Defense
Defensively our teams will be characterized by their relentless pursuit to the football, their ability to punish ball carrier, and our ability to generate takeaways. We will be sound fundamentally and give our kids a few skills to master. We will primarily be a Flex 3-4 quarter/quarter and half team basing out of the under. Depending on our personnel we will periodically move to our Okie Defense which is a true 3-4 which will allow us to slant and get into multiple looks while being essentially the same for our athletes. In the secondary being two high allows us to disguise coverage and gets us a potential 9 in the box against run. We will dominate the run game!
Above all else our athletes will understand their responsibility and their job on every play, we will communicate effectively with each other (constantly talking, each player will be assigned a different aspect of the defense that he must communicate), we will be an excellent tackling team that understands our force and leverage responsibilities. We will understand our coverage responsibilities and become effective in all phases of defensive play. We will blitz frequently and keep offenses on their toes.
We will rep tackling circuit at least twice a week and takeaway circuit at least once a week. We will drill block recognition at least twice a week against every major run scheme we face; and we will rep option force at least once a week. We will do pursuit drill at least twice a week. We must be able to stop opposing teams offenses and we will be very successful. We will emphasize and award players who are able to get to the football and generate takeaways. We film practice everyday in order to correct effort issues. All defensive players are expected to dominate their assignment, get to the football, punish the ball carrier (gang tackle) and finish every rep with the ball. Any ball that hits the ground, wether a fumble or dropped pass we pick up and attempt to score to get in the habit of scoring points on defense. A defensive touchdown leads to a win over 80% of the time.
Above all else our athletes will understand their responsibility and their job on every play, we will communicate effectively with each other (constantly talking, each player will be assigned a different aspect of the defense that he must communicate), we will be an excellent tackling team that understands our force and leverage responsibilities. We will understand our coverage responsibilities and become effective in all phases of defensive play. We will blitz frequently and keep offenses on their toes.
We will rep tackling circuit at least twice a week and takeaway circuit at least once a week. We will drill block recognition at least twice a week against every major run scheme we face; and we will rep option force at least once a week. We will do pursuit drill at least twice a week. We must be able to stop opposing teams offenses and we will be very successful. We will emphasize and award players who are able to get to the football and generate takeaways. We film practice everyday in order to correct effort issues. All defensive players are expected to dominate their assignment, get to the football, punish the ball carrier (gang tackle) and finish every rep with the ball. Any ball that hits the ground, wether a fumble or dropped pass we pick up and attempt to score to get in the habit of scoring points on defense. A defensive touchdown leads to a win over 80% of the time.
Base Under vs Pro I
SAM - 9 Technique playing primary force (D-Gap): TE blocks out we force the ball immediately back inside, TE blocks down SAM spills the ball outside. vs. Pass plays coverage rule. In this look he is playing quarters with a 3/2/3 rule. He will carry #3's route anywhere he goes outside, from there he will redirect back to number two and carry any deep our outside breaking route. If #2 release inside he will reroute and get into the hook curl window on #1.
END - 7 technique keying the v of neck of the offensive tackle (C-GAP). If tackle blocks out attacks with hat and hands, keeping outside arm and leg free. If tackle blocks down end is looking to spill first cloth. Vs. Pass becomes contain rush.
NOSE - 2i technique keying the v of the neck of the center (A-GAP). If center blocks out, he attackes with hat and hands and wins the gap. If center blocks down Nose squeezes hard anticipating a downblock by the center.
TACKLE - 3 Technique, keying the block of the offensive guard. Any out block he attacks with hat and hands keep outside arm and leg free. Any downblock he squeezes inside and locks to spill first cloth. vs. pass becomes a pocket collapser.
BUCK - Wide 7 technique, keying the block of the offensive tackle. (C-GAP) Any out block he attacks with hat and hands, keeping outside arm and leg free. vs. Pass becomes a contain rusher.
MIKE - 30 technique: Is primary B gap player on flow to him; flow away fills over the top to backside A-gap. Guard, key flow. On pass is low hole defender keying the release of near threat ready to re-route crossers, gaining depth to get into deep windows, not breaking until ball is thrown.
WILL - 30 technique. Is a primary A gap player but is an alley player on outside runs. Guard, key flow. On Pass is 3/2/3; will take any vertical or outside the release of #3 or #2 out of the backfield. If not keeps eyes on near threat and looks for crossers.
FS - Inside leverage #2. Alley fitter, will make the SAM right. Pass first responsibility in quarters will take #2 vertical, upon any outside or inside release by #2, the FS will turn his attention to robbing #1.
WS - Read force on the backside, will make the Buck linebacker right. Must check the cut back first, do not get impatient. On Pass will play coverage based on call. Can play wildcat (check #2 and rob #1), true quaters, 2 read, or cover 3.
CB - Has all of #1 except for on shallow releases inside. #1 releases inside looking for the next near vertical threat typically #2.
BS CB - Becomes a fence player on run away.
SAM - 9 Technique playing primary force (D-Gap): TE blocks out we force the ball immediately back inside, TE blocks down SAM spills the ball outside. vs. Pass plays coverage rule. In this look he is playing quarters with a 3/2/3 rule. He will carry #3's route anywhere he goes outside, from there he will redirect back to number two and carry any deep our outside breaking route. If #2 release inside he will reroute and get into the hook curl window on #1.
