Defensive Playbook

2006
 Defensive Plays
• Red
• Blue
• Red Stagger
• Blue Stagger
• Red Rover
• Blue Rover
• Red Dog
• Blue Dog
• Green
• Black
• White
• Silver
 Red

Safety

RCB ROLB RILB LILB LOLB LCB

Rusher

Girls are CIRCLES

Guys are SQUARES
 Red
(5-2 Zone)
• Basic 5-2 zone defense: 1 rusher, 2 safeties, 2 cornerbacks, 3 linebackers. 5 are
playing a shallow zone across the field, 2 are playing the deep half zones.
• Rusher: be aggressive; force QB to the left if right-handed; cover the QB once ball is
gone. Any zone defense can get picked apart if the QB has time to throw…
• LCB/LBs: play 7 yards off the ball; drop back another 5 at the snap and wait in your
zone. Watch the QB’s eyes; play receivers if they run into your area; let them go if
they want to leave…The linebackers will cover any slants, hitches or shallow
crossing patterns; the corners will cover any 10-20 yard buttonhooks or outs; give
them the 5 yard out, they need long yardage…
• RCB/S: you are the last line of defense. No guessing, no hunches, no hot-dogging,
no mental lapses. Your job is so vital it’s simple…NO ONE GETS BEHIND YOU,
EVER!!!! NO MATTER WHAT!!!!!! Cover the fly patterns, the deep posts and the
deep flag patterns.

• The soft spots of this defense:

• The deep out behind the corners but in front of the safeties,
• Post pattern behind the LBs but in front of the safeties.
 Blue

Safety

RCB ROLB RILB LILB LOLB LCB

Rusher

Girls are CIRCLES

Guys are SQUARES
 Blue
(5-2 Zone)
• Basic 5-2 zone defense: 1 rusher, 2 safeties, 2 cornerbacks, 3 linebackers. 5 are
playing a shallow zone across the field, 2 are playing the deep half zones.
• Rusher: be aggressive; force QB to the left if right-handed; cover the QB once ball is
gone. Any zone defense can get picked apart if the QB has time to throw…
• RCB/LBs: play 7 yards off the ball; drop back another 5 at the snap and wait in your
zone. Watch the QB’s eyes; play receivers if they run into your area; let them go if
they want to leave…The linebackers will cover any slants, hitches or shallow
crossing patterns; the corners will cover any 10-20 yard buttonhooks or outs; give
them the 5 yard out, they need long yardage…
• LCB/S: you are the last line of defense. No guessing, no hunches, no hot-dogging,
no mental lapses. Your job is so vital it’s simple…NO ONE GETS BEHIND YOU,
EVER!!!! NO MATTER WHAT!!!!!! Cover the fly patterns, the deep posts and the
deep flag patterns.

• The soft spots of this defense:

• The deep out behind the corners but in front of the safeties,
• Post pattern behind the LBs but in front of the safeties.
 Red Stagger

Safety

RCB ROLB RILB LILB LOLB LCB

Rusher

Girls are CIRCLES

Guys are SQUARES
 Red Stagger
(4-1-2 zone)
• 4-1-2 zone defense: 1 rusher, 2 deep safeties, 1 shallow safety, 2 cornerbacks, 2
linebackers. 4 are playing a shallow zone across the field, 2 are playing the deep half
zones, and there is one playing the intermediate zone.
• Rusher: be aggressive; force QB to the left if right-handed; cover the QB once ball is
gone. Any zone defense can get picked apart if the QB has time to throw…
• LCB/LBs: play 7 yards off the ball; drop back another 5 at the snap and wait in your
zone. Watch the QB’s eyes; play receivers if they run into your area; let them go if
they want to leave…The linebackers will cover any slants, hitches or shallow
crossing patterns; the corners will cover any 10-20 yard buttonkooks or outs; give
them the 5 yard out, they need long yardage…
• LILB: you are responsible for the intermediate middle of the field. Any deep
crossing patterns, skinny posts or shallow posts are your domain. If three receivers
are going deep you need to defend the deep middle…
• RCB/safety: you are the last line of defense. No guessing, no hunches, no hot-
dogging, no mental lapses. Your job is so vital it’s simple…NO ONE GETS BEHIND
YOU, EVER!!!! NO MATTER WHAT!!!!!! Cover the fly patterns, the deep posts and
the deep flag patterns.

