HARVEST PREPATORY

DEFENSIVE PLAYBOOK
2019

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

2019 JV FOOTBALL REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE

PG.3

DEFENSIVE PHILOSOPHY

PG.4
STYLE OF DEFENSE

PG.5

KEYS TO VICTORY

PG.6

2019 DEFENSIVE GOALS

PG.7

OFFENSIVE RECOGNITION

PGS.8-11
THE DEFENSE

PGS.12-54

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3
 DEFENSIVE PHILOSOPHY

The Gila Ridge Hawk defense is defined by 3 core principles:

1) Being PHYSICAL
2) Effectively COMMUNICATING
3) Playing as a TEAM

#1 Being PHYSICAL

Football is a full contact sport.It is one of few sports were two men must compete directly
against each other, one dominating the other. Being so, it is a sport that is highly physical in
nature. Both as an individual and as a team, physicality will be the determining factor in weather
you will succeed or fail in attempting to defeat your opponent.

#2 Effectively COMMUNICATING

Communication is the single most important factor in regards to entire group of individuals
experiencing success in achieving a goal together. Every individual must do their part in
communicating to the group, with everyone together creating a solid and clear line of
communication. In critical situations, communication can be the deciding factor in what the
specific outcome will be.

#3 Playing as a TEAM

In any athletic arena, the team represents what is great about sports. The team represents a group
of individuals from several different backgrounds, with different religions, ethnicities,
socioeconomic status and many other differences. Regardless of these differences, these
individuals come together to achieve a goal that is much more rewarding than any individual
goal, simply because a team goal is much more difficult to achieve.

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 STYLE OF DEFENSE

This defense is a 4-3, Over front style defense. The defense is

flexible, as it contains a variety of front alignments and individual
coverages. These allow the defensive package to be multiple in
nature.

The defense is predicated on a conservative approach. With this

type of approach, the defense is predicting that the opponent will
eventually make a mistake. The priority is to protect against the
big play first by taking away any deep pass or any long run. Short
passes and minimal gain runs will be allowed in order to protect
against the big play.

Pressure will be utilized in a planned and calculated manner. The

opponent will be attacked in specific situations, particularly those
in which the opponent faces a long down and distance scenario.
Pressure is an important part of the defense that is utilized within
the conservative approach of the defense.

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 KEYS TO VICTORY

1) Be Prepared – study the opponent and know what

their strengths and weaknesses are

2) Know your assignment – know what you are being

asked to do on every play (offense, defense, special
teams)

3) Communicate – establish and maintain a line of

communication both with teammates and coaches

4) Understand the Situation – know what the specific

situation is and when as well as what could possibly
happen

5) Play Every Play – give complete concentration to the

task at hand and do your job

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 2018 DEFENSIVE GOALS

1) Hold the opponent to 14 points or fewer

2) Get 3 or more sacks

3) Force 3 or more turnovers

4) Don’t allow the opponent to score in the 4th quarter

*These are goals that we are going to achieve every game*

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 OFFENSIVE
RECOGNITION

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 FORMATIONS

PRO TWINS

TRIPS TRIPS CLOSED

DOUBLE TIGHT BUNCH

DOUBLES EMPTY

DOUBLE WING WING T

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RECEIVER ROUTES

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 PERSONNEL GROUPINGS

10 1 RB, No TE

11 1 RB, 1 TE

12 1 RB, 2 TE’s

20 2 RB’s, No TE

21 2 RB’s, 1 TE

22 2 RB’s, 2 TE’s

30 3 RB’s, No TE

31 3 RB’s, 1 TE

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 THE
DEFENSE

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 TERMINOLOGY

FRONT
Heads – SE in a 9, T in a 2, N in a 2, WE in a 5
Under – SLB in a 9, SE in a 5, T in a 1, N in a 3, WE in a 5
Over – SE in a 9, T in a 3, N in a 1, WE in a 5
Okie – SE in a 5, N in a 1, WE in a 3
Tuff – SE in a 9, E in a 5, T in a 1, N in a 3, WE in a 5

