Strategies for Defending the Spread Offense with the 3-3 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 Pressure 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 preparation-getting 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 offense-force post-snap 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 one-dimensional 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 Free Safety Spur Bandit Mike Ram Lion Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

“Pull” ALIGNMENT VS. TRIPS Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

“Stack” ALIGNMENT VS. (TE) TRIPS Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Cover 3 Drops Cover 3 Drops Corner Free Safety Spur Bandit Mike Ram Lion 5 under 3 Deep Zone Cover 3 Drops Spur and Bandit buzz to the flats NOW, playing stop, hitch, & the out cut by #1, and the arrow and bubble by #2. Lion & Ram (as soon as they make a pass read) must get to the hashes to play vertical routes by #2s. Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Cover 3 “Jam” Pass Drops Vs. Doubles Corner Free Safety Spur Bandit Mike Ram Lion Spur and Bandit jam & reroute #2s, then buzz the flat. On other than a vertical release By #2, they take their normal drops to the top of the number once they make their pass read Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Cover 3 Drops Cover 2 Drops Corner 5 under 2 Deep Zone W/hi hole player Bandit Mike Ram Lion Free Safety Spur 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 3-2 w/man free 3-1 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 Deep 1/4 Deep 1/4 Deep 1/2 Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Strategy vs. Trips Formations: Man #1 Trips side; Soft 2 everywhere else Soft Cover 2 Corner man #1 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 Deep 1/4 Deep 1/4 Deep 1/2 Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Strategy vs. Empty Formations: Man #1 Trips side; Soft 2 everywhere else Soft Cover 2 Corner man #1 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 3-2 w/man free 3-1 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 defense-attack 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 pre-snap and drop a defender into a passing lane? Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Dime 4 “Idaho” 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4 E N E S B C $ F L M Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Dime 4 “Oregon” 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4 E N E S B C $ F L M 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 pressure-from base “Coverage-Blitz” 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 zacoach102@aol.com

3 Tiger Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

0 Smoke Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

0 Torch Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

3 Jacks Red Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

“Crazy” Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

5 man pressure from Dime: Crossfire Mable (Switch) Spice Sugar Axe Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Dime 1Free Rules: E N $ M R B C S F Hole 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. Hole defender will abandon responsibility if R releases. In that case, man up on R. Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Dime Crossfire Cover 1Free N E S B $ M R C C Hole F Deep Middle Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Dime “Mable” Cover 1 Free N E B S C M R C $ Hole F Deep Middle Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Dime “ Mable Switch” Cover 1 Free N E B C M R S C $ Hole F Deep Middle Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Dime “Spice” Cover 1 Free N E $ B C M R C S Hole F Deep Middle Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Dime “Sugar” Cover 1 Free N E B $ C M R C S Hole F Deep Middle Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Dime Axe Cover 1Free E N E B $ M R C S C F To field Hole Deep Middle Nose slants to field (blitz) Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

2 Shell Pressure Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Dime Double Plug Robber Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Dime Tornado Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Dime Field Slam Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Dime Lightening Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Dime Win Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

3-3 Fire Zone Pressure E N L M R B C S F Cover 33: 3 deep, 3 under, rush 5 E N L M R B C S F Seam/curl/flat hole Seam/curl/flat Cover 33 Rules: We are sending 5 (3 linemen and usually 2 linebackers) The remaining linebacker is a hole defender We will cover both seams, not allow vertical releases by #2’s Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Thunder Cover 33 E N E B C L M R C S F Field Seam/curl/flat Hole S F Thirds Thirds Thirds Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Hurricane Cover 33 E N E S C L M R C B F Field Seam/curl/flat Hole Thirds Thirds Thirds Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Lamb Cover 33 E N E C S L M R B C F Seam/curl/flat Seam/curl/flat Hole Thirds Thirds Thirds Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Rambo Cover 33 E N E C S L M R B C F Seam/curl/flat Hole Thirds Thirds Thirds Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Rex Cover 33 E N E R C S L M B C F Seam/curl/flat Hole Seam/curl/flat Thirds Thirds Thirds Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Lex Cover 33 L E N E C S M R B C F Seam/curl/flat Seam/curl/flat Hole Thirds Thirds Thirds Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Laser Cover 33 E N E C S L M R B C F Seam/curl/flat 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 B C F Seam/curl/flat Seam/curl/flat Hole Thirds Thirds Thirds Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Mare Cover 33 E N E C S L M R B C F Seam/curl/flat Seam/curl/flat Hole Thirds Thirds Thirds Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

6 man pressure Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Zoo Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

TigerBandit Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Ox Spur Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

TigerSpur Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

OxBandit Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Pressure from dime Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

6 man pressure from Base “Coverage-Blitz” 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 $ L C M R C S F Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Dime “Boa” Cover 0 E N E L $ 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 double-bracket 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 Low Hole E E N B S L M C F C $ Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Dime Numbers “12” Anchor Low Hole E E N B S L M C F C $ Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Numbers 11 Ox (Swap) $ F E N E B S L M C C Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Man on #1; keep inside leverage Spur Bracket #2; outside leverage “Duo” Package E N E S 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 Bandit Free Safety Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Duo Pressure E N M E N M F Tags: Right Left Field Boundary “Indiana Right” F “Indiana Left” E E E E N N M M F “Ohio Right” F “Ohio Left” 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 Review Review No Huddle 2 minute WEEKLY OVERVIEW (USED TO PLAN DAILY PRACTICE) WEEKLY OVERVIEW Wrap/Dart Goaline Runs Vs. 2 minute offense Inside Zone Wrap/Dart Hi-Lo Crosses Smash Review Hi-Lo Crosses Smash Review Crossing Routes Review No Huddle 2 minute Review Bracket & Pressure Package Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

SAMPLE DEFENSIVE PRACTICE PLAN Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

SAMPLE INSIDE DRILL PRACTICE SCRIPT Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

SAMPLE 7 ON 7 PRACTICE SCRIPT Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

SAMPLE TEAM PERIOD PRACTICE SCRIPT Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

SAMPLE DEFENSIVE GAME CALL SHEET Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

Implementation Schedule Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com

VIDEO CUT-UPS Coach John Rice zacoach102@aol.com