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Winning Defensive Fundamentals and Practice Plans - On Any Level

By Art Haege

Coaches talk about "Fundamentals". This is a great WORD - but few really teach FUNDAMENTALS! I will discuss what FUNDAMENTALS are - and how they become enrolled with your Coaching plan - daily and how to develop a practice plan. A lot of coaches scribble a plan down right before practice - this is a valuable tool to be a successful coach.

TEACHING FUNDAMENTALS

1. Tackling

2. Correct Form Running

3. Angles of Pursuit

4. Proper Stance

5. Delivering a Blow

6. Team

7. Alignment

A. Most coaches don't really understand total defenseLinemen L. B.'s and Secondary.

B. Most coaches don't understand offense totally too! You have to know offense to coach defense well.

C. You have to understand history and defense (all types of football) very few coaches study history - much less know football!

D. Give time to defense or you won't win!

E. Defense wins with turnovers.

F. You win with Ronnie Lotts NOT Deon Sanders.

I have met many Division I Coaches who never played on both sides of the ball or who never coached on both sides! On top of that, some (a lot) don't learn the other side. So if you want to go on to be successful - know both sides of the ball!

I. TACKLING

The entire basis for a sound defense is hard, sure tackling.

This is beyond doubt the most important single fundamental in football. The ability to tackle before anyone can even come close to calling himself a football player. If a boy can tackle - he can play.

In order to become a good tackler you must understand that 75% of becoming a good tackler is DESIRE and only 25% of it TECHNIQUE. This means that the good tackler must learn to enjoy hitting- he must have a fierce determination in attacking the ball carrier. Once the natural fears have gone-and the thrill of blasting the runner have been experienced-you will love contact. And this is the name of the game-CONTACT.

The first thing you must learn is to put your face on the numbers, Bull neck and attack through the numbers. Tackling low is only for very small people when they are tackling very big people. If you are to stop a runner you must tackle him high-stop him in his tracks that is, you should move in rapidly for the tackle in a good hitting position. It is important that you have your feet wide enough (shoulder width). On the last step before meeting the runner "gather" yourself so you are able to explode UP through the runner - bull neck - face up - nose on the numbers - your arms ready to club around the runner and wrap up. As contact is made, extend your body up and through the man and continue to drive through him until he is on his back. Do not hit with the top of your helmet.

Make sure you don't hit too high - aim for the letters with your nose. From nose to your shoulder.

Or angle tackle slide your head in front of the runner. This is most important - if not done arm tackling will be the result.

Before each practice with pads on we all take two head on and two side angle tackles from each side with our partners. Go 3/4 speed. Work on bending the knees, bull neck, hitting up through the letters, clubbing and wrapping up the arms and leg drive.

Never STOP when approaching a runner. This is when he hurts you.

II. TACKLING THE PASSER

Tackle the passer high through his arm and shoulder area.

This will cause him to hurry the pass or possibly you will knock the ball down.

III. OVER PURSUE

Break down on any open field ball carrier to one arms length away before attacking! Always aim on his inside shoulder

when pursuing sideways - so he will not cut back be under control.

IV. GUN SHY

Do not start with tough physical tackling when a youngster is young. Start off with a soft dummy - walk through it again, and have the youngster hit the dummy. Then to form tackling - no jitterbug - straight.

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1. TACKLING@J_-i

Each day I used a good warm up with all the defensive players before the game. This can be done by Pop Warna to the NFL. Lran it in the arena in 1995 and it works!

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OTHER DRILL

A. Strip From Behind Drill - partner up and strip the ball - walk through then full speed.

II. CORRECT FORM RUNNING

Lets face it everyone can't run the same way - but everyone can try to run well.

1. Come Off The Ball Drill - simply take your proper stance and come off the ball - watch all the different players come off the ball- naturally - 3/4 speed. Good wide base - start low, bend slightly off the ball. A simple drill can see who and who can't run smoothly and FAST.

