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Hypothetical Coaching Job Interview Question


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So you are asked in an interview for a hypothetical coaching position: How are you going to attack the Bills new defense? What's your response?

 

(This is just a way of getting some Xs and Ox discussion about the new defense and how coaches might gameplan against it, while acknowledging that it's all just on paper now. But we kind of know the defensive scheme and what the talent can produce. So how do coaches prepare? I admit to knowing nothing that would enable me to answer, but I like reading informed Xs and Os answers.)

 

kj

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So you are asked in an interview for a hypothetical coaching position: How are you going to attack the Bills new defense? What's your response?

 

(This is just a way of getting some Xs and Ox discussion about the new defense and how coaches might gameplan against it, while acknowledging that it's all just on paper now. But we kind of know the defensive scheme and what the talent can produce. So how do coaches prepare? I admit to knowing nothing that would enable me to answer, but I like reading informed Xs and Os answers.)

 

kj

 

id say a key element is going to be keeping them off balance. screens, draws, counters, and play actions so the defensive line cant key in as much and puts stress on the line backers. Its a front 7 that has played very few games as a unit and those were in a different scheme - they will still be learning to trust each other to handle assignments, and how they fit in the new scheme. Id try to put the young corners in tough spots formationally to target their inexperience (stacks, motion, natural picks) to see if they can handle making extra reads on the fly. quick throws to make any misstep more important as they wont have time to recover even though we have good athletes(and target the lb level over the safeties also) but if you draw them in, take your shots downfield - they are young and may bite on double moves and playaction set up with the underneath game...

 

without knowing my team that im interviewing for its hard to speak to specific matchups to dictate.

Edited by NoSaint
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Can't argue with anything the Captain and NoSaint have said. If the strength of our defense is pass rush you have to slow it down just like they suggested. And if the weakness is LBs, I'm trying to isolate them as much as possible. But, like NoSaint says, hard to do without having even seeing how these guys line up and get after it.

 

GO BILLS!!!

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Until we can stop the run, I'll go with run the ball down their throats.

 

I think we have the ability to be very good against the run. But it still scares me.

 

I would not hire you to run my offense if you said thats how you attack this D.

 

Just because different guys in a different scheme didnt do well in the past... stopping the run should be a strength with mario - kyle - marcell on the line, and the 4th guy should be atleast decent.

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I will definately give this a lot of thought. I love this type of question, great thread OP.

 

First, I would make sure everthing was basic, simple and repeated several times. This defense is young, inexperienced, and there is a lot of room for error. Exploiting those areas over and over again might wear down the defensive mentality, cause coaches to abandon their system or adjust to shift toward something that might be an advantage for me. A no huddle offense might be worth doling out early, make this defense proove themselves. Of course, this could give momemtum to their D, but I must count on my teams D to hold them to fewer points.

 

The areas of weakness I see are still on the second level up the middle. If there is a good fullback on my roster, or WR's that can pull and crack block I would first go up the middle about 5 times in the first 9 plays. Eventually a play action screen to the flat, about 6 yards out would be open. I do not think the maturity is there in our secondary to hold that back after being roped and doped. Once I neutralize that step of the CB's it makes a big difference. As soon as I get the chance I pass long and deep right over the middle hoping that GW is having a miss-step coming back.

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So you are asked in an interview for a hypothetical coaching position: How are you going to attack the Bills new defense? What's your response?

 

Run, run reindeer until Bills PROVE they can stop it. Right up the middle for starters.

 

Great players, great team - not same thing

 

I would not hire you to run my offense if you said thats how you attack this D.

 

Just because different guys in a different scheme didnt do well in the past... stopping the run should be a strength with mario - kyle - marcell on the line, and the 4th guy should be atleast decent.

 

Should be, may be... and may bees don't fly in September.

 

I hope you're right, and the Blls have to PROVE IT.

Edited by Hopeful
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Run, run reindeer until Bills PROVE they can stop it. Right up the middle for starters.

 

Great players, great team - not same thing

 

 

 

Should be, may be... and may bees don't fly in September.

 

I hope you're right, and the Blls have to PROVE IT.

 

By that proxy they have to prove they can stop a screen, a 60 yrd bomb, slants, playaction.... Of course you run if it starts working but I wouldn't say that's near the first spot I'd target as a weakness.

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By that proxy they have to prove they can stop a screen, a 60 yrd bomb, slants, playaction.... Of course you run if it starts working but I wouldn't say that's near the first spot I'd target as a weakness.

I would.

 

We have proven we cannot stay healthy. We have some banged up bodies on that D and putting them to the grindstone early will really test them. I would aim right at Dareus, get man on man coverage at the line and put in a blocker to hit them low. I would see how quick KW is and avoid Mario. How can Mario be a factor when you do not put plays to his side? 43DE's don't get involved in the runs up the middle often and that would be a great way to frustrate the defense - keeping the ball away from their highly touted new guys.

 

I also would love to get a few guys out there on those LB's to see if they are ready to play 34 or not. As an OC I would realize the rolls of the safeties shouldn't be a problem, both are expereienced enough to transition fine. Quick throws to the outside WR's, in the flats, or in some zone changes might get some LB's and CB's mismatching. I would avoid Bryan Scott on defense, also.

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I like all the answers that focus on neutralizing the pass rush with short to intermediate routes. Its really a league wide practice in todays NFL. The rules allow WRs to get off the line so much faster and the smart teams exploit that. Chan Gailey recognizes this and that is why we've seen an uptick in yardage and QB protection. I think most defenses can be exploited with this general plan.

 

I also believe that play calling is far more important than a general gameplan. NFL teams have playbooks loaded with all different kinds of plays but its the timing that makes the machine go. Even good defenses can get shredded all sorts of different ways. Good players and good playcalling is too much for any defense.

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Play for field position. Run the short game with all eleven players 10 yards away from each other for most plays. Run a lot and for passing, throw lots of slants, curls, comeback routes (?), and dimes. Have the QB mix up the pump fakes; sometimes pump it once and throw, twice and throw, or maybe don't pump at all but mix it up, be creative with it.

 

Also, get a good punter that downs it inside the five consistently so you can score off of safeties or get good chance to block the punt. If neither of these things happen, you get good field position.

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Play for field position. Run the short game with all eleven players 10 yards away from each other for most plays. Run a lot and for passing, throw lots of slants, curls, comeback routes (?), and dimes. Have the QB mix up the pump fakes; sometimes pump it once and throw, twice and throw, or maybe don't pump at all but mix it up, be creative with it.

 

Also, get a good punter that downs it inside the five consistently so you can score off of safeties or get good chance to block the punt. If neither of these things happen, you get good field position.

Is that you Dickie J?

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