DL Stunts - Part 2

Part 2 of the Defensive Line Stunts series will look at stunts where the Defensive Tackle works in tandem with the Defensive End.  DL Stunts - Part 1 looked at stunts with just the Defensive Tackles.  Blitzes and Fire Zones are great for applying pressure, but the easiest and safest way to get pressure is from the guys up front.  It is nice to be able to play your favorite coverage on 3rd and Long and still get pressure from the front 4.  If a defense can do that, it has an opportunity to be great on 3rd Down.

Stunts are also important for stopping the run and for giving smaller, quicker defenders a better chance to be successful.  Former Florida Co-DC and DL Coach Greg Matteson talked about giving his defensive linemen a 3-way go.  A right defensive end could attack the offensive tackle in three ways: 1) slant inside him, 2) run through him, or 3) jet upfield right past him.  Using all three techniques keeps the offensive lineman off-balance and gives the defensive lineman his best chance for success.

3-Way Go

The stunts I will talk about are Ex, Tex (and Dbl Tex), Veer, Spear, and Watch Me.  Ex and Tex are great vs. the pass or run.  Veer and Spear are primarily run stunts, although they still work vs. the Pass.  The Veer has its origins as a stunt to stop Inside Veer, and Spear is a Greg Matteson stunt that is very similar.  Watch Me is a pass rush stunt all the way designed to give your best pass rusher the freedom to do his thing.

Ex from Barry Hoover on Vimeo.

Ex

Clip 1 (Giants) – Right DE takes a step upfield, slams the Guard, then comes off and makes the sack.

Clip 2 (Jets) – Right DT hesitates and lets DE slam the Guard.  The Tackle turns inside just enough to cause him to be too late in trying to block the DT, who makes the sack.

Clip 3 (Giants) – Ex can also be run with a 1 tech NT.  DE slams Guard and gets in QB's face.  OT chases DE too far, allowing NT to come around free.

Clip 4 (Giants) – DE one step upfield then moves quickly inside but does not slam Guard.  He could not slam the Guard since he slid inside, leaving a nice lane for the DE to pressure the QB.

Tex from Barry Hoover on Vimeo.

Tex

Clip 1 (Steelers) – DT takes a step upfield and slams the Tackle.  The Guard chases the DT and chases him too far outside to block the DE who comes inside for the sack.

Clip 2 (Gators) – DE takes two steps upfield and then come inside.  The Guard is locked on the DT and never touches the DE who makes the sack.

Clip 3 (Cowboys) – The 1 tech NT looks to slam the Guard, who slides away so the DT gets pressure on the QB.  The Center locks onto the NT and does not see the DE come inside.

Clip 4 (Dolphins) – don't think this was Tex, just the DE seeing an opening to the QB and running to daylight.

Clip 5 (Miss. St.) – Tex stunt allows DE to come free inside to tackle RB on Draw.

Clip 6 (Giants) – Tex Ex – Tex on the left, Ex on the right.  The Guard turned outside with the DT and the DE sped right past him inside for the strip sack.

Dbl Tex

Clip 1 (Giants) – Left DT could have done a better job taking a step upfield first, but he makes up for it with a great swim move inside the Tackle to sack QB.

Clips 2, 3 (Broncos, TCU) – Guard too aggressive blocking DT and doesn't see DE come inside.

Veer from Barry Hoover on Vimeo.

Veer

Clip 1 (Gators) – Right DE to 1 tech side takes a step inside and then quickly re-directs.  Current Michigan DC Greg Matteson did a tremendous job at Florida of teaching his DL to read the OL that you are slanting away from.

Clip 2 (Giants) – Tackle thought he had an easy base block on Iso play but DE blew by him inside to wreck the play.

Clip 3 (Gators) – Veer stunt pressures the RB who tries to cut all the way back on zone play to Sam LB and SS.  Good job by Sam LB of squeezing OT and not leaving a crease.

Clip 4 (Gators) – DE re-directs and causes RB to cut back inside to pursuit.

Clip 5 (Ravens) – A quick DE is deadly on this stunt.

Clip 6 (Giants) – DE able to re-direct, but not quickly enough to catch RB.  LB must scrape quicker over top.

Spear from Barry Hoover on Vimeo.

