Tendencies… How much is too much?
Sep 4th, 2007 by Coach DeLorm
So I wanted to touch on the subject of teams breaking down film and figuring out an opponents tendencies. I am all for breaking down film and figuring out what is going to happen and even get to the point of predicting what will happen in the football game, but where do you draw the line as a coach and begin to just prepare for the game.
There are so many factors that dictate a win or loss such as injuries, suspensions, weather, overall health of the team, etc. that the amount of time spent on studying your opponents should be somewhere in the middle or to the bottom of the priority list. Breaking down film and figuring out what your are going against in the coming week(s) is very important, but I have been on staffs where that’s what they eat, breath, and sleep. Instead they should be focusing on the development of their team and preparing them on the football field to understand the overall game rather then situations. I have had players that I have coached on the minor league level that had no clue about football formations or alignments rather then just the ones they ran in college or high school. Other players that took the time and had a coach that was willing to teach them an overview of formations and football knowledge, were the ones that I could depend on when a team presented something new that was not seen in the films. That adapatability was key to overcoming new formations and trick plays in game time situations. Some say that comes from years of experience, but rather that is from seeing many formations and understanding the basics of the game. A young or old player could have the same results if coached right.
So instead of preparing your team all week for that opponent on game day why not teach them the game and give them an overview of the opponent. Allow your coaches to teach the game and allow your players to be athletes. Coaches have the tendency to get caught up in X’s and O’s of the game rather then the players that play it. If you develop the players more then your game plan, your program will be better prepared for adversity and whatever the season holds.
First off I would like to say great post. And although I understand your point of view, I am going to have to slighty disagree, but it does depend on the level that you are coaching. I will agree with you when you say there are other important components that come into play other then evaluating opponents such as injuries and your depth chart, but I can not agree when you can say that focusing on opponents tendencies does not help. I have been on a college football team for three years now, all of which I have started on the offensive side of the ball. I know from personal experience, that when I watch game film of my opponent, not only do I pick up on their tendencies in their play calling, but also the personal tendencies of those who I am playing against, which I feel as though gives me the upper hand. For example, I know which defensive back is more aggressive then the others, and which ones are afraid of contact.
Also, in my three years here, I have seen my defensive coordinator do some amazing game planning and studying of tendencies. Two games this year our coach was able to yell out what the play was most likely going to be due to the formation of the offense as well as the down and distance. I have always been proud to say that when it comes down to it, our defense seems to always be the most prepared on the field.
On these two examples alone, it is impossible to say that game planning for tendencies is not essential in winning a football game. Having your team that mentally prepared to the point where they can nearly predict what the other team may do,can only improve your chances on winning a game.
Those are some great points Jon. I think it does depend on the level you are coaching on and the level that your players are at for the season. I have been on teams where the players were young needed the time to develop the basics of the game rather then teaching the players the tendencies of the opponents. Most of the time the players in that type of situation were more confused in the end and took them the whole season to learn something that should have been absorbed in the pre-season.
I can see though that if the players have a good sense of their position then by all means reviewing film and scouting out tendencies is the next step in making your team becoming self sufficient out there on the field. That is what every coach wants is to have their players play in the moment and rely on their instincts. We as coaches should never lose sight of developing individual skills over teaching opponent tendencies.
Thanks for the comment.