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4-4 Defense

4-4 DEFENSE

Youth football coaches should play zone COVER 3 defense. Play the blitz packageand have fun. The 4-4 is a good defense because you don't need as many gooddefensive players as some other defenses. It can be a very aggressive defense,and you can cover the various formations. I believe you do need good outsidelinebackers that are athletic. They must cover the run and the pass. I like the ideaof having a strong side OLB and weak side OLB. They flip flop with the formation.We are hoping you can get an idea or two from the different looks. We are throwingout these ideas so that you will think and maybe incorporate an idea or two. I hopethis will benefit you.

When coaching the secondary we always stressed 3 things.1. Stance2. Alignment3. Responsibility

Stance: CORNERS1. Narrow base: feet under armpits2. Outside foot up: toe to instep stagger.3. Weight on balls of feet; Sole of shoes have full contact with ground.4. Bend in waist; Pads over toes5. Bend in knees; Hands to knee level6. Hips square to LOS7. Head and shoulders turned in toward the ball.

SAFTIES1. Narrow base2, Inside foo up3. Weight on balls of feet4 Bend in waist and knees5, shoulders and hips are square to the LOS ALWAYS1. Keep feet alive2. Have an awareness of wide receiver split3. FINISH NEVER1. Panic-you are not beat until the ball is thrown. Put head down and get to WR.2. When playing off the ball-NEVER be driven to a heads-up position.

If you read a 3 step drop, snap your eyes back to the WR to recognize route.1. Read the front shoulder of the QB2, Focus on the point of the shoulder as to what 1/3 of the field he is intending to throw to3. Key shoulder level for trajectory a. Parallel - short zone b. Up - deep zone

When the ball is thrown, the interception point is 6-8 yards in front of the receiverat the moment you recognize the pattern. Drive to the interception point. If you haveno chance for the interception, make certain you tear away his upfield arm. This isthe arm that is farthest from the flight of the ball. If the receiver is too far away foryou to tear away his upfield arm, then you must make the tackle.

1. If you are in a trail position (1 to 2 steps behind) read the receiver's earhole.2, When the earhole disappears and you see the receiver's eye, anticipate seeing his hands.3. When the hands come up, punch through the pocket with your inside hand and clap the receiver's hand.

On a hitch pattern, always come up on the outside under control, He already hasgained 5 yards, KEEP IT THERE.

Basic principles for Zone Defense1. Know your area of responsibility. Who is your first threat.2. See the ball at all times.3. Never allow receiver to get behind you in deep zone responsibility.4. Don't cover grass- find receiver.5, Communicate6. Maintin leverage7. Keep cushion. Three yards.

MECHANICS of Back Pedal1. Steps are 6-8 inches in length2. Backpedal about 3/4 speed of full potential3. Reach back with each step and pull weight over his feet just as though he were running forward with his weight on the balls of his feet.4. Raise feet only high enough from the ground to have the cleats clear the grass.5. Do not overstride.6. Both knees should be bent to permit the feet to extend back past the hips.7. Keep the chin pulled down, the head and shoulders out in front of the forward foot.8. Move the arms in a normal relaxed manner with elbows at a 90 degree angle. Move them in a pumping action. Kee the elbows in to the sides and don't cross arms in front of body. 9. STAY in backpedal as long as possible. Usually 15 yards before turning and running.

Techniques for Man Coverage1. Corner at 5 yards deep-keep 3 yard cushion. Too much can be worse.2. Keep feet alive and active.3. Do not allow flag or out4. Do not go for inside fake. Slide with the fake and get in his hip pocket.5. Take the outside fake. (Cover)6. Do not lose outside position. NEVER PEEK or look at QB. Stay with your man.7. Whwn receiver looks, you look.8. On inside cut- bump him and squeeze him in. Be on the top shoulder.

Denfensive Technique Numbering

8 3 2 2i 5 4 4i 9 6 7 7 6 9 81 0 1 2i 2 3 4i 4 5

BASE ALIGNMENT

Left End - 6 technique Key TE Run to c-gap Run Away -Trail Pass- Contain

Right End - 5 Technique Attack tackle Run to -C Gap Run Away -Trail Pass - contain

Left Tackle - 3 Technique Attack Guard Run to B Gap Run Away - Pursue Pass - inside rush

Right Tackle - 2 eye Tech Attack guard Run to - A Gap Run away - Pursue Pass - inside rush - Aiming point neck of center

SAM (strong side OSLB) Key - Near Back Run To - Alley Contain Run Away - Cutback/counters Pass- Cover called Alignment 8 Tech

Mike (Strong side ILB) 2 eye Tech Key Guard to Back Run to - Read key Run Away - Read Key Pass - Cover Called Has A Gap

Will (Weakside ILB) 3 Tech Key - Guard to Back Run to - Read Key Has B Gap Run Away - Read Key Pass Cover called

Hawk (Weakside outside LB) Key Near Back Run to- Alley contain Run Away-cutback/counter C GAP 4 Down Linemen key the ball. Attack man over on snap

Tackles must squeeze down on traps.Outside LB Split Rule: Up to 4 yards, play normal. Greater than 4 yards-splitthe difference and 5 yards off the LOS. Normal alignment is 2 wide and 4 deep.

