How to Teach Defensive Run Fits without Overloading Your Players

On The Coaching 101 Podcast, hosts Daniel Chamberlain and Kenny Simpson discuss spring football challenges and introduce Tom Landry’s quote, “Being aggressive doesn’t mean being undisciplined,” tying it to intelligent defensive play. Simpson explains the Fieldhouse membership at fbcoachsimpson.com, including a free meeting offer tied to purchasing his first fiction book, Iron Valley, releasing May 15. The main topic is installing defensive run fits without overloading players by using simple, consistent rules (inside hip vs outside hip), emphasizing two-on-one tackling, and creating language that solves many situations (option, RPOs, boot, formations) without constant “if/then” checks. They argue defensive breakdowns often come from complexity and hesitation, recommend teaching structure first (spill/force/alley concepts), using pods and drills to rep fits, and keeping fits stable across fronts, blitzes, and formations.

00:00 Podcast Intro

00:36 Mothers Day Banter

03:22 Spring Ball Grind

05:37 Quote of the Week

06:59 Fieldhouse Membership

11:45 Sponsors Shoutouts

14:16 Defensive Run Fits

15:22 Hip Leverage Rules

17:21 Two on One Tackling

22:51 Avoiding Oklahoma Drill

26:12 Backers Play Fast

27:00 Simple Key Reads

28:28 Language That Sticks

29:25 Why Defenses Bust

31:18 Cues And Kill Calls

35:59 Take Your Shots

41:14 Install Without Overload

42:05 Pods And Fit Drills

46:55 Structure First Umbrella

49:39 Wrap Up And Plugs

Daniel Chamberlain:

@CoachChamboOK

ChamberlainFootballConsulting@gmail.com

chamberlainfootballconsulting.com

Kenny Simpson:

@FBCoachSimpson

fbcoachsimpson@gmail.com

FBCoachSimpson.com