Game Planning Tips: Creating Vertical Shots, Breaking Down Opponents, and Building Better Coverage

Presented by Lauren’s First and Goal Foundation
Host: Coach Keith Grabowski | Coach and Coordinator Network

In this week’s Game Planning Tips, presented by Lauren’s First and Goal Foundation, Coach Keith Grabowski brings together insights from three top coaches who share how they prepare their teams across all three phases of the game.

Learn how to build explosive plays into your offense, organize your defensive breakdowns for clarity, and design special teams coverage that fits your personnel.

Featuring:

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  Caleb Corrill, Offensive Coordinator, Georgetown College

  
  


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  Don Dobes, Defensive Coordinator, Dartmouth College

  
  


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  Jay Harbaugh, Special Teams Coach, Seattle Seahawks

  
  

Offense – Caleb Corrill: Creating Vertical Shots

Corrill explains how to integrate vertical plays into your base offense by protecting concepts, creating advantageous one-on-ones, and attacking leverage when the defense presents it.

Defense – Don Dobes: Breaking Down the Opponent

Dobes shares his structured process for defensive game planning — studying backfield sets, formation identity, play selection, and down-and-distance trends to teach clearly and play fast.

Special Teams – Jay Harbaugh: Building Effective Coverage

Harbaugh outlines how to align your specialists and coverage unit by understanding kicker and punter consistency, player skill sets, and the balance between what you’re defending and what you’re inviting.

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  Offense: Build vertical shots that align with your identity and system.

  
  


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  Defense: Organize film breakdown to uncover your opponent’s true tendencies.

  
  


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  Special Teams: Match your coverage design to your specialists and player strengths.

  
  


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  Overall: Clarity and structure build confidence — and confidence builds speed.

  
  

Presented by Lauren’s First and Goal Foundation

This episode is brought to you by Lauren’s First and Goal Foundation, a nonprofit organization supporting pediatric brain tumor research and families affected by cancer through the game of football.

Since its founding, the organization has raised over $2 million through clinics and community events led by coaches across the country.

Learn more, donate, or register for this year’s clinic series at laurensfirstandgoal.org

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  Visit: coachandcoordinator.com

  
  


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  Follow on X/Twitter: @CoachKGrabowski

  
  


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  Subscribe for weekly Game Planning Tips and conversations with top coaches across every level of the game.

  
  

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