Brethren High School FootballDefensive Playbook “The mission of the Brethren Defensive Unit is to regain possession of the football!” Do It Right Every Time! Alvin D. Rischel, Head Football Coach Brethren High School 4400 North High Bridge Road Brethren, MI (231) 477-5355 Page 8 Inside Linebacker Play………………………………Page 12 Outside Linebacker Play…………………………….Page 14 Blitz Package…………………………………………Page 15 Pass Coverage……………………………………….Page 17 Zone Man-to-Man 2 .TABLE OF CONTENTS Philosophy…………………………………………….Page 3 Fronts & Alignments…………………………………Page 4 Defensive Line Play…………………………………. It allows us to use a variety of different looks with minimal teaching. yet remains flexible against multiple offensive formations. 4. Not allow a gain of 25 yards or more on any given play. 3. Tackling 8. Hold opposing offense to less than 150 total yards in a game. Score a defensive touchdown. Creating Turnovers This is the system that will be used when designing and organizing all defensive drills. This will often result in missed blocking assignments and negative gains.PHILOSOPHY 3-5-3 Slant / Angle Defense The BHS defensive system will be designed around one concept…. It’s fun for the players to run! Team Goals 1. Teaching Progression of Every Drill 1. 4. We want to dictate the flow of the game by attacking the offense instead of reacting to it. 2. By studying the plays that the offense usually has success with and taking them away. 4. Reads 6. It allows smaller. Stance Alignment Assignment Technique 5. 6. 3. It’s confusing for the offense and forces them to account for our 3 defensive linemen with all 5 of their offensive linemen. Our goal will be to play on the opponent’s side of the ball and create a new line of scrimmage one yard behind the original. it probably does not apply to a game situation & should be eliminated from the practice plan. 6. 5. 3. 2. we will force them into doing things that they are not comfortable with. Force and recover at least 1 turnover in each quarter. 5. It employs an 8-man front. 3 . Hold opposing offense to 13 points or fewer. faster athletes to be successful. 2. We will emphasize the importance of turnovers and coach accordingly. Advantages of the 3-5-3 1. If a drill cannot be associated with one of these areas. Pursuits 7. Our “slant/angle” concept is designed to confuse the offensive line and create conflict for them on every play. Hold opposing offense to less than 100 yards total rushing in a game. We will simplify the game plan and allow our kids to play with speed.”Simplification!” Games are won when players are comfortable with the system and are not forced to over-think. Few coaches are familiar with it or know how to game plan against it. FRONTS & ALIGNMENTS Defensive Gaps Alignment Techniques Defensive Positions NT Nose Tackle WC Wildcat (Weak LB) DE Defensive End B Bobcats (Hybrid Players) M Monster (Middle LB) C Cornerbacks SC Stray Cat (Strong LB) F Free Safety 4 . These players must be able to cover and defend the pass. Stray Cat & Wildcat: 50 technique 3 yards behind the Defensive Ends. Cornerbacks: 7 yards off & inside shade of the #1 receiver. Monster: 00 technique stacked 3 yards behind the Nose Tackle. 5 .BASE (3-5-3) Nose Tackle: 0 technique 18” from the helmet of the Center. Hybrid position. Defensive Ends: 5 technique 18” from the helmet of the Tackles. physical & athletic. We want the better of the two on the “field” side. Touch players who are fearless and not afraid to stick their nose into the action. Free Safety: 12-20 yards off the LOS depending on down & distance. Best LB/DB players who are smart. Best linebacker. Quick & physical players. must be able to occupy offensive linemen and keep them off of linebackers. Shaded slightly to the strength side. Bobcats : 3x2 off the outside hip of the Defensive End. This is the Quarterback of the defense. “Wrestler” type kid who will demand double teams. TIGHT Vs. TWINS Free Safety will shift over vs.Adjusting to multiple sets Vs. Trips 6 . making it easier for us to put the O-line in conflict with blitzes & stunts.Vs. 7 . 2x2 DOG We will align the Stray Cat & Wildcat directly on the tails of the Defensive Ends. They must work the LOS and close down their designated gaps. We want to touch his knee! Disrupt & occupy him. Working The Line of Scrimmage DL must work up & down the LOS. work to the opposite knee of the next lineman over. First Step – lateral step in the direction of the slant. We must get physical play out of our D-linemen. DL must not chase running backs in the backfield. DL must pursue down the LOS in order to meet the ball carrier ASAP. prohibiting him from reaching our linebackers. Defensive Line Slant Technique Because our D-linemen will usually be aligned head up & slanting in one direction or the other. DL cannot over-penetrate. Only after we reach the knee of the lineman can we begin to read his block & pursue the ball carrier. it is important that they start out in a balanced stance. Make the ball carrier go where he doesn’t want to go.DEFENSIVE LINE PLAY The job of the defensive line is to disrupt the offensive line and free up the linebackers to make a play. forcing all inside runs to bounce outside. Attack him where he is going & not where he is at. creating open running lanes underneath them. Determining the Strength of the Offense We will use the following determining factors to determine which side of the offense has more strength: Location of the Tight End Trips Wide side of Field Left side of the Defense 8 . Next – rip back side arm & leg through to avoid being blocked by head up lineman. Defensive Line Slants Strong Weak 9 . Front side B Gap responsibility Monster – Strong side A Gap responsibility 10 . Example with Split Call: Stray Cat .Pinch Split Note: Stacked linebackers will be responsible for the remaining gaps opposite from the slant call. If unable to reach the shoulder. the defender must fight across the face of the blocker. square his shoulders & work down the LOS to the ball carrier. work through the shoulder & pursue down the LOS. he should split the double-team and drop his outside leg and shoulder. Reach Block The defender must beat the blocker to the aiming point and not allow him to cross his face. The defender must keep digging and NEVER give up ground! 