63 Basics and Overview

Jack Gregory© 2013

All Rights Reserved

For more information see www.gregorydoublewing.com

Or email me at coachgregory@live.com
 THE BASIC CONCEPT
• Keep the ball on the opponent’s side of the
line of scrimmage and deter him from running
north-south.
• Never give up the big play or the easy score
via the pass or the sweep.
• Play explosive, aggressive, violent,
fundamentally sound football.
• Eleven defenders to the ball. Swarm the ball!
 Players make the Defense
• It doesn’t matter what type of defense you
run if you are not fundamentally sound you
will fail.
• If you have not taken the time to develop each
of your players confidence, spirit of
competition, and aggressiveness, athletic
ability, and football skills you are going to fail.
 Roots of the Defense
• DC46 (Dumcoach 46 Defense from Clark
Wilkins)
• 62 Shooter (John Carbon)
• 33 Stack (JJ Lawson)
• 34 Zone blitz (Don Capers/Dick Lebeau)
• Tampa Cover 2 (Tony Dungy)
 What is It?
• It looks like a 60 front but is really a 40 front
• Inverted cover 2 using Tampa cover 2 concept
• Really 5 LB’s; DE use a 34 rush/drop technique
• Defensive line are one gap players
• Mike is our side line to side line defender.
 Important Terms #1
• Compress: A defensive line technique that has the lineman get off the snap and get into the
blocker and attempt to displace him or get behind him so that the defender’s heels replace the
blocker’s heels and there by compressing the line of scrimmage and force the ball to spill outside.
In our base STACK calls the defensive line penetrates, locates the ball, and goes to the ball; which is
a one gap technique and what we normally use. In any BULL call we attack the blocker and
compress which is a 2 gap technique.

• Hunting (Hunter): This is a technique that has a defender widen out far enough to not be blocked
by a interior blocker or offensive end man on/near the line of scrimmage (EMLOS) and then aim the
hips, belt buckle, and feet (tilted inside) at the near hip of the deepest back or nearest back (in that
order) and attack him at the snap of the ball and stay on that outside edge of that near hip as he
gets to him. This literally has the defensive end tracking the near hip so he stays in front of it. If he
encounters a lead blocker then cross his face aggressively while ripping through the outside arm pit
with his inside arm to stay on that near hip of the ball carrier. If the back goes out of the backfield
this allows the defensive end to convert his hunting technique into a peel technique.

• Feathering: This is when the near side OLB is playing the alley via the sweep or a perimeter play
and must maintain outside leverage (hips square to the LOS) on the read player and force him to
string the perimeter play out towards the boundary (going east-west). The OLB must keep his hips
square to the LOS and keep his inside shoulder tight and to the outside of the ball carrier. Used
when we call RED (READ) for the OLB. We use a feathering concept that mirrors the OLB’s depth to
the ball’s depth on the opposite side.
 Important Terms #2
• Spill: Force technique that has the ball go wide to the boundary by filling
all the interior gaps on the inside. Individually it means having the ball go
away from the LOS and go to the outside of the outside shoulder of the
defender. Often this is done by crashing or placing immediate pressure
inside filling the interior gaps or compressing the LOS. This is a technique
we use for our perimeter defense concept and specifically with our
defensive ends and their hunting technique.

• Squeeze: Force technique that has the ball stay inside and not allow the
ball to go outside towards the boundary. Individually it means keeping the
ball on the inside shoulder and forcing the ball to cut back inside or
backside. Often this occurs when the defensive end gets inside quickly
(under the near side OT) and does not allow the runner to spill forcing the
runner to cut and run inside (into our interior defender) or backside into
our backside pursuit (BSDE). This technique is used by the contain (play
side) corner and by the RED play side (feathering) OLB in the alley.
 Important Terms #3
• Perimeter concept (SHOOT THE SIDELINES): this is
the concept I use to force the ball to stay east-west
and deny it the ability to go north-south and drive
the ball to the boundary or kill it in the back field.
• Sweep, option, motion action (jet/rocket), perimeter
passing game – handled the same.
• There are several terms tied to this concept:
 Important Terms #4
• Alley: This is the location from the offensive EMLOS to the near boundary. The defense,
once they determine run to the alley (spill outside) or a perimeter pass, must squeeze the
size of the alley down as much as possible from the inside out as they force the runner to run
east-west.

• Alley Backer: is the near OLB and his job is to maintain outside leverage as well as mirror and
attack the ball aggressively. His job is to pin the ball behind the LOS and force it to run to the
boundary or back inside to the shoot defenders and pursuit. He is the first line of defense
inside the alley when we call RED. In Stack the OLB is attacking the A, B, or C gaps.

