Spread Offense with the 33
JOHN RICE
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
CANYON SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL
MORENO VALLEY, CA
(951) 537-9902
Zacoach102@aol.com
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Strategies
• “Maximum” Zone Coverage
– Rush 3, drop 8 (2 deep or 3deep)
– Rush 4, drop 7 (2 deep or 3 deep w/Tag)
• Pressure
– Man Pressure 4, 5, 6, or 7 man
– 1 Bracket with pressure
– Fire Zones rush 5 and drop 6
– Zone Blitzes (linemen dropping for blitzing LBs)
– Combination Coverage with Pressure
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Common Spread Philosophy
• Spread field through Formation and motion
• Open up running lanes
• Create personnel mismatches
• “Take What you Give us philosophy
• Run the ball vs. appropriate numbers in the box (audible to 5 in the
box)
• Pass the ball vs. appropriate numbers in the box (audible to 6 or 7 in
the box)
• Throw vs. Uncovered receivers
• Create the big play vs. the blitz
• Use of compressed formations to create confusion or gain an
advantage in numbers
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Strategies for Defending the Spread
how to take away certain strategies:
∀ • Take away bubble screen by alignment (draw on
board)
∀ • Take away funnel screen by sticking like glue to
#1
∀ • Outflank compressed formations
∀ • Play zone or match up zone vs. compressed
formations
∀ • Playing bunches or stacks
• o Jamming first man off the line in a zone
• o Triangle concept man on LOS, bracket other
two Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Strategies for Defending the Spread
• Analyze and understand protection scheme of your
opponent:
Have a pressure packaged based on their
protection weaknesses (stunts, bluffs, overloads,
personnel mismatches)
• Anticipate the offensive coordinator’s adjustments
to your strategy and have at least one countermove
for each strategy he employs. two
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Strategies for Defending the Spread
• Take away an opponents best receiver by
alignment, coverage, or both. Jam on line with
safety help to test him. Align deep if he’s a deep
threat. Bracket him if you can afford it.
• Know the offensive coordinator’s philosophy and
take advantage of it
• Take away what they do best. Make them beat you
with someone or something other than their best
play.
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Strategies for Defending the Spread
• Be prepared for the no huddle
• Practice preparation
– i.Use two huddles/units in pass skeleton back to back to
back w/#1 QB to keep continuity
– ii. Increase pace of drills and increase conditioning
• Game preparationgetting the call on the field
– i.Hand Signal call to entire defense (everyone must
know signals)
– ii. Signal to one defender, he relays the call to defense
– iii .Use wristbands and coded calls
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Strategies for Defending the Spread
Have multiple adjustments for motion/formation checks
• Teaching progression early in spring/summer
• Jam receivers at different levels to disrupt timing
• In man
• i. On line
• ii. Catch and trail
• In zone
• i. On the line in 2 jam or 3 jam
• ii. At 3 or 5 yards
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Strategies for Defending the Spread
• Disrupt the rhythm of the offenseforce postsnap
reads. Disguise coverage (show examples)
• Huddle call
• “bluff” (make sure they are not the same)
• “universal”
• wait on OC
• Mix up your looks. Blend pressure and coverage.