• The soft spots of this defense:

• The deep out behind the corners but in front of the free safeties, or deep curl
patterns between the corners and the rover.
• sending the two outside receivers on fly patterns and a slot receiver/center on a deep
post pattern.
 Blue Stagger

Safety

RCB ROLB RILB LILB LOLB LCB

Rusher

Girls are CIRCLES

Guys are SQUARES
 Blue Stagger
(4-1-2 zone)
• 4-1-2 zone defense: 1 rusher, 2 deep safeties, 1 shallow safety, 2 cornerbacks, 2
linebackers. 4 are playing a shallow zone across the field, 2 are playing the deep half
zones, and there is one playing the intermediate zone.
• Rusher: be aggressive; force QB to the left if right-handed; cover the QB once ball is
gone. Any zone defense can get picked apart if the QB has time to throw…
• RCB/LBs: play 7 yards off the ball; drop back another 5 at the snap and wait in your
zone. Watch the QB’s eyes; play receivers if they run into your area; let them go if
they want to leave…The linebackers will cover any slants, hitches or shallow
crossing patterns; the corners will cover any 10-20 yard buttonkooks or outs; give
them the 5 yard out, they need long yardage…
• RILB: you are responsible for the intermediate middle of the field. Any deep
crossing patterns, skinny posts or shallow posts are your domain. If three receivers
are going deep you need to defend the deep middle…
• LCB/safety: you are the last line of defense. No guessing, no hunches, no hot-
dogging, no mental lapses. Your job is so vital it’s simple…NO ONE GETS BEHIND
YOU, EVER!!!! NO MATTER WHAT!!!!!! Cover the fly patterns, the deep posts and
the deep flag patterns.

• The soft spots of this defense:

• The deep out behind the corners but in front of the free safeties, or deep curl
patterns between the corners and the rover.
• sending the two outside receivers on fly patterns and a slot receiver/center on a deep
post pattern.
 Red Dog

Safety

RCB ROLB RILB LILB LOLB LCB

Rusher

Girls are CIRCLES

Guys are SQUARES
 Red Dog
(4-2 zone)
• 4-2 zone defense: 2 rushers, 2 deep safeties, 2 cornerbacks, 2 linebackers. 4 are
playing a shallow zone across the field and 2 are playing the deep half zones.
• Rushers: be aggressive; contain the QB and do not let him/her get outside of you.
• LCB/LBs: play 7 yards off the ball; drop back another 5 at the snap and wait in your
zone. Watch the QB’s eyes; play receivers if they run into your area; let them go if
they want to leave…The linebackers will cover any slants, hitches or shallow
crossing patterns; the corners will cover any 10-20 yard buttonkooks or outs; give
them the 5 yard out, they need long yardage…
• RCB/safety: you are the last line of defense. No guessing, no hunches, no hot-
dogging, no mental lapses. Your job is so vital it’s simple…NO ONE GETS BEHIND
YOU, EVER!!!! NO MATTER WHAT!!!!!! Cover the fly patterns, the deep posts and
the deep flag patterns.

• The soft spots of this defense:

• The deep out behind the corners but in front of the safeties,
• Post pattern behind the LBs but in front of the safeties.
 Blue Dog

Safety

RCB ROLB RILB LILB LOLB LCB

Rusher

Girls are CIRCLES

Guys are SQUARES
 Blue Dog
(4-2 zone)
• 4-2 zone defense: 2 rushers, 2 deep safeties, 2 cornerbacks, 2 linebackers. 4 are
playing a shallow zone across the field and 2 are playing the deep half zones.
• Rushers: be aggressive; contain the QB and do not let him/her get outside of you.
• RCB/LBs: play 7 yards off the ball; drop back another 5 at the snap and wait in your
zone. Watch the QB’s eyes; play receivers if they run into your area; let them go if
they want to leave…The linebackers will cover any slants, hitches or shallow
crossing patterns; the corners will cover any 10-20 yard buttonkooks or outs; give
them the 5 yard out, they need long yardage…
• LCB/safety: you are the last line of defense. No guessing, no hunches, no hot-
dogging, no mental lapses. Your job is so vital it’s simple…NO ONE GETS BEHIND
YOU, EVER!!!! NO MATTER WHAT!!!!!! Cover the fly patterns, the deep posts and
the deep flag patterns.