2. Parallel Running - a must! Put three to four players in a line 3 - 4 yards apart facing the coach. Break down then move the ball - left - right - right - left and toss the ball so the players can catch the ball and run to the coach.



3. Coaching Point - do not over-stride - do pivot on back foot and drive off - and LEAD STEP to the front side - always lead step - don't drop your "foot in the bucket" - a short - straight line - job steps in the direction you are going to change weight properly when changing direction! Do not use cross over step. Excellent conditioning too! Very few players can do this well- why? - It's too simple and many coaches never got the history of fundamentals. What does it do?

1. It gets to your point a step closer.

2. You have good balance and you can change direction faster!

I learned this simple but so effective running drill with Joe Collier with the old Boston Patriots in the AFL in 1960 - 61. I've coached this since. Most pro players never used it but when I showed them and made them run all drills with the "lead step" they bought it and it works! RUN THE RIGHT WAY!

Both solid old drills - changing directions - rotating hips - coaching point: when changing hip direction - use your same shoulder and arm to help the quick changing of your body. By rolling it in the direction you are running. D. B. 's use this - but it can help all players.

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WEAVE DRILL - 1. Straight back. 2. 45 degree angle.

RIGHT ANGLE RUNNING

Run straight then change with planting your back foot and go at right angle - never round off your pursuit run. Remember running is very simple but old remedies have been lost to the overrunning - over pursuit - missed tackle, arm tackles and face mask tackling, etc.

Coaching Points -

DL - Hands up - turn and pursue- at right angles. LB - Proper angles of pursuit.

DBS - Same.

Make sure players are not clogged up - proper space a must.

IV. PROPER STANCE - DEFENSIVE LINE

Everyone starts with a proper stance - the first practice.

1. Feet not narrower or wider then shoulders.

2. Right foot back and right hand down (opposite left) no

deeper than opposite heel.

3. Fingers down.

4. Butt slightly up or square.

5. Good balance - not too much forward but some.

6. Be low off the ball! Don't stand-up when you start! 7. All Linemen in a 3 point stance.

Players should be taught early on to use right or left hand and foot used. Don't be a "right hand" guy only! Why? Because you might be changed from right side to left side - and a gap control team. You don't see a good basketball player who can't use both hands shooting a lay-up correctly!

L. B.'s

1. Two point - good balance - feet not too wide or narrow - bend knees slightly - head up - ready to respond with a lead step to the ball- don't run cross over - keep square if you are sliding up into the line.

D.B.'s

1. Everyone has a different stance - all I would say is - make sure your aligned correctly that works for you - I would use a square stance - bend knee, head up - ready to back paddle and pursue. Can't be wrong.



Concentrate on three or four basic running drills throughout the season - work harder on preseason - but always go back to the basics throughout the year.

GOOD AGILITY DRILLS Good agility drills to help proper running.

1. Zig - Zag through dummies using lead steps! Teach

balance and changing direction.

2. High knees through dummies

3. Run sideways through and over dummies - high knees.

4. Punch dummies and go over dummies - keep low and punch - don't slap dummy.

STRETCH RUNNING DRILL

1. Stride

2. High Knees

3. Slow Cariocha

4. Butt Kicks

5. Lunges

III. ANGLES OF PURSUIT

1. USE BOARD MEETING - chalk talk. This is a football fundamental that seldom is properly used by many coaches. Experienced successful coaches do coach pursuit - if you are not working with proper angles of pursuit - START NOW!

BASE PURSUIT:

Regardless whatever defense you used the same good

fundamentals must be used.

Front Side - (Ball side)

Ends - Contain - get up field then react - keep your outside arm free.

I - Fill proper gap - drive to the ball.

N - Fill proper gap - do not allow the OC to cut you off - do not pursuit behind the center and to the ball (check) hold the OC ifhe is getting away from you to block the L. B.

