Coaching

Defensive
Football Successfully:
Vol. 1—Philosophy
and Fronts

Denny M. Burdine
©2010 Coaches Choice. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or

transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of Coaches Choice.
Throughout this book, the masculine shall be deemed to include the feminine
and vice versa.

ISBN: 978-1-60679-098-4
Library of Congress Control Number: 2010922622
Cover design: Brenden Murphy Book layout: Roger W. Rybkowski Front cover
photo: Sporting News/ZUMA Press
Coaches Choice
P.O. Box 1828
Monterey, CA 93942
www.coacheschoice.com
 Dedication

To my wife, Judy; thanks for being the perfect football coach’s wife. To my
mother for giving me the thirst for knowledge and my dad for teaching me that a
man’s work ethic makes all the difference. Thanks to Don Hubbard, my high
school football coach, for introducing me to the great game of football.
 Acknowledgments

Only a retired coach could have the passion to write such an in depth book about
defensive football. When I decided to spend the time to write down my
knowledge of defensive football in book format, I tried to account for every
detail. The seven volumes of Coaching Defensive Football Successfully, are the
result of thousands of hours of creating images, animation, and written
information.

As I began to write, I quickly realized that what I know is a result of the hard
work of others. I have spent my entire coaching career feeding off of the
knowledge of other coaches. I applied what I saw others doing and modified it to
suit my own situation. There are some great innovators in the game of football
and their creations never remain a secret. Of course, from trial and error, I also
developed my own defensive philosophy; however, I have invented nothing as it
applies to defensive football. During my coaching career everyone that I came in
contact with left an impression. As a coach moves through his coaching career it
becomes very difficult to remember from whom his coaching knowledge was
gained. I have taken no shortcuts in my efforts to honor those coaches who have
had a profound influence on me.

As for me, I can quickly account for my knowledge of defensive football. It

comes from three coaches.

My journey in football began with my high school coach, Don Hubbard.

From him I learned in practice what the phrase, “Run it again!” meant. He was a
die-hard for simplicity and fundamentals. We would run the same play over and
over again until he was satisfied that it could be successful in a game situation.
According to him, there was no need in have multiple plays if you could not run
the basic plays correctly. He also showed me how important winning state
championships was to the school and community, and most importantly, how it
had an everlasting impact on the players. Much of my confidence in life was
because of his influence on me and a belief that failure is not an option.

From John Thompson, former defensive coordinator at the University of

Arkansas, I learned just about everything that I know about defensive football.
Much of the defensive scheme found in this book came from Coach Thompson’s
ideas. The stack scheme with two-deep coverage was the foundation of my
football knowledge. Coach Thompson’s numbered blitz scheme, along with
prowling and movement, taught me that modern day defensive football can be
very unconventional, but very successful. I firmly believe that Coach Thompson
is one of the best defensive minds that ever coached the game.

Special thanks to Richard Martin, who was my pipeline for defensive football
information. He passed away at an early age, but he lived a full life for a football
coach. Coach Martin had a great deal of passion for defense. He would be so
intense about discussing new defensive ideas that you too would become
enthusiastic.
 Preface

Coaching Defensive Football Successfully consists of seven volumes that will

help all coaches become better defensive coaches. It is for the young coach who
is searching for a defensive package. It is also for the experienced coach who
may be looking for new defensive ideas.

The following seven volumes are found in Coaching Defensive Football

Successfully:

• Vol. 1—Philosophy and Fronts

• Vol. 2—Down Linemen

• Vol. 3—Linebackers

• Vol. 4—Secondary and Coverages

• Vol. 5—Blitz Package

• Vol. 6—Defending Offensive Schemes

• Vol. 7—Blocking and Returning Punts

The diagrammed plays found in most all books written about football use X’s
and O’s to represent players. Coaching Defensive Football Successfully replaces
the traditional X’s and O’s with drawn images of players to give the reader a
more realistic view of diagrammed plays. Each book also includes a companion
CD-ROM. The CD-ROM presents an animated PowerPoint® version of the play
diagrams found in each book. By simply clicking a mouse, the reader can use a
slide show presentation to see the diagrammed plays come to life as players
move to defensive positioning. By using this sequence, the reader will acquire an
in-depth understanding of each book.

A football coach must have a desire to acquire as much football knowledge as

possible. Throughout his coaching career, he will always search for football
information. He will buy books and videos and visit high school and college
coaches, but the truth is, though, that no matter what he is searching for, he will
get only bits and pieces of information. The worst feeling in the world is to see
new defensive ideas, but have no way of learning the fine points. Coaching
Defensive Football Successfully was written to give complete, detailed
information from a coach’s viewpoint.

