with Drew Sanders,
Vandegrift (TX) High School Head Coach;
Texas 6A Div. II Regional Semi-Finalists, 12-1 final record (2018); Undefeated District 13-6A Champions;
#1 Ranked Defense in 13-6A; Most interceptions in school history (12)
With offenses operating faster than ever, how do you prepare your defense to keep up and get off the field? Drew Sanders, Vandegrift High School's (TX) head coach, breaks down his approach to combating up-tempo offenses and gives you some of the calls that he uses with his own team to quickly get them into position even when the opponent goes no-huddle.
Philosophy of Up-Tempo Defense
Sanders starts with an explanation on his philosophy of defending tempo offenses. He believes that preparing your team for tempo takes a specific approach that is different than what most veteran coaches have done for a number of years. You will see examples of how Coach Sanders structures each day of practice with an emphasis on the pace necessary for defending tempo. Additionally, he shows examples of his unique wristband system for his scout teams, which allows the scout team to simulate the pace of a tempo offense.
Defensive Calls
The presentation continues with Sanders explaining several calls that he uses when defending tempo offenses. You'll learn why it is important to have one-word calls that your team can execute in the event of defending tempo offenses. Coach Sanders explains why it's essential to have calls for a base defense, a run stopping defense, a pressure package, and an all-out blitz. Finally, you'll see Sanders diagram each of these calls and show game footage examples to illustrate his coaching points.
This video should be required viewing for all defensive coordinators. In the age of fast-paced spread offenses, defensive teams must be willing to adapt. With the help of Coach Sanders, your team will be better prepared to dominate the opposition this fall!
63 minutes. 2019.
FD-05535B:
with Drew Sanders,
Vandegrift (TX) High School Head Coach;
Texas 6A Div. II Regional Semi-Finalists, 12-1 final record (2018); Undefeated District 13-6A Champions;
#1 Ranked Defense in 13-6A; Most interceptions in school history (12)
Vandegrift High School head coach Drew Sanders provides the system that has worked well for his defense through the years. The "spill & kill" philosophy he uses is designed specifically for programs with personnel that aren't necessarily the fastest or most athletic. If your own players fit that description, then looking into the spill & kill approach is sure to benefit your team's performance come game day.
Philosophy Behind Spill & Kill
Sanders kicks things off by covering his philosophy on spilling the football against the run. You'll watch as he diagrams both a hard shoulder technique and a spill technique to taking on lead blockers. Additionally, he emphasizes the importance of having an overlap player regardless of the philosophy of defending the run.
Coach Sanders then diagrams several plays and demonstrates the specific run fits against each play using a spill philosophy.
Calls and Stunts to Use Against Modern Offenses
The next portion of this presentation includes diagrams of some of Coach Sanders' favorite defensive calls against the run. He also spends time detailing the proper techniques and coaching points for stunting defensive lineman. You'll see several stunts that either cancel gaps or exchange gaps, as well as several run blitzes that are effective against a variety of offensive schemes. Sanders' blitzes will allow your defense to penetrate and disrupt plays in a sound, coordinated manner.
Coach Sanders does a fantastic job of explaining his philosophy to defend the run and showing several calls that can be incorporated into any defensive structure. With the help of the "spill & kill" approach, your defense can be tougher than ever against the run!
56 minutes. 2019.
FD-05535C:
with Drew Sanders,
Vandegrift (TX) High School Head Coach;
Texas 6A Div. II Regional Semi-Finalists, 12-1 final record (2018); Undefeated District 13-6A Champions;
#1 Ranked Defense in 13-6A; Most interceptions in school history (12)
RPOs and the screen game are two offensive concepts that have taken the nation by storm over the past few seasons. It's quickly becoming paramount to any defensive coordinator to prepare for offensive plays that could turn into a run or pass based on the quarterback's read.
In this informative video from coach Drew Sanders, you'll collect some of his preferred techniques to stopping offenses from moving the ball using the RPO. Coach Sanders also includes some thoughts on program building and culture enhancement that are a benefit to any football coach.
Defending the RPO and Perimeter Screen
The presentation begins with an explanation of what the RPO game is and how offenses will try to create run/pass conflicts for defensive players. Coach Sanders diagrams how he defends both back-side and front-side RPOs, as well as the zone paired with a now screen concept.
