F.I.D.

O
“OUR WORTH TO THIS DEFENSE IS MEASURED BY HOW CLOSE YOU
ARE TO THE BALL AT THE END OF EVERY PLAY!”
 GEORGIA MILITARY COLLEGE DEFENSIVE LINEMAN MISSION STATEMENT

WE ARE THE FRONT LINE FOR OUR DEFENSE. AS A DEFENSIVE LINEMAN, WE SET THE TONE FOR

HOW THE DEFENSE IS GOING TO PRACTICE AND PLAY. ALTHOUGH WE MAY NEVER ACHIEVE IT, OUR GOAL

IS PERFECTION, AND WE WILL PRACTICE AND PLAY WITH THE INTENTION OF PERFECTION. PERFECTION IN

THE CLASSROOM, IN THE COMMUNITY, AND ON THE FIELD IS THE WAY WE ARE GOING TO DO THINGS. OUR

GOAL IS TO WIN A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. IN ORDER TO WIN A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP OUR DEFENSE

MUST BRING IT EVERY DAY AND IT STARTS WITH US. AS DEFENSIVE LINEMEN WE WILL DEMONSTRATE:

TOUGHNESS, COMMITMENT, AND HUSTLE.

AS A DEFENSIVE LINEMAN WE MUST BE THE TOUGHEST MEN ON THE FIELD, PHYSICALLY AND MEN-

TALLY. FOOTBALL IS A GAME UNLIKE ANY OTHER AND BEING A DEFENSEIVE LINEMAN IS SPECIAL. IT

TAKES A TOUGH MAN TO PLAY DEFENSIVE LINE AT THE LEVEL IT TAKES TO BE CHAMPIONS. THERE ARE NO

EXCUSES! PHYSICALLY SPEAKING, WE MUST BE FAST. PLAYING FAST WILL BE OUR BIGGEST ADVANTAGE

OVER ANY OFFENSIVE LINEMAN THAT WE WILL FACE. PLAY LIKE WE WERE RUNNING ON HOT COALS! SEC-

ONDLY, WE MUST BE POWERFUL. EVERY TIME WE ATTACK AN OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OR STRIKE THE BALL

CARRIER WE MUST DELIVER WITH A FORCE INTENDED FOR PAIN AND ENSURE VICTORY!

YOU WILL BE AMAZED HOW FAR YOU CAN PUSH YOUR BODY ONCE YOU MAKE UP YOUR MIND THAT

YOU WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL! THAT’S WHAT MENTAL TOUGHNESS IS ALL ABOUT! WE ALL HAVE THE

ABILITY TO MAKE UP OUR MINDS AND BREAK THROUGH THE THRESHOLD OF PAIN AND CONTINUE TO PRAC-

TICE AND PLAY, BUT NOT EVERYONE WILL. THOSE THAT CANNOT ARE THE INDIVIDUALS I DON’T WANT ON

THE FIELD WHEN ITS 4TH & 1 AND WE NEED A GOAL LINE STAND! DO YOU?

COMMITMENT IS A GOING TO BE VITAL TO OUR SUCCESS. WE MUST BE COMMITTED IN THE CLASS-

ROOM AND ON THE FIELD. COMMITTING YOURSEVELS TO YOUR TEAMMATES AND COACHES BUILDS TRUST

AND A BOND THAT ONLY A FOOTBALL TEAM CAN EXPERIENCE. COMMIT YOURSELVES TO BE GREAT! BE

GREAT ON THE FIELD AND MORE IMPORTANTLY IN THE CLASSROOM. SHOW PRIDE IN THE CLASSROOM

AND ENCOURAGE TEAMMATES TO DO THE SAME. THERE IS NO BETTER FEELING THAN WALKING ACROSS

THE STAGE AND RECEIVING THE DEGREE YOU EARNED IN FRONT OF YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND ANYONE

ELSE THAT LOVES YOU.

