Defensive Playboo - 28 - Assistant Coach: Roman HannesGhent Gators Defensive Coordinator: Piqueur Roald
There is no one defense that can defend all offensive possibilities. A good offense possesses the capabilities to exploit a defense if it remains static in its style of play. Our All Star team will have a dynamic approach to defense - we will be unpredictable by varying the alignments, using reading and penetrating styles of attack, and different run/pass postures. In implementing this approach, pressure is placed on the offense to recognize the defense, and make the appropriate adjustments in order to insure proper play execution. Invariably, this leads to breakdowns or errors by the offensive team.
The basic ingredients for successful pass defense, regardless of whether it is zone or man-to-man coverage, are as follows:
A good pass rush;
Integrated and coordinated action of Linemen, Linebackers, and Defensive Backs must be achieved;
A variety of pass coverages are essential; and
Varying the defensive mindset from maximum pressure to maximum pass coverage.
In zone pass coverage, the field is divided into zones or areas that become the responsibility of a specific pass defender. They vary in width and depth are defined in more specific terms according to the offensive formation, down and distance, and field position. All zones are overlapping and players must recognize that boundaries are not absolute.
Normally those defenders who are widest or deepest in the defensive formation will be in a position to cover larger territories.
In addition, players continually should be aware of the position of the ball on the field in order to determine the correct angle of drop to their respective zones. A player aligned to the short side of the field must take a much more vertical drop to cover their zone than a player aligned to the wide side of the field. For outside defenders, the sideline or numbers should be a major reference point, while the hashmarks help the inside defenders locate their zone.
Zone coverages are susceptible to the following types of pass patterns:
Influence Pattern - a receiver runs through areas that are the responsibility of different defenders.
Flood Pattern - the placement of more than one receiver in an area defended by one defensive player.
Seam or Level Patterns - receivers run patterns in the area between two zones (vertical and horizontal).
Short outside zones that extend horizontally from the sideline in 12 yards and vertically from the line of scrimmage to 12 yards deep.
Elongated short zones that extend horizontally from the flats in 5 yards and run vertically from the line of scrimmage to a depth of approximately 20 yards.
Short inside zones that run horizontally from the curl zone in 5 yards. Vertically, the zone extends from the line of scrimmage to a depth of 12 yards. In most defensive coverages the hook and curl zones are covered by the same person.
The area between the two hook zones. The zone extends vertically from the line of scrimmage to a depth of 12 yards.
In three deep zone coverage the field is divided into three equal zones. These zones have a horizontal width of approximately 18 yards each and extend from 12 yards off the line of scrimmage back to the goal line. The two outside zones are the deep outside, and the zone between them is the deep middle.
In two deep zone coverage the field is divided into halves horizontally. Each half has a width of approximately 28 yards and extend vertically from 12 yards off the line of scrimmage back to the goal line.
The following principles must be remembered when playing zone coverage:
1. Assume a proper stance and alignment. Awareness of the basic run or pass responsibilities are a must and should be rehearsed mentally prior to the play.
2. Awareness of down and distance helps the player anticipate the offensive play.
3. At the snap of the ball the defender reads the offensive key and reacts appropriately.
4. From initial key, react to the quarterback action (dropback, roll to, roll away) while dropping to the middle of the pre-determined zone. A cross-over or backpedal technique may be used.
5. Focus on the quarterback's shoulder and where he is looking, to help anticipate the intended receiver.
6. With practice, pass defenders develop an awareness of receivers entering or leaving their zone. Verbal communication systems for this purpose are a must! Cues or calls such as "ball' (ball thrown), "bingo" (pass intercepted) 'in or out" (man entering or leaving a zone), will be used.
7. Deep defenders (those responsible for deep zones) must always be as deep as the deepest receiver in their assigned area.
8. To accomplish zone discipline, the defender must remain in the assigned area until the flight of the ball has been determined.
9. Once the ball is thrown, the defender plays the ball and not the man. Mentally calculate the interception point based on the speed and flight of the ball and the probable pass route. Move to the interception point as quickly as possible to make the play. All other defenders should take an appropriate pursuit angle.
10. Make the play using the following order of priority; intercept the ball, knock the ball down, or tackle the pass receiver.
Man to man coverage refers to a situation where specific defensive personnel are assigned to cover certain offensive personnel. Although usually easier for players to learn, its major disadvantage occurs when there is a mismatch in athletic ability between an offensive and defensive player, or when weather and field conditions limit its use.
Keep in mind that if a defender is clearly beaten as a result of either of the above factors, a big gain or a major score may occur!
Receivers that stay in to block should not be discounted as potential pass receivers until at least two seconds after the snap of the ball. Normally, most delayed patterns or screen passes develop by then. Once the defender is sure that his man is not involved in a pass route, he can become free and react to the ball by helping someone else, or become an extra pass rusher.
Communication among defensive personnel is critical if confusion is to be avoided. Generally, early motion by the running backs or receivers is not a problem as long as the defense communicates. Every defender must know who has which potential offensive receiver.
Man to man coverage requires different and more extensive skills, coupled with a higher degree of athletic ability, than does zone coverage.
