“Amherst County 3-5-3”

Scott Abell
Head Coach
Amherst County High School
Shenandoah Valley Coaches Clinic
3/2/05
I. Basics of the Amherst County 3-5-3
A. Description of Amherst County
1. They are blessed with talented athletes.
a. Their front 8 are extremely fast, the nose guard is the slowest and he runs a 4.9 40.
2. Moving to the 3-5-3
a. Began coaching a 5-3, read and react guy, and was very skeptical of change.
b. Initially called the 3-5 a Flex 5-3
c. Moved because it fit their personnel better than the 53
B. Defensive Stats
1. 13-1 AA State Champs
2. 128 point in 14 games
a. 59 points through the 10 games of the regular season
b. 1st defense gave up 86 points in 14 games and only 38 in the regular season
3. 8 defensive touchdowns for 48 points
4. 5 shutouts
5. As the year went on, they began to win games with defense, without the offense scoring
C. Game Goals
1. All decals are team oriented and are given out at the pre-game meal for
a. < 100 yds rushing
b. < 100 yds passing
c. < 10 pts allowed
d. Defensive Touchdown
e. Each Turnover
f. Shut outs
g. Hit of the Week (Only individual award)
D. Defensive Philosophy
1. Attacking style based on speed and physicality
2. Defense is priority #1
a. Double days start with defense
b. QB’s don’t throw, they go to their defensive position 1st.
c. Defense is built up to both the kids and to the media
E. Defensive Keys
1. Out hit all opponents
a. The Most physical team wins
2. Tackle as a team
3. Force Turnovers
a. Never fall on the ball, always work on scooping and scoring.
4. Play with speed
a. Team Defense
b. Drills in Practice
5. Win with defense
II. Base Defense
A. Base Alignment

D T N T D
B M B
1. Nose – 0
2. Ends – 5
3. Bats – Stacked on Ends 4 yds deep
4. Mike – Stacked on Nose 4 yds deep
5. Dogs – 3 yds by 3 yds off of the End Man on Line Of Scrimmage (EMLOS)
a. Linebackers are allowed to Prowl. (Moving around before the snap.)
B. Personnel
C FS C
1. Put speed on the field
2. Traditional Linebacker types should play DL
3. Offensive linemen don’t play DL, they are too slow.
4. Inside 3 Linebackers
a. These 3 guys must be tough and go full speed at all times.
i. Lots of Eye opener Drills to force them into the right mentality
C. Base Movements

D T N T D
B M B
1. All DL movement should aim at the hip of the next down lineman
2. This movement will occur if no huddle call is made.
3. Linebackers will read their keys
4. You cn easily interchange Strong/Weak with Field/Boundary or Right/Left for stunts.
5. Strong/Weak Call
a. DL goes Strong or Weak

D T N T D D T N T D
B M B B M B
6. Pinch
a. Ends pinch to Guards’ hips, and the Nose bull rushes the Center

D T N T D
B M B
7. System is kept simple (K.I.S.S.) All of this is installed in 2 days.
III. Linebacker Pressures
A. Gap Pressures: LB’s must press the Open Gaps
1. Points of Emphasis
a. LB’s must know which gap is going to be open and blitz that gap
b. You must rep each movement so the LB’s know which gap will be open for the LB.
c. Mike is usually a go to ball guy (ball hawk)
d. Bats and Dogs flip to strength
e. Only 4 basic DL movements are used
 2. A Gap Pressures
a. Strong/Weak Bat