Spear

Clip 1 (Gators) – good stunt vs. Power with DE working quickly inside of FB's block to make tackle.  DT in good shape outside to make tackle as well.

Clip 2 (Gators) – DE aims at hip of Tackle, works inside and runs to daylight to pressure QB.  This is the gruesome play where the Bama WR tore his knee up.

Watch Me from Barry Hoover on Vimeo.

Watch-Me

Clip 1 (Cowboys) – if you have a fast DE who has a knack for getting to the QB and working inside when the Tackle sets too far outside, this is a great stunt to give him the freedom to get the QB and not have to worry about pass rush Contain.

Clip 2 (Steelers) – DT does a good job of getting outside when the DE works inside, allowing DE to make a big hit on QB.

Clip 3 (Seahawks) – DT sees DE come inside and seamlessly works outside for pass rush Contain to get the sack.

Clip 4 (Eagles) – The DE worked inside and the DT worked outside and both got to QB.

Clips 5, 6 (Colts) – The Colts used this call to give Dwight Freeney the freedom to use  his devastating spin move.

Great Links
The speakers and schedules are now finally out for the 2014 Glazier Clinics here.
Strong Football with The Popularity of the 3-4 Defense: What's Old is New, Playing Fast with the 4-2-5 Defense, Wing-T Offense: Buck Trap, Dick LeBeau's Wime/Will Cross Fire Zone Blitz, and The 5 Step Guide to Striking a Balance as Football Coaches.
Chris at Grantland / Smart Football on Art Briles and the Baylor Offense.
Coach Mac with Analyzing Your Statistics, 3 Man Scat Combinations, and Changing Defensive Looks.
Duece with The Passing of a Great One.
Brophy with Cal's Solid Screen.

DL Stunts - Part 1 - DT Stunts

I have been working on Install film of Defensive Line Stunts that I will share with my next few posts.  This first post will concentrate on stunts with just the two Defensive Tackles.  Most stunts that I will show are from a four-man front that can be used with the 4-3 or 4-2 defense, but some can also be used from a three-man front with the 3-5 or 3-4 defense.  Each stunt is diagrammed with video and coaching points from each cut-up.

Tap from Barry Hoover on Vimeo.

Tap

Clips 1, 2 – Ricochet Technique.  Ricochet – to bounce off of the blocker that you are slanting towards when you see that the play is going away from you.  This is best done by reading the OL you are slanting away from.  I believe you get a faster read this way, although many coaches also do it successfully by having their DL read the man that you are slanting towards.  Clip 2 (Utah) is a better example of the Ricochet technique.

Ton from Barry Hoover on Vimeo.

Ton

Clips 1-3 – DT slams the Center trying to block the NT.

Clip 4 (Steelers) – RG stays on block too long to be able to block DT coming from other side.    

Clip 5 (TCU) – DT Ricochet.

Nut from Barry Hoover on Vimeo.

Nut

Clips 1-2 – NT slams G trying to block DT.

Clip 3 (Cowboys) – DT in 5 tech, NT slams G trying to block DT and comes off to pressure QB.  DT ends up tripping up QB for Sack.

Clip 4 (Bowling Green) – Movement allows 2i tech NT to make tackle on RB.

Toc from Barry Hoover on Vimeo.

Toc

Clip 1 (Steelers) – NT works for Sack.

Clip 2 (Gators) – NT quick re-direct, followed by a loaf, and then makes tackle.  This is a great example of reading the OL you are slanting away from to get a quicker read.  The NT was able to re-direct before he even touched the G.

Nitro from Barry Hoover on Vimeo.

Nitro

Clip 1 (Gators) – Ricochet.

Clip 2 (Ravens) – Both NT and DT re-direct.  Backside NT makes tackle but notice the DT doing an excellent job of working in front of the back.

Gate from Barry Hoover on Vimeo.

Gate

Clips 1, 2 - Both DTs attack Center and whoever the Center doesn't block will penetrate first and the other DT will work around.  For more info on this stunt, Blitzology did an excellent article here.

