Defense

DEFENSIVE POSITIONS

DL: Defensive Linemen NT: Nose Tackle (Inside Defensive Linemen) DE: Defensive Ends (Outside Defensive Linemen)

LB: Linebackers SLB (Sam): Strong-side Outside Linebacker MLB (Mike): Strong-side Inside Linebacker BLB (Buck): Weak-side Inside Linebacker WLB (Will): Weak-side Outside Linebacker

DB: Defensive Backs CB: Cornerback N: Nickelback (Extra Cornerback in Nickel Formation) D: Dimeback (Extra Cornerback in Dime Formation) S: Safety FS: Free Safety SS: Strong Safety

FORMATIONS

Solid (3-4): 3 Defensive Linemen (DL), 4 Linebackers (LB) (OLB's on the line), 2 Cornerbacks (CB), 2 Safeties (S)

Straight (3-4): 3 DL, 4 LB, 2 CB, 2 S

Over (3-4 Over): 3 DL (overloading strong side), 4 LB, 2 CB, 2S

Under (3-4 Under): 3 DL (overloading weak side), 4 LB, 2 CB, 2S

Strong (3-4): 3 DL, 4 LB (Sam on the line), 2 CB, 2S

Weak (3-4): 3 DL, 4 LB (Will on the line), 2 CB, 2 S

Pinch (3-4): 3 DL (DE's line up over C gap), 4 LB, 2CB, 2S

Spread (3-4): 3 DL (DE's line up over D gap), 4 LB, 2 CB, 2 S

Solid Straight Over Under Y Z

Y Z

Y Z

Y Z X X X X

FORMATIONS NT head up on C, DE's in B gaps, OLB's on the line, C gap shade on TE's, MLB's off the line, A gap shade on the G's. NT on on up head up on C, DE's head up T's, OLB's off the line head up TE's, MLB's off the line, head on the G's.

NT head up on strong side G, DE's head up on T's, OLB's off the line, head up on TE's, MLB's off the line, Mike head up on C, Buck head up on weak side G. NT head up on weak side G, DE's head up on T's, OLB's off the line head up on TE's, MLB's off the line, Mike head up on strong side G, Buck head up on C..

Strong Weak Pinch Spread Y Z

Y Z

Y Z

Y Z X X X X

FORMATIONS NT head up on C, DE's head up on T's, OLB's head up on TE's, Will off the line, Sam on the line. MLB's off the line, head up on G's. NT head up on C, DE's head up on T's, OLB's head up on TE's, Will on the line, Sam off the line, MLB's off the line, head up on G's. NT head up on C, DE's over B gaps, OLB's off the line, head up on TE's, MLB's off the line, head up on G's. NT head up on C, DE's over C gaps, OLB's off the line, head up on TE's, MLB's off the line, head up on G's.

Defensive Line DL Calls (all calls shown from straight formation on following pages): Key: Read & React Blast: Shoot Gaps Jam: Fill Inside Gaps Stretch: Fill Outside Gaps Crash Right: Shoot Gaps to the Right Crash Left: Shoot Gaps to the Left Inside Twist: DE's fill B gaps, ILB's fill C gaps Outside Twist: DE's fill C gaps, OLB's fill B gaps Switch Strong: NT and strong-side DE cross Switch Weak: NT and weak-side DE cross Gaps & Offensive Line Positions

Gaps: D C B A A B C D

TE T G C G T TE

Blast

Y Z X Key

Y Z X

Stretch

Y Z X Jam

Y Z X

DL CALLS DL's make contact with OL, read the play and react. DL's bull rush OL, read and react while rushing. DT bull rush on C, DE's shoot inside gaps. DT bull rush on C, DE's shoot outside gaps.

Crash Left

Y Z X Crash Right

Y Z X

Outside Twist

Y Z X Inside Twist

Y Z X

DL CALLS DL's shoot gaps to the right. DL's shoot gaps to the left. Combination DL movement & Blitz. DT bull rush on C, DE's shoot inside gaps, MLB's shoot behind DE's to outside gaps. Combination DL movement & Blitz. DT bull rush on C, DE's shoot outside gaps, OLB's, shoot behind DE's to inside gaps.

Switch Weak

Y Z X Switch Strong

Y Z X

DL CALLS Weakside DE bull rush T, NT moves laterally to strongside B gap, strongside DE pulls behind NT to A gap. Strongside DE bull rush T, NT moves laterally to weakside B gap, weakside DE pulls behind NT to A gap.

Blitzes Sam Blitz: SLB blitzes Mike Blitz : MLB blitzes Buck Blitz : BLB blitzes Will Blitz: WLB blitzes Sam-Mike Blitz : SLB and MLB blitz Sam-Buck Blitz: SLB and BLB blitz Sam-Will Blitz: SLB and WLB blitz Mike-Buck Blitz: BLB and MLB blitz Mike-Will Blitz: BLB and SLB blitz Buck-Will Blitz: MLB and WLB blitz Strong Corner Blitz: strong-side corner blitzes Weak Corner Blitz: weak-side corner blitzes Strong Blitz: SS blitzes Free Blitz: FS blitzes Overload Strong Blitz: SS and SLB blitz Overload Weak Blitz: FS and WLB blitz Triple Strong Blitz: SS, SLB, and MLB blitz Triple Weak Blitz: FS, WLB, and BLB blitz Deep Blitz: FS and SS blitz Max Blitz: All LB's blitz Inside Twist: See DL Calls Outside Twist: See DL Calls

Mike Blitz Sam Blitz Will Blitz Buck Blitz

Y Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

BLITZES Sam blitzes through C or D gap. Mike blitzes through A or B gap. Buck blitzes through a or B gap. Will blitzes through C or D gap.

