Coach {{contact.last_name}} 🛡️Stay ahead of the offense with these trending concepts
Jun 18, 2020 9:46 pm
Coach ,
We hear it all of the time, it’s about getting the chalk last. Against today’s fast-paced offenses, playing from multiple formations utilizing RPO to make your defense wrong, having a solid toolbox of answers helps a defensive coordinator get the chalk last.
In an era where offensive coordinators have dominated, we are seeing defensive coordinators become stars and elevate themselves in the profession. Those coaches like Dave Aranda and Jeff Hafley excelled as defensive coordinators and now are head coaches. They did it with having the answers they needed to stop powerful offenses.
These five concepts have trended in 2019 and look to be featured in 2020 as well.
Simulated Blitzes - A simulated blitz or “sim” gives the offense the look of an all-out blitz but post-snap becomes a four or five-man pressure. For offensive lineman trying to set protection pre-snap or quarterbacks trying to get a post-snap read on an RPO, sims can wreak havoc on decision making allowing the defense to exploit indecision and poor decisions by the offense. Adam Gaylor shares how he uses sims at Oklahoma powerhouse, Jenks High School
Three Safety Concepts - The three safety defense has become an en vogue way to battle offensive RPO weapons. Made popular by Iowa State, this structure is becoming an increasingly popular way to use hybrid defenders and also play a tite front to take away gaps. While this defense looks like it is light in the box, it provides solid run support answers as well as alignments that can confuse an offense. Defensive coordinator at Bridgewater College, Mike Giancola shares their version of the 3 Safety concept against 3x1 formations.
Man Match Split Field Coverage - Utilizing man match split field coverages can be advantageous against many offenses. It allows a defense to play close coverage taking away a quarterback’s options and forcing him deeper into his progression. The longer a QB holds the ball, the better the chance for defensive success. Dante Bartee, a Cal Bears assistant and brilliant young football mind, details several coverages, techniques and strategies of playing this defense. In this video he shares a concept called “Over Bracket.”
Quarter, Quarter, Half to Stop RPO - Playing coverages that allow for multiple forms of run support from a two-high look can allow for numbers advantages over offensive alignments. Jason Makrinos, University of Findlay Defensive Coordinator, explains how they dictate where they want to go utilizing their “Cover 9 Trick” concept.
Stopping the RPO with Multiple Coverages- One way to stay ahead of RPO teams is to constantly change the picture. Playing multiple coverages from a disguised look allows the defense to change the picture and keep an opposing quarterback and coordinator off balance.
Nick Davis, Rose Hulman Defensive Coordinator, shares their Cover 3 concept from a five down front.
Hopefully, these ideas spur further research on adding these concepts to your defensive toolbox and propelling your unit to the top of your conference in 2020.
-Coach Keith