Info on latest Va. Tech Helmet study from ESPN's Gregg Easterbrook:

"Here are the latest Virginia Tech football helmet star ratings. The Riddell 360, Riddell Revo Speed, Xenith X2 and Rawlings Quantum Plus drew five stars. The Rawlings Impulse looks like the best value -- four stars for $100 less than the top models. Players and parents, beware the Riddell VSR4 and Adams A2000. Research shows these should not be on anyone's head."

Great Links

Chris at Smart Football / Grantland has been tearing it up lately to make up for the rest of us with Packaged Plays and the New Option Football, Vandy's OL Shift, The Art of Quarterbacking, Chip Kelly's Eagle Offense, and How Will Nick Saban Solve His Johnny Manziel Problem?
Check out Strong Football's 4-3 Blitz Package: Making An Easy Blitz Look Complicated by Coach CP.
Coach Bird with great info with Al Golden notes on Utilizing Safeties to Stop the Run and David Shaw notes on Offense and Creating Conflict with an Unbalanced Line.
Coach Mac has more on packaged plays with Conflicting Defenders.

Nebraska LB, DL Defensive Drills and DB Clinic

I got to the chance this Christmas vacation to watch Nebraska practice in Orlando, FL before their bowl game against Georgia.  Nebraska has a pretty sweet deal where they also do a free Coaches Clinic wherever they are at for their bowl game since they recruit nationally.  I took some video of a few LB and DL drills and I got some of Terry Joseph's DB clinic talk.  Nebraska led the nation in pass defense this year and Coach Joseph does a nice job of explaining the fundamentals of DB Play.

Nebraska Def Drills and Clinic 12-29-12 from Barry Hoover on Vimeo.

Creating DE Conflict

Dubber just had a great post here on this subject that you need to read if you haven't already. He says, "In football terms, keeping a defense 'off rhythm' is the name of the game."  He is correct.  This post will focus solely on the Defensive End position and how to put the DE in conflict in order to keep him off-rhythm. 

Urban Meyer talked about how much of what they did with their Spread offense at Florida was designed to control the DEs, because they are such tremendous athletes that they can take over a game by themselves.  These freaks of nature can really wreak havoc on an offense if allowed to get into a rhythm.  DEs that are strong and can run as fast as most RBs are a nightmare for an OT to try to block.  An Offensive Coordinator must  have plays designed to confuse and slow down the DE in order for the offense to have a chance and for his QB to survive.

Brophy said it well in this Manny Diaz Fire Zone post:  "Throughout the 90s by the way of Miami, defenses transitioned to the mantra of speed, with the defensive ends becoming the most disruptive players on the field. The more offenses game planned and tried to deal with these athletes, the more they realized they just couldn’t block those guys. This is what has brought us to the current flavor of offense, where they don’t even block the defensive ends (read game)."

Florida co-Defensive Coordinators Charlie Strong and Greg Mattison unleashed the speed and athleticism of DEs Jarvis Moss and Derrick Harvey, who completely took over the 2006 National Championship game vs. Ohio State; holding Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith to 35 yards passing and 82 yards total offense.

The pics and video below are from a clinic done by current Florida RB Coach Brian White.  They show all of the ways to use the running game in the Spread offense to create conflict and slow the DE down.  The last slide also shows how Jet Sweep action (Bash or Flash tag) affects the LBs as well. 

Creating DE conflict is not limited to the Spread offense.  Other offenses can put the DE in conflict with draw plays, outside runs that utilize a WR crack block on the DE, having the OT arc release outside the DE, Orbit sweep motion off the Inside Zone play, and Reverses.  These are all tools that offenses must use to break the rhythm of the DE and slow him down.

It is important to use the passing game to slow down the DE in the same way.  Dubber talked about using Quick Screens to keep a defense off-rhythm.  Air Raid guys like to use this play to fatigue and wear the defense down.  The cut block by the OT on the Quick Screen is a great way to frustrate and slow down the DE's aggressiveness.  

The launch point of the QB must be also be varied.  This is done by using quick 3-step drops, waggles, bootlegs, and sprint-out to go along with the 5-step drop-back and play-action passing game that sets up deep in the pocket.  If all the DE sees is 5-step and play-action, he will kill the QB, plain and simple.  Protecting the QB must be the top priority in designing a passing offense.  If the QB is allowed to get hit too many times, his fundamentals will deteriorate and the passing game will suffer tremendously.