11 . Instead. Double-Team The defender must attack the down blocker & fight to his opposite shoulder. Wildcat – Back side C Gap responsibility Reading The Blocks Down Block If the lineman blocks down. Pulling Lineman If the next lineman over pulls. This will help add confusion for the offensive line. stacked behind the Defensive Line. 12 . prowling til the snap of the ball. Inside LBs will be in constant motion. Triangle Read Linebackers are responsible for remaining gaps away from slant call. get in his hip pocket. follow him down the LOS & pursue the ball carrier. & Wildcat will align 4-5 yards off the LOS. head & chest up and hands free. INSIDE LINEBACKER PLAY Alignment & Assignment The Stray Cat. Inside LB stance should be rolled up on the balls for their feet with their butt down. Monster. At the snap of the ball they will read through the nearest uncovered lineman (usually the guard) through to the nearest running back in the backfield. we need to make it difficult for the offensive linemen to locate us. Scrape Technique If there is an open gap. With their hands & eyes up and butts down. they must shoot through it and find the ball carrier. 13 . read run. Reading the Guards We will read the helmets of the guards for linebacker keys: If the helmet of the guard goes down. If the helmet pops up. DO NOT move up past the heels of the DL. then drop into appropriate zone coverage. Prowling For our defense to be successful. linebackers need to fill it. Prowling is defined as linebackers decoying & disguising stunts by moving laterally in & out of gaps. it’s a trap to the other side!! Communicate with other linebackers. No matter where they are at the snap of the ball. it’s a pass block. LBs will shuffle down the LOS looking for “Open Doors. attack immediately & DO NOT HESITATE! If you see the ear hole of the helmet. We want to be active before the snap. If the helmet comes at you. LBs need to be able to play their original gap responsibilities. Search for near back & attack.” As they shuffle down the LOS and find an opening. but it is important that to not be over-active! DO NOT move past the next gap. Check for draw. looking for flow. Force/Contain Responsibilities OLBs are responsible for forcing outside runs back inside to the defensive flow or stringing it out to the sideline. They must never be satisfied with just “being outside.” They must force a change of direction for the ball carrier. OLBs will align with their body square and their inside foot forward so that they can see the entire perimeter. OLBs will align 3 yards outside the end man on the LOS & 2 yards off the LOS when there is no slot receiver. EMOLS pass blocks or releases – Drop back into zone coverage. keeping them free.OUTSIDE LINEBACKER PLAY Alignment & Assignment OLBs are “Force/Contain” players and are responsible for containing the outside and forcing the play back inside or stringing it to the sidelines. When a slot receiver is present. OLBs will align 2 yards inside the slot and 4 yards off the LOS. OLBs will key the end man on the LOS for their reads as follows: EMOLS blocks down – Squeeze & replace his outside hip. EMOLS blocks out – attack & squeeze. They must always maintain outside leverage and protect their outside arm and leg. 14 . BLITZ PACKAGE Numbering the Linebackers Linebackers will be designated blitzes by calling their number. Down & distance will also be considered. A call of “Destroy” designates all 5 Linebackers on a blitz. More than one number may be called at a time to create blitzing combinations. Our blitz calls will be coordinated with our slant calls so that the slanting D-linemen tie up the O-linemen in order to create openings for the linebackers to shoot through. 15 . Example: A call of “14” would designate a blitz from the Outside Bobcat & the Wildcat. They should squat at the LOS and never give chase to the ball carrier in the backfield. We will not blitz just to blitz but instead we will do so with a purpose. A blitzing linebacker must blitz through the gap that he is responsible for. He must fire through the gap while maintaining as much control as possible so not to over-run the ball carrier. A call of “Havoc” designates all 3 stacked Inside Linebackers on a blitz. we force the offensive tackles to commit to them which frees up the Bobcats to attack the outside unchallenged. This will put pressure on the quarterback. forcing him to stay in the collapsing pocket on passing plays and forces any outside runs to funnel back inside to the pursuit. WEAK – 12 16 .Examples of Designed Blitzes with Line Slants PINCH – 15 By pinching the Defensive Ends. This call is ideal for Third & Long situations. COVER 3 (ZONE) Over: Deep Thirds. We will refer to the Secondary as “Over” coverage & Linebackers as “Under” coverage.This call overloads the strong side off-tackle “C” gap. we will increase our odds to make the play. By keeping all routes in front of us. Numbering the Receivers We will number the receivers 1-3 from the outside – in. 17 . Under: 1 & 5 – Inside & Under #1 up to 10 yards. Do not let him cross your face.) Our philosophy will be to “control” the passing game. PASS COVERAGE We will have 2 base coverage calls: Cover 3 (Base) and Cover 1 (Lock. while the slant to the weak side defends against any possible cutback. Do not let him cross your face. Free Safety plays deep thirds. Do not chase to flats.2 & 4 – Inside & Under #2 up to 10 yards. COVER 1 (MAN-TO-MAN) Over: Cornerbacks man #1. 3– Inside & Under #3 up to 10 yards. Under: 1 & 5 – Man #2 2 & 4 – React to running game & read QB run option 3– Man #3 GO BLUE! 18 . 19 .