If you are getting beat with Tackle in 2eye techique, move him to headup or 3technique.

Cover 2 vs Twins

cover 3 zone

Trips Cover 3

Trips bump ILB out.

7 yards deep

10-12 yards deep

7 yards8-10 yards

5 yards

5 yds

7 yds

Curl Flat

Split difference-5 yards deep

7 yd

5 yd

10 yd

Definitions

Cover one - One man freeCover 2 - Two deep Zone or ManCover 3 - Three deep zoneCover 4 - vs Ace or spread setCover 5 - vs Twin setCover 6 - vs Trips

21

5-6

7

10-12

4

Corner 7 yard rule - If wideout is within 7 yds of the sideline, play headup or inside.

Pursuit in cover 3:Playside corner- come up fast on the OUTSIDE on sweep. Keep outside arm freeand outside leg back.

Safety - Fill inside out on sweep. You have cutback if you take proper angle.Stay one yard BEHIND runner in pursuit.

Backside Corner - Take proper pursuit angle.

Cover 5 vs Twins. This can be an automatic call.

Right corner Jam SE with hands. Read #2.If he breaks his pattern off- Play FlatIf #1 and #2 go vertical, take #1 deep

deep

flat

Can play Zone

If they have twins and splitend- check to cover 3

This is played with 2 deep

Sam reads #2 & #3. If either goes flat, he goes flat.If # 2 and #3 goes vertical (this covers all go) he goes vertical

Safety- If #3 goes flat - Rob #2 on seam. This covers the flood.

Safety align up deep enough so that he feelscomfotable covering deep outside

On flood-Sam has flatCorner deep outsideSafety - seam

Flat

Seam 7-15 yds

Deep outside

2/3 field

Cover 3 Roll

Vs Trips

7 yd

8-10 yd

5 yd 5 yd

7 yd SAM WILLIE

Good vs flood patterns, This can be an automatic call on certain sets. This will takeaway the flood pattern.

1 2 3

corner safety

Cover 1 (Man Free)

Corners have #1 Sam and Willie have #2Safety is free

#1#2 #1

#2

WillieSAM

FREE

5 yd5 yd

INSIDE LB's If not stunting-Back out of backfield (FB)

Cover 2 Man under

Two Deep-Play Man or Zone under

Safeties have 1/2 field each

Safety split the distance of the receivers or go no further than the hash or one yardinside the hash. Align 10 - 12 yards deep.Corners- deny the slant. They can chase the receiver because they have help over top.

Trips with Cover 3

1 2

You can move 1 & 2 to LOS and fire them off corner. 3&4 take slots

3 4

Quarters

1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4

Motion

Easy way is to go to automatic Man or play Man on Right side and Zone on Left side.

Corners - 7 yds Read # 2#2 goes flat take flat#2 & #1 go vertical go vertical

2 Deep - Play Man or Zone

You can stay and play Cover 3 or bump the OLB and ISLB out and play trip ruleswhere OLB reads #2 & #3

Linebackers bump

Play trip Rules

Can play double slot rules.

When calling stunts, you can call weak stunt, strong stunt, or both strong and weak.You will then play Cover 1, Cover 2, or Cover Zero.

TAB-Tackle/BackerCan run one TAB (strong or weak)

Tab OutOne Tab In

One Tab Out

Red - Right Liz - Left

Skull in (Strong) Skull Out

Bones- Weak OutBone In Weak

Stunt to the heels of offensive linemen.

Outsidside stunt man has contain.

STUNTS

Combine the Two (Give this a name)Skull in and Bones OutCover Zero

Bend- Backer and end

Fire (Outside LB) Fire to Near Back. Fire one or both

Slant to or away from formationSlant Left

Tiger In Tiger Out

Lightning OUT WeakLightning In Strong

RAIN - Cover Zero This Tab Out=Bend

Thunder Cover Zero Ends hold up ends and then rush

You can use this combination of two stuntsOne Tab Out Strong Fire Weak

Stunts vs Option

On this stunt, they can go on the snapor I liked it when they would read and go now. You can run this to one side or both sides.

Pitch

QBDive

Pitch

QB

Dive

OLB cheat up to LOS and on the snap step with the inside foot to the hip of TE aiming for near back. Come hard.

pitchQB

Dive

QB

PitchDive

QB

PitchDive

Blitz Out Cover One

#1 #1Free

#2 #2

A Few ideas vs TripsCover Zero

FS C C

TE Man

CoverZero

FS C C

TE Man

VS Spread Cover Zero

SPY5 yds Deep

5 yds Deep

This can be an automatic call

SPY

#2

Other Looks from 4-4 Defense

Throwing out A SHORT YARDAGE DEFENSE60 Short Yardage Base

Call off in Twin or Trips

B E E B

60 Double A

T's GapILB B GapE's Step to shoulder of TE-c GapOLBers-Step Cross over plant. Contain

60 Double B

T's - B Gap Move to headupILB - A GAPE's - SameROLB - SameLOLB - Fire or Walkaway

60 single strong A

RT Moves to 2 technique

60 A Weak

Left Tackle moves to 2 technique