44 SWARM DEFENSEDEFENSIVE LINE PLAY

Coach Tim MurphyClovis East High School

I. INTRODUCTIONA. 4 things each defensive player must know - A.S.R.T.

1. ALIGNMENT2. STANCE3. READ - BLOCK RECOGNITION4. TECHNIQUE

B. 10 Basic Offensive plays defensive players must be able to stop.1. TRAP2. POWER3. WEAK SIDE LEAD4. WEAK SIDE “X” BLOCK5. SWEEP6. OPTION7. DROP BACK PASS8. ROLL OUT PASS9. SCREEN PASS10. DRAW RUN

II. ALIGNMENT

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5 A B 8

A. DEFENSIVE END1. Head up on the LAST MAN ON LINE OF SCRIMMAGE (LMLOS)2. Can also be realigned into inside gap vs wide OL splits between OT

and TE, because DE run responsibility is the inside gap.

B. DEFENSIVE TACKLES (NOSE GUARD, TACKLE)1. Aligned in GAPS2. Benefits of gap alignment

a. Allows DT to penetrate or pierce gap when the don’t get a READ call.

b. Maintains balanced DL when OL uses wide splits.In a SHADE technique - the offensive line would use wide splits of 4 to 5 feet, the DT would follow them and this would allow huge holes to be created in the DL because of the OL alignment and DL shade technique.

III. STANCEA. DE STANCE

1. 2 point “Attacking” stancea. Low to ground almost being in 4 point stance.b. Back parallel to groundc. Knees and ankles flexed / bentd. Arms - Coiled position - Pre loadede. Chest over kneesf. Vision - Look thru brow of helmet to TEg. Balanced with no forward lean like when in a 4 point stance

2. Depth from LOS - 2 feet, gradually getting closer to LOS as experience and skills improve and reaction to blocks by OL is quicker.

B. DT STANCE1. 4 point stance

a. Foot to the side where they are stepping to is back1). NG = Steps toward Center, back foot is side towards

Center2). DT = Steps towards Offensive Tackle, back foot is side

towards OT.

E N T Eb. Back foot toes in line with the instep of the front foot.

c. Both hands down and square to LOS.d. Feet width - Shoulder width or armpit width apart - no more

wider then shoulders, if get too wide player looses power and balance.

2. Depth from LOS - Hands are 1 yard (3 feet) off of LOS.a. Allows DT to be able to read and react to OL blocks,b. Even in passing situations an d pass rushing, remain 3 feet off

of LOS1). Use BULL RUSH technique their forward momentum

generated to drive OL backwards then use escape move once OL is moving backwards.

E N T E2 FEET

OFFLOS

3 FEETOFFLOS

2 FEETOFF LOS

IV. READSA. DE - Offensive lineman aligned up on, End Man on Line Of Scrimmage

1. Read the helmet / screws or chest plated, top of numbers if getting faked out by head fakes by OL

2. What the OL does dictates what the DE does for at least the first 2 steps of his attack.

B. VS THE REACH BLOCK

T E1. Goal of DE: Slow down BC and redirect BC laterally.2. Defensive Philosophy: Bounce and Attack BC3. Reach Block means Sweep Run Play4. Reach Block Read

a. TE steps out, DE steps outb. DE makes contact with TE on second step, locks out arms for

separation, and get eyes inside to backfield Trianglec. Do not try to get upfield and try to contain BC or try to get

underneath the reach block in play inside out.

C. BACKFIELD TRIANGLE1. Triangle for DE’s

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BACKFIELD TRIANGLE READ FOR DE’S

2. Triangle Read for Nose & Tackle

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BACKFIELD TRIANGLE READ FOR N & T

D. DE vs DOWN BLOCK1. TE DOWN BLOCKS to DT or SILB

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TE DOWN BLOCK TO DT

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TE DOWN BLOCK TO SILB

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TE DOWN BLOCK TO SILB

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2. Very important for DE to JAM TE AND SQUEEZE to the inside of the formation down the LOS.a. DE keep shoulders square to LOS as squeezing TE down

LOS3. While Squeezing down with TE get vision into backfield triangle

looking for Full Back kick out block, or play side guard kick out block on the “G” play, or backside guard for wide trap.

4. When DE squeezes down LOS the blocking angle of TE to the SILB is diminished and difficult for the TE to get to the SILB

E. DE vs TE BASE BLOCK

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TE BASE / DRIVE BLOCK ON DE

W S1. Intention of the block

a. TE attacks DE and tries to take DE wherever he wants to go.b. TE attacks DE attempts to ‘’TUNNEL” the DE out.

