High School Full-Pads Thud Install Practice Plan: Base Offense vs Defense (120 Minutes)

Get them moving and get the pads right before contact. We’re full pads today, so we build in shoulder/neck prep and a quick fit-and-freeze reminder.

• Flow: 20-yard dynamic line (high knees, carioca, open/close hips), then 3 x 10-yard acceleration builds.
• Contact prep: partner fit position for 10 seconds (eyes up, near-hip leverage), then reset. Coaches walk the line and fix pad level and head placement.
• Standard: no one starts indy until chinstrap, mouthpiece, and pads are correct.

This is the day’s technical anchor—clean up strike, steps, and eyes before we go to inside run. Run it as four 4-minute stations on each side of the ball with a position coach at each, groups rotating on the horn; if you are short a coach, pair two stations under one coach with a captain running the second rep line.

Offense stations: (1) OL first-step and hip-to-hip doubles on shields, (2) RB track-press-cut on cones with ball security, (3) QB mesh mechanics and ball handling, (4) WR stalk fit and finish on a bag.

Defense stations: (1) DL strike-and-lockout to leverage (spill/box per your call), (2) LB shuffle-scrape fits off a shield, (3) DB force/contain fit with inside-out leverage, (4) open-field angle fit on a bag. Minimum 6 reps per player per station.

• Common bust: high pads on first contact. Stop the rep and reset the stance—“Win the ground first, then win the man.”
• Film note: grade pad level and hand placement, not just outcome.

Quick water and align the inside-run script. Coordinators confirm the 8-snap call sheet and the defensive front/stunt tags for the team period later.

Use this as your only “long talk” window—once inside run starts, coaching is rapid-fire between snaps.

Full pads thud, tight box. Put the ball on a hash and work your core run menu with the ones on offense vs the twos on defense.

• Rep script: 8 snaps in 10 minutes. That only works with two balls and a manager sprint-spotting the next one; coach between snaps only, and take a full reset only on an alignment bust. Ball 1 is live; Ball 2 is pre-spotted on the same hash 5 yards back and the manager moves it up the moment the whistle blows; the inside-run coach gives the ready signal.
• Front/fit: defense stays in base front and base fit rules, no exotic movement yet. We are checking alignment and gap integrity under contact.
• Coaching points: OL vertical movement on doubles; RB presses the landmark before cut; defense fits inside-out with the cutback player present.
• Competitive standard: no pre-snap busts and no free hitter in the A/B gap by snap 4.

Flip it: twos on offense vs ones on defense. This is where your ones defense must play with discipline. Do not chase splash plays and blow fits.

Rep script: 8 snaps in 10 minutes, same two-ball spot and cadence tempo as the first inside-run block, one correction every two snaps at most.

• Common bust: ones front gets greedy and runs past the ball. Correct it immediately: "Play your gap first. Spill or box does not matter if you are not in your gap."
• Grade it: twos offense gets credit for correct tracks and IDs even if they do not win the rep physically.

Water and a fast reset to the 7v7 field. Offense gets the concept script; defense confirms we’re living in Cover 3 and Cover 1 today.

This is your base pass install at speed without the OL. We’re not freelancing—every route hits its landmark vs MOFC and the QB throws on rhythm.

• Two-field mode (preferred): ones on one field, twos on the other, each with its own coach and ball spotter. Run all six base concepts twice (once vs Cover 3, once vs Cover 1) for 12 snaps per group at a rep every 45–55 seconds; coach between reps only, one correction per rep.
• One-field mode: alternate ones and twos by concept and cut to 6 snaps per group: each concept once, with the defense rotating to Cover 3 on the odd concepts and Cover 1 on the even ones. Same 45–55 second rep clock.
• Defense rules: show the MOFC shell pre-snap and rotate on the snap. Run the same call two reps back-to-back (first rep rotate to Cover 3, second rep rotate to Cover 1) so the coverage change never costs a huddle.
• Coaching points: receivers hold splits; #2 understands seam/hook window; QB eyes and feet marry (no drifting).
• Competitive standard: ball out on time—no “extra hitch” unless the concept is designed for it.

Cross-side note: Even though the day is base O vs base D, this 7v7 block is here so the defense gets real route distributions and the offense sees closed-middle leverage before we add rush in team.

This is the money period: 11-on-11 thud mixing the full base menu. We’re installing how the offense communicates vs movement and how the defense fits with stunts without creating seams.

Rep script: target 20 snaps. Call 8 runs and 6 passes from your base menu, then use the remaining snaps for the two concepts that looked worst in 7v7/inside run.

• Defense: coordinator calls the front and the stunt (selected, not random). Start with one stunt family and build—don’t spin the menu every snap.
• Offense: protection ID must be verbal. If the QB/OL doesn’t communicate the look, kill and replay the snap.
• Coaching points: backs scan with inside-out rules; QB cadence stays consistent; DL penetrator stays skinny and looper stays tight to the hip.
• Film note: grade the pre-snap communication (points/calls) as a separate win/loss from the play result.

Live off the foot with controlled contact. This is the first day you find out if your protect unit can handle real rush lanes and if your rush unit can stay legal and disciplined.

• Script: 6 punts total. Alternate directional calls (right/left) if that’s in your package. Rotate returners every 2 reps.
• Protect standard: inside-out integrity, no leakage through A gaps. Personal protector must set the point and communicate.
• Rush standard: rush lanes stay square; no crossing faces that opens a seam. No contact with the punter—anyone who touches him is done for the period.
• Coach action: if a shield/edge gets beat, stop and re-run the same punt with the same matchup so the correction sticks.

Conditioning is a test and a standard. Run timed 110-yarders with position expectations set by your program (skill vs bigs). This is not a jog-through.

• Format: 6 x 110s in 12 minutes: 45 to 60 seconds rest for skill, 60 to 75 seconds for bigs, both groups starting on the same clock. Coaches record times; players who miss standard owe the make-up after practice or the next day per your policy.
• Non-negotiables: finish through the line, walk back in lanes, no sitting or lying down.
• Staff note: one coach runs the start and clock, one coach manages the finish line and records.

Fast wrap. Confirm what we’re grading tonight and what tomorrow’s first five minutes will be.

• Offense checklist: inside-run doubles and backside cutback integrity; protection communication vs stunts.
• Defense checklist: front alignment accuracy; stunt spacing; force/contain on perimeter fits.
• Admin: injury check, equipment check, and confirm special teams depth for the next practice.