Sharks in the Water
I t is a pleasure and an honor to be asked
to write this article. I am proud to repre-
sent head coach Frankie DeBusk and
Tusculum College. The defensive staff of
Lance Royal (linebackers) and Steve
McGill (defensive line) makes this defense
very enjoyable to coach. It is their ingenuity
and commitment level to our kids that has
made us successful.
We have installed the 3-3 defense to
better fit our recruiting pool and to allow us
to put more speed on the field.
Philosophy
This scheme like many others is
designed to bounce everything east and
west and allow our speed to run plays down
on the perimeter. With five defensive backs
we can adjust very easily to formations,
motions and match up with various person-
nel to help prevent us from being outflanked.
Our scheme is simple enough for our play-
ers so we can focus more time on recogniz-
ing formations and the plays that come off of
them, block protection, pursuit and tackling.
Defense has always been about getting off
blocks and making tackles. The simplicity of
our system and adjustments allows our
Ron Roberts players to play more aggressive and with
100 percent effort. At the same time we want
Defensive Coordinator the illusion of being complicated and con-
Assistant Head Coach fusing to opposing players and coaches.
Tusculum College Teaching Progression
We believe very strongly in teaching
Greeneville, Tenn. progressions and making sure that we pre-
sent information in the proper format.
Perceptions are very powerful and we want
our players to perceive our system as very
simple. This progression is carried over
from introducing scheme to block protec-
tion and teaching tackling.
Stop the Run
It is important for our players to under-
stand vertical as well as horizontal lever-
age to stop the run game. One of the
most important consistencies in the
game of football has been that the low
pad will always win. If we can win the
leverage battle up front we can stop the
run game.
We will do whatever it takes to make a
team throw the football. Whether it is
putting eight or nine in the box, moving the
front, creating mismatches, or any form of
alignments that disrupt blocking assign-
ments to create a negative play from the
offense.
• AFCA Summer Manual — 2002 •
Get After the Quarterback
In order to disrupt the offensive passing
game we want to:
Find a way to attack their pass protections
Disguise, prowl and make the offense
account for blocking eight on every snap.
Do not give the same pre/post snap reads
for the offensive line and the quarterback.
Make the quarterback make decisions,
take the game out of the offensive coordi-
nator’s hands.
Keys to Success
Championships have been won with all
types of defensive schemes. It is not the
scheme that will ultimately determine our
success. Here are the variables that we sale
to our players as the keys to our success.
Attitude: Be positive and optimistic and
have the proper attitude for every situation.
Winners respond the right way every time
especially in the face of adversity.
Alignment and Assignment: Physical
mistakes are something we can correct but
mental mistakes are unacceptable.
Regardless of their athletic ability players
can be aligned right every time and take
care of their responsibility.
Pursuit: We demand 100 percent effort
to the ball on every snap, because of this
we play a lot of kids on defense.
Tackling: We want to be the best tack-
ling team in our conference. We spend a
considerable amount of time teaching and
drilling tackling.
Find a Way to Win: Someone has to
step up and make a great play on defense
or on special teams.
These are the things that we cover with
our defense in our first meeting and dis-
cuss before every game.
Diagram 1: Stack
Stack
We base everything out of our 3-3 stack
defense. In Diagram 1 you will see that we
have a nose in a zero technique. Our ends
are in a tight five technique. The mike line-
backer is stacked behind the nose and is
responsible for running the track of the full-
back. The Land R are in 50 techniques and
are responsible for B gaps. The nitro and
diamond are 3-by-5 off the tight end or a
ghost tight end. This is our pressure pack-
age and we want the offense to have to
account for blocking all five mobile defend-
ers on every snap. We are usually in some
form of three-deep zone, man free or robber
coverage. The possible blitzes are only lim-
ited by what you can execute and your
imagination.
Diagram 2: LOB
Diagram 3: Nitro
LOB
Blitzes and slant calls can be deter-
mined by strength, field and boundary or
right and left. In Diagram 2 our left outside
linebacker is blitzing the C gap reading the
triangle of the offensive tackle and near
runningback. The left end is in a four-tech-
nique slanting into the B gap reading the
next adjacent offensive lineman. The Nose
slants or tilts into the A gap depending on
the call made. The right end is in a five-
technique. The mike linebacker runs the
track of the fullback and the R is responsi-
ble for the B gap. The outside rusher can
be the outside linebacker or it can be a
defensive backs as in Diagram 3 with the
ability to play man or zone behind it.
Diagram 4: Ram
Ram
When blitzing an inside gap the line-
backer must first dominate his gap against
the run by keeping his pads low, be pre-
pared to flatten out with the flow of the ball
and be relentless. Diagram 3 has our ends
in five techniques the nose controls the A
gap away from the blitz. The mike line-
backer still runs the track of the fullback
and the L has B gap his side.
Diagram 5: Blast
Blast
Diagram 5 is an overload blitz with four off
a side. The L will attack the offensive tackle
and draw his block. The left end executes his
slant technique into the B gap. The nose
slants or tilts into the Agap away from the call
and the right end is in a five technique.
Diagram 6: Bear
Bear
Our Bear package has been great for us
vs. 21 personnel. The ends are in three
techniques with the nose in a zero. The out-
side linebacker to the tight end side is in a
seven technique. The outside linebacker to
the open side is in a ghost seven reading his
triangle. The mike linebacker will shade to
the strong side. The diamond will move to a
C/B gap stack depending on the offensive
tendencies and the nitro will align 3-by-3 off
the tight end and has him man to man. We
can make calls that will change the front to
disrupt blocking schemes and put our kids in
a better position to make plays.
Diagram 7: Three-Deep Secondary
Run Force
• AFCA Summer Manual — 2002 •
Diagram 8: Run Force
Crack Replace
Three-Deep Secondary Run Force
Force
The force player has pitch responsibility
versus the option and no pass responsibili-
ty with run at him. We expect the force
player to make the play on any perimeter
runs at him. His aiming point is the outside
peck of the ball carrier.
Secondary Force
He is responsible for force if they crack
the force player shown in Diagram 8. He is
responsible for halfback pass, stalk and go,
and should not support the run until there is
no longer a threat of a pass.
Alley
Checks No. 2 on the tight end dump
pass as he runs the alley. He has quarter-
back on option and his aiming point is the
inside peck of the ball carrier.
Fold
On flow away he has to check the cut
back, quarterback boot and the reverse.
Cut Back Safety
He is responsible for securing the back-
side No. 1 wide receiver. Take a pursuit
angle to save the touchdwown, do not let
the ball carrier to cut back, reverse or cross
his face. Do not cross the far hash unless it
is to save the touchdown.
Diagram 9: Man Free
Man Free Coverage
Our man free coverage shown in
Diagram 9 is very simple for us to cover
down receivers. This is a man coverage
with one linebacker and five defensive
 backs. The corners are responsible for the
Diagram 10: Match Coverage
No. 1 wide receiver to their side.
The nitro and diamond are going to
cover down the No. 2 receiver to their side,
if No. 2 is in the box they may align in a C/B
gap stack position. The linebacker are
responsible for No. 3 if he is in the box. The
free safety is responsible for securing the
middle thrid and has force to both sides.
We will run various forms of man free, it
could be a match up man coverage as
shown in Diagram 10 or involve two line-
backers and four defensive backs.
We are sold on the flexibility and sim-
plicity of the 3-3 defense. It gives us the
weapons to attack an offenseís tendencies
and allows us to get the most speed on the
field possible. We have reduced the
amount of mental errors and it has allowed
our kids to play like sharks in the water.

