Defensive Terminology

Bounce A bounce call tells our D-Line to stem pre-snap to the second alignment call given for the play. Example: Bandit 'Bounce' Tite We will line up in our Bandit Front, our Linebackers yell 'Move', at this time our Defensive Linemen will shift into our Tite Front Tag A Tag call tells our D-Line to stem post snap to the second alignment call given for the play. Face This a term that will be used to describe a defensive move that takes a player across the face of an offensive player. Example : If the DE is in a 5 Technique and he pinches, the DE will Cross the Face of the offensive tackle. Replace This call will be attached to our Blitzes . This call tells our Defensive Linemen they will be dropping into coverage REPLACING the blitzing Linebacker or Safety. Bang 3 This call tells our DE to the Bunch or 3 receiver side to get in a 2 point stance over the Apex of the Bunch or to align head up to the #3 receiver in a tight Trips set. The DE will jam the Apex or #3 and still play C-Gap. Primary Gap Responsibility A term used to describe the gap a defensive player is responsible for on a run play. Secondary Gap Responsibility This is the gap inside and adjacent to your gap. We are to drive the offensive player that engages us into this gap, thereby squeezing this gap closed while at the same time maintaining Primary Gap integrity. This is also know as your Squeeze Gap.

Reno This is our strength call for STRONG RIGHT Vegas This is our strength call for STRONG LEFT

Hand Placement - Thumbs up and elbows in, aiming at the top of the numbers

Lock Out After we have great hand placement NOW LOCK OUT ARMS This allows you to control the blocker This creates a clear view to your gap and allows you to Peek and find the ball This makes it difficult for the O-linemen to hold us This allows us to shed blockers with less difficulty

'X' An 'X' call tells the D-linemen to exchange gap responsibilities with the blitzing linebacker and safety. DT will Face to A -Gap. Sam LB will prowl to A Gap then execute blitz to B Gap exchanging gap responsibilities with the DT

O
M

O
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W

O
T S

O
E

LINEBACKER BLITZES Red A Red call tells the Sam Linebacker to blitz through his assigned gap. Blue A Blue call tells the Mike Linebacker to blitz through his assigned gap. Yellow A Yellow call tells the Will Linebacker to blitz through his assigned gap. Purple A Purple call tells the Sam and Mike to blitz through their assigned gap. When there is a Purple call the Nose Guard will go weak side A-Gap. Green A Green call tells the Mike and Will to blitz through their assigned gap. Orange A Orange call tell the Sam and Will to blitz through their assigned gap. Smoke Strong Safety blitz Dawg Dawg blitz Cross Cross is a term attached to a Purple or Green blitz call. Cross tells the linebackers to exchange gap responsibilities during the blitz. The Mike Linebacker will go first unless told differently by the coaching staff. Scrape This is a Linebacker technique used when we pinch our entire D-line. The linebackers will scrape to a 40 technique.

LINEBACKER STANCE 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Feet a little wider than shoulder length apart Bend in the ankles, knees, hips Back flat Chest over toes Heel slightly off the ground. No weight on the heels. Your tail is dropped placing you in a good football position with your arms hanging loosely in front 7. Eyes up; focus on keys

LINEBACKER ALIGNMENT

O O O X O O O
40 30 20 10 10 20 30 40

00 alignment: align head up on the OC, heels at 5 yards 10 alignment: align in the OG / OC gap, 3 yards from LOS (Outlaw front) 20 alignment: align head up to the OG, heels at 5 yards from LOS 30 alignment: aligns in the OG / OT gap,heels at 5 yards from LOS 40 alignment: align head up on the OT, heels at 5 yards from LOS

LINEBACKER KEYS

LBs will take a 45 degree, 6 inch, downhill read step at the snap of the ball. LB primary keys are Guard to Near Back. The Guards will tell us the direction of the play. ON PASSING DOWNS Lbs will drop to the high shoulder of the threat in their zone. WE DO NOT DROP TO SIT WHERE THERE IS NO WORK! THAT IS WAISTED ENERGY & A WAISTED MAN.

Base Blocks

OG heads straight ahead LBs will attack the blocker from the outside-in

with his inside shoulder, keeping the outside arm free.

