4-4 Defensive Playbook

Table of Contents

4-4 BASE DEFENSE ………………………………………… 4

4-4 MIDDLE STACK ………………………………………… 5
4-4 LINEBACKER BLITZ ………………………………………… 6
4-4 CORNER BLITZ ………………………………………… 7
4-4 SAFETY BLITZ ………………………………………… 8
4-4 ZONE ………………………………………… 9
4-4 BLITZ ………………………………………… 10
4-4 STRONG RIGHT ………………………………………… 11
4-4 STRONG LEFT ………………………………………… 12

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 4-4 BASE DEFENSE

2-TECHS-GET PUSH AT LINE, CONTAIN INSIDE

7-TECHS-LOOP AT LINE, CONTAIN OUTSIDE AND PUSH PLAY BACK

INSIDE TO LB’S

INSIDE LB’S-SHUT DOWN INSIDE RUSH LANES

OUTSIDE LB’S-SEAL OFFENSE FROM INSIDE GOING OUT, MUST

PROTECT FOR SWEEP AND DUMP PASS

CB’S-SEAL OFFENSE OUTSIDE, FORCE PLAY BACK IN, PLAY MAN

COVERAGE ON OUTSIDE WR

FS-MUST PLAY ZONE COVERAGE, PICK UP INSIDE WR, COME UP TO

PLAY RUN WHEN POSSIBLE
 4-4 MIDDLE STACK

2-TECHS-GET PUSH AT LINE, PUSH OUTSIDE TO OPEN ATTACK LANES

FOR INSIDE STACK

7-TECHS-LOOP INSIDE, FORCE PLAY BACK TO MIDDLE

MLB’S/ROLB-STACK INSIDE OVER CENTER AT SNAP, BLOW UP THE A

GAP, FORCE PLAY BACK TO 7-TECHS TO KILL PLAY

LOLB-DROP BACK, PROTECT PASS, SHORT OVER MIDDLE

CB’S-PROTECT OUTSIDE AND PICK UP MAN COVERAGE ON OUTSIDE

WR’S

FS-PLAY ZONE COVER FOR WR COMING OPEN AND CLOSE ON RUN

PLAY
 4-4 LB BLITZ

7-TECHS-LOOP BACK TO INSIDE

2-TECHS-CONTAIN INSIDE

LB’S-BLITZ 2 DROP 2 FOR PASS DEFENSE, YOU CAN BLITZ INSIDE OR

OUTSIDE LB’S. ATTACK THE WEAKEST BLOCKING LANES

CB’S-PLAY MAN COVERAGE OUTSIDE WR, ALSO PLAY RUN ON SWEEPS

FS-PLAY ZONE, TAKE INSIDE WR, LB’S WILL PICK UP ANY SHORT PASS
INSIDE
 4-4 CORNER BLITZ

2-TECHS-GET PUSH UPFIELD, CONTAIN INSIDE

7-TECHS-LOOP INSIDE, SEAL PLAY BACK TO INSIDE

ROLB-BEFORE SNAP ROLL RIGHT, PLAY MAN COVERAGE, SEAL OFF.

OUTSIDE

LOLB-BEFORE SNAP ROLL LEFT, PLAY MAN COVERAGE, SEAL OFF.

