Cody Alexander
@The_Coach_A
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Owner: MatchQuarters | Host: Let's Talk Ball! (@TalkBallPodcast) | 6 books on defense | No Frills Daily Football Clips | '23 NFL Big Data Bowl Finalist
Joined February 2014
Defending The Slot Fade. Analyzing Nickel techniques against Slot Fades. Link below. --
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Pundits will tell you it's 'shell' coverage, but it's more nuanced than that. .
Through ~2 weeks, we're seeing a massive dip in snaps, pass rate and touchdowns by NFL offenses. What the heck is going on?.
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Still, nothing beats the time Army wore their literal snow camouflage to play Navy in '17. 🤣🤣🤣.--
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These Safeties for Ohio State will be a problem vs. the Texas run game. Arizona State was able to hold the Longhorns to 53 yards on 30 carries. To advance to the championship, Texas must improve its ground game in the Cotton Bowl. --
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If the chest suddenly raises up. They're going to drop out. Elite rep!. & look at that synchronicity.
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Let's break down the best CBs in the NFL from last year.
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Great look at how to get IN-PHASE when beat off the line. Don't look back for the ball. Chase mode. Slap the wrist to throw the WR's rhythm off & to get in control. DO NOT armbar!. When in-phase, LOOK-n-LEAN. Run'em into the sideline. Track the ball. Press the hip. #ArtofX
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Like I tell my guys in BAIL tech, if you keep that low shoulder down (the one towards the WR) you create a more efficient break & transition because of body position. All Ramsy had to do was snap that left arm down because he was already in his tuck. Break 👉🏻 Accelerate 👉🏻 FINISH.
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We've now hit the point where the pendulum swings back. Football has (forever) had a natural cycle. Offenses start to spread out; passing becomes more explosive. Defenses adjust by putting lighter players on the field to match the space. Offenses predictably run the ball.
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"Cover 0 is not about your 1-on-1 guys. It's about beating the protection.". - Rex Ryan, today on Countdown. #ArtofX.
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This is straight 🆙 clinic tape. Feet never die. Stays 🔲. Doesn't panic on the release. Gets into phase & turns his head. Looks 👀 & leans into the hip. You don't have to touch the WR to impede movement. Stay 🔲 & make'em run the hump. & the kid's only a FROSH‼️. #ArtofX
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On critical downs if you present a condensed alignment, Spags will blitz it. Buffalo should have known. --.
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Michigan ran one simple scheme that wreaked havoc on the Alabama run game: . A Ni 5-man pressure. #ArtofX | ⤵️
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Alex Gibbs, Godfather of the WZ:. "We don't block corners, we block safeties. We make corners tackle. They're as sh***y as tacklers in our league as they are in yours.".
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The Vikings' DC, Brian Flores, is a sicko & I'm here for it. 11 on the LOS. 💥💥💥.--
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Small side CoD games + tackling = better, more realistic drills. ⤵️.
DBs - Own your LEVERAGE. The Vice Tackle Drill emphasizes tackling in space while teaching players the concept of leverage. KNOW WHERE YOUR HELP IS!. #DBU
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If you press you need to carry BAIL. Below is a look at a textbook BAIL tech. CB stays on the inside hip. Seeing departure he squeezes the WR 🗜️. 👀 to the QB. Great cut-off & stays on 🔝. Play the ball 🏈. Run the route for him!. #ArtofX
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Russell Wilson giving out free game. The mind doesn't know the difference between mental & physical reps. He can't play so he went through a game. He got his reps in, even visualized calling the play & avoiding defenders. The physical realm can only get you so far. #DoBetter | 🌱
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Zone coverage is about creating boxes & triangles. One coverage that has become highly popular to manipulate is Tampa 2 because it creates 3 triangles on the field. It's also a 'whiteboard coverage,' meaning you can place players in different spots (like Xs on a whiteboard). --
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Instead of giving coaches a BS 20min talk on a scheme, @CoachDaveAranda spoke about his struggles to be his authentic self & how as coaches we tend to lose ourselves in the game. Don't make the game an escape. I'm glad Coach Aranda is in TX & at Baylor. #DoBetter 🌱 // #SicEm.
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After watching every Packers preseason game, I can safely conclude DC Jeff Hafley gave nothing. Cover 3 (53%), Cover 1 (31%), & Tampa (16%) with a Blitz Rate of 12.8% (31st). That was it. 🤣.--.
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Free game by Saban for both offensive & defensive coaches. Georgia used FIB vs. Bama's Odd alignments to get their best rusher aligned as the apex player & not activated in the rush. Change of strength motions challenged Bama's single-high coverages. >> Answer: 4-down 2-Hi.
