Whether you are on the offensive, defensive, or special teams side of the ball, early season game planning has some nuances in determining exactly what to focus on. It’s a balance of taking what you know about an opponent and their personnel and to the best of your ability filling in the blanks with educated projections. More than anything, it is still about building on what you do best.

Today we talk with Mike Judy, the four-time Delaware state champion head coach at Smyrna High School, Dan Carrel, who is Coastal Carolina’s Co-Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach, and Dante Bartee, an Analyst at the University of Oregon to gain their insights into early season game planning. While the focus is more on the defensive side of the ball, their approach works in any phase of the game.

Mike Judy, Head Coach, Smyrna HS

Dealing with the unknowns of an early season opponent

What you can get out of a scrimmage film

Working with the staff to more accurately predict what an opponent is planning on being.

Dan Carrel, CO-DC/LB Coach, Coastal Carolina.

It is about what you do best. 

An example where they didn’t think ahead about getting ready for things that they’d see from the offense. 

Planning for the future

Dante Bartee, Analyst, Oregon

Game planning for early season opponent

thoughts on how to work ahead in game plan preparation

advice for how he would do that on a smaller staff.

Game planning in the early can present challenges, but that also allows us to lean on what we do best and in the process make it better. It’s also about building a plan for the future as well.  

Best of luck in your preparation and decision-making as you tighten up your game plan for this weekend.  

Be sure to keep tuning in all season long for insight like that shared here today. You can see our catalog of our Season series episodes on coachandcoordinator.com and be sure to sign up for our weekly tips sheet which gives you a rundown of the ideas shared on the podcast.

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