PAT NARDUZZI- CLINIC NOTES/OVER COVER 4

PAT NARDUZZI

I have been going to clinics for a long time now, and enjoy all of them that I go to, feeling that I am always learning something.  The AC Nike Clinic at the beginning of February proved to be the best one yet, for the simple fact that Coach Narduzzi is the single best clinic speaker I have seen to this point.
I think the ultimate compliment is this.....me and a few of my coaching brothers looked at each other as soon as it was finished and the resounding statements was, "Damn, I wish I could go back and play for that guy".   There are very few people I have seen, and as you can see from past posts I have seen alot, that left me feeling this way.

It is widely known that he keeps the scheme and adjustment simple, so that his players can play fast...but what really stuck out to me was his emphasis on technique.  For a long time now I have believed that technique trumps scheme a lot of the time, especially as a high school coach, and to hear his emphasis on it made me feel like I was doing something right.
Below are the notes I took, with a few other things mixed in.  I would love to start a conversation about it, so feel free to comment below.

Spartan’s Identity

·      SPARTAN DAWGS

·      “A focused group of vicious brothers, forever bonded together, to wreak havoc upon all oponents”

·      Core Values: Big Plays, Relentlessness, Swarming

·      Force Turnovers, Be Hungary, Have SWAG

**This is created by the players for their identity

Spartan DAWGS 2011 (I believe)

Defensive Philosophy

Defending the Run Game- Defensive Philosophy

·      Stop the Run- Build A Wall

o   Make offense one dimensional

o   Defend Opponents favorite runs in practice

·      FUNDYs

o   Coach the Little Things

·      SPEED

o   Evolution of the 4-3 Defense

·      KISS

o   So they play fast

o   No thinking

o   BONE HITS- Chart Big Hits

·      Disguise

o   Always look the same pre-snap

·      Zone-Blitz vs Man Blitz

o   Zone blitzing is safer and easier

BASE DEFENSE vs. 2x2 (OVER CVR 4)

PRINCIPLES OF BASE DEFENSE

·      Alignment Rules

o   Allow for easy adjustments

·      Nine Men in the Box

·      Bounce Inside Runs Out (Spill and Chase)

·      Make Outside Runs Cutback (Force)

·      DL

o   Attack and React

o   Get a great takeoff and work from there

·      LB

o   Key Read and Run

o   Read the “Guys that don’t lie”- Uncovered Players

·      Safeties

o   Read Key

o   Play Run to Pass

·      CBs

o   Press

o   Play great technique

WHY COVER 4?

·      Gets 9 Men in the BOX

·      Allows LBs to RUN

·      GREAT against Shotgun/QB Run

·      GREAT for Screens

·      Takes away all underneath throws

o   Forces LOW % throws

·      Easier to predict the release in WR routes

REASON FOR CB PRESS TECHNIQUE

·      Attacking Mentality

·      Forces a bubble in the WR release

·      Keeps the WR off safeties

o   Safeties are generally the force players

o   The inside press tech of the CB keeps WR from having clean crack on $ on their way down to play run

·      Forces throws to the opponents secondary WR

·      Easier to Coach

·      PLAYERS LOVE IT

·      Restricts the routes that a WR can run

o   WR can only run 5 routes against an inside technique press Corner

CORNER PLAY

·      Press the #1 WR

·      Align to the Inside Eye of WR

·      Shadow Tech

o   Shadow first step with inside foot

o   Give a little ground

o   Once WR breaks cushion, offhand JAM

·      Gives the Illusion of FULL PRESS

·      Routes CB will see

o   Fade

o   Hitch

o   Post/ Post Corner

o   Corner

·      Play Run Support 2^nd

Safety Play

·      9x2 of #2

o   Outside alignment if TE

o   Inside alignment if removed

·      Stick Feet (Flat foot read)

·      Read QB to #2 to #1

·      Vs. Trips play YO-YO  (trips side safety rock down, away safety MOF)

·      Beat the CRACK BLOCK

o   Read MUST be fast

·      Key the QB- “Key the guy that throws picks”

LB Play

·      Heels at 5

·      3 match LB (ILB) plays Out to Vertical

·      2 match LB (OLB) plays Out to Vertical to In

LBs/Safeties

·      LBs can run in the run game.  Attack read. Safeties have force and BCR/Windback

·      In PASS game, Safeties get help from LBs rerouting WR

vs. TRIPS

All-22 Michigan St. vs Illinois- 2013