I never played organized football, so I'm looking for a book or DVD that explains basics of Xs & Os. For instance, what's cover 2? Which defender is responsible for what gap? What is a QB looking for in pre-snap reads?

Any recommendations?

I know this isn't a book, but believe it or not I've learned a lot from playing Madden. There's a training mode which breaks down plays, explains what things are (like a cover 2), as well as what to look when playing offense (reading defenses and making reads).

Here's a good article that explains the different defensive coverage schemes along with images and animations:

https://www.thephinsider.com/2014/8/15/6...age-shells

I'm not sure of a single book that explains X's and O's for basic formations on offense and defense but pretty much anything by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) is supposed to be good.

There is a subreddit, r/footballstrategy, where people break down concepts, plays, etc. the breakdowns are starting to get more and more organized. Definitely worth checking out.

When the Mrs. attended the Football Women's Clinic in the late summer held by the JMU Coaching staff, they distributed a map sized fold out laminated "Map" with loads of how to's about College Football by Coach Tom Bass.

Tom Bass Enterprises http://www.coachbass.com

I am not sure it is still around but it is worth a gander to see.

(12-24-2017 08:27 AM)jmuroadwarrior Wrote:  When the Mrs. attended the Football Women's Clinic in the late summer held by the JMU Coaching staff, they distributed a map sized fold out laminated "Map" with loads of how to's about College Football by Coach Tom Bass.

Tom Bass Enterprises http://www.coachbass.com

I am not sure it is still around but it is worth a gander to see.

I just clicked it and its all Chinese. LOL I guess that link is dead. Oh Well.

Man...I wonder if this is how I could make my millions!!
Only problem is that nobody would buy a book from a random HS football coach. Now if I could get someone like Saban, Harbaugh, Meyer, etc to co-write it with me....

K.C. Keeler is writing a book, Football for Dummies, and doesn't even know he's writing it. The chapter on defense is one sentence... "I don't have a clue." The chapter on getting your ice handed to you is about 90 pages long, followed by the chapter titled, One Thousand and One Excuses for Losing, which becomes quite amusing after a page or two. Infected eye lashes...that's a good one.

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Take your eye off the ball was a good book for this. Covers gaps, types of coverage, offense packages, defense packages, etc.

(12-24-2017 10:44 AM)doubleduke2016 Wrote:  Take your eye off the ball was a good book for this. Covers gaps, types of coverage, offense packages, defense packages, etc.

This is what I was going to recommend. Author is Pat Kirwan, former NFL GM and host on NFL Radio.

If you have Sirius (if you don't, you really should for a variety of reasons), listen to Movin' The Chains, Pat's show. It's on in the afternoons, probably starting around 3:00 is my guess. They're great about teaching the game. If you call in, they will chat with you for 5+ minutes if you want, and really explain any concept you want. If you don't call, just tune in and learn.

Edit: it's on NFL Radio, Channel 88.


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Go read the message boards on http://www.coachhuey.com it is a message board community just like this but its for football coaches. Tons of info on there and lots of good coaches.

ESPN2 has a show called NFL Matchup... lots of x and o breakdowns and theory... very good show

Just make sure you get something recent. There's plenty of books out there that will tell you how many guys need to be on the LOS, coverage schemes, etc. but if you want to get in more detail you'll want something put out in the past couple years. Jim Tressel retired in 2010 and I saw an interview with him this year and he was like (paraphrasing) "I don't understand any of these schemes anymore, I'd be useless as a coach".