Utilize straight man, combination (man zone),
zone blitzes, and fire zones. (Show game
ready sheet)
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Strategies for Defending the Spread
Offense
• Play fastest players on defense
• If the team you are playing uses personnel packages to
gain advantages, use the same 11 players without
substituting
• Stop the running game first with the least amount of
defenders in the box as possible. If you can stop the run
with 5 you have an advantage
• Force the offense to be onedimensional by doing one of the
following:
• Take away the pass. If you can consistently rush 3 and drop
8 defenders into pass coverage you are at an advantage
• Take away the run by loading the line of scrimmage with
eight or nine defenders
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Formulating a strategy:
• Take away what they do best; make them beat you
with something else
• Have multiple adjustments to formations if needed
• Have formations & coverage checks to prevent the
offense from gaining an advantage
• Be prepared for no huddle
• Be prepared for personnel groupings
• Know their pass protection and how to attack it
• Have a strategy to defend bunches and stacks
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Alignment vs. Doubles
Vs. Doubles Corner
Spur
Free Lion
Safety
Mike
Ram
Bandit
Corner
Coach John Rice
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“Pull” ALIGNMENT VS. TRIPS
Coach John Rice
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“Stack” ALIGNMENT VS. (TE) TRIPS
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Cover 3 Drops
Cover 3 Drops
Corner
5 under
3 Deep Zone Bandit
Ram
Free
Mike Safety
Lion
Spur
Corner
Free Lion
Safety
Mike
Ram
Free
Mike Safety
Spur Lion
Corner
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Strategies for covering empty (or trips) with
33 defense
• Play straight cover 2; run with #3 verts
• Play soft cover 2 to two receiver side;
Quarters to trips side
• Play the corner man to man on #1 to the
trips side, and soft 2 everywhere else
• Play 2 Deep zone, run with inside vertical
routes
• 32 w/man free
• 31 with 2 safety look
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
2 Deep Zone VS. TRIPS
Coaching Point in a 2 deep zone: Run with the #3’ vertical route
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Strategy vs. Trips Formations:
Quarters to trips side; Soft 2 to single side
Quarters to trips side Soft Cover 2
Soft 2 to single cut side
E N E
S C
C
L M R
F B
Corner man #1 Soft Cover 2
E N E
S C
C
L M R
F B
Deep 1/4 Deep 1/2
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Strategy vs. Empty Formations:
Quarters to trips side; Soft 2 to single side
Quarters to trips side Soft Cover 2
Soft 2 to single cut side
E N E
S C
C M R
L
F B
Corner man #1 Soft Cover 2
E N E
S C
C M R
L
F B
Deep 1/4 Deep 1/2
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Strategies for covering empty w/33
• Play soft cover 2 to two receiver side;
Quarters to trips side
• Play the corner man to man on #1 to the
trips side, and soft 2 everywhere else
• Play 2 Deep zone, run with inside vertical
routes
• 32 w/man free
• 31 with 2 safety look
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Pressure
• Man Pressure
– 5 man
– 6 man
– 7 man
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Principles for Applying Pressure
• Disguise your intentions if at all possible
• Use more than one disguise per blitz
• Know the protection scheme you are attacking
• Know the opponent’s hot reads and sight adjustments
(may be able to force a certain throw favorable to you)
• Ensure your defense is gap sound
• Assign proper run force
• In man schemes, every potential receiver is accounted for
• Don’t allow offense to create a mismatch
• Create mismatches that favor the defenseattack weakness
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Principles for Maximizing
Effectiveness of Pressure Scheme
• Pressure Calls MUST be scripted.
• Blitz Period /7 on 7/Team
– Practice the four looks (show, half, time, depth)
– Show unusual formations/motion
– Force checks to prevent unfavorable situations
– Emphasize blitzing defenders redirect to the ball if
play is a run
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Zone Pressure
• Can you force an audible by showing
pressure presnap and drop a defender into a
passing lane?
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Dime 4 “Idaho”
E N E
S B
C $ L M F C
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Dime 4 “Oregon”
E N E
S B
C $ L M F C
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
5 Man Pressure
• From Base Front (6)
– Ox, Tiger, Smoke, Torch, Red, Crazy
• Fire Zones (9)
– Thunder, Hurrican, Lamb, Rambo, Rex, Lex,
Laser, Male, Mare
• From Dime Front (6)
– Crossfire, Mable (switch), Spice, Sugar, Axe
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
5 man pressurefrom base
• “CoverageBlitz”
• Examples:
– “3 Ox Show” (cover 3 with Mike & Ram going)
– “3 Tiger Half” (cover 3 Mike and Ram going)
– “0 Sting Time” (cover 0 with Spur and Bandit
going)
– “0 Smoke Show” (cover 0, line slanting weak,
Spur, Ram going outside End)
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
3 OX
Coach John Rice
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3 Tiger
Coach John Rice
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0 Smoke
Coach John Rice
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0 Torch
Coach John Rice
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3 Jacks Red
Coach John Rice
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“Crazy”
Coach John Rice
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5 man pressure from Dime:
•Crossfire
•Mable (Switch)
•Spice
•Sugar
•Axe
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Dime 1Free Rules:
E N E
B
C S $ M R C
Hole
F Deep Middle
Dime ($) in for Lion; will align according to blitz called. Man up with #3 in empty
We are playing man coverage with Spur and Bandit on #2’s (over vs. trips)
We will always send at least 1 linebacker; the other will be a hole defender.
If we send both inside backers, Dime will be hole defender unless covering #3 in empty.
