al martin 4-4 defense 2013
TRANSCRIPT
Switching from the 4-3 Defense to the 4-4
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
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
Show Basic Alignment
• Defensive Ends
• Defensive Tackles
• Inside Linebackers
• Outside Linebackers
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 Cont.
• Free Safety 10-12 yards deep, splitting 2 widest reveivers.
Cheat to field.
Show Basic Alignment Cont.
• Corners 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!
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.
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
Pursuit Drill Diagram and Explanation
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 EN T
Defensive Ends Alignment Cont.
• Backfield triangle read for DE’s.
• 2 feet off the ball.
E E
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
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
Base Block
• Loaded Stance
• Lead Step, Power Step
• Jam TE, Lock out arms
• Squeeze inside, shuffle inside to gap responsibility.
• Escape with RIP move.
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.
General Points
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
Nose Guard and Defensive Tackle
• Philosophy of Defensive Line – Do Not Allow Running Lanes To Be Created by:
1.Penetrating too deep into backfield.
2.Being driven backwards off LOS.
3.Def. line acts like a “moving wall” laterally, forcing ball carrier to bounce outside.
4.See the shoes of ball carrier in backfield triangle.
Alignment
• DT lines up in “B” gap on TE side.
• NG lines up in “A” gap away from TE.
EE N T
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.
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.
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 EE T
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)
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 N T E
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 EN TB B
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.
N TE E
Plays Defensive Line Must Stop
• Begin working on this in the summer
1. Trap
2. Power
3. Weak side lead
4. Weak side crossblock
5. Sweeps
6. Options – Veers, Mid – Line, and Zone Read
Defending the Trap
Defending Power
Defending Weakside Lead & Crossblock
Defending Sweeps
Defending Options (Veer, Mid, Zone Read, Power read)
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.
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.
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.
Defensive Backs – Corners Cont.
Defending Post - Wheel
Defending Post - Wheel
• Corner squeezes #1
• Once #2 passes #1, #2 becomes #1 receiver.
• Corner defends #1 receiver to sideline.
• Don’t over squeeze.
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.
Video
Linebackers
B BBB
4
4 4
45 5
Linebackers Cont.
B
5
2
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
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
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 NB
E NB
EB
Linebackers Cont.
• Jet Sweep! Keep outside shoulder free, shoulders square.
• Keep everything to the inside.
Linebackers Cont.
Pass Block
• OLB drop 12 yards deep, 2 yards inside of numbers. Puts OLB 10 yards from sideline.
• Wherever QB points OLB breaks. Hand comes off ball, break. Break to ball in a hurry. Flow away go to middle of field
BB B
B
Linebackers Cont.
Inside Linebackers
• Blocking Schemes and Alignment.
• 5 yds back on guards.
• Reach block, 2 shuffle steps and feel out the play
B B B B
Inside Linebackers Cont.
B B B B
• 2 shuffle steps and feel out play. • Guard pull, 2 shuffle steps and feel out play.
Inside Linebackers Cont.
• After 2 steps, sneak a peak to see where DE is going.
• If DE goes outside go immediately to open door.
• If DE goes inside backer goes outside.
BE E
B
Inside Linebackers Cont.
• Blocks that pull ILB to inside, inside release and pulling guard.
• Take 2 shuffle steps and read open window.
B
Inside Linebackers Cont.
• Pass block
• Drop and keep eyes on QB.
• 2 yds inside of hash.10-12 yds deep.
BB
Linebackers
• Position Characteristics.
1. OLB almost DB – more physical, would like a tall OLB 6’1” to 6’2”.
2. ILB – tough, physical player
Alignments
Alignments Cont.
B BBB
E EN T
C C
S
8-10
8-104
4
4
45
5
VS. PRO
10-12
Alignments Cont.
CC
S
B BB
E TN EB
4
4
5
2
8-10
10-12
VS. Twins
Alignments Cont.
CB
E N T EB B
B
C
S
8-10 5 55
2 2 2
4
VS. Trips
Alignments Cont.
CB
E N T E
B B BC
S
5
5 5
2 2
5
VS. Double Slot
Alignments Cont.
CB
E N T E
B BB
C
S
8-10 5 55
2 2 2
4
VS. Wide Trips
8-10
Alignments Cont.Alignments Cont.
B BBB
E EN T
C CS
2
2
2
25
5
VS. Double Tight
7-87-8
Basic Stunts
B BBB
E EN T
C CS
1 4
2 3
2-3 Blast
B BBB
E EN T
C CS
1 4
2 3
2 Blast
Basic Stunts Cont.
B BBB
E EN T
C CS
1 4
2 3
3 Blast
Basic Stunts Cont.
B BBB
E EN T
C CS
1 4
2 3
1-4 Rape
Basic Stunts Cont.
Step to crotch1 Rape4 Rape
Basic Stunts Cont.
B BBB
E EN T
C CS
1 4
2 3
1-4 XRead
1 X4 X
Basic Stunts Cont.
B B
BB E EN T
C CS
14
2 3
1-4 Smoke - Read 1 Smoke4 Smoke
Stunts Cont.
• Cover Alignments during summer vs. DQ Offense.
• Go over special offenses in camps.
B B
BB E EN TCC
S
Goal line Gap
Bismarck Henning
Tackling
• Face Up! – Athletic Stance
• Cover in summer with no helmets.
• No dropping of head or using helmet to deliver blow!
• Face, Chest, Hips – Power cleans.
Goals
• Improve against power formations.
1. Double Wing
• More movement with ends and OLB.
• Get safety involved in run support.
Conclusion
• Young talented coaches – Good teams in state.
• Know how to get information.
• Good Teachers
• Continue to use game to teach morals and values.
• Use members in community, ministers to assist in guidance.
• Our players need it.
• Dog – Kerr Dog
Contact Information
• Al Martin – Head Coach
• 618-542-4744 ext. 2102
• Keith Ellis – Defensive Coordinator
• John Gross – Secondary
• Mike Riggio – OL/DL
• Derek Beard
Issac Miller – Defensive Line