38 Myths Defensive Football Coaches Don’t Want to Let Go

Play close attention now… this is a list of 38 Myths of coaching defense. A myth, for clarification, is an idea that is believed by many but is not true.

This list includes a lot of ideas I have held in the past. It may be 100% ideas that I have held in the past.

My current belief is that we were taught wrong. Through no fault of our own. I’ve come to that conclusion from working with a lot of coaches. Young and old. New or experienced.

And also a lot of interaction with fans. A lot of people I know will ask my opinion on something in the NFL or NCAA Football. Or just want to talk ball because, well, they know I like football I guess. And they do too.

Based on their ideas, I came up with a list of 38 myths that defensive football coaches just don’t seem to want to let go…

1. Your game plan is the single most important factor in determining the outcome of a football game. The coach with the best game plan wins.
2. Football is a game of violence. You gotta be MEAN!!
3. Bigger is better in football. Put the biggest guys you can find on the football field (particularly on the line).
4. Position names matter. There is a fundamental difference between a 5’10” 175lb Linebacker versus a 5’10” 175lb Safety.
5. <insert defense here> can’t stop <insert offense here>.
6. You should change your defense to match the offense your opponent is running.
7. You have to hit in practice, a lot, to be ready to hit in games.
8. People are born with leadership. If you have no leaders on your team, it’s the fault of someone with much greater authority than you. And you can’t do anything about it.
9. Practices need to end with wind sprints, or some other sort of conditioning. If not, you’ll lose the 4th Quarter.
10. Spread Offenses are soft.
11. There is a right way to coach a defense and a wrong way. The lines are clearly defined.
12. Certain drills should be done every day for your defensive position group. Regardless of what you are seeing on the field.
13. If you lack size, you should be running a 3-3-5 Defense.
14. If you lack speed, you should be running a 4-4 Defense.
15. Every kid needs to have a printed playbook to take him with him.
16. The aforementioned playbook must be at least 100 pages long, or else you don’t have enough stuff and are likely to get beat.
17. If you aren’t stemming, stunting and blitzing every snap, you are allowing the Offense to dictate to you.
18. It is impossible to stop 4 Verticals in Cover 3.
19. Defensive Linemen need to occupy blockers so the Linebackers can make tackles.
20. If you try to play man coverage with average athletes, you will get beat.
21. The better coach always wins the game.
22. It’s not your job to motivate players. They should be motivated to succeed already.
23. Toughness is an ingrained trait. Tough kids are tough, soft kids are soft. And tough kids are always better football players.
24. There are certain physical characteristics that a player must meet, in order to play a position. If you don’t have anyone that fits the mold, you are just out of luck.
25. Assistant coaches should be motivated to find drills and learn football on their own. It is not your job to mentor them.
26. Friday Night is where the real coaching happens.
27. The Scout Team is just there to take a beating. Put your least experienced coach over there to run them so you don’t have to worry about it.
28. There is such a thing as a perfect defensive play, where there is absolutely nothing to correct out of any player’s performance.
29. Defending the Option, or Wing-T, or any other less common offense, requires you to change your defense.
30. If a kid shies away from contact, it is because he is soft. The best way to fix it is to force him to hit, constantly, until he is no longer scared.
31. Halftime speeches often win football games.
32. Everything that you do has got to be sound. No matter what the opponent is doing.
33. Shutouts happen because you’re a great defensive coach.
34. Blowouts happen because you are a horrible defensive coach.
35. Spread Offenses are trying to throw the football on you. Spread your defense out with them.
36. If they were doing it 30 years ago, it’s outdated and useless.
37. Your players know a lot of the basics of football when they get to you. Don’t waste your time teaching them.
38. You have to keep everything you are doing a secret. The other coaches could steal your 4-4 Defense with Cover 3 playbook and open a window to your soul.

There are some common themes here. Let me touch on them…

There is no prototypical kid. If you can recruit, or you can draft… maybe you can fill your roster with the right prototype for each position. Most of us are given a group of kids. We have to fit our philosophy to them.

There is not a holy grail of coaching. There is no particular defense that will be the answer to all of your questions. In fact, the best answer is to stop searching for it. Find something you like, stick to it. Through good and bad. Don’t jump from idea to idea.

We have very little direct influence on the outcome of a game. Sure, the Monday Morning Quarterbacks are going to dissect the call you made on 4th and 3. But there were 65 other calls you made.

The players on the field will make all of the difference. You have indirect influence because ultimately, coaches are in charge of motivating our players, building leadership and confidence, and teaching how to crisply execute the play calls (among other things).

That’s indirect. Game Day is all about the players. I’m usually most relaxed on Game Day. I’m not a very relaxed person, so most relaxed maybe relative. But it’s true.

Are there any of these myths you can’t shake? Leave a comment!