1. Group Period Defensive Fundamentals High Tempo / Many Reps Small Groups Tackling Pursuit Turnovers Escapes

2. Tackling Stations Pits (Resistance Tackling) –Teaches Running the feet –Teaches Elbows in and controlling the ball carrier –Teaches Big Chest and Hip Explosion Cones (Angle / Space Tackling) –Teaches settling the hips and having body control –Teaches patience and eliminate lunging –Teaches latching on and getting your hips around Pads (Leaving Your Feet Tackling) –Teaches tackling with speed in space –Teaches how to getting into ball carriers hips and core –Teaches not to lunge, but to grab and roll ball carrier to ground

3. Form and Drive LB Facemask 12” from BC chest Knees / Hips / ankles bent Feet staggered One step and fire hands through hip pocket, grab cloth, roll hips, run feet and drive into mat (Tackle Progression Technique) Pits ( Resistance Tackling)

4. Head Across and Drive Ball Carrier turns sideways LB Facemask 12” from BC chest Knees / Hips / ankles bent Feet staggered One step and fire hands through hip pocket, grab cloth, roll hips, run feet and drive into mat (Tackle Progression Technique) Pits ( Resistance Tackling)

5. Moving Angle Tackle BC Moves forward on a light job Knees / Hips / ankles bent Feet staggered Full speed collision, fire hands through hip pocket, grab cloth, roll hips, run feet and drive into mat (Tackle Progression Technique) Pits ( Resistance Tackling)

6. 45 Degree Tackle LB Facemask 12” from BC chest Knees / Hips / ankles bent Feet staggered One step and fire hands through hip pocket, grab cloth, roll hips, run feet and drive into mat (Tackle Progression Technique) Pits ( Resistance Tackling)

7. Tough man Tackle LB Facemask 12” from BC chest Knees / Hips / ankles bent Feet staggered BC throws aggressive flipper under the chin of LB One step and fire hands through hip pocket, grab cloth, roll hips, run feet and drive into mat (Tackle Progression Technique) LB MUST run feet to finish this drill otherwise it will be a stalemate Pits ( Resistance Tackling)

8. Cones / Agility Tackling Within position groups – change up every week – Angle / Leverage Tackle – Open Field Tackle – Fit and Fill Tackle – Eye Opener – Sweep Tackle

9. Angle / Leverage Tackle Need: 3 cones DB will make will keep inside leverage on RB. Stay square on inside cut and run down outside cut DB BC

10. Same foot / Same Shoulder Fit Need: 3 cones DB will make contact with BC with same foot same shoulder to utilize maximum power and reduce the BS’s power. DB BC

11. Extension Fit Need: 3 cones DB will make contact with blocker with same foot same shoulder to utilize maximum power and reduce the BS’s power. Hands fire inside and control blocker, extend out and then escape with rip. DB Blocker

12. Perimeter Tackle Need: 4 cones BC is allowed one move. DB BC

13. Fit and Fill Tackle Need: 5 Big bags Low intensity. Tackler will mirror BC and fit each gap with hands loaded in six shooters, head up, big chest. Finish the drill with a good form tackle and run the feet LB BC

14. Eye Opener Need: 5 Big bags LB will shuffle staying a half step behind BC. The BC will pick a whole and the LB must fill and drive back. LB BC

15. Gator Roll Tackle Need: 2 Big bags – Good for undersized players, but must be taught with caution DB must take his backside arm and wrap around the outside leg of the BC or in this case the bag. Then he rolls over his outside shoulder. DB

16. Sweep Tackle Need: 2 Big bags – Used when the ball carrier has gotten behind us and we are in a trail position DB must take any arm and sweep arm to trip back leg of the BC or in this case the bag DB

17. Turnover Circuit Within position groups – change up every week – Line strip drill – Scoop & Score – Tip and Pick – Secure tackle and strip – QB takeaway – Attitude!!!

18. Line Strip Drill Need: 3 Footballs Hammer Punch Claw LB BC LB BC

19. Scoop & Score Need: 5 Big bags & 2 Footballs DL will shuffle over the bags. Once he clears the last bag the coach will drop a ball, which the DL must pick up and score. DL C

20. Tip & Pick Need: 2 Footballs 1 st Def. player will tip the ball in the air and the second will go up at the highest point for the INT. C LB

21. Secure Tackle and Strip Need: 2 Footballs 1 st Def. player will secure the tackle and the 2 nd will come to either help strip the ball or scoop and score if the ball is already out. BC LB

22. QB Takeaway Need: 2 Footballs & 2 Cones 1 st Def. player will knock the ball out of the QB’s arm and the 2 nd player will scoop & score. QB LB

23. Pursuit Attitude!!! 11 players to the football Do it with only 3 players Do not follow Play side defender set edge Other players tap near hip Conditioning Drill

24. Basic Alignment SSC FS C coach

25. INT Communicate!!! Catch at the highest point Go up the nearest sideline 1 DL must block the QB Pick and Score!!!

26. Basic Alignment F M S T N E W SS C FS HEndzone coach QB

27. Advanced Group Drills Try to get as many players involved in a drill as possible, minimize standing around. Keep the drill up-tempo to keep focus. Use as mini-conditioning segment.

28. Down the Hill Drill Four different groups set up 2 groups go at a time Tackler will shed base block and cut block Form fit the ball carrier Guy from sideline comes in after cut block and rips ball out Strip and Recover!!!

29. coach Tackler coach Tackler LB Base Cut BC LB Cut

30. coach Tackler coach Tackler LB Base Cut BC LB Cut

31. coach Tackler coach Tackler LB Base Cut BC LB Cut

32. coach Tackler coach Tackler LB Base Cut BC LB Cut

33. coach Tackler coach Tackler LB Base Cut BC LB Cut

34. coach Tackler coach Tackler LB Base Cut BC LB Cut

35. coach Tackler coach Tackler LB Base Cut BC LB Cut Rotation / Other 2 Groups Go

36. coach Tackler coach Tackler LB Base Cut BC LB Cut Rotation / Other 2 Groups Go

37. Cup It Need: 2 Big bags LB’s will lie down, and on the whistle they will jump and pursue the BC. The 1 st man there must turn the BC back into his help, and the rest will clean up. LB BC LB

38. Keep the Cup 3 different groups set up All 3 groups go at a time The 3 guys will run down under control and react to ball carrier Near outside guy keeps outside leverage on the ball carrier Inside guy controls any cutback Backside outside folds back to eliminate the ball carrier from threading the 2 defenders Move side to side!!

39. coach 3 Groups / 9 Guys at a Time LB XXX X X X X X X X X X X X X XXX

40. coach 1 st Run Fit LB

41. coach Transition - 2 nd Run Fit LB

42. coach Other Side - 3 rd Run Fit LB