Coach ,

Head Coach at Miami of Ohio Chuck Martin is known for having strong defenses.  The one high structure provides them advantages. 

The Redhawks take the approach that they will make an offense 1 dimensional while taking away conflict from their own defenders. 

Here coach shares how their alignments take away conflict because they cover down (click on image for video):

For them it's about keeping their best linebackers in the box and not allowing the offense to dictate and make them apex players who have to get on the edge and tackle in space. This allows them to outnumber the offense in the box:

Coach points out that they know what their kids are good at and they ask them to do those things. Their 1 high system is simple and gives them the advantage in getting aligned quickly. 

Because he doesn’t have players worrying about having to Apex, they can align quickly and play. They are never scrambling to figure out which defender has to be out of the box.  This clearly provides an advantage in stopping the run and taking defenders out of conflict.

So when it comes to complex formations and motions they are not affected as much, and against high tempo offenses they are aligned as fast as the offense because of the simplicity of their system.

Because the players are not encumbered with many rules, they line up and play good technique.  This also means that in practice they can spend more time on individual periods and circuits.

Does it work?

Well, Kent State has been putting up big points against everyone in the MAC.  The simplicity of being able to align has allowed them to keep that offense in check allowing just 16 points  and 6 points in  their previous two meetings.

When a reporter asked Coach Martin what the secret to their success was, he replied,

“The secret is we get lined up.”

It’s something that the Redhawks emphasize in practice.  The defense will look at the coach until the scout team is aligned, then they have 5 seconds to get lined up.  The simplicity of the system is the key.

So if you want to:

• Keep the focus on your team
• Take away their tendencies
• Make them 1-dimensional
• Get better at your fundamentals
• Let your players do what they are suited to do best

Then you can learn from what Coach Martin has to share in his 1-high defensive structure.  

Thanks to the Illinois HS Football Coaches Association for sharing the videos from their outstanding clinic.

Always be growing!

Coach Grabowski