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

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 400 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 4-4 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 17-14 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. 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. Show Basic Alignment • Defensive Ends • Defensive Tackles • Inside Linebackers • Outside Linebackers

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

11. 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! Show Basic Alignment Cont. • Corners

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

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 • 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 T N 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. • 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 N E B B E B

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