Circuit Training for the

Eight Man Front

Jim Knowles
Defensive
Coordinator
Western Michigan
University
Kalamazoo, Mich.

Kyle Nystrom
Special Teams
Coordinator &
Linebackers
Coach

n behalf of Head Coach Gary Darnell

and the entire Western Michigan football program, we would like to thank the
Summer Manual committee for the opportunity to share our thoughts. Our staff made
the move to the eight-man front in the
spring of 2000, and consequentially experienced a great deal of success during the
2000 season.
When playing an eight-man front scheme,
we believe that it is critical to avoid segmentation of the defense and to promote the
vision of one unit. As you are well aware, this
style of defense is committed to stopping the
run and pressuring the quarterback.
Everyone on the defensive unit must believe
in this philosophy and play a significant role
in the package. Therefore, we developed a
circuit-training program to teach the critical
fundamentals of the defense. We begin
every practice with a defensive circuit, which
mirrors the philosophy of starting fast we
take into each game.
There are three elements of playing the
eight man front package that a defense
must practice on a consistent basis. These
are:
1. Tackling
2. Take Aways
3. Pass Rush
By training these skills with a circuit
approach, you are able to practice a variety
of techniques in a 10-minute period and
keep the tempo enthusiastic for both the
players and the coaches. We hope you are
able to develop an idea from how we practice and encourage you to call or visit if you
have any questions.
Tackling Circuit
1. Skate Tackle
2. Sideline Tackle
3. Snatch Tackle
4. Head Across
Tackling Circuit: Skate Tackle
1. Place two cones five yards apart
2. Place a cone approximately four
yards to the left and one yard behind the
left cone.
3. Continue to place two more cones to
the left at 4 x 1 intervals, leaving a football
at the last cone.
4. Repeat the procedure to the right.
5. Instruct the players to each stand by
a cone.
6. Two players will stand one yard in
front of the first cones and face the other
players.

AFCA Summer Manual 2001

7. All remaining players will proceed to

the last cone (one half to the right, one half
to the left) and form a line.
8. The players at the last cone will pick
up the football.
9. The players at the other cones will get
into a six-point position.
10. On command, the two players
standing in front will shuffle (one to the
right, one to the left) defeating three cut
blocks and executing a form tackle on the
last player.
11. When finished, the tackler will go to
the back of the runningback line and each
player will move one cone to the inside.
12. The two players at the first cone
will now face the others and become the
tacklers.
Coaching Points
1. Tacklers must shuffle in a football
position with hands below the knees.
2. Tacklers must keep fingers up and
palms down when executing block protection and strike the shoulder pad and side of
the helmet of the blocker. Avoid slapping
the back of the shoulder pads.
3. Tacklers must use a sprawling motion
with the outside leg in order to keep it clear
of the blocker.
4. Blockers must give excellent effort
to try and capture the outside leg of the
tackler.
5. When executing the tackle, be sure
the tackler gets his head across the runner
and runs to and through the ball carrier,
continuing to drive his legs until the whistle
is blown.

Diagram 1

Tackling Circuit: Sideline Tackle

1. Coach will stand in the middle of the
field with two footballs.
2. Players will divide into two lines. One
half of the players will line up on the numbers and simulate the offensive players.
The second line will align on the hash mark
at five yards depth for the defensive line
and linebackers and 10 yards for the defensive backs.
3. Defensive players should be in a foot-

ball position. On the coachs command, he

will throw the ball to the simulated receiver
aligned on the numbers.
4. The defensive player will take an
inside out angle of pursuit and use the sideline to pin the receiver and make the tackle.
5. The defensive player will then go to
offense and the offensive receiver will then
go to the defense line.
Coaching Points
1. The drill starts when the ball is thrown
to the receiver.
2. The defensive player must close
hard, shorten his stride and sink his hips as
he constricts the ball carriers running lane.
3. Once he takes away the receivers
angle he should accelerate through the carrier and make the tackle.

Diagram 2

Tackling Circuit: Snatch Tackle

1. The emphasis on this drill is to teach
a defender to release off of a block low and
get under control to make an angle tackle.
2. The ball carrier, blocker, and defender are all aligned on the same yard line.
3. The ball carrier is five yards behind
the blocker.
4. The blocker assumes high breakdown position loosely holding the edges of
the defenders shoulder pads and applies a
moderate amount of pressure.
5. The defender will fit into the blocker
with leverage to the side he will release.
6. The defender will have a secure hold
on the blockers breastplate with both
hands, eyes below chin, and arms slightly
bent.
7. On command, the defender will lock
out, separating from the blocker. Next he
will step to his left and snatch or throw the
blocker to his right.
8. As the defenders hips clear the block,
dip and rip the trail arm to the left to come
to a momentary breakdown position.
10. Locate the ball carrier and execute
and an angle tackle.
11. Rotate the drill going from defender
to ball carrier to blocker and then back to
defender.

