new coach

Question
Coach Perl, I completed my first year as a high school Head Football coach. The school I coached opened this year after being closed for 10 years. This past year we had only 9th and 10th graders yet we played a varsity schedule. As one would expect, we had a tough year. This upcoming year we will have a full roster. How do I install a cover 2 4-3 defense?

Answer
Coach -

Thanks for writing.  Well, there are a million things to think about when attempting to install a new scheme be it offense or defense.  The biggest thing to consider is what I call "Personnel, not preference."  Before you install a scheme, or even decide on one to install, I HIGHLY recommend you research the main base schemes first.  While doing that, make sure you have looked at the players you have back this season, and for several to come.  What will your strengths and weaknesses be?  Are you a smaller and faster defense, or a bigger, stronger, slower defense?  Better at stopping the pass or the run in past?  It is key to know these BEFORE deciding on a defense, because each of the defenses allow for different abilities to be used, and /or exploited by an offense.

The only way to know for sure is to do the research and compare each base defensive scheme to the players you have, and choose one that fits your teams' skills and characteristics best. Personally, i would not just choose a defense on my personal likes before looking at each defense and who I have on my team.  What I like or know might not be the best choice.  

If you do that, and it does turn out that a 4-3 is the best choice, then you are ready to start installing it.  Again, your research is key here, because not only will you learn the basics of it, but as you get to know the scheme, you will get to know how to install it.  There really isnt a quick, simple answer that I could write to you that will set up this process.  It is a long, complicated thing to do.  From setting up your positions, seperating DTs and DEs, MLB and OLBs, and setting up your coverages. You mentioned cover 2.  For that, I have the same answer.  It is 100% about researching the coverages, looking at your players, then seeing if it works for you.  IF it does, you install it by installing it. Get what I am saying?  Its all about the coaches TEACHING the cover 2 to the players, putting the basic cover 2 in to practice, running drills that stress the cover 2 responsibilities, etc. Its the same for the 4-3.  But you cant install it until you kow what those drills, assignments, and characteristics of the defense are, right?  No matter what I write, you will have to have a FULL UNDERSTANDING of it before even thinking about putting it in.  The COACHES are the ones who need to learn these things, so get your staff on it right away.  Players usually do not know why they are running a 4-3, or a cover 2, or whatever.  They just know that the coaches say line up here, do this, and they go do it.  So making sure the coaches are prepared properly is what matters.  I would suggest attending a few clinics as a staff this summer to get the knowledge you need.  There are clinics all over the country, and they are very helpful.  

Please dont take this as me shrugging you off.  I certainly am not doing that.  But installing an entire defense is very complicated, and calls for so many things, details, processes, that I couldnt possibly go over it on this site in the space alloted.  But I do promise, if you follow the simple steps I listed above, you will get off on the right foot, and it will set you up to successfully install your defense for this year. The good news is that you have time.  IF it were an offense you wanted to change in April, I would say "forget it".  But a defense can be changed quickly as long as the coaches know it backwards and forwards, and the players have the physical and mental ability to adapt to the changes.  

Let me know how it goes, or if you need anything else.

Best wishes

Coach Perl