Thought I would bring this back up.
In discussing our base 3-4 defense, I will define (to the best of my knowledge) each of these six elements for each position (front seven.) First , the huddle call would be 44 cover 3. To assist in the learning process, all calls for defenses, stunts, and coverages should be as descriptive as possible. Players will learn more easily if the defensive calls are well thought out and presented so that the players can relate one call to other calls they might hear. In this way, the whole defensive package does not involve total rote learning.
For example, the 44-front call, the first 4 is to the end to the strong side. The second call is to the other end. The nose understands that he shads to the strong end. After the offense is aligned, the Mike linebacker will make the call strong left or strong right. The front will then align accordingly.
The coach from the sideline can also make the determination by making a field call. In that case, the Mike linebacker would call "Field left." The second part of the call, the 3, refers to the coverage and tells the secondary that it's a three-deep coverage. Calls should be brief so that they can be transmitted to the huddle and given easily. I don't like the signal caller to step out of the huddle to get the call and then step back into the huddle to give it. I prefer him to give the call as he receives the signal from the sideline or reads it from a wrist band.
Nose Tackle (NT)
The assignment for the nose is to control the strongside A gap. His alignment is a strong shade, which means his inside foot will split the center's crotch. He uses a three-point stance with his inside foot staggered approximately six inches back.
His key is the center, and he will feel the guard. His technique will be to take a short power step with his inside foot keeping his pads down and thrusting his hands towards the center's breastplate. He should have his thumbs up and try to grab the cloth of the center's jersey with his fingers. If he should miss on the first try, he should keep grabbing with his hands until he gets a firm grasp on the center. If the center is trying to reach block him, he should escape fast and laterally down the line of scrimmage to the outside. If the center is trying to zone through his inside shoulder, he should hang on to the center with both hands and try to work laterally in the direction the center is going.
If it's a zone block and the guard is trying to overtake him, he should keep his focus on his primary key -- the center -- and hang on to him for as long as possible. He should make every effort to keep a strong inside shoulder and not let the center off on the linebacker. If the center blocks flat down the line, away from the nose, the nose should anticipate the counter and immediately look for the off guard pulling in his direction. He should then try to get penetration upfield to beat the down block of the strong guard. As he gains penetration, he should try to disrupt the pulling guard and tackle.
Defensive End (DE)
The end's assignment is to maintain the B gap. His alignment is a 4 alignment, or inside track of the offensive tackle. he uses a three- point stance with the outside hand down and the outside leg staggered back approximately six inches
His key is the offensive tackle, and he will feel the offensive guard. He will react based on the release of the tackle. The technique he should use is to step with a short outside step and read on the move. If the tackle is releasing to his outside, he should thrust his hands to the breastplate area of the tackle, and, keeping his pads down, try to grab cloth with both hands working to the inside V of the neck of the offensive tackle. He should work hard to maintain a strong outside arm and work his outside hip squarely down the line to the outside.
At this time, he should feel the guard to determine whether he is involved in a zone-blocking scheme. If the guard is not coming, he should anticipate trap, immediately release the tackle, and work hard back inside to wrong shoulder any trapper. If the guard is coming to the end in a zone-blocking scheme, he should continue to focus on his primary key -- the tackle -- and try to hang on to keep the tackle off the linebacker for as long as possible. If the tackle takes on inside release or cutoff angle, the end should work fast down the line in the direction of the cutoff.
This is one of the beauties of the defense in terms of stopping the run. The end should NEVER be cut off, and he should hit any cutback by the back.
Outside Linebacker (OLB)
The outside linebacker's assignment is to read the release of the tight end and work C gap to D gap, depending on the block of the tight end. His alignment is a six alignment with his tracks just outside the tracks of the tight end. He uses a two-point stance with his feet close to parallel.
His key is the tight end. His reaction should be to step to the tight end with his inside foot and react to the tight end's block. If the tight end blocks down, he should gain ground slightly upfield and to the inside, keeping his pads parallel to the line in trying to close the distance between himself and the defensive end. If the tight end reach blocks, the linebacker should thrust his hands to the breastplate of the tight end, grabbing cloth and keeping his pads square. He should keep an outside presence while keeping his eyes inside to see if the ball is committed inside or out. If the ball is committed inside, he will be a late help in the C gap. If the ball is outside, he will be a D gap player.
He must keep his hips and pads square. If the tight end attempts a base cutoff, the linebacker will work across the tight end's face to take the C gap or drive the tight end's butt into the hole. If the outside backer has no tight end over which to align, he will align over an imaginary tight end or where a tight end would be if one were on his side. His key will then be the triangle of the offensive tackle, quarterback, and tailback. He should look through the tackle, see the quarterback and tailback, and get a flow read from them. If he gets a flow-away read, he should shuffle straight down the line and play any cutback into the C gap. If he gets a flow read to him, he should spill the ball to the outside or contain, depending on the coverage being played.
Mike Linebacker (MLB)
Mike's assignment on flow to him is C gap; on flow away, he has the off A gap. His alignment is 4 and a half yards deep with a 30 alignment on the offensive guard, and outside crotch alignment. He uses a two-point stance with his weight on the balls of his feet. He should be in a comfortable position so that he does not have to bob up or down to move.
The first thing to look for at the start of the play is to see whether the linebacker has to lower or raise his body position before moving. If he does, he has a improper stance. He should be in a stance that wastes no time or action in getting on the move.
His key is the tailback, and he should underkey the guard in seeing the quarterback. So his point of vision is somewhere between the guard and the tailback. Again, I am talking about seeing the triangle of the guard, quarterback, and tailback. Mike should get a flow, or directional read from reading his keys.
Mike and Will are tied together and should react in the same direction on running plays. If Mike gets a flow to him, he should shuffle laterally and then work hard downhill to the inside of the C gap to his side. If he gets a flow-away read, he should shuffle laterally and work hard downhill to the off A gap. He should take on blocks explosively, using his hands and working into the blocker with leverage while exploding upward.
Will Linebacker (WLB)
Will's assignment is onside C gap with flow to him and onside A gap with flow away. His alignment is head up to the offensive guard and four and a half yards deep. His stance and key are the same as Mike's. His reaction on flow to him is to shuffle to the outside and attack the C gap hard downhill. On flow away, he should read whether there is a potential cut back runner to the A gap. If so, he should read the guard and angle the guard's block. If the guard is straight ahead, Will should attack him aggressively downhill with his inside arm free. If the guard takes an aggressive cutoff angle, Mike should come downhill to the backside V of the neck of the guard and try to knock him past the hole.
Mike and Will should be reading the same key against a I-formation (this would normally be the tailback), and Will should also underkey the guard. Mike and Will have the same keys and should work together as if they were attached to a string. On any given run play, they initially should be shuffling in the same direction.
The philosophy of the 44 defense is to tie up the interior five offensive linemen with the three defensive linemen. This approach allows the four linebackers to use their speed to make plays.
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