Free Safety is playing deep middle. We can also use him to bracket a receiver & play 0.
Coach John Rice
Hole defender will abandon responsibility if R releases. In that case, man up on R.
zacoach102@aol.com
Dime Crossfire Cover 1Free
S E N E
$ B
C M R C
Hole
F
Deep Middle
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Dime “Mable” Cover 1 Free
E N E
B
C S M R
$ C
Hole
F
Deep Middle
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Dime “ Mable Switch” Cover 1 Free
E N E
B
C S M R
$ C
Hole
F
Deep Middle
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Dime “Spice” Cover 1 Free
E N E
C $ B
M R C
S Hole
F
Deep Middle
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Dime “Sugar” Cover 1 Free
E N E
$ B
C M R C
S Hole
Deep Middle
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Dime Axe Cover 1Free
To field
E N E
$ B
C S M R C
Hole
F
Deep Middle
Nose slants to field (blitz)
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
2 Shell Pressure
Coach John Rice
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Dime Double Plug Robber
Coach John Rice
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Dime Tornado
Coach John Rice
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Dime Field Slam
Coach John Rice
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Dime Lightening
Coach John Rice
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Dime Win
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
33 Fire Zone Pressure
Cover 33: 3 deep, 3 under, rush 5
E N E B
S
C L M R
Seam/curl/flat hole
C
Seam/curl/flat
F
Cover 33 Rules:
We are sending 5 (3 linemen and usually 2 linebackers)
The remaining linebacker is a hole defender
Coach John Rice
We will cover both seams, not allow vertical releases by #2’s
zacoach102@aol.com
Thunder Cover 33
Field
E N E B
C L M R
Seam/curl/flat
C
Hole Seam/curl/flat
S
F
Thirds Thirds Thirds
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Hurricane Cover 33
Field
S E N E
C L M R
Seam/curl/flat
C
Hole Seam/curl/flat
F B
E N E
C S L M R
Seam/curl/flat
B C
Seam/curl/flat
Hole
F
Thirds Thirds Thirds
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Rambo Cover 33
E N E
C S L M R
Seam/curl/flat
B C
Hole Seam/curl/flat
F
Thirds Thirds Thirds
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Rex Cover 33
E N E R
C S L M
Seam/curl/flat
B C
Hole Seam/curl/flat
F
Thirds Thirds Thirds
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Lex Cover 33
L E N E
C S M R
Seam/curl/flat
B C
Seam/curl/flat
Hole
F
Thirds Thirds Thirds
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Laser Cover 33
E N E
C S L M R
Seam/curl/flat
B C
Seam/curl/flat
Hole
F
Thirds Thirds Thirds
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Male Cover 33
E N E
C S L M R
Seam/curl/flat
B C
Hole Seam/curl/flat
F
Thirds Thirds Thirds
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Mare Cover 33
E N E
C S L M R
Seam/curl/flat
B C
Hole Seam/curl/flat
F
Thirds Thirds Thirds
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
6 man pressure
Coach John Rice
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Zoo
Coach John Rice
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TigerBandit
Coach John Rice
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Ox Spur
Coach John Rice
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TigerSpur
Coach John Rice
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OxBandit
Coach John Rice
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Pressure from dime
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
6 man pressure from Base
• “CoverageBlitz”
• Examples:
– “ 0 Zoo Time” (cover 0 with Lion Mike,Ram
going)
– “3 Zoo” (cover 3 Lion,Mike and Ram going)
– “0 Tiger Bandit half” (cover 0 with Lion, Mike &
Bandit going)
– “0 Ox Spur” (cover 0, line slanting weak, Spur,
Ram going outside End)
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Dime “Python” Cover 0
E N E
$
C M R C
L
S F
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Dime “Python Under” Cover 0
E N E
$
C L M R C
S F
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Dime “Boa” Cover 0
L E N E
$
C M R C
S F
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Numbers package
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Numbers Package with Pressure
• When doublebracket coverage with
pressure is desirable as part of a package
• May play single bracket with pressure if
desired
• When a team places their best receiver at
various positions in the offensive formation
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Dime Numbers “12” Anchor
E N E B
S
L M
C $ Low Hole F C
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Dime Numbers “12” Anchor
E N E B
S
L M
C $ Low Hole F C
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Numbers 11 Ox (Swap)
E N E B
S
L M
C $ C
F
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
“Duo” Package
S E N E B
N M $
C C
F
Corners Man on #1; keep inside leverage
Spur Bracket #2; outside leverage
Nickel Bracket #2; inside leverage
Mike Pressure
Dime Bracket #2; inside leverage
Bandit Bracket #2; inside leverage
Coach John Rice
Free Safety Pressure zacoach102@aol.com
Duo Pressure
E N E E N E
M M
Tags:
F Right F
“Indiana Right” Left “Indiana Left”
Field
Boundary
E N E E N E
M M
F F
“Ohio Left”
“Ohio Right”
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Appendix
• Weekly Practice Overview
• Sample Defensive Practice Plan
• Sample Inside Drill Practice Script
• Sample 7 on 7 Period Practice Script
• Sample Team Period
• Sample Defensive Game Call Sheet
• Defensive Implementation Schedule
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
WEEKLY OVERVIEW (USED TO PLAN DAILY PRACTICE)
COUGAR FOOTBALL
Weekly Concepts to
WEEKLY OVERVIEW
are
T IFF
Qu
ne ede
ick
(LZW)
Time™
d to
deco
seand
mpre
e this
a sspic ture.
