1. RANDY BATES LINEBACKERS COACH
DEFENDING THE SPREAD
RANDY BATES LINEBACKERS COACH
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

2. NORTHWESTERN DEFENSIVE PHILOSOPHY
DON’T GIVE UP BIG PLAYS – (ROPE-A-DOPE)
2) CREATE TURNOVERS
3). BE AS MULTIPLE LOOKING AS POSSIBLE
(BUT PLAY FEW DEFENSES.)
CALL = ALIGNMENT – DEFENSE – MOVEMENT – COVERAGE
A) OFFENSIVE PHILOSOPHY REVERSED (PRE-SNAP LOOK)
B) MULTIPLE FRONTS / COVERAGES FROM OVERLAPPING TECHNIQUES.
C) FORCE OFFENSES TO ADJUST TO MULTIPLE LOOKS, (DON’T LET OFFENSE DICTATE)
EX: CHECK WITH ME PLAYS (QB CHECKS)
- OL CALLS
- READ ON RUN (WR / QB)

3. DEFENDING THE SPREAD OFFENSE
Pre Snap Looks – Force QB to Read on Run
a. 2 Shell
b. Man Free ( 3 Deep look some)
When Stemming From Base
(teach players what to expect)
a. QB Checks
b. Routes Run by Receivers
c. Run Checks
ex: check fade man free look
QB Pre Snap Tendencies (when to BLITZ)
a. Hands Out
b. Lift Leg
c. Hand Down For Center
d. Centers Hand

4. DEFENDING THE SPREAD OFFENSE
TEACH ADJUSTMENTS AS PART OF THE PACKAGE
A. HAVE CALL TO CHANGE SUPPORTS/COVERAGE
B. TEACH THESE CALLS AS CONCEPTS
C. LET THE PLAYERS LEARN THE HARD WAY HOW TO USE THE CONCEPTS ON THE FIELD
HAVE A REASON FOR THE CALL
GUIDED DISCOVERY
YOU WON’T BE ON THE FIELD IN GAME
HELP WITH COMMUNICATION FROM BOX
3 DEEP CALLS SS
1. SKY
2. BUZZ
3. CLOUD
FREE
1. STAR
2.BOLT
3. BENCH

5. 1) Personnel Tendencies 12, 11, 10, Down / Distance Tendencies
NORTHWESTERN
DEFENSE
FORMATING YOUR GAME PLAN
1) Personnel Tendencies 12, 11, 10,
Down / Distance Tendencies
70% OR BETTER
Weak OL Player to Single out
( STUNTS ECT.)
Type QB Playing: Runner, Drop Back, Option
(BULL RUSH/ SPEED)
5) Tendencies by Coverage Look ( BAIT THEM)
3 Deep – Flats? (3 step)
2-Deep – Fade/Down Middle?
Man Free – Fade?
6) Specific Player to Stop
#8 – WR MACLIN
#1 – TB WELLS
#1 – QB PRYER EX: CHOICE CALLS
7) COMP. % FOR BLITZES
5 MAN, 6 MAN, 7 MAN

7. SET THE BUBBLE (SHADE AND 5)
NORTHWESTERN
DEFENSE
FRONT DECISIONS
SET THE BUBBLE (SHADE AND 5)
TO OR AWAY FROM THE BACK ACCORDING TO TENDENCY/COVERAGE
( Do they run option)
TO OR AWAY FROM WIDE RECEIVER
(bubble screens)
3. TO OR AWAY FROM FORMATION- TRIPS AND EMPTY
E T T E M S W
Possible check

8. 1). MULTIPLE FRONT OPTIONS
NORTHWESTERN
FRONT OPTIONS
1). MULTIPLE FRONT OPTIONS
A. OPEN - TO OPEN SIDE
B. FIELD - TO FIELD
C. TIGHT - TO TE
D. APACHE - AWAY FROM BACK
E. CHIEF - TO BACK
F. GATOR – AWAY FROM BACK LB TO RB 2 X 2
E T T E M S W
CHIEF

9. READ CONCEPTS
GAP CALL
DIVE Q R
T E M
S HELP Q R
T E M
S GONE

10. READ CONCEPTS WITH FIELD GATOR
HERE CALL AND GAP CALL
TIM CALL Q R
T E
MGAP
S HERE /QB
WITH MIX CALL R Q
N T E M
S TIM

11. GONE CALL QUEEN CALL T E MGAP S HERE /QB T E S GONE M QUEEN
READ CONCEPTS
GONE CALL
QUEEN CALL Q R
T E
MGAP
S HERE /QB
WITH MIX CALL Q R
T E
S GONE
M QUEEN

12. FRONT ALIGN AND READ CONCEPTS VIDEO

13. 3-4 FRONT

14. 3-4 VIDEO

15. NORTHWESTERN COVERAGE PHILOSOPHY
1). AGGRESSIVE TECHNIQUES
A) CONTACT WR’S AT MANY DIFFERENT
LEVELS
B) CHALLENGE EVERY PASS (YAC YARDS) (CLOSE TO ROUTES - CHEAT ZONES).
C) MAKE WR’S CONSTANTLY ADJUST ROUTES (POST SNAP).
D) GIVE QB’S MULTIPLE PRE-SNAP READS
(MOVE ON RUN).
E) TEACH TECHNIQUES THAT CROSSOVER
TO OTHER COVERAGES.