• Bounce: This is the backside OLB (in RED) once he determines there is no threat of BCR
(BOOTLEG COUNTER REVERSE) he must relocate to the play side C gap (replace the alley
backer) at an intermediate depth and angle to further drive the runner to the boundary and
not allow him to cut back as MIKE shoots and the alley OLB flow with the ball. He has to
cross-key for a hat coming his way and check for Bootleg/Counter/Reverse off the line and
out of the backfield prior to bouncing. The bounce is the second line of defense inside the
alley and we expect his delay as he reads and that allows him to come into the play side C gap
and kill the cutback as he does.
 Important Terms #5
• Cap: The backside corner takes his three step pass drop and once he determines there is not
threat of BCR he must relocate to the play side at a deep angle so that he ends at 30 yards above
the LOS (end zone line in near the end zone) to ensure that the runner has no chance to score. He
must check for Bootleg/Counter/Reverse prior to capping and he should slow play the cap as first to
verify BCR and no throw back. As he rotates he must play the PASS one they way to CAP to ensure
that this is not a boot/HB pass play. This defender must cap the top of the alley to reduce the
chance of an easy score. He is the final line of defense on top of the alley or essentially the safety.

• Contain: Play side/near side corner after he takes his three step pass drop and confirms there is no
threat of pass on his side and he confirms run to the near perimeter he immediately closes on the
line of scrimmage staying on the outside edge of the runner and attempts to contain the runner
behind the LOS and towards the boundary. His job is to squeeze down and contain the ball behind
or as near to the line of scrimmage as possible with outside leverage. The job of the contain
defender to is to squeeze the alley from the outside/in from the boundary.

• Force: This is the defensive ends on the front side of the ball. His job is to force the ball to
immediately turn inside or go deep around the force (spill) towards the boundary so the ball can be
killed in the backfield. The force defender aligns on the inside of the alley and his job is to attempt
to not allow the ball into the alley or for it to have to go away from the LOS to get to the alley.
Force the ball to react immediately to pressure and not allow easy access to the alley at all. This is
our Hunting technique.
 Important Terms #6
• Shoot: This is the MIKE linebacker and his job, once he determines the
perimeter play, is to attack the ball from inside out down hill and kill the
ball as fast as possible and hopefully behind the line of scrimmage as it
runs east-west. His job is to shoot into the alley and kill the play. Mike
must stay on track to the inside hip of the runner.
•
• Trail: Backside defensive end; Responsible for bootlegs, counters, and
reverses behind the line of scrimmage when ball moves away. He is
responsible for any eligible offensive player coming towards him. He will
attack the near hip of the deep/near back and as he moves away the trail
will flatten out to the depth of the deepest threat and pursue the ball.

• Gap: (four interior linemen): - Interior of defense given gap responsibility;

must penetrate past the heels of the offensive linemen, locate the ball,
and pursue down the line cutting off any lanes for the ball to cut back into.
 Important Terms #7
Tackling Technique:

• Bite the Pit: This is simply a term to reinforce the safe and proper way to
execute a tackle. Literally bite the ball side arm pit; meaning you have to get
your head and eyes up and your mouth into the arm pit which will in turn
force you to lower your hips, drop your butt, bend your knees, and bull your
neck and get you in the proper hitting position. We use the LOAD, EXPLODE,
GO concept with tackling. Load your body, explode into the ball carrier, go
through the ball carrier. Bite the pit reinforces all of that. Simple rule is head
up you bite the ball side arm pit, if at an angle bite the far side arm pit.

• Bit the Hip: When a ball carrier is physically and/or biologically more mature
than the tackler or the tackler simply doesn’t have the force to stop/slow the
ball carrier this is an alternative technique. You use the same exact technique
in the Bite the Pit but with the hip of the defender. By attacking the hip you
deny the ball carrier the ability to create additional force and momentum as
well as turning the ball carrier’s lower body away from the direction intended.
 Important Terms #8
Field and Boundary Sides
• Field Side: This is the wide side of the field or the side with more
horizontal space for the ball to maneuver in. The field side is always our
DANGER SIDE. MIKE will call DANGER so that the entire defense is alerted
to which side is field and which side is boundary. If we are in the middle
of the field then MIKE will call DANGER SIDE to the opponent’s side line.
DANGER meaning that ALLEY on that side is more dangerous to us.