Sam-Buck Blitz Sam-Mike Blitz Mike-Buck Blitz Sam-Will Blitz

Y Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

BLITZES Sam blitzes C or D gap, Mike blitzes A or B gap. Sam blitzes C or D gap, Buck blitzes A or B gap. Sam and Will blitz C or D gap on their side. Mike and Buck blitz A or B gap on their side.

Buck-Will Blitz Mike-Will Blitz Weak Corner Blitz Strong Corner Blitz

Y Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

BLITZES Mike blitzes A or B gap, Will blitzes C or D gap. Buck blitzes A or B gap, Will blitzes C or D gap. Strongside CB blitzes outside. Weakside CB blitzes outside.

Free Blitz Strong Blitz Overload Weak Blitz Overload Strong Blitz

Y Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

BLITZES SS blitzes through strongside A or B gap. FS blitzes through weakside A or B gap. SS blitzes through A or B gap, Sam blitzes through C or D gap. FS blitzes through A or B gap, Will blitzes through C or D gap.

Triple Weak Blitz Triple Strong Blitz Max Blitz Deep Blitz

Y Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

BLITZES Mike blitzes A gap, SS blitzes B gap, Sam blitzes C or D gap. Buck blitzes A gap, FS blitzes B gap, Will blitzes C or D gap. SS and FS blitz A or B gaps on their side. MLB's blitz A or B gaps on their side, OLB's blitz C or D gaps on their side.

Coverages: Man-to-Man: Default coverage. Each man in pass defense covers one man on offense. See following pages for rules and variations. Combo X (FS Double Teams X) Combo Z (FS D-T Z) Combo S (FS D-T S) Combo Double (FS/SS D-T X/Z) Cover 2 Zone (2 Deep, 5 Short) Cover 2 Man (2 Deep, Man) Cover 3 Strong (Rotate S/S) Cover 3 Weak (Rotate W/S) Cover 3 Man (3 Deep, Man) Cover 4 (4 Deep, 3 Short) Prevent (2 Very Deep, 4 Deep)

With Sam Blitz

1 2 3 2 1

1 2 3 2 1

Reverse for Will Blitz. Buck will take #2 on weak side. Basic

1 2 2 3 1

1 2 3 2 1

With SS Blitz

1 2 3 2 1

1 2 3 2 1

With Sam-Mike Blitz

1 2 3 2 1

1 2 3 2 1

Reverse for Buck-Will Blitz. Mike will take #2 on weak side.

Y Z X

Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

MAN COVERAGE

With Overload Strong Blitz

1 2 3 2 1

1 2 3 2 1

Reverse for Overload Weak Blitz. Buck will take #2 on weak side. With Strong Corner Blitz

1 2 3 1 2

1 2 3 2 1

Reverse for Weak Corner Blitz. FS will take #2 on weak side. With Max Blitz

1 2/3 2 1

1 2 3 2 1 With Triple Strong Blitz

1 2 2 3 1

1 2 3 2 1

Reverse for Triple Weak Blitz. FS will take #2 on weak side.

Y Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

Y Z

MAN COVERAGE

With Sam Blitz

Reverse for Will Blitz. Basic

With SS Blitz With Sam-Mike Blitz

Reverse for Buck-Will Blitz.

Y Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

COVER 2 MAN

With Overload Strong Blitz

Reverse for Overload Weak Blitz. With Strong Corner Blitz

Reverse for Weak Corner Blitz. With Max Blitz With Triple Strong Blitz

Reverse for Triple Weak Blitz.

Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

COVER 2 MAN

With Sam Blitz

Reverse for Will Blitz. Basic

With SS Blitz With Sam-Mike Blitz

Reverse for Buck-Will Blitz.

Y Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

COVER 2 ZONE

With Overload Strong Blitz

Reverse for Overload Weak Blitz. With Strong Corner Blitz

Reverse for Weak Corner Blitz. With Max Blitz With Triple Strong Blitz

Reverse for Triple Weak Blitz.

Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

COVER 2 ZONE

With Sam Blitz

Reverse for Will Blitz. Basic

With SS Blitz With Sam-Mike Blitz

Reverse for Buck-Will Blitz.

Y Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

COVER 3 STRONG

With Overload Strong Blitz

Reverse for Overload Weak Blitz. With Strong Corner Blitz

Reverse for Weak Corner Blitz. With Max Blitz With Triple Strong Blitz

Reverse for Triple Weak Blitz.

Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

COVER 3 STRONG

With Sam Blitz

Reverse for Will Blitz. Basic

With SS Blitz With Sam-Mike Blitz

Reverse for Buck-Will Blitz.

Y Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

COVER 3 WEAK

With Overload Strong Blitz

Reverse for Overload Weak Blitz. With Strong Corner Blitz

Reverse for Weak Corner Blitz. With Max Blitz With Triple Strong Blitz

Reverse for Triple Weak Blitz.

Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

COVER 3 WEAK

With Sam Blitz

Reverse for Will Blitz. Basic

With SS Blitz With Sam-Mike Blitz

Reverse for Buck-Will Blitz.

Y Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

COVER 3 MAN

With Overload Strong Blitz

Reverse for Overload Weak Blitz. With Strong Corner Blitz

Reverse for Weak Corner Blitz. With Max Blitz With Triple Strong Blitz

Reverse for Triple Weak Blitz.

Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

COVER 3 MAN

With Sam Blitz

Reverse for Will Blitz. Basic

With SS Blitz With Sam-Mike Blitz

Reverse for Buck-Will Blitz.

Y Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

COVER 4

With Overload Strong Blitz

Reverse for Overload Weak Blitz. With Strong Corner Blitz

Reverse for Weak Corner Blitz. With Max Blitz With Triple Strong Blitz

Reverse for Triple Weak Blitz.

Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

Y Z X

COVER 4

Y Z X

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