DEFENDING THE SPREAD

1. DEFENDING THE SPREAD RANDY BATES LINEBACKERS COACH NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

2. NORTHWESTERN DEFENSIVE PHILOSOPHY • DON’T GIVE UP BIG PLAYS – (ROPE-A-DOPE) • 2) CREATE TURNOVERS • 3). BE AS MULTIPLE LOOKING AS POSSIBLE • (BUT PLAY FEW DEFENSES.) • CALL = ALIGNMENT – DEFENSE – MOVEMENT – COVERAGE • A) OFFENSIVE PHILOSOPHY REVERSED (PRE-SNAP LOOK) • B) MULTIPLE FRONTS / COVERAGES FROM OVERLAPPING TECHNIQUES. • C) FORCE OFFENSES TO ADJUST TO MULTIPLE LOOKS, (DON’T LET OFFENSE DICTATE) • EX: - CHECK WITH ME PLAYS (QB CHECKS) • - OL CALLS • - READ ON RUN (WR / QB)

3. DEFENDING THE SPREAD OFFENSE • Pre Snap Looks – Force QB to Read on Run • a. 2 Shell • b. Man Free ( 3 Deep look some) • When Stemming From Base • (teach players what to expect) • a. QB Checks • b. Routes Run by Receivers • c. Run Checks • ex: check fade man free look • QB Pre Snap Tendencies (when to BLITZ) • a. Hands Out • b. Lift Leg • c. Hand Down For Center • d. Centers Hand

4. DEFENDING THE SPREAD OFFENSE • TEACH ADJUSTMENTS AS PART OF THE PACKAGE • A. HAVE CALL TO CHANGE SUPPORTS/COVERAGE • B. TEACH THESE CALLS AS CONCEPTS • C. LET THE PLAYERS LEARN THE HARD WAY HOW TO USE THE CONCEPTS ON THE FIELD • HAVE A REASON FOR THE CALL • GUIDED DISCOVERY • YOU WON’T BE ON THE FIELD IN GAME • HELP WITH COMMUNICATION FROM BOX • 3 DEEP CALLS • SS • 1. SKY • 2. BUZZ • 3. CLOUD • FREE • 1. STAR • 2.BOLT • 3. BENCH

5. NORTHWESTERN DEFENSE • FORMATING YOUR GAME PLAN • 1) Personnel Tendencies 12, 11, 10, • Down / Distance Tendencies • 70% OR BETTER • Weak OL Player to Single out • ( STUNTS ECT.) • Type QB Playing: Runner, Drop Back, Option • (BULL RUSH/ SPEED) • 5) Tendencies by Coverage Look ( BAIT THEM) • 3 Deep – Flats? (3 step) • 2-Deep – Fade/Down Middle? • Man Free – Fade? • 6) Specific Player to Stop • #8 – WR MACLIN • #1 – TB WELLS • #1 – QB PRYER EX: CHOICE CALLS • 7) COMP. % FOR BLITZES • 5 MAN, 6 MAN, 7 MAN

7. NORTHWESTERN DEFENSE • FRONT DECISIONS • SET THE BUBBLE (SHADE AND 5) • TO OR AWAY FROM THE BACK ACCORDING TO TENDENCY/COVERAGE • ( Do they run option) • TO OR AWAY FROM WIDE RECEIVER • (bubble screens) • 3. TO OR AWAY FROM FORMATION- TRIPS AND EMPTY E T T E M S W Possible check

8. NORTHWESTERN FRONT OPTIONS 1). MULTIPLE FRONT OPTIONS A. OPEN - TO OPEN SIDE B. FIELD - TO FIELD C. TIGHT - TO TE D. APACHE - AWAY FROM BACK E. CHIEF - TO BACK F. GATOR – AWAY FROM BACK LB TO RB 2 X 2 E T T E M S W CHIEF

9. READ CONCEPTS • GAP CALL • DIVE Q R T E M S HELP Q R T E M S GONE

10. READ CONCEPTS WITH FIELD GATOR • HERE CALL AND GAP CALL • TIM CALL Q R T E MGAP S HERE /QB WITH MIX CALL R Q N T E M S TIM

11. READ CONCEPTS • GONE CALL • QUEEN CALL Q R T E MGAP S HERE /QB WITH MIX CALL Q R T E S GONE M QUEEN

12. FRONT ALIGN AND READ CONCEPTS VIDEO

13. 3-4 FRONT

14. 3-4VIDEO

15. NORTHWESTERN COVERAGE PHILOSOPHY 1). AGGRESSIVE TECHNIQUES A) CONTACT WR’S AT MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS B) CHALLENGE EVERY PASS(YAC YARDS)(CLOSE TO ROUTES - CHEAT ZONES). C) MAKE WR’S CONSTANTLY ADJUST ROUTES(POST SNAP). D) GIVE QB’S MULTIPLE PRE-SNAP READS (MOVE ON RUN). E) TEACH TECHNIQUES THAT CROSSOVER TO OTHER COVERAGES.