ABOVE ALL ELSE WE WILL HUSTLE. WE WILL BRING A SENSE OF URGENCY TO GET OUR ASSES TO

THE BALL, EVERYPLAY!!! OUR HUSTLE WILL CAUSE TURNOVERS, GET THE QUARTERBACK, AND KEEP PEO-

PLE OUT OF THE ENDZONE. CHAMPIONSHIP DEFENSE STARTS AND ENDS WITH HUSTLE!
 GEORGIA MILITARY COLLEGE
DEFENSIVE LINE PHILOSOPHY

1. BE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY TOUGH

2. BE FULLY COMMITTED

3. HUSTLE WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY

4. BE TECHNICAL AND FUNDAMENTALLY SOUND

5. PLAY WITH GREAT PAD LEVEL

6. ATTACK DON’T REACT

7. BE A GREAT TACKLER

8. PLAY WITH ENTHUSIASM, PRIDE, AND VIOLENCE

9. BE A GREAT PASS RUSHER

10. PLAY FAST AND NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP!!!

WE ARE THE WELCOMING COMMITTEE!

 GOALS OF PASS RUSH
1. SACK THE PASSER ON EVERY PASS PLAY

2. TACKLE’S MUST AIM TO PENETRATE THE

INNER PROTECTION POCKET TO WITHIN TWO
YARDS OF QB SETUP

3. ENDS MUST AIM ON EVERY PLAY TO

SQUEEZE THE POCKET CLOSED FORCING
THE QB TO SET UP TOWARD THE INSIDE
RUSH MAN

4. EVERY MEMBER OF THE FRONT THREE

SHOULD GET THE QB ON THE GROUND AT
LEAST TWICE A GAME. EITHER WHACKS OR
SACKS, GET HIM ON THE GROUND!
 PASS RUSH REMINDERS

1. GET OFF ON THE SNAP

2. ALWAYS WORK ½ A MAN

3. DON’T GIVE UP YOUR CHEST

4. HAVE A COUNTER FOR YOUR FAVORITE MOVE

5. CHANGE YOUR RUSH AND USE HEAD FAKES

6. PLAY WITH VIOLENT HANDS

7. ALWAYS MOVE FORWARD, MAINTAIN CONSTANT PRES-

SURE ON QB

8. GET HANDS UP IN THE PASS LANE

9. NEVER LEAVE YOUR FEET

10. ALWAYS RUSH UPFIELD SHOULDER OF QB. DON’T LOSE

CONTAIN!
 GAP DESTINATIONS
ALLEY

D
D C B A A B C
“A” GAP: THE A GAP COVERS FROM THE CENTER’S MID-LINE TO THE MID-LINE
OF THE FIRST OFFENSIVE MAN FROM CENTER.

“B” GAP: THE B GAP COVERS FROM THE MID-LINE OF THE OFFENSIVE GUARD TO
THE MID-LINE OF THE 2ND OFFENSIVE MAN FROM CENTER.

“C” GAP: THE C GAP COVERS FROM THE MID-LINE OF THE OFFENSIVE TACKLE
TO THE MID-LINE OF THE THIRD OFFENSIVE MAN FROM CENTER.

“D” GAP: THE D GAP COVERS FROM THE MID-LINE OF THE OFFENSIVE T.E. OR
SLOT BACK TO THE MID-LINE OF THE FOURTH MAN FROM CENTER.

ALLEY: THE ALLEY AREA COVERS FROM THE MID-LINE OF THE WING BACK TO
THE SIDELINE.

DEFENSIVE ALIGNMENTS

5 4 4i 4I 4 5

9 6 7 3 2 1 SH 0 SH 1 2 3 7 6 9

0 - HEAD UP ON CENTER TRACKS ON TRACKS

SH - OUTSIDE CENTER SPLIT OUTSIDE LEG

1 - INSIDE GUARD– SPLIT INSIDE LEG

2 - HEAD UP GUARD– TRACKS ON TRACKS

3 - OUTSIDE GUARD– SPLIT OUTSIDE LEG

4I - INSIDE TACKLE– SPLIT INSIDE LEG

4 - TRACKS ON TRACKS

5 - OUTSIDE TACKLE– SPLIT OUTSIDE LEG

7 - INSIDE TE– SPLIT INSIDE LEG

6 - HEAD UP TE– TRACKS ON TRACKS

9 - OUTSIDE TE– SPLIT OUTSIDE LEG

FRONTS:

BASE: ENDS ARE LINED UP AT A 4. THE NOSE LINED UP AT A 0

SOLID: STRONG END WILL BE AT A 3. NOSE WILL LINE UP AT A WEAK SHADE. WEAK
END WILL BE AT A 5.

