2004 2005 2006 2007

Scoring Defense 5th 15pts 10th 17pts 9th 14pts 7th 17pts

Total Defense 10th 291yds 12th 304yds 15th 284yds 11th 308yds

Rushing Defense 34th 129yds 7th 93 yds 7th 87yds 7th 93yds

Sacks 8th 41sacks 6th 40sacks 2nd 46sacks

DEVELOPING D-LINE DRILLS
• As you prepare your D-Line drills you must
keep a certain mentality in mind while
conducting the drill. D-Lineman have one
of the most important assignments in
football, and it is predicated on their ability
to rush the passer or get to the ball carrier.
The main ingredients for a good defensive
lineman, is the need for quickness and
determination. Areas of consideration
when conducting your drills:
1) SPEED: A D-Lineman must have excellent foot
speed. He must always keep his feet alive and
moving.

2) ACCELERATION: Initial quickness must

always be emphasized. The desire to
accelerate on movement of the football is the
principal athletic trait a D-Lineman needs.
Areas of concentration will be to accelerate,
react quickly, and develop good physical
coordination. If a blocker is quick enough to get
his hands inside the framework of the D-
Lineman’s numbers and get his elbows locked
on him, forget it. The defender will not get to
the passer.
3) COORDINATION: A D-Lineman must be
able to coordinate the action of his hands,
feet, and body as he rushes the passer.
When rushing the passer or playing the
run, a D-Lineman must keep his feet
moving. Remember this point with your
drills.

4) COMPETITIVENESS: An attitude is one of the most

important football qualities a D-Lineman should have. A
D-Lineman gets more sacks when he just keeps coming
and he never gives up. A D-Lineman needs to have a
mean streak, meaning they want to get after people,
even on the practice field. Make your drills tough and
demanding.
5) TOUGHNESS: A D-Lineman must not be
denied. How will he react when playing
against a bigger and stronger opponent?

6) INSIDE POWER: Your D-Line must be

able to control the line of scrimmage.
 D-LINEMAN CHARACTERISTICS
• QUICKNESS: The D-Lineman must demonstrate quickness in his
ability to move in all directions. He should demonstrate an above-
average reactive ability for his size.

• FLUIDITY: The D-Lineman must demonstrate fluid movement as he

reacts and changes direction on the field.

• FLEXIBILITY: A D-Lineman must demonstrate extraordinary

flexibility for his size. Flexibility is a requirement for maintaining the
proper leverage as he defeats the blockers.

• POWER: The D-Lineman must be able to strike a blow with power.

He should have a knack for delivering an explosive blow to the
opponent. He cannot be a “leaner.” He must be able to quickly shed
the blocker.
• RECOGNITION SKILLS: The D-Lineman should
be able to make the proper adjustments and
adapt to changing situations. He has to be able
to recognize offensive blocking patterns quickly
and respond with an immediate physical
reaction.
• CONSISTENCY: The D-Lineman must
demonstrate reliability and consistency under
pressure. He should respond to his reads
properly at all times. He should demonstrate a
football IQ in he is able to relate to down and
distance tendencies, field position tendencies,
clock factors, formation tendencies, etc
 The exceptional D-Lineman is involved in
the leadership process of the unit. He not
only rises to the occasion, he leads
through his body and mind. Some of the
things the involved D-Lineman does for his
team include:
• Checking the yard markers and reminding teammates of
the offensive tendencies
• Helping his teammates be alert for the opponent’s
special plays.
• Anticipating “checks” and other such defensive audibles.
• Understanding the relationship of the secondary
perimeter support call to the front scheme.
• Appreciating the impact of the field position.
• Understanding the relevance of the weather on the style
of play.
 THE FIVE ESSENTIALS
1. STANCE: You should not
overemphasize the stance parameters of
the D-Lineman. What is important is the
stance allows the D-Lineman to take a
somewhat neutral position. He should be
able to move in either direction with an
explosive power-step.
2. ATTACK: We do not teach the big first step
coaching point many coaches edify in their
desire to gain penetration. We feel the big first
step puts the D-Lineman at a disadvantage
against every type of block, save one. The only
blocking scheme a big first step technique is
effective against is the high-hat read (pass
protection). Against all other blocks, the big
first step outs the D-Lineman on the edge or in
a position of imbalance against a blocker using
short power strides. In order for a player to
contact the blocker in a fundamentally sound
body position, it is extremely important the
player utilize short, powerful steps while
maintaining a good base.
3. NEUTRALIZE: The effective D-Lineman must
neutralize the blocker’s impact and stabilize
the line of scrimmage. Neutralizing a blocker or
a combination blocking scheme involves
several reactions. Getting an up field push on
a pass protector, spilling a trap blocker,
disrupting a combo block, etc. In order to
consistently neutralize a blocker or blocking
scheme, the productive D-Lineman must be
able to move quickly and efficiently in eight
different directions.
4. ESCAPE: This is where the kinship of D-Line
play and wrestling is the strongest. A primary
characteristic of an effective defensive player
is his ability to quickly and violently shed a
blocker. Against the run, escaping
predominantly entails lateral movement ability.
Against the pass, the defender may have to
throw the blocker aside with a club move in
order to clear the pass rushing lane. Good
technique and leverage is simply not enough.
The escape factor is a critical component to D-
Line play and it should be practiced on a daily
basis with specific drills which hone the
players’ technique in escaping from contact
with the blocker.
5. PURSUIT: An effective escape puts the
D-Lineman into position to effectively
pursue the ball carrier. No one can out-
hustle our defense. In addition to out-
hustling our opponent, our players
(through the use of the proper escape
technique) will pursue the ball carrier
according to the proper angle and
leverage. Hustle and angle are the two
components of effective individual
pursuit.
 PHILOSOPHY OF PURSUIT &
TACKLING
Pursuit is the burning desire to get to the football. Pursuit
can be evaluated by freezing a video frame and counting
the number of players around the football on any given
play.

