STRACK COUGAR DEFENSIVE PLAYBOOK **THIS IS MEANT TO BE A GUIDE TO SIMPLE OBJECTIVES IN OUR DEFENSIVE SCHEME AND ARE NO SUBSTITUTE FOR PAYING ATTENTION DURING PRACTICE**
BASE DEFENSE NOSE GUARD: HEAD UP WITH CENTER (BASE SLANT IS TO THE STRENGTH) STRONG END: HEAD UP WITH OFFENSIVE TACKLE ON STRONG SIDE (BASE SLANT IS TO THE STRENGTH) QUICK END: HEAD UP WITH THE OFFENSIVE TACKLE ON THE WEAK SIDE (BASE SLANT TO THE STRENGTH) BANDIT: OUTSIDE LINE BACKER LINED UP IN A 9 TECHNIQUE (outside shoulder of TE) ON THE STRONG SIDE HAWK: OUTSIDE LINEBACKER LINED UP IN A 5 TECHNIQUE (outside shoulder of weakside tackle) ON THE WEAK SIDE MIKE: WEAKSIDE LINEBACKER, LINED UP HEAD UP ON THE WEAKSIDE GUARD 4 YARDS OFF THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE SAM: STRONGSIDE BACKER, LINED UP HEAD UP ON THE STRONGSIDE GUARD 4 YARDS OFF THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE STRONG SAFETY: RESPONSIBLE FOR #2 RECIEVER FROM THE SIDE LINE, LINED UP 7 YARDS OF THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE FREE SAFETY: RESPONSIBLE FOR #3 RECIEVER FROM THE SIDE LINE, LINED UP 10 YARDS FROM LINE OF SCRIMMAGE RT & LT CORNERS: RESPONSIBLE FOR #1 RECIEVER FROM THE SIDELINE, LINED UP 7 YARDS FROM LINE OF SCRIMMAGE
INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINE NOSE GUARD / STRONG END / QUICK END OBJECTIVE: Watch for ball movement from the center and fire off with a flat back and arms in cocked position. Use hands and stay low to fight under the defenders pads to slant to the heel line of your GAP, eyes in the backfield for play flow. Fight to stay in YOUR gap! Pursuit angle is flat down the line. Play your GAP! Do not try to switch gaps or guess the play. Our interior line is a BRICK WALL and only works when the pieces are all in place.
Objective: INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINE BACKERS MIKE and SAM INSIDE LINEBACKERS To plug interior gaps or scrape for outside flow Linebackers will need to use a two key read progression to know which gap to fill. Linebackers will have a #1 key (near back) and a #2 key (away back) If there #1 key comes downhill or runs lateral to the outside on that line backers play side, then the linebacker will follow that key. If there #1 key crosses to the linebackers non play side, then they switch to their #2 key and follow that key. follow your key, looking trough the Guard, this can allow for pull calls for counter/power/trap plays. If a linebacker scraps to the outside, they will need to read the Bandit or Hawk (Outside Linebackers). Based on whether the OLB gets blocked inside or to the outside, the Middle line backer scraping will have to either FILL or SPILL off of that block. FILL means the OLB has the outside containment and the Inside linebacker will FILL the gap inside of the OLB SPILL means the OLB was blocked inside and the Inside linebacker will need to SPILL to the outside and be the containment player. If the Inside line backer sees a high hat from the Offensive Guard or Quarter Back through peripheral vision they will drop into CURL ZONE COVERAGE. Interior Linebackers are not allowed to blitz in Klein ISD
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS HAWK and BANDIT Objective: Outside Linebackers objective is to put pressure on the backfield while maintaining outside containment of the running game HAWK and BANDIT defenders read off the outside shoulder of the last man on the line of scrimmage. If the last man on the line of scrimmage blocks the OLB they need to maintain outside gap integrity by keeping low hips, feet underneath, and hands extended forcing the last man on the line of scrimmage inside, while keeping their outside shoulder free. Keeping shoulders parallel to the line of scrimmage while taking on a block is key to positioning yourself to not only have adequate vision of backfield flow, but also to escape the block in pursuit of offensive ball carrier. When in pursuit of ball carrier, run lateral to alleviate the speed of the running back. Make the ball carrier commit to you rather than you commit to them in the open field. NEVER GO INSIDE! ALWAYS KEEP OUTSIDE CONTAINMENT
SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES FREE SAFETY & STRONG SAFETY Objective: play pass first and be run support second When in man to man coverage of interior wide receivers (EX: TE in a Pro Set) they are you key. never look in the backfield or at the Quarterback for your first read. If interior wide receiver blocks, your second read is the flow of the back field. You are now run support where you FILL or SPILL based on flow of the play. If interior wide receiver goes out for a pass, you will have them man to man. when a number two receiver is outside of the interior formation, it is the Strong Safeties responsibility to cover. If the SS has to vacate the box (interior) the FS needs to look for any interior wide receivers. If none are present the FS is a man free who reads the eyes and front shoulder of QB. If a third receiver appears outside of the box the FS is responsible for coverage. Adaptations of above rules include TRIPS which the SS will roll up for press coverage of the flat and the FS will share quarter zone responsibilities with the Corner. DOUBLES with two back backfield will result in the FS having #2 receiver on opposite side of the field from SS. In the case of a one back backfield, adaptations of coverage including a linebacker can occur, leaving the FS to be a man free Each week adjustments to coverage and their subsequent calls on the field will be addressed. Many types of coverages and calls exist in our scheme. Stated above are basic representations for standard formations we may see in the year.
CORNER RESPONSIBILITIES RIGHT and LEFT CORNER BACKS Objective: NEVER GET BEAT DEEP!!! You have the responsibility of the #1 receiver from the sideline. (MAN TO MAN) You will have man to man coverage of the #1 receiver when no more than 2 receivers are present on your side of the field. If 3 or more receivers are on your side of the field you will be in quarter zone coverage or in exceptional circumstances, CLOUD coverage over the top taking up a 1/3 of the deep field. If #1 receiver goes in motion, coverages bump inside to the next receiver. If receiver goes in motion and stops on the edge of your play side interior, CRACK call is made to warn the OLB from a down block coming to their blindside. PLAY PASS FIRST PASS SECOND AND RUN THIRD!
2 Back Pro Set
2 Back Pro Twins
1 Back Pro Trips
1 Back Spread Trips
On 1 Back Spread Doubles SS goes to weak side #2 receiver Strong Right Call on even formations 1 Back Spread Doubles
No Back Spread Mike goes to weak side #2 receiver Spy QB No Back Spread Special
1 Back Pro Trey
44 Goal Line IN 3 Back Power
44 Goal Line IN Shift one gap over towards the strength on an unbalanced call 3 Back Power Unbalanced