MOVEMENT
Pin – one man movement to the inside
Pop – one man movement to the outside
Nat – two man movement, Nose goes first; Tackle goes second
Tan – two man movement, Tackle goes first; Nose goes second
Raider – three man movement
Laker – three man movement
Pinch – full line movement, all DL move to their inside gap
Slant Right – full line movement, all DL move to the right
Slant Left – full line movement, all DL move to their left

BLITZ
Gap – defender blitzes his primary gap responsibility
Edge – defender blitzes off the edge of the formation

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Double Edge - defenders blitz off both sides of formation
Middle – defenders blitz middle of formation

COVERAGE
Lock – Cover 0
Halo – Cover 1
Ozzie – Cover 2
Ozzie Press – Cover 2 with Corners in Press alignment
Metallica – Cover 2 with underneath Man coverage
Ozzie Fire – 4 Under, 2 Deep zone blitz coverage
Ozzie Red – Cover 2 used in the Red Zone
Stooges – Cover 3
Stooges Press – Cover 3 with Corners in Press alignment
Stooges Fire – 3 Under, 3 Deep zone blitz coverage
Amigos – Cover 3 Roll
Stooges Prevent – 3 deep coverage for 2 minutes or less in half or game
Stooges Victory – 3 deep coverage at the end of game

COVERAGE TECHNIQUE
Hold & React – coverage technique with defender dropping to one zone
and holding their positon, reacting to cover another zone when the ball is
thrown there
Carry – coverage technique with defender collisioning and running with a
receiver vertically up the field

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Deliver – coverage technique with defender covering a receiver until he
enters another defender’s zone or can be covered by another defender man
to man
Wall – coverage technique with defender maintaining inside leverage,
collisioning and keeping all receivers from coming inside
Jam – coverage technique with defender making contact with the receiver
on the snap with the off hand impeading the receivers release
Sink – coverage technique with defender gaining depth with no threat to
their zone
Inside Leverage – lining up in and maintaining inside leverage on a receiver
Outside Leverage – lining up in and maintaining outside leverage on a
receiver
Trail Technique – coverage technique with defender maintaining inside
leverage, keeping a position 1 yard behind and 1 yard inside the receiver

RUN FIT
Force – responsibility for constricting the end run by meeting it with outside
in leverage, forcing it back to the inside
Alley – responsibility for fitting inside of the Force player with inside out
leverage, fitting over top of the end run
Fill – responsibility for fitting inside of the Alley player with inside out
leverage, fitting inside of the end run
Cutback – responsibility of playing behind the end run along the line of
scrimmage, checking for and protecting against a cutback seam
Secondary Contain – responsibility of replacing the Force player if leverage
is lost, becoming the new Force player
21 – responsibility of playing behind the end run, taking an angle to the
opposite front end zone pylon and maintaining leverage to keep 21 players
in front and to the inside

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RUN TECHNIQUE
Box – run fit technique with defender approaching ball with outside in
leverage
Spill – run fit technique with defender meeting a block with outside
shoulder, maintaining inside out leverage
Block Down Step Down – run action technique with defender step shuffling
down the line of scrimmage looking for a blocker or cutback action

PERSONNEL
Regular – 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB
Tuff – 5 DL, 2 LB, 4 DB
Nickel – 4 DL, 2 LB, 5 DB
Dime – 3 DL, 2 LB, 6 DB
Rush – 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB

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 DEFENSIVE PERSONNEL

SC E T N D WC

S M W

H F

DEFENSIVE LINE
POSITION NAMES
E – Strong End
E – End
T – Strong Tackle
T – Tom
N – Weak Tackle
N - Nose
D – Weak End
D – Dash