• Boundary Side: This is the short side of the field and the ball has less
horizontal or lateral space to maneuver in and thus it is much easier to
control the alley and the ball. Bear in mind that the ball will often go
NORTH-SOUTH or cut back much faster on the boundary side and thus
another reason why we keep our better players on the field side so that
we can account for the quick north-south or cut back move via backside
pursuit as we squeeze down from the field side.
 Important Terms #9
• Window: A Window is any open space on the LOS that is not covered by a
defensive lineman. A window is any open space between a defensive
linemen and the sideline. It is simply an open space on the LOS that the
ball or a linebacker or defensive back can get into and into the backfield to
make a play. Pre-snap the linebacker should look for windows along the
LOS and post-snap he should then locate those spots along with other
creases (via blocking) to find the most efficient window to use for the
most direct path to the ball.
 Important Terms #10
Tunnel: Whenever a kick out is made on a defender a tunnel is made and the
offense will attempt to run through that tunnel. A tunnel is usually always
between the alley and the snapper. We must squeeze it and spill it
depending on where the FORCE makes initial contact in the backfield with
respect to the ball carrier.
 Defensive Triangles
• Defensive Triangle Concepts: These are important concepts within
the 63 defense. It helps to explain how each position supports the
other positions and how each group of players effect the defensive
scheme.
• The more you understand how they overlap the better you become
at making game time adjustments. More to the point, the better
you are at building the “Triangles”, the more effective the defense
becomes, requiring less adjustment. Consider the game of Chess,
your opponent is likely to attack a Pawn or group of Pawns.
• However, if that same Pawn is presented with a Rook and Bishop or
a Knight and Queen, they realize they may lose their piece by
attacking. If you use a similar mentality when building your
Defensive triangles, you make your defense less susceptible to
successful attacks. The best outcome is that there is more
opportunity for the “Pawns” to become an integral part of your
attack!!
Perimeter Triangle
Pass Triangle
Hourglass
Edge Triangle
Stack Triangle
Mike Triangle
 Tactics of the 63 Defense
• The defense is designed to funnel the ball towards our best
defenders and to the sideline. We do this by compressing the LOS
on the inside with penetrating defensive linemen and compressing
the edge of the backfield on each side with hunting defensive ends.
• In this defense the sideline acts as a twelfth defender and is one of
our best defenders. This is because the sideline always makes a
tackle and the runner can never get by him so we must utilize that
extra defender whenever possible and force runners that want to
run the D gap to keep running towards our best tackler.
• Our goal is to funnel or spill every thing to the sideline and force the
ball to go EAST-WEST and not cross the LOS. Yardage is gained by
running NORTH-SOUTH not EAST-WEST and thus whenever we can
funnel and force the runner to run east-west it increases the
likelihood that we will negate any chance of a positive gain by the
offense and increase the chance that our defense makes a tackle for
a loss by increasing the time it takes to go NORTH-SOUTH.
 Field Side Concept
• Offenses like to operate in big spaces and the field side offers more room
to operate in.
• Out of 104 teams that I studied, during 2005, I found that 76% of those
teams ran to the wide side of the field. When they did not run to the wide
side of the field 84% of those teams ran to their side of the field. Based on
this I will always have my MIKE call strong side to the FIELD SIDE and if the
offense is in the middle of the field we will call strong side to the
opponent's sideline. This ensures that you will playing to the correct side
80% of the time.
• Common Chain of Priorities for which side the ball is going on offense:
– Wide Side (Field)
– Near Side (opponent’s near side)
– Backfield alignments
– Formation strength (unbalanced line)
– Plays specific to individual formations
Alley Concept
 The Alley Concept
ALLEY
ALLEY

B
O B
U O
N U
D N
A D
R A
Y R
Y

• When an offense aligns there will always be two alleys, one on each side of
the ball.
• It is the job of the defense to squeeze the alley shut on each side of the ball
and deter the ball from penetrating the LOS.
 Containment of the Alley
Capping the
alley.

Contain:

Shrinking the
alley.

B B
O O
U U
N ALLEY ALLEY N
D D
A A
R R
Y Y
 Squeezing the Alley
Shooting the
Alley

Filling the Alley

B
O B
U O
N U
D N
A D
R A
ALLEY ALLEY
Y R
Y
Forcing the ball away from
the alley
 Spill the Alley
Shooting the
Alley

Filling the Alley

B
O B
U O
N U
D N
A D
R A
ALLEY ALLEY
Y R
Y

Forcing the ball

away from the alley
 Zone Coverage
• Tampa Cover 2 scheme (rotational inverted cover 2)
• Inverted Cover 2 (cornerbacks play in the outside quarters of the field)
• Play the field then the ball.
– Grass is not fast, athletic, tall, tough, and it has never made a catch.
– When the ball is up in the air every defender takes a path to the ball and gets there with
purpose.
• All defensive ends and defenders outside of the defensive end will tilt their stances
to face the backfield.
• Zone defenses offers better run support as the defenders are reading the backfield
as they defend the field.
• Defensive backs (two) play pass first drop and keep dropping until they have
determined the ball is crossing the LOS. They rotate to the passer’s vision with the
farthest DB slowing their rotation checking for BCR. Otherwise they defend pass
as that is their main responsibility.
• Linebackers play run first and if they read pass they drop to the depth of the
passer and immediately rotate to the direction of the passer’s vision with the
farthest backers slowing their rotation checking for BCR.
• Cornerbacks priority: 1) PASS, 2) CONTAIN, 3) BCR, 4) CAP
Zone Basics
Mike and Defensive End
Corner Backs and Outside Backers
Defensive Linemen
Rotation Zone Basics
 The Hour Glass Effect
• The Perimeter Triangle and the Pass Triangle form an hourglass effect.
• The soft spot or weakness of the hourglass is the funnel on each side
(requiring the offense to pass the ball into the funnel).

