July 24, 2024 • 18 mins
Situational Football Series. Different guests talking about situational football.
Today's Guest: Markus Brown, Asst. Coach, Newton (GA)
Topic: Punt Return Late in Game
Today's Guest: Markus Brown, Asst. Coach, Newton (GA)
Topic: Punt Return Late in Game
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
The Parker Resource Podcast was brought to you by our
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(00:21):
with all things sports information. SID Services will not graduate
or lead for another school. Instead, they will provide an
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and your wishes. Your direction will lead their services. For
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(00:43):
Sid Services email is info at sidh services dot com.
That's info at sid services dot com and their website
is sid services dot com. Hey everybody, Welcome to the
(01:07):
Parker Resources Situational Football series. But this offseason we have
one hundred guests talking about a situation ahead of the
twenty twenty four football season. Hope you pick up some
great tips that can help make your team better. Enjoy
today's guests. I'm joining this time by coach Marcus Brown. Coach,
thanks for joining me.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Hey man, it's a pleasure.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Coach looking forward to this talking a little special teams,
situational football, one hundred different guests leading up to the
football season and winding down today.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
We're talking about punt return late in the game. So
it's late in the game. We can talk about a
head end behind if you want, but we're on punt return.
What are you thinking?
Speaker 4 (01:49):
So it was funny you said late end behind, because
as soon as I thought about I said, yeah, it'd
be great get on special teams, probably be a great
topic to talk about, kind of flex, flextion and muscles, right,
And I said, is this podcas?
Speaker 2 (02:00):
He has like two hours long?
Speaker 4 (02:01):
Because there's no way you could possibly talk about the
several different scenarios that pop up, and especially like listening
to some of the last few podcasts the most the
one that stuck out the most of me was forget
the Gentlemen's name cast head coach.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
That was really good man.
Speaker 4 (02:18):
Just a different type of scenarios, something as simple as
uh my my kickers quit, right, Those are different kinds
of things that you gotta think about.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
So if you place you know that will happen on
Oh yeah, yeah, you've been one of those places that
have ten kickers, you know, the kicker quit.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
On absolutely absolutely absolutely so. Uh.
Speaker 4 (02:37):
Before I had the honor of joining the coach scale
nowt here at Newton High School, I was a head
coach at Eagles Landing. Uh So for me, spush teams
was really really important. Uh Now, just starting there, we
didn't have a great offense, right, so I use the
return game more specifically, that punt return game is like
another exposive play on offense, right. Uh so, So so
for me, I was a punt saint guy, right. Uh
(02:58):
So I was We're being situation like, we always want
to keep our best guys on the field, so it's
really our starring defense.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
And then we would take two.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
Of our big guys out and I'll put out put
one of our dynamic guys in it, just one of
one of my uh one of my other headhunters in there.
That was really really, really good. So uh we were
fortunate enough, you know, to have a really good dynamic guy,
Mario Jackson who's at Boston College right now. So uh
it got to the point where guys couldn't even kick
it kick it to him. So, like I said, the
(03:24):
goal was always to get a first down ten yards
plus right whenever we returned it. But we use the
opportunity to flip the field another way to score points.
Uh So it's really really big if we were the
different scenarios that got to think about. You know where
we're at on the field, you know right now, if
we're if we're up, uh, then of course the ball
to ball the ball, right, make sure we get the
(03:45):
ball we want to get in the situation where we
get too too fancy, all right, and then we uh uh.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Make things easy on the other team. Right.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Also being up, there'll be different situations, all right, who's
the who's the guy back there?
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Maybe?
Speaker 4 (03:58):
Uh like a Mario was probably our most dynamic guy,
but we had a kid who a receiver who was
actually more sure handed.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Uh So we had different situations.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
Where I would put him back there and I was like, look,
we just want to put your put your heels at
the twenty, right, and uh we just we just want
the ball, you know what I mean. Make sure we
get the ball and then we get uh set up
and play offense. So uh, like I said, it's so
many different variables that you got to take into account.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Right, if what time of the game you're in, right, Uh,
if we're up, if.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
We're up by two scores, right, there's a situation where
we want to be aggressive. I was never a big,
big block guy, all right, but I'll tell you a
funny story. My first year was playing Stockbridge, actually right,
and uh, like I said, I'm not a big block guy.