Using all of these tools will not guarantee success, but they will provide the offense its best chance for success by slowing down the DEs and keeping them from wrecking the offense and taking over the game by themselves.

Creating DE Conflict with the Spread Offense - Brian White - Florida from Barry Hoover on Vimeo.

Links:
Coach Allam with Oklahoma St. Practice Observations and Coaching Clinic Do's and Don'ts (the cliches are pretty funny).

Good article on what really makes QBs successful (from Football Coach Academy):  here.

My buddy, Coach Chastain, is looking for cut-ups/info on the Oregon passing game and cut-ups on the Diamond Formation below. Contact him at coachchastain@gmailcom.

4-3 vs. the Flexbone - DE play

Introduction - Evolution of the DE

The keys and mistakes video cut-ups for the DE are the longest for any position group in the 4-3 defense, likely making it the most complicated position to play vs. the Option.  This position usually has a good athlete playing it (e.g. the basketball player who just came out for football), but Option teams historically have been able to take advantage of the lack of discipline and proper coaching at the DE position through the years.

What we are now beginning to see today is the athletic and well-coached 4-3 DE who can really wreak havoc on the Option offense—as a result there are many plays that are designed to confuse and slow him down.  Urban Meyer talked about how much of what they did in their Spread Option at Florida was designed to control the DEs, because they are such tremendous athletes that they can take over a game by themselves.

The 2010 Orange Bowl showcased the freakish talents and abilities of Iowa DE Adrian Clayborn, who just about shut down one half of the field vs. the potent 2009-2010 Georgia Tech offense.  Guys that are 6-4 250+ and can run as fast as many RBs are becoming entrenched at the top of the NFL draft and are becoming multimillionaires because of their ability to dominate and impose their will upon opposing offenses. 

The aggressive DL philosophy of the 4-3 Defense has allowed the DE to showcase his God-given talents.  Instead of being a "contain" guy, the 4-3 DE could really strike fear into the QB by coming down at him hard and following the Block-Down Step-Down rules that OJW talked about in the last article.  The switch from the 50 to the 4-3 Defense has allowed the DE to evolve from being stranded on an island to being a one-man wrecking crew vs. the Option when he is coached correctly.

Back for an encore presentation is the Outlaw Josie Wales—big thanks to him for sharing all of his great wisdom and experience with DL play.  He is an invaluable resource to other coaches on the Coach Huey site, and he has helped me tremendously over the years by patiently answering all my questions about the 4-3 Defense.

DE Fundamentals

The play of the Ends is similar to the play of the Defensive Tackles.  It is one of the important points of the 4-3: all four defensive linemen can be trained together.

The basic stances are similar.  However, most coaches say the closer a lineman is to the ball, the lower his tail needs to be.  All four linemen are trained to have their inside hand down and their inside foot back.  This is very helpful to staffs who only have one defensive line coach, as they can all be trained together.

With that in mind, the Ends are in what many call a sprinter's stance—tail is higher and the feet are closer together.  They are also angled inward so as to see the ball and get a good jump on the offensive player they are aligned over.

The importance of the 4-3 defensive linemen getting a jump on the offensive linemen cannot be overemphasized.  Most coaches teach that the first player to get their hands on the other player will be the winner.  Defensive linemen must work to get their feet into the LOS (line of scrimmage) before the offensive linemen can get their hands on them.  Take-off drills must be done every day.

The Defensive End attacks his offensive counterpart by moving as fast as possible to his landmarks.  His inside hand is on the middle of the breastplate and the outside hand is on the outside edge of the shoulder pads.  If this sounds familiar, it is.  It is exactly the same landmarks as the other defensive linemen (again, simplicity of training all four linemen the same).

It is best to not switch sides with the Defensive Ends, but to allow them to stay on the side that best suits their abilities.  Often a larger man will be used on the defensive left side and a faster man will be used on the defensive right.  However, this is simply personal preference by a coach.

The End attacks his man and sees and feels what is going on.  If his man blocks down (toward the Center) the End will feel this and then step flat down the line.  This is the use of the famous Block-Down Step-Down rule that he must obey.

It is also important to realize the angled Ends affect the blocks of their offensive counterparts—the TE release is slowed, as is the Offensive Tackle's release.