LINEBACKERS
S – Sam
S – Strong Linebacker
M – Mike
M – Middle Linebacker
W – Will
W – Weak Linebacker

SC – Cheech
SECONDARY
WC – Chong
SC – Strong Corner
H - Hawk
WC –Weak Corner
F – Free
H - Strong Safety
F – Free Safety

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GAP IDENTIFICATION & TECHNIQUE NUMBERING

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 DEFENSIVE HUDDLE

The defense will use a “Muddle Huddle” before each play. Defensive Lineman will align
on the ball, while Linebackers and Secondary will align in and around the hashes. It is
vital that the defense huddle closely together to receive the call and relay it correctly.

Defensive Line – align on the football, inside of the hashes

Linebackers – align 5 yards from the ball, inside of the hashes
Secondary – align 10 yards from the ball, inside of the hashes

 Regardless of position, this alignment will allow you to get to either side of the
field or formation when the offense breaks its huddle

 If the opponent utilizes a no huddle or up tempo system, we will game plan to

ensure that our huddle and communication can be maintained
 If the offense begins to go up tempo, we have two options: 1. Still make a
defensive call, 2. Play “Over 2 (Over Front, Cover 2) as a default

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 DEFENSIVE COMMUNICATION

A. Getting the Call

 The call will be comprised of several parts (“Over, Slant Right, Sam Edge, Cover 2”)
1) Front
2) Stunt
3) Blitz
4) Coverage

 Mike will call “Huddle” to alert all 3 position groups to huddle

 The Nose will echo the Front & Stunt to the DL huddle, the Mike will echo the Front &
Blitz to the LB huddle, the Hawk will echo the Coverage & Blitz to the DB huddle

B. Offense Comes to the Line

 Once the offense breaks their huddle and comes to the line of scrimmage:

 Mike declares the strength (“Strong Right” or “Strong Left”) to set the
Front
 Hawk calls out the formation (“Doubles,” “Trips”)

C. After the Snap

 Whole Defense: “Run,” “Pass,” “Screen,” “Draw,” “Boot”
 LB’s & DB’s: “In,” “Out,” “Deep”

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Motions/Shifts & Checks

 If the offensive formation changes, the Mike will communicate the new strength
to the entire defense (Pro RT motion to Pro LT: “Strong Left,” “Strong Left”)

 Any component of the defense can be changed by using a “Check” call

 Front (change the front to another Front) - “Check Under”
 Stunt (change the stunt to another one or kill the Stunt) - “Check Nat”
 Blitz (change the blitz to another one or kill the Blitz) - “Kill It”
 Coverage (change the coverage to another Coverage” - “Check 2”

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 REGULAR
PACKAGE
The Regular Package consists of normal base fronts and coverages

 Heads
 Over
 Under

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 HEADS

E N E
S W

POSITION ALIGNMENT KEY RUN RUN AWAY PASS

TO
CONTAIN
SE 5 TACKLE C C – CHASE RUSH
INSIDE A
N 1 CENTER A A – CHASE GAP RUSH
CONTAIN
WE 3 GUARD B B – CHASE RUSH
CONTAIN
S 30 TACKLE B C – CHASE RUSH
COVERAGE
W 30 GUARD A A CALL

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 OVER

E N E
S W

POSITION ALIGNMENT KEY RUN RUN AWAY PASS

TO
CONTAIN
SE 3 GUARD D D- CHASE RUSH
INSIDE B
N 0 CENTER B B – CHASE GAP RUSH
INSIDE A
WE 3 GUARD A A – GAP GAP RUSH
CONTAIN
S 5 TACKLE C C – CHASE RUSH
COVERAGE
W 50 GUARD C A CALL
COVERAGE
M 10 CENTER A B CALL
COVERAGE
W 50 GUARD B D/ALLEY CALL

