HARVARD UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL

RUN GAME FUNDAMENTALS

PHILOSOPHY
ATTACK ALL AREAS OF THE FIELD
-MAKE THEM DEFEND THE FIELD

RUN (ALL) PLAYS FROM ALL FORMATIONS (AS MANY AS POSSIBLE)

-KEEP DEFENSE OFF BALANCE

LIMIT NUMBER OF PLAYS

-KEEP IT SIMPLE
-ALLOW PLAYERS TO GET GOOD AT PLAYS
-ALLOW PLAYERS TO EXECUTE

RUN DIFFERENT SCHEMES

-ALLOW O-LINE TO COME OFF THE BALL

DEVELOP CONFIDENCE IN RUN GAME

-WEIGHT ROOM (MENTALITY)
-INTERIOR / INSIDE / MIDDLE
-PRACTICE IT
-CONVINCE PLAYERS YOU BELIEVE IN THEM

BE CONSISTENT IN YOUR COACHING

-WHAT ARE YOU ASKING (EXPECTING)
-VERBIAGE / WHAT YOU SAY / HOW YOU TEACH

COACH FUNDAMENTALS
-SIZE / STRENGTH / SPEED ARE IMPORTANT
-DOING LITTLE THINGS WELL WILL WIN GAMES
-FOOTBALL GAMES ARE WON WITH BLOCKING / TACKLING.
EVERYTHING WE DO REVOLVES AROUND BECOMING GREAT
BLOCKING

WE WILL RUN THE BALL!

HAVE PATIENCE
FIND A WAY
DON’T GIVE UP ON IT

MUST HAVE SOMETHING TO “HANG YOUR HAT ON”

PLAYERS BELIEVE IN IT
 HIGHEST EFFICIENCY PLAY
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
YOU GET WHAT YOU EMPHASIZE. BY NATURE OF WORD, YOU CAN
ONLY EMPHASIZE SO MUCH!

EMPHASIZE WHAT’S IMPORTANT!

-BREAK THE BLOCK / PLAY DOWN
-WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO HAVE A GOOD PLAY

FOOTWORK
1ST STEP / 2ND STEP

LEVERAGE
PAD UNDER PAD (HAND AT WAIST)
FRONT OF SHOULDER INTO CHEST
HAND(S) INSIDE

SHOULDERS
OVER KNEES

FINISH
DRIVE KNEES
STRAIN THRU DEFENDER
ADJUST HIPS (THRU DEFENDER)
HARVARD UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL
PASS PRO FUNDAMENTALS

PROTECTION PHILOSOPHY

KEEP THINGS SIMPLE

-ONE BASE PROTECTION --- MINOR ADJUSTMENTS (3 MORE PRO’S)
-CONSISTENCY IN TEACHING / COACHING
-CONSISTENCY IN TERMINOLOGY

ALLOW QB TO CHANGE PROTECTION AT LOS

-BLOCK BLITZ
-THROW HOT VS BLITZ

GAME PLAN VS
-MOST CONSISTENT BLITZ
-MOST EFFICIENT BLITZ

TEACH DBP & PAP THE SAME (RULES)

-HAVE PAP OFF EVERY RUN

POINTS OF EMPHASIS

HANDS IN FRONT OF BODY

INSIDE (ON CHEST)

FEET STAGGER
INSIDE FOOT UP / OUTSIDE FOOT BACK
(POST – KICK)

SHOULDERS BEHIND KNEES

FINISH NEAR ARM / NEAR LEG

CAN WALK INTO DEFENDER
PASS SETS
OUTSIDE ALIGNMENT
“KICK” OUTSIDE FOOT --- OUT
-LEAD WITH FOOT (NOT KNEE)
“SLIDE” INSIDE FOOT --- BACK (KEEP STAGGER)
PUNCH NEAR POINT WITH BOTH HANDS
-STRONG WITH NEAR ARM / NEAR LEG
KEEP BODY INSIDE OF DEF

*VS INSIDE RUSH --- GET INSIDE FOOT ON GROUND

INSIDE ALIGNMENT
STEP FLAT WITH INSIDE FOOT (POST)
SLIDE OUTSIDE FOOT (BACK)
GET HANDS ON DEF QUICK
CAN USE FACEMASK / FRONT OF HELMET (DEPENDING ON DEF)
WORK TO “HEAD UP” POSITION
STAY STRONG WITH NEAR ARM / NEAR LEG

*VS OUTSIDE RUSH --- GET OUTSIDE FOOT ON GROUND

WIDE ALIGNMENT
“KICK” OUTSIDE FOOT --- BACK
-LEAD WITH FOOT (NOT KNEE)
“SLIDE” INSIDE FOOT --- BACK (KEEP STAGGER)
STAY SQUARE AS LONG AS POSSIBLE
PUNCH WITH BOTH HANDS
-STRONG WITH NEAR ARM / NEAR LEG
KEEP BODY INSIDE OF DEF

FREE MAN HIT RULE

SEE: HELP FIRST TO THE SIDE THAT YOUR ASSIGNMENT TAKES YOU TO
KNOW: HELP TO BEST DEFENDER (KNOW WHERE HE IS ALIGNED)
HEAR: “TWIST” ALERT
FEEL: FEEL A HARD RUSH FROM ADJACENT DEFENDER

*BE PHYSICAL! SLOW THEM DOWN!

*THE REASON THERE ARE STILL MATADORS IS BECAUSE THE BULL HAS
NOT LEARNED TO KEEP HIS HEAD UP!
HARVARD UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL
3RD DOWN RUN GAME
-3RD & MED / 3RD & LONG

RUN GAME MUST BE FROM PASSING FOMRATIONS

SELF SCOUT
MAKE THEM THINK YOU ARE THROWING
-MAKE IT LOOK LIKE PASS
DRAW
PASS SETS ON LOS (SOME WHERE)

MUST BE SIMPLE SCHEMES

LESS PRACTICE TIME
A LOT OF STUFF FROM DEFENSE
ZONE BLITZ
TWIST

ZONE / GAP PLAYS (BLOCK GAPS)

AVOID “MAN” SCHEMES
-COACH THE HELL OUT OF PROBLEMS

RUN PLAYS THAT ARE IN YOUR OFFENSE

HAVE HAD PRACTICE TIME
ADJUST TO “FUNKY” FRONTS
ADJUST TO MOVEMENT / BLITZ

BE PREPARED TO CHECK TO PASS

BAD LOOK
CAN’T BLOCK EVERYONE

“IT’S OK TO PUNT”
-OR-
“WE’LL GO FOR IT ON 4TH”

WHAT WORKS ONE WEEK MAY NOT WORK NEXT WEEK.

RUN GAME MAY NOT WORK EVERY WEEK.

GOOD LOOK VS LOOK THAT APPEARS GOOD