University of Mary Assistant Coach from 2020 to 2022;
Played collegiately at Carroll College (running back)Searching for a running back that can play all three downs and be a difference-making weapon for your offense? In this instructional coaching video, Bryant University’s Major Ali breaks down a complete plan for training and grooming your running backs to serve as three-down impact-making backs.
From philosophy to performance, Coach Ali breaks down the key concept and proven training plans to put in place everything you need to build a complete back.
Running Back Philosophy, Defining Three-Down Back Roles
Coach Ali begins by explaining the successful player development program they’ve put into place and specifies their expectations for the running backs.
Explaining that a strong player development philosophy for running backs begins with a heavy emphasis on ball security. Coach Ali says that their culture of winning football makes ball security a priority; if a running back can’t be trusted with the ball on every carry, he will not be on the field during critical 3rd down situations.
Ali shares his ‘Four B’s Of Ball Security’ -- where he discusses each ‘B’ (Ball security, Balance, Belief and ‘Balling out’) and outlines each one’s relevance to the importance of being a three down back.
A byproduct of adhering to the tenets of football culture based in ball security, Coach Ali explains how it all provides critical motivation and a mental toughness that’s important for every running back that earns time on the field.
RB Play Calls, RB Drills and EDD’s
Coach Ali walks you through the finer-point details for why his running backs need to prove that they can turn every ball-carrying inside zone-run play into a possible big play. He breaks down how Bryant University offense utilizes different offensive formations, but adds that the running plays are all essentially the same -- which turns into an advantage because different formations of the same inside zone running play can often break big due to defensive confusion.
Highlighting a set of eight highly valuable running back drills, Coach Ali details how to run each drill, the skills they emphasize and outlines the importance of doing each of the eight drills every day. Coach Ali adds that doing the drills daily and repeatedly stressing the high-priority RB concepts prepares their running backs both mentally and physically as part of the cultural Bryant University mantra for the RB group.
Pointing out the importance of setting up drills in a way that simulates game-like situations, Coach Ali covers every aspect of daily RB work – from executing jump cuts, to doing bag drills, to route running, to pass-protection responsibilities. He explains how each drill can add in specific dynamics to build in that needed atmosphere of a game-like situation.
Finally, Coach Ali utilizes game film to cover how he addresses the good and bad grade performances of his ball carriers in games, what he looks for and how he judges maximum effort.
This is an excellent video for football coaches who want to improve and refine their running back group. Coach Major Ali does a great job of keeping high-level coaching concepts understandable and effectively explains the protocols and benefits of their style of running back training.
34 minutes. 2023.