Sometimes coaches work so hard using the same ideas that they become stale,
much like a man with a dull saw. He is working hard, but is making very little
progress. There comes a time when football coaches need to stop and sharpen
their saws. A sharpened saw makes the job easier and more efficient. This
defensive package will help to sharpen your defensive tools and make you a
better football coach.

Each year, high school coaches see offenses that range from the Dead-T to the
Spread, so coaches must have a package that is able to adapt to everything.
Coaching Defensive Football Successfully provides a defensive package that
allows you to make adjustments for all offensive schemes. It incorporates the
Miami package, the 4-3 front, and all its adjustments. The Oklahoma package is
the under 5-2 and all its adjustments. The Arizona package is made up of the 3-
2, 3-3, 5-1, and the two-man fronts and all the adjustments from each. Secondary
coverages are man-to-man, zone, and combination man and zone. Stemming,
prowling, and movement are used extensively. Line stunts range from the simple
one-man stunts to the complex four-man stunts. Finally, the blitz system involves
using numbered blitzes and zone blitzes that are limited only by your
imagination.

The defensive package described in this series is a proven defensive package.

This package has won championships and produced major college players and
NFL players.

If you are a new coach looking for defensive information, you will find it in
this series. If you are a coach who already has a defensive scheme, you will gain
information to build on what you already know.
 Introduction

Congratulations for having chosen one of the most honorable professions known
to man. The title “Coach” should be worn proudly, on and off the field. Your
career choice of coaching also brings with it the title of teacher. To be given the
ability and opportunity to teach others is a very honorable calling. As a football
coach, you do much more than just coach and teach. You lead, you inspire, and
you help to mold the lives of all those with whom you come in contact. The role
of coach gives you the opportunity to teach character, discipline, leadership, and
work ethics to your players. Knowing the impact you have on the lives of others
is very sobering. Even on the bad days, be proud to tell people that you are a
coach and a teacher. However, if you plan to continue to influence the lives of
others, you must be able to win in the coaching profession. Unemployed coaches
have very little impact on the lives of others. Being successful is a top priority.

Football is the greatest game that God ever allowed man to play. It is almost
as if God said, “Let there be football so that all the young boys who play it can
grow to become men, and all the men who coach it can always be boys.”

Football coaches can be divided into three categories. The first type of coach
is the “fundamentalist.” He is very conservative in his thinking. He does not
wear Tommy Hilfiger® shirts or Calvin Klein® pants. He does not brag about
how much football he knows; he simply believes that in order to win, you must
be fundamentally sound. He believes that blocking and tackling win football
games. After all, Vince Lombardi said it, so it must be true. The fundamentalist
works hard each day teaching basics. His team blocks and tackles and blocks and
tackles. He has no interest in the spread offense or the zone blitz defense; he
keeps everything simple.
 When he walks off the field after each game, he cannot understand how he
lost the game; after all, he worked fundamentals each day. A coach that is solely
a fundamentalist is a dinosaur, and he is destined for extinction.

The second type of coach is the “theorist.” He is very liberal in his thinking
and wears the Tommy Hilfiger shirts and the Calvin Klein pants. He has a
swagger in his walk, and he cannot end a conversation without letting one know
how smart he is about the game of football. He spends all his time scheming how
he can beat his opponents by outsmarting them. He believes that he wins the
game on the chalkboard. His offensive scheme is very complex with formations,
plays, and horizontal and vertical stretches. His defensive scheme is very
complex with multiple fronts and coverages. He spends more time in practice
working on alignments than he does working on fundamentals. Because he
coaches a passive brand of football, his teams have a tendency to be soft when it
comes to blocking and tackling.

When he walks off the field after each game, he cannot understand how he
lost the game; after all, he is smarter than his opponents. This type of coach is
not a dinosaur, but he also is destined for failure.

The third type of coach is the coach who understands that you win with
fundamentals and modern-day offensive and defensive schemes. He is called the
“theo-fundamentalist.” He teaches fundamentals, but he also looks to gain the
advantage by match-ups and alignments. His team works fundamentals each day
from a scheme that gives them the best advantage to block and tackle. He
understands that offensively a team must be multiple and stretch the defense
both horizontally and vertically. He believes that a team must also be very
multiple on defense and must use movement, blitzes, and multiple coverages to
confuse and attack the offense. This type of coach has a great chance to be
successful.

Each coach must develop a sound football philosophy. A defensive coach

should have the philosophy that you play defense first, have a sound kicking
game, and employ an offense that is exciting and moves the ball. The great
coach Paul “Bear” Bryant once said, “Offense sells tickets, and defense wins
championships.” Nothing of greater truth has ever been said about the game of
football. Defense comes first!

