Ends: Strong players with speed on the weak (right) end
especially. Ends must be patient and quick on pursuit while
able to hold ground on a tackle trap or fullback kick-out
block.
Tackles: Big players with strength. Tackles need a quick
aggressive first step and the ability to hold ground against
double teams and traps.
Nose Guards: Quickness is desired over size at this
position. nose-men create havoc by gaining any penetration
at all. Try to make the offense use two players to block the
nose-man and free up your linebackers to run.
Linebackers: Speed, size, lateral movement, killer
instinct and smarts. Linebacker are field generals with a
knack for finding the football and avoiding blockers. These
players find seams or lanes and run through them with
reckless abandon. Some athletic aspects can be made up with
guts and smarts.
Cornerbacks: Speed, Speed and Speed. Corners must be
fastest players on the field so they can pick up backs out
of the backfield and run with the fastest of the fast
(Wide-Outs).
Free Safety: Speed, size and don't get beat mentality.
Free safety is the leader of the defensive backfield calling
out strong calls, down and distance, and making sure the
coverage is the right one for the offensive set. Must be a
smart player.
Strong Safety: Speed, toughness. Strong safeties fill
running lanes and act as a second linebacker. They play
mostly underneath zones and backs out of the backfield. Must
be a play maker and smash mouth intimidator. Size is not as
important as shear all out guts and determination.
Defensive technique
Defensive Linemen
Stance: 3 point with one foot staggered heal to
toe with opposite foot. Place very light pressure on the
down hand. Keeps shoulders and tail level. Keep off hand up
where it can be used quickly to shed a blocker.
Reads: The man in front.
-Blocks down/ follow the blocker down the line of scrimmage
without getting up field. Look for a pulling lineman coming
to kick you out and squeeze the whole tight to the line of
scrimmage.
-Pulls/ Try to follow the man down the line of scrimmage
while screaming for the other linemen to watch for the play
coming their way.
Blocks straight on/ Blast him and make him hurt. Shed the
block quickly and get your hands and head up looking for a
ball carrier.
-Double team/ If you are strong enough play through the
double team using your strength. If you are out manned use a
crab technique and drop to the ground. This is effective in
holding ground and clogging the hole.
-Cut/ Jam him with all your might and slam his head in the
ground. Then jump him and pursue the ball.
-Stands up in pass pro/ Use one of three rush techniques to
blow through or around the blocker. I've found it useful to
assume one of these moves from the get-go and adjust
accordingly.
Moves: Bull Rush/ strength over technique. Just blast
through the man like there is no tomorrow. Use this move to
intimidate the player then use one of the other moves and
catch him off guard.
Primary Responsibilities: Linemen are always assigned
a gap in defensive schemes.
Outside Linebackers and Ends
Stance: Two point stand up. Stagger outside foot
heal to toe of inside foot or maybe a little more. Keep
center of gravity low. When playing outside eye of a tight
end or tackle you might use a three point stance but at
least get way low and use your hands to shed the blocker. If
you play outside eye of the tight end and there is no tight
end your side. Then stand way up and intimidate the QB. Rush
with speed and power under control looking inside for a
pulling guard. you don't want to run by the play.
Reads: Tight end and fullback.
-Tight end blocks down/ close the gap by moving down
the line of scrimmage. Remember if you get up field a seam
will open up for the runner. Look quickly for a pulling
guard and a power fullback. Try to get something on the end
as he may be faking a block then turn up field for a pop
pass.
-Tight End releases outside/ Jam him and try to keep
your outside arm free. Watch for a hook block as this could
be a fake to hook you. Defensive end is very complicated and
reads are unusual. Watch for a inside pulling guard or a
filling for the end fullback. Sometimes a smart coordinator
knows how to assign fake reads and this could be one.
-Ball goes away/ follow in the back field deep as the
deepest back after holding on the line of scrimmage for a
second or two. A defensive end needs to move along the line
of scrimmage unless you can see your attacker or the play is
a pass.
-Ball goes away/ but a back falls out to your side.
cover him and watch for a screen or dump off pass.
Moves: Same rushing moves as a lineman. Use your
hands to shed blockers.
Primary Responsibilities: Jam the tight end. Protect
the line of scrimmage seams, cover reverses, and contain.