Pass

Funnel Funnel

Perimeter
 The Funnel Is the Weak Spot!
• In the Inverted Cover 2 (Tampa 2) the weak spot is the space outside of the defensive end and inside of
the boundary (alley) on each side.
• Yes and no. Our focus is to stop the offense from getting the big play first and foremost. This is normally
accomplished by the vertical pass or the perimeter play (the sweep/flat pass).
• We also allocate our interior six to filling all the interior gaps (A, B, C) on both sides as well and thus deny
them the ability to attack us vertically on the interior and edge while we apply max pressure to their
backfield using not only our interior six but our defensive ends.
• This limits what the offense can really do to us and where they can effectively attack us. They should not
be able to throw the vertical pass, they should not be able to sweep on us or effectively attack the flat,
and they should not be able to attack us in the interior or edge. What they can do is get the ball into the
funnel via the perimeter pass or screen. If you look at the way the defense is designed we have a check
and balance to allow us to account for this in our normal structure.
• First the defensive ends are really executing a rush and read technique that allows them to drop into
coverage if they detect any sort of quick pass or screen to the perimeter. Thus acting as FLAT/HOOK
robber coverage.
• Secondly all three defenders in the passing triangle are allowed to flow to the passer’s vision allowing
them to play the ball and the field and not an individual player. More importantly if you look at the funnel
once the ball is there we have defenders all around the ball creating a ring of tacklers that allow us to close
in and kill the ball where it lands or press it to the sideline.
Funnel
Funnel #2
 BCR: Bane of the Backside
• Bootleg, counter, reverse!
• Backside defenders (DE, OLB, CB) must slow play flow to ensure they don’t
vacate their space and open the defense to a BCR. The rule is simple:
check for flow coming your way in the backfield if you see none slow play
to flow and confirm the ball on the other side of the field before you
commit full speed.
• First line of defense is the TRAIL DE doing his JOB!
• Second line of defense is the CAP CB doing his JOB!
• Pre-snap Red Flags for BCR:
– WB on opposite side
– Offset FB on opposite side
– Split backs in backfield or three back alignment
– Slot, bunch, or trips receivers on opposite side
• The defense is designed so that the front side does their job and stops the
flow. Make sure the backside slows down and does their job as well and
the defense will never give up a big play.
 Personnel Group 1
Back Five
• Mike: best defensive player with athletic ability to range from sideline to
sideline and drop into vertical coverage. Must be aggressive/violent hitter
that enjoys punishing ball carrier. Good leadership skills.
• (Rover): second Mike – same skill sets.
• Defensive End: disciplined, explosiveness off the ball, understands
leverage/angles. Aggressive/violent hitter with good tackling skills. Hybrid
OLB type so that he can drop into coverage on quick pass key and cover
the flat verses an expanded edge on his side when called to. Tall players
and/or players with size to match up to lead blockers and pullers. The
quicker he is the more plays he will make in the backfield.
• Cornerback: disciplined, athletic, fast, good hands, natural ball skills.
Ability to take proper angles/leverage to the ball. Good tacklers in the
open field. Can be smaller players as long as they meet the criteria above.
The faster he is the more ground he can cover.
 Personnel Group 2
Front Six
• OLB: more athletic players of your F6 players. The better football player &
athlete he is the more you can do with him. He should be a pretty good leader
(stacks), and he should have decent quickness and aggressiveness. The better
he is in zone and man coverage and the better he is at tackling the more you
can do with him.
• DT: the more athletic of the two defensive linemen. Can be two types, small
aggressive penetrators that are hard to block or big boys that can fill a gap and
penetrate with power. In either case they must be able to compress the LOS.
• DG: the least athletic F6 player but follow the guidelines for tackles.
• Special note: if you have an elite defensive linemen don’t be afraid to move
him from DT to DG and even from stack to another to keep the offense
guessing.
• Stack Teams: OLB, DT, DG. OLB calls all stack calls.
• Special Adjustment Player: (replace the two DG’s)
– NT (Nose Tackle): elite defensive player that can either penetrate aggressively and
quickly or fill a gap with power or BULL/2Gap and fill space on the LOS.
– ROVER (second MIKE): Same as the MIKE backer and often a ROVER type player.
 Order of Need
63 Stack 63 Stack and Red and Lava

