IT ALL STARTS UP FRONT!
What follows below are the basics for our defensive line play at Cornell. The base progression format has been taken from a common defensive line teaching structure developed and implemented by many others and may be one that is familiar to many of you.
CORNELL DEFENSE
This is how the ENTIRE DEFENSIVE STAFF will teach and coach you on a baseline level:
Do you know?:
Call
Aassignment
Sstance
Key
Rresponsibility
CASKR
All Cornell defensive linemen will be able to relate to their coaches and teammates on any given rep/play using the above device.
WHO WE ARE
What follows below is how we will teach and coach you as a Cornell defensive lineman. Accordingly, it is also a framework for one of the many ways you will be measured in the CORNELL UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL PROGRAM.
DEFENSIVE LINE PHASES OF A REP or PLAY with EXPLANATIONS and CHAMPIONSHIP-LEVEL PERCENTAGES
IQ = PRE-SNAP PHASE – 90%
1 – Alignment
2 – Assignment
*We must perform at a 90% or better rate in this area. If either of these aspects are missing, then it is a failed rep for the IQ Phase of Defensive Line Play.*
TECHNIQUE PHASE = DETAILS OF PLAYING DEFENSIVE LINE
*These six aspects of defensive line play are the different details that we will focus on and drill. Within the context of CORNELL DEFENSE there are six specific areas for a defensive lineman but primarily fit into the structure of BLOCK DESTRUCTION at CORNELL. We will refer to and drill these as “The Three S’s: Stuff, Separate, Shed”. All of this boils down to being able to physically beat the man in front of you that is attempting to stop you from getting to the football.*
3 – Stance
4 – Get Off – 90%
*Get Offs will be measured by whether or not the DEFENSIVE LINEMAN is IN THE NEUTRAL ZONE when the BALL is being EXCHANGED between the CENTER and QB for an under center snap and when the ball is in the air for a shotgun snap. There is a CLEAR DISTINCTION between simply moving one part of one’s body and being IN THE NEUTRAL ZONE.*
5 – Target
6 – Cloth
7 – Separate
8 – Escape
*Ability in the four aspects above will determine how successful a Cornell Defensive Lineman will be in BLOCK DESTRUCTION. All Cornell defensive players must destroy blocks at a 70% rate in order to enjoy CHAMPIONSHIP success.*
FINISH PHASE
9 – Swarm (Cornell Defense)
*We evaluate SWARM in 3 parts: recognition of play (key to ball), change of speed towards the ball (burst), and appropriate FINISH. They all must be present! In order to play CHAMPIONSHIP-LEVEL DEFENSE we must ALL swarm at a 92% rate.*
10 – TNT (Tackling and Takeaways)
*There are several TYPES of ASPECTS, and DETAILS in TACKLING at Cornell that you will learn and drill during your career here. The bottom line is that 90% of the time we must successfully put the ball carrier on the ground.*
*TAKEAWAYS are normally derived from types of BALL DISRUPTION. We must DISRUPT the ball in some way, shape, or form 17% of the time in order to enjoy success in this area.*
Through the off-season quality control film study, the major deficiency we saw was in the defensive line’s ability to separate. This is being addressed in multiple ways and most especially and immediately in conjunction with the strength staff through the weight room. We are emphasizing functional movements that maximize and measure peak power for a sustained period of time. For example, close grip bench repetitions that mimic the hand placement on an offensive lineman performed in sets that are equal to the average number of plays in a series emphasizing explosion and full extension when separating.