Defensive Practice Organization

Don Brown
University of Maryland
Defensive Coordinator
 Maryland FOOTBALL: POINTS TO LIVE BY
1. We will never compromise our standards. It takes 100 years to build an oak tree; it takes 10
minutes to chop it down.

2. “Leave Earth” every time you’re involved with football.

You cannot fake emotion. If you practice with it, you will play with it.

3. Play with tremendous enthusiasm 100% of the time. Remember 100% of the body and 100%
of the mind!

4. Remember, character is the ability to stand up for the things that are right and say no to the
things that are wrong.

5. Put the team first, your unit second, your position group third and you fourth.

6. Garbage In – Garbage Out.

7. Live in the past, you die in the present.

Men, every person is entitled to make a mistake. It is part of human nature. I will stand beside each
and every one of you if you make a mistake. When you make more than one mistake that becomes a trend.
Men, I have a problem with trendsetters. I allow a mistake, but I do not allow trends. Be a MAN!

In my mind, academic integrity, athletic integrity and character are the key ingredients of a Maryland
Football player. The Best Ability is Dependability.
Major Team Goals – Goal Board 2009

1. WIN!
2. Create one more turnover than TD's against.
3. Cause 2 fumbles (Defense must gain possession).
4. Intercept 1 of 15 passes.
5. No runs over 20 yards.
6. No passes over 25 yards.
7. Stop 70% of the 3rd/4th down plays.
8. Score or set up score.
9. 3rd quarter SHUTOUT.
10 4 minus yardage plays per game (3 sacks).
11. Wreck the decision maker (7 or more knockdowns).
 Maryland Defense: 2009
Defensive Practice Organization:
• Pre-Practice: Formation Adjustments [66% of what we do occurs
pre-snap [15 minutes].
• Stretch and Run: Warm-up period to get ready for competition [10
minutes].
• Specialists: Emphasis on the Kicking Game.[5 minutes].
• Individual: Position coaches work on techniques and fundamentals
[15 minutes].
• First Down: Iron sharpens Iron. Good vs. Good in base run and play
action period [12 snaps].
• Tough Period: Defense vs. scouts working opponents base run and
play action passes [10 minutes].
• Break
• Punt [5 minutes].
• Bandits [5 minutes].
 Defensive Practice Organization:
• 1 on 1’s: All O/D players are in some form of
competition [5 minutes].
• Speed Skeleton: Good vs. Good in quick 9 snaps of
skeleton. Roll the reps out[5 min.]
• Opponents Skeleton: Defense prepares for routes
specific to our opponents[10 min.]
• Blitz Period: This period is run vs. the cans and ascout
skeleton group. Make sure you are specific about
adjustments that you want made[10 minutes].
• Team Period: This period is run vs. scout eleven. Be
efficient and organized because this period prepares
your team for success or failure[15 minutes].
 Defensive Practice Organization:
• Field Goal: [5 minutes]
• Defensive Specialties [5 or 10 minute block on
fundamentals of team defense.]
• Tackling circuit
• Turnover circuit
• Hedging: Blitz get-off for all positions.
Cover 2 Zone Blitz Package

Don Brown
University of Maryland
Defensive Coordinator
“The Lost Art of War”by: SunTzu II
WHY WE BLITZ
When opponents cannot predict what you will do, they cannot act against
you with inevitable effect; and when they realize they cannot predict what
you will do, they have to be more watchful without knowing quite what
they are watching for, thus exhausting the energy of attention and
progressively diluting its effectiveness.

This leads naturally into the offensive aspect of unpredictability; enemies

who cannot tell when or where you might act are thereby prevented from
preparing a sure “offense.” Their attention is thus necessarily spread
more thinly, and their mental energy naturally wanes on account of the
added burden. The buildup of constantly mounting anxiety accelerates
this process, and aggressively unpredictable behavior that is
fundamentally intended to increase tension succeeds doubly in its
function by the added tension inherent in futile reactions to misdirection.
 Maryland FOOTBALL
WRECK THE DECISION MAKER (QB):
2007 STATISTICS: SACKS – 44
QB KNOCKDOWNS (MEASURE WEEK TO WEEK)
DEFENSIVE PHILOSOPHY:
1. Development of Philosophy – Create an ultra aggressive mindset in your players.
We “Practice what we Preach.” We come out of the locker room with a pressure
mentality. As coaches, we get creative with our schemes on conversion downs. At
Maryland, we take this mentality and make it an every down philosophy.
2. To be a great blitz team you must be able to:
a. Run Blitz – early downs or if personnel dictates.
b. Zone Blitz – Utilization of 3 Deep (3 Under) or (4 Under) 2 Deep
c. Man Blitz – Utilization of 5/6 man pressure with Man Free; or 6/7 press with no
help
To be an outstanding pressure team you need to utilize all concepts associated with
pressure schemes.
OFFENSIVE CONCERNS FOR MAN BLITZ TEAMS:

1. Our number 1 concern is which screens teams have the ability to run
a. Bubble screen
b. #1 Under screen
c. Slip screen

2. Press man – What routes will the offense give you

* Note: Press man limits routes of the offense
a. Fades
b. Slants
c. Comeback
d. Fade Stop – Red Zone
3. Fit protections to formations and/or personnel groups, set blitzes based
on these ingredients.
4. Sell players on Playing Fast – spend time on hitting blitzes with speed.
Time up is the most important ingredient for success.

ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS FOR A MARYLAND DB:

1. Must have courage, conviction and movement skills necessary to play

man coverage. He must relish the challenge of 1 on 1 coverage, and be
extremely coachable.
2. Must be able to play and catch the deep ball (#1 drill I use to evaluate
DB’s)
3. Must be a solid tackler. Teach your DB’s to somehow get the ball
carrier on the ground.
SUCCESSFUL INGREDIENTS OF A “BLITZ” DEFENSE:

1. Repetitions - Spend 15 minutes a day working against a scout skeleton

group. Looking for 20 repetitions.

2. Eliminate Scout O-Line - Work against the “Cans” to make sure guys
are hitting right gaps with timing.

3. “Hedging” - Teach blitz time up vs. cadence and “get off the ball.”
Technique: Feet staggered with inside foot up; execute creep and
explode off back foot.

4. Once Blitzer is up, he stays UP! We do not retreat and start over.
Maintain Stagger and attack the decision maker.
HEDGE DRILL: (Once a week)

DL DB LOS

5 yards

LB LB

DB 10 yards
1. WRECK the DECISION MAKER (Quarterback):
a. Personnel/Formations (Establish Links)
b. Evaluate Protections
c. Never – ever let them off the hook

2. Types of Pressure:
a. SNIPER 6 ( 3 Deep 3 Under)
b. SAMURAI CITY ( MAN FREE)
c. POP GREEN ( 2 Deep 4 Under)
 72 BLACK

A T N E
SIDE SIDE
C S M W C
50 10 50

HASH(10-12YDS)
HASH(10-12YDS)
R FS
HOLE(18-22YDS)
1/2 1/2
CHECK: HAMMER

Y
A T N E E N T A
"FLIP" "BALANCE" "TRADE"
SIDE SIDE SIDE
50 10 50
FS 20 30 W C C C
M W M S
S "DETATCH"
FLAT
C -9
POST WINDOW
R FS R
#1 VERTICAL 1/2 1/2
1/2

POSSIBLE:
CHECK: "26"
CHECK EGO

A T N E A T N E
SIDE SIDE SIDE 50 50 SIDE
50 10 10
C C C S M W C
S M W
"DETATCH"

R FS R FS
1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2

QB

"CLUSTER"

A T N E A T N E
SIDE "BALANCE" SIDE "DETATCH" "BALANCE"
30 SIDE 30 30 SIDE
30 S
C S M C C M W C
"DETATCH" W
STEM #2
FS WALL #3 HASH
R
R TO HOLE FS
1/2 1/2
1/2 1/2
(PUP)POP GREEN

2 1

SIGHT A N E SIGHT

S M W P
C C
#2 #2

R FS
CP: ANT OR NAT COULD
BE TAGGED TO CALL 1-2 1-2

2 1 2 1

A N E P A N E
SIGHT

C S M W FS " S W P
C M C
FLAT
SIDE
#2 #2 HAMMER SIDE
C #2
(C-9) HASH
R
1/2 R FS
1/2
1-2

2 1
2 1
Y
A N E Y
SOLO A
C P N E
S M W C
SIDE S M W P FS
C
HASH HAMMER
SIDE C GAP/BACK
R HASH
HOLE FS HOLE C
R
1/2 (C-9)
1-2
1/2

2 1 2 1

Y Y
SIGHT A N E A N E
FLAT
C S W P C S W P
M C M C
HASH HASH SIDE
#2 SIDE
R
HOLE FS
R FS (C-9)

1/2
1-2 1/2
Man Technique Fundamentals
for Defensive Secondary
Don Brown
University of Maryland
Defensive Coordinator
Maryland Football: Intangible Goals for 2009:
1. PLAY SMART. Execute the plan and play with a purpose. PLAY HARD with
tremendous physical intensity. These three attributes relate to a team’s chemistry,
not it’s talent level. Action without direction is a waste of energy.

2. HAVE NO EXCUSES. Justifying a lack of success will only lead to future failure.

3. HAVE GREAT EXPECTATIONS IN EVERYTHING YOU DO. Expect and work hard to
achieve greatness in everything you do. Be a great players, great student and a great
person.

4. BE AGGRESSIVE AND PHYSICAL. Schemes are important. You must be disciplined

and do things within the team concept. However, there is no substitute for
smashing. This is a tough game for tough people. Great teams never stop bringing
it.
5. THE GUY UPSTAIRS IS TAKING NOTES. It’s important that you do things right,
work hard, and pay the price. The guy upstairs is watching, evaluating and
taking notes. At the end of the day the guys that take shortcuts get caught. Be
a great teammate. Why shouldn’t you be what you’re supposed to be.