Coaching Points
1. Emphasize lockout before the snatch
and dip and rip to come out of the snatch in
a balanced position before pressing the
blocker.
2. This is a teaching drill so predetermine the side for the release and angle
tackle.

Diagram 3

Tackling Circuit: Head Across

1. Divide the players into two lines.
2. The tackling line and the ball carrier
line should be five yards apart.
3. Start the tackler in a sit up position
with back to the carrier.
4. At the hit command the tackler will
pop to a football position and read the flow
of the runner.
5. Tackler will attack downhill and at an
angle to fit his head to the outside of the
carrier, drive his hips around to resist the
path of the carrier and sprint his feet until
the whistle is blown to end the rep.
6. Teach the tackler to blink his eyes
open keep his head up and fit snug to the
outside of the rib cage on the carrier.
7. Tackler also clubs his arms through
and around the carrier squeezing for tackle
security and a possible take away.
Coaching Points
1. Ball carrier is taught to pick either
alley he chooses, run with good tempo, but
not to lower his head.
2. Teach the carrier to present a good
look but let the tackler win the drill.
3. Alternate the players as they complete tackling or running the football.

Diagram 4

AFCA Summer Manual 2001

Take Away Circuit

1. Fumble Recovery
2. Interception Drill
3. Rake and Punch
4. Strip Tackle
Take Away Circuit: Fumble Recovery
1. Form four lines of players and place a
ball one yard in front of each line.
2. The first players in the line should be
in a six-point position.
3. On command, the first player in the
line will execute a cradle fumble recovery
and hold the position until checked by the
coach.
4. Continue until each player has progressed through the drill.
5. Next, place the ball five yards in front
of each line.
6. The first player in the line should be in
a football position with feet moving.
7. On command, the first player in the
line will execute a scoop and score fumble
recovery, running an additional five yards
with the ball. After finishing the drill, the
player will place the ball back at the fiveyard mark.
8. Continue until each player has progressed though the drill.
Coaching Points
1. When executing a cradle fumble
recovery, the player should dive straight
out, staying low to the ground and grabbing
the ball with hands.
2. The cradle position should cover all
points of the ball and the coach will try to
pry the ball out.
3. When executing a scoop and score
recovery, be sure that the player bends at
the knees and gets his hands under the ball
(like a shortstop fields a ground ball).
4. The players should then tuck the ball
away as the coach tries to strip the ball
from the player.
Take Away Circuit: Interception Drill
1. Form four lines of players in front of a
quarterback.
2. Place a blocker in a six-point position
in front of each line.
3. On command, the blocker will attempt
to cut the defensive player.
4. Immediately after the cut block, the
quarterback will throw the ball in the vicinity of the defensive player.
5. The defensive player must tip or intercept the ball.
6. After executing a repetition, the play-

ers in the line will rotate so that they are

ready to perform the drill when the quarterback progresses down the line.
Coaching Points
1. The defensive players must execute
proper cut block protection skills with their
hands below their knees.
2. The player should move his hands to
the thrown ball, attempting to catch the ball,
not just tip it.
3. Emphasize fast hands and finding the
football.

Diagram 5

Take Away Circuit: Rake and Punch

Rake
1. Defender aligns three yards behind
receiver.
2. On receivers movement, the drill
begins.
3. Receiver runs half speed.
4. When defender closes, receiver
extends ball.
5. Defender keys hands for when to strip
the ball.
6. Once this occurs the defender rips
down on the ball and then attempts to rake
the ball out and up from the receivers
hands.
7. Strip ball before initiating tackle so
receiver does not squeeze it.

Rake

5. Defender should punch at ball before

initiating tackle so receiver does not
squeeze ball.

Punch

Take Away Circuit: Strip Tackle

1. We will first incorporate an angle tackle into this drill to teach the defender, who
is approaching a secured tackle, to strip the
ball.
2. Set the drill up in a triangle with the ball
carrier five yards away facing the tackler.
3. The stripper will align five yards away
and beside the ball carrier facing in at him.
4. On command the ball carrier and the
tackler execute and angle tackle keeping
the ball carrier up.
5. The stripper will wait for contact by
the tackler, then pursue to and outside
leverage position on the ball carrier.
6. He will then strip the ball, recover the
fumble, and return it to his goal line for five
yards.
Coaching Points
1. The stripper is taught to pin the ball
carriers elbow with one hand and reach
over the top of the point of the ball with the
other hand.
2. When you pin the elbow and secure
the point, violently pry the point of the ball
by taking the ball carriers fingers away
from his body, separating the ball.
3. Rotation: Stripper to ball carrier, ball
carrier to tackler, and tackler to stripper.
4. Emphasis: Pin and Pry with a violent motion.

