Swarm, tackles, and takeaways is the specific type of defense we play. The 3-4 is just the way we choose to play it. My philosophy is to be able to get lined up quick, get the calls, and put pressure on the offense by being the aggressor. Our defense does not huddle and the front along with the defensive calls are designed to get our players lined up and know their responsibilities before the offense shows the formation.
The following are our basic defensive principles which are essential for being fundamentally sound on every snap and are a part of every defensive players thought process before each play:
1. Understand offensive tendencies
– Know the personnel
– Know the Down and distance
2. Assignment and alignment
– Everyone see the call – know where to line up
– Understand your responsibilities and what may cause them to change
3. Communication
– A quiet defense is a dead defense
– Echo all calls
4. Details
– Every little thing counts!
– Practice the way you want to play
– Do your job!
5. Tackling
– Pursuit
– Double uppercut and grab cloth
– Roll your hips
– Never stop your feet
– Big hits start with great fundamentals
6. Enthusiasm
– Celebrate with teammates after big plays
– Encourage each other on and off the field
– Give high praise for takeaways: Goal is three per practice
– Have fun!
Here are some diagrams of our base front vs 20, 21, and 10 personnel looks:
Once the front is called, the stunt and blitz are called and communicated by the inside linebackers to tell the D-line where to go. Cover 4 will be our base coverage. The inside linebacker AWAY from the 4th th rusher will drop to the middle hole. The free safety and the rover must call out pass strength to identify the three receiver side of the offense. The pass strength call will either be “Ricky” for right or “Lucy” for left. The inside linebacker dropping to the middle hole must always open to the three receiver side (pass strength).
When the inside linebacker is to the side of the 4th rusher, he will replace that OLB in coverage by dropping to his spot and seeing 2 to 1.
This is just a quick look at our base front coverage in our slanting 3-4 defense. In my next blog I will begin to talk about how we teach our blitz principles (inside and outside rusher) with our fire 3 zone pressures.