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A Way of Life
D efense is the cornerstone in any suc-
cessful program. At Highland Park,
we have established an aggressive but
• It starts with pressure on the passer.
The pressure must be sound — the pass
rushers must stay in their lanes and get to
simple philosophy that has allowed us to be the passer by the direct route. The passer
successful. Knowing where you are on the must be contained. If he is allowed to run
field and where your help is coming from out of the pocket and away from the rush, it
helps us be aggressive by nature. We are will hurt us.
a basic 4-3 scheme, an over shade nose • Our linebackers must hold up and
look at times. We will be an eight-man front generally create havoc in order to disrupt
team while bringing various stunts to help the timing and/or patterns of the
compliment our chances of success. In the receivers. They must know their coverage
secondary, we will disguise our coverages and hold up in a manner that will not take
when possible, but play no more than four them out of position. Never let a receiver
or five different looks for our opponents. cross in front of you unmolested.
In determining what’s important in our Eliminate him! Earn the respect of
defense, I will go over some philosophy, receivers by punishing and harassing
priorities and objectives that we want our him. If you can make the receiver become
defensive personnel aware of going into more concerned about hitting him than
our ballgame. It is important that we as catching the football, your job is half-done
coaches prepare our kids as well as we before the play begins.
can, but be as consistent in developing a • Our defensive backs must learn their
plan that will put our defensive squad in a responsibilities and the technique that must
position to be the very best on game day. be used to enable them to cover their
We are a gap control defense. We rely responsibilities. They must realize that the
heavily on our intelligence of where secret of covering a pass receiver is con-
everyone needs to be on formation centration and desire.
recognition, and when that ball snaps, on 3. Desire is the secret of defense.
our determination to defeat the blocker • In order to defend against the pass,
Tom Callahan and get the ball. We pride ourselves in you must first make the correct adjustment
our team pursuit to be involved in the to the offensive formation according to the
Defensive Coach play. Since we still use the numbers coverage called. In order to do so, you
defense, we have the flexibility to be var- must know your assignments so well that
Highland Park High School ious fronts if necessary. But by keeping it they came as second nature to you.
simple and allowing our players to be • The secret to making the tackle is a
Dallas, Tex. aggressive on their keys, this has helped burning desire to get to the ballcarrier and
our takeaway ratio for the year. This has then to drive your hat into the football.
allowed us to be sound in all areas of our Have complete concentration on your tar-
defense. get. Power without balance is wasted. The
two must be coordinated.
Principles of Defense • The secret of rushing the passer is
1. Defense must be a team effort; there simply the desire to get there. Never allow
is no place for selfishness in football. a receiver to run free past you.
• Each man must know his individual • The secret of holding up a receiver is
assignment and responsibility and must complete concentration on your target.
take care of his country. 4. The defense must know the oppo-
• He must carry out his assignments nent’s offense!
positively in order that the defense may • Know the enemy. No one is so good
function as a unit. that he does not need all of the help he can
• Any gambling or hunch-playing by an get against the team we will play.
individual can only lead to grief in the long • Know the tendencies. All teams have
run. Our defense is based on each man pet plays and receivers or ballcarriers in
carrying out his assignment completely. certain situations. By your extra effort, this
Any breakdown can be traced to the failure can make the difference between you and
of a man to carry out his responsibility. your team being average and great.
• Each play is individual and is designed 5. Victory comes at a price, and this
to score. Therefore, you must play each price is high. You must pay it if we are to
play completely out until the whistle is carry on the Scot tradition!
blown. •A total dedication is a must both on and
2. Pass defense is the great challenge! off the field.