A good defensive package is one that allows the defenders to play in their
natural state. The natural state for a defensive player is running to the ball and
making tackles. All defensive schemes must allow the players to play in this
manner. A coach must develop a defensive package that best allows this type of
defense to occur. The natural state for a defender is to read and react while on
the run, which means being aggressive when coming off the ball, attacking
blockers, and pursuing the ballcarrier. To use this type of play against modern
offenses, you must be multiple in your fronts and coverages. You must stunt,
blitz, prowl, stem, and move both the fronts and coverages, thereby confusing
the offense through disguises and illusions.

Most coaches will tell you that offense is assignment football, and defensive
is reaction football. This saying may be true to a certain extent, but a defense
must be a dictating type of defense, not just a reacting defense. Strike first and
strike hard! Place pressure on the offense and let them react to what you are
doing on defense. Be simple enough to keep your players from being confused
but complex enough to attack and confuse all offensive schemes.

When you think of defensive personnel, you must have a certain type of
player in mind. You must look for players with great heart and aggressive
personalities, who swarm to the ball. You do not want the “milk drinkers and
cookie eaters” on your side of the ball. Instead, find the tough guys who will run
to the ball and arrive in a very bad mood!

Football at any level from high school to the professional ranks is simply a
good old-fashioned dogfight. Because it is a dogfight, you must bite the other
dog harder and more often than he bites you. Show good sportsmanship but be
aggressive. As the Mexicans proclaimed at the Battle of the Alamo, “De
Quello,” which basically means, “Have no mercy and take no prisoners.”

Placing your personnel in the proper positions is very important. Coaches

must spend many hours in personnel meetings in order to get the best
combination. The following ideas should be used when placing personnel into
the proper positions:
• Corners are a must! Corners must be able to play man-to-man on an island.
They must have good speed and jumping ability. The old cowboys out West
used to say, “No hoof, no horse”; well in defensive football you can say, “No
corners, no defense.” When your corners can play on an island, your
defensive scheme can become more complex and very dangerous to the
offense. You must find your corners first.

• Safeties must be able to cover like corners and tackle like linebackers. They
must be able to play in the box and also cover on an island. Safeties are your
next priority after you have found the corners.

• Linebackers are the heart of the defense. They must be able to attack
blockers, run to the ball, and tackle in the open field. They must be found.
 Building the Basics

Defense begins with the basics. How you call alignments, gaps of assignment,
huddle procedures, and personnel is the foundation of your package.

Gaps of assignment are used to assign areas of responsibility. Gaps of

assignment tell the defenders the area that they are responsible for once the ball
is snapped. After the defender secures his gap of responsibility, he is then free to
pursue the ball using the best possible angle of pursuit. Also, the “clear and
cloudy rule” comes into play. If the defender’s gap of responsibility is cloudy,
meaning that blockers or defenders have clogged up the gap, he may pursue
through the next clear gap in the angle of pursuit. Gaps are landmarked by using
letters as shown in Figures 1-1 and 1-2.
Figure 1-1. Gaps of responsibility

Figure 1-2. Areas of responsibility

Alignment techniques are number locations labeled on offensive linemen that

tell the defensive personnel where to align. The alignment techniques for
alignments on the line of scrimmage are as shown in Figures 1-3 and 1-4. For all
alignments off the line of scrimmage, a zero is added. For example, a linebacker
aligned on the inside eye of the tight end and five yards off the ball would be
called a 70 technique.

Figure 1-3. Numbering techniques

Figure 1-4. Alignment techniques

The following personnel are used in this defensive package as shown in Figure

1-5: • Blood is the strongside end, and he aligns to the declared side.

• Tackle is the strongside tackle, and he aligns to the declared side.

• Nose is the weakside tackle, and he aligns away from the declared side.

• End is the weakside end, and he aligns away from the declared side.

• Sam is the strong outside linebacker, and he aligns to the declared side.

• Mike is the middle linebacker, and he aligns to the declared side.

• Will is the weakside linebacker, and he aligns away from the declared side.

• Field corner aligns to the wide side of the field.

 • Boundary corner aligns to the boundary.

• Strong safety is the strongside safety, and he aligns to the declared side.

• Rover is the weakside safety, and he aligns away from the declared side.

