This is an article that will detail the philosophy and methodology of the "block down/step down principle" with

respect to the defensive line in a 40 front. This principle can be applied to most fronts, but for simplicity's sake, I will focus on the 40 front. A.The "block down/step down" philosophy is used to take away the inside running lanes that many angle schemes create. Many of these schemes rely on leaving a defensive lineman (typically a defensive end) unblocked so that an offensive lineman (typically a guard) or a fullback can "kick them out". Another offensive lineman, typically a guard or a tackle will lead up behind into the hole created by the kick out block. These blocking schemes are designed to take advantage of a defensive end coming up field hard and creating a seam for a back to run through. B. The "block down/step down" philosophy was developed to take away that seam created by the kickout block. By "stepping down" with the offensive lineman blocking away from the defensive end and then attacking a puller/trapper/kick out player close to the center, that seam is taken away and the ball carrier is forced to "bounce" into the perimeter. C. The "block down/step down" principle only works if the rest of the defense is playing "containment" principles. The ball carrier is being forced into the perimeter; the rest of the defense must hold outside leverage in order to make the play. So, there are only a handful of defensive positions that are taught the "block-down/step down" techniques; the rest of your personnel must adhere to a more tradtional "containment technique". [glow=red,2,300]Methodology[/glow] A. For the sake of simplicity, I will be discussing a 4-3 defense and it's alignment within this section. The technique works across a myriad of fronts and doesn't typically change. Here is our basic alignment versus a 2x2 set with C2. .................Fs........................SS Cb........W............M.........S.............................Cb ...................6.........1.....3........9 X...................T...G...C...G...T...Y ..........A...................Q.......................................Z .............................TB Also, the "block down/step down" technique I will cover in detail will be that of the 6 tech (outside eye of the tackle) and the 9 tech (outside eye of the tight end) defensive ends. B. Let us assume, looking at the diagram above, that a team is running a simple "long trap counter" to the TB, run at the 9 tech defensive end. -The Y (tight end) will block down on the Sam linebacker. -The tackle and guard will combo the 3 tech defensive tackle to the Mike linebacker. -The center will block back on the 1 tech. -The guard will kick out the 9 tech defensive end. -Tailback will jab step left, cross over, take the ball, drive at the POA, and look to cut inside of the pulling guard block. C. Here is how the 9 tech defensive end will defend the play. -The defensive end is aligned on the tight end's outside eye, inside leg back, inside hand down. -At the snap, he is going to step with his inside leg INTO the tight end, striking the breast plate of the tight end, extending and feeling for pressure. -He feels the tight end blocking away from him, but he's not to disengage and penetrate. He

needs to step down with the tight end for two steps, and then get to heel depth;his inside heel should align with the heel of the tight end initially. -He has to keep his shoulders square to the LOS to limit the amount of blockable suface he is presenting. -He will look down the LOS for a trapper. Upon seeing the puller he needs to close down on the pulling guard; taking him on as close to the center as possible. He can't get any deeper than heel depth though; he needs to stay tight to the LOS. -I prefer to teach the defensive end to take on the trapper straight down the middle; I don't have them "wrong arm". I have them attack the pulling guard, straight down the middle; blow him up and drive him back. D. The Sam linbacker tehnique (in a base defense, no blitz) -We have our Sam read near back flow; his eyes generally aren't on the offensive line. He will be reading open window/closed window. -Sam will probably take a step inside as the back he is reading will jab step away, turn and then flow back into him. -At this point, he looks to get just outside of the box while staying on a plane 4 yards off of the LOS. He will see an "open window" off of the 9 techs butt, if the 9 tech does what he was supposed to. -He was initially responsible for the C gap, but he knows the the 9 tech is essentially exchanging gaps with him. So, he must now contain. -If the 9 tech he done a decent job, the tight end will have a hard time getting to Sam and he'll flow free. - If the 9 tech wasn't aggressive enough, Sam is going to have to fight across the tight end's face to the outside. He needs to make sure that he splits the tight end down the middle with his inside leg, fight to hold outside leverage, while staying on that 4 yard plane. -The 9 tech will "bounce" the tailback to the perimeter where Sam will be the primary force player, waiting to make the play. -The secondary force players will be determined by the coverage. Read more: http://coachhuey.com/thread/28579/block-step-principle#ixzz2akJSpJIt