UNDER: STRONG END WILL BE AT A 5. THE NOSE WILL LINE UP AT A STRONG

SHADE AND THE WEAK END WILL BE AT 3
FRONTS:

HEADS: STRONG END WILL LINE UP AT A 2. THE NOSE WILL LINE UP

AT A 2. THE WEAK END WILL LINE UP AT A 6 (GHOST IF TE IS NOT PRESENT).

TUFF: THE ENDS WILL LINE UP AT 3’S. THE NOSE WILL LINE UP AT A 0.
MOVEMENTS:

JACKS: REFERS TO THE ENDS. ENDS WILL PERFORM A C GAP CHARGE.

SLANT/WHIP: REFERS TO ALL 3 DEFENSIVE LINEMEN. “SLANT” WILL TELL ALL

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN TO SLANT HALF A MAN TO THE STRONG SIDE. “WHIP”
WILL TELL ALL DEFENSIVE LINEMEN TO SLANT A HALF A MAN TO THE WEAK
SIDE.

STRONG/WEAK: REFERS TO ALL 3 DEFENSIVE LINEMEN. “STRONG” WILL TELL THE

ENDS TO RUN A JACK STUNT, WHILE THE NOSE WILL SLANT TO THE WEAK A GAP.

BIG STICK: REFERS TO THE ENDS. A “BIG STICK” WILL TELL THE END TO SLANT
INTO THE A GAP. WILL BE USED IN PRIMARILY STORM PACKGE AND EAGLE
BLITZ.

PINCH: REFERS TO ALL 3 DEFENSIVE LINEMEN. PINCH WILL TELL THE

DEFENSIVE ENDS TO SLANT INTO INSIDE GAP. THE NOSE WILL SLANT TO
THE STRONG A GAP.

FUNDAMENTALS:
-STANCE
-LEFT OR RIGHT HAND
-FEET ARE STAGGERED TOE TO HEEL
-HEELS OFF THE GROUND
-BUTT HIGHER THAN SHOULDER PADS. COACH SHOULDN’T BE ABLE TO SEE
NUMBERS FROM END ZONE VIEW
-DOWN HAND IS PLACED ON LOS IN FRONT OF HELMET. ATHLETE SHOULD BE
ABLE TO SEE HIS HAND. OFF HAND IS BENT AT THE ELBOW OFF HIS LEG.
-ATHLETE SHOULD BE LOOKING THROUGH TOP OF HIS FACE MASK
-WEIGHT IS DISTRIBUTED 70/30
-TAKE OFF
-WE TAKE OFF ON FIRST FLASH OF MOVEMENT BY THE MAN IN FRONT.
-SINCE WE WILL SLANT 99.9% OF THE TIME, OUR TAKE OFFS ARE DIFFERENT
THAN THE TRADITIONAL.
-WHAT WE USE IS THE 45-VERTICAL TECHNIQUE.
-ACCORDING TO WHAT DIRECTION WE WILL BE MOVING, THE ATHLETE
WILL STEP IN A 45 DEGREE ANGLE HALF A MAN TO THE GAP HE IS MOVING TO.
HIS SECOND STEP WILL BE VERTICAL USING A BIG RIP.
-IT IS VITAL THAT THE ATHLETE WORKS VERTICAL ON HIS SECOND STEP
FOR A FEW REASONS. THE BIGGEST REASON IS TO HELP HIM NOT GET
WASHED. SECOND, WORKING VERTICAL WILL HELP US TO GET OUR PADS
SQUARE AND IN GREAT FOOTBALL POSITION.
-ANY TIME WE 45-VERT WE ALWAYS USE A BIG RIP. WE NEVER SWIM.
HAVING GREAT PAD LEVEL IS ESSENTIAL AND USING A BIG RIP WILL HELP
THOSE EFFORTS.
-DURING PRACTICE, I TRY TO USE BIG RIPS AND OTHER HAND MOTIONS
IN EVERY DRILL WE DO. THE GOAL IS TO USE HAND VIOLENCE ON EVERY
PLAY. IF THEY CAN’T TOUCH YOU THEY CAN’T STOP YOU!
POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES
-END VS. RUN
-WHEN IN C OR D GAP (BOX)
-WHEN WE SLANT OUTSIDE TO C GAP WE ARE BOX PLAYERS AND OUR RE-
SPONSIBILITIES ARE BASED ON CONTAINING THE FOOTBALL
-CUTBACK
-BOOTLEG
-REVERSE
-QB ON OPTION (ZONE READ)
-QB ON TRICK PLAYS
- WHEN IN B OR A GAP (SPILL)
-WHEN WE SLANT INSIDE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES CHANGE. WE ARE NOW
SPILL PLAYERS. ON ZONE READ END SLANTING INSIDE IS NOW THE RUN-
NING BACK OR DIVE PLAYER.
-REGARDLESS OF DIRECTION WE SLANT, WE ATTACK THE PULLER OR LEAD
BLOCKER VS POWER
-CAGE ON CAGE
-WE WILL ATTACK FIRST THREAT CAGE ON CAGE AND EITHER KEEP
OUTSIDE FREE OR SPILL THE BLOCK DEPENDING ON WHICH GAP WE
ATTACK.