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 UNDER

E N E
S W

POSITION ALIGNMENT KEY RUN RUN AWAY PASS

TO
CONTAIN
SE 5 TACKLE C C – CHASE RUSH
INSIDE A
N 1 CENTER A A – CHASE GAP RUSH
INSIDE B
WE 4i CENTER B B – CHASE GAP RUSH
CONTAIN
S 30 TACKLE C C- CHASE RUSH
TE/ COVERAGE
W 30 TACKLE D D - CHASE CALL
COVERAGE
M 30 GUARD B A CALL
COVERAGE
W 30 GUARD A B CALL

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 SUB
PACKAGE
The Sub Package consists of substitute fronts and coverages

 Okie

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 OKIE

E E
S W

POSITION ALIGNMENT KEY RUN RUN AWAY PASS

TO
CONTAIN
E 5 TACKLE C C- CHASE RUSH
INSIDE A
N 1 CENTER A A – CHASE GAP RUSH
CONTAIN
D 3 GUARD B B – CHASE RUSH
COVERAGE
M 30 GUARD B A CALL
COVERAGE
W 30 GUARD A B CALL

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SHORT YARDAGE/GOAL LINE
PACKAGE
The Short Yardage/Goal Line Package consists of short yardage and goal line
fronts and coverages

 Tuff

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 TUFF

E N N E
S

POSITION ALIGNMENT KEY RUN RUN AWAY PASS

TO
TE/ CONTAIN
E 9 TACKLE D D – CHASE RUSH
INSIDE C
T 5 TACKLE C C- CHASE GAP RUSH
INSIDE A
N 1 CENTER A A – CHASE GAP RUSH
INSIDE B
T 3 GUARD B B – CHASE GAP RUSH
CONTAIN
D 5 GUARD C C – CHASE RUSH
COVERAGE
S 50 GUARD D/ALLEY B CALL
COVERAGE
M 10 CENTER B A CALL
COVERAGE
W 50 GUARD D/ALLEY B CALL

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 COVERAGES
These coverages are the base coverages and their variations that can be utilized
with any of the packages

MAN COVERAGE
COV 0 – Corners play with inside leverage on WR
COV 1 – Corners play with outside leverage on WR

ZONE COVERAGE
COV 2 – Corners play with outside leverage
COV 3 – Corners play with inside leverage

BALL
Outside Leverage Inside Leverage

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 COVERAGE ALIGNMENTS

COV 0
Corners – 1x1 (1 yard off, 1 yard inside receiver)
Hawk – align on #2 strong 5x1 (5 yards off, 1 yard outside receiver)
Free – align on #2 weak, 5x1 (5 yards off, 1 yard outside receiver)

COV 1
Corners – 1x1 (1 yard off, 1 yard outside receiver)
Hawk – align on #2 strong, 5x1 (5 yards off, 1 yard outside receiver)
Free – align over strong side A gap, 10 yards off

COV 2
Corners – 5x1 (5 yards off, 1 yard outside receiver)
Safeties – 10, Hash (10 yards off, aligned on the hash mark)

COV 3
Corners – 7x1 (7 yards off, 1 yard inside receiver)

Safeties - 10, Hash (10 yards, aligned on the hash mark)

COVERAGE RULES

 In Zone coverages (Cov 2, Cov 3) always align in a 2-high shell

(Cov 2) and move pre snap or post snap to coverage responsibilities

 In Cov 0 the Hawk aligns on the #2 receiver to the strong side of the formation,
and the Free aligns on the #2 receiver to the weak side or the #3 receiver to the
strong side

 In Cov 1 one of the Linebackers will become a free player that will sink to the
middle of the field and play a low hole zone

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RECEIVER NUMBERING

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 COVERAGE ZONES

Level 1 & 2 – Underneath Zones

Level 3 – Deep Zones

 The Flat zone starts at the LOS and extends to 7 yards deep
 The Hook & Curl zones start at 7 yards and extend to 15 yards deep
 The Deep zones start at 15 yards and extend to the goal line

