How Coach Tilson Teaches Pull Rules for Every Defensive Front

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The Board Drill Podcast

Kyle Bradburn, Matt Dixon

76 episodes

1 week ago

Join seasoned coaches Kyle Bradburn and Matt Dixon on The Board Drill Podcast, a dynamic journey into the intricate world of high school football. With a passion for the game that extends beyond the field, Kyle and Matt delve deep into the challenges facing coaches today. This podcast is more than just X's and O's; it's a guiding light for high school coaches nationwide, offering valuable resources and insights to empower them on their journey to becoming better, more effective leaders on and off the field. Tune is for engaging conversations on football with The Board Drill Podcast!

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How Coach Tilson Teaches Pull Rules for Every Defensive Front

The Board Drill Podcast

1 hour 7 minutes 10 seconds

6 months ago

How Coach Tilson Teaches Pull Rules for Every Defensive Front

In this episode, Coach Eric Tilson from North Green High School joins us to break down Pull Rules in gap scheme football. We dive into the evolution of his run game philosophy, including the origins of his pin-and-pull system, coaching points for OL execution, and how these rules have shaped his identity as a play-caller. Coach Tilson brings real-world game stories, clinic-level detail, and practical insights that any coach running gap schemes will appreciate.

Whether you're a young OL coach, a veteran play-caller, or just a football junkie, this one is packed with teach tape moments. Subscribe, drop a like, and join us at theboarddrill.com for more content like this!

🛠️ Topics Covered:

History of Pull Rules & Pin-and-Pull Install
Mistakes that led to system evolution
Teaching leverage vs. alignment
Real-game breakdowns (including a wild 4th & 9 story)
Coaching OL to “play rules, not plays”
Application of Pull Rules across multiple formations

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro: Welcome & Episode Overview
01:08 – Coach Tilson explains "Pull Rules" & gap scheme identity
02:27 – The birth of the Pin-and-Pull at Ferrum College
03:23 – 4th & 9 story: QB calls wrong play, still hits for 9.2 yards
04:16 – Taking Pull Rules everywhere: why they became foundational
05:30 – The structure behind Tilson’s ruleset
07:12 – Teaching vs. Even and Odd fronts
08:05 – “We don’t block people—we block rules”
09:40 – OL alignment tips and communication keys
11:00 – Rules vs. Techniques: when kids get it
12:34 – Working against movement fronts
13:45 – Adjusting to defensive stunts without overhauling the system
15:10 – Incorporating tight ends & condensed formations
16:48 – Why the system thrives with undersized linemen
18:12 – Live examples from recent film cut-ups
20:05 – Questions from Twitter: Using Pull Rules in RPOs
21:34 – Final thoughts: identity, buy-in, and consistency

💬 Drop your questions and feedback in the comments, or tag us on Twitter @theboarddrill to keep the conversation going!

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