16. SAFETY CALL RULES (COVER 4)
( AGGRESSIVE QUARTER ) BC FC S W M 2 3 FS 4 SS
KATHY
KATHY
SAFETY CALL RULES (COVER 4)
2 OPEN WR- KATHY/ AREA CALL
TE AND WR – READ- ( SAFETY) WHEEL- (FREE SAFETY)
MOD TECH – (CORNERS)
3 WR AWAY FROM FS – LOCK SPILL CALL
SINGLE TE/ WING – KICK ( 2 DEEP CONCEPT)
READ – WITH WIDE SPLIT OF 1 AND 2- - CORNER MAN #1 SAFETY DOUBLE FROM OUTSIDE #2
TEACH THEM CONCEPTS SO WHEN A UNIQUE FORMATION SHOWS UP THEY WILL THINK ABOUT WHAT CALL AND WHY

17. NORTHWESTERN COVERAGE 4
COV. 4 (3 X 1) BC 4 S W M FC 5 2
2/1 3 SS FS
LOCK
AREA
2/1 3
EMPTY BC S FC W M 2 3 SS FS
STRESS
KATHY
1/3

18. CHANGE UPS Vs. 3 x 1 SKY CALL – 3 DEEP STRONG RATATION TO TRIPSBC W M S 2
# 4 FC 3 FS SS
2 TO 1 FLAT 03 03 M3
**POSSIBLE CUP CALL WITH SS/FC (GAME PLAN)
SKY IS A CALL USED TO ROTATE STRONG AND PUSH THE COVERAGE AWAY FROM THE FIELD “GAME PLAN CALL”

19. CHANGE UPS Vs. 3 x 1 **POSSIBLE CLOUD CALL WITH SS/FC (GAME PLAN)
PACKER CALL – OVERLOAD TO TRIPS BC W M
# 4 S
MOD TECH 3 2 1 FC FS SS
2 TO 1 FLAT 03 M3
**POSSIBLE CLOUD CALL WITH SS/FC (GAME PLAN)
PACKER IS A CALL USED TO OVERLOAD THE FIELD AND IS A “GAME PLAN OR EMPTY CHECK COVERAGE”

20. (QUARTER/QUARTER/HALF)
COVER 6 ( GREEN )
(QUARTER/QUARTER/HALF) S FC W M BC 2
CLOUD 4 SS FS 3
KATHY/AREA
1/2
FRONTSIDE COVERAGE- (SS SIDE) PLAYED WITH SAME RULES AND CALLS AS COVER 4
FREE SAFETY SIDE COVERAGE
PLAYED WITH A CLOUD CALL
CORNER- CLOUD TECHNIQUE ( HARD CORNER)
FREE SAFETY- HALF TECHNIQUE (2YDS. IN/OUT HASH)
WILL- CURL OF #4
3 X 1 WE WILL GO TO AREA

21. NORTHWESTERN
COVERAGE PHILOSOPHY
COVER 4 AND 6 VIDEO

22. THIS IS AN EXCHANGE WITH THE SAM BACKER AND THE SAFETY
BUZZ
EMPTY CHANGE UPS
E T T E BC FC W M S 3 5 4 2 3 FS SS
BUZZ M3 03 O3
THIS IS AN EXCHANGE WITH THE SAM BACKER AND THE SAFETY
BUZZ TECH- PLAY LIKE SKY BUT ASSAULT AND STAY IN CURL #3 AS WILL IS IN FLAT

23. BOLT DROP = BUZZ OR BOLT BC S FC M FS DS
EMPTY OPTIONS
E T T E BC S FC W M 5 2 4 3 FS DS 03 03 M3
BOLT TECH- SIMULAR TO BUZZ FS IN CURL OF #4 AS BACKER to flat
CHECK WITH ME COVERAGES
DROP = BUZZ OR BOLT
FRONT
30 CHECK = 30 CHECK WITH ME
(CLOUD / BUZZ / BOLT / BENCH)
CALLED TO A SPECIFIC WR OR FORMATIONS

24. VIDEO ON BUZZ BOLT
EMPTY IDEAS

25. (30) CLOUD BC B/E S FC W M 5 4 3 2 FS SS BC S W M FC B/E FS DS
5 UNDER/ 3 DEEP BC
B/E S FC W M 5
CLOUD 4 3 2 FS SS O3 03
(BUZZ/ALLEY) M3 BC S W M FC
B/E 3 2 5 4 FS DS 03 O3 M3
(ALLEY)

26. (30) BENCH 3 X 1 B/E S FC BC W M SS FS S FC B/E W M BC SS FS
5 UNDER/3DEEP
B/E S FC BC W M 1 4 2 3 SS FS 03 O3 M3
(BUZZ/ALLEY)
3 X 1 S FC
B/E W M BC 1 2 4 3 SS FS 03 O3 M3
- ALWAYS PROTECT SEAM
- SAM ASSAULT VERTICALS
- RULES FLIPPED FROM CLOUD

27. (30) ROLL (BENCH OR CLOUD) FREE SAFETY WILL DETERMINE CALL
CHECK WITH ME COVERAGE
CALL WILL BE MADE IN ONE OF 4 WAYS
(GAME PLAN)
1) PASSING STRENGTH
2) TENDENCY
3) SPECIAL WR
4) BACKS ALIGNMENT
FREE SAFETY WILL DETERMINE CALL
SECONDARY WILL REPEAT TO BACKERS
(DROP DOWN TO MACLIN #8)
LOCKED COVERAGE ONCE CALL IS MADE
(MOTIONS)