1. Switching from the 4-3 Defense to the 4-4

2. Introduction Defensive Problems Making a Defensive Switch
Plan of Action
Show 4-4 alignment (Basic)
Pursuit Drill
Basic Defensive Techniques
Basic Alignments – Summer
Basic Stunts
Tackling Importance
Future Goals
Conclusion

3. Problems With Our Defense
2011 season too many points and too many big plays.
Spread offenses were improving their ability to run the ball. (Better Athletes at QB!)
Change in talent – 2A team – under students.
Not as much speed.

4. Problems With Our Defense Cont.
Previously 4-3 Defense.
Mostly man coverage.
Good Speed and Quickness.
Not as much speed.
Pass defenders struggled from man coverage to run responsibility.
Too much scheming on Sunday Nights.
Too many problems with motion.

5. Important Concepts When Making A Switch
Know the style of play of opponents. (Spread Offense)
Ability to defend spread and power.
Ability to attack spread offenses.
Give multiple looks.
Ability to stem.
2-3 Blitzes and believe in them.
Must be able to defend the deep ball!

6. Plan of Action Meet several times as staff.
Coaches presented research articles on different defenses.
Decided on adjustments to 4-3, 4-2, or Defense.
Decided on 4-4 Defense and Zone Coverage.
Important to have a solid defense and know how to teach the basic fundamentals.
Studied training films and articles.
Position coaches studied and organized their goals and objectives for summer workouts.

7. Athletes Responded To Change.
Lost 1st game to 5A Highland. Much improved 5A team
Lost 2nd game 7-6 to Harrisburg, a 4A Semi- Final team.
Fortunate athletes continued to work to finish regular season strong and go on to finish the year at 9-3 getting beat in the Quarterfinals.
Accomplished goal over installing and teaching the basics of the 4-4 Defense.

8. Athletes Responded To Change Cont.
In order to survive must improve in our knowledge and understanding of the defense.
Continue to meet as staff to look at ways to improve.

9. Show Basic Alignment Defensive Ends Defensive Tackles
Inside Linebackers
Outside Linebackers
Head up to last man on line of scrimmage.
Align in gaps 2-3 feet off ball. Able to react.
5 yards from Offensive Guards.
4 by 4 from last man on LOS.

10. Show Basic Alignment Cont.
Free Safety
10-12 yards deep, splitting 2 widest reveivers.
Cheat to field.

11. Show Basic Alignment Cont.
Corners
7-10 yards deep.
Line up inside of receiver if receiver is within 7 yards of sideline.
Receiver within 15 yards of sideline, line up to outside of receiver.
Don’t Get Beat Deep!

12. Pursuit Drill Diagram and Explanation Cont.
1st Workout
Understand bubbles of defense.
Immediate sense of urgency.
5 minutes every day but Thursday.
Stress drops and hustle to ball.
Pass-Run Call!
2 Varsity groups and JV group.

13. Pursuit Drill Diagram and Explanation Cont.
Sprint on and off the field – several reps.
First whistle – stop initial hit – RB keeps fighting, rip ball.
2nd whistle – After all 11 players get to ball.
Defensive line – Up down before pursuing ball.
Take Drops
Funnel and contain ball carrier (catch a rabbit)
2 Groups – Coach for Depth

14. Pursuit Drill Diagram and Explanation

15. Defensive Ends Alignment
Head up to last man on LOS.
Wide OL splits, line up inside gap.
DE run responsibility is the inside gap.
Read helmet, top of numbers, or crotch. E N E T

16. Defensive Ends Alignment Cont.
Backfield triangle read for DE’s.
2 feet off the ball. E E

17. Reach Block Loaded stance Lead step, power step.
Jam TE, Lock out arms for separation, stick butt & chest out.
Keep shoulders square to LOS.
Keep stepping outside of TE

18. Down Block Loaded stance Lead step, power step. Jam TE, lock out arms.
Squeeze and push TE down LOS, turning shoulders briefly, then get shoulders square to LOS.
Take on kick out block with inside shoulder

19. Base Block Loaded Stance Lead Step, Power Step Jam TE, Lock out arms
Squeeze inside, shuffle inside to gap responsibility.
Escape with RIP move.