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Clinic rep by Seahawks' CB Tre Brown. WR pushes chest- Swipe the hand down. Once WR puts his hands up to get the ball (& shows his chest)- Punch up & out through his hands. Rake with the opposite hand to ensure you disrupt the catch point or take another shot at the ball. #ArtofX
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Ohio State running Saw Cover 0 (Pinch + Ni + Will) vs. Tennessee. --
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Who's the top outside CB in the NFL for '24?. The Bills Christian Benford is making his case for All-Pro this year. Via @FieldVisionMi .--
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"[Andy] Reid saw this coming. in 2013. he said college schemes are always five years ahead of NFL offenses.". Nice read by @bykevinclark. --.Link:
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Leave it to Belichick. Absolute mad man. This is sick!!!. Burst motion, eh. ? . BB said hold my bear. #ArtofX
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I will ask again: . Why is this not the standard view for each snap in a televised game?. (This was not a replay, btw).--
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Running the ball not only slows the game down but requires muscle. Offenses shift to heavier personnel. Light (Nickel) defenses are caught in the middle; they still have to defend the pass but are getting hammered in the run game. The difference in this iteration is analytics.
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The Mint/Tite packages have been figured out. The Over 4-2-5 has been figured out. Offenses each week presents different challenges. Cookie-cutter defenses don't work. Saban explains this & illustrated why you need to be multiple in '23 vs. UGA. |
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Don't be surprised if this is your starting Nickel in Atlanta come Week 1. --
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Michigan used five blitzes to attack Alabama's protections in the Rose Bowl. Let's dig into how the Wolverines 'sacked' the Tide's passing game. #ArtofX
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The Spread Revolution has won, and we are not returning to the smashmouth days of the '90s and early '00s. Football has become a space sport. Still, offenses are utilizing their advanced knowledge of space to gain advantages in the run game. You throw to score and run to win.
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The best defensive coordinator you've never heard of. Nate Woody is the godfather of the East Coast 3-4, which in lower-level coaching circles is one of the most popular Odd Front schemes to run. | --
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Finalizing a Def Coordinator weekly opponent scout workbook for the season. Can print out what you need each week. Helps streamline your weekly process & has a checklist so you don't miss anything. Do it yourself, or divvy up the responsibilities. Excited to share this!. #ArtofX
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I present you the route tree for the Ravens' Zay Flowers. >> All Brakes, No Gas! 🤣. #ArtofX
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Steve Spagnuolo vs. Vic Fangio. That's the tweet. That's your Super Bowl. --.
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Clinic look at what I call a HOOK technique when in-phase. Place your elbow in the WR's armpit & drive through his hip (look & lean). Notice how the DB holds the top shoulder, then places his Rt elbow in the WR's armpit. This hinders the WR's running motion. 🚫 Arm-bar. #ArtofX
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If you're an OC, create 'dirty' (nonstandard) Bunches & Stacks. --.
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I talk all the time about the "step-off" technique used by my Safties. Need a drill to rep that?. Here's one from the 🐐. Step-off (x3) ➡️ BP (transition) ➡️ Break & Drive. #ArtofX .--.📽️: @aldotcomSports
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10 yrs ago this week I quit my job & enrolled at Baylor. The plan was to just sit in the office until someone gave me something to do. My 1st month there I went to class, worked a reading program for the Ed Dept, & just read books. Reading is what got Phil Bennett to notice me ⤵️.
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Cover 2 is like your crazy uncle. You don't really like him,. But you need him to complete the family photo. #ArtofX | ✌️🏻.
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Rep what you see. .
Chiefs LBs working classic read & fit drill. Notice the communication every rep by LBer reading pulling guard. Love the simplicity and effectiveness of this drill and others like it. The more coaches mimic the game, the better prepared players are to execute without thinking.
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Crazy to think in June '17 I released Cautious Aggression. I had no idea the path MQ & my books would take me. To date I've sold over 12k books across the world. That's wild. I'm humbled by that number & it motivates me to continue to put out quality content. Thank you!. #ArtofX
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People will watch this & think that everyone can still backpedal. Hint: They can't. This is what elite looks like. Few can do this.
I hope y’all really understand how crazy of a rep this is at corner….
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CBS had an excellent clip package of Georgia using their pre-snap stemming to get false starts. then they got one against Mizzou! 🤣. Any loss of yardage early in the down/series amplifies the success rate for the defense. #ArtofX
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Once you leave HS, understand. Athleticism gets your foot in the door. Inteligence is what gets you on the field. Your effort is what sets your ceiling. #DoBetter.
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Paging @BrettKollmann . .
@The_Coach_A There needs to be a 30 for 30 on the "Peanut Punch" and it's impact on HAVOC plays in the NFL.
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Ohio State with an Under 'Rip' vs. Tennessee's Pin-Pull. Watch the backside Safety track the ball from the hash. 👀 .--
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To ADs/HCs: .When interviewing young coaches, experience is overrated. In fact, its proven, most people over time get worse (complacent). Things to look for:.1) Externally focused.2) Clear thinker.3) Imaginative.4) Inclusive.5) Confident expert.- Geoff Colvin. #TalentIsOverrated
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I left coaching last year to pursue content creation full-time. A close friend told me recently people don't know you are available unless you tell them. I'm open to freelance or full-time work. Hit me up if you need someone to hop on your pod, collaborate on content, or write.
