How to Organize Your Depth Chart | FBCP S21E04

Picking your starters for a football team is generally pretty easy. Whether you're a best-11 guy, have specialized positions for certain players, or fully two-platooned… those guys stand out and make decisions easily. However, once one guy goes down, the carousel begins.

In this episode, Joe and Daniel go through talent evaluation, how to pick the best (and next best) player for each position, and how you can convince players to play a position that's new to them.

• 9:26 Using ASCA to evaluate positional talent
• 10:59 Identifying what skills a position really needs
• 14:49 Building a position rating rubric with five traits
• 17:20 Ranking players and filling the depth chart like a draft
• 29:51 Finding the best player for each position based on scheme
• 34:53 Managing two way players and fatigue on the depth chart
• 37:30 How depth chart substitutions actually work
• 57:47 Cross training positions for depth and flexibility
• 1:02:51 Convincing players to switch to a new position
• 1:05:37 How to sit a player down and explain a position change

Build a Depth Chart That Actually Works on Game Day

Step 1: Start With Your Best 11

Build your depth chart around getting your best football players on the field, then determine where each player can contribute most within your system. Do not get locked into traditional position labels or ideal body types.

READ: 4-2-5 Defense Positions: Fitting Your Personnel to Your

Step 2: Define What Each Position Actually Requires

Identify the three to five traits that matter most at each position based on the Alignment, Stance, Key Read and Assignment required in your system. Evaluate players based on their ability to execute those jobs instead of simply using size, speed or their previous position.

LISTEN: From Confusion to Confidence: Getting Linebackers to Play Fast

Step 3: Fit the System to the Players You Have

Keep the foundation of your system intact while adjusting how individual players are used. Simplify assignments, change alignments and use personnel strategically rather than changing schemes because your roster does not match the ideal.

LISTEN: Keep the Playbook, Fit the Defense to Your Players

Step 4: Build the Real Game Day Depth Chart

Your depth chart should reflect what will actually happen when a starter leaves the field. Identify universal backups, cross train players at related positions and know which players will move before simply inserting the listed second string player.

LISTEN: We're Not Getting the Most Out of Our Talent

Step 5: Give Players Transferable Responsibilities

Teach principles that players can carry from one position to another. On defense, concepts such as spill, force, alley and stay in coverage give players a common framework that makes cross training and emergency substitutions easier.

READ: Coach the Umbrella Principle to Get Perfect Run Fits for Your Defense

Step 6: Build a System That Survives Personnel Changes

Organize your defense around consistent principles, terminology and responsibilities so injuries, substitutions and changing personnel do not force you to rebuild what you do.

DOWNLOAD: What You Need to Know to Build the Ultimate Defensive Football Coaching System

Step 7: Get Players to Buy Into Their Best Role

Explain how the new position gives the player an opportunity to contribute and why his abilities fit what the team needs. Players are more likely to accept a position change when they understand the job, see a path to playing time and know how their role contributes to the team.

LISTEN: We Aren't Tough Enough to Win