You know, assistant coaches were adamant about trying to get
it done, and we actually went for a block persons
(04:49):
and you grow and they ran a faith on us
and gat us and it really costs us. So ever
since then, I was like, look, man, we just what
we're gonna stick to, right, And uh, we were playing Stockbridge.
Get down late, man, we were down, I think I
want to say we was twenty seven eighteen something like that,
and we was able to get the ball back and
the prior punts we saw that their return team, their
(05:10):
punt team wasn't blocking at all.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
They were just snapped. The ball is just taking off.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
So a lot of my guys that were helding up
because they had a wall, Some of the guy was
just coming.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Free and some just just one of them inkland inklings. Man.
Speaker 4 (05:22):
Somebody just say, man, we should just try to go
get it. So we just got our best guy and
we said, I said, go block the punt, right, and
why can't we tell him to do that? That's when
they muffed the snap, ball goes over his head. He
scoops scores for a touchdown. All right, we go for two.
Now we end up losing the game twenty seven to
twenty six, but it made it a lot interesting versus
a really really good Stockbridge team. So you know what
(05:45):
it really comes back to, like having that feeling right.
Sometimes it's some of the things you gotta just kind
of go with you gut right, And that was kind
of one of those situations right there.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Yeah, coach, you know, first off, you're exactly right right
these things. I thought doing a hundred of these we
would cover most everything. And now I trying to keep
them to, you know, fifteen minutes or so, because one
hundred of them at fifteen minutes is still a lot, right,
But we're not even scratching this through. I mean, I'm
learning that every scenario that I thought i'd drilled down.
(06:18):
I get to talking to somebody like you and they're like, yeah,
but what about this, what about this? What if we're
on this field, the field, what are from? And you think, man,
that's why the guts so important. But it's also so important.
I hope we're helping some people by giving them one
or two things to kind of remember and hang their
hat on. That would be universal. So like, as I
heard you talk, I'm thinking hunt return late in the game,
(06:40):
if we're ahead, you know, we got.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
To secure the football.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
So you got to know your team. Do you have
a better possession returner than you're a normal guy? That's
something everybody can remember. And then what would you say,
is a point where you don't put anybody back? You know,
I'm more of a guy to put somebody back beyond.
But is there a point where you're ahead and you're like,
look just let it roll?
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (07:06):
Yeah, probably if you're if they're in a uh, they're
in plus territory right in that in that fringe area,
you know, uh, plus forty five, you know, plus forty
something of that situation. Uh or maybe Sally probably a
little bit closer there. They don't have a kicker that
can really take a shot for it. But maybe the
distance the fourth and this fourth and the distance down
(07:26):
the distance is a little bit too long for them.
To go for it. Uh, and then we are up.
You know, that might definitely make be a situation I'll
take a chance there.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
But for me, like I'm I'm I'm with you, man,
I'm I'm one of those guys is always gonna put
somebody back back deep. But if I, if I had to,
that might be an idea when we do it. Maybe
if they're backed up, right, Uh, they're backed up, there'd
be another situation where, like I said, get in the
open field, man, we just want the ball right Uh.
And that maybe really for me, if I didn't put
(07:57):
anybody back there, that might be one of those situations
where we might, you know, because instead of going after it,
you know, make sure we got you know, all the
elgible guys covered up.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
But like I said, it's more like.
Speaker 4 (08:06):
A field thing, maybe a preference, right, if that's something
something that you normally do, I would even if it
was in a situation where I would be more prone
to put a more sure handed guy back there opposed
to just you know, taking them back, which I've done before.
Like I said, the kid we had man was very,
very dynamic, but you know he might be a little
with that dynamic ability that you have that they're more
(08:27):
apt to.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Take chances, right. Uh, and that may be a situation.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
And let me put a guy back there that's he's
not he's not looking to return the ball. You know,
he's gonna go back and do exactly what we telling
him to do, you know.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
And I think you.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Got embold in them when you're behind. And I think
that's what I was hearing from you. So whether you
want to go for a block, whether you want to return, uh,
if you're behind, you got emboldened to your guy. You
got to give him some confidence or make him feel
like we don't need to let this sing roll ten
yards and have to get a first down, get back
to where you could have caught it, right, Yeah, because
(08:59):
that so you gotta be confident, go catch football can
and he gets some yards. Like I said, even if
you get five ten everything, you get something your offense
doesn't have to get if you're behind, that can really matter.