L. B. - You have the BALL!

. --- .. _._._---

MLB - Fill up field - never run parallel (check). C. B. - Contain hard - read your receiver.

F. S. - Read - then run the alley - hard to the ball. Back Side - (away from the ball).

T - Fill your gap and pursue - (check) at slightly behind the L.O.S.

E - Big key - come up field 3 - 4 hard steps - break down - check reverse - then fold across the L.O.S. You are the last line of defense on a big cutback. Never be in a standing position! C. B. - Check reverse - read - take deep 'l2 (check).

2. WALK THROUGH PURSUIT DRILL - Coach and explain - coaches should have been fully explained by position coaches. Before coordinate fully walk through.

3. SPEED PURSUE DRILL - If you have several coaches with the defense - you can run group pursue drills. Coach calls - set - go - reacts to the coach and he throws or pitches to a running back

- everyone touches the ball carrier or receiver - good for proper pursuit

and good conditioning drill.

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V. DELIVERING A BLOW

1. Linemen and L. B.'s must explode - giving a blow not catching a blow!

A. Use Of Hands - Keep low - bring hands up under the offensive lineman's pads. Very important to Punch as hard upwards as you can - much like a standing bench press - but FAST! Extending your arms will not allow the offensive lineman to get on top of you. The only way offensive guys can control you anyway is HOLDING. Keep your balance and continue versus the run or pass. Get rid of the blocker.

USE OF FOREARM

2. Still a powerful weapon. Some player can use their forearm - but most can't. It gets you too close to the offensive player with a forearm - but if you can use it - do it! Overall, getting rid of your opponent after your initial blow is important - PULL - RIP = BULL RUSH - SWIM; ETC. Pursue hard 100% to the ball.

VI. TEAM

We spoke about proper pursuit and also use technique as a defensive unit against the offense. Use THUD VS the offense, be tough up front and 100%. Here is a tough way to play without tackling! Without rolling around the mud you can learn balance good form and technique. Pursue 100% to the ball- don't h<UTIIl1er the ball carrier - use both hands and "pop" him to show nobody blocked you. If the offensive man is supposed to cut you - he will tell you and just put your hands down and simulate a cut block - if not knock the pass down if you can.

VII. ALIGNMENT

Defense uses a numbering system for line and sometimes for the L.B.' s. Coaches like to say I started this or that. Bear Bryant has been said he started the numbering system - Clark Schaunessey originated the T formation in 1940. I have heard he started the numbering system and who defined the 43 defense also. I played for Schaunessey in 1963 in the CFL. I don't know who did what but Coach Schaunessey was a great innovator in football. Most coaches don't even understand the name of Clark Schaunesey.

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LINE ALIGNMENTS

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You can call a 4 I with #4 on the inside shoulder of the right side etc.

Whatever numbering system you want to use - this was the original system. Make sure when on the board your defense is going the right way - example:

PRACTICE PLAN

1. INSTALLATION SHEETS

This gives you and your staff some time to develop a plan for the first 8 practices - it starts you off with basic organization.

II. DAILY PRACTICE PLAN

This gives you and your staff time and coaching plans. A copy should be possible every day. It helps to look why we did or did not practice in different days.

GOOD LUCK!

'Practice Installation Chart 2001

Offensive Practice 1 Runs

Passes

Defensive Practice 1 Front

Coverage

Special Teams

Offensive Practice 3

Runs Passes

Defensive Practice 3

Front Coverage

Special T earns

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Runs Passes

Defensive Practice 2

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Runs Passes

Defensive Practice 4

Front Coverage

Special Teams

Practice Installation Chart 2001

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The Old 43 Defense"

The 43 defense was run by most ifnot all NFL teams in the late 50's and all NFL teams ran the defense by 1960. The basic 43 was very successful by putting four lineman and a strong side linebacker covering the tight end.

