Whitehall Football Installing the Defensive Package: Front 7

Defensive Foundation Alignment Assignment Swarm to the football Defensive Characteristics Necessary Attitude Concentration Effort

Defensive Line Techniques and Teaching Progressions Alignment Assignment Stance Get-off Block Reaction

Alignment and Assignment Defensive Ends – –9 technique is responsible for strong D-gap – –5 technique is responsible for weak C-gap Defensive Tackles – –3 technique is responsible for strong B-gap – –1 technique is responsible for weak A-gap Stance )Inside hand down, inside foot back with toe-to-heel stagger. (DE’s can be staggered slightly more)

Get-off

Block Reaction: Defeating and Shedding Blocker fires ahead, trying to drive you off ball Explode hands through breastplate on 2nd step “Squeeze”, or leverage him back, keeping your gap Lock out, find ball, and shed Base Block

Reach Block Blocker steps outside to reach Re-direct on 2nd step as you explode hands Press the outside pec of blocker and pull inside pec Find ball, shed, and make tackle If DL can’t make play, he should at least make ball bubble deeper

Down Block Blocker steps inside, not attempting to block you Re-direct hard inside on 2nd step Look for trap or kick-out block Wrong-arm trap or kick-out block Force ball to spill outside and run it down if cutback

Pull Block Blocker turns his shoulders to pull inside or outside Re-direct hard on 2nd step, expecting Down block Compress down block, squeeze, keep gap leverage Steer down blocker’s far shoulder back towards LOS Shed block and make tackle

Double Team Block Blocker comes forward to Base block Defender feels second blocker coming down on him Re-direct feet, hips, butt towards Down blocker while staying engaged on Base blocker Down blocker shoulders toward you, it’s Double team – Corkscrew Down blocker shoulders upfield, it is a “chip” block – When “chip” block leaves, play as a Base block

Defensive Line Stunts

Linebacker Techniques and Teaching Progressions Alignment Assignment Stance Flow Keys Block Protection

Alignment and Assignment Sam – –50 technique, responsible for strong C-gap Mike – –10 technique, responsible for strong A-gap Will – –50 technique, responsible for weak B-gap Stance Feet under armpits, flat back, arms loose Weight on balls of feet--key backs

Linebackers: Alignment

Key near back In “I” formation, Sam and Will key TB Backfield Keys

Full Flow Strong

Full Flow Weak

Split Flow

Cross Flow