Defens 53

Defining the defense

Introduction

Before we explain our defensive system, how it works and how we will call the defensive plays, there are some fundamentals that need to be understood about defensive football. This will allow you to better understand what is contained inside this playbook, what we are trying to do and why we are doing it.

Offensive gaps

The areas between the offensiveplayers are called gaps. Offensive teams usually call them holes and give those numbers to help them coordinate their offensive running plays. Defenses aim to defend/attack each of these offensive gaps. This allows the defense to defend all the areas along the line of scrimmage where the offense attacks on running plays. Like the offense, the defense also uses a numbering system, shown below inthe diagram.

RB RB

Strong side Weak side
WR QB TE
’D’ ’C’ ’B’ ’A’ ’A’ ’B’ ’C’ ’D’ WR

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Offensive gaps given letters from A to D

Asyou can see the way we use the numbers in the defensive systems is different to the offensive systems.

We use the number system to show each player who he aligns on and how, if he lines up in ‘on’ position or ‘inside’ or ‘outside’ of the offensive player.

If a defender is told to line up in ‘odd’ gap he knows that he is suppose to line up on a man, as follows:

1 on Nose
3 on Guard
5 onTackle
7 on End

Linebackers normally line up in the “even” gaps as follows:

2 in Center/Guard gap
4 in Guard Tackle gap
6 in Tackle/End gap
8 Outside the End

Linebackers should line up 3-5 yards off the line of scrimmage depending on the offensive situation.

Corners and Safety have pass first, run second coverage. They must defend the pass while 8 men are in the box. Cornersnormally line up head up on WR and Safety lines up normally on the TE side of the field. Safety must defend pass first, then provide run support.

Defining the defense ‘continued’

Formations

The base of any defensive, as with the offensive, is its formations.
We line up in what we call a 5-3 formation using 5 defensive linemen, and 3 linebacker’s.
The name of the defensive system 5-3 tells usthat we have an 8 man front against the offensive formation. (diagram)

C E T N T E C

SL MLB WL

S

Playing with 5-3 front with 3 defensive backs means that we are well protected against the run, but we can and be beaten in our pass coverage. But we believe that if the defense remainsdisciplined, we will have a successful defensive program.

Player alignment: (In base 5-3)

Nose Guard:
In 3pt stance head up on Center (drive center back into QB)
Defensive Tackle’s:
In 3pt stance head up on Tackle (provide push up front into backfield)
Defensive Ends:
In 2pt stance on outside should of last man on line of scrimmage (contain outside)
Linebackers:
In 2ptstance stacked behind DT and NG (shifting to power as needed)
Cornebacks:
In 2pt stance head up or inside shoulder of WR
Safety:
In 2pt stance 10 yards deep, in the middle of the field straight over the offensive center

Note: this is our basic formation, of course depending on a situation, players can and will line up differently from this formation.
5-3 Terminology
[pic]Blitz: A special play ran by the Linebackers and Defensive linemen. Linebackers will explode through their gap on the snap rather than read flow to scheme.
Divide: DL will "Divide" away from the ball. NG slants Strong side. MLB and Will blitz
Divide Cut: Same as a Divide except the Linebackers read and drop into pass coverage.
L.O.S.: Line of Scrimmage
Mike: DL slants Strong side and Middle...