D T N T D D T N T D
B M B B M B
b. Mike Strong/Weak

D T N T D D T N T D
B M B B M B
3. B Gap Pressures
a. Strong/Weak Bob

D T N T D T N T
D D
B M B B M B
4. C Gap Pressures
a. Strong/Weak Buck

D T N T D T N T
D D
B M B B M B
B. 2 man Inside Pressure
1. BOB

D T N T D
B M B
2. Pinch Buck

D T N T D
B M B
3. Boom Strong/Weak

D T N T D T N T
D D
B M B B M B
4. MOB Strong/Weak
a. Inside Gap blitzer goes first
 T N T D D T N T D
D
B M B B M B
IV. Linebacker Reads, Drops, & Drills
A. Bat & Mike Reads
1. In “I” and in 1 Back read the FB
2. In split backs read near back
3. In Shotgun, read the QB as a back
B. Linebacker Drops
1. Coverages
a. Amherst runs more zone than man
b. Must be willing to take some risks and leave some zones open.
2. Bats – Hook to Curl
3. Mike – Middle Third
a. Mike will replace the blitzing bat
b. If both Bats blitz. Mike drops to the middle, and reads the QB’s shoulders.
c. If in man, Mike will replace the Bat in man coverage
C. Linebacker Drills
1. Mirror Drill (Shuffle – Alley – Shuffle)
a. LB & RB start on separater yard lines, 5 yds apart. LB is slightly behind the RB
b. On command, RB takes off across field changing speed at 5 yd intervals.
c. LB Should
i. Stay on RB’s inside hip
ii. Change speed when the RB changes speeds
d. You should progress to the point at which the dill is ended with a form or full speed tackle at
the end
2. Blitz Drill
a. Essentially just the repping of blitzes.
b. LB’s should stunt to the inside 1/3 of the gap
c. They must learn to feel pressure and maintain the line of the blitz. DO NOT GET PUSHED
OFF THAT LINE
V. Defensive Practice Schedule
A. You must be willing to put the kids into physical practices. Make them attack and go balls to the wall
at all practices.
1. Make them tough. Build a tough, physical mentality in your team.
B. Practice Schedule
1. Agility – in Individual Groups
2. Team Stretch
a. Knock Knock Drills (Contact Drills)
i. Using kids that want to, set the tone of practice w/ an excited round of 2-3 kids making hard contact.
3. Team Stretch
4. Indy Defense
5. Indy Defense
6. Pass Skelly
7. Pass Skelly
8. Team D: 15 Play script
9. Team D
10. Team O: Team O and D switch on Off days
11. Team O
12. Conditioning
C. Film Study
1. Monday and Tuesday for the whole team, Wednesday for the LB’s and skill players. Friday film before the game.
 “Football 101”
Bill Lineburg
Former Head Coach
Radford High School
Shenandoah Valley Coaches Clinic
3/2/05
I. General Thoughts on Football
A. Attend and Support state and local clinics
B. Coaching is a fraternity, you should pull for and support everyone.
C. Defense is simple. Find the ball, get there quick and hit him.
D. Thoughts on the Game & Coaching
1. Football is not a simple game anymore, but we have to keep it simple for the kids
2. Kids come from all walks of life, we have to be able to deal with all kinds of folks.
a. “Ought to be able to walk with kings, peasants and all between.”
3. If you want to coach, you have to be prepared to be at school a lot.
E. Program Thoughts and Ideas
1. Everyone can contribute no matter what the age.
2. Build excitement in the program starting with kindergarten
A. Pass out balls to the kids, dress them in jerseys, build excitement.
II. Bill’s Journey and Philosophy on Coaching
1. All of us have been motivated by someone
a. Have a plan for your journey of Life and of Coaching.
2. Bill’s Journey
a. Started playing during the Truman administration
b. Began coaching during Eisenhower’s.
c. Frank Beamer assisted him at Radford
d. 1972, the VHSCA All Star game started in Salem.
3. Bill’s Philosophy
a. Ecclesiastes: To everything there is a Season
b. Rule # 1: Be a good citizen
c. BE for everyone.
d. Start the Day with excitement
i. Bill uses his school’s fight song each and everyday.
e. No Grumps: stop complaining
f. Health is wealth
i. Phys Ed is the most important subject if it is done right
ii. Stay fit for life
g. If you’re not a good teacher, then you’re not going to be a good coach.
i. Be feisty and get after it in and out of the classroom.
h. You are part of a TEAM, say We or Us, but never I or Me
i. Practices
i. Start and End each and every practice the exact same way
• Tell the kids you love them
• Kids are our product. Make something you’re proud of.
ii. After practice, break into position groups and ask kids about life, and how things are going.
j. Uniforms: Keep them consistent. Bill’s were the same when he retired as when he started.
k. Weights: Play the school fight song the whole time. Get excited, have fun in there.