2. DE Reaction:a. Fight pressure to the inside gap, which is DE run responsibility,

and hold ground to the inside.b. Keep shoulders square to the LOSc. Do not wrong arm any kick out blocks, squeeze down LOS

1). Wrong arming will all ow the offense blocker to log block the DE, allowing the BC to get to the outside.

2). Vs LOG block by offense DE will treat the block as he would a REACH block.

d. If TE allows you to gain inside position, they may be attempting to set the DE up for a REACH block.1). If DE Reached by TE must rip across the face of the TE.

F. DE vs LOG BLOCK by RB

E N T E

TE DOWN BLOCK TO SILBRB LOG BLOCK DE

W S1. INTENTION OF BLOCK

a. Hook DE inside prevent from getting to the outside, because BC is running to the outside.

2. REACTION same as if REACH block by TEa. Jam TE, Squeeze down LOS, keeping shoulders square to

LOS, eyes in Back field triangle looking for RB block,b. RB attempts to LOG block, rip across RB’s face to outside.

G. DE VS DROP BACK PASS BLOCK

E N T E

TE PASS BLOCK

1. Attacks OUTSIDE EYE of the TE/ OT 2. No deeper penetration then the QB3. Contain QB on Roll out , Never allow QB to get outside

a. DT and ILB’s will be freed up to get to QB for Sack.

H. DE VS ROLL OUT PASS

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W S

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GREEN LIGHTAUTO BLITZ

1. ILB has GREEN LIGHT, auto blitz rush.2. DE must escape from TE / OT block with rip technique to the outside

I. DE VS INSIDE / OUTSIDE RELEASE BLOCK1. Inside Release

a. JAM TE & SQUEEZE down LOS with vision into triangle, where he will see pass block look by OT

b. Pass rush QB with containment.

E N T E

TE INSIDE RELEASE

2. OUTSIDE RELEASE BY TEa. First thinks TE is REACH blocking,b. Jam TE, stepping out, with vision into trianglec. See OT pass block set up, pass rush with containment on QB.

E N T E

TE OUTSIDE RELEASE

J. DE VS TACKLE PULL BLOCK

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TACKLE PULL BLOCK

1. OT pulls across formation down the LOS2. DE follow OT down LOS3. Squeeze down LOS all the way to the adjacent defensive lineman.4. Vision is into backfield triangle looking for any kind of play action or QB

roll out.5. QB rolls out, DE reacts immediately by taking a 45 degree

attacking angle to get back on track to contain QB, not allowing QB to get outside tackle box.

E N T E

TACKLE PULL BLOCKQB ROLLS OUT

V. TECHNIQUESA. DE vs REACH BLOCK

1. Loaded stance2. Steps: Lead Step, Power Step3. Jam TE, lock out arms to get separation, Stick butt out, Stick chest out4. Keep shoulders square to LOS5. Keep stepping outside of TE6. Escape move - RIP

B. DE vs DOWN BLOCK1. Loaded stance2. Steps: Lead Step, Power Step3. Jam TE, lock out arms to get separation, Stick butt out, Stick chest out4. Squeeze and push TE inside down LOS, turning shoulders briefly,

then get shoulders square to LOS, shuffle down LOS5. Take on any kind of kick out blocker with inside shoulder.

C. DE vs BASE BLOCK1. Loaded stance2. Steps: Lead Step, Power Step3. Jam TE, lock out arms to get separation, Stick butt out, Stick chest out4. Squeeze inside, shuffle inside to inside gap responsibility.5. Escape with Rip move.

D. DE vs INSIDE / OUTSIDE RELEASE BY TE1. Loaded stance2. Steps: Lead Step, Power Step3. Jam TE, lock out arms to get separation, Stick butt out, Stick chest out4. Vs Inside Release - Jam TE down LOS, then pass rush with outside

contain on QB roll out5. Vs Outside Release - Jam TE stepping outside like a reach block reaction, then pass rush with outside containment on QB.

E. DE vs TACKLE PULL ACROSS FORMATION1. Loaded stance2. Steps: Lead Step, Power Step3. Jam TE, lock out arms to get separation, Stick butt out, Stick chest out

4. Squeeze shuffle down LOS to next defender5. QB rolls out, attack at 45 degree angle to get to containment of QB

VII. FOOTWORK OF DLA. Feet alignment

1. Back foot = inside foot2. Front foot = outside foot

B. First 2 steps1. 1st step = LEAD STEP by back foot (inside foot)2. 2nd step = POWER STEP by front foot (outside foot)

1st step:LEADSTEP

2nd stepPOWERSTEP

VIII. THE NOSE GUARD AND DEFENSIVE TACKLEA. Philosophy of Defensive Line: Do not allow running lanes to be created by

1. Penetrating too deep into backfield2. Being driven backwards off of LOS.

a. DL acts like a “MOVING WALL” laterally back and forth, forcing BC to bounce to outside.

b. DL will determine the direction of BC by seeing the shoes of the BC in the backfield triangle.