20. Inside/Outside Pass Release by TE
Loaded stance
Lead step, power step
Jam TE, Lock out arms
Inside release – Jam TE down LOS, pass rush with outside contain on QB rollout.
On roll out attack at 45 degree angle to get containment.
Outside release, Jam TE stepping outside like a reach block. On roll out, attack at 45 degree angle.

21. General Points

22. General Points Read TE – Look to triangle. C Gap – Moving wall
Contain QB, 45 degrees.
Stay Square!
Hands in Passing Lanes – 3 step drop = Hands Up

23. Nose Guard and Defensive Tackle
Philosophy of Defensive Line – Do Not Allow Running Lanes To Be Created by:
Penetrating too deep into backfield.
Being driven backwards off LOS.
Def. line acts like a “moving wall” laterally, forcing ball carrier to bounce outside.
See the shoes of ball carrier in backfield triangle.

24. Alignment DT lines up in “B” gap on TE side.
NG lines up in “A” gap away from TE. E N T E

25. Keys- Visual Key (VK) & Physical Key (PK)
DT steps to Offensive Tackle (PK) and makes eye contact with Offensive Guard (VK).
NG steps to Center (VK) and makes eye contact with Offensive Guard (VK).
Stepping to Offensive Tackle protects from a down block from tackle.
When tackle or nose feels pressure from physical key abandon visual and push, pull or rip across OL face.

26. Keys- Visual Key (VK) & Physical Key (PK) Cont.
Versus double team – Try to split or drop to ground and make pile.
Find shoes of ball carrier in triangle.

27. Steps E N T E DT – Always steps to Off Tackle and make contact.
NG – Always steps to center and make contact.
Down block by tackle and center – Bucksweep. E N T E

28. Steps Cont. DT and NG attack physical with vision on visual read.
Escape with push, pull or rip across faces of down block.
Get shoulders square to LOS.
Stay square to LOS and move laterally (Moving Wall)

29. Down Block By Visual E N T E
Down block by visual key, tough to react because momentum is going into physical read.
Deeper alignment will allow them to see the block easier and react quicker.
Step to PK, see VK blocking down, rock back into visual and rip across visual. E N T E

30. Trap Block on DT
DT will not be blocked by visual or physical – must squeeze down to inside looking for backside guard trap blocking.
NG visual goes away, push, pull or rip across face of center. E N T E B B

31. Pass Block
Not expected to get huge pass rush, but put pressure on QB.
If visual and Physical both set up for pass, split and rush gaps, try to force 2 OL to block you. E N T E

32. Plays Defensive Line Must Stop
Begin working on this in the summer
Trap
Power
Weak side lead
Weak side crossblock
Sweeps
Options – Veers, Mid – Line, and Zone Read

33. Defending the Trap

34. Defending Power

35. Defending Weakside Lead & Crossblock

36. Defending Sweeps

37. Defending Options (Veer, Mid, Zone Read, Power read)

38. Defensive Backs - Corners
Align 7-12 yards deep on widest receiver. Outside foot up. Take 2 read steps backwards.
Receiver closer to sideline, line up a little outside.
Cover 1/3 of field and overlap the seam.
Hash marks 17 yards – cover 19 yards.
Never line up within 7 yards of sideline.

39. Defensive Backs – Corners Cont.
On 4 verts split receivers on drops.
Cheat to inside receiver, more time to get to outside.
Break on release of ball.
Don’t break on under routes.
Don’t break on 1st moves or pump fakes.

40. Defensive Backs – Corners Cont.
On run redirect to contain area.
Corners read open lineman.
On run read outside in – secondary corner
45 degrees from outside backer.

41. Defensive Backs – Corners Cont.
Defending Post - Wheel

42. Defending Post - Wheel Corner squeezes #1
Once #2 passes #1, #2 becomes #1 receiver.
Corner defends #1 receiver to sideline.
Don’t over squeeze.

43. Free Safety Split 2 wide outs and favor strength of field.
Deeper on twins.
Cover middle third and overlap.
Safety more aggressive on run.
On run read, safety comes forward.
Perfect spot = 2 yards behind linebacker.
Come up first and pursue inside out.