l. The Fundamentals of Football
i. Be fundamentally sound in all phases.
ii. Focus on the fundamentals everyday
iii. Fundamentals of the kicking game are very important, snapping, holding, kicking.
 “Wildcat Football”
Jason White
Head Coach
Rockbridge County High School
Jason_white@rockbridge.k12.va.us
(540) 460-1603
Shenandoah Valley Coaches Clinic
3/3/05
I. Program Philosophies
A. Discipline
1. Everyone must keep level headed.
2. No Show Boating.
a. This has to be worked on
B. Honesty
1. Be Honest w/ everyone, both players and assistants
C. Excitement: Build Excitement with:
1. Passing Game
a. Passing the ball gets athletes out.
2. Rewards
a. T-Shirts are used as rewards (Kids will kill themselves for a t-shirt.)
D. Dedicated Assistants
1. Assistants must be willing to work year round.
E. X’s & O’s v. Technique
1. Focus on X’s and O’s, but you still have to be technically sound. (Did I copy this right?)
F. Defense, S.T., Offense
1. Focus in the Phases in that Order
II. Off-Season
A. Workout Schedule
1. Be in the weight room as much as possible
2. In a 7 period day, there are 6 weight classes.
3. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday are lifting days
B. Game days
1. Meet at 7 AM w/ the kids
2. Go through agilities, and the last 15 minutes have some sort of fun competition
3. Everyone gets T-shirts to wear to look the same when they workout
C. Linemen Challenge
1. Strength Challenge with the big boys.
2. Use various drills or events for the competition
D. 7 on 7s
1. These help the D too
2. You can teach schemes during this time
3. It also gets the kids interested in the off season.
III. Pre-Season
A. AM Technique Practice
1. All 3 Phases are practiced
2. 8-9 AM Defense
3. 9-10 AM Offense
4. 10-10:30 AM Special Teams
B. Transitional Meeting
1. 15 min each of offense and defense.
2. This meeting ties the morning and afternoon practice sessions together.
 C. PM Group and Team Practice
1. Afternoon/2nd practice installs schemes that relate to the morning techniques.
D. Tough Scrimmages
1. Keep all scrimmages tough during the pre-season.
IV. In-Season Practice
A. Start practice with stretch then conditioning
B. Special teams is first phase of game taught each day.
1. Monday is Individual skill day
2. Tuesday is Position/Group Work
3. Wednesday is a team day
C. Practice Offense and Defense Daily
1. O & D alternate back and forth throughout practice to simulate a game
D. Live Situations at the End of Practice
1. Goalline, 2 minutes drill, etc are saved for the end of practice
E. Stay in the Routine
1. The week they were 2 and 4 was no different practice wise than the week they were playing for
the state championship.
V. Post Season
A. Banquet
1. Spotlight the Seniors
a. Give them a Game Jersey and a scrap book to remember the year
B. Coaches Meeting
1. Evaluated each kid w/ all of the coaches the Sunday after the season ends
C. Individual Player Meetings
1. Meet with each kid in Jan or Feb. The eval is based on the coaches’ meeting at the end of the
season.
D. Individual Coaches Meetings
1. Basically just meet w/ each coach to see what they need to improve upon, and what they think
needs to be improved upon.
VI. Program Extras
A. Teacher of the Week
1. Voted on by the kids and announced before school each Friday
2. The Teacher gets to wear a game Jersey for the day and to attend the pre-game meal.
B. Linemen Breakfast
1. Linemen meet for breakfast @ 7:30 each game day at the local breakfast buffet. No other group
is allowed to do that
C. In Season Incentives
1. Goal Board
2. POW Shirts
3. Black Watch
a. Based on Defensive stats
b. Get Special T Shirts made up
4. OL Stats
a. Only individual stat that is posted
5. Def Practice Jerseys
D. Off Season Incentives
1. Club Level shirts based on weight lifted
2. Iron Man award for perfect attendance to all sessions
3. Pizza party for attending 100% of 1, 5 week, phase of lifting
4. Records
5. Program posts pictures of players who reach the various levels and awards.
VII. Position Philosophy
A. Video games have ended the days of the iron man football player.
B. Linemen play 1 way
C. Skill positions play 1½ based on a rotation
D. Obvious exceptions are your stud athletes
E. The Best Athlete plays QB in the Spread Offense, but he must be intelligent enough to make good
decisions.
VIII. RCHS Passing Game
A. Goals of the Passing Game
1. Defense must be concerned with 2 things.
a. Deep Pass
b. Screens/Draws
i. Stretch the defense out, then dump the ball underneath
B. 90 Series (5 Step Game)
1. All Verticals