END - 7 technique keying the v of neck of the offensive tackle (C-GAP). If tackle blocks out attacks with hat and hands, keeping outside arm and leg free. If tackle blocks down end is looking to spill first cloth. Vs. Pass becomes contain rush.
NOSE - 2i technique keying the v of the neck of the center (A-GAP). If center blocks out, he attackes with hat and hands and wins the gap. If center blocks down Nose squeezes hard anticipating a downblock by the center.
TACKLE - 3 Technique, keying the block of the offensive guard. Any out block he attacks with hat and hands keep outside arm and leg free. Any downblock he squeezes inside and locks to spill first cloth. vs. pass becomes a pocket collapser.
BUCK - Wide 7 technique, keying the block of the offensive tackle. (C-GAP) Any out block he attacks with hat and hands, keeping outside arm and leg free. vs. Pass becomes a contain rusher.
MIKE - 30 technique: Is primary B gap player on flow to him; flow away fills over the top to backside A-gap. Guard, key flow. On pass is low hole defender keying the release of near threat ready to re-route crossers, gaining depth to get into deep windows, not breaking until ball is thrown.
WILL - 30 technique. Is a primary A gap player but is an alley player on outside runs. Guard, key flow. On Pass is 3/2/3; will take any vertical or outside the release of #3 or #2 out of the backfield. If not keeps eyes on near threat and looks for crossers.
FS - Inside leverage #2. Alley fitter, will make the SAM right. Pass first responsibility in quarters will take #2 vertical, upon any outside or inside release by #2, the FS will turn his attention to robbing #1.
WS - Read force on the backside, will make the Buck linebacker right. Must check the cut back first, do not get impatient. On Pass will play coverage based on call. Can play wildcat (check #2 and rob #1), true quaters, 2 read, or cover 3.
CB - Has all of #1 except for on shallow releases inside. #1 releases inside looking for the next near vertical threat typically #2.
BS CB - Becomes a fence player on run away.
The corners and the safeties will both key the release of #2. The general rule of thumb is if two commits to going vertical, the corner matches vertical. Quarters give us a great opportunity to be phenomenal against the run while still providing 3 vs. 2 pass support.
In this example the offense tries to run stretch to the strongside. Our SAM linebacker does a great job of forcing the ball immediately and our Mike Linebacker gets off on the snap and is able to beat offensive lineman over the top to help with alley support.
Versus weakside run our WS safety becomes the primary force defender, the buck does his job of fighting through the out block of the OT, and our WS screams downfield and forces the ball back into the will playing the alley. The free safety must check cut back and be ready to pursue.
Versus inside run to the strong side the Mike will spill the ball to the outside where the Free Safety should be waiting to run the alley. The free safety must make a form tackle in order to stop a minimal gain.
Versus weakside inside run our will backer becomes the spill player and spills it outside to the WS who should be filling inside on read force to make the tackle for a minimal gain.
Versus strong side power against a down TE the SAM backer spills the football to an awaiting FS running the alley. The Mike linebacker should have a cloudy read and shuffle over the top to get in on the action as well.
Versus weakside power the buck linebacker now becomes the spill player, the weakside safety playing read force is able to come down in the box and make the play for a tackle for loss.
Twino O causes the sam linebacker to back up and ply sky force, but essential not much has changed in the terms of our scheme.
Versus the pass we anticipate getting some form of out route by #2, we make our call to trap #2. CB reads #2 vertical. As long as #2 stays vertical the corner caries the route of #1 vertical. As soon as #2 breaks on the out the corner is taught to drive through the ball carrier.
Since the coverage is split we field it gives as a number of different options for how we want to play personnel. Playing 3 weak in this instance allowed us to drop a better athlete into the box on the weakside and also provided us an opportunity to confuse the offense and potentially get a takeaway.
One of the ways offenses try to gain an advantage is by going to their trips packages. In our defense we simply bump the mike out to help on #3 and can drop the weak safety to get into a true cover 3, or 3 auto look. The Will must make a "Tam" call to the tackle to help force the ball out to the force/alley player on run.
One simple adjustment against trips is to play SNIPER. Many offenses want to take advantage of the middle of the field and try to attack the seems. We move to the look and play regular 2 read on #1 and #2. With the Sam and the Weak Safety we bracket #3. Upon the vertical release or any release that threatens the middle of the field or the part the WS is assigned, the WS will drive to finish the receiver.
An example of SNIPER against the stick concept.
One other way that we can deal with trips is by going MINI on the strong side. This coverage allows us get a combo on the #3 reciever. The corner to the strongside has MEG responsibility (man everywhere he goes). The Sam and the Free Safety are simply playing two read against #2 and #3. 3 is the primary key. If 3 carriers vertical the same would carry #2 vertical any out route by number 3 would immediately be cut by our sam linebacker and our FS would drive on top of #2 or the deepest threat. On the backside we can play any concept that we choose.
An example of MINI vs. SNAG. Corner has #1 everywhere he goes. SAM - carries vertical until he sees the out then cuts the route of #3 while maintaining outside leverage. FS upon seeing the outroute by #3 drives over the top of #2.