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Under Defensive Coordinator Daryl Ely, Mount Union ranks top 5 in total defense, allowing just 225 total yards per game!

One of the biggest reasons why the Purple Raiders have executed at a level head and shoulders above their competition is because of their intentional and organized approach to opponent scout and preparation!

Today we’re going to talk about how Coach Ely teaches his players to watch film in order to maximize their readiness for each opponent and improve their execution by compounding their football IQ over time!

Learn how you can improve the execution of your defense with our latest release: The Mount Union Defense – The Complete Series

How Mount Union’s Defenders Watch Film

As simple as it may sound, one of Coach Ely’s biggest secrets to equipping his players with the best knowledge they have access to is to never assume anything. Mount Union goes out of their way to show players where to find and access all resources for study and preparation which is what creates their unmatched results on game day!

Below the step-by-step process that Coach Ely uses to teach his players how to watch and process film each time they study.

Step 1 – Understand the Situation You’re Watching
Step 2 – Read the Play Call
Step 3 – ID The Offensive Personnel and Get Aligned
Step 4 – ID Your Run and Pass Responsibility
Step 5 – Read Your Key and Execute
Step 6 – Evaluate the Execution and Technique of Your Position

The final and most important step for the players to complete during their weekly film study is to write down questions for the coaching staff. This serves both as a knowledge check for the players as well as a way to ensure everyone is on the same page.

In addition to creating a systematic framework to follow each time the players watch film, Coach Ely also has prepared instructions detailing how to select and navigate columns within their film software for each film type (practice, opponent film, game film, etc.) to make it easier for the athletes to find what they’re looking for!
Below is an example Coach Ely’s column navigation instructions!

By making an effort to keep teaching organized and clearly explained so that every athlete knows exactly what’s expected of them and how to access all needed resources, Mount Union’s players are able to overcome the barriers to success that a lot of programs deal with that aren’t as organized!

Film is one of the most powerful tools that players can learn from to improve their football IQ and execution. By following the guidance of Coach Ely’s film study system above, players can learn and improve their play faster, and your defense will make dramatic jumps in performance!  

Prepare your defense to maximize its potential with The Mount Union Defense – The Complete Series.

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