There Is No "Contain" in the 4-3

There are several plays that will unfold when the End's man blocks down.  The most common plays he will see are the Counter-Trey play, the Power play, or the Option play.  In all these plays, the End must obey the "Wrong-Arming" rule as discussed in the DT article.

It is vital to the overall consistency and philosophy of the 4-3 for the End not to be trained in any type of contain principle.  It will be contrary to the other things that he must execute.

The long trap, or Counter Trey a.k.a. Counter-Gap play affects the Defensive End.  He will feel or see his landmarks move inside, usually that is the Tight End.  He must step inside and will see the Offensive Guard pulling toward him.  The Defensive End will attack the upfield shoulder—the shoulder closest to the LOS.  Often coaches describe this event as a "train wreck."  We desire to create a pile of bodies at the POA (point of attack).

Again, we do NOT want the Defensive End to have to worry about contain.  In the 4-3 defense there IS no contain.  The word "contain" isn't part of this defensive philosophy.  The End is attacking the pulling Guard and forcing the ball carrier to deviate from the place he wants to run.  This causes him to bounce outside and again, fall prey to Corner Force or Safety Force, depending on the secondary call.

The End will defeat the block of the Fullback on Power-O by attacking the same upfield shoulder that he attacks on the Counter-Trey play.  The only difference is that the Guard will be attempting to block in him the Counter-Trey play as opposed to the FB's block of the Power-O play.

DE vs. the Option

While correct End play is important in the previous two offensive plays, it is absolutely imperative in the Option.  A Defensive End must Step-Down inside as he recognizes the down block. This moves his gap-control one hole inside.  For the 9 tech End, in the case of the Triple Option Outside Veer coming his way, he will be in a position to take the Dive.  This allows the Sam Backer the ability to scrape around him for the QB.

The angled Defensive End is very important in defending the Option play.  For the 9 tech End, in the case of an arc-blocking TE, the End is able to slow the TE's release and still fulfill his duties of attacking the QB on the Option.

For the 5 tech End, if the Option play is directed toward the weakside of the formation, the angled 5 tech End attacks the Offensive Tackle and slows his release as he is attempting to block the Mike Backer.  This puts the End in position to take the Dive portion of the Triple Option and allows the Mike to scrape over the top and take the QB.  The Will Backer can assist  on  the QB or attack the Pitch phase.

Concluding Thoughts

It is important to remember that the 4-3 defense was originally organized to attack the Triple Option Wishbone offense.  While it is not possible to totally stop Option attacks, the 4-3 gives us a weapon against this offense.

With that in mind, it is important for coaches to learn, follow, and teach the rules that were laid out originally with this defense.  Every position and technique of the 4-3 Over has its important part to play if the Triple Option offense is to be held in check.  The 4-3 Over is best described as "a complicated dance" where everyone must do their part or the whole thing will come apart.  Coaches should be advised to learn the elements of Block-Down Step-Down, 1-gap 1/2 a man defensive line techniques, the idea of "Spilling" the ball carrier, and lastly Force vs. contain.

While the ideas of the 4-3 Over Defense were radical when they were first presented in the 1980's, they are now considered the basis for modern defensive football.  It is now the standard for defensive football at most levels and is an important weapon against the Triple Option offense.

DE Keys vs. Flexbone from Barry Hoover on Vimeo.

DE Keys

1.  Block-Down-Step-Down vs. Inside Veer

2.  vs. Run

3.  vs. Loop, take QB

4.  Run to You: Cross Face of OT

5.  vs. Rocket motion

6.  vs. Pulling Guard "Log" Block

7.  Run Away: Check for BCR (Bootleg, Cutback, Reverse)

DE Mistakes vs. Flexbone from Barry Hoover on Vimeo.

DE Mistakes

1.  Not Getting Hands on OT

2.  Not Crossing Face on Run to You

3.  Not Holding Your Ground

4.  Slow Off the Ball

5.  Not Taking QB vs. Loop

6.  False Step

7.  Not Looking Inside for Pullers

8.  Not Checking for BCR on Run Away

4-3 vs. the Flexbone - Schedule of Posts
Wed. January 12 - DT Play

Sat. January 15 - DE Play

Wed. January 19 - Mike Play

Sat. January 22 - OLB Play

Wed. January 26 - FS/SS Play

Sat. January 29 - CB Play

Feel free to ask OJW any questions about DE Play.

