Coach -

In the inaugural Lauren’s First and Goal Clinic, Army Defensive Coordinator Nate Woody presented on the Black Knight Defense.  They just came off of a season where they were the #1 Defense.

Jump ahead to 2024, and they are in the exact same spot.  Here’s how the two years look:

The were the #1 Defense in Total Defense at 275.3 yards per game in 2020.  They are slightly better in 2024 only allowing 273.9 ypg which currently places them 6th.  

However, they are the #1 Scoring Defense in 2024 allowing just 10.33 points per game. They are coming off a win over North Texas who boasted the #6 Scoring offense at  40.8 points per game, and they were second in the nation for passing yards per game and touchdown 3591/ypg/26TDs. They averaged over 500 yards per game of offense.

Army held the Mean Green to 283 yards and just 214 in the air and just 3 points.

Army's defense under Nate Woody is built around a versatile 3-4 base structure with specific roles for each position. This defense allows for flexibility in adapting to various offensive schemes, contributing significantly to its effectiveness and success.

Key Aspects of Army's 3-4 Defense

1. Personnel and Structure: Army’s 3-4 defense sometimes resembles a 3-5, depending on the outside linebacker, known as the "Dog." This player is often the best pass rusher and is tasked with generating pressure on the quarterback without extensive coverage responsibilities. The defensive line includes a nose tackle who demands double teams, helping to control the line of scrimmage and free up linebackers. The ends are strategically positioned to utilize their specific attributes—one focusing on strength and explosiveness, the other on speed and coverage​.
2. Linebacker Roles: In Woody's system, each linebacker has a specialized role. The Will linebacker, positioned on the weak side, needs speed and agility to cover ground in both the run and pass game. The Mike linebacker serves as a "thumper" in the B-gap, playing a crucial role in reading offensive schemes and initiating contact​.
3. Secondary Flexibility: The secondary is designed to be adaptable, with each player bringing unique skills. For instance, the Apache outside linebacker/nickel back combines coverage ability (often a converted cornerback) with the potential to rush the passer from the edge. The strong safety is the defensive “quarterback,” responsible for making coverage adjustments, often serving as a fast processor to keep the defense aligned. Having a reliable strong safety in this role has led to solid performance in the secondary, with several players from this position advancing to the NFL under Woody’s guidance.

Success Factors

Nate Woody’s emphasis on assigning specialized roles and ensuring each player’s strengths are leveraged creates a defense that is both adaptable and fundamentally sound. Woody values not only physical attributes but also the mental acuity of his players, especially in key positions like the strong safety. This structure allows Army to handle diverse offensive strategies, making them resilient and adaptable.

Coach Woody explains his base defense in this video:

Video: Army Base Defense

We look forward to the next Lauren’s First and Goal in 2025.  It always includes several of the Army coaching staff as presenters.

Always be growing!

Coach Grabowski

P.S. You can get the Army Defense bundle of presentations here. Army Defense Bundle (67% off)