Mike Mike
Field Side DE (NT)
Field Side CB Field Side DE
Boundary Side DE Field Side CB
Boundary Side CB (Rover)
OLB OLB
OLB OLB
DT Boundary Side DE
DT Boundary Side CB
DG DT
DG DT
DG
DG
 Mike Pre-Snap Calls
• MADE PRE-SNAP EVERY PLAY:

• FIELD CALL: This is a call that is made immediately by the mike backer to indicate which side is the
field side (wide side of the field or the most vulnerable). The FIELD SIDE CORNER and FIELD SIDE
DEFENSIVE END should immediately swing to that side from the middle of the field as the boundary
side swings over to the opposite side. If the offense is in the middle of the field then the FIELD side
is the side opposite the team’s sideline as we want our boundary players on our near sideline.
MIKE has to make this call immediately. He should not hesitate to make this call so that the field
and boundary players (DE’s and CB’s) can get in their right spots and wait for any additional tags or
calls.

• SHIFT CALL: Our basic alignment has the interior defenders align against a 3:3 alignment, meaning
there are at least 3 blockers on each side of the snapper. With unbalanced sets and the use of a
wing on, backfield overload (Yale/beast) and nasty alignments we compensate for this by using a
simple shift call. MIKE after making his FIELD call will count the number of blockers on the LOS on
each side of the snapper. As long as there is 3:3 he doesn’t need to make the call unless he sees a
wing on, backfield overload, or a nasty split to the field side or the coaching staff from the side line
makes an adjustment call. By calling SHIFT (RIGHT or LEFT) it tells the stacks to shift one man over
to the side called (for a 4:2 alignment, wing on, backfield overload, or nasty alignment). If the MIKE
calls DOUBLE SHIFT or even TRIPLE SHIFT he is saying to shift over twice or even three times (5:1 or
a 6:0 alignment).
 Basic Alignment of Interior
• Interior Six; Penetrate and Locate the ball!
• The interior six defenders are made up of two guards, two tackles, and two outside line
backers. One guard, one tackle, and one outside backer make up a stack of three defenders.
• The outside backer is the stack leader and will direct where the other two defenders in his
stack go at the snap of the ball. In RED/CLOUD he has a OUTSIDE/AT/AWAY key.
• Defensive Guards: Will align head up over the first blocker on their side of the snapper. They
will get into an aggressive three point stance that allows them to attack either the inside or
outside gap of the man they are head up on.
• Defensive Tackle: Will align head up over the second blocker on their side of the snapper.
They will get into an aggressive three point stance that allows them to attack either the
inside or outside gap of the man they are head up on.
• Outside Backer: Will align one to three yards behind the defensive tackle in a balanced two
point stance with the arms cocked by the hips. He should be on the balls of his feet and he
should be in a solid hitting stance ready to move in any direction. He can offset to the
outside slightly (no more than inside foot to outside heel of DT) if he needs to account for an
offense that is perimeter heavy.
 Basic Alignment of the Hourglass
• Mike: aligns in a balanced two point stance and is 6 to 8 yards directly over the
snapper. Reads flow/can set key to QB or FB or TB as needed). AT/AWAY KEY.
• Defensive End: aligns 2 to 3 yards outside from the Offensive EMLOS (OT, TE,
WB). He is in a two point with the inside foot up and tilted so that he is facing
the deep/near back (numbers, buckle, toes). If the TE or WB is taking a nasty
split align inside of him if you cannot close the edge. Hunts the near/deep
into the backfield. If flow away DE stays deep as deepest back and follows.
• Corner Back: aligns 8 to 10 yards of the ball. Face the near/deep back
(numbers/buckle) facing inside. Reads QB to 1st receiver as he drops to
determine pass, contain, cap. With a wide receiver he splits the difference
between the WR and the near DE. If there is a slot or trips looks the CB splits
the difference between the 1st and 2nd receiver. If there is no tight end he
simply aligns four yards outside of the offensive EMLOS. If BAIL is called he
splits that depth to 4 to 5 yards with same alignment (old SKY call). This is
used when we need quicker run support or perimeter short pass support.
Stances
 Base Calls
• Stack: Max pressure! OLB’s are not readers. Simple.
• Red: Pressure with inside/out coverage. Reading OLB. Better perimeter
support (Alley/Bounce defenders).
• Spread (Red Spread): Red call with OLB moving outside of the DE into
outside coverage using a LB drop and covering the perimeter area.
• Slide (Red Slide): Red call with OLB splitting distance between the DE and
near DT. AUTO call when we have a WB/TE or NASTY TE alignment.
• Quarters (Four): spread call with the OLB using a DB drop covering from
the perimeter to the vertical seam. This is basically a cover 4 concept to
play three and four vertical concepts.
• Storm (old Steam): spread call but the OLB is actually attacking the C gap
(edge) inside of the DE force. This allows us to bring additional pressure
from the edge when we know the slot is not a pass threat or the QB is not
attacking that area.
 Stack
• Basic call
• Can be used for eight and below teams as it acts like a GAP 8 defense.
• Allows you to bring constant but random pressure to the interior and edge
on both sides (A,B,C, and D (thanks to DE) gaps).
• The stack concept sets the basis for all other calls.
• Two stacks of three defenders.
• Each stack is lead by a OLB and has a DG and DT.
• Has three basic slant calls (IN, OUT, SPLIT).
• GAP IN is also a auto call for an open side (no TE).
• DG and DT penetrate, locate the ball, and attack ball with hips square to
the LOS. (PUNCH – PENTRATE – LOCATE)
 Red