44. Video

45. Linebackers 4 4 5 5 B B 4 4 B B

46. Linebackers Cont. 5 B 2

47. Linebackers Cont. Outside foot back, square with LOS.
Look at OT and read tackle.
Tackle reaches, play to outside.
Outside backer shuffles 2 steps. Possible pass, widen to 4 by 6. B

48. Linebackers Cont.
Tackle pulls, shuffle inside to 4 by 2 careful, possible boot.
On pursuit away, shallow pursuit.
Wider the play the deeper the pursuit. B

49. Linebackers Cont. E E N N B B
Down block or double team, shuffle to 2 by 2.
Pulling tackle, come to LOS and get enough width to contain play, but not too much to create lane. E N E N B B E B

50. Linebackers Cont.
Jet Sweep! Keep outside shoulder free, shoulders square.
Keep everything to the inside.

51. Linebackers Cont. Pass Block
OLB drop 12 yards deep, 2 yards inside of numbers. Puts OLB 10 yards from sideline.
Wherever QB points OLB breaks. Hand comes off ball, break. Break to ball in a hurry. Flow away go to middle of field B B B B

52. Linebackers Cont.

53. Inside Linebackers Blocking Schemes and Alignment.
5 yds back on guards.
Reach block, 2 shuffle steps and feel out the play B B B B

54. Inside Linebackers Cont.
2 shuffle steps and feel out play.
Guard pull, 2 shuffle steps and feel out play.

55. Inside Linebackers Cont.
After 2 steps, sneak a peak to see where DE is going.
If DE goes outside go immediately to open door.
If DE goes inside backer goes outside. E E B B

56. Inside Linebackers Cont.
Blocks that pull ILB to inside, inside release and pulling guard.
Take 2 shuffle steps and read open window. B

57. Inside Linebackers Cont.
Pass block
Drop and keep eyes on QB.
2 yds inside of hash yds deep. B B

58. Linebackers Position Characteristics.
OLB almost DB – more physical, would like a tall OLB 6’1” to 6’2”.
ILB – tough, physical player

59. Alignments

60. Alignments Cont. E N T E B B B B C C S VS. PRO 8-10 5 4 4 8-10 5 4 4
10-12

61. Alignments Cont.
VS. Twins 5 E N T E 4 B B B B 4 2 C C
8-10 S
10-12

62. Alignments Cont.
VS. Trips 5 5
8-10 E N T E 5 4 B B B B 2 2 2 C C S

63. Alignments Cont.
VS. Double Slot 5 E N T E 5 5 5 B B 2 B B 2 C C S

64. Alignments Cont. E N T E B B B B C C S VS. Wide Trips 5 5 8-10 5 42 2 2 C C S

65. Alignments Cont. Alignments Cont. E N T E B B B B C C S
VS. Double Tight E N T E 2 5 2 B 5 B 2 2 B B C C
7-8 S
7-8

66. Basic Stunts E N T E B B 1 B 4 B 2 3 C C S
2-3 Blast

67. Basic Stunts Cont. E N T E B B 1 B 4 B 2 3 C C S
2 Blast

68. Basic Stunts Cont. E N T E B B 1 B 4 B 2 3 C C S
3 Blast

69. Basic Stunts Cont. E N T E B B B B C C S 1 4 2 3 1-4 Rape 1 Rape
Step to crotch
4 Rape

70. Basic Stunts Cont. E N T E B B 1 B 4 B 2 3 C C S
1-4 X
1 X
Read
4 X

71. Basic Stunts Cont. B E N T E B B B C C S 1 4 2 3 1-4 Smoke - Read

72. Stunts Cont. Cover Alignments during summer vs. DQ Offense.
Go over special offenses in camps.

73. Goal line Gap B C E N T E B B B C S

74. Bismarck Henning

75. Tackling Face Up! – Athletic Stance Cover in summer with no helmets.
No dropping of head or using helmet to deliver blow!
Face, Chest, Hips – Power cleans.

76. Goals Improve against power formations.
Double Wing
More movement with ends and OLB.
Get safety involved in run support.

77. Conclusion Young talented coaches – Good teams in state.
Know how to get information.
Good Teachers
Continue to use game to teach morals and values.
Use members in community, ministers to assist in guidance.
Our players need it.
Dog – Kerr Dog

78. Contact Information
Al Martin – Head Coach
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Keith Ellis – Defensive Coordinator
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John Gross – Secondary
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Mike Riggio – OL/DL
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Derek Beard
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Issac Miller – Defensive Line
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