Figure 1-5. Defensive personnel

Defensive success begins with a good, tight, and well-organized huddle. The
nose sets the huddle three yards off the ball. Mike, Sam, and Will are the only
defenders not facing the offense. The huddle is under the control of Mike, and
the defenders listen for his instructions as they read his lips for the defensive
calls. Will is responsible for giving the down and distance. Sam gives any
movement calls. The strong safety calls the pass coverage. (See Figure 1-6.)
Mike calls the front and stunts two times (e.g., “Stack-OH Wham 32. Stack-
OH Wham 32”). The strong safety then calls the coverage one time and yells
“Ready Swarm!” (e.g., “Cover 2-Ready Swarm!”). Everyone claps his hands and
yells “Swarm!” They then move into their pre-shift alignment as shown in
Figure 1-7.
Figure 1-6. Defensive huddle

Figure 1-7. Pre-shift alignment

Mike declares the front either to the right, by calling “Rip! Rip!” or to the left by
calling “Liz! Liz!” The strong safety declares the secondary by calling “Strong
right!” or “Strong left!” Mike and the strong safety use the following rules to
declare the defense: • If there is only one tight end, they declare to the tight end
side.

• If there are two tight ends, they declare to the tight end-flanker side.

• If there is no tight end, they declare to the multiple receiver side.

• If the offense is balanced, they declare to the field or to that week’s scouting
report.

• If field is called, they declare to the wide side of the field.

• If bench is called, they declare to the short side of the field.

• If flip is called, they declare away from the tight end.

• Glory, victory, and punt returns are automatic Liz declarations.

 Calling Defensive Fronts

When calling defensive fronts, the first name called is always the strongside
alignment. The second name called is always the weakside alignment.

• Strongside fronts include the following:

✓ Stack
✓ Wide
✓ Down
✓ Under
✓ Ace

• Weakside fronts include the following:

✓ OH
✓ Ace
✓ G
✓ Deuce
✓ Trey
 ✓ Texas
✓ I

• Balanced fronts have no strong or weak calls. The front is the same on both
sides. Balanced fronts are shown in Chapter 5. All of the following are
balanced fronts:
✓ Cochise
✓ Crazy Horse
✓ Apache
✓ Broken Arrow
✓ Custer
✓ Navajo
✓ Mohawk

• Goal line fronts are called by telling the tackle and nose where to align; there
is no strong or weak declaration. Goal line fronts are shown in Chapter 6.
The following are goal line fronts:
✓ Glory-OH
✓ Glory-OH-Ace
✓ Glory-Ace
✓ Glory-Ace-OH
✓ Glory-Deuce
✓ Glory-OH-Deuce
✓ Glory-Deuce-OH
✓ Glory-Sic’em

Strongside Fronts
Stack (Figures 2-1 and 2-2)

Stack is a Miami 4-3 alignment and the base defensive alignment from where all
other strongside defenses will evolve. The alignment of the 7 technique allows
the defense to reroute the C gap, thus eliminating the off-tackle play. The
alignment of the 3 technique makes the offense consider double-teaming and
combo-blocking the B gap. Sam and Mike are able to read back keys and
quickly attack the offense on upfield angles.

Figure 2-1. Stack

Figure 2-2. Stack position and alignment

Wide (Figures 2-3 and 2-4)

Wide is a Miami 4-3 alignment. Wide is the same as stack, except Blood and
Sam exchange alignments and responsibilities. Because Blood has moved
outside to a 9 technique, he now has a better outside angle to rush the pass and to
contain all runs to the strongside. Sam now moves inside to a 70 technique,
which enables him to have a better angle on all inside and cutback running plays.
This alignment also allows Sam to cover receivers with inside leverage.

Figure 2-3. Wide

Figure 2-4. Wide position and alignment

Down (Figures 2-5 and 2-6)

Down is a Miami 4-3 alignment. Down is the same as stack except Blood moves
to a 5 technique, and Sam moves to a 9 technique. Down creates three anchor
spots on the line of scrimmage to better defend running plays. From a 5
technique Blood can attack inside running plays quicker. Sam can now play all
running plays from the line of scrimmage and cover inside receivers with outside
leverage.
Figure 2-5. Down

Figure 2-6. Down position and alignment

Under (Figures 2-7 and 2-8)

Under is an Oklahoma 5-2 alignment. Under is the base 5-2 look that has been
used for years and was made famous by the University of Oklahoma. Under
creates three anchor spots on the strongside line of scrimmage. It also places
pressure on the offense to use double-teams and combos in order to block the
tackle that is aligned in an OH technique. From his 30 technique Mike can now
use his back key and also read the offensive guard as an under key.
Figure 2-7. Under

Figure 2-8. Under position and alignment

Ace (Figures 2-9 and 2-10)

Ace is an Oklahoma 5-2 alignment. Ace is the same as under except the tackle
moves from an OH to a 1 technique. This movement allows the tackle to cover
the guard and protect the Mike. It also allows the tackle to play the A gap with
outside leverage.
Figure 2-9. Ace

Figure 2-10. Ace position and alignment

Weakside Fronts

OH (Figures 2-11 and 2-12)

OH is a weakside alignment that can be run with any strongside front. OH refers
to the shaded alignment of the nose. OH is a good alignment versus a two-man
offensive surface on the weakside (guard and tackle with no tight end). OH
places pressure on the offense to use double-teams and combos in order to block
the nose.