Diagram 6

Pass Rush Circuit: Blitz

and Speed Rush
1. Set up one play strip.
2. Place a cone one yard behind and
one yard outside the offensive tackle
position.
3. Place a cone five yards directly
behind the offensive tackle position.
4. Place a cone six and one half yards
behind the center position.
5. Place a cone seven and one half
yards behind the center position
6. Instruct three offensive players (on
simulation) to line up at the center, quarterback, and single back position.
7. Form two lines of defensive players
outside the tight end position on the play
strip.
8. On the snap, linebackers and safeties
will simultaneously blitz off of each edge
and the offense will execute a play.
9. Defensive linemen will not go simultaneously, but will alternate left and right. On
the snap, the offense will not run a play, but
the defensive lineman will run the arc. The
coach will use a stopwatch to time the
speed rush. The rusher must finish
between the two deep cones.
10. The cones can be adjusted slightly
for corners to simulate the path needed for
PAT/FG block. The coach should use a
watch to time this drill and place a landing
pad at the finish point.
11. Players will switch lines after each
repetition to ensure equal training from the
right and left side.
Coaching Points
1. Blitzers should key the running back
and adjust their path according to his
action.
A. Running Play
Frontside Blitzer: Plant off the outside
foot and knife inside. Fit up on the runner.
Backside Blitzer: Continue on the arc
and fit up the quarterback on the bootleg.

Diagram 7

Punch
1. Defender aligns three yards behind
receiver.
2. On receivers movement drill begins.
3. Receiver runs half speed and keeps
ball tucked.
4. When defender reaches receiver he
punches the ball up through receivers
hands.

Pass Rush Circuit

1. Blitz and Speed Rush
2. Bull and Clear
3. Club and Rip/Swim

AFCA Summer Manual 2001

B. Dropback Pass
Both blitzers run the arc to the upfield
shoulder of the quarterback. Instruct the

quarterback to attempt to escape outside

after dropping back.

C. Dropback Pass with Flare

Frontside Blitzer: Melt and cover back
on the flare.
Backside Blitzer: Run the arc to the
upfield shoulder of the quarterback.

D. Sprint Out Pass

Frontside Blitzer: Rip through block of
running back and contain quarterback.
Backside Blitzer: Run the arc and
chase at the level of the quarterback.
2. Speed rushers must keep their chest
down on the start and plant hard on the outside foot at the five-yard cone. Bend tight
off the cone getting the hips around and
bursting through the finish. The coach will
call out the times as players compete for
the best time.

Pass Rush Circuit: Bull

9. and
Place
Clear
the dummies approximately
1. Form one line in front
four yards
of the apart
one-man
and place a towel one yard
sled with a flat-shouldered
outside
dummy.
the last dummy.
2. The first player in the10.
lineOn
should
command
be in the first player in the
the stance that pertainsline
to their
will weave
position.
through the line using com3. On command, thebplations.
player willAtexplode
the end the player will dip and
into the dummy and execute
scoop athe
bull
towel.
rush.
4. The player will then11.
swing
Continue
his hips
until each player has comoutside the cylinder of pleted
the sled
theand
drill.finish
the drill behind the sled.
Coaching Points
5. Continue until each 1.
player
Be sure
hasthat
comthe players use the same
pleted the drill; escape once to both the
right and to the left.

Coaching Points
1. On takeoff, the player must have low
pads and shoot his hands inside the numbers of the sled.
2. When escaping to the left, the player
must extend the left arm, turning the sled to
the right and simultaneously swing his hips
outside to the left.
3. The right arm and right foot should
work in tandem (rip or swim) to clear the
sled.
4. Be sure that the player finishes by
bursting around the sled and finishes
behind the sled.
Pass Rush Circuit:
Club and Rip/Swim
1. Set up three large bell-shaped
dummies.
2. Form three lines in front of each
dummy.
3. On command, the first three players
-

tion to the right.

4. Continue until each player has completed the drill.
5. Repeat the drill with the players exethe left.
6. Place the dummies approximately
two yards apart and form one line at the
end.
7. On command, the first player in the
line will weave through the line using quick
ech plations.
8. Continue until each player has completed the drill.

 AFCA Summer Manual 2001