KEAN UNIVERSITY

FOOTBALL
How to use an effective ANGLE
*DL Coaching Points
 S.A.C.K.R.A.T.
DL CREEDO
• S – stance
• A – alignment
• C – charge (GET OFF)
• K – keys
• R – reads
• A – assignment
• T - technique
 ALIGNMETS/KEYS
• VISUAL KEY • PRESSURE KEY
• Shaded NOSE • Shaded NOSE
• OG • Center
• 4 tech • 4 tech
• OG • TACKLE
• 5 tech • 5 tech
• OG • TACKLE
 CAVALIER FRONT

QB
TE

S E N E R
9tech 6 tech heavy 6 tech ghost 9

M W
20 tech 20 tech

$ J
 SLIDE FRONT

QB

R E N E S
Ghost 4 tech heavy 4 tech 9 tech

W M
30 tech 30 tech

J 10-12 yards $
 GAP CONTROL DEFENSE
• TECHNIQUES/FUNDAMENTALS for
STUNTING with DL PLAY
– Stunting/Redirecting big chunk of DL play
– We don’t want to play all game, up & in with
OL or be landmarked
– We try to keep them guessing and keep them
on their heels
– 3-4 defense but we do NOT 2 gap, slant/angle
 How to keep them guessing
• Scheme of the 3-4 • MIX IT UP
• MIXING IN FRONTS • FRONTS
• Different directional • STUNTS
DL stunts – Tandem
• Cross Face stunts – SOLO
• SO WE are not – Cross Face
always • BLITZ
LANDMARKED – ZONE
– MAN
 ANGLE/STUNT
• Slant (vs. RUN)
• FLAT
• Change Stance
• Feet under us more
• Weight placement
– Weight on foot/leg opposite
of the direction we are
going
– When to we use it
• Anticipating RUN
• Run Defenses
• Penetration (vs. pass)
• UPFIELD
• Same stance as Slant
• Weight placement SAME
as SLANT
• USE this with our
BLITZ’S
• Thinking PASS
• Want to get after QB
 SLANT TECH
With ALL the ZONE Blocking we see – WE DO NOT want
to penetrate UPFIELD
If you do – YOU get washed down the LOS
Because OL will get on your back and it is OVER
*they will just keep running you out of the play

1st STEP – FLAT & WIDE

This is why we change our stance
Now you can go side-to-side better with a stronger push off
and not up field initially
We want to play the RUN at the heels of OL
 STANCE
• Narrow base • FIRST STEP
• Everything else is the • FLAT, QUICK , WIDE
same • Staying low in the
• Whatever way you are direction you are going
going – put all of • Chest over thigh
weight/pressure on • Pressure KEY – OL you
opposite foot are over
• Physically/Mentally • Visual KEY – OL you are
• THINKING ABOUT IT stunting to
• This way you ensure a • Visual KEY – is going to
better/harder Push Off tell you where the play
• A Quicker initial is going and your 2nd &
Movement 3rd steps
 WORKING YOUR GAP
• That’s what it becomes, keeping your face
in your gap
• Now the DL Work UP & IN
• Separate – with Hands & Arms
• JUST GETTING TO THAT GAP BY
STUNTING
• As opposed to lining up in it and letting
those BIG OL know the landmark
• Create DECEPTION/make them THINK!
 SECOND STEP
• IF Pressure KEY: • Pressure key steps into
• The man/OL in front of block you (example)
PRESSURE VISUAL
you is blocking you- the KEY KEY
2 step is up field into the
nd

