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