X Y
H Z
Q
T

a. QB’s Read
i. Pick a Receiver pre-snap based on alignment or scout of defense
b. Coaching Points
i. Slots Aiming Point is the Hash, and the WR is the top of the #’s
2. All Hitches
a. QB’s Read
i. Flat defender
3. Crosses (H & Y)

X Y
H Z
Q
T

a. QB’s Read
i. Middle Defender
b. Coaching Points
i. Backside rec runs drag to opposite hash.
ii. Throwing to the backside post is rare
4. Sails (H & Y)

X Y
H Z
Q
T
a. QB’s Read
i. Same as w/ Crosses
5. Curl Out

X Y
H Z
Q
T

a. QB’s Read
• Pre Snap Read
• Wide Side
• Balanced Defense
• Flat Defender
• Post Snap Read
• Flat Defender: If he covers the out, throw the curl.
b. Coaching Points
• It’s the Curls job to get open
6. Curl Wheel

X Y
H Z
Q
T

a. QB’s Read
i. Same as Curl out, but now reading Corner and not flat defender.
C. 60/70 Series (Roll Out)
1. Hammer

X Y
H Z
Q
T

a. QB’s Read
i. #1 rec in direction of roll, then slot, then BS drag, then BS post
ii. If the Corner Bails, throw the 5x5 (X’s route)
b. Coaching Points
i. Run to Wide Side of Field
ii. QB 3 steps for depth
2. Snag

X Y
H Z
Q
T

a. QB’s Read
i. X>H>Z>Y
b. Coaching Points
i. Run to Short Side of Field
ii. Good for Man Defense
iii. WR runs route at Corner
3. Out

X Y
H Z
Q
T

a. QB’s Read
i. Same as w/ Hammer
D. Play Action
1. Bootleg

X Y
H Z
Q
T

a. QB’s Read
i. #2 rec as he runs @ MLB
2. Quick
a. QB’s Read
b. Coaching Points
i. Their version of a TE pop pass
ii. All Rec. run seam patterns
iii. Used to freeze LBs
3. Quick Tag
a. Coaching Points
i. Tags receivers with individual routes
E. Screens
1. Stationary

X Y
H Z
Q
F

2. Bubble (Crack or Stalk)

X Y
H Z
Q
F

a. Coaching Points
i. Blocking can either be a Stalk block or a crack block based on Def alignment.
ii. This kids can communicate this among themselves
3. F Crack Screen