4-3 vs. the Flexbone - DT Play

Introduction - Defending the Flexbone with the 4-3 Defense

The Flexbone is a difficult offense to slow down, much less stop.  Defensive players must be disciplined and fundamentally trained to be automatic in their responses to what the offense is doing.  This automaticity that is required to defend this offense does not occur in one week of practice—rather,  it  must be practiced against at the beginning of the year in spring football, fall camp, and in small segments throughout the year.  

Paul Johnson and the Georgia Tech coaching staff do a phenomenal job of coaching the Option, and in his second year at Georgia Tech, the Flexbone averaged 35.3 points per game for the 2009 regular season.  They won the ACC with an 11-2 record and faced Iowa in the Orange Bowl.  Iowa DC Norm Parker took full advantage of the added preparation time for the bowl game to thwart the Georgia Tech attack.  Iowa's scheme was simple, disciplined, and very effective in holding the vaunted Georgia Tech offense to only 14 points.

I was the Offensive Coordinator for a team that started out running the Option this year, but the Flexbone offense has fascinated me for years from a defensive standpoint on how to defend it.  My film study this past off-season started with investigating the Iowa game and expanded to a study of the Georgia Tech offense vs. 4-3 teams for the 2009 season.  The cut-ups are a great teaching tool in themselves, but to top it off, I have assembled a dream team staff of defensive coaches to talk about the fundamentals for each of the positions in the 4-3 Defense: DTs, DEs, Mike LB, OLBs, FS/SS, and CBs.  The best thing about this great collection of coaches is that these guys are all about helping other coaches and they have been more than willing to share all they know in these articles.  The result will be something that I hope will be an invaluable resource for coaches.   

Cripes!  It's All about Fundamentals!

The emphasis of the film study and these articles will be on fundamentals, not on scheme.  There is no one defense or exotic blitz that can be installed in one week's time that will magically shut down the Triple Option.  Any success had by 4-3 defenses vs. the Georgia Tech Option in 2009 was due to a focus and emphasis on defensive fundamentals for each position.  

The best coaches also know that the emphasis on fundamentals must be season-long.  Teams cannot stop working once they reach a certain level of fundamentals and expect those fundamentals to last for the rest of the year, for they will certainly atrophy and waste away.

The guest writers have an expert knowledge and experience in defending the Option and they will talk about the fundamentals for each position as well how to teach them.

We will start this series with the defensive line.  Deuce says that, "You build a house from the foundation up...the line is YOUR foundation..."  The play of the DTs in the 4-3 is where we will start building this house and I got the best six-shooting 4-3 DL guy I could to write up on it...the grey rider himself, Outlaw Josie Wales. 

History of the 4-3

Back when I started the 50 and the Split-4 were the standard defenses for most schools.  The 50 dominated college ball.  The 50 in particular was not designed to stop the Triple Option, it was designed in the 1950's to stop the T and the Wing-T offenses by reading the Guards.  However, the 50 was out of its element in trying to stop the Triple Option offense.

The Defensive Tackle sat on an island and was the object of the 1st phase of the Triple Option—meaning the Veer and the Wishbone attacked the Tackle in the 50 and worked from there.

When I first learned the principles, rules, laws, and philosophy of the 4-3, I found it very radical to everything I was taught.  So much so, that I had a hard time convincing staff members to accept the ideas.

Also, remember that the "newest" competing defensive idea was the "46" or Bear defense,  with the success of the Chicago Bears defense in the mid to late 1980's—the very time that the U. of Miami was developing their ideas of the radical 4-3 defense.

The 4-3 defense was developed to stop the Wishbone Triple Option offense, it was later found to work on everything else.  However, as I was taught, it was has a weakness in the Off-Tackle area—a reason the that Power-O has become a favorite play with power-running teams.

However, the Miami 4-3 was a defense that was created in our generation.  Its principles and philosophy guide most football teams in America.