Speaker 4 (09:12):
Oh No, that's huge, man, especially, That's that's probably one
of the biggest pet peeps. And I'm not the only
one I'm pretty sure about seeing that Bob Bouncer give
some guys that they don't get it. But they kind
of pull up a little bit.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
You know. I joke with him all the time.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
I could have put a line in back there for that,
for that much to do, I put you back there,
like I said, being in bold of them.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
I put you back there for a reason. Right. Oh yeah, absolutely, And.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
You showed the confidence give the putting them out there.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
Absolutely absolutely.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
I'll never get upset with him for trying to make
a play never, you know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
I think that's a great point. Yeah, And I mean,
don't don't be scared for him to make a play.
Give him some confidence and put your good guys back there. Now,
you better put your good back there. But uh, but
give them a chance. I tell you a tip and
then I'll move on. But okay, uh, you know, do
your sc out and most people do this, but make
(10:02):
sure that you are lining up the return. And I
don't have to be you. But somebody is a coach,
and I'm talking about the head coach, offensive coorting or
defense courter, somebody that they listen to and go stand
on that line if possible, to say, get your butt
right here, even with me, and put them on the
thirty six yards away, thirty four yards away whatever the averages.
Don't let them just go line up, because them kids
(10:23):
will line up fifty five yards off the ball.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Oh man, you appreciate the choir.
Speaker 4 (10:27):
It's so many, so many comed so many coaches my head,
Oh yeah, oh yeah, yeah, we had that. You know,
we got a guy that going off, going back fifty
yards back, and the kid has a average about thirty
yards and.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Then they'll run up and they'll get close to it
and back off.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
Right.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Absolutely, well, dang they almost got it. Well they ran
twenty yards. Yeah, you know, if you to put them up.
So I'm not being critical of anybody. I'm just saying
if you're not doing that, that's an easy thing. You
just write it at the bottom of your call sheet,
thirty seven yards and then every time when it's fourth down,
somebody be in charge of move finding where they'rety seven
yards is. You know, we had some coaches on our staff. Coach,
(11:03):
they couldn't count thirty seven but out there they can't
get thirty seven yards. So no, but really that that
really did help us catch more punts, like lining them
up for making sure they understand they got to line
up on you and not you just telling them line
up forty yards back and then they to them, you know, coach,
(11:23):
how do y'all practice this? When do y'all practice of Parker?
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Well?
Speaker 4 (11:27):
Uh, here Coach Keln actually does it. And Coach Harden,
our special teams coordinator, they do a really really good
job of putting a heavy instance on special teams. I
know a lot of people say that, but but but
he means it. You know, it's more than just hey,
let's just get it, get this period out of the way.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Now.
Speaker 4 (11:41):
From my experience, I've done it a few different ways. UH,
And I think it depends on really what kind of
school you're at and what kind of kids you're using.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
You know, I think you gota factor that into it.
Back before, in.
Speaker 4 (11:53):
My previous stints, we would use just to make sure
we got enough time on it. We woul hit it
every day, but Mondays was our premier primarily, UH, Special
teams day, all right, and UH punt return.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
That the the UH.
Speaker 4 (12:06):
I think the biggest problem that we probably had and
probably could help us out, help me out with, UH
is getting live reps of special teams or a point return, right, guys,
truly truly running down not being able to put you know,
a true scout team out there that's just you know,
almost in the way somewhat, but giving them guys a
real good look. That's probably one of one of the
(12:26):
biggest struggles I've ever I've seen uh other coaches face,
but uh, but I would we would definitely break it
up into like a pod work, right, so we have
you know, returners in one area. Uh we had a
wall set up, like we have a wall. We would
have a wall set up right here in the uh
(12:47):
in the uh in one corner of the other field, right,
and they're working certain certain uh uh looks that they
may get from that week. And then also we got
the snapper area. Uh So that's that was probably the
most prevalent. And we would do break it up at
the pod small pods so we can get more work
opposed to having true true eleven on eleven all the time.