6. BE HUMBLE, NOT BOASTFUL. Respect each opponent. Preparation give

competitors a chance to win. Be confident, not arrogant. Have trust in your
own talent and ambition. Great players don’t talk. They perform.

7. NO SELFISH OVERTONES ALLOWED. No discussion, selfishness is not a trait

that lends to “champions.” Maryland Football is not selfish.

8. PLAY THE GAME WITH GREAT PASSION. Fly around, play with your heart,
battle your ass off and compete. If you believe, it will happen. You must have
“conviction to achieve.”
9. IRON SHARPENS IRON. We need to go after each other to get where we need to
be. We must compete hard so that we make each other better. Remember,
have respect for one another. We are all we’ve got.

10. OFFENSE must be responsible for the football and you must score touchdowns in
the red zone. Finish drives, take care of the ball and good things will happen.
DEFENSE: Pressure the quarterback and create turnovers to get the ball back. It’s
imperative we make quarterbacks uncomfortable and we give our offense more
opportunities to score than our opponents.

11. FAMILY. Forget everything else, we must “stay together” to have a chance at
success. Great teams are not measured individually, they are measured
collectively. Each individual must check his “independence” at the door. Have
faith and confidence that the guy next to you will pay the same price for success
that you will.
 MARYLAND FOOTBALL: 2009 DEFENSIVE BACK PLAY

Philosophy of Defensive Back Play:

Teach Ownership. Our program belongs to the players. It is their team. They have
a vested interest in our success.
Coach Confidence. Instill and breed confidence. Teach through drill work and
repetition.
Teach Technique and Responsibility. Make sure all drills relate to game-like situations.
Don’t waste time because you have none.

Philosophy of Development:
1. Create a Winner’s Classroom Mentality. Teach positively. Critique the
performance and not the performer. Don’t blame and point the finger.
Accountability is a two-way street.
Create and atmosphere of true intensity. Measure performance.
Grade players on production and effort.
2. Confidence. Set high expectations and clear objectives. Review these objectives
often.
3. Standardize Vocabulary. Have key words describing techniques and related
matter that kids clue into. Make sure you are descriptive and repetitive.
 MARYLAND D-BACKS BASE DRILL PACKAGE

FEET PROGRESSION - Educate the Feet! (Arms Follow the Feet)

1. Form Run – Turn – Backward Run

2. Read Steps – Back Pedal (Pace)

3. Skate To A Run

4. Back Pedal – Ride the Bike

5. Back Pedal – Stick

5A. With Drill – Multiple Transition Sticks

6. Back Pedal Zone / Man Turn (Toe Tuck – Get off the midline.)

7. Cone– Route Tree – DB’s playing cuts (3/5 Step Drop) out of Back Pedal or
Skate
D-Backs Base Drill Package (cont.)

9. Speed Transition Movements:

A. Back Pedal – Stem (R and L)
B. Wedge and Run vs. 7 Route
C. Back Pedal – Burst 45 degree angle
D. Back Pedal – Burst – Head Whip (Post Corner)
E. Arm Bar - Wedge Position

10. Block Escapes:

A. Club Wipe Escape Î Drive Inside – Jab Step – Get to Leverage

B. Fit Position (Eyebrows on Chin Strap)
C. Fit and Snatch Î Snatch with both arms away from leverage
D. Cut Block – Palms Up!

11. Play the Deep Ball (Coach getting eyes back to the ball):
A. Wedge and Run vs. Downfield Shoulder
B. Wedge and Run vs. Trail - Don’t Panic!
C. Red Zone – Fade / Fade Stop Goal Line
D. Take your base techniques and evaluate routes and body
movement. DB’s must make to play the ball.
 Commitment to Man Coverage
Press Man – what routes will the offense give you
* Note: Press man limits routes of the offense
Fades
Slants
Comeback
Fade Stop – Red Zone

Fit protections to formations and/or personnel groups, set blitzes based on these ingredients

Sell players on Playing Fast – spend time on hitting blitzes with speed – Time up is the most
important ingredient for success.
ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS FOR A Maryland DB:
Must have courage, conviction and movement skills necessary to play man coverage. He must
relish the challenge of 1 on 1 coverage, and be extremely coachable.

Must be able to play and catch the deep ball (#1 drill I use to evaluate DB’s)

Must be a solid tackler. Teach your DB’s to somehow get the ball carrier on the ground.
 MUST COMMIT TO MAN COVERAGE:

Two types of Man Coverage:

PRESS MAN TECHNIQUES (Corners):

Glide (Motor Feet)

Glide to Arm Bar

Glide – Arm Bar – Wedge

Glide – Set – Reset - Wedge

Glide – Set – Baseball Roll

Glide –Hip Roll Quarter Eagles

Double Arm Bar to Steer The Wheel (Red Zone)

STUTTER MAN (Safety’s):

Stance – Inside Leverage – Stutter the Feet

Stance – Downhill Drive (Inside Knuckle Big Toe)

Roll – Arm Bar – Wedge and Run

Make Safety’s understand Press Mechanics vs. Deep

Routes for utilizing arm bar to wedge