4-3 DEFENSE

John Stout – Vandalia High School

jstout@vandals.k12.il.us

BACKGROUND

• Went to this defense in 2005

• Too Many unforced errors / big plays

• Copied Ideas

• Trial and Error ( Mainly error)

• Conservative by Nature

• Play Defense instead of Defenses

• Gap Sound

• Fundamentally Sound

Background

• Going to give up yards

• Make offense have sustained drives

• Stops in Red Zone

• Fits Offense Philosophy - Flexbone

• Goal of under 100 points allowed – 9 games

•

WHAT’S EASY

• Alignments / Assignments

• Formation Adjustments

What Takes Time / Work

• Wrong Arm Technique for DL

• DL playing with left hand down

• Clear and Cloudy technique for LB

• Safeties reading run or pass

• Creativity in drills / constant repetition

CALLS

• Strength Call - Find someone that can do it.

Always declare to run strength

• Force Call - Each safety makes call to his side

(Sky, Bronco, Cloud)

* Eagle Call - OLB to End if he leaves box

FRONTS

• 40

• 40 G ( Most Common)

• 40 Vandal ( 4-4 look)

• 50 ( Over Front)

40 G

E T ET

W M S

CC

FS SS

E T ET

W M S

CC

FS SS

40 G

Sky Sky

40 Vandal

E T ET

W M S

C CFS

SS

E T ET

W M S

C CFS

SS

40

E T ETW

M SC

C

FS SS

E T ETW

M SC

C

FS SSSky Sky

50

E T ET

W M

S

C C

FS SS

E T ET

W M

S

C C

FS SS

Run Fits

E T ET

W M SC

C

FS SS

E T ET

W M SC

C

FS SSMANMAN

Force

FillCutbackCutback

Contain

Condense

Coverages

• Base ( Quarters with Corners playing Man)

• Cover 2 ( Read #2)

• Cover 4 ( Quarters)

• Cover 42 ( vs Trips)

Base Coverage

E T ET

W M SC

C

FS SS

E T ET

W M SC

C

FS SSMANMAN

#2 Deep#2 Deep

2 to 33 to 22 -3

BASE

DEFENSIVE LINE

• Alignment / Stance

• The Spot

• Wrong Arm / Run the Circle

• Triangle Drill

Defensive Line

E T ET

W M SC

C

FS SS

E T ET

W M SC

C

FS SS

The Spot

DE Wrong Arm and Run the Circle

TRIANGLE DRILL

ET E

Triangle Drill 1. TE Bases End - End Must Condense Hole2. TE Blocks Down / FB comes to kick out End - End Must close and wrong arm FB3. TE Blocks Down / BSG comes to trap End - End Must close and wrong arm BSG

1. Guard Bases Tackle - Tackle Must condense hole2. Guard blocks Down / BSG Traps Tackle - Tackle must wrong arm trap

LINEBACKERS

• Heels at 5 yards

• Attack LOS at Snap

• Mike keys FB ; OLB Keys near back

CLEAR / CLOUDY

E T ET

W M SC

C

FS SS

E T ET

W M SC

C

FS SS

The Spot

CLOUDY READ BY SAM

E T ET

W M SC

C

FS SS

E T ET

W M SC

C

FS SSMANMAN

Force

FillCutbackCutback

Contain

Condense

Clear Read by Sam

SAFETIES

• 8 yards Deep

• Bounce feet at Snap

• Read EMLOS hat for Run or Pass

• Run To: Force

• Run Away : Fill Down Contain

• Pass : # 2 Deep to Robber on #1

Corners

• Man

• 5 yards inside ; cheat the top hip;

over play go route

* 3 Shuffles turn and run on snap

• Crack Replace

• Speed Turn on underneath cut

LINE STUNTS

• Tampa ( Line slants to strength ) 40

• Atlanta ( Line slants away from strength )50

BLITZES

• 1 Man = Mike, Sam, Will, Smoke

• 2 Man = Sam/Will ; Mike / Will etc..

• 3 Man = Storm, Avalanche , Tornado (LB’s)

• 4 Man = 3 Man Blitz + Smoke

Tampa Avalanche

E T ET

W M SC C

FS SS

E T ET

W M SC C

FS SS

TAMPA AVALANCHE

COMBOS

• Sam X

• Will X

Will / Sam X

E T ET

W M SC C

FS SS

E T ET

W M SC C

FS SS

WILL X

Decision Time

• Wing-T Teams ( Good at Sweep, Trap,Counter,

Waggle) What do we try and stop ?

* Spread Teams - How many in Box ?

Common Formation Adjustments

• Trips

• Double Tight

• 2 x 2

• Over ( 6 and 5)

Trips Adjustment

E T ET

W MS

C

CFS SS

E T ET

W MS

C

CFS SS

TRIPS

Double Tight

E T ETW M S

C C

FS SS

E T ETW M S

C C

FS SS

DOUBLE TIGHT / FULLHOUSE

2 x 2

E T ETW M SC C

FS SS

E T ETW M SC C

FS SS

2 X 2

PRACTICE

• Scout team vs Formation adjusments only

• 11 on 11 = Our Offense vs Our Defense

• ½ Line

• ½ Skel

• Pursuit Drills

• Tackling Drills everyday / Limit collisions