Middle Linebackers
Stance: Two point stand up. Knees bent in a crouch
position. Keep you tail a slight bit lower than your
shoulders. Hands are kept out in a ready to strike position.
first step is always up field play side for a run stop.
Reads: Guard; fullback/nearside back: tailback; QB.
in that order.
-Guard blocks down/ Shoot the hole: close distance
and reduce running lanes. Always hit with the inside
shoulder and try to make the play go inside if you can't
stop it. This way the backside people can make a play.
-Guard pulls down line of scrimmage/ Follow him
trying to shoot the gap he runs to. Linebackers must first
check assigned hole and fullback before cutting loose. It is
important to look for a play side blocker hunting your head.
Look for tackles ends and play them quickly and gain
separation. I've found it is easier to play these blocks
underneath and push the line of scrimmage rather than play
of and down field. To many seems open up to cover and you
give up your chest. Stay low and keep pad leverage and keep
your eyes on the ball.
-Guard pulls up for pass protection/ Zone defense
linebackers take a drop step after the initial play side
step forward. drop step with out side foot and turn to run
keeping your head on a swivel looking at the QB's eyes and
for a receiver in the curl zone or flats. If the QB drops
his hands and hands off its a draw. Close ground and seams.
back will pick a hole. Man to Man; run to the back of
responsibility.
Primary Responsibility: Play side gap and run stop
defense. Linebackers should have two gap responsibilities.
If the play comes to him; step up and fill assigned hole
then run to football. If play goes away check the backside
hole and run to football. Always use the inside shoulder on
plays to you and outside on plays away. Support is always on
those sides so close the seam with fewer players to back
you up. Linebackers are crazy field generals who sacrifice
anything and know every position, and the responsibilities
of those positions.
Alignment: Normally about 4-5 yards off the line of
scrimmage and over the offensive guards. In goal line or
short yardage defense a linebacker plays about 2-3 yards and
reads the fullback. If a linebacker plays off the line of
scrimmage it is harder for a lineman to caver the ground and
make the block.
Free Safety
Stance: Two Point stand up. Last man on the field
to make a play. You get beat and Give Em Six. First step
always two back.
Reads: Man to Man. Assigned receiver/ Tight
End and QB. Free Safety has time to make decisions that
other players can't make and therefore cannot afford to just
lock up and quit on one player; even in Man to Man. Must
make controlled decisions based on ALL the evidence covering
the Deep ball first and foremost.
-Zone / Tight end QB. Tight end blocks down expect
run and play run looking off deep zone coverage. Usually a
safety backs up zones. If another man gets beat deep Free
safeties cover their butts. Free safeties intimidate
receivers who dare to cross the middle of their field. Make
em PAY dearly with bodily harm.
Alignment: Zone 3 deep defense, about 15 yards deep
middle. 2 deep zone, cheat to weak side in most defenses.
Man to Man usually a Free Safety will play a single deep
zone or may lock up on a man. In single deep zone play 15
yards deep middle.
Primary Responsibilities: The pass and deep middle
zone. Play maker who intimidates people with stinging hits.
Strong Safety
Stance: Two point stand up
Reads: Man to Man /Assigned receiver. If he blocks
play run defense looking though the tight end to the QB.
Must make sure play is not play-action pass. Zone / take
two steps back and read through the tight end looking for
the pass first. Tight end blocks, come up and fill open
seams.
Primary Responsibilities: The pass. Play pass first
and run second. A Strong Safety is used more and more these
days as a extra linebacker with speed. Strong Safety's
first two steps are always back unless he is on a called
blitz.
Cornerback
Stance: Two point Stand up
Reads: Man to Man/ receiver in front of you. In man
to man defense a corner back will want to play the inside
seam and keep the receiver funneled out. At the snap of the
ball the corner will read inside looking at the QB's eyes
and try to keep his hands on the receiever, IF you feel you
can run with the receiver. If the receiver has greater speed
play off him far enough to do one up down get up and still
run with him. Give up the short passes and keep the man in
front of you. IN Zone read the tight end through to the QB's
eyes
Primary Responsibilities: Funnel receiver outside in
man to man and inside in 1, 2 and 3 deep zones. Always turn
runners onside to pursuit.
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