Nike Coach of the Year Clinic February 9 th , 2008

1. Nike Coach of the Year ClinicFebruary 9th, 2008 4-4 Defense in Youth Football By: Ray Gordon

2. Defensive Philosophy • Patience is key – don’t abandon the ship when things get tough - • Be Great Tacklers- tackle every day! • Be physical – we spend a lot of time working on strength (agilities and sled work) and contact – Football is a CONTACT sport! Match kids up with equal ability – don’t let the practice super star ruin your season! • Run, Run, Run – 11 Men to the Ball on EVERY play! • Make the offense go East/West – “Spill” the play to the outside • Never Stop Learning! • Teach the game…Make sure each player knows how his position plays in the big scheme of things – creates students of the game

3. Why the 4-4? • -Run Stopping Defense • -Easy to Teach • -Flexible • -Hard to Block • -Fun to PLAY

4. Stance – you must preach to your kids – A good stance is half the battle… Defensive Tackles – 3 point stance, eyes on ball Defensive Ends – 2 and 3 point stances – eyes on key/man in front of them Linebackers – 2 point – relaxed, balls of feet, hands out, knees bent Defensive Backs – athletic position, knees bent, eyes on key

5. Base Alignment • DT- Head up on Guard – 2 technique • DE-Head up on Tight End – 6 technique • OLB – Stacked on DE • ILB – stacked on DT • Corners – 3x3 off DE • Safety – 10 yards off ball • We number “Pairs” of players – i.e. – Right Defensive End and Right OLB – is #4 • How we call blitzes, etc – example -1 and 4 X

6. Base Alignment T T E E C C OLB LB LB OLB 1 2 3 4 S We “pair” our linebackers and lineman together – they work as teams

7. Base alignment…

8. Base Responsibilities & Reads Corner’s – widest man to near back –have deep 1/3 on pass Safety – Read changes every week – deep 1/3 OLB – TE to near back, C to D gap read ILB – FB(usually)- A to B gap read DE’s – Flat Player – D gap DT’s – A to B Gap

9. Base Reads T T E E C C OLB LB LB OLB S

10. Blitzes – X and Y – we become a Gap control defense Example – All X T T E E C C OLB LB LB OLB S X Blitz – means Linebacker goes Out

11. Example – Y Blitz Example – All Y T T E E C C OLB LB LB OLB S Y Blitz – means Linebacker goes In

12. Example – 1 and 4 Y - 2 and 3 X T T E E C C OLB LB LB OLB S

13. Video Examples

14. The key to being successful in Youth Football is – Having a plan, execute the plan and make sure the kids are having fun!

15. Good luck in 2008!