(13:07):
That on Wednesdays and Thursdays, that's probably the time where
we probably get some real eleven on eleven action, But
definitely break it up in the pod to like simplify
it a little bit more more specialized for the kids
to be to see see exactly what they're looking at
and really be able to coach it up.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Yeah, it's funny you said that, because if you're thinking
like I was thinking as you said that, how you
can get more effective efficient practice time. The thing that
came to mind was something like pod work, and you
already said that. So because you can get this just
a general rules, quesially, you can get a much better
look in small settings. And then if you want to
(13:42):
do punk return, kick off, kick return, if you can
divide it into small parts, put the scouts out there
and get a decent look that you'll get a much
better look that way than eleven on eleven. Now, then
put it together eleven on eleven. See what you can
come up with, you know, but if you've got the
time to break it down and parts, you'll get a
lot more done. Absolutely, coach, give me one more thing.
(14:05):
Let's uh, what's something we're gonna see from Newton this year.
Let me just tell youybody doesn't know team plays in
one of the toughest reagions in the state every year.
Let's like when that county, they're not even when that
county they don't complain. They play a tough non region schedule.
They just go out there and battle. You guys play
people with a lot more resource than you, a lot
(14:26):
more things than you, and you more often than not
are coming out on top. Man, I got a ton
of respect for you guys, So we all expect this
year from the team.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
Well, I appreciate you saying that. And uh, it all
starts at the top. You know the head man, coach,
coach Josh Skelton. Man, he's been there, uh for for
a very long time. So the culture has kind of
been ingrained already, that tough minded, hard working Uh, like
we're just gonna get it out of how they say,
get it out of the mud, all right, And and
that's kind of like what what's ingrained to the kids.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (14:57):
We got a lot coming back on the offense, so
I and I'm the offensive coordinator, so I kind of
speak more to that.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Uh and and uh they.
Speaker 4 (15:04):
Make us a lot better because Newton has always been
known for having some defensive players. All right, So we
have some battles in practice. When I say, our practices
are harder than the games. And coach s Kellen, he
tries to stay neutral, but he's a defensive guy. And uh,
and we know how to when the practices get a
little long. I mean probably will score a little bit
too many touchdowns, you know what I mean. But but
(15:26):
but all think and and that's my guy, man, we
speak every day.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Uh uh but what.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
You're gonna see from a new new team this year
is just uh taking that next step.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (15:37):
Last year, you know, we always it was like we
came to games hoping to win, you know, hoping to
be in a game with.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
A grason, right. Uh. But now these kids are expecting
to win.
Speaker 4 (15:46):
And we always they always had the talent, right the
town was always here, kids always going to school out
here in this come to the area.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (15:53):
But but now I think fifteen games is the expectation
this year.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
And uh and and I believe that.
Speaker 4 (15:59):
Uh, you know, under coach Scales leadership, man, we we
got everything that we need to to really take it
to really really make a movie this this year.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
And that's what we're looking to do.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
I think if you look around the state and find
some examples of teams that were on that doorstep, you know,
oh yeah, and then made some runs, and you're seeing
more and more parody. I mean, there's more teams possible
they're capable of doing that than there used to be.
So I'm excited to see it.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
Man.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
I'm pulling for you guys, and I can ever help
you anyway. Please let me know, Coach, I really appreciate
you take thought.
Speaker 4 (16:32):
Hey, man, I appreciate you having me on man, it
was it was definitely an honor man. And I appreciate
everything that you guys are doing. Man, love all the
resources that you guys provide. You know, I'm'm praying I
can get get selected for one of them drawings. Yeah,
looking for keeping for the future.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Man, I hear you ill see what I can do.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Yes, all right, now I have a good one.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
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The Parker Resource Podcast was brought to you by our
platinum sponsor, SID Services. Ads and Coaches. Does the idea
of a sports information department at your school sound appealing?
Sid Services was founded with one goal in mind, help
athletic directors and coaches with their sports information duties and responsibilities.
Developed as a full service agency, they can help you
(00:21):
with all things sports information. SID Services will not graduate
or lead for another school. Instead, they will provide an
ongoing and knowledgeable resource for the entire athletic department. Their
game plan will be based off your needs, your wants,
and your wishes. Your direction will lead their services. For
more information and schedule an initial consultation, contact them today.