The basic skills associated with man-to-man coverage include:
1. Proper stance and alignment. As in zone coverage, the defender must know his pass and run responsibilities and be able to anticipate the play prior to the snap of the ball, based on down, distance and opponents' tendencies.
In order to defend properly against the run, a sound understanding of the offensive running game philosophy is essential. Most running attacks are based upon quickness, power, deception, or a combination of all three.
To defend against the run, you must apply the following play progression, regardless of the running play or philosophy adopted by the offense.
Read Key
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React by Applying Appropriate Technique
Pursue by Attacking Anticipated Running Lane
Tackle the Ball Carrier
An important concept for effective team defense versus the run is individual and team pursuit and tackling. Without proper pursuit and excellent tackling ability, the defense will not be able to defend against the run.
The gaps, or areas between the offensive linemen, are labeled by a letter. These gaps shift as the offensive personnel move during the play development. Each gap is the specific responsibility of a defender. These assignments are dependent upon the defensive alignment in use.
“A” or “Able” Gap: The hole between the guard and the center.
“B” or “Baker” Gap: Between the guard and tackle.
“C” or “Crunch” Gap: Between the Tackle and tight end or slotback. If there is no tight end or slot then the area extends 3 yards outside the tackles position.
“D” or “Demon” Gap: Outside the tight end extending to the sideline. If there is no tight end then the gap starts 3 yards outside of the tackles position and extends to the sideline.
The following section defines our naming conventions.
Star: Strongside interior linebacker, dictated by offensive formation.
Wilco: Weakside interior linebacker, dictated by offensive formation.
The remaining defensive players are referred to by the following position names: Defensive End; Defensive Tackle; Corner Back; Safety.
Defensive football is, for the most part, reaction or adjustment to the offensive team. Therefore, before a defensive scheme can be implemented and understood, it is necessary to establish terminology and designations as they relate to offensive formations. These will also serve as forms of reference as you become familiar with the Falcon defense.
St: Star, strongside interior linebacker.
Wi: Wilco, weakside interior linebacker.
E: Strong and weakside ends.
T: Strong and weakside tackles.
C: Strong and weakside corners.
S: Safety.
The Falcon front line is made up of the two tackles and the two ends.
The primary responsibility of the defensive ends in the Falcon defense is to rush the passer. They are pass rushers first and run reactors second. That is, they should not be slowed down in their pass rush by their concern for run responsibilities. If the position is played correctly, the ends will be the big play makers on the defense.
It is important that the ends line up wide. This outside alignment not only puts them in the most advantageous pass rush position, it also allows them time to adjust and react to running plays. The ends line up 11/2 yards outside the widest interior offensive position. These are the base alignments but they may be adjusted by stunt, down and distance, formation, score, and time left in a game. It is important to note that most adjustments will be made to a wider, rather than a tighter, alignment. Again, width in alignment is absolutely essential to execution. Generally, wider alignments are used as adjustments for better pass rush angles and run force angles over flexed tight ends or wingbacks lined up tight. In general, we do not flip flop these players.
The ends use a two point stance and line up on the line of scrimmage. They should position themselves facing into the backfield at a 45 degree angle with the outside foot back. They must have good body lean, with weight distributed over the balls of the feet and good flexion at the ankles, knees, and hips. The front foot should be pointed in at a 45 degree angle with the back foot pointed out at an angle that will give him a wide surface to push off from. It is important to be able to roll off the front foot as well as push off the back foot. This is accomplished by exaggerating the bend in the front leg, thus increasing the body lean. With the weight distributed over the front foot and with body lean, movement at the snap will be more upfield, or across the line of scrimmage. This type of stance also allows consistent, sure footing and decreases the chance of slipping, as happens when merely pushing off the back foot from an upright stance.
The primary responsibilities of the ends are to rush the passer and react to the run. It is very important to sprint across the line of scrimmage and react to the run rather than sitting on the line of scrimmage and reading. Reaction to the movement of the ball and explosive takeoff is where it must start. Their effectiveness as attackers is dependent upon their ability to explode into the backfield and disrupt the offensive play. Either go hard or go home. Anything in between is a waste of time.
When running plays develop to their side of the formation, it is the responsibility of the ends to contain and force the play inside. However, there are occasions when the ball is attacking the perimeter that it is permissible for an end to "bounce" the ball carrier outside, provided it happens deep in the offensive backfield and a linebacker or corner moving in on the play.
On running plays designed to go to the opposite side, the end is responsible for reverses and wide cutbacks. However, after the reverse or cutback threat is eliminated he must pursue the play using a backside intercept angle. There is an expectation that the ends will be a dynamic threat to the offense.
