Yes Virgina, there is no off-season.

Let’s talk Spring Ball… Part 1 of a 4 part series.

If it was not for the NFL free agency right now, Tom would be a dull boy. So while the rest of the world deliberates who will go in the first round of the NFL Draft this April, lets a take a look at what pre and post season looks like for our guys.

Coaches & Staff

After the final game and before the banquet is a time for grading. It has been my experience for the staff to get together and evaluate the players and create a SWOTT analysis. Each coach has a different way of doing this, so I can only talk about my experience. A SWOTT analysis is a overview of the team using 5 different criteria, Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats and Trends. It is the job of the head coach to work with his coordinators and position coaches to create this document. This is done as soon as possible due to staff losses and the continuing recruiting work that needs to be done. At the same time the players, group and team is graded overall, the Head Coach takes an inventory of his staff, and will meet with them individually to discuss this analysis as well as the analysis of his position players.

This work is crucial to the development of the team and the staff as a whole. Also during this time, and inventory and overview of the support staff will take place. This group includes football operations, trainers, strength and conditioning coaches, equipment managers and travel secretaries. All these positions are crucial to the team.
Last but not least, this is also the time for the staff to evaluate the current recruiting schedule, medical issues with players and there rehab and players who will be given a 5th year.

Players

Players will on average take about two weeks off before starting workouts and conditioning. Some players will not skip a beat and begin working out the Monday after the final game of the season. Other players who were injured will also have a rehab schedule that they are liable for and is watched closely by members of the staff as well as the trainers. During break, most players that return home will workout at the high school they attended or a club they have access to.

Once the team is back on campus, players will meet with position coaches to be evaluated and grade themselves out and make a commitment card or contract w/ another teammate or coach who will hold them accountable to what is being committed to. Commitments can be anything from not missing a involuntary workout, to strength gains or other measureable progress.

Beyond involuntary strength training, players will group up to work on drills. These drills are involuntary and usually encompass everybody but the o-line/ d-line and specialists. This is an opportunity for the players to work and improve on timing, gain better understanding of the playbook, and perfect other skills such as reds, looks, footwork, catching, and throwing. Since these workouts are involuntary, the football staff can not be present. The only people that can watch are trainers and the strength and conditioning coach. This is another reason why having a strength coach who is familiar with the game outside of the weight room is crucial and while I believe Mendoza is a critical component of this program.
The drills are always in shorts and t-shirts. The only equipment you can have is a ball and maybe some cones and a ladder. Some teams call this “Skelly” or “Skeleton” but it is more commonly known as 7 on 7.

This is an opportunity for not just bonding and improvement of skills but for the character and leadership of the team to develop. It gives underclassmen and freshman the ability to get reps while learning from the juniors and seniors, and provides and outlet for the QB’s and R’s to gain that extra edge and intangibles that predetermined plays can’t get done.

Stay tuned for next week’s installment where we will discuss practice planning and install for Spring Ball.