Figure 2-11. OH
Figure 2-12. OH position and alignment

ACE (Figures 2-13 and 2-14)

Ace is a weakside alignment that can be run with any strongside front. Ace
refers to the nose aligning in a 1 technique or ace alignment. This alignment
allows the nose to cover the offensive guard and protect the linebackers. He can
also play the A gap with outside leverage.

Figure 2-13. Ace

Figure 2-14. Ace position and alignment

G (Figures 2-15 and 2-16)

G is a weakside alignment that can be run with any strongside front. G refers to
the nose aligning in a 1 technique on the offensive guard and the end aligning in
a 7 technique. This alignment is a good basic adjustment when the defense
encounters two tight ends and OH has been called to the weakside. By using G,
the end moves to a 7 technique in order to balance the defense on the weakside.
In general, G gives the end a better angle for outside leverage and pass rush.

Figure 2-15. G

Figure 2-16. G position and alignment

Deuce (Figures 2-17 and 2-18)

Deuce is a weakside alignment that can be run with any strongside front. Deuce
refers to the nose aligning in a 2 technique or deuce alignment. Deuce is used to
confuse offensive blocking because of the possibility of stunts either inside or
outside by the nose.
Figure 2-17. Deuce

Figure 2-18. Deuce position and alignment

Trey (Figures 2-19 and 2-20)

Trey is a weakside alignment that can be run with any Oklahoma 5-2 strongside
front. Trey refers to the nose aligning in a 3 technique or trey alignment. The
strength of trey is that it allows Will to run freely because the offensive linemen
are all covered on the weakside.
Figure 2-19. Trey

Figure 2-20. Trey position and alignment

Texas (Figures 2-21 and 2-22)

Texas is a weakside alignment that can be run with any strongside front. Texas is
the same as deuce except the end moves to a 7 technique. From Texas the nose
can use his deuce alignment to stunt inside or outside. The end now has a better
angle for outside leverage and pass rush.

Figure 2-21. Texas

Figure 2-22. Texas position and alignment

I (Figures 2-23 and 2-24)

I is a weakside alignment that can be run with any strongside front. I refers to the
nose aligning in an inside tilt from an OH technique. The strength of I includes
the attack angle of the nose and his ability to reroute himself by reading the
offside guard.

Figure 2-23. I

Figure 2-24. I position and alignment

 Miami Pacakage

The Miami package consists of all the 4-3 fronts that are used in this defensive
scheme. The 4-3 has been a very popular defense for many years. It is very
versatile and adjusts well to modern-day offensive schemes. It has four down
linemen and three linebackers. This front allows for a four-man pass rush. The
linebackers are able to run on upfield angles by reading backs and under
blocking schemes. The 7 technique reroutes the C gap. The secondary and
linebackers can employ a variety of pass coverages. Best of all, it is a very good
blitz defense. The Miami package uses regular personnel.

The following fronts are used in the Miami Package: • Stack

✓ Stack-OH
✓ Stack-Ace
✓ Stack-G
✓ Stack-Deuce ✓ Stack-Texas ✓ Stack-I

• Wide
✓ Wide-OH
 ✓ Wide-Ace
✓ Wide-G
✓ Wide-Deuce
✓ Wide-Texas
✓ Wide-I

• Down
✓ Down-OH
✓ Down-Ace
✓ Down-G
✓ Down-Deuce
✓ Down-Texas
✓ Down-I

Stack

Stack-OH (Figures 3-1 and 3-2)

Figures 3-1. Stack-OH

Figures 3-2. Stack-OH alignment, keys, and responsibilities

Stack-Ace (Figures 3-3 and 3-4)

Figures 3-3. Stack-Ace

Figures 3-4. Stack-Ace alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Stack-G (Figures 3-5 and 3-6)

Figure 3-5. Stack-G

Figure 3-6. Stack-G alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Stack-Deuce (Figures 3-7 and 3-8)

Figure 3-7. Stack-Deuce

Figure 3-8. Stack-Deuce alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Stack-Texas (Figures 3-9 and 3-10)

Figure 3-9. Stack-Texas

Figure 3-10. Stack-Texas alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Stack-I (Figures 3-11 and 3-12)

Figure 3-11. Stack-I

Figure 3-12. Stack-I alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Wide

Wide-OH (Figures 3-13 and 3-14)

Figure 3-13. Wide-OH

Figure 3-14. Wide-OH alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Wide-Ace (Figures 3-15 and 3-16)