B. Alignment:1. DT= Lined up in “B” Gap on “Y” (TE) side of formation, 2. NG = Lined up in “A” Gap away from “Y” side of formation

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A B

C. READ KEYS1. Visual Key: Offensive lineman to the inside2. Physical Key: Offensive lineman to the outside 3. Reason for keying inside OL - the NG & DT are surrounded by OL

a. If the DT steps out to the OT, makes contact with his eyes to the inside and the OG, he will be protected from a DOWN block from the OT.

b. Upon feeling pressure from the physical key the DL will abandon his visual read and get his vision (eyes) onto his Physical Key and Push, Pull, Rip across the OL face.

4. If both the Physical & Visual Key for the DL a. VS Double Team drop to ground and make pileb. Vs a weaker Double team block try and split itc. Any time DT feels he is being driven backwards dive to

ground, grab grass, bear crawl or seat roll towards the direction of the play.

d. Determine the direction of the play by seeing the shoes of the BC in the backfield Triangle.

D. Steps1. DT: Always 1st two steps toward Offensive Tackle and make contact

with OT2. NG: 1st two steps toward Offensive Center and make contact with

OC.E. READS

1. DOWN BLOCK BY O. TACKLE = Pull by O. Guard

E N T Ea. DT steps and attacks physical read (OT) with vision on visual

read (OG)b. Escape with PUSH, PULL RIP ACROSS OT face.c. Get shoulders square to LOSd. Do not belly around the back of the blocker

1). Creates running lane 2). Must stay square to LOS and move laterally to LOS

2. DOUBLE DOWN BLOCKS BY OG & OT

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W Sa. Physical Key overrides visual keyb. DT steps into Physical Key (OT) sees OG down block, DT

fights across the face of the Physical key (OT).3. REACH BLOCK

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W Sa. Key that OT can not Reach the ILB’S, the only way that

happens is if the OG reaches the DT, but because of DT alignment this should never happen.

b. OG’s are not allowed to reach block the NG or DT.c. DT steps into Physical Key (OT) feels no pressure, the OT is

releasing outsided. Vision goes to Visual key (OG) trying to REACH block -

because of the DT’s alignment this won’t happen, so DT can make play on BC.

e. Because of the DT’s alignment the OT is forced to DOWN block to the DT, which will free up the SILB to make plays on the BC.

4. REACH BLOCK ON NG

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W Sa. NG steps into physical key (OC), Physical Key goes away,

visual key (OG) tries to REACH block on NGb. Scrape all the down the LOS

5. PASS BLOCK

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W Sa. NG & DT are not expected to get huge pass rush or

sacks but will get pressure on QB.

b. Step into Physical Key, see both PK & VK set up for pass block,

c. Split and rush gaps: NG = A gap, DT = B gapd. Do everything possible to take on 2 offensive linemen’s

gaps, don’t just choose to rush at one OL, but try and split 2 OL forcing OL to go 2 on 1 situation, this will allow the ILB to blitz

6. BASE BLOCKa. Because of alignment there will be no base block.

7. TUNNEL BLOCK by Visual Key player

E N T Ea. Down block by Visual Keyb. tough to react to this block because the momentum of

the DL is going into Physical read.c. The deeper alignment of the N & T off of the LOS will

allow them to see this block easier and reaction to it is quicker.

d. Step into PK and see VK blocking down, must rock (redirect) back into VK block and rip across VK face,

e. Treat like a down blockf. If reaction to block is late spin across the face of the VK

E N T E

8. SPIN TECHNIQUE

E N T Ea. Do not lose ground down field, this will create running

lanes.b. Spin must be tight to the blocker and LOSc. Always keep moving the “WALL” laterally.

9. TRAP BLOCK ON DT.

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W Sa. DT will not be blocked by VK or PK, must react by

squeezing down to the inside looking for backside guard trap blocking.

10. TRAP BLOCK VS NG

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W Sa. No block by the PK or VK squeeze opposite way

down LOS

11. DEFENSIVE LINE RULE: Whenever the DL doesn’t get blocked by their PK or VK they should squeeze down the LOS in the opposite direction of where they stepped (into their PK) expecting a block from the direction.

