Defense: Playing Offense on Defense
Sep 12, 2022 2:34 pm
Coach ,
I can’t believe the pace at which this season is progressing. While we are only in week 3 for college football and week 1 of the NFL finishes tonight on Monday Night Football with the Broncos vs. the Seahawks, much of high school football around the country is preparing for week 5!
This means things are becoming clear on who your team is and where they are in their development. For some, that means everything is on track. For others, things may not be going as planned.
Wherever your team falls in that continuum, the tips today will help you continue on your journey and get your defense where you want it to be.
#1) Keep Doing the Work!
The mid-season is like a Wednesday. Good or bad, you just need to get over the hump. Player focus may wane with distractions like homecoming or their first big exams in the classroom. Or they might just be feeling like they can cruise now since they have some games under their belt, but doing the work both on and off the field is an important part of the equation.
It’s something that Pitt defensive coordinator Randy Bates keeps simple enough for his team, yet provides them the info and focus on what will be most important in defeating this week’s opponent.
In this short video, he explains the “homework” that he gives the players (click on image for video):
#2) Create Plays for your Defensive Playmakers
Jim Knowles has brought a change to the Ohio State defense. One of the biggest things that Coach Knowles likes to do is highlight his playmakers. He equates it to “playing offense on defense.” What he means by this is he will create plays for those players giving them the greatest opportunity to disrupt the offense and cause chaos.
In his defense, typically, the Leo is a playmaker. In this video, Coach Knowles shows variations of how he uses this player (click on image for video)
#3) Next Man up!
One thing that the NFL weekend highlighted is how quickly things can change with an injury to a key player. You must always have a plan to play your best 11
You are always in a better situation if you have your best 11 on the field. Depth charts are great, and in a single game, a second-teamer will most likely play, but what do you do in the case of an injury? How does the next most dynamic defender get on the field if one of your starters goes down?
What tools do you have or how does your structure accommodate a change?
For example, let’s say there is an injury to your starting defensive end and your next most dynamic guy is an undersized outside linebacker.
He clearly gives you more than the next defensive end. Do you have something structurally that allows you to get him on the field more?
It’s something to think about now. Always understanding who your best 11 are trumps a depth chart in many situations.
Let’s use the example of a four-down team. I saw a team using multiple outside linebackers (a 4-3 team). They were alternating during the course of a game. Then the defensive end went out. He was clearly one of their best defenders.
Just based on watching the next player run in for him, I saw a big drop off and fortunately for them, the injured defensive end was back in the next series.
The question becomes what must the defense do to adapt and keep the best 11 on the field?
Adjustments:
RPI Defensive Coordinator Jeff Dittman had to handle a similar situation. Needing something different in the middle of the season, he found a way to add an odd front into their four-down defensive system on the fly.
This didn’t require major overhauls. He kept it simple and it proved very effective.
Coach Dittman used various odd front alignments while keeping the thought process the same for his defenders.
“Bama” allows Dittman to get his defense into the “mint” front which utilizes 4i’s. Many coordinators like this to shut down inside zone teams because it forces the ball wide instead of downhill.
Here Coach Dittman shows the change-up:
Video: Bama
In the scenario we discussed earlier, the replacement is that outside linebacker (OLB) who was subbing in with another outside linebacker (OLB). When the defensive end (DE) goes down or needs a break, the replacement is used from an odd structure to maintain their four down front responsibilities. Now a more dynamic player is on the field rather than using that next defensive end.
These are questions to ask now and work into practice. Prepare for all contingencies. As you go through the season, what do you need to package up to be able to get a different 11 on the field if you do not feel someone next on the depth chart is not your best option?
It may never come into play, but when it does you are prepared. It can also be used as a change-up. Maybe that DE also plays offense and getting him a break here and there, especially early in the season is a smart thing to do.
These packages that provide variations can add stress to the offense in their preparations. It makes it simple for you, but they must take extra time to prepare. That’s an advantage for the defense!
Adversity provides the opportunity for improvement. Keep your defense developing and have the answers you need for the future by thinking about it now.
Always be growing!
Coach Grabowski
P.S.
We have many great coaches who have presented at our clinics. Here are some of the current defensive state leaders in the FBS:
FBS Stat Leaders
Virginia Tech #1 3rd Down, #4 Rush Defense, #5 Total Defense
Tulane #1 Pass Defense, #2 Scoring Defense, #2 Total Defense
James Madison #1 Rush Defense, #2 Total Defense
Miami Ohio #5 Rush Defense
Temple #4 3rd Down
Ole Miss #6 Scoring Defense