I have been blessed to have had the opportunity to be around and gain invaluable knowledge about this game of football from some great Defensive Coordinators! From Coach Chris King at St. John Bosco, Brian VanGorder, Mike Elko & Clark Lea at Notre Dame, and Lou Spanos at UConn. I was able to learn different defensive schemes & very important small details from each of them that ultimately helped shape the way I coached as well as called plays in my 1st year as a Defensive Coordinator!
As a 1st year Defensive Coordinator at Leuzinger (Lawndale, CA) High School, one of the first points of emphasis was to create an identity on the defensive side of the ball! That identity being the acronym “D.A.R.T.” which stands for Destructive, Aggressive, Relentless, and Tough.
Destructive: at ALL 3 levels of the defense, ranging from being destructive changing the LOS, being destructive getting off blocks, and being very destructive at the point of contact!
Aggressive: on tackles, run fits, and when making plays on the ball in the air or taking the ball out of the offensive player’s hands! When you have an opportunity to make a game changing play, cause a turnover, or force a momentum shift, TAKE YOUR SHOT! Do not hesitate or second guess your training or ability!
Relentless: each play with our pursuit to the football. No matter the down, no matter quarter, no matter the situation. Our pursuit must be relentless!
Tough: physically and twice as much so mentally. Having the mental toughness to take what you learn in the meeting rooms, on film, and in practice, then apply it on Friday Night in game. Staying mentally tough to finish plays THROUGH the whistle, and keep your composure to not have what we called “non-effort penalties.”
This identity was not built overnight and was not done by only me! From day 1 of Spring Ball, and throughout Fall Camp we did specific drill work related to our D.A.R.T identity traits, so it would become something we did naturally in game throughout the season. It took a total buy-in from our players and my staff did a great job implementing and reiterating these traits into their Indy time to reinforce the emphasis on building this identity, and it showed up on tape for us!
🎥Knight Hawks defensive back Darius Williams: We didn't get pushed back, as long as we didn't get pushed back something positive would happen.
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Carson-Newman: Indoor football FACTORY!
@cnfootball alums Antonio Wimbush and Darius Williams helped lead the Vegas Knight Hawks to the franchise's inaugural IFL championship on Saturday.