E
X Y
H Z
Q
F
 “Goochland Football”
Giles Hall
Offensive/Defensive Line Coach
Goochland High School
Goochland, VA 23063
Shenandoah Valley Coaches Clinic
3/3/05
I.Why Coach?
A.For the Love of the Game
B.For the kids
C.To make a difference
D.Not for Money
E.Not for Ego
II.Why be an assistant Coach?
A.Someone who does not want recognition
B.Someone who cares about the kids he coaches
1.Put in extra time on Sunday Night.
2.Coach Hall has a weekly dinner at his house w/ extra film review
C.Someone who is willing to work long hours
D.Someone who is willing to make sacrifices
1.Make it Special to be an OL/DL
E.Someone who understands the meaning of loyalty
1.To your school
2.To your community
3.To the administration
4.To the kids
5.To his head coach (Most Important)
a.The Head coach is always correct
b.Never disagree in front of the kids or parents
c.Don’t discuss team business with anyone (wife, best friends, community members,
admin, etc.)
d.Be loyal to fellow assistants (It is OK to agree to disagree)
e.Be to meetings on time
f.As Vince Lombardi once stated, “Be to meeting fifteen minutes early, you might
learn something new and important.”
III.Qualities of an Assistant Coach
A.Caring
B.Unselfish
C.Loyalty
D.Love what you do
E.Be willing to learn and study
1.Despite what you may think, you do not know everything
IV.Why Coach Offensive Line?
A.Most important position
B.Everything starts w/ your athletes
C.A huge responsibility
D.You are held accountable
E.Must be mentally tough
F.Accept responsibility for your position
1.I promise you, your butt will be held accountable
a.This part is out in the public
V.What to look for in an Offensive lineman
A.Tough
B.Hard nose
C.Will to take POSTIVE instruction
D.Willing to sacrifice
E.Will to be beat on all the time
F.HEART, HEART, HEART, HEART
1.Without Heart, go home.
VI.Goochland Base Offense: The Wing T
A.Why the Wing T
1.Suits our Personnel
2.Kids believe in the offense
3.Community likes the offense
B.3 year record
1.Overall: 33-4
2.Prior to 2004: 4-16
3.2004: 9-3
a.District Runner Up
b.Regional Runner Up
4.2005: 10-1
a.District Champion
b.Lost 1st round regional play (21-14)
5.2006: 14-0
a.District Champion
b.Regional Champion
c.Virginia A Division II State Champion
C.Base Set

1.OL: 2’ Splits
a.Will go Foot to foot on occasion
b.OG/OT will cut or widen split based on play/scouting report
2.WR: Boundary - #s, Wide side and Middle of Field - Near Hash
3.FB: Heels at 4 yds
4.WB 2x2 off Ghost TE
D.Base Plays (I think these are the Plays)
1.They only run 5 running plays and a few passes.
2.Rocket
3.FB Trap?
4.Down
5.QB Spinner
6.Counter/Sally?
 “Jet Sweep Series: Jet, Trap, Waggle, Jet Pass & Truck”
Rod Bowers
Head Football Coach
Stuarts Draft High School
Stuarts Draft, VA
Shenandoah Valley Coaches Clinic
3/3/05
I. Why the Jet Series?
A. Allows you to stretch the field by the play, not by the formation.
B. Makes the Average back faster
1. Like a flying start
C. Makes a fast back dangerous
1. Full speed motion helps with this
D. Defenses have adapted to defends the Buck Series
E. “Wing T gets to the sideline”
1. Old wing-t doesn’t get to the sideline.
2. Hash mark, #s, jungle.
a. Jungle = Bottom of the #s to the sideline
F. Threat of the sweep stretches the defense for the FB
G. Play Action off jet versus a rotating secondary
H. Better counter potential
a. SALLY
I. Jet Sweep can be run from any formation
J. You don’t have to block people.
a. No one inside B Gap.
II. Jet Sweep: The Base Play
FS FS

C C C
B B B B B B B
E T T E E T T

A. Rules by Position
1. TE: Reach – On – Area
2. PST: On – Backer
3. PSG: Pull Flat, Wall or Kick out 1st defender to show
4. C: On – Away
5. BSG: Gut to LB (Best Path to LB)
6. BST: Cut Off
7. SE: Stalk
8. PSWB: Open Step, reach #1
9. FB: Step w/ PS foot to opposite foot of Center. Run as you would w/ Buck Sweep
10. BSWB: Aim 1 yd behind QB, Motion at full speed, take hand off w/ table top technique. Run to
Hash mark>#’s>Sideline – “Hide in the Jungle”
11. QB: 6” punch step to play side, reverse pivot (butt to hole), hand ball off in PS A gap.
B. TAG Blocking Scheme (For Odd Front)
 FS