• The soft spots of this defense:

• The deep out behind the corners but in front of the safeties,
• Post pattern behind the LBs but in front of the safeties.
 Red Rover

Safety

RCB ROLB RILB LILB LOLB LCB

Rusher

Girls are CIRCLES

Guys are SQUARES
 Red Rover
(4-2 zone w/ Rover)
• 4-2 zone defense with a rover: 1 rusher, 2 deep safeties, 2 cornerbacks, 2
linebackers. 4 are playing a shallow zone across the field and 2 are playing the deep
half zones.
• Rusher: be aggressive; force QB to the left if right-handed; cover the QB once ball is
gone. Any zone defense can get picked apart If he has too much time…
• LCB/LBs: play 7 yards off the ball; drop back another 5 at the snap and wait in your
zone. Watch the QB’s eyes; play receivers if they run into your area; let them go if
they want to leave…The linebackers will cover any slants, hitches or shallow
crossing patterns; the corners will cover any 10-20 yard buttonhooks or outs; give
them the 5 yard out, they need long yardage…
• RCB/safety: you are the last line of defense. No guessing, no hunches, no hot-
dogging, no mental lapses. Your job is so vital it’s simple…NO ONE GETS BEHIND
YOU, EVER!!!! NO MATTER WHAT!!!!!! Cover the fly patterns, the deep posts and
the deep flag patterns.
• Rover: do whatever you feel needs to be done. Help with the pass rush, cover
someone man-to-man, spy the QB. Above all: make a play!!!

• The soft spots of this defense:

• The deep out behind the corners but in front of the safeties,
• Post pattern behind the LBs but in front of the safeties.
 Blue Rover

Safety

RCB ROLB RILB LILB LOLB LCB

Rusher

Girls are CIRCLES

Guys are SQUARES
 Blue Rover
(4-2 zone w/ Rover)
• 4-2 zone defense with a rover: 1 rusher, 2 deep safeties, 2 cornerbacks, 2
linebackers. 4 are playing a shallow zone across the field and 2 are playing the deep
half zones.
• Rusher: be aggressive; force QB to the left if right-handed; cover the QB once ball is
gone. Any zone defense can get picked apart If he has too much time…
• RCB/LBs: play 7 yards off the ball; drop back another 5 at the snap and wait in your
zone. Watch the QB’s eyes; play receivers if they run into your area; let them go if
they want to leave…The linebackers will cover any slants, hitches or shallow
crossing patterns; the corners will cover any 10-20 yard buttonhooks or outs; give
them the 5 yard out, they need long yardage…
• LCB/safety: you are the last line of defense. No guessing, no hunches, no hot-
dogging, no mental lapses. Your job is so vital it’s simple…NO ONE GETS BEHIND
YOU, EVER!!!! NO MATTER WHAT!!!!!! Cover the fly patterns, the deep posts and
the deep flag patterns.
• Rover: do whatever you feel needs to be done. Help with the pass rush, cover
someone man-to-man, spy the QB. Above all: make a play!!!