Practice Safety-First Coaching Techniques

Excerpted from an article by Dick Schindler for the National Federation News

Coaches’ Checklist
1. Keep the head up. 20. Improper technique causes spinal
2. Discuss risk of injury. cord injuries.
3. Keep the head out of contact. 21. Helmet must fit properly.
4. Explain how serious injuries 22. Be prepared for a catastrophic
can occur. injury.
5. Involve parents in early season 23. The game doesn’t need abusive
meeting. contact.
6. Have a set plan for coaching 24. Player safety is your responsibility.
safety. 25. It’s a game — not a job — for the
7. Clearly explain and demonstrate players.
safe techniques.
8. Provide best medical care
possible. Keep The Head
9. Monitor blocking and tackling
techniques every day. Out Of Football
10. Repeat drills which stress
proper and safe techniques. Rules changes that eliminated the head
11. Admonish and/or discipline users as the initial contact point in blocking and
of unsafe techniques.
tackling have significantly reduced head
12. Receive clearance by doctor
for athlete to play following head and neck injuries in the sport.
trauma.
13. Stress safety every day. Coaches can do their part to continue that
14. Don’t glorify head hunters. trend by teaching correct techniques and
15. Support officials who penalize emphasizing proper fundamentals at all
for illegal helmet contact.
times. That way, players can avoid cata-
16. Don’t praise or condone illegal
helmet contact. strophic injury and coaches can avoid
17. Provide conditioning to strengthen lawsuits.
neck muscles.
18. Entire staff must be “tuned in” to Keep the head out of football.
safety program.
19. Check helmet condition regularly.
• AFCA Summer Manual — 2002 •