(00:43):
Sid Services email is info at sidh services dot com.
That's info at sid services dot com and their website
is sid services dot com. Hey everybody, Welcome to the
(01:07):
Parker Resources Situational Football series. But this offseason we have
one hundred guests talking about a situation ahead of the
twenty twenty four football season. Hope you pick up some
great tips that can help make your team better. Enjoy
today's guests. I'm joining this time by coach Marcus Brown. Coach,
thanks for joining me.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Hey man, it's a pleasure.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Coach looking forward to this talking a little special teams,
situational football, one hundred different guests leading up to the
football season and winding down today.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
We're talking about punt return late in the game. So
it's late in the game. We can talk about a
head end behind if you want, but we're on punt return.
What are you thinking?
Speaker 4 (01:49):
So it was funny you said late end behind, because
as soon as I thought about I said, yeah, it'd
be great get on special teams, probably be a great
topic to talk about, kind of flex, flextion and muscles, right,
And I said, is this podcas?
Speaker 2 (02:00):
He has like two hours long?
Speaker 4 (02:01):
Because there's no way you could possibly talk about the
several different scenarios that pop up, and especially like listening
to some of the last few podcasts the most the
one that stuck out the most of me was forget
the Gentlemen's name cast head coach.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
That was really good man.
Speaker 4 (02:18):
Just a different type of scenarios, something as simple as
uh my my kickers quit, right, Those are different kinds
of things that you gotta think about.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
So if you place you know that will happen on
Oh yeah, yeah, you've been one of those places that
have ten kickers, you know, the kicker quit.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
On absolutely absolutely absolutely so. Uh.
Speaker 4 (02:37):
Before I had the honor of joining the coach scale
nowt here at Newton High School, I was a head
coach at Eagles Landing. Uh So for me, spush teams
was really really important. Uh Now, just starting there, we
didn't have a great offense, right, so I use the
return game more specifically, that punt return game is like
another exposive play on offense, right. Uh so, So so
for me, I was a punt saint guy, right. Uh
(02:58):
So I was We're being situation like, we always want
to keep our best guys on the field, so it's
really our starring defense.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
And then we would take two.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
Of our big guys out and I'll put out put
one of our dynamic guys in it, just one of
one of my uh one of my other headhunters in there.
That was really really, really good. So uh we were
fortunate enough, you know, to have a really good dynamic guy,
Mario Jackson who's at Boston College right now. So uh
it got to the point where guys couldn't even kick
it kick it to him. So, like I said, the
(03:24):
goal was always to get a first down ten yards
plus right whenever we returned it. But we use the
opportunity to flip the field another way to score points.
Uh So it's really really big if we were the
different scenarios that got to think about. You know where
we're at on the field, you know right now, if
we're if we're up, uh, then of course the ball
to ball the ball, right, make sure we get the
(03:45):
ball we want to get in the situation where we
get too too fancy, all right, and then we uh uh.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Make things easy on the other team. Right.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Also being up, there'll be different situations, all right, who's
the who's the guy back there?
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Maybe?
Speaker 4 (03:58):
Uh like a Mario was probably our most dynamic guy,
but we had a kid who a receiver who was
actually more sure handed.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Uh So we had different situations.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
Where I would put him back there and I was like, look,
we just want to put your put your heels at
the twenty, right, and uh we just we just want
the ball, you know what I mean. Make sure we
get the ball and then we get uh set up
and play offense. So uh, like I said, it's so
many different variables that you got to take into account.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Right, if what time of the game you're in, right, Uh,
if we're up, if.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
We're up by two scores, right, there's a situation where
we want to be aggressive. I was never a big,
big block guy, all right, but I'll tell you a
funny story. My first year was playing Stockbridge, actually right,
and uh, like I said, I'm not a big block guy.
You know, assistant coaches were adamant about trying to get
it done, and we actually went for a block persons
(04:49):
and you grow and they ran a faith on us
and gat us and it really costs us. So ever
since then, I was like, look, man, we just what
we're gonna stick to, right, And uh, we were playing Stockbridge.
Get down late, man, we were down, I think I
want to say we was twenty seven eighteen something like that,
and we was able to get the ball back and
the prior punts we saw that their return team, their
(05:10):
punt team wasn't blocking at all.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
They were just snapped. The ball is just taking off.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
So a lot of my guys that were helding up
because they had a wall, Some of the guy was
just coming.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Free and some just just one of them inkland inklings. Man.
