SPLIT 4-4

C W E R

FS M N T S E C

Position Corners

Alignment 3x3 off the TE

Keys Wing. Slow play read. Stay home until you have diagnosed play.

Safety Mike & Will

7 yards head up center Head up tackle 40 technique 4 yards off ball. Do net get too close to LOS to avoid getting lost in the wash. Play downhill

Base Read FB thru Guard

Vs. Run Wing motions away blitz D gap expect counter/reverse and adjust. Wing blocks contain outside in Wing back releases deep third Wing back delays read reverse/counter away and blitz D chasing from behind Base Guard down blocks fill B Gap now rip under down blocks Guard pulls play side expect bucksweep or G play. If FB is coming to you it is the G play and meet him in the hole. If FB dives inside, it is a bucksweep, scrape to C/D gap, rip under down blocks Guard pulls backside look for FB trap and scrape towards strong A Gap

Vs. Pass Wing releases drop deep third

Base Base hook/curl zone

Position Rover and Sam

Alignment Normal 7 tech. Call strength away from best wing back and pullers

Keys Key near back fullback TE is pressure key

Tackles/Nose

1 technique crowd the ball

FB thru the guard

Vs. Run Plays base technique 1. Contr ol the TE dont allow him to down block 2. If near back, dives inside look inside for pulling lineman and take on with near shoulder 3. If near back takes a kick-out path, attack with inside shoulder 4. Cross key far wing back for counter Play base tech. 1. Get off on movement and attack inside shoulder of the guard 2. Disru pt pulling of the guard 3. Bust the wedge play by submarining the wedge play normal double team technique

Vs. Pass TE releases for pass: Base - flats

Base

Position Defensive Ends

Alignment Wide 9 off of TE should put you head up WB

Keys Near back

Vs. Run
Play base strong end reads: Read steps 45 through to the hip of TE. If TE blocks down replace the TE. Flow away: Immediately think in order: inside counter, bootleg, and reverse. Ends should think systematically: (1) squeeze the counter inside by adjusting charge angle down the line of scrimmage look for pulling lineman and squeeze the kick out block keeping outside arm and leg free do not spill the trap; (2) attack the quarterback bootleg path if he has the ball; (3) trail the play going away as deep as the deepest back expecting reverse or quarterback reverse scramble If the near back dives inside, End adjusts his charge as described above for closing down the counter. End should look for in order: (1) off tackle trap and (2) dive option. Versus the trap he squeezes the play inside, taking on the trap block with a low inside shoulder keeping his outside arm and leg free do not spill the trap When the near back takes an inside-out approach, the end should expect an offtackle play. End attacks all kick out blocks by attacking the block with the near shoulder while keeping shoulders square and squeezing the line of scrimmage. Keep outside leverage (outside leg and arm free) and look for the play to bounce outside. If the play bounces outside, keep runner on inside shoulder, work outside, and force back inside.

Vs. Pass Rush outside in

6-1 vs DW
C

FS M W E N T E S

R C

4-5 vs DW
C

FS M N T

W E

S E

See DEFENDING THE DW for more details on 4-5 and 6-1 techniques