DOWN BLOCK

guard down blocks on the NG and the B-gap is open, you ATTACK your gap immediately. It indicates an inside zone, Iso, or Power G play.

LB Play vs. Down Block

LB will ATTACK the lead blocker (Fullback or Pulling Guard)

LB will ATTACK the outside shoulder at full speed keeping outside leverage - meaning you hit him with your inside shoulder.

Power G

LB must get around the 3 Tech and 5 Tech defensive linemen to hit
the OG with his outside shoulder

Reach Blocks
OG tries to get outside of you, his first step will be to try to get an outside angle on the defender to seal off your pursuit of an outside running play.

LB Play vs. Reach Block LBs will take a 45 degree downhill read step at the snap of the ball. Making a Reach Block read will then shuffle-step outwards to stay on the outside half of the guard, then attack the OG outside shoulder

Front side Pull

When the Guard to your side of the formation pulls out and heads outside to your side The pulling OG tells us the play will attack outside,

beyond the OT/TE behind the pulling OG

On front side pull LB scrapes around behind the DE to search for the first opening he can find and presses it. Backside LB will DRAG THE ANCHOR looking for cutback threat

in front side A-gap and B-gap

Backside Pull
When the guard to your side of the formation goes away. Backside pulls are incorporated into counters, traps, and power plays. Usually where the guard goes, the ball will be following, therefore you are the cutback man. Backside LB will DRAG THE ANCHOR looking for cutback threat in front side A-gap and B-gap

VEER

The veer block is a down block, but involves both the front side G and T. It is the basis for most option plays and counters, but can be used on long traps and power as well. Guards and Tackles in veer schemes will usually take a slightly wider split. If the LB recognizes a veer block, he shuffles outside the veering OT and is responsible for the C-gap. He must know that the ball is coming to this side of the field.

Base 30 FRONT

FS C D W E O M N X O O O DE 4 TECH Nose 0 TECH DE 4 TECH SAM strongside 40 TECH MIKE 00 TECH WILL weakside 40 TECH SS/DWG 5x5 EMOLOS Corner7 x 1 ~ outside leverage FS 10 TO 12 yds deep middle of field "C" STRONG SIDE "A" "C" "B" WEAKSIDE "A" "B" "D" SECONDARY RUN SUPPORT alley player on outside run S E O SS C

O O

40 FRONT

FS C D M W N S T E SS C

O O

X O
O O O

O O
O

MIKE weakside 5 tech. Nose weakside 1 tech. Tackle strongside 3 tech. D.E. strongside 5 or 6i tech. DAWG weakside 5x5 EMOLOS WILL weakside 20 tech Sam strongside 20 tech SS strongside 5x5 EMOLOS Corner 7 x 1 ~ outside leverage FS 10 TO 12 yds deep middle of field

"C" "A" "B" "C" "C" "B" "A" "D" SECONDARY RUN SUPPORT alley player on outside run

TITE

TITE (31)

E - 5/6 TECH T - 3 TECH N - 1/2i M - 5/6 TECH

O O O O

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T S 20

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E SS

20
F

SPLIT

SPLIT (13)

E - 5 TECH T - 1 TECH N - 3 TECH M - 5/6 TECH

O O O O

O
D

O
M

O
N
W

O
T S 20

O
E

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SS

20
F

BANDIT

BANDIT (22)

E -5/6 T - 2 TECH N - 2 TECH M - 5 TECH

O O
O

O
D

O
M

O
N
W

O
T S 20

O
E SS

20
F

INDIAN

INDIAN (11)

E - 5 TECH T - 1 TECH N - 1 TECH M - 5 TECH

O O O O

O
D

O
M W

O
N

O
T S 30

O
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SS

30
F

OUTLAW

OUTLAW (33)

E 5/6i TECH T - 3 TECH N - 3 TECH M - 5 TECH

O O O O

O
D

O
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O
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W

X
S

O
T

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SS

10

10

HEAVY

HEAVY (30)

E - 5/6 TECH T - 3 TECH N 0 M - 5/6 TECH

O O O O

O
D

O
M W

X
N

O
T S

O
E SS

20 F

20