• READING DEFENSE – The hardest part of teaching defense
is teaching the LB reads and reactions.
• OLB stays aligned over the DT
• OLB becomes a reader instead of a blitzer/stunter
• OLB read is OUTSIDE/AT/AWAY – DRAW/PASS
• OLB is the ALLEY DEFENDER for RUN
• OLB takes an outside read step (lateral read step)
• OLB will drop into zone coverage and to the depth of the
QB’s drop. He drops quickly and rotates to the QB’s vision.
Backside OLB slows his rotation to check for BCR
• Allows us to move from GAP 8 pressure defense to a
reading zone defense
 Spread
• Same as RED but in SPREAD the OLB will split the difference
between the DE and the first receiver near DE.
• If the receiver is outside of the DE he will use a tilted stance
(FTB).
• Allows the OLB to expand out to zone coverage outside of
the DE.
• On the call the OLB expands splitting the difference
between the near receiver from the DE.
• Aligns to a depth of 3 to 5 yards
• His drop converts to a LB drop when he is outside of the DE.
He reads the backfield
• READ RUN (OUTSIDE/AT/AWAY) to PASS/DRAW
 Slide
• Same as RED but in SLIDE the OLB will split the difference
between the DE and the near DT.
• If we have a WB and a TE or two or more backs aligned side
by side it is an auto call.
• If we have a Nasty TE (split more than 2 feet from OT) it is
an auto call.
• Allows the OLB to expanded with an extended line or
multiple backs lined near the LOS on his side..
• Aligns to a depth of 3 to 5 yards
• His drop converts to a LB drop when he is inside of the DE.
He reads the backfield
• READ RUN (OUTSIDE/AT/AWAY) to PASS/DRAW
 QUARTERS (FOUR)
• Same as RED but in QUARTERS the OLB will now split.
• Allows the OLB to expand out to zone coverage outside of the
DE.
• On the call the OLB expands with the near receiver to the DE.
• Aligns to depth of 3 to 5 yards
• His drop converts to a DB drop in QUARTERS. Meaning he
takes a three step drop and if he has a pass threat he
continues to drop.
• READ is PASS/DRAW – OUTSIDE/AT/AWAY
• Like having a CB in BAIL (old SKY) coverage on the SLOT
receiver
• No PASS THREAT he converts to RED.
 Storm
• Same as RED but in STORM the OLB will now split.
• Allows the OLB to blitz from the SPREAD/QUARTERS look attacking
inside of the DE.
• On the call the OLB expands splitting the difference between the
2nd receiver from the outside and tilts in the same manner as the
CB (SPREAD/QUARTERS).
• Aligns to a depth of 3 to 5 yards but starts to squeeze inside near
the LOS just before the snap.
• He attacks the near hip of the QB and attacks inside of the DE’s
force.
• MIKE calls the stack on that side when STORM is called.
• We can send MIKE into his assigned GAP by adding ENGINE to the
call (). This allows us to get the MIKE backer involved in the STACK
blitz scheme and still use the OLB from an expanded look to bring
overloaded pressure from the expanded side.
 STORM
STEAM Call
Mike calls IN to STACK STEAM & MICKEY Call
OLB calls OUT to STACK
 Man Coverage Calls
• Press – called when we want to put our CB’s and OLB’s into press man
coverage against their #1 and #2 receivers on each side.
• Dagger – called when we want to put our CB’s and DE’s into press man
coverage against their #1 and #2 receiver on each side.
• Press call the near side DE will cover #3 out of the backfield. In the case of
Trips/Bunch the MIKE will go into PRESS cover on the #3 if we call HOT.
Otherwise we let the DE pick up the quick pass and if MIKE sees the QB
mask to that side he will roll his coverage.
• Depress call the near side OLB will cover #3 out of the backfield in RED
otherwise MIKE sees the QB mask to that side he will roll coverage.
• Mutant – CB’s stay in inverted cover two and DE’s go into PRESS cover on
the #1 receiver outside and the OLB’s will cover the #2 receiver from the
outside. Mike will have base coverage with a four man front.
 PRESS CALL
• Used when we need to go into press man coverage across the board
against a passing team as a change up.
• It puts the corners into inside leverage press on the #1 receiver on his side.
• It puts the OLB into inside leverage press on the #2 receiver on his side.
• They don’t mirror depth. They hug the LOS and mirror and they don’t let
the receiver release inside.
• Force him outside to the boundary, get on his inside hip, and run with him.
• MIKE will get a COVER 1 call telling him to go to 8 to 10 yards deep and
take a 3 step drop and read QB mask.
• MIKE can stay base (6 to 8 yards and attack flow) or even get a blitz tag to
go into a COVER 0 pressure look.
• You can call ZULU as well if you feel the defense will not throw to a certain
slot receiver. If you want to really take a chance and you feel the SLOT is
not a viable threat at all you can call PRESS-STEAM (RIGHT/LEFT)
• If man goes in motion they stick with him.
Press Coverage Stance
PRESS
PRESS – STORM RIGHT
PRESS – STORM RIGHT MOUSE
(OLB calls IN for right stack)
PRESS – STORM RIGHT MICKEY
(OLB calls OUT for right stack)
 DAGGER CALL
• Used when we need to go into press man coverage across the board against a
passing team as a change up and we want to keep our OLB’s inside.
• It puts the corners into inside leverage press on the #1 receiver on his side.
• It puts the DE into inside leverage press on the #2 receiver on his side.
• They don’t mirror depth. They hug the LOS and mirror and they don’t let the
receiver release inside.
• Force him outside to the boundary, get on his inside hip, and run with him.
• MIKE will get a COVER 1 call telling him to go to 8 to 10 yards deep and take a 3
step drop and read QB mask.
• MIKE can stay base (6 to 8 yards and attack flow) or even get a blitz tag to go into a
COVER 0 pressure look.
• OLB can be STACK or RED. If STACK they don’t go AUTO GAP so you can play with
the line using STACK calls. You can still call GAP (if you do the OLB switches to a