You can be a turnover producing defense with great

pursuit by your D-Lineman. Force people to go the
distance to score.

You can build a reputation of punishing gang tackling

from the front and backside by demanding team pursuit.
WHAT IT TAKES TO PURSUE
1. Pursuit is first a mental process
2. Visualize pursuing and making great
plays.
3. Physical conditioning is necessary so
you can have great pursuit on every play.
4. Speed- react fast and quickly. You can
improve your speed and quickness.
 HOW TO PURSUE
1. Play technique and gap responsibility first
2. Concentrate on lateral movement when the
ball comes your way.
3. Take correct course (pursuit angle) to the ball
so you are in good position for the cutback.
4. You have to want to be the first to the ball.
5. Whoever is responsible for contain, must turn
the ball carrier inside to pursuit. Everyone else
works inside out to the ball.
 ONCE YOU ARRIVE AT THE
BALL
1. Come to balance (come under control).
2. Good bent knee striking position.
3. Step to and through the ball carrier (take
one extra step).
4. Club and wrap-up, driving your numbers
through their numbers.
 WHAT PURSUIT DOES
1. Eliminates the long touchdown.
2. Discourages opponents.
a. During the course of a game
b. Strikes fear and intimidates future
opponents.
3. Promotes consistent team performance.
4. Creates turnovers all over the field.
 TACKLING
DEFINITION: A tackle is a desired collision
between the defensive man and the ball carrier.
THE DEFENSIVE MAN MUST WIN!

OBJECTIVE: To stop the ball carrier in his tracks

for little or no gain and to gang tackle. Tackling
is 50% determination and 50% technique. It
takes both aggressiveness and good technique
to be a great tackler.
TECHNIQUE/FUNDAMENTALS
1. Meet the ball carrier in a good hitting
position.
2. Eyes should be focused on the ball
carrier’s numbers.
3. Don’t give the ball carrier a two way cut.
4. Keep butt low, keep head up, first
contact should be made with the chest or
numbers. As the chest or numbers make
contact, roll the hips.
5. Do not leave your feet, wide base, short
choppy steps, drive through ball carrier
and take him backwards.
6. On contact work arms from low to high,
wrap viciously and pull the ball carrier
towards you, squeeze and grab cloth.
7. If you are caught in a poor hitting
position, somehow make the tackle.
Grab arms, legs, or anything you can get
a hold of, except the face mask.
 OPEN FIELD TACKLE
1. Gather yourself and come under control 3-4
yards from the ball carrier, feet chopping-
move toward ball carrier.
2. Keep eyes on the belt buckle and get into a
good hitting position. Make the tackle.
3. Give the ball carrier only one way to go, then
take it away.
4. Leave your feet only as a last resort.
5. Use the sideline whenever possible.
6. Force the ball carrier back into pursuit when
possible.