 The landmarks that are used for zone coverage responsibilities are the
hashes, numbers and sidelines

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 LOCK (COV 0)

H E T N E F
C C
S M W

POSITION ALIGNMENT KEY PASS

S 5 YDS #2 WR #2 STRONG

M 5 YDS F/H (#3) #3 STRONG

W 5 YDS F/H (#2) #2 WEAK

SC 1X1 INSIDE #1 WR #1 STRONG

WC 1X1 INSIDE #1 WR #1 WEAK

H 3x1 OUTSIDE #1 WR #1 STRONG

F 3X1 OUTSIDE #1 WR #1 WEAK

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 HALO (COV 1)

C E T N E C
H
S M W

POSITION ALIGNMENT KEY PASS

S 5 YDS F/H (#3) #3 STRONG

M 5 YDS CENTER HOLE

W 5 YDS F/H (#2) #2 WEAK

SC 1x1 OUTSIDE #1 WR #1 STRONG

WC 1X1 OUTSIDE #1 WR #1 WEAK

H 3x1 OUTSIDE #2 WR #2 STRONG

F 10 YDS, STRONG A CENTER DEEP 1/3

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 OZZIE (COV 2)

C E T N E C

S M W

H F

POSITION ALIGNMENT KEY PASS

S 5 YDS TACKLE CURL

M 5 YDS CENTER HOOK

W 5 YDS TACKLE CURL

SC 5X1 OUTSIDE T/TE FLAT

WC 5X1 OUTSIDE T/TE FLAT

H 10 YDS, ON HASH T/TE DEEP 1/2

F 10 YDS, ON HASH T/TE DEEP 1/2

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 STOOGES (COV 3)

C E T N E C

S M W

H F

POSITION ALIGNMENT KEY PASS

S 5 YDS TACKLE HOOK-CURL

M 5 YDS CENTER HOOK-CURL

W 5 YDS CURL-FLAT

SC 7X1, INSIDE T/TE DEEP 1/3

WC 7X1 INSIDE T/TE DEEP 1/3

H 10 YDS, ON HASH T/TE CURL-FLAT

F 10 YDS, ON HASH T/TE DEEP 1/3

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 LINE MOVEMENTS
The line movements are categorized into Run Stunts (used against the Run) and
Rush Games (used against the Pass)

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 RUN STUNTS
End Pin End Pop Tom Pin Tom Pop

Y
E T N D E T N D
E T N D E T N D

Nate Pin Nate Pop Dash Pin Dash Pop

E T N D
E T N D E T N D E T N D

Nat Tan Raider Laker

Y
E T N D
E T N D E T N D E T N D

Pinch Slant Right Slant Left

Y
E T N D
E T N D E T N D

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 PASS RUSH GAMES
Dan Nad Eat Toe

E T N D E T N D E T N D E T N D

Raider Laker Slant Right Slant Left

Y Y
E T N D E T N D E T N D E T N D

Loop

E T N D

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 BLITZES

The blitzes are categorized based on their location (Edge or Middle) and coverage
(Man or Zone)

Reasons for using pressure:

 Exploit a weak offensive player (Offensive Lineman, Running Back)

 Overload one side of the formation
 Take advantage of the pass protection scheme

Method for calling pressures:

 Pressures are called by designating which specific players are going to

be involved (“Sam Edge,” “Mike & Sam Middle”)
 The location of the blitz is indicated by a specific key word:
- Gap
- Edge
- Middle

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 GAP

C E T N E C C E T N E C C E T N E C

S M W S M W S M W

H F H F H F

C E T N E C C E T N E C C E T N E C

S M W S M W S M W

H F H F H F

C E T N E C

S M W

H F

GAP blitzes involve the blitzer rushing through their primary gap responsibility within the front

 The specific gap that you are blitzing depends on what your gap responsibility is for the
specific front called (Over, Under, Okie, etc.)
 Can involve 1,2 or 3 blitzers