DEEP/NEAR FORCE tech and not a QB FORCE tech.
• It allows you to vary the outside pressure and coverage in PRESS which can often
confuse the reads of the QB.
• If man goes into motion they stick with him.
DAGGER
 MUTANT CALL
• Used when we need to go into press man coverage across the board against a
passing team as a change up and we want inverted cover 2 behind it due to good
vertical receivers.
• It puts the DE into inside leverage press on the #1 receiver on his side.
• It puts the OLB into inside leverage press on the #2 receiver on his side.
• They don’t mirror depth. They hug the LOS and mirror and they don’t let the
receiver release inside.
• Force him outside to the boundary, get on his inside hip, and run with him.
• MIKE will be in base coverage unless another call is made.
• MIKE can stay base (6 to 8 yards and attack flow) or even get a blitz tag to go into a
COVER 0 (MICKEY/MOUSE) pressure look or a COVER 1 look (ROBBER)
• We can SKY our CB’s still for quicker run support.
• MIKE makes a base STACK call for both sides. Often BULL but we can make all sorts
of calls.
• If man goes into motion they stick with him.
• 5 man front so often this is a RUN read. SKY call the CB’s to fool them.
MUTANT
 Basic Training
• The biggest question I often get is how do you get this defense installed and how long does it take.
– My answer is it takes one practice to get the basic structure installed
– About three practices to get it working so that every player understands their role within the defense.
– I use a pretty simple group method to initially teach the defense so that every player has a basic understanding of how
the entire thing works and why their job is so important.
• I break it up into the front six and into a sweep and pass triangles and then combine them into the
hourglass and explain how the two triangles support each other to make the defense work. Once I get this
done we work on perfecting their basic stances, initial movements, and their role within the hourglass and
the front six. Once we get that down we start refining their techniques and adding some additional calls
and tags that enhance what we do.
• First and foremost we stress tackling, pursuit angles, and creating turnovers. These are basics of defensive
football and without them any defense you teach is going to be worthless so you have to put an emphasis
on these basic concepts throughout the season and especially at the beginning of the season.
Fundamentals should be stressed throughout the entire season. A team that tackles, pursues, and create
turnovers on defense gives their offense more possessions and increases the likelihood of your team
scoring.
• We instill in our team and aggressive and violent demeanor. I want my kids to always make contact first as
that resolves a lot of problems. This is a combat sport and kids need to have a warrior mentality of never
quit, never back down, and always strike first and strike hard!
• We teach using a WHY and HOW METHOD. We explain a concept/technique, we walk it, we run it at half
speed, and we run it at full speed. We constantly reinforce good habits and eliminate bad habits.
 It is About Pressure!
• This defense is all about pressure. In STACK we put it right in the
face of the offense and challenge them to stop it.
• In RED we compress the line and bring pressure from the edges
and read and respond to flow.
• In SPREAD we again compress the line and bring pressure from the
edge and play our OLB in a flat/hook zone coverage.
• In Quarters we again compress the line and bring pressure from the
edge and allow our OLB to play a DB drop. Basically allowing them
to convert into COVER 4 using a slot SKY look.
• STEAM and the addition of MICKEY/MOUSE allows us to bring
pressure while giving a SPREAD/QUARTERS look to keep passing
teams (especially spread) on their toes and hold true to our
pressure theme. Bringing our defense right back to the STACK
concept we believe in with a nice twist.
 How the Stacks Work
• The outside backers will make a stack call which will tell the other two members of the stack where
to go and what to do.
• Each defensive linemen has one rule while in the stack when the ball is snapped they must
penetrate into the backfield through their gap as fast as possible; penetrate past the heels and
compress the LOS, and locate the ball.
• OLB has a bit more freedom due to their athletic ability. They penetrate past the LOS and attack
the near hip of the QB. This allows us to put immediate pressure on the ball from one gap while the
remaining defenders in the stack compress the LOS to the ball.
• The outside backers are free to make any basic call and you should encourage them to change up
and vary the calls as much as possible. What you will find is as the outside backers and the
defensive linemen take owner ship of the stack that the outside backers will make calls that will get
them in the backfield as quickly as possible as they will hit the gap that is the most available to
them to get to the ball.
• Because the stunting and blitzing is layered, meaning defenders are attacking the LOS at various
moments in time, it ensures that a runner cannot simply bypass the first level of our defense
because they have to pass the layered pressure coming through the interior gaps (A,B,C).
• Defensive linemen stay square and close on the ball if the ball goes past them they must retrace to
their gap in the same path they travelled. This ensures that we reduce cut back lanes on the
interior.
• If a offensive linemen vacates (pulls) the defensive linemen follows his rule he penetrates and
locates the ball. If the ball flows with the vacating linemen he squeezes down on the hip of the
offensive linemen as he goes to the ball square.
 SPECIAL Alignment Calls
BASE OPEN ODD WIDE