Figure 3-15. Wide-Ace

Figure 3-16. Wide-Ace alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Wide-G (Figures 3-17 and 3-18)

Figure 3-17. Wide-G

Figure 3-18. Wide-G alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Wide-Deuce (Figures 3-19 and 3-20)

Figure 3-19. Wide-Deuce

Figure 3-20. Wide-Deuce alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Wide-Texas (Figures 3-21and 3-22)

Figure 3-21. Wide-Texas

Figure 3-22. Wide-Texas alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Wide-I (Figures 3-23 and 3-24

Figure 3-23. Wide-I

Figure 3-24. Wide-I alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Down

Down-OH (Figures 3-25 and 3-26)

Figure 3-25. Down-OH

Figure 3-26. Down-OH alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Down-Ace (Figures 3-27 and 3-28)

Figure 3-27. Down-Ace

Figure 3-28. Down-Ace alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Down-G (Figures 3-29 and 3-30)

Figure 3-29. Down-G

Figure 3-30. Down-G alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Down-Deuce (Figures 3-31 and 3-32)

Figure 3-31. Down-Deuce

Figure 3-32. Down-Deuce alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Down-Texas (Figures 3-33 and 3-34)

Figure 3-33. Down-Texas

Figure 3-34. Down-Texas alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Down-I (Figures 3-35 and 3-36)

Figure 3-35. Down-I

Figure 3-36. Down-I alignments, keys, and responsibilities

 Oklahoma Package

The Oklahoma package consists of all of the 5-2 fronts that are used in this
defensive scheme. The 5-2 has been a very popular defense for many years. It is
very versatile and adjusts well to modern-day offensive schemes. It has four
down linemen with one linebacker on the line of scrimmage, and it has two
inside linebackers. This package is good for spinning safeties into the box. When
safeties are in the box, the two inside linebackers are free to run on flow away.
From this front you can develop some very good zone blitzes.

The following fronts are use in the Oklahoma package: • Under

✓ Under-OH
✓ Under -Ace
✓ Under-G
✓ Under-Deuce ✓ Under-Texas ✓ Under-Trey

• Ace
✓ Ace-OH
 ✓ Ace-Ace
✓ Ace-G
✓ Ace-Deuce
✓ Ace-Trey
✓ Ace-I

Under

Under-OH (Figures 4-1 and 4-2)

Figure 4-1.Under-OH
Figure 4-2. Under-OH alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Under-Ace (Figures 4-3 and 4-4)

Figure 4-3. Under-Ace

Figure 4-4. Under-Ace alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Under-G (Figures 4-5 and 4-6)

Figure 4-5. Under-G

Figure 4-6. Under-G alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Under-Deuce (Figures 4-7 and 4-8)

Figure 4-7. Under-Deuce

Figure 4-8. Under-Deuce alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Under-Texas (Figures 4-9 and 4-10)

Figure 4-9. Under-Texas

Figure 4-10. Under-Texas alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Under-Trey (Figures 4-11 and 4-12)

Figure 4-11. Under-Trey

Figure 4-12. Under-Trey alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Ace

Ace-OH (Figures 4-13 and 4-14)

Figure 4-13. Ace-OH

Figure 4-14. Ace-OH alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Ace-Ace (Figures 4-15 and 4-16)

Figure 4-15. Ace-Ace

Figure 4-16. Ace-Ace alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Ace-G (Figures 4-17 and 4-18)

Figure 4-17. Ace-G

Figure 4-18. Ace-G alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Ace-Deuce (Figures 4-19 and 4-20)

Figure 4-19. Ace-Duece

Figure 4-20. Ace-Duece alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Ace-Trey (Figures 4-21 and 4-22)

Figure 4-21. Ace-Trey

Figure 4-22. Ace-Trey alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Ace-I (Figures 4-23 and 4-24)

Figure 4-23. Ace-I

Figure 4-24. Ace-I alignments, keys, and responsibilities

 Arizona Package

The Arizona package consists of all of the nickel and dime fronts that are used in
this defensive scheme. This package requires different personnel (Indian
personnel) from what is used in the Miami and Oklahoma packages. It has three
down linemen (the tackle comes out), and an extra defensive back (Geronimo)
comes in. This package is used against all one-back offenses. It is very good for
number and zone blitzes and for maximum pass coverage, as well as pass rush.