C B C
B B
E T N T E

1. BS and backfield remain essentially the same, but the play side blocks as follows
a. PSWB: Gap – down – backer
b. TE: Gap – down – backer
c. PST: Pull & Kick
d. BSG: Pull & Log
i. PST & PSG Block as Buck Sweep, but pulling PST & G
e. C: Reach Nose
f. BSWB: L Cut behind KO and Log blocks
C. End Over Crack
FS

B B B C
C B
E T T E

a. Crack the OLB w/ the SE and arc #1 w/ the PSWB

D. Coaching Points
a. PSWB Reaches #1 from Sideline
b. If #2 (LB) move to the line, reach block him and PSG will KO will block #1
c. Use end over formation to remove Corner from the box
d. Never block behind PS B gap
e. Hand off must be made at full speed in the PS A Gap
f. Getting the Jet perfect takes a lot of timing with the QB and Wing Backs
III. Jet Sweep Gut & Jet Sweep Trap: The Inside Play
FS
FS
C C
B B B B C C
B B B B
E T T E
E T T E

A. BSWB must sell fake and play just like he was running the sweep.
B. Used to control fast flowing LBs
IV. Jet Sweep Waggle: The Play Action Pass

FS

C C
B B B B
E T T E

A. Waggle means opposite, so the QB and play will go opposite of the Sweep Action
B. SE: 6 yd Post, 6 yd up field, then to Corner
C. PST: Gap – On – Down
D. PSG: Pull Log
E. C: Step & Cup
F. BSG: Pull, Cross step for Depth, & Kick out
G. BST: Pull Check
H. TE: 12 yd drag
I. PSWB: Motion, then block for BS edge rusher. Can Run a Fly
J. BSWB: Skinny Post
K. FB: Get through LOS then to 5 yd flat
L. QB: Fake Sweep, accelerate to get depth, and read high to low.
V. Jet Sweep Pass Right: The Other Play Action
FS

C C
B B B B
E T T E

X
A. This play action pass is to the motion side. Good v. rotating 2ndary.
B. SE: Three step slant, then up field
C. PST: Gap – On – Area
D. PSG: Gap – On – Area
E. C: Gap – On – Area
F. BSG: Pull & Kick out
G. BST: Gap – On – Area
H. TE: Wheel
I. PSWB: Seam
J. BSWB: Motion, then block for BS edge rusher.
K. FB: Replace BSG and block A Gap – area
L. QB: Fake Sweep, then take 5 step drop behind PSG.
M. Switch call will send the PSWB on wheel and TE on seam route
VI. Jet Right Truck Left: The 1st Counter
FS

C C
B B B B
E T T E

A. SE: Stalk, but can crack

B. PST: Gap – Down – Backer
C. PSG: Pull Log
D. C: On – Away
E. BSG: Pull & Kick out
F. BST: Reach – On – Backer
G. TE: Reach – On – Backer
H. PSWB: Motion, then carry out fake sweep
I. BSWB: Drop step, then run for the toes of the FB.
J. FB: Run through LOS, get in front of runner to block
K. QB: Fake Sweep, then hand to BSWB, then carry out fake run behind Jet motion.
L. Jet Truck Keep
1. Same as truck, but QB keeps the ball and follows the Jet runner
VII.Packaging the Jet Sweep: Companion Plays
A. Must have counters to A, B, C, & D gaps.
B. Can also use jet motion with FB down (guard kicks out)
C. FB Belly (to SE Side)
D. You can run Sally using the Tag Scheme of Step and Cup Scheme to the PS
E. QB Down & QB Down Follow (Follow the FB
F. Sally Keep
G. Wham: WB KO’s for the FB on a down path (run down, but KO w/ WB not PSG)
H. Midline: Middle softens w/ jet motion
VIII.An Eternal Impact
A. We may be the only male role model the kids see
B. Act like you want them to
C. FCA Huddle
1. Thursday Chapel
D. Football is the best taught subject in America, b/c it hasn’t been made easy
E. Never underestimate our power to change lives