Alignment

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The offensive front is a pro set. With two tight ends the weak side linebacker moves up from his ''walk away" position and covers the other end. This shows a 6

man front. Alignment

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This makes it a very strong front against the run and is also good with the pass rush

and can blitz with the other linebackers in many ways and with the defensive backs. The old 43 shows this verse of pro set.

Alignment

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Man coverage was run originally for the most part. Zone coverage can be run a

number of ways. As a high school coach I ran a cover 3 defense that was very successful. It ended up a rollup cover 3. I learned this at NMU when Rollie Dotsch put in a 52 defense. The middle linebacker is ( was ) the most important cog in the defense. By lining him head up on the offensive center which was done and gradually the defense disappeared because the linebacker was easily blocked.

I found out eventually took the weak side linebacker and angled him to the offensive center. This freed the middle linebacker. I ran this defense in 6 different high schools and 3 different states. In 1965 Traverse City st. Francis scored 93 points a week before we played them. The final score Manistee 9 St Francis O. I would still run this defense in this day in age.

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Alignment

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Line Play

The old 43 became a 61 defense if there were 2 tight ends. The 2 inside linemen are run stoppers. The 2 defensive ends are fast guys and can contain and rush the quarterback. The basic defense puts the 42 inside linemen head up on the guards. The strong side end is head up on the offensive tackle. The weak side end on the split end side is on the outside shoulder of the tackle. Linemen that are head up are 1 gap players taking both gaps.

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Alignment vs. 2 tight ends

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Linebackers

The strong side linebacker is your biggest and fastest linebacker. He jams the tight end and takes the contain. The weak side linebacker is a quick smaller player that contains and also plays a lot of pass defense.

Alignments strong side

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Alignments weak side

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Defensive Backs

The basic defense has 4 defensive backs, 2 comers, 1 strong safety, and a free safety. A player must be able to Tackle! Few players are outstanding tacklers. The comers must be very fast. The strong safety must have good speed, strength, and toughness. The free safety should be a smart player, but still has toughness. I think it's pitiful to see some kid playing the free safety position who runs from contact and happens to be a "political wanior". Some high schools and little league football coaches get wrapped up in this. Politics are always a big part in sports (sadly).

Alignments

Cover 2

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Cover 3

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Angles of Pursuit

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Angles of pursuit are very important. The backside is the biggest factor that some coaches do poorly and don't put enough emphases.



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The New 43 defense

The college (pro) 43 started for most teams to run in the late 80's. The University of Miami with Jimmy Johnson became famous with the defense. Miami's program really started in the late 70's with Lou Saban. After Lou moved on 3 successive coaches won the national championship. The bottom line is players win not formations. A lot of teams have sold out for this defense, unfortunately these teams did not have the talent to win with this defense. Speed, Speed, Speed is what you must have in this defense especially. The weakness of this defense is the outside.

Alignments vs. pro , c::>

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Alignments vs. 2 tight ends weakness of the defense

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A lot of the same information in the old 43 you can use in the "new 43". Ninety percent of colleges and NFL teams run the 43 in some fashion (coaches are great at doing the same thing as their neighbor). There are no geniuses in football. As far as that's concerned there are no geniuses (some believe they are)!

Some Points

1. Jam the tight end (few teams do).

2. Contain, Contain, Contain.

3. Learn how to really tackle.

4. Learn how to coach with the players zou have.

5. If you want any information call me. 1-641-869-5020 or write. Good Luck!!!



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Tips

1. Never play loose defense in a close game or in the final minutes.

2. Take away one weapon when your playing a great team.

3. Make the offense change.

4. Always kick deep. No short kicks!

5. RushIBlitz especially when playing a seven step drop passing team.

6. Contain! So many teams lose contain because of discipline!

7. Speed, toughness and, aggressiveness win games.

8. Teach tough tackling and stripping the ball three days a week.

9. Always wear helmets and shoulder pads every practice. Stay away from ''nicks''.

10. Scrimmage very little - teach! Spend time with defense.

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