OL
• We’re talking about cross
face – now it becomes
the way you teach him to
play his gap
E
• Attacking straight ahead 1st 2nd step
or up & into his inside 1/2
 ALIGNMENT
• Tighten Alignment up • CP’S
• So we try to – 1st step WIDE/FLAT
guarantee the FIRST – QUICK
STEPS effectiveness – Weight on opposite
• We talk about foot
ABILITY – Stay low – flat back
ALIGNMENT – Chest on thigh
– Hands up by 2nd step
• Whatever they have
to take to get it there
quick enough
 KEYS
• Man you ALIGN on is Pressure
• Always look at the next OL
that you are stunting to
• He is going to tell you where
the BALL is going
• Periph the BALL
E •
ABILITY ALIGNMENT – take
what YOU need to get there
• EXAMPLE
• 5 tech or DE stunting to B GAP
• Look at OG
• KEY OG
• IF OG zones away or pulls –
now we try and get in the hip
pocket to beat cut off
• Without stepping up field with
our 2nd step
• There is still NO need to attack
pressure key with 2nd step
• Work down LOS with key of
OG
Visual tells you what to do with
2nd step
 5 tech with OG attacking YOU
• 5 tech still stunting B gap
• OG at YOU
• Must keep face in the B
gap
• See him on 1st step
• 2nd step up field NOW to
prevent the REACH
• He can not allow the OG E
to reach him and he can
NOT end up in the A GAP DE can not get
• Must see/KEY Visual
KEY – stepping up field if reached
he zones at you
 Man you’re ALIGNED on is
PRESSURE – MUST FEEL him…
• Can NOT LOOK AT HIM!
• Again next OL inside –
VISUAL KEY
• Visual key will take you to
the play and tell you what
to do on your 2nd step
• So, even if the OT Zones
you right away (still 5
tech) must play B gap
with our face in the gap –
E
b/c our eyes should be
where?
 3 tech NO DIFFERENT
Pressure Visual

T
Stunting to A GAP – see the center FEEL the OG – same
rule as what we Covered with the 5 tech. Now it is just like
a 1 tech (2i) and the rules you would teach them vs. block
recognition.
 NOSE TACKLE
• Playing from 1 A GAP to • Run our feet – fight not to
the other A GAP get reached (STRAIN)
• CENTER – Pressure
• OG – VISUAL KEY
• OG will still tell you where
the ball is going
• REACH block by center
in the direction we are
going – Must get our face
NT
in the gap, fight pressure,
keep straining – stringing
it out EAST/WEST
 SCOOP/JUMP THRU
Zone/Reach opposite the direction we
Are going – or right at you

NT Visual – must see OG step at you

So 2nd step is up field, feel some
Pressure by center – try to grab just
Enough to slow down – maintain
Onside A gap – do not allow OG to
Overtake you with his hat/body
 With the DRIVE…
• Going to create “WHIFFS”
• OL worst nightmare
• More frequent with the DRIVE
block
• OL tries to come 100 mph off
the ball with the drive block or
as hard as they can with the 1-
on-1 block right over the ball
• The deception by alignment
with stunting causes the
“WHIFF”
NT
• The reason we stunt is to
create confusion
• Now we get our 2nd step up
field & we are making the play
in the backfield
 SACKRAT
CP’S…
• SLANT STEP or FLAT STEP
• 1st step flat, wide
• Back Flat
• Staying low/Chest on the thigh
• This is vs. the RUN
• Hands must shoot up
– Hand placement
– Step with the hands
– Thumbs up/palms in
• Separate on contact
• We drill this every day in the
chutes
• That is our start to the practice
day
• Get offs – 3-4 x’s
• R/L handed stance 3-4 x’s
• Slant stance R 4-5 x’s
• Slant stance L 4-5 x’s
• BOTH we do 1/2 bar and then
full bar (ability align)
• Then we do the chutes/slant
stance with a key/direction at
the end of the chute
 I. PASS RUSH DOWNS
II. BLITZING…..
• A different technique • OL now are a little
• Up field NOW more ‘Pass’ive
• 45 degree step • Sitting back
• Want to get off as • Weight back
quick and as hard as • Tip their stance
possible • Ready to Pass Set
– Key the ball – We want to get on
– When we bring heat them QUICK
– Getting after the QB – We want to get on
them HARD
 STEPS…
• 1st step • 2nd step
• Up field (BIG Difference)
• 45 degrees with it • Must come through
• quick, fast, & hard
Back flat
• • Bring arm & shoulder,
Chest over thigh
that ½ of the body
• Stance does not
change from Slant
DIP & RIP
stance • Get on the hip of OL
 Working LEVERAGE ..
• If he is blocking you: • The 2nd step is the most
• Getting on him quick is crucial part of this – why?
the most important CP • b/c the arm/shoulder
• Getting on his HIP MUST follow with the
working the ½ man DIP & RIP
philosophy on the pass • Working on the OL with
rush penetration now
• IF you do not follow thru –
you will not be very
successful
 RE – DIRECT
Change of DIRECTION
• LEVEL 1 - the football (credit card close)
• LEVEL 2 - the hip of the center (1/2 YARD)
• LEVEL 3 – the hips of the other OL (1 YARD)
• Level 3 is where DL are going to make
plays vs. the RUN
• Any deeper the DL usually run themselves
out of the play
• They have to understand that – as well as
REP IT
 RE-DIRECT
• On this Penetration • DRILL IT
STUNT • LEVEL 3 DRILL
• DL must be able to • GET OFF
change direction…vs. the – COACH 2 yards from DL
RUN – Off stunt – need to react off
• If we call at the wrong the coach
time based off: – RUN/PASS
– Tendencies (%) – Flatten out or get up field
– Personnel (%)
– D/D (%)
– We MUST re-direct
 PASS RUSH/BLITZ
• DL FOCUS more on • If it is a pass we stay
the GETOFF vertical
• To get a GREAT • If it is a run – we talk
GETOFF – WE NOW about flatten out and
KEY the FOOTBALL re-directing
• To be able to get the • At least giving us a
PENETRATION we chance vs. RUN
want/need • If we stay vertical –
• Then we get to our we have no shot vs.
Visual key the RUN
VIRGINIA/cover 3