• The soft spots of this defense:

• The deep out behind the corners but in front of the safeties,
• Post pattern behind the LBs but in front of the safeties.
 Green

Safety

RCB ROLB RILB LILB LOLB LCB

Rusher

Girls are CIRCLES

Guys are SQUARES
 Green
(4-3 zone)
• 4-3 zone defense: 1 rusher, 3 deep safeties, 4 linebackers. 4 are playing a shallow
zone across the field and 3 are playing the deep third zones.
• Rusher: be aggressive; force QB to the left if right-handed; cover the QB once ball is
gone. Any zone defense can get picked apart If he has too much time…
• LBs: play 7 yards off the ball; drop back another 5 at the snap and wait in your zone.
Watch the QB’s eyes; play receivers if they run into your area; let them go if they
want to leave…The inside linebackers will cover any slants, hitches or shallow
crossing patterns; the outside linebackers will cover any 10-20 yard buttonhooks or
outs; give them the 5 yard out, they need long yardage…
• CBs/safety: you are the last line of defense. No guessing, no hunches, no hot-
dogging, no mental lapses. Your job is so vital it’s simple…NO ONE GETS BEHIND
YOU, EVER!!!! NO MATTER WHAT!!!!!! Cover the fly patterns, the deep posts and
the deep flag patterns.

• The soft spots of this defense:

• The deep out, deep squarein or deep buttonhook, all behind the linebackers but in
front of the corners and safeties.
 Black

Safety

RCB ROLB RILB LILB LOLB LCB

Rusher

Girls are CIRCLES

Guys are SQUARES
 Black
(Man 1 Deep)
• Basic man-to-man defense: 1 rusher, 1 safety, everyone else defending man-to-man.
• Rusher: be aggressive; force QB to the left if right-handed; cover the QB once ball is
gone. The defense is as dominating as you are…
• CBs/LBs: play man-to-man with a slight cushion; cornerbacks use an inside shade
technique and use the sideline as an extra defender; everyone be careful about
crossing routes and pick plays
• RILB: play the center man-to man; be careful about crossing routes and pick plays.
• LILB: you are responsible for either of the two blockers if they go out for a pass. If
both go out, you have to choose one to cover. Be quick and decisive and let the entire
team know if the ball goes to the other (uncovered) person. If a guy and a girl come
out of the backfield, pick up the guy man-to-man.
• Free safety: you are the last line of defense. No guessing, no hunches, no hot-
dogging, no lapses. Your job is vitally simple…NO ONE GETS BEHIND YOU, EVER!!!!
NO MATTER WHAT!!!!!!

• 2 main weaknesses of this defense:

• if three guys are on the line of scrimmage then one of our girls is playing man-to-man
versus a guy.
• if both blocking backs go out for a pass, one of them is uncovered…
 White

Safety

RCB ROLB RILB LILB LOLB LCB

Rusher

Girls are CIRCLES

Guys are SQUARES
 White
(Man No Deep)
• Basic man-to-man defense: 1 rusher, 7 defenders man-to-man. This is for short
yardage or for goal-line plays only…
• Rusher: be aggressive; force QB to the left if right-handed; GET THE QB!!!! Cover
the QB once ball is gone. This defense is as smothering as the pressure you
create…
• CBs/LBs/S: play tight man-to-man as they probably only need a few yards
(especially goalline); cornerbacks use an inside shade technique and use the
sideline as an extra defender; the inside LBs and the safety have the center and
blocking backs man-to man.
• Everyone be careful about crossing routes and pick plays…if there are two guy or
two girl receivers on one side, the defenders can talk about switching whom they
defend if the receivers do cross.

• ONE MAIN WEAKNESS of this defense:

• No safety help if someone goes deep or a tackle is missed after a completion.
 Silver

Safety

RCB ROLB RILB LILB LOLB LCB

Rusher

Girls are CIRCLES

Guys are SQUARES
 Silver
(Man 2 Deep)
• Basic man-to-man defense: 1 rusher, 2 deep safeties, 5 defenders man-to-man.
• Rusher: be aggressive; force QB to the left if right-handed; cover the QB once ball is gone.
The defense is as dominating as you are…
• CBs/LBs: play man-to-man with a slight cushion; cornerbacks use an inside shade
technique and use the sideline as an extra defender; inside LB plays the center man-to
man; everyone be careful about crossing routes and pick plays
• safeties: you are the last line of defense. No guessing, no hunches, no hot-dogging, no
lapses. Your job is vitally simple…NO ONE GETS BEHIND YOU, EVER!!!! NO MATTER
WHAT!!!!!!

• ONE MAIN WEAKNESS of this defense:

• the blocking backs are uncovered if they go out for a pass…