Coaches Corner: 10 steps for preparing your defense

Video: Recap: Quartz Hill vs. Oxnard 2016
See the Quartz Hill defense in action last season.

James Vondra led Quartz Hill (Calif.) to a CIF Southern Section championship game this past season, finishing 10-3, and recently took the stage at a coaching clinic to go through P.I.G. problems and also some defensive tactics in terms of preparation.

What's a P.I.G? A P.I.G. is a "Player Inadvertently Giving away the play." The coaching staff wants to know "Who is squealing?"

The second golden nugget was how the staff prepares defensively. It's a methodical process that his entire defensive staff plays a part in. The Quartz Hill staff breaks down a minimum of three videos, and uses a 10-step process in doing so. The main goal is to identify formations, alignment keys and potential plays, and then communicate those things to their teenagers, in a way that they will digest the information for success.

Step 1
Draw one of every formation your opponent uses. We focus on running back, wide receiver and tight end alignments.

Step 2
Chart run or pass from each formation, and then tally the total number of plays, then run plays and then pass plays.

Step 3
Label personnel for each formation, and list all potential personnel.

Step 4
Name each run or pass play that was charted in step No. 2. Make sure all motions by running back, wide receiver and tight end are drawn.

Step 5
List the top five running plays for each formation, and key on blocking schemes. Make sure not to focus on the frequency of each play. That can trip you up at this stage. There is more work to do.

Step 6
List the top five pass plays for each formation. Key in on tendencies from each formation: screens, play action, boot/roll/sprint out, specials, etc.

Step 7
Which run plays do each running back carry the ball on? Focus on the formations, alignments and blocking schemes of those plays.

Step 8
Which pass routes are each wide receiver, tight end and running back running? Focus on running back, wide receiver and tight end alignments, toughness and routes performed.

Step 9
Draw run blocking schemes for each formation and draw run scout cards.

Step 10
Draw pass plays for each formation and draw pass scout cards

Chris Fore is a veteran Head Football Coach and Athletic Director from Southern California. He consults coaches and programs nationwide through his business Eight Laces Consulting.