UCF Coordinators Talk Chalk at Annual Convention

UCF defensive coordinator Dave Huxtable and UCF offensive line coach Brent Key represented the school at the American Football Coaches Association Convention this past week, holding offensive and defensive "chalk talk" sessions.

Monday, Key lead the offensive line session at the Orlando Marriott World Center, talking extensively about UCF's "21" personnel package (one H-back, one tailback, one tight end, and two wide receivers), which was highly successful for UCF football this year in terms of yards per snap.

Key diagrammed several run-blocking schemes with his personnel grouping in short yardage and goal line situations, and also spoke about pass-protection options. A crowd that ranged from FBS coaches to high school coaches listened in and learned, and appeared to enjoy the session.

Huxtable led all defensive chalk talk, addressing a large crowd of coaches about UCF's run defense which has led Conference USA two years in a row. In 2009, the run defense ranked fourth in the nation behind only Alabama, Texas, and TCU.

UCF was also first in C-USA and among national leaders in both sacks and tackles for loss this past season.

Huxtable's talk was about how the "right attitude" is key to any successful defense, and how UCF's success is due to the mental abilities of its student athletes in addition to their great physical abilities.

In addition, the Knights have the "essential trust" in the dependability of each teammate to execute his role in a given play. He also talked about how UCF teaches tackling in practice, which is fundamental to the defense.