Spartan Black Flag

4-4 Defense
Keith Ross, Head Coach Sumner High
School
Keith_ross@sumnersd.org
253-891-5526

Keys to Winning
Team Building
Weight Room (LUDUS)
Coaches loving Kids
(Relationships)
Schemes

The IT Factor
What is your defensive IT???
Be physical & get to the ball, so we
can hit you right in the face
All 11 defensive player on the pile

Defensive Philosophy
Get to the Ball.
Make the Offense
Drive the Field
No Big Plays
String plays
towards the
sidelines to allow
athletes to run to
the ball.
Bounce ~ Fence ~
Hip

3 As
Alignment
Assignment
Attitude

Numbering System
ALL DEFENSIVE LINE ALLIGNMENTS ARE CALLED
BY THIS NUMBERING SYSTEM.

987 5 4 321

123 4 5

Base Alignment

Personnel Philosophy
Move everyone up a
position

Alignment
(Defensive Line)
The defensive line aligns based on
strength or (STRIKE) call, in a 31.
Strongside DT is the first # called (in 31
he is shaded in the 3.)
The weakside DT (Nose Guard) is the 2nd
# called (in 31 he is shaded in the 1.)
The strongside DE is in a 7/8
The weakside DE is in a 5 (Head Up)

Alignment
(Line Backers)
M = Mike
W = Will
J = Jack
S = Strike

5yds
5yds
S

 Add 4 -4 look

Alignment
(Secondary)

6 yds

6 yds

9 yds

FS

Gap System
Each position within the box (LB
or DL) has a Gap Responsibility.

B A A B C

Gap Responsibility
The Gap that Defensive Lineman is
shaded to is their Natural Gap.
The Defensive Lineman is
Responsible for Controlling that gap.

Assignment vs. Run

Defensive Tackles
DTs will Gap-Step with there Gap-Foot
and then Reload with the other foot.
DTs will press out blocking lineman to
create separation.
Dominate your gap and then Pursue to
the ball down the line.
**Against Trap- Wrong Shoulder the
trapping O-lineman.

TRAP
Add film wrong shoulder

Assignment vs. Run

(Strongside Defensive End)
Read the Inside Half-Man of the TE. The
DE Takes 1 step to see if the TE is
trying to Reach DE or Arc Releasing.
If TE is Reaching = Lock Outside arm to
his outside shoulder and move your
feet to square up with the TE.
If TE is Arc Releasing = Take 1 step with
TE and Punch the TE to knock him off.
Them look down the line and squeeze
Looking for Read Progression.

Weak and Strong Defensive

End
Read Progression
Squeeze if Tackle Down Blocks.
Look Down Line looking for Pulling
Lineman. Meet them with your wrongshoulder.
If no pulling lineman- Look to the FB
blocking and meet him with wrongshoulder.
If plays goes away- Chase the play as
deep as the deepest back and look for
numbers coming back.
If Reverse- Get up field turning the play
inside to other tacklers.

Add bounce from DE

Mott & Summers

Assignment vs. Option

(Defensive Ends)
Begin with Read Progression.
If Load Option - Go Meet the FB
with wrong shoulder.
If Speed Option Dont Commit to
QB too quickly. Drop-Step and
Wait. Feather the QB to string the
option outside and allow the
defense to run to the play.

 find

Assignment vs. Run

(Outside Linebackers)
Play Towards you - Force, Attacking
the Ball or lead blocker outside in.
Play Away - Fold, Stay behind ball for
cut-back.
Get into Pursuit angle.

Assignment vs. Option

(Outside Linebackers)
Eliminate the Pitch Man!
Dont wait for the pitch! Eliminate the
pitch.
Backside OLB has fold.

Assignment vs. Run

(Inside Linebackers)

Read your guard.

Shuffle.
Feel the ball.
Bracket, Outside Leverage.
Get In the fit.

Assignment vs. Option

(Inside Linebackers)
Playside LB Shuffle, Hide, and Wait;
Play QB inside out.
Backside LB shuffle to midline and
play dive.

Assignment vs. Run

(Free Safety)

Find the Fit.

 Juice coming down hill

CP

Assignment vs. Option

(Free Safety)
Inside out Dive, QB, Pitch.
Bracket with LB.

Assignment vs. Run

(Corners)
Secondary Force.
Dont let ball carrier outside
Pursuit to the front pylon.

 Film stielacoom

Assignment vs. Option

(Corners)
Dont let anyone outside!
Secondary force.
Turn everything inside

Alignment Variations
Stack

Alignment Variations
Press