Our next period will be working on individual techniques by positions for approximately 15 minutes’ duration. During this time our coaches generally work on weaknesses or correct errors which they observed in last Saturday’s game film. Or they will work by positions on recommendations which were made at Monday’s coaches’ meeting.
Our team drills and “team learning” are next on Tuesday’s practice schedule. The first and third teams will work on our offense for Saturday’s game. The first team will run about three plays to one compared to the third team. During this time the second team will work on defense against the scrub team, which will be running the opposition’s plays and passes. At the termination of 20-25 minutes the first and second teams will change around, with the first team working on defense, and the second and third teams working on offense. This period continues for 20-25 minutes.
The first and second teams will work on the kicking game next. As I stated previously, we use our kicking game as a conditioner and at the same time doing something functional with respect to perfecting our protection and coverage. When they do it properly, normally this phase of the practice schedule lasts 10-12 minutes. If not executed to our satisfaction, the period is longer in duration. While the first two units are working on their kicking game, the third team will usually be working on their defensive play. After completing their 20 minutes’ defensive drill, they must have their kicking game practice.
After we have set up Tuesday afternoon’s schedule we will amend offensive and defensive plans if necessary. We generally spend the remainder of Tuesday morning evaluating player personnel.
After lunch we will have a short squad meeting for about 15-20 minutes if we have amended our offensive or defensive plans or if we are going to make any changes of any nature involving the offense or defense.
Some time after lunch and before our specialists take the field at 3:10, with our regular scheduled practice commencing at 3:30 P.M., our defensive coach will meet with our defensive signal callers and our offensive coach will meet with our quarterbacks, and go over defensive and offensive plans and strategy, respectively.
After practice we will have a brief staff meeting again and we will review our entire practice schedule. At this time I want my assistant coaches to make recommendations for the next day as I want to work on the schedule at night for the following day. I discussed our procedures in [Chapter 3].
Wednesday’s Schedule
The procedure is the same as previously—staff meeting and set up the afternoon’s practice schedule, which will be about one hour and 30 minutes, excluding the last drill which is not timed.
After setting up the exercises and the agility drills, we will have our linemen firing out, the same as on Tuesday, and the backs will be polishing plays.