Block-Down Step-Down (BDSD), Spilling, and Wrong-Arming -                   The Philosophy of Defense That Holds the 4-3 Together

The origins of Block-Down Step-Down (BDSD) are murky to say the least. However, up until I was taught the 4-3 by Tommy Tuberville in the late 1980's, the entire idea was only thought of as "squeeze down."  Even then, it wasn't a hard and fast rule, more of a suggestion.

I think that the 4-3, which I affectionately call the Miami 4-3, is the defense of our generation.  The other defenses that dominated football when I got in were from a previous age.  The 4-3 was codified by the coaches at the University of Miami back in the mid 1980's to do one thing: stop the Wishbone offense of Barry Switzer.  More than X's and O's were at play here—lots of history between Barry Switzer and Jimmy Johnson.  Out of this grudge-match came a defensive idea that took the world by storm: the Miami 4-3.

It was the first defense that I actually learned on paper. The other defenses that I coached were taught to me through other coaches through the years.  It was very radical and violated most of the philosophies that I was trained in, both as a player and as a young coach.

That being said, I think that the "glue" that holds the entire thing together is the idea of closing down all the inside gaps and forcing the ball carrier to run where he doesn't want to go.  This has been labeled "Spill" by most coaches.

The 4-3 defense has "Spill" philosophy as its main theme, however it doesn't actually work unless the defensive linemen obey the "Block-Down Step-Down" law.  Since the 4-3 is a gap-control or 1-gap defense, the defensive linemen absolutely must maintain their control over the gap they are aligned in.  This is the reason that the defensive linemen must be coached on maintaining their fundamentals.

It is important for coaches to learn these basic tenants and then teach them to their defensive linemen.  Every part of a defensive lineman's individual technique goes together in an exact way to give him his best chance for success—everything from his stance all the way to his tackling technique is important to make this entire defense function.

Block-Down Step-Down comes from a defensive lineman's hand landmarks. The lineman will come out of his stance aiming his inside hand at the middle of the breastplate and the outside hand attacking the outside edge of his particular offensive lineman's shoulder pad.

As he is going for his landmarks, he will see or feel his offensive lineman doing something.  This "doing something" is his clue. I use the word clue because so many defensive coaches do not use the work "read."  They think that "read" is a bad word because they say they are NOT a reading defense but an attacking defense.  This is totally semantics.

A defensive lineman "reads" at the snap.  His clue is what the offensive lineman is doing.  If that offensive lineman down blocks, also known as blocking toward the Center, the defensive lineman will react to this move and Step-Down hard inside.

The next part of BDSD that works together with the Spill concept is called "Wrong-Arming."  The idea is that the defensive linemen or End attacks the upfield shoulder of the trapper.  Even if the "trap" is a kick-out block by the Fullback.  The term "Wrong-Arming" comes from the act of doing the opposite of what was taught by defensive coaches for ages.  It means to attack the trapper with what would naturally seem to be incorrect.   In fact, it is incorrect, if you are running a 50 front defense as it was originally taught.

All three of these concepts work together to operate under the 4-3's philosophy of "Spilling."  It all must work together.  The 4-3 is a system that is held together by a philosophy of defense.

BDSD - The One Little "Trick" That Changed Option Football

In the past, the Wishbone offense would put the Defensive Tackle "on an island" and whatever he did created the actual offense.  Wishbone offenses ran roughshod over the 50 defenses of the 1970's.

BDSD defeated the blocking of the Wishbone offensive line by successfully moving inside by rule and not by choice.  The defensive linemen no longer had a choice of going to the FB or QB; his rule was to Step-Down inside, every time.  The Triple Option then became a double option by rule.

The Defensive End also followed BDSD and this stopped both the Outside Veer dilemma and the QB keep on the Triple Option.  QBs had to begin to fear a fast onrushing Defensive End essentially stunting toward him every play.

The Defensive Tackle shutdown the Dive and the Defensive End shutdown the QB Keep.   This left the Pitch as the only play left in the Triple Option playbook. Coaches who know the Wishbone realize that this is actually the weakest part of the Triple Option—the ball simply isn't pitched that much.

This fulfilled the philosophy of shutting down all the inside gaps and forcing the ball carrier to the edge where the Cover 2 Cornerback would cut down the Running Back.

Without BDSD, you cannot shutdown all the inside gaps and force the ball to the edge—it cannot be done.