The following fronts are use in the Arizona package: • Cochise

• Crazy Horse

• Apache

• Broken Arrow

• Custer

• Navajo

• Mohawk
 Arizona Package

Cochise (Figures 5-1 and 5-2)

Figure 5-1. Cochise

Figure 5-2. Cochise alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Crazy Horse (Figures 5-3 and 5-4)

Figure 5-3. Crazy Horse

Figure 5-4. Crazy Horse alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Apache (Figures 5-5 and 5-6)

Figure 5-5. Apache

Figure 5-6. Apache alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Broken Arrow (Figures 5-7 and 5-8)

Figure 5-7. Broken Arrow

Figure 5-8. Broken Arrow alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Custer (Figures 5-9 and 5-10)

Figure 5-9. Custer

Figure 5-10. Custer alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Navajo (Figures 5-11 and 5-12)

Figure 5-11. Navajo

Figure 5-12. Navajo alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Mohawk (Figures 5-13 and 5-14)

Figure 5-13. Mohawk

Figure 5-14. Mohawk alignments, keys, and responsibilities

 Missouri Package

The Missouri package consists of all the goal line fronts that are used in this
defensive scheme. All goal line defenses are the types of defenses that pressure
and penetrate at the line of scrimmage.

The following fronts are used in the Missouri package: • Glory

✓ Glory-OH
✓ Glory-OH-Ace
✓ Glory-Ace
✓ Glory-Ace-OH
✓ Glory-Deuce
✓ Glory-OH-Deuce
✓ Glory-Deuce-OH
✓ Glory-Sic’em

Glory defenses require alignment rules for any player who is playing man-to-
man or running an arrow stunt. The following rules will be employed:
 • Strong safety aligns to the two-receiver side and uses the following rules:
✓ If #2 is split, he plays him man-to-man.
✓ If #2 is tight (not counting a wing), he runs an arrow stunt (an outside
contain blitz).

• Sam and Geronimo use the following rules: ✓ If there is a tight end, they

play him man-to-man.

✓ If there is no tight end, they run an arrow stunt.
✓ If there are trips or quads to their side, they play #3 man-to-man.

• Corners use the following rules: ✓ If #1 is split, they play him man-to-man

(a wing is considered to be a split receiver.) ✓ If there is no wideout on their

side, they run an arrow stunt.

• Mike and Will use the following rules: ✓ If there is only one back in the

backfield, Mike becomes a 00 linebacker.

✓ Will must now run an arrow stunt to the side where there is no one to
run the arrow stunt. He must determine whether the need is on the strongside
or the weakside.

Glory-OH (Figures 6-1 and 6-2)

Figure 6-1. Glory-OH

Figure 6-2. Glory-OH alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Glory-OH-Ace (Figures 6-3 and 6-4)

Figure 6-3. Glory-OH-Ace

Figure 6-4. Glory-OH-Ace alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Glory-Ace (Figures 6-5 and 6-6)

Figure 6-5. Glory-Ace

Figure 6-6. Glory-Ace alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Glory-Ace-OH (Figures 6-7 and 6-8)

Figure 6-7. Glory-Ace-OH

Figure 6-8. Glory-Ace -OH alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Glory-Deuce (Figures 6-9 and 6-10)

Figure 6-9. Glory-Duece

Figure 6-10. Glory-Duece alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Glory-OH-Deuce (Figures 6-11 and 6-12)

Figure 6-11. Glory-OH-Duece

Figure 6-12. Glory-OH-Duece alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Glory-Deuce-OH (Figures 6-13 and 6-14)

Figure 6-13. Glory-Duece-OH

Figure 6-14. Glory-Duece-OH alignments, keys, and responsibilities

Glory-Sic’em (Figures 6-15 and 6-16)

Figure 6-15. Glory-Sic’em

Figure 6-16. Glory-Sic’em alignments, keys, and responsibilities

 Scripting Defenses

To be multiple in your scheme, you must be able to signal several calls into the
defense at one time. The only way to do this is by number-and color-scripting
your calls. One system that you can use is simply to number the defensive fronts,
stunts, and coverages so that you can signal in the numbers that correlate to the
numbers on the wristbands that the players are wearing. To ensure that your
opponents are not able to steal your defenses through seeing your calls, you must
devise a signal system that changes from week to week or from series to series.

After you develop your game plan on the weekend, script the defensive
fronts, stunts, blitzes, and coverages that you want to use that week, using the
following system:

• Type a master sheet that contains all the defenses that you want to use against

that week’s opponent.