Speaker 4 (05:22):
Somebody just say, man, we should just try to go
get it. So we just got our best guy and
we said, I said, go block the punt, right, and
why can't we tell him to do that? That's when
they muffed the snap, ball goes over his head. He
scoops scores for a touchdown. All right, we go for two.
Now we end up losing the game twenty seven to
twenty six, but it made it a lot interesting versus
a really really good Stockbridge team. So you know what
(05:45):
it really comes back to, like having that feeling right.
Sometimes it's some of the things you gotta just kind
of go with you gut right, And that was kind
of one of those situations right there.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Yeah, coach, you know, first off, you're exactly right right
these things. I thought doing a hundred of these we
would cover most everything. And now I trying to keep
them to, you know, fifteen minutes or so, because one
hundred of them at fifteen minutes is still a lot, right,
But we're not even scratching this through. I mean, I'm
learning that every scenario that I thought i'd drilled down.
(06:18):
I get to talking to somebody like you and they're like, yeah,
but what about this, what about this? What if we're
on this field, the field, what are from? And you think, man,
that's why the guts so important. But it's also so important.
I hope we're helping some people by giving them one
or two things to kind of remember and hang their
hat on. That would be universal. So like, as I
heard you talk, I'm thinking hunt return late in the game,
(06:40):
if we're ahead, you know, we got.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
To secure the football.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
So you got to know your team. Do you have
a better possession returner than you're a normal guy? That's
something everybody can remember. And then what would you say,
is a point where you don't put anybody back? You know,
I'm more of a guy to put somebody back beyond.
But is there a point where you're ahead and you're like,
look just let it roll?
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (07:06):
Yeah, probably if you're if they're in a uh, they're
in plus territory right in that in that fringe area,
you know, uh, plus forty five, you know, plus forty
something of that situation. Uh or maybe Sally probably a
little bit closer there. They don't have a kicker that
can really take a shot for it. But maybe the
distance the fourth and this fourth and the distance down
(07:26):
the distance is a little bit too long for them.
To go for it. Uh, and then we are up.
You know, that might definitely make be a situation I'll
take a chance there.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
But for me, like I'm I'm I'm with you, man,
I'm I'm one of those guys is always gonna put
somebody back back deep. But if I, if I had to,
that might be an idea when we do it. Maybe
if they're backed up, right, Uh, they're backed up, there'd
be another situation where, like I said, get in the
open field, man, we just want the ball right Uh.
And that maybe really for me, if I didn't put
(07:57):
anybody back there, that might be one of those situations
where we might, you know, because instead of going after it,
you know, make sure we got you know, all the
elgible guys covered up.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
But like I said, it's more like.
Speaker 4 (08:06):
A field thing, maybe a preference, right, if that's something
something that you normally do, I would even if it
was in a situation where I would be more prone
to put a more sure handed guy back there opposed
to just you know, taking them back, which I've done before.
Like I said, the kid we had man was very,
very dynamic, but you know he might be a little
with that dynamic ability that you have that they're more
(08:27):
apt to.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Take chances, right. Uh, and that may be a situation.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
And let me put a guy back there that's he's
not he's not looking to return the ball. You know,
he's gonna go back and do exactly what we telling
him to do, you know.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
And I think you.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Got embold in them when you're behind. And I think
that's what I was hearing from you. So whether you
want to go for a block, whether you want to return, uh,
if you're behind, you got emboldened to your guy. You
got to give him some confidence or make him feel
like we don't need to let this sing roll ten
yards and have to get a first down, get back
to where you could have caught it, right, Yeah, because
(08:59):
that so you gotta be confident, go catch football can
and he gets some yards. Like I said, even if
you get five ten everything, you get something your offense
doesn't have to get if you're behind, that can really matter.
