This is a guest post by Matt Mueller, Coach Relations Manager for Hudl. Matt works with teams such as the New York Jets and the University of Oregon Ducks to find the most efficient and effective ways to use Hudl.
With the Ducks playing in tonight’s BCS National Championship Game, we’ve asked Matt to give us a behind-the-scenes look at how Hudl has played a part in the Duck’s success.
The Ducks do not slow down. The New York Times called their style “Speed-Freak Football.” During games, opponents routinely ask them to slow down or fake injuries after plays to prevent Oregon’s offense, which leads the FBS in both scoring (49.3 points per game) and yards (537.5 yards per game), from firing off another play. Off the field, the motto “Fast. Hard. Finish.” is plastered on the walls of their facility.
Speed and efficiency are the theme of Oregon’s preparation and execution. Slowing down is not an option.
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For a team with a relentless focus on tempo, Hudl has been vital to their success and the Oregon coaches had Hudl rolling all week as they prepared to Dominate in the BCS National Championship game.
“Most battles are won before they are fought.”
When you walk into a team meeting room at Oregon’s hotel in Scottsdale, Arizona you are greeted with Sun Tzu’s quote from “The Art of War” (left, photo courtesy of Hudl). Being prepared for a variety of challenges is part of any football team’s preparation, but Oregon does it a little differently – they don’t want to just prepare, they want to win the battle of preparation.
It begins with the coaches. Each day starts with a quick pre-practice film session. Linebackers coach Don Pellum uses Hudl to prepare his players by delivering targeted notes on video play cards.
“It makes the pictures come to life and the information pop,” Pellum said.
Pellum creates these notes the night before so the linebackers can review them prior to their meeting. That way, they’re more prepared and can cover more content in less time.
“In football, we need to give our players more information than we have time to teach in our meetings,” Pellum said. “Hudl delivers that information to our players so they’re more prepared.”
Their preparation is crucial because the maddening pace of Oregon’s practices leaves no time to think. Players must know or they’ll never keep up. It’s the perfect test when practice moves at game speed or faster.
Players sprint from play-to-play while coaches call the next before the current play has finished. Somehow, team managers scramble to get footballs spotted and equipment in position for the next drill. All the while hip-hop blasts over six speakers cranked to 11. Mixed somewhere in the playlist is The Lion King’s “Circle of Life.” It truly is organized chaos.
When a team practices at this speed, mistakes happen. Rather than slow down, coaches jot down a quick note and deliver their corrections in a short film review after practice. Defensive backs coach John Neal draws his corrections over video in Hudl so the players can watch them from home. This week, players reviewed notes from their hotel rooms.
Notes logged in Hudl by Oregon defensive backs coach John Neal. Image courtesy of Hudl.
“I’ve been waiting for something like this for 20 years. Hudl is revolutionary in the way it helps my guys learn,” Neal said.
Watch how fast Oregon runs its plays tonight during the BCS National Championship game. Notice how their team seems to move faster as the game wears on. And remember that it was their relentless focus on preparation and repetition that guided their success.
While you’re at it, look for the green and yellow Hudl shirt in the crowd. I’ll be watching them ‘Win the Day’ in my Oregon-themed Hudl shirt.