✓ To number the master script card, you must know the method that you
will use to signal in the calls.
Basically, use a numbering sequence.
 ✓ Number your defensive fronts into groups that you can find quickly on
your script. Typically coaches
use numbers 0-5 and 10-15, and so on, but you may need even more
numbers.
✓ Number your stunts and blitzes for each front into number groups that
you can find quickly. For
example, Cochise and all its blitzes could be numbered 20-25. Stack-
OH may be numbered 30-35.
✓ On the master sheet, list the coverage that you want with each defense.
The coverages are also
numbered.
• Laminate the master sheet to protect it.
• Type the fronts and stunts onto a card that will fit into the wristband for your
players. Type the coverages onto another card that will also fit into the
wristband for your players. Both wristband cards must also be laminated.
✓ To number wristbands, use number sequences for the fronts and stunts
that match the number
sequences for the master sheet. Players who are involved in pass
coverage responsibility must wear two
wristbands, one for the fronts and the other for their coverage.
• Have the wristbands ready for practice on Tuesday, Wednesday, and
Thursday. This way, your players and coaches can see the game plan and get
accustomed to using it before game time.

A master sheet is used by the coaches to call defenses during a game as

shown in Figure 7-1. You can number 0 through 55, but remember that some
numbers cannot be signaled. For example, the number 6 cannot be signaled
using the fingers. The coverages are listed so you can add different coverages to
the front and stunts called. On the back of this sheet, list special situations and
tendencies and match them to the numbers you would call under those situations.

A wristband script is used by all defensive players during a game as shown in

Figure 7-2. Each player would have the following wristband on for game time
calls. The players will look at their wristbands and find the number signaled in
front the sideline. The numbers can be called in the huddle or without a huddle if
the offense is in a hurry-up scheme.

A wristband pass coverage script is used by linebackers and secondary backs

during a game as shown in Figure 7-3. The defensive line would not need this
script.

One system that can be used to call defenses involves having two coaches
standing beside the defensive coordinator on the sideline. The coordinator looks
at his master sheet and tells the coaches what numbers he wants to call. One
coach would signal in the number for the fronts and stunts. The other coach
would signal in the pass coverage. An example would be if you wanted to run
Stack-OH Bat-Eon Cover 2, you would tell one coach to signal in number 25
and the other coach to signal in number 3. This system enables the person calling
defenses to concentrate totally on the master sheet and tendencies and not worry
about having to signal the defenses personally.
 Figure 7-1. Defensive master sheet for coaches
 Figure 7-3. Wristband pass coverage
Figure 7-2. Wristband fronts and stunts
script for players
script for players

You must have schemes to stop your opponents from stealing your system.
The following things can be used for your protection:
• Change your game script numbering each week.

• Double-number your defenses. Sometimes Stack-OH may be number 5 and

number 10.

• Use a color code for your script and numbers.

• Use sideline signals to confuse the opponent.

• Have the coaches on the sideline swap during the game. The pass signaler
 now calls the fronts, and the front signaler calls the pass coverage.
• Change your scripts during the game. Give each player a new script where
defenses are the same, but the numbering is different. You should enter each
game with two sets of scripts.
• The coaches can signal in numbers by using their fingers. The number 21 is
given by showing two fingers on the right hand and one finger on the left
hand (defenders read from left the right.) You may want coaches to tape their
fingers with white tape so their fingers are seen more clearly by the
defenders.
• Numbers can also be substituted by using signals. For example, the ears are
number 2 and the nose is number 1. One hand on each ear and then one hand
on the nose would be number 21 (two ears and one nose). The top of the
head could be 0. So, basically, you are giving signals as a baseball coach
would give signals. You just need to develop your own system.

Another way to script wristbands is to list the assignment for the wristband
wearer. If you have a player or several players who are having trouble with
processing too much information, you may want to consider describing the
individual player’s assignment. The following would be an example of scripting
by using assignments: you want to run #22 from the chart found in Figure 7-2
and your Sam linebacker is having trouble remembering his assignments. You
would script his wristband to read “#22. Stack-OH Fina blitz the 6 hole,” instead
of “#22. Stack-OH Fina Smash 68.” When you script this way the player can
quickly see his assignment. The disadvantage of using this scheme, however, is
that the player or players do not get accustomed to using the full terminology of
the defensive scheme.
 About the Author

Denny M. Burdine has 30 years of football coaching experience at the high

school level. Before retiring, he spent the last 17 years of his coaching career at
Arkansas High School in Texarkana, Arkansas, where he served as a defensive
coordinator, head football coach, athletic director, and history teacher.

His love for defensive football helped to establish him as one of the best
defensive coaches in the state of Arkansas, with his defensive teams being
ranked as one of the best in the state year in and year out. Some of his players
have gone on to play at the Division I level, as well as in the NFL. During his
career, he coached three NFL football players: Rod Smith of the Denver
Broncos, Eric Warfield of the Kansas City Chiefs, and Mike Cherry of the New
York Giants.

Burdine is a graduate of Southern Arkansas University. A strong believer in

teaching character, leadership, and work ethics to players and students, he is
listed in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.

Burdine and his wife, Judy, have two children, Jennifer and Lori, and four
grandchildren.