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3 Cloud for the INT on 3rd. SQUAT technique by the CB. "Squat" near the sticks. CB sinks down giving the illusion of catch coverage & to appear in man/Quarters. After 5 yds 👀s snap inside to Slot. QB anticipates a clean sideline only to find the CB trapping the Sail 💥. #ArtofX
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Defenses have become very skilled at eliminating explosive plays. Quarters and split-field coverages have increasingly become popular the past 5-6 seasons in the NFL. Teams can now cap verticals, eliminate free access throws, and force QBs to 'work.'.
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Every defensive coach sat straight up when they saw this play by the Chiefs' Justin Reid. This is clinic open field tracking & tackling vs. a perimeter screen by the Bills. --
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Look at how OkSU structures their 3-Hi. Low Hole player can be used to spy the QB or cut any low crosser (or rush!). If utilizing an EDGE as the "low" 'backer, the D-line can run multiple different stunts while the backend can morph to any 7-man distribution. #ArtofX
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Hey, young coach. Keep going. Your ego is telling you to stop, but if you just keep it up, that door will open. If you are the smartest kid in the room, you're in the wrong room. We grow through failure, & if you aren't willing to fall down, you'll never be a 'genius'. #ArtofX.
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Great look at playing the low shoulder vs a Fade. Understanding leverage is 🔑. Know where the EZ is!. In-phase is lower near the GL. CB shuffles, stays 🔲, & attempts to slap the wrist. DB sits at low shoulder & gets eyes around. No arm-bar, but "hooks" the inside arm. #ArtofX
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Please stop what you are doing & go find Ndamukong Suh highlights from his time at Nebraska. .
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| Dom Capers Front Structures |. Okie = 505.Tite = 404.Tuff = 404, but Nose is heavy backside (Lag).Tornado - Bear (303).Rush = Wide 5s/9s (I call this Blazers). Reduction = move down half a man (Ex. - 4t to 3t).Open = AWAY from TE.Closed = TO TE. #ArtofX
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✅ Shoulder to the WR = Down.✅ Speed-turn while keeping tuck.✅ Stab the pec when they break the glass (Steer).--.
Alabama DBs working on their bail technique. Turning their head when their blindside is attacked. Would you use this drill?
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Not the Chargers' Jesse Minter casually rolling out a 4-down 3-High defense against the Browns. & he didn't 'just run Tampa.'.--
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Young coaches that want to be a DC. You have to know each level. Scheme is only as good as the teachers teaching it. If you can't teach your coaches what you want, then you will get something else. The detail is yours to own. Needs to be at the forefront of your mind. #ArtofX.
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A poorly underthrown ball by the QB should not constitute pass interference by the defense. --
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'Involved' means letting Knowles *finally* run his defense & not cater to an asst. coach who still wants to play 4-2 Cover 1 single-gap defense but can recruit really well. The 'ego' part is Knowles wanting to be able to run *his* defense (which works) without limitations. --.
Josh Pate made a good point. After Ryan Day got involved with the defense after Oregon part 1, they were significantly better. However, getting involved may have hurt some egos. If that's the case, I will take Day making the right decision, which resulted in a Title but losing a.
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Mike Sainristil is this year's Jalen Pitre / Brian Branch. Primary Ni in college, but has a diverse skill set. He is small (5-9 183) but plays much bigger. Will go in the 2nd Round, but we will look back in a year & wonder why he wasn't taken in the 1st. #ArtofX.
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Belichick out here w/ his 6-1 daring McVay to run on him. LAR obliges. Things of Note:. -Ran an Over Walk (DE to Nose in 4i/Will 9) most of night.-Forced the ball to bounce or into clogged "A" gap.-Stayed single-high w/ 1 Saf in the hole to cut-off Over routes (layers). #ArtofX
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Here is an example of a simple SHALLOW Drill (3v3) that you can rep w/your LBs to get your push/exchanges. You can switch up the Shallow/Dig & where the RB pushes. Put it on a hash too. Simple & effective drill that helps teach basic techs. #ArtofX .--.📽️:
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@smartfootball He checks #2 to his side (his job), sees he's blocking & then ROBOTS to MOF. He can't help that the route is skinny & not flat across the field. Agree, not lost. .
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Ohio State's Four-Down Three-High System vs. a Counter GY. Jim Knowles is the king of hybrid defenses, & he proved that again in the 1st-round of the College Football Playoffs vs. Tennessee's uber-Spread offense. --
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One easy way to keep your formations consistent is to create a "Formation Root" sheet. This is a great handout to make for your sub-varsity or new coaches who are responsible for breakdowns. These are from my opponent breakdown book: #ArtofX
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