The new trend of Midline is essentially a Trap play, much akin to the Wing-T Fullback Trap.  The rules of BDSD tell the defensive linemen to step down hard inside if his lineman is blocking inside toward the Center.  BDSD works well against a standard FB Trap.

On the Trap, the defensive lineman attacks his offensive lineman and feels that lineman blocking down toward the Center.  He immediately steps down into the gap.  In fact, he is literally dragged into that gap if he is properly attacking his offensive lineman.  His landmarks move inside, therefore he moves inside also.  This also has the added effect of keeping that offensive lineman off one of the linebackers.  In the 4-3 it is usually the Mike Backer that  the linemen are attempting to block.

DT Play vs. the Flexbone

 
Defensive linemen in the 4-3 must stay within the principles and the overall philosophy of the defense: stance, inside hand down, inside foot back, get-off faster than the offensive linemen, and proper hand placement to the landmarks are all very important in making the 4-3 defense work.  This defense has a greater dependence on defensive linemen getting all parts of their fundamentals done correctly than any other defense.  It is very linemen-centric.

Also at issue is that the Flexbone isn't an offense that is seen very often.  The spread offenses, with their emphasis on the pass, have caused defensive coaches to spend most of their practice time on pass rush and pass rush schemes.  Because of this emphasis, many 4-3 philosophy fundamentals have been neglected.

There are two other areas that a pass-rush mentality of defense causes poor Dline play:

1) Playing too high and getting pushed off the LOS (line of scrimmage) and 2) not dealing properly with double team blocks.  With emphasis on the speed rush needed to stop the spread offense, linemen are simply getting knocked off the ball.  A defensive lineman CANNOT allow himself to be pushed out of his gap.  This is an idea from a "bygone" day, however, the Flexbone thrives on pushing defensive linemen off the ball.  A linemen must attack quickly, this is true; however, he must NOT give up his gap.

A defensive coach must practice a Dlineman defeating a double team. The Flexbone will double team at the POA  (point of attack).  While there are many strategies and methods, a particular method must be adopted and worked.  (Ed. note - Both DTs in the 4-3 will end up facing double teams vs. Inside Veer to their side—surprisingly Georgia Tech ran this play a lot to the 3 technique side in 2009 and it was very effective.)

Coaches and defensive linemen must remember that the 4-3 defense was developed in the mid 1980's to stop the Wishbone offense and was very successful at doing so.  The Flexbone is a form of the Wishbone offense.  However, the fundamentals that made this defense work when it was originally developed must be learned and adhered to at all levels.

The concept of Block-Down Step-Down is a very important element in attacking Triple Option offenses, however many coaches do not spend the proper time on BDSD with their linemen.  Plainly stated—you cannot run the 4-3 Over Defense properly without adhering to this concept.  The defensive lineman MUST step flat down the line when his corresponding offensive lineman blocks inside toward the Center.  That "inside" block is the "Block-Down" portion of the equation, and the corresponding action by the Defensive Lineman is to "Step-Down" inside and take away the Dive portion of the Triple Option.  The 4-3 defensive lineman is not given a choice which player to attack vs. the Triple Option Offense—he simply obeys his rule.

Defensive linemen not following the Block-Down Step-Down rule make the entire 4-3 Over Defense untenable.  This seemingly small mistake causes the 1-gap "Spill" philosophy to be nullified and the entire defense to collapse.  It only takes one defensive lineman not doing his part for any Triple Option Offense to become successful.

Here is the video:

DT Keys and Mistakes vs. Flexbone from Barry Hoover on Vimeo.

DT Keys

1.  Block-Down-Step-Down vs. Midline
2.  vs. Run
3.  vs. Double Team
4.  vs. Sprint Pass

DT Mistakes

1.  Not squeezing down hard enough

2.  Not getting hands on OL

3.  vs. Double Team, must put hips in the hole

4.  Don't go behind the play

5.  Slow off the ball

6.  Too high

4-3 vs. the Flexbone - Schedule of Posts
Wed. January 12 - DT Play

Sat. January 15 - DE Play

Wed. January 19 - Mike Play

Sat. January 22 - OLB Play

Wed. January 26 - FS/SS Play

Sat. January 29 - CB Play

Feel free to ask any questions for OJW or any of the other guest writers to answer.