Speaker 4 (09:12):
Oh No, that's huge, man, especially, That's that's probably one
of the biggest pet peeps. And I'm not the only
one I'm pretty sure about seeing that Bob Bouncer give
some guys that they don't get it. But they kind
of pull up a little bit.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
You know. I joke with him all the time.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
I could have put a line in back there for that,
for that much to do, I put you back there,
like I said, being in bold of them.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
I put you back there for a reason. Right. Oh yeah, absolutely, And.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
You showed the confidence give the putting them out there.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
Absolutely absolutely.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
I'll never get upset with him for trying to make
a play never, you know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
I think that's a great point. Yeah, And I mean,
don't don't be scared for him to make a play.
Give him some confidence and put your good guys back there. Now,
you better put your good back there. But uh, but
give them a chance. I tell you a tip and
then I'll move on. But okay, uh, you know, do
your sc out and most people do this, but make
(10:02):
sure that you are lining up the return. And I
don't have to be you. But somebody is a coach,
and I'm talking about the head coach, offensive coorting or
defense courter, somebody that they listen to and go stand
on that line if possible, to say, get your butt
right here, even with me, and put them on the
thirty six yards away, thirty four yards away whatever the averages.
Don't let them just go line up, because them kids
(10:23):
will line up fifty five yards off the ball.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Oh man, you appreciate the choir.
Speaker 4 (10:27):
It's so many, so many comed so many coaches my head,
Oh yeah, oh yeah, yeah, we had that. You know,
we got a guy that going off, going back fifty
yards back, and the kid has a average about thirty
yards and.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Then they'll run up and they'll get close to it
and back off.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
Right.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Absolutely, well, dang they almost got it. Well they ran
twenty yards. Yeah, you know, if you to put them up.
So I'm not being critical of anybody. I'm just saying
if you're not doing that, that's an easy thing. You
just write it at the bottom of your call sheet,
thirty seven yards and then every time when it's fourth down,
somebody be in charge of move finding where they'rety seven
yards is. You know, we had some coaches on our staff. Coach,
(11:03):
they couldn't count thirty seven but out there they can't
get thirty seven yards. So no, but really that that
really did help us catch more punts, like lining them
up for making sure they understand they got to line
up on you and not you just telling them line
up forty yards back and then they to them, you know, coach,
(11:23):
how do y'all practice this? When do y'all practice of Parker?
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Well?
Speaker 4 (11:27):
Uh, here Coach Keln actually does it. And Coach Harden,
our special teams coordinator, they do a really really good
job of putting a heavy instance on special teams. I
know a lot of people say that, but but but
he means it. You know, it's more than just hey,
let's just get it, get this period out of the way.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Now.
Speaker 4 (11:41):
From my experience, I've done it a few different ways. UH,
And I think it depends on really what kind of
school you're at and what kind of kids you're using.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
You know, I think you gota factor that into it.
Back before, in.
Speaker 4 (11:53):
My previous stints, we would use just to make sure
we got enough time on it. We woul hit it
every day, but Mondays was our premier primarily, UH, Special
teams day, all right, and UH punt return.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
That the the UH.
Speaker 4 (12:06):
I think the biggest problem that we probably had and
probably could help us out, help me out with, UH
is getting live reps of special teams or a point return, right, guys,
truly truly running down not being able to put you know,
a true scout team out there that's just you know,
almost in the way somewhat, but giving them guys a
real good look. That's probably one of one of the
(12:26):
biggest struggles I've ever I've seen uh other coaches face,
but uh, but I would we would definitely break it
up into like a pod work, right, so we have
you know, returners in one area. Uh we had a
wall set up, like we have a wall. We would
have a wall set up right here in the uh
(12:47):
in the uh in one corner of the other field, right,
and they're working certain certain uh uh looks that they
may get from that week. And then also we got
the snapper area. Uh So that's that was probably the
most prevalent. And we would do break it up at
the pod small pods so we can get more work
opposed to having true true eleven on eleven all the time.
(13:07):
That on Wednesdays and Thursdays, that's probably the time where
we probably get some real eleven on eleven action, But
definitely break it up in the pod to like simplify
it a little bit more more specialized for the kids
to be to see see exactly what they're looking at
and really be able to coach it up.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Yeah, it's funny you said that, because if you're thinking
like I was thinking as you said that, how you
can get more effective efficient practice time. The thing that
came to mind was something like pod work, and you
already said that. So because you can get this just
a general rules, quesially, you can get a much better
look in small settings. And then if you want to
(13:42):
do punk return, kick off, kick return, if you can
divide it into small parts, put the scouts out there
and get a decent look that you'll get a much
better look that way than eleven on eleven. Now, then
put it together eleven on eleven. See what you can
come up with, you know, but if you've got the
time to break it down and parts, you'll get a
lot more done. Absolutely, coach, give me one more thing.