OUTSIDE

CB’S-BEFORE SNAP, CHEAT TO LOS AT SNAP ATTACK HARD INSIDE ON

BLITZ

MLB’S-CONTAIN ALL INSIDE RUN LANES, WATCH FOR RB TO SLIP IN FOR

SHORT PASS

FS-PLAY ZONE, PICK UP ANY DEEP PASS, FINISH OFF RUN PLAY
 4-4 FREE SAFETY BLITZ

2-TECHS-GET PUSH UPFIFELD, PUSH OUTSIDE TO FORM ATTACK LANE

FOR FS ON BLITZ

7-TECHS-LOOP BACK INSIDE, FORCE PLAY BACK TO FS

CB’S-CONTAIN OUTSIDE, PLAY MAN COVERAGE OUTSIDE WR

MLB’S/ROLB-SHIFT LEFT OF COVER ALL RUNNING LANES, PLAY RUN

INSIDE, ALSO WATCH FOR DUMP PASS

LOLB-BEFORE SNAP DROP DEEP TO FS, PLAY ZONE COVERAGE, PLAY

INSIDE WR

FS-BEFORE SNAP RUSH TO LINE, ATTACH BETWEEN 2-TECHS, SHOULD

BE ABLE TO CONTACT BALL CARRIER IN BACK FIELD
 4-4 ZONE

ZONE WILL BE USED FOR LONG YARDAGE PLAYS

2-TECHS-GET PUSH AT LINE

7-TECHS-LOOP IN, GET OUTSIDE CONTAINED

CB’S-PLAY MAN COVERAGE ON OUTSIDE WR

LB’S-BEFORE SNAP DROP ALL LB’S INTO COVERAGE 10 TO 15YDS DEEP,

PLAY ZONE, ALSO PLAY RUN, MUST REEL IN QB FOR PLAY

FS-COVER ANY WR THAT GETS DEEP

 44 BLITZ

2-TECHS-GET PUSH INTO BACKFIELD, MOVE OFF LINE RIGHT OR LEFT

TO CREATE ATTACK LANES FOR LB’S

7-TECHS-LOOP INTO BACKFIELD, CONTAIN INSIDE

CB’S-CHEAT TO LOS AND ATTACK FROM OUTSIDE

LOLB-ATTACK BETWEEN 7 AND 2-TECHS

MLB’S-ATTACK BETWEEN 2-TECHS

ROLB-ATTACK BETWEEN 7 AND 2-TECHS

FS-ATTACK BETWEEN 2-TECHS

 4-4 STRONG RIGHT

IF OFFENSE IS MOVING THE BALL OUTSIDE, YOU MAY HAVE TO MAKE

THIS SHIFT, ALWAYS SHIFT TO POWER SIDE

2-TECH’S-GET PUSH AT LOS, CONTAIN INSIDE

7-TECH’S-LOOP INTO BACKFIELD, CONTAIN INSIDE

CB’S-CONTAIN OUTSIDE, PLAY MAN COVERAGE ON OUTSIDE WR

ROLB/RMLB-CHEAT TO LOS BEFORE SNAP, FORCE PLAY OUTSIDE AND

STOP PLAY

LOLB/LMLB-DROP BACK SPREAD RIGHT, PROTECT ALL INSIDE RUNNING

LANES

FS-PLAY ZONE ON PASS, FINISH RUN PLAY

 4-4 STRONG LEFT

2-TECHS-GET PUSH AT LOS, CONTAIN INSIDE

7-TECHS-LOOP INSIDE AND CONTAIN

CB’S-CONTAIN OUTSIDE PLAY, PLAY MAN COVERAGE ON OUTSIDE WR

LOLB/LMLB-SHIFT TO LOS, FORCE PLAY OUTSIDE AND STOP PLAY

ROLB/RMLB-DROP BACK, SPREAD LEFT, SHUT DOWN ALL INSIDE

RUNNING LANES

FS-PLAY ZONE ON PASS, FINISH RUN PLAY

A VERY BALANCED DEFENSE THAT CAN HAVE SUCCESS WITH ANY
STYLE OF OFFENSIVE FORMATIONS. BY SHIFTING FRONT 4 TO POWER
SIDE OF OFFENSIVE LINE AND HAVING LINEBACKERS FOLLOW FRONT 4
WITH SHIFT.

THE KEY PLAYERS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

2-TECHS-NEED TO BE BIG AND STRONG AND BE ABLE TO GET GOOD

PUSH AT LINE AND CONTAIN INSIDE RUSH. NEED TO MAKE OFFENSE
DOUBLE TEAM TO BLOCK IF POSSIBLE

7-TECHS-GOOD SPEED AT THE LINE, MUST LOOP BACK INSIDE TO KEEP

CONTAINMENT. WILL ADJUST AT LINE TO GET BEST ATTACK LANES.

LB’S-MUST BE ABLE TO PLAY PASS AND RUN. MUST HAVE SPEED TO

FINISH PLAY

CB’S-MUST HAVE SPEED TO CLOSE AND SPEED TO COVER DOWNIELD,

MUST BE ABLE TO TACKLE

FS-SPEED TO PLAY ZONE, ALSO CLOSE IN ON RUN PLAY