DG when NT BULL TECHNIQUE unless called to

DT has C/D stunts stunt.
SPECIAL Alignment Calls
EAGLE WIDE

DG when NT BULL TECHNIQUE unless called to

stunt.
 Basic Stunt Calls
SPLIT GAP IN OUT

BASE CALL (GOAL LINE/OPEN END) BASE CALL

 Basic Calls
These four basic calls can be made by the OLB’s at any time. My rule to them is put
yourself in the best position to make a play on the ball. Find the weak leak in the
line and hammer that call home while keeping them on offense on their toes.

• IN – The OLB will call IN and it will tell both the DG and DT to slant to the inside
gaps (A and B) while the OLB stunts into the C gap.

• OUT – The OLB will call OUT and it will tell both the SG and DT to slant to the
outside gaps (B and C) while the OLB stunts into the A gap.

• SPLIT – The OLB will call SPLIT and it will tell DG slant into the inside gap (A) and
the DT to take the outside gap (C) while the OLB stunts into B gap.

NOTE: These three calls allow the OLB to hit all three gaps on his side of the ball.
 Stack = Pressure
• This is a pressure concept that allows us to attack with eight defenders putting
players in every gap and closing down the backfield from the D gap as our force
defender hunts the ball from the outside in.
• When we call stack we want to attack; we want those six stack defenders getting
behind the LOS as quickly as possible, locating the ball, and killing the ball behind
the LOS or spilling the ball into the hunters.
• We want our defensives ends hunting the ball from outside in and either stopping
the ball in the backfield or spilling it deep behind the LOS towards the boundary.
 Stack Defensive Line Technique
• use a 3 – point stance that is aggressive. By aggressive
I mean that you need to use a toe – heel (or slightly
deeper) staggered stance with the dominant hand
down and around 18 to 24 inches from the up field
foot. The offhand needs to be in a power position as if
ready to sprint; cocked above and behind the near hip.
• Exploding off the ball is essential and the first step is
key; it needs to be an aggressive power step into the
gap. It is alright to teach the down hand on the slant
side as well and often is an advantage if you can teach
them to get into a stance using both hands.
• This is not the same as an offensive line stance.
Questions/Comments?