1. The University of South Dakota COYOTES
MAKING THE MOVE 4-3 to 3-4
The University of South Dakota
COYOTES

2. HISTORY – Why we switched
Defensive Philosophy – what makes a defensive player valuable?
“A defender’s value to the defense can be measured by his distance from the ball at the end of each and every play.”

3. WHAT DID WE WANT TO GAIN?
Get more speed on the field – live up to our philosophy
Wanted to create confusion for the offense
Critical to make sure we kept our identity which is to stop the run 1st and foremost

4. DEFENSIVE FACTS
Looking at current roster – had more 6’2 210 kids than 6’4 260 kids
Unless we were superior up front, we struggled to pressure the QB with 4
As a result we found that we were predictable with our pressure

5. PERSONNEL Switch from 4 down linemen to 3
Increase speed on the field with the increase in multiple receiver sets
Simply put – easier to recruit 6’1 210 LBs than it is to find 6’3 265 DL

6. ADJUSTING TO OPEN SETS More Options with base personnel
3 Down Linemen allows you to balance your defensive set
Possible to bring any of the back 8 defenders at any time – any combination

7. MULTIPLE LOOKS Several options out of the same look:
-Traditional 3 deep and 2 deep options
-Zone Pressures (3 deep/3 under concept)
-Man Free to overload the box
Ability to kick into Eagle Front (split eagle)

8. VALIDATING THE SWITCH
PTS/Game Run Pass TOTAL
(11 games / 9-2) *
(13 games / 9-4)
*Finished 5th in the nation against the run.

9. CREATING A BASE PACKAGE
3 DEEP
3 ROLL
2 DEEP
5 MAN PRESSURE
MAN PRESSURE

10. BASIC 3 DEEP Base concept utilizing a 4 man rush
3 Deep defenders and 4 underneath
-Field 55 Cover 3 (rush Yote & drop Sam)
-Field 55 Short 3 (rush Sam & drop Yote)

12. 3 DEEP - ROLL THE COVERAGE
Must be able to role down a safety to 1/2 balanced formations
Must not allow the offense to remove force defender (Field 55 3 Roll)

14. 3 DEEP – 3 MAN RUSH
Favorite in the Red Zone to drop 8 – get a hard corner
Must blitz enough to make it a legitimate threat to the offense
Once a threat is established you can “bluff” and effectively drop 8 to clutter passing lanes

16. 2 DEEP
Ability to roll up field side corner to counter constant voiding of the flat in cover 3
Better to defend 4 verticals in 2x2 sets
Able to man weak side and help front side vs 3x1 sets

18. 5 MAN PRESSURES
Ability to get pressure without selling out the secondary – 3 deep/3under concepts
Ability to bring pressure out of multiple patterns
Based on number of split receivers we could be more aggressive (danger call)
Kids understand where we want the ball deposited

20. MAN BLITZ Ability to bring 6/7 based on situations
Allow us to overload the protection
Incorporated a “bump” concept to make it simple – you 4 DBs have those 4 WRs