Developing A Wall: Thoughts on Defensive Game Planning for the Run
Mar 21, 2024 8:27 pm
Coach -
Today we look at what many view as the most important aspect of defense - stopping the run. Most good offenses want to establish the run and then exploit the defense by making them pay for committing extra defenders.
Of course it’s always about who get’s the chalk last, so putting together a solid run game plan will help a defense win that battle.
Today Coach Kauffman shares ideas from multiple coaches on their approach to stopping the run.
As a sidenote, the C.O.O.L. Clinic is back and Coach Wylie has added some defensive persective into the mix with the Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnoulo and Defensive Line Coach Joe Cullen presenting. As an added bonus, Andy Reid will be the keynote speaker this year. Learn more about the C.O.O.L. Clinic passes here: Mushroom Society Membership & 2024 C.O.O.L. Clinic Premium Access.
Coach Grabowski
Developing A Wall: Thoughts on Defensive Game Planning for the Run
The foundation of any strong defense lies in its ability to control the run game. But effectively shutting down an opponent's rushing attack requires more than just brute force. It demands meticulous preparation, dissecting the opposing offense's backfield tendencies, personnel strengths and weaknesses, and identifying the gaps they aim to exploit. By strategically game planning for these elements, your defense can transform from vulnerable to impenetrable, ultimately dictating the tempo of the game and stifling the opponent's offensive momentum.
Game Planning for Par Down Runs
Kicking things off is Chris Lorenti, Defensive Coordinator of the Rhode Island Rams. He shares some things to consider when planning the run game on par downs.
Initiating game planning for an opposing offense's run game begins with dissecting their foundational principles. The first crucial discussion point is their offensive scheme: gap scheme or zone scheme.
Additionally, analyzing the defensive front plays a key role. Are you better running your odd package, over front or even an under front? But, then you may also need to answer the question of your personnel. Are they better suited to clogging interior gaps and stopping inside runs, or are they more adept at shutting down outside rushes on the perimeter? By comprehensively understanding these factors, a tailored and effective defensive plan can be built to neutralize the opposing run game.
Understanding Run Type
Coach Michael Craig, now defensive coordinator for FCS playoff qualifier Duquesne dives into the idea of run type considerations.
Diving into an opponent's backfield sets often reveals tendencies within the offensive coordinator's philosophy. As the game progresses, coordinators tend to favor specific plays or passes out of particular backfield alignments, often due to their comfort with the protection schemes and overall play design offered by those formations.
By identifying recurring patterns, such as a specific formation with a particular backfield accompanied by a star receiver lined up as the #2 receiver to the field side, you can anticipate plays with greater accuracy. In some instances, such a formation gives you as precise a signal alluding to a jet sweep or a similar play utilizing the receiver in motion.
By recognizing these tendencies and tailoring your defensive adjustments accordingly, you gain a significant edge in disrupting the opponent's offensive rhythm and forcing them out of their comfort zone.
Breaking Down the Opponent
Taking your thought process through entire plays and games should internally be something to the nature of how these clips of Don Dobes DC at Dartmouth breaks down his opponent verbally.
Unraveling an opponent's run game starts with dissecting their foundational principles, analyzing their scheme (gap vs zone), your defensive front's strengths (interior vs perimeter), and their backfield formations. However, the true mastery lies in exploiting the tendencies within these elements.
By meticulously dissecting individual plays and games, both statistically and visually, we can identify these patterns. This allows us to expand our gameplan beyond base plays and anticipate the opponent's next move.
However, the process doesn't stop there. We must also acknowledge the possibility of new wrinkles being added to existing schemes. By continuously dissecting past performances and acknowledging the potential for evolution, we can stay one step ahead and effectively neutralize both the expected and unexpected elements of the opponent's run game.
As Always,
Compete!
Coach Kauffman
P.S.
Dive more into the process of game planning the other team’s run schemes and various ideas through these full clinic presentations bundled together to save HERE!