Daeontae Smith

I am currently coaching for Legendary Black Lions. We are a traveling youth football team in the American Youth Football League (AYF). I am the offense and defense line coach for 10U and 12U teams. As a part of the organization we not only focus on the athletes talent on the field, but also mentor and assist with grades and off the field improvements as well. I also mentor and train local high school and middle school athletes that have aged out of recreation football. Once a week I meet with local high school players (Long County High) and assist with fundamentals and techniques to help prepare students that wants to play at the next level. As of now, I am only certified through the American Youth Football League.

I was a 3 year Varsity starter at Long County High School for offense and defense line. My senior year I was awarded Offensive Lineman of the year for the team, I attempted to walk on for Savannah State University my freshman year but did not make the team. I was allowed to continue to workout with the team and attend practices as a student assistant, gaining experience from some of the coaches and players.

All sessions will begin with stretching to minimize opportunity for injuries. After stretching we will go through a series on footwork and agility drills on the speed ladder. We will focus on the lineman stances, to make sure they are properly set for maximum explosion at the snap of the ball. After working on the stance, we will focus on firing off the ball, staying low, and hand placement. As those three things play a vital role in being successful at controlling the line of scrimmage. Next we will work on proper block techniques. Each session will be used to focus on a different blocking technique for offensive lineman and block shedding/gap control for defensive lineman. During the segments we are working on techniques, I will always: explain, show, walk through, and perform. I will explain the technique, the proper times to use it, and how it will benefit them. Then I will show the athlete the proper way of doing the technique, next will allow the athlete to walk through the drill and practice it. Finally, I will then allow the athlete perform the technique either with me (individual sessions) or with another athlete (group sessions). At the end of each session we will get in some conditioning. Once I feel that the athlete has a good understanding of the techniques, we will switch things around and put the conditioning after stretching and agility. I believe that if an athlete can focus and not have any mental mistakes while tired, they will be even better at it in the first 3 quarters of the game.