Next, Sanders gives a detailed explanation on how he defends the wide receiver screen game with several coverages, including cover 3, cover 3 cloud, and cover 2 man. You'll also get a unique "chase" drill which teaches defenders to correctly pursue perimeter screen plays.
Program Building + Culture
Coach Sanders continues by giving you unique insight into the culture that has made his team so successful. He explains six key concepts of team culture that he uses with his team and can easily be adapted and used with any program. Some of the ideas include:
- Holding players accountable for penalties
- Recruiting calls to incoming 8th graders
- Parent camp-outs
- Developing leadership within the team
Sanders provides detailed explanations on how he handles each of these issues with his team.
You'll not only get excellent tactics for defending RPOs and perimeter screens in this video - you'll also receive some interesting ideas to think about in terms of program building. Coach Sanders gives an excellent presentation that is sure to improve your defense and overall program!
65 minutes. 2019.
FD-05535D:
with Drew Sanders,
Vandegrift (TX) High School Head Coach;
Texas 6A Div. II Regional Semi-Finalists, 12-1 final record (2018); Undefeated District 13-6A Champions;
#1 Ranked Defense in 13-6A; Most interceptions in school history (12)
Your team may have mastered the fundamentals of the game - but are they prepared for the situations that rarely happen in games that can make or break an entire season? Those situations are what Vandegrift High School's Drew Sanders covers in this informative video. You'll learn how to prepare your team to focus on the details so they are ready for any scenario they encounter on the football field.
August Install
Coach Sanders explains the importance of situational awareness in football, as well as why it's important to teach and practice these situations with your team. You will get Sanders' August install for situations that must be taught, but typically don't need to be practiced on a weekly basis. He presents several of these situations using game footage to illustrate coaching points. A few of the scenarios include:
- How to celebrate big plays and be enthusiastic
- How to avoid costly offside penalties in crucial situations
- Special teams situations that rarely happen
- How to avoid getting flagged for red zone substitutions
Situations to Cover Weekly
Sanders continues by covering several situations that must be practiced on a weekly basis, including QB sneak defense, victory defense, 'Hail Mary' defense, "Sticks" defense, and many more. Also, Sanders diagrams adjustments to motion from "nub" sets that must be practiced to avoid having two players cover the same person. These situations require more practice than the August install, but may only come up a few times per year. However, it's very important to practice these situations with your team so they can attack them with confidence during games.
This video from Coach Sanders covers a topic that doesn't get enough attention at coaching clinics, and in football practices in general. Having your team prepared for special situations will ensure that when something unusual happens, your players will know how to respond!
70 minutes. 2019.
FD-05535E:
with Drew Sanders,
Vandegrift (TX) High School Head Coach;
Texas 6A Div. II Regional Semi-Finalists, 12-1 final record (2018); Undefeated District 13-6A Champions;
#1 Ranked Defense in 13-6A; Most interceptions in school history (12)
Identifying Protections
Sanders begins with an explanation on how he and his coaching staff identify protections. He also diagrams the protections and how all of his schemes are designed to work. By understanding what the offensive scheme is designed to do, Coach Sanders can design defensive calls that will give his players the best chance to get to the quarterback in a passing situation.
You'll see Coach Sanders break down the most common protections seen today, including:
- Slide
- Big-on-Big
- Motion Pass
- Man Fan
- Turnback
Attacking Protections
Next, Sanders continues by covering several ways to attack each protection. Multiple pressure schemes are diagrammed, including: front games, double edge pressure, cross dogs, and several more. Additionally, Coach Sanders demonstrates how he creates favorable match-ups for teams that utilize big-on-big protection.
You'll also walk away with the knowledge of how Sanders teaches the wide speed rush to his defensive ends, along with the "Molly" concept that allows your defense to confuse offensive protection calls. Coach Sanders also includes a unique "pull and play" tactic that nearly guarantees a free rusher in the backfield.
Overall, this is an excellent video for coaches who are looking for a way to systematically pressure the quarterback. With Coach Sanders' help, your defense will be able to get after the QB this fall!
61 minutes. 2019.