12. REACH BLOCK GOING OPPOSITE OR TO WEAK SIDE

E N T E

W Sa. Physical key tries to reach block to inside and Visual Key

goes to next level (ILB’s)b. React by redirecting like a trap blockc. Step into PK, VK blocks next level, d. String blocker down the LOS

IX. PLAYS THAT DEFENSE LINE NEED TO STOPA. GUARD TRAP.

E N T E

W S1. TE inside release

a. DE Jam TE do not allow off LOSb. Squeeze down LOS to next defender’s feet

2. DT - Physical & Visual Keys no block, squeeze down LOS inside

looking for Trap block by BSGa. Do not penetrate causes BSG to go down hill to get to DT for

trap block, b. Penetrate too deep creates running lane and is an easier block

for trap blocker.c. Hit trap blocker with inside shoulder then fight across the face of

the trap blocker3. NG gets double read

a. Step into the direction of the play, into Phys. key, Visual key will take NG to the ball,

b. Fight across the face of the Phys. Key, OC4. WEAK SIDE DE

a. Get inside read by OT, b. Fight across the face of the OT, Squeeze down LOS

B. POWER WITH FULL BACK KICK OUT BLOCK

E N T E

W S1. DE: Jam TE

a. Squeeze down LOS with TE, do not allow free release off of LOS

2. DT: Double team by PST & PSG a. Problem if DT gets pushed off of LOS, b. Even if DE squeezes down LOS a Seam or running lane can

still be created.c. Must not ge driven off of LOS - must stalemate the double

team block

3. NG: Gets double read from Physical & Visual Keya. Step into Physical Key, sees Visual key pull acrossb. Squeeze down LOS across the face of the Physical Key (OC)

C. DEFENDING WEAK SIDE CROSS BLOCK (FOLD BLOCK)

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W S

E N T E

W S1. NG: Step into PK, PK goes away no block

a. VK goes away, NG automatically squeeze down LOS opposite of first step (away from PK) to attack the cross blocker (OT)

2. WDE: Step into OT, OT crosses his face, automatically squeeze down LOS to meet block by OG

3. DT: Step in PK, no block, tunnel block by VK, a. Cross the face of the VK or spin across the VK face if

necessary.4. NG & WDE will plug up hole by their reaction to the blocks

D. DEFENDING THE CROSS SWEEP

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W S

E N T E

W S1. WDE:

a. String out the reach block by OTb. Mirror the BC redirect BC to bounce out or cutback

2. ALL DL:a. String out reach blockers

E. DEFENDING THE OPTION1. Inside release by TE:

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W S

E N T E

W Sa. DE:

1). Jam TE, squeeze down LOS2). Take away dive back

b. DT:1). Stalemate double team

c. SILB:1). QB Responsibility

2. OUTSIDE RELEASE BY TE

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W S

E N T E

W Sa. DE:

1). Jam TE and string out like a Reach block2). QB Responsibility

b. SILB:1). Dive back responsibility

c. Open Door concept1). Fill any opening on OL by ILB

3. INSIDE COMPONENT OF THE OPTION

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W S

E N T E

W SRDive

Dive / QB

QB

Pitch Man

a. DT:1). PK & VK both go the 2nd level (inside release)

a). Squeeze down LOS to middle of formation to DIVE BACK

b. DE:1). Squeeze down LOS to DIVE BACK TO QB

c. SILB:1). QB responsibility

d. OLB:1). PITCH MAN responsibility

F. DEFENDING THE PASSING GAME1. DROP BACK PASS

a. DT & NG not expected to get many sacks, but will put pressure on QB, by pushing OL back into QB

b. DE: Outside Contain of QB, not let outside of tackle boxc. NG: A gap pressured. DT: B gap pressure

E N T E

W S

E N T E

W S2. ROLL OUT PASS

a. DE: Must contain QB by attacking DL outside shoulder, allows play side ILB to GREEN LIGHT BLITZ.

E N T E

W S

E N T E

W SGreen Light Blitz

3. SCREEN PASSa. When DL reads screen pass retrace steps in rush lane asap.

1). Reason for retracing - Treat as run play b/c ball has to be exchanged behind the LOS

b. DL Key: 1). “TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE” BLOCK by OL2). QB bailing out deeper than 5 step drop

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W S

E N T E

G. Defending the Draw1. DL attack in pass rush lanes, when play is recognized RETRACE

STEPSa. Get vision to tail back - most draws are given to the deep RB,

6-7 yds deep in the back field.b. As you see the play develop, slow down pass rush and

retrace steps to RB

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W S

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