(14:05):
Let's uh, what's something we're gonna see from Newton this year.
Let me just tell youybody doesn't know team plays in
one of the toughest reagions in the state every year.
Let's like when that county, they're not even when that
county they don't complain. They play a tough non region schedule.
They just go out there and battle. You guys play
people with a lot more resource than you, a lot
(14:26):
more things than you, and you more often than not
are coming out on top. Man, I got a ton
of respect for you guys, So we all expect this
year from the team.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
Well, I appreciate you saying that. And uh, it all
starts at the top. You know the head man, coach,
coach Josh Skelton. Man, he's been there, uh for for
a very long time. So the culture has kind of
been ingrained already, that tough minded, hard working Uh, like
we're just gonna get it out of how they say,
get it out of the mud, all right, And and
that's kind of like what what's ingrained to the kids.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (14:57):
We got a lot coming back on the offense, so
I and I'm the offensive coordinator, so I kind of
speak more to that.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Uh and and uh they.
Speaker 4 (15:04):
Make us a lot better because Newton has always been
known for having some defensive players. All right, So we
have some battles in practice. When I say, our practices
are harder than the games. And coach s Kellen, he
tries to stay neutral, but he's a defensive guy. And uh,
and we know how to when the practices get a
little long. I mean probably will score a little bit
too many touchdowns, you know what I mean. But but
(15:26):
but all think and and that's my guy, man, we
speak every day.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Uh uh but what.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
You're gonna see from a new new team this year
is just uh taking that next step.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (15:37):
Last year, you know, we always it was like we
came to games hoping to win, you know, hoping to
be in a game with.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
A grason, right. Uh. But now these kids are expecting
to win.
Speaker 4 (15:46):
And we always they always had the talent, right the
town was always here, kids always going to school out
here in this come to the area.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (15:53):
But but now I think fifteen games is the expectation
this year.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
And uh and and I believe that.
Speaker 4 (15:59):
Uh, you know, under coach Scales leadership, man, we we
got everything that we need to to really take it
to really really make a movie this this year.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
And that's what we're looking to do.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
I think if you look around the state and find
some examples of teams that were on that doorstep, you know,
oh yeah, and then made some runs, and you're seeing
more and more parody. I mean, there's more teams possible
they're capable of doing that than there used to be.
So I'm excited to see it.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
Man.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
I'm pulling for you guys, and I can ever help
you anyway. Please let me know, Coach, I really appreciate
you take thought.
Speaker 4 (16:32):
Hey, man, I appreciate you having me on man, it
was it was definitely an honor man. And I appreciate
everything that you guys are doing. Man, love all the
resources that you guys provide. You know, I'm'm praying I
can get get selected for one of them drawings. Yeah,
looking for keeping for the future.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Man, I hear you ill see what I can do.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Yes, all right, now I have a good one.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
The Parker Resources Podcast Pride's information for coaches, athletic directors
and leaders. Get Patty if you like to support Parker
Resources and get bonus content, documents, you can edit and
other resources and join our Patreon at patreon dot com
slash Parker Resources. The Parker Resource Podcast brought to you
by Coastal Sports Turf. Coastal Sports Turf mission is to
(17:14):
provide beautiful, healthy and safe natural turf grass playing surfaces
for athletes and coaches in Georgia. Many school systems cannot
afford a licensed professional turf grass manager. They have over
twenty five years of experience in turf grass management and
are licensing bonded in Georgia, providing weeded insect control plus
fird tip fertility programs designed to fit your expectations for
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a quality athletic turf surface. You can have the field
of your dreams with Coastal Sports Turf. Many coaches and
staff have to maintain their fields and they desire to
have the pendable equipment to use. Coastal Sports Turf carries
equipment designed for athletic field maintenance like real mowers, infield rates,
blowers and other turf equipment. You can email Coastal Sports
Turf LLC at gmail dot com, that's Coastal Sports Turf
(17:59):
ll SEE at gmail dot com, or follow them on
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