On the snap, the end sprints across the line of scrimmage aiming for a point approximately four yards behind the center (the position of a fullback's alignment in an I formation). As he attacks, he should read the near back and pulling lane. It is important that he see this area, since his reaction depends on the activity there. The near back is the closest back to him in the offensive formation. The pulling lane is that area immediately behind the offensive line of scrimmage that pulling linemen use when assigned to block players on the defensive perimeter. The end will take on and defeat all blockers that come to block him from the inside with his hands or inside arm. Although the technique we want is aggressive we do not want them taking on blockers from the inside with their outside arm. This wrong shoulder technique is not acceptable because it allows a blocker to take a defender out of the play and eliminates him as a possible tackler. The only time when this technique is permissible is when an outside linebacker reads a D gap counter or off-tackle play quickly and his reaction allows him to occupy both the playside tackle and the backside pulling guard. It is important to close the off-tackle hole with the blockers using techniques that will force the football deeper and wider than the design of the play. When this happens, the fact that he is playing with his outside arm and leg should allow him to roll and accelerate off the blocker and make the tackle on the ball carrier. It is important to use the pointed or turned in aspect of the stance because this will establish a path or route that will cause a squeeze on the inside lanes. If the angle is upfield, it is difficult to be able to compress these off tackle running lanes.
The ends are the linemen responsible for protecting against the wide running plays. They have contain responsibility and must either make the tackle behind the line of scrimmage or force the ball carrier back inside. This is a must if the Falcon defense is to stop the wide threat.
In most of the Falcon pass coverage packages, the ends are responsible for sacking the quarterback. Although this may seem like a simple task, they must defeat a variety of potential blockers between the time the ball is snapped and the end of the play.
The specific pass blockers the end must defeat are the offensive tackles, the tight end, the offensive guard, or the running back. The pass blocking schemes of the offensive team determine which player will be assigned to block the end. The tackle will be assigned to block the end more frequently than any other offensive player. He is usually the most difficult for the end to defeat due to two basic factors; the size differential and the proximity of the tackle to the rusher. More than any other skill, explosive takeoff and speed must be used to beat the offensive tackle.
On the strong side of the formation, the tight end is occasionally used to block the end on pass plays. This player is usually the least effective in pass blocking. The reason for this is that tight ends do not spend much time practicing pass blocking. Most of their practice time is spent developing run blocking and pass receiving skills. Therefore, it is reasonable to expect that, when this mismatch occurs, the end will win.
Running backs are accustomed to blocking outside linebackers in pass protection with various types of drop back and play action pass schemes. When this situation presents itself, the end is expected to win these battles every time. This is due to the fact that the back is at a great disadvantage because the defensive man has generated such a high degree of velocity. This, coupled with the fact that there is usually a physical advantage, means the rusher should be able to combine these two factors and run through the blocker to the passer.
Occasionally, the guard will be asked to block the outside rushers on pass plays. Although this does not occur frequently, when it does it should mean a win for the defense. Again, takeoff and speed are important because the offensive player is at a disadvantage due to the fact that he has to move so far to get to a junction point to block the rusher. This is especially true on the tight end side of the formation where the distance the guard has to travel is greater.
The tackles in the Falcon defense are pass rushers and run reactors. They are not required to play a lot of different ways. Their position is not complicated by multiple assignments.
The tackles line up on the line of scrimmage in the gap between the guard and tackle. More specifically, the inside eye should be across from the tip of the outside shoulder of the guard. This is commonly known as an outside shade position. The width of this alignment may vary some and is usually affected by several factors. First, the width of the split of the guard from the center is important. If the split gets too wide by giving him too large an area to close inside, the tackle must move to a tighter shade on the guard. Another factor that may affect the way the tackle lines up is the split between the guard and tackle. Generally, he will line up tighter on the guard with a tight split. The wider the gap is, the wider he should line up. The run strength of a formation also affects the alignment of the tackles. Generally, with the run strength away from him, the tackle lines up tighter on the guard.
An elongated three point stance, pointed in slightly, is the type best suited to the requirements of the tackle position. This stance enables him to explode upfield on his initial takeoff, penetrate, pass rush, and react to the run. It is best for the left tackle to use a right handed stance or a stance with his right hand on the ground. This type of stance is beneficial since it affords him the opportunity to take his initial step with his right or inside foot and come to a relatively squared up position. The right tackle should line up in a stance with his left hand down for the same reasons described above. If it is too difficult to learn to play effectively in a left handed stance, he will have to learn to play with a step and a shuffle. In other words, he will have to take a half step with his inside leg to square up or balance up after his initial step with the outside leg.
In this elongated stance, the tackle should have a good deal of weight forward on his down hand. He should be up on the balls of his feet and on his initial movement have the feeling of pushing off his back foot and rolling off his front foot. It is important that he be turned in to better see the movement of the ball at the snap and also to play his base run responsibility, which is the “B” gap.
The tackles should key on the offensive guard but must read the blocks of both the guard and the tackles.
The job of the tackle is to penetrate in the gap between the offensive guard and the tackle. He is an inside pass rusher and responsible for the "B" gap on running plays to his side. On runs away from him, he is a chase man. That is, he is expected to pursue on the offensive side of the line of scrimmage and take a proper angle that will enable him to tackle the ball carrier. It is important that he makes things happen on the offensive side of the line of scrimmage.
The basic key for the tackle is the action of the offensive guard. He must see the guard and react to his actions. If the guard pulls to the opposite side, the tackle should flatten his route and pursue at an angle to tackle the ball carrier. If the guard pulls to the outside, the ta...
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