R E N E S

W M
C
H
J $

N – visual = OG pressure = center

E – visual = OG pressure = OT
R – visual = OT
VIRGINIA/cover 3

R E N E S

W M
C H

J $

N – visual = OG pressure = center

E – visual = OG pressure = OT
S – visual = OT pressure = TE
VIRGINIA/cover 2

E N E S
R
W M
C H

J $

N – visual = OG pressure = center

E – visual = OG pressure = OT
S – visual = OT pressure = TE
VIRGINIA/cover 2

R E N E S

C
W M H

J $

N – visual = OG pressure = center

E – visual = OG pressure = OT
R – visual = OT
VIRGINIA/cover 2

R E N E S

C
W M H

J $

N – visual = OG pressure = center

E – visual = OG pressure = OT
R – visual = OT
VIRGINIA/cover 3

R E N E S

W M
C H

J $

N – visual = OG pressure = center

E – visual = OG pressure = OT
S – visual = OT pressure = TE
• We do drills for this everyday
• In camp – we start with slower progressions
• As we get closer to the end of camp – ALL the
drills we do for the DL are FULL SPEED
• Simulating how it will be for them in a GAME
• Everything happens quick
• Doing it ½ speed will not get them ready
– Because of the amount of blitzing we do
– Because every down we are slanting
• Our 4th rusher is predicated on the coverage and the offenses
formation they come out in
• Every down we could be slanting a different way
• So, we do drills everyday for that
 COACH
x
• Level 3 Drill

DL DL
The drill starts on ball movement. Give the DL the direction of the
Penetration. Now ball is hiked and the coach gives them a RUN/PASS
Read. On Pass they get vertical. On the RUN the coach makes sure
The DL first flatten out with the RUN Direction – let them shuffle in that
Direction and then change the direction to finish the drill. Quick/React
 KEY DRILL

DE NT DE
Give the OL direction you want them to
Step or work. Give DL your stunt call.
Now you Focus on your
VISUAL/PRESSURE KEY.
Find out where their EYES ARE.
 NEXT SESSION…
• Tie in, How to CONTROL an Effective Zone Blitz

• April 21st Saturday

• CLINIC - $10.00 – 6 ½ hours of football
• Morning 8-10 am View Spring Practice
• 12:00 – 5:00 pm CLINIC
– Demonstration Clinic – Drills 1st 2 Hours
– 1 hour of Offensive Drills by position
– 1 hour of Defensive Drills by position
– Hour and a half – Offensive Scheme
– Hour and a half – Special Teams Scheme
– Hour and a half – Defensive Scheme

• JULY 7th 7-on-7 COUGAR CLASSIC

• 24 TEAMS (5 GAMES)
 KEAN UNIVERSITY
• Dan Garrett
• Head Football Coach
• Defensive Coordinator
• 908 737 0628 office
• dgarrett@kean.edu email
• 2005 DIII AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year
• 2006 NJAC Coach of the Year