or
Review
Dart/Wrap
Wrap/Dart
Inside
Inside Drill
QB Trap
I nside Zone
QB Trap
Intro
Goaline Runs
Dart/Wrap
Zone
QB Trap
Review
Vs. 2 minute offense
Review
Hi Lo Boot
Da rt/Wrap
Hi Lo, Fade
7 on 7
Intro
Y or X Fad e Scat
Wheel/Pos t
I ntro
Boot, S cat
Smas h
Review
Pass
Scat
Inside Zone
Review
Wrap/Dart
HiLo Crosses
Fa de
Team
Sma sh
Intro
HiLo Crosses
Intro
Smash
Smash
Review
Hi Lo
Review
Bo ot
Crossing Routes
Review
Empt y Draw
Intro
All Sets
Y or X Fad e
3 man Sca t
Sla nt Review
Sm as h
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
SAMPLE DEFENSIVE PRACTICE PLAN
COUGAR FOOTBALL
THOUGHT
Date:
OF THE DA Y:
Front/Coverage Lift
"WINNING IS A HABITÉUNFORTUNATELY,
SO IS LOSING." -VINCE LOMBARDI
Defensive
PRACTICE SCHEDULE 1 Free, Numbers PM
1 5
Fundy INDIVIDUAL FUNDAMENTALS FORMATIONS RUNS
2 10
(15) (EVERY DAY DRILLS) Press Technique
3 15
2 by 2 QB Trap, zone
4 20
GROUP 1 RUN FITS/
(10) 5 25
SLANT TECH Hole Drop
In and Out bracket technique
Trips open Draw
6 30 WATER BREAK
GROUP 2 7 35
(20) 8 40 INSIDE RUN DRILL
2 ON 1 Bracket Drill
9 45 (SEE SCRIPT)
10 50
11 55
Passes Formations
GROUP 3
12 60 1 ON 1 PASS
13 65 7 ON 7 (SEE SCRIPT) SMASH
(20)
RUSH (STOP 4 WIDE
14 70 CORNER)
15 75
CURL/WHEEL
4 WIDE
16 80 (MIRROR)
TEAM
(20) 17 85 TEAM (SEE SCRIPT)
Fade 4 WIDE
18 90
Hi Low 4 WIDE
CONDITIONING AS NEEDED Conditioning
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
SAMPLE INSIDE DRILL
PRACTICE SCRIPT
COUGAR FOOTBALL
wed 9/28
"BIG 8" DEFENSIVE PRACTICE SCRIPT
Emphasis: Defending Spread Formation Runs
Play Card H FORMATION PLAY FRONT STUNT COV NOTES
1 A L see card inside zone Base Male 33 Shift
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
SAMPLE 7 ON 7
PRACTICE SCRIPT
COUGAR FOOTBALL
7 on 7 DEFENSIVE PRACTICE SCRIPT Wed 9/28
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
SAMPLE TEAM PERIOD
PRACTICE SCRIPT
COUGAR FOOTBALL
"TEAM" DEFENSIVE PRACTICE SCRIPT wed 9/28
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
SAMPLE DEFENSIVE GAME CALL
SHEET
Coach John Rice
zacoach102@aol.com
Coach John Rice
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VIDEO CUTUPS
Coach John Rice
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