-RESPONSIBILITIES FOR END WHEN RUNNING JACKS

-WHEN OT DOWN BLOCKS
- 45-VERT, BIG RIP
-EYES INSIDE FOR 1ST THREAT
-PULLER, FULLBACK, H…ETC
-QB
-ZONE READ, OPTION, BOOTLEG
-CUTBACK
-REVERSE
-WHEN OT REACH BLOCKS
-45- VERT, BIG RIP
-END MUST RECOGNIZE REACH BLOCK AND SEAL THE EDGE.
-ATTACK WITH BOTH HANDS AND PUSH/PULL GETTING HIPS OUTSIDE
-RIP HAND WILL FIT ON OUTSIDE # WHILE OFF HAND WILL ATTACK SHOUL-
DER OF OT
-WHEN OT DRIVE BLOCKS
-45 VERT, BIG RIP
-ONCE DRIVE BLOCK IS RECOGNIZED, EYES, HANDS, AND FEET ATTACK THE
OT KEEPING OUTSIDE LEVERAGE.
-DRIVE OT BACK INSIDE TO COLLAPSE THE GAP
POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES
-NOSE VS RUN
-OUR NOSE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR EITHER STRONG OR WEAK A GAP IN OUR
BASE PACKAGE
-DURING ANY SLANT/WHIP CALL, NOSE WILL PRESSURE ACCORDING TO THE
CALL AND STRENGTH. (I.E. BUCK SLANT, NOSE WILL ATTACK STRONG A GAP)
-DURING ANY STRONG/WEAK CALL, NOSE WILL PRESSURE OPPOSITE OF THE
CALL (I.E. MIKE STRONG, NOSE WILL ATTACK WEAK A GAP)
-DUE TO OUR SCHEME, THE NOSE’S RESPONSIBILITIES ARE NOT AS MENTALLY
DEMANDING, BUT THE MOST PHYSICALLY DEMANDING POSITION ON THE
FIELD.
-REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE RUN, OUR NOSE MUST OWN THE A GAP.
-VS. DBL TEAM
-45-VERT, BIG RIP
-ATTACK ONE MAN SURFACE, FLIP HIP, GET SKINNY AND
RUN FEET
-VS. REACH OR ZONE STEP
-45-VERT, BIG RIP
-IMPERATIVE NOSE DOES NOT OVERSTEP GAP AND GETS
GREAT PENETRATION
-VS. DRIVE BLOCK (IM BACK BLOCK)
-45- VERT BIG RIP
-ATTACK WITH EYES, HANDS, AND FEET PRESSING THE CEN-
TER BACK
-BALL WILL ALWAYS BE AWAY FROM WHERE THE CENTER IS
DRIVING