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 EDGE

C E T N E C C E T N E C C E T N E C

S M W S M W S M W

H F H F H F

C E T N E C C E T N E C C E T N E C

S M W S M W S M W

H F H F H F

C E T N E C C E T N E C C E T N E C

S M W S M W S M W

H F H F H F

EDGE blitzes involve the blitzer rushing off of the edge of the formation

 Some blitzes rush off of one edge, some blitzes rush off of both edges
 Can involve 1 or 2 blitzers

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 MIDDLE

C E T N E C C E T N E C

S M W S M W

H F H F

MIDDLE blitzes involve the blitzer rushing through the middle of the formation

 Both blitzers rush through the A gaps

 Involves 2 blitzers

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 RUN FITS
These are the base run fits for each front and coverage in the defensive package

GENERAL RUN FIT RESPONSIBILITIES

 The FORCE player is responsible for making the ball cutback into the middle of
the defense
 The ALLEY player is responsible for fronting up the ball between the FORCE
player and FILL player
 The FILL player is responsible for making the ball bounce to the outside
 The CUTBACK player is responsible for defending any cutback or misdirection
action by the ball
 The 21 player is responsible for taking a deep angle towards the ball while keeping
the other 21 players on the field in front of him

CREATE A BOX AROUND THE BALL

C S M W C

H F

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 COV 0 (INTERIOR FITS)

C E T N D C
H S M W F

vs ISO

H C E T N D C F
S M W

vs DIVE

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 COV 0 (PERIMETER FITS)

C E T N D C
H S M W F

vs POWER

H C E T N D C F
S M W

vs SWEEP

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 COV 1 (INTERIOR FITS)

C E T N D C
H S M W

vs ISO

C E T N D C
H S M W

vs INSIDE ZONE

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 COV 1 (PERIMETER FITS)

C E T N D C
H S M W

vs POWER

C E T N D C
H S M W

vs TOSS COUNTER

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 COV 2 (INTERIOR FITS)

C E T N D C
S M W

H F

vs ISO

C E T N D C
S M W

H F

vs INSIDE ZONE

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 COV 2 (PERIMETER FITS)

C E T N D C
S M W

H F

vs POWER

C E T N D C
S M W

H F

vs TOSS COUNTER

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 COV 3 (INTERIOR FITS)

C E T N D C
H S M W

vs ISO

C E T N D C
S M W

H F

vs DIVE

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 COV 3 (PERIMETER FITS)

C E T N D C
H S M W

vs POWER

C E T N D C
H S M W

vs SWEEP

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 PERSONNEL
PACKAGES
These are the personnel packages that are designed for the specific personnel
needed in each game scenario

Throughout the game, several situations will occur primarily based on down and
distance. The amount of time left in the game can also play a factor. Because of these
different situations, a variety of personnel groupings will be used. These personnel
groupings enable the defense to get the best possible personnel on the field in a given
situation.

Normal Situations: Regular

Long Down & Distance Situations: Nickel & Dime
Short Yardage & Goal Line Situations: Heavy

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PACKAGE PERSONNEL SCENARIO

REGULAR 3 DL, 2 LB, 3 DB Base downs and normal situations

HEAVY 4 DL, 1 LB, 3 DB Short yardage and goal line situations

NICKEL 2 DL, 2 LB, 4 DB 3rd down and long yardage situations

3rd down, long yardage, end of

DIME 1 DL, 1 LB, 6 DB half/game situations

PERSONNEL PROCEDURES

 The personnel package to be used at the start of the game will

be communicated to the defensive starters
 Personnel substitutions will be verbally communicated by a
coach standing on the sideline

EX.

Situation: 3rd & Long “Nickel Personnel, Nickel Personnel”

In this scenario, one Defensive Linemen would come off of the field and a
4th Defensive Back would go onto the field (we have gone from Base
personnel to Nickel personnel)

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