16. COVER 4 ( AGGRESSIVE QUARTER ) BC FC S W M 2 3 4 FS SS KATHY KATHY SAFETY CALL RULES (COVER 4) 2 OPEN WR-KATHY/ AREA CALL TE AND WR –READ- ( SAFETY) WHEEL- (FREE SAFETY) MOD TECH – (CORNERS) 3 WR AWAY FROM FS – LOCK SPILL CALL SINGLE TE/ WING –KICK ( 2 DEEP CONCEPT) READ – WITH WIDE SPLIT OF 1 AND 2- - CORNER MAN #1 SAFETY DOUBLE FROM OUTSIDE #2 TEACH THEM CONCEPTS SO WHEN A UNIQUE FORMATION SHOWS UP THEY WILL THINK ABOUT WHAT CALL AND WHY

17. NORTHWESTERN COVERAGE 4 COV. 4 (3 X 1) S BC 4 W M FC 5 2 2/1 3 SS FS AREA LOCK 2/1 3 EMPTY S FC BC W M 2 3 SS FS STRESS KATHY 1/3

18. Vs. 3 x 1 CHANGE UPS SKY CALL – 3 DEEP STRONG RATATION TO TRIPS BC W M S 2 # 4 FC 3 FS SS 2 TO 1FLAT 03 03 M3 **POSSIBLE CUP CALL WITH SS/FC (GAME PLAN) SKY IS A CALL USED TO ROTATE STRONG AND PUSH THE COVERAGE AWAY FROM THE FIELD “GAME PLAN CALL”

19. Vs. 3 x 1 CHANGE UPS PACKER CALL – OVERLOAD TO TRIPS BC W M # 4 S MODTECH 2 3 1 FC FS SS 2 TO 1FLAT 03 M3 **POSSIBLE CLOUD CALL WITH SS/FC (GAME PLAN) PACKER IS A CALL USED TO OVERLOAD THE FIELD AND IS A “GAME PLAN OR EMPTY CHECK COVERAGE”

20. COVER 6 ( GREEN ) (QUARTER/QUARTER/HALF) S FC W M BC 2 CLOUD 4 SS FS 3 KATHY/AREA 1/2 FRONTSIDE COVERAGE- (SS SIDE) PLAYED WITH SAME RULES AND CALLS AS COVER 4 FREE SAFETY SIDE COVERAGE PLAYED WITH A CLOUD CALL CORNER- CLOUD TECHNIQUE ( HARD CORNER) FREE SAFETY- HALF TECHNIQUE (2YDS. IN/OUT HASH) WILL- CURL OF #4 3 X 1 WE WILL GO TO AREA

21. NORTHWESTERN COVERAGE PHILOSOPHY COVER 4 AND 6 VIDEO

22. BUZZ EMPTY CHANGE UPS E T T E BC FC W M S 3 5 4 2 3 FS SS BUZZ M3 03 O3 THIS IS AN EXCHANGE WITH THE SAM BACKER AND THE SAFETY BUZZ TECH- PLAY LIKE SKY BUT ASSAULT AND STAY IN CURL #3 AS WILL IS IN FLAT

23. BOLT EMPTY OPTIONS E T T E BC S FC W M 5 2 4 3 FS DS 03 03 M3 BOLT TECH- SIMULAR TO BUZZ FS IN CURL OF #4 AS BACKER to flat • CHECK WITH ME COVERAGES • DROP = BUZZ OR BOLT • 2. 3-4 FRONT • 30 CHECK = 30 CHECK WITH ME • (CLOUD / BUZZ / BOLT / BENCH) • CALLED TO A SPECIFIC WR OR FORMATIONS

24. VIDEO ON BUZZ BOLT • EMPTY IDEAS

25. (30) CLOUD 5 UNDER/ 3 DEEP BC B/E S FC W M 5 CLOUD 4 3 2 FS SS O3 03 (BUZZ/ALLEY) M3 BC S W M FC B/E 3 2 5 4 FS DS 03 O3 M3 (ALLEY)

26. (30) BENCH 5 UNDER/3DEEP B/E S FC BC W M 1 4 2 3 SS FS 03 O3 M3 (BUZZ/ALLEY) 3 X 1 S FC B/E W M BC 1 2 4 3 SS FS 03 O3 M3 - ALWAYS PROTECT SEAM - SAM ASSAULT VERTICALS - RULES FLIPPED FROM CLOUD

27. (30) ROLL (BENCH OR CLOUD) • CHECK WITH ME COVERAGE • CALL WILL BE MADE IN ONE OF 4 WAYS • (GAME PLAN) • 1) PASSING STRENGTH • 2) TENDENCY • 3) SPECIAL WR • 4) BACKS ALIGNMENT FREE SAFETY WILL DETERMINE CALL SECONDARY WILL REPEAT TO BACKERS (DROP DOWN TO MACLIN #8) LOCKED COVERAGE ONCE CALL IS MADE (MOTIONS)