plays out.  We won't return until late tomorrow afternoon.  The following week, we have another 7on7 at a D1 university.  Meanwhile, I'm trying to learn the lingo of our Air Raid. 

--Dave

Had the 7on7 today.  We played well, although we didn't "win" the tournament.  (40 yard "field," 4 downs to get 20 yards.). Our QB is amazing.  He has 4 D1 offers and can make all the throws.  Wide outs routinely make the highlight catch.  Defense makes interceptions.  This is a whole different kettle of fish from what I'm used to.  We have a 215-lb. freshman RB.  When I was at EWHS, the biggest offensive lineman we had was 195.  Are people just smaller out in the sticks?  Anyhoos, our header wasn't happy that we didn't win, but we definitely showed a lot of weapons.  We have 3 more 7on7s next week.

--Dave

Had the 7on7 today.  We played well, although we didn't "win" the tournament.  (40 yard "field," 4 downs to get 20 yards.). Our QB is amazing.  He has 4 D1 offers and can make all the throws.  Wide outs routinely make the highlight catch.  Defense makes interceptions.  This is a whole different kettle of fish from what I'm used to.  We have a 215-lb. freshman RB.  When I was at EWHS, the biggest offensive lineman we had was 195.  Are people just smaller out in the sticks?  Anyhoos, our header wasn't happy that we didn't win, but we definitely showed a lot of weapons.  We have 3 more 7on7s next week.

--Dave

Are you saying "Welcome To The Dark Side?"  LOL 

I am absolutely Certain, you will make it and them Work!  🙂

Are you saying "Welcome To The Dark Side?"  LOL 

--No, not at all.  As a matter of fact, I think I'll be coaching youth ball as an OC running the Double Wing.

I am absolutely Certain, you will make it and them Work!  🙂

--There's a lot of tools to work with, from coaches to facilities to talent.

--Dave

Awesome news coach.  Sounds like a place one could get used to. 👍🏼

Had another 7on7 today.  This time, we went up against our 1st and 3rd opponents of this upcoming season.  Both are top programs and the 3rd opponent is the back-to-back-to-back state champions.  They haven't lost a game since 2015.  So I like the mentality of not only scheduling these opponents (they are not in our conference), but also practicing against them.  After the 7on7 (which went well), we practiced some Inside Zone, as well as Power.  Then we ran some gassers.  One of my RBs did not "touch the line" when running gassers so I made him stay with me on the practice field and run 25 of them, making sure his toes always touched the line.  Afterwards, as we walked past my truck heading to the school, I reached in my truck's cooler and handed him a Gatorade.  We went inside and joined the rest of the offense in the gym, as we ran "situationals" against a defense.  From there, we went to the weight room.  I keep the RBs together so I can monitor their progress.  After our lifts, I gave them more Gatorades and fuel bars. 

When I look at the size, scope and breadth of this program, I feel embarrassed to have worked under some headers who were only willing to do the barest of minimums, despite having the same talent and facilities that we enjoy here.  The staff here not only takes it seriously, they're willing to put in the work.

--Dave